Cake pops. AKA...a learning process.

I've been dying to make cake pops since I saw them for the first time and I figured since we were having people over for our Zumba House Party, why not test them out? Let me tell ya...they are a pain! I used candy melts, which was too thick and resulted in me adding vegetable oil to thin it out. After that, it wasn't as awful, but it was still time consuming. Would I make them again? yes. (only for a special occasion!) They're cute, they just take practice!


The finished products:


And, to no surprise, there was a little girl tugging on my pant-leg seeing if mommy would share a treat. I gave her one without the coating..she wasn't so sure at first and carried it around for a while. Finally, after me constantly telling her to eat it, she took the first bite. It was gone in no time and she was begging for more! (and no, this mean mom didn't give her another one!)

Red Velvet Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies

I found this recipe through Pinterest and knew right away I had to make these for a friend to try. Now that I have a KitchenAid, I'll bake anything for anyone. Seriously.

I love swirling things.

They don't look as pretty, but I was told several times how good they were (I wasn't a big fan).

Yum-o!

Peanut butter blossoms are probably my all-time favorite cookie. I remember my mom making them weeks before Christmas and freezing them and I was always sneaking a few out and zapping them in the microwave. I could probably eat an entire batch by myself. My KitchenAid Christmas present already came in the mail, and I got to work right away baking any and everything. These were at the top of my list and I tried to make them a little more festive by coloring the dough. Maybe next time I'll just color the sugar.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas..

After growing up and having a real Christmas tree every year, I was bound and determined to do the same when I had my own family. I was shocked when my mom bought a fake Christmas tree and vowed to never buy a fake tree without that yummy pine smell. Then I thought of Alexis and her fascination of poking everything...sap getting on the floor...poky little needles pricking our hands and shedding everywhere...and I caved. We found a decent priced tree at Walmart that had almost 5 star reviews and I went for it. It was a long process (I think the stand it came with was too small; after Zack took a hammer to the pole to "make it fit", we ended up having to buy a different stand), but it looks good! We set it up after Lexi went to bed, so the next day she got to ooo and ahh over all the sparkly lights and glittery ornaments.

Her special ornament she made with Summer-this is the cutest idea!! Another productive and successful Pinterest find!

I let her hang an ornament..which she just dropped into the tree, picked it back up and then insisted on carrying it around the house.

Playing with an ornament-she quickly realized that the top part came off. Later I noticed her trying to put it back in, which just scratched the ornament up. She ended up breaking it anyway...I guess it was already a goner!
I love her in this dress...I could just squeeze her all day! It's too bad cuddling with mommy is not cool anymore.

Thanksgiving

We finally got the keys to our new house the day after the Marine Corps Ball and spent that entire weekend moving. My parents came down on Sunday to spend Thanksgiving with us (and help!)-it was a much needed and much appreciated visit! Lexi was quick to warm up to Grandpa & Grandma-especially after they gave her what was supposed to be her Christmas present! Luckily we had some nice weather to enjoy from the new patio area, which was also used for bubbles! Lexi loves bubbles and was happy to have someone just sit and blow a steady stream.
She makes the most hilarious faces!
My mom and I cooked our first Thanksgiving in our new house and made it complete by inviting friends!
This little cheeser was overjoyed to have more play buddies at her dispense and I think it's safe to say it was a mutual feeling :) She is loved more than she will ever know!

Pudding Pals

Checking out the cute girl in the oven. (with her favorite Halloween "treat"-her pumpkin pencil)Cheese! She did have a really cute flower clip in her hair..which, to no surprise, she yanked out in no time.
WHAT?! WE'RE GOING TO MAKE PUDDING?!
She wasn't so sure at first...












Then she got stir happy! (and threw a fit when I finished stirring and put the pudding in the fridge)












Here's a video to re-cap her stirring (and dancing) "skills."


Yummy!!

ARRR!

Anyone notice a resemblance in a certain little girl's eating habits?

Pasta Freak

This kid is a pasta FREAK. I don't how many times a week she eats pasta-she could eat it every day and be perfectly content. She usually starts out nicely eating with a spoon, then realizes she can use her spoon AND her other hand..and it all goes downhill from there-touching everything around her, rubbing her eyes, playing with her hair...
How do I know this is her favorite? This is the end of her THIRD princess plate full of pasta.
Now I'm off to give her a much needed bath and wash a load of unexpected white laundry.

Trick-or-Tweet!

This year was a trick-or-treating first for Lexi (and me!). I could have swore when I ordered her costume, it was a duck-and in my defense, a few people thought that's what she was-but when I pulled off the tags, it clearly said "chick." At least the "trick-or-tweet" on her basket I made went with her outfit that way. Here are some pictures from the eventful night.

A handsome lil cowboy let us trick-or-treat with him...he showed us around his neighborhood. Between my obsessions with Garth Brooks and this lil cutie...I LOVE this picture! :)
Alexis walking up to get candy all by herself. Once she realized people had candy, she was not shy and several times attempted to go for seconds. Did I mention she refused to carry her candy basket? All the time I spent making the darn thing, and she wouldn't even touch it! She also refused to be carried and wanted to walk alone..the entire time. So we patiently waited as she waddled her way around.
Me and my lil chick..who was trying to eat her sucker that was still wrapped.
Overall, a great night and first experience. After trick-or-treating, we ended with 50 cent corn dogs from Sonic and a movie with good friends. Another blessing to add to the list!

A Good Day in My Mailbox!

I was super excited when I opened the mailbox today to see all these goodies inside!

For me: coupons, Biore sample and my iPod touch that I've been waiting "patiently" for. I kept tracking the package every day and was so excited when I saw it reached Jacksonville a few days ago. Then they shipped it to Morehead City, and back to Jacksonville-talk about keeping me in suspense! This was my treat for saving up for half of it and paying for the rest with the extra school money from my Pell Grant.
Lexi got her very own package too! Great-grandma Stutzman sent her a box of books-which she was THRILLED to open!
And, of course, she wasted no time seeing what they were about. I love these books too-educational and touch & feel.

My little fattie

Apparently all her eating in the last few months has finally caught up with her, and Alexis is finally able to ride in her forward facing seat. And as soon as I get up the sun shades that I bought today, I'm sure she'll love it even more without the sun blinding her!

In case you haven't noticed by now, we NEVER leave the house without a snack cup. (and bribery mints in my purse)

Mommy's Hand-me-downs

Alexis has a few of my old toys I played with as a kid:
Old-school Vtech:

A Tribute to "in"

This child seriously finds new things to climb into all the time and with all the boxes around here because of online Christmas shopping, it just adds to the variety. Watching her climb into the box tonight reminded me of all the times she's done this lately...and a theory on why she climbs in any box she sees.


My box theory=I started her box fascination!
Her first time in a box: 2.5 months
Over a year ago: 3 months
Last winter: 6 months
February: 8 months..and the last time I put her in anything!
Last month: 14 months
A few weeks ago: 15 months
A few weeks ago: 15 months

Tonight: 15.5 months
And, as I type, she has made her way into the box for the 2nd time tonight.

Fall weather=Cute clothes!

We are finally getting some cool days, which means it's finally time to break out a warmer wardrobe (and a cute one too!). Although I'm a little sad to pack up the little tank tops and dresses-and of course, the sandals-I'm really excited for this season's clothing choices. Here's a sneak peek my little cutie.

Mmm..more food!

Another yummy recipe, straight from the produce section :) Cajun black beans with corn & sausage.

Starting out with garlic, spices, onions & green peppers.
Add corn & black beans.

Add tomatoes and kielbasa (I use turkey-WAY less sodium and 60% less fat).
Ta-da!! Yummy!

And I found Tahini at the Commissary (I swear, they have everything) so I can try to make some homemade hummus!