mjsdailyhappenins'

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Starbucks lemon loaf

I'm am absolutely in LOVE and most definitely ADDICTED to the lemon loaf from Starbucks... I eat it at least twice a week!! haha!!

It's that AMAZING! :)

The other day picky-palate, one of my absolutely most favorite food bloggers posted a "copycat' recipe for the lemon loaf.. and what do you know I HAD ALL OF THE INGREDIENTS IN THE PANTRY, and a lemon tree in the backyard that needed tending to!! So I went ahead and made it, and let me tell you, it was DELIGHTFUL!! and oh so pretty...

Look at this oh so beautiful lemon tree....

the lemons are so big and pretty, and so ready to become something delicious like my mom's homemade lemonade, which we've been having A LOT lately... ;) or lemon rolls.... this here lemon was destined to become part of my homade lemon loaf!! ;)

This recipe was SUPER easy, and like I said before, I had all of the ingredients in my pantry.. so you may too!!

what you'll need is

1 box of yellow cake

1 big box of instant lemon pudding, I only had a small box, but it still worked! ;)

1/2 cup of vegetable oil,

4 eggs

1/2 cup of milk

1 cup of sour cream

the juice of one big lemon,

for the icing you'll need

2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

and the 3 to 4 tablespoons of lemon juice, I also added about 1 tablespoon of water, and lemon zest

Go here, for step to step directions on how to make the cake... ;)

Here's mine.... all ready for the oven!! ;)

.....and all done, and ready to be eaten!! YUMMMM....

I couldn't wait so I actually frosted it, and cut it while it was still warm, so the icing and cake melted all over the place... BUT it was that much better!!! YUMMM!!! :)

...I was so excited for the final result that I felt the need to share it with my Instagram friends!! ;)

....after enjoying 2 pieces of this sinful goodness.... I went to bed, the next morning I packed some up for some of my favorite taste testers, and let me tell you they weren't dissapointed!! :)

I will definitely be making this again... and soon!! Did I mention that the lemon tree is out of control and FULL of lemons??

....Again, if you haven't ever checked out Picky-palate's blog run over there right now... her recipes are amazing, and most of the time, I already have the ingredients available!! ;)

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

5 years.....

...I can't believe that 5 years have gone by....

This week in March is always hard for me... It's one full of so many different kinds of emotions...

sadness

loss

happiness

Births

accomplishments

....and to think that it was just like that 5 years ago...

This week is going to feel like Deja Vu, all over again....

5 years ago March 21st fell on a wednesday...

March 21 a day I will remember forever,

It comes around every year, as a reminder that our life isn't guaranteed, we don't know how long we have, it's my reminder that

WE SHOULD ALWAYS LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST!

It's my reminder to show people how much they mean to me,

to tell people I LOVE them

To serve people in the way God would want me to,
To show appreciation for the people who care for us,
for the people who choose to be a part of our lives,

It's my reminder that we should treat people the way we want to be treated,

My reminder to give of myself without expectations,

These are the lessons I learned from Larry, and losing him has seriously been hard... I don't think people really understand the "loss" of a good friend until it happens to them...

on Sunday I got together for lunch with Charles and some of the others, and we talked about how we couldn't believe it had already been 5 years...

This is not where we thought we would be 5 years ago, remembering, one of our own...

Life has funny way of "happening"

So tomorrow I will remember my friend Larry, all of the happy times, all of the GREAT memories we made, and I will pray and think of his family, his mom, the wife and children who are still here, his brothers and sisters, and all of the friends who will undoubtedly be thinking of him... Because it will undoubtedly be a hard day for them/us...

....I will also remember that Baby Jason's birthday is on wed, he was born exactly one year after Larry left us... He was God's sign that everything was going to be ok...

...and then on thursday I will remember that 5 years ago I proudly took the oath to become a US Citizen... :)

....On Thursday I will also remember to wish Mr. Lukey Luke a Happy Birthday! :)

...and today I remembered my little brother who is no longer with us too... I was 6 when he left us.. but my mom told me today that his anniversary was yesterday, March 19th, a little reminder to myself... He was so little, and every once in a while I stop to wonder how things would of been...

Not questioning God in any way... Just thinking how things would of been different, and thinking how life has a funny way of working out... Even though I know it's all part of his plan....
So here's my yearly 21st of March post, I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring... But I will go and try my hardest to leave my mark on the world, especially tomorrow, Larry did, and I think that is why the reminder that he is gone is so hard...
Keep watching over us Larry, Red Lightning and I appreciate it... ;)
Happy Wednesday everyone... Don't forget to tell your loved ones you love them... :)

Sunday, March 18, 2012

The last week......

I know on Wed. I said there was a black cloud following me!! BUT the week hasn't been ALL bad... just that hick-up in the middle of the week... :0

There was some running, walking on tuesday... remember that mud run I signed up for? I think it's about time I start training for it! ;) so I went ahead and jumped into a 3.5 mile run, mostly walk, up the hill by my house!! :) and let me tell you, it felt good... now to get better music on my iPod! ;)

...and there were some fun new quotes I found!! ;) I think this is one of my new favorites!

....and naturally the week was full of good, hearty food... anyone for In-n-Out.... Monday's pick, a number 2 with a root beer float!! YUMMM!!!! AND yes! It was just as tasty as it looks in the pic!

....and there was a visit from family we haven't seen in over 20 years... Walter and his family were at Disneyland for a dance competition, and they came over for dinner... We had the BEST time... It seriously felt like we had just seen them not too long ago.. I LOVE meetings like that! :)

...and it just so happened that it was his birthday on the day that they came to dinner, so we celebrated around a banana bread cake!! ;) why not? ;)

This was our first time meeting Sara and the girls, and it felt like we'd known each other FOREVER!! :)

...and half-way through the week, I decided to indulge in this yummylicious shamrock shake... If you've never had one you most definitely should!! They're GREAT!! Thanks Julie, Carlie and Wheelie for introducing me to this dangerously delicious drink! :)

....and Gaby and I started doing myfitnesspal.... NOT necessarily so that I start counting calories, WE ALL KNOW I LIKE FOOD TOO MUCH TO DO THAT! ;) But at least it's been an eye-opener as to how many calories food actually has!! ;)

....have I mentioned that working with my mom also has it's "food" perks, on Thursday she made me this delicious sandwich for lunch! :)

...and I also get to see such pretty, pretty skies! :)

...and on saturday night the boys and I had a sleepover... Brody pretended to be a statue! ;)

....and we took pictures.....

...and drew some pictures!

.....and drew some more....

....and we made silly faces!

....and I ate LOTS of pistachio salad... Thanks Jaime, it really is my favorite, AND it was DELICIOUS!!! :)

...and Jakey drew a monster!!

.....and I made green funfetti cupcakes for work! :)

....Then work fed me this!!! YUMM!!! :) and on this day I COMPLETELY failed myfitnesspal!! ;) haha!!

more pictures! :) This is my ocean... complete with fishies and a turtle, and Brody really wanted a rain cloud, so we added that!! :) and a shark, see the shark??

.....and Jakey boy pretended to be a spider!! haha!!! :)

Then there was my sunday afternoon meeting with the dorm crew... Charles found a new restaurant he thought we should try... so off we went, I will admit, the fact that the parking lot was empty made me just a little nervous! BUT the salsa was AMAZING, and the food followed suit... it was all very good, we ended up giving the restautant 3.5 stars, ONLY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE FLAN..... ;)

Then we were off to the movies, we had previously picked 21 Jump Street, and let me tell you that I hadn't laughed that hard at a movie in a really long time!! ;) and Angie and I decided to join the American Reunion movie poster! ;)

The sun was setting when we got out of the theatre, and it was BEAUTIFUL! I think that's my favorite "after the storm" thing, the beautiful clear skies, which usually lead to beautiful sunsets! :)

...AND when I got home and started "catching" up on emails, and "social media," ;) I ran into this!! AND LET ME TELL YOU

I LOVE IT!!!

It is so true, and it is definitely me... as always today and everyday I am grateful for everything that I am blessed with, even the dark cloudy days, because there was a lesson to be learned that day.. I think it was patience, not sure, it may be something else I haven't thought of yet!! ;)

I am blessed with the most amazing family, and wonderful friends, wonderful loving children. I am also blessed with health, a job, and many many happy memories, memories that are made EVERYDAY!!!

Here's to hoping that we all have a wonderful week!! :) Mine will be a busy one, one which will hopefully produce good looking monster truck treats!! ;)

A baby shower for sweet Remi!! 2/18

My friend Sarah threw a cute baby shower for our other friend Carlie and her soon to be here baby girl Remi! I got to help by making the treats, and let me tell you that these little guys were really fun to make!!! I was a little scared of the cake, but it came out like we wanted!! ;)

Here's a little sneak peak I had posted on Instagram!

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Instagram? Jessica you were right... ;)

Carlie LOVES lemon, so naturally I HAD to make lemon cake pops, and let me tell you! I think they were the hit of the party!! haha! ;) They definitely got the must make again vote!