Awkward/Awesome...

Awkward...

...my new swimsuit not coming in yet...it's been *three* weeks now and I need it before next Thursday =/...

...nearly breaking down our shed door because I couldn't figure out how to work the lock

...our cat knocking a can of paint over ...of course our dogs had to step in it and leave footprints ALL over the porch 

...Mishka being scared to death of her new toy...apparently she does not like the color white

...the smell of stain all through our house because my dad is finishing up our kitchen cabinets

...going running for the first time in years and having to admit to myself that if I ever have to run for my life, I'm probably going to die =P

Awesome...

...lemon sour cream pie...mmmmmm!

...discovering Light In the Box...haven't ordered anything from them yet but I've got my eye on these sandals...aren't they cuuute? ;)

...finally setting a date to go see Captain America Civil War with friends

...hijacking my brothers' movie night...at their request, ;P

...only a few days left till we leave for our first vacation (!!!)

...watching "The Huntsman: Winter's War" for the first time...needs editing, but it was REALLY GOOD...

...taking a psychology class on my personality type...nice to know I'm not completely crazy, I'm just an Empath =P

...homemade coconut rose bath salts

...reading The Phantom of the Opera for the first time...love the music from the movie, but the book is 100% better

...sleeping for *FOUR* nights in a row!!! I get so much more done in my day when I sleep at night =)

Hope you all had a lovely week! =)

Mother's Day Dinner and Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bites...

I'm actually quite proud of this card ;)

Happy Mother's Day! =)

In my family, we never need much of an excuse to make something special to eat.  All of us love to work in the kitchen and the slightest hint at it being a "special day" will send at least two of us into our favorite room of the house to make some goodies.  This Sunday being Mother's Day, I wanted to try out an idea I had for Chocolate Covered Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bites.  My family and I could very well live off cheesecake, and my mom loves dark chocolate, so it seemed like a good choice ;).  I couldn't find a recipe anywhere that didn't include a crust or peanut butter (Mom doesn't like peanut butter), so I made one up myself, and surprise, surprise! it actually didn't turn into a giant gooey mess like I expected it too.  In theory, my brother helped me, but in reality he was taking pictures, singing, and sneaking samples...=)

Chocolate Covered Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bites

Ingredients:

Two 8 oz packages of Cream Cheese

1/2 Cup Sugar

Two Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

11/2 Cups of Chocolate Chips

One Tablespoon shortening

Instructions:

• Combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a glass bowl
• Mix together with hand mixer until smooth and creamy
• Fold in about half the chocolate chips with spatula
• Put bowl in refrigerator for thirty minutes
• Meanwhile, put the remaining chocolate chips with the shortening into a double boiler and slowly heat until completely melted.
•  Take the cheesecake out of the refrigerator and roll it into small bite sized pieces (if it gets too warm, put it back in the fridge for a little longer)
• Using a fork, dip cheesecake bites into the chocolate and coat well
• Place on a tray covered with wax paper (or one of these amazing silpat tray liners) and store in the fridge until you are ready to eat them (it won't be long ;)

Next time I'm going to try to make these with vanilla ice cream instead of cheesecake...if it's not a total disaster I'll share pictures of them too...=)

For dinner, I made a pork tenderloin for mom and I, pork chops for the boys, broccoli with cheese, and my first ever homemade chipotle sauce...

My dad usually buys my mom roses for Mother's Day...this year she got a whole bush ;)

(I need to find this sign for my mom...=))

I hope ya'll had a lovely weekend and a very blessed Mother's Day!

Awkward/Awesome...

Awkward...

...the stomach flu =(

...getting two different friends birthday gifts every year for a over a decade, and not realizing until today that they are the SAME AGE and have the SAME BIRTHDAY

...going through old photos and realizing that even at three years old my little brother was still the most photogenic out of my whole family

...being told by aforesaid brother that I shouldn't refer to him as my "little brother" anymore because he's now a full head and shoulders taller than me...too bad, brother, you're the baby of the family, you're stuck with it =P

...the look of betrayal I got from Mishka when I ate roast chicken without giving her a single piece

...my family and I looking through our passport photos taken about eight years ago...oh, sweet mercy, DID WE REALLY LOOK LIKE THAT?

Awesome...

...friends who turn decorating for a wedding into a spontaneous dance party

...not enough wall space in my room for all the pictures I want to put up...just too many lovely memories ;)

...reading out on the trampoline, when a little bird landed next to me and stared at me for several seconds before flying off again

...planning our first ever family vacation (!)

...re-reading "Catholic Prophecy" by Ives Dupont for the umpteenth time

...being at home by myself and singing "Mamma Mia" karaoke as loud as I want without disturbing anyone

...my brother's response when my mother asked him if he had been plucking his eyebrows: "Me? Heck, no, my eyebrows are awesome..." =)

...bee-u-ti-ful weather and sunny days all week long

...my favorite couple finally getting married and looking so adorably happy together! 

I hope you all have a blessed week and a lovely Mother's Day! =)