It's Just Me

Hi.

It's just me.

Hangin' out here, chattin' with friends {You!!}.

I really thought my April blogging challenge would help me get back on track with posting, but we're halfway through May and this is just my 5th post for the month. I truly have no lack of things to post about - it's just getting it out that seems to be the problem. I get stuck with wanting it to be done a certain way with a certain photo posted on a certain day at a certain time.

I read a post this week, by Ashleigh Baker: Simple Stories [An Invitation to Old-Fashioned Blogging]. What a wonderful post!! If you're a blogger, I encourage you to read it and share your thoughts. If you're not a blogger, I still think you should read it and share what connects you to a blog. Ashleigh said just what I've been thinking and even explains why I probably have been feeling "stuck" on my blog.

Because of Ashleigh's post, I thought it might be OK just to simply write to tell you hi! Or to tell you that I'm drowning in housework. Or to tell you that I watched a hummingbird chasing a squirrel last week. Or to tell you that my son is on a field trip to an amusement park today.

Or to share a completely random picture with you {my son a few years ago} that has nothing to do with this post, but might make you smile.

What's new with you?

I'm about to get a cup of coffee - can I get you one?

Thanks for being here with me friends and have a blessed day!

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope you have a blessed Lord's Day and lovely Mother's Day!

And if this is a difficult day for you, then extra virtual hugs are comin' your way. {My own mother passed away almost 12 years ago and my stepmother passed away almost 5 years ago. And though we've been blessed with a fabulous son, I have experienced multiple miscarriages since. But I am greatly blessed and content and pray that you find that peace today.}

I had to repost the poem that my son wrote for me in school a few years ago for Mother's Day - I still love it! :)

Mother's Day Poem
by B.

She's mostly at home
She is very nice
She's also a blonde
And she doesn't like mice

She is kind of fun
She is also kind
She also likes Buster
And she also is not blind

She's sometimes in the kitchen
She really likes coffee
She's also real friendly
She also likes toffee

She washes my clothes
She makes me my lunch
She puts me to bed
I love her a bunch

Gotta love that! :) Are you doing anything special today?

Have a lovely and blessed day friends!

German Chocolate Cookie Pizza

I saw this idea in a magazine, but changed up the way it was cooked and some of the ingredients. I'm soooo happy with how it turned out! I think you'll like it too - it's rich and yummy and it's just fun!

Use a spring form pan {I think mine was a 9-inch pan} to make this. When you have all the ingredients layered, resist the urge to just get a fork and start eating now! :)

German Chocolate Cookie Pizza

2 tablespoons honey
2/3 cup chocolate wafer crumbs
2/3 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom and sides of an 8 or 9 inch springform pan. Cover bottom with wax paper and grease that also.

Heat honey in bowl in microwave {or on stove} on high for about 15 seconds, until it is more fluid. Add the chocolate wafer crumbs and stir with fork until well-mixed. Press the crumb mixture onto bottom of pan.

Sprinkle the crust evenly with chocolate chips and coconut flakes. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top. Sprinkle chopped pecans over top. Bake in oven for about 30 minutes. Remove and cool on wire rack.

When cool, carefully remove from pan and cut into slices. I used my pizza cutter! I cut this into 16 wedges - that left enough of a wedge to pick up but small enough to be a serving. This is very rich. You don't need bigger slices!

If you're a fan of German Chocolate flavors, you might also like German Chocolate Cookies.

Have you ever had a cookie pizza? You could have pizza for dinner and pizza for dessert - your family will love you! :)

This post linked to:
 ~ Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
 ~ Chic & Crafty Party at The Frugal Girls
 ~ I'm Lovin' It at TidyMom

Have a blessed {and chocolate-filled} day friends!

April Blogging Challenge Recap & A May Challenge

Well I didn't quite make the goal I set for myself in my April Blogging Challenge. But I did post a lot more than I have in previous months and that was the point. What was your goal and how did you do?

The previous 3 months I had only posted 6 times a month and the 3 months before that were 13 times a month. I ended up with 16 posts for April {quite a bit short of my goal of 22}. I am happy with that though as it is definitely more than I've blogged in 6 months. I think I'll try for 18 posts in May - a little more realistic, but still an increase .

For May - I don't have an official button or anything like that, but if you liked having the nudge {or kick in the pants} to do more on your blog, I'll give you {& me!} a new challenge. During the month of May, I want you to write 4 extra posts that you schedule to publish automatically on your blog - at least 4-5 days after you write them. You could write 1 extra post each week and schedule it for the following week. Or you could go crazy and write 4 posts over the next few days and then schedule them all throughout May.

This should do a couple things for you: Relieve a little of that pressure to try and get something up on the blog when you are just too busy with life *and* help you to be more organized with your blog posts rather than flying by the seat of your pants. <--- Oh I am talking to ME there. :)

What do you think? Are you up for it? C'mon, 4 little extra posts to schedule - piece of cake. Mmmmm...cake. Chocolate cake. Um, *some*body has a problem with getting sidetracked. And if you never had a chance to do the April challenge, just make it your May challenge - it's OK. Really. I don't have enough funds here to hire blog challenge enforcement people.

So let me know, how many posts did you do in April? Are you going to join me in this little May challenge? What helps you get inspired to blog more?

Have a blessed day friends & blog on! {And for those of you who don't blog, you can always apply this challenge to something else in life - make a goal for something you need to work on this month!}

National Day of Prayer ~ Can I Pray For You?

Today, 5/2, is National Day of Prayer. There are many different events around the country. My son's Christian school is even doing something special today to observe it.

Of course we need to pray every day! Prayers aren't more special today, but it's a wonderful opportunity to gather together and reach out to others. I'd like to reach out to you today. Can I pray for you?

I'll spend some time in prayer in general for my lovely readers, but if you have a specific prayer request I'd love to pray for that too. You can leave your requests in the comments - and feel free to pray for others who have left comments. If you prefer to keep your request private, you can e-mail it to me {info is in the Contact Me tab at the top} or just leave a comment saying you need prayer for a private matter.

May the Lord bless you today friends.

Key Lime Pie Parfaits

I wanted to make this for an Easter dessert, but none of us were feeling great so I made it several days later. YUM. Very rich and I ended up making mine much smaller servings than the original recipe called for. I found this recipe sometime in the last few years from Cooking Light and adapted it a bit.

For the right flavor, you're going to want to use key lime juice. Key limes are adorable mini limes with a more tart flavor, but they were not to be found when I made this recipe. So I used Nellie & Joe's key lime juice, found in my local grocery store near the lemon juice.

Key Lime Pie Parfaits

1/2 cup key lime juice
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon grated lime zest
2 eggs
14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups sweetened whipped cream
1 cup graham cracker or cookie crumbs
Lime zest for garnish

Combine lime juice, sugar, lime zest, eggs, and sweetened condensed milk in large bowl, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Pour into a double boiler {or create your own by using a bowl sitting on top of a saucepan}. Cook over simmering water, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens {6+ minutes or temp of 160 - mine took a long time to thicken up}. Remove from heat and place pan in ice-filled bowl for 25 minutes, until mixture cools to room temp. Stir mixture occasionally.

Whip heavy cream and sweeten or use spray whipped cream or Cool Whip. In small serving dishes or glasses, start layers with a couple teaspoons of whipped cream. Top with a couple teaspoons of cracker/cookie crumbs and then a couple tablespoons of lime mixture. Repeat layers. Top each serving with some more whipped cream and sprinkle with lime zest. The glasses I used in the pics are 6-oz glasses. You could also serve a single set of layers in a shot glass with a mini spoon. Serve immediately! Yummy...

If you like the flavor of lime, you might also enjoy Key Lime Muffins or Cool Lime Napoleons.

Do you like Key Lime Pie? Do you have a favorite lime dessert?

This post is linked to:

 ~ Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

 ~ Chic & Crafty Party at The Frugal Girls

 ~ I'm Lovin' It at TidyMom 

This post is #16 in my April blogging challenge.

Have a blessed day friends!

Monday Musings {4/29}

Copying my friend Charlotte again by doing some Monday Musings! Feel free to post your own musings ~ tell me in the comments so I can come visit! :)

What I'm thinking: That I will never ever never be caught up with housework. *sigh* And that it gets expensive to have a son who won't quit growing - LOL! We just bought him size 13 shoes and ordered a few more school uniform pieces so he'll actually have something to wear during the last few weeks of school. :)

What I'm reading: Reading Ecclesiastes and 42 Days to Fit by Brandy Ferguson, Emma Swanston, & Stacy Karen on Kindle.

What I'm listening to: The sounds of washing machine and dryer and Hubs listening to talk radio while he works from home.

What we're learning: I learned that I can run 3 miles! :) Son is still taking his computer programming type class and tennis. But next up is basketball! He's decided that he likes it {which is nice considering his height} and wants to play on the school's team next year. So he may be attending a basketball camp for a few days when Summer starts just to get him up to speed.

What I'm watching: Finally watched the movie War Horse. Good movie! Probably a bit too realistic for young kids with the war scenes and death, but we enjoyed the story. Also watched the last episode of our latest show obsession - Naked Castaway. The guy filmed himself attempting to survive with next to nothing on a deserted island for 60 days - interesting stuff.

What's cooking: Leftover beef stew and cornbread tonight. Definitely roasting a pork loin this week {I follow this recipe to make a rub for it}. And I still have to figure out what to make for our upcoming church potluck which will have a Mexican theme - it's Cinco de Mayo you know! :)

What I'm buying:  Well we just bought the clothes & shoes for kiddo - ugh! I might make a small Costco run this week, but I don't think I have other things to buy at the moment.

What I'm thankful for: Thankful for all my WONDERFUL friends! I ended up with all kinds of belated bday gifts this week, but also time to fellowship with friends. Even met up with a fellow blogger at my fave thrift store this past week - hi Julie!

What I'm creating: A plan for being completely and totally organized in all areas of my life that requires no effort! hahahahahahahaha :D

What I'm planning: Starting the 42 Days to Fit program {simple program with fitness and eating goals each week} to.day. I wanted to wait until after the 5K so I could focus better on it.

What we did this last weekend: So many errands! Did my Saturday run for 30 minutes. And then we ran errands most of the day, but at least we are somewhat caught up on things now. Watched the movie War Horse. Sunday was church and then hanging out at home.

What I'm looking forward to: Seeing how I feel at the end of the week after no desserts and no sweetened drinks other than 1 morning coffee! And *not* looking forward to attempting to run today in the 90-something degree heat. :/

A picture to share:

A beautiful homemade cream currant scone from my friend K! And the saucer goes with the teacup she gave me! :)

What are your plans for the week?

I'm totally behind on my posting challenge - this is Post #15 for the month!

Have a blessed day friends!