Free Family Date Night

Alax got a new job recently, and we have been LOVING having him home with us at night!! Last night there were a few free deals at Panda Express and Cinnabon, so we decided to go all out ;)

Free Cinnabon Bites!!

Free Shanghai Beef!!

Free food?? It doesn't get much better than that!! :) Afterwards, Alax took me to this "little" thrift store that I've been wanting to go to. The store was so funny because on the outside it looks like this little tiny store, but once we got inside it kept going, and going and going!! It was massive! All in all though, a very fun night with my little family! Now I'm looking forward to the 26th: Free pretzel at Pretzel Maker. haha

Chocolate Mousse Crunch Cake

Looking for an awesome cake recipe?? Look no further! This Cake is sooo good! With Devils food cake, chocolate mousse, heath bits and chocolate ganache, you really can't go wrong! Here's the recipe! You're welcome :)

CHOCOLATE MOUSSES CRUNCH CAKE

1 package Duncan Hines Devil’s Food Cake

1 recipe (give or take a little) Chocolate Ganache (recipe below)

Crushed Heath bars or a bag of chocolate-covered Heath bits

1 tsp. unflavored gelatin

1 Tbsp. cold water

2 Tbsp. boiling water (just heat it in a small bowl in your microwave)

1/2 c. sugar

1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 c. whipping cream

1 tsp. vanilla

Bake cake according to cake mix instructions in 2 8″ round pans. Allow to cool and set aside. This can be done several days in advance; just freeze the cakes when you’re done.

In a small bowl, combine gelatin and cold water and allow to stand for about 1 minute. While gelatin is softening, bring 2 Tbsp. water to a boil in the microwave. Whisk into the softened gelatin and allow to cool slightly.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine sugar, cocoa powder, whipping cream, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer until medium-stiff peaks form. Mix in gelatin mixture and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Prepare ganache (if you haven’t already) according to directions.

With a serrated knife, carefully slice the dome-iest part of each cake layer off so the layers are level. Place one layer on the serving plate and spread about 1/2 of the chocolate mousse over the cake. (*I used all of the prepared mousse) Sprinkle with Heath bits.

Place second layer on top of Heath bits.

Spoon ganache over the top layer, allowing it to drip down the sides. Sprinkle with additional Heath bits and refrigerate until ready to serve.

SUPER EASY CHOCOLATE GANACHE

8 oz. semi-sweet or dark chocolate

8 oz. heavy cream

Combine chocolate and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 2 minutes and stir. Heat for an additional 1-2 minutes or until chocolate is fully melted and can be whisked and incorporated into the cream. (*Mine melted in just the first 2 minutes) Be sure and scrape the sides and bottom to make sure you don’t find any globby bits of chocolate when you start working with it.

The ganache will thicken as it cools, so if it’s a little too thin for you, hang tight and it will be ready pretty quickly. When it’s completely cool, it will be thick and fudgy and can be used like frosting. Store in an airtight container. You can reheat it to achieve your desired consistency.

original recipe here

Easter!

We had such a fun Easter this year!! We dyed eggs on Saturday and Marlee LOVED putting the eggs in the dye. She kept saying "again?" When she woke up Sunday she looked for all of her eggs and her Easter basket. I was so surprised at how good she was at finding them all. She was so excited every time she found one. In the afternoon, we went to church and right after we met some friends at a park near our house and let them have another egg hunt all over the park. They were all so cute! Then we went home, I finished making a yummy cake for a dinner at my sisters and we headed over for a great dinner! Marlee was soooo exhausted by the end of the day.

coloring the eggs!!

This cake was sooo good!! Recipe to follow!!

I hope everyone had an amazing Easter Sunday!!!

Baby Animal Days

Marlee and I went with my sister and her kids to Baby Animal Days in Logan last week. It was so fun, and luckily we went the first day, because it snowed the next day! There were tons of animals that the kids could pet and hold, tons of games with candy prizes, train rides, pony rides and a candy cannon!! I was sad Alax was working and didn't come with us, but I'm sure he was relieved, because that place was CROWDED! Marlee got nipped by a goat pretty much right off the bat, so she was super wary of all the animals after that. It was super fun though, and Marlee loved hanging out with her cousins! Here are some pictures of our day.

Not so sure about the tractor..

mean goat!!!

having some lunch

riding the train!!

Full Time Mom

Okay, I know I have been a non-working, stay at home mama for a little over a year now, but sometimes I still feel like I'm just not getting the hang of it. It is HARD work. It has been such a change from working full time outside of the home, to watching this little girl full time..When we lived in California, I worked from 6am til 2:30 mon-fri. So, I saw Marlee for a couple hours in the evening, and then put her to bed. So now that I'm really present with her, I sometimes still have no idea what to do.. I was used to practically having the whole day to myself, so when we moved here I had an 8 month old to myself all.day.long..It was a BIG change! It was a change I did, and still love, don't get me wrong, but a change nonetheless.

To be honest, a lot of the times, I feel like I'm doing an awful job. There's so much worry and guilt wondering if you're playing with them enough, or teaching them enough... I'm sure these are normal feelings, and I'm sure I'll get into a system and get organized with things as time goes on, but geeez, who knew a 20 month old little girl could be so much work?? Oh, that's right, probably everyone but me... :)

I've been trying to slow down lately and really cherish the little moments I have with her. When I'm busy cleaning the kitchen and she begs me to hold her, I sit down on the kitchen floor and do it. Before, when I was making dinner and she would be whining at my feet I used to tell her to go and play with her toys, but lately I've been sitting her on the counter with a bowl and whisk and I let her "help" me make dinner. I've been trying to make small changes in my routine to include her more, and be more present with her, and I feel like it's helped a lot. All in all, I just want to be a good mommy to my sweet girl, and I hope I'm doing enough.. Please tell me I'm not alone in my mommy anxieties..

Here are some pictures from the past few weeks!

She is loving trying to dress herself!! She put her socks on today and was SO proud of herself!!

She was being super quiet in her room, and I just KNEW she was doing something naughty. I walked in to find that she had made a little bed for herself, using her puppy as her pillow, her baby next to her (like always) and reading a book. It was so sweet.

watching me make some dinner!

She LOVES looking at her fish. I have to put her up on the counter so many times throughout the day so she can give them kisses and hugs.

Taking a picture. She always gets mad because all she wants to do is look at the pictures, and not take them, hence the angry face! :)

I love this little girl with all of my heart!!

Good times with my love

***WARNING: picture overload and lots of reminiscing.

I ran across some "old" memory cards (4 or 5 years old..) and have been looking through some pictures. It's been so much fun. There was a whole bunch of when Alax and I started dating, so I thought I'd share a few (or hundred).. Here they are in chronological order:

Hanging out while most likely ditching school..

We met while I was in Cosmetology school and I got out at 10 every night...We would normally meet up at my apartment or his parents afterwards and hang out til like 3 in the morning. It was so stupid..lol I about killed myself after I fell asleep driving home one night. This was at my place.

at his parents soaking our feet in the hot tub. Don't we look tired??

Watching Gary Allan

I met up with Alax and his whole family in North Carolina after only knowing him for a week..Looking back, I can see it was kinda crazy and why my parents were a little worried..lol

My birthday 9/18/2008. Wright's Lake, the most beautiful place ever!! The day Alax proposed :)

We spent the afternoon kayaking all around.

Trying on wedding dresses at Renfro's

I look like I'm 12.

Our honeymoon in Mexico!!! I had never been on a plane where you just walk out of the plane on stairs..

Visiting the beach. After we had snorkled and kayaked.

Okay, I threw this one in here cause look how skinny I was!!! lol

ooooh the things a baby does to your body..

Zip lining!

our resort

LOVED the food. We ate ourselves sick...all inclusive is the way to go ;)

Be prepared for more pictures, as i keep looking :)

Visit with the Post's!!

Alax's sister and her 3 kids came to visit for 5 days this last week!! It was so fun having them here! We had so much fun catching up, and Marlee LOVED playing with her cousins! We went to the zoo the first day they were here, and ate lunch at The Red Iguana. Soooo good!!

Taylor was not happy about taking a picture...

Watching the monkey's with mom!

I spy a cute little Marlee!!

Going on the carousel with daddy! This was before she had a complete meltdown and wanted to get off. lol

One day we headed out to a park to enjoy the great weather we've been having!!

I just wanted to keep this little girl here with us!! She is so sweet, and has the most gorgeous red hair I have ever seen!!

Hailey was so sweet with Marlee!!

The kids watching a show one morning.

Thanks for coming out Dani!! It was so great to see you guys. Tell Sam we missed him!!