Spring is Approaching!

"Build houses and settle down: plant gardens and eat what they produce."

Jeremiah 29:5 The veggie variety. This year is gardening 101 for me, so experimenting I am! The Jalapinos were Steves only request. We will see if I can work magic and grow them up in our climate! I am so excited to see the little seedling start to sprout!A few are lucky enough to start growing inside. My goal is to plant them outside April 22-ish. Based on our current weather, I will surely be frost free and safe by then!Here is where it will all grow, 6 -8 weeks from now! My garden area is now all turned over and just waiting for more dry weather in March for fresh topsoil. By July we should be eating the fruits of my labor. :o)

A New Dog Bed

They get so excited over anything new! I took Riley to school tonight and since we were early we wandered around PetSmart. I noticed dog beds on a super sale so I put one on the floor, he sniffed it. I put this super soft one on the floor and he jumped on, layed down, rolled around...loved it! Hmm, well time for class. At the end of class we get random coupons and it just so happened I got a $3 off coupon for that brand of dog bed. It was a sign, so both dogs are happily enjoying their fluffy new bed, and I enjoy that I spent next to nothing for it! The only problem is they both cant fit, or havent figured out a way to.

Yesterday I Made - Mini Cupcakes with Peppermint Frosting

I could only last 7 weeks without baking something! I just wanted one! I halved the recipe below on both the cake and the frosting. They turned out very yummy. YELLOW CAKE

3/4 c. softened butter

3 eggs (30 min room temp)

2 1/2 c. flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 3/4 c sugar

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/4 c. milk

1. Grease and lightly flour muffin pans. Or use muffin trays. In a medium bowl mix flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

2. In large bowl beat butter on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar 1/4 c. at a time till well bleneded. Beat another two min. Add 1 egg at a time beating after each. Beat in vanilla.

3. Alternately add in flour mixture and milk beating on low speed until combined. Spread batter into pans.

3. Bake in 375* for 11-12 min. (mini muffin pans) check center of one with toothpick! Remove from pans once finished and let COOL COMPLETELY on wire racks. Frost with frosting below.

WHITE FROSTING - PEPPERMINT

1 c. shortening

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp peppermint extract. *(or lemon, almond, orange, ,etc.)*

4 1/2 c. powder sugar (about 1 lb)

3 -4 TBS mik

1. Beat in med bowl shortening, vanilla, and extract for 30 seconds on med. speed. Slowly add half the powdered sugar, beating well. Add 2TBS of milk. Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar and enough remaining milk to reach spreading consistency.

REMEMBER: I HALVED THIS RECIPE TO MAKE 28 MINI CUPCAKES. THIS FULL RECIPE IS FOR LARGE CUPCAKES OR TWO 8" CAKE ROUNDS. :)

Projects that keep me busy

I have been finding little projects and small house touch ups here and there to keep myself occupied. 6 weeks down, 13 to go! Here are some of the things I have been up to...So I picked out new green rugs for the house and I loved them. But they didnt match the blue couch...so I found a couch-cover to brighten the room and match the new rugs (kind of backwards I know!) I just got it today and wrestled it on the couch, so Im still deciding whether I love it or not. Im thinking it is a nice change.
I am about half finished scrapbooking our wedding. There are so many pictures! Here is just a couple of pages that were out. I am very particular when I scrapbook, so it is taking me a long time to work through it. But I love it so far and am so happy I will have these memories forever!
I kept all of the cards given to us, and cut up the romantic sayings and beautiful pictures to be included into the scrapbook. This is my favorite page (it happens to be the first page in the book.) Thanks Dad and Wendi for the best card of all, the scripture made the first page perfect!

Above this mirror was so boring! I found a bundle of green eucalyptus, tied it together to form a swag looking thing and stuck some flowers on to hide the ties. I love it, and it makes the hallway smell SO relaxing!

This brightens up my kitchen. I had the hardest time picking out the flower/color combination for this window. But with the lights added, it makes doing dishes a little nicer!

My Valentine

Flowers arrived at my door on Saturday. My hubby found a sweet way to surprise me with his love, even if he is halfway around the world!

The card says he is excited to one day spend a Valentines Day together. Somehow throughout the years, we have never spent an actual Valentines Day together. Thank you my love, for the beautiful flowers! I love you, too. :)