humbled

man, oh, man i am so extremely proud of myself, and humbled i just won an awesome award  i've been entering their DIY Fridays for weeks now, updating my blog for readability and making it cute 4 other amazing bloggers out there were awarded as well Lollipops & CupcakesSewing with SellaRight Here, Right NowCreative Ideas by Emily  Thanks to Carolynn @ MakinCuteBlogsfor picking me this week 
I also got my blog critiqued this week by the Blog Guidebook Lucky Lees To Be scored a 9.3!!! I have to tweak a few things, simple issues that can be easily fixed. I'm so excited! I've worked really hard to learn everything I can about blogging. there is still so much more to learn, and I really enjoy it!Thanks again to all my readers, even though ya'll may not encourage me personally, I feel motivated everytime I see how many readers I actually have. Have an amazing weekend! P.S.  in the comments section below, let me know what it is that brought you to following me, whether it was a blog hop, my content, etc. I'd like to see what my readers think!
 

Another AWARD for ME?

I have been putting off this post since Wednesday. Everytime I get to sit down and write it, something else comes up! I know I haven't blogged in a while,  I've won another AWARD... the Versatile Blogger Award!  

THANK YOU

Courtney @ We Three Dyes

AND

Courtney @ It's a Reynolds-ful World

These two women have graciously awarded me this, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart!

The Rules:

1. Thank and link back to the people who awarded you these awards.

2. Tell everyone 7 random facts about yourself

3. Pass the award to 7 lovely bloggers

4. Contact each blogger and let them know you have passed this award onto them


Do you REALLY need to know more about me?! I mean come on, haven't you read my Things my BFF should know post? you did, well, ok fine, I guess I'll share more, lol.

1. I've recently figured out how to take semi-good photos of myself...what do you think?{I read a post from the beloved Little Miss Momma about how to take self portraits...and I've been trying to take more self portraits...9 out of 10 come out crappy, and 1 comes out just ok...I think i'm getting the hang of it, besides the fact that I use my iPhone for all my pics}

{wind blownt much, lol}

{hair clip-Cato, necklace-handmade by my mom-for sale soon, shirt-Cato}

{i found the hair clip and wanted to add pizzazz to an outfit...i think i'm going to convert them to earrings, because I rarely ever wear anything in my hair}

{this was the best so far, mirror shot}

2. I LOVE INSTAGRAM...let me tell you! It's an iPhone App that I just recently learned about. I'm obsessed! I use it everyday...here are some filters put on the previous pictures.{this app puts an awesome spin on your photos...

{no, I wasn't at the beach}

{1800's era?!?!}

{sunbleached face and darkened hair & shirt?}

3. I order a Caramel Frappacino with an extra shot of espresso and extra-extra caramel drizzle when I go to Starbucks. I often order a Artisan Bacon Gouda Sandwich, or their outstandingly delish Lemon Loaf Slice...hmmm {this would be the reason why I'm writing this at midnight, lol, caffeine kick much? nah!}

4. I just made the most requested recipe ever for my dad...Chocolate Peanut Butter Patties...a small dab of peanut butter in between two ritz crackers, and then dipped in melted chocolate. see picture below...easiest recipe ever, it just takes about an hour if you make 2 dozen or so.

5. I have 2 tattoos...{now, now stop judging me, lol}
the first one I have, is on my hip/thigh...the spot on your upper leg where pockets usually are. NO ONE ever sees it, besides Brian. I often forget that it is even there...I got it when I was 18, they night after graduating from High School. I was trying to be a rebel, but at the same time, really enjoyed it. It's a butterfly that is the size of a quarter with pink heart wings...its beautiful. It represents me, being a butterfly, leaving my cocoon{home}, and heading to college....

my second tattoo is on my right foot...it's of a shooting star{see pic below} it was spur of the moment decision, that I get to see everyday. I love it.

{this was taken the day after I got it}

6. Giada De Laurentis is my all-time favorite Food Network Chef! I laugh everytime she says a word in Italian, {like mozzarella} or with an Italian accent. I love watching her because I love the recipes and her show...she cracks me up! Everything Italian, I'm all for it...Ina Garten is my runner up!


7. I've recently downloaded several photo editing softwares...iWatermark, Photoshop Elements 9, and Picasa... little did I know how frustrating, but rewarding learning these programs was.

iWatermark, plops a watermark onto my photos in seconds...I simply create my watermark, and pick a photo or photo folder to add my watermark to up to 1000 photos and it does it quick, and keeps the originals of the watermarked pics. I downloaded the trial and then paid $20 to get the serial number for the full software. It's awesome...{the pics above have my new watermark too}

{peanut butter patties}

Then I purchased Photoshop Elements 9 from Costco...for $75...yeah...amazing. My favorite tool, the magic extractor...LOVE. It took me 2 months to figure out how to get rid of backgrounds, and make pictures look like they float!

Picasa is a free photo editing software from Google. I am now asking myself why I downloaded this software, until I remembered that I was doing all of my watermarking through there until I paid for iWatermark yesterday...It's an awesome alternative to Photoshop, Gimp, Picnik, Pixlr, etc.

Now, for the wonderful Versatile Bloggy friends of mine who deserve this award as well...

1. Monica @ Mrs. Tillery
2. Andrea @ 365 days behind the lens
3. Amanda @ A Growing Faith
4. Marci @ Don't Waste Your Homemaking
5. Girls Gone Bloggin'
6. Sisters in the Kitchen
7. Jennifer @ Always in Wonder


Congrats Ladies! Grab the rules and button above and post about it! You deserve it!

Oreo Ball Recipes

***I have been featured on The Casual Blogger Community today!!! So honored and excited that I can reach more readers today! I never thought that I would be featured, let alone get a stylish blogger award, AND be listed in the Blog Guidebook. My heart is full of joy from climbing the blogging ladder! ***

I promised when I wrote the Mini Spinach Dip Bread Bowls post, that I would share the Oreo Ball recipes with ya'll. So here they are...

 

 

Oreo Balls

recipe originated from How Sweet It Is with a few modifications

1 package regular Oreos

1-8oz block of cream cheese, softened

1 package white chocolate bark or 1 package of white chocolate chips

In a food processor, mix Oreos until they become crumbs. {I have a small 2 cup food processor, so I do this in 4-5 batches per package of Oreos, then pour it in my kitchen aid mixer and then add the cream cheese to that.} Add cream cheese in chunks and process until you have a dough. Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet. Set in the freezer to harden for 1-2 hours.

Once Oreo balls are set, dip in melted chocolate – chocolate, peanut butter, white chocolate, etc. Any kind of hardening chocolate will work. Add any decoration on top. You can store in the refrigerator or freezer, but I usually just put them in a ziploc and they stay on the table for a few days before completely devoured!

***This is EXACTLY how I made the mint Oreo balls too...I used the Mint Oreos instead, and I used regular chocolate bark to cover them instead of white. I plan on making the peanut butter ones for hubbs-to-be...he will be in heaven. I encourage you to experiment and play around with these delish, truffle-like concoctions. {I got the yummy idea for the mint oreo balls from http://wethreedyes.blogspot.com/. She shared with me when I originally made the oreo balls and suggested I try using mint oreos...heavenly, thanks!***

 

 

These should be called Thin Mint Truffles or Grasshopper Truffles...yeah.

Thin Mint Truffles=bliss

  

Now on to fix my sick hubbs-to-be some King Ranch Chicken Soup. He stayed home from work after a long 31 hours of working straight. He came home yesterday around noon with a fever, sore throat, and sneezing his head off. Same today. I'm hoping he'll start to feel better before this weekend. He has off and we have NO plans, which is awesome! {even though I've already thought of plenty of things to do, like getting an early start on our garden inside, staining that shelf he built me 2 weeks ago, etc., and you can just imagine what yummy meals I have planned!}

  God Bless, This post is linked to the following blog parties:

Stylish Blogger Award

 

I have received a Stylish Blogger Award! ♥

I know they've been going around alot lately, and I envied the people who received them. Now I have one for myself, and you can bet I'm gonna sport it on my sidebar! Oh-yeah!

SJ from Homemaker on a Dime has so kindly awarded me! SO sweet. I posted yesterday about her and her blog! I LOVE YOU SJ! Thank you so much. If you haven't check her blog out DO IT NOW! She has some cute DIY projects that she's posted, and she has love for other bloggers. She is the host of Swap Followings! Thanks again SJ. ♥



Here are the rules to receive this award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

7 things about myself:

1. I'm getting married to my high school sweetheart on October 22, 2011. ♥ He is so precious to me, and I am so blessed!


2. I love sweet tea.

3. I love planning my wedding by myself!

4. People say I'm a hermit crab and spend too much time by myself in our house. But, I'd rather stay home, than spend money. Don't get me wrong I love shopping, but I'm trying to be very minimalistic and I like to be home instead. I like to stay away from the drama. When I'm by myself, theres no drama.

5. My 5 favorite restaurants are: PF Changs, Fogo de Chao, McAlisters, Salt Lick BBQ, Pappasitos.

6. I quit school in April of 2010. I attended 4 universities, and changed my major 7 times all in 5 years. I lost my passion for teaching, and for getting a degree, and decided that I wanted to be a homemaker, and one day be a stay at home mom. I love my lifestyle that my husband-to-be supports, and I wouldn't want to live my life any other way. I only get to see B maybe a total of 1 week in each month. He has every other weekend off, but most of the time, he only has 3-5 days a month off. He chooses to work on his weekends off so that we can have a better life when he is home.

7. I was once extremely selfish, self-centered, and I felt entitled to having a good life. I've always been thankful, but growing up, I took things for granted, including my now fiance'. I didn't realize how materialistic, judgemental, and conceited I was. I was always jealous of everyone who had more than me, and I always thought I was better than everyone else. I was also a control freak. Up until my brother went to rehab, and our family realized how we weren't living a life we loved, I was, well a horrible person on the inside. I was a believer of God, but I didn't know Him. I knew OF Him.

Here are the 15 award recipients!

1. Ashley at The Shine Project
2. Brittany at The High Heeled Housewife
3. Marcie at Don't Waste Your Homemaking
4. Blooming-Mommy
5. Marie at My Baking Journey
6. Burton's Blessings
7. Mrs. Monica Tillery
8. Amanda at A Growing Faith
9. PJ at I'll Have What He's Having
10. Flexible Dreams
11. Michele at The Homesteading Apartment
12. Mallory at Southern Girl in a Western World
13. Leslie at Night Owl Crafting
14. Mrs. Crazy Kneese
15. The Cowart Clan

I love all of these blogs! Please go check them out, give them some lovin, and let them know you came from here! Congrats girls! ♥



God Bless,