Saturday, July 4, 2009

Happy 4th, Freedom of Speech and a *Giveaway*

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!
Aiden has really learned the concept of 'freedom of speech' recently. He has started saying thank you, please, dada (finally!) and lots of other words that don't make sense to you and me but have lots of meaning to him when he is using them. Of course when you pull out the camera to hear him talk he usually clams up. At least in this video (click on the link) he did his babbling but wouldn't show off the words he has learned. Maybe next time.
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What says Happy Independence day more then strawberry pie? Well, maybe apple pie, but my taste buds were screaming for strawberry. So, I found an easy recipe online and went about making this pie from scratch (well, almost 100%, everything expect the pie shell). I found the best looking strawberries, slaved over cleaning and cutting them up and then set about cooking the pie shells and prepping the filling The pies looked beautiful once they were done and now they just needed to chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours to give it time to gel up.


We were all anxious to pull out the pies and slice them up, only to find that they were still a soupy mess. They didn't gel in 3 hours so we gave it another hour. Still soupy. So, instead of slices of pie, we had strawberry soup, grabbing a spoon and diving in. Though it was yummy it was still a disappointment because I was so proud of the fact that I had made it from scratch instead of driving down to Marie Calander's and buying a strawberry pie like I normally would. Oh well, I might try it again in the future if I can figure out what I did wrong.

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What else says American? Strawberries mixed with Starbucks!! My favorite drink by far at Starbucks is their Strawberry Lemonade blend with a squirt of Raspberry. I am not a coffee fan (except for the smell, love it!!) so you won't ever find me ordering a double expresso, hold the foam, triple latte, blah blah blah.

In the spirit of my 200th post, it is the 4th of July, I was born during the 200th year celebration of our nation (1976 for those that might not know), and the reality that I am on a severely limited budget, I would like to give away one $15 Starbucks card to the lucky radom winner.

Here is how to play: Leave me a seperate comment on each of the following to earn one entry per comment. I will have my hubby draw one random number out of a hat (since I don't have a tech savvy hubby like Heather's Chad, we are going to do it old school style) sometime after 8 pm on Sunday. The winner will be notified on Monday and giftcard in the mail as soon as I can get the address.

  1. Let me know if you are a follower. If you are not a follower, become one!! :)
  2. What is your favorite kind of pie?
  3. Any suggestions on what I did wrong with my pie can get you yet another entry!!
  4. What is your favorite Starbucks drink?
  5. How will you be spending your 4th this year? Do you have a tradition or just fly by the seat of your pants each year?

Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July. Remember to stay safe. I look forward to reading each and every one of your comments.

56 comments:

  1. Favorite kind of pie - Hmmmm. Strawberry or Peach. LOL Tis the summer season!

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  2. Yeah, you know what you did wrong with your pie??....You forgot to take a picture of all the happy faces eating it!!! LOL. :)

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  3. Favorite Starbucks drink -

    Black Iced Tea - Unsweetened

    Like you Joy, I love the smell of coffee, but not the taste. I'm going to have to try that drink of yours once I win the gift card!!! LOL.

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  4. This year for the 4th we will be heading to my Grandmothers house shortly for lunch - she's buying Kentucky Fried Chicken!! YUM!

    And then the family is heading to the California Speedway in Fontana for the Red White and Cruise festival. My brothers band is playing and opening for Taylor Hicks! We'll support my brother and his band and then once they are done, we'll be heading back this way to a huge church gathering that starts at 2:00. We'll get there about 6:00. There will be more food than you could possibly eat, fun, games, and later on....fireworks!!!

    Every year is kinda different for the 4th. Years past, we'd always cut the night early because Hannah has always started school on the 5th. Not this year, so we'll be out late!

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  5. Great idea for a post, Joy!

    Have a great day! Is Dale off today?

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  6. Strawberry pie sounds delish!!! I am a huge strawberry fan, but all the strawberry pies I've had (from family, etc.) have had rhubarb (yuck!). Pure strawberry sounds wonderful!!!

    I also love my mom's peanut butter ice cream pie. heehee Oh, and peach pie! Other than that, I'm not a HUGE pie fan. Especially not pumpkin. I must be un-American!

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  7. Oh, I have NO idea what went wrong with your pie. I was trying to "set" some graham cracker sandwiches a few weeks ago and it was supposed to take an 1 1/2 hours. After 3 hours, I wondered why in the heck my filling was still soupy! DUH... they were supposed to "set" in the freezer!!! But I assume your pie wasn't supposed to go in the freezer, so I dunno. But strawberry soup sounds good!

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  8. My favorite drink is the Strawberries and Creme frappucino. If you haven't tried it, you have to. It's wonderful! I haven't have the lemonade but I definitely will try!

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  9. We usually go to Chad's parent's house for the 4th, which is right on the water. All the Stokers gather there. But this year, we're heading to Seattle to visit Chad's cousin (the one with leukemia) and watch the fireworks from the apartment he's staying in (after stem cell transplants, they have to be within 10 min of the hospital for 3 months). I'm wondering how Aidan will do with the fireworks!!

    Sorry I left the longest comments in the world! This is my first blogging time of the day and I'm in a typing mood!

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  10. Hi! I'm a Follower!! :)

    purposedrivenlife4you at gmail dot com

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  11. My fav pie is Apple! :)I *heart* Starbucks!

    purposedrivenlife4you at gmail dot com

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  12. Mmmmm I don't know what happened to your pie! LOL Could of been too juicy? Not long enough in the fridge to firm up maybe? :) purposedrivenlife4you at gmail dot com

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  13. My fav Starbucks drink is their Caramel Frappacino and I dash some Cinnamon on top of the whipp! Mmmmmm mmmmm :) For a hot drink, the Caramel Apple Cider is IT! :)

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  14. Well, for the 4th of July, I'm always home w/my parents. Nothing too special! :) purposedrivenlife4you at gmail dot com

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  15. I came across this Strawberry Pie from a site that I visit often and thought you might like to check it out! This looks yummy: http://busy-mommy.com/2009/06/the-best-summer-strawberry-pie-dessert.html

    Hugs,
    Doreen
    purposedrivenlife4you at gmail dot com

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  16. Tried doing it yourself instead of driving to Marie Calenders. Although you are a great cook (you can pay me later). Seriously why did you get the Martha Stewart gene? Not even mom has is. Sorry mom.

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  17. We fly by the seat of our pants. This year: Breakfast, Home Depot for "woodworking time", Wal Mart, Lakeshore for "craft time", home for lunch and a nap, to the park while daddy flew his plane nearby, home for 2 baths (1 to get of all the dirt and 2 to get clean, and off to Charles' friends house for food, fun, fellowship and in your face fireworks (Literally we were on a hill and they were right in front of us. Caleb keep thinking they were going to get in his eyes. It was the best view of fireworks I have ever seen.).

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  18. Favorite drink at Starbucks. No favorite just anything enjoyed with a friend (not children).

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  19. 2. Pie... I prefer cake! However I do love Boston Cream Pie!! (Because it has cake in it) LOL.

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  20. 3. I know nothing about making pies...was there some sort of a gelatin or something that you needed to use to get it to firm up?? I have no idea really... I bake cakes!! LOL

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  21. 4. My summer time favorite drink from Starbucks is the Iced Green tea, sweetened.

    When it is cooler out I like the Caramel Macchiatto, or Vanilla Latte

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  22. 5. Well for the 4th we used to go to my Aunt's house for BBQ, swimming and fireworks...
    however, she didn't have the gathering this year...and probably wont anymonre.. :-(

    We were so lonely yesterday.... no fireworks put on by the city... we cant have fireworks(although we watched some illegal ones being shot off behind our house)

    Matt was camping.... so we had a BBQ for Darren, Trevor and I and just hung out at the house....

    Looks like we need to come up with a new tradition to start!!

    I will be working on that for next year!!!

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  23. I am a follower and I love this blog and the people in it!!

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  24. My favorite pie is coconut cream pie with any berry pie being a very close second!

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  25. Did you add too much liquid? We should ask Grandma Leader for her fail safe recipe!

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  26. My favorite Star Buck dring is the passion fruit tea which is decaffinated.

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  27. I think I am starting a tradition as this was my second year to help cook and wrap hot dogs for New Life churches 4th of July celebration. They do this to give a free hot dog meal to those who come to their parking lot to watch the fireworks show that is at the University of Redland. We think there were over 400 hotdogs cooked! It was a great time for all!!!

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  28. I am a faithful lurker, maybe my wife will explain to me how to become an official follower

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  29. French Silk, I get it only twice a year for my birthday and Christmas, unless my wife forgets to make it for me... hint hint, anniversary.

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  30. I have no clue, but it was still tasty!

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  31. Caramel Macchiatto, upside down, extra caramel!

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  32. We go to our friend's house and have done so for the past 7 or 8 years.

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  33. i didn't like the taste that much. everyone else liked it.

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  34. whatever my Auntie Grace bought me in AZ.

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  35. we go to my friend's house, play soccer in the front yard, and then watch fireworks from their backyard.

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  36. Hey, I think there should be a rule that no one in the immediate household of the blog author can win. LOL. That's cheatin!

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  37. Yes, I am a follower. It is my way to hear what is going on with my extended west coast family.

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  38. I am an odd one. I don't like pie! It is disgusting. Only cookies and brownies for me.

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  39. Too much filling. Not sure how you would fix that since I am not a good cook. I would have to ask Grandma Wendeln or mom on that one. They would be able to help us.

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  40. I don't like coffee much myself however I do love their Mint Java Chip Frappacino. They have a hint of a coffee taste however the chocolate chips with mint are fabulous. I may have to go to Starbucks tonight. This is making me thirtsy.

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  41. I worked 3rd shift at the hospital. I wish I could have went to see fireworks with Matt and his girlfriend Danielle, Aaron, G-ma and G-pa, Aunt Barb and Uncle Rog and family. Holidays aren't the same without dad. You can identify with that. I miss him terribly. I am sure that he is happy in heaven with your dad and David. They are probably playing cards. I can see your dad sticking the cards to his forehead. He is probably giving tips to the others on how to maximize your underwear use and how to save your boogies. What a hoot and some great memories. Your dad was a trip!!!!

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  42. Hey, I was just thinking....strawberries create their own juice so you may not have to mix them with much. I would just use a little bit of the strawberry glaze. Of course, I am no Betty Krocker. Pardon the spelling.

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  43. 1. Yes, I am a follower! And I am so thankful to have you as my virtual friend and hope to meet you in person someday soon. You have really helped me through some rough times!

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  44. 2. My favorite kind of pie is my mom's Chocolate Chip Raspberry. I will miss having her make it and hope that I can make it as good as she did someday.

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  45. 3. Yikes, I have no clue what you did wrong... I tend to stay as far away from the kitchen as possible.

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  46. 4. My favorite Starbucks drink is the Mocha Frappuccino.

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  47. 5. I spent my 4th at my house, since the city does a fireworks show at the park across the street. Since I live in the house I grew up in, it has always been a family tradition to watch the show and have a BBQ on our front lawn. This was the first time doing it without my mom, though, and it was tough...

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