Lazy Tuesdays

26.4.11

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Hey everyone!! I hope everyone is having a good Tuesday =]] One of my readers from TheHinkyMeter shared a yummy sounding recipe with me the other day so I want to share it with you all!! I haven't had the chance to make it yet because I am trying to lose weight, hahaha, but it sounds devine!!

Tiramisu Cheesecake

  • 1 12 oz. package ladyfingers
  • 4 Tbsp Butter, melted
  • 6 Tbsp (or 9) coffee liquer (I like to throw a little Gran Marnier in there too for good measure)
  • 3- 8 oz packages cream cheese
  • 1- 8 oz container marscapone cheese
  • 1 c. white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 Tbsp flour
  • 1 oz semi sweet chocolate
  1. Place a pan of water at the bottom of the oven. Preheat to 350.
  2. Crush ladyfingers to crumbs, mix butter into said crumbs. Add 2 Tbsp liquer, press into pan.
  3. Mix cheese and sugar until very smooth, add balance of liquer. Add eggs and flour, mix slowly until smooth. (if it's too thick [you should really add more liquer], add a little cream until desired consistency.
  4. Pour into pan, place on middle rach of oven, bake 40-45 minutes. Open oven door, kill the heat and let stand for 20 minutes. let cool, refrigerate.
  5. Use chocolate as a garnish, either by shaving and sprinkling, or melting and drizzling.
MMMMMmmmm, can't wait.

So, I can already tell that my search for a formal dress is going to be stressful. I've got to find one before Thursday of next week, blerg. Hopefully this weekend, or even before, I can go check out some stores at least. I can't wait to dress up all fancy though, I want Hubsie to think I am soooo beautiful =]]. Maybe I will post of pictures of possible dresses a little later. We will see. Well, I am off for now! Enjoy the recipe!!
Until next time!!

- mamabear

Back to The Norm!!

25.4.11

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Hey there! Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend! The weather here was very icky but we needed it! It's still super gross outside but it's nice to have humidity for a change =]]. Riley had a good Easter =]] she couldn't exactly go hunting for eggs cause she's not big enough, but her cousin Annika took her around with her. I'll share a few pictures with you guys =]]

Riley & cousin Annika
Riley & cousin Annika
Riley & cousin Annika
Riley & cousin Brandi
It was a successful first Easter for miss Rileybear =]].
So this past week's voting for the Parent Magazine's Cover Contest is over. It was a tough week, Riley was 1st a couple of days and 2nd some, 3rd others, back to 1st and then she landed in 3rd for the end of the week. So sad!! But no worries, she is always #1!! No matter what anyone thinks =]]. I'm not sure if we are going to enter her again or not but I will be sure to post the link and whatnot if we do.

So, Hubsie is almost done with his month long class and I am so excited for life to get back to normal =]]. His graduation is next week and that will be our first really formal event together, it's exciting! I can't wait to dress up and feel all beautiful. I guess I had better find a dress first though, hehe. I think I will go this weekend and try to find one. I'm thinking I will try Dillard's, they seem to have some nice formal stuff.

Well I think I am off for now, I will post more later!! I hope everyone has a wonderful day =]]
Until then!!

- mamabear

Easter Dress Up!!

21.4.11

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Well, we played dress up hahahaha. Yeah, I know. Shhhh. She's my daughter, I'm aloud!! & she loved it =]]. Here you go, the beautiful miss Riley!!


Hope you all enjoy! We sure did!!
Until next time!!

- mamabear

Easter is Coming!!

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Good morning everyone! Happy Thursday! Easter is coming and I am sooooo excited! I can't decide what dress Rileybear should wear, she has so many to choose from! Maybe we will do dress up today and I will take some pictures =]]. Oh, speaking of Easter!! One of my friends at TheHinkyMeter shared a video they made of Rileybear! It is sooooo cute lol.



Well I hope you all enjoy! I will probably blog again later one! Don't forget to vote for the beautiful miss Riley again today!! Early this morning she dropped from 1st place down to 2nd place so we have to stay on top of it! She's back to first place right now but we can't let that happen again!!


Until next time!!

- mamabear

Daddy's Little Munchkin

20.4.11

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She's such a little daddy's girl =PP
Enjoy!!

- mamabear

Happy Hump Day!

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Heya everyone! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday! Halfway through this week, hopefully that makes everyone happy :PP. Rileybear is up to 1st place today!!!!!! Thanks to everyone for voting daily for the beautiful little Riley, aka Leelu! A special thanks to everyone at TheHinkMeter for their support!! Don't forget to vote again today so she can stay in first! We have 'till Sunday, April 24th, to keep her there. I'm sure we can do it =]].


So, Hubsie is currently in a month long leadership class and we are officially over the halfway mark! Thank goodness! I hate that he has to deal with so much stress on a daily basis right now.
This weekend is Easter! Yay! Rileybear's first Easter! Even though she can't walk, or even crawl, it's going to be fun watching her pick up the eggs :PP. Not sure if there are going to be a lot of kids in the family there to do the easter egg hunt, but either way at least I can get some good pictures!! I'm really wanting to get back into taking more pictures so this will be a good headstart. It's sad that Hubsie won't be able to be there for her first Easter,  I will have to get her grandma to help her with the eggs so I can capture every moment I can =]] **cough cough** lol.
Rileybear wanted to say Hi =]]


Enjoy!! I've decided I really need to go get my eyes checked, sigh. I took probably 50-60 pictures and these are of the few that aren't blurry as heck. But I tell you what, I am the luckiest mom in the world to have such an angel to spend my days with =]].
Until next time!!

- mamabear

More of Leelu's Campaign Promises!

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Enjoy!!
Until next time!!

- mamabear

Remembering a Time Before

19.4.11

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Today is the 16th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City. I had the pleasure of being able to go down to the memorial for a photography project while I was in school. Walking around the grounds you can really feel the love and the pain of the people who lost loved ones in the bombing. Along the outside fence there are notes, flowers, small toys, pictures, and mementos that have been left in honor of the ones that we lost. It was hard to walk through and look at all the things that are left and think about losing someone to such a tragedy. I can't imagine what it was, and still is, like to go through that. I took a lot of pictures while I was there, none of which are digital and most of which aren't even printed from negatives yet. But I do have a collage of pictures of something that really touched Hubsie and I.

The Survivor Tree is a symbol of human resilience. Today, as a tribute to renewal and rebirth, the inscription around the tree reads, “The spirit of this city and this nation will not be defeated; our deeply rooted faith sustains us.” 
The Survivor Tree is an elm tree on the memorial grounds that witnessed and survive the horrible tragedy. It stands as a reminder that no matter what horrible things we may witness or live through, we stay grounded and can overcome any obstacle.

I hope that everyone can someday experience the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial. It is a powerful place.


On a side note, I added a new section to my blog! It's 'Shop SFC'!! I don't have a whole bunch up there right now, but I will add some more when I get the chance! Here are some quick links to the stuff I have up there



Go take a look! Anywhoser! I'm off for now. Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!! Don't forget to go vote for miss Riley again today!! =]]
Until next time!!

- mamabear

A Fresh Start!

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Hey guys!! Hope everyone had a wonderful week last week! Rileybear made it up to 23rd place in the voting for the Weekly Reader's Choice competition for Parents Magazine's Cover Contest!! Well, this week is a whole new week!! Yesterday was the first day for voting and today she is up to 15th place!! WOW!! Just gotta remember to keep voting every day so we can get her up to first place!!


So exciting!!! Anywhoser! Hubsie's birthday went well, we ended up going out to eat with a friend and then going out to the bar to have some drinks and whatnot. He said he had a great time, that's all that matters!! Well, I found a German Chocolate Cake recipe that I made and it turned out Uh-Mazing!!! Courtesy of DianasDesserts.com. So here it is! Enjoy!!

 German Chocolate Cake
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • 4 ounces German's Chocolate or Milk chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (2 sticks/8oz/226gm) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 large eggs, separated
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup fresh buttermilk 
  • Coconut-Pecan Filling and Frosting (see recipe below)
  • Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (see recipe below) optional
  • Pecan Halves, for decoration (optional)  
To Make Cake:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Using a small brush, lightly coat three 9-inch round cake pans with softened butter or nonstick vegetable cooking spray. Dust with flour and tap out any excess. Set aside.
  2. In a medium heat-proof bowl, pour the boiling water over the German's Chocolate (or milk chocolate, if using). Stir until smooth and set aside. In another medium bowl, combine the flour,
    cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, using a mixer set on medium-high speed, beat the sugar and butter until very light,1 to 2 minutes. Add the egg yolks, one at a time,
    until well incorporated. Reduce mixer speed to low and add the chocolate mixture and vanilla. Add the flour mixture by thirds, alternating with the buttermilk and ending with the dry ingredients.
  3. Thoroughly clean the mixer beaters. In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites to soft peaks. Use a rubber spatula to gently stir a half cup of the beaten whites into the batter. Fold the remaining whites into the batter.
  4. Divide the batter equally between the pans and spread evenly. Bake on the middle rack of the oven until a tester inserted in the center of each cake layer comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
    Cool in the pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Use a knife to loosen the cake from the sides of the pan and invert onto the wire rack to cool completely.
Coconut-Pecan Filling 
  • 1 cup granulated sugar 
  • 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk 
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick/4 oz./113g) unsalted butter 
  • 3 large egg yolks 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
  • 2 1/3 cups flaked coconut 
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
  1. Make the filling: In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, milk, butter, egg yolks, and vanilla. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Stir in coconut and pecans. Transfer to a bowl and, stirring occasionally, allow to cool to room temperature before filling and frosting the cake. 
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (optional) 
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract  
  1. Beat butter in small bowl. Add confectioners' sugar and cocoa alternately with milk; beat to spreading consistency, (additional milk may be needed). Stir in vanilla.
To Fill, Frost and Assemble Cake 
  1. Place one layer on a cake plate and top with one third of the Coconut-Pecan Filling. Repeat with second and third layers and remaining filling, leaving sides of cake unfrosted, OR as an option, just fill cake layers with Coconut-Pecan Filling and frost the top of cake with the Coconut-Pecan Frosting (not the sides of cake); then spread the Chocolate Buttercream Frosting on sides of cake. If desired, place pecan halves around top edges of cake for a decorative touch. Serve or store cake in an airtight container at room temperature.  
There you go!! It is an awesome recipe! Nice and moist and the coconut-pecan frosting is PERFECT!! Hope you all enjoy! I love baking and forgot how much I love and hate making cake!! Only because I want to eat it all the time hehehehehe.
Until next time!!

- mamabear

Leelu's Campaign Promises!

14.4.11

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My mom made all of these lol, she must have been bored :PP
Don't forget to vote for miss Rileybear (aka leelu, the perfect being -- fifth element reference) again tomorrow!! maybe when i check it in the morning she will be in first place :PP


See you all tomorrow!!
Until next time!!

-mamabear

Movin' on up!!

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Hey there! I hope everyone is having a lovely week =]]. Well today miss Rileybear is up to 79th place in the Reader's Choice Weekly runnings for the Parents Magazine Cover Contest!! OMG! She jumped nearly 200 from Tuesday to Wednesday and she jumped another 200 from yesterday to today! If we keep going at this rate she will be 1st place in no time! Voting ends Sunday 4/17/2011 (which is hubsie's birthday btw!!) and you can vote every day so don't forget to go back and vote!!


So exciting =]]. Okay so I'm looking for a good German Chocolate cake recipe to make today for Hubsie's birthday. It's so hard to pick a recipe for something I grew up eating all the time because I never know if it's going to be the same or not! But I'm sure I will find one that will turn out good. Hubsie doesn't like the classic German Chocolate coconut frosting stuff so I'm just going to make a sheet cake and put it around the sides and then top the rest in either a chocolate butter cream or maybe just a rich chocolate icing, maybe dark. We will see! This will officially be the first time I have really tried to top a cake and make it look nice lol. So pictures will be coming!! Hopefully I do alright :PP.
Well I'm off to keep searching for the right recipe for now!
Until next time!!

- mamabear


ps  Rileybear likes to sit in her crib and look out the window :PP