Breakfast......

This is ridiculous....... well, at least they are baked.

Finally Painting..........

Whitewashing is alot like painting with milk. I have got more on me and the carpet than on these walls! If anyone's looking to make some money, come on over. I will pay you lots of money to finish this project. Can you only imagine what will happen when I paint the ceiling???? So far, it looks great. It's a long process but I know it will be well worth it.

Help!!

This is my inspiration room! Hopefully after the martha reject is finished with this project, it will look like the above picture. Well, minus the $50,000 in furniture!

I am about to do something dangerous..... I am wanting to whitewash my sun room. I have never whitewashed anything! I have searched online for articles and videos and I really haven't come up with much. I know that I need to use 1 part paint 4 parts water. So... do you have any tips for me? Email me if you have advice to lend!

This is what my walls look like right now. Although my sunroom's
planks run vertically and we have windows that line the room not doors.
I would take a picture of the real room but it is a wreck!

The Bachelorette

Last night I went to a Bachelorette Finale party (thank you Angie!). We celebrated in style with our veils, thanks to Gaye, and our fans, thanks to Maddy, that showed our picks. I think all of us, with the exception of Teresa, were for Ed. Of course Ed was the lucky one, how lucky, I'm not so sure. I had a blast and I thank all the girls that made it such an awesome night!

Preface: I usually can't stand these dating shows but for some reason this season I was HOOKED! Hopefully that will be the last of that!

Our fans with the "roses" for the final rose ceremony.

Ohhhh......... Kypton's stomach. Seriously, our jaws were dropped pretty much the whole show when he graced the screen.

Awesome gift idea!

Silhouettes are really big right now in the crafting sphere. I have been thinking about doing a couple of crafts with them. This Etsy shop makes the most beautiful items that just make me SMILE!! Jeez..... If only I could be that freaking crafty... let's see how long my cats will stand still so I can trace their profiles. I'll make lockets for them. Sounds crazy, but I promise my husband would be the first to wear one. So he could always have "the boys" with him. Remember, we are sick cat people, without kids! If you need an awesome gift visit their shop. You can send your picture in and they will create the silhouette profile. Aren't these stinkin cute??

Want a quick dish to take to a party?

Hummus is not only a super quick recipe for a party but it is low in calories and it is heart healthy and super rich in Omega 6 fatty acids (“essential” fats that your body needs but can’t produce). I always buy it at the Co-Op in a powder form and add the olive oil. Tonight I thought I would make it from scratch since I had 6 cans of garbanzo beans! It literally took me less than 2 minutes to make this recipe. My favorite pairing with it is of course a warm Greek pita bread. That option isn't that healthy..... carrots, cucumbers, and even granny smith apples are wonderful with it. I have found that people either LOVE or HATE hummus. There seems to be no in between. I could literally eat the whole thing in one sitting. Ugh.... If you are looking everywhere for the Tahini (paste made from sesame seeds) go to the Co-Op or a International Foods store. They will definitely have it there.

• 2 cups canned garbanzo beans, drained
• 1/3 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon salt (don't add anymore than this! You can also do a 1/2 and be just fine)
  
• 2 cloves garlic, halved (I like to cook my garlic a little before adding it)
  
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pinch paprika
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley

1. Place the garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, salt and garlic in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Transfer mixture to a serving bowl.
2. Drizzle olive oil over the garbanzo bean mixture. Sprinkle with paprika and parsley.

Summer Showers...............

Saturday night Ry and I went out with some friends who were in town. We went to Global Gourmet with full intentions of sitting outside and enjoying a summer evening. About 30 minutes into dinner a summer shower decided to make an appearance and we had to literally RUN inside where there was 1 table left! After dinner Heather and I had to get a chocolate martini which are our favorites! Last time we were together we had 4 a piece. Let me tell you, that was a great morning the next day! They are just so good! We always have so much fun with these guys. It's a shame we don't live closer! Thanks guys for the great evening!

Heather and I prior to the downpour

Dax and Heather

Ry and I, jeez..... golfing everyday sure will give you a good tan. I look like a vampire face.

My Husband...............

This is why I love my husband. He took a design idea I had and turned it into a scary looking math equation. Take note of the letters and numbers up in the top right hand corner. Makes me have nightmare flashbacks from my freshman year of high school. One of the many reasons why I love him.

Bibs & Burpcloths

Here is a set of my most recent burp cloths and bibs. I think that they might be my favorite yet. The bibs were made with the coordinating fabric and pink minky on the backside (super fuzzy soft material). I just love how they turned out!! I recently had some garment labels made for my little creations and sewed them on too! I just know I will have all boys. Sad because I could just cover my whole house with this pink and green damask fabric!!

Maybe this shouldn't be funny......

Want to know who this is? This is Melissa Farley. I searched Facebook for other Melissa Farley's and she came up. Does anyone remember that scary preacher guy from the Poltergeist movies? This lady reminds me of him. It's the hat I'm sure.

New Look!

So do you like the new look???? Danielle at http://thedesigngirlstudio.com/ designed this for me! I love the little cook. This new design pokes fun at my numerous attempts at trying to learn how to cook, sew, and whatever else I pick up along the way.

At first I hated cooking, mainly because I had never had an interest in it. Case and point: My good friend Todd and I started a grease fire in Home Ec. and I started to throw a bowl of water on it. My teacher thankfully stopped me. He and I also baked bread and found a band aid in it. I can't remember who's it was. Needless to say, I have improved over the 11 years since Home Ec. I have come to really like cooking!!

With the new look comes new additions to my blog. New things to come very soon! Thank you for stopping by and taking a look! I appreciate my blog family so so much! Thank you!

Everyone needs a little Champaign...........

The city that is...... It's amazing to get away from Southern Illinois and surround yourself in a city that has fun restaurants, shops, resources. You know, finer amenities. I ran into Ten Thousand Villages before I left for home this afternoon. This shop is a nonprofit fair trade organization that markets handcrafted products made by artisans from more than 130 artisan groups in 38 countries. The proceeds go back to their villages and communites. I wanted this hand woven basket and carried it around for a while. Then I saw this bag and I put the basket back. It is a hand woven bag from Bangladesh by a group of women who started weaving these bags for their community. It's huge! I can't wait to use it at the grocery store. It's better than having 7 or 8 of the fabric bags. I swear all of our groceries will fit in this one bag. I then went to Cakes on Walnut. It's a cupcake bar with very unique cupcake flavors. I got a Khalua one and a lavendar honey one. They were fantastic! So I'm finally home. It was so nice to get away even by myself! I made a lot of great contacts and did several in-services. I'm excited to see the results that might come through this trip!

A night with an old friend......

Here are the pictures of the other night when Renee and I went out for dinner. We went to the most amazing restaurant in uptown Normal. It was called Medici. The servers have "Obama eats here" on the back on their shirts. I asked what that was about and she told me that he eats at the Chicago location! We ate a delicious dinner and reminisced about the college days. We went back to her home where her 2 sons were quietly sitting eating their evening snack. They were the most well behaved little boys I have ever met. I'm not surprised though. Renee and Tim are such great parents. Tim watched the baby Mollie, Bennie, & Sammie while we ate. He is an amazing dad who was very happy to let his wife take a night off! Thanks Ren for our dinner date! Give the kids a hug from me!!!

Seriously, could we smile any harder??

Renee, Tim, and Mollie

The Kresel Boys, Bennie & Sammie

The t-shirts

This is the inside of the restaurant. This tree was beautiful!

Home Away From Home..............

This morning I traveled to Champaign for business. This evening I drove to Bloomington to have dinner with my old college roomate Renee. Some of you might not know that I went to school in Bloomington back in 2001. It was so amazing to think this was home for me for a couple of years. It felt great to be back. Even more wonderful was my time spent with Renee. She and I see each other about twice a year but we always pick up where we left off. Three weeks ago she and her husband Tim had Miss Molly Elizabeth, a beautiful little girl who is the spitting image of her two older brothers! I took several pictures this evening but forgot my cord to upload. I will upload when I get home later in the week. Tonight we went to the most wonderful place for dinner. Thanks Renee for taking me out on the town. It was amazing to see your beautiful family again!!! Signing off from my favorite hotel in Champaign, the I Hotel!! Good night friends.

Mia Marie Meyer....

Miss Mia had her first photo shoot. Bella Pics is what they have at Mich's hospital. Seriously, why doesn't Carbondale have this?? Here are some pictures of this new family!

Baby Meyer is a................

GIRL!!!!! Everyone said that she was a boy the whole time. I knew she was in there. Miss Mia Meyer weighed in at 8lbs 5oz and 21 inches. Congratulations to the new Meyer Family!!!!!! I can't wait to see more pictures!!

Look what showed up in my inbox!

Andy was so kind to send me this picture of them last night at the hospital! Right now Michele is at 4cm and she is loving the epidural!

You asked for it, don't say I didn't warn you!

Pink Lemondae Cupcakes adapted from Confessions of a Foodie Bride

Next, I am trying out the Margarita Cupcake. I'll let you know how it works out! By the way these cupcakes were baked on Tuesday and they are all gone!

Here are my tips for this recipe. I only used 7 oz of the concentrate and 2 oz of water. The concentrate is pretty strong! But if you like that go for the full 9 oz! I also added 2 tbs of crisco to the frosting along with a little more salt to taste.

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

1 1/8 cup (9 oz) frozen Pink Lemonade Concentrate, thawed*

White cake mix (yes, the boxed stuff)

3 egg whites

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

Non-stick spray1 recipe

* For a less tart cupcake (and these babies do pack a punch), try reducing the amount of pink lemonade. 3/8 cup water and 3/4 cup pink lemonade will cut the tartness.

In a stand mixer, add the cake mix, egg whites, vegetable oil, and the pink lemonade concentrate. Mix on low for about 30 seconds and then increase to medium speed for 90 seconds (the batter will still be a bit lumpy; take care not to overmix so you don’t end up with dry cupcakes).Spray each cupcake liner with the non-stick spray and spoon the batter into a prepared muffin pan (fill the cups between 2/3 and 3/4 full). Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Watch because they dry out fast! Remove the cupcakes and cool completely on a baking rack. Once the cupcakes have cooled, make the icing and ice the cupcakes.
Lemon Buttercream Icing

3 cups + 3 Tbsp confectioners sugar

1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature

1/8 tsp salt

2 Tbsp lemon

Add the butter, confectioners sugar, salt, lemon juice, and food coloring (if using) to the stand mixer and mix on low using the paddle attachment until combined. Turn the speed to med-high until the icing is fluffy. Add the icing to a pastry bag fitted with a 2D tip and ice the cupcakes.

Why I keep visiting my fridge this evening...........

I made lemon bars on Monday. Ryan doesn't care for lemon so they are patiently sitting in my fridge begging to be eaten! Ahhh... I can't stop eating these things! They are so fantastic. Oh and by the way, my weight loss has come to a dramatic hault! Hmm... I wonder why? Damn gooey sugar, gets me every time!

Baby Meyer, what will you be?

Tonight my one of my best friend's from college is going into the hospital to be induced. Andy and Michele have waited 9 months to find out whether Baby Meyer is a boy or girl. My guess is a GIRL! She lives 5 hours away so it will be a while until I get to see the new family. I am anxiously waiting for the phone call to tell me who this new baby is!!!! I'll keep you posted! I went to the hospital today to visit someone and the lullaby ring came over the speakers twice alerting us to 2 new babies born today. I got a little teary eyed. Wish I could be there with you Mich. I'm sending warm and cozy thoughts to the both of you.

Craft of the week..

This evening I visited a fantastic antique store on my way home from work. I have been wanting to do this chalkboard craft for a long time and today I found some wonderful trays to try it out! All of the loot I got below was found in 2 booths that were marked 1/2 off! I bought 6 pieces of silver and two Ball Jars for $37.00! It was a steal!

I collect blue Ball Jars. I bought a 1/2 gallon one and an hinged lid oneSo this is what I did with one of my serving trays....

I painted it with chalkboard paint and

made some magnets out of seashells! I can't wait to

use this for different holidays and birthdays! Super Cute!!

My inspiration of the day........

Pink Lemonade..... the perfect drink for hot summer days.

I turned this fabulous drink into CUPCAKES!! Let me tell you, they are fantastic!! Pink Lemonade cupcakes with lemon zest buttercream frosting! Seriously, how am I suppose to lose weight when all I do is bake?

A 5k in St. Louis

My friend Lindsey and I ran the first ever St. Louis MLB AllStar 5k today! It benefited 3 cancer foundations. The woman who founded the Susan G. Komen foundation was there to speak prior to the race. She told us that when her sister died of breast cancer she promised her that she would fight to end cancer. Look what an amazing and huge foundation it has become! It was pretty moving. ( I cried at least 3 times prior to the race and once during it! I'm pretty sure I was freaking Lindsey out!) There were lots of families running in memory of loved ones lost to cancer. One was running for their little boy. That's when I lost it. The most amazing part is that over 8,000 people ran!!!! How crazy is that??? I shaved off 1 minute from my last race, 34 mins. Lindsey as always, finished way before me at 27 mins. She's awesome. The guys came up to cheer us on and to of course snap photos. It was an awesome weekend. My next goal is to run the 10k they have in STL at Halloween. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Doing some pre-race drinking. Pretty sure this is what most athletes do.

Lindsey talked me into joining her night before a race

ritual. Drinking some Metamucil. I can't say that it worked as well as I hoped! I had to snap this photo. Our hotel was amazing

and huge! I love the size comparison of Lindsey to our windows!This was at the start of the race. People were lined up farther than I could see behind us!Ugh.... Flattering picture of me crossing the finishline. Yikes.Us after the race with our fancy participant medals. Our after race eating at Cracker Barrel Eli and Lindsey