The Holidays are Almost Over!

Besides having to work on Christmas, I really enjoyed it this year! I have to admit, I got pretty spoiled! How was everyone's Christmas?

Santa Clause has Come to Town!

I just wanted to take time out of the day to Wish a Merry Christmas to you and yours. I hope your day is filled with excitement and smiles and great company!

The End is Near!

Just to remind you the contest is almost over! If  you want to send in your last minute entries please shoot me a message with your answer!

In the mean time, in light of the holiday season I wanted to share this adorable picture of my nephew. I know its blurry but it's to cute to not share!

Cookies and Cream Cookies

Recently I have found out how amazing pintrest is! It is chock full of recipes and D.I.Y projects. I already have a long list of projects lined up! On the website, I found a recipe for Cookies and Cream Cookies. It turns out the recipe came from some fellow bloggers Six Sisters Stuff. I have read through their blog and it has tons of stuff you can do, including the recipe. 

Cookies and Cream Cookies

2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1 package of Cookies and Cream Pudding Mix (4.2 ounces)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups white chocolate chips
15 Oreo cookies coarsely chopped 

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter and both sugars. Add pudding mix until well blended. Stir in eggs and vanilla. 

   In separate bowl whisk together flour and baking soda then add to butter mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and Oreos. Drop cookies into rounded spoonfuls on to greased cookie sheet. Bake about 10-12 min until tops of cookies are barely brown. 

I Love Perpetual Kid!

I know I always rave about them but, I ordered my father's Christmas gift from Perpetual Kid. I got the package delivered this morning and I opened up the box so I could check it out and make sure it didn't need batteries and that it worked. Once the box was opened to much of my enjoyment I found a little surprise inside!

I didn't know that in every package they ship they put a little "monster" in the packing peanuts. It was just to cute!

 And don't forget to message me answers to the CONTEST! Don't wait until it's to late!

Christmas Party Fun!

Tonight my wonderful friends threw an amazing Christmas party. Oh course, I was asked to bring a treat along with everyone else. So as soon as I was asked, my wheels started turning in my head thinking about what I should make. So I decided to make one cookie recipe I have been wanting to try that I found on BettyCrocker. They are listed as Holiday Rounds on the website. They do look fun! I would recommend adding double the amount of vanilla that the recipe calls for though. If you don't then they will taste kind of plain. I also sprinkled sugar on top right before I put them in the oven just to give them a little more sweet taste. My friend Hannah made some delicious Oreo balls, nut fudge, and chocolate covered walnuts. They were all super tasty!!!Also don't forget about the contest! The winner will win some awesome prizes!

I used red, green, and white sprinkles for the cookies which are front center. On the left are the Oreo balls, fudge is in the back, and chocolate covered walnuts are on the right. 

Just wanted to show this picture we found of a house that overdid it on the Christmas decorations this year. It looks waaaay crazy lol!

Holiday Creativity!

I just want to share my nails that I painted for the Christmas party this weekend. They are super cute!

                 I haven't cleaned up around the edges yet but I got super excited to share!

SO DELCIOUS!!!!

I just wanted to share the recipe for the Baked Potato Soup my friend Clint made this past weekend. It was perfect! And I wanted to remind everyone of my CONTEST I am currently having. All entries need to be in by December 31st!

I caught my cat Roadie sleeping in this wreath today. It was so cute I had to share!

Can Not Wait!

As I have mentioned before Betty Crocker is having 24 days of cookies for the holidays. This recipe was sent to my inbox the other day and I am definitely going to try these this weekend. They look delicious!

Christmas is in the air :)

I put a new poll up. Feel free to share your favorite! Don't forget to take a quick moment to participate in the contest! I have gotten some messages already with some pretty awesome answers!

CONTEST TIME!!!!

 As promised, I'm running a contest to bring on the holiday season. This is designed to bring on some laughs so please don't take the answer to seriously. The way this will be judged is at the time of the end of the contest my friends and I will get together and read all of the entries and determine which answer is our favorite. We don't mind if it's a tad but dirty/vulger or sarcastic. The winner will recieve a Hello Cupcake cook book or The Game of Things along with a few other surprises. All you need to do is complete the sentence. 

                    "Things you would not want to find in your holiday stalking is...."



 This question comes from one of my favorite games ever! The Game of Things! It's nothing but constant laughter! I hope to be able to enjoy all of your answers soon! Leave them in a 
 comment or send me a message.Contest will end on December 31st!

Sounds So GOOD!

Last night my friend Clint showed me a new cooking website that I did not know about yet. I'm excited to dig in! I really want to try a recipe for Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cookies. I will definitely be trying them in the next week and letting you know how they go!

Treats for Game Night!

Every weekend my friends and I get together to play games and make dinner. It helps us stay connected and grounded after a long weeks work. This week was my week to bring the dessert. I decided on Cookies and Cream Brownies. They were so good!!! Everyone gobbled them up just as fast as the home made baked potato soup my friend Clint made. Once you try these brownies you will be hooked! Betty Crocker has the most amazing recipes ever I have to say. Find other stuff that will deffinitly be a sure hit with the crowd

Cookies and Cream Fudge Brownies

Ingrediants:

1 box (1 lb 2.3 oz) Betty Crocker® fudge brownie mix

2/3 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup water

2 eggs

1 cup coarsely chopped creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (about 7 cookies)

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 to 4 teaspoons milk 

 

                                                                          Directions:

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with shortening or cooking spray. In large bowl, stir brownie mix, oil, water and eggs until well blended. Spread in pan. Sprinkle cookies over batter.

 Bake 24 to 26 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour 30 minutes.

In small bowl, stir together powdered sugar and milk until smooth and thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over brownies. For brownies, cut into 5 rows by 4 rows. Store covered at room temperature.

 

 

 

 

Recipe from BettyCrocker.com Picture taken by Me

Warm Fuzzy!

I just wanted to share a picture of the scarf that my sister made me. She did an amazing job!

 

Feel free to check out her page!

Warm and Fuzzy Knit Wear 

 

SCORE!!!!!

Betty Crocker has started 24 days of cookies! I for one am super exicted! Check it out!

                                                                   

                                                          Get Baking!!!

I was thinking about baking today. If I do I will for sure post up some pictures. If not, I will upload another recipe tonight. I hope everyone has a great day :)

Coming Soon!

I'm going to be hosting a contest soon. I have an awesome prize in mind. Keep posted for details!
                                                                            

I just wanted to share this picture of my nephew taken after the apple orchard this past fall. He fell asleep with an apple in one hand and a dollar in the other. And of course his fire man boots! Hes to cute for words :)

Brown Sugar Kisses

   I haven't made these little boogers yet but I cant wait! I came across this in a magazine I was reading Thanksgiving weekend. The just look super delicious. Here is the recipie. I hope you enjoy :)!

Brown Sugar Cookies

Recipe can be found on Crisco.com of Food Network Magazine

1/2 cup of Crisco All-Vegetable Shortening (or 1/2 of 1 Crisco Baking Sticks)

1/2 cup butter

1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups Pillsbury Best All Purpose Flower

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1.) Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2.) Beat together shortening, butter, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla in medium bowl until light and fluffy. Mix in flour, baking soda, and salt.

3.) Shape dough into 1-inch balls or use small cookie scoop. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet.

4.) Bake 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to cooling rack after 1 minute. 

I don't have a picture for this one unfortunately. But once I start baking there will loads of pictures of everything I make. Stay tuned! 

So Relieved

the other night my computer crashed which is holding up my postings. sorry for the delay but i should be up and running again tomorrow. im typing this from my phone so sorry for the horrible grammer issues. it will not let me capitalize my letters for some reason. i look forward to resuming posts tomorrow once i get off work tomorrow night.

Fancyish Name...Super Easy to Make

   I found this recipie last year and its deffinitly one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

Pumpkin Spice Mini Cake Balls

Ingredients:

1pkg (3.4oz) Jell-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1Tbs Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/3 Cup Cold Milk

1 Cup Thawed Cool Whip

3 Doz Vanilla Cake Doughnut Holes (1-1/2 inch)

1/4 Cup Chocolate Syrup

Recipie:

1.) Beat pudding mix, spice and milk with whisk in medium bowl 2 min. Stir in Cool Whip. 

2.) Cut a thin slice off each donut hole; discard. Cut donuts in half; fill with pudding mixture. Press each together gently to secure. 

3.) Place cut-sides down on plate to serve. 

Drizzle with Chocolate.

Recipe from Jell-O recipes and Picture from punchfork.com

 

Holiday Treats

   Around the holidays I am constantly prepping to bake or baking something. I decided that I will share with you some of my treats I am making for the holidays this year. Along with other posts check back each evening for a new sweet treat.

   This first one is super easy but still one of my favorites. I originally got this recipie from The Food Network awhile ago and I have been making it ever sense.

   Once I start baking more I will put up pictures to go through the steps. Hopefully this will work for now. Enjoy!

White Chocolate-Peppermint Bark

Melt 12 ounces finely chopped white chocolate in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir in 1Tbs melted shortening and 4 ounces chopped white chocolate until smooth. Spread on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with 1 cup chopped peppermint candies. Let harden; break into pieces.

pic from www.ehow.com

 

 

 

I Survived!

   After a decent Thanksgiving, my friend and I decided to try and make way through the Black Friday sales after I got off work. I just have to say, I made out pretty good last night and today. Talk about deals!!! Despite the crowds though I was super shocked that I didn't get to see any knock out fights over any merchandise but there is always next year! :) How was your Thanksgiving?

Make sure you wear your sweats today!

I want to take time to wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving. Please enjoy the time you get to spend with your family friends. And, enjoy the food and the football!

Coupons Please!

    Sense everyone seems to be money cautious these days coupons seem to be the new black. Forty cents here and fifty cents here adds up. The other day I was on the hunt for some coupons before I ventured out on my next shopping trip and I ran across the best site ever! Seventeen pages of coupons for my favorite store of all time...Target. I saved a little over $58 with coupons from this website. I know this sounds crazy but I was so happy that I could almost dance! I know I love to save money any chance I get. I think I am addicted. They also have coupons for other stores around your area too. Here is the link!

                                                 http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/national-stores

Growing Up So Fast!

   I wanted to share a picture from my nieces birthday party this weekend. She is getting so big!

COOKIES!

   That time of year has come again. Time to whip out the power mixer and make what seems like millions upon millions of cookies for all my loved ones and friends. Even though I am working on Christmas the year I would still like to spread a bit of holiday cheer. Thing is, I have no clue what type of cookies to make this year. I need your help! Please answer the poll to the right or leave your comments below with your favorite type of Christmas cookie. I need all the suggestions I can get! Thank you in advanced for all of your input!

12 Do's and Don'ts to Calling a Call Center...

   I currently work in a call center as a tech support agent. I have spent the past four years working in a call center environment. Recently my friends and I have came up with our biggest annoyances about our customers. While reading this, keep in mind this is not about every customer and this is not what every single employee that works in a related job field thinks.

1.) Don't call while you are in the middle of eating or going to the bathroom. I do not need nor want to hear that. If you haven't noticed, it sounds like a cow chewing on a cud no matter how quite you think you are being. And it's not only gross to hear someone take a piss but to also hear you NOT wash your hands after your done. That makes it even more sick. 

2.) Please make sure you do not call with your t.v./radio turned all the way up. It's impossible for me to hear you over Glee blaring in the background. 


3.) Don't call me asking for help and then proceed to tell me I'm wrong. I'm called tech support for a reason and your calling me because you don't know what your doing. 

4.) Please let me finish answering your first question before you start asking me a hundred more. In the end, you will probably just have to repeat all the other questions.


5.) Don't think that just by "letting me talk to your husband/wife" that I'm going to automatically change the information I was giving you. It doesn't change a damn thing. 

6.) Please have all your information needed handy when you call in. We hate being put on hold just so you can look up your own phone number. 


7.) Don't yell at me because the previous agent gave you the wrong information. There is more than one agent working in each call center. If you would have just be quite I can correct the previous agents mistake by the time you finish yelling at me. 

8.) Please be willing to try the things that I tell you to do. If you are unwilling to trouble shoot the  way I'm telling you to then there is no reason for you making this phone call.


9.) Don't think that thretening to cancel your service will get you anything you want. We have already tried out hardest to do everything we can do. If you do cancel your service your the one left with no service and have to pay to get out of our contract in the end. 


10.) Understand that we are regular people just like you trying to get by. We are not super heros. We have rules and regulations to abide by at our job just like you. We can not say yes to your every command no matter how much you think we are able. 


11.) Don't think we come to work everyday just to make your life a living hell. You don't realize we don't get to see our family every day including holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving so we can be there for you. Be grateful.


12.) Refrain from telling us your life story. I don't have the patience or time to listen to it. I have goals to meet. The thought counts though.


   If you got offended with any one of these I'm sorry but that's just the way I feel and others that I work or have worked with.

Perfect Place for Holiday Shopping!

 I have gotten everyone's Christmas present here this year. It is a decent price and full of fun stuff!

http://www.perpetualkid.com/

Cannon Hill

I just wanted to share this picture from a hike last weekend. We went up Cannon Hill over looking Fort Riley in Kansas.

Start the Weekend Delicious!

I just wanted to share an amazing little treat with you all that I stumbled upon. I made it for a work function and it was a hit! I hope you enjoy it! Feel free to let me know what you think!

Peanut Butter & Jelly Brownies

Cake
1 Box Betty Crocker Super Moist Devils Food Cake
½ cup butter/margarine softened
1 egg
2 tbs. milk
1 cup peanut butter chips

Frosting1 regular size container of Betty Crocker Rich and Creamy Frosting
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tbs. milk
¼ cup strawberry jelly

Directions   Preheat over to 350 degrees F (325 for dark/non-stick pans). Grease or spray bottom only of 13X9in pan.
   In large bowl mix cake mix, butter, egg, and milk until dough forms. Stir in peanut butter chips. Spread evenly in pan. Bake 16-18 minutes or until tooth pick inserted 2in from side of pan comes out clean. Cool completely (about an hour).
   In medium bowl stir frosting, peanut butter, and milk until well blended; spread over brownies. In small bowl; place jelly; stir until smooth. Drop small teaspoons of jelly evenly all over frosting. Swirl jelly with tip of knife to get marble design. Store covered in fridge.
(Recipe from BettyCrocker.com)

My sweet little neice. I had to share!