Living on Cloud Nine: June 2015

"THE" CAKE....Reese's Peanut Butter Cake

REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CAKE Yum

This my friends, is THE "CAKE" in our household. requested by all 4 males in the house for each and every birthday and numerous other occasions too.

It is scrumptious, rich and satisfying and I do not even love cake.

REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CAKE

1 pkg. Devil’s Food Cake or Any flavor chocolate Cake Mix
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 bag mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and or the stand up bag of really mini's

Prepare cake as directed on box using two 9″ cake pans. Let cool.

Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting:
Place the confectioners’ sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in a bowl. Mix with an electric mixer on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.

To assemble the cake, place one cake layer on the serving plate. Spread peanut butter frosting on top of the cake layer. Place the second cake layer on top of the frosting. Frost the top and outside of the cake with remaining peanut butter frosting. Decorate with mini, halved and chopped Reese’s cups as desired.

Happy Boys and their cakes!

This guy, My partner in crime, my hero and babe for life has a Birthday today!!!!!

Bet he will be getting one of these!!

Linking up with Garay Treasures // Totally Terrific Tuesday
// Tasty Tuesday // The Wednesday Showcase // My Girlish Whims
// Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop // Food Porn Thursdays // September Farm // Creativity Unleashed

XOXO

"Let Them Eat Cake!"

~Marie Antoinette

9 ANNOYING THINGS THAT HAPPEN AT STARBUCKS

I do not indulge in Starbucks everyday. I usually have a k-cup or tea but on road trips, vacations and once, sometimes twice a week, I make the trip and enjoy the treat.

Depending on your age, location and occupation, Starbucks can either be the best place on Earth or the worst. While they do serve delicious, whipped caffeine when you need it the most, they also tend to be a little overpriced and packed with interesting subjects. Some of us do crazy things at Starbucks like deviate from your normal skinny tall to gasp.., a Venti with 2%.

There also are times in which your taste buds will ignore and defy the weather, leading to you ordering iced drinks during the winter and hot beverages in the summer on numerous occasions. However these things are not annoying but the bottom 9 can be. See if you can relate or picture it.

1. When the Barista spells your name obnoxiously wrong. How do you confuse Andrea for Android? Who's named that? Do I look like a phone?

2. When the person in front of you just can't get it together with their fancy drink order. Dear guy ordering the venti decaf soy vanilla latte with extra foam, two pumps of mocha syrup, one pump hazelnut and light whipped cream: WHY?

3. When you ask for a small and the Barista laughs and says, "You mean a tall?" OK I DIDN'T PROPERLY STUDY MY STARBUCKS LINGO and referenced a normal size chart instead. SORRY.

4. When they ask you if you want whipped cream on your frapp. Um, DUH!

5. When you hear the price and you almost pass out. But then you still go back time and time again because Starbucks is your Drug. Admit it.

6. When you've been daydreaming about your favorite pastry all day and they run out by the time you get there. But, but, where are the chocolate croissants? Yes, this marks a sad, sad day for all of us, so then on a hopeful note you try ordering a sandwich, but guess what? They’re out of everything except the boring egg and cheese one.

7. When you order something and the person behind you orders something better and you wish you got that instead. Dang, that sounds soooo good.

8. You'll be caught in the background of 1-25 pictures of peoples coffee. Don’t worry, it will run through an Instagram filter, which could even make a pile of horse manure look magical.

9. When the line is out the door. Seriously, why is the Starbucks line always so freaking long? And the drive-thru is 10 miles long too. So you stick with inside ordering only to find the girl in front of you, on her way to Yoga, has a detailed list of 8 different drinks for her little friends. Really?

But then you'll still go back tomorrow or in my case, next week.
Oh the small luxuries of life!

And Let's admit this: we do all have pictures either of our Starbucks concoctions or holding one, if not, both. Here is a favorite one of my husbands of me and my java. If you look close, it looks like I have a lip ring but don't worry mom, it is just the reflection off the Traverse Bay.

Happy Monday Beverage Connoisseurs

Linking up with Biana // Garay Treasures // Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop
xoxo

"No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness."
~Sheik Abd-al-Kadir

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Not only is it Friday but it is one more week until July 4th weekend!! So ready, but Summer is flying and not enough nice days to enjoy it! It's clear skies ahead, I can feel it. Here are some goodies that got me smiling this week.

1. BLUE HAWAIIAN

I swear there is just something about cold, fruity drinks in the summer. And when they are gorgeous to look at, they seem even yummier.

* 3/4 oz. Light Rum

* 3/4 oz. Vodka

* 1/2 oz. Blue Curacao

* 3 oz. Pineapple Juice

* 1 oz. Sweet & Sour Mix

Combine all ingredients and mix well. If using ice, mix the ingredients in a blender. Serve in a tall glass. Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a cherry.

2. THE OUTFIT

One Word: PERFECTION

3. WORK ATTIRE
I opted for some soft pastels this week. Before Stella and Dot, there was Lia Sophia. The cute necklace below is from a L&S jewelry party 12 years ago and look how nicely it has held up? Looks brand new.

Top is Style & Co. from Macy's

Whole outfit is The Loft and Michael Kors Flats

Loft Cardigan, Target ruffle cami

4. HIBISCUS

Did you know a Hibiscus tree's blooms only last one day? But oh so worth it. Everyday our tree has 4-5, then at night they close and fall off, only to have more open the next day. So pretty and such a darling remembrance gift for our family from the gals at work.

5. NEUTRAL SANDALS
While I adore color, I am loving any neutral/tan/cognac sandal this summer. They go with so many things. I find myself going for these before others. Do you have a favorite summer sandal?

Kate Spade Bow Sandal, I always love a feminine bow touch

Michal Kors Josephine (you know these are my fav)

How stinkin cute are these? Guess what? TARGET! Style name is Lavinia

Now, off to savor the time with family.
Hugs and warm wishes from my home to yours for one fantastic weekend!
linking up with Amanda // Charming Friday // Fashion Friday // High Five For Friday
XOXO
"Better days are coming. They are called Saturday and Sunday."
~Author Unknown

ASIAN CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS

Yum
This is actually a DOUBLE DUTY Recipe. Not only is this recipe for Asian ground chicken amazing in lettuce warps but I also use it to make chop chop salads, topping it over a cabbage mix and adding almonds, mandarin oranges, craisins and crunchy wonton strips. Doubling the recipe means you have two meals for your family that week and possibly even leftovers, yay! I first fell in love with these flavors at a local restaurant called Hollihans. There, you could actually get the lettuce wraps or the chop chop salad and I loved both. Imagine how happy I am to be able to have BOTH these flavors at home. so, so good!! Especially since that restaurant closed down. Boo Hoo, it was one of my favs! :-(

Here is my favorite store blend to put the ground chicken on for a chop chop. All you have to add are the mandarin oranges if you like them. There is enough juice from the chicken recipe that I do not even use the dressing. But you can use the one it comes with or...

... I also Like this Paul Newman Lite Sesame Ginger

The restaurant Chop Chop that got me hooked

ASIAN CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS (& Chop Chop)

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1 TBS rice wine vinegar
4 teaspoons Asian sesame oil
3 TBS brown sugar
1 TBS olive oil
1/2 cup minced sweet onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 pound ground chicken
1 teaspoons red pepper flakes or 1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 cup cocktail peanuts (Optional)

Romaine Lettuce leaves or

Chop Chop Mix

In a small bowl or mixing cup combine soy sauce, ketchup, vinegar, sesame oil and brown sugar, mix well. Set aside. In a large pot heat the oil over medium high heat. Add in the onions and garlic and saute for 3 minutes, stirring often. Add in the ground chicken saute until chicken is only partially pink about 3-4 minutes. Pour in the sauce mixture in and stir well. Add in the red pepper flakes or black pepper. Add in the peanuts if using . Stir until the nuts are coated with the sauce and incorporated. Serve with the lettuce and wrap away! OR serve over the salad.

Before I put the almonds and Ground Chicken Mixture on top.

Have Fun in the Kitchen!!

xoxo

"Homemade meals—especially mommy meals—are life's most pleasant fuel."

~Terri Guillemets

9 Things We Become Obsessed With Because of Blogging

Happy Monday!

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Blogging has changed my life, for the better. It has brought me new ways of looking at things, food, life, outfit and beauty inspirations, laughter and new friendships. I knew I started this journey of knocking out 5 posts a week because I loved reading your Blogs. What I didn't know, was how obsessed I would become over certain things. Here are 9 things I've been obsessing about since becoming a blogger.

1. RAIN
Well, rainy days to be exact. That means I can knock out some blogs posts in my comfies with my tea or coffee and not ~~feel the need~~ WANT to be outside. A good ole' rainy day is my motivation for blogging and I kinda like it!!!

2. UNFOLLOWERS
Oh crap, I checked Bloglovin and I lost 3 followers. What did I do? I hope I didn't offend someone or they got bored with me. Ha! Was my skirt too short? Did I use a term that's no longer "relevant"? Yeah, I need to get over it but I genuinely like my followers.

3. COMMENTING
Speaking of Bloglovin, I jump on every morning and can't wait to read your posts and give you a big ole' comment. It's important to give feedback and I want you to know I really like what you have to say or what your cookin' or wearin'!!!

4. RECEIVING COMMENTS
I won't lie, when that email comes in telling me I have a new comment, I get so excited. To the point where I panic if I can't return your email right away. I love hearing your opinions and your sweet words always make my day brighter.

5. FLOPPY HATS
I wasn't really into floppy hats until blogging. Luckily they're great for bad hair days but I'm really obsessed with why they look so much better on everyone but me? They're everywhere in Blog Land. LOL

6. TARGET
Oh Never Mind....I was already obsessed with Target. LOL You do have to admit, bloggers LOVE Target and featuring stuff from there, but can you blame us? It rocks....remember that Target Post?

7. LINK-UPS
Why do I get so excited when I see this dang frog?? Anybody else feel that way? I gotta link up, I gotta link up.

8. TWITTER
Can you believe a year ago, I had no idea how to use Twitter and never would have thought of using the # symbol for anything other than pound or number. #WHAT? Now, I sing right along with this little bird called Twitter and love reading my feed full of goodies.

9. POSSIBILITY

I'm obsessed with possibility and what it brings. New finds, new friends, new ideas, new ways of doing things and seeing the world through others eyes. Possibilities of blog posts and how to achieve them. So fun & refreshing and makes me feel like I can accomplish anything in my little ole' Midwest world!

Are there things you've become obsessed with because of Blogging or even from reading Blogs?

I'd love tho hear about it!!

Linking up with Biana
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

xoxo

“Who you are tomorrow begins with what you do today.”
― Tim Fargo

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Bless it all~Friday is here. Thank goodness. This week has been like a streak of a bazillion crummy weather days and it is so depressing! Today looks decent but guess what: extended forecast calling for rain again every.single.day. Oh well, I shall still rejoice because I am off work today, everyone is healthy and happy and I am wishing you all the same. Here are my favorites of the week.

1. BEACH PLEASE, duh right!

Pray, please pray, Mr. Weatherman is right and today is sun shining! Finally! Today is Beach Day, the best of days, if you ask me. I will be on this very beach below soaking it up!

2. WORK ATTIRE

Since it has been such a gloomy week here. Rain every day. I ~~want~~ need more summery days! I felt the need to brighten things up at work so I wouldn't fell so gloomy.

Sheer 2 piece Liz Claiborne top from J.C. Penny

Target Short Sleeve cardi, H&M Dress

Target Cardigan, J.C. Penny Necklace

3.Pony Tail Obsession

I love a good Pony Tail. Especially one with some poof. This is my ideal pony!!

The Model's attempt

My attempt

4. SHISH KABOBS
My parents had an awesome Shish Kabob recipe growing up and I cannot, nor can they, find the recipe. Besides loving to say "Shish Kabob", I love to eat them, especially in the Summer. We always called them Kabobs but I know people that call them Kebabs. All I know is; it is goodness on a stick!! Here are 10 great recipes from A Farm Girls Dabbles

5. CUPCAKE CRUSH

Oh yeah! Gotta have a yummy cupcake after feasting on Shish Kabobs. So I freaked at first thinking this "tasted" like watermelon. No, no, it is a chocolate chip cake mix and food coloring. Whew!!! I love the taste of watermelon in fruit form only. Isn't this just the cutest for summer parties!

Have a Fantastic Weekend Sweet Friends!

Linking Up with Charming Friday // Meet @ The Barre // High Five For Friday
// Fashion Friday with Jo-Lynne-Shane // Oh Hey, Friday

xoxo
"Any Man can be a Father, but it takes someone special to be a Dad!"
~Anne Geddes (in honor of all those Daddy's out there including the ones I love)

WHITE BLAZER FIX

I have been wanting a White Blazer for Ions. So excited when this Express one came in the Mail. It is so well made and the sleeves roll up to reveal a grey and white satin lining. I can only imaging all the ways I will style this.

I will say, I normally go up a size in Express tops and jackets as Express sometimes runs small, However I wished I'd have gotten this in the smaller size but they were out of it at the time but I am ok with it, just not quite as tailored as I would have liked.

Excuse the "green" sidewalk, it had just rained and the sidewalk was green looking for some reason.

Got the perfect "high" pony on this day

How do you like to style a Summer Blazer?

Treasure and Bond Boyfriend Jeans HERE

"Diets, like clothes, should be tailored to you!"

~Joan Rivers

STRAWBERRY CRUNCH PARFAIT

So, it is strawberry season here in Indiana. I could literally eat a whole quart of them fresh. Yum

My favorite dish to make with the fresh berries is my Award Winning Strawberry Crunch Parfait. I say award winning because several years ago I won the grand prize award with this recipe using blueberries in The Bursting With Blueberries contest at our County Fair. This is a recipe created by my mother and I that we originated with strawberries.

2007

For new readers, Here is an updated 2018 photo from a get together I took it too.

This win started my love affair with the coveted Purple Sweepstakes Ribbon. More on that in another post along with more award winning recipes.

This yummy and beautiful dessert is gone within seconds at get-togethers. I get so excited to make it every June. You can make it with store bought berries of course, but it is not the same as the fresh ones. I made this last Sunday and had a hard time taking pics because I wanted to dig in right away. It is that good people!!! Of course just as delish with the Blueberries.

This dish layers strawberries with a pecan shortbread crunch and a delightful cream cheese filling.

Here is the Recipe:

STRAWBERRY CRUNCH PARFAIT

5-6 Cups,WASHED AND SLICED STRAWBERRIES

CRUNCH

1/2 CUP BUTTER, SOFTENED

1 CUP ALL PURPOSE FLOUR

1/2 CUP CHOPPED PECANS

1/3 CUP BROWN SUGAR

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all the ingredients by hand on pour into an ungreased 13x9 glass baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes until, edges start to turn golden brown. Remove from oven, stir and spread out onto wax paper. When cool, crumble any large pieces and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to assemble parfait. (The crunch can be made a day or two ahead of time)

CREAM CHEESE FILLING

3 8oz BRICKS OF CREAM CHEESE, SOFTENED (I use 1/3 less fat)

2 TABLESPOONS VANILLA

1 TABLESPOON MILK

3 CUPS POWERED SUGAR

1 12oz TUB OF THAWED COOL WHIP
1 container of Vanilla Greek yogurt...optional

Mix cream cheese, vanilla and milk with a hand mixer until smooth. Add Greek Yogurt if using. Slowly mix in the powered sugar til blended well. Then, gently fold in the cool whip.

ASSEMBLY: I use a see through trifle dish so that you can see the beautiful layers. You could also use mini glass dishes and make individual parfaits. Layer starting with the crunch to your desire. End with cream layer, sprinkled crunch and a strawberry or two sliced for the top garnish. Refrigerate at least an hour before serving. ENJOY!