You Are For Me!

I love Kari Jobe! Her songs are thoughtful and worshipful, and I am loving, "You Are For Me" lately. It's a good reminder that no matter what life brings our way God is for US!

"Bento Box" Lunch

Let me preface this post by saying that Rich eats like your average 5-year-old. He has a serious aversion to healthy food and wants to make sure we have plenty of "snacks" on hand. He likes his lunches to have multiple items in them that he can munch on throughout the day. I have been trying to find a bento box for his lunches but haven't found one that I really like....so, I'm just using divided tupperware-type stuff. 

Carrot dip chips, cheddar cheese cubes, hot dogs & buns, goldfish. 

Girls Weekend at Disney!

This past week my bestie Jessica ended up in Orlando for a trade show with her company. How convenient that I live 3 measly short hours away. How much MORE convenient that Disney World is in Orlando... We weren't able to stay for long because reality beckons but we did get our "day at Disney." It was so much fun!!! I can't wait to go back in May with Rich. :)

We are really horrible at taking pictures but we remembered to take a few!! It was such a fun weekend. She's leaving tomorrow. :( 

From our 10th floor balcony at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa :)

Our first glimpse of the castle!!! (Our absolute favorite thing at the Magic Kingdom!!)

The "Dreams Come True" Show...complete with princes, princesses, and Disney characters!

Dreams Come True!!!

A very nice lady took our picture on the bridge to Tomorrowland...yes, of course the castle is in the background!!

Gotta love that castle. If fact I'm planning to move in soon. Pack me up!!

Teacups!!!!!!!! I'm positive that we were spinning the absolute fastest of onyone who has ever ridden the teacups!!!!!

The "Buzz Ride" was so much fun!!! It's interactive and you can spin your car, and you get a laser gun to shoot targets. I won....heehee

A random guy who worked at Disney walked up and insisted that Jess's castle picture needed him. It was pretty funny. Later that night a guy fell backwards on the bus and pretty much landed in her lap. I had a great time making fun of her!!! :) 

"Remember, it all started with a mouse!"

The Driving Range

So I finally accompanied Rich to the driving range. It's actually quite sad. Men lined up on small squares of fake grass, hitting tiny white balls into oblivion and pretending like they can see which one of the 249 balls flying in the air at any given moment might be theirs. But anyways after 5 years together I figured I'd better go and see what all the hype is about. You can get 2 buckets of golf balls for $12. What a deal. I'd rather find a pair of shoes 85% off. :)

But I did enjoy spending time with my hubby. :) He loves golf and he's pretty good at it, I suppose. Not that I would know, since I know nothing about golf. But that's my opinion. :)

My Furry Family

I think of us as a family of four. Just some of our family members have fur. :) My "kids" alternately brighten my day or annoy me to death. They make so much extra work for me but I love them...hmm....lol!

Some of the poses that they routinely strike:

7am: Wake up. Feed cat. Thank you.

Every time anyone walks near or into a bathroom: cat strikes a pose in the tub and meows until someone turns on the fountain of youth  faucet for him. Annoying? Absolutely. But I guess everyone's entitled to a little fresh, flowing water. And a human servant or two. 

12pm belly rub. Usually starts with the dog getting as close to a human as possible and "flopping" like so ^^

2pm cat nap time. Please do not make too much noise, talk on the phone, or vacuum. Doing so will result in this angry face and twitching tail. 

5pm walk!!!! Hard to get anything done with a dog staring at you this intently from 2 inches away.

7pm come, puny human servant, and feed your Master! 

Just put in random shedding, barfing, potty walks, cat litter scooping, medications, grooming, washing of pet bedding, playtime, and that's pretty much what all my days off look like in a nutshell. Thank God they're not humans (but please don't tell them that). 

Another Day at the Office

Every day I see a zoo of animals parade past my desk. Sometimes I get snapshots of my favorites. :) There is so much suffering to be seen when you work at a vet clinic so the nice happy healthy pets make our day. :)

Sweet, shaggy Sandy came by to bring St. Patty's Day Cheer!!!!!!

Ms. Lil stopped in with a doggie grin. :)

Bob will do anything to get a chin scratch. Seriously.

Bella, another of our {sweetest ever} Pit patients who's a lover not a fighter :) 

All fifteen ferocious ounces of Luna, the Chihuahua. 

"It's so fluffy I'm gonna die..."

And last but not least...you know how they say some pets and their owners look alike?????????? WELL HERE YOU GO!!!!! THEY CERTAINLY DO! 

Believe it or not our clients love and adore having their pets' pictures taken. They beam like proud parents. :) Some even ask us if they can sign a waiver to have their pets featured on our TV commercials...lol :)

Reese's PB Cake

I made a Reese's PB Cake for something at church. There was so much cake, it was ridiculous. The recipe I used filled three 8" rounds plus 3 mini loaf pans. I had cake coming out my ears. It turned out ok. I am {almost} always disappointed with cake when I use box mixes to make my life a little easier instead of making the cake from scratch. This time was no exception. Rich liked it. Lol! I thought it was a bit too sweet. Don't worry though, I have my notes for next time. :)


Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cake with Dark Chocolate-Peanut Butter Ganache


For the cake:

• 2 boxes (18 oz.) chocolate cake mix

• 2 cups Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise

• 2 cups water

• 6 eggs

350 degrees for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. I used three 8" rounds but had too much cake. You could probably cut it in half and be just fine.

(Ignore the 3 mini loaves. P.S. The weird looking round has a large peanut butter cup baked in.)

For the frosting: 

2 lbs powdered sugar

16 oz cream cheese

1 cup creamy peanut butter

milk (just enough to make it spreading consistency...maybe 2-3 tbsp)

For the ganache:

·  8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (I used Baker's semisweet 54%)

·  3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter

·  2 tablespoons light corn syrup

·  1/2 cup half-and-half

·  In the top of a double boiler or in a bowl set over simmering water, combine the chocolate, peanut butter, and corn syrup. Cook, whisking often, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.

·  Remove from the heat and whisk in the half-and-half, beating until smooth. Use while still warm.

Assemble the Cake

·  To frost the cake, place one layer, flat side up, on a cake stand or large serving plate. Spread 2/3 cup cup of the Peanut Butter Frosting evenly over the top. Sprinkle on 3 crushed mini Reese's peanut butter cups. Repeat with the next layer. 

Place the last layer on top and frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Refrigerate the frosted cake for at least half an hour to set the frosting.

·  To decorate with the Chocolate–Peanut Butter Glaze, simply pour the glaze over the top of the cake, and using an offset spatula, spread it evenly over the top just to the edges so that it runs down the sides of the cake in long drips. 

Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes to allow the glaze and frosting to set completely. Remove about 1 hour before serving. Decorate with halves of original-sized PB cups if you wish.