I have a new job...

Aside from being a Domestic Engineer, full-time, I re-entered the working world on January 3, 2011. I have taken the position of Development Associate with St. Francis Center!! I am cultivating donors, so don't be shocked if I call on you.

Matt and I started volunteering there in February of 2009. Every first Saturday of the month we dedicated our morning to serving the food insecure of Greater Los Angeles. We go with a group from our church, and cook and serve breakfast. It is a very special time for us, and we hold St. Francis Center near and dear to our hearts.

I do believe that this is my forever job/career. I have found an ideal situation for us, and a mission I believe in.

Valentine's Day Party

Daughters

"The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity."

-Leo Nikolaevich Toistoy

A Start.

Monday, January 3, I will be going back to work. Not a little retail position at the mall on the weekends. A real-life job with a really important organization. I'm nervous. Really nervous. Can't seem to wrap my head around it.

Two Thousand Eleven. Resolutions.

. Run a 5k. Specifically the Disneyland Family Fun run. Seems easy? Read my words carefully, "run a 5k." Which means I will not walk. I want to run the entire thing. I have no desire to do a half marathon or a marathon ever, but I want to be able to run a 5k, without walking any part.

. Go to church. We used to go every Sunday "religiously." But with the baby, we have tried many times, and have had to turn around. Church is time for reflection, and having an active baby and toddler is not conducive to church. The goal is to go more than once a month, preferably every Sunday again.

. Take a picture everyday. Sounds simple. But we get so busy with our lives that we forget to smell the roses. I'm hoping to post one picture with my iPhone a day on my Facebook account.

. Write more. Specifically on this blog. I always post pictures. Rarely do I verse anything. So I will resolve to do so from now on.

Chatter. Chatter.

So Cute Sisters

Biedronka

Family

Madison Turns 3!

Dessert of the Week: Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients

Crust:
30 squares gingersnap cookies
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Filling:
1 1/2 lbs cream cheese
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
4 large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Directions

Crust:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Add the gingersnaps to the bowl of a food processor, and pulse until crumbly. Transfer to a large bowl and add the melted butter. Stir until evenly mixed. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with 3-inch sides. Bake the crust until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool completely while preparing the filling.

Filling:

Lower oven to 325 degrees F.

In a standing mixer with a paddle attachment, mix the cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually mix in the sweetened condensed milk until smooth. With the mixer on medium, add the pumpkin, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, vanilla and flour. Mix well and pour into the springform pan.

Bake until the center appears nearly set, but jiggles a little when shaken, 1 hour and 20 minutes. Cool for 1 hour. Cover and chill overnight, or for at least 4 hours.

SUPPORT MOVEMBER!!

Hi,

This Movember MY HUSBAND has decided to donate his face to raising awareness about cancers that affect men. His commitment is the growth of a moustache for the entire month of Movember, which I know will generate conversation, controversy and laughter.

He's doing this because:

1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in his lifetime.

1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.

This is a cause that we feel passionately about and I’m asking you to support his efforts by making a donation to support the great work of the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG.

To help, you can either:

Click this link http://us.movember.com/mospace/1025446/ and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account.

Write a check payable to Movember, referencing my name or Registration Number 1025446 and mailing it to: Movember, PO Box 2726, Venice, CA 90294-2726.

The money raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others, through the world’s most promising prostate cancer research and LIVESTRONG’s programs that support young adults and their families battling and surviving cancer. For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please visit http://us.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs/.

Thank you.

Sisters!

Cooking Measure Equivalents

Trick or Treat

"Original" all dolled up!

Invitations Done!

Thanks to Lotus' mom, Jen, I found some easy DIY Yo Gabba Gabba invites that I could personalize. They turned out pretty cute, don't you think??

Announcing Morgan!!

Appetizer of the Week: Macaroni & Cheese Cupcakes

Ingredients

12 ounces Tri-Color Rotini (I like Barilla)
4 tablespoons butter
3 eggs
8 ounces whole milk
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon fresh black pepper
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
2 cups sharp cheddar, shredded
4 slices of colby jack cheese

Directions

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente and drain. Return to the pot and melt in the butter. Toss to coat. Preheat oven to 400.

Whisk together the eggs, milk, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and mustard. Stir into the pasta and add the cheese. Over low heat continue to stir for 3 minutes or until creamy.

Ladle macaroni mixture into muffins tins, cover with quartered up colby jack cheese and bake for 20 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

Countdown to Baby

Seriously! She's due October 8. I've been in the hospital 3 times this pregnancy. The latest today for a NST Scan and U/S. Thank goodness everything is fine, but the Bug got me all nervous with no movement today. I'm sure part of it has to do with the killer heat wave we've been having in So Cal...but really?!

I've been pretty nervous about mothering another child. How will I share the love? And my heart? And brain? How will the Monkey take to the Bug breastfeeding? How will I got my Claudia Schiffer body back? ;-P Can I handle two girls? Can I handle two girls and a husband? But ever since the U/S this morning I'm getting excited. Can't wait to meet my new baby girl.