Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String ~


Ok....so maybe the package wasn't brown it was green but it was tied up with string. :o) I have a wonderful friend that sent me a package in the mail this past week. She is always so thoughtful and does the sweetest things. She is that person that ALWAYS knows how to cheer a person up when they need it the most. She is one of those people that goes above and beyond!!! She is AWESOME! I got the package and was so excited to open it. It had a sweet little note inside and also a recipe for Okra {oh my love for okra}. :-)
Then i opened the green package tied up with string.....some of the CA-utest handmade personalized cards that i have ever seen! So i have to just say a great big THANK YOU!! I can not wait to use them. Actually i hate to use them cause they look so dang cute but i will. hehe!!


This past week was a hard week for the family and me. Wednesday i got a phone call from a family member telling me that my husbands mother will be having surgery very soon. The doctors found a very large mass that needs to be biopsied. So i'm asking everyone to keep us in their prayers. We have a long couple of weeks ahead of us. I may not be able to post very much but...I will update when i have any news.

Monday, February 14, 2011

BE MINE ~


Happy Valentines Day! Love is in the air. Heart shapped pancakes are in the belly. Heart shapped PB&J will be served for lunch. And sweets for my sweet when he gets home from work! :o) Simple i know....but that is the way i like it. I always take time to right down all the things that i love each Valentines Day. Kinda like Thanksgiving...and writing down everything you are thankful for. Here is my list.....


I LOVE...
My Lord
My Husband
My Beautiful Little Girl
My Sweet Little Boy
My Lovable Hugable Doggie
My Family & Friends (far and near)
That i'm able to be a stay at home mom
Chocolate
Sewing
Photography
Baking
Painting
Being Crafty
To take my kids for a walk
My Life

Ok....My list never changes much.....maybe a few things added every year. What are some of your loves?? I hope everyone has a blessed and wonderful Valentines Day!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Whoopie Pies ~

Do you love Red Velvet cake? How about Cream Cheese Icing? Have you ever had a Whoopie Pie? You might want to try one...they are DEEEE-LISH! Super easy to make too. Whoopie pies are cake like and got their name from the sound that people make when they eat them...hehe!


Red Velvet Whoopie Pies:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1-oz. bottle red food coloring (2 Tbsp.)

OR.....just grab a red velvet cake mic at the store! :o) Add 3 eggs, 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup of oil.

Whoopie Pie Filling:
1/4 cup softened butter
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
7 ounce jar Marshmallow creme

OR

Cream Cheese Frosting
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter, softened
2 cups (8 ounces) powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
splash of milk if needed

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment; set aside. In medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2. In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high 30 seconds. Beat in brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating after each addition just until combined. Stir in food coloring.

3. Spoon batter in 1- or 2-inch diameter rounds, about 1/2-inch high on prepared baking sheets, allowing 1 inch between each round.

4. Bake 7 to 9 minutes for 1-inch cookies or 9 to 11 minutes for 2-inch cookies, or until tops are set. Cool completely on baking sheets on rack. Remove cooled cookies from baking sheets.

5. To fill, dollop Whoopie Pie Filling or Cream cheese frosting on flat sides of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies, flat sides down. Makes 60 one-inch or 42 two-inch cookies.

6. To store: Refrigerate in airtight container up to 4 days. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving.

This recipe also can be made with Devil Food Cake and made into some yummy home made oreos.

I'm planning on making some of these red velvet whoopie pies in a cute heart shape for Valentines day. My sweeties are gonna love'um!!!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Monte Cristo Sandwich ~

While looking around for a new recipe i stumbled upon something that made my mouth water. HA! :o) I wrote down the recipe and forgot to save where i found it. Sorry...whoever's recipe this is...i give you full credit!! Ok now...If you have never had a Monte Cristo Sandwich, i feel sorry for you! :P And being from the south...anything deep fried is the best! I have had a Monte Cristo Sandwich just a few times but let me tell you.....yumm-O! So now i have to make this. Maybe not once a week {i don't even want to know how many calories is in this puppy} but every once in awhile youbetcha. So hereya go........

INGREDIENTS:
-6 slices swiss cheese-6 slices cooked chicken or turkey breast slices
-6 slices ham
-12 slices white bread
-Vegetable oil for frying
-Powdered Sugar


BATTER:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 TB baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/3 cups water
1 egg beaten

1. To make batter, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. In separate bowl, mix water and egg. Add egg mixture, blend thoroughly.

2. Make sandwiches, placing 1 slice of cheese between 1 slice of turkey and 1 slice of ham. Cut sandwiches in half and put in a toothpick to hold the sandwich together.

3. Dip in batter and fry in 360 degree oil until golden.

4. Drain on paper towels. Remove toothpick and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Your WELCOME! :o)

Monday, February 7, 2011

Friends, Family & Date Night ~

Happy Monday!
We had an eventful weekend. Friday night we took it easy and once the kids went to bed we watched a movie that we just got in the mail {netflix}. I'm not really sure how this movie got on our lineup. I don't remember adding it and the hubster claims he didn't add it. But we watched it anyway. The movie was called "An American Crime". It has the girl from "Juno" in it.




It was based on a true story. OH MY!!!! Terrible!! This movie will rip you heart out! Just insane to think about something like this actually happening. Google it....read about it....don't watch the movie! Guess that is all i have to say about this movie.

Some friends of ours came down and visited with us Saturday. It was so good to see them again..... way to long in between visits! Our kids got to run around and play while we got to talk and eat some lunch. I enjoyed every moment! :) My In-Laws also come down for the weekend and Saturday night.....the hubby and i had a DATE! :o) This happens MAYBE 2 times a year. We ran out the door.....hehe!! Headed straight to the Movie Theater and picked out a movie. Ok....not much to watch. Not interested in anything but we WERE going to see a movie. We chose Sanctum 3D.

I really had no desire to watch this movie but we both thought it might be a good one to watch since i had never seen a 3D movie. So we went in....put out goofy looking glasses on and was surprised that it was actually a good movie....in 3D. Not to sure if i would have liked it as much just as a regular movie. Have you thought about going to see this movie? If so ....i recommend seeing it 3D. :)

Friday, February 4, 2011

Opryland Hotel ~

Nobody could have prepared me for the grandiosity of this place. I had been there 11 years ago but don't remember much about it. The hubby had a conference in Nashville, Tennessee over the past week. He would be staying in the Opryland Hotel! It is about a 3 hour drive from where we live so i packed up the kids and we headed for Nashville. My daughter was so excited to go to Tennessee. It was hilarious that when we drove over the boarder she clapped and screeched and said "We're in TENNESSEE...yippie"!! We get there in the pouring down rain and just trying to find a place to park was not to much fun. Once we parked and i got the kiddos out {again in the pouring rain} i felt alittle more atease. Then we entered the lobby. I got my room key and headed in the direction the guy at the counter sent me.....but that map he gave me didn't help me any. Holy Cow that place is just to big. We finally found the hubs room and i was exhausted. And cheap-o me even paid to have the bell service get our bags and bring them to the room cause i wasn't about to do all that again. HA! That night we walked around and had dinner with a water show. The next day the kids and I toured this place while daddy-o was "working".

We took a boat ride that was over priced but well worth it.


This place had waterfall after waterfall. Just gaw-jus! It felt like we were in Hawaii. But it was snowing outside actually.


The kids enjoyed getting to go behind one of the waterfalls.




Little girl enjoyed the water show the most! She kept calling it the Gooey Gauzier??
Here is a shot at night of the water show.






We spent alot of time in elevators. WAY to much time in elevators. Not stroller friendly!





This little gal has it made! :)


We spent alot of time making wishes too. Good thing i brought my pennies.


Great food was all around.






I wanted to buy a few monkeys. ;) But decided mine were enough....HA!



This gal made my kids scream with terror! I thought she was darling. But no photos here of the kids. I had to sneak this one of her by herself when the stroller was facing the other way.

All in all we had a blast! And the best part is that it was free. :) Except for the boat ride so i really can't complain about $9 for a 10 minute ride....right? Good times. :) Now if only i can convince the hubby to take us back at Christmas time to see all the lights............

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Baby Jadyn ~

I had the privilege of photographing this sweet little girl this week. A dear friend of mine asked me to come for a visit so i could finally meet this little darling. As soon as i walked in the door and saw her my heart melted into a puddle. Oh she is just the tiniest little thing....and what a sweetheart!

Look at those sweet long fingers........


This is probably my favorite. I love the big eyes and smile.


And her eyes really stand out in this one too.....



Mommy had a special dress she wanted her to wear. Again when i saw it...my heart melted.

And just look at those piggies.....i could eat them up!!!


I was so glad i was able to finally come and see this little girl. And visiting with her mommy made me want to pack up and move to where she lives so i could see her more often! My kids loved getting to see Miss Jadyn....kinda made me have baby fever. But not for to long. That all changed as soon as i loaded my crew back up in the vehicle to make our way to our final destination. BY MYSELF! More on that tomorrow. :) Have a great Thursday!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Quotes ~

Ahhh...February. The month of love. I always loved Valentines day growing up. My mom would make me heart shaped pancakes. And i plan on having that tradition with my kids. I also loved making all my Valentines cards and making sure each one went to the right person....hehe! This year i also wanted to make sure little girl had plenty of Valentines Day crafts to make. She loves making things {and that makes my heart melt}. So i have been compiling sweet things for her to make. :o) I have V Day shirts to make. And possibly some V Day decor for the house. I wanted to make a quote plaque and was searching for some LOVE quotes and came across these. Some i love, some absolutely melt my heart and some i could live without....but i thought i would share. Maybe you scrapbookers out there might like these to use in your books. :o)

50 Famous Love Quotes:

“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get.” – Forest Gump

“You are what you love, not what loves you. That’s what I decided a long time ago.” – Adaptation

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – Annie

“Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time.” – Casablanca

“If I tell you I love you, can I keep you forever?” – Casper

“Life is messy. Love is messier.” – Catch and Release

“Your eyes are the sweetest stars I’ve ever seen.” – Moulin Rouge

“A dream is a wish your heart makes.” – Cinderella

“I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss from her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it.” – City of Angels

“My husband and I fell in love at first sight… maybe I should have taken a second look.” – Crimes and Misdemeanors

“Love is not a feeling, it’s an ability.” – Dan in Real Life

“There are only four questions of value in life.
What is sacred?
Of what is the spirit made of?
What is worth living for?
What is worth dying for?
The answer to each is the same. Only love.” – Don Juan Demarco

“This kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime.” – Bridges of Madison County

“…someday my wish is for him to hold me in his arms, in a sea of deep blue, together at last, together as two.” – Can’t Buy Me Love

“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being “in love” which any of us can convince ourselves we are.” – Captain Corelli’s Mandolin

“Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.” – Captain Corelli’s Mandolin

“You’re a romantic. You have a lyrical soul. You can love under the best and worst conditions.” – Drew Barymore, Fever Pitch

“When you love someone,
And you love them with your heart,
It never disappears,
When you’re apart.
And when you love someone
And you’ve done all you can do,
You set them free,
And if that love was true…
When you love someone
It will all come back to you.” – Forget Paris

“A heart can be broken; but it keeps beating just the same.” – Fried Green Tomatoes

“It doesn’t matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect, as long as they are perfect for each other.” – Good Will Hunting

“You’re not perfect sport, and let me save you the suspense, this girl you met, she isn’t perfect either. But the question is whether or not you’re perfect for each other.” – Good Will Hunting

“Love actually is all around us.” – Hugh Grant, Love Actually

“You make me want to be a better man.” – Jack Nicholson, As Good As It Gets

“To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering, one must not love; but then one suffers from not loving. Therefore, to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer, to suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love; to be happy then is to suffer, but suffering makes one unhappy; therefore to be unhappy one must love or love to suffer or suffer from too much happiness. I hope you’re getting this down.” – Love and Death

“When a divorce lawyer gets married it’s the triumph of hope over experience.” – Love is a Four Letter Word

“Sometimes in life there really are bonds formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. Maybe you’ll find it in a spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding, but there’s also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself is the same person who’s been standing beside you all along.” – Marion St. Claire, Bride Wars

“Love is passion, obsession, someone you can’t live without. If you don’t start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who’ll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I’m not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you’ll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love – well, you haven’t lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven’t tried, you haven’t lived.” – Meet Joe Black

“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” – Moulin Rouge

“Love is a many splendid thing; Love lift us up where we belong; All you need is love.” – Moulin Rouge

“Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide, but I love you, until the end of time.” – Moulin Rouge

“We should be lovers, and that’s a fact.” – Moulin Rouge

“Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place,
suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace,
suddenly my life doesn’t seem such a waste,
it all revolves around you.” – Moulin Rouge

“There’s an Italian painter, named Carlotti, and he defined beauty…He said it was the summation of the parts, working together in such a way that nothing needed to be added, taken away, or altered, and thats you, you’re beautiful.” – Nicolas Cage, Next

“I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” – Notting Hill

“I am someone else when I’m with you, someone more like myself.” – Original Sin

“I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen.” – Say Anything

“Nobody thinks it will work, do they? No. You just described every great success story.” – Say Anything, Lloyd Dobler and Diane Court

“If the people we love are stolen from us,
The way to have them live on, is to remember them.
Buildings burn, people die, but real love is forever.” – The Crow

“In these dreams I’ve loved you so, that by now I think I know what it’s like to be loved by you. I will love being loved by you.” – The King and I

“Summer romances begin for all kinds of reasons, but when all is said and done, they have one thing in common. They’re shooting stars, a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, fleeting glimpse of eternity, and in a flash they’re gone.” – The Notebook

“Love is friendship on fire.” – The Perfect Man

“Hearts will be practical only when they are made unbreakable.” – The Wizard of Oz

“Promise me you’ll survive. That you won’t give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless.” – Titanic

“I dream about being with you forever.” – Twilight

“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” – When Harry Met Sally

“I love that you get cold when it is 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle in your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” – When Harry Met Sally

“I love that you get cold when it is 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle in your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” – When Harry Met Sally

“Without a heart I can never really know what it would be like to love someone.” – Wizard of Oz

“Hearts will never be practical until they are made unbreakable.” – Wizard of Oz
 

avandia