weekend recap...

friday eve, i had a wedding cake consult right after work...luckily, Curtis was off that eve & was able 2 grab the kiddos & get em home in time 4 the parade that runs right up our street...my sis & her hubby always bring down my niece & nephew 2 join us...plus, i lucked out & my consult was short & sweet - i took the back way in2 town & made it home in time 2 watch the tail end of it with em!

afterward, Curtis was busy punching on his speed bag...

while the kiddos tried out their new bike helmets...

Jaden has always had a helmet...& Gabby had one when she was 1st learning 2 ride - but both had outgrown them...& since i now have 3 kiddos riding without training wheels, i figured we better get em geared up & safe!
(next up, a bigger bike 4 both girls)

i know this pic is blurry, but i love that Gabrielle was riding around with her stuffed puppy - he was all wrapped up in a blanket & tucked in her lil grocery basket ;0)

they rode til it got dark - then we caught lightning bugs! that was the 1st eve this summer that we noticed em out & about

saturday morning, i had 2 deliver 2 boxes of cupcakes - both 4 wedding cake consults...in the couple's fav flavors & enuff that the whole family can try em out & help with the decision ;0)

i also had a graduation cake 2 deliver...unfortunately, my mind took a brief vacay & i didn't snap not 1 photo of it! ~gasp~ it wasn't anything spectacular tho - just a 9X13" cake with a 3D grad cap cake on top...Danielle was big in2 the theater too, so i had little fondant comedy/tragedy masks hanging on the tassel...her mom let me know 2day that every1 loved it - especially the grad! :0)

that afternoon, my sis picked up Jaden so that he could go 2 the pool with them & play with my niece...luckily, the rain held out & they were able 2 enjoy a couple hours of fun there! she sent me this pic from her phone...

somehow, i miraculously had something 4 the girls 2 do at the same time!!! they were invited 2 a birthday party as well...so yes, Curtis & i had about an hour & a half ALONE - until he had 2 head in2 work & i had 2 go round up kiddos ;0)

every1 was beat! Corinn even fell asleep on Mama on the sofa...she's been doing this a lot lately - passing out way b4 bed time - like she's missing not getting a nap any more these days...i think the long summer days r really wearing her out!

when dinner time rolled around, no one was hungry...they'd been eating all day - at home, at the pool, at bday parties...so i took em 2 the park 2 burn some energy...& we picked up Lunchables 4 dinner...they love those damn things! i figured it would b something they'd eat cause they're fun! ;0)

i don't know y Corinn is constantly flashing me horns - she's such a nut! i have prob 10 pictures of her like this! ~lol~

after playing 4 about an hour, the rain came...it was timed perfectly...the kiddos came under the shelter 4 a picnic while it rained...then it stopped - just as they were finishing up - so we headed out (everything was too wet & muddy 2 play on any more)

we went home & chilled 4 a bit, then went back out 2 get ice cream at our fav local spot (this place has been here since i was a kid) a lil while later...it was clear & sunny when we got there, then started getting cloudy as we waited 2 order...by the time we got our ice cream, it was raining again...so we ended up having an ice cream picnic in the car ;0)

sunday morning, church...then home 2 have lunch with daddy b4 he had 2 go in2 work...& of course we had 2 go visit Nana later in the day!

her garden is looking awesome! Corinn enjoyed some freshly picked broccoli & lettuce...then all 3 hopped on the 4-wheelers 4 a while

& Nana always has popsicles!

Corinn stayed at Nana's 2 hang out...Nana will do that every once in a while - gives the grand kids some 1 on 1 time...Grandpa was working too, so i think she enjoyed the company ;0)

the other 2 headed home with me....i got some burgers going on the grill...then sprayed the hose on em while we waited 4 dinner 2 finish up

instead of Nana just dropping Corinn off that eve, we met up with her 4 yet another visit 2 JJ's 4 ice cream!
(look at Corinn, she's such a ham!)

hey, it's summertime - gotta enjoy it while u can!
;0)

i hope ur weekend was just as "sweet"!
♥

cake truffle tutorial...

*disclaimer - the pics in this post SUCK! i made these truffles over a couple of evenings - or maybe i should say nights...i work in the wee hours & the lighting in my kitchen at that time of day is horid! i promise ur's will look much prettier! ;0)

these r 4 real, the easiest things 2 make ever!

yeah, they're time consuming! u better plan 2 devote an evening (or more) 2 making them - especially if u're doing several different flavors/chocolate dippings

but they're oh, so worth it!
;0)

4 the base cake, u can really use whatever u want - whatever sounds yummy 2 u! but the moister the cake, the better...use ur grandma's famous spice cake recipe, a decadent chocolate cake recipe u found online, or just a yellow box mix - really, whatever floats ur boat!

here i'm making peanut butter truffles & i used my basic moist yellow cake recipe (i baked a 9x13" pan - & i got at least 3 dozen good sized truffles out of it)

i crumbled the cake in a big bowl & got out a masher...threw in some peanut butter & peanut butter chips (adds yummy texture)...they're so soft that you don't really need to chop em up 1st, but if u used semi-sweet chips or something similar, you might want 2 run em thru the chopper 4 just a sec (i use this)...continue mashing/mixing, occasionally feeling the cake 2 see how moist/dry it is

u want it to be wet enuff that it easily allows u 2 form balls, but not so wet that it's goopy...another binding ingredient that works well, & can b used in almost any flavor, is light corn syrup

form the truffles into big bite size balls (don't get skimpy here - mine really take 2 bites 2 eat) & lay on wax paper on top of a cookie sheet...i flatten the bottom a little as i form them - that helps with keeping them from rolling away, & also makes it easier when it's time 2 dip them

above r the peanut butter ones on the left...beside those r almond - i used white cake, chopped almonds, almond flavoring & corn syrup

here r some more almond, spice, fudge chip & confetti truffles

spice - a dense/moist spice cake with a tiny bit of allspice sprinkled in, corn syrup
fudge chip - my fudge chip cake, more chopped semi-sweet chips, special dark cocoa, chocolate syrup
confetti - white cake, colored jimmies (sprinkles), corn syrup

& here's strawberry - strawberry cake, strawberry flavoring, corn syrup

once the truffles r formed, pop em in the freezer 4 about 10 or 15 minutes...this is where using a cookie sheet really helps speed up the process - it gets cold & helps chill ur truffles faster...u don't want em frozen solid, just good & firm (without crumbs falling away) 4 dipping

while they're in the freezer, start melting some chocolate in a double boiler...or if u don't have a double boiler, use a glass bowl over a saucepan of water...just remember, the smaller/deeper the bowl of chocolate u're dipping in2, the easier it will b

if u want, pick up some candy melts
- they work great 4 dipping & come in a variety of colors...but i tend 2 stay on the more "frugal" side of things & just use chocolate chips...u'll want 2 use semi-sweet chips rather than milk chocolate...or white chips - depending on which you want 2 dip ur truffles in...also, add some gulf wax 2 the chocolate, so that the truffles harden up nicely & have a nice shine 2 em (if u're worried about how safe it is 2 add paraffin 2 ur candies - please read this)

then dip away! have another cookie sheet (lined with wax paper) nearby 2 place them on...there r lots of handy dipping gadgets out there, but i just use a fork...that's where the flat bottoms help out

as soon as you've dipped em, add the toppings while they're still wet...here i dipped the confetti truffles & sprinkled em with colored jimmies

here's almond truffles, dipped in white chocolate - almond slivers on top

or fudge chip truffles - sprinkled with Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa (after dried - if u're using cocoa or powdered sugar as a topper - do that after the chocolate is dry & hardened)

how about peanut brittle crunch on top of the peanut butter truffles?
mmmmm!

or u can drizzle colored chocolate over em too!

here's yellow 4 the lemon truffles - lemon cake, lemon flavoring, corn syrup

or red for the strawberry truffles

or even melted caramel!
oh my word, these r the spice truffles - a new flavor 4 me & they were soooo good!

finally, once the chocolate (& topping) is completely hardened, move the truffles to sweet little candy papers & then package 4 giving away

here's the big batch i sent 2 Wendy - my giveaway winner

or here's 6 in a pack - using cellophane baggies...FAB teacher gifts!

or pile em high in a dish 4 ur hubby 2 take 2 work & share with his co-workers...Curtis loves when i do that! ;0)

another great way 2 make these & share them is cake pops...Bakerella is the PRO at making these! she forms her balls using icing as the binder...i think that's a tad 2 much sweetness, but it's also a quicker/easier route...but boy, u have 2 see the cute creations she makes! they're adorable!!!

another super easy treat idea is cupcakes in a jar...i've posted about these b4 - they're even easier than the cake truffles! here's 2 i threw in with Wendy's truffle prize

so now u have no excuse...all of u know how 2 make these simple treats urself!

go ahead, give em a try - & if u share, u just might make some new best friends!
;0)

change...

i don't deal well with change...

i'm trying hard 2 concentrate on the silver lining...

praying hard that i'm making the right decision...

& putting my trust in God & his ultimate plan 4 me...

i just don't deal well with change!

sorry i'm being so vague...but got some stuff going down at work & i can't go in 2 detail about it just yet...thx 4 listening anyway! ;0) please say a lil prayer that everything works out 4 the best! thx!

1 Chronicles 16:11
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

it's that time of year again...

ok, so u know about mine & Curtis' obsession with a certain show...

well, it's that time of year again!

So You Think You Can Dance
is back 4 another season!!!

they've got it narrowed down 2 the top 20 now...& my fav from last night?

Phillip & Jeanine! but then again, i kinda have a thing 4 Phillip ♥



also loved the bollywood dance by Caitlin & Jason!



& Melissa & Ade's routine was simply beautiful!



but geez, there were 10 couples - so many 2 choose from! it's still so early in the season...can't wait 2 see more!!!

the thing that really sux about this season tho...Curtis now works eves & isn't there 2 watch it with me :0( so u might just see even more SYTYCD updates from me this year - that way, it's easy 4 him 2 check out what he's missing...without even having 2 sit thru the commercials! ;0)

wordless wednesday...it just keeps getting better!

dance recital...

the payoff!

the girls practice hard (& mama busts her butt 2 play taxi) all season long (Sept. thru June)...then finally, recital time rolls around & it all feels totally worth it!

look at those smiling faces!

that was right b4 we walked in2 the high school 2 get ready 4 show time on Saturday...they were both soooo excited!

then after i helped both girls get dressed & we had their buns looking perfect, i had em pose 4 a couple of pics...i believe these r my fav from the whole day!

then i handed them off backstage, & found my seat with the fellas

Nana, aunt Kelly & aunt Katie also came 2 watch the girls (like every year)

then the show began...

Corinn's tap crew was the 2nd class on stage

their costumes were FAB!!!

even the back - look at that cutie patooty!!!

i actually got these pics at the dress rehearsal (since flash isn't allowed during the recital)

here's her whole class...

tiny Sarah Grace doesn't stand still long...but the other 3 r total hams & love being on stage!

here's a video of the actual recital performance...the lighting is absolutely beautiful in person! but it reeks havoc on my camera's focus! Corinn is the 1st one out on stage - the tallest in her class...please excuse the crazy people screaming at the end - that's just me & my excited family! ;0)
seriously, that's my mom whistling!
~lol~



Gabrielle's class was up at the end of act 1...her acrobatics class is small too - but they work so well 2gether!

their costumes were much simpler

but very cute - & perfect 4 all the stretching & flipping they'd b doing!

they did awesome too!

& here's Gabby's performance from the recital...she's the one all the way on the right (in the beginning of the routine), & the last 2 do her somersaults & cartwheels...again, excuse the screaming banshees throughout the video! ;0)



after the show, we were able 2 walk up 2 the stage & give them their roses

look at those smiles - they were so proud of how well they did!

happy it's all finally over

yet sad that this season is done


next season will b here b4 we know it tho!
;0)

in case u're interested in seeing some of the other routines (there were TONS more than this, but my camera battery will only hold out 4 so long!)...here's some links 2 the videos i took & put on youtube...read my descriptions in the youtube details 4 more info on each

Alumni - Modern
Black Horse - Tap
Brittney's Senior Piece (love this!)
City Girls - Jazz - Pt1 & Pt2
Curiosities - Tiny Tots Ballet (part of the ballet performance of Pandora's Box)
Sprites - Tiny Tots Ballet (part of the ballet performance of Pandora's Box)
Dum Diddley - Tap
Lost - Adv. Lyrical
Masquarade - Acro 2
Narnia - Ballet
Love Me Do - Tap 2
Question of You - Adv. Jazz
Tory's Senior Piece
Roll it Girl - Hip Hop
Sing Sing Sing - Tap
Parent/Child dance (highly recommended viewing!)

4 interested locals - the girls r enrolled in dance at In Motion School of Dance