Thursday, December 3, 2009

frosty the snowman...

if you stop by our house today, you'll find us in the kitchen baking making THESE. maybe if i get brave we will attempt a gingerbread house. i haven't made one since i was a kid... any tips or tricks you might be willing to share?


Tuesday, December 1, 2009

christmas countdown

it may be 79 degrees outside, but it's definitely beginning to look a lot like christmas. december 1st in our house means we are in the midst of holiday decorating. it also means that the annual christmas countdown has begun. so how do you countdown? add a new ornament to the tree each day? celebrate with a small gift or special treat? read a different christmas book each night? a couple of years ago we started a new family tradition - an "activity based" advent calendar. sometimes our "activities" are big outings & sometimes they are just little things, but we try to do a little special something, every single day... spreading christmas cheer throughout the entire month. so here's this year's list:

1. write letters to santa
2. watch: how the grinch stole christmas
3. go to disneyland
4. attend a christmas tree lighting
5. holiday toy express
6. read: the tale of the three trees
7. ride the irvine rail roade christmas train
8. make hot chocolate floats
9. watch: the nightmare before christmas
10. start our own "white envelope"tradition
11. have a picnic dinner by the christmas tree
12. dana point harbor boat parade of lights
13. read: the christmas orange
14. ding dong ditch christmas treats
15. gingerbread house
16. watch: white christmas
17. make home-made bread for hot chocolate & toast
18. have breakfast for dinner
19. newport beach boat parade
20. read: why christmas trees aren't perfect
21. have a fondue/ candy cane dipping party
22. drive around to see the neighborhood christmas lights.
23. watch: elf
24. sing christmas songs, tell the story of the true meaning of christmas, & read the christmas story

here's to a happy holiday season! it's definitely one of the happiest times of the year!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

plastic spoon turkeys

just in time for turkey day... a super easy craft for you & the kiddos.
& you won't even have to rush out to the craft store. more than
likely, you have all the supplies on hand. & if you don't, just improvise.
ready to make your own plastic spoon turkeys? just click the whrrl
story below. soon you'll have turkeys gobble gobbling all over the place.

Powered by Whrrl

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

3 ingredient pumpkin cookies

get ready... turn the oven on & tie on your favorite apron,
because today we're baking the easiest pumpkin cookies, EVER!

yep! yep! you read that right... 3 ingredient pumpkin cookies.
i told you this was going to be easy. all you need is: 1 boxed spice cake
mix, 1 (15-ounce) can of solid pack pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
& 1 (12 ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate or milk chocolate chips.
now hold onto your horses, this next part gets tricky...



see, i told you. the easiest cookies EVER!
perfect for a little pre-thanksgiving celebration, don't you think?

p.s. want to make 'em fancy? use white chocolate chips instead.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

my muddy hubby & me.

7 miles, 5 obstacles & one mud pit later,
the hubby & i crossed the finish line together.

i guess it's true what they say...
boys like dirty girls.

can't wait until next year.


Friday, November 13, 2009

the new me.

new baby. new life. new 'do.

what do you think?

Monday, November 9, 2009

the power of positive thinking.

there definitely is power in positive thinking. so, i'm surrounding myself with positive energy, good thoughts and all the warm fuzzies & love you've sent my way. i'm not going to let life get me down. so pull up a chair & read a quote or two. & if i've missed YOUR favorite quote, be sure to let me know. i need all the help i can get. i'm hoping that sending all these positive thoughts out into the universe is going to get me (& a few of you too), through this. in the words of one of my very favorite willie nelson songs: you've got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative, don't mess with mister in-between. 

what seems impossible one minute becomes, through faith, possible the next. -norman vincent peale

today is the first day of the rest of your life. -american proverb

we should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry. -e.b. white

everything happens for a reason. -american proverb

just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly. -anonymous

never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do. -h. jackson brown, jr.

the best is yet to be! -robert browning

never never never give up. -churchill

if you're going through hell, keep going... -churchill

finish each day and be done with it. you have done what you could. some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. tomorrow is a new day. you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. -ralph waldo emerson

be the change you wish to see in the world... -gandhi

whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. -goethe

overcome the notion that you must be regular. it robs you of the chance to be extraordinary. -uta hagen

go with a spirit that fears nothing! -homer

when one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. -helen keller

have faith in yourself and in the future. -ted kennedy

believe in yourself and all that you are. know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle. -christian d. larson

it's never too late to be what you might have been. -george eliot

whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. -max ehrmann

do not go where the path may lead. go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. -ralph waldo emerson

find life experiences and swallow them whole. travel. meet many people. go down some dead ends and explore dark alleys. try everything. exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of life. -lawrence k. fish

whatever you are, be a good one. -abraham lincoln

go into the world and do well. but more importantly, go into the world and do good. -minor myers r. 

life does not put things in front of you that you are unable to handle. -unknown

life isn't about finding yourself. life is about creating yourself. -unknown

i think i can. i think i can. i know i can. i know i can. -the little engine that could

anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. the fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. the trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride. -gordon b. hinckley











Wednesday, November 4, 2009

cheaper than therapy.

it's been one of those days, er weeks, okay... months. it feels good to say it out loud, let the healing process begin.

as much i wish i were, i've never claimed to be super mom, or to live a practically perfect life. that's the stuff fairy tales are made of. & while i am living my own version of "happily ever after," it's definitely not disney material. but lately, things aren't even close to being perfect, in fact, life seems to be utter chaos. these days, i've been fighting the blues, you might say i've been just a wee bit grumpy. i don't know, maybe you can relate, or maybe you'll think i'm completely off my rocker - but it feels as though i'm slowly drowning. i try not to let it show... that's what i do, what i've always done. i like to build a wall or fortress around myself, slowly shutting out friends, family & the world - transforming myself into what jeffy lovingly calls the "ice princess." sweet of him, huh? it's the sad, but real, truth. i can feel it happening. so i'm trying hard to fight it. each and every day i wake up & try to put on a brave face. i try to think of all the things i'm grateful for, for all of the wonderful blessings and opportunities i have & have had throughout my life. and most days i manage to come out on top. but not lately.

if you know me, you may or may not have noticed a difference. maybe you've realized that i don't call as much, that i'm not as "bubbly" as usual, or that i'm just not any fun to be around anymore. but, if you were to ask me about it, i probably brushed you off, or simply said "i'm fine." but that's just it, i'm not fine. but, i don't really want to complain, & i definitely don't want to talk about myself. yet here i am, doing both - complaining & talking about myself.

but, i've finally decided, instead of drowning in my own personal sea of sorrow, i'm going to "put it all out there." i'm going to open myself up, think good thoughts, & hope the universe takes pity on me. either that, or maybe i'll just move to austrailia - i hear the weather's nice & maybe i'll run into alexander, he knows what it's like to have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day month. but don't mind me, pretty soon this blog will be back to it's regularly scheduled programming, that is if anyone is even reading it still. & if you do happen to still be reading, i hope i didn't just scare you off.

image via here.





Friday, October 30, 2009

happy halloween.

second star to the right, & straight on 'til morning.

image showing picture of peter pan, captain hook and tinkerbell halloween costumes

image of peter pan costume

image of captain hook costume

image of tinerbell costume

image of peter pan, captain hook and tinkerbell
images courtesy of ana brandt

want to see the entire costume parade?
check out last year's buzz & woody, & the year before's pirate family.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

pumpkins, candy, & skully's, oh my!



the decorations are finally up (about time, eh?
all i can say is, it's been one of those kind of weeks months).
does it surprise you that the candy dish is already empty?
check out my whrrl story HERE, for a peek at some of my favorite
 halloween touches. how do YOU decorate for halloween?
leave me a link, i'd love to do a little blog-hopping this weekend!

Friday, October 16, 2009

friday five: my most recently "starred" blog posts

this week i thought i'd share the five blog posts that i most recently "starred" in my google reader... maybe you'll find a favorite you'll want to "star" yourself.

1. peanut butter pie: an oreo cookie crust & reese's peanut butter cups... oh yum!

2. nie nie's red hat and his brown eyes:i don't think i've mentioned it before - but when i grow up, i hope i can be as amazing as miss nie nie, she's my hero.

3. gettin' crafty, a little mod podge is an amazing thing: a new-to-me spin on freezer paper stenciling that uses one of my favorite crafting supplies - mod podge.

4. party in the usa music video: i'm loving this home-made miley video

5. $5 refashion, the ruffled tuxedo: this might just be the project that breaks my sewing machine out of hibernation

now that i've shared some of my recent favorites, what's the most recent blog post that you've "starred?"

Thursday, October 15, 2009

it's beginning to look like halloween.



finished. yep! costumes are finished (at least the kids' are. costumes for me & the mr. are still in the works.) however, the house is still covered in a mess of glitter & tulle. any guesses on what we are going to be for halloween?

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

committed.


absurd, batty, berserk, bonkers, cracked, crazy, cuckoo, daft, delirious, demented, deranged, dingy, dippy, flipped out, freaked out, fruity, idiotic, insane, kooky, lunatic, mad, maniacal, mental, nuts, nutty, out of my mind, & psycho are just a few of the words you might use to describe me. & don't worry, I won't be offended, because i'm kinda wondering if i've fallen off my rocker. i kept saying i wasn't going to do it.  but then carrie started enticing me with promises of a sequin running skirt. & i'm not gonna lie, i really want a turquoise running skirt. so i succumbed to the peer pressure. better live it up now, training starts next week for the surf city usa FULL marathon. 26.2 miles is a long way to run, i hope i have it in me. being a total newbie i am extremely open to any & all tips and suggestions!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

halloween i spy




pumpkins
black cats
spidey webs
candy corn
witches hats
falling leaves
silly bats...

what do you "spy?"

Monday, October 12, 2009

nutter butter ghosts

nutter butter ghosts
ready to "BOO" your neighbors, or perhaps you've already been "BOO'ed" & it's your turn to deliver some tasty treats. why not whip up a batch of THESE ghouls? they are super easy (30 minutes tops) & you can never go wrong with nutter butters. for instruction & the how-to go HERE.


image via MartaWrites.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas...


okay, okay. i know, halloween hasn't even happened yet & i'm talking about christmas. but i'm just so dang excited! we're already celebrating the holidays over at just spotted. i don't want to spill the beans, you'll have to go THERE yourself to find out all the details. but, i will give you a few hints... it involves a "giveaway" & "the happiest place on earth ." have i piqued your interest yet?

Monday, October 5, 2009

you've been BOO'ed!


around halloween, one of our favorite family traditions is to ding-dong-ditch friends & neighbors. we pack up several plates of goodies, attach the following poem & watch as the ghosts take over the neighborhood...

you've been BOO'ed!
the air is cool, it’s time for fall,
soon halloween will come to all
ghosts and goblins, spooks galore,
tricky witches at your door.

the spooks are after things to do,
in fact a spook brought this to you!!!
the treats that came with this short note,
are yours to keep, enjoy them both.

the excitement comes when friends like you,
will copy it & make it two,

we'll all have smiles upon our faces,
no one will know who BOOed our places!

just be sure that you don’t tell,
keep it secret, hide it well.
please join the fun, the seasons here.
just spread these "BOO's" & halloween cheer.


want to start the tradition in your neighborhood as well this year? print out your very own "you've been BOO'ed!" template HERE.


Friday, October 2, 2009

my cuddly wrap sales pitch.

so, we went to disneyland yesterday. yep! one the perks of living in orange county is that we can drop everything & anything and head over to disneyland, just to have dinner & watch the fireworks show. (last night i had the famed disneyland monte cristo, & let me tell you - it was amazing!) anyway... as we're walking along, jeffy asks "do you even notice anymore?" "notice what?" i respond. "notice the way people stare."

it's true, people do stare. & not just at disneyland. everywhere i go, people stare. & it's not because i'm profoundly beautiful. (although, i'm the first to admit that my new hair-do is smoking hot. it's just a little bit sweet & a whole lot of sass. did i mention that i cut, no chopped, all my hair off? i can't remember if i shared that little bit of news. anyways... i'm off the subject again.) people stare, point & whisper at my children. at first, it's my stroller that gets their attention. having had my stoller for years, i (wrongly) assume that everyone has heard of phil & teds strollers, but judging by the number of "oohhs!"& "ahhhs!" i get, i guess everyone doesn't know about the greatness that is the phil & teds.

once they get over how incredible my stroller is, they are soon amazed by my little charlie... snug as a bug in the cuddly wrap. i'm the first to admit at first glance, the cuddly wrap can be just a tad bit intimidating. but trust me, after tying it on a couple of times, pretty soon it became like second nature. pretty soon i realized it was the greatest invention in the entire world. my children have traveled around the world bundled up in that little wrap. they live day & night in it, how else would i ever get anything done? my little charlie... she may look like a little angel, but she definitely has got a pair of pipes. right now, her favorite past time is definitely screaming. but, once she gets bundled up in her little wrap, she can sleep for hours at a time.

i'm telling you - if you're prego, have a baby, or need a gift for someone who is having a baby... this is THE must-have. if only i had a dollar or two for every time someone asked me about my cuddly wrap, i'd be a very rich gal. maybe i should look into working for them on a commission basis, i think i could make some serious cash. so there you have it, my cuddly wrap sales pitch.

p.s. by the by... do you like my pink-ish tint on my photo, in honor of national breast cancer awareness month?

Thursday, October 1, 2009

this is halloween, this is halloween...

so, i LOVE halloween time at disneyland. & not just because they treated my family & i to a super fantastical day filled with all things halloween time-ish, but because it is absolutely & completely freak'in AWESOME! this year the "villains" took over the parks & let's just say they really outdid themselves. there's "boo-tiful" decorations complete with candy corn hanging from trees. jack skellington has once again returned & made the haunted mansion his home & a ghost has taken over space mountain. but best of all is the disneyland halloween screams firework show. it is amazing! absolutely A-MAZING! once again, the "villains" know how to take care of business...  as the fireworks explode in the night sky, the castle is bathed in ghostly lights, all the while each of the "villains" takes his or her turn commanding "center stage," so to speak. but, words alone can't even begin to describe the firework show (or extravaganza as i like to think of it), you absolutely have to see it! here's your personal 11-minute sneak peak of the disneyland halloween screams firework show. (and if you want to catch the real thing, all you have to do is head on out to disneyland before november 1st & trust me, you don't want to miss it!)





11-minutes a bit too long? not a problem.  here's disneyland's much better produced & less shake-y hand-ish  30-second version...

Monday, September 28, 2009

change is in the air.


i'm up to all kinds of mischief this week.

Friday, September 25, 2009

friday five (+ 5 more): life's short, eat dessert first

dessert... i think it's my favorite word in the entire english language. it's the one thing i look forward to all day. it's the reason i run every day. it's the thing that keeps me sane. here's a list of my all-time favorite dessert recipes in no particular order.

1. chocolate brownie trifle

2. lemon freeze with raspberry sauce

3. 5 minutes in heaven aka chocolate chip bundt cake

4. caramel crack

5. lemonade cake & if you want a little extra pop! make this lemon-y frosting too

6. big, fat, chewy chocolate chip cookies

7. old fashioned bread pudding & vanilla-caramel sauce

8. peanut butter surprise

9. chocolate whipped cream cake

10. chocolate haupia pie

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

happy fall.

the temperature outside may once again be in the three digits,
but it is officially fall. have you broken out the candy corn yet?

Monday, September 21, 2009

chicken pizza packets

chicken pizza packethere's a new spin on tin-foil dinners. ALL of my boys loved it & it was definitely a sneaky way to sneak in some veggies. they gobbled it up so quickly they didn't even realize they were eat zucchini, peppers & tomatoes.

chicken pizza packets
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
2 Tb. olive oil
1 small zucchini chopped into chunks
1 small package of pepperoni (can be used whole, although i like the pieces smaller, so i chop them up)
1 small green pepper, julienned
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. epper
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup+ shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup+ shredded parmesan cheese
(i use an entire bag of the pre-shredded italian cheese mixture, but i like lots of cheese)

1. in a large bowl, combine everything except the tomatoes and cheese.
2. coat four large pieces of heavy-duty foil (about 12in. square) with cooking spray
3. place 1/4 of the chicken mixture in the center of each piece & fold foil round mixture and seal tightly.
4. grill, covered. over medium-hot heat for 15-18 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.
5. carefully open each packet. sprinkle with tomatoes and cheese. seal loosely, grill for 2 more additional minutes (or until cheese is melted).

recipe via taste of home

Friday, September 18, 2009

friday 5: excuses to throw one last bbq

summer is nearly over. i can smell it in the air & there is a distinct color change currently going on. i know, i know, people always say that california doesn't "do" the change of seasons, but i'm to tell you they are all wrong. although our leaves might not change colors as the fall approaches, there is definitely a change of lighting. call me crazy, but i strongly believe that fall in california has it's own look, it's own color of sunshine if you will. a little more amber with that autumn golden glow. anyway, with the days getting shorter, & the kids back in school, before we know it - halloween will be here & summer officially over. i guess now's the time to get in one last bbq, one last summer celebration. so here are five tasty dishes you can serve at your "goodbye summer" celebration...

1. sizzling country ribs & patio beans: so you're getting two for the price of one today. these are two absolute staples at all of our family bbqs. both are my mom's secret recipes (don't tell her i spilled the beans) & are often requested by both friends and family.

2. spinach tortellini salad: delicious & oh! so pretty to look at. plus, it's one of the few salads that you can actually eat the leftovers - no wilting, you gotta love that!

3. corn & black bean salsa: what's a bbq without the chips & dip? this salsa will ensure that all your chips get eaten. but don't worry, when the chips are all gone, you can keep eating the salsa with your fork as a side dish - it's that good, you won't be able to get enough.

4. cheese bread: don't be scared off by the combination of mayonnaise or worcestershire sauce, i promise it's good.... in that fattening, good thing it's the last bbq of summer kinda way.

5. big, fat & chewy chocolate chip cookies: on their own, they are absolute perfection. but pair with some ice cream & some homemade hot fudge? oh la la! perfection!

hope i've inspired you light up the grill at least one more time this summer!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

starstruck

i had the greatest weekend ever. i spent it with over 100 ladies (& maybe one or two gents) who are creative, inspiring & overall just complete visionaries. i loved getting the opportunity to meet and greet a few new, & several familiar faces. i loved chatting & getting to know new friends. i loved feeling important as i exchanged business cards. & i loved, loved, loved, LOVED getting to meet several of my absolute favorite blog crushes... marie of make & takes, allison of petite elefant, & carrie of this is me journal & this mama makes stuff (okay, you caught me. carrie & are practically bffs from way back when, but i did LOVE getting to spend the weekend with her). but that wasn't all! i also got to spend a little time with the beautiful, creative & awe-inspiring heather bailey. (excuse me for a moment while i pinch myself, i still can't believe i actually got to meet her. & yes, she is absolutely amazing! definitely one of those people you want to hate, but you just can't - she is just sooo incredibly genuine & gosh darn nice!)

make & takes marie, this is me carrie, petite elefant allison, & me
(photo stolen from allison. & allison, you're right...
the close-up, in your face pictures look way better.)

it was so incredible being surrounded by so much "greatness." i felt like a starstruck little kid, visiting disneyland for the very first time. it took everything i had to restrain myself from taking pictures with everyone & asking each one of them for their autograph.


Tuesday, September 15, 2009

to infinity & beyond

if you ask my boys what their favorites rides at disneyland are, they will answer: pirates, the ghost house (otherwise known as the haunted mansion) & buzz. although, i'm the first to admit, i don't know who likes buzz more - the kids, or us adults. my hubby & i constantly competing to see who can walk away with the highest score. unfortunately, he wins most of the time. (i think it has something to do with all the video games he played as a kid.) but I'm proud to announce to the world that my losing streak is over (or so I hope, at least).

being the competitive person that i am, i didn't like the fact that i did more losing, than winning during our buzz competitions. so, lately i've been doing some reconnaissance, & i thought i'd pass along a few of the tips & tricks i've picked up...

ever wondered how the scoring works in general?
circle shaped targets are worth 100 per shot
square shaped targets are worth 1,000 per shot
diamond shaped targets are worth 5,000 per shot
triangle shaped targets are worth 10,000 per shot
(so, my super obvious tip is to aim for the triangle & diamond shaped targets... don't waste your time on the circles & squares!)

&, if the targets are light, they're worth even more:
circle shaped targets are worth 500 per shot
square shaped targets are worth 5,000 per shot
diamond shaped targets are worth 10,000 per shot
triangle shaped targets are worth 100,000 per shot

a few of the other "gems" i've picked up are:
* even though i've previously stated that you shouldn't waste your time on circles, often times, if you hit a circle target you can get a higher value target to "appear". for example: the "jack-in-the-box" target... if you hit the target to open it, there's a diamond target on the inside of the box, & after the "jack" pops up there is a triangle target.
* once you've hit a target, keep shooting baby! i used to think that the targets needed time to "reset", but that's not the case. so as long as you have a shoot, keep going for it! (i'm hoping the ride "stops" momentarily next time i'm riding... you can really rack up the points then!)
* & finally, they are a couple of "hidden" targets that can be found on zurg... during the ride you'll actually come across two different zurgs. both times, right below the "z" medallion holding his cape together, you can see a line running down the center of his chest. Just below his cape you'll notice a small circle (it's very dark, very small & very hard to see). aim for that circle - if you hit it you'll get 50,000 points! the first zurg you come across is the easiest because it's much closer, but you can find the "secret" target on BOTH zurgs.

hopefully these tips will help me kick the hubby's butt on our next buzz go round. if you want even more disneyland tips & tricks, feel free to email me (accordingtokelly@gmail.com) or, read up HERE.

Friday, September 11, 2009

friday five: my favorite crock-pot meals

my crock pot is one of my absolute best friends. we spend a lot of time together... she's the type of friend that is always making me look good - she's does all the work & i take all the credit. this week i thought i'd share some of my favorite, go-to crock pot recipes!

1. rootbeer bbq beef sandwiches. although THIS recipe is pretty dang good too!
2. zesty crock pot chicken
3. cafe rio style sweet pork salad with creamy cilantro dressing
4. marta's meatballs
5. chicken salsa tacos

have i missed YOUR favorite crock pot recipe? oh please! do share your favorite crock pot go-tos.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

cupcakes worth running 13.1 miles for.

they are some things, that are worth running for, whatever the distance.
the barefoot contessa's coconut cupcakes definitely make that list.

image via food network

barefoot contessa's coconut cupcakes

ingredients
3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
5 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk
14 ounces sweetened, shredded coconut

for the frosting:
1 pound cream cheese at room temperature
3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 1/2 pounds confectioners' sugar, sifted

directions
preheat the oven to 325 degrees

in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. with the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well.

in a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. in 3 parts, alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. mix until just combined. fold in 7 ounces of coconut.

line a muffin pan with paper liners. fill each liner to the top with batter. bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. remove to a baking rack and cool completely.

meanwhile, make the frosting. in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on low speed, cream together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla and almond extracts. add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth.

frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with the remaining coconut.

these babies are de-lic-ious! excuse me while i wipe the drool from my chin!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

151 minutes of toe tapping music

(click on image to enlarge)

i spent a lot of time creating the "perfect" running playlist... chock-full of tunes that would get my feet moving & my heart pumping. unfortunately, i was too blonde, or maybe it was too early in the morning, or perhaps i was just a little bit nervous - whatever the case, i couldn't figure out how to work my cool new earphones. that is, until 5 minutes after the race was over, when it occurred to me to check the volume control on the earphones. (did i mention i was blonde?) so, i ended up running sans any musical motivation. but, i received so many inquiries about my 1/2 marathon playlist i decided to make it available to the "masses." you can check it out HERE.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

i lost my virginity this weekend.

early sunday morning, along with about 13,000 people, i laced up my sneakers, loaded up the playlist & hit the pavement running... for my first ever 1/2 marathon. although running 13.1 miles is definitely a daunting task, it's a wee bit easier when you have a friend or two by your side (or at least in the near vicinity).with an "official chip time" of 2 hours, 13 minutes & 15 seconds and a division place of 239 (of 1252 women ages 30-34), i'm feeling pretty good about myself. not bad for a gal 4 months & 4 days post baby, & about two weeks of training. now the question is, what's next?

Monday, August 31, 2009

who i am.

recently i was challenged to write about myself using 25 words or less. kinda like my own, self-describing personnel ad, complete with self-portrait. here was the end result...

cherry coke drinking, crushed ice loving, bike riding, apron wearing, marathon training, surprisingly shy, REAL orange county housewife & mama of 3 with ADD crafting tendencies.
care to play along? i'd love to get to know YOU even better.


step one: take your self portrait. no primping necessary (check me out in all my mountain biking glory... complete with helmet hair & a thin coating of dirt)

step two: describe yourself in 25 words or less

step three: introduce yourself to the world (or at least me), by posting it to your blog. just make sure to leave a comment here, so i can make the blog rounds. or, if you're feeling lazy, just post your 25 word bio in my comment section. either way, i can't wait to get to know you just a wee bit better.

Friday, August 28, 2009

friday five: must-haves for new moms

here's my list of 5 things EVERY new mom needs whether she's having her first or her fifth. the perfect shopping list for yourself, or pick up an item or two for the next shower you are attending...


1. the cuddly wrap: my all-time favorite newborn baby carrier. it may be overwhelming at first (it's one really long piece of fabric), but trust me! after you've practiced tying it on a few times, it will be easy. your baby will love being in it & you'll love that you will be able to get stuff down. unlike other carriers, the cuddly wrap keeps them all bundled up on your chest - i think it reminds them of being inside the womb. the material is like a t-shirt, so it's lightweight & very breathable. i can't tell you how often i am stopped by strangers to give my "cuddly wrap sales pitch." i can't say enough good things, i LOVE it soooo much!

2. ameda gel pads: if you're planning on nursing, then you must buy at least one pair of these. nursing, for me, has always been somewhat of a painful process... sore, cracked, bleeding nipples is pretty standard for me (& yes, i just said nipples). anyway, these gel pads are AMAZING! don't be fooled by other gel pads on the market. i've tried them all, & these ones are by far the best. another nursing favorite is the motherlove nipple cream (there i go saying the word nipple again).

3. oxi clean: stains no more! this is a serious must-have! with spit-up & diaper explosions happening on a fairly regular basis, you need something that you can count on to get those stains out. oxi clean hasn't let me down yet, & i've thrown some pretty hefty stains it's way.

4. aden + anais muslin baby blanket: i absolutely LOVE these blankets. they are lightweight & thin enough that i can stuff them in my purse or baby bag. but, don't let that fool you! they are HUGE in size (47" x 47"), which makes them perfect for swaddling. but that's not all, you can use these blankets as a sheet in a pack-n-play, on the ground for play time, as a nursing cover or draped over a stroller or car seat. there are so many possibilities!

5. benetint blush, dr. pepper lip smakers, and a cute hat or two: you know as well as i do, a new baby means late nights & lots of early mornings. often times, a shower is a luxury. however, i've always found that making a little effort makes me feel better. on days when i don't really have the time (or perhaps the energy) to get ready, i like to throw on some benetint (it provides you with natural, rosy looking cheeks which is an immediate perk-me-up), a little dr. pepper lip smakers (call me crazy, but the dr. pepper flavor has just the perfect hint of color & a nice smell to boot!) & a cute hat to hide that bed-head hair, & you are all set. no one will be the wiser that you haven't slept (or possibly showered) for days.

so now that i've shared, what are some of YOUR favorite must-haves for new moms?

Thursday, August 27, 2009

you might think i'm crazy, & i probably am.

but i just couldn't resist. i spotted this beauty & bought it on the spot. i honestly don't know where it's going to go, my house is currently filled to over - capacity already, but i just couldn't pass it up - it was such a steal. i'm tempted to give it a little make over, a la design mom. have you done anything lately that has people questioning your sanity just a wee bit? i think my hubby is ready to ship me off to the funny farm, with this recent purchase. but the piano just captivated me, there was no way i could let it go home with someone else, it was calling out my name. now, i just have to figure out how to get it home.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

ready to learn, to get some knowledge.

it's that time of year again. i can't believe it's been an entire year since i wrote you THIS letter, it still echoes the sentiments i'm feeling at this exact moment, to a T. you may have graduated to 3 days a week & seemed to have adjusted well, but i'm secretly wishing you'd rather stay home & play with me. i guess that's the hard part about being a mom... you always feel a bit "left behind."

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

potty talk.


i quit.  call me a failure. call me lazy. call me anything you want. but honestly, i don't care. sometimes, kids just aren't ready for potty training - and that's my professional opinion. i honestly thought it would be easy, but obviously those were just delusions of a sleep deprived mother. i was excited, i was looking forward to it, it looked so easy on the dvd. unfortunately, owen didn't share my same zeal for the project. one month later, i'm officially hanging up my potty training hat, at least for now. it's just not worth it. & honestly, i don't mind changing diapers all that much. in the mean time, i think i better come up with a better plan of attack. anyone out there got any suggestions for me?

Monday, August 24, 2009

it's all happening so fast...

do you ever wish you could hit "pause" on life?
just to enjoy the moment just a wee bit longer?
charlie's growing up so fast. where has the time gone?

ana, thanks for pushing the pause button on our memories.
even if, it was just for one afternoon.

images by ana brandt.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

it's part-tay time!

last night we had a little party.
nothing fancy, just a little shin-ding.

we took silly pictures.

we dined on sweets & treats

there were even party favors.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

like father, like son.

child sized helmet: $24.99
trail-a-bike: $230
spending time with dad: priceless

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

let's talk dirty.

this weekend i did something that made jeffy get all hot & flustered. get your minds out of the gutter, please! it was nothing like that! what i did, probably made him more excited & happy then that ever could... i went mountain biking.

although getting all geared up in my shorts & jersey, helmet & gloves didn't exactly make me feel pretty (or even remotely sexy), jeffy seemed to think i looked pretty hot - or at least that's what he says. i guess it's true what they say... boys like dirty girls.

so there i was, looking totally & completely professional. & yet, i was a jumble of nerves on the inside. the last time i had taken to the hills on my bike, i fell not once, not twice, but three times. & these were full-blown, over-the-handlebars, twisted-up-in-the-bike, dirt-on-your-teeth types of falls. when i realized, just a few days later, that i was pregnant, i decided it was time i hang up the mountain bike, at least momentarily.

this weekend, i decided that it was time for my riding sabbatical to be over. i broke out my riding shoes (classic vans with a rose patch covering the hole from my last bike ride, because i'm way too scared to "clip in" quite yet), strapped on my helmet & straddled the bike. & let me tell you, even with an entire year to work up to this ride, i was still terrified. the feel of the dirt, rocks slip-sliding under the weight of my bike, the fear that at any moment i could (& very possibly would) go flying over the front of the handlebars, made my entire insides shudder with every dip & bump. i did everything i'm not supposed to do, & nothing that i should do. & through it all, i held my breath, & continually prayed that i would make it off the mountain alive.

i did eventually make it off the mountain, but let's just say i descended rather slowly... i don't know if i'll ever be comfortable going fast. give me a hill to climb, any day. but unfortunately, what goes up, must come down. so down i came, grasping the handle bars tight as i can, sticking out my butt as far as i could, with the phrase "i think i can! i think i can!" constantly on the brain.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

kid tested, mother approved.

remember those kix treats i was trying to find the recipe, way back when? well, i found the recipe. made them yesterday, & they are just as yummy as ever. so, i now present to you, without any further ado...

katie's mom (becky's) world famous, peanut buttery, butterscotch-ey treats
ingredients:
peanut butter
1 bag (11 oz) butterscotch chips
1 can (12 oz) lightly salted peanuts
1 small box of kix cereal

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