Pretty. Messy.

Today a super fancy and expensive designer came over to remodel our house.

(Or, a super nice and marginally expensive 
plumber came over to re-pipe our sink.)

This is what he left.

Isn't is lovely?
But I am choosing to embrace this.
To find beauty in the mess.

Why?

Because we have a house.
Because we have the means to fix what needs to be fixed.
Because although there are holes in the drywall, we again have fresh, clean water.
What percentage of the world can say that?



In the spirit of mess, I am loving these crazy flowers.
They are bright, happy and a little bit chaotic.

Just like my life.

I love the frayed edges, the imperfect stitching, the randomness.
The messiness.
Come back tomorrow for a little giveaway starring them in their funky glory.




Lastly, I needed (wanted) a little treat.
So I made my friend Alicia's Lazy Man's Toffee.

I have since renamed it Toffee Crack.

Because it is addicting.

I am mad she shared the recipe.
It is too good and too easy.

Messy, easy, yummy, trouble.

I could eat it every day!
(and I have...)


Here are the ingredients:

Here's what you do:



Look around you, and change your perspective of the mess and chaos.
It's not really so bad!

(Don't get mad at me for introducing you to Toffee Crack.  It's not my fault.)

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Lazy Mama's Cookies

With little notice I had to bring a plate of homemade cookies to an event.  I went to my favorite recipe for help.  It is a miracle they even made it out of my house, I wanted to stay home and eat them by myself.
You will need a mini muffin pan, Reese's Minatures, and ready to bake peanut butter cookie dough.
If your cookie dough makes 24 you are all set to go.  If it makes 12 big cookies like the one I bought you need to break apart each cookie so you get 24 pieces of dough.  Just place them in the muffin cups.  Bake it for about 5 minutes LESS than the directions say.  You need the cookies to be gooey when they come out of the oven.
While they are cooking unwrap 24 Reese's cups.  They need to be lined up and ready to go because the next step has to be really quick.  When they are unwrapped walk away.  Trust me, if you stay in the kitchen they will start disappearing.  Go check your email, read my blog, etc.
As soon as you pull the cookies out of the oven push a Reese's in each cookie.  Since the cookies are still gooey the Reese's will fit in nicely.  Let the cookies cool while still in the muffin tin.  The cookies will cook a little bit more while they sit.  When they are cooled pop them out and try not to eat them all.  Enjoy! 

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Clippies and treats.


I just ran across a fabulous new blog and love it so much that I put it on my sidebar.  Click on over to Mama Manifesto.  You will find ideas, encouragement and inspiration to make your days a bit easier and the knowledge that you are not alone in the many challenges of being a Mama.
How fun are these little clippies?  The kit came in the mail today from Carefree Glimmer and they were so easy to make.  Ideally Lucy will wear them and not lose them the second I turn away.  I can hope right?  When will she tolerate clips?  It is hard to be a 2 year old girl with barely any hair!  All I am asking for is a little girlie sparkle.  Does any one have any magic tips that can help me clippie her up?  If all else fails, I might just steal them to keep my "mistake bangs" off of my forehead when it isn't Hills Braid Day.
Whatever you do, don't let the week go by without making this easy and delicious meal.  I had to steal this picture from Meg's blog because my husband couldn't wait for me to get my camera out before digging in.  Halley even ate it and she hates pretty much all food.  That says a lot!
I am a lover of all things cupcake, but after making 8 dozen in three days I needed something different for Halley's birthday celebration at preschool.  On the side of Funfetti cake mix is a recipe for Funfetti cookies.  I guess they were a Pillsbury Bake Off  Winner... can't argue with that.  They are ridiculously yummy.  Just be careful not to make them when the kids are sleeping, because when naptime is over there might not be any left.  Because I am a total frosting snob (one cupcake from Sprinkles will ruin you for life) I topped these yummies with homemade buttercream.  It is so easy and doesn't have any creepy chemical taste.
Buttercream Frosting

1 stick butter- softened
1 pound box of powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 tea. really good vanilla (this is what Sprinkles uses.)
Mix with a beater.  Try not to eat it all before you frost the goodies.
Done.

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