Made with Butter and Love: April 2011

4.29.2011

Kate + William

I have been watching the coverage of the Royal Wedding alllll morning. It is SUCH a perfect and amazing fairy tale it makes me melt. Kate looks undeniably beautiful and if you haven't seen it (I'm sure you have) her dress was unbelievableeeee! Seriously, that dress could not be more perfect, timeless and stunning.

Oh what I would do to be a princess. Gosh I am such a girl sometimes! Who doesn't want to live a fairy tale?

Also, here is my friday fill-ins!!

1. I am looking forward to STAGECOACH!! Leaving in a few hours..can't wait! .

2. Something kind of embarassing that I still love anyway is singing in my car. I am an awful, terrible singer but in the car...I am a superstar!

3. My favorite car is my car! I love my baby white c300 sport :)

4. If I could pick one type of weather to live with for the rest of my life it would be here! In San Diego. 75 and sunny. Doesn't get better than that!

5. My favorite thing to do after a bad/stressful day is go on a run to work it out...or if its realllyyyy a bad one...I will go to my bed and lay there and watch movies and not want to talk to anyone...and probably eat something sugary .

6. This weekend I will be at STAGECOACH!! Woooo!

7. If I were a color, I'd be light pink because, its the best color and its makes me happy :) .

4.28.2011

Got my Boots On!

24 hours from now I will be in Indio, California gearing up for the best weekend of every year!

STAGECOACH!!

If you are a country music fan then you know what I am talking about. This is my 3rd year in a row and I LOVE it. 2 days of straight country music, friends, hot sunshine and beer. Does it get any better than that??

No, didn't think so.

I am even more excited because my friend Emily and Daily E day will be experiencing her very first Stagecoach weekend.

Here are some photos from the past two years of greatness. I will return on Monday! Talk to you all then.. :)

One of the many Kenny songs that I loooove so much...Kenny has pretty much written the soundtrack to my life.

Do you like country music?? Who is your favorite??!

4.27.2011

Easter Breakfast at the Campbell's!

Holidays are pretty much an excuse to make all the heavy but super tasty comfort foods we all love. You know what I'm talking about...

honey baked ham

green bean casserole

mashed potatoes

sweet potato pie

corn bread

stuffing

pies and all your favorite deserts

Of course I had all this lovely goodness on Easter. I actually had it at Mike's family's house this year.

My parents had to catch a flight to Hawaii on Easter evening so instead of our traditional "dinner" (if 3:00 pm qualifies for dinner) we did breakfast with our family instead. It was just as good and I looove everything breakfast.

We had scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, yogurt parfaits, fruit, pancakes..all the fixins

I also spend the weekend rolling out croissants and cinnamon rolls for everyone. Its a lot of labor but its a labor of love. They turned out great and I had my wonderful mother and sister around helping me all weekend. I also made a birthday cake for my brother but that is a whole different post coming up next!

Homemade Croissants..

..and Cinnamon Rolls..

..my childhood Easter basket (still gets filled every year by the best Easter Bunny around)..

..breakfast is served!

I hope your Easter was full of good food, friends, family and chocolate Reeses eggs! You know those are the best thing ever :)

I now have a giant Easter Basket fulllll to the brim with chocolate and candy that just STARES me down every time I walk in the door. Its torture :)

4.25.2011

The Current Formula

It's playoff time for hockey and basketball. If the men in your life are into these sports then your life probably looks pretty similar to mine...

Sports bars

beers

my current life formula

I am really not into these things but a girlfriends gotta be supportive right ladies?! Either way, it's always a fun time sippin' drinks and hanging out with the boy. I can't complain :) plus it is officially baseball season!!!! And he hates baseball but I love it! It's a trade-off for us both haha.

Go Sabres! Go Lakers! And most importantly go Angels!!!

Who are you all rooting for these days??

4.22.2011

Fill-It-In Friday!

1. Fridays are the best day of the week! I never appreciated Fridays until I got this new "some-what" Monday through Friday job...now I can't wait til this glorious day arrives!!

2. hot sunny days, the beach, sweet treats and watching Taylor run around like a maniac make me terribly happy.

3. Something that inspires me is my dad for being the hardest worker, successful and best dad. my mom for her patience and capacity to love. my grandma for being a badass at life

4. If I had the day off today I would make a day trip somewhere cool and fun! Or I would sleep in, go to the gym, bake something, watch a movie and have some yogurtland... I guess it depends what it looks like outside .

5. If I had to put a label on my home decor style, I would say my style is "in the works". the truth is - i have no style and the small amount of style that is happening in this joint I don't think I could name it. Once it is complete and we have real curtains on the windows instead of sheets...Ill get back to you.

6. Concerning politics I would say I'm raised republican..suppport it..but not involved. politics always lead to arguments and I don't like those .

7. I'd like to go to anywhere so I could explore the world and have an adventure!

HAPPY EASTER WEEKEND :)

4.21.2011

Whatcha All Bakin'

I would LOVE to hear about things that you all are baking these days! With Easter around the corner I know those oven mitts are coming out to play!

Link up with me here and show me your skills people! :) Can't wait to see it!!

Here is one of my latest: Coffee Cake

Let's Link Up!

4.18.2011

Cake Class Week #3

Raggedy Ann.
Remember her? And Andy?

I have a Raggedy Ann doll that my grandmother made me when I was just a baby. I feel like a lot of people don't know who she is - but she has always been special to me. She sits in my mini rocking chair next to my bed at my parents house :)

In cake class this week we got to make a Raggedy Ann cake. It was actually the easiest class so far. You guys could definitely do it :)

4.15.2011

Friday's Fill-ins

I think this weekly post is making the week go by faster...what do you think? :)

1. My favorite daily responsibility is playing with Taylor. She has got to get that energy out and she is a crack up!

2. My least favorite daily responsibility is, some days its cleaning and doing dishes, but some days its going to work and sometimes its cooking dinner...but I don't hate any of those on a daily basis...I like to change it up .

3. My favorite cuisine to eat when going out is Oh that is a toughie! I love seafood and mexican..so I guess something that involves both..You can also throw some ice cream in the mix too .

4. My favorite cuisine to prepare at home is sandwiches...I could live on sandwiches and I pride myself on how yummy mine are....to me at least :)

5. Andy Warhol said that everyone is famous for 15 minutes. My claim to fame is I think my time to be famous is still coming...I hope!!

6. If I could have 3 wishes I would wish to be healthy, to live on the beach in a clean and breezy home and to find a career that I love .

7. My biggest pet peeve is mean people. People who are rude or mean for no freakin' reason just drives me crazy! Just because your in a bad mood doesn't mean I want to deal with it too! Its so easy to be kind :)

HAPPY FRIDAY LOVELY READERS AND BLOGGERS!

4.14.2011

Taylor's Day Out

Let me preface this post by admitting that Taylor is a little scary cat..a cute one...but a terrified little girl.

So knowing that, you should applaud Mike and I for actually getting her all the way to the park and back on the first try. It took way longer than necessary. Every time she hears a car, a person walk by, a door open or shut, or a strong breeze - the girl freezes like a kid playing freeze tag. Its hilarious.

She is scared of her own shadow.

We are working on this. She will soon enough be a big girl and won't run away from her food bowl because he collar clinked on the metal bowl.

In the meantime, we will continue dragging her small 7.5 lbs butt down to the park and trying to get her not to pee her pants.

4.11.2011

Raz- Ma- Taz

There is no denying that chocolate and raspberries make a great couple. I would hang out with this couple any day, any time. I found this recipe for Raspberry Chocolate Truffle Brownies in the cookie cookbook my brother gave me for Christmas. They were decadent!

The brownies are nice and moist with a little bit of crunch around the edges and the ganache frosting is to die for! These are SUPER easy to make so give it a try and impress your hubby, boyfriend, girlfriend, or whoever with these romantical brownies :) wink wink!

RECIPE from Taste of Home Cookies:

Raspberry Truffle Brownies

6 oucnes bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup fresh raspberries

For the Frosting:

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2-3 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

12 fresh raspberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl, microwave chocolate and butter in 30 second intervals until melted smooth. Stir between each heating.

In another bowl, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla.

Stir the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to chocolate mixture.

Spread into a greased 9'' square baking pan.

Bake 30 minutes and let cool completely.

For frosting:

In a bowl, microwave chocolate and cream and jam until smooth (in intervals as well, stirring).

Stir in vanilla and place bowl in another bowl filled with ice water to cool.

Once cooled, beat on medium speed until soft peaks form.

(You can also put it the in fridge for 5 minutes to cool and thicken).

Cut and frost brownies and top with a fresh berry!

4.10.2011

Pictures Worth 1,000 Words

I got this idea from my friend Kai at All Kinds of Complicated to do a sort-of "photo survey". Pictures can definitely explain more about my life than words can. So here you go... for your viewing pleasure :)

someone you spend a lot of time with

Miguel