We’ve been busy

building castles in the sand.

we are home from Florida and it still looks like the contents of my van exploded in my house. So….I’m busy trying to put things back together so we can get on with real life.  It’s such a drag coming back to reality. really. 

I’ll be back in blogland soon.

oohh, and my old sewing machine expired right before we left {still the best $15 I ever spent at a garage sale} so I had to order a new one. It comes tomorrow…can’t wait. I hope to be sewing up a storm next week.

What have ya’ll been up to this week?

Sweet Words

Because your love is better than life, 

   my lips will glorify you. 

I will praise you as long as I live, 

   and in your name I will lift up my hands. 

~Psalm 63: 3-4 

Strawberry Spinach Salad

I love me some red, ripe juicy strawberries.


They are so great this time of year so now is the time to make yourself this wonderfully tasty, addictive salad.

It has it all.
sweet
tangy
chewy
crunchy

Oh, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!

I know there are many variations on the strawberry spinach salad out there, but here is what I put in mine. It’s the best, if I do say so myself.


1 Package prewashed baby spinach
1lb Strawberries, sliced
Chopped pecans
Raisins {I used golden, but either is fine}
Red Onion, sliced very thin
Feta cheese, crumbled
Poppy seed dressing {I like Brianna’s}

I don’t really measure anything, I just toss what looks good together and then I devour it :)

It makes a very pretty salad for a shower or party. I wait to assemble until right before serving and then I toss the salad with the dressing. It always gets rave reviews.

Enjoy!


this post is linked to: Tasty Tuesday, Cast Party Wednesday

Caramel Brownies

Not gonna lie, these will not be found on any weight loss plan.
They are super rich, but oh so good.
That is exactly why I NEVER {ok, maybe once} make them to keep at home.
I try to make them only when I have people to share them with so I can eat one, call it yum and not hate myself for eating the whole pan.

But, if you do hoard keep some for yourself, just go right ahead and cut them into small squares and store them in the fridge. They taste like a little bite of heaven when cold.  just sayin’….they. will. not. disappoint.

Caramel Brownies

2 German chocolate cake mixes
1 can evaporated milk {not condensed}
3/4 cup butter {1.5 sticks}, melted
1 16oz bag of caramels or caramel bits
6oz chocolate chips

In a large bowl, mix the 2 cake mixes with the melted butter and 1/2 of the can of evaporated milk. Stir until mixed well and moist.

Spread 1/2 of the cake mixture into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake for 6-8 minutes at 350.

Meanwhile, combine the caramels and the remaining evaporated milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Stirring often until the caramel is completely melted.

When the first layer of your cake is done baking, pull it out and spread the caramel mixture over the top. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips. You will then top the caramel and chips with the remaining cake mix. It will not be spreadable. So, with clean hands, take a scoop of the mix and flatten it in your hands and place it on top of the caramel layer. Continue until you have used all the cake mix. You may have holes where there is no cake mix, but that is ok, it will fill in as it bakes.  Bake at 350 for an additional 15-20 min.

Cool, cut and enjoy!!


this post is linked up to: The Weekend Wrap-Up, Tasty Tuesday

What’s not to get?

My husband just doesn’t get it.
The lure of the cupcake, that is.

I personally don’t understand what he doesn’t get.
A perfect little piece of cake all wrapped up just for one.
Seems perfectly, deliciously obvious to me.

Lucky for me, my kids totally get it!
They have yet to turn down an offer to go to the new shop up the street.
It’s called Sugar Rush and the cupcakes are just delightful.
Way better and bigger than the other shop in town.
The first one up above is the Chocolate Peanut Butter, the second was Strawberry Lemonade and Josiah’s was the Hot Fudge Sundae cupcake. All super delicious.

Do you have any cupcakeries in your area? What is your favorite flavor?

Courage

The ability to do things that one finds frightening.

The ability to confront fear in the face of pain,danger, uncertainty or intimidation. 

"Courage is not the absence of fear. It is acting in spite of it." Mark Twain 

Hello

Is anyone still reading this little ol’ blog???
May was so busy with activity {worse than December if you ask me} and I really just wasn’t feelin’ it so I took a little unplanned bloggy break.

But HEY, I’m BACK!!! {and now you are stuck with me}
So there ya have it! I’m here and you are stuck.  I win!

Thanks to those of you who have left comments and emailed me to make sure I was ok. Y’all are what make this blog thang so much fun and I appreciate your concern. I have the BEST readers!

So……what have I been up to you ask.

Josiah had his school program and did such a great job singing and smiling.
I spent 6 years taking kids to preschool here and I will miss the wonderful teachers.

We are nearing the end of baseball season. Corban’s team is doing really well this year {haven’t really been able to say that before}. He managed to end up on a team where the coaches see their work with the kids as a ministry and said as much at the first practice. Wow. love that! It has made for a very enjoyable season so far. 

Little man gets a .25 tootsie pop every. single. game.
Keeps him still for a little while.

Josiah started t-ball last week. He was so excited~ crazy excited. Like drive you nuts, can you please stop talking about it kind of excited.  

I have also been sewing like a mad woman. Mostly Etsy shop orders, but I did manage to make myself a new little bag last weekend. I love it! The pattern is from I think Sew. 

It’s the retro bag. I {heart} the pleats on the front and that it’s a crossover bag and that my hands are free when I carry it.  No more hurting shoulders from a heavy purse. 



Speaking of the shop, I put in on vacation yesterday!! As much as I love making things for other people, I decided I needed a little break. Sales have really picked up lately and I am forever grateful to those of you who have shown your confidence in me and bought one of my cases. However, I need a little rest and relaxation for a few weeks so the shop is closed until June 25th. You can still place an order, but it won’t ship until after the 25th. If you placed an order before. June 5th, I will finish your order and have it shipped by tomorrow.

Speaking of relaxation, I can’t wait to be sitting on this beach this summer. dreamy.

How about you? any relaxation in your future?