Sunny sun calling our names

Even though yesterday was more partly cloudy than super sunny, we got our winter bones outside and pretty much stayed there. The warmth alone was like medicine for the soul. We caught up with neighbors that had been hibernating alongside us and it was so nice to see their faces.



We noticed the new signs of spring...my tulips are coming back. Sometimes laziness in the garden has its benefits!







Sam fixed my beautiful path lights from Smith and Hawken. I never thought they would work again after they had been spliced and diced by multiple landscapers. When they came on as we were fixing dinner I couldn't believe my eyes. Sam has become so handy and he makes being handy look good I might add!



Here's to more fun and sun and less bad news! Cheers!



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Sad news

Today my sweet neighbor Melissa lost her battle with cancer. It has been so sad watching their family go through this incredibly hard time. I can only imagine how difficult it has been for them to be away from home for six months fighting for her life. Melissa was an incredibly strong woman of God. I know she is with Him now. Please continue to pray for her family.



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Holiday baking

Today I spent the better part of the day baking treats for my neighbors and spending time with my lovely friend Kate. The mission was holiday baking and the mission was completed.

I decided to make cake pops after being completely inspired by Bakerella. Then I saw a post that Bread and Honey did on cake balls, which seemed a little more my speed. I loved the pink with the white, lovely. Finally I saw on Pioneer Woman a cookie recipe with white chocolate covered cookies dipped in crushed peppermint, thus formed the birth of...

Peppermint Cake Balls

Here are the ingredients:



A box of Vanilla Cake Mix

A can of vanilla or cream cheese frosting

Gel food coloring (optional)

Peppermints

White chocolate chips



Make the cake following the instructions on the box. Pretty impossible to screw up.



Remove cake and allow to cool completely. Don't rush it.



After letting the cake cool take it out and let it chill a little longer on a cooling rack.



Then crumble the cake with your hands...it's fixing to get fun! "Fixing to" is something southerners say with abandon. Get over it.



Take that whole can of icing (fat free of course as long as I'm concerned) and mix it with the cake until it's creamy.



Kate got in on the messy part, rolling bite sized balls of cake.



Place the balls on parchment paper on a cookie sheet and pop them in the freezer for an hour.



Then take the peppermint candies...



and put them in a plastic bag and hit them really hard with a mallot. Great holiday stress reducer. Try it.



Pretty little pieces of peppermint.



Now take those sweet little chocolate chips and nuke em. You can also use a double broiler, but I'm not that fancy.



Mix them until they are good and creamy.



Now toss, twirl, roll the beautiful balls of cake in the chocolate.



Sprinkle (one of my favorite words) these little gems with the peppermint you worked so hard to crush.



et voila!



They're good. Really good.





Sam thought they were pretty awesome.



Then it was bath time and sleepy time. Matilda loves her pjs from Anna.





Thank you Kate for a wonderful day and for helping me roll little messy balls of cake. Love you.



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