My favorite is: “I really love the way she gets craftsy.”  …and I love that he knows me so well.

Ayla has tortured me for nearly a month and gets the award for *most prepared for Mother’s Day*.  She rode her bike to the store, bought me a present and card with her own money, wrapped it and there it sat on the kitchen counter taunting me this whole time.  I finally got to open it today!  She got me two nail polishes (I’ve already painted my nails today, she picked the perfect color!) and a really funny card.

I am truly a it’s the thought that counts person and they both did a wonderful job of making me feel like they really took the time to think about me.  I am so lucky to have such wonderful kids.

I am also thankful every single day for my mother who made sure that I never doubted for one single second of my life that I am loved.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Obviously this movie was recommended to me because I never would have watched it unless I was doing so to get a persistent co-worker off my back.  So many strikes against it…black and white, Stanley Kubrik, war, old…

But I sat through the entire thing and I will even admit, this was a really good movie.  To quote the IMDB storyline summary, this movie brilliantly captures the futility and irony of the war in the trenches in WWI.

Romantic but predictable.  Not a terribly compelling book.  (Perfectly fine for a rescued book sale book.)

Click to view slideshow.

I picked this one up for 30 cents at my favorite annual book sale and after I started reading it I felt it was vaguely familiar.  I realized I had caught moments of this movie on tv at some point (Lifetime?) so I looked it up and ordered it on Netflix so I could watch it right after I finished the book.

They really changed the movie a lot, and I don’t know why.  The book version was much more enchanting.  The movie was fine I just wished they wouldn’t have jacked with it so much.  In fact, the entire reason for the title was completely lost …  but who doesn’t like a good love story.  It was sweet.

What does one take to a Cinco de Mayo party?  I was certain someone else would bring 7-layer dip and more than enough tortilla chips (I was right) so… dessert?  I sure as heck wasn’t going to make flan and the idea of frying churros scared me a little.  But Betty Crocker saved the day (love her!) when a fun Cinco de Mayo recipe email popped up in my Inbox with the recipe for this tasty goodness.  Everyone loves cookies!

I was worried though…one of the ingredients is Mexican Hot Chocolate tablets…what in the world?  But, what do you know, they are in every grocery store around here, who knew!  Easy recipe that makes awesome chocolate-cinnamon cookies.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 tablet Mexican hot chocolate drink mix (from 19-oz package)
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1 egg
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon; set aside.
2. In 1-quart saucepan, melt butter and hot chocolate tablet over low heat, stirring constantly.
3. Place cookie mix in large bowl. Stir in melted butter mixture and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in chocolate chips.
4. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
5. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set (do not overbake). Cool 3 minutes; remove from cookie sheets. Store covered at room temperature.

Family Movie Night!!  The kids had already seen this one but they agreed to indulge me.  Really cute movie, we loved it.

Exciting medical thriller.  I don’t think I have read Michael Palmer before but my friend (Hi Cathy!) thought I would enjoy this one…it was a fun read and a welcome diversion.

Super cute!!  One of those rare movies we all watched together and enjoyed.

Delicious!  Everyone will love this dish, I promise.

Ingredients

6 slices bacon
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons ranch dry salad dressing mix
1 1/4 cups whole milk
3 cups dried medium noodles
1 tablespoon finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Cut bacon into narrow strips. In a large skillet cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Drain bacon on paper towels; discard all but 2 tablespoons drippings.

2. In the same skillet cook chicken in reserved drippings until tender and no longer pink, turning to brown evenly. Sprinkle flour and salad dressing mix over the chicken in the skillet; stir well. Stir in milk. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 minute more. Stir in bacon. Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions. Serve chicken mixture with noodles; sprinkle with Parmesan. Makes: 4 servings