Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Brogan at 9 months...

I haven't had any photo shoots for awhile...
and I blame it on Summer...
Summer is just not the time for family picture taking...
I am hoping I get REAL busy come Fall though...
crossing my fingers...

in the mean time...
I took some pics for my sis of her cute babe...
he is so stinkin adorable in these and I am hopin she likey!



This one is my fave!



Monday, August 29, 2011

Paradise Bakery Sugar Cookie...


I love me a good Sugar cookie...
I like em' bakery style or frosted...
but I especially liked these!
I've never had a Paradise Bakery Sugar Cookie but I am told that these are quite similar...
in fact...
I don't feel the need to compare because these are so Delish!

photo courtesy of flickr
Paradise Bakery Sugar Cookie:

2 cups shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
3/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
4 1/3 cups cake flour

Preheat oven to 375 degrees...grease cookie pans.

Cream together shortening and sugars for 30 seconds, scrape down sides and mix again for a minimum of 3 minutes.  Slowly add vanilla and egg while mixing.  Add soda, powder and salt, mix until combined.  Add flour and mix only until combined...do not over mix!  (Note:  this recipe calls specifically for cake flour and I don't recommend using anything different...I once even tried to make my own substitution and they did not work out.)

Use the large pampered chef scoop to form dough balls.  Flatten slightly with the palm of your hand and dip the tops of the dough balls into sugar (I used that big chunky sparkly kind and it was so pretty.)  Place onto the cookie sheets, six to a sheet.  Bake for 9-10 minutes, cracks will appear on the cookie and the edges should not brown.  (Note:  the cookies will not appear to be done in the middle but they continue to set up on the sheets after baking, and the less time to bake the better.)

These are the BOMB and in my professional opinion they are even better the next day!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Boogie Wipes...

This is a non paid product review...
I feel so strongly about these that I just had to share...
and really...
do you think anybody would actually pay me for a review...
hahaha...

These things are freakin' genius!

we have a little song and dance we do when a boogie needs a wipin'...
and the little girls come a runnin'...
what kid do you know that is actually okay with getting their nose wiped?
because of these little gems...
I got two of em'...
and maybe sometimes I use them too!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Bread Machine Mall Pretzels...


Doesn't that look DIVINE!!!

I am telling you...
these are amazing and soooo easy to make!

Mall Pretzels...

1 1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
4 cups flour (I used bread flour)
1 teaspoon salt
1 package yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
Wash
1 cup water, mixed with
1 tablespoon baking soda

melted butter
   
Put ingredients into your bread maker and set on the dough cycle.  Let it do it's thang!

Pull the dough out and divide into 16 equal parts.  Roll each piece out into a rope about 16 inches long.  At this point you can either shape your pretzel or keep in a rope shape to make pretzel bites.  Dip into the wash and place on a greased cookie sheet.  If making bites, cut rope into little bite sized pieces with scissors and spread them out a bit.

Let the pretzels rise for 15 minutes.  While they are rising, preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Brush pretzels with melted butter and sprinkle with the topping of your choice.

I discovered how to make the 'powdery' cinnamon sugar and parmesan cheese like they have at the pretzel stores in the mall...just blend the tar out of em to get em all 'powdery' and good.  I have a ninja type blender that works wonders!

I found this recipe over at CDKitchen...Love it!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Dear Blogger...

I am not liking you right now!
I can't get any answers as to why my photos are missing and why my updates are slow...
And why do I have to buy more storage for my photos that you have placed in a Picasa album without ever telling me about this album?
I thought you were free!

Friday, August 19, 2011

Is any one else besides me having issues with blogs...
My updates on my blog lists are not showing, like when a blog has a new post, my blog is not communicating that to itself (does that make sense)...
some of MY pictures have been deleted (see bear lake post)...
and some of the pictures on other people's blogs have been deleted...
It seems really weird to me...

Monday, August 15, 2011

Back to School...

So apparently my boys are getting too old for their dear ol' mom to go to the first day of school with them...
and their dear ol' mom couldn't be more okay with it!
Is that weird?
Taylor doesn't start until next Monday and she is oober excited for Jr. High...
she is trying out for the volleyball team this Friday and I couldn't be more ecstatic for her...
crossing my fingers that she does well!

And since I wasn't allowed to take ANY pictures today...
I give you this!
cuz it's funny!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Quick Trip to Bear Lake...

We were fortunate enough to receive a last minute invite to Bear Lake on Friday...
without much hesitation we packed up our junk and headed up to paradise...
I wanna live there...
like for reals...
it's so beautiful up there and we haven't been in like nine years so we were way overdue for a visit...
It was fabulous...
and now I will indulge you with a few photos...

Giant 28 inch pizza for dinner...

Snuggle time with Aunt Sherri...


This is the look I get all the time...


I love campfire...
  

 





The end!

Our Ah-Mazing host's!
Thank you Jodi and Sherri for an awesome time!!!

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Birthday Girls...

I came across these two little girls browsing the internet for their birthday present picks...
since when did kids get so computer savvy...
Oh...
and get this...
Jenner asked me if she could play Toy Story online today...
Whahhh!??!???