by Alexis -

Cinnamon Roll Cake

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We had a friend stay the night this weekend and I decided to make this cinnamon roll cake for breakfast. I like making things for people when they stay over. And girls like the cinnamon rolls! 🙂

I’m a little lazy and am on a mission to make some kind of cinnamon rolls without the yeast. We’ll see what I find. In the mean time, I can say that this is more like a coffee cake.

Blows Starbucks coffee cake out of the water.

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Here’s the recipe, it’s fast to make.

**I only used 1/2 Cup for the topping. And it turned out delicious! Any way to make it even a little better for us.**

Cake:
3 c. flour
1/4 tsp.salt
1 c. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. butter, melted

Topping:
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Mix everything together except for the butter. Slowly stir in the melted butter and pour into a greased 9×13 pan. For the topping, mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 for 28-32 minutes.

Glaze:
2 c. powdered sugar
5 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

While warm drizzle the glaze over the cake. It’s awesome!

by Alexis -

Jingle Bell Run/Walk Portland 2011

Yes, I have another goal to focus on. And I’m really excited about it!!!

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I have a friend I hung out with yesterday and as she told me of her weekly exercise routine I was so impressed! She has 2 kids, a wife and has a crazy full schedule outside of excersising BUT she makes time to run (at least 3-5 miles) Monday-Friday and then swimming laps on one of the off days. And chose to take a day off to rest. 6 days a week. Incredible.

CRAZY RIGHT?! (but I have to admit I’m totally jealous of her determination and endurance)

Without meaning to, she has inspired me to get back into running. Who cares that it’s starting to get cold. On the days when its raining sideways because of the rain will be my challenge. To go outside or not.

I know myself and know I’m mostly a wimp. 🙂 Totally OK saying that. But I’m a wimp who is in training to be a tough mama! And my hope is to run 3 times a week and maybe swim 2-3 times a month.

However, I really need a goal. I will totally flake out if I don’t have one, and also friends to complain to encourage each other.

So me and some friends have decided on the Jingle Bell Run downtown. It’s a run/walk so not too much pressure. Should be fun really.

Wish me luck! 🙂 (and if you want to join our group, comment and let me know)

by Alexis -

Pinecone Bird Feeder

Emma has been wanting to do this for some time. We also did this fun easy project in our children’s church yesterday and I was able to take home a bit of birdseed. Yay!  Just hang on onto a tree near a window.

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I’m praying we get to see at least ONE bird feast on one of our 4 cones we made. lol Do this! I would say it takes maybe 5 min.

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by Alexis -

Evil Dentist man who made me cry

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I grew up hearing people talk about how much they hate the dentist. And honestly, I had a horrible attitude. I thought, ” Suck it up peeps! Dentists are here to help us”  (Do you hear it coming?)

BUT………

I decided to not be ‘tough’ for my fillings last week (yes, I had 3) and just be myself and allow myself to feel whatever emotions came out. I honestly didn’t think anything would happen. However while I was in ‘the chair’, and he just syringed enough numbing agent for a horse into my gums, he left for about 5 min.

During that time I found myself shaking and all of a sudden I had tears in my eyes.

*WHAT?!*

But I was insistant on not masking my weird reaction so I moved my face so the dentist wouldn’t see me.

I mean who cries in the chair BEFORE anything happens and on top of  that, you can only feel half your face?!

So to wrap it up he came back, tried to kill me slowly fixed my cavities and I cried THE ENTIRE TIME.

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Seriously, there were tears running down my face the whole time. lol I can laugh about it now, but at the moment I was super mad at him. (after all it’s all about me right? oh, no i guess not) After a while the dentist just stopped asking me how I was and just worked. It wasn’t hard to see the tears.

I was there a total of 1 1/2 hrs. Yeah, I cried the entire time. It was the feeling of not being able to talk, not having control of my body and the smell of burning coming from my body. Just a wrong smell coming from yourself. I felt panic-y the whole time.  

All in all, I got 25% off the whole visit, but it was at a high price! lol

so………..

I have to go back to the torture chair Monday for 2 more fillings.

I WOULD LOVE YOUR PRAYERS!!

thanks 🙂

by Alexis -

Happy National Peanut Butter Month! Peanut Butter Maple Bites

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Did you know November is National Peanut butter month?! When a new month starts, my  friend blogs about that months important  dates to remember- and this one is a biggie! So, in honor of the very special nut…this post.

I found these on Pinterest. They taste fabulous! Like you’re sneaking a treat, but they’re not that bad for you! Score! So yes, try it, I know you will love them. Recipe at end.

I have fun ideas of putting in mint chips, M&M’s or no chocolate at all! Super yummy! I didn’t have honey, it’s a hot commodity in our home. So we used maple syrup instead so we call them ‘Peanut Butter Maple Bites.

Step one: mix all ingredients together

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Step two: allow your kids to sneak bites of the ‘dough’ and make faces.

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I absolutely LOVE having Emma in the kitchen with me. I want to instill a love of creating. However, she refuses to eat what she makes. Weird right? Fortunately, she’ll eat these.

Third: Roll into balls:

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Refrigerate for about 1 hr., then tada!

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They were Emma’s ‘treat’ if she ate her lunch today. She did. 🙂

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Hope you have a great Friday!

Recipe:  1 cup oatmeal 1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter) 1/3 cup honey 1 cup coconut flakes 1/2 cup ground flaxseed 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips 1 tsp vanilla 

by Alexis -

Meal Plan

Typical day:  *Snap, I realize I have 30 min to make a meal. I first panic, then conveniently forget I even know how to cook. I have to then go through my blog to past meal plans to get ideas and remember that I indeed DO know how to make awesome meals. This is the reason I post my meal plans. Not because I stupidly think you will be enthralled with them but because I have come to expect my momentary memory laps with meals. 🙂  

(confession: I actually DO like looking at other peoples meal plans, but feel super dorky admitting it)

So what might be boring for you is mandatory for me.

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Wednesday: BLT sandwiches, 

Thursday: Small group!

Friday: Chicken, baby potatoes and roasted baby carrots

Saturday: Homemade Chili with homemade cornbread. (blessed crock pot)

Sunday: Left over night

Monday: Potato and Cheese Pierogi (the.best.ever.), crunchy bread, salad

Tuesday: Beef Enchiladas, chips and cucumber salad

Wednesday: Soup and Sandwiches, homemade cookies

Thursday: Taco night. YUM!!!

Friday: Left over night! Holla!

Saturday: Homemade Pizza (BBQ or regular?)

Sunday: MOVIE NIGHT! Chicken quesadillas and snacky food

Monday: Breakfast

Tuesday: Papa Murphys’ beautifully pre-made pizzas 

by Alexis -

Everyone needs a little leopard in their closet

Yes, I believe everyone needs a little leopard in their closet 🙂

I got a surprising amount of people talking and mentioning the ‘outfit post’ that I thought I’d do another. I don’t pretend to be one of those really cool fashionable blogs. But since I like seeing others outfits for inspiration I thought I might do a few on here.

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shirt:H&M/boots:ALDO/jeans:goodwill/coat:gifted/scarf:here/necklace:target

Fact: taking outfit pictures are SO. AWKWARD.

Just some thoughts that go through my mind: ‘What do I do with my hands? Does my face look weird?! I feel so dorky!’

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Yeah, so I just look away. 🙂 Hope you have a great Tuesday!

by Alexis -

Day 30: Self Portrait

I have decided to join some other bloggers to do a 30 day challenge. We are following a fun list of things to take a picture of every day for a month. It would be awesome to have you join in on the fun! Just let me know so I can follow ya. 🙂

Day 30: Self Portrait 
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DONE!!!! Praise the Lord. I hope you have enjoyed this little 30 day challenge with me and please hear me when I say I’m really glad I did this and that it was fun. It was! …..but
oh. my. gosh. I am so ready to be done with this! lol I think just because it was always in the back of my mind everyday ‘what’s today? what do I need to take a picture of?’ And I have enough little bothersome annoyig things that go on in my mind, I am happy to cross this little baby off the list. Freedom!
And now…all control is in my hot little hands. Muuahahahahaha!!!! I feel I can write about whatever I want and not be a slave to an internet challenge that I myself agreed to do. 
If you’ve stayed with me during this I wish I could hug you. 🙂 Your desire to see what I wrote in this teeny blog is beyond me and I want to say thanks.
by Alexis -

Day 28&29: Flowers/Black and White

I have decided to join some other bloggers to do a 30 day challenge. We are following a fun list of things to take a picture of every day for a month. It would be awesome to have you join in on the fun! Just let me know so I can follow ya. 🙂

Day 28 and 29: Flowers/Black and White
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Love this picture I took of Emma and the headband. Just dreamy for some reason. Like a little window into that time.
OK, up next is a black and white. It was taken by her. We had a family photo shoot done for Christmas last year and it was so much fun! 
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