Mug Cake

Imagine my delight when my husband found a new, easy, and FAST dessert recipe! I was so happy I wanted to burst. This is an awesome recipe that any chocolate/dessert addict should tuck away in their toolboxes. May I present (drum roll, if you will):

Mmm...

I jogged/walked three miles this week. Does that mean I can eat this whole plate of cookies? Please say yes, because they might already be gone....

Baking Soda Facial

Here is another pin I tried out last night. The great thing about doing this blog, is that I am actually doing the pins instead of just "saving" them for later and forgetting all about it. I am so glad I tried this one too!

First off, it is originally from this blog, and the writer has a disclaimer saying she has no idea how often to do it, but she does it once a week. I am tempted to do it everyday, but I won't. It firmed up my skin and made it glow so nice. Even my husband noticed...which is pretty amazing. No offense, Sweet!

HURRY Over to Toys R Us!

You definitely want to head over to Toys "R" Us today if you are one of those people that have any birthdays coming up or like to get Christmas shopping done early! They have Toys up to 60% off! Go check it out!

                      I don't even know what these are but for $4.98 (Reg. $14.99) I would buy it! Xia-Xia Copacbana.

                       Imaginarium Five Alarm Fire Station Playmat and Figures (reg. $19.99) only $9.98...this looks super cute!

Go check it out! I hope you find something good! 

Refreshing Orange Treat

I have a pretty amazing husband. Among many of his talents, he can cook with ease. Everything he makes on the first try comes out delicious. Whereas, I have to try and try and try again to get it right. I am not complaining though, because I get awesome meals that I don't have to cook. For my birthday two years ago, Cody got me a book called "The Flavor Bible". It basically teaches you how to cook using flavors instead of measurements. It's more for those who have the basics of cooking down already, but anyone can learn from it. 

This book is where Cody got this little sweet treat idea from. We had a bunch of leftover oranges so he looked up that ingredient in the book and it said that honey, walnuts, ginger, and cinnamon go great with oranges. So he diced up the orange, added some honey, chopped walnuts, some powdered ginger, cinnamon, and Presto! Delicious! It's so refreshing, especially on a hot day or when you feel like you have gorged on too much food. Add each ingredient with the amounts that you love and enjoy. No measurements needed.

Lemon and Honey Blackhead Remover Review

Blackheads are gross. That's why I want to remove them. I even went so far as to rub Lemon and Honey all over my face, because this Pinner said it worked immediately. And I love instant gratification.
Well, unfortunately, I still have the trouble spots. The blog that it was pinned from claimed that it would also moisturize the skin and leave it smooth and clean. My face does feel smooth and clean, but there are still those blackheads on my chin and nose. So much for instant gratification.

1 out of 5 stars since I wasted half a lemon on my face.

My Top 5: Favorite Books

My Top 5...

Favorite Books/Book Series:

1. The Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind- It's a 13 book series, but don't let that scare you. All the books are published and available for reading right away, so you don't need to wait for the next one to come out. Read about it here or here. "Wizards First Rule" is the first book, so start there. :)
2. "Forest of Hands and Teeth" by Carrie Ryan- This is book one of a three part trilogy. The second book is called "The Dead-Tossed Waves" and the third is "The Dark and Hollow Places". The 1st and the 3rd were my favorites, but the 2nd is necessary. Read about it here.
3. "Room" by Emma Donohue- This is a sad, interesting, sweet, and terrifying story about a boy who lives with his mom in a 12x14 foot garden shed. His mom was kidnapped and kept as prisoner in this reinforced cell. Jack, the little boy of about 5, was born in the room and never has seen the outside world. The story is told from his perspective and offers a unique and sweet voice to a very horrifying situation. Read more about it here.
4. "A Tree Grow In Brooklyn" by Betty Smith- I love this book. It's tied with "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair. I love the honesty of the main character, Francie, as well as the struggles and observations that she goes through. Read all about it here. Both "The Jungle" and "Tree Grows in Brooklyn" document the hardships faced by immigrants and poor people in a time where there weren't government programs and things to help those in need even if their pride would allow them to take it.
5. "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt- If you didn't read this in Middle School or High School, then stop by your local library and pick up a copy.  It is a wholesome good read that makes me value what I have and what I grew up with. Family is important, and sticking together is what it's all about. Read about it here. 

These are my quick picks of favorite books. If you want a whole list of what I have read and what I rated each one, go here.

What are your top 5 favorite books?

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER...No Joke!

I repinned a pin on Pinterest (what a phrase!) that said to add vanilla pudding mix to cookie batter to create the fluffiest cookies ever. Well, when I went back to look at the recipe, all that showed up was a picture of the cookies. I hate when that happens.

I was all geared up to do cookies though, so I decided to experiment a little bit and boy am I glad I did! I have been on a lifelong quest for the best chocolate chip cookies and I think these are it. I followed the recipe on the back of the Nestle Toll House chocolate chip bag and then added a Tbs of Vanilla pudding mix. I might have added a little more than a Tbs but I just eyeballed it.

Here is the recipe, if you don't have one handy:

Washi Tape

Over the past week I have seen Washi Tape popping up all over the net. It is super cute tape. I was instantly drawn to the colors and patterns but kept passing it up because why in the world do I need pretty tape? Well, I will tell you  why! I need it to dress up note cards and envelopes and to tape up cute things on bulletin boards and to wrap around my lollipop sticks...cuz who wants a sucker with a plain white stick these days when it can be an AWESOME stick instead!

So I found a great deal and decided to see what this wishi washi is all about;) It is $1.75 and buy one roll get one FREE over at Rubee Lane! This tape is also being featured over at Very Jane (another fav. site) but it is priced a little bit higher. However, Very Jane has prettier patterns to choose from. And if pretty tape just isn't your thing I still recommend browsing both sites...especially the ruffle blankets over at Very Jane.

When my tape arrives I will let you know if it lives up to all the hype!

Free Shipping at Oriental Trading

If you like to get your party supplies from Oriental Trading like we do then hurry and head over to get FREE SHIPPING on any order through June 25th! They also have lots of 4th of July stuff for up to 70% off! Free shipping is like finding a dollar in your coat pocket unexpectedly...makes me a little giddy!

Just enter code: WCE3352 at checkout!

Click on the picture to be taken directly to Oriental Trading.

Homemade Pore Strips

Lately I have seen a pin on Pinterest about homemade pore strips. I have a trouble spot on my chin that is pretty bad and decided I would try it out. My sister-in-law, Shelby, came out to the house so we did it together.

I followed the simple instructions from Petit Elefant . My mother in law had unflavored gelatin on hand, so the whole project cost me $0.

Health Challenge

Does anyone else feel like the world of health and nutrition has become increasingly complicated? So much so, that when an easy solution is presented it feels like it won't work? Me too. I was awake last night thinking about why I just can't stick to a diet or exercise plan. The reason is because I have never made exercise or dieting a habit. I eat pretty healthy meals, but then I gorge on desserts and snacks and treats late into the evening. I am a sedentary person at night, and do a lot of running around and cleaning during the day (most days). I guess I just eat more calories than I burn.

Here is my analysis of how easy it should be to lose weight (har har):

Toca Boca

I acquired an iPad 2 a few months ago, and let me tell you....it's awesome. I love it, Atrion loves it. We have a few extra minutes of quiet time each day thanks to this product. If I want to doze a little longer in the morning then I just whip the iPad out. Atrion knows how to navigate it probably better than most adults and has become quite tech savvy because of it. I have had to invest in some Speck Ipad 2 2-Pk. Shieldview Screen Protectors, but that's totally worth it. There are some really fun apps for kids that promote learning as well as fun and imagination. I sometimes idly wonder what my life would have been like had I had an iPad when I was young. I definitely wouldn't have been outside as much I was. So, while I adore the iPad for so many things (especially grocery store trips and long car rides), I definitely don't want to let it take time away from usual kid things.

Summer Reading

I am always looking for good book suggestions and I love giving my own. I can talk about books more than anyone cares to listen. This summer, reading is a major activity in my home. My six year old is still learning this skill so we are hitting the books hard! So whether for leisure or learning check out these selections!