Doh!!!!(nuts)

I woke up this morning and as I do every morning, I perused my favorite websites prior to having to leave for an internet-less day at work ( yep, that's right..NO internet at work..we're part of a dying breed, I know)..And yes, I admit, I wake up a half hour before I really need to, just so I have my morning internet time.

My favorite thing to do is to check for blog updates on all my favorite bloggers..I sit at the computer with my breakfast of egg whites and oatmeal and just read away..just me, my food, and the 'puter.

Among my favorite sites to stalk .....Bakerella. She is hands down, one of the most creative bakers I have found. I love love love her ideas, and although I often try to re-create her masterpeices, mine look like a preschooler's attempt at a professional's game. She is in a league of her own..if you haven't already, check her out..

So imagine my surprise as I signed onto her blog today to find that I missed ( gasp!) a recipe I have been longing for.....

DOH!!!!!!!!!!

How'd I do that? I was quite certain I have read her site up and down, forward and backward, left and right....but somehow, someway, I missed her DOH-NUT blog!

That's right, DONUTS!

Donuts are a once in a blue moon treat for me ( unless I am pregnant, and then well...I won't tell if NZ won't tell, but I could probably sample ahalf dozen by my lonesome)...What makes things worse is that if we stopped in after 6 p.m., the donut lady by our house would throw in an extra 5 or so..for FREE..geesh, thanks lady..my willpower already sucks, and just what I needed, 5 more to tempt me..

Anyways, I saw Bakerella's donut trial and error ( and her eventual success) and decided that I.MUST.MAKE.THEM!!!

So, after supper tonight ( we ate healthy, I promise!), NZ helped me make my first ( and probably only, ever) batch of old fashioned donuts, courtesy of yep, you guessed it, Bakerella.

For a couple of nuts, we sure pulled this one off..

They're glazed and headed to work with NZ tomorrow!

mmmmmm, donuts!

Still got it

I've been contemplating finding a gymnastics facility that has open gym for adults to go and play around for FUN exercise....but then the more I think about it, the more these questions fill my head, " What are you thinking??? You'll break your neck!"

It's been a good 2 years since my last attempt at anything more than a handstand. I think the last skill I tried was an aerial, and let's just say, rug burn on the nose doesn't feel so good. I lacked some SERIOUS height and barely got my feet back around..I escaped with little injury, but it scared the bejesus outta me.

Something got into me on Sunday night, and with a lot of positive self talk, and inspired by the Jersey Shore's "Snookie" who did a backwalkover backhandspring in a dress, I figured, hey if Snooks can do it, I can do it..

And so there the story goes, I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once, as I ever was. For 32 years old, I'm pretty happy with myself (=

Do I smell open gym in my future? Any ex-gymnastics friends wanna join me?

Brownie Bites

Valentine Brownie Bites

These are super easy to make and fun too!

YOU'LL NEED:

Boxed Brownie mix ( lazy, i know!)

Oil

Water

Eggs

Candy Melts

Sprinkles

Candy sticks ( available at michaels, Joann's..any craft store)

Wax Paper

TO MAKE:

Make brownies in a mini cupcake tin ( spray tin well with PAM)

Freeze Brownie bites once cooked

Insert candy sticks

Melt half a bag of candy melts in a bowl at 30 second intervals in your microwave

Pour sprinkles into a small bowl

Dip brownie pops in candy melts

Dip sides in sprinkles.

Set on wax paper to harden.

Now, isn't that sweet?

Sewing woes

I am in LOVE with making these Amy Butler bags..so much so, that my sister asked me to make one for a special someone in her life..I totally agreed to it and got to shopping this morning for the perfect fabric coordinates.

I have been playing around with different lining materials..fusible vs. sew-in, stiff vs. light, felt vs. mesh...Each bag I have made ( 4 of them so far) has had a different type of lining..I think I have finally settled on the perfect match for my sewing abilities, frusteration level and completed bag quality...and let me just say, it's not the stiff fusible stuff I tried today. My fingers hurt from pushing pins through multiple layers of fabric and lining...OUCH! The bag is beautiful but a bit in need of a tumble through the dryer to soften up and be more slouchy.

Ah well, lesson learned.

A bad day of sewing is still better than a good day at work.

Twice the Gift

I just had to share the link to the wonderful wonderful story of fellow blogger, Niki and her twin boys born via surrogate. I have followed her blog since our loss, and am in awe of all she has overcome on her journey to motherhood.Congrats to Niki and J on the birth of Liam and Silas.

Twice the gift: Surrogate mother gives birth to cousin's twins

Buh-bye, bad news

Earlier this week, I was in a situation in which I looked at NZ and said, " I'm afraid of bad news."

His answer...

"There's no such thing as bad news. All news is good news."

At first I utterly disagreed.

Afterall, I have a laundry list of situations in which I was given "bad news" over the course of my lifetime...but he explained his stance, and I realized...He was 100% correct. ( dare I admit!?!)

It's not the news itself, but rather... how we react and process the "news", that makes it "bad" or "good". News is information, and information is knowledge, and knowledge is always a good thing. Therefore, all news is good news.

So, the whole "bad news" "good news" belief is right out the window with the Easter Bunny ,Santa and the tooth fairy. From here on out, it's all good.

Little fighter

Today is Thursday.

In my world, Thursday is PEOPLE magazine day.....

and this week, the World met Josie Duggar through PEOPLE magazine..

This photo of the Duggar's 19th baby gave me goosebumps. Josie was born at 25 weeks gestation, which was also when I delivered our little one..different outcome, but still...I am in awe of how someone so teeny- tiny, can survive..I think it is absolutely amazing. Keep fighting little one!