Whopper Malt Ball Cake - So Yummy!

Recipe is here at Bonbons & Biscotti

Ya'll, seriously, I created this cake right here (ok, not this very one since this is from the website I got the recipe from, but mine looked like this!!) and it was SO STINKIN' EASY! And tasty, which is always a good thing, right?

My mom loves Whoppers so I thought she'd really get into this.  Click on the blog title in the photo caption to get the recipe but let me just say this:  smashing up the Whoppers was by far the hardest part.  Ok, well, that and worrying about the spider I had tried to kill midway through creating this deliciousness.  I really do need a man in the house for the sole purpose of killing bugs/spiders because that is something I do not enjoy.

Sorry, focusing back on the cake. Imagine chocolate graham cracker crust. It goes up the sides somewhat (I failed to do this and I see now why it's better to bring it on up the sides). Imagine tasty vanilla ice cream with Whoppers crushed and mixed inside.  A delicious layer of chocolate covering the top... Oh yeah. It's perfect for a summer day. Cold ice cream, Whoppers and chocolate. Oohhhhh yeahhhh.... bow bow, chic-a chic-a...

Next time I'm thinking of using chocolate chip cookies because FOR THE LOVE OF PETE it's hard to crush Whoppers!! Whoa Nelly, I had no idea! The can I used to smash them on the chopping board is now a square.

By the way, this is another Pinned It Did It project! I love that I'm actually doing some of these pinned things! So go - right now - GO! to Bonbons & Biscotti and get the recipe. Make your own deliciousness! YUM!

Muffin Monday... ZZZzzzzz....

ZZZZzzzzzzz.......

Friends, I don't know about you, but I had no desire to get out of bed this morning.  Obviously, Muffin totally agreed with this concept, too.  It's so cold, rainy, gray, nasty... let me please just stay in bed and snuggle under these warm covers please.

*sigh*  No such luck.

But I had a GREAT weekend, lots of Macy Mae time which always makes me happy. I make an awesome cake (I'll share it with you tomorrow), banana bread muffins, washed clothes, just rocked it. AND I completed a scrapbook order for Pressed Clovers! Woop woop! Imagine me doing the Cabbage Patch of Victory (it's a dance move... you'd just have to see it to understand it).

OK, It's Monday, folks. And we are going to have a good day. Do you hear me? YEAH! So go out there and WORK IT, feel good about what you are doing and SHINE! :)

Friday's Letters

Is it Friday already!? Wow, the weeks of Spring are flying by and we'll be complaining about the heat of Summer soon.

Dear Muffin, sweet kitty, I'm soooo sorry. I know you are an older kitty but I never imagined you would slip and fall into the tub this morning! I did hop out and chase you around the house until I caught you, then I dried you off.  On a funny note, I did get a free mop job out of it. ... ....

Dear Office Depot, I love your store, truly. Enough to mention it on Twitter and gain a reply from you. However, if you don't get this crap straightened out with my Work Rewards or whatever... I'm going to get grouchy. I'm talking about $40 here, so get it worked out. Seriously.

Dear pollen, I love you in the form of honey. I hate you in the form of yellow/green powder that coats my car and makes me miserable.

Dear Pintrest, you are so evil for introducing me to these types of projects, like I have time to be making these things! But oh, how I love to browse you and day dream.


This however, is one of those things I pinned and made. OH MY GOSH, so tasty. Try it here.


Dear Dropbox, you are making me very happy. I love saving my pics to your site from my phone and then accessing them on my computer at work. Seriously, so easy. Check it out. And I love that you are free, because I'm broke. :) And Katie loves logging in and snagging the latest pic of sweet niece. :)

Ok, I'm off to enjoy my weekend. Not sure what I'm getting into but I'll talk your ears off about it later this weekend/next week.  You know I will.  Have a great one and go check out the other letters! Well, nevermind it doesn't seem to be up this week. Go check out Ashley's page anyway!

Poor Baby Girl

Sweet baby girl has been sick this week.  This was taken on Sunday on the way to church, when we thought she was just sleepy.  When we picked her up from nursery, she was burning up.  Poor thing hasn't felt well all this week.  You can see how pitiful she looks. :(  Thankfully, her fever has broken but she just won't sleep.  But she HATES to sleep.  Any suggestions? We'd appreciate it.

My rose bush is on the brink of exploding into blooms! So excited! I trimmed them back from being about 6 feet tall to about 4 feet... I meant to go back and whack off another 2 feet and it just didn't happen.  Now I don't want to cut off the blooms, so I'm just going to hang tight for a while. :)  Althought it's looking like Spring, the temps are dropping this weekend (again!) to a high of 59! What the heck? I just don't understand this psycho weather. I wish someone would give Mother Nature a Midol and ask her to chill out.

I had to share this picture of my cousin at a family birthday party this weekend.  This dish was one step larger than the "FEAST" on the menu - it included scallops, I believe. Is that not a hoot? I thought Feast was a great name for it.  She sent most of it home with her parents for them to munch on in the upcoming week.

She's so photogentic. You should see her wedding pictures from way back when - she's just one of those people that always photographs good. I am not. I generally look like poop on a stick. Maybe I should learn to wear make up.

Anyway - I'm heading home to check out my "Pinned it, Did it" BBQ Beef. I'll let you know how it turns out. :)

Night!

Muffin Monday From The Road.

Muffin Monday from the front seat of a work van today, folks. Wer are heading to a local high school to help them with one of their elections.

So here is Muffin, sweet kitty, furring up my brown pants. She started off on the edge of the chair and actually moved up to better spread her fur on my pants. Love it.

Hope ya'll are feeling better than my family, me included. Allergies suck. Ya'll have a good week, seder you back here later, sweet taters!

Friday's Letters

Dear blog, I'm sorry I've neglected you this week. I just haven't felt like writing. What is there to say? After the events of this week, I'm thankful for my many many blessings and sad at all the loss this nation has seen.  I'll do better next week.














Dear Carrie, Thanks for 1) the purchase from Pressed Clovers and 2) being my first blate! It was awesome meeting another blogger in my neck of the woods - you are a very cool cat.  We'll do it again and I won't talk so much. And we'll invite Paulene because ya'll need to meet, too!

Dear Family, I'm so happy I'm part of you.  It's awesome to see the love in my group of people.  I didn't get a picture this week of my brother and sister-in-law, but they are awesome, my sis, b-i-l, and two nieces are awesome. Mom and Dad - ya'll rock!

Dear Baby Jail, I'm so glad my sweet niece likes you.  You are making life much easier on my parents.  And thanks to my awesome friends Donna and Sister Beth for sending you our way. They saved us bunches of money that we would have spent buying you new.

Dear World, I know I've been grouchy this week. There is a lot going on, you just never know what all is happening in a person's life, you know?  There are many things that I need to work on to be a better person, to feel better about where I'm at in life.  I've debated back and forth on making them public or keeping them private. To share some of these struggles because I know we are all struggling.  I don't want to be one of those bloggers that looks perfect on the outside when it's falling to pieces on the inside! So I haven't decided, but stick with me anyway. At least you'll get weekly updates of Muffin if nothing else. :)

Ok, go join us on Sweet Season now!

Muffin Monday

This morning was a game of chase the cat until I got a clear picture of her. Here she is hanging out on the side of the tub waiting for me to get in. I decided to soak my back in hopes of relief.

How was your weekend? We did a tractor show this weekend, not that I know a thing about tractors, but we know half the people up there. Nicest people, it's good to see them.

I also had dinner with two sets of friends. One fellow on Saturday night, well you know him, Hayes that made the tasty steaks. He was coming through after a race and we met up for dinner. Good times. Last night Donna, Sister Beth, Ellie and I went to din din and fro yo. That little girl is smart and just hilarious. She cracked us up. And they gave Macy a "baby jail" to help contain her in mom's house. Exited!

What was your excitement this weekend? Share!

Friday's Letters

Ya'll, I'm so glad it's Friday I can't even begin to explain it. Man, what's wrong with me that I'm living for the weekends? That's not the normal me, but I'm there!

Moving on to my letters this week:

Dear Sweet Niece, you are stinkin' adorable. But let me say this: you are becoming quite the handful and it's kicking my booty. Very opinionated and hard-headed! Your mama is going to have her hands full, that's all I'm going to say today.

Dear B-I-L, you will have your photo made eventually without your hands in front of your face. You are just making this a challenge for me now. :) MUAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, and Happy Birthday!

Dear pollen, seriously, you have got to give it a rest. You are killing us around here! Everyone is sneezing and our eyes are watering - all thanks to you, this small yellow powder stuff that is coating everything possible. Please cool your jets just a bit and give us a break, ok? Thanks.

Dear Pintrest, You are slightly evil for giving me so many ideas of things to try! Just did a recipe last night and after my own tweaking, it was a #success! So yummy in my tummy!  Anyone have suggestions for crock pot recipes?? Websites or whatever? Please leave me a message below!

Dear weekly fruits and veggie box, I'm so excited you'll start in May! But I'm already adding lots of fruits and veggies into my life, trying to weed out the chips, pizza, crackers and crap. Hello yogurt, strawberries, peaches, bananas, apples, pears, oranges, carrots, oh you get the picture.

This was on facebook and I really liked it. It got lost in the shuffle and it took me FOREVER to find it again.
Adding it here may help me find it again when I need it. 

Dear God - thank you for opening my eyes, for all the blessings, for helping me grow, for bringing wonderful people into my life, for these blogs that inspire and give me strength, for forgiving me and loving me and wanting me to be one of Your children. Thanks!


Ok friends, link up here and join the fun of Friday's Letters! :)

LOVE your enemies? Really?

Want this printable? Find it here!

Love your enemies.  I mean, seriously, do I have to? I was skimming over my emails, catching up and cleaning out when I ran across the subject line, "Mean girls." It came from my daily (in)spire emails that I don't read daily. :)

I opened it up and then I read the whole, "Love your enemies" line - which is a direct command in the Bible so YES, I know I am supposed to be doing this but NO, I'm not doing a good job of it. How is that for honesty?

 “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Matthew 5:44

Yup. That's pretty direct.  *sigh*  So there are a few people I have serious hang ups about and I struggle with my ANGER towards them.  They treated me horribly, unfairly, did their best to erode any self-worth I might have felt, any self confidence I dreamed of having. Why do I have to love them? GRRRR.... I just want to close my eyes and hope they disappear. (Of course, they don't and they pop up when I least expect it.  But I'm a good Southern girl and I can put on a smile and be sweet and bless their little hearts with the best of them...)

Here is the deal, though - I've been told to love them. So there. No more discussion. Because let me assure you, it may have gone unnoticed by everyone in this world, but I promise it wasn't unnoticed by someone on a much bigger playing field and once I turn it over into His hands, he'll deal with it.

“On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’” Romans 12:20

Lord, please help me understand how to love those I struggle to even like. Help me understand loving them doesn't require me involving them in my daily life, but instead forgiving them and letting it go.  I'm not strong enough to forgive without You, so give me the strength I need here, guide me how to do this Your way and please let my heart heal under Your hand. :)

Want to know more about this email in my inbox? Visit http://www.incourage.me/ and check out their blog.

Muffin Monday

Sometimes it's good to enjoy the little things in life, like a sunny spot in bed. Muffin was soaking up the rays and lovin' every minute of it!

Everyone around here is coming off Spring Break today, so this will be a rough one. Ya'll hang in there, the kids will be out for the summer soon and then you'll discover how rough Mondays can really be! Hee hee!

It'll be tough, but you'll make it to five! ;) I'm giving you spirit fingers to cheer you along!

Playing Catch Up

Ya'll, I've had such a great few days... l took three days off from work to majorly CLEAN. I did a lot of that-not as much as I needed to, but I feel better about the house than I did. I'm happy to be getting rid of some stuff, too. Yay!



I have sewn a few more items, thanks to You Tube explaining how to use this Kenmore sewing machine I bought at a yard sale. I'm getting there! I made a bunny and in the process of a dress for Macy. I totally realize my greens don't match... Oh well.





I also completed a Pintrest project! Woop woop! This Cupcake Liner Wreath was easy - I picked up cupcake liners at the dollar store, a wreath form and pins at Wal-Mart and after a few hours while watching Downton Abbey dvds, I had a wreath! I think it's cute and we'll use it at Macy's birthday party. One more Pinned It, Did It project!



And of course, the most important part of my break-spending time with my nieces! These two girls are so crazy for each other, it's a very special bond that is tighter than any I've seen.



The oldest sweet niece is growing so tall so quickly, it's amazing to see how much she's changed. She is turning into a teenagerbefore our eyes! Check this out, we can wear the same shoes!



Ok, that's enough torture for you... I'm watching one more episode of Downton Abbey before going to bed. My dvd player is evil and I have to watch all episodes on each dvd at one sitting or I have to start over.

Night my friends!

Spring Cleaning

Let's all celebrate together the fact I no longer have two Christmas trees decorating my home, Santa is off the back of the toilet and the Christmas china is packed away. Hooray!

This week is Spring Break for the schools here, which means I have two sweet nieces and a sister who want to play! I took three days off from work to get serious cleaning done in the house, hopefully sew some, and play with the family!



Although I haven't started on the sweeping, dusting, mopping, I did CLEAN OUT. I have a very small home, less than 1000 sq. ft., so I have to be smart about my space. All of that above has to leave my house. Another four bags of trash items and I'm finally seeing some extra space.

In putting away Christmas and redecorating for Spring, I'm finding items I love all over again.



This is the birth announcements I made for sweet niece two. The bootie is ceramic we did at one of those paint your own pottery places. All her info is written around the base and her footprint on the bottom.



We got two booties for about $20 and mom and I split the pair so we'd both have one.



These pottery pieces with lids I use a lot to take foods over to mom and dad's. Although, I have a sturdier, less decorated one I use more frequently. I take this one to family reunions to look all fancy. Ha ha!



You may know I live in my Great Grandmother's home and this rooster belonged to her. It has seen better days, but I'm sure it has stories to tell.



And this creamer and sugar set... This is the reason I decided to spring clean. Mom gave these to me for my housewarming just over two years ago. I put them up to decorate for Christmas about two months later and have been searching for them since. It took digging through 21 boxes before I found them... But here they are! I'm so thankful to have them back on display. They are by Grasslands Road, one of my favorite designers of ceramics like this. :)

Ok so now that you've walked down memory lane with me, I suppose I should start my day. The house it still turned upside down and I still want to learn how to use my machine. Have a lovely Thursday!

Pressed Clovers SALE and Easter

OK, I'm letting you all know - I'm having an April Fools sale at my Pressed Clovers store:
www.etsy.com/shop/pressedclovers  - if you use coupon code NOJOKE15 you'll save 15%!  Cool?  So go find the perfect premade scrapbook for your family, your mom, a blushing bride-to-be... and save money today! Don't see the one you want? Convo me and we'll talk!

Sweet niece Macy showing off her Easter dress.  The bonnet was gone by this point... but I do have a picture with her in it somewhere.  Let me go look for that really quick.

Here we go - in her Easter bonnet, sweater and bib.  The bonnet was made by my mom for Katie when she was a baby.  Isn't that sweet? I love it.  I have the one she made me, but I didn't think it would be quite as cute on Muffin...

Anyway, I had to share the Easter pics with you because ya'll know how I am when it comes to this baby girl.  I can't believe her first birthday is approaching so quickly.  She has grown up and learned so much so fast!

This WILL be my last post for the day. I can't help it, I have so much to share! :) Ya'll enjoy!

Spring Swap Box!

I am SO EXCITED!  You know how I told you before these boxes seems to pop up just when I need them?! AWESOME! BOX TODAY!

So I tried a different swap program through Katie at Tomorrow With a Smile and I really enjoyed it. It's small, you and your partner give each other gifts and I noticed you really get to know your partner a little bit better.  Like, I'd love to meet my partner from this swap because she's totally awesome and we found several things we have in common!

Who was my partner?  CHRISTINA! from Once Upon a Giggle! She's totally cool, shares a blog with her sister (which I totally didn't get at first glance because I wasn't giving it my full attention. Bad Bethie.)  She has a way of writing that just cracks me up and I love reading her adventures with her son.  I really enjoyed having her as my partner AND she made one heck of an awesome Spring Box that I ADORE! Woop woop!

So let me tell you the story of this package. Christina sent it and immediately left town.  I think I sent mine to her the following day and promptly lost my receipt which has the tracking numbers on it. Ugh. Anyway, I waited and waited... no package. I thought bad things about the Post Office. I finally told Christina - I haven't gotten it yet, I'm so sorry! 

Um. Yeah, so... it seems a coworker put the box in the floor on the side of my desk, where another box of random work crap is located. So who knows how long it's been sitting here in my office, but I had no clue it was here! So when I cleaned up today, I found it! And I'm so excited !

 This is what I found when I opened the box.  Which I needed packing peanuts for a gift this coming Christmas for Macy (yes, I already know what I want to buy her... I'm addicted to that little girl, what can I say?!?!)  But how much fun is this?  This awesome lime green peeking through!

Then I get this awesome box out and it just screams SPRING FUN-NESS!! Even my coworker was interested at this point - a wrapped package inside the cool box! We REALLY wanted to know what was inside now!

And it did not disappoint!  Do you see the shredded paper - love it!  The card was TOO CUTE (she didn't know I grew up with bees! My dad was a beekeeper when I was a kid!)  Two awesome journals that are small enough to fit in my purse. I wanted a way to write down prayer requests so I wouldn't forget them - solution! These cards are THE BOMB (outdated lingo, I know) but I love them! They are wonderful and almost my favorite part. Until you smell this candle, which is so Springy! Agave juice and fresh lime. Wow.

... then there was the chocolate. I say was. Ok no I haven't eaten the ENTIRE bag in the last 30 minutes. ... but that's as much as I'm willing to admit to at this point. :)

THANK YOU CHRISTINA, you totally rock and I'm so glad to get to know you better. Katie, thank you for including me in this swap because I really enjoyed it!!

Check out the other amazing swap boxes by visiting Katie's linkup here!

Muffin Monday

Yesterday I threw all the windows open and let the house breathe a bit. Muffin was over the moon with happiness because she loves sniffing fresh air. In the second picture, she was explaining to me how she wanted just one chance at the birds outside the window. :)

Hope this week is a good one for you!