“caketastrophie” averted

Have you heard of Bakerella? If you haven’t, make sure you have some free time before you click on her site. Trust me, you’ll be there awhile.

Anyway, she’s made a name for herself by making Cake Pops. I can’t even express how cute these things are. Here’s a picture of some “Spring Chicken” Pops that would be perfect for Easter.
 photo source

Are you kidding me?

Anyway… we had “game night” here on Saturday and I had baked a cake for dessert. Lisa’s birthday is this week, as is Haley’s boyfriend, Joe, so I had plans to decorate it all cute to celebrate.

Well, Saturday afternoon I get started on decorating and the top layer of the cake fell apart. I started freaking out at first because… hello?! People coming over in a few hours. I started trying to figure out how to salvage the cake when Bakerella’s Cake Pops came to mind.

Thankfully several months ago I had purchased the supplies to make the pops, but had never done it. So, I turned to the trusty internet to find out how it was done. This video on YouTube came in very handy.

Chris & Jboy got in on the act & with their help we were able to whip up some Cake Pops. I use the term “whip up” loosely here because it was kind of time consuming. Though, I think had I been able to plan a little better it wouldn’t have been so stressful.

Here is our finished product:

All in all I think they turned out really cute. Everyone seemed to really like them & said they tasted good. {For some reason the thought of actually eating a cake pop does not appeal to me, so I didn’t partake.}

I’d love to make these again sometime when I can plan ahead & put more thought into it.

Have you ever made Cake Pops before?

jboy’s obsession

My child is obsessed with these Banana Muffins. I mean seriously, the recipe makes about 18 muffins & out of the last batch I think I ate 4. They are super good, though, so who can blame him.

It had been a couple of weeks since I’d made them last & he’d been asking me to make more. Who am I to deny the child his obsession? This time he decided to help. 

Please don’t mind the mismatched pajamas with the shorts on inside out. ;)


Next to the muffins, I think he likes this part best.


The finished product. We made the muffins on Friday, I took this picture today… and these were the last two.

Again, here’s a link to the recipe that I got off Cathy Zielske’s blog: RECIPE, but just to make things easier I’m going to paste the recipe here too.

Jean Otteson's Banana Bread (or muffins!)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
8 oz (1 package) Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened at room temp)
2 ripe bananas
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/4 cups of sugar
2-1/4 cups of flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Mix oil, sugar, bananas, cream cheese, eggs, vanilla until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Makes 18 muffins.

Each muffin is roughly 180 calories of deliciousness.

Option: sprinkle a little sugar on each muffin before baking to give it a nice little sugar crust.

Option two: Bake two loaves of bread in a greased, floured pan for 40 minutes.

Best eaten warm and often.

Seriously, make these muffins. I promise you won’t regret it. Your waistline might, but you won’t. ;)

wordless wednesday

Season Opener

{Get ready for picture overload!}

Tonight was Jboy’s first TBall game! He played so well & we’re so proud of him. Watching kids this age play baseball is so much fun.

Now, for the onslaught of photos:

     Safe!

“Good game. Good game. Good game.”


Tomorrow morning we have team pictures, and then our next game is Monday evening. I kind of hope that he decides he really likes playing baseball. I sure like watching him play.

wordless wednesday

last practice

Tonight {or last night since it's now after 12a} was Jboy's last TBall practice before their first game Friday night. He's doing so well! I can't wait to see him in his uniform out there on the field.

Nice form, buddy!


Super cute!

the nutty professor

Meeting Pioneer Woman… again

Something I spend an inordinate amount of time doing is reading blogs. The nosy person in me loves the peek into other people’s lives. One of the first blogs I started reading, and also on of my favorites, is Confessions of a Pioneer Woman. The Pioneer Woman, aka Ree Drummond, documents her life as a city slicker turned rancher’s wife. She’s so funny, an amazing photographer and a great cook!

In December 2009, she was on tour promoting her cookbook and Rebecca & I were so excited to go. You can read about it HERE and HERE.

A few years ago, Pioneer Woman started writing about when she me her husband, who she calls “Marlboro Man”, and posting the story on her blog. After a time she decided to turn their story into a book; Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. It was released last month & she’s now on tour promoting it.

Last night she was in Atlanta so we made the trek down to Borders for the signing. Rebecca, Laurel, Jennifer & I had a great time hanging out in line.

Just like last time, Ree was so super nice. It’s amazing that she takes the time to meet each & every person and have her photo taken with them.

Speaking of photos, here are ours from last night. Thank you to Rebecca for sharing her pics! 

 

We’ve really enjoyed each of the author events that we’ve attended. Here are the links to those posts, if you’re interested:

Jodi Picoult – March 2009
Ree Drummond – December 2009 
Kathryn Stockett – March 2010

wordless wednesday :: lunch time

wordless wednesday {NINO}

Nine Months In :: 10.11.06


Nine Months Out :: 7.16.07


I saw this on Susan Weinroth's blog & totally stole the idea. ;)

home management binder

A couple of weeks ago I came across a post on one of my new favorite blogs, A Bowl Full of Lemons, about putting together a “Home Management Binder”. I really liked the idea of having everything together in one place; to-do list, menu planning, contacts, etc… so I went about putting my own together.

I’m sure I’ll be adding more to it as I see what else I need, but here is what I have so far:

Gotta make it pretty, you know. :)

The categories I have so far are: To Do, Menu Planning, Contacts and Birthdays/Anniversaries.

There are several places online where you can find free printables for cleaning lists, etc, but I decided to just make my own. 

In “Contacts” I have section for Family, Friends, Doctors/Dentist, Insurance, School and Church. I didn’t put everyone we know in here, just people we would want called in case of an emergency or something.

I’m sure you can guess what’s in the “Birthdays/Anniversaries” section. I also put the addresses on the sheet too in the hopes I’ll get better about sending cards.

I’m sure this will help me on my quest for a more organized life.

Do you have a binder or something like this that you use? I’d love to see it!