A Little Birdie...

Most every time I think about my mom

{she still lives in San Antonio...where I grew up}

I remember her coming home from work

and going to water her plants

{with a glass of wine in hand}

<3

So...like mother, like daughter...

I really love to water my plants in the evening.

It's almost therapeutic.

Well, when I was beginning to water one of my

hanging ferns yesterday evening,

a Little Birdie flew right out of the fern.

It scared the be-jee-burz out of me!!!

I'm sure the neighbors got a good laugh at me

{holding on to a pillar for dear life}!

So, before I went any further,

I tilted the fern toward me

to make sure there weren't anymore

little birdie's waiting for me in there...

and

THIS

is

what

I

saw...

 this perfectly constructed

beautiful

little nest

filled with

4

perfectly

blue

little birdie

eggs!

I mean just look at this nest...

and those gorgeous eggs!

Thank you, God

for this perfect

Little Blessing

that YOU delivered

to me, today.

I hope you find a Little Blessing

in each and every day!!

Enjoying life's Little Blessings,

Kim

Craft Room Chaos

I just realized that I haven't posted anything in over a week! 

 {My how time flies}

Well, this is why...

 I am FINALLY organizing my Craft Room!

I am SO excited about having my very own space

{therapy room}

for all my craft stuff!

 So this is what it looked like a few days ago...

 It's a very odd room.

It is an addition that was built inside the attached garage...

the ceilings are about 12' high...

{we are completely confused about how the previous owners used this space}...

with this storage unit that is about 8 feet off the floor...

{not sure how I'm going to access this, yet...library ladder??}...

 This little wall/closet houses the hot water heaters...

my hubby wants to build a loft over this...

I say "Go for it, honey!" :)

So...check back in a few days

{weeks?}

to see the {almost} finished product...

Why {almost}?

Well, because I really want to paint it a different color...

but with 12' ceilings, I will need help...

and I think that just might push my darling hubby...

well...

over

the

edge!!

So it will {most likely}

stay

B-R-O-W-N...

Also...I am working on Shelby's 2nd Birthday Party

The theme is

"Our Little Peach"

Here's the invitation I designed...

I got the graphics HERE...

and the little polka dot peaches HERE!

So...if you don't see me for a few days...

you know why.

:)

Blessings to you,

Kim

Pina Colada Cupcakes

So, you may have read about my recent addiction to coconut...

{Key Lime Coconut Cookies}

{Coconut Cuppies}

and now

Pina Colada Cuppies!

These cupcakes are a perfect nod to that

luscious, frozen, tropical summer treat!

They are

fresh

fruity

tropical

coconutty

light

delicious

and SOOO summery!
I topped them with toasted coconut
and a pineapple, cherry, cocktail garnish!

I LOVE THEM!!

and I think you will, too.

:)

I suggest that after you make them,

you sneak away by yourself
preferably outside

take a bite

close your eyes

and pretend your at the beach...
crashing waves,
squawking seagulls,
warm sun,
soft sand,
frozen beverage...
AAAAaaaaaahhhhhh....

{that's what I did}

{and it worked...for a second!}  :)

Click HERE for the recipe.

Enjoy!

Blessings to you,

Kim

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

I have very fond childhood memories of homemade vanilla ice cream.

They go something like this...

We would all gather on the back patio,

pour the milk and Junket Vanilla Ice Cream Mix

{image courtesy of http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/tag/vintage-cookbooks/}

 

into the ice cream maker,

{image courtesy of http://www.texascooking.com/features/june2004icecreamfreezers.htm}

add the bagged ice

{image courtesy of http://www.interplas.com/}

 

and rock salt.

{image courtesy of http://www.americanheritage.us/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=11747}

Then we would all take turns cranking that handle.

We couldn't wait for it to be our turn!

We couldn't wait to peek inside to see if it was frozen, yet.

I remember, so clearly, the anticipation of having that

delicious bowl of homemade vanilla ice cream.

There was nothing like it in the world!

I never wanted to spoil mine with any toppings.

Just plain ol' vanilla for me...

thank you very much!

Times haven't changed much

{except for the convenience of my electric ice cream maker}.

It was basically the same

here in my kitchen, yesterday...

watching me pour the ingredients into the mixer,

{minus the junket mix}

adding the ice and salt,

and waiting with great anticipation to see

if it was frozen, yet.

The kiddos were beside themselves with excitement

as I opened the top to reveal

fresh

creamy

sweet

white as snow

frozen

vanilla ice cream!

PURE DELIGHT

all over their precious faces...

See??

{this is only part of our crew...the others had better things to do...HA!}

There truly is nothing like

Homemade Ice Cream!

Here's the recipe:

HOMEMADE VANILLA ICE CREAM

INGREDIENTS:

2 quarts Half & Half

1 pint Heavy Cream

1 3/4 cups sugar

4 tsp. pure vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

Pour all ingredients into the container for your ice cream maker.

Stir well.

Freeze according to the manufacturer's directions.

If you can't wait for your freezer to stop...feel free to peek inside every 20 minutes or so.   :)

Share with your kiddos...you will be their Hero {if only for that day}

 Enjoy...it's one of God's great blessings!  :)

Blessings to you,

Kim

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

I love cooking for my family.

It just makes me happy!

Since I am blessed to be able to stay home

{and not have to rush to get myself ready to get somewhere in the mornings}

{I am NOT a morning person so my family is

very thankful for this...TRUST ME!!}

I try to have a warm home-cooked breakfast for them

 {almost} every day.

{Uh-Hm...I do allow myself one "Cereal Morning" per week...}

{This consists of

putting bowls & spoons on the table,

along with 2 boxes of cereal,

and a jug of milk,

telling the kids, "Come eat!"

and sitting my sleepy self on the couch

to enjoy my coffee

with my hubby

and no kids}

:)

However, I know that we are so blessed

to be able to sit around the table together

every morning and every evening

and laugh and enjoy each other's company.

So, I try to add a little variety to our breakfast meals.

This morning was

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes!

Mmmmmm!

Like most meals that I cook

I try to find shortcuts

The shortcut here is boxed Pancake Mix.

I add some little special touches to make them

taste like they're made from scratch.

They really are SO yummy!

My kiddos friends have asked me to give my pancake recipes to their moms!

{{I won't name names}}  :)

Click HERE for the recipe!

Blessings to you,

Kim

Summer Lunch To Go

An Easy Lunch for a Summer Picnic

 

I like to bring lunch to my husband's staff as often as I can.

They work so hard and are such a great group of ladies

that we like to treat them to a little "Happy"

every now and then.

The latest lunch that I made for them was a

"Summer Inspired" menu.

CHICKEN PESTO SANDWICHES

PASTA SALAD

PEACHES & CREAM CUPPIES

{Click HERE for the Sandwich & Pasta Salad recipes}

{Click HERE for the Cuppie recipe}

I packaged everything up

and labeled all the food with cute labels

and then delivered lunch to the Clinic.

{Click HERE for the free printables}

I LOVE delivering HAPPIES

to my people.

I hope that it brightens their day

fills their tummies

and

lets them know they are special to me!

I'm putting these recipes on my Table for 9 page.

They are quick

easy

budget friendly

perfect for summer

and De-lish!

I hope you make this lunch

and pack it up

for a fun summer day

with your people.  :)

Blessings to you,

Kim



Mocha Caramel Cuppies with Sea Salt Caramel Frosting

Have you ever had a life-changing experience

with candy?

I sure have...

and I'll never forget it!

A couple of years ago I went into

a small candy store with my daughters.

The intent was to treat them

to a sweet surprise.

Little did I know I was about to have a

divine encounter!

I walked up to the small glass case...

peered inside...

and there they were...

Dark

Chocolate

Covered

Sea Salt

Caramels

I stared for a while before speaking

{I think I might have even drooled}

then I asked the girl behind the counter

for 4 pieces.

They were 1" squares.

Small, mind you...and I only asked for 4!

The girls chose their treats.

I paid the girl behind the counter.

We left the store.

And got in the car.

That's when it happened.

They were beckoning me.

So, {almost without realizing it}
I unwrapped one of the little beauties
from the parchment paper
and ate it.
My life would never be the same again.

Fast forward 2 years and here I am
in my kitchen...
smiling...
reliving the same
divine experience with my
Mocha Caramel Cuppies
with Sea Salt Caramel Frosting.
Click HERE for the recipe.
You can thank me later!

Blessings to you,
Kim