i was just thinking

this morning i was watching gma, like i always do (what can i say they're like family), and my heart started beating fast when i saw that the pioneer woman was a guest! in just three years she has built an empire. a tiny little blog turned in to a beautiful website which launched a cookbook and now she's famous. so famous that kate and i skipped her book signing because of the hours long wait. it's just amazing. all from her beautiful ranch in the middle of nowhere. the magic of technology.



it just got me thinking about how wonderful it is to be inspired and connected to so many wonderful people across the blogosphere. i just want to thank you all for reaching out to this little blog and saying hello! i don't always have time to respond, but i'm working on it.

here are some current women of inspiration in my life...



{danni of oh, hello friend}



{jodi of passport in my pocket}



{leigh-ann from the freckled nest}



{rachel of handmade charlotte}



{christina from down and out chic}

there are so many more! these are just a few on the top of my head this morning.

who inspires you?



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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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Wasamatter?

Today my darling daughter will not sleep. I don't know why. All of my hopes of cleaning up have been squashed. I'll get her to sleep and then as soon as she realizes I'm not holding her she's a squalling mess. Right now she is sound asleep for the first time for longer than 2 minutes and it's because she nestled soundly in my neck. Keep in mind it's 3:00pm! I'm whooped!

Here is a two minute snooze thanks to her chickie towel:



I'm just so happy right now because she's happy and asleep:)

Meanwhile in my search for great recipes I came across the best blog! I love it and it has so many pictures! Introducing...The Pioneer Woman. I'm addicted and everything looks absolutely amazing. For instance:



Decadent chocolate milk

ps in other Matilda news, I got my first real smile yesterday. It was amazing, but none since:( Also, she is noticing more and more around her. Here she is looking at her birdie and heart:



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