Happy Valentine's Day!

We hope you all have a great day with those that you love!

Valentine's Party - Take Two!

Just a few more pictures from our great weekend!

Bright eyes!

mmmm...red velvet cake balls

Working hard on the "minute to win it" game...you can see the link to it here.

Look at that bed head :)

Two peas in a pod!

Boiler Up!!!  I don't think Matt's kids were too excited to sport Gold and Black

(they're more a of Red and White family)

Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Mom made this over the weekend, and it was delicious!!!

2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
1 1/2 c. fat free milk
1 1/2 c. water
1 c. steel cut oats
2 T. brown sugar
1 1/2 T. butter (cut into 6 pieces)
Cinnamon (whatever amount you prefer)
Dash of salt
1 c. dried cranberries
1/4 c. slivered almonds

Spray crock-pot with Pam.  Mix together all ingredients, add to crock-pot, and cook on low overnight.  Enjoy!

Valentine's Party - Take One!

Enjoying a couple days at Grandma Debbie's and Grandpa Jim's...

Friday Five

While I was getting in my daily dose of Pinterest, I stumbled across a great blog and decided to start something new.  Every Friday (ok, those of you who know me know that this probably won't happen EVERY Friday) I'm going to post a Friday Five...five things that I found, tried or just liked during the week!  Here is this first batch!

Number One - www.stacyjulian.com
This is the blog that gave me this idea, and below is the game that I found for our Valentine's Day party this weekend.  It's a "minute to win it" game for kids, and I'm hoping they'll have a lot of fun with it!

 
Number Two - www.pinterest.com
My newest addiction.  I have found so many ideas on this website, and I'm sure most of you are already members...if not, let me know and I'll send you an invite!  This is just one of the many, many ideas I've "pinned"!

Number Three -  www.picnik.com
I use this website for quick and easy photo editing.  It's moving to google+ in April, so from now until then, all of the photo edits are free to anyone.  I'm not sure what it will be like on google+, but I'll just keep using it until it closes.

Number Four - www.rookiemoms.com
I just recently found this blog, and so far, I love it!  These two ladies are a wealth of knowledge on everything baby/toddler/school age!  So many craft ideas, recipes, games, etc.   Check it out if you get a chance!

Number Five - Just a cute random picture...you didn't think I'd do a blog post without a picture of my little guy, did you???

My Version of Chocolate Wasted Cake

A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon a chocolate cake recipe that looked amazing!  It was on my favorite website (and newest addiction) Pinterest, and I knew right then that I had to make this cake for the Superbowl party we were going to. 

As I was reading the recipe, which you can find here, I thought...hmmm, I bet I can do this a little easier.  Not that I'm against homemade cakes and homemade frosting, but I have a toddler, a full time job, and meetings usually two nights a week...so, cake mixes and tubs of frosting are definitely my friends!

But, I do have a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences (a.k.a. Home-Ec for all you old-schoolers out there), so I thought I could at least do some improvising with the cake mix.  Here is my version of Chocolate Wasted Cake! 

1 devils food cake mix
4 eggs
1 box chocolate instant pudding mix
1/4 c. oil
1/2 c. water
1/4 butterscotch schnapps (you could use other flavors or just leave it out if you'd like)
1 c. sour cream

Mix all of the ingredients together, and bake in 2, 9-inch round cake pans (greased and floured).  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Allow to cool completely. 

When cool, level cake and ice with chocolate frosting.  Press milk chocolate chips into the side of the cake (I used Ghirardelli).  Cut up candy bars (I used Hershey milk chocolate, Twix and Snickers), and sprinkle on top.  Also sprinkle some chocolate chips on the top. 

Next, melt 1/2 c. chocolate chips with 1 t. vegetable oil, and drizzle over the top.  Let some of  the chocolate drip down the sides.

Lastly, dip a spoon in butterscotch ice cream topping, and drizzle over the top and down the sides.

Enjoy!!!

One more time...

Last week, we celebrated our last Christmas of the season (or maybe we should call it the first Christmas of 2012)!!!  It was a great time at Andy's grandparent's house with all of the family.  Ben enjoyed spending time with his cousins (and of course, opening presents)! 

  Hugs from Miss Amelia :)

Good buddies!

Getting some love from Uncle Eric.

I just love those little feet :)

Reading a story with Grandma Queenie

What's in the stocking??? 

Those stockings are a tradition, everyone gets a homemade one from Popsie!