Mindful Monday

"May I share with you a formula that in my judgment will help you and help me to journey well through [life]... First, fill your mind with truth; second, fill your life with service; and third, fill your heart with love."
~Thomas S. Monson

This is what I'm making for Father's Day!

 (one for Mark and one for Frog)

Key Lime Ice Cream Pie

aka Key Lime Frog Pie

Coastal Living, MAY 2010 

Ingredients

• 1 2/3  cups  sugar, divided
• 1 2/3  cups  heavy cream
• 1  cup  whole milk
• 1/4  cup  light corn syrup
• 1  vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise
• 1 1/4  cups  graham cracker crumbs
• 5  tablespoons  unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4  cup  sugar
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• 8  large egg yolks
• 1  teaspoon  Key lime zest
• 1 1/4  cups  fresh Key lime juice
• Garnishes: Key lime slices, sweetened whipped cream

Preparation

1. Combine 1 cup sugar and next 3 ingredients in a large saucepan. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean; add seeds and bean to milk mixture. Bring to a boil over high heat. Immediately remove from heat, and let stand 30 minutes. Remove and discard vanilla bean.
2. Combine graham cracker crumbs and next 4 ingredients in a medium bowl, tossing until well blended. Press crumbs into a 9-inch glass or ceramic pie plate to form an even crust. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes or until firm to the touch; cool completely, and set aside.
3. Beat egg yolks in a large bowl. Slowly whisk 1 cup warm cream mixture into egg yolks. Add egg mixture to remaining cream mixture, whisking constantly.
4. Cook cream mixture over medium heat, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until mixture reaches 160° and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat; pour through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a bowl. Cool custard completely, stirring occasionally.
5. Combine remaining 2/3 cup sugar and Key lime zest and juice in a bowl, stirring until sugar dissolves. Stir lime juice mixture into cooled custard. Transfer custard to an ice cream maker, and process according to manufacturer's directions.
6. Mound ice cream into prepared crust. Freeze pie 4 hours or overnight. Garnish, if desired.

Cute Coupons

Father's Day Coupons

My husband always LOVES these!
Give him coupon booklet filled with unbelievable deals for Father's Day:
100 percent off a lawn mowing, car washing, delicious breakfast, and more.

Martha Stewart Living June 2004

Coupon Booklet How-To
Print the coupon template. (You can also duplicate them on a color photocopier if necessary.) Then cut them out. To decorate the cover, we used a 1 1/4-inch round craft punch to create a hole that frames the coupon picture underneath. Here are a few more presentation ideas:
1. Fasten Cut card stock to the same size for a cover; stack on top of coupons. With a standard hole punch, make a hole in the upper-left corner of the stack; insert a paper fastener. 2. Sew Cut a cover, and place on top of coupons. Secure stack with paper clips; machine-sew along the left side (use the dotted lines as a guide). 3. Staple
Cut card stock to 2 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches. Fold end of strip over 3/4 inch; slide coupons inside flap, and staple though its center. Bend opposite end of cover over coupons, and insert under flap (like a matchbook cover); crease.

Click HERE for printable Coupon Books

from Better Homes and Garden

Have tiny kids?

Father's Day Coloring Page

Thank You Thursday - Red Velvet

Are you familiar with Red Velvet Cake?  I think maybe it is a Southern/Texas thing. We had never even heard of it before we moved here. 

It is Hope's favorite!

I think she first tasted it at Chrissy and Zack's wedding reception. Chrissy's Red Velvet Wedding Cake was beautiful and delicious!

 pictures via "The Life of Chrissy"

Whenever Hope gets to have a cupcake from one of our favorite spots,CRAVE, she ALWAYS chooses Red Velvet.

For her birthday cake she requested, Red Velvet.

....look what I found the other day at Randalls.

Who would've ever thought in  a million years!

Little Debbie® Petites Red Velvet Cakes are genuine,
moist red velvet cakes topped with creme cheese flavored
icing. Each perfectly portioned serving is individually
wrapped in a six count carton.

June 10 = 16

Another 
Birthday
~ Shout Hooray! ~

 Sunday, we celebrated Scotto's 16th Birthday

 He wanted Taco Soup, Quesadillas, Chips and Salsas and Guacamole

He asked Kassandra to make his birthday cake.  

She makes deelicious desserts.

She made an Oreo IceCream Cake and it was REALLY good!

We have no idea what Scott wished for?

P.S. THANKS Marci and Mike ♥(our resident photographers)♥

Daily Affirmations

 I have been busy, which is a "good thing" but sometimes I let myself get caught up in a whirlwind worrying about the less important things AND when that happens, I get discouraged. Prayer is wonderful.  What a blessing to know you have someone that will listen to you at any time and not only that,completely understands everything you're feeling. I love prayer.

Recently, I found myself in that yucky mode of  feeling overwhelmed,hence my post "17 Most Important Things to Remember in Life".  I actually did make copies of that reminder.  I am very much visually inspired. I have a copy on the bulletin board right in front of my computer. I love the little motto: “Keep Calm & Carry On.” It was  a phrase used in England during World War II, but it works perfectly as a daily affirmation for me. I really believe in the power of mind over body. I know we can change a lot of what we're experiencing by changing our mind set and energy patterns.

I realize not everyone believes in all of this silliness (Cheryl word ♥). That's okay I still love you.  

BUT if you do, you'll love this adorable little girl.

(non-believers can watch her too, she's that cute)

She gets it!

Jessica's Daily Affirmation

April Birthday Girl Celebration

Pictures from Marci and Hope's Birthday Celebration

(Thanks Marci and Mike)

Both Birthday Girls were treated to a cupcake from "Crave" during their birthday week.

Hope got Red Velvet (of course)

Traditional Texas red cocoa cake with sweet cream cheese frosting

and Marci got Flourless Chocolate (gluten free), which she loved!

Rich dark chocolate flourless cupcakes with dark chocolate butter cream frosting and topped with chocolate sprinkles. 

 

original post date 4/30 

Mindful Monday - 17 Things

17 Most Important Things to Remember in Life

1. Never give up on anybody, miracles happen everyday.
2. Be brave even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.
3. Think big thoughts, relish small pleasures.
4. Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly
5. Never deprive someone of hope, it might be all they have.
6. Strive for excellence, not perfection.
7. Don’t waste time grieving over past mistakes. Learn from them and move on.
8. When someone hugs you let them be the first to let go.
9. Never cut what can be untied.
10. Don’t expect life to be fair.
11. Remember: Success comes to the one that acts first.
12. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
13. Remember that nobody makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who help you.
14. Never underestimate the power of a kind word or deed.
15. Laugh a lot. A good sense of humor cures almost all of life’s ills.
16. Don’t miss the magic of the moment by focusing on whats to come.
17. Watch for big problems. They disguise big opportunities.

Mindful Monday - Patience

"Patience"

by President Uchtdorf

The passage on patience that spoke to me the most was the following:

Patience is "far more than simply waiting for something to happen--patience require[s] actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results [don't] appear instantly or without effort.

"There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can--working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!" (Ensign, May 2010, 56-59).

Today

via macaronn

 Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence. ~ Aristotle

Meet Me for Lunch

Happy June!
Isn't this the sweetest little get away spot

with the charming  house and pretty garden

and in what looks like an enchanted forest of course.

source