Thursday, June 30, 2011

Somebody Has Been Paying Attention

I recently found Ella like this.
She was watching Thurston play on the floor and yelling, "No bite!"
Ella's in.
Thurston's out.
So much for the puppy playpen.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Donut Love.

I know you've probably been wondering if I went on vacation again.
I haven't.
I've just been playing catch up all week.
You know the stuff: work, weeding through 13 days of mail, filling up the cupboards and fridge so you don't start getting called Old Mother Hubbard by your husband, and so on.

I also celebrated a birthday on Saturday...with donuts.
It was Bruce's peace offering to Ella's 5:30 am wake up call.
Peanut Butter Knot, I love you.
I ate one and was disappointed when Talia finished hers entirely. Shoot.
Eating donuts reminded me of vacation, when we ate donuts at least twice a day.
Oh yes we did...at Britt's Donut Shop.
Breakfast, lunch, naptime or dinner...it could be donut time whenever you wanted it to be.
You could very nearly miss it except for the fact that you can smell the gloriousness down the boardwalk.
The inside is simple, a lot like their donut.
They sell one kind: glazed.




I know it doesn't look like much...but it's a piping hot, sugary glaze of heaven when you get it.
Krispy Kreme who?

You have to let it cool before you can even touch it.
But then when it's just cool enough to pick it up, you take a bite and it literally takes you into a donut la-la land that you have never known.

You cannot help but raise yours and cheers-ing (not a word) the person closest to you!
And then you take another bite and lick your lips because you can't believe how good it tastes. You think to yourself, "How many times a day can we get away with eating donuts?" And then as if someone can read your mind, you hear that same question being asked. Without skipping a beat, my Dad says, "We're on vacation. We can have donuts as many times a day as we want."  
I love my Dad, and that is what we did.

Britt's is voted the #2 Favorite Independent Small Town Donut Shop in America...who in the world could be number one? 
I'm not sure where it is.
But when I find out, we will be planning a family trip there. 

I hope it's close to a beach. ;) 

Friday, June 24, 2011

Beachy.

Do you remember last week when I told you we were celebrating my dad's 60th birthday in a big way?

We were living it up at the beach...Carolina Beach, North Carolina.
We played all day every day wearing SPF 100 on our faces and SPF 50 on our bods. We're a slightly pale bunch.

This is the first time the girls' toes hit the sand.
And they were in love.
Big time.
Sun.
Surf.
Sand.
There are so few pictures of me at the beach...thankfully this one is far away. 
Distance is a great smoother of things that are not so flat.
We had sand everywhere.

We can't wait to go again.
To Carolina Beach...or any beach.
I think we'd do about anything to have a repeat of this trip.
Everything about it was awesome...except for maybe the day that Talia ran 
103 temp and tested positive for strep throat. 
That was the morning we were scheduled to leave for the beach.
 But Urgent Care and medication are a wonderful, wonderful things.
+++++++++++++++++++
There will be more vacation stories next week.
Ones that involve donuts, surrey's with a fringe on top, and forests.
Happy Weekend, all!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Cake...It's What's for Breakfast


Untitled from Kimberlee Jost on Vimeo.


This makes my heart smile one hundred times over...not because we had cake for breakfast, but because Ella is obviously so happy. Sunday was filled with presents, time with Nana and Papa (we were in North Carolina), lunch at McDonalds, and dinner with friends. And there was more Tinkerbell than I ever thought there could be. Ella is in love with Tink, and we're in love with her. That worked out perfectly, didn't it? :)

Monday, June 20, 2011

Today's the Day

Today's the day to register for craft weekend!!!!!!!!!!!
I have butterflies... in my stomach.  
Like, totally.
{Valleygirl wannabe.}
I'm so excited to see who is going to come to spend the weekend 
with Meg and Ashley 
...and me. :)
{Insert theme music }
"Which one of these is not like the other one?"
But it doesn't matter because even someone like me...
a very beginner crafter is going to have an awesome time.
And be totally comfortable.
I'm ready to craft, eat, antique, and craft and eat some more!
Click here to register at Noon, CST. 
WAHOO!!!!

Edited at 2:44 pm : With a little bit of a hassle with Paypal and some oh so patient peeps...WE SOLD OUT. :)

Sunday, June 19, 2011

A Birthday, Father's Day, and a Wedding

Happy 8th birthday to Ella!
We have oh so much fun planned for today.
First up: CAKE FOR BREAKFAST.
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Happy Fathers Day to my Dad.
I know you said you felt like you've been celebrated enough this week, 
but can we ever really over celebrate someone we love so much? 
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Happy Father's Day to Bruce, who amazes me every day by his natural ability 
to guide, nurture, and entertain our girls so brilliantly. 
Every little girl should have a Father like you.
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Finally, this is my cousin Caleb and his beautiful bride-to-be, Becca. 
They are getting married today in northern Minnesota...and sadly 
it didn't work out for me to attend. But I will be rejoicing with you from afar.
God is good, isn't he, Caleb?
All the time. All thee time.
Congratulations and love to you both.
It's going to be a glorious day.

Friday, June 17, 2011

WORD.

"So watch your step. Use your head.
Make the most of every chance you get."
Ephesians 5:16
The Message

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Crock

I found a new use for my Red Wing crock last week.
I'll give you a hint.
When do puppies stop chewing? Someone please tell me that it's when a puppy is four months old. No? Six months? A year?
If I need 5 minutes or so without Thurston gnawing on my heels or my couch, it's the perfect place to refocus him. And then refocus myself by his cuteness.
For now, it's the perfect puppy playpen.
At least until Thurston gets brave enough to jump out.
Which, from the way that it looks, could be any day.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Birthdays

Today is my Dad's 60th birthday. His name is Lee. (That's why I'm Kimberlee. Just in case you ever wondered about the spelling of my name.)
Wasn't he thee cutest thing? 
Those shiny cheeks scream "squeaky clean".
I can just see my Grandma lathering on the vaseline to make them shine.
We are celebrating big time today.
I'll tell you about it soon. :)
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In other birthday news...
I loved reading the blog birthday wishes you posted over the weekend.
41 of you gave a comment and added one dollar to Blake and Davis' adoption funds.
I've decided to contribute the full $50 to each fund even though I didn't hit 100 comments. That's the great thing about blogs and birthdays...you get to do what you want!

Happy Wednesday to you.
And Happy Birthday, Dad.
Gotcha last.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Monday...

This was just given to me as an early birthday present this afternoon.
There wasn't a "map" that came with this box of chocolates.
The place that they came from is too fancy for that.
I'm not too fancy for a map, so I made one.
I decided to share with my family.
Map. Shmap.
This is what is left.
I hope your Monday has been as sweet.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Blog Birthday Giveaway

Blogs are great,
Blogs are fun.
Today this blog is turning one.

Giveaways are awesome.
Giveaways reign supreme.
Today this giveaway is my dream.

Comments are cool.
Comments are fun.
Today your comment will benefit more than one.

Enough with the poetry.
Let me tell you where I'm going with this.

My friend Amy is in the process of adopting Davis through Reece's Rainbow.
Click here to donate to Davis' adoption fund.
(Order an amazing pillow to benefit Davis.)

And Anna (who happens to live in the same town that I do) is adopting Blake through Reece's Rainbow as well.
Click here to contribute to Blake's adoption fund.
(Anna is having a Father's Day Fundraiser right now.)


Instead of me giving away a gift card for the blog birthday, I want you to give away...
Your comments.
For every comment left under this post, I will give $1 to Davis and Blake's adoption funds.
Up to $50 each.
That's 100 comments.
So if you've never commented before, here's a really good reason to.
Write whatever you like.
One comment per person.
Comments will close on Sunday, June 12 at 11:59 pm. EST. (Note I changed the time because I realize that not everyone would necessarily read this on a Saturday!)
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I didn't know what to expect when I started blogging, but it's been really good.
Here's to the 2nd year.
Please tell me I am not about to enter the terrible twos.

Friday, June 10, 2011

The Help is on the Way

Source: Amazon.com

"Have you read The Help, yet?"
That's what everyone said to me that had read it, and now here I am saying it to you.
Have you read it?
You should read it.
Really.

I saw the preview for it a couple of weeks ago, and I can't stop thinking about it.

When I read the book I did not think it was a comedy.
At all.
Not even close.
I even told people that I didn't think I was going to be able to watch the movie...I can read about bad things happening to good people a lot easier than I can watch them on screen.
Anybody else?
And now I'm looking forward to the movie.
A lot.
Like I wish it was opening this weekend.
But it opens in August when Bruce will be climbing some mountain somewhere.
Wanna go with me?
What do you think?
I'm texting a babysitter right now.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Nine on Nine:: June 2011

I love Ten on Ten and this month...due to the craziness that is my life, I am not taking the time to do it tomorrow.
I did have a little time today, though. :)

His and hers. Care to guess which cereal belongs to him???
Thurston holding court before 7:30 am. This is a daily event.
I love this sprout of blondness more than you could ever imagine.
I couldn't tell you if this is a good wheat year, or not. 
But it's beautiful, isn't it? 

Yay, gas prices are going down!
What else can I spray paint turquoise? Love.
My favorite season...pool season.
My second favorite season...hydrangea season. 
Bruce always gardens in business attire.
Consider yourself reminded: Ten on Ten is tomorrow.
I can't wait to see your pictures.
And if you don't have a blog, try it for your personal photo albums.
It's one of the best ways to document the beauty in your own life...
especially when it doesn't feel beautiful.
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God has brought about such a fun opportunity for me.
She's the creative genius, and I'm her right hand woman.
I've already been praying for the women who will be attending, and I don't even know who they will be.
Maybe I've been praying for you?! ;)

Friday, June 3, 2011

WORD.

"When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus."
Romans 14:20
The Message Bible
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I just heard on the radio that it's national donut day.
Donuts and sharing the life of Jesus...
I could get behind that.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

No Bake Peanut Butter Cheesecake {in a Jar}

Wow, I didn't intend to take a blog break, but I guess I did.
I took a quick trip with Bruce (without the girls) to Denver over the weekend.
Denver is dreamy. Scenic. And friendly.
Hi, friends.
Do you think I took one picture of the mountains?
I guess I can add that to the many reasons to go back.
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A few weeks ago I came upon this recipe for cheesecake in a jar. 
After making it twice (both times with a dreamy raspberry sauce and more as parfaits) I decided I wanted to "peanut butter" it up, and give it out to Ella's teachers and para as a small "thank you" on the last day of school.

The shopping list:
Striped shortbread cookies
Creamy peanut butter
Lemon Juice
Cream Cheese
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Vanilla
Cream Cheese
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Throw those striped shortbread cookies in a baggie.
Then let your youngest take out her three year old aggressions on them.

Pour them into the smallest ball jars you can find. 
I added about a 1/4 cup, or just enough to cover the bottom.
Cream 1 bar of cream cheese, 2 T. Lemon juice, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, and a 1/4 cup peanut butter with your mixer.
Pour in about a 1/4 c of filling.
Then layer with more shortbread cookie crumbs.
And more filling.
Top with chopped Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
Put the lids on, then put them in fridge for at least 3 hours to set.
Just try and wait 3 hours.
I dare you.
I bet you can't do it.
I didn't.

What I loved the most (other than a taste every 10 minutes to make sure they were setting just right) was the surprise I got every time I opened the fridge that day.
Presents for people I love...it takes very little to brighten my day.

Here's the full recipe if you'd like try my version. 
I doubled it and it made eight jars.
It's rich, for sure.
I hope you love it.
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No Bake Peanut Butter Cheesecake In a Jar
1 bar of cream cheese
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 T. lemon juice
1/4 c. peanut butter
10-14 striped shortbread cookies (don't double this part)
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups roughly chopped

Place striped shortbread cookies in a ziplock, seal and crush. In a medium size bowl, beat the first five ingredients listed until smooth. Place 1/4 c. cookie crumbs in the bottom of the jars and layer with 1/4 c. of the filling. Place roughly chopped peanut butter cups on top. Place lids on and refrigerate at least 3 hours.

One more thing You can make these GLUTEN FREE! Just leave out the cookie and replace with a gluten free cookie, or just layer with more chopped peanut butter cups. (That's what I did for one gluten free friend who loves peanut butter as much as I do.) Check to make sure the ones that you are using are truly gluten free. Not all peanut butter cups are made equal. Not all Reese's Peanut Butter cups are truly gluten free. 
Who knew?
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