Would You Like Syrup with That?

Thanks Shelly! I guess I should have posted our favorite syrup recipe with the pancakes.

That is, if I didn't have 2 little guys pulling on my arms to pry me away from my computer while trying to write my last post, I might have thought of that. :)

Here is our Syrup Recipe:

Simple Maple Syrup

1 cup of boiling water
1 cup of white sugar
1 cup of brown sugar
½ teaspoon of maple flavored extract
½ teaspoon of butter flavoring

Boil water in a saucepan, add sugars and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in maple flavoring and butter. Serve warm.

Homemade Pancakes...

I've had this recipe for a few years. Cooking from scratch can save so much money {in most cases}.

The title is "Fluffy Pancakes, but no matter how many times I made them, although good, they were NEVER fluffy! I tinkered and tinkered with the recipe, adding more baking powder, more salt, then less salt. Nothing worked.

Until now! {I'm so excited} Doesn't take much for me, huh?

It was the butter! Too much.

So here it is, Shawna's Famous Fluffy Panckaes

{I can call them mine because I changed the recipe so much, RIGHT?}

2 cups of flour
2 tablespoons of sugar
4 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup of milk
1/4 cup + 3 tablespoons of butter, melted

In medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

In separate small bowl melt butter. Then combine the egg, milk and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. If the batter seems too thick, add a little milk. You want them on the thick side...don't make them runny.

Pour batter by 1/2 cupful onto a greased hot pan. Turn when bubbles form on top of pancakes; cook until the second side is golden brown.


On a similar note...I've decided to start posting some of my favorite recipes. I've collected some knockouts! Watch out "Rachel Ray"!

Here in beautiful Costa Rica...I can't run to the grocery store and get everything I've been used too in the states. So I run to my computer and look up how to make it. I've made homemade marshmallows, enchilada sauce, peanut butter, frosting, cake batter, buttermilk, condensed cream of mushroom soup, butter, noodles; all with the help of the Internet. I try various recipes and then "fix" them to make them just perfect.

So now (after 11 months) you can imagine how many "from" scratch recipes I have. In the states I was spending about $1,300 a month on groceries. Don't freak out, remember I have 7 mouths to feed, 1 bum to diaper and that included my make-up, cleaning supplies, soaps, shampoos and such.

Our first 3 months here we got it down to $950 per month. Now it's at $675 per month and we are eating BETTER than we EVER have. If I could get stores here to take coupons that would be much lower, but that isn't a tradition that has made it here yet. :)

So meet me on here every Tuesday for a new recipe that you can trust is "yummy". I have about 55, so that will last us at least a year.

Horseback Riding...

the saga continues:

While my aunt and my cousin were visiting we decided that horseback riding on the beach was a must! I'm glad we did. Another "to do" on my bucket list crossed off.

My sweetie and I decided that since we couldn't pay for all of the kids to attend every adventure while our "delightful" visitors were here we would take one child on each outing. Paige chose riding the horses. Here she is with Lecosta, the owner of our stallions. {They had just fed the horse some pineapple rind)
Joanna and Paige anxiously awaiting our adventure.
And here we are, pro's! The horse that Paige and I were on was the youngest of the group BUT sure was the slowest. We tried EVERTHING we were told to do to make him speed up.
Nothing.
Paige changed his name to Molasses.

It fit!


Lecosta's help, Jose, cut pineapple for us. Yummy. You haven't had pineapple until you've had white pineapple.

See that machete he's holding? Everyman here has one of those. You will often see them walking around with one casually in their hand like it was a lolly pop.

U.S. Map Game...

Think you remember where the states reside in our beautifully designed U.S. of A.?

Check out this game I found from www.rocksinmydryer.com . The object of the game is to place the state where it belongs on the U.S. map.

Easy enough, right?

The problem is that the borders aren't outlined like our tests from 5th grade. Remember those?

I did really well with the states that were around my home state. I, of course, got Texas and Florida. But finding exactly where Delaware lives....hummm. Or South Dakota.

Enough introduction...enjoy the game !

Women's Conference...

So I've been thinking about attending Women's Conference in a few months.

Really thinking about it.

Can we afford it? I seriously "want" to go.

I really need to go.

Then I realized something. {enter my light bulb moment} I'm searching for something outside of my situation that is already available here.

Just like someone {not that I've ever done this} putting off exercising and getting in shape until they lay down BIG money for the newest gym or home equipment. Then having the home equipment break about the 3rd week! {Eh...hemm.}

Everything you need to get in shape is already within your reach. Some good tennis shoes, water and good food.

So here I am, putting off my spiritual growth, expecting something in Utah to provide that for me; when everything I need is right here within reach.

Those things are
* personal conversations with my Father in Heaven
* scriptures opened and studied more often
* serving others
* watching and/or reading spiritual messages
* and MORE personal conversations with my Father in Heaven

Now, I'm still planning on heading on over to BYU for women's conference, don't get me wrong! There is fantastic advice given.

Besides, have you ever sat in a colossal building and sang "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" with over 7,000 angelic women's voices testifying that same truth with you?

It's something to do before you pass from this life.

The difference is this year I'm going PREPARED. I'm not arriving on campus gasping for more spiritual oxygen, I'm bringing my tank with me and full.



That is IF I decide we can afford it. :)

Old Navy Deals....

This is a pretty good deal. It's 30% off of their NEW arrivals.

Yeah! This is where I shop for clothes in Costa Rica, good ol' www.oldnavy.com

Costa Ricans can be found wearing ON all the time. I'm not sure how they get them here but I order online and have them shipped to whomever is coming here next.

Then I wait.

But it's better than not having them. :)

And if you add Pipperlime shoes to your order, FREE shipping. {But their shipping is CHEAP anyway so try not to get sucked into that.}

The promo code to enter is NEW30 .

Enjoy!!!

I'm Thankful for...

photographs.
They are my connection to the ones I miss and love. I even get disappointed when people don't have their pictures on their Facebook profile. Carolyn, you've got to get yours uploaded. :)

I just bought a 5x7 frame the other day {10 months into our stay} so other than the one glorified print, my other photographs reside on this beautiful plate. I hope they can survive until frames arrive home for them. I have to admit I love them displayed this way...where they can be picked up and handled. It's the closest I can get to hugging the rest of my family.
To all our friends and family, "Thanks for sending us your fantastic Christmas cards!" My kids were just thrilled to open these on Christmas Eve. We love you all so much...sniff, sniff.
For my last picture {the one that lives in the frame}, I have a beautiful memory. This was taken oh, 3 or 4 years ago at women's conference. Let's see, we've got Sharla, Penny, Cindy, me, Kristin and in front, my buddy Christine. All smushed up in the middle is Christine's ADORABLE aunt, who, if it's possible, might be a tad bit sweeter than Christine. {Just a TAD though}

This was a moment in time when all the stars seemed to be aligned. We were all able to attend WC together, no one was nursing a baby, or ready to deliver {although Kristin was about 6 weeks away}. We laughed, cried, grew closer to our Heavenly Father and each other. It was a great weekend..."clap, clap, clap and a little shrill"-just for "mi amiga" Cindy.

So I'm thinking about heading over to Utah for women's conference again in May.

Anyone else going?

Day Four of Preschool...

2 little ones home with bad colds. The one thing about home schooling and living in CR is my munchkins have been so healthy.

It's been a long day and night of coughs, runny noses and sore throats. On the bright side, I've been the human blankie all day.

Love it!

It's 11:40 pm and everyone is FINALLY asleep.

Whew.

It's A NEW Day...

Our two little ones have FINALLY started preschool.

I have been homeschooling all five of them {and NOT very well I might add} How do you teach 5 kids, one with ADHD and switching between a 12 year old and a 2 year old? I know many do it, plus hold huge jobs at church, run home businesses, have dinner on the table promptly at 5:30 and have a spotless house. The only thing I do well is dinner on the table. It's my thing.
Here is our youngest taking his "pack-pack" off. They were both so thrilled this morning. {Pretty close to my level of excitement.}
I handed the camera to Troy, didn't he do such a good job here.
There are bars everywhere here in Costa Rica. Stealing just isn't really considered a bad thing. So everywhere you look you'll see bars. Even in my little guy's preschool. This is Aiden during P.E.

Last night Aiden asked me, "Mom are we really going to preschool or are you just kidding like last time?"

Ouch!

Wes and I have told the kids they were going to preschool 2 times now over these last 9 months. We've gotten them all pumped up and then backed out at the last minute. Once when the "actual" price was double what the paper said it was. The other time, we realized the money needed to pay a taxi to get the kids there everyday would be just too much.

"Yes Aiden, you are going to preschool! I'm not kidding this time!"

My Favorite Spot So Far...

Isn't this gorgeous, beautiful, breathtaking? It's a bar about 15 minutes north of our old digs. For about a $3.00 {non-alcoholic} drink, you get to sit here {the highest point on that side of Costa Rica} and watch the sun slide into the ocean while being set to music.

I'm warning you...it's severely romantic. {Thank goodness Wes wasn't with us or we would have number 6 on the way for sure.}

So if you are visiting Costa Rica and happen to be near Jaco, make sure Villa Caletas is on your list. Don't go to the restaurant, too expensive and the food isn't worth it. {ouch, I hate to say things like that!} Make a quick left as you are facing the restaurant entrance and you'll be sitting in heaven.

Now, back to reality. We had been in our new home about 2 weeks when all of a sudden the electricity seemed to be at 10% power. WHAT?!?!

This meant that I could barely dry my hair. So tragic! The clothes dryer, microwave, stove top and big toaster oven {where I do all my baking} didn't work at all. Then, hold on to your hats and make sure you are sitting down, my computer wouldn't work!

Yep, so weird {insane!!!}.

We were to wait for our landlord's electrician to get here in a about a week. Thank goodness my sweetheart thought better of that plan and hired our own electrician.

I have to tell you this...the ad he replied to in the phone book was "Hire a Husband". Is that the funniest thing you've ever heard? My husband called and hired his own "husband". Hee, hee.

Hee, hee.


It's still funny to me. O.K., o.k., I'll stop!

Hee, hee.


Anyway, the electrician he hired was WONDERFUL. This is what he found...
The meter had experienced an electrical fire! It was quite fried, full of charcoal and melted plastic. After quite a "bill" {one that covered our rent for the month} we are up and running again.


Life is good!!!

Happy Birthday to You...

Well, one month that is! Our little baby Cash is 1 month old today.
He has been an angel added to our lives. My kids are head over heals for him...especially my youngest fellow. He talks about his buddy Cash often. I can't believe there was a time when he wasn't with us.
It has been sad for me not to live close to that little guy anymore. I am a pro with little baby boys and it seems natural having him around. Thank goodness Rusti has brought him to visit a few times.

So happy 1 month baby Cash. We love and miss you {and your mommy!}

In Case You Need This...

Sugar Cookies for Valentine's Day...
I added red food coloring to give a pink swirl look to them. {Swirl meaning I was too lazy to mix it all in}




The best Sugar Cookie Recipe on Earth!!! Even if you overcook them {burn them} they will still bend softly in your mouth. I'm not telling you how I know this.

So in case you need the perfect sugar cookie recipe by the end of this week, here you go. {I've posted this before}

The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies
Submitted by: Jill Saunders {thank you Jill!!!}
Rated: 4 out of 5 by 2333 members Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 8 Minutes Ready In: 3 Hours
Yields: 60 servings

"Whenever you make these cookies for someone, be sure to bring along several copies of the recipe! You will be asked for it, I promise!!!"

INGREDIENTS: 1 1/2 cups butter, softened 2 cups white sugar 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt DIRECTIONS: 1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight). 2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. 3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

One more tip from Shawna, remember when you roll your cookie dough out, don't use flour but powdered sugar to keep the dough from sticking.