the shortcomings of a woman serving the Lord

it has been quite a day. and the day isn't even over yet. so many times today have i tried hard to not have "feelings". i want to keep my eyes focused on the Lord. and not question what has happened.
let me explain a little more. which is hard when Straylight Run's Try is blaring loudly in my ears and i'm trying very hard to not start dancing on my bar stool at my new favorite coffee place. that serves beer. and yes, the guy behind the register thought i was 23. i think i'm going to be just fine. however i think of phoebee handing her id to sean penn's character on friends, "oh, i don't even want to show you this now".
i'm old.
i'm a 30 year old mother of 4 sitting at a bar dancing to music playing in my ear while everyone else moves around me to their own beat. no one knows me.
i'm not quite sure why Try has been my go to song. it was my favorite song to hear sam play on the guitar, but i am not listening to it because i am thinking of him, because i don't really ever think of him. i'm listening to it because something about it reaches out to me. i'm just not sure what.
i thought of sam today. when i was frustrated at 5:30 with a whining henry who wouldn't eat his dinner, with a baby who wanted to be held, with mason demanding a bath, with campbell not picking up trains. and i was frustrated. why am i doing this alone????? even though i have family around me, why am i now a single mother? why am i back in my parents home instead of in my house? why am i so far away from Gus??? why am i in such a tight spot?
and you know what? even when the water from mason's bath that i neglected to turn off had filled her tub and 3 inches of my bathroom floor, i remembered deep in my heart- i am THANKFUL.
so very thankful. to the depth of my core. to the beat of my heart. to my hands beating to air drums. this is where the Lord has me. right now, in this bar stool, listening to happy hour stories.
being terribly embarrassed when drew behind the bar tells me how in junior high he liked bleed american. i'm old.
but i'm feeling young.
today, i spent 90 minutes in a counseling session, and it was uplifting, reassuring, and at the end my hope for returning was that i am wanting to continue to seek the Lord. my heart is so pulled toward Him. my eyes are fixed on Him. and i want nothing to change that. NOTHING. i've been in the darkness before, and i never want to be in the darkness again. NEVER.
i wish when the water had soaked my feet this evening that i could have laughed with my daughter instead of being frustrated that it hadn't occurred to her to turn the water off. i wish when henry was fussing non stop that i had chased him around the living room and tickled him. i wish i had built more track with campbell, i wish that i had hugged my baby a few more times.
but what i did do- was remain thankful. always thankful. because honestly, i don't want anything different right now. if i could go back and change things i wouldn't. i am to happy. to thankful for where the Lord has me, and for how He is Sovereign in all things.
i love it. bring on the hard days. bring on the things that i struggle with that mean i have to go to Him in prayer and trust.
bring it on.
i'm thankful.

96) for early morning texts from my lovely best friend. telling her how i cry when i look at my rainbow closet and miss her. look for a post dedicated to my unfailing love for her.

97) touching my sister's belly and knowing that Hope is growing in there.

98) knowing that hope is growing in me. from Him.

99) He loves me. He died on the cross for my shortcomings as a mother, as a woman, as a daughter of my Father.

100) for the sweet taste of one york a day.

101) for a $3 beer that is now gone.

102) for a shuffled playlist that i love.

103) for emails from an old friend from my college days, and knowing that he and his wife love me dearly.

104) the requests of my children to hear Psalm 121 played in music form.

105) a darkened coffee shop where i can blast music in my ears and write.

106) for every morning when i come down the stairs and am greeted with amazing cheers from my children. i kinda rock there world.

107) mason's prayers at dinner time.

108) for the simple things, like wearing an owl t-shirt from my sister, and seeing my owl book end, and knowing that i am in His hands.

109) for absentmindedly sitting in a chair at fred meyers to talk on the phone and sip my coffee and realized, i sat in a green one.

110) for loving the color green. but happily moving on to orange.

111) i was gonna stop at 110, but i'm thankful that for the first time in my life i feel so alive in the Lord that i can sit here and bounce back in forth as the music plays in my ears and i don't really care at all.

112) for 610+ more reasons to come about being thankful.

113) for knowing that i can open my Bible and find all the truth i need about who He is, and what He is doing. even if the plan isn't totally visible, and i might feel blindfolded at times, He is leading me.

114) for the americano that i am going to order once i hit post. i may have drunk my beer to quickly.

music

i've not hidden that music has been a huge blessing to me. it has. i've actually branched out towards some music that i listened to bttwr (before the truth was revealed). i find that even secular music at this point i can find truth in. i guess it depends on what you are looking for.
and right now, i'm looking for songs that pump me up, in a positive Jesus way.
so, since today was a little odd for me. and i don't want to expand more on that. there is always the bright light of what Christ gives me everyday. and every day He pulls me closer to Him, shaping me like the potter shapes clay, and i am hopeful that everyday i become for useful to Him.
my current goal, to offer as many smiles as i can, to let the love of Christ shine out of me.
of course, i'm not always perfect.
i may or may not have gone through a starbucks drive-thru today, and while waiting for my drinks asked the pretty barista if she felt like everyone who worked there as pretty close. she smiled and said, "oh yes". i was like, yeah, my husband used to work for starbucks. and she asked, "oh, did he think they were a close group?" and i smiled and said, "i think so, seeing that he was having sex with the baristas in the back room."
i'm not perfect.
and maybe i have a shameful smirk on my face.
maybe.
back to music that pumps me up.
this is my new theme song. and it "may" bum people out. oh well. i listen to it everyday. my kids hear me singing it very loudly. if you were in the van with me you'd be getting a private dance show.
well, if you are driving next to, you are getting a private dance show.
http://youtu.be/LLNcsqHwoXI
that link will you take you to the video... its not a great video. but you won't really be able to picture me rocking out unless you watch it. this is a Christian punk/emo band.
here are the lyrics:

Pressing On
Relient K

I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here.
Out of mind, out of state.
Trying to keep my head on straight.
I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here.
There's only one thing left to do.
Drop all I have and go with you.

[Chorus:]
Somewhere back there I left my worries all behind.
My problems fell out of the back of my mind.
We're going and I'm never knowing (never knowing) where we're going.
To go back to where I was would just be wrong.
I'm pressing on.
Pressing on, all my distress is going, going, gone. (pressing on, pressing on)
And I won't sit back, and take this anymore.
'Cause I'm done with that, I've got one foot out the door.
And to go back where I was would just be wrong
I'm pressing on.

I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here.
Out of mind, out of state.
Trying to keep my head on straight.
I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here.
Adversity, we get around it.
Searched for joy, in you I found it.

You look down on me, but you don't look down on me at all.
You smile and laugh, and I feel the love you have for me.
I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here, and we're gonna make it after all.

now, the 2 other songs that aren't exactly Christian, but are getting me pumped are both by Jack's Mannequin.
and you should watch the videos. and then think of my sweet sister. who in reference to Andrew from Jack's Mannequin said "I wish he'd play me like that piano" i can't remember the last time i laughed that hard.
well, i do. cause, He's turned my wailing into dancing.
http://youtu.be/sA8PaIw5gcE for swim
and
http://youtu.be/jrOMu-lmfnI for resolution.

enjoy.
cause its 11pm and i've got earbuds in at a way to high level, and i'm having my own little music party.
and then i'll take my ear buds out, read my Bible, and then listen to music from "my jesus" mix as i fall asleep.
occasionally i get good dreams.
two nights ago, 2 of sam's ladies were in it.
less fun for me.
but- i'm pressing on.

what i am listening to.

please, please, please- everyone that i know- please listen to this.
it's to late for my situation, i mean- way to late. sam could have listened to this many many years ago, like 10, before we were even married. it doesn't matter for us now. because the damage has been done.
i will blog more about us. but listen to this. with your spouse. with your friends. with your study.

go to this site:
http://www.fcfmv.org/site/audiodownloads.asp?sec_id=1120&nc=1327174579715.55

and its the 1/15 sermon- God's Will is Easy to Know.
Please. listen to it.
And know that i am.
with not just regret, but with hope for my own future.

a pretty good deal

so my friend jana just called me about a fun online deal from one kings lane. it seems to be a fun online home decor store, that has sales all the time. if you use this link (cause it's mine) and sign up (its completely free) you get a $15 credit at the store, which includes the shipping, so if you find something for under 10 bucks, you can spend about 2 dollars and get something fun- either as a gift, or for yourself.
i got these for under 2 dollars. not to shabby, especially if you know how much i love salad, and how much i love green!
refer your own friends and get $15 bucks each time someone signs up.... you could probably get most of your Christmas shopping done that way.
although, sign up under me first :)
ok, i'm off to a child free day (except my newborn) of alone time!

squash

its growing. in a barrel in my front yard. this is truly a feat for me, because every single houseplant i have ever had has died a sad, slow, death. in fact, even the pretty flowers that i had on my front porch (and have replaced twice) have suffered at my hand (suffered and died). needless to say that our little garden doesn't look all that great (okay, it looks pathetic) but someone we have some little munchkin pumpkins growing- and growing crazy i might say- but we have some real possibilities in some tiny little cherry tomatoes (or roma's are not looking good at all) and then there's the squash. and honestly, the only reason i wanted to plant this little garden in the first place was for the zucchini. i just realized i keep referring to it as squash, when i don't have any squash growing in my garden, its strictly green zucchini.
and its awesome!

this big beauty showed up out of nowhere....or i guess it was growing for days and had been painfully neglected. oh well. it still tasted great.
so today while i feasted on various zucchini cuisine, i thought i'd share a couple of my all time favorite ways to eat zucchini:

1) fried.
okay, so sam's mom makes the best best best fried zucchini in the world. sam and i have tried to recreate it and we fail almost every time. its dipped in egg white, flipped in flour, crisped to perfection in a LOT of butter, and seasoned to your hearts desire.
it sounds easy enough, but for some reason we cannot mimic the tastiness that she produces.
i need fried zucchini right now. pronto.

2) roasted.
i like to slice my zucchini in circles (and if its big then i'll cut the circles into moons) place them in a pyrex dish, drizzle olive oil, garlic, salt, a little pepper (if i'm sharing with the kids) and a couple tablespoons of parmesan cheese on them. i set my oven to 400 and roast them for about 20-25 minutes. wonderful.

3) in this recipe: rice with summer squash
i didn't put in any onions (because i hate onions) and i added a little extra pepper to my own portion and some parm (because i think that the carrots in it make it a little sweet) but for a quick meal its very tasty. plus, i think it would make an impressive side at a family gathering. or for a more complete meal- add chicken.

4) in this muffin: zucchini muffins.
i've already blogged about the amazing-ness of this recipe. i have several muffins in my kitchen right now. the kids are warming up to them (not as sweet as blueberry, but i think they rock) and i reduced the amount of cinnamon and nutmeg to help the kids- i think it was a bit to much spice for them.

5) and my favorite is a little dish i call chicken/tortellini/zucchini.
now, i usually use both zucchini and yellow squash, but when i only have a garden of zucchini, i just use that. however, sam's parents garden is INSANE, and i have access to a bountiful supply of various squashes. i have varied this recipe off of a ravioli and squash recipe i found in a real simple years and years ago.
what i do:
cook 1lb of fresh (or if mine were in the freezer) cheese tortellini's.
set my oven to 400 and roast 3-4 zucchini/yellow squash (cooked just as i mentioned above, only i will add a little bit of red pepper flakes)
sautee up some chicken breasts in olive oil, salt, pepper, and a little garlic.
when all have cooked- add together in a big bowl, mix generously with parmesan cheese.
and devour. i think this dish tastes well tepid too.
that's my way of saying, i eat it all night long and rarely remember to get it in the fridge for leftovers. oooh, and it reheats wonderfully.

i am officially hungry. and need to work on a small sewing project before it becomes midnight.

b is for baking

and then c is for cooking. and d is for dinner, and then e is eating and exercise.

yes- i have been sewing (i won't go all the way down the alphabet to get to s) and i have actually started some christmas gifts (please no one search back through my posts where i foolishly mention all the christmas gifts i was going to finish in september. oh well. next september- next september.

but- i have been sewing for the craft fair (huge sigh right now) and for a little fun.

but what i have been doing a lot of is experimenting in the kitchen.

now, i have zero pictures. but great kitchen wonderings to share. try not not get to hungry.

i've made: homemade creamy harvest soup, pumpkin oat muffins, pumpkin ice cream torte, and a fairly good chicken florentine, and chocolate peanut scrumpets.

and no, i haven't gained a ton of weight- i exercise while most of these are baking (well i've been exercising the last few times sam's made cookies- that is pretty much torture. try to perform lunges when the sweet smell of cookies are circling around you)

so on to the good stuff:

homemade creamy harvest soup. i based my version from this recipe.

what i did: i roasted a whole butternut squash (sliced in half, seeds removed, placed face down in a pyrex with a little bit of water) for 45 minutes at 425 degrees. while that was cooking, i had 3 carrots cut up in circles, with 2 celery stocks diced up cooking in 2 cups of chicken broth (i think i seasoned with salt and pepper). when all of that was a nice soft texture, i moved it all to the blender and pureed, pureed, pureed. i added a little bit (about 1/2 cup) of non fat milk to help it mix well. i then returned this to the pot on my stove, added a little bit of half and half (about 1/4 cup) and then tasted it- it was really sweet, so i added lemon juice (2 T?) and a couple of dashes of tabasco sauce and salt and pepper.

this soup was served with light sour cream.

it was fantastic!

ok- the pumpkin oat muffins and the chocolate peanut scrumpets were from a little quaker oats recipe magazine that sam and i picked up at the grocery store last week. the muffins were so moist and delicious- and gone very quickly. i highly recommend them.

the scrumpets i made quickly this morning when i wanted sam to have something to take to a meeting today. i didn't have all the honey for this recipe- but they were still pretty tasty. the one thing i would say- you should really add a little bit of salt to this recipe. i didn't do the glaze, and wished i would have sprinkled a little bit of sugar on top, but they were delicious as well.

everything is delicious.

my 3-cheese chicken penne florentine was based off of this recipe from cooking light. now, sam hates mushrooms- so i didn't put them in this recipe. so- i put in 1 can of artichoke hearts (for a yummy result). i didn't use the the whole 1 cup of red bell pepper- it was really more like 1/4 cup (cause sam isn't a huge fan) and i didn't put in onion (which i hate). i used a mexican reduced fat cheese blend that was already shredded (to save time) and while this dinner baked in the oven i was able to get all of my dishes done.

totally awesome. and so was the dish. tender penne with chicken, artichoke, and cheese? with healthy spinach in as well? sam went back for seconds and then ate the rest today. not something i can always say.

and the great pumpkin ice cream torte. another cooking light recipe- from this month's magazine, but the recipe can be found here. i followed the recipe almost exactly, the only things i didn't do was to add allspice to the pumpkin ( i substituted nutmeg) and i didn't put pecans on top (i didn't have enough after putting some in the crust, and pecans are expensive). i even put caramel on the bottom of everyone's plates and then set the pie on top.

this was incredible. i actually saw sam licking his plate.

so good.

after all of this goodness- i leave you with a link for the goodness i just found, another pumpkin torte recipe that i have to figure out just when i can make it: pumpkin ice cream torte with ginger crust.

pumpkin ice cream torte with ginger crust- you have a date with my tummy, soon.

again, sorry about no pictures. however, i do think that would have made this post simply painful.

and another rendition

again i slacked on the soup. only because today was crazy busy- i was gone from 9:30-12 with the Early Nester's ministry, and then at Wic from 2:30-3:30, and then decided that this afternoon would be a great time to clean out my overloaded back pantry (i would have taken a picture, but to quote a friend- i do have a reputation to maintain).

so what does one do when her husband is going back to work from 5-9pm? and her kids have had their naps and schedules interrupted?

an easy pleaser- pancakes.

no pictures this time, but i did change up my recipe, and i must admit- they were even better.

seriously, i just sat and ate one cold before i started to type.

start with your snoqualmie falls pancake mix or whatever pancake mix you love to cook with.

2 cups pancake mix

1/2 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt

1 1/2 cups water (i put in one cup and then continued to add water as i mixed it up- to my desired consistency)

and again- chocolate chips are totally optional (for this batch i used mini chocolate chips- but seriously only like 5 per pancake- and yes, they rock with the chocolate, and they equally rock without.)

mix, mix, mix.

i grab my 1/4 cup measuring cup and drop the batter onto a heated pan coated with pam.

these were tasty with my sugar free syrup, but even better just cold.

well, i am off to- wait for it:

sew.

well and exercise.

and wait a sec- isn't how i met your mother on tonight?

hmmmmm......

rugby blanket!

Christina, the Sometimes Crafter (in my opinion "sometimes" is really the wrong word here) has a fantastic Rugby Blanket pattern and ebook. i absolutely love creating from what she has created! now, i have crocheted before and after reading through her book i wish that i had had her book before i had ever picked up a crochet hook. her instructions and pictures are pretty much unlike anything i have ever seen before.



if you are looking to learn how to crochet i highly recommend getting her book. i would not say that i am an experienced crocheter by any means (and i did make some noticeable mistakes in this blanket) however the best thing about buying a pattern from the sometimes crafter is that she will not abandon you when you need help! which is quite unlike buying books from craft or book stores.
i really loved the brown in her blanket, however i was generously given an enormous amount of yarn:
from sam's parents, and well- when you have all of this yarn just lying around it is really a better idea to use what you have then buy new stuff.
of course, i won't be applying that principal to fabric.
so back to the blanket- if you are looking to learn, or looking for a new pattern- check her out. you won't be disappointed!

sewing inspiration.

with cute new fabrics like this shouldn't i be glued to my sewing machine? you would like so! i am just slightly addicted to clearance fabric, and all of this (minus the fat quarters) was less than 5 dollars a yard, which is a pretty good deal (or so i tell myself).
however as i add it to the growing pile of fabric loot that i have i do wonder when and if this fabric will be sewed. i believe it will, perhaps this is just the season of my life to collect all my fabric and then i will move into a new stage of sew, sew, sew.
i can dream right?
hopefully i won't turn into the woman that my father-in-law just told me about. apparently there is an older woman here in town who has rooms and rooms of fabric that she can't seem to deal with anymore, so she is having private selling times to try and unload some of it.
so, i have 40 years to burn through my fabric. i can do it.
side note. my local fabric store is now up and running online! visit their website here. the sisters who own this place are truly wonderful. i really appreciate that they visit sam at his store (starbucks) every day.
maybe they do it because they feel bad for him- seeing that they know how much his wife drops on fabric when she walks through their door.
but remember- i successfully avoided buying fabric for almost 2 months!
well, i had better get organized for sewing stuff for the craft fair (how thrilled i will be when this is over). i have decided that i am only going to sew stuff for it up until sunday night. whatever i have completed (how little it may be) is all i am going to do.
as i have so many other things i have a hankering to sew.
like this, and this, and this and maybe this.
and of course my christmas list.

a yummy easy dinner.

i've been cooking and baking up a storm. my sewing has been completely neglected because i have been having to much fun making huge messes and delicious treats in the kitchen. earlier last week i made pancakes for myself and the kids for dinner and it had been so long since i had actually had a pancake that i had almost forgotten how yummy they are! the main reason i haven't been making pancakes is because how bad the syrup you put on them is for you.
however....
the pancakes i made were surprisingly low in points (which is how i basically determine if a food item is worth being eaten on a regular basis). to have 2 of the pancakes from the mix i made is only 3 points.
but plain? nope. i don't need butter on bread or pancakes (really, i don't) so i've been using this syrup. and it is just delicious! it's not as yummy as regular syrup- but it is a wonderful alternative.

so pancakes are my new go to dinner when i really don't want to cook and i want everyone to magically eat what i have made. when i have eggs (i currently don't- again- all the crazy baking) i'll add them to the meal, or i'll make homemade hash browns (with either grated apple or grated zucchini added). lately sam's been requesting some bacon and i just learned (not a brain scientist here) that you can buy it in the grocery deli, which is perfect for us because we really only use about 5 slices and then the rest goes bad.

so. are you ready for these really yummy pancakes?

my special pumpkin pancakes.

i start with snoqualmie falls lodge pancake mix. i know what you are thinking, i am a complete cheater. please hear me out. i have made pancakes from scratch before- from several different recipes and nothing quite compares to the awesomeness that comes from this mix. and i finally decided to branch out and mix up my pancakes (you know other than adding blueberries or chocolate chips).

my recipe:

2 cups of snoqualmie falls pancake mix

1 cup of water

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup oatmeal

2 tsps of cinnamon

*chocolate chips are optional.

*add extra water if you need

the chocolate chips were for the kids.

look how perfect those are (and were).

yummy in my tummy.

i can't wait to tell you all the wondrous things i have been baking and eating. i did use the last of my eggs today, so maybe now i will actually get some sewing done.

wait, aren't i blogging instead of sewing.

hmmmm.

no soup for you.

sorry to disappoint, but there was no soup made either yesterday or today. promises, promises and i already let you all down.

but, its a good thing (for me at least).

yesterday we spent the day at the awesome Bishops Pumpkin Farm. if any of you live even remotely to this- you must go. in fact, we are going to go again (it's that cool) in a few weeks. Sunday we went with sam's parents (always nice to have the extra hands and help, and even better when the extra hands are extra generous and pay for the fun stuff!) and then nana and papa happily took our over tired campbell and mason home with them. sam and i took the free time to go shopping. and no- not the boring grocery shopping that we usually do (and actually should have done) but fun clothes shopping!

sam found some good finds at the banana republic sale, and i found a couple of tops- but what i am really looking for are so great jeans that fit well. and because of my weight fluctuation, none of my jeans fit great (the jeans i just bought with you jess, are already to baggy.... a nice kind of bummer- but i love them) however, i may instead look for a good pair of brown boots (to give me and the pants some height) and some nifty belts.

way off topic.

so- sam and i went to our favorite chinese restaurant for dinner (the wii fit balance board this morning was not impressed, and i am making on monitoring my points- after a gleeful abandonment) and came home with tons of leftovers.

so leftovers for dinner.

nope. this morning, sam's mom called to invite us over for Monday Night Football.

Suck it Packers, Brett Farve and the Vikings are going to kick your butts.

i kinda like Farve.

so we will be eating tacos (we'll i'll be having taco salad- back on track, remember) and i won't need to be cooking tonight.

and i already promised sam enchilida's for tomorrow....

so, no soup for you.

but i will share a pretty good enchilida recipe tomorrow.

and.... maybe some more sewing news.

well,well,well.

do you remember this apron? well after i had entered it in an apron giveaway at angry chicken, it was slated to be entered in my local fair.

and yup, that's a blue ribbon on top of this little lady.

first place. beginner level.

of course, it doesn't hurt when you are the only entry in this particular category.

hmmmm.

i don't care, it only makes me want to sew more for next year, so that maybe i can legitimately win...

either way, sam spent my $3 prize (oh yes, i won cash) on a yummy latte that i enjoyed tonight.

in case you are wondering, serena entered an apron too, where there were multiple entries, and she won first place in her category.

i am super proud.

visit her, i think she is still doing her giveaway for another beautiful apron.

best zucchini muffins

i love zucchini. i didn't always, but as an adult i grew to develop a liking, and then a loving of it. sam's parents just made (is that the right word to use?) a beautiful garden. and in it are (obviously, i mean what am i posting about after all?) zucchini.

me so happy.

what makes me even more happy? when a friend wanders over with a zucchini from her garden and its as big as a good sized butternut squash ( in fact for these muffins, i only needed that one zucchini).

we are going to be out for a couple of days this week, and i needed to cook through this zucchini more it went to waste.

after i had henry, another friend had brought us a loaf of really delicious zucchini bread (this was my first ever encounter with any zucchini baked goodness) and with that memory in my mind, i decided i wanted to try to make muffins.

why muffins and not bread? a very silly reason, i am still adhering to the points system of weight watchers, and it quite simple to know how many a servings a recipe makes when you can count individual muffins, instead of trying to guesstimate with slices.

sadly, i am not super inventive in the kitchen. however, i am have mad skills when it comes to "googling", and i was directed to Simply Recipes where Elise Bauer (as a 24 fan, gotta love the last name) had posted a truly fantastic recipe for Zucchini Muffins.

as stated before, i am not inventive in the kitchen, so i stuck to the recipe- except that i used whole wheat pastry flour (i use it in almost all of my baking) and didn't add walnuts and craisens. they are wonderful right out of the oven... they tasted ok the next day... but definitely good enough to make again!

this love for zucchini.... i have a few of my own zucchini inspired creations (plus one that is floating in my brain) perhaps several zucchini posts are in order????

birthday fun

i made these fun cupcakes for Campbell's third birthday party.  they were a bit of work, but well worth it, when Sam brought Campbell into the kitchen to see them and his little face lit up and he said, "Cookie Monster!" 

ahhh.  the sweet payoff.

and the fact that they were absolutely delicious.

i used this cupcake recipe.

and i used for the frosting.

the entire Cookie Monster recipe was inspired by this blog, which i found through One Pretty Thing.

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I WON!  

I can't believe it! Thank you, thank you Jetty and Ella's Mama! This is just amazing.  I will wear my necklace with lots of happiness, and my children will enjoy having something else to try and grab :)

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

a pretty necklace giveaway

Mel, over at:  Jetty and Ella's Mamma makes some lovely necklaces, and she's doing a giveaway for one... and its always fun to have a new piece of necklace.  Who knows? Maybe I will win??? I have a friend who has won fun stuff doing these thing!