A Lazy TWD….

 

I think the Tarte Fine is a perfect Lazy TWD dessert.  It is so simple to put together, quick to bake, and tastes really good.  And if it wasn’t easy enough….I got lazy with it.  Which I shouldn’t have, because now I have chunks of apricot jam in my glaze that you can see in pictures….and undercooked puff pastry.  And there is nothing worse than undercooked puff pastry, it’s chewy and a little gross.  I got lazy.  I wanted to glaze it and eat it.  So when I saw the edges of this simple, easy tarte getting browned I pulled it!  I should have foiled the edges like Dorie told me too and let it bake longer.

So even though my pictures are spotted with bits of apricot, and my puff pastry is a little chewy, I think it looks good, and the edges are really good!!

I, of course, added a little caramel sauce!  I think it really goes with everything! 

Enjoy!

And be sure to go and check out all the other TWD creations of the Tarte Fine!

I just want to make cookies!

 

I had thought about making this title “Frustration Friday” to match my mood.  But that doesn’t really have a lot to do with the cookies!  But it does have to do with the fact that I missed the boat by just a few weeks. And I am kicking myself for it.

Let me backtrack a little……

There is this great party place here in Richmond Hill called Cutie P’ Tutie.  It has some of the cutest gifts, toys and throws an awesome party.  They host different themed parties for both boys and girls.  They go ALL out – including goodie bags and treats.  So a little light bulb went off for me.  Maybe I should make some cookies to go along with their themes, take them down to them, and see if they would be interested in having me make cookies for their parties. 

So these are what I made:

For the Spa Party…..

For the Pirate Party…..

 

For the Diva Party…..

Cute right?!?

Unfortunately, they had just signed a contract with the company that does their themed cakes to also provide cookie favours.  Bummer right?

Maybe I shouldn’t have waited so long.  Maybe next time.  Trying to not let it discourage me. Just going to keep on making cookies and get them out there.

Wish me luck!

First Day of Kindergarten

Are you kidding me? 

Where did the time go that I am now the Mama of a Kindergartener? 

How is it that Jakob is so grown up already? 

Slow Down!  Both of you, please, just slow down.

I think of how much he already knows, and what he will be learning this year, and I am amazed and excited for him.  This is a big time for him.  And I hope to make it as enjoyable experience as possible.  These are the years that will set the bar for his enjoyment of school for possibly the rest of his education career.  This is HUGE.  I am so lucky that he was looking forward to school, strutted his stuff walking in, and that he was sad that I had to leave.  It showed me that he was confident and independent but still needed me a little.  Thank you for that Jakob!

Here is my very excited little man on his first day….

Oh….and since I love to commemorate every occasion with cookies….I made these for Jakob to take to his class for snack time….

At then end of the day he was happy to start school, was excited to meet new friends (even though he couldn’t remember ANY of their names), and is looking forward to going back tomorrow. 

The only thing missing on this day is Jason.  Jakob really misses him and was sad that Daddy couldn’t be here.  But the good news is since we are moving mid-school year, Jakob will have another “first day of kindergarten” and Jason can take him that day.  ALWAYS look for the silver lining.

Military Monday….a farewell and a hello!

I am going to miss Nikki.  Next week there is a change of command happening….  Nikki’s husband Cory, Jason’s current Commanding Officer, is being moved to a different “company” and a new Commanding Officer is coming in….I don’t do well with some change.  But what this change means for me is a new FRG (Family Readiness Group) leader.  I am sure that JoAnn and I will get along well.  I am just sad that I wont be able to finish out my time at Ft. Stewart with Nikki as my partner in crime. 

Anyway…..so a few weeks ago we had a meeting to welcome JoAnn, and say goodbye and THANK YOU to Nikki.  Nikki has done a phenomenal job pulling all us crazy wives together and into a cohesive group.  She will be greatly missed. 

So, as co-leader of the group I thought it was only appropriate to acknowledge the occasion with cookies!  LOL

Here are my Thank You and Welcome cookies for Nikki & JoAnn.

Thank you Ladies for all your hard work.

One Word Wednesday!

Fearless!

Military Monday

I guess I should have posted these over the weekend for 4th of July inspiration….whooops.

I made these cookies for a bake sale on Fort Stewart this weekend.  The proceeds will be going toward Jason’s Brigade….including the Brigade Ball in December.  I decided to do the stars for the 4th, and the yellow ribbons to represent those waiting for their loved ones.

 

 

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!

Thoughtful Thursday

I am not sure if I have mentioned it on here….but I am starting my own ”Happiness Project”.  If you aren’t familiar with it, you can check out the blog here….and pick up the book here. Gretchen Rubin spent a year working on becoming a happier person, one month at a time, tackling new resolutions and creating her own Twelve Personal Commandments, the Secrets of Adulthood and Four Splendid Truths.

The basic premise of it is taking small steps each month to try to be a happier person!  And this is not to say that I don’t think I am already a happy person, because I am. I love my life.  My marriage is in a great place, even though he is thousands of miles away.  My boys are a joy as always, even when they drive me to pour a glass of wine at 5 pm. And I a loving being a stay at home Mama again, and working on my cookie biz.  I just believe that there are things that I may be missing that could make me a happier person.  Personal growth is never a bad thing right??

I find her Twelve Personal Commandments to be inspiring in themselves.  I forsee post it notes around the house reminding me of them.  Here they are:

1. Be Gretchen – I plan on Being Tania!
2. Let it Go
3. Act the way I want to feel
4. Do it NOW (this is going to be a tough one for me)
5. Be polite and be fair
6. Enjoy the process
7. Spend out
8. Identify the problem
9. Lighten up
10. Do what ought to be done
11. No calculation
12. There is only LOVE

Pretty simple, yet kind of profound.  Wouldn’t life be easier if we all followed these?

So today was my first day.  I have decided to pick and choose the different “resolutions” from each month and add a couple of my own.  Make sense?  To kick start my Happiness Project I will be making the following additions and keep track of them each day – giving myself a gold star for each as Gretchen would say.

• Clean the kitchen before going to bed (I am sad to say that this is hard for me! but Jason will be happy about it!!)
• Clean out the closets (time to downsize this place before we move – this make take more than one month!)
• Tackle a nagging task
• Use my To Do list
• Follow the “One Minute Rule” – don’t put something off that only takes a minute to do
• Observe the evening tidy up – pick up the toys, shoes etc before going to bed
• Try not to raise my voice as much
• Exercise – this is going to be another toughie – but there is no reason that I can’t fit it into my day

There you have it.  This is the start of something good.  I can FEEL it. And I plan to post my way through it.

Let me know if you have any tips on being a happier person, if you have done your own Happiness Project, or leave me a comment of support!