Birthday Cupcake Dessert

(Tutu made by Cheri. Check her out here.)

A few cupcakes + sprinkles + awesome cake plate + whimsy candles =

Kick a&$ Birthday Dinner Dessert!

Cora made this funny face the whole time we sang to her...

She got used to the whole thing as soon as she had a cupcake in her hand...

It's so easy to make birthday's special for you little ones! She'll have a party on another day but on her actual brithday we always do something!
(Since Cora's bday is on Valentines, we have another tradition I'll share tomorrow... and I'm going to want your opinion if you have a holiday birthday in your family!!)
Do you do a birthday dessert or something else special on your kiddo's actual Birthday?
(If you have a post about it leave the link in the comments! I would love to get ideas!)

Happy Haunting

Blessings on this "holiday" from our family to yours!Silly photo effects done at Picnik!

Wondering what to make tonight?
Try this EASY croc pot recipe (I got it from my friend Rachael). It is delicious! It's really more of a stew than a soup. It's thick so it can stand on it's own for an easy meal.

Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Makes 6-8 servings:
4 chicken breast halves (option to cube)
2 15-oz cans black beans, undrained
2 15-oz cans Mex stewed tomatoes
1 cup salsa
4-oz can chopped green chilies
14.5-oz can tomato sauce
tortilla chips
2 c grated cheese

1. Combine all ingredients (except chips and cheese) - I only use 2 chicken breasts for two adults, two toddlers, and there are still some leftovers.
2. Cover - cook on Low for 7-8 hours (or on med-high for 4-6 hours)
3. Just before serving, remove chicken and cut up (I cube the chicken so I don't have to do this step) and then mix back in
4. To serve, put a handful of chips in each soup bowl. Ladle soup over chips. Top with cheese, sour cream, Tabasco, avocado, etc.
5. Enjoy! Super easy!

Brownie Spatula

We like brownies.

A lot.

I have this handy spatula we call the "Brownie Spatula." My Grandmom got it for me from Pampered Chef with the promise we would use it for everything.

She was right!

When Michelle from Single Mom Sanctuary told me she would donate something from Pampered Chef to our Birthday Bash Giveaways I asked for the "Brownie Spatula" (which is actually called the Mini-Serving Spatula). But Michelle being her sweet self offered to host a $50 giveaway instead.

How lucky are you!?!?

When you win, get the Brownie Spatula it's only $4.50 so you'll still have plenty of loot left!

Brownie Do's...

~Add chocolate chips to the mix before baking

~Sprinkle chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, sprinkles on top about 10 minutes before it's done baking.

~Use milk instead of water for fluffiness (thanks for that tip Buffy!)

~Use clear glass baking dish so you can bring it to a potluck fresh out of the oven and it still looks pretty.

Brownie Don'ts...

~Put the candles in right after baking. They will melt.

Do you have any brownie tips? Let me know cuz we LOVE us some brownies :)

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P.S.

That awesome cake stand in the top picture is just like the 4 we will have up for a Birthday Bash giveaway this month!! Yep, 4 lucky readers will get one. But not that one... it's mine!

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P.P.S

Don't forget to enter our other Birthday Bash Giveaways...

...a vintage inspired cartoon tee shirt here! Ends 9/10

...2 adorable onsies: a pink one that says 'Blessed' a blue one that says 'I'm the answer to prayer' size 3-6 months. Here! Ends 9/16
... $50 to Pampered Chef here. Yes! $50!!!! Ends 9/15

See the full list of giveaways coming the next 2 months here! (15+)

Green Apple Afternoon

A green apple by itself is no good.
Too tart.But with melted chocolate chips...
Divine!!

Add strawberries and a good book...

...and you'll get the perfect afternoon!

(during nap time, of course!)

Moving Saga Part 3: Early Load & Purging

If you have a marvelous landlord like we do, then he would let you start moving in early (Blessing #7). Our friends loaded up their cars with a big bulk of our "stuff" and we headed off to our palace in the hills. The kiddos ran wild playing in the "forts" and we all devoured my mom's awesome stuffing casserole and her absolutely fabulous chocolate chip cookies (Blessing #8). I'll share the stuffing casserole... but I'm just not quite ready to reveal the cookie recipe yet :)
Stuffing Casserole

• Make stuffing according to the directions on the box without the butter
• Bake chicken breasts (cut into strips)
• Add 1 can of cream of chicken soup and one can of water to the chicken to make a tasty "gravy"
• Cook a bit more
• Put the finished stuffing on the bottom and sides of 9X13 pan
• Add the cooked chicken and gravy to the center of the stuffing
• Heat up everything in the oven till it is bubbly
• Serve with cranberry sauce
• This is yummy! (great for Thanksgiving leftovers)

Why do I adore my friends?

They adore my Lids!
(other things too)
While Eli was building box forts (with real power tools!) we were pitching all the stuff unworthy of our hillside villa (two minivans full of stuff to be exact). We also sold quite a few big items on Craig's List (Blessing #10). You meet some fun people with Craig's List...
Like the lady who talked our wine glasses down to $5 and didn't bring anything to pick them up in and couldn't stop talking about gallivanting around Vegas with her husband and gay friends.
Like the nice guy who bought our patio furniture so his wife could smoke outside.
Like the tattooed couple who bought black corner shelf to display their Nightmare Before Christmas memorabilia.
Like the...

Carrots are good for your eyes...

Me: "Eli you get yummy carrots today. Did you know carrots are good for your eyes?"

Eli: Confused look

I look down to feed Cora a big bite

I look up and see...