The Last Gift

After a long and difficult week, this morning I said goodbye to our downstairs neighbor and one of my first friends in Texas, Ms. K.

Monday we found her in her apartment having difficulty breathing.  She went into cardiac arrest before the ambulance arrived and hadn't woken up since.  It's been a hard week to say the least, but I'm thankful to have had the time to pray with her, sing and read scripture to her and ultimately say my goodbyes.

Ms. K was one of those with a tough outer shell, but a soft, caring inside.  =)  She loved her little "monkey dog," Sky, and spoiled our little Bayley rotten; bringing her a new toy almost every week.

We are not the only ones who will miss Ms. K, but we're glad she is finally done suffering through her many health difficulties.  We've learned that she did have a relationship with the Lord and therefore know that she is praising and rejoicing as we speak, free of pain, fear and death.

Though we won't be the recipients of any more "Bayley toys" from Ms. K, I think she has given us something better.  The last gift we've received from Ms. K is her little "monkey dog" himself, Sky.  Sky is a bit of a "high maintenance" puppy right now, so when we heard he wasn't wanted by any family and it had been decided that he would be put to sleep at just 4 yrs old, we offered to take him in.  We've been caring for him since Ms. K went into the hospital and realize that though he has already made great improvements in the past three days, Sky is still going to need lots of TLC for a while.  He needs to be re-housebroken, trained and socialized, but we are excited to make him a part of our small family and truly believe that he can be a very healthy, happy little pup with some extra training and attention.

We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to have a relationship with Ms. K this past year.  We will miss her dearly, but hope to honor her memory in some way by giving her "baby boy" a happy home with us.

Meet Bayley's new brother...

He hasn't exactly been shy about making himself at home.  ;)

She Works Hard for the Money!

Well, my recent absence is due to my adjusting to a new schedule -- I got a job!

This is a huge blessing considering the circumstances!  I was substitute teaching but schools out for the summer so I needed a new job.  Problem was, I had seven weeks before moving back to the "big city", but we really needed me to be working up until I left in order to #1 - pay for the large chunk of my school loans that just went into repayment and #2 - cover expenses for the multiple weddings I am participating in this summer.  =)

Well as of last week I had literally applied to any and every business in town that was hiring or "accepting applications."  But of course when I was honest about how long I would be here for, they pretty much concluded the interview and said they would "be in touch."  Hopeless.  Then the manager at our apartment complex called me one day and offered me a job!  Her assistant manager is out for pretty much the exact time that I have left and she needs a temp to help out until she returns!

Praise the Lord!

He really does take care of our every need!

The great part is, that it's really a pretty quiet job so I get to work on a lot of my own stuff during the day... like continuing my search for pink shoes!  =)

First of all, this is the dress the shoes will be going with...

The pink and green together is going to be so cute!!!  =D

Okay readers, help me out... these are the affordable options I have found after hours of meticulous internet searching... Give me your opinions!

I can't find good pictures for the rest of these links but here are the sites if you're really interested in helping me pick!  =)

Shiekh Nasa-H 

Shiekh Alot

Shiekh Kent-S

Shiekh Eluda-H

On another note, the first of two personal showers that I'm coordinating takes place this weekend and I am so excited!!!  I'll put up some pictures of the decorations and the event when I get back.  =)

Seriously readers, I need some help deciding on these shoes, which ones would you pick?

Every Girl Needs a Pair of Pink Heels

The problem is, I can't find any for less than $40!

I am a budget shopper, I don't regularly spend more than $20 on any article of clothing or pair of shoes... maybe $30 if I want it that bad, but that's a true rarity.  My general shopping rule is if it's not less than $10, I wait.  haha

So back to the pink pumps.

I don't just want these, I actually need them for a wedding!  

My beautiful best friend is getting married this August and she requested that the bridesmaids all get pink shoes (no specification on shade or style) to go with our green dresses.  

First of all, can we say so cute?!  The green and pink is going to be adorable and I'm super excited.  But I have been searching everywhere for pink heels... pumps, straps, wedges, sandals... I don't care they just need to be pink, reasonably cute and somewhere in the $30 or less price range.

I thought this would be simple... it's not.

This is summer!  When brightly colored shoes are popping out all over the place and yet, nothing!  I finally found a pair for $27 on clearance at Beall's a few days ago... they're a half size too small but I bought them anyway because it's the first pair I've found in weeks of constant searching.  These are them...

I do really love them... and I figure I can suffer through for one day if I really have to, but I'm still searching.  I would really like to be spending my money on shoes that won't cause me to cringe at the thought of wearing them again.  lol

Side note: Laugh if you will, but I kind of have pudgy feet... I've started running in an effort to slim them down so that they might better fit into the shoes.  LOL  I've also been wearing them around the house (only on carpet) to try to stretch them a little... we'll see how this works.  

Wish me luck, and if you find any pink heels... send me a link!

Check out some of these fun, more expensive pretties I've found in my searching... 

*sigh*

A girl can dream, right?

A Belated Birthday Post

First of all, I would like to mention a belated happy birthday wish to my incredible hubby and his twin sister.  =)  Their birthday was on Tuesday and I had intended to create an entire post dedicated to how amazing my hubs is in honor of such a historic day, but I got a little wrapped up in preparing his special birthday meal and several other things around the ol' apartment and the post slipped right past me!

So here's a happy, happy birthday to my incredible, handsome, hardworking husband who takes such wonderful care of our little family and loves me more than I deserve & to one of the best sister-in-laws I could have ever hoped to inherit!  =)  

I love you two!

Aaand a run-down of the hub's requested birthday dinner... everything from scratch, naturally, because that's what you get when it's your birthday!  =)

Extra Cheesy Lasagna... mine was much cheesier than this pic.  =)

Caesar Salad, a fav of both of ours...

Fresh Pineapple, another fav of ours...

...and Cherry Cheesecake (this was a first time experience for me)

It was quite the dinner!  We were both full and quite content when it was all said and done.  =)

Gimme "S'more" Cake Recipe

Dear Readers, 

          Per your request...  Try this new twist on a summer bonfire classic.  =)

Gimme "S'more" Cake

Recipe From Taste of Home Magazine

Prep: 50 min          Preheat To: 350

BakeTime: 20 min + cooling          Yield: 12 servings

Cake

1/2c shortening
1/4c butter, softened
1c sugar
3 eggs
1t vanilla
2 3/4c graham cracker crumbs
3t baking powder
1 can (12oz) evaporated milk

Marshmallow Frosting

4 egg whites

1c sugar

1/2t cream of tartar

1 1/2t vanilla 

1 1/2c miniature semisweet chocolate chips, divided

Cake Directions

Line two 9in round baking pans with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside.  In a large bowl, cream shortening, butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in vanilla.  Combine cracker crumbs and baking powder; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition.

Transfer to prepared pans.  Bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

Marshmallow Frosting Directions

In a large heavy saucepan, combine the egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar over low heat.  With a hand mixer, beat on low speed for 1 minute.  Continue beating on low over low heat until frosting reaches 160, about 8-10 minutes.  Pour into a large bowl; add vanilla.  Beat on high until stiff peaks form, about 7 minutes.

Place a cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 2/3c frosting and sprinkle with half of chips.  Top with remaining cake layer.  Frost top and sides of cake; sprinkle with remaining chips.

Whitney's Thoughts & Amendments

 Cake: Wouldn't change a thing. Quite possibly the most delicious cake recipe I have ever found!

Marshmallow Frosting: First, the beating part took a lot longer for me, as you read in my previous post.  Perhaps I was doing something wrong, but just FYI.  Second, I thought the frosting tasted more accurately like marshmallows before adding the vanilla and definitely think the recipe calls for too much.  When I make it again I will probably take it down to just 1t vanilla extract, if not only 1/2t.  Also, I got impatient after the incessant beating with my hand mixer and didn't finish all the way.  Definitely finish your beating or you marshmallow frosting will slowly creep down the sides of your cake.  =)  I knew this would be the consequence, but I my impatience won over my desire for the cake to be pretty.  lol

Chocolate Chips: I used way more than called for... let's face it, you can never have too much chocolate in a s'more!  =)

Other Twists: Being the chocolate lover I am, I also thought about icing the delicious graham cracker cake with chocolate frosting and dropping either mini marshmallows or dollops of marshmallow frosting/cream between the cake layers and on top .

Though I will make a few changes next time, all in all this cake was a big hit with this Young family!  =)