I want to try this:

Sweet and Spicy Salmon

- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons soy
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon curry
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1/2 teaspoons hot sesame oil
- four 4oz salmon filets- skin on

Blend the ingredients, except the salmon, together. Marinate salmon for 1 hour. Pre-heat oven to 415 degrees. Place salmon in oven proof dish skin down and bake for 8-10 minutes.

I think you could try baking this on apple wood and it would be even more scrumptious!?

I can't believe I'm posting this

but its so hysterical I can't resist. We were standing in a very long and crowded check out line and Elizabeth suddenly proclaims rather loudly "Mommy, I just tooted... do you smell it yet"?

Her heart finally gives birth!!!

whoo hoo! It's all here! Follow along as another baby comes by plane!!!

My new favorite adventure blog.. all things Swedish

Oh to be young and adventuresome! Our sweet friend Jill is off to Sweden as I type. She will be studying abroad this year and as best I can tell her flight has just landed on Swedish soil! (or should I say snow..lol).

Pop over and enjoy the ride through the eyes of a beautiful and sweet exchange student during a most exciting time of her life (so far:)

Spilling the Beans

We are expecting several inches of snow tonight and into tomorrow and was intentionally staying put at home w/ a cozy fire and doing a few projects to unclutter our lives. One of them was cleaning out our pantry. I came across some amazingly wonderful smelling coffee beans I purchased a long time ago and totally forgot about. They were expensive little beans and I hated to toss them, but also didn't exactly find the grinding and consuming of them appealing either.

I remembered an idea that solved this dilema! Viola, a beautiful centerpiece for these cold winter months that would give me "that smell" and not waste the beans! Using just about any glass container from mason jars, to interesting shaped vases you fill the container up approx. 1/2 to 2/3 of the way with the beans and place a candle right smack dab in the middle. You can also add flowers, but my favorite is the candle as the heat from the flame triggers the aroma of the beans to come alive.

You can get really creative and use a larger container filling it with multiple candles and you might feel like you are sipping a latte in Starbucks! :) ahhhh these frigid winter days are quite nice when you can curl by the fire and enjoy the moment.

If you're in the mood for some more inspiring Winter ideas get your fill right here!

Contentment

If you want to see something you will never forget this New Years weekend take a few moments to watch THIS.

It's a story about a baby born blind and unable to walk. Take a look at the love this young boy's father had for his child and refused to let it stop his dreams.

Happy New Year!

Moving right along..

Now that New Year's celebrations are a thing of the past, and the Christmas tree seems so- last - year :) I used to feel a little sad that the wonderful festivities were over for another year but NO LONGER!! as we jump right into CHINESE NEW YEAR preparations! We have just recently adopted this tradition in our home after returning from China with Elizabeth (who is now 5). We use the red Christmas balls and hang them on branches, string homemade chinese lanterns all over the place, and plan a from scratch home made Chinese dinner that we invite family members to attend. We play Chinese music for that evening and Elizabeth and John wear their "special" Chinese clothing we purchased while in China.

Elizabeth will usually dance for us using her Chinese dancing fans purchased in Guangzhou and festive time is had by all! :)

We also belong to an amazing group of several hundred families that have adopted from China and throughout the year there are various celebrations that are so much fun. One of the biggest celebrations of course would be the Chinese New Year one coming up in Feb. "Stay tuned" for more of the Asian celebrations!!