Tuesday, August 30, 2011

A Rose By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet


I’ve decided to sell Scentsy because Momma needs a new pair of shoes it’s a product I believe in. Ok, ok, all joking aside, I really am excited about selling these products. Among one of my many obsessions, I love making and keeping my house smelling pleasant and inviting (a hard feat to accomplish with two kiddos, a dog and loads of stinky Army gear). Honestly, I was a bit skeptical about these products (does it really work?) until I gave in and decided to try them myself. Now, I use them ALL of the time and love them. In addition to my life not being crazy enough, it made sense to start this business. I’m feeling overly confident that once you try them, these products will basically sell themselves. I’m all for safe bets.

Please take a look at my Scentsy website and let me know if you have any questions.


As always, I appreciate your support. 

Lastly, can anyone guess what Christmas gifts I’ll be giving to my friends and family this year? Surprise! But, it’s only because I know you’ll love them!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Lemonheads


Sit down for this: I’m taking a mini-break from chocolate desserts. Maybe it’s the sunshine and heat or maybe it’s the tempting summer berries and citrus or maybe I’m fighting a cold (thanks to back-to-school germs), but I’ve been craving fruit desserts, mainly anything and everything lemon. I thought I’d share these two tempting spins on Lemon Cheesecake in case anyone else is having somewhat abnormal cravings for lemons, like me. 

I made Amazing Lemon Cheesecake Bars this week. The base is a box kit. Sure, I know some of you are shaking your heads, slightly disappointed, but because of my hectic lifestyle, combined with my always-aching sweet tooth, sometimes I have to cut corners. Anyway, they turned out delicious, and the best part... I took half the batch over to the neighbors across the street and made new friends. Double sweet!



Ingredients
1 package Krusteaz Lemon Bar Mix (1 pouch each lemon filling mix and complete crust) (don't use the Pecan Bar Mix, as it states on the website...if you happen to check the link)
8 oz (1 cup) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup water

Instructions
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 8x8x2-inch pan.
  • Press full pouch of complete crust firmly into bottom of pan.
  • Bake 8 minutes (crust will be pale).
  • Place cream cheese and sugar in medium bowl.
  • Using an electric mixer, mix on low speed until smooth.
  • Add 1 egg and vanilla.
  • Continue to mix on low speed until smooth.
  • Pour cream cheese mixture evenly over hot crust.
  • In another bowl, stir full pouch lemon filling mix, water and 3 eggs together using a whisk until eggs are well incorporated.
  • Pour lemon filling over cream cheese layer.
  • Bake 35-40 minutes or until center does not jiggle when shaken.
  • Cool completely and cut into squares. (*skip this part if you're not sharing with others, it made a crumbly mess for me)
  • Store covered in the refrigerator.

Here’s another recipe I found but haven’t tried yet. Don't you worry, it's on my shopping list. Also, this could be a good snack for any Labor Day pool party/bbq festivities.

From The Real Mom Kitchen Cookbook

makes about 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients
1 (6 oz.) container lemon flavored yogurt

1 (7 oz.) container marshmallow creme

1 (8 oz.) container whipped cream cheese

zest of 1 lemon

Instructions
  • With a hand mixer, blend all of the ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Serve with strawberries and/or other fresh fruits. 

Easy peasy lemon squeezy.  Enjoy! 

Thursday, August 25, 2011

What's Playing

 
Here's the list of my recent iTunes purchases:

“Hey Mama” – Mat Kearney
“Lead Me” – Sanctus Real
“O Praise Him (All This for a King)” – David Crowder Band
“Please Don’t Leave Me” – Pink
“Lisztomania” - Phoenix
“Barking at the Moon” – Bolt Soundtrack
“Hold My Heart” – Tenth Avenue North
“Straight Edge of the Blade” – Jenny and Johnny

Ha! The iTunes Store is going to have a hard time placing this gal into a recommended music category. 

I find inspiration in all sorts of music. And for unique reasons I’m digging the songs above. Sometimes the lyrics are important to me (O Praise Him) and sometimes it’s only the beat that entices me (Lisztomania) and sometimes a little bit of both (Please Don’t Leave Me). And sometimes I just like weird songs (Straight Edge of the Blade). I might be losing “street cred” for listing a Pink song as something meaningful to me. She’s real and somewhat offensive and somewhat tender and it’s that odd mix that makes me like her and appreciate her songs.

So if music is a peek into someone’s heart and mood you can take a guess at what’s on my heart and mind lately. 


Also, check out this video.

If you feel like sharing, tell me what’s on your playlist lately...

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Happiness Abounds


I’m so happy that it’s oozing out of my pores. It’s a bit uncomfortable actually.

Now that we’re past the Great Destruction of 2011, we are settling into the new house nicely and really enjoying it. This is the very first detached/with a yard/attached two-car garage house that I’ve ever lived in. And I love it! I love having a yard. I love having space and privacy. And I really love that the neighbors can’t hear me yelling at the kids. (Or maybe they can?! Eeks!) 

Nico is happy with his yard. 



Sienna is happy with her pink room.



Grant is happy with his “blue-ish” room. 



Ok, we did a little PR spin on that one…it’s not quite blue, not quite purple. Let’s settle on azure. But, how do you explain that to a three-year-old boy? And not have to repaint his room because – oh no! – it’s a girl color. So, we say blue-ish, and to compensate I agreed to put up scary-looking (I think) superhero and villain stickers on the wall. Everyone is happy, and that’s quite an accomplishment for this family.

As for El Paso, we...LIKE it! Why is everyone so surprised by that?! People are super friendly, we have lots of retail and restaurant options nearby, awesome salsa, and the weather is bearable. And, oh, the sunrises and sunsets are breathtakingly beautiful. I feel like a little kid when I stare into the great, big, bright blue (sometimes even blue-ish) sky here. The patterns of the clouds amaze me, too. I’ve officially decided this is Mother Nature’s reward to us for enduring the heat of the day.  

With those clouds comes some intense rain, thunder and lightening. We’ve been wowed on several occasions. This SoCal girl is still getting used to actual weather.

Here are a few photos I snapped on the way to Sienna’s school in the morning. I wish I had a fancy camera to capture these sky-scapes. My phone camera will have to do. 




Speaking of, I also really enjoy walking to school with Sienna. It’s cool enough in the morning to walk, and we’re close enough to the school to make it worth it, and the bit of fresh air is the perfect start to our day.

Who would have thought we’d find so much happiness in such an unlikely place? Yet, that’s another one of those funny contradictions called life.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Pieces From The Better Part Of Our Week


I’m still alive. We survived the move and all the associated drama.

Still, after this week, it’ll suffice to say we needed a morale boost and some pampering. So I decided to plan a spa party for Sienna and myself. I went with a “sweet” theme since we both love desserts.

“Ingredients”
Philosophy Double Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies Bubble Bath
Earth Therapeutics Oatmeal & Honey Exfoliating Scrub
Ulta Buttercream Cupcake Body Cream



We locked ourselves in the bathroom, lit a candle, soaked our feet, and painted our nails. We chatted and giggled. It was perfect.



I’m noticing more and more my little girl is becoming, well, a little girl! She’s interested in Pop music (Selena Gomez) and watching “real” TV shows (Good Luck Charlie, Shake it Up). I’m not sure why I’m surprised by all of it, after all, this is about the age that I started listening to Cyndi Lauper and watching Small Wonder. I’d spend more time reflecting about it if I didn’t have “I love you like a love song baby” stuck in my head. 

In other news, Bill had to conquer the post office alone today – shipping stuff out and picking up. Post office duty usually falls in my “lane.” Here’s the series of texts that I received from him during his time there: 

“At post office now. All those boxes at home and I’m buying one.”

“Do you have a pen in your car?”

“Yep, you know everything. I borrowed one. I’m spoiled. Used to you taking care of this stuff. Have no idea what I’m doing.”

“No line for mailing stuff. 20 person line for pick up.”

“Shoot me!!!!!”

“Your job sucks more than mine.”

“Play a word.”

“No wonder postal workers go postal.”

So hilarious! That guy cracks me up. It helps keep me sane.

Have a great weekend everyone!  

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

For Nutella Fanatics Like Me

For some reason, I keep coming across a variety of Nutella recipes...um, thank you universe. It’s no secret that I love – no, am slightly obsessed with – Nutella. And oddly, it’s sentimental to me because it always reminds me of my time in Italy. I wish I had a photo of some of the enormous jars of Nutella sold in the grocery markets and even at gas stations. I don’t know why I never took a photo of it…maybe I just took it for granted while I was there or didn’t want to seem touristy.  As if a person-size container of Nutella was completely normal. Oh, how I miss those days…
Also, while living in Italy, I ate this same breakfast almost every morning:  A piece of toast topped with peanut butter, Nutella and sliced bananas. One of the best breakfast or mid-day snacks ever. 
But, of all the Nutella recipes that I’ve seen lately this one really takes the cake (pun intended).  I’m hoping this cake magically and mysteriously appears on my birthday (hint, hint). Another option, if you’re in a hurry or intimidated by fancy recipes (like me), make chocolate cupcakes using a box mix and then make the frosting cream recipe below for the topping. Either way, guaranteed to be DELICIOUS. 
Ingredients
FOR THE CAKE:
2 cups All-purpose Flour
½ cups Unsweetend Cocoa Powder
1-½ teaspoon Baking Soda
½ teaspoons Salt
1 stick Butter, At Room Temperature
1 cup Granulated Sugar
1 cup Light Brown Sugar
2  Large Eggs, At Room Temperature
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1 cup Lukewarm Water
½ cups Buttermilk
FOR THE CREAM:
8 ounces, weight Mascarpone Cheese, At Room Temperature
¾ cups Powdered Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1-¼ cup Heavy Whipping Cream
2-½ cups Nutella, Divided
1-½ cup Chopped Hazelnuts, For Topping
Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl. In another bowl, with an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until combined. Add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with water and buttermilk, beating on low speed until just combined; scape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat on medium-high speed just until no traces of flour remain, about 30 seconds; do not overbeat.
Divide the batter evenly into 2 8-inch round pans that have been greased and floured. Bake for about 30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
To make the cream, whip together cheese, sugar, vanilla, and heavy whipping cream with electric beaters until peaks form. I chill a stainless steel bowl in the freezer so it whips faster. Add 1 cup Nutella and beat until well blended.
Microwave the remaining 1 1/2 cups Nutella (for the inside layer) for 30 seconds or until it is easy to spread but not too loose that it will run off your cake. Spread evenly over the bottom layer of the cake and set in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes. Once the Nutella layer sets, spread a layer of chocolate hazelnut whipped cream over it. Top with other cake layer and frost the sides and top of the cake with cream. Top with chopped hazelnuts. Feel free to pipe a design around the top and bottom sides of the cake; you will have more than enough cream to do so!