Easter Cake

Ok so I probably should have posted this prior to Easter because it would be a great Easter dessert.  And its super quick and easy!  AND LOW CAL- well somewhat ha!

 

Ingredients:

Jiffy Yellow Cake Mix

Pistachio Pudding (sugar free, optional)

Milk

Cool Whip (fat free optional)

Heath Bar

1. Start off by cooking the yellow cake as called for on the box. Then let cool (I had to cut off part of the top bc it bubbled up and I wanted a flatter surface to put the additional toppings on).

 2. Mix milk and pistachio pudding in a seperate bowl.  Once cake has cooled add pudding.

 3. Then top with Cool Whip.  Chop up heath bars and arrange on top- not only is it a pretty garnishment but also super tasty!

 4. I put in the fridge for an additional 20 minutes or so to let the flavor set it. Then serve it in a pretty bowl for added effect!  I think this is a perfect Easter dessert!!  Of maybe even St. Patty due to the green??  Either way it's just plain delish!!

   

Fruit Tea Concoctions

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Arnold Palmer's and Fruit Tea's {especially the fruit tea at Blue Coast Burrito- if you have never eaten here I highly recommend it}. AND so I have been trying to come up with some of my own fruit tea concoctions to find a flavor we can enjoy at home.  I have come up with 2 that we find simply marvelous darling {said "simplayyy marrrvelouss darrrling"- i can't say that phrase w/out saying it like that, think i inherited from my mom... that and Sarah's Da} 

All super easy, which is always my cup of tea--haha, pun intended :)

Fruit Tea:

Apple Juice

Orange Juice

Sweet Tea (pre-made or 6 Tea bags and sweetener)

Mix equal parts of all 3 liquids.  I used a pitcher that holds a Gallon and half of liquid.  I used 5 tea bags, tied them together and set in the pitcher, add 1/2 cup of sweetener of your choice and fill the pitcher 1/3 of the way full with water.   Next I filled the pitcher another third of the way full with apple juice and then the last third with Orange Juice.  Mix well and chill for 2 hrs.  Remove tea bags, stir and pour.  If you feel extra saucy add a strawberry to garnish :)  Enjoy!

Arnold Palmer w/ Zesty Twist: 

1 can frozen limeade

7 tea bags

Sweetener

I used the same gallon and a half pitcher.  First I dumped the frozen limeade in the pitcher along with the water called for on the package directions and mixed well.  Next I added tea bags and 1 1/2 cup of sweetner and added water til it was almost full.  Still well and chill for 2 hrs.  Pour into stylish cups, garnish w/ a strawberry or lime slice (optional) and enjoy!

Do you have any similar recipes?  Let me know if you try this either of these & your thoughts!

xoxoxo

Pam

Sewing Room Re-Do

This has been a project in the works for MONTHS, so I am ever so excited to finally post it!  yay!

Here is the before, in it's most true state. Really sad, I know.

And, drum roll please, her is the AFTER:  (which i'd like to add that hubby did 80% of the work for this little makeover, so lets give him a little round of applause:)

note the new light fixture, Ry's idea and his installation :)  love him.

 peg board, problem solver extraordinaire

there are 2 mini clothes racks to hang my ever growing "to-do" projects. 

these baskets were an inspiration from Pottery Barn.  I ripped the page out of the magazine about a year ago, mind are obviously a little different but same concept.  I have all my scrap fabric in the one on the right, for some reason I can't throw out ANY FABRIC, ugg!

comparison: 

What do you think??  Still not 100% but sooo much better, no?

Makeover Monday

I madeover several throw pillows for Wyndham's big girl room!  I'm going for a yellow and grey them.  The big reveal will be in a few weeks once we get the rocker in, crown molding up and I finish the painting and putting a grey stain on the furniture.  So you'll just have to wait anxiously for that.  In the mean time here is a glimpse of the new throw pillows in her room.

Thoughts??  Do we need some more white in there?  I love the all whites look....

xoxoxo
Pam

Wyndham's Dedication

We had Wyndham dedicated at Church 2 weeks ago, on 4-3-11 to be exact.  It was a very sweet ceremony and very exciting to see all the new lifes babies and beginings at our church!  It was a little unfortunate that this was right in the middle of Wyndham's nap time as she was a little bit of a pill and did not want to smile for Even one photo.  But that is ok because in some of the photos her scream kinda looks like a smile haha!  Ohhh my sweet Wyndham, you are so sweet and have the happiest disposition- but that is only when you want to.  You inherited my strong will, along with many other things.  I pray that you use that for good, and for God's glory!!

As part of the cermony we had to choose a life verse for Wyndham.  Ryan read it out loud to the congregation- thank the dear Lord I didn't have to, I would have stuttered all over the place.  It was very sweet and Ryan is always so well spoke, another one of his amazing traits!! The verse we choose was Jeremiah 29:11  ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

In all it was a pleasant day!  Jodi came for the ceremony :)  and was our great photographer as well :) Oh and lunch was provided, always love free food! 

We love you sweet Wyndham and we pray that you grow to love the Lord more with each passing day!  If there is one thing that we teach you, I hope and pray that it is to love our Lord.  If you do, we can count our attempt at this whole parenting thing a true success! Faults and all!

Goat Cheese, Bacon & Spinach Quiche

I found this recipe through a Goat Cheese Quiche Google search and found an amazing recipe here!  I love anything with Goat cheese so was so excited to find this yummy delight!

I slightly altered the original recipe over at twinshealth.wordpress, the one used went a little like this:

Ingredients
* 1 Frozen Deep Dish Pie Crust
* 4 Large Eggs
* handful of Grape Tomatoes
* Fresh Spinach (as much as you want. I used a lot since it cooks down so much)
* 6 cloves of Garlic
* 1/2 a large Red Onion, chopped
* 1/8 cup Skim Milk
* 1 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
* 2-3 Tbs Margarine Spread (you can substitute another butter/margarine if you'd like)
* 6 slices No Sugar Added Lower Sodium Hickory Smoked Bacon
* 4 oz Crumbled Goat Cheese
* 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
* a handful of fresh broccoli 
* 1 Tbs Flour
* Sea Salt
* Ground Black Pepper
* Dried Oregano
Directions
1. Let frozen pie crust sit out and thaw for 10-20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Poke holes in pie crust and bake for 7 minutes (this prevents the crust from getting soggy later)
2. Chop up onions and garlic cloves. Saute them in the olive oil and Margarine. Cut grape tomatoes in half and add to onions and garlic. Add spinach and stir – spinach will cook down and you can keep adding more until you've used it all.
3. Cook the bacon til it's crispy enough to chop easily. (I cook mine in the microwave and then use a paper towel to soak up the grease.) Set aside to cool.  If you let them cool, they will crumble easier :)
4. In a large bowl whisk the 4 eggs with the milk and flour. Add the oregano, salt, and pepper. Then crumble up the bacon you cooked in step 3 and add it to the mixture.
5. Scoop sauteed mixture of spinach, garlic, onions, and tomatoes into the pie crust, then add broccoli.  Next pour the egg mixture over it. Using a fork stir everything gently so it all mixes together.
6. Add crumbled goat cheese to mixture and stir gently with a fork. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar over the top of the pie.
7. Bake for 40-45 minutes (the center should be cooked through). Take out and let cool. Serve and enjoy!!!

Also, the quiche reheats great. 
LOVES IT!!  Too bad there aren't a ton of goat cheese lovers around besides myself, the rest can eat cake, perhaps carrot cake cookies ;)

Pictures to come of this quiche as well as the full spread!  We are having a second be-lated Easter celebration due to family visiting being delayed a week.

xoxoxo
Pam

Compliments of the Cottage Momma

The Cottage Momma made the "Early Empire Cinch" from Anna Maria Horner's book, Handmade Beginnings - 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby and it is UH-mazing!  The newest item added to my sewing list!  Would love to make one in time for one of my besties bachelorette party in LAS VEGAS in 11 days!  YES I'm going to vegas 7 months pregnant hahah!!   Just love these!!

{images}

Wyndham's Diary- My First Easter

Hello Everyone, Wyndham here.  Yesterday was my first Easter (well technically my 2nd, but being only a few weeks old last yr I slept my way through it-- so this is my first REAL Easter).  Proof:

It was a legit Easter.  Easter Bunny came, brought me some goodies, best of all some PUFFS in an EGG!! OMG, whoever tipped the bunny off to get me some of those, BIG THANKS!! Momma really thought I'd like the jammies, but come on, i'm only 15 months duh!  I did however enjoy my new kicks!  Who doesn't like a good pair of running shoes, and I have got a LOT of running to do!  Anywho, had fun ripping through the basket!

I wore a really cute dress for Easter, Mommy was so excited about the new floral dress however I messed that outfit BIG TIME!  Got out of that photo shoot haha!  Sorry now pics of that ladies & gents!  Nonetheless there was a photoshoot on Easter, I knew I should have never donned the Bunny Ears, BIG MISTAKE!  Well I guess if Aunt Jod wore them while she cooked Carrot Cake Cookies and Daddy did while he dyed eggs, its not so bad...

Also, we died Easter Eggs!  Needless to say I was very good at it.  I even ate some crayons, isn't that part of the process?!? It was a classy dye sported in some wine glasses.  Oh and we ate cookies, soo good!!

 Mommy said this one was her favorite, probably because I made it.  That and its obvious beauty!

A few updates on my life:

I've now added several new words to my vocabulary, some of which are Mimi (Grandmother), book, star, peas (please), all done, hi, bye, baby and sissy. 

I also do sign language, yes genius, I KNOW!  I sign: all done, please, more, food, thank you (which I get very confused with blowing kisses, but really, can you ever have too many kisses?  I think not).  Oh and I wave Bye-Bye, but I've kinda been doing that for a while, not new news people. 

Also, I run now.  Not just like walk fast people, but like totally put my head down and go!  Most of the time I run into stuff b/c I'm going so fast, or maybe b/c my head is down and I'm not looking.  Hence the need for the new Nikes, thanks again Bunny!

Also, I really like necklaces!  Any necklace I can get my hands on goes on!  My current fave to don is a bright shinny green "Happy St. Patrick's Day" necklace.  I like the long ones that sway when I walk, only issues with that is I tend to watch them sway a little to much while walking and I run into stuff. 
Mom and Dad find it amusing, IT'S NOT.

Additionally, I'm getting a little sister.  Here name is Paisley, but I call her sissy.  All I know is Mommy's belly is sure getting fat!  Obviously she doesn't run as much as me, maybe she needs some new Nikes like me to keep trim , hmmm...

Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Easter!  He is Risen :)

XOXOXO

Wyndham

P.S. For those wondering, I'm feeling much better!  I'm kicking pneumonia's butt!  Had me down and out of commission for short while, but I'm tough and on meds and fever free for 2 days!  Can't nobody hold me down, oh-no, I got to keep on movin!   (Inspiration courtesy of Mase & P-diddy)