"Congratulations on Your New Home," says the Junk Mail

Thank you very much to the local window company that just sent us a deal and congratulated us on our new home.

Well...either they know something about our future that we don't, or their little congratulatory note has come about 4 1/2 years too late.

Thanks all the same -- we do enjoy our new home, and have for the past 54 months. We appreciate your kindness.

Works for Me Wednesday: Last Minute Dinner Edition

This week Works for Me Wednesday has a theme, since this is the first Wednesday of the month. The theme this month is for a quick, last minute dinner.

I have posted this recipe on my blog before, but it is a fairly quick and simple one to make that tastes just fabulous! And, while these may not be things that a lot of people have in their pantry, because I enjoy this, I usually make sure that I have most of these things on hand (plus, I use many of the things, apart from the sesame oil, in other dishes as well).

Asian-Style Chicken & Broccoli

Ingredients:
Chicken breast (boneless/skinless)

Broccoli florets

3 garlic cloves - minced (I don't actually put these in when I make it)

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 cup sesame oil

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 tsp. grated ginger (optional)

a little olive oil

Directions:

Cut chicken into pieces (strips or chunks). Put a little olive oil and water in the pan, heat and cook the chicken until no longer pink on medium high, stirring frequently. Drain if needed.

Mix brown sugar, sesame oil, soy sauce, and ginger and whisk.

Add sauce and broccoli florets and lower temp to medium and cover. Stir occasionally. When the broccoli appears to be tender, but not mushy, it's done. Just use your best judgement.

Hey...and if you have some frozen egg rolls or the like, they would make for a great little addition to your quick meal!

Tackle It Tuesday: The Ribbon Edition

My birthday present just arrived, and I got to open it early! You can read about my ribbon holder here -- the Your Pictured Memor-EZ Pull-EZ Ribbon Organizing "Purse."

So, I have begun the massive task of adding all of my ribbon to the bag. I forgot to take a picture at the beginning, so at this point, I have already added two boxes just like the ones shown (with pinks and blues, etc.), but one of those containers was about half full and the other about three-quarters full.

My hope will be to get all of my ribbon in there today. I'll update with a picture if I finish it up today. (But, darn it -- I also need to be doing a bunch of laundry and then some dishes as well.)

Two of my ribbon containers currently.

Side view of the containers with pinks and purples.

What I have already put in the new ribbon container -- the oranges, reds, fall colors, blacks, and other neutrals.

Here's what it looks like when just a little of each ribbon is peeking out the side.

Wish me luck!

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UPDATE: MISSION COMPLETE!

Front View

Back View

Hearts at Home National Conference Registration is Up!

I enjoyed going to this last year, and think I will go for two days this year. It is in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois on the campus of Illinois State University on March 14th & 15th (you can opt for both days or just one of the days).

You can read about the conference here.