This one takes the cake!

Sometimes, a celebratory occasion warrants it.  Sometimes, your hormones require it.  Maybe, your family asks for it.  And, often times, it can be any combination of reasons.  Bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.  When you want it or when you need it, just make it!

Tonight, I can probably justify my urge to bake with two of the above reasons.  But, regardless, it just sounded good, I had all the ingredients on hand, and I'm not sure anything was going to stop me!

When I first became a wife, I secretly thought it was shameful to make a cake from a box.  I mean, what 'real' wife would do such a thing?!?  After all, all good wives wear aprons, and lipstick, and heels while they cook meals for their husband - all after putting in a 9 hour day at the office themselves.  A real wife uses only the best of ingredients, and wouldn't dare buy a prepackaged mix of any kind.  But, after several failed, and expensive, attempts at the homemade versions, I quickly came to the conclusion that 1) for the price, 2) the simplicity, and 3) the overall taste, you can't beat a good 'ole boxed cake mix!  Truth be known, that Betty Crocker sure knows how to make some great tasting, crowd pleasing, moist and delicious treats!  So, tonight, I found no shame, nonewhatsoever, in making myself (er, my family) a strawberry cake. 

I did have a slight issue with making a cake this evening...  no icing.  But, I knew I had cream cheese, other baking essentials, and the Internet..  So, I started searching online for a cream cheese-based icing.  Not sure that is what you're supposed to make for a strawberry cake, but I figure cream cheese icing can make anything taste better!  I found several recipes, but nothing matched the increments of the ingredients I had on hand.  So, I made some slight adjustments to the several recipes I found online and came up with a delicious concoction.

And, so, this cream cheese icing definitely takes the cake!  It's so simple, and yet, so perfect.  I will use this for my carrot cake, the PW Red Velvet Cake, and any other cream cheese icing-worthy treats in the future.  I hope you enjoy!

Cream Cheese Icing

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. butter, softened

2 t. vanilla

1/4 t. salt

3 cups powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla and salt until well mixed.  Gradually add powdered sugar until desired consistency.  Spread on a cooled cake or refrigerate slightly for a firmer icing.

Oh, and all that fantasy wife stuff isn't realistic.  This is not 1950 and we work as partners.  Okay, he doesn't bake, but we share most household and parenting tasks.  Except mowing the lawn - he does that and I don't really care if I ever learn!  :)

You should all make yourselves a cake this week, just because!  If you need an excuse, you can tell yourself that you need to try a new icing recipe, or maybe you just need one to make a bad day better.  I'm going to go cut myself a piece of strawberry cake with cream cheese icing now.  And, tomorrow, I'm going to take one for breakfast, to enjoy with a nice cup of coffee. 

'Sweet' dreams, goodnight!



The blazer is back!

Time to dust off your old, navy blazers...  this trend is back!  Not your "Old Navy" blazers, but your old (as in the past, ancient, prior) blazers.

True, I have been seeing celebrities and catalogs featuring cute blazers and tailored jackets lately.  My mom kept telling that I should pull out my old JCrew navy blazer, insisting that this trend is back.  I didn't believe her so I decided to do some research.  Well, she was right.

In InStyle magazine's featured Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, he lists one of the must-haves as a fitted blazer.  Tim says, "No single item of apparel dresses up a look better than a blazer. You're doing Saturday catch-up at the office in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, when your boss calls to thank you with an invitation to lunch. Can you think of a better save?"  How to wear this look?  "Pull it over a feminine blouse and perfect-fit jeans for the weekend or a textured skirt for work."


Here is evidence that this is definitely back:

Love Pippa!

Cute and casual

Ann Taylor LOFT

JCrew

A Forever 21 find...  only $27.80

Banana Republic

Equestrian

Your blazer certainly doesn't have to be navy.  I just think any tailored jacket is a great way to dress up an outfit.  Especially jeans - I love the way it gives that extra tailored look.  Even paired over a simple tank or tee is super cute!  It's definitely a must have in my closet.  And in my mom's closet.  I should have just listened to her in the first place.  After all, Mom always knows best!

Fabulessly Frugal... Extreme Buying vs. Extreme Saving

Note: This was taken directly from one of the coupon blogs I follow, Fabulessly Frugal.  I thought it was great information and wanted to share!

Extreme Buying vs. Extreme Saving

Reader Question: You repeatedly remind readers not to clear shelves but you also talk extensively about building a large stockpile and shopping from our pantry. How can I create a large stockpile without buying mass quantities when the price is a stock up price?

Excellent question! To understand the answer you must first understand the difference between extreme buying and extreme saving.  Saving money on an extreme level doesn’t necessarily mean you have to purchase on an extreme level. If you only buy 1 box of brownies and 1 box of pasta and get both items free, you have saved money on an extreme level! And you have not have purchased anywhere near what one would consider an extreme amount.

So how will that 1 box of pasta and 1 box of brownies fill your pantry? It won’t! But let’s say you buy 2 or 3 of each item during one shopping trip and 2 or 3 of each item the next shopping trip. I bake brownies once a month. I now have a 6 month supply in my pantry after 2 shopping trips!

Suddenly your measly shopping trip full of extreme savings but not extreme buying is making more sense and seeming more doable!  A few small shopping trips like the one mentioned above and you will slowly see your pantry shelves filled. Not overnight. Building a stockpile takes time and patience.

It is hard to see the shopping trips on Extreme Couponing and not want to go duplicate them to fill your pantry to the brim in one trip to the store. But like we’ve said and like the actual couponers on the show will attest to, that’s not reality. Most of the stockpiles you see featured on Extreme Couponing took a lot of time to build. Years even.

I’ve been couponing for years and my pantry looks nothing like the ones shown. But I also have no need for a pantry like that. I have 2 small children and a husband to feed. For those who have many more mouths to feed, the way I shop might not be realistic. For instance, if you bake 2 pans of brownies a week you would need to place an order to have enough brownie mix in your pantry to last you a year. For my family, that is not necessary.

My stockpile is small, but sufficient for us. I know what we will use and I know what I like having on hand. I also know that if I miss a sale, we’ll most likely see another in a few months. I shop small and consistently. And that is enough for me. I am an extreme saver, which makes me an extreme couponer. But I am not an extreme buyer.  And my pantry is still full! You know what they say: slow and steady wins the race!!

A link to Fabulessly Frugal's blog can be found HERE.  I especially like their articles.  Keep in mind, though, that they are not located in Oklahoma, so some of the store deals that they post, for example, might not apply.

A Wedding Brunch

This morning, my two older boys and I went to the most beautiful outdoor wedding.  Our dear friends Kyra and Peter exchanged vows in the wedding gardens of The Dominion House in Guthrie, OK.  It was an 11:00 ceremony, followed by a lovely brunch reception.  The weather was gloomy, rainy and humid in Oklahoma on Friday, but God certainly had this sweet couple in mind for their special day - the weather was absolutely perfect today!  Sunny, warm, light breeze, and not a cloud in the sky! 

This was the setting of the wedding this morning:

Another view of the ceremony location:

If you've never been to The Dominion House, I would encourage you to go by if you're ever in the vicinity of Guthrie, Oklahoma.  Its history makes it especially cool.  The Dominion House was built in 1923 as a masonic children's home. The home was occupied until 1978 when it was closed due to changes in the Oklahoma foster care law. After that it remained vacant until 2000, when it was purchased and renovated.  This beautiul old building has always been rumored to be haunted, and once upon a time was a place where teenagers would sneak onto the property during the many years of vacancy.  But, I know NOTHING about that, nor do I know anyone that would've done such a thing...  :) 

Today, this is a gorgeous building surrounded by well manicured gardens and lovely architectural details.  It's definitely a site to see, especially in the spring! 

Here are a few pictures of the building, showing some of the surrounding landscape:

More on The Dominion House can be found on their website, http://www.dominionhouseguthrie.com/

The reception was held in the ballroom immediately following the ceremony.  I loved, loved, loved the reception.  I really love weddings, but I especially enjoy experiencing fun and new ideas for the ceremony and reception.  I have been to afternoon weddings before but I can't remember ever going to a morning wedding.  And now, I'm totally in love with this idea.  Of course, I'm already married, but it's still fun to share this idea, and all the reasons why I loved it. 

We've all probably been to wedding receptions with heavy hors d'oeuvres, a buffet style dinner, lots of wine and dancing.  These are some of my favorite weddings, and I've had the privilege of celebrating with several friends this way on their special day.  Today's ceremony and reception, though, was refreshing and a fun way to change things up a bit, at least from what I've experienced in the past.  It was light, fresh, and perfect in many ways. 

First, the food was perfectly layed out in the room, and there was something for everyone.  There was a breakfast buffet, complete with a large, cascading fruit spread that included watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries, pineapple, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, and much more.  Other buffet items included breakfast potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and biscuits and gravy.  In the main room, there were several different food and beverage stations.  There was a juice and drink station, where fresh grapefruit juice, milk and tea was available.  There was a "made to order" waffle area, complete with fresh berries, whipped cream, and syrup, among other toppings.  I don't know for sure, but it looked to me as though omelettes were also an option.  My personal favorite was the gourmet coffee bar, with every flavor and brew available.  Cappucino, expresso, lattes - you name it, it was there!  Even 'to go' cups of joe were available!  Finally, my boys favorite area was a large tiered tray of donuts!  All kinds - sprinkles, glazed, cake, sugared, chocolate, vanilla, etc.  The boys were in heaven!  They each had two donuts and a glass of milk.  Oliver also had bacon :)  Breakfast of champions, right!?!

The food was delicious, the setting was perfect, and the room was filled with lots of love for this sweet couple.  The celebration was about them, and the beginning of their lives together.  I'm all for a fun party when the time is right, but sometimes, that kind of party doesn't fit.  Today, this celebration was just right!  I especially loved spending time with my two favorite 4-year olds.  It was a great, great day!

As we left, we took a walk back through the gardens, where I took advantage of the beautiful setting.  Below is my favorite picture from today: