Just news

Here are some pics from recent days at my house.

This really isn't a good picture but this was one delicious Duncan Hines apple caramel box cupcake. One of the yummiest cupcakes I've had in awhile.

Now, this picture shows how good they really were because little lady here actually starting eating the cupcake wrapper for more yumminess.

Kenannator all ready to jump in the pool at the YMCA. Our favorite place to go in the summer because there's so much to do for all ages.

Monday night we had salmon croquettes, collards and jasmine rice. Nothing fancy but still good. My dishwasher is broken so we use paper plates alot!

Tuesday night, I served roasted chicken which cooked in the crockpot for 5 hours (my first time ever), argula salad, new potatoes and leftover biscuits from breakfast...no sense in letting them go to waste. Tonight will be taco night, stay tuned for more! Still guess blogging for my girl Ellen, check it out!

untitled

Tonight I am puzzled by emotions. Wearing them on my sleeve and not sure what piece goes where.
Tonight I want to sing, dance and cry a warrior cry, but really what good will it do me...or them?
Tonight I've decided that a change must come but I'm not so sure how its gonna get here.
So, tonight, tonight, tonight (cue Phil Collins music) I'll just blog and let the puzzled emotions on my sleeve try to piece themselves together on a day when I really feel like being bothered by them.
Because... tonight, I don't.

Not sure where that came from, I guess that's what blogging is all about. At any rate, tomorrow is a new day and I will be guest blogging on my friend, Ellen's blog while she's away How Does Your Garden Grow. She is visiting Europe for the next several days and I have to say that I wish I were in her shoes. I've never been and I can't wait to go but it looks like it'll be at least 15 more years before I get there unless I plan on bringing the kiddos with me or giving them a mini-vaca to Grandma's house. Whenever it happens, I'm sure I'll love it and finally get to practice all the French I took in high school because I wanted to understand ballet more. Go figure!!

Summer, Summer, Summertime!

I've been talking so much lately about baking so in this post I'll share some exciting photos of the kids and what we've been up to since school got out. Being home with 4 kids is alot of work. I am always trying to maximize the moments with learning, playtime and exercise. It sometimes wears me out trying to keep them on a schedule because I'm constantly saying, "No, not right now" or "We're not doing that today". 

We've got some really good friends out in Kennesaw that we went to swim with this past week. They're moving to Florida soon, so sad! She has three kids and is pregnant with her 4th so needless to say we didn't get to do alot of relaxing girl time but we still had a blast!

This is cutie patootie Ben with preggars mommy in the background.

I had to include this pic of the youngest boss of them all and of course the big brother who always finds a way to show his pearly whites.

Later on in the week, Ray and I decided to try our first Zumba class. I sent a message to a few of her classmates moms to see if they would bring their daughters too. We were both nervous and unsure of exactly what we were signing up for but it turned out to be TOO FUN!! There was some salsa moves, belly dancing moves and a few moves where I was thinking, "Should my daughter be doing that?" All in all, she said she enjoyed it and wanted to go back this weekend. This is her and her classmates that did make it. I had hoped they'd look wiped out but you know they were camera ready!

We finished out the week with a dinner to Maggiano's for Father's Day! We were delayed in getting dressed because it was storming a little outside and the power went out. Can you imagine shining flashlights on yourself in the mirror to make sure your clothes match. Boy aren't we a spoiled generation. Ray took the family pic while we were waiting for our table, I think the Zumba workout had finally kicked in and she was no longer in the cheesing mood.

After we got to our table we realized that Andre 3000 was finishing his meal right next to us. Celebrity moment!! The conversation was good and the food was pretty good too, check out Christy enjoying the onion strings. Hilarious!!

so far...so good!

Is it okay to enjoy this?

I've had a major sweet tooth lately and boy did I find the right recipe to cure it. Paula Deen's Best Bread Pudding Recipe. I know, I know, you can easily go to her website to look it up so what I'll do is just show you the delicious pics that I'm sure will make you want to bake some yourself!

How did I forget the brown sugar & butter goo that went on top to make it look all carmelized like the picture below.

Yes, I had to take the first scoop of it right out of the oven. And finally the best part!!!

It might be easy to miss but there is a delicious brandy sauce poured on top. I'm sure by now you're experiencing the yumminess. I worked out twice yesterday just to be able to eat this with no guilt! I might have enjoyed it too much.

The secret is out!

I make, or so I've been told, the best Lemon cookies ever!! If that's true then this recipe is sure to win you a few friends. Here's the step by step...Good luck!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. The ingredients are 2 eggs, 1/2 cup of oil and a box of lemon supreme cake mix. Yep, that's all!

I always beat my eggs and oil in together first.

Add in the cake mix and at first it'll look like the top picture but if you keep stirring, it'll look like the bottom pic. Having a little helper is always fun too! Use a big spoon and not a fork or whisk because it gets pretty gooey.

Roll them into little balls. This is such a great recipe for parties or classes because the one box makes about 60 cookies unless if you like them big. Bake them for exactly 10 minutes.

Viola! Great Lemon Cookies that'll melt in your mouth. Hope you enjoy!

I am woman hear me ROAR!!

It is a wonderful thing being a woman. God made women to be completely phenomenal in so many different ways. There are not many other beings like ourselves that are able to go, go, go or sit and sing a lullaby after cooking a 5 course meal and still feel the air beneath our wings.

I am a woman. A woman that has learned her worth after years of having not a clue. A woman that is looking forward to the milestones that are ahead. A woman that is maturing daily. I am aware of this maturity, not because of lack of energy or zest for life but because of the decisions and choices that are shaping me. Time changes, seasons change but women...we evolve! I feel Phenomenal even when the decisions I make may not make sense to others. I feel Phenomenal knowing that I am knowing me more and more each day. I feel Phenomenal and it feels good.

...Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Maya Angelou-Phenomenal Woman