Wordless Wednesday

Mmmm Mmmm Monday: Springtime Muffins

This is a yummy recipe from my Muffins Galore cookbook. In the book they're called "Easter Muffins" but they are great for all spring long!

I made a batch over the weekend when we had some out-of-town guests and these tasty muffins were a big hit with everyone!

Makes 10 muffins.
1 cup self-rising flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup superfine sugar
1/4 butter, melted
5 Tbsp lemon flavored yogurt
Finely grated zest of 1/2 lemon
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 egg, lightly beaten

For the lime syrup (optional...I made it without the syrup and the frosting and they were still great!)
finely grated zest & juice of 1 lime
2 heaping Tbsp superfine sugar

For Icing:
1 and 1/5 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp butter, melted
3 Tbsp lemon juice
food coloring

*Preheat oven to 375*. Line muffin pan with paper liners.
*For the muffins, mix the flour, baking soda, and sugar in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together them elted butter, yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, and egg. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix briefly until just combined.
*Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, dividing evenly. Bake for 15 minutes, or until risen and golden.
* While the muffins are baking, make the lime syrup. Gently heat the lime zest, lime juice & sugar in a small saucepan until the sugar has dissolved. Remove pan from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Strain syrup into a bowl using a fine strainer. Drizle a little of the warm syrup over each hot muffin. Cool completely in pan.
* For the icing, sift the powdered sugar into a mixing bowl. Gently heat the butter & lemon juice in a small saucepan until melted. Pour the melted mixture over the powdered sugar and stir until smooth & glossy.
* Add food coloring if desired and decorate cold muffins. Leave to set before serving.

Out of the mouths of babes.

Here's some of the gems that came out of my almost-3-year-old's mouth the last couple weeks.


"Mommy! When I get out of the bath my fingers are all tinkly!"

"Oh! That scared my crap out!"

"Carry me. My legs are broke."

(Heavy sigh) "What a day, what a day." -said at 8am.

"Mommy, I can feek fannish. Uno, dos, tuh-race, carto, seeenko!"

"Bark! Bark! I'm a dog. My name's Biscuit!"

"Mommy, when will everyone wake up? Don't they know it's good-morning-time?"

Ummm....(scratches head)

Does anyone else think that this is inappropriate packaging for Polly Pockets?

I seriously thought they were condoms when I saw them hanging there. My sister was a couple steps behind me in rounding the corner and when she came in the aisle I held one up and she got all red and said "WHY do you have those!?" Clearly she thought the same thing I did.

Who ever thought to approve this idea?!

Jen's Craft Corner Giveaway!

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Marina of Energizer Bunny's Mommy Reports about doing a product review and giveaway. I agreed with little hesitation and sent out her order. Today she informed me that the review is up! So just go here for instructions on how to win a $15 gift certificate to my shop!

Spread the word and leave comments on her blog and let me know when you do!

I'll be doing my own giveaway next month, just in time for summer!

Dollar Store "Treasures"

Today I stopped by the Dollar Store because the kids had some money burning holes in their tiny pockets. Seems that one of our friendly neighbors bet the boys they couldn't make certain shots during a basketball game. Clearly she underestimated the athletic ability of my children, because she lost out on a total of $5. I hope she's learned her lesson! :)

Anyway, while perusing the aisles for the perfect toy, I noticed these little dolls.

Cute, right?

I almost walked right past until I noticed the wording on the bag: FLORIDA. Having grown up in the good old Sunshine State, it didn't phase me. Until I realized something. I now live in SOUTH CAROLINA. Not Florida. And I just had to snap a picture.

Too much fun in the sun...

...makes you fall fast asleep mid-snack.

Apparently I just attract jerks.

Since we moved into our rental house in January, we've had issues with a neighbor. Things have gone from him nit-picking over the appearance of our yard (resulting is us getting cited on two seperate occasions from the HOA) to him threatening me and my kids because we were playing basketball on our own driveway during daylight hours. I've looked up the rules & regulations for our subdivision and basketball hoops are not prohibited.

I contacted the HOA this morning regarding the issue and they advised me to contact the local authorities and file a report.

Why is it that people can't just be civil? Why must they feel like the whole world owes them? Maybe life has dealt him a rough hand. I do not know. But what I do know is that whatever is making him so angry is not anything that myself or my family has done...we're just unlucky enough to be the people that he takes it out on.

I am trying to be the bigger person in this situtation. When he confronted me yesterday I was very calm and never once raised my voice, despite him using vulgar language in front of my children, even after I'd asked him to not say those things with them around. I will do everything I can to keep my yard in check and avoid his yard like the plague. I will pray for guidance from Heaven and for patience in dealing with him. I will not stoop to his level. But I also will not be bullied and will not tolerate the harassment to my family.

So a phone call to the police I will make.

I've been featured!

As you may know, I have a hobby of crafting. My Etsy shop is doing pretty well lately, and some of my items are even being carried in actual stores...not just online. Every so often I get contacted by a fellow Etsian who wants to feature me in their blog (kind of like my Friday Finds on Etsy series).

Today I've been featured here on Meghan's Blog and also on My Great Retreat. And soon Meghan will be doing a product review about one of my onesies.

Go check them out if you have a chance, and check out my shop any time!

Nashville Day 2: Dunbar Cave and the Parthenon

Forgive me for the huge gap in posts...I spent most of this last week nursing sick family members. First all three kids were sick (and when I say sick I mean SICK... I spent my entire evening Monday running children and bowls to the toilet). Then the hubby came down with it, and yesterday it caught up with me. Anyway, we're all better now so here's some more pictures from our Nashville trip!

Wednesday evening we headed up to Clarksville, TN to visit some dear friends of ours, the Dittmeiers. We were stationed with them at RAF Lakenheath and hadn't seen them in about four years. They allowed us to take over their basement for a couple nights and we're so happy that we got to see them again!

Thursday, Dan & Mary both took the day off work to spend time with us...aren't they sweet? After a tasty breakfast, the hubby & Dan took all the kids (my three plus Dan's grandson Brayden) to the park at Dunbar Cave, while the women (myself, Mary, and her daughters Elizabeth and Kerry) hit up Hobby Lobby. Oh yes...did I tell you that I got the best surprise ever when we drove into Clarksville and there sat my favorite store ever?!

*Ahem* I'm sorry...where was I again? Oh...right...Dunbar Cave. *smooths shirt*

Then we left the Dittmeier's to head back to Nashville and check into our hotel. We made a pitstop along the way at the Parthenon...a life-size, scale replica of the one in Greece. It was really amazing!

This first picture is of a statue outside of the Parthenon...but I wanted to share because it was taken by my 8 year old. Methinks we have a budding photographer on our hands!(Those are full grown, adult women by the base of the statue...the thing was GINORMOUS!)