Our Olympic Celebration & Caramel Popcorn Recipe

We celebrated opening ceremonies by having our own Olympic games.  The girls had a BLAST - it was fun to see them "compete"!

Here they are - getting ready to run the "Rug Dash" babies in hand!  Winner was the best out of 3!

The girls competed in basketball, soccer, running, weight lifting and bean bear throwing.  Everyone won a gold medal, and their prize was caramel popcorn!  They LOVED it!  Have I mentioned it has been in the 100's lately?  Yesterday it was 111.  I will cook anything as long as it requires the grill, crockpot or microwave.  So, I was looking for a quick and "oven-less" recipe for dessert, and stumbled across this microwave caramel popcorn recipe on Allrecipes.  It was amazing, so I wanted to share with you!  I changed the heating times just a little bit to avoid scorching!

Microwave Caramel Popcorn

recipe from allrecipes

Ingredients:

2-3 bags of popped popcorn

1 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. butter

1/4 c. light corn syrup

1/2 t. salt

1 t. vanilla

1/2 t. baking soda

Directions:

Pop the popcorn, pick out the kernels, and place in a large brown paper bag.

In a 2 quart casserole dish (not smalled so it won't bubble over and make a huge mess!), combine the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, salt and vanilla.  Microwave for 2 1/2 minutes, take it out and stir.  Return to the microwave for 1 more minute.  Remove and stir in the baking soda.

Pour the mixture into the brown bag.  Roll the top down and shake!  Microwave the paper bag for 1 minute.  Remove, shake and microwave for one more minute.  Dump the popcorn onto wax paper and cool.  Enjoy your crunchy, caramel popcorn!

Damask LOVE!

This weekend I got to use my new damask stencil.  We have been in our house for a year now and I  have been in a project "funk" since Christmas..it always seems so empty when you take the Christmas decor down!  With the high ceilings and textured walls, Landon and I have been dreading painting.  We decided it was time to get started making our home our own, and since Thursday we have painted our bathroom, bedroom accent wall, family room accent wall, an antique vanity and dining room wall.  Whew.  I am loving the changes and am excited to share how I did the damask print on the wall.

I have visited the stencil page numerous times, but just couldn't commit to the price of buying a stencil.  I saw a picture on facebook of one of my friends' sweet baby girl's nursery.  When he told me where he got the stencil from, I knew I could commit seeing the results from someone I knew!  I ordered it from Cutting Edge Stencils and it was here within a few days!  It is very high quality, durable, washable and best of all REUSABLE!  They also have some great instructional videos on the site to help you with your project!

 All you need is some painter's tape, a small foam roller and your choice of paint.  I went with a flat "antique" white from wal-mart - a whole gallon for only $10!  Can't beat that!  The stencil overlaps itself so once I got the first block level and painted, it was super simple to keep going from there.  2 1/2 hours later my wall was completed, and I was SO happy with it.  It is the first room you see when you walk in our house, and it changed the whole look of the dining room!  

The "Gabrielle" stencil was the one I chose!

"Flora" Damask - my other favorite - I decided to go with the "cheaper" one as I was already pushing it!  

***use coupon LMB10 for 10% off***

brown sugar, pumpkin bars & zucchini muffins

Can you tell my tastebuds are ready for fall?!? I had a can of pumpkin that I used in a few shakes, and I incorporated the rest of it into our weekend desserts.  You can't go wrong with Paula Deen's Pumpkin Bars.  Early saturday morning I realized I was out of brown sugar....after I went to the store.  I quickly whipped up a batch of brown sugar - it is super simple!  All you need is sugar and molasses!  Click on each picture to take you to the fabulous recipes!

Idols...

This has been one of those weeks I would love to start again.  It. Was. ROUGH.  I ended yesterday frustrated, lonely, angry and exhausted.  My girls are SO sweet, but there was a lot of screaming, hitting, talking back, crying, DRAMA going on here as well.  We passed a stomach bug around which didn't help with all the crazy emotions flying around this house.  I know what y'all are thinking right now - poor Landon.  I agree, but He was made to be a daddy of 3 girls.  He always has a great response, and always brings me back to reality on those hard days by telling me TRUTH.  

I have struggled a lot with loneliness this week....okay...to be honest, for the last couple years.  I have really been doing a lot of soul searching and praying this week on how to really get a grasp on it.  This morning while reading, I realized how much of an idol having close relationships had become in my life.  I am a giver and a people pleaser.  I will give to my family and give to my friends until I am so exhausted I can't take care of myself.  I have been so emotionally and physically exhausted trying to accomplish all the tasks that I have MADE FOR MYSELF to fill that void in my heart.  The book I have been reading, "Jesus + Nothing = Everything" can put it better than I can:

"we think that idols are bad things, but that is almost never the case.  The greater the good, the more likely we are to expect that it can satisfy our deepest needs and hopes.  Anything can serve as a counterfeit god, especially the best things in life.  An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought..."

Wow.  I'm so thankful for a God that forgives me for putting what was important to me before HIM.  For pouring myself into other relationships instead of making my relationship with Him my first priority.  When I am only seeking for His love and acceptance, He will freely give that to me, and I will no longer need to look to others to fill that hole.

I have a LOT of work to do.  I can't rewind this week, but I can start changing my heart right now.  

I just love sharing what God is teaching me - even if it reveals something ugly about myself if it can be an encouragement to someone else!

If you are looking for a book to read I highly recommend this one!  You can buy it here.

July Happenings

We had a great 4th of July with friends & family!

Brooke spent the night with her friend Nissi.  They both did great and had a blast thanks to Liz & Alfie.  

Lauren hasn't left these sunglasses out of her sight for a week.  She went to bed with them one night, and woke up with them in her hands.  

Lily got a baby with her birthday money a couple weeks ago.  She LOVES her baby, but doesn't want to sleep with her.  She wants to put her to bed at night, and asks for baby as soon as she wakes up in the morning.  I just love this crazy hair.  

All my girls before we go to cousin Addie's Birthday party.  I just love how girly they look!

June Happenings & Another Ice Cream Recipe

Lily & Lauren turned TWO June 10th.  I still can't believe it.  

Birthday celebration - ice cream party!

Daddy pampered the girls - they got their toenails painted at the mall!

We absolutely LOVE our backyard and spend a lot of time outside. The girls got a slip & slide for their birthday and they all had a great time playing on it. Landon also got us (I hog the grill at our house...Landon prefers it that way though) a new grill.  We grill out A LOT - about 4-5 times a week so I am EXCITED!  

Sweet girls enjoying cookies & ice cream.

Homemade ice cream - we love it.  Tonight was chocolate chip cookie dough.  I will post the recipes for the eggless cookie dough and sweet cream base below if anyone is interested.  :O)

Vanilla Ice Cream, Philly Style

David Lebovitz, The Perfect Scoop

Ingredients:

2 cups cream

1 cup whole milk

3/4 cup sugar

pinch of salt

vanilla bean (i didn't have one)

3/4 t vanilla extract

Pour 1 cup of the cream, sugar and salt into a medium saucepan.  If using the vanilla bean, scrape the seeds into the mixture and add the pod to the pot.  Warm over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.

Remove from the head and add the remaining cream, milk and vanilla extract.

Chill thoroughly in the fridge.  When you are ready to churn, remove the vanilla bean and freeze the mixture in your ice cream maker.

This makes a great base for adding your favorite candy bar, brownie pieces, cookie dough, etc.

Eggless Cookie Dough

1 stick butter

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 T milk

1/2 t vanilla

1 1/4 c flour

1/2 c mini chocolate chips

Beat butter with the sugars until light and fluffy.  Mix in the milk & vanilla.  Add the flour and mix until combined.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Voila!  Cookie dough that is safe to eat! 

 I rolled mine into tiny balls and threw them in the freezer until the ice cream was done churning!  I ended up using a little over half of the recipe for the ice cream.  The other half is waiting in the freezer for a craving to hit.  :O)

Crazy Day & Churro Chex Mix

I have had mixed feelings about Lily & Lauren turning two.  I LOVE their little personalities developing, but I am missing those little baby days so badly.   I had some GREAT things planned for this week...none of them we have been able to get to.  Let me just give a re-cap of yesterday just for laughs:

6:00 - run, eat, read and get ready

7:30 - Brooke wakes up, eats and gets dressed

8:30 - Twins wake up, eat and get dressed

9:00 - we all load up in the car and head to wal-mart to look for a sound machine for the girls' naps.  While we were there, I didn't even look for one because I forgot.  he he.

9:20 - we all load up in the car

9:30 - we tour a school we are hoping Brooke will get into 

10:00 - get home and unload

***play, scream, cry***

10:55 - Load up into the car

11:00 - Meet a friend for lunch at Chick-Fil-A....I long for adult fellowship!  :O)

12:00 - get home and lay everyone down for naps

This is where it got crazy - LOTS of screaming.  I tried to separate the girls, but they just kept screaming each other's names across the house.  Funny now - not so much yesterday.  I had plans of cleaning the house and preparing dinner.  Lauren has had a pretty bad cough (which is keeping her up)....so she had an appointment at 2:30.

2:30 - load up into the car 

2:45 - we are late.  I hate being late.  Thankfully they are pretty understanding.  :O)

3:00 - Head home with a prescription for steroids and an antibiotic.  Thankfully nothing contagious, she just has some serious allergy problems. Poor baby girl.  I had an appointment scheduled for 4:15 so I called Landon and begged him to come home to watch the girls so I wouldn't have to take them.  :O)

***Play, scream, cry***

4:15 - Who knew going to the dr. could be so relaxing?!?  I'm exhausted from just the loading and unloading!

5:00 - get home and hustle to get dinner & dessert ready!  I also got a phone conversation with a sweet friend who was encouraging me in God's word. I am so thankful for the friends that God has placed in my life!

6:00 - we enjoy some great fellowship with friends after a crazy day.

Whew.  It as a crazy day and I didn't get anything done that I had planned.  Several times throughout the day this verse came to mind:

"From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalm 61:2

I am already missing those sweet newborn days.  I know in another year I am going to wish I could go back in time to "enjoy" another one of these crazy days.  I need to look to God for strength and patience, but I also need to ENJOY every day as a gift from Him.  

Since I didn't have time to make the dessert I planned,  I made this churro chex mix that I spotted on Pinterest instead.  It was a hit!  Have a great week!

Cinnamon Churro Chex Mix

1 box of Rice Chex cereal

1 cup cinnamon chip (Hershey's is the brand I found at wal-mart!)

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Microwave the chips and butter in 30 second intervals until melted and smooth.  Pour over the cereal and stir until coated.  Throw the sugars and cinnamon into a large plastic bag if you have one (if not, pour on top of the coated cereal and toss) and toss the cereal in it.  Shake until coated! Throw in a bowl and enjoy.  Just a warning:  this is highly addictive!