Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars and an Award!

Yep, I'm finally back in the kitchen and boy was it a sweet experience! This recipe will satisfy any sweet tooth craving. I mean really, seriously, it is SWEET! Got Milk? ;)

My favorite ingredient to measure out. Oh darn...some spillage. Let me just clean that up with my mouth. :)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions:

In a medium bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, confectioners' sugar, peanut butter and melted butter. Press firmly into the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Melt chocolate chips over a double boiler or in the microwave, stirring occasionally. Spread melted chocolate over the crumb crust. Chill for about 5 minutes, then cut into bars before the chocolate is completely set, then chill until ready to serve.

ALSO!

I was given an award, the Circle of Friends Award, by the wonderful and sweet, sweet Laura over at Laura's Homestead Adventures. We're fairly new to each other but what a coincidence it was to find out she lived in the same town I did back in California. What a small world. Laura is such a courageous woman, working, holding down a small farm, providing for her family. She's such an inspiration to me. I look forward to getting to know her more and more as the years go on. :) Thank you so much for being a wonderful blogging friend, Laura! If you have the chance swing over to her blog and say hello!

This award is given to blogs that bring a smile to your face, or just make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

I pass this onto those who stop by my blog today. Everyone that I have gotten to know through this bloggy world has been a special inspiration to me!

Happy Friday!!

P.S. I've had several of you girls ask me about the color of my nail polish in my last post. It's by OPI and called Black Tie Optional. :)

Girly Necessities

About a week ago I joined my two wonderful friends for a hair cutting/coloring margarita party. Lol! A first for me. Actually my girlfriend Susan has her hair done by her girlfriend and I thought I'd try her out since she loves coloring hair. We had so much fun and I cannot believe I'm going to show you some of these pictures but oh well. We're all close enough to share the silly, embarrassing photos too, right? By the way, I am loving my new color. It's an espresso dark brown mixed with a deep, deep, reddish purple.

Here are my embarrassing photos...

Some yummy fruity margaritas but no margaritas for the hair stylist until after she's done with all of us!

Susan and Nancy sure love their drinks. Lol!

Then Nancy had to fall in the hammock in uncontrollable laughter. Thank God this was a sleepover. ;)

And here's my color...

You can see some of the highlights here...

And here...

And here's my little sweet red head.

And I'm happy to report I "washed those grays right out of my hair!". :)

Sweet Valentine's to All of You!

Just a quick Happy Valentine's Day to you all! Personally I believe Valentine's Day should be everyday of the year....love should be shown all the time. :)

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

Love Comes Softly

You know how much I adore Hallmark movies. Well, as usual, I'm a bit behind on my movie watching but I got this in my Netflix this week and finally had time to watch it. I have surmised that I am a hopeless romantic. Now where is that perfect man? Lol! Oh yea! In this movie! I love, love, loved this movie!! If you loved watching The Little House series this is right up your alley AND it was directed by Michael Landon, Jr. So wholesome, so sweet, so romantic....*sigh*. I am getting the second one in the series (yes, it's a series) and will probably have to buy them. They are based on a series of books by Janette Oke. I will be getting those as well so I can cuddle up in a corner with a cup of tea and read away. If you get the chance, I highly recommend this wonderful movie.

Here's a trailer I found on YouTube and you guessed it.....it made me cry. *sniffle*

Ta da!

Well here it is! Here is that egg carton makeover I promised. What do you think? I actually decided to keep it simple. You should have seen what I was going to put around it. Lol! A feather boa was just a bit much....so I punched two holes on either end and tied simple black bows through the holes. I also decorated the tips of each, hmmm....what do you call it? Cone? Raised area? I don't know. Anyway, I simply dotted them with black jewels. I am really happy how it turned out!

I simply performed a little paper mache magic with decorative tissue paper all over the carton and added the ribbon and jewels. You know me and simple! I think I may need to make another with that other carton in the fridge. Well, once I use my eggs. :)

Keep young and beautiful!

I have a new bad habit. Going onto this website and browsing all the adorable looks! I think I may make may own if I'm brave enough.

Polyvore



And I discovered a new fabulous song by Annie Lennox. It's old but new to me. So, to go along with my fashion of choice tonight....enjoy the song! I mean really, it's too cute! You gotta listen. :)



Happy Friday! I THINK I am slowing down this weekend. ;)

Busy, busy, busy...

And I can't wait for Spring! I am still here but this last week has been crazy busy and I've been ending up home later than I normally get home. I have been a horrible blogger and have not visited everyone as often as I want to! I am so terribly sorry. I miss you all. This weekend I will hopefully have a reprieve. Tonight I rested with the kitties and continued my egg carton project which I promised would be done by the end of the week! :) It's looking really good.

Anyway, quick thing I wanted to pass on. I cannot believe I am going to say this either. I am on Twitter now! I used to think oh my goodness, I barely have time to update my blog and do my Farmville and Tiki Farm on Facebook...oh and my Happy Aquarium. I have a pathetic life, don't I? Lol!

BUT, if you care to know what I am doing during the day, what I'm eating for lunch, how bored I am at work, follow me on Twitter!

Here is the link.

http://twitter.com/misha503

Hopefully I will have a beautiful egg carton jewelry case to show you all very soon. :)

xoxo

Really....

Why can't I finish a project before I start another? Ugh!! Doh! Can I add that to my list of New Year's resolutions? Lol! Yes, I have now started another project. Trying to crochet flowers. Hmmm...I have an idea in mind. However, I WILL finish my egg carton project this week!

Hope you all had a good weekend. So sorry for the lack of posts. It was a busy one!

Friday Cuteness

TGIF! Quincy, the little ham. He loves the camera. Every time I take a photo of Emma or Mocha, right when I snap, they walk away...so don't think I'm ignoring them. They are just too snobby for the camera but Quincy, nah....he thinks he's a star! I think I see that Cheshire Cat thing happening.

Remember that egg carton?

Let the transformation begin....

An Award!

First of all, hope you're all having a wonderful weekend! Second, it's been awhile but I received a lovely award, The Lemonade Award, from Teresa over at (and I bet you didn't all know this) the first blog I ever laid eyes on, Life, Homesteading and Everything! Thank you Teresa!! I love getting awards...it means you still think of me. Awwwww! Teresa is just the sweetest. I notice the small stuff...she acknowledges each and everyone's post when they comment on her blog....her kids are extra smart because she's a smart mom and is a wonderful wife, she keeps a great garden, makes wonderful food out of the great veggies she grows and is an awesome crafter on top of that! I want to be like her when I grow up. LOL Yea, that's right! I am so not grown up yet. ;)

And to thank Teresa, Quincy said he would pose with my favorite candy of all time to make him look even hotter (he really was hot sitting in front of that fireplace). He's saying "Teresa...I lure you with my DOTS....and bedroom eyes." :) I grabbed that box and downed those Dots like there was no tomorrow and Quincy went and used the litter box. That was a quick session.

Have a great Sunday!

Egg-cellent Affirmations!

Okay so what did I do with the eggs from the egg carton below? I boiled them! I like to boil a handful of eggs at the beginning of the week to eat for breakfast in the mornings. :) Well, as I was getting ready to bag one up, I thought of a quick and brilliant idea to get my mornings going. Write an affirmation on each one. I couldn't find any pretty color pens or anything...because they're still packed away. Maybe that should have been one of my affirmations. Lol! Excuse the sloppy writing....I did it on a whim and decided later I was going to show you.

Wouldn't it just be too cute if you were packing lunch for your kids and you wrote sweet nothings on their hard boiled eggs?

Recycled Jewelry Holder

Okay, so I didn't get around to cooking. Well, wait, yea I did! I cooked a dozen boiled eggs for the week. I had planned on baking, and I do have all my stuff for what I'll be baking but I got so tired after cleaning and running around that I was too exhausted when all was said and done. HOWEVER, I did create something out of a recycled egg carton. I think we did this in kindergarten or grade school, didn't we? Still works for me! I guess I could have prettied it up but I got so excited I had to show you guys. :)

Voila!

TGIF!

From the king of relaxation. :) Cooking alert! Mommy is even feeling like cooking this weekend. Watch out!

I have an outfit in mind....

This jacket......(when I can afford it)....

These adorable boots I just bought...

And of course with some thick winter tights and a cute top. I haven't figured those out yet. To top it off....a romantic messy bun. :)

What do you think? :)

Last Minute Getaway

I was whisked away to the coast for a weekend getaway which was perfect after my bubble bath post. :) I had so much fun! It had been so long since my feet met the coastal waters of Oregon. So, like that Sea Cottage gal and her cute feet...I decided to take a couple of photos of my own feet. :)

Before putting on my rubber boots...

Putting on my rubber boots and searching for shells...

Doggy paw prints in the sand...

Sea spray...

Seagulls just hangin' around...

Peeking around the corner

Walking on the seashore...



It was a refreshing weekend. I have more to share so stay tuned! Hope you all had a great weekend. :)

Friday = Relax

Ahhh...thank God it's Friday. :) Now this is how I relax.

Start with a bottle of olive oil bubble bath. Olive oil is WONDERFUL for the skin but you knew that....

Pour ever so gently into steaming hot water....

Have a few soaps and smelly things waiting on the sidelines....

Hypnotize yourself while the bubbles speak to you in their own bubbly language...

And now Mr. Quincy will demonstrate how one should feel after a bath.....

Happy Friday! Apologies for the grainy photos. I can't find batteries for my digital camera so my phone's camera will have to do for now. :)

Who's the tough cowgirl now?

Yea, that's right. It's me. Uh huh. I rode bareback tonight for the first time. Yee haw! Even trotted and loped a bit in the arena. No, it wasn't Cimara. I will have to tell you more about Cimara a little later but I rode the barn owner's horse (while Cimara was being trained a bit). I hopped on bareback and off we went. Okay, so I slipped and did a little sliding which was followed by uncontrollable laughter and giggling. Lol! Then we all laughed.

It's small things like this that make life enjoyable. Yes, even the smallest and silliest of things. Laughter IS the best medicine. Always remember that. :)