hey...HEY!

Just a quick inerjectory post here..

Sometimes in life, we need to slow down, re-evaluate and re-arrange some things to make time for ourselves.  Doing this is easier said than done, but Kasey at Lola B's is taking that step.  Which, go her, because like I said, it's not so easy to do.  She has decided to close down her online shop.  You can read about her plan here.

Sometimes I remind myself of Gus Gus, the mouse from Cinderella when he's trying to carry all that cheese...and it takes him the better part of 3 minutes to gather it all up, only to lose it ALL when Lucifer the cat comes to cramp his style.  (Side note:  Pretty sure thats why I didn't like cats for a long time. ) 

So, I'm proud of you Kasey.  You'll breathe so much easier!

Anyway, she is having a giveaway...a special surprise full of "Lola B goodies."  You know its gonna be good.  :)

So you just need to go to her blog, leave a comment -- and for some extra entries, blog and tweet about it.  And maybe say a prayer for her as I know its probably not an easy thing to close a shop that she's worked so hard on.

Thinking about New Year's Resolutions...and baking.

Well, its the other time of year for me today...I just started thinking about my New Year's resolutions....

To be honest, this is a process I never really put much thought too, or (much like all of us I'm sure) have huge ambitions that amount to nothing more than giving up two weeks in, only to find that 25 oreos all at once really wasn't that great an idea, no matter how good they sounded!

This year, I'm going to take a different approach.  Baby steps.  Just like Bob. 

1.  Write one song.  I have an almost entirely full journal of song fragments.  I've had this for about 3 years without finishing one thought!  I know if I could sit down and really try, I could do it.

2.  Lose 5 pounds.  Last year it was 20.....and I think I acutally GAINED weight from last year.  So this year, I'm goin' small......5 pounds, nuff said.

3.  Get to know Jesus more.  At our last small group, we sat with each other, opened our bibles and  really started to uncover who Jesus was and is.  Through one small set of scripture in John, I actually learned how Jesus really meets people where they are, and how intimate in relationships He was.  I am just starting to see a glimpse of how I can start a more intimate relationship with Him.  I know He is more real than I make him out to be...  so yeah, I am making that a resolution for sure.

4.  Get new carpet, JUST in the living room.  I know the bedrooms need it too, but that's expensive and a goal that gets shoved to the wayside.  Living room carpet is all I need. :)

5.  Set up my Etsy store.  I, like my song writing, have been waning in creativity and PROductivity lately.  I know I need to get my butt in gear and start cranking out some product!!

6.  Get to know you guys more.  I seriously cherish my readers and their blogs, products, and creativity.  You are such a loving community and I'm so glad to have found you!!!  Or glad you found me :)  I want to pray for your needs (so let me know if you have prayer requests...big and small) and really be involved in your lives...whether through reading your blog, or, trying to meet up and make new friends.  Maybe a Northwest(ish) summer get together is in motion...?  Could be fun!

Anyway....I'm sticking with six this year...little things, but things I am confident I can accomplish. 

What are your new year resolutions?? 

So.....I'm baking tonight.  'Cause the kitchen is finally clean, and I've only made one batch of whoopie pies this season.  What is that about?  Betty Crocker, get ready to meet your match............................via Martha Stewart......and my ramshackle kitchen.

1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for surface

1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 ounces (5 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
3/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
8 large candy canes or 30 peppermint candies, crushed
2 pounds white chocolate, coarsely chopped
 
And now you do this...
 
1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed for 1 minute. Reduce speed to medium-low, and add egg, then yolk, beating well after each addition. Beat in peppermint extract. Slowly add flour mixture, and beat until just incorporated. Shape dough into 2 disks, wrap each in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour (or up to 2 days).


2.Roll out 1 disk of dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Using a 2-inch round cutter, cut out circles, and place 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Roll and cut scraps once. Freeze cookies until firm, about 15 minutes. Repeat with remaining disk.

3.Bake until cookies are dry to the touch, about 12 minutes. Transfer parchment, with cookies, to wire racks, and let cool. (Undecorated cookies will keep, covered, for up to 3 days.)

4.Sift crushed candy, and separate larger pieces from dust, reserving both. Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of gently simmering water. Remove from heat. Dunk cookies into melted chocolate. Using a fork, turn to coat, let excess drip off, and gently scrape bottom against edge of bowl. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets, and sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of either candy pieces or dust on top. Repeat, sprinkling half the cookies with pieces and the rest with dust. Refrigerate until set, up to 3 hours. Decorated cookies are best served the same day.
 

"Decorated cookies are best served the same day." 

pfffffshhh  hahaha.  Really?  Is that ever a problem for anyone?? 

 

Great....I'm really on a roll to resolution number 2........

Ssshhh....

This makes my soul sing.  

I hope each and every one of you had a blessed day...

We are all so incredibly blessed. 

Tonight, I just want each and every one of you reading this to know that you make my life sweeter.  I am so glad to have the privilege to get to know you!

Decking my halls...

...Fa la la la la.......

....la la.....

...la...

la.

Midnight Eggs + the winner of the giveaway!!

Ya its midnight. 

We're out of Spray Pam. 

Tanner is currently greasing up a skillet and cooking some delicious fried eggs.  The kind with NO runny yoke.  The kind that would probably bounce if you threw it on the ground.

Ahhh......I just love blogging because I have the ability to literally write whatever pops in my head, whenever, and you'll read it!  hahaha.....sorry guys ;)

He's putting the pepper on.....now the garlic powder and steak seasoning....I told you I'm not normal when it comes to eating eggs. 

Anyways.  How was your day?  I spent most of mine reading all of your wonderful comments and looking through all the new friends I made. You guys......really....have....talent.  I'm looking forward to getting to know you more! 

I suppose you've already skipped past most of this to find out who the winner is....so....without further ado, a short video documenting the whole winner pickin' process.  Thanks so much for supporting me, and I expect some photos of where the wreath went, what you bought at Ruche, and where you put the banner! So exciting!!

Congratulations Michelle of Vintage Junky!  Email me and we'll get your shipping info all set up and what not.  And thank you to EVERYONE who entered!  I am so glad to have been able to do this, and I'm already planning my next giveaway!! hah.  Ok, it's now 2:39....and....I REALLY NEED TO GO TO BED! 

Bible study tomorrow on less than 5 hours of sleep might be really interesting.  I can see it now... "Jesu...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......"  Yep.  Just like that ;)

Goodnight folks!

A surprise.......plus, last full day to enter the giveaway!

What makes you happy?

Is it....flowers? 

Chocolate?

Rain on a tin roof?

A good sale on shoes?

Vintage finds in the "free" box at an estate sale?

I really do enjoy all these things...they make me quite happy..

But.

There is one thing that makes me happier than getting all those things in one day.

Puppies.

Oh my.  Puppies. 

Here I am, trying to contain my happiness.

7 little bundles of cuddle were born yesterday...all healthy and beautiful!

How many times have you said "aww" so far?  My jaw hurts from saying it so much.  :)

Lucy is such a good mama.  So protective and sweet.  I'm so happy!

My wonderful, amazing, brave, handsome husband delivered ALL SEVEN!  He came in the door with his latex gloves a'slappin while I had to go back to work!  Apparently, he literally caught two of them.....

He's so much braver than I. 

I called him at one point to ask him how he was doing.  All I heard was:  "I'm a little queasy but its fine."  What a trooper haha. 

IN OTHER VERY IMPORTANT NEWS....

The giveaway is ending TOMORROW AT NOON!  Get your entries in ASAP!  There are 5 ways to enter: 

Leave a comment with your name and email -

- push the little "follow" button on the right hand side of my blog to become a "follower" (I hate that term haha) -

- Put my blog button on your page (its at the top), and finally..

-  Post about my blog on your blog

Post on twitter or facebook, etc. 

GOOD LUCK!  I can't wait to pick a winner! :)

Give away time......

So my life.  Busy.  With a capital B.  A big capital B. :)

We've been gone....then back....then gone again...then expecting puppies.... and Thanksgiving.....then feeling guilty about not posting in awhile.  Then feeling more guilty when I log onto my blog roll and drool over postings from all you ladies for an hour...when I could totally be posting! :)

Anyway....well, my little Lucybell or "Tink" is about to have puppies!  Her due date was Sunday....and she's still not had them yet.  I have a feeling we're going to wake up sometime in the middle of the night to little yelps!  Lucy is a boxer, in case you are wondering the breed.  The sweetest girl ever!  I can feel them moving in her belly which is just the coolest feeling in the world!

SO on to the good stuff.  I'm finally doing my giveaway!  I'm so excited about it!  So here is what is up for grabs:

-  A gorgeous Christmas bottlebrush wreath!

I didn't take this picture, but it looks a lot better than the one I took from my phone!  http://www.westbrookcottage.com in case you're wondering...and yep, go look at the beautiful stuff she's got!

-  A pair of fun socks guaranteed to have either a bow, a little flower, or some buttons!  MY choice, a fun surprise for your little package.  And trust me, they will be adorable!

-  A $25.00 E-certificate to Ruche, the best clothing store around!  It's like Anthropologie, only with more palatable prices....much more.....  :)  Here's my favorite outfit right now...

 

-  A while ago, I found a Christmas banner on Etsy that I fell in love with!  Rather than spend the money on it, I decided to try to duplicate it on my own.  I am throwing one in for the lucky winner that says "Joy."  Here's a shoddy close up of the first one I made...

So all in all:  A gorgeous wreath, some cute comfy socks to wear with your stylin' boots, a $25.00 gift certificate to the most awesome online store, and a vintage Christmas banner handcrafted by moi.  I hope you enjoy this! 

Here are some ways to get an entry.....just a couple :)

1.  Post a comment with your name and email or blog link...

2.  Become a follower and let me know in your comment for another entry....

3.  Get yet another entry for posting about this giveaway on your blog...

4.  And one more if you add my blog button on your page...

5.  If you mention this on twitter, facebook, or other social network, let me know...

6.  Remember to brush your teefs.  ;) ok ok just threw that one in for fun.

Don't forget to let me know where/how you entered when you comment!

Thats 5 chances to win....

Giveaway ends Saturday, December 5th at noon!  Hurry hurry!  Love you guys!  Oh and this giveaway is featured on free!grechen as well!