Summer Bucket List {Coffe Date/InstaFriday}

If we were having a coffee date, it would probably be at Starbucks.
My house is entirely too messy for you to come over.
I'd buy, since I'm offer the invitation to catch up on life.

Chocolate Cake after 9pm is totally acceptable right?
Yeah Mother of the Year!

I'd tell you that summer has been so good to us so far.
People and places have blessed us with good memories.
Things to be thankful for.

John's BF Eric just up and leaves!
LMAO

Then I'd talk about my 5 year old.
Who has been been growing up before my eyes.
She just got brave enough to try and swim on her own.
The joy in her eyes on this major milestone is bliss.
She also acted like quite the lady at the dentist office on Wednesday.
What a change from the screaming 4 year old 3 weeks before.
Could she have changed so much in just 3 weeks?
I guess so.

Let's stay up late and light fires!
Ok, must be summer!

I'd then start to talk about this "summer bucket list" business.
I know summer is half over, but it's never too late to start.
I've read about some blogging mamas who feel like there is so much pressure.
I totally get it.
Why not make up your bucket list while you go along?
Like I've decided that an ice cream party out front with the neighbors deserves to be on the list.
We did that for Caitlin's birthday.
Also sparklers when it's not the 4th also deserve a place on the list.
Things we have already done.
Things we are making up as we go along.

I wasn't kidding when I say my kids eat Oreos for breakfast.
However, I'm usually the one handing them out.
Excuse me, Miss Mac...

Life is too short to dwell on what "we" should be doing as a family.
The only thing we should be doing is LIVING.
So I choose to make this bucket list as we go along.
And of course take lots of Instagram pics to share.
It should make for an interesting scrapbook come fall.

Not sure about this fire thing, Mom!

I'm adding the following to my list too.
A drive in movie (yes, there is still one close by).
S'mores out front on Dad's portable grill with the neighborhood kids.
A night time swim party with friends.
Making slutty brownies! (Thanks Kristine!)
Roasting veggies (I did this one, but it calls for a repeat).

I take pictures of the books I'd like to read.
I know kinda crazy.

Then I'd ask you what was on your summer bucket list.
To trade ideas, recipes, and DIY projects.

And I take pics of recipes too.
This one looks good!

Then since I'm known to totally manipulate conversations, I'd finally ask,
What's new with you?





Speaking of "bucket lists", a vlog is on mine.
So here's a little one, via my iPhone, since I don't have another way to do it.
This really freaks me out friends.

Linking up with this gal!

Rags to Stitches

Toes in the Sand {Ramblings}

 

What is it about putting your toes in the sand?

It's like getting permission to let everything go.

To relax and really seize the day.

It's what I did last week.

A day spent on a little over cast beach.

Where my kids played.

Me and the hubby hung out.

My parents got to enjoy their grand kids.

With a picnic lunch.

And my toes in the sand.

It's funny when you are a mom, and you forget what it feels like to just be you.

The you, you were before.

Do you remember what you did with all that free time?

Sleep?

Shop?

I've had a few days to spend all by myself at home.

It's been amazing.

I watch shows I want to watch.

They don't involve animation or laugh tracks.

I even ate my lunch on the couch without it being poached.

What is it about what's on your plate that makes your kids want to eat it?

I couldn't pay them to eat avocado off their plate!

Having a moment or two to yourself is kind of like putting your toes in the sand.

That moment of contentment.

That moment of peace.

Letting it all go.

And remembering who you were before you were mom.

How do you put "your toes in the sand"?

 

Have you met my latest blog crush?

Colleen will knock your socks off!

The first time I {blogged)

Have you gone back and read your very first post?  I had not.  So when these gals decided to host a link party of your very first post, I was excited and a little nervous.  Am I still the blogger I was that January day?  Do I still blog about the same things?  Have I changed so much that I barely recognize myself?  I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

You can see the original here

That was my first post.  Before I had a signature, or a header, or swaps, or sponsors.  When I knew nothing about the blogging world.  I would continue on that path for 6 months, until I came across this blogger, who inspired me.  Pushed me to want my own little space in the blogging world.  And the more I read her blog, the more I became aquainted with other bloggers, new link ups to join in, new friends to follow on Twitter.  So while I blog about a lot of things, I'm still being true to my original idea.  Sure I'll post some crafty business, or recipes, or even host a link up now and again, but I promise I'll still be me.  I'll still do the mom thing, and the writing thing, and the honesty thing. 


I'm doing it, I did it, and it's sooooo not done...

Linking up with

The Foley Fam

The Grant Life

Paisley Boulevard

Moda Mamma

Life, lately {in Instagrams}

So I took a little bloggy vay-cay... Did you know?  Well I set up posts before I left, but then I just left it.  A tweet here, a tweet there... And it felt so good.  Hey, I love you all something fierce, but sometimes if feels good to disconnect and enjoy the sun and in my case the sand.  Did you miss me? 

Since I missed InstaFriday, I decided to link up with Alli at Life on Leroy for "Life Lately".  Here is what I was doing while I stepped away from the blog and stepped into life...

We had a blast on the 4th of July! 

It was hot, but we stayed in the pool and kept cool.

(1) Sunglasses always help beat the heat!

(2) So does ice cream even if mom forgot the cones!

What's in your red solo?

(3) A father/daughter moment of pyrotechnics.

Dad's shining moment!

(4) That moment when you figure out what fireworks are all about!!

It was a beautifully hot day, with people we love,

friends who have never wavered, and kids who won't stop growing!

Everything you want in a holiday.

Then we took a little mini vay-cay to the coast.

The Monterey coast that is.

All my Caity girl wanted was a picnic on the beach.

Done.

We bought a ridiculously expensive lunch at Whole Foods and parked it at Lover's Point.

More pictures of this day to come, but here is a peek via Instagram.

(1) Building sandcastles

(2) "Let's take a picture"... So romantic!

(3) John dug himself a hole... Don't worry, he dug himself out!

(4) Dad and Mac walking on the wharf.

She's pointing at a very large seagull sitting on the top of a car.

"Look dad-dee"

(5) Our 2nd attempt at a picture... Better.

(6) Mac digging her own hole. 

Very precise measuring.

Last week was just what we needed.  Time away, to be a family.  No agenda, no schedule, just fun, sand, and some cooler temps (65 degrees, holla!).  Now it's back to the bloggy, the laundry, the dishes, and 106 degree temps (for reals!).  If you need me, I'll be unpacking, maybe.  If I just leave the suitcase packed, does that mean we can just leave again on Friday?  Wishful thinking!

Linking up with Alli

Make this cake {and eat it too!}

Since I'm away from the bloggy today, I'm sharing a recipe

that has been seen on Mom 2 Memphis and Ruby. 

I was a guest there back in May. 

Get your bake on friends!

Y'all may think I'm crazy.  Since I'm on a 100% grain free diet, but love to bake.  I may not be able to eat cake, but I can make cake.  From scratch.  I know what you are thinking.  You think that I've gone rogue and now I'm one of those "mommy" bloggers with Martha grade baking pans and expert icing equipment.  Wrong.  Don't you know me at all? 

I don't bake anything that requires things like sifting, piping, or making any kind of essence of anything.  It's just not my thing.  If it ain't easy, mama don't make it.  So imagine my surprise when this scratch cake, change my life, and almost convinced my husband that he needed to re-marry me.  Seriously, after one bite he gave a look I hadn't seen in years.  It's like he fell in love with me all over again. 

Meet The Peanut Butter Monster Cupcake (originally found here)

These were a hit!
And they were the easiest!

And Meet his cute sister, Mac's 2nd Birthday Cake

Big sis Caitlin provided the sprinkle work.
It's pretty genius if you ask me.
And we didn't light all the candles.
I promise!

Now both the cupcakes and the frostings are from scratch.  And I promise you will only need a hand mixer.  I swear.  I don't own one of those fancy schmancy Kitchen Aids.  Because if I were going to invest that kind of money, I'd probably say "WTH" and buy an iPad.  See, I'm not a baker, I just play one on my blog...

Ok, let's get down to biz:

From Scratch Amaze-balls Chocolate Cake (original recipe found here**)
2 1/4 cups flour
1/4 cup cocoa (I used Hershey's Baking Cocoa powder)
2 cups sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups water
2/3 cup oil ( I used standard vegetable)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
2 TBS vinegar (yes, vinegar, I used white)

In a bowl whisk together dry ingredients and set aside.  In another bowl mix all wet ingredients together.  Then combine the two and whisk until you have no lumps.  I swear NO MIXER needed.  Pour batter into a prepared pan (mine was a lg Pyrex) or cupcake pan with liners.  Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes for a cake or 22-25 minutes for cupcakes.

Peanut Butter Wowzer Frosting (original recipe for basic butter cream here**)
original recipe for the peanut butter frosting found here
3 sticks butter softened
1 lb. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 cup. peanut butter (I used Planters All Natural)

Now, you will need a hand mixer to beat the butter and peanut butter together.  Then add your vanilla, then slowly add your powdered sugar until you like the consistency.  I actually went out and bought piping bags and frosting tips when I made these for the hubby's birthday in January.  The piping wasn't so bad once you get the hang of it but it's not necessary.  Also the cherry on top, isn't really a cherry, it's a peanut butter cup.  And it's delicious!

As a side note, if you just want some basic frosting, leave out the peanut butter and you will have a cake or cupcakes similar to Mac's 2nd Birthday Cake.  Which I let big sister Caitlin cover in the sprinkles of her choice.  I felt it was a nice touch. 

Not so bad, am I right?  Are you going to get your inner Betty Crocker on and bake from scratch?  I promise friends, if I can do it, while my 2 girls run and scream about My Little Ponies, anyone can. 

Linking up with Kristine!!