Have you seen it yet?  

Very cute and summery too!  

this link will show it all to you, or go to your local Target to take a closer look.  

PS...Why are maternity clothes so not cute, unless they are a fortune?  

Frumpy, make you look huge, no cute swimsuits, and just ug.

JAM RECIPE

Ps. A few of you asked for the jam recipe below...all it calls for is:

strawberries

sugar 

and

pectin 

There are directions in the pectin box that will tell you how to make it with whatever fruit you want.  

My mom makes hers differently, so I did it that way.

Here is that recipe:

2 cups pureed strawberries

4 cups sugar

1 box pectin (for this recipe make sure it is regular pectin.  They have low sugar pectin too)

Puree strawberries in a blender. (we dont like chunks around here...but if you do, don't puree.)  

Slowly add pectin while blending.

Pour in a pan and add sugar.  Mix until sugar is dissolved into strawberry mixture.

Jam will be grainy from all the sugar, so turn stove on low and cook strawberry mixture until sugar is dissolved.  Doesn't take long.

Pour in containers and jars and let sit for about 30 minutes.  Then put in freezer or fridge.

Enjoy!!  

Tonight I decided I would cross of one of my goals for the year.  I went grocery shopping (which I dread doing by the way) and strawberries were on sale, so I decided to make homemade jam.  It was so so so easy!!  I have watched my mom make it a few times, but never from start to finish.  I had fun doing it!  I even found these cute labels from Eat Drink Chic.  

Cason walked in from work and said, "What? Do you think the world is ending?"  I made too much for just the two of us.  

But hey, that's why it's called FREEZER jam right?!

Baby #1: 15.4 weeks

You asked for it so here it is.  I am now 15 weeks and 4 days pregnant.   Who's counting though right?!  It's crazy how you keep track of the days and weeks.. I used to think I'd forget how far along I was, but when you are pregnant, the baby is pretty much all that consumes your thoughts.  So it is pretty hard to forget!  

 I am realizing more now than ever that this life is a big waiting game.  You are always waiting for something to happen or the next big milestone

...or at least I am.

In high school you wait to see who is going to ask you to the junior prom,

you wait to see what college you are going to attend.

In college you wait to hear what grades you got,

you wait to see if you passed that test,

you wait for that Mr. Right to come along,

and you wait for the day to graduate.

And now in pregnancy,

you wait to hear the babies heartbeat,

you wait to find out the gender,

you wait for the first time you get to feel that little baby move inside,

you wait till you are 15 weeks and then you make it and then have to wait till you are 20 weeks, etc. and then you are so anxious to see what that little baby of yours looks like.

Then when the baby is born

you wait for that first smile, giggle and wave,

you wait for that first crawl and/or step, and then life isn't about you anymore.

It's about that little baby or little babies who aren't so much babies anymore.

It's all a big game!  This game of life.   It is all so amazing!  Heavenly Father is so amazing and smart and did and does things for a reason.  And those reasons I am so thankful for!

This big waiting game thing is quite an adventure!  You would think all this waiting would get old, but it exciting!  There is always something new, and I love it!

I can't wait to meet our little baby girl!

It's a Girl!

Yes, it's true!  We already found out!  Many people have been asking how we found out so early.  But with modern technology they say you can find out as early as 13 weeks if the baby will cooperate.  With a cold sweet Jamba Juice, a few jumping jacks, and reaching to touch my toes baby girl cooperated!  There is a place here that will do it for a really good price, so we thought why not?  They say it is 99% accurate.  It's not 100% confirmed until baby is born with any ultrasound.  But 99%??!!  That's pretty positive.  We are so excited!!!  

Cheers to baby girls!

yep....I already DOVE in!!

My bums-a-growin!!

Yes, 

I know that I posted about this last year, 

but I just can't help myself.

How could I?

I love him...

just because.

For Superbowl Sunday I made these yummy Red Velvet Cupcakes.  They were a big hit!

Try them out for yourself!


Red Velvet Cupcakes

2 1/2 cups sifted flour

1 teaspoon baking powder


1 teaspoon salt


2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder


2 oz. red food coloring (two bottles)


1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened


1 1/2 cups sugar


2 eggs, at room temperature


1 teaspoon vanilla extract


1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature


1 teaspoon white vinegar


1 teaspoon baking soda

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers.

2. Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside.  In a small bowl, mix food coloring and cocoa powder to form a thin paste without lumps; set aside.

3. In a large bowl, using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about three minutes.  Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla and the red cocoa paste, scraping down the bowl with a spatula as you go.  Add one third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beat well, then beat in half of the buttermilk. Beat in another third of flour mixture, then second half of buttermilk. End with the last third of the flour mixture, beat until well combined, making sure to scrape down the bowl with a spatula.

4. In a small bowl, mix vinegar and baking soda.  Yes, it will fizz!  Add vinegar mixture to the cake batter and stir well to combine. Using an ice cream scoop, fill cupcake cups with cake batter (they should be 2/3 – 3/4 full).  You may not fill all the cups, I ended up with 20 cupcakes.  Place muffin tins on the middle rack of a preheated 350 degree oven.  Bake for approximately 20-22 minutes, rotating pans halfway through. Cupcakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Check early and don’t overbake!

5. Cool the cupcakes in their tins on a wire rack for 10 minutes then remove and allow to cool completely before frosting.  

Cream Cheese Frosting

16 oz. cream cheese (2 packages), softened


1/2 cup unsalted butter (one stick), softened


1 teaspoon vanilla extract


2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted


pinch of salt

With an electric mixer, blend together cream cheese and butter until smooth.  Turn mixer to low speed and blend in powdered sugar, salt and vanilla extract.  Turn mixer on high and beat until light and fluffy. Use immediately or refrigerate, covered, until ready to use.  If refrigerated, the frosting will need to be brought to room temperature before using (after frosting softens up, beat with mixer until smooth).

Recipe Notes: If you prefer a sweeter and/or stiffer frosting, more powdered sugar can be added (up to four cups). But remember, the more sugar you add, the less you’ll be able to taste the tangy cream cheese!

One tip: 

If you don't have buttermilk, make your own!  

Here's how...

1. Place a Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup.

2. Add enough milk to bring the liquid up to the one-cup line.

3. Let stand for five minute. Then, use as much as your recipe calls for.