Sweet Gran Hollowell passed away this week.

Gran Hollowell was so kind to me. While Raymond and I were engaged Gran would send me regular letters and emails. She was contstantly showering me with gifts and made me feel so welcome in a new family. Once Raymo and I were married she continued to send us regular letters and always added a little "bonus" for "a nice meal". She was so good to us.

Gran was such a tech-y Grandma. She used email, skype and facebook. She even rewired a light one time all on her own. As Raymo would say, she was a Legend.

We will miss Gran Hollowell so much. Raymond and I are quickly finding out how hard it is to be away from family at a time like this.

Emmy's Got Style

I am so excited about this I just can't stand it...

I am a partner in a non-profit organization called Emmy's Got Style. We are dedicated to improving the lives of chronically ill children by supplying them with designer hospital gowns, bloomers, boxers and bows to help make their stay in the hospital a stylish one. We have found that looking good and feeling better go hand-in-hand.

I've been spending the last few weeks doing lots of sewing and I have come up with a wonderful design that is totally functional and stylish too.

Emmy's Got Style is still in its baby stages but we are growing quickly! Please visit us on Facebook and you can read more about miss Emmy- the girl behind all this madness- on our blog!

Give me a second.

I really do not want to use the blog as a place to complain but just this once, I might have to. 

You know what I hate?

Feeling like the paychecks are spent before they are even deposited! 

Spring Cleaning

Pictures speak louder than words...

Yes, this is real. The entire contents of my closet is sitting on our bedroom floor and has been for a couple days now. Yuck!

The good news is that we are diving right in to spring cleaning! We spent HOURS on our hands and knees this weekend. It was gross! Good thing there are no pictures to document the lovely experience.

Pizza Love

Have you ever heard the song "Pizza Love"? If you went to Beacon Heights, I know you know the tune I am talking about. If not, you should look it up. 

So why is that song on my mind? 

I've got pizza love.

Raymo and I have had pizza for dinner 5 out of 7 days this week. We ate Papa Murphy's on Monday. Little Caesars on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. And finally, we ate Frachetta on Sunday. Oh, and every night we are not eating pizza we eat cereal. So I admit, my diet is not exactly great. I'm not kidding when I say I eat like a third grader. I pretty much only eat pizza, bagels, turkey and candy.

Delish!

Go-to granola

This is, quite honestly, the only thing I know how to make well.

HOME-MADE GRANOLA

Luckily, it is Raymo's favorite.

Want the recipe? Ok!

Before buying the ingredients, be aware that you can use any nuts or dried fruit you want. I love mine with almonds and craisins. Also, you can use more than one fruit or nut. Mix it up! Next batch I plan on adding dried pineapple tidbits. 

I buy all my granola ingredients at Winco in the bulk food section. They have LOTS of nuts and fruit to choose from at a fraction of the price because it is not pre-packaged and it is priced by the pound.

Ingredients:

4 cups old-fashion oats

1 cup slivered almonds

1 cup craisins

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1/2 cup brown sugar

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F. Scatter rolled oats on cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until toasted. Remove from oven and pour oat and nut mixture into a mixing bowl. Add syrup, sugar and fruit of choice. Mix well. Return mixture to cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes. Turn the mixture often!

Once baking is complete, remove from oven and let cool for 2 hours. Once the granola is COMPLETELY cooled, break apart and store in an air-tight container.

What blog?

Who has time for blogging?

Not me.

Instead of trying to recap the last two months, take what you can from the pictures below.

This last one might get me in trouble but I think it is so funny! I'm not sure how it happened but the camera totally distorted Erica's face. I love it.