My in-laws gave me an online digital scrapbooking class from here for Christmas. I'm finally getting around to taking it, and I'm absolutely loving it!!
Thanks Stan and Alisa for the wonderful gift!! I hope you enjoy seeing al my lay-outs!!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
cocoa pie
This recipe goes way back in my family.
My grandma's Mom used to make these pies for her lunches using leftover biscuit dough. She used real butter and cream and made half moon pies. Her friends at school always wanted to trade for her pie. Unfortunately she never got a recipe from her mother because she died when my grandma was only 12. Through the years my grandma devised the below method using pie crust. My Mom and her brothers loved these pies when they were kids and always begged my grandma to make one per kid.
When I was a kid, my Mom would make a cocoa pie and the pie pan would be wiped clean in seconds. We would all get our piece and eat it then my Mom would hide her piece in a cabinet to eat the next day. (this pie tastes better the next day) If she didn't hide it, she knew that we would scarf it up!!
If you want to make your own cocoa pie here's what you'll need....
3/4 c. sugar
2 T. cocoa
1/4 c. milk
2 to 3 T. butter
Pillsbury roll-up pie crust
(do not crimp edges)
Mix the above ingredients (except the crust) in a small saucepan.
Cook until butter is melted and it starts to bubble. Be careful not to burn. Place pie crust into a glass pie pan, letting the edges flop out over the sides of the pan. Pour cocoa mixture into unbaked pie crust.
Fold the edges of the crust over about 2 inches, so that the chocolate filling is showing in the center. The filling may run out of the crust a little and that is okay.
Bake at 325 degrees for about 30-40 minutes or until crust is golden and filling is bubbly.
Let the pie cool for a couple of minutes. After the middle part is not super runny, cut the pie into 4 pieces. Scoop the pieces out as best as you can and transfer to a clean pie pan. It won't look pretty, but that's okay!!
The reason I transfer it to a clean pie pan is because if you leave it in the original pan it sticks so bad. It will still stick to the second pie pan, but it won't stick as bad.
Serve with a cold glass of milk!!
Enjoy!!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
project peeks
I've had so much fun decorating my house lately. I feel like everything is really starting to come together. I have been working on some projects around the house for the past couple of weeks, but I can't seem to finish one before I start the next.
Here are a few peeks of my projects that I hope to have finished by the end of the week.
I'm going to hopefully post pictures of the final products this weekend, but I'm not making any promises!!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
a day full of favorites
I had a doctor's appointment smack dab in the middle of the day, so I took the whole day off!!
I thoroughly enjoyed my day off!!
Here are all the things that made my day great....
Sleeping in until...
7:15
...my morning work-out with Jillian...
...Cinnamon Toast for Breakfast...
...a Chai Tea Latte on the way to the doctor...
....finding out that everything is okay with me at the doctor...
....lunch at Panera Bread...
....buying 4 dresses, 2 shirts, & a pair of shoes for less than $100 at Ross...
....shopping around at Target...
....getting a Diet Coke with Vanilla at Sonic's Happy Hour...
....and spending the evening with my sweet husband!!
When you pack all your favorite things into one day, you are bound to have a great day!!
Monday, February 22, 2010
me and jillian
Jillian and I hung out this morning for the first time in a long time.
I've been so bad about working out this year.
I have lots of valid excuses though........tendonitis in my knees, the stomach bug, a sinus infection, decorating projects, and sleeping in.
Okay maybe they aren't all good excuses....
Anyways, I finally dragged my butt out of bed at 5:15 this morning to work-out before school. If I don't work out before school, it just doesn't happen.
I finally feel really motivated to work-out because.....
......we just booked a cruise in May!!
I can't wait, but I've got to get my booty in shape.
So.....see ya tomorrow Jillian!!
meal planning monday
The week is "Clean out the Freezer Edition"!! I'm not cooking any new recipes this week. I'm trying to clean out my freezer so that I can spend one day this week stocking up my freezer with more "throw it in the oven" meals.
Monday: Spicy Garlic Chicken & Pasta and Eggrolls
Wednesday: Chicken Spaghetti, Rolls, & Veggies
Thursday: Beef Pot Roast, Baked Potatoes, & Mixed Veggies
Friday: Matt: Corndogs Me: Pizza Rolls
Saturday, February 20, 2010
name that tune champs....again
Last night our Honeymooners ABF played Name That Tune. We played (and won!) last year, so we were really looking forward to this game night!!
The Cozad's have moved to a new ABF but they were so nice to host the game for us again!! They amaze me with their creativity and their music selections. They really made the night a blast!!
Our categories this year were....
Round 1:
{Baylor Bears} {Kickin' it Old School Christian}
{American Idol Contestants} {Dead or Alive}
{And The Grammy Goes To..}
Round 2:
{60's} {70's} {80's} {90's} {00's}
Round: 3
{Gangsta's & Wangsta's} {Contemporary Christian}
{Ben's Favs} {Sara's Favorites}
{Guitar Greatness}
Team 1 consisted of The Stones, The Howards, The Kennedy's and me & Matt!
Team 2 consisted of The Goodings, Eric (We missed you Julie), The Hutchisons, and The Zellners.
Our team lost the first round, won the second round, and the third round. Then we kicked some booty in the Lightning Round to win it all!!
Matt and I were on the winning team again!!
Yay....Team One!!
Friday, February 19, 2010
melt in your ears, not your hands
I think this picture says it all!!
My kiddos LOVED their iPod Valentines.
This little guy was jammin' with his iPod for literally the entire party.
He was jammin' so hard the "Hershey Kisses earbuds" started to melt in his ears!!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
iPod valentines
When school was cancelled last Friday, I got a little extra time to put together Valentines for my kiddos. I was originally just giving them a box of Sweethearts, but when I saw this idea on the internet, I knew I had to make them!!
Here's what you'll need to make your own....
Box of Conversation Hearts
Pink or Red Paper
Yarn
Hershey's Kisses
iPod Patterns
Sticky Labels w/ Message of your Choice
Rubber Cement
Hot Glue Gun
Cut paper into 4x7 pieces. Spread rubber cement on the entire sheet of paper. Place the Sweethearts in the center if the paper.
Wrap the rest of the paper around the box pressing hard so the glue will stick.
Download the iPod pieces here, cut and glue onto the front of the box.
Cut two pieces of string, one 1ft long and the other 2 ft long. Tie the short sting onto the middle of the long sting to make a "Y" shape. Hot glue the Hershey's Kisses onto the strings.
Lay the string that does not have the Hershey's Kisses on it, on the back of the box.
Cover the string with the Sticky label.
And there you have it....iPod Valentines!!
I can't wait to give them to my kids tomorrow at our party. They are going to love them!!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
calling all chocoholics
If you like chocolate....
.....you are going to love this dessert!!
Death By Chocolate
1 box of brownie mix
1 large or 2 small boxes of chocolate instant pudding mix
1 lg. Cool Whip
Heath Toffe Bits
Bake brownies according to package directions. Cool. Make instant pudding according to package directions. Crumble half of the brownies into a glass bowl. Spread half of the pudding on top of the crumbled brownies. Sprinkle toffee bits on top of the pudding. Spread half of the Cool Whip on top of the candy bars. Repeat layers and finish with remaining toffee bits on top.
I love bringing this dessert to parties because not only is it super easy to make, it's always a huge hit. And I think it's looks so pretty in a trifle bowl!!
Enjoy!!
Monday, February 15, 2010
meal planning monday
Wednesday: PW's Ranch Style Chicken & PW's Crash Potatoes
Thursday: PW's Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Sauce & PW's Fluffy New Potatoes
Friday: Crockpot Salsa Chicken on Tostadas
Saturday Breakfast: Pigs in a Blanket
Saturday Dinner: Lasagna Roll-Ups, Salad**, Green Beans, & French Bread
(**I froze some of the lasagna roll-ups last time I made them. I've never froze them before so we'll see how they taste!)
