A Birthday & A Cake to boot…and some news.

I seriously cannot believe I’ve been writing this blog for a year!

I didn’t even realize it, but I let this poor little baby go by and miss it’s birthday. I realized today that it’s been around a year since I started this little project of mine, and found after doing a little archiving that it’s birthday was February 20, 2011.

Wow! One year old.

I’ve had so much fun with this blog. I’ve enjoyed exploring my crafty bone that’s been itching for a while, sharing parties that I love throwing, sharing recipes from my kitchen, and just giving the good, the bad, and the ugly and sometimes the funny.

I have to tell y’all that I LOVE writing this blog. I’ve enjoyed writing since I was in middle school, but haven’t done it in a l.o.n.g. time. This blog has been my outlet sometimes, but also lets me get creative in many different ways.

As much as I love writing this blog, I LOVE y’all for reading and following me. Thank you for the comments that you leave either on the blog itself, email me, or comment on my Facebook page. It means so much to me that you read and enjoy what I love to do.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Please keep up the reading and commenting…it makes me feel good.

Speaking of friends, I wanted to let y’all know that Google Friends Connect are making some changes. They will be getting rid of GFC for non-Google Bloggers and followers {I think}.

To be honest, I’m not sure how all this works. But, from doing a little research it seems that it’s going to effect people who are using non-Google blog sites such as Word Press. I have a Blogger account which is through Google so it shouldn’t mess me up personally, but I guess we’ll find out March 1.

If you find that you can’t follow me anymore or other blogs that you enjoy reading, you can sign up for a free blog follower account at Linky Followers.

Like I said I don’t really know a lot about this and not really sure how it will all work out. I just wanted to give you a heads up. I guess we’ll all walk through this one blinded. Facebook likes to change their pages almost every week and we all figure that one out, so I’m sure we’ll figure this one out too.

Back to the matter at hand…this little project’s first birthday. What does every birthday need to make it real???

That’s right, a cake.

Well, this is not officially the blog’s birthday cake, but it is a cake and I wanted to share.

Mama and I made it this weekend and it was soooo good! It’s what I like to call…the 3 Ingredient Cake.

You have to try it!

Find the recipe HERE.

Thank you again for being loyal and reading my sometimes crazy rants, and just stopping by. It means so much to me.

I hope y’all have a great night! Y’all come back now!

3 Ingredient Cake

Are you looking for an easy, quick cake recipe???

I have one for you. We made it this weekend and it was delish!

Mama got the idea from Pinterest…of course, but I have to share it with y’all.

Here’s all you need:

• A box cake mix {any flavor}
• 1 pint of ice cream {any flavor}
• 3 eggs

That’s it…3 ingredients!

Like I said, you can choose any flavor cake mix and ice cream. Mama and I decided on Heath bar ice cream and caramel cake mix.

{We only used half of this carton of ice cream because you only need a pint.}

You let the ice cream melt and then mix all three ingredients. Put in a greased and floured bunt pan and bake at 350 degrees.

Bake for 30-45 minutes.

Let cool a few minutes and flip out of pan.

Create a glaze/frosting of your choice and pour over cake.

Here's how I made the caramel frosting/glaze:

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup toasted, chopped pecans

Directions

1. In a shallow 6-inch saucepan, thoroughly mix brown sugar and flour. Stir in butter and milk, and cook over medium-high heat until mixture comes to a rolling boil. Boil exactly 1-1/2 minutes.
2. Remove from heat. Allow to cool 5 minutes. Mix in vanilla and continue beating until frosting is the consistency of thick honey, no more than 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Immediately pour caramel frosting onto cooled cake before frosting begins to set. 

 And there you have it…the easiest cake ever.

Just look how yummy!

Enjoy!

 And there you have it…the easiest cake ever.

Parents, projects, pajamas, and pounds…oh my!

Wow! There’s lots of “p”s swirling around my blog friend tonight…

Let’s get started, shall we?

Parents:

My Mama and Daddy came in town last Wednesday for a few days, and it was so good to have them here {as always}. Eric was traveling yet again, so they came in to give me a little relief…they’re good like that.

Mama and I got started right away on a sewing project I wanted her to help me with. I wanted to make a valance for the skinny window in my laundry room, but didn’t really know where to start. We hit the fabric store and after an hour we walked out with a small bag with some fabric and trim. {Thanks Papa G for sitting very patiently in the car with Hunter while we shopped.}

I just love the fabric we ended up purchasing, and feel that it is perfect for my laundry room.

I had all good intensions of watching her, learning from her, and sewing in front of her so I could learn how to make a valance, but that just did not happen.

I did not make one stitch on my cute little valance. She did all the hard work, but it’s perfect. I just love it.

It really is bringing this room together. I’ve started one of the last projects for that room…the bench cover. I’ve never done anything like this, so this project might be a tough one…I’m taking it slow. I’ll let you know.

Anyway, back to my first “p” of the night…my parents. Yes, they were here and we had a great time. But it wasn’t just them who came to see us this weekend. My big brother, Garrett, and his wife, Cassie, also came up from Savannah. It’s been a L.O.N.G time since we’ve seen them, and we were all so excited they were coming.

The kids quickly attached themselves to their uncle and aunt and we didn’t see much of any of them Friday evening and into Saturday.

Aunt Cassie even turned into a horse and was giving free rides to the kids around the house…it hurts my knees just thinking about it.

Dallas stepped up to the plate and gave Aunt Cassie a ride too.

Such a fun time this weekend was. It was so nice to have all of us under one roof and make some fun memories.

I have to admit I’m not sure which was my favorite part of the whole weekend though…the fact that everyone was here together, or the fact that Garrett and Cassie took the kids out on Sunday for 4 hours and left me here by myself.

Boy, that was awesome! I enjoyed some quiet time, but it sounds like the 4 of them enjoyed sharing special time with each other. I’m so glad they got to do that.

Projects:

I said last week I had several projects started but couldn’t get them finished.

Well, I sat down for little while on Friday and finished a few of them.

First, I wanted to jazz up a frame that was on one of my shelves in the living room.

I purchased the “live” plant and “laugh” blocks at Stein Mart after Christmas on some crazy sale they were having. I love them, but was missing the “love”.

I had the picture of Garrett and Cassie next to it, but it just didn’t seem complete. What could make it complete??? Just a little ‘love’ and spray paint.

I love this picture of them. I think it’s just the epitome of Garrett and Cassie. They love each other and music. A great show of “love”.

I sprayed the frame a Gloss Ivory I had on hand.

I took my friend, Silo…you know my Silhouette and cut out the word “Love” on green vinyl and then put it on the glass of the frame.

Wha-la..a finished project.

I think it really helps bring this shelf to be finished…with a little ‘love’.

On to project #2.

Garrett and Cassie recently had to put their dog, Miss Sally to rest. She was an old girl and lived to be 13. She had a great life, but it was just her time. As we all know, losing a pet is never easy, so I wanted to do something special for him….to honor Miss Sally.

I bought a frame at Home Goods…man I love their prices on frames.

I also printed out a picture of Miss Sally.

Again, I used my friend Silo and cut out the saying, “A dog is a friend who leaves pawprints in your heart on black vinyl.

We ALL loved Miss Sally and will miss her terribly.

I do have one more project but I’ll write that one out in it’s own entry. Not tonight…I’m getting tired.

Let’s move on…

This one is kind of funny…at least to me.

My daughter is very particular about her pajamas. Don’t ask me why, but she is.

She has this thing about her pjs. She likes to mix-match, match them, wear all of them, but heaven for bid, I am NOT allowed to wash them. She gets so mad at me if I wash them with the other clothes. Crazy, huh?

I don’t know about you, but I like to wear clean pjs when I go to sleep.

So, to make sure my little girl has clean pajamas to sleep in, every week or so I have to sneak in her room while she’s at school, wash and dry all the pjs, fold them, and neatly place them back in her drawer. All without her knowing what I’ve done.

Sneaky, huh?

Well, today was pajama washing day.

Now Dallas has a drawer full of nice, clean pajamas.

Pounds:

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was using this new app on my phone called “Lose it!” to help me with watching what I eat so I could lose a little weight. Well, I’m happy to say that since February 08, I’ve lost 5 pounds.

Now, I’m not sure if it’s water weight, or loss of muscle, or what, but I’m happy that my jeans are starting to fit better than they did a month ago.

Love that app!!!

Kids say the darndest things!

My Mama always said that and now that I have kids, I totally believe it. So, I have to share a funny story from tonight. I just hope you don’t get grossed out by it.

After bath, Hunter was sitting on the potty and going poopy. {Yes, we say poopy in these parts.}

I wasn’t paying much attention and getting ready to brush teeth and finish nighttime routine.

All of a sudden he looks down and says, “I got a daddy, a mommy, and two kids.”

{Quiet for a second, pondering…}

“All I need is 2 more, a pa-pa and a grandpa…all from my Poop Machine.”

He was so serious but I couldn’t help but laugh.

He was so proud of himself for making his “family” from his ‘poop machine’.

Oh how they make me laugh!

I’ve got a few more fun things to share with you this week, but for now, I hope y’all have a great night!

Thanks for stopping by. Y’all come back now!

Thursday Already?

How in the world is it Thursday already?

It seems like I was just getting my thoughts out from last week.

I don’t know about you but the weeks seem to fly by faster and faster. It’s crazy.

Oh well…time to move on.

I feel like my hamster wheel is spinning so fast these days that it’s hard to keep up. Granted some of this “spinning” is all due to me. I am totally at fault of starting projects and having several of them going at the same time. Then I get so frustrated that nothing’s finished and I have to remind myself that I’ve done this to me. What can I say, I have so many things in my head of things I want to do and instead of being smart about it, I start it thinking I can finish…and then I can’t so I just move on to the next one.

Hmmm….sound like Aged Enhanced ADHD to me.

Speaking of projects I’ve got a few up my sleeve.

• a birthday present for my SIL who’s coming tomorrow.
• working with some vinyl to pretty up a picture frame.
• make a new “spring” wreath for the front door.
• make a valance and cushion for the window and bench in my laundry room.

I know, I know, I have yet to reveal the laundry room project. Well, I’m a bit at a stand still. There’s still a few more things I’d like to finish before I reveal it. We must be patient.

The flooring will more than likely not bet finished before the “big reveal”, but we’ll see.

I’m super excited though to make a valance for the skinny window in my laundry room. It’s pretty skinny but the way the house is oriented, around 2:00 every afternoon the sun starts beating in that window just at eye height. And, man it is blinding! So with Mama’s help we’re going to make a cute little valance for that skinny window.

We found some cute fabric today that I think will look just adorable in there. Want a sneak peak?

Isn’t that super cute???

And won’t it just look adorable…here?

See what I mean, the sun is already starting to blare in there.

Anyway, It think it’s just what that window needs.

I’m also super excited because my Mama and Daddy are here. They got in yesterday just in time to treat me {and Hunter} to lunch at our favorite Mexican joint…Fiesta Mexicana and partake in National Margarita Day.

The weekend’s going to be loads fun with hanging with my parents, Eric and the kids, and my big brother and sister-in-law! I’m so excited to see them…it’s been way to long!

But for now, it’s off to finish some crafts, or at least work on finishing them. And then dinner tonight with some friends. Sushi, wine, and lots of laughs always make a week good!

Happy Thursday, y’all!!!

Another year older; another year {smarter}

Well, I’m not so sure of the second part, but I’m definitely another year older…the big ole ripe age of 33.

Saturday was my birthday, and it was a great day!

We started celebrating Friday though…

I got my hair cut and colored from my one of my dear friends and my hair’s fairy Godmother and I was feeling good facing my birthday. There’s something about beautiful weather, a new hair-do, and some Matchbox 20 blaring from your car to feel like a new girl…even if it is in a minivan.

Some friends came over Friday with their kids after school. We played outside, had some cocktails, and ordered pizza {so much for calorie counting today}. It was a great way to start my birthday. And, I’m one lucky girl…not only did my friends come and help celebrate on my birthday eve, but they brought me not one, but two cakes {seriously…no calorie counting here.}

It was such a fun night and then I was ready to start my birthday!

After waking up and snuggling with all my peeps for a little while we decided we would go out to breakfast because that’s my favorite meal of the day, and I love going out to breakfast.

We were torn on our choices of either the Farmer’s Market or Briggs. We decided on Briggs because it was closer and we were hungry.

We should’ve gone to the Farmer’s Market.

We got seated right away but the service was so s-l-o-w. It took about 25 minutes just to get our drinks. Then Eric and I were pretty disappointed in our food.

Note to self…for a good breakfast out, always go to the Farmer’s Market. They know how to cook up some good southern food.

But we got some cute pictures anyway.

After breakfast, it was a nice morning so we decided to head to the Farmer’s Market anyway…not to eat, just roam around and see what was there.

Of course we ended up at the Restaurant…or at least outside. The kids like the old timey buggies, plows, and small play area, so we let them play a little while.

The temperatures started to rise and we decided it was time to leave.

We headed home for a few and the kids wanted to go to the river. Close to our house they {whoever that may be} has put in a nice walkway down along the Neuse River. The kids like to go there, find paths down to the water’s edge, and throw sticks in the water. So, that’s what we did. They were content for over an hour.

We found a cool spot with a small hill and leaves and wouldn’t you know that Hunter found a “slide” in the leaves and mud…that’s my boy. This boy loves some leaves.

It was fun hanging with the kids and Eric and taking some fun pictures.

That night was fun as well.

Dallas and Daddy got dressed up and headed to a Daddy/Daughter dance and Dallas’ school. They both looked great and they were so excited.

Not to worry, I didn’t sit at home on my birthday.

My friend and old neighbor, Colleen had invited me to dinner with her and her mom {whom I just adore}, so I got gussied up too. Hunter went with me to Colleen’s to play with their girls while us big girls went to dinner.

He had a ball and so did we! We headed downtown Raleigh and ate at Buku. It was delicious and so much fun!

Starting Friday night up until the end of Saturday, I had a fabulous birthday! Definitely another year older and the jury is still out on the “smarter” part…I guess only time will tell.

But I will say that Saturday was filled with lots of fun with my family and not one whine or fuss came from my kids. And, there isn’t a big enough box or bow you could have wrapped that in to make it the best birthday present ever!