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

69 + 1

My "Best Bud" Billie recently celebrated a milestone birthday on August 5th. We celebrated her 70th birthday and friendship with a luncheon.

Billie Jean Germone Nixon ~ 8 months old, so cute!

Billie with her Mom, she passed away when Billie was 11 years old.

Billie with her brother Tom and two older sisters, Mary and Barbara.

 

Billie and Rulon 

They will celebrate their 50th 

wedding anniversary on September 27th!

 Rulon and Billie

My next door neighbor Denise hosted the party.

I tell everyone I live next door to the Garden of Eden, really her yard is beautiful! We were going to have the party outside but it was too hot.

 So we were comfortable inside her lovely home.

I made a poster with fun facts from 1941, the year Billie was born. Gas was 12 cents a gallon and you could buy a car for $850.00! Her daughter Wendy helped me sneak a few pictures that made a nice display!

Barb ~ Cindy ~ Elaine

Billie and Becky

Billie and Lorie

Billie and Susan

 Lorie's salad was a work of art and so delicious.

We enjoyed a yummy lunch and then Billie opened her cards. 

We always enjoy Becky's creations!

We waived the "no gift" rule for this birthday and gave Billie a necklace that we hope will be a reminder of how grateful we are for her friendship.

She likes it!

Yes, I wrote her a poem!

               Score one for Rulon...

He gave Billie this stunning ring, the pictures don't do it justice... yowza!

Denise made a really wonderful chocolate mayonnaise cake, something that would have been served in the 1940's. It was so moist and even looked good on her white blouse, oops!

We dawned our pearls, red lipstick and aprons... fashion was a lot more formal in 1941!

 Denise ~ Susan ~ Barbara ~ Lorie 

Becky ~ Cindy ~ Billie ~ Elaine

We were so delighted Elaine could join us. Her husband is battling leukemia and scheduled for a bone marrow transplant next week. We send our best thoughts and unite our faith and prayers in his behalf. We love you Elaine and Dean!

I have such an amazing group of friends, we would do anything for each other.

Happy Birthday Billie, here's to many more!

We love you!

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!