Five States, 1 Day.

Well, it is here!!!!  BAHAMAS CRUISE TIME!  This is one thing I have been looking Forward To All Summer!  Our road trip started in Dallas, Texas, {with starbucks} then we got to experience the great state of Louisiana.

We were still really energized at this point...

Mississippi seemed to go by fast and before we knew it we were in...Sweet Home....Yes, this was authentic excitement.

Alabama was the state that we started to get a lil grumpy {or maybe it was just me}.  How did we handle this?  Starbucks treat receipt. This is when you buy one drink before 2 P.M. you can get any cold grande drink for only $2.  Love it!

So the starbucks helped for a while...The next state we entered was Georgia.

Oh wait.  That isn't a Georgia...That is because Georgia didn't have a sign...Lame.  When we got to Florida we were a little disappointed in their sign, but look what happened when we drove 100 more feet:

We didn't want to drive all the way through Georgia and not get a picture, so we pulled a U-E {shhhh} at the Florida state line {and then another u-e to get back on track}.

Time to go get ready to board the cruise!  Next stop....

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{Leslie}

p.s. I wrote this fast and furious so I am guessing there is about 7 grammar errors. 

Sunset Love.

The only thing that counts is faith expressing 

itself through love.

Galatians 5:6

Sunsets remind me of God faithfulness and love for me.  If God can create such a beautiful sky, why do I doubt that he has great plans for my future?  {sigh}  I am a work in progress.  I hope today that I choose to love others more than myself.  This is a not easy or natural for me...I have to choose to lean on God for that strength.

{Leslie}

My 2011 Summer Essentials

I am addicted to Diet Cherry Limeades from Sonic...

This is the perfect orangey-red color: Essie Clambake.  :)

Bright geometric swimsuit.  I got this one from Target!  I just noticed it is sold out :( Sorry if you wanted it...

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Floppy Hat.    I am starting to fear facial wrinkling from the sun.  I love the shade that these hats give your face.  This one is from Forever 21.  Only $12.80!!!

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Good Reading.  I am half way through this one, and loving it. 

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This magazine has the best creative ideas {I am slightly addicted to reading magazines}!  

 

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I can't believe summer is half way over!  The back to school signs at Target make my back tense up, and I have to work to hold back the tears....Sorry, that was a little dramatic {sigh}.  Have a fabulous weekend, and stay hydrated!!

{Leslie}

Key Lime Tarts

It is hot...

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Reading the 10 day forecast makes me sweat.  Some people fight the heat by drinking water, but I choose summer sweets.  These are great if you want something mini to help cool you off!  My wonderful Aunt shared this Paula Deen Recipe with me.

 

The Goods:

• 24 Key Lime Cooler Cookies (or vanilla wafers)
• 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
• 1 Egg
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 2 TBSP Key Lime Juice (or lime juice)
• 1 tsp Lime Zest
• Whipped Cream (I made my own)

Pre-heat oven to 350. Line a mini muffin tin with paper cups, and spray with cooking spray.  Aren't these so cute? :)

I bought these on Etsy when I was looking for cups for a friend's Bridal Shower.  They are made by The Bakers Confections.  You should check out their Etsy shop, it is SO cute!  

Line the paper cups with the vanilla wafers {I could not find the key lime cooler cookies}.  Mine did not fit perfectly, so I did a little bit of smashing...

Now onto making the filling.  Beat together cream cheese, egg, sugar, key lime juice, and zest until well combined.  Fill cups with filling.  As you can see I filled them to the brim. 

Bake for 10-15 minutes.  I waited until they were sightly brown.  Allow to completely cool before adding the whipped cream.  You can buy whipped cream, or use this Recipe I found.    Be sure to refrigerate these before eating them {trust me, they are better that way}!

This recipe makes about 2 dozen tarts.  Hope you are staying cool!

{Leslie}

Frame with Felt Flowers

Do you love felt?  Well, if you have not worked with felt since elementary school you are missing out!  I bought this felt at Hobby Lobby or maybe Michael's...Sorry I can't remember {shame on me!}.  I started working with felt when I saw a bunch of blogs making yarn wreaths with felt flowers on them.  Here is my OU version {Boomer Sooner}:

 

This is what I needed to make my frame:

I had already made the pink flowers, and wrapped the picture frame with yarn.  I thought the yarn was a good idea, but it wasn't.  You can't really close the back of the frame.  Instead, you could paint the frame, or mod podge a solid color of paper.  On to making the felt flowers!  My first piece of felt I cut was about 3 by 3 in..  After that you will want to cut your edges like the picture below.  

You will now cut into the circle, and continue cutting in a spiral motion until there is a nickel size circle left {is the felt fuzzy or am I just taking bad pictures? :)}.  

Take the end that is not a circle, and begin forming your rose.  I don't know how to word this so I am just going to show you a picture:

TaDaa!

Super glue the bottom of the flower to the left over circle.  As you can see there is some left over felt that you will need to cut that off.  Now arrange the flowers on your frame.  Use super glue to attach. 

I am happy! 

{Leslie}

Birth Day Gift for Parker

I loved this idea when I saw it on Jones Design Company.  I just HAD to make it for wonderful cousin Meghann, and her hubby Shaun.  Meghann gave birth TODAY!  Parker might be is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen.  I think I am getting over being scared of babies...Jones Design Company had a tutorial to make this monogram art for a baby gift, or a wedding gift.  Here are the materials you will need:

I could not find a 5 by 7 in. frame with a 4 by 6 in. mat.  I looked at JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, and Wal-Mart.  I only could find a mat that would frame the picture to be 3.5 by 5 in..  I bought it anyway, and didn't use it {fail}...I also struggled finding the metal book plate.  It was not in the scrapbooking section at my Hobby Lobby or Michael's.  With me being the problem solver I am, I bought a $2 photo box and ripped it off.  :)

I bought 3 fabrics, and then decided which one I liked most.  I went with the linen one.

I am not going to do a full tutorial, because the one on Jones Company was fabulous.  Here are some pictures of the process.  

P is for Parker!

Birthday!  I did not have a stamp so I just printed the date using the font typewriter condensed.

Final Product!  {i love it}

{Leslie}

Adventures in the Texas League {Springfield, MO}

I mentioned in my last post why my blogging has suffered in the last couple weeks, but there are a few more reasons...My camera died, and the charger is in Dallas {you should be able to tell by the title why this is a problem}.  I can't blog without pictures.  I believe the pictures are the most important part, and writing to me is just boring {sorry English Teachers}.  Anyways, Springfield was an unique town to visit.  Here are some of the highlights:

The ballpark was great!  I have never seen AA fans get so into a game!

Last year when I visited Tall Tan Man and I went to Bass Pro.  Going to be honest...Probably won't be going back {not really my thing}.  I wasn't going to put this picture up, but I really love his facial expression.  :)

Onto my new discoveries.  There is a crepe place called Avairy.  I had the banana nutella crepe.  I felt like I was back in Paris.......

The decor was very anthro and girly.  Sorry I did not get more pictures.  I had about 4 seconds when I turned my camera on to take the picture {probably should of just bought a new charger}.

If you love antique shopping this is the place to go:

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It was a great trip! Hope y'all had a relaxing 4th of July! 

{Leslie}

Funnnnnnfetti Cookies!

Goodness.  This is probably the longest break from blogging I have ever taken...My apologies.  Life has been pretty hectic...going to the pool, watching baseball, sleeping 9 hours each night, all-star break, lake days, shopping, visiting Springfield, MO, and having a personal trainer{tall tan man}.  I know what your thinking..."she has a rough life."  You are right, it is so rough {sigh}.  Can you tell I am being sarcastic?  Anyway, it is about time that I MAKE time for you guys.  I had these cookies at a shower I went to a couple weeks ago, and they were wonderful!  I can't believe I had never heard of them before {supposedly they have been around for-ev-er}.  Another great thing about these cookies is they are SO easy to make.  I found the recipe Here. 

The Goods:

• Funfetti Cake Mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup oil
• yep, that is it.  

Pre-heat oven to 375.  Combine the cake mix, eggs and oil in a large bowl.  This picture makes my mouth water...

Form the dough into 1-inch balls.  I am not at my house so I do not have my cookie scooper. I used a spoon, and then my hands to form the balls.  

They already look yummy.  :)

Now I flattened my cookies using a glass with a flat bottom.  First, dip the glass in flour.  

Now use the bottom of the cup to flatten out your cookies. 

Your cookies should look like this:

Bake cookies for 6-8 minutes or until the edges are brown {I accidentally made my bigger so it took 10 minutes}.  As my cookies baked I hung out with my friend Cooper.  As you can see he wasn't to happy about me not sharing my baked goods. :)

Allow cookies to cool.

The recipe says you should use the funfetti icing.  I found a recipe for a Butter Cream Frosting that I love so I used that one.

Hope ya'll have a WONDERFUL 4th of July!

{Leslie}