Spring Break 2008 in Durango!

What a fantastic time we had in Durango! I love being together with my whole family. It was a fun filled vacation of relaxation, good food, good comedy, and just a titch of drama! Thanks to Amb and Ken for providing us with a small touch of "heaven on earth."

What is the legal limit for personages on a Ranger? Oh, nevermind, the Wright's don't understand the word "legal." I think on the way down the mountain they piled 15 people into that sucker!

Here's to Taft trying to prove to his Uncle Cam that he CAN be tough!

Someone forgot to tell Camille that the tablets you dye eggs with are not candy!

Noelle and Kylie were inseperable all week! I remember how much I loved being with my cousins when I was little... we used to hide from our parents so we didn't have to go home. I think one of us hid in our cousins van and it wasn't till about 20 minutes down the road that our Uncle found out and had to turn around and take us back home.

Can you say strawberries!

I've wanted to post these pictures since Valentine's Day, but since I've been on a blogging diet ( I know, I know, wrong kind of diet for me,) I haven't really taken the time to post them. Dipping strawberries this year was actually quite fun. I feel like every year I have more control and can manage this small, seasonal business better and better. I wasn't too overwhelmed and the strawberries this year were HUGE to begin with. It's hard to go wrong when the berries are gigantic.

I wish I had taken better pictures so I could demonstrate how chocolate covered strawberries can be a yummy treat and great gift. Dipping is pretty self-explanatory and the drizzling just takes a little of practice. Many people ask me for my Chocolate Recipe and so here it is:

For every 24 oz. of dipping bark you need 23 oz. of Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate. That is, for every block of bark you need 2 bags of chips.

This same combination goes for white chocolate ( which is really not chocolate at all.) Ghirardelli

white is the best if you can find it. So it Guittard, but you got to shell out some bucks!

Milk chocolate is just a personal preference of mine but you can use whatever you would like. I also like to add Ghirardelli 60% cocoa chips ( about 1 cup) to my melted chocolate. This gives an added richness and disguises the use of bark. All though bark is not very tasty and wax like, it does offer some advantages. First, bark has a higher heat tolerance and will stay melted longer, it's also not as thick, and relatively inexpensive. So I have to say bark comes in handy when dipping over 600 strawberries:)

I like to melt my chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave, beginning with 1-2 minute increments, depending on the amount of chocolate your melting. As the chocolate starts to melt you want to take your heating time down to 30 second intervals. If your chocolate looks melted with just a couple small lumps left, just let it sit on the counter for a minute. Don't put it back in the microwave. The heat of the chocolate will melt the remaining lumps. A good stir will also assist in melting small lumps. I run my bark through a food processor and so it is in fine shavings, allowing it to easily melt.

Chocolate will seize and separate if brought to too high of heat... especially white. You can also try the double boiler method, but be careful because any bit of water will make your chocolate seize. Combinations I like are white chocolate and coconut, milk chocolate and SALTED almonds, tuxedo's, a milk chocolate with dark drizzle. Be creative and do whatever you like!

The best way to drizzle is to put your chocolate in a heavy Ziplock (freezer bag so the seams wont pop) and snip a very small corner off the bag to create a small stream of chocolate. Hold your hand diagonally across the strawberry and with a controlled squeeze move your hand back and forth. Like I said you'll become more comfortable with it the more you do it. To create a Tuxedo strawberry, dip the front of your berry in white and let harden. Then dip corners in chocolate and let harden. To create the bow, make a sideways figure 8 ( again, chocolate in your Ziploc bag) and fill it in. I'm sure you can figure out the buttons. Remember, good strawberries are seasonal, so the best time to find them is between Feb. and early June.

Someone once asked me why I like to do all these extra little "projects" in my life and my thought was that sometimes it's hard to just stay home and be a mom. I wish I could find pure satisfaction in that responsibility, as huge as it is, but the reality is that I sometimes don't. I guess it's the right brain and the left hand in me that loves to be creative. It's very satisfying for me to create something I love, earn a few extra bucks, and feel personally enriched!

Funky Apron

Just wanted to post a pic of a fun and funky apron I made for my sister, Amberlee, for her Birthday. I really enjoyed creating this apron and absolutely love the fabrics. The main print is an Amy Butler fabric, and the Zebra is from Sis Boom fabrics, two fabulous textile designers. The pocket is perfect for a cell phone or a to-do-list. Also, I have to give a shout out to Kim Hendricks of http://www.olivejuiceco.typepad.com/. Her designs inspired this apron and I think she has oodles of style! Also, thanks to Amb and Meg for modeling two different ways to tie the apron. I personally like to tie the apron behind me for a more slimming effect:)

Slow Recovery

It's crazy how life just sneaks up on you and Bam!- 2 months have passed you by. I feel as if someone in my family has been sick for the last 2 months and finally the yuckiness caught up to me. To bad for me, I was sick the last 3 weekends, 2 of which I was free of my sweet children... whom I love dearly. The first weekend was food poisoning at Red Robin and I'll never eat there again. The second weekend was the beginning of this nasty cold which led to the 3rd weekend of a ruptured ear drum and near pneumonia... all of which so conveniently occurred during my solo trip to the Motherland to hang with my sissies. But, despite my sickness I had a fabulous time with my family. I wish I had taken more pictures, especially of all the cute babies that are running around my parents these days. So cute... I can't wait for Durango so my kids can play with their cousins!

Speaking of Durango... this picture shows what we're headed for. It's spring break for my family and my sis, Amb, has organized a fabulous week of family fun at her cabin for all of us. We spend most of our time playing games, playing on the mountain ( sledding like you've never seen before), eating great food, and watching movies. It is great time to relax, especially for all the husbands! I love the snow, especially this kind of snow, because it reminds of my childhood. I think there is nothing more beautiful than seeing freshly fallen snow... especially in the mountains. It makes me homesick for the slopes. I sure miss those days and since I'm now an AZ gal I better find ways to have fun in the sun!

I know, I know... I really meant to post to my blog after I changed it to "private," but as many of you well know Moms can get easily distracted. I had great intentions.

I know everyone is sick of looking at "New Name Ideas" and so I hope to soon post some of what has been going on in my life. I appreciate everyones comments on my blog name, but I think I'll stay with Floralogie... simple because I love flowers. My greatest love in the floral world is the Cherry Brandy Rose. Often Bride's will say... "No Roses." Little do they know of the versatility, resilience, and splash of intense color that roses can lend to an arrangement. So till further posts, go buy yourselves some flowers and brighten your day with one of God's most beautiful creations!

P.S. I can't take credit for the bouquet above. It was created by www.floraramamoderndesign.com. Check their site out if you love flowers, their creations are amazing!