Cutest Ice Cream Sandwich Ever!

I bought these ice cream sandwiches for my son yesterday at Walmart.  I didn't realize when I bought them that they were the "mini" 100 calories ones.  What a suprise last night after dinner when Brady opened the box and saw how little they were!  They are actually a nice size little treat (although my son would not agree) and  for those of us trying to watch our weight...they are perfect!  Not to mention...they are the cutest darn things I've ever seen! 

Yep, he talked me into letting him have TWO! 

Smoothie Book

I LOVE making smoothies...especially for breakfast!  Recentlly I put together a little recipe book of my favorite smoothie recipes.  I love having all my recipes in one little book...it's also much easier than hunting through my recipe box trying to find the one I'm looking for.  I used leftover scrapbook paper and some clip art to make the recipe cards.   I bought this 4 x 6 photo album for $1.00...isn't it cute?!

  I'm always looking to try new smoothies...so if you have a favorite...I'd love to try your recipe!  Here are the ones I have in my book so far:

Fun Flower Pens

These flower pens are so easy to make!

This is what you'll need to get started.

(and a glue gun or super glue!)

-package of pens ( I used Bic)

-a few silk flowers ( pull the stems off)

-green floral tape (Dollar Tree)

-small vase (Dollar Tree)

-glass beads (Dollar Tree again!)

Step One: Pull the long stem off the flower (put green covering back over flower...this is what keeps it together) and remove the cap on the bottom of the pen.

Step two:  Start at the bottom of your pen, and wrap the floral tape all the way to the top.  Pull tightly as you wind the tape.

Step three: hot glue the bottoms of the flowers and press the little stem part down into the top of your pen.  Done!  They are that easy!

I purchased the flowers for .50 each (they were half price!)  Everything else I purchased at the dollar store.  So, each pen probably cost around .75 to make!

I recently made a whole vase of pens for Secretary's Day. This would also make a cute teacher's gift or place a pen on top top of some pretty stationary for a birthday or Mother's Day gift.  The possibilities are endless!

There's No Place Like Home

There's no place like home...and the beach isn't too bad either!

~Me

We had an awesome weekend at the beach!  It's so nice to get away sometimes from the busyness of life and everday routines and just RELAX!  Even though we were only gone a couple of days, I think getting away ( from the phone, tv, computer video games, etc) makes us feel more connected as a family and recharges our batteries. I enjoyed every minute we were together this weekend.  I'm sure I will miss my two favorite guys today as they go back to work and school! 

                                         

Oh yea...and my husband ran a 1/2 marathon! 

I am so PROUD of him!

The Beach And A Race

We're heading to the beach for the weekend!  Wooohooo!  We don't usually go to the beach this time of year, but my husband is running a 1/2 marathon on Saturday morning in Ocean City, Maryland... so we are going down for a long weekend.  Going to the beach is probably my most favorite thing to do ever!  I look forward to going every summer...and when I win the lottery...I'm moving there!

My little beach bum several years ago.  He loves the beach almost

as much as I do!

I don't think it's suppossed to be a very nice weekend weather wise...but that's okay...I know we will have a great time regardless!  My husband better run his race speedy quick so he doesn't waste any of our beach time!

My Very Unorganized Pantry!

I've been trying to get my pantry organized the last couple of days.  I've been busy with other things,  so I've only been able to work on it a little here and there.   I'm not sure why I've let this space get so out of control...( maybe because it's all contained behind a closed door and no one sees it) but I'm on a mission to get it organized and cleaned up! The pantry has always been one of my favorite things about our house...but by the looks of it you would never know it.

As soon as I'm finished, I will post some pictures.   It's already looking a million times better...although you're probably thinking... gee, that wouldn't take much!

Oreo Cupcakes

I can't remember where I got this recipe from...if anyone knows please send me a note so I can give credit where credit is due!  These were AWESOME!

Oreo Cupcakes

1 box devil's food cake mix

1 (5.9oz) package oreo instant pudding

1 c. sour cream

1 c. vegetable oil

4 eggs

1/2 c. warm water

2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix cake and pudding, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water.  Stir in chocolate chips and pour the batter into cupcake liners.  Bake 20 minutes.  (made @ 28 cupcakes).

Oreo Butter Cream Frosting

1 stick salted butter- room temperature

1 stick unsalted- room temp.

1 c. shortening

1 TBS. clear vanilla extract

2lbs. powdered sugar (yep, that's right!)

4-6 TBS. very cold milk ( I used 5)

8 crushed oreo cookies w/ the cream removed (when my husband saw me scraping the cream off the oreo and throwing it in the garbage...he said he was going to call the police on me!)

Cream the butter & shortening together w/ a mixer.  Add vanilla & mix well.  Begin adding in the sugar and mixing thoroughly.  Add milk one TBS. at a time.  Fold in oreo crumbs.  Top cooled cupcakes with frosting and garnish with 1/2 an oreo!  Enjoy!

Friendly Competition

 The reward for a thing well done is to have done it.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

This past weekend I ran a 5k race with a group of girlfriends.  It was the second time I have ever run a 5k.  My first time, was last summer when I ran with my husband.  After the race with my husband, I thought...okay, been there, done that....NEVER in a million years need to do that again!  I'm not a runner and I don't really enjoy running.  I often say that if I was twenty pounds lighter and had a smaller chest...maybe then I would like running!  But, unless a miracle happens...I probably will never be excited about running!

I was really hoping the night before the race, that it would rain and maybe I could back out! ( I know, that's a terrible attitude!)   It's not like I can't run the 3.2 miles...because I can.  I will never break any records as far as speed goes....but the actual run was not all that difficult.   Most of the women in our group  had never run a race before...and so they were really excited.  I was really proud of everyone for finishing.    If it weren't for this group of friends, I would never have pushed myself to run the race.  In the end, I'm really glad that I ran.  It's a great feeling to cross the finish line and know that YOU did it!  It was even more special because all eleven of us in our group were supporting and cheering each other on.  I exercise with these women on a regular basis and they keep me motivated and push me to work harder than I would ever do if I were on my own. 

Crossing the finish line!

Seeing how proud my son was of me at the finish line makes me want to race again!

(Did I just say that?!)