Finished Project & Guests

Happy Birthday to George Washington & Abe Lincoln ! I just might have to eat cake today; you know to wish them birthday happiness and all not because I like icing or crave desserts :) I'm very patriotic! Even though I have been known to make brownies just so I can have the batter that's left in the bowl! Oh come on...you do that too!
I actually have some great desserts in my house right now and a fridge full of food. We had visitors yesterday evening and not only did we have all the food and desserts I made, but they brought a bunch of good stuff too! My husband's cousin and her husband came for a visit and we had such a wonderful time catching up! I know they like Mexican so I  made my chicken enchilada recipe that we all love and they did too! I made some Mexican Rice and Sweet Corn too! Sweet corn is so yummy! You bake it like corn bread and scoop it out with an ice cream scoop. And of course we had seven layer dip! Caitlin and Billy love seven layer dip so they were happy there was some of everything left over because since school is closed this week, they can pick on whatever they like all day long! We've got some pigs in a blanket and more! For dessert I made brownies but for some reason Ghiradelli brownies don't work well for me! I can never judge when they are done even though I check them and check them. They are so fudgy and good but such a mess. Upon further reading on the box, I realize I should make the cake -like recipe so that they are thicker. Thank goodness I put the reading glasses on and read that or my relationship with Ghiradelli brownies was to be short lived :(    Crisis averted. Upon consulting with my Caitlin, we decided not to serve the brownies since their presentation was less than attractive and instead we chose to just eat them with a spoon by ourselves.....
My other dessert was terrific! Christine and Jeff (the cousins) loved these little mini crumb cakes so much, I sent them home with some. This was a little recipe I got in the coupon pages a while back for chocolate chip coffee cakes. The easiest recipe EVER and so good. Hungry Jack had the recipe! I will put the recipe at the end of the post and believe me when I say you can make these in no time at all. I also had dutch apple pie and then our guests brought cheesecake and a delicious cake with whipped cream and chocolate shavings! Jeff said I made the best coffee he ever had too (just wanted to throw that in) and we had a great time!
I posted a picture of my Caitlin on Valentine's Day with a gift from Daddy. My thoughtful husband went to Walgreens on his own and filled a gift bag with valentine items just for her. I didn't even have to remind him!  She was excited for her Valentine party at school and the class made bags to collect all their valentines in!
I also posted some photos of  more little changes I have made with various shelves and knick knacks! Every time I dust, I think of something else to do!

Not quite 2" but that's okay!

I forgot to turn the picture the right way. Sorry!

Plate Rack

Now I'm just looking forward to this nice week with kids home. I love when they are home and we don't have alot planned but simple things. We plan to go to Sunshine Acres with our friends. That's a park we can walk to that they just recently redid! I love it because I can walk there (I'm a non driver, remember!) I pull Caitlin in the wagon and my son rides his bike. There are some trails behind the park too that are nice. We are also going to the mall one day. I literally go to the mall ONCE a year! I am not a mall type person but the kids and I have a tradition that we go on Winter Recess and spend the day and have lunch and I just go with them into whatever stores they like and don't rush them! My son loves Barnes & Noble for his books, he likes going into a store called FYE and some others. Caitlin loves the Disney store and we have a gift card for Build A Bear so that will be fun! ME?  Yankee Candle and Bath & Body Works! This is not a big giant mall so it's not too annoying. I like to be able to look up, see a sign above my head and navigate the three of us where we want to go! Then we have lunch, maybe walk around a little more and then back home! I plan on getting more projects done and new ones started too. Because the weather has been fairly mild in the high 40's I'm also getting the Easter bug but I plan on holding off decorating for Easter until March. We have been rewatching- some of our Disney favorites her too. Billy always liked Stitch from Lilo & Stitch so we already watched Lilo & Stitch 1 & 2. Caitin wants to watch Sleeping Beauty. I know my son would really love to work with my husband on his job site this week but unfortunately there isn't anything Billy could do to help his Dad right now. Maybe Easter Recess!
Remember the window box I had gotten from the old house my husband was working on? Well I redid it and hung it up in my parlor! The only thing that I added since this picture was taken is a small burgundy barn store and a battery votive to light it up! I hope you like it! Barn stars are the recurring theme of my house! They are in every room in one form or another whether it be a metal one, a candle holder, a light fixture or a fabric!
Below is that recipe! Try them! You'll Like Them! Oh, and before I go remember to have a piece of cake...for George & Abe!

CHOCOLATE CHIP COFFEE CAKE
2 1/2 cups of Hungry Jack Complete  Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup mini cocolate chips
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of sour cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
TOPPING
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of finely chopped walnuts
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 375 degrees
Coat 8 or 9 inch square pan with cooking spray.

Combine pancake mix, 1/3 cup sugar and chips in a bowl and add sour cream, vanilla and water. Blend well. With an ice cream scoop, shape dough into 2" dough balls. Sprinkle with topping ingredients. Bake 24-26 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with fresh coffee!