Jennifer Apodaca's Blog, page 45

Friday Five

TGIF!! Time to share five random things about our week.  Here’s mine:

It’s almost 2023!! It’s been a year for sure. While 2022 brought some challenges, I’m very grateful we were able to get into the new house, which has made life easier for us.I made lemon bars and wasn’t entirely happy with them, so then I made brownies. But I can stop baking any time I want. Really, I’m fine Okay, I’m also making thumbprint cookies today, but that’s entirely Wizards fault because he asked me to make them to take to a small a New Years Eve gathering at a neighbors. And now I have a question: Why are men so bad at party plans? The neighbor saw wizard and invited us through him, but I’m getting like six different versions from him on what I should bring…men! I’m not big on blaming men for most things, but it’s so true and that men and women communicate very differently! Oops, this was a run-on random thing, LOL.We had Biker Witch and her Biker Hubby over last night for dinner as a latish holiday celebration. I made manicotti which I haven’t made in years. Did you all know Manicotti shells are hard to find? At least they are in my area. I managed to improvise with oven ready lasagna noodles and I was very pleased with the results. I also found both a decent ricotta and mozzarella. I served the lemon bars and brownies for dessert (that’s perfectly normal for a four person dinner party, right?) We really enjoyed having them out. And now that this dinner is over, I’m out of excuses and probably have to put the Christmas tree and decorations away.I bought a new cookbook by a blogger I follow. I’m weirdly excited by this. I haven’t bought any version of a cookbook in years, but love thumbing through it, seeing the pictures and reading about dinner parties and such. In my head, I could pull off an amazing dinner party. In reality…it’d be a clown show, LOLOL! But I I’m totally enjoying the “old school” (as in a real book, not online) cookbook. I mentioned going to a small gathering at a new neighbor’s for New Year’s Eve. This party starts at 8pm. That’s perfect for me…if it’s a pajama party! I’m pretty much a couch potato about that time at night because I generally get up at 5:30 and go nonstop until about 7 or 8. But I really want to meet and chat with neighbors so I’m going to try to pull myself together into something presentable. Wish me luck!

I hope everyone has a great New Year’s Eve and we all take on 2023 with positivity and hope! Now I’d love to hear five random things about your week!

Happy New Year!

The post Friday Five first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

This week so far has been relaxing because I can do thing...

This week so far has been relaxing because I can do things on my own timeline. Both Wizard and I are loving it! We were so happy to do that last two to three weeks of non stop stuff, but we sure appreciate the slower, more controlled pace this week!

This is a picture from a hike Maggie and I took Monday afternoon.

We went a little farther than we should have, and I scoped out some new-to-me trails before I stopped due to the whole common sense thing. I worry about wildlife, stray unstable humans and falls when I’m alone, and I was a lot farther up than it looks in this shot. But when my son comes out to hang out TV in a couple weeks, his wife and dogs are planning to come with him. We girls will take the dogs hiking if it’s a nice enough day. Since their two dogs, Jett and Hazel, are big and my daughter-in-law is a smart, capable woman, I’ll feel safer to go farther and explore more.

How’s your Wednesday going?

The post first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Late Weekend and Holiday Roundup!

It was a wild and fun holiday for us! But we had 80 degree weather unlike so many of you in other parts of the country. I hope those of you in the cold areas are all well, warm and had a great celebration too! That cold was scary.

After two weeks of going nonstop, I’m so wiped out I’m barely functioning today. Anyone else feel like that or is it just me? I was going so much, I lost weight despite all the baking I did, LOLOL. I’m sure that will change pretty quickly as life returns to a more normal pace.

Let’s see: Friday middle son and his wife came out and brought us a Christmas/Housewarming gift that stunned us both. We were so shocked, that both of us had to mentally shake ourselves in order to thank them They were so very sweet and thoughtful and way too generous. That was a great day just seeing them. Sometimes, it’s really nice to see the kids with their spouses separately. We really enjoyed the day.

Saturday I had a few small errands, then youngest came over, and after that, I made a small cake just for me and Turbo. We shared it with the others, but Turbo and I are the chocolate fans It was a one bowl chocolate cake, with chocolate swiss meringue icing. Then just for fun I did a quick fondant  snowman. I’ll post a pic of the cake, but trust me, I know the icing job is sloppy both neither Turbo or I cared! And he even ate some of the fondant snowman.

Sunday — Christmas morning, Wizard and I opened gifts. He got hobby stuff and clothes. I got a vacuum mop for the floors (which I REALLY wanted) and my dream coffeemaker! It’s a Ninja Duelbrew Pro and I love it so much! Youngest has one and I’ve wanted it for months but could not bring myself to spend that much money on a coffeemaker.

Maggie got a toy and a special treat. But truly, her happiest time is just have people over, and she and Turbo are buddies. He has a snoopy robe with ears and a tail that he put that on after his bath. Maggie found that super interesting. I mean her ruff was up down her back, but it was from excitement and I guess curiosity. If he’d taken it off, she’d have probably stolen it

How was your weekend and holiday?

The post Late Weekend and Holiday Roundup! first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Happy Holidays!

I want to wish you all a Happy Holidays and/or Merry Christmas! No matter what tradition or holiday you celebrate, I want you all to know you’re important to me! And I sincerely hope you have a safe, warm and joyful times with your loved ones! (This in the storm areas or traveling, please be careful!)

We’ve been celebrating since last weekend. We had one family party last Sunday, another one yesterday at Wizard’s mom, then Sunday will just be us and Turbo plus his parents, then sometime next week another small gathering with my sister and her husband. The important thing is spending times with those we love even if we somehow spread it out over time and tons of travel miles. I’m a big believer in making the effort as long as we’re up to it.

Right now, I’m debating if I have time to make another Christmas cake for Turbo…the answer is NO, LOLOL! I’m going to try to resist the urge.

If any of you are around and have a few moments, share what you’re doing!

Merry Christmas!

The post Happy Holidays! first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Wednesday This and That

Christmas is just a few days away!  I hope everyone is ready or almost ready. For us, it’s a busier week than we’d anticipated, but it’ll be manageable.  But I am a little distracted and I was thinking so hard about various things yesterday the I ended up cleaning the shower twice. I may have called myself an idiot in very creative ways when I realized what I was doing! I mean it’s not a chore I enjoy doing once…so I deserved the self-name-calling.

I’m still mad about it, LOLOL!!

But aside from my masochistic tendencies, I started listening to a new book to get through the dreaded cleaning and thought you all might be amused given my rather eclectic choices lately. The title is “The Second Life if Mirielle West” by Amanda Skenandore, and it’s a historical fiction about a socialite in California in the 1920’s who contracts leprosy and is sent to a colony run by nuns.  Is that eclectic enough ?? I truly just stumbled onto the books when I looked through a sale at Audible and it caught my eye. The heroine is a spoiled, vain woman who finds herself living in a leper colony and having to readjust — so at it’s core, it’s a fish out of water story. And it’s not told in a grim way, I’m enjoying it more than I would have believed.

Also Maggie wants to show you all her brand new toy! It was a gift from a friend of hers (my daughter-in-law’s mom) and Maggie loves it. She run around with it, throws and shakes it. I tried to get a picture of that, but she was shaking it so hard, it came out a gray blur in the pics. I’m glad she loves it, but I can’t seem to take my eyes off that long candy cane striped…nose I guess its a long nose sawshark? Out of the water, he looks more comical than scary!

Happy Wednesday!

The post Wednesday This and That first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Late Weekend Roundup

Sorry I’m late, the entire weekend passed in a blur and Monday showed up before I wasn’t ready But I’m here now!

So Friday afternoon we headed out to Turbo’s preschool play. We left an hour and half before the show to give ourselves plenty of time, and got stuck in traffic from a bad accident. However frustrating it was for us, it was a lot worse for the occupants of the cars, and their loved ones. Anyhow, we arrived on time and the play was too cute! And lasted maybe 30 minutes with four different “classes” of age groups. Then we went to dinner with Turbo and his parents. It was truly nice, especially since it was Grandma’s night! Turbo hugged me, kissed me and chatted to me nonstop the entire evening. Poor Grandpa was stuck on the other side of me and got the left over affection and chatter, LOLOL.

Saturday I did more baking — I think I made 7 double batches of cookies? I think the faves I’ve heard so for have been the pistachio cookies with brown butter icing, thumbprint cookies with raspberry or lemon filling, lemon cookies and the chocolate mocha peppermint. And then I made the cake — it’s my first cake in something like 9 months or maybe even a year. It took a while it get the hang of it again, and it came out okay but not as good as I could have done with more time. But for better or worse here’s a pic:

Sunday we had the family party. There were present mix ups that were hilarious — everyone laughed because we are all trying to juggle too many things and sometime the wrong present is wrapped for the wrong person. Turbo had a great time and showed so very nice manners and graciousness. I was impressed.

Today I’m trying to regroup mentally and physically for this next week.

How was your weekend?

The post Late Weekend Roundup first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Friday Five

TGIF!! I hope all of you in the tornado areas this week are okay. I was thinking of you ( and you specifically, Silver!). Now it’s time to dive into sharing five random things about our week. I’m trying to write mine in a 10 minute window of time I have, LOLOL!! It’s been that kind of week. So here we go!

I’ve baked three kinds of bread and at least six double batches of cookies, and two eight inch cake layers so far. I have another double batch of cookie. All that is mostly in the freezer, and my freezer is bulging at the seems. I still have a double batch of pistachio cookies to make.I’m trying to find time to make fondant toppers for the vague and ever-changing cake design in my head. I need it by one p,m, on Sunday, so we’ll see if I get this cake done! So the cake was supposed to be a white chocolate cake that I’ll add layers of raspberry filling too. But I could not find the white chocolate instant pudding I needed, so I substituted cheesecake flavored pudding. I think that flavor will work with the raspberry filling, but my baking is always an adventure! I also planned on making some chocolate cupcakes, but I’m so short on time and freezer space, I don’t know if that’s even possible.My oven is getting mixed reviews. I’ve been using convection bake, and it’s slower. My cake and the cupcakes I’ve made in the past seem to do well. Cookies are mixed, some are underbaked, and my zucchini bread came out weird — flat and sticky. That’s either too low a temp with the fan blowing in the convection or my baking soda or powder is old. But the other breads baked fine so who knows. The chemistry in making is mysterious sometimes.Our family Christmas party is Sunday and that’s why this week is crazed. Well that and things just got out of control like they always do. That’s life!Today we hope to go to see Turbo in his pre-kindergarten Christmas play, and then we’ll go to dinner with Turbo and his family afterward. It’ll make for a long day so we arranged from Maggie to have an overnight spa weekend for her. She’ll get to play with friends and get her bath, and probably be mad at us:-) But it’s better for her and for us.

Okay I wrote then in like 12 minutes!!! Now it’s your turn, can you beat my time??? I hope everyone has a fun, safe and not too overwhelming weekend!

The post Friday Five first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Maggie’s Takes Over the Blog Today

Oh hi, there!

It’s me, Maggie. Guys I have to ask you all…is my mom crazy? Every year she tries to do too much in too short a time, and I’m left dealing with her stress. I have to do all kinds of things like, clean up the kitchen floor while she bakes and talks to herself, make her stop and go for walks, sit on the couch and let her pet me, or remind her to give me treats. But seriously…how can she do this to herself every year and not learn?

Also, I have to tell you a story. So my mom has taught me not to run out doors to the outside unless I’m given permission. I follow the rule most of the time, although sometimes I might cheat a little bit and pretend I thought she gave me permission. So yesterday mom and Wizard were bringing in groceries, and I stood inside the garage door supervising.

Then I saw another dog walking by my house. I looked at my mom to see if I was allowed to go see him, but she was too busy looking at the other dog. I want to go sooooo bad, but I waited.

Then my mom turned and her eyes got all big and she said the word I didn’t want to hear. “Stay.” That was bad enough, but then she looked at Wizard and said, “I forgot the door was open! Maggie could have run out!”

She forgot about me! ME!!

So you know what I did??? I stepped out and stood on the rug just outside the door. And I waited until my mom turned again and saw me. Our eyes met…

And then I went back inside the house Because I’m mostly a good girl, but I had to show her that I could be a not-so-good-girl if she forgets about me again. Sometimes we just have to remind our people who is really important, am I right?

So guys, my mom told me I had to take an official Christmas photo. I agreed to sit for one and only one. Here it is:

My mom sighed but is it my fault that’s the best shot she could get? I’m pretty sure it’s the photographers fault. I gave her the one shot, and this is what she took.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

The post Maggie’s Takes Over the Blog Today first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Weekend Roundup

Bleh. It was pretty much that kind of weekend.  Wizard is steadily recovering from his cold by sending it to me My throat was the worst of it so far, but that seemed better yesterday. Otherwise, its just a cold. Sunday it rained and this week looks cold with some rain too. We need the rain so there’s that.

I tried to bake on Saturday and made a mess of it, LOL. Let’s just say that I shouldn’t bake while high on cold meds! It fogs my brain and wires me at the same time, so it’s not a good mix. The next day I cut the dose in half and felt better! Ultimately I did make some pumpkin bread and salted dark chocolate cookies. I have much more to do this week if I’m feeling up to it. If not…it’ll all be fine.

Next weekend we’re going to youngest’s house for a family Christmas. I’m bringing dessert and I still don’t know what I want to make. So many decision! I’d like to make a cake and a side dessert for variety but we’ll see.

Yesterday, I had to laugh. As I mentioned it rained and all my sons were clearly all bored. Youngest began texting around 8 in the morning. Then oldest called and middle called while I was still talking to oldest. I’m very popular when it’s raining and my sons have nothing else to do but call mom I’m teasing, they are all great kids and call and visit when they can. But I do like to tease them.

Oldest called because Turbo’s birthday is in March, and he tells me twice a week about various cakes he wants This week it’s been and  “ant” (as in the bug) cake and a “Hulk” cake. I have no idea where the ant cake came from! A hulk cake would be fun to make. We’ll see how many more times Turbo changes his mind in the next two and a half months.

Middle was talking about our house ( he thinks it’s big and really likes it!) and letting me know about a weird bug bite on his arm. He then acted like the successful adult he is and went to Urgent Care to get it treated before his busy work week ahead. Then he texted to let me know he’d done it so I wouldn’t worry. I really appreciate that!

Youngest just harasses me I told him I had a cold, and he suggest I “drink some of dad’s Scotch to burn out the virus.”  I’m rather glad he didn’t choose medicine as a career. He also sends me cute picture of his dog Phoebe but I can’t go see her because I don’t want to spread my cold the them. That’s just mean.

Oh and the concrete and walls are delayed until after the holidays. Weather and other factors got in the way, and we’re not really surprised.

So how was your weekend?

The post Weekend Roundup first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Friday Five

TGIF! Time to share five random things about our weeks. Here’s mine:

Wizard has a cold, and today we think I’m getting it. But I thought that once before, then woke up feeling fine the next day so we’ll see. It’s been years since I’ve been sick, and I think it’s rude of this virus to even consider breaking my winning streak. All things considered, though, I’ll take a cold over the flu or Covid.Monday a window frame repair place was scheduled to come assess is large chip in the frame of our sliding glass door. It’s a warranty issue, and when the office gal called to schedule the appointment she wasn’t particularly friendly. They didn’t show up at all on Monday, with no calls or anything until Wednesday. When the same woman called Wednesday she said “she was calling to schedule an appointment.” I told her we had an appointment and no one showed or called. She said, “Yes I know, the technician didn’t tell anyone…” and finally she grudging added, “Sorry.” I’m held on hard to my patience and reschedule but I was so irritated. Wizard is too. But I will say this — we have perpetually been waiting for various things in he house, repairs or services set up or deliveries, and most of them go well or they call and explain the problem which happens and we understand. And while this one bugs us, we go our of our way to make sure the ones who do show up and do their job, or call to let us know why they can’t, that we appreciate them. We even fill out the annoying surveys because it helps them out. So this company is just one bad apple in a bushel and I need to NOT let them take up any more mental real estate than absolutely necessary.Now for the funnier story. So we bought the two chairs that were supposed to recline, but didn’t. The repair guy came. His name is Eddie, and he has been here before to fix the wiring on our power recliner couch. He shows up and he’s baffled too. The chairs do not recline by pushing back as we were told.  All my paperwork didn’t help him solve this mystery of why the chairs have the equipment to recline, but don’t do it. Finally, after all of us stood around and stared at the chairs like they might spill their secrets, I got out my phone, pulled up the chair on the website and handed it to Eddie. He read, swiped and read some more. Then he sat in the chair and magically made it recline! Wizard and I were stunned. We begged him to know how he did it!  By this point, Eddie was pretty proud and showed us — and I’m not kidding — there’s a hidden handle buried between the cushion and the arm of the chair . We were torn between laughter and embarrassment But the mystery is solved and we’re very happy. Eddie is clearly a genius while Wizard and me…not so much.We tackled Christmas! We have the tree up and decorated. We’ve gotten probably 70% of the shopping done. Yesterday I went to Walmart early and bought a lot of baking ingredients and wrapping supplies then suffered total shock at the cash register. It’s a good thing I have a strong heart! I even have begun writing some Christmas cards. It’s going to be crazy busy over the next two weeks, but that’s okay, we seem to be handling it.This weekend, I think we’re staying home. I need to bake and clean and do various chores. If I get sick, I’ll just do what I can that doesn’t infect others and add in some rest (maybe, I’m not great at that!) But if I beat back the cold, then I’ll brag on Monday and get sick on Tuesday, LOLOL. Oh and in theory, work is supposed to start Saturday on the retaining walls and various hardscapes we’re having done outside. But that depends if the previous job the crew is working on is done. Plus rain is predicted and that causes more delays. So we’ll see.

That’s my five, now I’d love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a great weekend, and that you all stay well and sane as we get into the holiday madness!

The post Friday Five first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.