Sweeeetttt

So very thankful for such awesome opportunities that God has already planned out for my journey! I am so thrilled to announce that I will be joining the team of Sugar Loco 

 A website dedicated to everything sweet!

 

First off, any company that wants you to join their team of writers by asking you

 "What type of Dessert You'd Be?" - I'm definitely going to be a part of!

What dessert would I be? 

I’d be a slice of warm, freshly baked, red velvet cake drizzled with a homemade cream cheese icing paired with a scoop of my parents homemade sweet cream ice cream, along with, of course, a pipping hot cup of black coffee kissed with milk in my favorite photo mug of the kiddos.

For the rest of my author bio- check it out here

I will be focusing on the hottest Arizona sweets, taste-testing and writing reviews for all to enjoy!

Thankful Thursday: Creative Minds

I am so very thankful for the amount of creative minds that I am continuously crossing paths with through book signings, speaking engagements and online - Pinterest especially. Like many of you, I've been addicted to Pinterest since the moment I got my private invitation to join the "club" of pinners. The amount of creative food bloggers that Pinterest has opened my eyes to is astounding and one of my favorites in particular is: The Baker Chick. I have been following The Baker Chick for quite a while now as I am continuously drooling over her mouth watering photography - oh and the amazing dishes she prepares as well!

One day on Pinterest I came across her Cinnamon Roll Pancakes and my mouth literally dropped. Cinnamon Roll Pancakes? YU-UM.



I was so excited to test out the recipe with my husband and his family and after doing so, we all asked ourselves if we'd ever go back to plain pancakes again? So delicious!



Mine were not ask picturesque as The Baker Chicks but they were absolutely amazing and I will definitely be making them again. Just looking at these pictures is making me salivate and crave them again. Maybe this will be my special treat for my cheat day this week!

Check out her blog and recipe for the Cinnamon Roll Pancakes here. 

*Next time I plan to make homemade pancakes like The Baker Chick, but when I made them the first time I used the pancake recipe on the Bisquick box. (I have a secret addiction to the taste of Bisquick) Also, rather than calling them Cinnamon "Roll" Pancakes I am just in love with the word "swirl" so have called mine Cinnamon Swirled Pancakes! 

ENJOY

Thankful Thursday: Convience

This week I realized how thankful I truly am for convenient healthy food. This is not something you'd think would come out of my mouth, since I'm usually complaining that there are no healthy drive-thru spots near me; that someday I'm going to open up my own restaurant and have curb-side pick up specifically catering to mom's with car loads of kids that are just eager to grab a delicious healthy meal who before only had the options of (1) drive thru some greasy-not even good burger joint (2) going against all that is true about starving kids right before nap time and convice herself that "this time they'll be good" as she tries to lug them out of the car just to grab her order or (3) the choice of starving to death until the kids go down and then indulging in something sweet instead of nutritious.

You know who you are.

Just the other night I was planning to make spaghetti and chicken for the family, while I would leave off the noodles and stick tight to my diet. When my husband arrived home from work, I was secretly hoping that he'd suggest going out to eat since I was exhausted and quiet frankly done with being in the house, but I quickly hopped up and started to begin dinner. On edge from being overly hungry 30 minutes prior I soon realized that the chicken I planned to fry up was bad. (another story - our refrigerator was acting funny this week - ugh) Hubby said he would stay with the kids so I could just run real quick to pick up some chicken from the store. I really think he just saw the crazy in my eyes and for the sake of the children - sent me packing!

When I arrived at the store I circled the parking lot three times, just to find a parking spot.
Have you had one of these days? No food, No Parking, No SMILES WHAT SO EVER!

I ran in the store, headed to the meat department and ...

...nothing

No Chicken. None - Zip - Zilch. Really?

Ok - you may be sensing a bit of high school drama queen in today's post, but honestly, I probably could have been standing there in a turquoise puffy prom dress with a sparkly crown and it would have described my feelings perfectly.


I then asked the butcher, who to my surprise spoke to me like a medieval knight, informing my-lady that there was a box in the back and he would scurry off to go get it.

I'm not joking - MEDIEVAL

Anyways, I do have a point to this post - and a recipe, so stay with me. 

While waiting for the meat man I strolled through the health food aisle salivating over even the gluten free cookies or protein bars when I came across their soup. I love soup and one caught my eye in particular; the lentil soup. Lentils fall in to the legume category in my diet and I quite frankly have been avoiding it. I quickly checked the ingredients and found all vegetables, some balsamic vinegar and no added crud that takes all the nutrition out of it. YEAH!  I decided that it would be perfect for my way to late dinner and was so so convenient!

THANKFUL FOR CONVENIENCE!

When I got home I fried up one of the chicken breast, heated up the soup and mixed them together. So delicious!

Convenient Recipe right? Is it actually a recipe? Or more of a suggestion? 

So go on - whip up some convenience

Thankful Thursday: My Skillet

I am so very thankful for the skillets I have, all varying in size. Think about it - what have you made in a skillet? Eggs? Bacon? Rice? Chicken? Dumplings? Pancakes? I could seriously go on and on and on about the pans that I own. Skillets date back way to the Romans, but one thing I found really interesting is that prior to cooking stoves there was a cast iron skillet called the "spider". It had a handle and three legs so it could stand over the coals of a fire. Neat Right? 



Well, if you read my post from yesterday, you would have saw that I'm on some what of a diet. Ya, you heard me - a diet! I have been using my skillet for pretty much every meal, unless its a salad, and the food has been delicious!

Today I made what I'm going to call the: EVERYTHING BUT THE TORTILLA
It was so yummy that I'm thinking I can even get my hubs to eat this too! But shh, don't tell him there is spinach in it.

Everything But The Tortilla
Ingredients: (this makes enough for 2 meals or 2 people)

1/3 cups frozen spinach
1 can Rotel - with Lime & Cilantro (Rotel can usually be found in your canned vegetable section)
2 green onions
1 chicken breast
Seasonings of choice
Olive Oil (for chicken)
1 can Refried Beans
1/2 can Pinto Beans

Cook chicken in your skillet with a bit of olive oil for about 15 minutes or until cooked throughout. Season with your favorite spices.

Once chicken is cooked, remove from skillet and chop into pieces. Next, add chopped green onions and frozen spinach to pan and saute until a bit browned.




Once browned, add Rotel, 1/2 can pinto beans and chopped chicken and heat until hot.



Prepare your bowl with a bed of refried beans and then cover with chicken salsa mixture. Enjoy and be satisfied.

Thankful Thursday: My beautiful daughter

Since we've been talking all about my daughters birthday party this week, I thought it only appropriate to dedicate my Thankful Thursday to my beautiful daughter Aliyah. She is such a beautiful light in my life and I am continuously thankful to God for blessing me and my family with her. Now that she is getting a bit older, she is repeating everything we say and I am quickly realizing the phrases I say the most. Apparently I say "Let's See Here" all the time, because I am now catching myself saying it when I open up my utensil drawers or opening up a cookbook, cracks me up every time.

Well I wanted to take you through her Pajama Breakfast Birthday party that we had a few weeks ago.

You all saw the Cake In A Jar's that I made in my post on Tuesday. I also served some rice krispie treats in lieu of the breakfast theme.






As our guests arrived they were greeted with a cereal bar and cheery welcome to Aliyah's 2nd Birthday Party. You can see how I made the tissue paper backdrop here




The little container with the take home bags read: "Thank you all so much for celebrating with me the Most Important "Birthday" of the Day"



I was a little bummed that I didn't get a picture of our food table with all the food on it...leave it to the food blogger and cookbook author not to photograph the food.  I did take a photo before hand though, so that counts a little bit.







And of course for drinks we had iced cold OJ and Milk, as well as some homemade chocolate sauce from my parents ice cream parlor for chocolate milk!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

(I also made her pj's, slippers and bow too!)

As part of our Breakfast I served a new recipe of mine which was an Egg Casserole. I made ours vegetarian with only eggs and cheese, but it would also be delicious with ham, bacon or sausage mixed in; or even all three!
(and remember, I failed to photograph the food)

12 Eggs
1/2 lb grated cheese
1 cup milk
4 Tablespoons melted butter

-----
Additional ingredients
Salt, pepper
Garlic
Seasoning salt

------
And then just add what you like:
onions
meat
salsa

I prepared mine the night before, but didn't put it into the casserole dish until that morning. My reason being, because you melt the butter in the dish I didn't want it to get cold again -- I didn't think it would have the same effect as having the melted butter surround the casserole.

Whisk together eggs, along with milk and seasonings. Once whipped, add in cheese and meat. Stire together and store in a container over night, if making ahead of time. If making day of, follow directions below.

In the morning, melt your butter and pour into 9x13 casserole dish. Next pour in egg mixture. Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes. It will start to puff around the outside and the middle will sink if you check it at about 20 minutes, don't worry the rest will puff up too. After the 40 minutes it should be cooked all the way through.


Enjoy warm!

Thankful Thursday: Clarification and a new recipe

It was brought to my attention that my "How-To Tuesday" this week may not have been as "self explanatory" as I had assumed....so just to clear up any minor confusion (mom), here we go. (Thank you for your feedback though, it is much appreciated)



To write with regular paint, if you don't have puff paint handy, you can use the cap of a glue bottle and put it on any of your paint bottles. I've used it on these tall paint bottles, as well as the smaller ones. Worked like a charm!


Now on to Thankful Thursday. I am not for certain if I have already told you how very thankful I am for my crock pots or not, but I AM IN LOVE WITH THEM! Especially at this time in my life. I am currently blessed to be able to stay home with my almost two year old and 7 month old, as well as try to keep an orderly home and promote my book all at the same time. Even when I feel like I'm loosing my mind, having dinner in my crock pot always settles me. Knowing in just a few hours I will have a delicious meal just waiting for my family to enjoy -- Mind Settling :)

Last night I made a delicious Chicken and Dumpling Crock Pot Dinner. My family just loved it so much, and I am a sucker for dumplings. I would have taken a photo of it for everyone, but well, lets just say we didn't allow enough time to have a photo shoot, as we were all starving.

Here is the recipe though:

3 cans Cream of Celery Soup
2 cans filled with milk (fill your cream of celery soup can up)
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 teaspoons granulated garlic
1 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
1 bag egg noodles

Plus
Bisquick Dumpling Recipe (which requires milk)

Set your crock pot at high. Cut up chicken into cubes. Add chicken, plus additional ingredients (excluding dumpling recipe). Cook on high for 4 hours (or until chicken is done). Next, make dumpling recipe which requires only bisquick and milk. You will be adding the dumplings to our chicken soup in the crock pot. Follow directions on the side of the box. While dumplings are cooking, prepare your noodles. Enjoy Chicken and Dumplings over your noodles. Enjoy!

(FYI - I cannot wait for lunch so I can dive into some leftovers)

Thankful Thursday: Guest Speaking

Good Morning! Do you have your cup of coffee yet? I do! It's early and it's chilly outside and I'm getting geared up for another wonderful day of Guest Speaking at Mountain Park Community Church. I am so glad that I was able to speak last night, which means, no set up this morning! Yeah.

I can't wait to post some pictures from the event, but I just wanted to make sure I stopped by for a quick second to say Good Morning to all of you and thank God for my gift of hospitality. I never dreamed that this would be my gift to share with everyone, but I am truly thankful for it. Don't get me wrong, I do get nervous before speaking engagements, book signings and the nerves do tend to flare a bit even for parties at my home, but the joy I see that overcomes people as they enjoy some of my food or decor fills my heart.

If you're up early and have a chance to swing by the church, come by, I'd love to see you

Thankful Thursday: Reason for the Season...

You've all probably heard a handful of people say comments like "Remember the Reason for the Season" or "Keep Christ in Christmas" or something along these lines.

As a mother now of two little ones I am raised with the responsibility of teaching my children the true beauty of this season and the amazing gift and sacrifice our Father in heaven has done for us. He gave his Son, his very own, so that we all could be saved. I'm sure for many of you, this doesn't come into true retrospect until you have children of your own, as it did for me.

Well, as you've been following my blog, you know that although my main purpose is to focus on food and DIY, I just can't help myself but let you in on my world and what goes on in this house.

I've been dying to have an Advent Calendar for years now, but whenever I muster up the excitement to go to the store to purchase one, I always leave empty handed because....seriously .... this girl ain't about to spend $30 on a little box Advent Calendar that I look at and say, "I could make that", when in reality I still haven't made one! But still...I COULD!

Any-who, my daughter is about to turn two and is really just at the beginning of the excitement for Christmas. I want to make sure she is filled with the joy of this season; Christmas music, presents, hot cocoa- even if we do have to crank up the air conditioner here in AZ just to put on comfy pj's and bundle up with a cup of hot cocoa! But at the very same time, I want to teach her the reasons we gift give and praise the Lord for his blessings upon us.

I decided, what better way to share the story of Christmas but through our Advent Calendar...that yes, I made, and am looking forward to making it year after year.

As a child I remember getting little chocolates each day we opened the door to our Advent Calendar. There really wasn't any meaning in the calendar, other than the fact that I got a piece of chocolate and we were one day closer to Christmas. But really I want to make it our tradition to have the story of the birth of Jesus Christ each day our children open up their little envelope...



In each envelope I included one to two verses from the bible along with a little piece of chocolate to enjoy. I decided to secretly hang all of the verses on my little tree to take a photo for everyone to see, before placing them in their envelopes sealed with a kiss! I absolutely love the way they turned out and can't wait for my husband to come home tonight for him and the kids to open Day 1's envelope!

Have you made your own Advent Calendar? If so post some pictures on my facebook. I can't wait to see them.

Below I've listed the verses that are included in each envelope. Enjoy!

Dec 1: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel - Isaiah 7:14


Dec 2: But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from the old, from ancient times. - Micah 5:2


Dec 3: A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God" - Isaiah 40:3


Dec 4: When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son - Hosea 11:1


Dec 5: This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit - Matthew 1:18


Dec 6: But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit" - Matthew 1:20

Dec 7: She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. -  Matthew 1:21


Dec 8: All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel" - which means "God with us". - Matthew 1:22-23


Dec 9: When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. - Matthew 1: 24-25


Dec 10: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. - Luke 2:8-9


Dec 11: But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." - Luke 2:10


Dec 12: Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. - Luke 2:11


Dec 13: This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. - Luke 2:12


Dec 14: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." - Luke 2:13-14


For Dec 15-Dec 24,  I continued with verses praising God's sweet love for us


Dec15: Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. - Romans 5:1


Dec 16: God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17


Dec 17: Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned." - John 5:24


Dec 18: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer - Romans 12:12


Dec 19: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13


Dec 20: The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. - Psalm 126:3


Dec 21: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! - Philippians 4:4


Dec 22: May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted." - Psalm 70:4


Dec 23: Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! - Psalm 32: 11


Dec 24: Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs. - Psalm 100: 1-2

Thankful Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone - What a wonderful day to celebrate and reflect on everyone and everything that I am thankful for. And how perfect is it that it's also Thankful Thursday!

I know most everyone turns to today and states that they are most thankful for their family. And this is true for me as well, but my family doesn't just include my blood family, it also include the family that I have gained by marrying my amazing husband, my family of friends whether long time or newly developed, and my family of Christian believers.

I am thankful for the family God has chosen for me
I am thankful for the support of my family and their encouragement on a daily basis
I am thankful for my family that I don't see everyday, or even every month or year
I am thankful for my close nitch friends that I consider my family
I am thankful for my friends who have only stayed for a season, because they have helped mold me into who I am today
I am thankful for my friends who have been with me a lifetime, because they are still helping me become who I am suppose to be
I am thankful for my husband who is overly supportive and loves me beyond what I can imagine
I am thankful for the beautiful children God has given me
I am thankful for my church and community of believers, who even if I don't know them personally, they inspire me each moment I am in their presence
I am thankful for each opportunity God has given me
I am thankful for the open mind and heart God encourages me to use each and every day

For all of these things I am able to be thankful because of the powerful grace and love of our Heavenly Father.

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving at my home, where we all brought our favorite dishes and enjoyed the company of one another.




The pumpkin for my centerpiece was a must have for me! I had seen it at Hobby Lobby for over a month, but it was way out of my price range...but then, to my absolute pleasant surprise it was 80% off just a week before Thanksgiving - cha ching!







See the homemade croutons? Yum

Thankful Thursday: Thankful Notes

I am always thankful for thank you notes. Whether I'm writing them or receiving them they truly make my day.

Do you know this feeling? The feeling that someone was thinking of you, wanting to tell you how much they love you or are thankful for you, just being you? This is what I am thankful for.

I love incorporating thankful notes or words of encouragement into my parties. Advice for Newlyweds, Wishes for new babies or kind words or thoughts, always so appreciated.



When my husband and I were first married I started a "Thinking Of You" group, where women from our church would come over to my home to write thank you notes to friends and family they knew. I loved being a part of this and spending a moment just to stop and think of ones I love.

Another suggestion I just heard today was a "Note Shower" -- showering a friend overseas with notes of love and kindness. They planned a whole party here in the States and mailed off the letters. So thoughtful.

Take a moment this week, and send off a few letters. It'll really fill your heart!

Thankful Thursday: Thankful for God's Gifts

This Thankful Thursday I want to make note of how thankful I am for the talents and passion God has given to me. I absolutely love that He has instilled in me a joy in design, party planning, cooking, and decorating. (and writing)

Although at times I may get stressed in the moment about preparing for a party or being creatively stumped with a project, through it all I find so much joy in this path that I am on; the one He has designed just for me.

I am also truly thankful for the amazingly talented friends and family that He has also placed in my life that help to make each of my events such a huge success. Thank you to you all ...

Last weekend we celebrated the release of my book with my California family and I wanted to make sure you all got a bit of the action through the photos...hope you enjoy!

Thankful Thursday: My hubby and...

This Thursday I am once again thankful for my wonderful husband. His ability to bite his tongue, roll his eyes and love me through my craziness is something I will never understand.

I now have the house torn a part once again planning for my upcoming release party in California for my cookbook, and in the midst of taking over my son's nursery as a staging area and tearing through boxes in the garage I decided to do yet another Halloween inspired craft! Yes another.

I picked up some really cute tin plates from the Dollar Store. I'm planning to pick up a few more. I also purchased some stencils (which you could make your own if you'd like), some black glossy spray paint and spray adhesive.





Using the spray adhesive, I stuck the stencils to the tin plates, spelling "Boo" and "Eek"





Then the fun with paint began. One huge recommendation I have for you is to wear gloves. Between the glue and the spray paint, my hands where a disaster all afternoon. (If you do not have gloves, a little canola or vegetable oil rubbed on your hands will do the trick to get the glue off).

Let the paint dry and then remove the stencils. You will have some really cute spooky looking plates to display around your house. I think they would make a really cute entry display out front too!

Thankful Thursday: Rubber Spatula's

I am always so very thankful for my RUBBER SPATULA'S. These amazing little kitchen utensils I feel are often overlooked at just how important and handy they really are.

Do you realize how much extra batter gets scraped out of a bowl when using a rubber spatula? Or how about the ease of direction it gives as you guide your mixture from one bowl into ... lets say...a cupcake pan? Rubber Spatula!



I am thinking that soon I would like to be a collector of spatula's. There are SO many adorable ones on the market these days....


Adorable Lady Bug spatula from Williams Sonoma


Princess Spatula? Um...Hello...CA--UUUTTEE! Williams Sonoma


Turquoise ones from Bed Bath & Beyond

Plus don't even get me started on all the cute holiday themed spatula's.....

Yes, in my head I am falling more and more in love with the rubber spatula. I think once the kids wake up I might need to pick myself up one from the grocery store! (don't tell the hubs!)

Thankful Thursday: Hot Glue Guns..

Hot Glue Guns....ya....we've got a love hate relationship! Do you know what I'm talking about? For instance, I'd love to think that I could just hot glue anything, but realistically, it's only great for crafting. I'd also love to think that my skin is resistant to the slow burn and blistering, but realistically, it's most definitely not! Love - Hate.

Today I started working on my daughters Halloween costume and out came the Hot Glue Gun. I am very thankful for this little device as it was helped me create quite a few crafts, costumes and projects. (even a few repairs here and there). It actually has been used quite a bit this week since I've been working on my son's costume too, that required the sticky glue. Part of me really wants to give you a hint about the costumes, but I have several family members reading up on the blog and if you know me, you know that I like to keep everything a surprise! So you will soon find out the adorable outfits that I will dressing them in, but not just yet.
(I was at the craft store and the woman asked what I would be making. My response: "Oh just some costumes that I'm sure my kids will hate me for later!" Hah!)

There have been a few battle wounds between me and the Hot Glue Gun. One in particular happened about a year and a half ago and I still have a major scar on my shin from it. I was preparing my Tea Party Hat for my daughters Half Birthday Party, when the flower I was working with leaped from my hands and smacked itself right dab in the middle of my leg. Or course my initial reaction was, "oh lets just let this sit here while I let it dry so it will easily come of." YEAH RIGHT!!!????? It was more like "AHHH!!! AHHHH!!! AHHH!!!" RIPPPP! Off with the flower (and my skin!) But here's the kicker, when I told both my mom and mother in law about this incident, they both said I should have responded like the first part I mentioned-- letting it cool and then peeling it off gently. Um, seriously? That is not a first reaction response. :)

Searching a bit online I came across some interesting facts about glue. Apparently glue dates back to 4000 BC where archeologists found clay pots repaired by a glue substance made from tree sap! The ancient Greeks even had a recipe for glue which included: egg whites, blood, bones, milk, cheese, vegetables and grains.

I'm not about to make that recipe, so I think I'll stick to the slightly dangerous, yet highly effective hot glue gun!

I found a few cute Halloween crafts online that you can make using a hot glue gun. Check them out at the following sites:

Halloween Pendant

Halloween Banner

Cheesecloth Ghosts

Pumpkin Family

Sorry no pictures today kiddos...I know, the photos are my favorite part so I can only imagine how bummed you are. :)

Happy Crafting! And be safe!

Thankful Thursday: For my mama....

This Thursday, I am once again steering clear of the usual Thankful Thursday topics such as kitchen utensils, appliances and devices and focusing on my mom.

This past week, one of my closest friends lost her mother to a battle with breast cancer. Although they had been preparing for her final days here on earth, who really is prepared for the last day they will hear the voice of their mom? No one really.

I really have never had someone pass away in my adult-life that wasn't ready.  When I say ready I am referring to the average age of when people pass. The funerals I have attended have been for my great grandparents, which although heartbreaking, came to me as no surprise. But to have my friend loose her mother was a true heart wrenching experience. I can only imagine how she is feeling, as I tried to place my self in her shoes.

Of course, my initial reaction was, She is now in a better place, free from her pain, free from her sickness. We should rejoice in the fact that she can now sit with our Father in Heaven, waiting, just waiting for us to reunite someday. 

The morning I found out the news I posted: "Jesus died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him." - 1 Thessalonians 5:10

But then as I sat down and prayed for my dear friend, I realized exactly what a loss she was going through. God reminded me truly of the friendship and relationship that I have with my own mother. God reminded me that my friend's mother was her true best friend...the one there for her when her friends were not....the one there for her drying the tears from her eyes. The best friend of a mother runs far deeper than the best friend of a friend. Although you consider certain people as your best friends and you tell them all of your secrets, your mother is the one that knows you without even having been told your secrets. She's the one who feels what your heart feels. She knows your needs, your fears, your joys. Although she may not technically say what you want to hear all of the time, it's what you need to hear that is important.

I read through some of the things that were written about the loss of my friend's mother, the memories, the joys, and the promises to one day meet again. Tears were brought to my eyes as I thought about having the tables being turned, and me being the one in this situation. The fact that I talk with my mom everyday, gone. The fact that she is here always helping and supporting me, gone.

My friend now lives with the memory of her mother. Knowing that she is still there supporting her from above, but struggling with the daily emotions of not physically having her there.

Because of her mom she is strong. She is beautiful. She is courageous.  She holds the role of motivator, supporter, encourager. She is the one her sisters will look up too. She wears her heart on her sleeve and what a beautiful heart it is. I love her dearly and my heart aches for her.

Hold tight to your mothers. And mothers hold tight to your daughters. There is a bond there, a bond that God specifically made, a bond stronger than any other....hold tight and never take it for granted.

To you mom, I am thankful!




Until We Meet Again - Missing you Pam

Thankful Thursday: Bundt Pan

I always have, and probably always will be thankful for my bundt pan! (and frankly I'm quit appalled that my spell check doesn't recognize it as a word....hah) I have two that I use quite frequently, but my Aunt gave me a wonderful William's Sonoma pan a few years back and I love it....



I like the fact that many companies have created several different variations and designs for the pan, giving your bundt cakes quite a unique design; great inspiration for decorating with powdered sugar, icing, or even ribbon and flowers.

For my pre-release party I used my bundt pan to make my Good Morning Cinnamon recipe for little take-home gifts. The pan worked perfectly (like always) and everyone loved their little treats....






When I did a little research on the bundt cake, (not the actual pan) I found that it dates back to 1901 where a recipe for a bundt cake was found in the The Settlement Cookbook, written by: Lizzie Kander. (Published in 1903). The actual bundt pan wasn't trademarked until 1950. H. David Dalquist is the man who had it trademarked, and he is also the founder of Nordic Ware. Nordic Ware is one of the last few remaining cookware companies that produce their products almost entirely in the U. S.

Something I found pretty awesome was that the bundt pan didn't really sell very well, UNTIL 1966 when a Pillsbury sponsored baking contest awarded 2nd place to a bundt cake recipe. This new craze of the bundt pan caused it to become the most- sold pan in the U.S. passing up the tin Jell-O mold. (crazy!). Over 50 million of these pans have been sold by Nordic War.

I have found so many wonderfully delicious recipes, including pound cake and monkey bread that call to be made in a bundt pan. I highly recommend this going on your Christmas List, Wedding Registry or even your Grocery List the next time you're out!

What recipes have you made in a bundt pan?