Wordless Wednesday - new shoes for Cash!

Quote for the Week - Powerful Words

"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

~ Kathryn Stockett (The Help)

A few months ago I read the book The Help. I saw the movie last week with my friend Billie and we loved it. A young white gal named Skeeter writes a book about the racism encountered by black maids working for white families and raising their kids in the 1960's. Aibileen, one of the main character maids and Skeeter's first story to interview for in her book had an endearing scene over and over in the movie. It involved a little girl called May Mobley, the daughter of the woman Aibileen works for. She raised her with imprinting in her mind three sentences, over and over and over again, having her repeat them back to her. They were to raise her self esteem and give her a solid foundation in her young life. They were: "I is kind. I is smart. I is important."Sometimes a few words are very powerful.

Wordless Wednesday - Weekly visit with Johnnie Belle!

Quote for the Week - God'sGifts

"Our task is to become our best selves. One of God's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final."
~ Thomas S. Monson

Wordless Wednesday - Sleepover at Grandma's house!

Quote for the Week - Summer

"Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here..."

~ Nat King Cole 

Dear Gramma Susan,

Thanks for letting me come swim at your pool. It was so nice of you to invite me and I had lots of fun!

Love, Cash

Happy Birthday Mark!

Happy 28th Birthday Son! 

I am always so proud of you. I love watching you with Cash, you are a wonderful Daddy. You work hard and I am so thankful that Tiffani has been able to stay home with Cash! I hope this is the best year ever for you. I love you with all my heart! Mom

Wordless Wednesday - Snuggling with Savvi!

Quote for the Week - Shoes

"Cinderella is proof that a new 

pair of shoes can change your life."  

~ Unknown

My favorite pair of shoes 

I was in Chicago a few years ago with Tim. I went shopping on "The Magnificent Mile" while Tim was at a meeting and saw these shoes. When I went to purchase them, I noticed the cashiers name tag. Her last name was Williams and she was a beautiful black woman. She saw my credit card and said, my name is Williams too, maybe we are related. I smiled and said, we're all brothers and sisters!

I don't know if shoes can really change your life as they did with Cinderella but they can make you feel better. I love shoes because no matter how chubby I get my shoes still fit!

Sooo... if the shoe fits, wear it. ~ Proverb

Bee-utiful Bridal Shower

This post is for my cousin Carlene who is an 

expert bee-keeper and lover of all things honey!  

My sweet friend Lorie only has one daughter and she recently got engaged. I was so excited to help host a bridal shower for the "Gem" of the Lisonbee family! She's the "Gem" among her three brothers!

 Whitney and Joe, he's 6' 2" and Whitney is 5' 2"!!

I'm so happy that Whitney found her Honey! Since her last name is Lisonbee, I had to go with a "bee" theme!

Thanks to my "Best Bud" Billie for the lovely flowers.

We had so many yummy sweets! I found a cupcake recipe that had honey in the batter and frosting. Then you add crushed Butterfingers to the top. They were rich but delicious. You may want to try them Carlene!

Bee Hive Honey Cupcakes with 

Honey Buttercream Frosting topped with Peanut Butter Crunch

INGREDIENTS

Honey Cupcakes

• ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup creamed honey
• ¾ cup whole milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 2 cups self rising flour

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, sugar, and honey. Beat for about 3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in egg, scrape down sides after blended. Add in vanilla and beat for another 30 seconds.
4. Starting with the flour first, alternate between flour and milk, ending with flour. So 1/3 of flour, ½ of milk, 1/3 of flour, ½ milk, 1/3 flour.
5. Blend until fully combined.
6. Fill cupcake pan (you can use liners) 2/3 of the way full with batter. Fill until all batter is used.
7. Bake for 20-22 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes in pan. Then remove from pan and place on a wire rack to finish cooling. Cool completely before frosting.    
   
   
   Honey Buttercream Frosting

1. 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2. 1/3 cup honey plus 2 TBSP
3. 4-5 cups powdered sugar
4. Milk as needed for thinning out frosting
5. In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and the honey for 2 minutes. Add 2 cups of the powdered sugar .
6. Start on low speed on the mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes.
7. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency.
8. Use milk to thin out frosting to reach desired consistency.

To assemble cupcakes:

1. Take cooled cupcake. Place frosting in a piping bag. Starting at one end pipe in a circle, continuing around and around until you form a beehive shape.
2. Dip top of cupcake into crushed Fairhaven Crumblz Original Peanut Butter Crunch Candy. I couldn’t find peanut butter crunch so I used crushed up Butterfinger’s.

Whitney is so gorgeous, talented and smart. She will be an amazing wife!

Our neighbors are always so supportive and generous!

My neighbor Kim is really the most accomplished seamstress I know. She made this darling apron right before the shower.

We gave these cute jars filled with honey as a thank you gift. The card says,"Thank you for bee-ing so sweet!

Susan ~ Lorie ~ Whitney ~ Billie ~ Eileen

Thanks to my friends Susan, Billie, Meg, Denise, Carrie and Gail for all your help with the shower!

Congratulations Whitney and Joe!

Wordless Wednesday - Yes... it's all about Cash!

The Daddy of 'em All - 2011

My hometown host the Daddy of 'em All also know as Cheyenne Frontier Days and has since 1897. It is the largest outdoor rodeo and western celebration in the world.

After competing all last week, my nephew Jimmy and his team won the Cheyenne Frontier Days wild horse race on Sunday. They make it look easy but it's not.

Eleven just happens to be a lucky number in our family. Eleven of my family members were born on the 11th of the month, including me!

 

 

If you are not familiar with Wild Horse Racing, the concept is simple enough. Three men on a team — a Shank man that holds a rope attached to the halter, a Mugger that holds the horse, and a Rider who saddles the horse and rides around the track. The first rider across the finish line wins.

As with most things that sound simple in principle, they are anything but simple when it comes to implementation. In this event, the problem is the horse. These are not saddle horses and the word “Wild” plays a very important part. The have had almost no contact with humans and definitely have never been under saddle or ridden.

It takes a lot of courage to participate in this sport. Wild Horse Racers can be kicked, dragged, run over, run into and thrown off. 

 Jimmy with his brother Carl

 My favorite picture... giving Dad (my brother Kenny) a hug after the big win.

 Giving Mom a hug!

 Dad Kenny, sweetheart Shaylynn , Jimmy and Mom Mary Kay

 Jimmy and my brother Lloyd

 Kenny ~ Jimmy ~ Lloyd

In 1960 my Uncle Carl won the Wild Horse Race, 51 years ago. 

Uncle Carl has been fighting cancer and found out recently that it's terminal and unless we have a miracle he won't be with us much longer.

After the Buckle Ceremony Jimmy went to see Uncle Carl. Jimmy dedicated this win to him. He started racing 11 years ago and this is a sweet victory to have another Federer claim the prize. 

Ya, I think it's a big deal and I am so proud of Jimmy for carrying on the Federer family tradition! I just wish I could have been there.

I know Uncle Carl wanted to be there to see Jimmy in the race. Our thoughts and prayer are with you cowboy. We love you Uncle Carl!