Valentine Popcorn with a Twist & Lovies!

Okay, so I made the ever so popular gourmet popcorn you can find almost everywhere online.  I found the idea on Pinterest of course and as soon as I saw knew it was what I would be doing for my little guy’s Valentine Treats fro school.  Leave it up to me to change it up and randomly tweak the recipe…sorta.  So, I tried looking for the Orville Redenbacher Tender White and Wilton Candy Melts.  After sending my hubby to 3 different stores and looking myself, I gave up.  Seriously, after the fact, I am so happy we didn’t have any luck finding the original ingredients.  I used these instead and not only yumminess was created but CUTENESS was too! Yay!  I found the cool BLUE popcorn at Walmart as I did the Baker’s Premium White Chocolate baking cubes.  Here are the simple steps! 

* ingredients: Pop Secret (pops blue), Baker’s White Chocolate, and Valentine M&Ms

1. pop popcorn (directions according to bag)

2. melt white chocolate cubes (in microwave) stir every 30 seconds (total time: about 1 minute 10 seconds)

2.  mix all ingredients and stir

3. set out on cookie sheet or wax paper and put in refrigerator to cool quickly

4. package up, add ribbon & card….Viola!

OH, planning ahead with a cute saying (on the back)….all the better!

LOVIES------because I am a detailed.silly.busy-bee.momma:

The well “thought out” V Day ensemble

  

teacher gift

 

Lovies for my babes!  Nothing CRAZY great, but I will throw in…that we have NOTHING against candy, it’s just that we don’t necessarily want to “encourage” it.  Mean you say?  It’s Valentine’s Day for crying out loud.  The truth is, Brayden doesn’t care for candy…not.even.kidding.  Didn’t say he doesn’t like sugar…just doesn’t care for candy…any candy…at all.  Nealy on the other hand LOVES candy but, I brought SO much home from school and we always have some on hand.  Bottom line? Candy doesn’t excite my children like TWO very sweet sock monkeys do!  Ha! B named his, Cocoa.  I threw in some make-up for N and Legos for B.  It was a LOVELY day!

Cheerful Road Trip

 

Family road trips are fabulous!  I say this sincerely AND sarcastically.  One: Scott, Nealy, Brayden and me all together in Downtown Houston at the JW Marriott makes for some fun times and snuggle times! Two:  early mornings, hair, make up, …and all that jazz is a combination that equals chaos.  I have to say the good outweighed the bad and the trip was grand.  As I am an early to bed kind of gal….I didn’t get photos of Saturday night where Nealy and two of her girls went to Steak House and came back to swim in the indoor pool.  I enjoyed the comfort of the bed, the Houston air (good for the allergies) and a few games on the iPad. Take a look at a few random pics of the weekend! Oh, and Sabres ended up in 2nd place:).  Man how we wanted 1st…we could taste it.  BUT, we were proud and Sabres performed well!

 

You may not EVEN notice but, Nealy’s skirt is a teensy big here.  (how much smaller can it get? :)  Well, she forgot her skirt in the hotel room the first day of competition. This seriously brought me to tears.  You can only be so responsible as a cheer mom.  Ugh!  I received a text 10 minutes before they were to be on stage.  Nealy discoverd she didn’t have it oh about 2 minutes before then.  First, she text me.  Then, the team mom.  Aaaah!  Seriously the tears were rolling and I was getting a little sweaty.  All I could picture is my girl out of 32 being the only one in teensy black trunks.  Luckily the coaches found her one to borrow from an other CA senior team! Phew!  Nealy didn’t forget her skirt the next day!

 

Um yeah I made my hat. Fab, right?

The boys a little annoyed with us….

AND, here’s what N and I need to stay calm and collect (as best we could) in the room, in car, at the competition, at….well, you get it!  This was right down stairs in our hotel.  Greatness indeed!

Aaah, love this boy so much!

My mom and sis came!  They stayed at the Hyatt House SO close to us!  Loved having them there to cheer on our girl.

Yeah, he’s patient and so supportive of Nealy and her cheer AND drama cheer momma….love him.

Enjoyed this weekend (smile).  NCA is coming up!!! Go blue, black and white….G3FCA2A!

Do you Know the Muffin Man?

…the muffin man, the muffin man?

Do you you know the muffin man,

he’s name is, Brayden James!

When we arrived home Wednesday last week, we were presented with, “Mommy, Daddy, Nee-nee, I made you all cupcakes!  I worked on them with Gran.”  What a sweet little Muffin Man we have.  He was able to tell me some of the ingredients he used and how much fun he had.  He was excited to give them to us.  He exuded pride….I was so proud too!  You better believe I dug into these, right away…mmmm!

 

 

Well, as a family we try to eat healthful with “here and there” treats.  We’d give up cupcakes but, we England’s are NO quitters! 

Heart cupcakes and our Muffin Man!

 

Nealy and Me

At ACA Nationals!

Christmas Day 2011!

A BIG thumbs up!

Traditionally, we spend Christmas morning at home, the four of us, to see what Santa left for the kids. We have a delish little breakfast and we head over to my in-laws around noon to spend Christmas day with Scott’s family!:)  As it always has been full of joy and a yummy traditional Christmas lunch, we knew it would be a very enjoyable family time.  As expected, it WAS!

    

     

LOVE my Santa Baby!

Be still my beating heart.  Both kids were in a great mood and no trouble (my babies can be moody…just like their momma) and so it was an easy breezy morning getting ready and packing up the gift to take to Scott’s parents.  What a sweet little gift they gave me….happy moods and very obedient.

       

Grand-daddy is too funny!  He was really in the Christmas spirit.

Brayden does this on purpose during family photos (I think)…ha ha ha!  Cuteness nonetheless. :)

Christmas Eve and Santa Sighting!

  Just some Christmas Eve Goodies! Uncle Lloyd and T brought the sweet gingerbread and my sister brought the yummy pumpkin-cheese cake minis.  I made some red velvet cupcakes and decorated them with white chocolate bark and even made some that looked like Rudolph with pretzel ears and all…somehow I manage to lose those pics..:(  Anyway….

B’s little Candy Cane Snack.  Banana and Strawberries!

Tristan and B…posing.  Two cuties!

Boys will be boys….my brother and the two littles.

    

LOVE!

        

        

playing  a little Your Shape Fitness(evolved for the xbox 360 kinect)….hilarious and SO much fun!  Notice no pics of me! Ha!

Nealy and Uncle Lloyd were so brave.  Lloyd is very good! This game really does cause a sweat and keeps up with calories burned…good stuff!

           

The Children were nestled, …well, almost snug in their beds.

        

And who to my camera’s lens did appear?  It was Jolly ‘ole Santa.  He was right HERE!…in our very living room.  BELIEVE!!!