Simply Cathi

Pink Saturday - Reindeer

2009-11-28T00:03:00.000-08:00

Patience Brewster is a delightful artist. Her work is whimsical and fun.

These sweet Pink reindeer are from her Krinkles collection and I just love them!

Donna

Dancer

(my favorite)

Images from Patience Brewster Krinkles

The Morning After...

2009-11-27T23:25:00.000-08:00

...going shopping at 12:30 AM on Black Friday.

Brian & Mindi had a plan and stuck to it. When Brian came to pick up the babies
he ~~passed out cold~~ napped a bit.

NY & me?

We ( and three grandbabies) slept all night.

Walgreens Digital Temple Thermometer

2009-11-27T15:33:00.000-08:00

We've been sick at our house. I suppose one could say we're a family that likes to share with each other. The flu bug has been going round and round mostly between me and our grandchildren although we did include Grandpa NY this last time around.

One little gem I'm really glad we have is the Digital Temple Thermometer from Walgreens. I honestly cannot put into words how much of a help it's been as of late.
The Digital Temple Thermometer registers an accurate temperature with a single touch. There isn't any need to swipe it across the forehead. It also has an underarm setting if that is more convenient.
One of my favorite features is the large easy to read digital screen. I don't need to put on my glasses and the back lighting makes it possible to read without having to turn on any bright lights. Another great feature is the timer. It's an audible remeinder of when to re-take the temperture.

It's that simple!!

Thank you to Mom Select and Walgreens for this review opportunity. We received the Walgreens Digital Temple Thermometer for our candid review.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Aloha Friday - Giving Thanks

2009-11-26T20:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Aloha Friday Everyone!!

From Kailani at An Island Life: In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So on Fridays let's take it easy on posting, too. Ask a simple question...nothing that requires a lengthy response. It’s a great way to make new blogging friends!

Our family gathered together on Thanksgiving to enjoy each others' company, feast on good food, play fun games and make memories.

Things I'm thankful for: a loving Heavenly Father; my husband who is kind, generous and the epitome of chivalry; our children and grandchildren who celebrated a day of thanksgiving with us. I'm also thankful to live in a free country and to be a citizen of the United States of America. I'm thankful for the brave and dedicated members of our armed forces and their families for the extensive sacrifices they make, have made and continue to make for our country, past, present and future.

How about you?

What are you thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T22:59:00.000-08:00

We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving filled with family and friends!

Thanksgiving Day 2008
Anything goes at Grandma & Grandpa's house!

Wordless Wednesday - NYC Sunset

2009-11-24T19:19:00.000-08:00

November 2009

Holiday Baking - Sour Cream Cookies with Burnt Butter Icing

2009-11-24T07:05:00.000-08:00

This is a recipe passed down from my mother. While making the cookies today I remembered she always would push her finger on one of the cookies to see if it was done. I can't remember if we had a kitchen timer but I do have one. I remove the cookies from the oven when the timer "dings" instead of poking them. My favorite thing about these cookies is the icing. The burnt butter adds such a delectable taste and the icing literally melts in your mouth.
Sour Cream Cookies

½ cup Butter
1 ½ cups Sugar
2 Eggs

1 cup Sour Cream
1 teaspoon Vanilla

2 ¾ cups Flour
½ teaspoon Baking Soda
½ teaspoon Baking Powder

½ teaspoon Salt
Beat butter, sugar and eggs until well blended and fluffy. Add the sour cream and vanilla and again beat until well blended. Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add to the butter mixture and blend until smooth and blended well.

Chill dough for at least one hour. The dough will be sticky. I use a dough scoop just a tad smaller than a tablespoon. Drop desired size of dough onto a greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. I prefer baking stones however any cookie sheet will do.

Bake at 425 degrees for 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove cookies from oven and cookie sheet and place on a cooling rack.

Burnt Butter Icing
½ cup Butter
4 cups sifted Confectioners' Sugar (powered sugar, 10x)

4 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Melt butter in a saucepan over a medium-high heat. Cook stirring constantly until the butter is light brown in color. Do not burn but do not under cook either.

Add confectioner's sugar, vanilla and milk to butter in a bowl and beat on high with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add more milk or confectioner's sugar as needed.

Frost the cookies immediately because this frosting will set quickly.

I hope you enjoy these cookies as much as my family does.

Holiday Baking - Sugar Cookies

2009-11-23T06:56:00.000-08:00

Our grandchildren are out of school this week for the Thanksgiving holiday.

We have several activities planned which include some holiday baking. Traditionally, at our house Thanksgiving is the start of the Christmas Season. This includes cookies and baked goods to eat along with our Thanksgiving meal.

One of our traditions is baking and decorating

Sugar Cookies

¾ of a cup butter

¾ of a cup shortening (I use butter flavored Crisco)

2 cups granulated sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon lemon flavoring

Beat with mixer until light and fluffy.

Add:

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons salt

5 cups flour

Add the baking powder and salt first so they mix in well. Add the flour one cup at a time mixing it thoroughly.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.

Roll out the dough and cut with cookie cutters. I place the dough on a Silpat mat and cover it with plastic wrap. This way the dough rolls out easily without adding any flour.

I place the mat with the dough in the freezer for 10 – 15 minutes. This makes the negative cookie dough very easy to pull away from the cut out cookie shapes. The cookies can bake on the mat or place them on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.

Bake for 9 minutes or until light brown.

Slide parchment paper with cookies onto a cooling rack.

Frost as desired.

2009-11-22T06:48:00.001-08:00

The Princess has new bangs!

2009-11-21T20:13:00.000-08:00

Pink Saturday - Camelias

2009-11-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

My NY loves photography.
He talked this lovely pink Camelia into participating in this staged photo.

You see, the pink Camelia and her Greek urn don't usually sit on the front porch bench.
Their place is next to it.

My favorite Pink from last week is from Brookside Cottage.

I just adore the elephant & flamingo ornaments!!

For more Pink Saturday visit Beverly at How Sweet The Sound.

FYI...NY is my husband!

Retro Toys & Mindi

2009-11-21T04:43:00.000-08:00

Mindi and I recently had a "Mother/Daughter" date.

We sat in a dark theater eating scrambled egg burritos while we watched a screening of New Moon. Afterwards we browsed the toy department in Target.

It seems Fisher Price has a line of retro toys.

Retro?

We had all these toys when our kids were little!

NY has the sweetest story about the Sock Monkey he had as a child.

Each of my children perfected their small motor movement skills on the Fisher Price telephone and listened to nursery rhymes on the Music Box Teaching Clock.

Have you shopped the retro toys at Target?

Need Fiber? Kellogg's Froot Loops & Apple Jacks

2009-11-20T10:39:00.000-08:00

F...I...B...E...R

Fiber!

Grandma, what's fiber?

My grandson is in kindergarten and is learning to read.

It delights me when he uses this new found skill.

The other morning as we prepared to sit down to breakfast I could hear Bear reading the Froot Loops cereal box. He didn't have any difficulty reading the words Froot Loops.

He already knew that's what was in the box.

The word that Bear wasn't familiar with was Fiber.

"What's fiber?" he asked.

Fiber is something good that Kellogg's added to Froot Loops and Apple Jacks. Fiber helps your body move better and faster.

Kellogg's has been around for more than a century. I am happy to say that's longer than I can remember. I grew up with Kellogg's cereals and so did my children. Now my grandchildren are enjoying Kellogg's for breakfast and after school snacks.

Kellogg's has added fiber to two of the all time favorite cereals.

Froot Loops and Apple Jacks.

Product Description: Many studies have explored the role of fiber in weight management. A review of the effects of fiber on calorie intake and body weight found that eating an additional 14 grams of fiber each day resulted in a 10 percent fall in calorie intake and weight loss of about four pounds within three months. Visit FIBER-pe-dia on KelloggNutrition.com.

Unfortunately, 9 out of 10 kids aren't getting the fiber they need. A simple way to help children get a jump on their daily fiber intake is to start the day with a bowl of Fiber enriched Froot Loops or Apple Jacks cereal. We're big on cold cereal at our house and Kellogg's just made it better!

Be sure and check out Kellogg's Coupons before you go to the market!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Kellogg’s and received boxes of Froot Loops and Apple Jacks and a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Aloha Friday - Thanksgiving Day Sweets

2009-11-20T00:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Aloha Friday Everyone!!

Thanksgiving Day is in less than a week.

What is your favorite Dessert on the Thanksgiving holiday?

Mine is Pumpkin pie however I also love a good homemade apple pie.

Disney On Ice

2009-11-19T08:42:00.000-08:00

Disney On Ice Presents "Worlds of Fantasy"!

For those of you that live in the greater Los Angeles area. Gather your family together for a magical Disney show on ice.

Mom Central is offering a discount on Disney on Ice tickets.

Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 for Monday through Friday matinee shows, or receive $4 off all weekend shows. Simply go to ticketmaster and enter the coupon code: MOM.**

Los Angeles

Staples Center

December 17: 7:30pm

December 18: 11:00am, 7:30pm

December 19: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

December 20: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

Anaheim

Honda Center

December 22: 7:30pm

December 23: 1:00pm, 7:30pm

December 24: 1:00pm, 4:30pm

December 25: 4:30pm

December 26: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

December 27: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

Ontario

Oracle Arena

December 30: 7:30pm

December 31: 1:00pm, 4:30pm

January 1: 3:30pm, 7:30pm

January 2: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

January 3: 11:00am, 3:00pm

Long Beach

Long Beach Arena

January 6: 7:30pm

January 7: 7:30pm

January 8: 11:00am, 7:30pm

January 9: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

January 10: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

(Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional weekday tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Rinkside or VIP seating. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges and handling fees will apply.)

Pillsbury Makes Holiday Baking Easier - Giveaway

2009-11-19T06:20:00.000-08:00

We're all about simplicity at our house.

We like anything that makes life easier especially around the holidays.

Pillsbury products have been simplifying lives for over 100 years.

Because of their expertise in the kitchen, I get to spend time baking cookies with my grandchildren.

Along with all the traditional food we eat on Thanksgiving we like to have baked goodies and treats to munch on throughout the day. With Pillsbury Ready to Bake Cookies we can leave some of the baking up to our grandchildren.

That is of course if the cookie dough can make it into the oven.

Easy to bake.

Easy to decorate.

And delicious to eat!

What more could you want?

Giveaway!!

We have a Pillsbury Thanksgiving pack for one lucky winner.

•Leave a comment telling us your favorite Pillsbury product.

•This giveaway will close at midnight on November 25th.

•Extra Entries:

•Please leave a separate comment for every entry.

•Follow Simply Cathi for five extra entries.

•For five extra entries place our button in your sidebar.

•For five extra entries follow us on Twitter.

•Get five extra entry each time you Tweet about this giveaway.

•Get five extra entries for becoming a fan of Simply Cathi on Facebook.

•Be sure and leave a separate comment for each and every entry.

I wrote this review as part of a blog tour for Pillsbury with My Blog Spark.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Fairy Tale Pumpkin

2009-11-18T00:03:00.000-08:00

Beau-Coup - Fine Favors, Stylish Giving - Incredible Giveaway!

2009-11-17T16:10:00.000-08:00

We love to entertain.

We enjoy having friends and family over for casual gatherings.

We also enjoy hosting formal dinner parties.

My husband has a natural talent for putting these gatherings and parties together.

I however do not.

I need all the help I can get to make myself look like an extraordinary hostess.

That's why I am so delighted with Beau-Coup.

Oh my gosh!!

The definition of beau-coup is abundance and that is exactly what Beau-Coup has. An abundance of anything you want or can possibly dream of for entertaining including personalization.

Holiday Dinners

Weddings

Birthday Parties

Dinner Parties

Wedding Showers

Baby Showers

Baptism Celebrations

Confirmation Celebrations

I'm crazy about these Holiday Chocolate Brownie Pops & Fall Brownie Pop Favors.

The 2 Piece Square Favor Boxes are tied with a ribbon just the way I wrap my gifts.

And how adorable are these Personalized M&M Tins?

I am head over heels in love with Beau-Coup and want to share that love with you!

Giveaway!!

Beau-coup Favors is offering a $75 gift card to one lucky winner towards anything on their site!

•Leave a comment telling us your favorite Beau-Coup product.

•This giveaway will close at midnight on November 22nd.

•Extra Entries:

•Please leave a separate comment for every entry.

•Follow Simply Cathi for five extra entries.

•For five extra entries place our button in your sidebar.

•For five extra entries follow us on Twitter.

•Get five extra entry each time you Tweet about this giveaway.

•Get five extra entries for becoming a fan of Simply Cathi on Facebook.

•Be sure and leave a separate comment for each and every entry.

For reviewing Beau-Coup I am receiving a gift certificate to spend on anything my heart desires but guess what? I would have written the review for free because like I said before, I am head over heels in love with Beau-Coup!!

The Princess and the "School" Baby

2009-11-17T15:10:00.000-08:00

The Princess goes to pre-school twice a week. The baby doll in the photos lives at the pre-school but each of the children takes turn bringing her home for sleepovers. Today The Princess brought the baby home. I asked The Princess what the baby's name was and she replied, "School Baby"!

Organic Baby from Fresh Organics - Giveaway

2009-11-16T17:47:00.000-08:00

We tend our grandchildren most everyday. Quite often they sleep over and jump in the bath tub for a good scrubbing. We always try to use the purest organic products when we bathe them.

Fresh Organics has an absolutely delightful line of Baby Shampoo & Wash, Bubble Bath, Bottom Balm and Lotion. We had the opportnity to try the Organic Baby Conditioning Shampoo & Wash and Velvety Soft Babee Lotion.

I have to say I'm very impressed with Organic Baby.

Our grand babies play hard.

All. Day. Long.

The Princess (age three) gets just as dirty, if not more so, than her two older brothers. She has baby fine, fly-away hair that needs a gentle shampoo that also cleans well. I prefer the Shampoo & Wash for the simplicity of scrubbing little bodies from head to toes all at once.

Product Description: Organic Baby Conditioning Shampoo and Body Wash is a natural, hypoallergenic, tear-free formula that is gentle enough to use every day. Now there's no more tears or tangles at bath time - great for skin and hair of all ages.

The boys have grown out of wanting to put on lotion after bathing but not, of course, The Princess. The only problem I have found with the Velvety Soft Babee Lotion is...I'm using it more than my grand daughter.

Product Description: Organic Baby Velvety Soft Moisturizing Lotion protects delicate skin from drying wind and weather. This ultra rich formula is made with organic aloe vera, shea butter, avocado and jojoba oils, to deeply nourish and shield young, sensitive skin. Organic white tea and vitamin E defend against free radical damage and help keep young skin velvety soft.

Giveaway!!

~ Win an Organic Baby Travel Pack Gift Set ~

~ Also Organic Baby Conditioning Shampoo and Body Wash & Organic Baby Velvety Soft Moisturizing Lotion ~

•Leave a comment telling us your favorite Organic Baby product.

•This giveaway will close at midnight on November 24th.

•Extra Entries:

•Please leave a separate comment for every entry.

•Follow Simply Cathi for five extra entries.

•For five extra entries place our button in your sidebar.

•For five extra entries follow us on Twitter.

•Get five extra entry each time you Tweet about this giveaway.

•Get five extra entries for becoming a fan of Simply Cathi on Facebook.

•Be sure and leave a separate comment for each and every entry.

This post was written as part of a program for Family Review Network and Fresh Organics Baby, who provided the products for review & giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.

Oxfam America Unwrapped

2009-11-16T04:26:00.000-08:00

Saving lives.

Helping people overcome poverty.

Fighting for social justice.

That's what

is all about.

Website description: We are an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. We are part of Oxfam International, a confederation of 13 Oxfams working in more than 100 countries. Together with individuals and local groups in these countries, we save lives, help people overcome poverty, and fight for social justice.

There have been times in my life that anonymous loved ones have made sure that my family has been taken care of. I remember three different years when we arrived home to find a beautiful Christmas tree by our front door. There were also times when boxes were left filled with gifts. My life was changed because of this.

Now I am able to find fulfillment helping other people. And giving the "gift" of helping other people is a perfect gift for the holidays.

Oxfam America Unwrapped gives us the opportunity to reach out to the world.

Soap can stop the spread of disease or keep a child healthy. The $12 gift of soap supplies a community with 20 pounds of multipurpose soap.

The $25 gift of a Cooking Stove offers warmth and is an essential survival tool for displaced women. A fuel-efficient stove like this lessens the need for firewood, reduces deforestation, and cuts down the time spent by women gathering scarce firewood. The gift available for purchase range from Children's Toys, Books, Medical Kits, Blankets and Training for Midwives to Saving a Lake, Goats, Camels and Oxen. There are many options to help people in need all over the world.

I'm not crazy about shopping. The little bit that I do is usually online. Giving gifts from Oxfam America Unwrapped is giving two gifts in one. First, to the person I'm gifting. Second, to the people the gift will help.

Oxfam America Unwrapped is a simple way to spread the holiday spirit throughout the world and I like that.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Oxfam America Unwrapped and received a credit for a gift on the Oxfam site.

2009-11-15T00:03:00.000-08:00

Pink Saturday - Bed Head

2009-11-14T05:19:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist these photos of The Pink Princess.

Every single morning she wakes up with a delightful case of "Bed Head"

It seriously cracks me up!

Aloha Friday - Thanksgiving Traditions

2009-11-12T21:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Aloha Friday Everyone!!

From Kailani at An Island Life: In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So on Fridays let's take it easy on posting, too. Ask a simple question...nothing that requires a lengthy response. It’s a great way to make new blogging friends!

This week we made Blessing Boxes & Blessing Mix with my Cub Scout. It's become a tradition in our family the last few years and I wanted to share it with my Cubs.

But what about you?

Do you have any Thanksgiving traditions?

Prima Princessa presents "The Nutcracker"

2009-11-12T10:28:00.000-08:00

I love to dance.

I took tap and ballet lessons through my early teenage years and even tapped a bit as an adult. My daughter danced right into her first year of college and even Todd (yep, Toddy right over there in the side bar) danced during his pre-school and kindergarten years. In fact, Britt and Todd danced in a professional production of The Nutcracker. Britt was a soldier and Todd was a party boy and a mouse.

Over the years it's become a family tradition to watch a holiday production of The Nutcracker. It helps to set the mood in our house for the Christmas season.

This year we started our tradition with the new Prima Princessa presents The Nutcracker. It's the perfect way for young children to understand the Nutcracker story and to feel the music with their little bodies as they dance to it too.

From Prima Princessa: Our 40 minute Christmas movie is the perfect Holiday Gift for children ages 3 to 7. Join Prima Princessa, the adorable cartoon fairy ballerina princess, as she takes you on an amazing holiday Christmas adventure. Get on your pretty tutu and get ready to dance with the San Francisco Ballet as they perform excerpts from their world famous "Nutcracker." Between acts your kids will get up off the couch and dance along as they learn real ballet steps demonstrated by students from the School of American Ballet, the official academy of the New York City Ballet, plus contagiously adorable tutu-clad children!

The Princess (my three year old grand daughter) of course loved The Nutcracker. Even our six and nine year old grandsons enjoyed it. The boys are very uninhibited and not afraid to show their creativity through their body movements. (Umm...dancing)
With The Nutcracker comes the splendor of Christmas, dancing, toy soldiers, snow fairies and surprises that will entertain everyone... even the rough and tumble boys!!

This post was written as part of a program for Family Review Network and Prima Princessa, who provided the DVD for review."