Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Chasing Pavements and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

I hooked some of you with Adele's song Chasing Pavements, and others of you were enticed by the Peanut Butter Cake. Adele + Cake = True Love.

Did you see Adele on PBS' Live from the Artist's Den? I happened to catch only  the second half of it this past weekend. So good. If I had a DVR, I would've DVR'd it, or Tivo'd or whatever is new that I'm not aware of. I still have VHS.
Jealous yet?


Watch Live From the Artists Den: Adele on PBS. See more from FESTIVAL.

Check your local listings to see when it's going to replay. Surely it will, won't it? And I'll have my VHS tape ready.

Pssst. Netflix also has Adele's DVD  Live at Royal Albert Hall ... it's in my Queue with a VERY LONG WAIT next to it's title. Boo.
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Now for the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake...
I have had countless emails, Facebook messages, and one offer for shelter (should I ever need it) if I shared the recipe for the peanut butter cake I serve at Craft Weekend.

The recipe that I use is from Smitten Kitchen.
It's perfect.
Don't change a thing.
I follow the recipe exactly.
I leave out the peanut brittle.
It's rich.
It's wonderful.
It takes your breathe away, and makes you beg for coffee.
I just took another peanut butter cake out of the oven for this weekend's festivities. I will frost it with the peanut butter cream cheese frosting, and then throw it in the freezer. The day that I want to serve it, I pull it out of the freezer to defrost and whip up a batch of the chocolate ganche to pour over. Then I lick the bowl clean while everyone else is crafting their brains out.

Thank you Smitten Kitchen for sharing this with the world.
Thank you for making all my chocolate peanut butter cake dreams come true.
Get her recipe here.

Friday, March 23, 2012

WORD.

This picture was taken on Wednesday. 
With every bite I imagined it was wedding cake.
Praise the Lord for His Marvelous Creations.
I know them full well.



Thursday, March 22, 2012

Swimsuits and Water

Wanna know what kind of day I had in only four words?
I went swimsuit shopping.
I walked away victorious...but there's still a part of me that thinks maybe I'll find something else that I like better. Does anyone else do that?

Edited----here's a picture of the top of my swimsuit.
Quite frankly, I almost didn't post the picture because I am distracted by this model's hair.
Enough said.
It's bright pink.
(I'll spare you the picture text I sent my friend Taryn from the dressing room.)
I am all too aware at this moment that I need to do a bit of toning to both my midsection and my legs.
It's strapless, and I'm living on a prayer that while I sit poolside this summer I don't give anyone an unintentional eyeful as one of my children rolls it down to my belly button.
On second thought...I think it might be going back to the store from which it came.
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Okay on to serious stuff...stuff like WATER.
Today is World Water Day.
I don't drink water the way that I should...but I have the option to drink CLEAN water. 
We bathe in clean water every day.
My kids wildly play in clean water that comes out of an outdoor faucet and spills all over our driveway when the weather hits 80 degrees in the middle of March.
Many places in the rest of the world do not live like this.
My friend Megan is raising money to help those in India get clean water.
And she's doing an amazing giveaway of some of the best of the best Craft Weekend SWAG.
{Via}
First, click here to give.

Next enter Megan's giveaway here.

You are a blessing.
You are.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

World Down Syndrome Day

There are days when I feel this pressure {completely self-imposed} to be the one with all the answers about Down syndrome. World Down Syndrome Day is one of those days...it's today, by the way. This interview with a 29 year old woman is beautiful, and so much like that of any single 29 year old woman that I know. And that's the point.


Ella is more alike than she is different.
This is the single most important thing that I want to remind myself today.

Happy World Down Syndrome Day...I think ice cream is in order.
Or maybe wedding cake?
:)

Friday, March 16, 2012

WORD.

A simple life in the Fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.
Proverbs 15:17
The Message

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Hello, Summer.

My favorite maple tree is getting ready to pop with color, and it makes my heart happy.
As does an afternoon spent outside.

Hello, Summer, in the later of our Winter.
We're so glad to see you.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Ten on Ten:: March 2012

Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month. 
Document a day of your life and find beauty among the ordinary moments. 


Good morning, love. Why yes, I'll have a cup.

Breakfast in Durham for some of the tastiest cinnamon rolls around.

Then on to work...massages for a few today.

Trying to suppress that cough...
Ella being reprimanded at lunchtime...trying to act like she doesn't know what we're talking about. 

Cleaning Ella's room...the happy bunting I made this week. 
Ella says it's a "surprise up high" for her.  Melt me.
I need to clean out our garage...maybe next weekend.
Happy Hour hour in the sun.

Pip-squeaks by Crayola...more happiness.
I'm currently on an in house date with two Bruces.
All is quiet now except for a little harmonica.
A perfect ending to the 10th.

How was your day?

Friday, March 9, 2012

Random with a Side of Coughing.

After spending three days in bed, I decided I couldn't be sick any more.
I mean, I had already spent most of those days coughing like I've never coughed before. Aching like I have never ached before. Everything hurt...including my hair.
So I cooked up a batch of warm chocolate pudding, and declared myself better.
Then, I went back to bed for two more days.

Bruce was on a business trip for part of the time. I hate it when he leaves but I really hate it when he leaves and I'm sick.
Skype saved the day. 30 minutes of Daddy listening to her "read" and the love tank, and behavior tank were changed for the rest of the day.

Dishes...they still need to be done when you are sick. Praise Him all of us for dishwashers.
Coughing...still coughing....
Chicken noodle soup, anyone?

I am on my way to feeling much better. In fact, I made it over to Meg's Craft House yesterday to sew some bunting for my girls' rooms. I'm not sure if you know this or not, but bunting is the secret to getting over the crud. Happiness...I'll show you tomorrow.

Today is silly sock day at daycare.
Purple tie dyed soccer socks with a skirt.
And cowgirl boots.

Silly sock day...the freedom to express yourself in your sock choice. Party on.
Ten on Ten tomorrow.
{Cough. Cough.}
Happy Weekend, friends.
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