Pink!

Somewhere deep down in me there is a girl who absolutely loves to run. Let me rephrase~ I absolutely need to run. It is part of me. My happy place, of sorts. I decided to take this winter off to give my body a rest, and eat way too many cupcakes~ yikes. With promises of sunshine ahead, i've really been gettin' itchy to get back out there and pound the pavement again. It is definitely time. Thought I would throw a shout out to the Pink half marathon in Park City.

I love to celebrate a good cause...

Wanna join in the fun? You have all summer to train girls~ and I hear they have excellent swag. Click here for more details.

Park City, running, shopping, eating, all girly's~ I'm in!!

~xo

For the Love~

A few things I am swooning over~

The pink ruffle cake. It couldn't be prettier~ I'm contemplating giving it a whirl this weekend as we are entertaining a friend of Nic's from the Philippines. Mine definitely will not look like this...

{image via}

These Easter bags are on the to-do list. Wool felt and Ric~Rac, what's not to love?

tutorial here.

This is the sweetest little kitchen~ I fell head over heals when I saw it.

{image via}

Happy Friday!

The weather is fine, and I plan to get my hands dirty~

A Getaway~

Nic had a work meeting in Snowmass, Colorado. I love when his meetings require my attendance. First~ because I love to spend time with my baby, and second~ because I love to travel and explore new places. I had never been to Aspen, or Colorado for that matter~ so I was super excited. Here I am boarding our tiny little plane that took us from Denver to Aspen...

The flight was a little bumpy, a little scary, but alas we made it. We came into a pretty good snow storm...

My honey checking us into our hotel...

As I drool over the lobby.

Then we made our way up to our room. It was so cozy, complete with fireplace.

The view from our window, we couldn't wait to get on that mountain...

Is this tub the coolest? Pretty much loved that red stool...

We were hungry, so we wandered the hotel until we found a darling little sushi joint. We watched the skiers come down the mountain as we talked and indulged in Edamame and sushi...

This guy was my favorite~ spicy crab with a mango sauce... oh, my.

Then we made our way out to the pool~ that I can't believe we never made it into. I loved seeing the steam rising off the warm water as I sat by the fire.

My new obsession, infused water. I'm convinced I need one of these in my kitchen...

And hot cocoa with mallows~ come on...

The next morning Nic had a meeting {while I slept like a baby~sorry hon}, and then we were ready to hit the slopes. Can I tell you how pumped we were?

Woot whoo! This view was absolutely breathtaking~ this picture doesn't do it justice. I wasn't so sure about the helmet idea~ I'm total old school. But it took one second, and I was sold. I seriously love it, you know, for when I get all crazy~ ha ha!

We stayed and skied in Snowmass, just outside of Aspen. One morning we got up and went into town. I loved everything about it. The fact that it is completely encircled by mountains, it is quaint, historical, and has a flare that I could eat with a spoon.

Why yes, yes we do.

I am such a tourist. I have to share some of the amazing views I caught as Nicholas was rolling his eyes:)

Okay, I couldn't get over these arrangements and storefronts...

If I had a baby girl, or this store was open, I could have done some serious damage...

The weather couldn't have been more perfect~ and we skied till we couldn't ski no more{driving me grammatically crazy to leave that, but I'm gonna!}. Our legs were toast after a couple of long ski days, but we were determined to get in one last run. As we got off the gondola we decided to separate and meet at the bottom {Nic's a boarder and wanted some powder} I started down the mountain and soon nothing looked familiar. Hmm. I just kept making my way down until I finally reached a lift. Come to find out I had somehow skied clear down to this other area, and had to take a shuttle back up to our hotel. Whoops! Nic was hysterical when I called him because he had made the same mistake, but hopped on the lift before it closed. Oh, guess you had to be there~ so great! Love this boy...

I felt so spoiled to have this time with my sweetheart. It's always so hard to leave the littles, but priceless once you're away. A big fat thank you to my sweet neighbors and friends for all of your help, and my darling parents who took care of my sick babes. It means so much, and we are forever grateful.

~xo

Ladybugs~

Kade came home from school the other day with a water colored ladybug. We were all pretty much in love with it, and the kids were begging to make some more. So we loaded up with some watercolors, and Kade drew each of them their own bug to paint...

When Rylie concentrates she purses her lips...
When Parker concentrates he sticks out his tongue...
Notice my lesson all over the counter back there. I am really messy:)
Things were going so well...

Until.

Ry~bug used up all of the green paint. Sad. Sad. Sad. Notice she just paints on, as poor Kaden is in tears over there. Classic.

I highly recommend this activity~

but make note to purchase enough paint;)

Don't you think these are frame~worthy?

I sure do.

A Recap, and a Recipe~

Lucky green waffles with vanilla syrup for breakfast {and lunch}... nice Sherice. Way to kick off the morning with a nice sugar buzz! Mother of the Year~ that's me:)

Ry~bug came home from school with some new antennae, and artwork for the fridge...
If there is one thing you must know about me, it is that my children's artwork is always proudly displayed on the fridge...
There was corned beef {eek!} and cabbage in the crock~pot, and for dessert...

Life is sort of perfectly imperfect around here. We watch too much tv, we sit on the counter with our shoes on, and lick beaters {don't worry, we don't double dip}. We must taste it first~ to make sure it's not poisoned...

Nope! It's good. Oh! You want the recipe you say?! How rude of me. I've had this one tucked away in my 'one day i wanna try' file, and thought this was a perfect opportunity~

The Whoopie~Pie

2 c. flour

1/2 c. cocoa

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. buttermilk

1 tsp. vanilla {i used mexican}

1/2 c. softened butter

1 c. sugar

1 egg

Mix dry ingredients in large mixing bowl, whisk together, and set aside. In medium sized mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth. Add buttermilk, egg, vanilla, and mix well. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and blend well. Drop by tablespoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees 10-12 minutes, or until tops are springy. Cool completely on a baking rack...

For filling~

1/2 c. softened butter

1 c. marshmallow cream {i used the 7 oz. jar}

1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla {mexican}

food coloring

Mix all ingredients together adding one at a time until smooth. Tint frosting with color of your choice, and spoon a generous amount one one cake. Top with another cake, and voila!

{warning: you can only eat just one~ they are super rich! and that says a lot coming from me:)}

St. Patty's~ rainbow~ get it?? snort, snort

{love me anyways people}

I have to admit~ they were really fun to play with, but I am finding this frosting all over the house... whoa boy!

Care package anyone?? This was really cute until I smooshed it~ whoops.

Livy~Lou eyeing the goods...

After school I had to whisk Kaden away to the allergist~ good times. I have to tell you this picture is cracking me up because I wanted a picture of Kaden with his friend Xander, and right as I snapped the picture Xan jumped behind Kade and you seriously can't even tell he's back there. See the tiny little toe peeking out... tricky trickster!

And I wonder why Kaden blows through shoes so quick! Check out those laces... seriously bud!

When we went to pick up Rylie and Gracie at dance this is what we found...

Little cuties~ glad to see Ry-bug is finally warming up!

It was pretty much a fabulous day. Couldn't love my kiddos and my hubby any more than I already do~ I feel like one lucky gal!