Recipe of the Week

It's been a while blogger friends.....I haven't forgotten about you. I've often thought about updating my blog, it just never actually becomes a reality. Recently, as many of you know, I have been trying out several recipes found on Pinterest and thought that it would be fun to share some of my work with you. I've found several keepers among my pins and only a few duds (which I try to delete for the sake of my fellow pinners - gotta look out for ya!)

To start it off, I've got to share a recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip that I made for the first time this past weekend for a party that I never even got to attend thanks to our lovely Michigan weather. Basically, it turned into a bonus treat for a night with friends that we had here at our house after Phil's last home game. It turned out so delicious and had such rave reviews that I made it again, on a whim, the following day for Anna's birthday party. I'm telling you....this stuff is DELICIOUS and highly addicting - don't say I didn't warn you! The only thing I omitted from the recipe were the toffee chips simply because I didn't have any on hand and didn't feel like making a special trip to the store. Give this baby a try - it's super easy and your kids can help if you'd like! The girls loved licking the mixer beaters as a special treat.

I forgot to take a picture of the fancy finished product on a platter looking pretty - bummer....that's the best one! I paired this delightful dip with chocolate Teddy Grahams, honey graham crackers and apple slices. Enjoy!

Christmas Card Time

I always look forward to sending out Christmas Cards....particularly photo cards.  I know that I love receiving them from friends and family and displaying the photos on my fridge until the next year.  It's always fun to compare the kids from year to year to see how much they're growing. We had family photos done this year with a local photographer so I'm particularly excited to create and send my card.  I have enjoyed searching a few sites for my card this year and have narrowed it down to Tiny Prints.  They have so many cute cards that can be found HERE - browse their wonderful selection.....it's so much fun to look at all of the designs and narrow down your selection.  I've got my eye on a few of them but you'll just have to check your mailbox soon for the end product :) Hope you like it and enjoy receiving it just as much as I enjoy sending them.

  I've also been pondering how to display all of the wonderful cards that we receive this year. Pinterest has been a wonderful resource (although a major time sucker :)) One of the ideas I really like is this cute little wreath found HERE.

  Hopefully I'll get a chance to create this little cutie or something else that will allow us to view our cards for the season.  Look for our card to arrive in your mailbox soon.  Happy Holidays!

Gettin' Crafty

We had a birthday party last weekend for T/I who are the daughter/son of our friends Dustin and Hope.  They bought a cute little house on a lake in Sparta where they plan to spend their summers (they call the place "The Shack").  Since they came from Vegas with relatively little for "The Shack", I thought it would be fun to make some crafty decor for the kids room.   So.....I embarked on the project below the evening before the party.  Getting a "late start" was not such a good idea but after a long night and an early morning start.....wahhlllaahhh.....the finished product :)

The entire gallery for I's room.  I got the canvases in a 2 pack @ Michaels along with some inexpensive craft paint and the letters (which are just MDF).  I picked up the wooden frames at the Dollar Tree and then painted them with the craft paint and paint sponges. I then put in some cute coordinating scrapbook paper from HL. I painted and sanded the letter and attached the ribbon (also from HL) with hot melt glue. The last touch were framed photos that I had recently taken of the kids at the lake in one of the pained frames.

T's gallery (whose middle name happens to be that on the canvas :))

Date Night

Last Saturday, Phil surprised me by planning a night out to celebrate my birthday and just spend some time together after his first round of July travel.  Grandma Eva watched the girls and we were off.  He didn't give me any details (although I kinda figured it out which really ticked him off :)).  First stop was here......enough said!:)  Needed a little pick me up for the car ride.

My handsome date

This was our destination....beautiful South Haven, Michigan

Dinner at Clementines

Oh....and look who showed up....surprise surprise!!! My birthday twin (Tim and I share the same birthday.....Phil has no excuse not to remember his brother's birthday!)

Our other special guests of the evening.....Lubbs and Mrs. Lubbs who were totally cooperating with me and my photo requests :)

Ahhhh.....how could you leave SH without stopping here!!  Any guesses as to what flavor Phil ate?  Hint hint....it matches the color of the cow.  So funny!

Bath time

Bath time is a busy and fun time of the evening around our house.  Now that Lily can sit up.....they all go in at once and they love it.