Month: June 2011

Becky Crocker?

Betty WHO???
I got this FABULOUS apron from ASD Living and it’s SO CUTE!!!
They have several fabrics to choose from and I love the way it fits.  I feel like such a domestic diva in my cute little apron 🙂  I can’t wait to use this during the holidays, it’s so fashionable….this ain’t yo’ Momma’s apron ya’ll! 

So last night I decided to “get my bake” on.  I wanted to sport my new apron and prance around the kitchen like the domestic goddess that I am. Ha…ha…ha..

This is what happens when you are trying to bake these days.  Ahem….the apron also has pockets so you can stuff goldfish in there so when your child whines you can throw them a bone.

I tried out a new recipe for chocolate chip cookies.  They turned out delicious!  I don’t like hard cookies, so I was on the hunt for a soft chocolate chip cookie recipe.  I found one and it worked like magic! 

I know this because this morning after the cookies had been sitting out all night they were still soft.

I love this scooper.  Everyone should have one.  I use it for cake balls and it’s the greatest invention ever!

SOFT Chocolate chip cookies


RECIPE

Ingredients
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 2 cups butter, softened

• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix (this is the magic ingredient!)

• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 4 cups semisweet chocolate chips

• 2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside.


2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto cookie sheets.


3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Edges should be golden brown.

ENJOY!

I just want to remember this little tidbit about my baby.  He is so funny!!!  He walks around the house and talks on the cell phones.  Dude is obsessed with cell phones!  Wonder where he gets this from?

My twinkie Bonnie made him that 4th of July shirt.  Isn’t it cute???  She’s so talented and she even started her own Etsy boutique!  Thank you Aunt Bonnie we love our shirt and we love YOU!

“Hey Poppy!!!  We can’t wait to see you tomorrow!!!”
My Dad is driving in from AR to come see us, we are so excited!!!

Also check out my book review for BlogHer book club on Sarah Dessen’s new book “What Happened to Goodbye”  It’s a great summer read!

Jewelry Organizer Giveaway!

This is the WEEK of giveaways!!!
So keep checking back until Friday 🙂
You can also see the rest of the giveaways on my sidebar or giveaway site

I know I’ve mentioned before that I haven’t found a good way to store my jewelry.  Now that Connor is walking and getting into things…and climbing dressers I’ve lost about 5 pairs of earrings!  I received this great 80 pocket canvas jewelry organizer from Household Essentials.  I love, love, LOVE it!  It’s exactly the solution I’ve been looking for & my jewelry is no longer one big jumble of metal. 

Here it is after I got all my jewelry organized :

See what a crazy mess I had going on? 
I had three different jewelry boxes with jewelry just sitting there, and some I forgot about because I didn’t want to search for it.

Large pockets at the bottom for necklaces, bracelets, & watches
It stores easily in your closet and saves so much space!
They also sell a hang up canvas organizer for necklaces too!
I am giving away (1) 80 pocket jewelry organizer
TO ENTER:
1. Tell me why you would love to win this jewelry organizer?
2.  Tweet about this giveaway & leave comment
Retail value : $24.99
CONTEST ENDS: Friday, July 8th

Sweet Cheeks Bumbo Cover Giveaway!

Laura has the cutest Bumbo covers in her Etsy store
Her Bumbo covers come in an array of beautiful fabrics, there is so much to choose from!  Sweet Cheeks Seat Covers offer the perfect solution to the non-breathable rubbery material that sticks to your baby’s delicate skin when you sit them in the Bumbo infant chair.
The Bumbo covers are professionally sewn with surged seams, made with machine washable materials, fit snugly over the Bumbo infant chair and will work with the Bumbo Play Tray.  All cover includes the following…
* Minky Dot Armrest
* 2 matching ribbon loopy tags for attaching link toys
* 8 X 5 parent friendly back pocket made to hold pacifiers,teethers, toys….etc
* Monogramming is available. Please see our shop for our monogram listing.
Sweet Cheeks can also can make matching security blankies and nursing pillow covers.   All covers can be made to order, meaning you can change them to your liking.  You can change the minky color or ribbon loopy color, or even add more loopy tags. You may also send your own fabric, so you can match it to other items in your nursery!
TO ENTER
* Go to Sweet Cheeks Etsy site and tell me what cover you would like to win & leave a comment
* Extra entry for liking their Facebook page & leave a comment
* Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter & leave a comment

  $1 from every seat cover sold goes to Gwinnett County Children’s shelter in Gwinnett County

Giveaway Ends: Friday, July 8 2011

Pit Stains

“It wouldn’t be a Texas summer if the weather were any less hooter than they – HOTTER than they are. Whew. It is hot out there, isn’t it?” –Clark W Griswold  (slightly modified)

It’s a scorcher out there…it’s days like this that give you the undeniable pit stains and sweat running down your back.  I am definitely a fall/winter kind of gal.  I love cool weather…so why the heck do I live in Texas do you ask?  Because my husband move me here!  Where he goes I shall follow….I love him yes I do!

I wouldn’t be able to survive this madness without an iced tall caramel macchiatto and a mini fan blowing in my face 24/7 at work.  Which by the way causes severe dry eye when you are staring at a computer screen all day. 

Terence and I are doing fairly well on our “eating healthy” kick.  Minus the few slip ups this past weekend at the wedding and a visit to the Cheesecake Factory last week.  Both occasions totally worth the extra cals too!

Example of dinner :

I’m digging spinach salads with feta and summer tomatoes

My little booger is growing like a weed and I wish time would slow down just a bid right now.  He’s at such a fun age and he’s mimicking everything Terence and I do.  He LOVES So You Think You Can Dance?  Every time he sees it on the TV he gets absorbed in the music and dancing and starts spinning around in circles.  Cutest.thing.ever.

I am in love with this crab outfit from Zulily for $11.99!!!
And guess where it’s from???
Mud Pie (I love)

Aunt Bonnie sent Connor the cutest owl jam jams.  They are also from Zulily.  They glow in the dark, but we haven’t tried that yet!

My boys drenched in sweat
Poor little red faces
So big and curious….my little Curious George
I’m trying to enjoy each and every moment of this time I have with my baby.  Everyone is asking when is #2 coming?  The truth is there probably won’t be a #2 and if there is it will be several years.  We know what we can handle emotionally, physically, and financially….it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love more children.  It’s  the fact that I also want to be responsible about it and give my child the best quality of life possible.  And for now I am content, and I feel blessed to have my one baby boy.  I’m in love with him, and living life….and that my friends is good for me 😉

Wedding Bells

We have had a super busy weekend!  We attended a rehearsal dinner Friday night for T’s cousin Katy & her (now hubby) Michael.  It was at Joe T’s, which is a really good mexican restaurant here in Fort Worth.  They have a chapel across the street that was converted into a banquet room.  It was a great location and we even had an appearance by the TCU horned frog 🙂  Lots of TCU fans in the wedding party!
Michael & Katy

Nell & Granddaddy
Sisters of the bride : Lesley & Macy
Lesley & Connor
Terence, Connor, & I

Margaritas!!!
Future horn frog?
Group shot of all the past and present TCU horned frogs 🙂
We had a great time and the wedding on Saturday night was just beautiful!
Sunday I took some engagement photos of another sweet couple.  You can see them HERE
I am not starting a photography business, I just do it for friends and family…just thought it would be a nice place to show all my photos.  I’m still a work in progress that is for sure! 
Hope everyone had a great weekend! xoxo Becky