Cute treat for Halloween

Ok, I can't seem to stay focused anymore on the homework. Uggghhh!


I started browsing my daily blogs and came upon these cute treats noted on The Pioneer Woman (the respective blog name is the link to each). They are called Halloween Cake Pops. I borrowed the pics from the blog that has the actual recipe and cute variations. It is called Bakerella. You will definitely want to check it out and see the neat decorating ideas. I wish I would have stumbled across this recipe when I was a room mother. I just might have been the coolest mom around (well, for that hour anyway)!

I thought these were very clever!

Here is the recipe:

Halloween Cake Pops

1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)

1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)

Wax paper

1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.

2. Mix thoroughly with 1 can frosting. (I use the back of a large spoon, but it may be easier to use fingers to mix together. But, be warned, it will get messy. Also, you may not need the entire can of frosting, so start out by using almost the entire can and add more if you need to.)

3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50)

4. Melt chocolate in the microwave per directions on package. (30 sec intervals, stirring in between.)

5. Dip the tip of your lollipop stick in a little of the melted candy coating and insert into the cake balls. (Insert a little less than halfway.)

6. Place them in the freezer for a little while to firm up.

7. Once firm, carefully insert the cake ball into the candy coating by holding the lollipop stick and rotating until covered. Once covered remove and softly tap and rotate until the excess chocolate falls off. Don't tap too hard or the cake ball will fall off, too.

8. Place in a Styrofoam block to dry.

9. Once dry, decorate to your liking.

Ree (aka The Pioneer Woman) suggested to buy different colors of the chocolate for variation.

Too cool huh?

We've found the culprit....

It is the nasty streptococcus virus. As soon as the nurse took his vitals and listened to his symptoms, she took it upon herself to swab his throat. When the doc (one of our usual) walked in, he asked Colton which symptom bothered him the most and then said, "yep it's strep, your culture came back positive quite fast".



I'm just hoping that this will not be one we will all share. I have no time for that!

He's got the good stuff...........two 500 mg of penicillin twice a day. That ought to stop that little bugger in it's tracks!

102 is not a good number...

My son has been running a fever since Friday night that keeps shooting above 102 degrees. I have tried everything, only to momentarily have it rescind within the 100 degree range. We took him into the clinic on Saturday afternoon, with no idea why it was so high. We were told that if it stays that high till today, we should bring him in for some tests. He has had the vaccine for Meningitis at 13, so I can gladly rule that out.....I hope!

Today it is 102.8.....uggghhh! I hate it when he is sick and I can't wave my magic wand and make everything all better!





This is what he's been doing all weekend. He missed out on the final home football game of the season on Friday night, a field trip to Kalamazoo with the History Club on Saturday, and a birthday celebration for his cousins Rachel who turned 20 on Saturday (hope it was fun Rae-Rae!) and Nicole who turns 17 on Nov. 7th. He loves his social life and was so bummed!

Well, I'd better get on the phone and make an appointment........Monday's are always so fun when calling to get in :>(

He's got concurrence....

Yesterday, after Diane had dropped my Stampin' Up order off, my husband kept telling me......"even Diane said baby Jade was really pretty". He just loves that cat and now it is solidified in his mind that Jade is the most beautiful cat in the world. Diane made us feel so good when she told us that she was so glad that Jade went to a good home that loves her so much (she is the one that blessed us with this beautiful kitty).

Well, today she looked so cute in the sun, and we took more.....yes even more pictures of her beauty.

Just look at the gorgeous golden color in her eyes!

She's a fluff ball that's for sure.

She loves to roll around and lay in the sun.

I would have to agree.....she is a cutie!

Oddest thing........she loves to lay in her carrier. All of my other cats feared that thing......it meant only one thing....the vet and shots! She and Mason love to lounge in them.....go figure!

Anything to get out of studying, or dishes for that matter....

Ok, so I started out with great intentions..........to make my hubby a great breakfast then get right to studying (haha). Actually it turned out to be brunch instead, considering he never woke up until 11:00 and his boss called him into work for an hour. I made eggs w/sausage and cheese, hash browns, maple sausage patties, biscuits w/gravy and orange sweet rolls.

Well, after I was done I had this to tackle.......ugh!!!!!





Now you see, my Stampin' Up order came in and Diane dropped it off today. So, I got sidetracked and decided to put my stamps together instead (didn't take much to get me off track!).

Mason, my faithful sidekick watched my every move..... If I could only teach him to do dishes!

He didn't like the flash too much....or maybe he shares my pain regarding the thought of those dishes!!

Here is what I ordered and I cannot wait to use it!!! Actually, it was a good thing I didn't have any card stock yet or I'd really get behind schedule and make cards all day. It is so tempting though......

Finally.......I got on task and tackled those nasty dishes. It takes so much time to prepare and clean up afterword, when my better half can wolf it down in 15 minutes flat! I'd much rather save the time and take the hubby out!

I cropped a close up of this great little gadget from the last picture. My sister-in-law Kim gave it to me last Christmas and I love this thing. It is a touch free soap dispenser. You just hold your hand underneath and soap comes out. It was so handy today when I made the sausage into patties and my hands were all greasy. It is from Simplehuman and comes in three colors; black, white and brushed nickel. For someone that does a lot of cooking or baking, it is great. Click on the brand name above for a link about this dispenser. You will love it too!

Alright, I gotta keep reminding myself....only 2 more weeks.....stay focused.........stay focused.........get on that homework!

Oh, he did it again!

As I met my friends for our ride to class together, Amanda was talking of how her husband had surprised her with her lunch packed, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup inside and a beautiful card (as we all inquired because she looked like she had been crying). Jan went on to say she had seven different color roses and a beautiful card waiting for her when she awoke that morning. I said, "WOW do your husband's just do that for you guys just out of the blue?" Sara had then said her hubby and she were just gonna spend time together later. All the while I am standing there clueless!

Silly me.......I had forgotten it was Sweetest Day =(!
Oh, I felt bad.........but I got my paper done and book read for sure! I don't usually forget because of the joyful romantic in me!

Well, I'm thinking all day, I wonder if the hubkins remembered? Oh, did he ever and look what he did once again. You see, it is these small deeds that make me love him so!


Now mind you because of school work, the kitchen had things on the counter and dishes piled in the sink.........




Vacuumed, dusted and straightened. Colton and I had left socks on the ground, pop cans, and newspapers around. But not anymore!!




Oh, I could rest in my comfy, inviting rust colored chair without a worry now!




The big quencher was how clear the table was. You couldn't see its beauty because of the mess I made with research materials, mail, student's papers, textbooks....etc....



He even made sure his baby Jade was looking all pretty and fluffy too! That is another thing I love.....behind that tough manly exterior.....there is really a big ole' soft hearted teddy bear inside (but...sshhh don't let him know we've got that figured out)!



Well, I so appreciated his kindness, but felt awful I had forgotten. I redeemed myself a little and took him (and Colton too!) out to dinner of his choice. I also told him if it is the thought that counts......then I really wished I could go down and buy him that Challenger he wants so badly at the local dealership. If I could....I WOULD!

Now I 'll just struggle to pay exuberant fees for masters classes instead!

Well, off to write 4 more papers, interview a district administrator, read another book, prepare a vision speech and work on a group project.......all due with in the next 3 weeks. Oh.....I cannot wait until 6:00 pm on November 8th. Well, I'll get an extra hour on November 2nd.....yeah!

I wish they stayed small a little longer too......

Once again I was looking at all my photos trying to find one of my sister and her hubby. Instead, I got sidetracked on the cats. It seemed like it was just yesterday and they were so small. Wow, they have changed so much within a year.

We all love taking picture of Mason and Jade so I had tons to pick from.





This was the first day they met each other....Mason just sat back and observed Jade.













Jade loves to sit like a human...she looks so chunky, but really she is just so fluffy with her fur!




Looking at the next pic it is hard to believe Mason now weighs 16 pounds!

Creative fun...

Over the weekend I attended a Stampin' Up workshop hosted by a friend who, by the way, is a really great photographer. Don't take it from me....check out her photos on her blog, Lori Diane Photography blogspot. You will like what you see!!

Well, her mom is a Stampin' up demonstrator and is very creatively talented. Better yet, check out her blog, Nellie's Nest blogspot, and you will see what I mean! Diane's workshop was so much fun, my first for making cards.

This was one of the door prizes Diane had made, my son loved it.....the gummy Halloween candy inside! I thought this was really creative!



Here is a spider she made that was sitting at each of the guests spots! Very cute idea!

Here are the cards she taught us how to make! Well, tried to anyway...bless her heart. I kept talking to her as she was trying to demonstrate (sorry Diane!). Anyone who knows me, will not find that hard to believe! But, she was very gracious, even though I am sure it was very irritating! Oh yeah...did I mention I was late too and held up everyone. I didn't mean to, my day just got more hectic than I had planned.....but, she never made me feel bad once!

Anyway, I made a couple of mistakes, but I though her ideas for these cards were quite clever!

I ordered some cute things to make my own Christmas cards! Oh, I can't wait!!

Healthy is not so bad.....

My sister-in-law told me about a snack that is really good for you that has Omega-3 in it. I'm thinking this is great for me because I read somewhere that Omega-3 helps boost brain power, and the older I get.....the more help I need!

So here's the ingredients......Walnuts (packed with Omega-3), Dried Cranberries and Whole Raw Almonds.



So, I hurried and made some tonight to munch on as I read my book for class next Friday.



What really makes it good are the sweet taste of the cranberries. No guilt....not like I have after polishing off peanut M&M's anyway.

Here's the book....looks interesting......then a paper due about how I might apply some of the ideas of the book if I were a principal.

Well, off to feed my brain.........

Fall fun...

Sometimes I think I'd like to switch places with my son. I'd have rather done all the fun activities he did (homecoming and corn maze), instead of sit in class Friday night till 8:45 and again most of today. It was especially hard today because it was so nice outside this weekend.

Come to think of it, class really wasn't so bad, lots of great thought provoking discussions like....a school that has 200 female students, of which 48 of them are pregnant, and the Board of Education and community do not think a sex education class is necessary.......pros and cons on that one! We lost track of time and I was one of the few that didn't have to present today. Darn, I was pretty stoked about my research on class sizes too!

Anyway come look at the fun he had. I am so glad he likes to take pictures, so I don't miss a thing!