Fantastic Finds

Go to Harolds. Don't walk. Run!

Harolds is going out of business and the entire store is 80%. The store is only open for 9 more days. I have never shopped at Harolds before, but my always fashionable friend JJ has shopped there on occasion and always has cute stuff. So, when I ventured by there this morning on my way to Ann Taylor Loft to spend my Christmas gift cards, I had to stop by and check out this AWESOME sale. I got three spring dresses and one top for $70.76. Original total for these items would have been a whopping $584.00.

After that, I floated to Ann Taylor Loft to spend my gift cards. They were having a great sale too. All sale items were an extra 25% off. Sweet! I got two sweaters, two blouses and two pair of dress pants for $85. Minus my $50 gift card, that was only $35 out of pocket.

What's Cooking Wednesday: Chocolate Goodness

Yum! Now that everyone is on their New Year's diet, I thought I would share some of my favorite chocolate recipes. Boo Mama recently reminded me of an old childhood favorite that made a repeat appearance during my pregnancy with David, which is what got me to thinking about ... CHOCOLATE!

Chocolate Cobbler

This recipe was a gift at one of my wedding showers from a sweet lady at my father-in-law's church. It is not one of Will's faves, but I think it is simply delicious warm out of the oven topped with vanilla ice cream. It is a recipe from the Depression era so it is also very cheap to make.

Melt 1/2 stick butter or margarine in 8x8 baking dish. (Cooking times may vary if you use a larger dish.)

Batter: 2/3c. sugar, 1-1/2T. cocoa, 1/2c. milk, 1c. self-rising flour and 1t. vanilla. Pour batter into buttered dish and mix.

Topping: 1/2c. sugar, 1/4c. cocoa and 1/2c. chopped nuts (optional). Sprinkle on top of batter.

Pour 1-1/2c. water on top of all. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Serves: 6-8.

Chocolate Gravy

1c. sugar

1T. butter

1-1/2c. milk

2T. flour

3T. cocoa powder

Mix all dry ingredients in a heavy saucepan with a whisk. Stir in the milk. Cook over medium heat stirring constrantly. Remove the pot when the mixture is thick like pudding. Add the butter. Stir in until completely melted. Serve over biscuits with a pat of butter on top. Serves: 6.

Hot Cocoa Mix

6-1/2c. powdered milk

1 (5oz.) pkg. non-instant chocolate pudding mix

1c. powdered chocolate drink mix

1/2c. powdered non-dairy creamer

1/2c. powdered sugar

1/2c. cocoa

Combine all in large bowl and store in two 1-quart jars. These can be stored in a dry area for up to 3 months (or longer). To prepare cocoa, dissolve 1/3c. cocoa mix in 1c. boiling water. Serves: 24.

Blog Tag: Round 2

Yikes!! I've been tagged by Melissa. This is fun and I thought it would be a nice short post. Here were my instructions:

a.) choose the 4th picture folder on your computer

b.) choose the 4th picture

c.) explain the picture

d.) tag 4 people

This is Claire (obviously) shortly after she turned one. I love all the details about her in this photo. She is sitting in her favorite chair (her first birthday gift from mommy and daddy) probably watching Little Einsteins. (That was her favorite show long before The Wiggles or Dora the Explorer came along.) She has her chubby little cheeks full of her cereal snack of Kix. Her favorite purple passy is sitting by her snack bowl so it can go back into her mouth when she is finished eating. And she is wearing one of my absolute favorite outfits from that age-her cute little pink Polo dress. This was such a fun age with Claire. I can't wait to share this time with David, but this picture sadly reminds me how quickly times does fly.

Okay ... now I have to tag 4 people. I tag ...

(1) Candice because she hasn't updated her blog in a really long time and needs some inspiration.

(2) Jennifer W. because I am curious to see if she will respond.

(3) Lindsey because she tagged me once before and it is only fair that I tag her back.

(4) Caacie because I have not tagged her before.

I can't wait to see your pics!

Pretty, Pretty Princess

Yesterday, Claire and I went to my niece's 3rd birthday party that was a Pirate and Princess party. Apparently, the pirates did not get the memo to dress up. (Dylan and Stone below.)

Claire and I, along with the other princesses were there in full regalia.

Birthday girl Evie blows out her candle on her princess cupcake.

Princess Evie and Tinkerbell (Maggie) share a secret over cupcakes.

What every princess needs ... a princess memory game.

Time for a princess treasure hunt.

Yeah! A treasure chest. Everyone gets to pick a prize.

The perfect ending to every princess party ... some one-on-one time with a real, live turtle! Claire wouldn't go near that thing and the turtle was pretty content to stay in his shell.

Me and my sis Ashley ... she always throws a good party and reminds me that I should wear eyeliner.

Our pretty, pretty princesses ... Claire and Evie.

What every princess needs after a long day of partying ... a NAP with her prince. {Claire really is asleep!}

And they all lived happily ever after. The End.

Famous last words ...

"My kids do not spit up." I actually spoke this to someone when David was about 6-7 months old. And at the time, it was true. Claire never spit-up/vomited unless she was sick and that was rare. I rarely have to use burp cloths when I feed David anymore ... until this week.

{On a side note, you know you're a parent of young children if ... you blog about your child's projectile vomiting. Anyway, on with the post.}

Embarrassing spit-up/projectile vomit moment #1: Will took the kids to his parents' house on Monday and Tuesday this week so he could play golf and I could work (and his parents' could watch the kids). I did not get to see Claire before I went to work on Monday morning and my co-workers are always wanting me to bring the kids by the office so Will brought the kids by the office for a quick visit on his way out of town. Right before they were about to leave, David started projectile vomiting all over my carpeted office floor. IT. WAS. DISGUSTING! We took David's romper off and he left in his onesie turtleneck and Will had to go back home before he left town to change clothes. Needless to say, David will not be making any appearances at my office again any time soon.

Embarrassing spit-up/projective vomit moment #2: Our sweet friends from church (and fellow Alabama fans), Jay and Jennie, came over to watch the Sugar Bowl tonight. About 10 minutes into the game (when Alabama was down a whopping 21-0), right after David finished his bottle, Jennie asked to hold David. (I had just finished telling her the office story.) David spits up a little. Jennie: "Oh, its not too bad." And then he proceeds to continue the projectile vomit all over both Jay and Jennie. YUCK! A quick, impromptu bath of David, several towels and washcloths for the adults, and a few sprays of Febreeze later, the game was back on. Perhaps David's incident was a foreshadowing of how the game was going to end for us Alabama fans ... we were just SICK!

Sew What?: December

Late is better than never, right? Not much sewing this month. I did manage to applique 3 little things for the kids to wear during the holiday season and 2 tops for my niece and nephew as part of their Christmas gift. I think they turned out pretty cute. I did not stress myself out and try to sew anything for them to wear during Christmas otherwise. Maybe I'll plan ahead better next (I mean this) year.

Okay ... I have searched all of my pictures and can't find any of the tops I made except the one I made for my niece.

Just take my word for it ... the others were really cute! Here are some pics of the appliques I used. I got them here.

What's Cooking Wednesday? (a day late)

Game day food. Specifically, chili. A staple here at our house, especially during the winter months. We are getting ready for Alabama's big bowl game tomorrow night and have some fellow Alabama fans joining us for dinner and the game. This is the best season Alabama has had in A LONG TIME so WE ARE PUMPED about the game tomorrow night. Anyway, here is the recipe. It is from a close family friend of Will's family. I'm not sure where or what Wheeler Mountain is, but they have some dang good chili. Plus, thanks to my friends Ginger and Kevin trying this recipe out first (long ago before they were married), I now know what a clove of garlic is (not to be confused with a bulb of garlic). Let's just say there was probably not a whole lot of kissin' going on after that soup was consumed.

Wheeler Mountain Chili (from Dorlea Rikard)

1-lb. ground turkey

1-lb. ground beef

1 onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 can red beans

1 can kidney beans

1 can pinto beans

1 can stewed tomatoes

15oz. can tomato sauce

1t. salt

2t. cumin

4t. chili powder

red pepper to taste

1/2c. red wine (optional)

Brown meats, pepper, onion and garlic; drain. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer at least 1 hour.