Too Much Chocolate Cake

For real? Is there such a thing?! I didn't think so either! Here's the recipe for the chocolate cake I mentioned here. I got the recipe off of a message board on wilton.com so not sure who the author is!

Too Much Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

1 (18.25oz) package of Devil's Food Cake
1 (5.9oz) pack of INSTANT chocolate pudding mix
1 Cup (8 oz) sour cream
1 Cup vegetable oil
4 Eggs
1/2 Cup warm water
2 Cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

-Preheat over to 350 degrees
-In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cake, pudding mix, sour cream, oil, beaten egg (beat in a small bowl first), and warm water. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well greased 12 Cup bundt pan.
-Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cake thoroughly in pan for at least an hour before inverting onto a plate. If desired, dust cake with powdered sugar.

***For the Giant Cupcake Pan heat over to 325 degrees and pour mix evenly into each part of cupcake pan. Bake for 60-70 minutes. Cool cake in the pan for at least an hour before assembling on a plate or cake tray. Decorate as desired!***

Bedside Business

Sweet Hilary over at A Look Into Our Lives posted an awesome idea...and something else to waste my new found time on! Go check her blog out...and her adorable baby bump...and her Mary Kay blog...and her dinosaur loving little guy!

So on with my bedside business...don't be alarmed at the amount of junk I have on my side...I will post my husband's nightstand too...just so you guys can see the difference between us. ;)

1. My awesome lamp Erin and her mama bought for my bridal shower.

2. Pineapple thingy candle decoration.

3. Clock that has never had batteries in it...decoration that came with pineapple thingy candle decoration.

4. My stack of books I'm working on...First up, Paula Deen - It Ain't All About Cookin'

5. Along Came A Spider - James Patterson

6. A Fireman's Wife - A Memoir

7. Most imporant...my Bible

8. Nintendo DS charger (yes, I'm guilty, I have one)

9. My pink DS that hubs got me for Valentine's Day several years ago. I mostly play at night when he's at work and I can't sleep...I only play one game.

10. Pink candle that Marissa gave me in a gift basket.

11. A pencil...no idea why...maybe when I was studying for my Math final.

12. Vick's Vapor rub from when I was sick. I instantly become addicted to this stuff when I get sick. Thanks Mom! ;)

13. I won't lie...I don't know how old that water bottle is.

14. Cell phone charger.

15. That's my shadow on the wall. ;)




Now look at the difference...Husband's side.

1. Picture of me from my prebridal shoot. Hey...this reminds me...there used to be a small picture of hubs and me on my nightstand. Hmm, wonder what happened to it! Weird...

2. Pineapple thingy candle decoration.

3. Lamp from Erin and her mama.

4. Alarm clock - yes, it's on his side for a reason. =)

5. A coffee mug we bought the day after our wedding that says "Husband and Wife" or something like that...and he put it on his nightstand and never took it off. I thought it was so sweet and don't have the heart to tell him that coffee mugs aren't decorations!

6. The Bible that the minister who married us gave us as a gift.

7. Lucee's (our dog) rabies tag from the vet...pretty sure I was supposed to put it away.

8. His chapstick - this man doesn't go anywhere without his chapstick.

9. My shadow once again!

Now, I'm off to clean off my side...thanks for making realize how much junk I have collected Hilary. ;)

Shh, Don't Tell

Don't tell my husband that I cleaned our whole house (minus the restrooms, I used Comet and Tilex in there) with TWO cleaning products. ;) He might frown upon that...but geez...after the whole scrubbing baseboards on my knees thing last week...I just wasn't into cleaning this week!

Sweet Thang

Yes ma'am...this is a sweet thang! I made this Giant Cupcake for our Memorial Day crawfish boil and it was gone by time all of our guest left. I used a fabulous chocolate cake recipe that I will post later! I'm about to go whip up another one for my sister's company luncheon tomorrow...I plan on doing a little something extra to that one so I'll be sure to post a picture!

I have lots of other pictures I want to share so I'll be doing that soon, too! Off to the kitchen I go!!

New Life

I'm still alive! Just living my life away from the computer. Hubs and I have been spending much needed quality time together. When I was working and going to school we were lucky to get an hour a day together...and most of the time I was doing homework during that time. Since he works 24 hours, 24 hours off, 24 hours on, and then off for 5 days we have PLENTY of time together! I love it! I've been cooking, can you believe it? I made Cheeseburger Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes last night...thanks Rachel Ray! I've been cleaning, a lot! I even have bruises from scrubbing the baseboards on my hands and knees today!! Can you believe that?! I don't like to clean anymore then I did before but...it's a small price to pay to get to stay home everyday!!

We're taking the girls out of daycare!! WOOHOO! I haaaaaaaaaaaaate daycare so I'm glad we're able to get them out of there! I plan on making our summer pretty scheduled just for the simple fact that if I don't I know the girls will be bored and drive us insane! =) We are really blessed that between my summer school schedule and hubs work schedule there is only ONE day we'll need to get a babysitter for 3 hours while I'm at school. Our neighbor has graciously offered to watch them that day.

We're having a family crawfish boil Saturday since we didn't get to have one for Easter. My mom is in town so we're working on getting her to move back to Texas! ;) We miss our Mama and it's time for her to come home!

I've tweaked and crammed my school schedule and will be able to hopefully graduate a semester earlier then expected...I'll probably be cussing myself later for doing this but I really want to graduate and be done with school! And no, I will NOT go back for my Master's. The school district can keep their $1,000 a year for a Master's degree. =)

Well, I think this post is random enough. Just wanted to update my few readers! Hope everyone is doing as well as I am! I love this new life!

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Just because they're tasty!

Ingredients:

2 Cups all-purpose flour
1/4 Cup and 2 Tablespoons UNsweetened cocoa powder
2 Teaspoons baking powder
1 Teaspoon baking soda
1 Teaspoon salt (this looked like a lot to me...and hubs said he could taste a little salt so maybe half a teaspoon would do?)
1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 Cup margarine
1 Cup brown sugar
1 Cup white sugar
2 Eggs
2 Teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 Cup semisweet chocolate chips (I used the mini chocolate chips b/c that's what I already had)

Directions:
Preheat over to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets (I used three).

In a medium size bowl Stir together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; set aside.

In a large bowl cream together margarine, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients from medium bowl using a wooden spoon (I used a plastic one ;) Mix in the oats and chocolate chips.

I added raisins to the last batch because I like raisins!

Drop by tablespoons onto cookie sheets, leaving 2 inches between cookies...they get wide.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes (I baked mine 12 mins) in the preheated over, or until lightly browned (hard to tell when brown b/c they're chocolate!)

Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

There's Life Out There!

Sorry I haven't been around lately but I recently found out that there IS life out there!! Unemployment is the best thing that has happened to me!! Well, besides getting married...because if I wasn't married unemployment would not be so cool. =) Thanks husband!

I've done more in the past few days than I was able to accomplish in 2 weeks when I was working and going to school. I looove it! Now, I'm off to run errands...without crowds of people because its the middle of a weekday!

Oh, I baked homemade chocolate oatmeal cookies last night...;)

Unemployed

This is where you can find me today if you should need anything...;)

Just Wondering...

After being loyal to a company for seven solid years...is it too much to ask for a pat on the back after they've kicked you in the ass? Just wondering...

Our Next Home

Yeah...we want to move...sooner rather than later...but who knows what will really happen. I do have some requirements for our next home...oh, and most of quite wishful!

Style:

I looove the Craftsman's style!


The bathroom:

Little extreme? Yes! My dream tub? Yes! Will it happen? No! But a mama can dream!!

I'd settle for this:

Kitchen:

Nice, open, and bright Craftsman style kitchen!

Living room:

Loove it!

Bedroom:


Seriously, I love eveything about this room...the color, the furniture, the huge window.

Ok, I'm done dreaming...

Not Me Monday!

Oh ladies, it's a perfect time to join MckMama for some free therapy!!

I most certainly have not lost all motivation to finish out my half week at work...because I've been a dedicated employee for the last seven years.

I am not the slightest bit sad about being unemployed. I mean really, I haven't had a summer off since 2001.

I'm not one bit worried about if I actually passed Math this time...nope, not at all...because my grade did not totally depend on my final! Not me!

And I am sooo totally not looking forward to hours and hours in the pool this summer...no way...definitely NOT me!

Bump In The Night

I think I had a mild heart attack early this morning! Around 4am I started tossing and turning a little and right as I was about to fall back into a good sleep I heard a huge crash!! I sat straight up shaking like a leaf and hubs jumped out of bed and turned on the overhead light (thanks for blinding me honey)...My heart was pounding...I've been a little on edge lately with all the crime going on...so my brain was racing!! Hubs looks around our room and....the stupid dog had knocked MY nightstand over and EVERYTHING (lamp, clock, books, pic frame) had hit the wall and fell off! So, thanks a lot for the mild heart attack Lucee!! She was evidently trying to sleep under the table and she's much too large for that and succeeded in knocking it over.

I did get to sleep in until almost 8am...then the girls came in the room saying they were "staaaaaarving" so I got up and took them to get donuts (hey, it's Mother's day, I'm allowed!) They had also laid out all the cards and pictures they made me on the kitchen table...very cute! We spent most of the day in the pool with my sister, nephew, and best friend. Now we're off to dinner with my sister...our husbands are both at work. =( Hope everyone had a great Mother's Day!!

Free Chocolate

Oh there couldn't be a better day to see this! Go register for FREE chocolate!! The first 250,000 people to register each Friday through September receives a coupon for free chocolate!

I "Got Quit"

(Seven years in a box. I always had a seasonal office)

It's true...after six years, eleven months, and three weeks...I "got quit" from my job. Shall I explain? Yes...by "got quit" I mean I was basically forced out of my job. They wouldn't say "We're laying you off" or "You're fired" and I didn't say "I quit." They said my position (and another girl in my dept) is being phased out and they offered me an UNREASONABLE position. By unreasonable I mean, work 4:30am-2:30pm or 2:30pm-10:30pm and rotate Saturdays. Uh, I have children and a husband who already works a crazy schedule, no thanks. Oh, and this new position meant I keep my current duties AND take on some other duties.

I was one week from celebrating my seven year anniversary with this company. I've seen the highs and the lows, the good and the bad, the funny and the sad of this company. I've shared just about every big event in my life thus far with this company...such as my 21st birthday. They threw me and another co-worker a huge 21st birthday bash! They were there for moral support when I lost two grandparents in 10 months. They saw my heart get broken for the first time...and they saw me fall in love again. They saw me marry my best friend and be blessed with two of the best bonus children ever. After all, I did initially meet my husband there. It's been a long road...sometimes smooth...sometimes bumpy. I honestly wouldn't trade the memories or the friends I have from there for anything. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel somewhat betrayed or hurt...but I guess things ultimately come down to business decisions...and not personal decisions. I don't think it was meant to hurt me...but it does sting a little. I'm sad to see it go but excited to see what will happen now.

I think I've faithfully "bled blue" for long enough....



*Update - after I wrote those post I was asked to stay on another week to help transition...so technically...my very last day will also be my 7 year anniversary. =/

**Update again - Evidently I don't know what "Can you stay through next week?" means...my last day is now May 13.

Favorite Things Thursday

Because all motivation is gone...here are some of my favorite things.

I'm so glad my state provides this. Read more about it in tomorrow's post.

This for sure...I WILL have an awesome tan this summer with all the free time I will have. I'm all about a tan...without the cancer.

As I've mentioned before, I recently started couponing with my best friend...and this has been a God send!

I love this stuff! I bought it awhile back when my mom was still an Avon rep and just recently tried it. It makes my face so smoothe!

I'm super picky about eye shadow...especially since my eyes are so sensitive but I love this! It stays on all day!!

Those are a few of my current favorite things...until next time...

Fudgee's Make You "Pudgee"

Oh my...girls...these are SINFUL!



My sister didn't believe me...so she had to buy some for herself, and she called to tell me last night that she had consumed about 10 cookies! ;) She isn't even a sweets eater!! They are rather high in calories so when my package is finished (probably by tonight) I will NOT be buying them again...just for the simple fact that bathing suit season is fast approaching!

I'm Needy Want-y

I need want this...really bad!!



Just can't bring myself to spend the money on it.