At the Lake

So we met our friends, Lauren & Jason, at their parents lakehouse. It was so much fun. Lauren is one of my best friends from college, so it's always good to hang out with her. Her parents, Susan & Joey, are fanastic people also. (Hi Susan!) : )

We just went for the day. Here is Matt and Syd swimming.

Matt's jumping in.

Sydney's turn!

Trying to touch and hold the minnows.

They even made cupcakes! Do they know us or what!?

Hanging out on the boat.

Jason tubing.

Matt tubing.

The family tubing.

Syd did good on the tube - and no we didn't go real fast! I can't believe I didn't get any pictures with Lauren or her parents! What kind of blogger am I? I guess we'll just have to do it again.

Next post (coming tomorrow): Crafts! : )

Crafts and Baking

That's what I do...besides taking care of Sydney (of course)! heehee!

Here is my solution for all of Sydney's puzzles. I get sick of the puzzle pieces going everywhere so I made each puzzle a zippered bag. They are made of mesh so she can see each puzzle and everything fits right inside. It works out very well and Sydney has no problems with it.

My mother-in-law, Karen, let me borrowed her sewing serger. I've been wanting to try one for a long time and "Holy Smokes." I'm in love with it! It makes everything look so professional. I used it to make the bags above - it's so fast and makes everything perfect. What's not to love about that?

Onto baking, here is some Mexican Wedding Cookies from this book by one of my favorite baking authors. Her books are great and the pictures are just fabulous to look at.

Yummy cookies covered in powdered sugar and made with pecans from Pa's trees!

Happy 4th of July!

I hope everyone had a good 4th. We went to Austin for the weekend. We ran a few errands and played some Wii. The errands consisted of Central Market and Hey Cupcake! I can't help it - I like to bake and eat baked goods! : )

Hillary and Heather - my arms (specifically my shoulders) are so sore from boxing! haha.

Before we left, I made some 4th of July star cookies. I have a baking prodigy...

Or at least someone as enthusiastic as I am to eat the baked goods! The cookies are a cinnamon sugar cookie recipe - so good! I liked it better than traditional sugar cookies. That's sayin' something.

We went to the neighborhood pool on Saturday.

Blowing bubbles.

Sydney eating her 1st popsicle. She did excellent - not a single drop down her swimsuit.

Nonnie and Sydney.

Eating an ice cream cone on the way home.

Vote for my cupcakes!

Here is where you vote for my cupcakes and you don't need an Etsy account - so there is no excuse! : )

http://www.etsyhomefront.com/2008/06/30/independence-day-team-challenge/

Just post a comment writing that your favorite item is a cupcake. Thanks everyone.

Summer Felt Foods

Here are my new felt food creations made this weekend - ice cream sandwiches and popsicles! I also have an ice cream cone in the works.

Also, if you have an Etsy account you need to vote for my cupcakes! : ) I'll post the link to the voting as soon as it's up (July 1st). I am doing a challenge through an Etsy team - you vote for the best (or the one you like the best) patriotic themed idea/product. And since you read my blog, the best product your going to see is my cupcakes! haha.

Sydney's First Week of School

Well, I guess it's actually not school - it's a Mother's Day Out program at our church. Either way, it's "school" at our house. It's twice a week and runs through the end of July. Syd did great both days and has really taken to one of her teachers. Very cute stuff. Here she is with her very large backpack!

What have I been doing with all my new free time? I run errands and workout with my trainer/circuit training teacher. He kicks my behind every time and I love it! I try to sneak in some crafts too! : )

This week's baking consisted of cupcakes. I added mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in the batter (before baking). I believe I saw it in a Martha Stewart Living "Good Things." I put a little batter in the bottom then the peanut butter cup and topped it off with more batter. The Reese's totally sank to the bottom. I think next time I'll put them right on top of all the batter. Hopefully, at that point won't fall to the bottom. It is a nice little surprise in the cupcake though! It's also just a vanilla batter with chocolate frosting. Here's the 2 pictures - I couln't decide which one I liked better so you get both!

Limited Edition Cupcakes

I'm part of this military group through Etsy. We are doing a red, white, and blue challenge in celebration of the 4th of July. Everyone is to vote starting on July 1st for their favorite. Here is my entry. Nothing like....cupcakes! : )

The listing for the cupcakes are here.

Another Austin Weekend

This past weekend we all went to Austin. Matt's sister and her family have moved back to the States after living in Korea for 2 years! Hooray! So there was a family reunion of sorts. Here's the family picture (minus just a few others).

My niece and nephews have grown just a wee bit in the past couple years! : )

Notice Syd on the outside edge - she was pretty intimidated by the big kids.

We had a lot of fun being able to see them again. They are pretty close to where we live now so I'm sure we'll see them a couple times before we move again.

I did a couple crafts last night after we got home. I had a custom order requesting french fries. Here's my version. I think I'll have to take a picture with the hamburger too. You know - to get the full effect! : )

There's nothing like new crafts & new shoes

...well, except a new dessert! It's a chocolate-vanilla oatmeal bar. The recipe is found in this book here. I'll definitely make these again.

So wandering around Target, I found these oh-so-adorable shoes for Sydney. I absolutely couldn't pass these up. They are little peep-toe shoes! I couldn't find a stock photo at target.com, so here is my own picture. I'll be sure to take a full shot with Syd wearing them for next time.

Sydney also needed a new pair of sandals. She grows so fast and I know by the fall (when we move back to warm Florida) she'll be ready for new ones. Here are the ones I bought her. Aren't girl's shoes just so cute - and obviously addicting!

Now, I couldn't let Syd get new shoes by herself - here is my pair! Love, love the red!

Now, it's time for the new crafts! I haven't been showing a lot of my crafts lately. I pretty much have just been making felt food and everybody can see them in my shop. Business has been great and it's been keeping me busy. I did make this new barrette for Sydney. Basically a flower super-glued onto a barrette. Easy - I love it though.

It's fashioned after this headband my friend, Amy, made. I met Amy through a spring craft swap - which I don't think I ever shared pictures of my goodies that I received from her. The headband is just one of the goodies I received. So cute. I just love all the other stuff I got too! Thanks Amy!


Now, Martha! I made her this new collar. It's the same concept as Sydney's barrette. It's a new game: What else can Becky put flowers on?! haha. Martha doesn't mind it. It reminds me of a lei! I do like the bright red/pink color against Martha's black fur. Let's just think it makes Martha look more cheery! haha. Now that's a good laugh!



Finally, Karen asked me if I've ever had a cupcake that I didn't like. I thought that was a very good question. So after some pondering my answer is no! I have had some cupcakes that I didn't really care for - they weren't bad, but they weren't all that good. These cupcakes have been ones that I have made from cookbooks and shows I've seen. These are the cupcake recipes that I tried once and won't make them again. I think it's just been about 3 recipes too. I guess you have to have some not-so-good ones to appreciate the excellent ones! : )

Thanks for reading my ramblings! : ) Have a great day.

Girl's Weekend

So this past weekend, I was able to hang out with 2 of my very best friends - my college roomies! We ate really great food, received pedicures, and massages. We shopped and was able to try clothes on without kids sitting in the dressing room with us eating fruit snacks! haha.

Here's Rachel and Jenn.

Getting pedicures!

Now, all of us have a deep affection for cupcakes so we tried out Hey Cupcake! They sell there cupcakes out of an Airstream. Very fun!

Oh man, they were delicious! We almost went back for seconds but decided not too since we were going to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner!

Back at home, Matt and Sydney did great together. They went on a daddy-daughter date on Friday. They went to the park AND the pool on Saturday. It went so well maybe I'll be able to have another girl's weekend again!

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Here's my newest felt food creation: spaghetti & meatballs. It's pretty hard making realistic looking spaghetti! Anyway, here's my version:

You know where you can find it! Here!

Sydney's Pool Party

Being our birthdays are in the winter, Matt and I never had a swim birthday party. So we will live vicariously through Sydney's summer birthday! So this past weekend, we invited a few friends out to the pool to celebrate and eat cake. Here's me and my big girl.

Our fashionista opening presents!

And the pièce de résistance!

Happy Birthday Sydney!

I can't believe she's 2!

Here she is trying to tell you how old she is with her fingers...

We're working on it! : )
She loves to open presents.

My parents sent Syd her gifts in this big box. She loved the toys, but really loved the box!

Eating birthday cupcakes!

Nothing like a frosting mustache to complete the day and to signify a tasty cupcake.