Wordless Wednesday - The Intricate Beauty of Roses

Joining in on:

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

I Went Shopping....Frugal Friday Tips!

Ahh...the rush that comes from getting a good deal when shopping. Why do us women succumb to it?

I don't believe it is wise to have a lot of credit cards, but there can be times when opening one at a store that you frequent a lot can actually provide you with some great savings. I have cards at Kohls and Old Navy because I can purchase clothes for the whole family from these two places, along with some great thrift store items that I find also. With the Old Navy credit card, they occasionally send me $10 or $20 rewards cards after I've accumulated enough points, and I got one in the mail today, right when they are having a fabulous sale! Knowing when the stores change out their seasonal items is key to nabbing some amazing deals. Since Memorial Day is almost here, the stores are now looking to clearance out all their spring items to make way for their summer gear.  I was also picking up a few essentials at Wal-Mart and noticed that they had their spring items on clearance too. Notice the cute white basket for $2.50!

So, here's the run-down on the deals I got today at Old Navy:
Espadrilles - $6.75 each (two pairs - one to give to my darling sister!)
3 Boys T-shirts - $2 each
Plus - $20 rewards card = Entire shopping trip FREE!

I could have even stocked up more on other items, but I was in a bit of a rush, so I didn't get to browse as much as I would have liked.

See, shopping doesn't always have to cost you money! :)



Joining in on: Mama to 4 Blessings Blog Hop

Wordless Wednesday - A Boy and His Costumes

Super Delicious Cake...but I can't share the recipe yet!

I feel bad even posting this delicious looking cake without giving the recipe to it, but it is my own original recipe and I hope to enter it into a contest...which means it can't be published anywhere prior to me entering it. I call it Coconut Strawberry Supreme cake. :)  Hope to share the recipe with you down the road!

Under Construction!

Argh! I got the itch to make my own background for this blog and I have it made, but...where is it? I've spent enough time this evening on trying to get it on my blog and am not having success, so for now, my blog gets the title - Under Construction!

Hope to see you again with an all new look - made by me!

Wordless Wednesday - Refreshment thru Nature

Nothing is so refreshing and renewing as a peaceful walk in the mountains/woods! Have a blessed Wednesday!

"God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars."

  ~Author unknown, commonly attributed to Martin Luther

Check out these other great Wordless Wednesday blogs: Mama to 4 Blessings Shibley Smiles and 5 Minutes for Mom

Cake Pops!

I somehow was clueless about the delightful invention of cake pops a couple of years ago and only recently found out about them when I was at Starbucks one day and tried one of theirs. I knew I just had to make them myself. Needless to say, they are so delectably scrumptious and as I discovered, not too complicated to make!

My sisters, brother and mom were all visiting from out-of-town, so we decided to have an early birthday party for one of my sisters (her blog is here!) since it was only about a week away. I love how you have such an endless variety of ways to decorate them to match whatever theme your party is. I chose to use both white chocolate and milk chocolate and then added sprinkles to some of them.

So, want the steps to make them yourself?

1. Make a cake using 1 box of cake mix, any flavor you want, preferably in a 9x13 pan
2. Once the cake is baked and cooled, take a fork and mash the cake into fine crumbs.
3. Mash one can of frosting into crumb mixture (I add in about 3/4 of the can and add in a spoonful at a time until I reach the desired consistency). It should be moist like playdough. Refrigerate dough for about 10 minutes.
4. Shape the dough into small balls - about a tablespoon in size.
5. Melt the candy melts according to package directions.
6. Take the lollipop sticks and dip one into the melted chocolate, then insert it into the cake ball. Repeat until all balls have lollipop sticks. By this time the first ones should be set and you can begin coating the entire cake pop.
7. Coat entire cake pop and refrigerate if desired.

Final step = enjoy your tasty treat!

The neat thing about the size of these is that you don't have to serve your guests big 'ol slices of cake, they can just have one cute little pop or many!

Linked up at: Tuesdays at the Table

Amish Baked Oatmeal

This recipe was given to me awhile back and I always enjoying pulling it out of my recipe binder every once in awhile. If you are looking for a comforting and very filling breakfast that can be whipped up real quick, then this satisfying Amish Baked Oatmeal fits the bill.

Amish Baked Oatmeal
1 1/2 c rolled oats
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c milk
1/4 c butter *cut into pieces
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Pour into a greased 8-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Enjoy with fresh strawberries and maybe a touch of cream drizzled over!




This recipe linked up at: Tasty Tuesday and Tuesdays at the Table

Doesn't This Remind You....

...of July 4th, hot summer days, lemonade....

...fresh from the Farmer's Market this week!