My birthday boots!

The Infamous

There are two zippers, one is the calf extension

Again, these are from Aerosoles, The Infamous boot.  I love their shoe names.

Let me explain my absolute love affair with these.  I have muscular calves, even when I was skinny and starving my calves did not fit into tall boot like these, I could only zip them up half way and then I had to put them back on the shelf and walk away.  I read on line about others having this issue, and these boots fitting them.  So, I went to the outlet store here to try them on, and of course they were on sale, and the zipped up! So I begged DH to get the for my birthday for me!  He did the little sweetie.  I didn't want to take them off, but I did so he could wrap them and give them to me.
Now, to give you a bit more of an explanation, these are still tight to zip up, but they will stretch a bit with wear, bit even then I'm not expecting to be able to put my jeans or slacks inside and zip these up over pants and my calves, but that is okay by me.  Others on line mentioned that the ankle was not slim enough to look all trim, I can see where they might feel that way, but looking in the mirror these boots looked great on, not saggy in the ankle, although there is room.  Maybe I'm just not that picky since these are the first I could wear, but Aerosoles did have another boot that fit, and I still did not like the look of those.  The second zipper I though might look strange, but curiously it hid well and did not look all strange and noticeable.

So here they are, the first knee high boots that I get to wear, and I get to share the story with you!

Valentine's Day and my birthday celebration

 The Birthday Cake I made - GF and LC

My hubby's family celebrates pretty good.  We all get together, have a great meal, there are lots of presents, and we always have fun.  I thought these poppers were cute and brought these for the first time to our party.  We will try these again, but through a different maker.
The cake I made was another variation of this one I had been contemplating Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese

I doubled this cake:

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake 

• 1/2 cup almond flour, firmly packed
• 1/3 cup coconut flour, firmly packed (usually this amount is doubled if sifted instead of packed)
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp  baking soda
• 3/4  cup  honey
• 5  eggs
• 1/2 cup  butter, melted
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 1/4  cup  strong brewed coffee, hot
• dash of salt

1. Preheat oven to 325.
2. Whisk together wet ingredients, except coffee.
3. Add dry ingredients. Combine well.
4. Whisk in coffee.
5. Pour into greased pans or cupcake tin lined with wrappers.
6. Bake 20-25 minutes for cupcakes or until cake tests clean with toothpick.
7. Remove from pans, cool completely before icing.

* This recipe can also be used in a 9×13 pan, 2, 8-9inch round cake pans, or 1 dozen cupcakes

With Cherries on top

I used the canned cherry pie filling to layer in between each of the layers, and home made whip cream.

Dinner - a Crab Feast! This is my favorite birthday of the year, and it is my brother-in-laws favorite as well.  I hope that we can do a crab feast every year to celebrate my birthday!

a Balloon bouquet from my mother-in-law

I love Star Gazers

My niece decorating her uncle, He's so patient with her

presents and the cake

The cake looked better before our drive to my mother-in-laws house, in this picture it just looks like it's bleeding to me. My sister-in-law also brought a Boston cream cake, another favorite.

The Family

The Birthday Loot

I received lots of wonderful things, and have been having a great time putting all of these to great use.  That is a real Wizard of Oz lunch box, the metal kind large and pretty.  I had to take it to work to show it off. 


On my birthday, I did have to work.  Luckily my boss believes in celebrating birthdays.
My office was decorated and the party was set for lunch.

My office space decorated

Birthday lunch Celebration, the pink hat is mandatory for the festivities

along with my gift, I was presented with this and the compliments that are pasted on the board now.

My weekend of celebration was wonderful.  We had a great time with family, I had a lovely work party, and we got to spend the night dining together to celebrate both my birthday and our Valentine's day together.  Everyone celebrates holidays and birthday's in different ways, but what ever your celebrations look like, enjoy them.  Savor every moment, life is to short not to enjoy these moments.

Pear & Cranberry Crisp

Pear & Cranberry Crisp

4 pears cut into pieces
1/4 Cup of craisens
Dash of Nutmeg
1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
splash of lemon to coat the pears
1 Tsp of vanilla

Combine in a large bowl, stirring to combine. Add pears; toss gently to coat. Spoon pear mixture into a shallow 2-quart baking dish lightly coated with cooking spray.

Top with favorite Crisp recipe

• 1/4  cup  all-purpose flour ( I did not use my coconut or almond flour, next time I will)
• 1/2  cup  regular oats
• 1/4  cup  packed brown sugar
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt
• 3  tablespoons  chilled butter, cut into small pieces

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle flour mixture over pear mixture.
Bake at 375° for 35 minutes or until topping is lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes.


Mine was loosely based on this recipe from Cooking Light, I had forgotten where to find it and did the first portion by memory, before finding another recipe with a crisp topping and used it.  Gingered Pear Crisp.


I love crisp's and so does my husband, even when he's not a big fan of the fruit used.  This one turned out great even with improvising a bit on the fruit part.  I had to use the lovely pears that come in our Farm Fresh to You box, dear hubby loved it.

I'm not quite a food photographer, but I am having lot's of fun working on it.  I've also come to realize I'm not good at living on a strict diet.  I will get better, especially since I can tell now much more so when I've eaten things with gluten, it hurts.  I've never been one to visit the doctor much, but I may need to have this clarified a bit more, and see if I have an allergy, intolerance, or if it is just a sensitivity that I only need to partly reduce this in my diet.  I know that I feel better not eating it, but some of these things taste so good.  I will have to know for sure before I give them up entirely.

I wonder how many other people are like that?  I have some co-workers who are not willing to give anything up to have a longer life, they are older and I'm pretty sure they are set in their ways.  I personally would like a long and healthy life, if reducing things gives me a better quality then I'm game.

Well, tonight I'm finishing up a GF chocolate cake, I will be layering it tomorrow like this recipe, and having it for my birthday desert.  I will post pictures later and share the excitement.  This whole PCOS adventure has turned up the most interesting ways to cook, eat, and look at life.  One day I will look back at this and see all the progress I've made, and hopefully I will have accomplished all of my goals, and making new ones.

My dear, dear friend

LEONA DAVIDIAN 

Visit Guest Book

Leona Frances Davidian 1920 ~ 2011 Leona Frances Davidian, age 90, died on February 3, 2011 in Prescott, Arizona. She was born on July 18, 1920 in Akron, Ohio. Leona married Krikor Davidian in North Hollywood, California on June 30, 1974. Leona loved to be outdoors, hiking, biking, and walking on the beach with her husband Krikor, our Dad and Grand-father. When she was younger they could be seen riding their bikes throughout Salt Lake City. She also loved "her hummingbirds", and could spend hours watching them on her feeders. Another one of her hobbies was her "rose garden" in which she took great pride. Her grandchildren, Scott and Karin, remember the times they spent on the beach, camping in the mountains, fishing and eating the "most delicious trout" that they had caught. Leona loved to knit and crochet, especially making scarves for Krikor. Leona and Krikor were born again Christians, loved going to church and bible study. They read their bibles together, every day. She is survived by her loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Krikor. She is also survived by her daughter, Judy, son Edward, grandchildren, Scott and Karin, and eight great-grand-children, Max, Issabelle, Chloe, Rosie, Elizabeth, Mason, William, and soon to be born Ella. She was preceded in death by her son, Chad. Funeral services will be held in Salt Lake City, at the Redwood Memorial Funeral Home, 6500 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan on Friday, February 11 at 2:00 p.m., with interment immediately following. In lieu of flowers, Leona, would prefer donations to the Arthritis Foundation .

Published in Salt Lake Tribune on February 9, 2011

I found out today that my dear friend Fran passed away, which is just devastating to me.   I have known this beautiful woman since I was in Junior High.  Fran and Krikor opened their home to the youth that came in for Harvest Utah, and they housed my now husband.  That was when I met him. Krikor helped me with my french for school, and came to talk and share with my class, he won them over of course.  He could charm them all.  They were neighbors to my aunt and uncle, and were members of my home church, they were woven into many of my most precious memories, and have been an integral part of my growing up into the person I have become today.  Every moment of my life has include thoughts and prayers and memories of these two wonderful people. She and her husband both prayed for me daily since I was 21, and going through a difficult time in my life. I have only love and respect for Fran, and will miss her dearly.

Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I'm having an interesting revelation today.  I made these recipes yesterday, and loved them. I shared with my co-workers and they too loved them.  I know that sharing this cake recipe with you is something wonderful and you will enjoy this chocolate cake recipe as well.  My epiphany came when I was thinking of post it, I got the pictures and the recipe, but then I was not going to say much else.  I've noticed that I have been doing that lately, it's not that I don't feel the need to talk, but I do this every so often.  It seems that there are dark times that I go through, I'm not sure if others go through this in the same way, but I decided to share.   When I go through these times, I seem to grow silent, I'm sorry.  I will try to make these times few and far between.

I have another fun little tidbit for you all, I have lots of almond flour and coconut flour to use. I generally bake in between Halloween and Christmas, and then I only bake for birthdays and for guests.  I have 5lbs of almond flour to use! eek!  I've also wanted to make a moist lower carb gluten free chocolate cake, and this recipe looked like it would fit the bill.  I was not disappointed, in fact I was delighted with the results.  Keep in mind that gluten free baked goods do not rise like their gluten infused counterparts, so fill the cup cake things about 3/4 full, or a little more. 

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake 

• 1/2 cup almond flour, firmly packed
• 1/3 cup coconut flour, firmly packed
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp  baking soda
• 3/4  cup  honey
• 5  eggs
• 1/2 cup  butter, melted
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 1/4  cup  strong brewed coffee, hot
• dash of salt

1. Preheat oven to 325.
2. Whisk together wet ingredients, except coffee.
3. Add dry ingredients. Combine well.
4. Whisk in coffee.
5. Pour into greased pans or cupcake tin lined with wrappers.
6. Bake 20-25 minutes for cupcakes or until cake tests clean with toothpick.
7. Remove from pans, cool completely before icing.

* This recipe can also be used in a 9×13 pan, 2, 8-9inch round cake pans, or 1 dozen cupcakes

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8oz Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 Cup butter, softenend
1 Cup confectioners Sugar (more can be added if you want it sweeter)
1 1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Wordless Wednesday - Sunset

New sleeping masks

The Dreamer & Opulence

I Previoulsy posted about Masks in  Sleep Masks and Hot Water Bottles since then my mask decided to wear itself out.  I then decided to go ahead and get two new ones, one because I wanted to see what the other masks were like, the ones without the comfort straps but with the ear plug holder, and of course to get the one I love.  One will have a permanent residence in my travel bag, so I can sleep on the road without any issues.  I am a very very very light sleeper, all sounds wake me up.  My husband breathes heavy, and it keeps me up, my dogs get up and settle themselves in the night and I'm up, the neighbors dogs bark, wind, rain, general creaks, faucets drip, well you get the idea. I wake up easily.  

I'm not sure if any of you suffer from the same sleeplessness that I do, but I found that masks that block the light and keep your eye lids shut help a lot, and the earplugs assist as well.  

Dream Essentials Sweet Dreams Contoured Sleep Mask with Earplugs and Travel Pouch ~ Black 

Well, I do remember people mentioning others with PCOS having issues with sleep, and so it seems a good thing to review.  Getting a good nights sleep helps, 

Many Benefits of Melatonin

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Got Sticky Blood Here Are Some Ways To...

I love this poem, and haven't shared any poems lately.  This is one that I love to think on.  I also like to listen to a particular song some nights when my mind is racing, the song calms me and reminds me to let the little things go.

Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod
Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod, one night sailed off in a wooden shoe;
Sailed off on a river of crystal light into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going and what do you wish?" the old moon asked the three.
"We've come to fish for the herring fish that live in this beautiful sea.
Nets of silver and gold have we," said Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song as they rocked in the wooden shoe.
And the wind that sped them all night long ruffled the waves of dew.
Now the little stars are the herring fish that live in that beautiful sea;
"Cast your nets wherever you wish never afraid are we!"
So cried the stars to the fishermen three - Winkin', and Blinkin', and Nod.

So all night long their nets they threw to the stars in the twinkling foam.
'Til down from the skies came the wooden shoe bringing the fisherman home.
'Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed as if it could not be.
Some folks say 'twas a dream they dreamed of sailing that misty sea.
But I shall name you the fisherman three - Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.

Now Winkin' and Blinkin' are two little eyes and Nod is a little head.
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies is a wee one's trundle bed.
So close your eyes while mother sings of the wonderful sights that be.
And you shall see those beautiful things as you sail on the misty sea,
Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three - Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.