Weekend Show Off Party!

Welcome to the Weekend!

This has been a CRAZY week for us!  We have a 50,000 acre plus fire in our backyard! Our friends in neighboring towns have been evacuated, but so far the fire has stayed away from us.  This is the view from one of our turkey farms.

Onto some features! 

Woven home shared a super fun Ice Cream Birthday Party!  I like that she kept it really fun and simple!

I have been looking for a cute swimsuit cover up!  I really love the cover up Wildflowers & Whimsy made!

Play Through the Day shared some great puppy books for you to enjoy this summer with the kids!

Will Cook for Smiles shared a refreshing dessert to beat the summer heat!

The blog of the week is Linky #32!

Marty Musings shared her beautiful new table, I love it, will your hubby build me one too... lol!

Cookie of the Month Club... the PERFECT gift!

What do you give someone that has everything, and does not want any {THING} else?  That is the dilemma we face each Father's Day.  At a church fundraiser auction earlier this year, a friend donated a plate of cookie of the month club, where each month she gives the lucky bidder a different yummy homemade cookie.  I noticed my Father in Law bidding pretty heavily on it.  I was relieved when he lost because I thought we could do something like that for him for Father's Day!

We made both the grandpa's a fun plate to place the cookies on each month. I had been procrastinating doing this project because I thought I would have to travel 60 miles to the nearest craft store to retrieve the supplies.  I was thrilled to find out they had everything I needed at Walmart!  I am a huge fan of Elmer's Painter Markers now, I could buy them in any color for 2.97, and they permanently mark on about any surface, how cool is that!
 **Please note this is not a sponsored post, I just found a new fun craft supply!

Items Used
Clear glass plate
Elmer's painters Markers (We used silver, black, teal, and bright blue)
Krylon Clear Gloss Spray Paint

 This project could not be simpler.  I first traced my kids hands with the Silver marker, I let that dry. My daughter wrote Grandpa's Cookies in her sweet first grade hand writing.  Then my kids took turned making dots around the outside of the plate.  They really had a lot of fun! To help protect the design on the plate I sprayed it with a coat of Krylon Clear Gloss spray paint.

NOTE:  I am not sure how food save this project is.  If you do this I would recommend putting the cookies on top of plastic wrap or put them in a zip top bag before placing them on the plate.

 Next I came up with a cheesy poem to explain the Cookie of the Month!  I can make a mean couplet!

We hope you enjoy these cookies made from scratch.

Return the Plate and we will bake you another batch.

Each month, the whole year through,

We will have fun making cookies just for you!

It is just a little something sweet,

To let you know we think your neat!

Below is the printable I made for the gift, feel free to use it if you would like.  Click on the image, then you can copy it, or download it from my photobucket album.

For this first month, I went with an old stand by, Chocolate Chip Cookies with a Secret!

 These cookies are always a hit!

 I am happy to report both my Father and Father in Law loved it!  My Father in law keeps telling everyone he has a never ending plate of cookies, I have to remind him that is true... ONCE a month!  My kids are excited to make a different batch of cookies each month as well!


I like to LINK at these parties!

Weekend Show Off Party 6-21 ed.

Welcome to the Weekend! 

I hope you are all having a great summer! Thank you all so much for your support in helping me out with the RIPPED 2 FIT challenge!  I did not make it to the top 3, but fitting into my jeans I haven't worn in years is a pretty great consolation prize!

Cookin' Up Good times shared a lightened up version of Keylime Pie!  Since I am trying to cut back on calories, I am pinning this one!

2 Crafty for my Skirt shared a fun bridal shower!  I was so excited to see this post because I am throwing a bridal shower for my little sis this weekend!

Finally, I love this You Are My Sunshine decor from Adrianne at Happy Hour!  I even helped her out a little bit, OK, it was just a tiny tiny bit, I like to take credit anyway, LOL!

 

And the blog of the week is lucky linky #43!!  Six-Cents shared how to make 10 freezer meals in three hours!  I love cooking in the freezer, and these meals look great! Congratulations!

I am so excited to announce this weeks blog of the week! I have to admit, I have a new addiction... it is called CUPCAKE WARS!  It is a show on the Food Network, that I make my parents Tivo so I can watch it when I am over!  This weeks Blog of the Week should be on this show, because she bake a mean cupcake! Take it away Heather!

Hey everyone! My name is Heather and I'm here to tell you all about my love affair with cupcakes. First, let me start off by saying thank you to Carlee for having me as a guest today at Ladybird Ln! Congrats, lady, on the top 5 in the RIPPED challenge! What a fantastic accomplishment!! I know what a struggle weight loss can be so I'm always encouraging and supportive to my fellow life changers! I'm so excited for the opportunity to introduce myself to all of you. I graduated from culinary school in '09 and have been blessed with some really cool experiences since then. Currently, I'm working full-time at a Christian ministry in FL which provides me with the time to work on getting my bakery business started and off the ground. My favorite treats to bake are cupcakes. I just love everything about them - the many different flavor combinations, the decorations, the adorable liners, and the fact that they are single-serve, making them guilt-free indulgences! I started blogging in January after months of toying with the idea. Finally, I made a decision. I'd done enough thinking; it was time to DO something. Thus, A Cupcake Love Affair began. On my blog you'll find a lot about cupcakes, quite a bit about baking in general, and a little about me because, let's face it - while cupcakes are what brought you, the person behind the cupcakes has to be a little bit interesting for you to wanna come back. Trust me. My life is nothing, if not interesting! :) Here are a few of my favorite posts::

Sweet & Sour Strawberry Cupcakes

These cupcakes were my absolute favorite because they were made from a recipe that I developed myself. And, most importantly, they were a HUGE hit! The cake is dense but the lightness of the icing balances it out and who doesn't love a fresh strawberry?

Triple Chocolate and German Chocolate Cupcakes

These cupcakes were divine! If you're a chocolate fan - try them! Right now. Don't wait. You are seriously missing out if you don't try these little treats!

Alice in Wonderland Cupcakes

I'm shamelessly proud of these cupcakes. I just absolutely love the decorations!! The client was throwing herself an Alice themed 30th birthday party (so cool) and I was thrilled to be a part of it! :)

Fruit "Cake" for a summer birthday

This was so fun! The birthday girl asked for a guilt-free treat and I had seen this idea on Pinterest. It was so gorgeous and absolutely refreshing!!

And, my most popular post so far:

Strawberry Lemonade Birthday Cake

This beauty gave me a little break from cupcakes and took me back to my original reason for culinary school - bakery style cakes. I love walking into a bakery and seeing several different cakes on display. Just wonderful! Well, I really hope you like what you see and that at least some of you decide to join me on this sweet journey! I promise to be honest about the results. Believe me. Every attempt I make in the kitchen does not end up in rainbows and sunshine (see my Lemon-Raspberry cupcakes post). I also promise to have fun! After all, cupcakes are fun, so reading about them should be as well!! Again, thank you, Carlee, for having me as a guest! Until next time, happy reading and, more importantly, happy cupcake-ing!

Let's 'Owl' be Kind!!

It took me all of a day to realize that my kids needed some encouragement to help them get along after school was let out for the summer.  I made this owl chart with the saying Let's 'Owl' be Kind.  I went with an owl theme to match their CHORE CHART.  I just used a sharpie and a poster board and went to town.  I let my kids color some owls I printed off!

SO it is pretty simple if I catch them doing something nice for their sibling, or doing something nice in general they can put a sticker on the tree.  It is a simple way to shift the focus from thinking of your own needs to thinking of the needs of your family, and working as a team. Our one rule is you can not tell mom when you have done something nice, but you can tell me if you have seen a brother or sister do something nice. When the tree is full we will do something fun as a family!

It does not solve all of the worlds problems, but it does help!  

How do you help your kids get along during the summer?

I like to LINK To these parties!

Happy Birthday... to me!

(sorry I had to sneak this funny picture in somewhere)

 Today is my birthday, and Father's Day, I love it when this happens, it is so much fun! I would like you all to join me for my Blog Birthday BASH!  This year, more than ever, I am feeling so grateful for all that I have! So the theme for this party is GRATITUDE! I am stealing this fantastic idea from my friend Kara over at Petals and Picots! 


Ok, it is pretty simple, this year I am turning 29.... I know what you are thinking but it is the TRUTH!  So I am going to tell you 29 things I am thankful for, and I would be so happy if you tell me what you are thankful for in the comments below... Easy as pie, Right!

              I  am grateful for... 

1. The Savior Jesus Christ, and his atoning grace, that makes an imperfect person like me able to return to HIM, and be with my family forever.

2. My Husband, this being father's day, I am feeling especially grateful for the hard work he puts in for us, his love, and infectious laugh!

3. My children, even though my house is chronically messy, my bank account mostly empty, and laundry always piled, I would not have it any other way.  They have brought me more happiness then I have ever thought possible!

4. My Dad, he is the best! My family, I know without a doubt, they would do anything for me. They have seen me at my best and at my worst and still love me. 

5. My in-laws, we have so much love and support!  My kids are so lucky to have two sets of amazing grandparents!

6. My girlfriends, who always lift me up, especially when I am down!

7.  My sweet neighbor, who always takes the time to see how we are doing, and asks about our garden, even when she knows that is full of weeds and dying.

 

8. Our little home.

9. My friends from all over the world who visit my blog and leave sweet comments. I count some of these online friends amongst my best of friends!

10.  A Grandmother in heaven, who I know watches out for me.

11. My Health, there was a time in my life when I did not have good health, and was unable to do the things I desired. That time has helped me appreciate the health I enjoy now.

12. Music, good music that uplifts the soul, and make you want to be better.

 13. Chocolate!!

14.  8 o'clock bedtime for my kids!

15.  Talking on the phone with my sisters.

16. Our farm, being able to raise our children like our great-grandfathers did generations before us, watching tiny birds grow, seeing our kids work, understanding the seasons, appreciating our food, and caring for our environment!

17. Good books to read!

 18. Waking up early to exercise, and my friends at my R.I.P.P.E.D. class, and SPIN class who constantly inspire me to peddle faster, jump higher, lift more, and never give up!

19. My slow cooker!

 20. Beautiful flowers, and a mom to show me how to take care of them!

21. Online shopping, seriously I don't know what people in rural areas did before this!

22.  Long rides in the car with a good book on tape, and no destination in mind.

 

23. The beautiful Mountains which surround me.

24.  Being able to walk to church.

25. I Love Lucy!

26.  Long cool summer nights...with crickets.

27. Cookie dough.

28. the color red!

29. My kids being SO EXCITED for MY birthday!

     What are you thankful for....

Welcome to the Weekend!

I have some EXCITING NEWS!  As you might have heard I am a top ten finalist in the RIPPED 2 FIT Challenge!  R.I.P.P.E.D. is an intense (and fun) fitness class I take, it is all over the country so there might be one near you too!  They just told me as of now I am in the TOP 5 (they did not let us know the order!) IT is not a done deal there is still 24 hours to vote! 

 PLEASE HELP ME OUT BY VOTING HERE!

This weekend is exciting, because it is Father's Day and my Birthday! In honor of that I thought I would share some birthday/fathers day related posts that were showed off last week.

 Home Grown Beanes shared her delicious looking birthday cupcakes!  The frosting is peanut butter--kill me now! Happy Birthday Mamie!

 My kids would totally love these multi-colored cupcakes from the Purplest Pelican! 

Mom on Timeout shared her awesome Avenger Cupcakes for her son's class. They are fun.

And for the main course, the Six Sisters show us 50 man-pleasing (and birthday girl pleasing) meals!  YUM! These steak kabobs look so delicious.

And if I could have on birthday wish, it might be this amazing craft/scrapbook room by Marty Musings! I love all of her storage!

And the blog of the week is lucky linky number 44!  
 
A Cupcake Love Affair (I love that name) shared a Brides and Groom Cake she made, Isn't that such a fun grooms cake!!