A List of sorts

Thanks Cammie for this sweet award. I LOVE your blog too!
So with this award comes a TAG. So, This list is for my good friend Cammie who tagged me on her blog.

Here is a set of questions to answer. Each question can only have a one-word answer. (I did NOT do this part well... what can I say?)

Here goes:

1. Where is your cell phone? pocket

2. Where is your significant other? behind-me

3. Your hair color? colored/highlighted (I'm not doing well with one word answers!)

4. Your mother? loving

5. Your father? devoted

6. Your favorite thing? computer

7. Your dream last night? STRANGE

8. Your goal? stay-at-home-mom

9. The room you are in? home-office

10. Your hobby? blogging

11. Your fear? hubby/unemployment

12. Where do you want to be in six years? thinner

13. Where were you last night? choir

14. What you are not? hyper

15. One of your wish list items? paint house

16. Where you grew up? Austin

17. The last thing you did? laundry

18. What you are wearing? jeans

19. Your TV? FoodTV

20. Your pet? biter

21. Your computer? PC

22. Your mood? content

23. Missing someone? Julie

24. Your car? Camry

25. Something you are not wearing? socks

26. Favorite story? Christy

27. Your Summer? hot

28. Love someone? Kelly

29. Your favorite color? blue

30. When was the last time you laughed? hour ago

31. Last time you cried? Sunday

So, now I'm supposed to list who I am tagging... will you participate too, but if your reading this... consider yourself Tagged!

These people I really want to hear from:
Stephanie

Deanna

Felicity

Liz

The BEST Chocolate Cake... EVER!!!!

Hello...Hello out there. Is anyone out there? I'm not surprised if no one is reading this. I've been out of commission for about two weeks. All I can say is next year... flu shot!

Now, on to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday! My sister, Lisa, and I co-host this blog carnival. We share recipes, kitchen and cooking tips, restaurant reviews, and anything food related that you want to share. You know the rule of a blog carnival, please mention the blog or TMTT in your post and link back to us. Don't forget to use Mr. Linky, he lives at Lisa's blog.

This week I'm sharing the BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE recipe I have ever eaten, and I guess that says a lot if you know ANYTHING about me.

I have made this 3 times in the past 6 weeks. It was given to me by our church hostess. We were providing a meal to be served after a funeral and instead of everyone bringing different "pot luck" dishes she passed around the recipes she wanted so it was all the same. BRILLIANT! It took away all the "standing at the table guessing, holding up the line of mourners behind you." So we had 15 of these awesome chocolate cakes and that way, everyone got a slice. We were trying to feed 400 people... so this was a wonderful idea.

After making this and taking it to church I had to promise to make one for my family the next weekend as they drooled over it as I walked out of the house with it. This was an immediate hit with my daughter and hubby. Then we had house guests a few weeks later, so... I HAD to make it again. So sad really... I think I'm an addict! I have to promise not to make it again for awhile... or maybe I need to plan a party to have an excuse to make it!

The Best Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon (it says it is optional... but I think it is ESSENTIAL)

2 sticks butter
1 cup water
4 Tbsp. cocoa powder

1/2 cup buttermilk
1tsp baking soda

2 eggs beaten
1 tsp vanilla

Sift together the first 4 dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.

In a small sauce pan bring to boil the butter, water and cocoa powder. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients in the large bowl.

Mix the buttermilk and baking soda in a small bowl. Set to the side for 3-4 minutes. Milk will double in size.

Add the eggs, vanilla and buttermilk mixture in with all the ingredients.

Pour into a 9x13 greased and floured pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until done. If using a glass pan, reduce temp. by 15 degrees. Let cake cool for 20 minutes before icing.

Chocolate Icing

1 stick butter melted
4 Tbsp cocoa powder
4 Tbsp milk
1 lb. box Confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
1 tsp vanilla

Melt together the butter, cocoa and milk. Gradually add 1 box of powdered sugar and blend. You may want to use a mixer for this but I usually just keep mixing by hand. You may need to add VERY small amount of milk to smooth out the consistency.
Add the vanilla at the end.

You will love this cake and honestly it is so easy to make!

photo by tofuttibreak on flikr.

Ellen and Gladys

I wasn't feeling very well and thought it would work just as well today to post a little food for the soul. Don't they say, "Laughter is the best Medicine?"
So here is a little food for thought and hopefully you'll laugh a bit.
Have a great week.

For more FOOD for thought and GREAT recipes head over to Lisa's blog for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!

Do you have your Protectors on?

I was sitting at my computer and I kept hearing a "thud" over and over again. I became concerned as we have repeatedly told our daughter NOT to jump from the arm of the couch in her room or I guess I should say... jump off of ANYTHING in her room. We have already made one trip to the ER with a straddle injury from her jumping off of the end of the bed. That was no fun and I'd just rather we NEVER go through that again. So when I walked in to her room this is what I found.

Yes, the lovely couch usually has the blue cover on it. Apparently it had come off with all the jumping. I caught her in mid climb and she slid down on the couch to the position you see above and in the outfit you see. So I asked, hesitantly, "What are you doing and WHAT do you have on?"

"I was jumping, but I'm protected Mommy. These are my Protectors."

Yes, let us look at the complete outfit shall we? There is a helmet, elbow "protector" and my favorite... foot "protectors." The apron was left over from our cooking earlier. That was just added for fanciness.

Now if you people will just leave me alone, I can get back to my work- jumping.
Don't you love the Kleenex box most of all? I did my best not to laugh while she was in the room because she was SO serious about it, like she had spent a lot of time thinking it all thru.

There are some things you just can not make up, for those things we are just glad to have a camera close by.

Cutest Aprons Ever

Are these not Adorable?
Well, not me... the kid is pretty cute... BUT I'm talking about our Aprons. How fancy and adorable? Don't you want one?

My cousin Carrie made them and gave them to us for Christmas.

What a fantastic gift! Kathryn and I love to cook together and doesn't every lady needs a fancy apron?

Kathryn loves her so much she wore it the rest of the day. I say this because you will see pictures of her wearing it in another post about her getting herself "protected." (That is all I can say about that right now, you'll just have to trust me and check back for that one. It will be worth it.)

BUT I'm trying to talk my cousin in to making these and selling them. SO... give me some comments and let's try and convince Carrie that she needs to sell these! Also, how much would you pay for something like this? Let me know... I'll be waiting!

So that is what works for me today... looking cute in my apron while cooking. I truly think it improves the flavor of the food! For more super fab ideas go Rocks In My Dryer... you'll be blown away!

PaPaw and the Perfect Day

Let me tell you, I love my Daddy. He is a great PaPaw. Now don't get me wrong, Me Maw is great too and does so many wonderful things with my daughter, but yesterday, My Dad, PaPaw, made me so proud.

First let me tell you what we have been going through for the past year. My daughter was potty trained at age 3, she is 4 1/2 now. But increasingly she began having trouble going "poopy" on the potty. (Sorry... should I have started by telling you that in case you did not want to know; Oh well... continue on if you don't get bothered with parenting and potty issues).

As I began to understand, this is not unusual. She began this terrible cycle, constipation, pain, holding it in, more pain... it was a terrible cycle and with it she began NOT going poopy on the potty. She would hold it till she could hold it no more and then... accident.

It was so frustrating as a parent to watch. I got advice from so many people and it was everything from "don't worry she'll go in the potty again... don't force her" to " you better just spank her and she'll get the idea" It was terrible. Our doctor was great, she said not to make a big deal about it, it will happen. I was feeling like a horrible parent and worst of all... my daughter was suffering. We even began to promised her treats if she would poopy in the potty and my Dad told her if she would start going in the potty, he would buy her something extra special. Well that was months ago.

So we continued on...We added things to her diet increased liquids, juices... everything. Finally, our doctor told us to give her Miralax daily. It is a natural stool softener. I just prayed that it would take effect and help her out. It took us doing this for a long time... a few months actually. I guess with the constipation getting better and she realized that she was not having pain anymore... Well it happened... the light bulb went off... she did it!!!
Right after Christmas my hubby and I went away for a few days and when we were gone, she did it. Right in the potty, like a big girl.

I just can not tell you what a big deal this is and what an answer to pray it was. Then we got back in town, she was literally sitting at the door at my in-laws waiting for us to tell us, "Mommy I went poopy in the potty and it didn't hurt! I went yesterday and today!"

I don't know who was happier, us or her. I have never been prouder of her. I suppose if you do not have a child yet or have not gone through this it is hard to understand, but I am so proud.

So the next thing Kathryn said to us was, "I need to tell PaPaw."

When we all got home we called MeMaw and PaPaw and told them the good news. Kathryn got on the phone and said, "PaPaw, I did it! In the Potty!"

So yesterday, My Daddy, took my little girl out. They went to Walmart, she picked out the new Sleeping Beauty doll with the fairies. She lights up... it is beautiful. Then they went to McDonald's, her favorite place (yes, I hate to admit it).
They had their own little day out. She thought she was queen for the day and my heart just swelled. She said it "was the bestest day I ever had." Well who wouldn't agree?

I am so thankful for my parents and in-laws who love our child so much and truly partner with us as we try to raise her and encourage us as we struggle.

By the way, she has been "going" everyday... no accidents since Christmas. Thank you God.

Healthy Habit?

Well, here we are officially back to work today and truly getting into the New Year. My friend Susan has begun a Monday mimi... "Healthy Habits Monday." Now, I'll be honest with you, the last thing I want to think about on Monday is "Healthy Habits." Most Monday's I'm so frazzled all I can think of is getting to Friday.

So, as I was thinking this morning of this new year and Healthy Habits, it occurred to me the healthiest thing I could do for myself this year does not have anything to do with food or exercise, although those are certainly important and truly need to be addressed. But if I am going to make a change in the way I eat and exercise, the first thing I have to address is my spiritual well being. I have let it go to pot!

Seriously, in the past 8 months I have been so busy working and trying to juggle being a Mom and Wife and my job... I have been frustrated, exasperated and down right depressed at times. Imagine that? I have been working so hard to do it on my own I forgot to just let go and ask God to just take care of it all.

Anyone else been there? Are you there right now?

So my Healthy Habit today involved a LONG talk with God. I asked first for forgiveness for being so selfish and stubborn. I thank Him over and over for my dear family and friends; for good health and safety. I asked that He carry the load I've tried so hard to drag behind me.

You know what? I already feel a few pounds lighter.

Do you have any ideas and plans for Healthy Habits this year? Go see Susan and tell everyone about it.

A Year in Review

I pray you all have a wonderful New Year in 2009! I've seen a few people already list their 2008 highlights... it seems like a great idea to review the year, so here we go!

• Hubby begins grad school
• We realize this means we are both now in grad school
• Beloved Grandma Ruth went to be with the Lord
• We had snow in Kentucky on our trip there, it was lovely
• I started blogging... what a new world and great new friends
• still working at the church- hours increased and so has my stress
• took trip to Corpus to play on the beach
• Kathryn got her first pet... a fish
• Kathryn buried her first pet... a fish
• Kathryn begins preschool and LOVES it
• I become a soccer mom and don't really love it
• We grew carrots in our flower pot
• Facebook became my homepage and I reconnected with so many old friends
• I had car wreck in July and I am still dealing with the insurance company
• We took the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University and it changed our financial life

I am sure there is so much more to add, but these are some of the things that come to mind. It has been a year for sure. Kelly and I both agree we are glad there is only one more year of grad school until completion. We are praying things slow down and are truly trying to make that a priority. We want to enjoy our family and not be tied to responsibilities that hurt family time more than bring us together.

Spend a little time this week thinking over the past year. What would you change if you could? How are you going to live differently in the new year? I'm going to make Loving and Worshipping my Lord a priority. It fell short this year along the way of business and work. I want to love and cherish my family even more and be the Godly wife and mother I know God has planned for me to be.