Chocolate Cherry Cake Balls

Thanks to Mckmama's blog for the recent post on snow pops, I got the idea to experiment with cake balls/pops for my mother's birthday. With her favorite sweet treat in mind, chocolate covered cherries, I came up with a plan. They turned out really great and delish! I hope she likes them as much as I do! Here is the recipe that I threw together. 1 box Devil's food cake mix (prepare as directed- minus 1/4 cup of water), Add 1/4cup maraschino cherry juice (in place of the subtracted water), 1/2cup quartered maraschino cherries, and 1tsp almond extract. Bake and allow to cool. Crumble cake in large mixing bowl, add enough of your favorite cream cheese icing to combine cake. Form cake mixture into balls and cool. After cooling, dip in melted white chocolate bark. I also took some whole maraschino cherries with stem attached and wrapped the cake mixture around the cherry. Then used the stem to dip the cake covered cherry into the white chocolate. Yummm!!! Enjoy.

Surprise!!

What? Yesterday we enjoyed 60 degree weather. This morning I woke up to a snow covered yard! We were hoping to spend a fun day outside playing in the warm beautiful sunshine, but mother nature had her own plans in store for us. We love playing out in the snow, but it is just not the same when you have Spring fever! So, when life brings you snow, make snow-cream!!! -A family tradition we love!

Maybe I shouldn't have ?!?!

Obviously, my favorite website for toddler fashion is http://www.etsy.com/. Now that I'm getting the hang of sewing (my new found hobby). I decided to re-create a cute little shirt for my sweet "lil toot." After all, this plain tee was only $3.50 at Walmart. What did I have to loose by adding a few pieces of scrap fabric? The photo does not do this shirt justice! However, I think it is a simply adorable idea. I'm just afraid that making my 17month old son wear this shirt, it will be one of those embarrassing moments for him to recall in about 15yrs. lol...

I've been tagged.

1. What are you wearing right now? PJ's and house slippers. I love snow days!

2. What is the last thing I read/ are currently reading? Old Mac Donald to Cade before his nap.

3. Do you nap a lot? I like to nap with Cade, but rarely do, because it is my "me time." It is often the only time I have to myself in a day.

4. Who was the last person you hugged? Little Cade

5. What is your current obsession/addiction? Myspace. lol... Looking for fun things to enjoy with my son.

6. What is the last thing you said out loud? "E-I-E-I-O..." before Cade fell asleep. lol.

7. What websites do you always visit when you go online? Myspace, & ETSY-my fav.

8. What is the last item you bought? Cade's antibiotics, diapers, finger paint, 2 elmo books.

9. What is your most challenging goal?Not procrastinating. I've learned in nursing, "Never put off the things you can do now, because you never know what will come through the door in the next few minutes." However, when I'm not at work, nothing gets finished on time.

10. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished- anywhere in the world, where would it be? It the same area that we live in now, b/c both Ray's family and mine live near us.

11. Favorite vacation spot? On a cruise ship anywhere! Ray and I love to cruise!!!

12. Say something to the last person who tagged you: I finally opened up my own blog! Yay! I still haven't figured out how it all works yet. Posting pictures, etc... I'm also not sure why I would decide to start blogging... doesn't mommies have enough to do already! Thanks for helping me get started! I love to read blogs! It can be so inspiring.

13. Name one thing you just can't resist no matter how bad it is for you: Iced tea from Pals, Red pig, McDonald's, or my mom's. I cannot make tea very well. However, things always taste better when someone else makes it.

14. What is your favorite item of clothing? Express blue jeans. I love jeans!

15. Favorite pair of shoes that you keep going back to over and over?
My house shoes that my mom got me for Christmas. They are so comfy.

16. Name one thing you can't live without:My family

17. Has a celebrity's hairstyle ever influenced you on your own style? Currently, I'm loving the Gretchen hair style on the TV series "The Real Housewives: Orange County." It's not going to happen though, I just cut my hair off. Living life as a "soccer mom" for now.

18. What is your favorite hobby? Baking! Oh I love to bake sweets. New hobby: I asked for a sewing machine for Christmas and also got an embroidery machine too. I need some serious lessons. I've never sewn a button on in my life. I'll keep you posted on this one in the near future! Ha

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

In the good ole hills of Tennessee we have been enjoying some snow. As Cade calls it, "dow, dow, dow!" He,he. Considering my little man Cade has a cold, we haven't really gotten the chance to play outside. The great part about these snow days is that I get to stay out of work and enjoy some well deserved mommy and Cade time. We have had to get creative being cooped up in the house for 3days!!! My house is a sure sign of it!!! Toys, toys, everywhere! We've read lots of books, colored, made some edible play-dough (despite the peanut butter recall), and finger painted lots of pictures (thanks to Crayola's mess free finger paint packs- They are great!). However, the most exciting thing for Cade and I has been making "snow cream"! Just a little milk, sugar, vanilla, and "dow, dow, dow".Yummm. Doesn't that bring back some childhood memories! I gathered a huge bowl of fresh snow and actually let Cade do most of the mixing. Messy?-Yes! The sticky mess was worth all the memories we created. It is now a tradition passed on. -Isn't that the best part of being a mommy!!

A Whole New World

Browsing the internet out of boredom (as many of us do), I recently discovered the world of blogging. After surfing a few blogs, I found myself surprisingly glued to my computer screen! Kinda like being caught up in a good book and not being able to put it down. Their are so many creative ideas and great stories shared. I've laughed a whole lot, and have even cried while reading a few. Since then I have became inspired, amazed, and touched by many of these blogs. Anyway, thanks to all you!