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!