How We Pass Our Days Away

So, I finally figured out how to add video to my blogs again. Be ready, my friends, the video's are going to start rolling now!!! *side note* I hate when people update an already good program. Facebook keeps changing their page and then blogspot did the same, getting rid of options that I loved and used.** I know you have been dying to know how this family likes to spend our downtime. In summer, we often go for bike rides and hikes. Living in this beautiful part of the country, we have many spots to choose from. In the winter, those options just aren't options. What do we do, you ask. It's simple really. We dance, jiggle, glide and shake our booties. We need exercise, but it's too cold to go outside . . . so . . . this is what we do . . . .

Park Hopping

It was a beautiful day up here.  We spent the day hitting up our favorite parks in our county.  We didn't get to all the ones we wanted, but we were pooped out at the end of our day.  We topped our day off with spending the evening with our dear Krista and Jason plus family.  It was a wonderful evening bonfire on the beach and playing around in the water.

We hope you all get a little glimpse of our spring weather and some sunshine!

Tres Leche

It's always fun to bake with my kiddios.  I decided early on, that when the kids are in the kitchen I'm going to sit back, relax and enjoy the moment.  Of course, I try to teach them to clean up as they go and not be complete little Tasmanian devils.  But, overall, I let that egg yoke dribble onto the counter and giggle with my girls as we make a flour puff that reaches the highest cabinet.  Aren't those the memories they will remember?

My dear friend, Jenn, made a Tres Leche Cake the other day and it sounded downright yummy.  I just had to make one too.  I texted my Honey to pick up a few things on his way home and the girls and I set off to work that evening.

I found my Tres Leche Cake recipe online and poured over the comments while picking Jenn's brain too. 

*Side note, I have found allrecipes.com the best place to pick out a recipe that I know nothing about.  I love all the comments from those more experienced bakers.  They do a great job reviewing the recipe and suggesting hints to make it better.  Perfect for a recipe I know nothing about.   

Next, we got started:

We measure out our flour.

Butter.

Sugar and eggs.

Creamed them together well.

Then spread our cakes into two circle pans.

Of course, we had to taste our work. ;)

After the cake bakes, you have to poke it full of holes.  We used toothpicks.

The girls thought this part was the best.

After the cake cools, you mix the three milks (whole, sweetened condensed, and evaporated) together and pour over the cake. Make sure you don't pull out an old can of sweetened condensed milk.  My can was from 2005.  It was hard as a rock and disgusting.  I think I ruined my son for life.  Of course, at this point, my hubby got sent to the store again and I finished it up after the kids went to bed.

Top with Whip Cream and Cherries. Of course you can use strawberries, mangos, pineapple . . . the choices are endless!

Let it sit overnight to soak up all the yummy goodness.

Enjoy my cultural friends! 

Sparkle

It's been a long week.  Seriously, I haven't had a week feel this long in FOREVER!!  What's funny, is that I spent the week actually doing nothing.  I had been sick all week and beside working on Tues, spent the rest of the week on my back watching tv.  Funny, how I finally get to rest and try to relax and the week dragged by so slowly.  Perhaps there is something to be said for being busy, at least the work week flies by.

I did get to paint some cute little toes this week.  Keep in mind, I was incredibly dizzy when painting these, so it's quite an accomplishment that I actually got the paint on the nail.  Of course there was paint on their little toes too, but hey, I can't always be perfect! ;)

Aren't these just too cute!!! Girls are fun!  I love sharing these little girly things with the girls.  It's always fun to listen to the girls talk about what colors they like and their opinions on how they look.  Throw in some sparkle top polish and it the evening couldn't of been more perfect.

Savings

I have couponed for years.  It all started back in the early baby days when I figured out if I saved my diaper coupons for big sales, that I could stock up at a great price.  Those diapers are already expensive enough, right?!
Recently, my sister-in-law, Krista, cousin Dianna and I have really been going crazy.  It's so much fun to find great deals and be able to share them with someone who gets as equally as excited about them as I do.  We share good finds and help each other out.  SO FUN!!!
Today, I hit Safeway.   It was a perfect kind of savings storm, so to say.  Safeway is running huge deals, throw in some Catalinas, and top it off with coupons and the savings were huge!

This is what I got:
5 boxes Reese's Puff (Reece loves these things)
5 boxes Apple Jacks
2 Gallons Milk
3 boxes Honey Bunches of Oats
2 boxes Raisin Bran
10 boxes Fruit snacks, fruit by the foot
5 bags Nut Clusters
5 boxes Granola Bars
1 bag string cheese
4 boxes Hot Pockets
4 boxes Hamburger Helper
Subtotal = $150.93
After coupons = $24.92 - that's all I paid!!!! That's an 85% savings! 
Pretty nice, don't you think?

Happy Birthday, Mom

It was my mom's birthday last week.  The kids and I decided to go and surprise her for her birthday present.  We did it!  She had no idea we were arriving till we appeared.  It was a wonderful week and it went by way to quickly.

I was able to take my mom to go see Wicked in San Francisco.  We had a wonderful time.  The drive up the coast was lovely and it sped right by since we were able to just talk without any kids or distractions.  Wicked was phenomenal!!!  By far my favorite musical so far!

My brother took some time off and he took us shooting.  We had a blast. 

Would you believe I actually hit the clay pigeon on my second try!!  I know, unbelievable!

We spent many evenings playing cards (which my sister-in-law clearly owned us at) and talking. 

The kids spent many hours playing with thier dear cousins!  Time flew for them!

A day at the park flying airplanes and playing hillbillie golf.  Every moment down there was cherished and much needed.  How I miss my family!