Those crazy bunchkins

So I got an iPhone (I've finally joined the Apple cult) and it seems my kids love it just as much or maybe even more than me. They are obsessed with the games (most of which I don't even know how to play) but what but what has really peaked their interest in the last few days is the camera and all the fun distortions it is capable of. They 'borrowed' (snuck) my phone this weekend and had quite the photos hoot! So here are a few of my faves! Oh those silly silly bunchkins!

Another easy meal

If you can't already tell, I have quite the obsession with chicken. I'm sure I've explained the reason behind my obsession before but allow me to reiterate! It's healthy, delicious and so easy to make! I can add a multitude of spices and make it amazing!!! Tonight I went with some S & P (salt and pepper), red pepper flakes (I'm on a spicy kick) and some garlic (no meal is complete without garlic!). So end if story, it was incredible! I added rice since, due to my recent departure from gluten it's about the only option I have. So now it's picture time!!!

Elizabethan Fashion

Fashion is made to become unfashionable. 

-Coco Chanel

This look may not work in our
modern society...

So I am watching the movie 'Elizabeth', (great movie by the way!) and the fashion is just FABULOUS! It almost makes me wish that we were in the golden age where flouncy skirts, corsets, elaborate embroidery and rich colors were the norm. Not that I am complaining, I mean I couldn't live without the LBD! But maybe there is a way to mesh the two? I was perusing Dolce and Gabbana's Fall RTW line and I think they may just have done it! You can view the entire collection here  but i'm including some of my fave looks! So enjoy! And maybe mix a bit of Elizabethan drama into your wardrobe! 

This is my favorite look from the collection
So Chic!

A mix of modern and old world era.
Texture, gold,  mock-corset...beautiful

This one looks a little to 'bo peep' for me but still cute!

Don't let her disapproving look fool you,
she loves these dresses...

~Fireflies~

You would not believe your eyes if ten million fireflies lit up the world as I fell asleep... 

(Owl City)

The specks of light are either fireflies or dust...I haven't cleaned the camera lens in a bit.

Jumping to catch them...

Last night we were treated to the most wonderful nature show on earth. In our backyard we have a small grouping of trees next to a beautiful lake and Saturday night they were FILLED with fireflies (lest you thought the owl city song was completely random). It was like an outdoor theatre or a festival of lights. There were about two hundred plus fireflies blinking throughout the trees (not quite ten million but I'll take it!) We laid a blanket out and enjoyed the show. The kids chased fireflies and Jon and i enjoyed the moment. I do have to side note that the kids 'capturing' of these little insects cause quite a few to sadly loos their lives by the hands of an over eager five year old, but massacre aside, it was a grand night. Here's some photos of the magical experience! (note: Caleb had given in to sleep a few minutes before the show started so he is absent from the pictures) 

Patiently waiting...

Christian watching the show

I'm not so sure this firefly they caught made it out alive...

Once they realized i had a camera
 it was all downhill...

Getting a lil crazy

What an adventure!

Cupcakes! (Are you in any way surprised?)

So... I've decided to go gluten free. It's been a long time coming but last night I ate a biscuit with dinner and, after my stomach was done screaming at me, I decided the time had come. Do you know what has gluten in it? EVERYTHING THAT I LOVE! Pasta, bread, cookies, basically all the good stuff. But this is not a post about what I cant eat, or what a huge loss I am currently feeling about the lack of pasta in my life. This is a post about the new adventure I am now on. More specifically it is about the most delicious cupcakes I just made that are completely gluten free. No flour is NOT the end of the world (I hope). So these amazing cupcakes may lack flour, but they do not lack flavor. You can find the recipe here and indulge in its delightfulness.  So now for the pictures (the best part of any blog in my mind).

They may not look like much but frosting has a magic way
of making not-so-impressive- baked goods look FABULOUS!

Pure beauty

The frosting was a chocolate buttercream concoction that I found in a recipe book I have had forever. I actually highly recommend the book to all fellow chocolate lovers, its called Chocolate on the Brain and its choc full of delicious chocolate recipes. But enough about that. These cupcakes turned out to be MUCH better than expected, and you can trust my opinion because I am quite the cupcake connoisseur. They were rich and moist and perfectly chocolatey. Now that i know that cupcakes are not off the 'do-not-eat' list I am a bit less upset about that whole 'no-pasta' thing. But who knows, i found this wonderful recipe, there may be a gluten free pasta (that's worth eating) out there in the world. Wouldn't that be nice? So off i head on a new adventure that will (hopefully) bring me less stomach aches, more recipes and many more cupcakes! The adventure starts NOW!

This is the definition of yum-tastic.

Rainbow cupcakes

Just a short little post for the sole purpose of showing off these bright, beautiful and delectable cupcakes. Enjoy.

Note Jon CHOWING on a cupcake
in the background...

So COLORFUL! 

Couldnt resist a bite!

Pasta

First I would like to start this post, as I begin many by apologizing for my lack of activity on this blog. What's that you say? Apology accepted? *whew* lets move on. So I will start of with a fact. Pasta is one of the 8 wonders of the world. I haven't verified this fact but I'm fairly sure it's true. Also I think Shakespeare write a sonnet about pasta... And in my own personal opinion, I'm obsessed with it. When I want to actually cook a great dinner, pasta is my go to. I may not be the best cook but I can make a pasta dish that rivals Emril.... And thats a fact. So the pasta I made tonight was a simple one, nothing super fancy, but it turned out great! I've got one sick child and (knowing how germs spread) probably two more on the way so I wanted something simple and bland enough that no tummys would get upset. Unfortunately caleb (poor guy) is on a strict saltine and ginger ale diet, but the rest of us thoroughly enjoyed this delightful creation! In fact both kiddos got seconds, so that is all the verification I need. The pasta is pictured below but the simple recipe is penne, chicken, whipping cream, peas and parsley. I also added garlic but that's more of a food staple then it is an ingredient. I put that stuff in everything! I just threw everything together (no specific amounts, just what looked good) and simmered it in a saucepan. It was delish!
Note, picture was taken post meal.... We were hungry.