Monday, December 12, 2011

Cody's Birthday

My son turned 8!

Where have the years gone?

My baby is growing up and becoming
a little man.  We love him and are so
proud of him.


Happy 8th Birthday, Cody!
We all love you!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Still baking...

Baking is something I love to do as you
 all know by now.

But the other weekend I did something that if I didn't totally love baking,
 I would have said never again.

A tried and true recipe passed down from my mom
for carrot cake, completely flopped, it tasted fine but in this case (as in most) I am needing it to look fine too.

Thankfully the family that these were for, had said it didn't matter what flavor,
 so after they flopped once I
decided that to try again would not be the best option since I was a little
behind schedule to start with.


Here in Costa Rica, fondant is so different and
not nearly as easy to work with and so I have been
only decorating with it but here is
 my first covered cake in Costa Rica.



This was cake number 1 for the day and when it was
picked up and headed to the party,
the next cake was started.

The next cake was for our sweet friend, Hannah who was celebrating the BIG #4.
Strawberry Shortcake was what I was attempting,
Here is how it turned out!



And then the fiesta and a picture of me with the
birthday girl!



Do you know what they call Strawberry Shortcake in Spanish?

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Sweet Meet

A couple weeks ago we had
a "Sweet Meet" at
Language School and a few ladies
that love to bake made cupcakes
to share with the teachers and students
at the break between classes.


It was a great oppourtunity for students and
teachers to get to know each other
a little more and enjoy coffee and sweets.


Thanks ladies for all your help!




The teachers lined up for sweets!


Cupcakes for all and thanks to all who helped
with this Sweet Meet!

Blessings to each of you!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Stress relief...

When I am baking my
stress level is much lower.

So here in Costa Rica as
I try to learn a new language,
I am baking...ALOT!!



Vanilla Chai Cupcakes are some of my favorite and with
cream cheese frosting,
what's not to love?

And usually they are filled with
dulce de leche.
So with a cup of coffee these
cupcakes are irresitable!
(It's good I have to walk to and from school everyday.)

Missing home but
not the snow.

Happy Saturday to you all,
all the way from Costa Rica!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Smores.

Living in the city has been
an adjustment but it is going
well.  We do miss campfires
and smores.

So I decided to make
indoor smores.



Although there are a lot of recipes
I just made them
with what ingredients I had.

The bottom layer is
graham cracker crumbs,
butter and sugar.


Then I mixed up a batch
of box brownies
and spread it over the
graham cracker crust.
And baked it.



After they baked and
cooled 10 min.
I added the mini marshmellows
and broiled them till brown.



These bars were a mess
to cut and I think I
will make them in
muffin tins the next time
so I don't have to cut them.



They were yummy,
especially when they were
warm and gooey.
Indoor smores.
A little taste of home!



Have a great Monday!



Linking up:
Sundae Scoop
Life made Lovely, Monday






Friday, August 19, 2011

Cake in Costa Rica

Excited?  Yes!

I was so excited when one of
the missionary families needed
a cake for their daughter's 5th
birthday.  I was loving "playing"
with cake again.



I only brought a small amount of
my cake decorating supplies along from the US
and so I worked with what I had
and.... I found a cake store within walking distance of
our house.  Yes, I was excited!



It was a challenge to find all the ingredients
but with serveal trips to several different stores
I found all I needed and this is what I came up
with. 


Have a great weekend!



Linking up:
Sundae Scoop

Friday, August 12, 2011

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!

 Photobucket

My "baked" ice cream was featured here!


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Coffee Break

If you were joining me for coffee today
we would be drinking some of the best
coffee in the world!

We would also be enjoying it in my
new "home"
with the mountians of Costa Rica surrounding
us. 

We are adjusting to life in Costa Rica and
are finding things to do like
walking to the mall and
walking to the grocery store and
walking to the park and
walking to our friend's house and...
...you get the idea.

Unless we take a taxi or the bus
we are walking because we have no car.

We have also been trying new fruits
even if we don't know the name of the
fruit.  Mostly they are sweet and yummy.



We have a couple weeks
until school starts and so in
our free time we are trying to bake some
brownies and cookies
so we will have them for lunches in a couple
weeks.  But it seems my family is eating
them as fast as I can make them.


My cheery kitchen.
So if you were joining me for
the best coffee ever
what would you tell me?
What are you adjusting to?

Can you believe school will soon be starting?
The hardest part is believing that I
will be sitting in school every day
and learning a new language.
WOW!!



Linking up with Amy

Saturday, August 6, 2011

~"ICE CREAM"~

It started with a box of 200 cones...
and no ice cream to fill them.

So what is a girl to do?
Bake of course!


What seemed like a simple little project
turned out to be a bit
frustrating but still sweet in the end.

First I baked mini cupcakes...


 After they had cooled
I crumbled one and filled the
bottom of the cone...


Then my daughters added a
swirl of frosting...





And they added another mini cupcake
on top of the frosting swirl,

And then I added a swirl of frosting on
top and my little man
added the sprinkles.


Super easy to make but...
the hard part was getting them to the party.

I made holes in an egg carton to hold the cones
but with the frosting on top they became top heavy
and so every bump and turn along the way
was a potential disaster waiting to happen.



We did make it to the picnic without
any major frosting/cupcake disasters.

What I learned?
I learned that I should probably make
a neat little cone holder if I plan to make these
again and I learned that even though they
weren't perfect, the kids enjoyed them.


Sweet as can be!




Linking up:

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Costa Rica...

We have arrived in Costa Rica for our
year of language study.

More to come...

I really getting anxious to bake here in
my bright little kitchen.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Coffee break...

Here it is,
one week before we
move our family to another country
for a year!


If you were joining me for coffee
I would tell you that the packing is in
full swing and
fun family outings are
thrown in the mix and all
last minute things are being taken
care of, and there are even some teary
goodbyes happening.

We continue to be amazed at Gods
provision for our needs as we follow
His call.  He keeps the little miracles coming
and when I doubt or am struggling to get it
all accomplished, He reminds me ever so gently
that He is still in control and He is ever
FAITHFUL. 



I will share a little miracle that happen.
As I was gathering school supplies to take
along for our year in school, I needed
some notebooks and so off to Walmart I went
and they were all sold out.  I was a little annoyed
because it is just the start of school shopping and
they are out of notebooks already.
Well my family was helping at our church that
night and guess what they came home with?
Yup, notebooks!  Given to them by a special friend.
So was it coincidence that Walmart was sold out?
NO, I don't think so!
That is just one example of
how God cares for his family.  The list is
LONG!!

Blesssings to each of you,
I am off to a day filled with packing
suitcase and boxes.

Enjoy your day and join me over at

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Coffee break...

Hello Friends,

Today is virtual coffee with Amy and so I'm adding
virtual coffee to the list of coffee breaks today.



My day started out with
breakfast and coffee with my mom
at a local coffee shop.



Although it was HOT we ate out on the patio,
'cause well
we liked the atmosphere.





Then we walked around the quaint little
town of Lititz and visited
a couple shops.

Then around 1:00 I met
Robin for another
cup of caffeine
and chatting.

(I would insert picture here
but I forgot about my camera)

 It was another cute little coffee shop.
So many coffee shops,
so little time!

And now I am drinking
a cup of decaf before I
retire for the day.

Just so happens that I have been featured on
another blog.
I think its kinda exciting!
Check it out here 

Monday, July 11, 2011

Summertime...

Watermelons are a favorite part of
summer. Juice dripping,
dripping
down your arm
and off your elbow.



Sticky, yummy and so refreshing.



But then there is another kind of
watermelon that is my favorite.



It comes in the form of a cookie!
A yummy sugar cookie with a
glass of cold milk sounds refreshing to me!



Go enjoy a slice of watermelon!

Sample a bit of summertime
just the way you like it!




Saturday, July 9, 2011

Thankful...

We are so thankful for the rain!



The corn and the farmer are happy!


Happy Saturday!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Coffee break...

If we were sitting down for coffee today
I would tell you I am really
looking forward to a good cup of
Costa Rican coffee.
The wait is getting shorter and shorter.

In less than 1 month I will call
Costa Rica, home.
Am I excited?  You better believe it!
Is there a lot to do until we board that
early morning flight on August 2nd?
Y~E~S!!!!



If you were enjoying a cup of coffee with me
I would ask how your holiday weekend was
and tell you that our weekend was great
but not completely packed and crazy.



I really didn't think I would be seeing any
fireworks on the 4th but
my Mr. Sweet got off work
earlier than expected and we
headed out to the local park for
the fireworks display.  It was so fun
just our little family of five.



July 4th to me marks the middle of
summer and time keeps moving
along at a fast speed.
So today I am trying my best
to live in the moment.



One day at a time,
sweet Jesus, give me the strength,
to live, one day at a time.

My lovely daughters...

...and the men in my life,
make each day a new adventure.

Thanks for stopping by
for a coffee break,
enjoy life
one adventure at a time.

Linking up: Virtual Coffee