Valentines...

One month away! Wahoo! Can't wait. I'm excited to share what I did last year... I went a little crazy... My sister Melissa inspired me to do the 12 days of Valetines for my family. She had done it for her hubby the year before and is so creative and thoughtful. So I chose something for each day... And I absolutely had so much fun doing it. I think it's so important to celebrate those that you love! (My kids are already asking... are you doing the 12 days of Valentines again mom!?!) So my ideas on that will be coming... but even if you don't want to do 12 days...

"Love" mailboxes are a MUST! Get or make them asap- it's so fun to be able to leave love notes for the next month. There are a lot of patterns online and the cutest ones are around $15-20 at Pottery Barn Kids.

That's where I got mine last year. They do sell out fast so act quickly if you want them. I would love your ideas for Valentines!

Printables and an FHE idea...

http://fabdoverlife.blogspot.com/2011/02/vday-printables.html

Printable Valentines/Mailboxes Idea

http://fabdoverlife.blogspot.com/2011/01/valentine-mailboxes.html

Vday Craft and Treat

http://fabdoverlife.blogspot.com/2011/02/vday-activities.html

oh my...

Tried a new salmon recipe and it was way too good not to share. Seriously. Better than salmon you can get fine dining! It's called Blackened Salmon Fillets. Super easy to make and super tasty with a little kick, depending on how much Cayenne Pepper you add and how thick you spread the seasonings. I just sprinkled them on to cover the fish evenly and WOW. Yum. Also I didn't do the butter- I did a tad of olive oil with seasonings on one side and placed them on that side in my non stick fry pan sprayed with Pam. Once they were in the pan I sprayed the top side with Pam and sprinkled with seasoning. Cooked with the lid on for the first side, since I had thick pieces, but left it off for the second side so it could be nice and crisp.

Perfectly moist tasty salmon.

Blackened Salmon Fillets

Rated: Submitted By: JEFF CALKINS Photo By: Nikki Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes Ready In: 25 Minutes Servings: 4

"Fire up succulent salmon with an exciting blend of Cajun-style spices!"

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons ground paprika 1 tablespoon ground cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon onion powder 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 1/4 teaspoon dried basil 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano 4 salmon fillets, skin and bones removed 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a small bowl, mix paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, salt, white pepper, black pepper, thyme, basil and oregano.
2.	Brush salmon fillets on both sides with 1/4 cup butter, and sprinkle evenly with the cayenne pepper mixture. Drizzle one side of each fillet with 1/2 remaining butter.
3.	In a large, heavy skillet over high heat, cook salmon, butter side down, until blackened, 2 to 5 minutes. Turn fillets, drizzle with remaining butter, and continue cooking until blackened and fish is easily flaked with a fork.

School Lunch Boredom ;-)

Anyone else sick of making their kiddos lunch?!? Even after a 2 week holiday?!? ha. Yes... I vow to branch out and do something different... make them something new... keep it fresh and healthy! So I've come across a few fun ideas I thought I'd share. This might be my next new book... From Williams & Sonoma...

Fruit kaboobs are a must! Super cute and fun.

But in the meantime here are some ideas from the web! Sushi! Colby loves those sword toothpicks... I thought I would pick up some of those and try these with either PB and J or Ham and Cheese. Find them at http://www.gourmetmomonthego.com/2009/09/pbj-sushi.html

Cheesy but would make them smile right?!? Kind of a fun and different idea... http://www.gourmetmomonthego.com/2010/09/cute-as-button-sandwiches.html

Take a bite out and blame it on a fairy? Pink sprinkles left in the baggy would show them she was there? Ha. Cheesy too but kind of funny... My girls might be embarrassed!?! But get a kick out of it. http://www.gourmetmomonthego.com/2010/02/fairy-dust-sandwiches.html

Ooh these look yummy too- cream cheese/sour cream/oregano & basil "frosting" on top of turkey, swiss, cucumber sandwiches on Rosemary foccaccia bread... Hmm... they love cream cheese on bagels so how would they do with on a sandwich?!? And getting these to school in a lunch box without smooshing is going to be a bit tricky. Though I LOVE them in the cupcake wrappers. http://www.lafujimama.com/2009/05/hammie-sammie-cupcake-bites/

And how fun is that?!? They might just have fun making this at home sometime! So so cute.

http://www.gourmetmomonthego.com/2010/08/celebration-sandwich.html

Wish my kiddos would eat this... maybe I just need to send it and do ranch on the pasta and veggies and hope it grows on them! Love that you can put in turkey or ham, peas, celery, tomatoes, edamame, spinach, cucumbers, pepporonis, garbanzo beans, kidney beans... etc and have it be so healthy.

We always just mix things up with making our own lunchables- crackers, pepperonis, small squares of ham and cheese, etc... But the girls also love string cheese (cut in half or thirds) rolled in ham. Then anytime we do a sandwich I always have to cut it in a fun shape! The plastic sandwich cutters are just a few bucks at Walmart. Well anyways, lots of ideas out there! I would LOVE yours!