Movie & Chocolate Chip Cake

WOW...I was so excited to see the clock strike FIVE yesterday afternoon! This has been one exhausting week. Just work as usual, but for some reason I was so mentally and physically drained!!! SO drained that I treated myself to a girly movie last night with my friend, Angela. I wanted Wade to go with us, but he insisted that I go and have a good time. He didn't seem to mind staying behind with the kiddos, especially since we were going to see "He's just not that into you". ha! It was a cute movie and we had a good time. We got up bright and early this morning to get the housework done and then me and Annah Brooke ventured out and did a little shopping browsing. We didn't see too much for our liking so we headed to Wal-mart to get a few ingredients I needed for a cake that I was taking tonight to our small group get-together. This is the best chocolate cake! My mom, Sharon, passed this recipe along to me recently. I love new recipes, especially when the recipe doesn't call for 15 ingredients and it is easy to make.

Chocolate Chip Cake

Yellow Cake Mix
1 small package of chocolate instant pudding mix
8 oz. sour cream
6 oz. chocolate chip morsels
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs

With your mixer, mix cake mix, pudding, oil, water, sugar, & eggs.
Fold in sour cream and morsel mixing well with hand.
Pour into a greased bunt pan.

Bake at 350 for one hour. Take out and let cool in pan for 2o minutes.

No icing needed for this cake!!! It is so moist and delicious!

Enjoy!!

Hope you all are having a fantabulous weekend! I am off to bed...busy day tomorrow!

Change?!?!

Yes. I changed my look...AGAIN. I have issues.
I like change! Is that SO wrong?
No, actually my life is changing right before my eyes.
For the last few months, I've been able to come home from work everyday and cook, bake, sew, blog, clean, be lazy...you get the point. I've had no where to go, no where to be...Mommy heaven!!!
In just a few short days, I will be keeping the roads hot after work running between two boys playing baseball and the husband coaching both teams and the daughter in tumbling and cheer classes. Whew...That wears me out thinking about it. I love this time of year, but it is very draining.
So, the pictures you see in my new banner is what my life is all about! A husband, kids, baseball, & cheer! I really am NOT complaining. I love being on-the-go watching my kids enjoy life!
So...tell me what you think...Do you like the new, somewhat plain look??? OR not? You will not hurt my feelings...Give me some feedback. I am a little undecided if I am sold on my new look.

Have a happy Thursday...One more day closer to the weekend!!!! YIPEE!!!!

Laundry Fun

I have had SO much fun this afternoon doing laundry...Wait, did I really just say type that? Yes. I. Did. and NO, I have not been hit upside the head again by a dessert dish. I have honestly LOVED doing laundry today.

You see, sometimes in life we are not really thankful and appreciative of things until we do not have those things. We take these things for granted. Like a washing machine.

This past week my twenty something year old, hand-me-down washing machine (which we were very lucky to have from my MIL & FIL) "spinned its last spin". I was left with a washer full of water and a load of wet clothes. Not fun! It has been good to us even though I have NEVER enjoyed using it.
With a family of 5, laundry can pile up quickly if we do not do a load every day or two. Thanks to my friend, Angela, I was able to do a big load mid-week at her house while we shopped for a new one. Luckily, my parents were in town this weekend and they were able to go with us to pick up our new washer in my Dad's truck.

I have never been more excited about doing laundry. I had 7 loads waiting on me!

I can honestly say that the washing machine was missed this week and I am SOOO thankful to have one again! One more load to go and it will all be caught up just in time to start fresh this week!!

President Spears

Annah Brooke had to do a project the other day on a famous person. She had to write 10 facts about this person. Easy, right?! Well, I suggested Britney Spears....someone exciting, but we kept it clean and only put "good" facts about her.

Tonight me and Annah Brooke have this conversation:

AB: Mom, I forgot to tell you something
Me: What?
AB: I got a ZERO on my famous person project
ME: WHY?
AB: I also forgot to tell you that it was supposed to be on a president not Britney Spears
ME: OMG! YOU failed to tell me that!!!! BUT, considering that Monday was Presidents Day, I guess that would make sense. OMG, I bet you teacher thinks I am flat CRAZY
AB: Or stupid


Now, I am sitting here getting all giggled about this. Should I write a note to her teacher, send an email explaining what happened, or just leave it alone. I'm sure the teachers had fun with this one in the teachers lounge.....See....THIS is why I don't do homework!!!!

1st Date

It is hard to believe that we have a child old enough (well almost) to date. Friday night was a clear look into our very near future, a future that I can't say I am ready for...

Andrew had the Jr. High Valentine Dance at school Friday night. He has really been looking forward to it for over a month now. Andrew, Emily (his girlfriend), and another couple all went to Newk's for dinner and then on to the dance. We picked up Emily at her home and took pictures. Her mom was snapping away, I was snapping away and I clearly could see into our future of Senior Prom night. People have been telling me here lately that the next four years are going to fly by....I am starting to believe them. I have been having a hard time grasping that he is a teenager and now almost a freshman in HIGH school...Where does the time go???
We dropped them off at the restaurant where they met up with the other couple (along with a ton of other kids) and his friend's mother took them to the dance. Wade and I picked everyone up after the dance was over and dropped everyone off at home.

He had a great time~

Oh, and I forgot to blog about this, but if you look closely, you'll see that Andrew is wearing our electric bill braces now...lol (just kidding) :) Yep, a few weeks ago, he finally got braces. Those things are quite expensive if you didn't already know that!!! :o)

I'm in-love

Warning: Proud Aunt....Lots of pictures ahead!!!

I spent my Valentines today falling in love with my new niece, Reagan Presley. She is absolutely beautiful and SO tiny! We had a fun little photo shoot and I am sure she was probably ready for Aunt Mellie to leave. I took SO many pictures of this precious little girl and we were all very pleased with the outcome! She was a very cooperative 5 day old model! LOVE this one of her throwing the peace sign :)The birth announcement I made for her..

Annah Brooke loving on her new baby cousinUncle Wade is wrappedShe's got a grip on Uncle Wade's finger

We ended our day at Profits Porch (our favorite) to have our Valentines dinner. It was SO delicious! Thanks Nana Sharon!
Congratulations again Josh & Heather. You did good! She is wonderful!

Happy Love Day & movie

I got quite the surprise today at work. My sweet husband paid me a visit with these beautiful roses in hand. It has been some time since I last received flowers from him. Well, that sounded like I was knocking him....let me explain. He used to be very good at sending me flowers, but it got to the point that I expected them and it wasn't really a surprise when I received them...so he quit sending. *sniff sniff*
Well, let me say that he TOTALLY surprised me today and they are beautiful!! It really got me in the LOVE mood to start this Valentines weekend. Thank you Love! :)One another note, I have heard some really rave reviews on the movie Fireproof and I have been wanting to see it. So we stopped by the video store tonight on the way to pick up our teenager from his date Jr. High dance. I couldn't wait to get home and watch it. We just finished it and oh my, IT. IS. AWESOME!!!! I highly recommend this movie if you have not seen it or if you have seen it. It is definitely one of those movies that I could watch again and again. So go snuggle up with your honey and watch this amazing movie!
I hope you all have a happy LOVE day tomorrow. I'll be back soon!

Wade's Strawberry Cake

I just wanted to share this recipe in case you needed something yummy to make for your sweetie this Valentines. My cousin, Amy, shared this recipe with me years ago and it quickly became a family favorite, especially for Wade. He loves it SO much that I renamed it after him ;)

CAKE:
1 box white cake mix
1 small pkg strawberry jello
3 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup oil
1-10 oz. pkg strawberries (reserve 1/4 cup juice for frosting)

Combine ingredients in order listed mixing after each addition. Bake 350 for 40 min. Makes 2 layers or 1 tube or sheet pan (I use a bunt pan).

FROSTING:
1 stick butter (melted)
1 box confectioner sugar
1/4 cup juice
Cream butter and sugar, add juice until smooth.

ENJOY!

Love is in the air....

For the past few nights, I have been in the kitchen baking away. Wade and the kids love when this happens, but my hips don't. :)
I am ashamed to say type this, but I have never made a cake or cupcakes from scratch. I have always taken the easy way out and used the mix out of a box. For some time now, I have been wanting to venture out and literally make my cake/cupcake mix. So tonight, I did and I was very proud of the results! Chocolate Cupcakes

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, cocoa and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk; beat well. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full.

Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

Cream Cheese Icing

1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), room temperature
8 oz of Philly cream cheese (1 package), room temperature
3 cups of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

With an electric mixer, mix the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes on medium speed until very smooth. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
Add the vanilla extract and mix. Slowly add the powdered sugar. Keep adding until you get to desired sweetness.
Either spread on with a blunt knife or spatula, or spoon into a piping bag to decorate your cake or cupcake.

Enjoy!

Introducing....

Yep...I am a new aunt today! My brother and SIL, Josh and Heather, welcomed Reagan Presley Crowder into the world today. I hear BIG sister, Rylee, is very excited and trying to take it all in.

I spoke with her on the phone tonight and this was our conversation:


Me: Hello
Rylee: I got her..Reagan is here!
Me: You did? So she is here?
Rylee: Yep, she's here, we got her.
Me: Would you give her a kiss for me?
Rylee: well she is crying right now.
Me: Why is she crying?
Rylee: She wants her big sista


It is absolutely about to kill me not being able to be there and love all over this precious baby girl and see Rylee in "big sister" action. Saturday will not come soon enough for me! I will be spending this Valentines Day with the newest love of my life!!!!! :o)


CONGRATULATIONS Josh, Heather, & Rylee! She is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Love you all!!!!!!



Headed to the nursery to get cleaned up...

Nana & Rylee watching ReaganBig Sister Rylee watching through the glassI'd love to know what she was thinking!!!

Prayer Request

While blog hopping tonight, I stumbled upon this blog. This precious couple is suffering the loss of their sweet baby girl. Cora went home to be with Jesus this morning after a battle with cancer. I do not know this family, but my heart is aching for them right now. Please lift this couple and family up in prayer.

Belly shots

Last weekend I had the pleasure of taking some belly shots of my SIL, Heather. We She is expecting baby Reagan any day now and I can not wait to meet that sweet bundle of joy! Anywho, back to my belly shots. I absolutely LOVE doing these. They are so fun and special whether it is your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, (etc.) or last pregnancy.

I did my 1st belly session with Brandi several months ago and loved every minute of it. Since then, I have been looking so forward to Heather's belly shots.

You, my friends, are getting some really special treatment. FIRST preview. Heather has not even seen these photos! :) I think they turned out so good and I think she'll be pleased!

Here are some of my favorites! Enjoy!

6 lb dessert dish

How to get a brain injury:

-Make sure a 6 lb dessert dish is on top of the refrigerator

-If there is not one there, put one there

-Start tugging on the refrigerator to move it out

-BAM...You are probably wearing the dessert dish now.

*I'm kidding, PLEASE don't try this at home*

I was being little miss impatient yesterday (imagine that) and wouldn't wait on Wade to come help me move out the refrigerator (so I could clean behind it, behind him, a mess HE made..he dropped a big container of sugar everywhere) ...I gave it one good tug and BAM...I am literally wearing this darn dessert dish on my head then caught it with my foot. NOT FUNNY...I'm not sure what he heard to know it was a disaster in the kitchen, but he came running to the rescue. My head STILL hurts, but at least my dish didn't break. :)

February giveaway...

WOW...Is it really February 1st??? I have really slacked this month in the blogging department! I know, I know..You've missed me, but I am back!!!! *wink*

I have been a busy little bee with my new hobby! A hobby that I NEVER thought I'd have.

If you need a cute little happy for a friend, mom, MIL, teacher, co-worker, baby shower, etc....I'll help you out! I do offer custom orders so please email me at justbecausedesigns (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Valentines Day is right around the corner, so don't forget that special someone in your life!

Okay, now on to the fun stuff...As promised I plan on doing a monthly giveaway at Just Because Designs. Head on over THERE NOW and leave me a comment...YEP..That is all you have to do! Leave a comment by Friday, February 6th and the winner will be announced Saturday morning, February 7th.

Happy February!!!!

Reality Hits

I got quite the surprise Wednesday afternoon when I checked the mail. I opened up a letter addressed to me and Wade.
It was a letter from the high school informing us of the upcoming pre-registration for the class of 2013...Reality HIT!!! I mean I KNOW that I have a teenager that will be in high school in August, but seeing this ON PAPER....whew....It took me back for a second. I almost cried. It is SO hard to believe that our kids are half grown. I will have one in high school, one in middle school, and then one in upper elementary. Gosh....They grow SO fast! To all of you new parents or parents-to-be...ENJOY them!!!! They are grown in the blink of an eye!

Hunting is over...

Finally, hunting season is over for Wade and the boys. Although I have not minded them going as much this season, I am sort of relieved that it is over. From November to January, Wade's mind is focused on the little quack quacks ;) I do love that my 3 guys have that time together doing something they all enjoy. I also have to say that Wade has become quite the outdoor photographer. I have enjoyed looking through his photos when he gets home from hunting. This picture was taken Saturday morning while they were out. So gorgeous! I love it.

Till next season little duckies... your safe until then:)