A mother's love ...

I SO love this.
Love the photo, love the colors, love the emotion, love the LOVE that simply pours from it.

It speaks volumes as it pulls at my heart. It quietly humbles me, yet also creates such a joy within me.

It is simply breathtaking and I yearn to paint it one day... as my mother would have loved to do so. I could watch her sketch and paint for hours - it was a huge part of my childhood.

A mother's touch, enduring love and consistent, unconditional devotion is SO precious... sacrificing herself to benefit her children. She always embraces them, nourishes them and sculpts them - even beyond her arm's length.  

I am SO incredibly blessed to be a mother. A chance that almost couldn't happen for me. To look into the eyes of my sweet girl and to see my OWN mother within her - with her hair and her smile - seeing my mom smiling back at me WITHIN her is beyond any words I can muster. Only tear-filled eyes of happiness, gratitude and hope, hope for a future for her as beautiful as the one that my own mother gave her ALL to give to me.

In honor of my mother, Rolly Muchow, October 18, 1929 - June 4, 1996
Nearly 16 years she's been gone, yet I see her more and more as I look in the mirror...

AMAZING Stenciled Table

Seriously. WOW!  Okay, THIS amazing crafty idea from Domestic Imperfection simply ROCKS!!

Anyone who knows me knows I am SUCH a lover of discovering amazing finds! Art, doors, windows, furniture, vintage glass, unique pieces, antiques and such, in shabby shape or to refinish. Love it all. The FINDING itself is half the fun of the process! The items are just WAITING to be discovered, whether in an old barn, at a yard sale, a consignment shop or in an antique store. And when I finally discover IT, it is simply meant to be that we should meet. New stuff is great, but the history, the stories, the LIFE that is hidden within these old treasures, from a crystal doorknob to a vintage mirror is the fun "history mystery" that comes with it. 

I began this fun hobby of discovering/antiquing/spelunking/perusing - whatever it is called - as a kid with my mom who loved to do so. I tagged along behind her and learned what to spot and what to overlook. I fell in love with beautiful things, many things that others would simply pass by, as you can see by much of my photography HERE on my photography blog.

So, look at THIS!  What a fabulous way to enhance a simple table! A dining table, coffee table or side table is just the tip of the iceberg with this AMAZING technique! {Oh, and don't even get me started on the legs - my very FAVORITE color!!}  Enjoy discovering and I would love to read your thoughts on this fun project!

{Click here to see it in all of it's awesome glory from start to finish!}

http://www.domesticimperfection.com/2012/05/paisley-stenciled-table/

Chicken, Asparagus & Artichokes w/ Lemon Chive Cream Sauce

Artichokes are just so divine, so versatile, so nutritious and so uniquely BEAUTIFUL - especially the layers of color!  My favorite part is when you unveil the gorgeous burst of purple and lime tones within at the core, near the heart... the very BEST part!

My 7 year old daughter can devour an entire artichoke in a mere ten minutes flat and it is advised not to step away as one is being plucked as you will surely lose your leaves to her cute artichoke addiction. I am super happy she adores them as well as this easy and flavorful recipe that simply BURSTS with them, along with tender crisp asparagus and shredded chicken in an OHSOSIMPLE light and delicious sauce tinged with fresh lemon juice.

Ingredients
8 oz cooked, shredded chicken
1 dozen asparagus spears, cut into 1" pieces
24 oz bag of quartered frozen artichoke hearts

Sauce
Juice of half a lemon
2 Laughing Cow Swiss Wedges
1 Tbsp Smart Balance Omega 3 
2 Tbsp dried chives
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp each salt and black pepper
1/8 C skim milk or unsweetened almond milk

 

Place the frozen artichoke quarters and asparagus into a saute' pan. Cover barely with water. Allow to simmer until asparagus is tender crisp, about 10 minutes. During this time, prepare the sauce.

Using a whisk to blend thoroughly, melt together all sauce ingredients on medium heat EXCEPT for your milk of choice. Mixture will be pasty and thick, like a roux, but without the flour - which makes this a perfect gluten-free recipe! Now add milk of your choice and blend until smooth. Taste! Add more salt, pepper or lemon juice if desired. Set sauce aside and drain water from the vegetables, returning them to the saute' pan.

Add the cooked, shredded chicken to the mixture and the sauce, folding gently to coat.

The light infusion of lemon juice makes it such a delicious entree. I hope it becomes a favorite in your home as it is within ours!

{Serves 2,  Serving size: 2 Cups}
{Per serving : est. 28g protein, est. 12g carbs}