Let's Make It Monday... Yummy Summer Goodness

Happy Monday! 

Wanna know one of my FAVORITE Summer Desserts?

Yummy Peach Cobbler, of course!

And I'm going to share my Mom's wonderfully EASY recipe for Peach Cobbler.  

(If it's a secret family recipe.... sorry Mom!)

Here is the ingredients List:

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Bisquick

1 Egg

1 Stick of Butter

Peaches:  either 4-5 whole peaches sliced or 3 small cans

That's it!  Easy Peasy!

Ingredients... I'm already getting hungry.

Instructions:

-Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

 - To make Crust, mix together Sugar, Bisquick and Egg until crumbly.

**SECRET SIDE NOTE**  

I always add a little Cinnamon to my crust (no measurement, just sh.  I just love Cinnamon.  It's not in the original recipe, but it works for me!

This is what the Crust should look like after you've mixed it...

-Next, add peaches to your 9x9 square or round dish.  

Yum...Right?

-Then, pour the Crust over top of the peaches.  Make sure to cover all the peaches.

-Melt the stick of butter and pour over the Crust.  Try to cover as best as possible.

-Stick dish in the Oven for 30-35 minutes, or until top is slightly brown and bubbling.  And your kitchen smells Yummy!

A stick of Butter, sounds like Paula Deen!

- Then Enjoy!  I think I cooked mine a little too long.  I like my baked goods slightly under cooked and gooey!  But I was still Yum-O!

If you try my Cobbler, let me know how it turns out.  

Also, you can substitute any Fruit in place of the Peaches (they just happen to be my favorite).  And since JULY is NATIONAL BLUEBERRY MONTH.  

And this Cobbler is Great with Blueberries (just sprinkle a little lemon juice over the blueberries before adding the crust).

Now go MAKE something, and I'll talk to you soon!

What I Found Friday.....

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

I hope that everyone has had a great week, and that you will have a FABULOUS weekend!

As everyone knows, I'm pregnant, and trying to pull together a Nursery.  I have evicted my Husband out of his hunting room and we are converting that room in to the Baby's room.  So I decided not to repaint the room (it's a 10 x 28 ft room, I think I can deal with the Hunter Green walls Just add some Pink to it).

Anyway, while cruising around the Internet I found a Baby Boy's Room on Pinterest:

How Fabulous is this!!!!  

I tried to follow the link to find out where they ordered this or if they painted themselves, but the link was no good.... So, off to my next favorite spot for purchasing.... EBAY!

And, WHALA!!  Here is my new Vinyl Tree that is being shipped via UPS as I type!

Isn't it cute???  I ordered Brown, and thought that I would put it right behind the Crib w/ Baby Nichols' initials in one of the Frames over the Crib.  

I hope it turns out.... I'll keep you guys posted.

Hey... don't forget that today is the Opening Ceremonies for the 2012 Olympics in London.  

I can't wait!  I Love the Olympics.

Enjoy your Olympics filled Weekend!

Random Wednesday.... Summer School

So, like every other GUNG HO Mom, as Summer Break was approaching I gathered worksheets, printed reward charts and organized (the dreaded) 

Summer School Chore Chart!

Yes..Yes.. it is dreaded by my 7 yr old.

She HATES to do work during the Summer, but I just don't want her to fall behind.  She is making the transition from 1st Grade to 2nd Grade, and I would LOVE if her reading skills on 2nd Grade Day 1, were the same as 1st Grade Last Day.  

That's not to much to ask.....  is it??  

So, I made all of these folders and put them up on the Fridge.   

See my Organization:

The Chart details exactly what is expected and the amount of MONEY, yes I said MONEY, she would receive at the end of the week when the tasks are complete.  The Books, she only had to read a few pages per WEEK.  Do ONE Language and Math sheet per week, then put the completed assignments in the Finished Work folder.  

THAT'S IT!!!  

Well, now you might ask "Has it been going well?  Has she been doing her Summer Work?" 

NO!

Here is what she has been doing:

Playing with a Smurf's Village App on my IPhone.

Now, after I breath a few times... I do have to say that there is a lot of reading that she has to do to get through challenges.  And, she has to calculate the hours until her crops will be ready to harvest (can't have them become ready while she's asleep or they will wither and die). Sorry, I'm in denial that I'm letting her do this.

So, after the Hubs talked me down (a few times) I've realized, she's having fun and she is getting a little math and reading in too.  I guess it could be worse.?.Right??...

Oh.. and she does go to the YMCA Summer Camp all day Monday thru Friday, so she's not with the Smurfs all day long, just in the afternoons.

Have a Happy Wednesday!

Let's Make it Monday... Is it a Holiday?

So did you know that July is 

National Hot Dog Month??

AND that today is

National Hot Dog Day??

I didn't until recently, 

which gave me the perfect opportunity to wrap my hands around these guys:

My Yummy lunch at work the other day..  

Hardees has GREAT Hot Dogs!!

And of course, what better excuse than it's National Hot Dog Month, to make a quick and easy dinner!!!  With Baked Beans and Curly Fries... It doesn't get much better.

YUM!!

Hope you have a Hot Dog kind of day!

What I've Found Friday... Scraptastically Exciting!!!

HAPPY Friday!  

I have to jump up and down for a moment... I'm just so excited!!!!

Have you every heard of or been to:

Or the convention that I go to in Charlotte:

WELL  I  AM!!!  WAHOOOOOO!!

I finally registered online and even signed up for two AWESOME Classes (which gets me in to the Convention for Freeeee!

I can't wait!  If you are going let me know, and let me know what you like best about the convention.  I think my favorite part would be the hundreds of supplies that I NEVER KNEW EXISTED!

If you Scrapbook and have never been to the CKC Convention, try to get to one near you.  You will enjoy it!  

Here is a link to the main CKC site:  CKC Scrapbook Conventions.  There is a list going down the left side of when and where the convention will be.

I'll post some more pictures after the Convention.

Have a great Weekend!

Random Wednesday... Swelling

Uuuugggghhh!

That's all I can say today!  

It's VERY warm in North Carolina and the Humidity will make you sweat just thinking about going outside!  And of course, due to the temperatures outside and being pregnant, I am SWELLING like the hot air blimp on Super Bowl Sunday!

My rings have gotten tighter on my fingers, my feet feel like heavy stubs of chub and when I look in the mirror, it looks like my face is twice the size it use to be.....   (sorry, just give me my 10 minutes to whine).

 OK... here is the before Picture, 1st thing it the morning.  Actually my left foot looks like it has already started to swell a little..

PS.. I hate feet!  Mine and other peoples.

And here is a Picture after I get home in the afternoons:

Lov'in the 4th of July toes, Right!

FEEL THE PAIN?  Yuck!!

If anyone knows a great trick to reduce the swelling, it would be appreciated!  

Now I'm off to find a cool spot and put my feet up!

Happy Wednesday everyone! ; )

Let's Make It Monday... Lemonade Cake

So I was cruising Pinterest the other day and crossed paths with a LOVELY Lemonade Cake.  The Picture alone got my Pregnancy Cravings cranked in to HIGH gear!!  Here is the picture that started it all from Annie's Home Blog. 

Doesn't it look Scrumptious!

Here is the Recipe:

Cake:

1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
3 tablespoons thawed lemonade concentrate
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups fat-free buttermilk
Cooking spray 

Frosting:

2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
2 teaspoons thawed lemonade concentrate
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar 

Preheat oven to 350°.
To prepare cake, place first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 5 minutes). Add eggs and egg whites, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda; stir well with a whisk. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat well after each addition.
Pour batter into 2 (9-inch) round cake pans coated with cooking spray; sharply tap pans once on counter to remove air bubbles. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Cool completely on wire rack.
To prepare frosting, place 2 tablespoons butter and the next 4 ingredients (2 tablespoons butter through cream cheese) in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, and beat at low speed just until blended (do not overbeat). Chill 1 hour.
Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Store cake loosely covered in the refrigerator.

It was a bit more complicated to put together, and had lots of ingredients, but the outcome was FANTASTIC!  

Here are my Ingredients:

More ingredients than I usually cook with...

And here are a few Pictures of MY finished Product:  

YUMMMMMMMM!  
My Grater was not working great, so there were some larger pieces of Lemon throughout the cake.

Please ignore the my Paper Plate Fine China...  I will say the Icing was Heavenly!

My Pictures don't do it justice.  

The cake was delicious, even the Hubs said it was good!  I would love to find a recipe with the same outcome that only 3 to 4 ingredients, but that would be 

"Having my Cake and Eating it too!"  

HA!

See you all Wednesday!

What I Found Friday... ME! Back and ready to go!

Hello Everyone!  

So, after a week at Holden Beach, NC and then a week recovering from being on the Beach (laundry, unpacking & getting back into a routine), I'm finally back!

My Blog Calendar is set and I'm ready to start posting again.  I have to admit that I was bad while on Vacation.... I didn't set up any posts prior to leaving.  (Don't worry.. I put myself in time out, on the Beach, for being such a bad blogger) ; )  

So how was my sabbatical on the Beach?  

Fabulous... thank you for asking!  

Here are a couple pictures that I managed to snap from my Beach Time Out Chair: 

Scott & Gracie playing in the Surf!

Gracie loves having her Daddy all to herself!

The view from my Chair... Actually Gracie took this picture. 

An afternoon Snack!  YUM!

Everyone have a Safe and Happy Weekend.  And I'll see you all on Monday!