Words to live by

“Let me be patient, let me be kind.

Let me be unselfish, without being blind.

 

I may have faith, to make mountains fall,

but if I lack love, then I am nothing at all.”

 

Read Full Post »

Relay For Life

I am the co-chair for the Relay For Life Event in Ballantyne. I have never, ever taken on such an important role in an event quite like this. It is something that I am learning about as I go along.

Thankfully, I have some good friends who have been instrumental in guiding me in what to do and how to help out.

The fact of the matter is it is not about me, it is about raising money for cancer research. The American Cancer Society is committed to finding a cure for cancer. So, in support of the American Cancer Society, we are hosting Relay For Life-Ballantyne on May 25, 2012 from 6pm to 6am on May 26, 2012.

We, the committee, invite you to come.

I invite you to come.

If you can’t come, please consider a donation at  http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=41843  to help fund the research for a cure. Help us give more birthdays!

In preparation for this event, we have a kick off event tomorrow night, January 27 from 6-7pm where we introduce you to Relay For Life. Please come out an support us in our fight against cancer at Morrison Family YMCA of Ballantyne.

And so, in preparation for the kick off event tomorrow night, I am baking cupcakes tonight. Cupcakes! Of course!

For me, baking cupcakes is almost a way of life. I love it so much that I can’t imagine going a week without baking and decorating cupcakes. So, this time, I have chocolate and butter golden cupcakes enough to feed at least fifty people (probably more, I haven’t counted) for our kick off event tomorrow night.

These cupcakes are going to have vanilla buttercream frosting with purple chocolate ribbon toppers.

Yum. Can’t wait to see them completed tomorrow. For now, I just have lots of cupcakes and lots of chocolate ribbons.

And…the final product…YUMMY!!

I think they turned out nicely, and it was for an amazing cause. We still have a couple of months for fundraising and getting those in this community active.

The question is…Do you Relay?

Read Full Post »

Happy New Year!

Hello 2012!

First of all, I can’t believe that it is 2012 already. It has really snuck up on me. It seems as if just yesterday I was applying for my International Student Teaching program and planning for it of for student teaching. I can’t believe that a year ago, I was still in school with some of the toughest months of my life ahead of me. Wow.

In the the blink of an eye, things change, people change and if we aren’t careful, we will miss it. The year of 2011 was an absolutely amazing year…I made an everlasting friend…

…I traveled to Ireland for International Student Teaching…

…traveled to Salzburg, Austria…

…to Munich, Germany…

…I graduated college…

…traveled to Jackson Hole, Wyoming…

…Moved in with my best friend in Charlotte…

…got a new full time job as a nanny…

…watched my niece turn three…

Wow…what a year!

As I sit in Boone with some of my closest friends, I wonder what will happen in the future. What will happen in the coming year? I guess I’ll just have to wait to see. The only thing left to say is…

HELLO 2012!!! Let’s see what it has to offer!!!

Read Full Post »

Happy December!

Read Full Post »

Today is the Day

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Remember, today is a day to be with family and friends. To eat food which adds approximately 2 inches to the circumference of our waste, but HEY! Deal with that tomorrow.

For now, just remember why we have this holiday. Remember that family and friends are the most important thing. Remember this holiday is to say THANK YOU for all the things in our life, big and small. Each thing you appreciate is something you (and I) should take into consideration on this day.

We may not have the largest house or the newest car or the most fashionable clothes, but the things I have today and everyday are family, friends, food, a home, a car, an education, an intense work ethic, not one, but two jobs and I am thankful for each of those things. Whether the material things are out-dated or not, I’m thankful.

Think about it. What are you thankful for?

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Read Full Post »

Turkeys for kids (and adults)

Today was a fun day for the 4 year old, Matthew and me. We made turkeys!!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Matthew and I made clay turkeys with feathers stuck in them yesterday. In a couple of days the clay should be dry at which point we will paint them brown and put googly eyes on them.
Take a look at the first step!

Don’t worry, I will post a picture of the finished product in a of couple days.

Now, we have added color! Such a cute turkey!!

Read Full Post »

Rowing Machine

Who knew that the rowing machine could give

a girl such nasty blisters!
Ummm….not cool!

Read Full Post »

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Do you ever just have a craving for chocolate and fruity yumminess?

I have to say I always have those cravings. I live to eat, particularly sweet things covered in even more sweetness. Starting with strawberries, first of all…yum. They are one of my favorite fruits. Add the chocolate to them and they shoot straight to the top of my favorite fruits list.

I started with beautiful, yummy strawberries and added this fancy Baker’s melting, dipping chocolate.

Then I dipped the beautiful strawberries into this yummy chocolate, laid them on wax paper covered cooling rack and stuck them into the fridge.

This was the finished product…

Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

More Cupcakes!

Over the past 2 months, I have made dozens upon dozens of cupcakes.

My poor roommate.

Oh goodness, we have eaten our own weight in cupcakes, which is not good for the waistline. however it is nice to know that even though my roomie is a wellness/nutrition freak, it is awesome to know that she indulges in the yummy little things too. You know, like normal people!

Anyway, this time around, I made a chocolate cupcake with marshmallow cream frosting.

Can everyone say YYYYYUUUUUUMMMM!!

Thank you Hershey’s for yummy chocolate with which to bake!

They are pretty AND taste good! A double whammy!

Read Full Post »

Homemade Pretzels

Are you looking for something fun and easy to make at home?
I’m not saying that you have to have kids or be around kids a lot for this recipe, however it is kid friendly and I have made pretzel shapes with the children that I nanny for twice now. They love it because they are cooking and making something and it just so happens that it is OKAY for them to get dirty in this one.

All you need is…
1 1/3 cup All purpose flour
1 tap. Honey
1 packet Dry yeast
1 tap. Salt
1 cup Warm water

That’s it!
First preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Can’t forget that!
All you have to do is out the yeast and honey in the warm water and let it sit while you do everything else.
Start with the flour add the salt then the yeast mixture. Stir everything in and at this time it will be dry.
Now is the time you (and the kids-if there are any) to get dirty so take your rings and watches off ladies and gentlemen and start kneading that dough!
Mash everything together. I always get it mixed up well and if it is still sticky I add some more flour. Then the kids can have at it!

Or you…whichever!
Use a lightly sprayed pan and put those beautiful home creations on there, pop them into the oven for 10-12 minutes…or until golden brown.

This is what they look like before baking…

Serve with honey or jam or my personal favorite, apple butter.
YUM!

I have to say…I didn’t come up with this recipe, a friend of mine gave it to me. She works at a Y and runs the teaching kitchen. SO fun!

Read Full Post »