Thursday, March 31, 2011

Embrace the Camera

Sassy's birthday was Monday, Hubby's birthday was Tuesday, so today I am turning the camera embracing over to my Hubby ~ celebrating with Sassy over the easiest cake in the world.  As it is called in our house, it is "Yellow cake with Chocolate Frosting"

Happy Birthday!



Oh, and that cake, boxed yellow cake, made by following the directions on the box and the chocolate frosting ~ well that is a bunch of deliciousness courtesy of my Mother-in-Law's recipe, which she said I could share so here you go:

Chocolate Frosting

(only 1/2 of the family likes sprinkles)







Melt together:
6 Tablespoons butter
6 Tablespoons milk (or 1/2 & 1/2)


Then add:
1 1/3 cups of sugar

Make sure you stir it so it doesn't burn. Bring to a boil. 
Once it is boiling, continue to boil 1 more minute.




Take the mixture off of the heat and stir in:
1/2 cups of chocolate chips


Stir until smooth and let cool until it is the consistency you desire ~ spread onto cake, cupcakes or heck, just eat it straight from the bowl.


ENJOY!



Alrighty, go embrace that camera and make yourself some cake and chocolate frosting
 ~ you deserve it!












Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The recipe that made me smile

Yesterday, I was going through one of my kitchen cabinets looking for a specific recipe book.

 I had to pull one out in order to get another one out (perhaps it's time to clean out this cabinet).

As I held this cookbook in my hands while reaching in to get the next one, something caught my eye.

Something simple ~ Something Handwritten

You see, this cookbook used to belong to my Grandma.  My Grandma who passed away when I was in Jr. High.  It made me smile to see this ~ an unexpected gift.

My grandma wrote her name and the year in the cookbook ~ 1979. And as I paged through, looking for more of my grandma, I found a few of her favorites:





And I came to realize, that unlike my fruit salad preferences (ummm, a big bowl of fresh fruit ☺) all of her favorites seemed to have similar ingredients ~ like:  Jello, mayonnaise, pineapple of some sort and canned fruit.

And as you'll see, the recipes she had to add to her cookbook ~ Well, they just make me smile :)






Monday, March 28, 2011

We're having a Party!


Quick shout out to my beautiful birthday girl!


My book lovin'


Sport Playin'


Water lovin'


Always makin' noise


Cuddlin'


Happy


Girl!

Happy 10th Birthday Sassy!  


We love you!




Thursday, March 24, 2011

Embrace the Camera

Yesterday was a bit of a crazy day.

8 inches of heavy spring snow

Smiley had a 102° fever and only wanted to snuggle.

Sassy found out she made the fast pitch softball team cut (and squealed with excitement)

Lucky for me at the end of the night it was Sassy who wanted to snuggle (she's growing up so fast and I will take every snuggle second I can with her) and we watched a little American Idol (I have to... I'm in a fantasy Idol league and I'm in 3rd place ~ it's kind of like doing homework).

Anyway here we are chillin' together




OKAAAYYYYY.......

Enough of the camera Already!!!













60. A conversation with a child who is not my own

61. Sore muscles
62. Alone Time
63. A new perspective
64. Sitting back and observing
65. The giggles of a 2 year old catching snowflakes
66. The roles I have been given
67. End of the season basketball parties
68. The health of my children

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Coming Down with Something

Hey All ~

I think I must have writers block, or a case of spring fever.  I don't know, lately I just haven't felt like logging on, sitting down and writing.

It's not like I've had anything of "importance" to write about.  On the other hand, there has been plenty I could write about.

I mean, I could tell you about the "FAILED" St. Patrick's day shirt I made for Smiley, or about the cute clips for her hair I made the morning of, because she "needed" something green.  But I would have had to take pictures of them and this is all I I've got:


I could describe to you the forest that is above my eyes ~ I'm not sure they could even be considered eyebrows at this point, but haven't made an appointment to get them tamed because I also really need a haircut (my sister was calling me Pocahontas this past weekend when she came to town for a visit),

There she is playing drums with Smiley and her little guy K

See,  me with my Pocahontas hair (this was about a month ago)

and I'm not sure if I want to keep the same hairstyle, or get crazy (ok, not real crazy) and do something a bit different.  See here's where I could ask for your advice :)

The same like this:



or maybe different like this:


I could give you details about the school carnival and the many dollars we spent to come home with some el cheapo novelty toys, which are now mostly broken, but also how we came home with some very happy, wound up, excited children, all while donating to and supporting their school.

How about the NCAA men's basketball tournament and the fact that there were so many upsets (go underdogs! ☺) this past weekend that the couple of brackets I filled out are......... BROKEN.

I could tell you about the projects I finally got finished, but I'll wait until a later date for that  ☺.

How about the many outfits Sassy and her friend dressed Smiley up in the other day:


and then Action had to get in on the action:



Let's see......

I could tell you more about today, the rainy, gloomy, stay in bed kind of day it is and the fact that I should have gone to the health club to run a few miles and lift some weights.  Should have.  But Smiley and I did go to a birthday party.  We went to celebrate a gorgeous little girl who today, turned 1.  Which brings me to remember that my own little girl will be turning the big 1-0 in less than a week and no party has been planned.

BUT it seems like I said before, that I have come down with something, be it writers block or spring fever.  Hopefully, I will get it together, get my creative pen working again, and get back here so I can actually "tell" you something.

Until then, what SHOULD I do with this?





Thursday, March 17, 2011

Embrace the Camera with Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Little Smiley and I got to work in the kitchen and set out to make some of my Hubby's favorite cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip


Keep reading and I'll share the recipe with you at the end ;)

Anyway, It was a fun way to spend the morning with my littlest.  And she is quite the little helper.... or should I say "taster" in the kitchen.


She even has some in her eyelash that she is saving for later



Warm right from the oven, 
what could be more perfect?


Eating them with my girl and enjoying every moment!

(Now if only Hubby and our 2 other kiddos were home to enjoy them with us)


And now for the recipe:

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies 


Cream Together

1 Cup Shortening
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup White Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla

Then Add:

1 1/2 Cups Flour
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Hot Water
2 Cups Oatmeal

Stir in:

1 Cup Walnuts
2 packages chocolate chips         

**** I NEVER measure out my walnuts or chocolate chips and honestly must not read my recipe very well, because 2 packages seems like an awful lot to me****

Bake at 350 for 8-11 minutes ~ don't over bake (remember they keep cooking on the hot baking sheet once you remove them from the oven)


Mmm, SO GOOD!

Now, go make some cookies by yourself or with someone else, and while your at it, 
Make sure you get out from behind the camera and get yourself into the picture!