:: Party Details - frosting recipe

So remember the post about this yummy cake?

Well, it's been pinned more than 3000 times!

So . . . what does that tell you?

A lot of people have been deprived of some deliciousness.

And I've been really addicted to making it.

{not to mention, my skinny jeans are slowly getting too skinny}

These are the cakes I've made using this recipe . . .

{oh, and can you tell I love the rainbow and ombre cakes?}

for Reese's birthday party:

for Ava's birthday party:

for my sister's birthday:

for St. Patrick's Day:

So far, no plans to make anymore soon.

The hubby's birthday is coming up and he just wants a chocolate cake 

with store bought chocolate frosting. 

 Hmmm.  Boring. {just kidding all you chocolate lovers}

Anyway, a few people have asked me what frosting I've used.
My sister-in-law gave me this recipe and it's good.

But I would like to try different ones to find "the best frosting recipe".

For now, I've been using this recipe:

1 c. shortening

4 c. powdered sugar (1 lb.)

1 tsp. vanilla

2 tablespoons of milk

Cream shortening, vanilla, and milk.
Then add the powdered sugar in the above mixture until mixed thoroughly.
{add 1 T. meringue powder if wanting the frosting to be stiff}

*I usually double this recipe

Do you have a certain frosting recipe that you think is the best?

I'd love to try it out!

:: Party Details - easter picnic printable

So, just today I realized that Easter is creeping up on us, once again.

Haven't even started sewing the girl's Easter dresses.

Instead, I decided to plan a last minute Easter Picnic for Ava and her friends next week.

This is the invitation I designed.

Oh, and I decided to make one that you can download for free!

Enjoy!

Go here to download it.

:: Embrace the Camera 03.29.12

The girls and I on the tram at Disneyland.

I cherish these moments I have with them.

:: Found on Pinterest - general conference helps

Twice a year, we get to hear the leaders of our church in what we call General Conference.

This happens every April and October.

With our family, we watch on our TV or computer 

and listen to these messages that they've prepared for us.

It's a very special time for us.

And I've become a better person because of these bi-annual conferences.

Since I have little ones, at times it can be difficult to listen.

Here are some activities that I've found that I might use this weekend.

Source: scriptures4kids.com via Amy on Pinterest

::  coloring pages for toddlers

Source: tipsfromatypicalmom.com via Amy on Pinterest

:: keywords for candy - - they'll really listen with this idea

Source: brandyscrafts.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

::  General Conference Tote (can buy the tote from Hobby Lobby)

Source: amamab.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

::  Conference Pennies (pennies for keywords and then they get to buy items
from the conference store)

Source: oopseydaisyblog.com via Amy on Pinterest

:: General Conference Bingo


Do you have any traditions/helps that you do?

:: Food - spinach smoothies

About a year ago, I was trying to convince Ava that spinach was delicious.

She wasn't convinced.

Until I made her one of these.

Now she's very convinced.

During the summer months, we buy a ton of strawberries when they're cheap.

We freeze many of them to use for our "spinach smoothies".

What you need:

- a handful of frozen strawberries,

- a handful of spinach

- one banana

- about a half cup of milk

- sometimes we put yogurt in it (depending on if we have it in the fridge)

And this is what we come up with.
We're both addicted.

:: Seen - hunger games

Hmmm.

What did I do Thursday night at midnight?

You know it!!!

I absolutely loved the books and I ended up loving the movie too!

If you haven't seen it, you need to see it and reading the books is a definite must.

My awesome friend made these shirts for us.
Not that anyone even saw them, cause we were too busy being cold
and hiding them with our jackets, but cute they were!

Were you exhausted Friday morning, like me?
Unfortunately I had to work that next morning. . . blah.

Have you seen it?
Did you like it?

:: Blog Face Lift

I've been doing some changes with this little, ole' blog of mine.

It might take a few weeks to do everything I want to do (maybe a few months, with my track record),

but so far, so good.

I really couldn't stand the other blog header I made a while back.

I made it in picnik and this one I made in Illustrator.

This one I like much better.

And I'm gonna try the 3 columns this time.

Does it look too busy? 

(I do know I need to rearrange a few things here and there)

Or do you like the 2 columns better?

Your input would be greatly appreciated!

Here's a screen shot of the old blog . . . blah.

I've been slowly learning, by taking an Illustrator class (by Alma)

through Nicole's Classes

and am currently now taking a Typography class (which I'm loving!) by Melanie.

If you want to learn more, take these classes!

You won't regret it.

I wish I had enough money to take them all!!!

:: Family Happenings - beach day

We made our first trip to the beach in 2012, the other day.

The girls loved it.

Reese eating the sand practically the entire time and 

Ava searching for sand crabs.

I love these lazy days.

:: Get in Shape - pinterest workouts

In a few months, my family will be going on a cruise to the Cayman Islands/Jamaica.

I'm so excited!

Since I'll be in my swim suit half the time,

it's time to get my body into tip-top shape.

I've been running a lot lately,

especially since I did this and I also signed up for this at the end of April,

but I do need to target certain areas . . .

Here are a few helps I've found on pinterest.

Source: pbfingers.com via Amy on Pinterest

:: home circuit workout

Source: thefitnessdish.com via Amy on Pinterest

:: outdoor high intensity workout

Source: shape.com via Amy on Pinterest

:: 10 moves for inner thighs

Source: wholeliving.com via Amy on Pinterest

:: 6 moves for the abdominals

Source: 24.media.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

:: ways to loose 100 calories in one minute

Source: 30.media.tumblr.com via Cara on Pinterest

::  want to try this 99 challenge someday . . . it looks pretty intense.

Source: runnersworld.co.za via Cara on Pinterest

::  love this

:: Party Time - frozen yogurt bar

Source: iloveswmag.com via Amy on Pinterest

Last month, my family was in Utah for my brother's wedding.
A few days before, we threw a wedding shower for my sister-in-law.
I had seen this pin above on pinterest for a frozen yogurt bar.
So, we decided to do it.

It was a hit!
We bought the frozen yogurt from the local grocery store
and then had:

- strawberries
- bananas
- blueberries
- brownie bites
- m&ms
- crushed kit kat bars
-crushed butterfinger
- crushed graham crackers
 . . . basically, the list could go on and on.

It was very easy to prepare.
And even those who were health conscious had some too!

{my sisters, sisters-in-law, mom and I}