Our First Birthday Girl

29 years ago we were so excited about the arrival of our first baby.  Back then (in the olden days) sonograms were not given routinely.  I had a wonderful pregnancy with no concerns or questions so I didn't get to have a sonogram. We had no idea if we were having a boy or a girl. 

We painted the nursery in a sunny yellow color and put up a wallpaper border of trees representing the four seasons.  It was such a warm cheerful baby's room.   Although we didn't know if we were having a boy or girl, most everyone else seemed pretty sure.

Friends and strangers alike would say "Oh, you are having a boy!"  Our Stake President had been predicting the gender of babies for years and had never been wrong.  He said "it's a boy".  Even the labor and delivery nurse told us she was pretty sure we were having a boy.

My parents were anxious with anticipation in the hospital waiting room.  After a very long labor, finally our first little baby was delivered.  Mark went out in the waiting room to tell family the news and announced, "It's a Girl!" 

Mark is always kidding around so at first they didn't even believe him.

Marci is the oldest of five children.  She's a great sister, daughter, wife and mother and (one of my dearest) FRIENDs! 
I don't know what I'd do without her♥

Happy Birthday Mrs. Marci Freeman!

Mike, Marci, Ella, Preston and Addie

Redesigning Downtown

Houstonians get to vote!

If you live in the Houston area, you might want to get in on a little "design" inspiration and fun!  Three of the city’s top Designers are competing in the, “Redesigning Downtown,” Style Competition at One Park Place, Downtown’s newest luxury apartments.  The designers are: Renea Abbott, Michael Stribling, and Chandos Dodson . Each have designed an apartment, and WE get to decide which one we like the best!  Tickets are $10 and benefit Discovery Green.

I would L♥VE to check it out. 

Thank You Thursday

There's nothing like cuddling up to someone you love!

Mindful Monday

 image via Design Ties

"Better keep yourself clean and bright. 

You are the window through which you must see the world."

                                                                                                                                                               — George Bernard Shaw

Yet Another

Try...

Saturday we planted some baby tomato plants.  

We're giving it another "go around".

I'm hoping I can make this

(with delicious fresh picked tomatoes).

Crab and Tomato Stack

via Southern Lady

Makes 8 servings

2 avocados, diced
1/4 cup finely chopped poblano pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided
1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 recipe Cumin Vinaigrette, divided (recipe follows)
1 (8-ounce) container crabmeat, picked for shells
2 small red tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 small orange tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 small yellow tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Garnish: fresh cilantro leaves


1. In a small bowl, combine avocados, poblano pepper, 1 tablespoon cilantro, red onion, salt, and 2 tablespoons Cumin Vinaigrette.
2. In a separate bowl, combine crabmeat, remaining 1 tablespoon cilantro, and 2 tablespoons Cumin Vinaigrette.
3. To assemble, layer red tomato slice, avocado mixture, orange tomato slice, crabmeat mixture, and yellow tomato slice. Top with about 1/2 tablespoon crabmeat mixture. Drizzle with additional Cumin Vinaigrette, and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves, if desired.

I don't know...maybe I'll just get some tomatoes at the grocery store tomorrow.

Happy Birthday

SCOTT

Thanks for being such a great son-in-law!

We love you♥

Have a Happy Day celebrating!

Easter Sweets

and such.

It seems I'm hooked on Candy Bars now.  The problem is I manage to walk through the dining room right by it several times a day.  For some reason I go that route to get anywhere in the house. hmmmmm  

I mixed in some "faux" goodies so the entire display wouldn't disappear before Easter!

A friend gave this little bunny for me 12 years ago. (Thanks Tammy!)

I thought he could pass as a yummy little chocolate bunny.

I found this one at Marshalls last month.

But Martha has a way to make your own

See how HERE

or better yet

Edible Chocolate Bunnies

Get the How-to

Birthday Wishes!

TODAY 

is 

Cheryl's Birthday!

"the girls"

marci, kayley, cheryl (aka mrs. miner)& hope

We love you!

Thank You Thursday-Kindness

"Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known. Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes...Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes." 
--Joseph B. Wirthlin,, "The Virtue of Kindness", Ensign, May 2005, 26

"Top of the Mornin'

 

I thought it would be fun to have a St. Patty Dinner tonight.  

I used to make this all the time.  Yummy comfort food.

Shepherd's Pie 

 

 This one's from 

Martha Stewart

or maybe I should try this

Skillet Shepherd's Pie Recipe

via Woman's Day 

Add a garden salad and some "green" bread 
and you're in LUCK~ 

Looking for a St. Patty "cupcake" ?

Recipe and Picture via 

Tickled Pink Cupcakery

Shamrock Shake Cupcakes

(makes 2 dozen cupcakes)

For the Cake:

• 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour (if you don't have any, you can make your own) 
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 
• 2 cups sugar 
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature 
• 1 cup milk 
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 2 teaspoons mint extract (regular mint, not peppermint)few drops of green food coloring

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Combine flours in a large bowl. 
3. In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar, beat 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4.  Add flour in three parts, alternating with the milk/extracts in two.
5.   Add food coloring until fulling incorporated, but don't over mix- a drop or two will do for a light green color. 
6. Pour into baking cups. 
7. Bake 20-25 minutes.
   

For the frosting:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened 
• 6-8 cups confectioners' sugar 
• 1/2 cup milk 
• 2 tsp mint extract 
• a few drops green food coloring
  

Cream butter, 4 cups sugar, milk, and mint. Add more sugar to reach desired consistency. Add food coloring until fully incorporated.

For the Fondant Shamrocks:

Find the fondant recipe Tickled Pink Cupcakery uses here.

Add a bit of green food coloring (gel works better than liquid when working with fondant) and knead into your fondant, making sure to add plenty of powdered sugar to prevent it from sticking to your mat. When you reach the desired color, roll flat with a rolling pin to about 1/4''(I use a plastic fondant roller to reduce sticking). To make the shamrocks, I cut out a paper stencil and traced around it with a knife, then finished shaping it with my fingers. If you can find a small shamrock cutter, that would work, too.

 More "lucky" Cupcakes

 HERE

Goodies for Mom

Usually when I ask my mom what gift she'd like for her birthday.  She says, "You don't need to get me a gift.  I have everything I need".  This year, however, she had two requests. I was so excited!

(1) She asked if I'd make her an apron.
I went to the quilt shop in Katy to look for BLUE and YELLOW fabric.

I pre-washed it and as I was pulling it out of the dryer, Hope came in the laundry room and said, "I know who those will be for!"  That was a good sign.  They are definitely "HER".

 

(2)For her cake, she requested another ice cream cake.  She wanted it to have coconut and pineapple ice cream .... "and you know I love raspberries" , she added.

I went all over town looking for coconut ice cream, sherbet, sorbet or the liking ... no luck. I was telling a friend about my dilemma and she came up with a brilliant solution.  She said why don't you add coconut to some pineapple sherbet and do a layer with raspberry.

Waa Laa!

"Coconut Raspberry Ice Cream Cake"

aka Coconut Raspberry Frog Pie

(Years ago,my cute dad (also known as Frog) made a frozen pie with a graham cracker crust and strawberries mixed into vanilla ice cream .  We loved it and named it "Frog Pie")

Ingredients:

• 1 qt. raspberry sherbert
• 1 1/2 qt. pineapple sherbet 
• 1 cup coconut
• fresh raspberry (can use frozen raspberries) 
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 2 packs from the box)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 6 T. melted butter

Directions:

Remove sherbets from the freezer.  Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter.  Press in the bottom of a spring form pan to make a crust.  (Reserve a portion to layer between sherbet.)

In a large bowl combine raspberry sherbet , pineapple sherbet (to taste) and raspberries.  Mix until blended and spoon onto the graham cracker crust.

Place cake in freezer until sherbet layer is firm.  Remove from freezer and sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over the top . Put cake in the freezer.  

Stir (slightly melted)pineapple sherbet in a big bowl until smooth.  Add coconut (to taste).

Spread pineapple coconut mixture over graham cracker layer and return cake to the freezer.

Freeze cake for a minimum of 6 hours.

To serve, garnish the top with fresh raspberries.

Let stand for about 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

The Birthday Girl l♥ved it.

(we all did!)

Thanks Heather!

 

In a pinch?

 Need something green?
How cute is this!

Shamrock Boutonnieres

Instructions for Shamrock Boutonnieres

Happy Birthday

Today is my  

Mom's Birthday!