I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas!! And Elephant Ear Cookies of course.

  Im so sorry friends!!
I meant to have lots more Cookie~Palooza treats for you by now! But we had a small change in plans the last couple of weeks, so Im a bit behind! But Im working like a little Christmas elf to gather all kinds of lovely cookie inspriation for you!!

  Todays recipe is one of my favorites {but I say that about every cookie dont I?}

These cookies are called Elephant Ear Cookies, and they had me at puff pastry, cinnamon & sugar.

{Im a sucker for puff pastry.}

Recipe and Photo credits from Quick and Easy Recipes 

{one of my favorite places for recipe inspiration}

INGREDIENTS

1 cup pecan halves, toasted
1/3 cup granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
¼ cup plus 2 tbsp. brown sugar
1¾ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
Flour, for dusting work surface
1 lb. puff pastry (or 1 17.3-oz. package), thawed

1 large egg, lightly beaten

DIRECTIONS {preheat oven 350}

• Combine the pecans, sugars, cinnamon and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is very finely chopped and resembles coarse sand.
• On lightly floured parchment paper, roll the puff pastry out into an 11x20 inch rectangle (aprox) Transfer the rolld out pastry & parchment onto baking sheet covering loosely with a kitchen town and chill untill firm {about 45 minutes}
• Remove the dough from the fridge, and brush evenly with beaten egg. Sprinkle the pecan Sugar mixture evenly over the top, pressing it gently into the dough. Roll dough up, starting with the shortest side, as tightly as possible then wrap in plastic wrap and freeze till firm {about 20 minutes}
• Using a sharp serrated knife, cut dough into slices about 3/4 inch thick. Sprinkle your work surface with sugar. Use a rolling pin to to roll each slice to about 6 or 7 inches, adding more sugar as needed to keep it from sticking. Place cookies on parchment lined baking sheets, refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until the cookies are light golden, about 18 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets slightly. Carefully transfer to a wire rack and let cool!

Besides all the chillin time these were really simple to make! And so yummy, cinnamon sweet with just the right crisp!

I thought about adding a little royal icing to the tops... maybe next time!

A fun Christmas~y version of these cookies would be to sub the regualar sugar for colored sugar!

Happy Holidays friends!

Be Good to Each Other!

On the 1st day of cookies your Tawny gives to yoooouuuuu!

...A recipe I found on the inn-terrrr-webs!!!

  I collect recipes on my laptop in my favorites file like a squirrel hiding nuts for winter, the only problem is that 80% of the time when I'm pacing around my kitchen wondering what to feed this brood of mine I never think to check that file marked "Recipes to try" Dur!

Last year I had a get together that I was invited to at the very last minute, like... seriouly. 1 hour before the party started I saw the text message on my phone from that afternoon inviting me to a very impromtu Holiday gathering.

I went into a panic. I wanted to find something that I could take along with my Dirty Santa gift that the other ladies would enjoy, and make me look like a Martha clone!
       She bakes! She Shops! She has a full time job and is a mother of 4!  She is AMAAAAZING!

I remembered saving a recipe the night before that I had thought would be super yummy IF I replaced the premade cookie dough mix with my own... so I rushed home to whip up some cookies!

photo credit The Girl Who Ate Everything blog

 

 

 

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients:

 

3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups white sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 box (4 serving size) pistachio instant pudding and pie filling mix 1 cup dry roasted salted pistachio nuts, chopped 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped   Directions:   In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add Pudding Gradually blend in the dry ingredients, cranberries & nuts. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks. recipe was adapted from Betty Crocker These cookies were amazing!! Not only the perfect color for christmas! But the sweetness, and nuttiness combined with salty tart... oh my yum!

Dont forget to sign up HERE to join the Cookie Exchange on the 15th!

Happy Holidays, Friends!
Be Good to Each Other!
 

3rd annual Cookie~Palooza!!

Its that time of year again!

 

 

 

Here is how is works...

 

From Nov. 24th thru Dec.15th  I will be sharing my favorite Christmas cookie recipes and treats, on Dec. 15th we will have a blog party of the sweetest proportions! Join in on that Saturday to share across the blog verse your favorite Christmas cookie (recipes included) for a blog type cookie exchange!

 

All you have to do is: 

 

... Leave a comment on this post with your name, blog link and email to sign up for the cookie exchange on the 15th, I will add your name to the side bar for easy party hopping the day of!

 

... Grab a cookiepalooza button for your side bar, and then on Dec. 15th join us and and share your recipe! Link your party here the day of !

Its that easy!!!

 

<a href="http://dailyicing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Daily Icing" src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r250/badablingg/cookie3-250a.jpg"/></a>

Hope to see you all there!

 

 

Be good to each other!

Happy Holidays!

For today I am Thankful {& a Thanksgiving treat...}

Thanksgiving.

Here we are.

Yay.

I'm not really "into" Thanksgiving normally... and this year is really no exception.
I mean... I LOVE the food prep... pulling out the old recipes, the smell of turkey & stuffing & putting up the tree.
 But for some reason each this time each year I get the holiday blues.
 I hate it. I fight it. but each year mid November I feel that familiar sad, creep in, and here we are.


But I am forcing myself to find something to be grateful for each and everyday. 


So... For TODAY, I am Thankful...

for my husband. ♥
for my kids, both biological and otherwise
for my family
for my health
for my home
for this new adventure
for learning new things about myself
for my friends
for my talents
for my customers
for fuzzy slippers
& blankets
for my kitty
for turning 36 yikes!
for my little "hippie" car
for the mountains
for chocolate cake
for coffee!
for strawberry lip gloss
for my bloggy pals
for yoga pants
for sunrises in Vermont
for twinkle lights
for The Walking Dead
& The Real Housewives...
for my fridge
for my dishwasher
for instagram
for chilly walks holding hands
for pine cone collecting
for the smell of gingerbread
for getting to see my son in exactly 30 days!
for my heater working
for the opportunity to have to much to be thankful for!

  This Thanksgiving is extra strange being away from friends and family... we would normally be preparing for days to have friends and family fill every nook and cranny of our little house in Oklahoma... Adults covering every free inch of sitting space and the living room floor, balancing plates on knees, the men cheering on The Cowboys, the ladies gossiping and preparing for big shopping adventures, and the kids all together in a bedroom eating turkey between taking turns at blowing up whatever zombie GI Joe was attacking on the xbox.
  This year its quiet. Its just us minus 1. and my heart isn't in it.

I hope all of you have a fantastic holiday... I really do! Have a great one for me. Hug your loved ones extra tight for me. give kisses on cheeks and laugh and tell jokes. fight if you have to. just BE with them. :)

Here is a very very simple Thanksgiving recipe for you.... my granny made this EVERY YEAR and for EVERY Holiday.  I have always liked it, but this year... I love it.

Its originally called Ambrosia Salad I think... but growing up we always just called it Pink Stuff... my Granny will tell you she tried to make "Green Stuff" one year but no one would touch the stuff. So Pink it stayed!

I don't really have a good photo of "The Stuff"

so I nabbed one off of Pinterest... so you get the idea

 

 

Ingredients:

 

1 tub Cool Whip (16oz)

1 can crushed pineapple drained (small can)

1 tub (8oz) cottage cheese

1 package strawberry jello

 

 

Directions:

 

Mix together

Chill

 

Seriously. That's all.

 

My granny says that "other people" add mini marshmallows, maraschino cherries, and walnuts. I think that's crazy, but whatever floats your boat!

 

 

I wish you and yours a fantastically blessed Thanksgiving!

 

And I hope you guys are getting ready for the 3rd annual COOKIEPALOOZA!!

 

I cant wait! Lots of great recipes and tips for you guys plus a giveaway!

 

 

I will have bloggy buttons and other info on Friday!

Be Good to Each Other!
♥



Fanciful Twist Halloween Blog Party... {A poem from my Edgar}

A Dream within a Dream

Edgar Allen Poe

 

 

 

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;

 



Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

 

 I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-

 

 

 

 

How few yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep;

 

 



 

O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?   

 

Happy Hauntings Dear Friends!

I would like to send a Miss V from Fanciful Twist a big witchy hug and thanks for letting me join in all the fun magical frolic! And all you gouls and goblins take a stop over there and take a peek at all the other spooky happenings going on!

But before you go leave a comment below with your name and email to enter to win my Mystery Poe giveaway!
Winner will be announced Sunday!
 

Your such a TART...

   It feels so good to get back into my kitchen again, even though it doesn't really feel like MINE just yet, its still pretty wonderful.
  All my baking bits and baubles are put in their proper place, easily reached and out in view... unlike my old tiny cottage kitchen where everything had to be stored in plastic bins, and labeled. Where finding the perfect #12 tip, or my favorite brownie pan was a chore within its self. 
  

I find myself baking everyday here.

 

 

   I don't know if its the new giant kitchen, the amazing autumn weather, the view if the mountains covered in trees the color of your most perfect dreams, the lullaby of the train, or my magical Narnia pantry with its 150 year old butcher block... but I have found my mojo again and it feels great! {the only problem is my grocery bill has quadrupled due to the nonstop cooking Ive been doing... but we all have to sacrifice somewhere don't we!}


I thought with all the new yummies going on, it wouldn't be fair if I didn't share them with you!
  
   So here you go! I would love to hear every ones thoughts on this amazing tart... Its such an old, classic flavor to me. I love it! And the pecans make it a perfect Thanksgiving Dessert.

Now, I got this original recipe from the always amazing Sweetapolita. I ended up baking mine a bit too long, {my new oven and I have not become soul mates yet} so its not as gooey as hers, as well as in tart form, with a little added spice... {she used a 9x13 pan FYI} but it was still yumtastic  ;)

Crust Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup unsalted butter

Filling Ingredients:

6 tbsp melted unsalted butter

6 eggs, lightly beaten

3 cups packed brown sugar

6 tbsp all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

pinch salt

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

* 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 

 

 Prep:

Preheat oven to 350F

Spray and line your tart pan with parchment paper... {my pan is non stick so I skipped this part}  Make sure there is an overhang of paper to allow for removing from pan after baked.

Crust:

 ♥In medium bowl, combine flour and granulated sugar, cutting in butter with pastry blender {or your handy dandy potato masher} until crumbly. Press into pan and bake for 15 minutes (or until very light golden brown on edges).

Filling:

 ♥In bowl, mix melted butter and eggs, blending in brown sugar, flour, baking powder, vanilla, *pie spice, and salt. Stir in pecans and pour over crust. *I also toasted my pecans in a skillet a bit first.

 ♥Bake for 20-25 minutes until top springs back when lightly touched.

 *It should not feel firm–it’s really important that you don’t overbake, or they won’t be “ooey gooey!” {this is where my tart took a wrong turn, because I cooked it a bit longer than she suggests, it was gooey... just a bit less ooey.}

 ♥Let cool on rack, then cover and refrigerate until very firm {at least an hour}.

♥Enjoy!

 

I was thinking this would be really good with apples as well, we have them pouring out of our ears right now! Gotta luv Vermont apples!!

 

Let me know what you think!

 

 

Be Good to each other!



Dear Sweet Baby Jesus...the tale of cookbook lust

I have fallen in love. 

Have you seen THIS??!!
Does it make your heart beat fast and your head a little spinnie? Because that's what this does to me.

I want to take this book behind the middle school and get it pregnant.

 Maybe its the cookie sandwich and milk on the cover, or perhaps the striped paper straw, {I'm always a sucker for those!} or possibly its simply the fact that its Thomas Keller.

Thomas. Effing. Keller.

 No matter what it is; this book makes my tummy hungry, my eyes full, and my brain explode with happiness.
 
   I have been considering for awhile now adding a book review the blog. I have so many books & cookbooks its simply silly. {I sware. 45% of my moving van, nothing but books!} And I would love to start sharing a few of them with you! And it seemed as though the universe was screaming do it NOW!

  I have to be honest however, this particular book I found today while exploring a quaint little indie bookstore in Woodstock. {more about that love later... } I'm pretty sure I had heard The Chef gushing over it at some point, and wanting to get his hands on it... but with the move and settling in, Bouchon Bakery was far from my mind. {gasp!}
 
 The release date for Bouchon Bakery is Oct 23rd,  ask me how lucky do I feel to have found it 3 days early as well as signed?? Oh, I didn't mentioned it was signed? yeah. eat your hearts out.

Inside its delicious pages lie the secrets to the perfect way to stretch and fold your dough, and the 4 different versions of brioche. This alone might change your life, maybe.

From macaroons, to croissants, and even chocolate chip cookies... I see many hours of blissful whisking and kneading in my future.

{photo credits from Eater}

 

Be good to each other, and bake fantastic things, or dream of baking fantastic things...

 

 



Its going to be a a Fanciful, Magical, Spookical time... will you join me?

I'm really excited.

I am always really excited this time of year.
This leaf changing, sweater wearing, pumpkin picking, Halloweening time of year!

This year I'm extra excited however, because I can join in all the fun Miss Vanessa is planning over at A Fanciful Twist! {last year I had a few technical issues and had to miss the tricks and treats!}

I'm busting at the seams with spells and treats to share!

I hope you join me! And all my bewitching friends in blogland as we celebrate the most magical time of the year!!

You can take the girl outta Oklahoma... a journey in insta-moments

70 days.

That's how long its been since I have meandered this way into blog land.
 {don't you love the word meandered??}

What a journey. What an scary, unsure of everything, wondering
 if I've made the right decision, crazy adventure!

There are really no words to describe the emotions of this trip. So I thought it would be easiest to share it in an instant... an instagram instant that is!

From Oklahoma City to Windsor Vermont. Enjoy!

We made it! Through tears, and flat tires... questionable hotels and a few wrong turns. We made it.
And now we cant wait for the real adventure to begin!

Be good to each other!


      

The Big Push North...

The rains came today. FINALLY.


And finally I can sit and sip and type. Not that any of that really matters seeing as how the last time I was in this tiny corner of the interwebs it was May, and I was starting to make the biggest decision of my adult life.


Sorry Ive been gone. I should have told you I was taking a hiatus, that I needed a break from everything. I needed to regroup and gather all my energy, because The Big Push North was beginning to happen.

So here we are now... rain simply pouring outside my window, and inside my little cottage house, we are planning and packing to move 1600 miles away.

To start a new life.

1600 miles away. {did I mention it was 1600 MILES}

Ive never lived outside of the Oklahoma metro area let alone the state, let alone the other side of the country... in my dream world, in Vermont.

I'm scared, I'm excited, I'm worried.
I'm even a bit mournful of all that we are leaving behind.

But more than anything the anticipation is KILLING me!

I want to be able to wiggle my little nose and poof! we are all settled in watching the leaves change outside and going on long walks. I want the lump that has been in my chest and the weight on my shoulders to be slowly edging away.

I want to know as each morning comes and each night falls that I did the right thing, made the right choice.

At this moment its all a big mess of worry, and knots and unexpected mountains to be moved.

sigh.

But as things start ironing their way out, I'm feeling better... I'm feeling like I can start sharing my world with you again!
{your jumping for joy I just know it!}
More posts are coming... LOTS of crock pot Sunday Dinners, due to the fact its been so bloody hot here I cant even think of starting up my oven or even the stove top to cook! {I will save that rant for later}
A bit of Pinteresting things and some Instamoments...
Some ART... yep I said it, A.R.T. and possibly, if your lucky and I'm adventurous, a fun video tutorial and DYI stuff!

I'm not sure what the future holds for me here in Daily Icing Land, I'm not sure what the future holds for me anywhere honestly, but for now, I'm living in this moment.

Anyone out there in the blogverse in Vermont?? Anyone wanna be my new Northern friend?


With ♥ always,
Tawny

 

My week in an Instagram...

I have been so busy this week its been silly... but even with all the graduation rush I of course had plenty of time record a few insta moments!

Stealing a few quiet moments with Thing1 & Thing2 

My son came home from NYC... {I love tshirts with curse words}

New bag & Megan Massacre poster {signed} 

       ... my gifts from NYC, I have the coolest kid...

I am now the mother of a college freshman.. {YIKES!}

A little retail therapy with The Tiny Diva for her birthday @ Justice...

Sweet anniversary card from my Grandpa to my Granny I found while spending the day with her... 

{its from 1978 or something like that.}

Pie for breakfast. In bed. Watching Seven Year Itch. {purrrfect sunday morning}

Follow all my adventures on Instagram!
@mrs_voodoochef

I love you all!

Be good to each other!

Tawny

Motherhood...

I became a mother one extremely hot morning, on the very last day in May of 1994,
  I was 17 years old and I thought I knew it all about the magic of motherhood and the care of a newborn baby. I had attended the proper classes that the state required of me, and had learned how to feed, diaper, and generally care for the alien that had taken over my size 10 teenage body.
What I didn't know... was everything else.

   I can remember everything about that day... from the beginnings of labor to the moment they finally put that squirming former rib kicker into my arms. That was when the first lightening bolt of motherhood hit me, right in the gut and the heart, all at the same time.

 That little man filled the empty that had been inside of me for so long.
That empty was the reason he was here in this world, looking at me with those big eyes and holding on to my finger with his tiny little hand.
                                                                 Those were the things a class never taught me.
 No one told me that I would love this 8 pound 14 ounce bouncing baby boy more than life its self, even though we had only just met.

                                                 London * Born May 31st 1994 * 3:21 am

   That little boy in the photo above taught me my most important life lessons.

Through him I learned who I was and what I wanted to be.
                                                                                      We grew up together he and I.
   His wings are almost fully grown now, and in a few short days he will walk across a stage and accept his high school diploma, and then in the couple of weeks following, he will turn 18. No longer that sweet bundle of baby above.

   The realization of true "motherhood" hit this morning as I drove home from Will Rogers World Airport, tears streaming down my cheeks and a passenger seat that had been filled by an ubber excited singing teen only 45 minutes prior, now empty and the car silent.

    Motherhood is made up of so many things... and I assume its different things for different people, but to me, this morning at 5:30 A.M. motherhood hit me again like a lightening bolt.

 MY motherhood is made up of lullabies and butterfly kisses, of singing Winnie the Pooh into my answering machine so that a sweet 2 year old boy could sit and listen to my voice through the phone when he was on visitation away from me, and to worried to fall asleep.
    Its calming my curly haired Critter down when his feelings get out of control and he cant hold everything in...
Its spending hours staring at the most beautiful little girl I have ever laid eyes upon... its been 8 years now and my eyes still cant get enough!
    Its supporting a decision to enter the United States Air Force because my son has a dream to make some change in this crazy world and who am I to stop him.
   Its being there through skinned knees and broken hearts, winning soccer games and football championships... first days of school, first cars, wrestling matches, pillow fights... I could go on & on...
 Its about teaching them that no matter the differences between them and the people they meet, hate is NEVER an option...
     Its about realizing that God, or whoever created these people chose me to help them grow and love, and what an honor to have!

   Its about realizing that no matter how much my heart aches at the idea that their wings are sprouting and soon each will have flown on to their very own adventures... I have to trust that I gave them the foundation they needed... and to understand that as long as I am alive I will be here to teach them and love them.

                                       Austin 8yrs* Cj 3yrs* Bella 2months* London 10yrs

I'm a mother of 4 now... and each little person has changed me in such an amazing way. And with each one I have learned a little bit more about this journey of motherhood, and about myself.
  There are so many things I would do over... and so many things I would stop and take in... small moments with each of them that seemed to have passed me by so quickly...
 But the one thing I pray they each take with them is that I would go to the ends of the earth so that they know how much I love them...







Happy Mothers Day dear friends!


With all my love,
Tawny




P.S.

I was planning this Mothers Day to bring you a post in which I waxed extremely poetically about my own  mother and all of the things that make her amazing and wonderful in my eyes, you know... the very typical Mothers Day post.  But then I decided if you want to know how I really feel about my dear mummsie~poo you could just read about it HERE.  Cuz she IS pretty amazing... as are all the other women who have made me who I am today!

I WAS a PC...

Do you know the in the movie Fight Club where the main character moves into the old abandoned house and finds the previous tenants journals, and they all read crazy like...
"I am Jacks over exaggerated imagination..."
 or "I am Jacks swollen pituitary gland..." {ewwww.}

This is how MY crazy journal would read...

"I am Tawny's dead laptop..."
"I am Tawny's continual migraine..."
"I am Tawny's ridiculously complicated mess of a website..."
"I am Tawny's sleepless nights..."
"I am Tawny's narcissistic need of technology..."
"I am Tawny's newish computer..."

Are you getting the idea??

Why do machines run our life?!?!

And why do we let them?

I should have know the end was nigh for my little laptop friend a few months back when all the over heating and typing issues started... I mean really who can blog, or facebook, or fix insanely messed up code on a really stupid website thatmakesyouwanttorunaandscreamand {oops! sorry about that... my emotions got away with me! ;) }
   Where was I..? Oh yes, who can do all the things one needs to do on a daily basis with a computer overheating every 5 minutes and the G & H keys not working... it was like I was a stuttering hillbilly every-time I typed. "I am Tawny's neglected education..."

So now that things are getting back on track... "I am Tawny's giant sigh of relief..." I can get back to life! As soon as I get all my pictures, and documents, and every other piece of vital Corrente information from the poor dead laptop to my newish super computer...
"I am Tawny's giant time suck..."

So get ready for LOTS {and I mean lots} of new posts from me... because I have about a billion new posts ready for you!

"I am Tawny's obsessive compulsive behavior..."

Okay... LETS GO!!!!


Luv, Tawny

Do you Pinterest?

I have fallen head over heels in love... with a little thing called Pinterest!

Have you?

It satisfies my eyes with pretty pictures and my mind with fun new ways to do stuff... and it even satisfies my belly... with all the awesome recipes and dinner ideas I find there every few days!

Now, as most typical ''pinners'' I seem to spend more time ''pinning'' than I do ''doing''. That's why I had to get off my butt, put down the laptop and bring you this weeks Sunday Dinner recipe.

Before Pinterest, I had never heard of cake batter ANYTHING. I mean besides for a cake and such. But clearly there is a world of funfetti yumminess just waiting to jump inside my belly! And as we all know.... I am a sucker for anything that calls for sprinkles!

The only problem I was finding was every recipe called for a cake mix... and momma don't do the cake mix, so I just whipped out my handy dandy Blondie recipe and went to town...

                                              Ingredients

1/2 cup of butter, melted

                                                   1 cup of tightly packed dark brown sugar

                                                                   1 egg, lightly beaten

                                                                   1 teaspoon of vanilla

                                                             1/2 teaspoon baking powder

                                                              1/8 teaspoon of baking soda

                                                                         Pinch of salt

                                                               1 cup of all-purpose flour

                                                            1/3 cup rainbow sprinkles ♥

                                                                           
                                                                      Directions

1… Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter and flour an 8X8 pan.

       Whisk together the melted butter and sugar in a bowl.

2… Add the egg and vanilla extract and whisk.
3… Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt mix it all together.
Add the sprinkles to the batter now.
4… Pour into the pan and spread evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool. Cut into squares and serve!
**White chocolate chips are amazing in this recipe also!

 
I hope you enjoy!

And feel free to join me over on my Pinterest boards! The button is over there ----->


Have a fantastic week!
Be good to each other!


♥Tawny

What Works for me Wednesday!

Going to the gym as a family 3 times a week is harder than I thought it would be.
For one, I'm not super mom... between grabbing kids from whatever location they are at for the afternoon, checking backpacks and homework, and then hitting the gym by 6:45 at the earliest most days, a quick yet HEALTHY dinner when we get home is a challenge.
   So here is one little thing that works for me! {and its awesome for your lunch at work as well!}


Steamed Veggies... Micro style!

{I made these on my lunch hour the other day, so this is about a cup or so of fresh broccoli...}

{Putting in veggies of course... duh!

This is also when I add any herbs or seasoning} 

{the amount of water will depend on the amount

of veggies your cooking but usually 1 to 2 tablespoons is plenty}

Once the bag has sat for a bit and all the steam is gone from the baggies

your ready to go!

Its really yummy, its really healthy & its really quick!

With ♥,
Tawny

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Lollipop Sugar Shoppe Update!!

The time has come dear friends for me to finally share with you what's been going on behind the curtain!

Have you ever had one of those moments where all of a sudden, out of the blue it hits you! The answer you have been waiting for... Should you stay or should you go all finally laid out before you in a very clear, concise way??

I was driving through town the other day when it happened to me. It was like all the puzzle pieces slid right into place.
Lollipops was changing... And I needed to accept that. And I needed to quit forcing something that was not.

Last September with no notice, and no explanation Etsy shut down Lollipops Sugar Shoppe. Just like that... BAM! Everything gone! And those of you who know me know I didn't take it very well. Panic set in. September is the beginning of our busiest time of year! Those holiday orders were what got us through Christmas... I was in knots.
So after months of battling with Etsy, whose only explanation was " there were some suspicious behaviors regarding your account" And our "loaner" kitchen going into a full remodel that would put us out of a kitchen for at least 6 months,
I had to step back and away from my business...
The Facebook page sat empty. My twitter feed resembled a ghost town... And don't get me started about the blog!

  But time can heal all wounds... You know... you have to let it go and if it was meant to be it will come back, or something like that...

After a small, impromptu Facebook "survey", and a little soul searching I have come to realize this:

1. I need to do things that make me happy...
2. Making stuff makes me happy
3. Making $$ making stuff makes me happy.

So, with that said... Lollipops Grand Re Opening will be held in 2 weeks!

I can't explain how satisfied and excited I am!

What will you see from the all new LolliPOP?
Nothing edible, {unfortunately we are still kitchen-less...}

But you will find all edible themed... Everything!!

From faux ( I hate that word btw) cupcakes, to party kits, jewelry, and even some home decor items... LolliPOP will be nothing if not a glitter bombed unicorn skipping down a rainbow eating snowcones. For real. It's magical.

I have had a few kinks in the website, so that may take a bit to get the wrinkles out of... But I will still be on Big Cartel and of course Facebook has a E-commerce!

We will kick of this maical event on April 20th with an awesome blog party!

The festistivities will include giveaways, coupon codes and lots of other really cool stuffs!

 I hope to see you all there!

L♥VE U Lots!

Tawny

" I'm trapped in an ATM vestibule with Jill Goodacer!!"

Okay friends...
  Its soapbox time again. Or maybe I should say cakebox?? Anyway, I have a bone to pick.

And let me preface this post by first saying... I ADORE cupcakes. I love their sweet little cakey bodies and creamy tops... I love how they have changed the everyday 3 year old birthday party cake cutting and serving chore into a quick and painless everyone gets the same size event.

                                    I loved cupcakes before cupcakes were cool.

That being said, cupcakes dear friends... are Played. Out.

Just look around you. I'm sure you know of at LEAST 2 maybe 3 good cupcakerys in your area... you, like myself probably stop by 2 to 3 times a week  occasionally to grab a tasty cup o joe along with your favorite cake and butter cream combo.  And all that is perfectly fine!! But as Susan Power would say...

STOP THE INSANITY!

If I see one more news broadcast on how Magnolia Bakery ices a red velvet, or a feature on the newest organic vegan space cupcake shoppe I'm going to scream...
And to be honest, all those reasons are NOT why I'm in a tizzy this morning...

THIS IS THE FINAL STRAW:

Despite my love hate relationship with cupcakes, AND overlooking my pure white hot hatred of Sprinkles Cupcakes in general this machine is an insult.

First... This is NOT 1930 {no matter how much I wish it was} and this NOT a Horn and Hardart Automat... its a cupcake machine, where extra large people with extra large wallets and extra large laziness can just walk up any 24 hours of any day and get for a mere $4 one of the 600 baked fresh daily shitty preservative filled sprinkles cupcakes.

And B... Did I mention laziness?? REALLY AMERICA?? We cant stand to put forth the time and effort to walk into a bakery {preferably one who offers locally grown and supported ingredients} and sit and enjoy a tasty treat?? Instead we will swipe that good old dependable card to become the lucky consumer of a crappy chemically filled cupcake... but god don't we just love that little bulls eye on the top!!

Number 3... Disney Pixars WALL-E should say it all... I'm just sayin

I'm sure there are thousands of you out there that are totally down for a cupcake from a vending machine... clearly this is true or Hostess would be in worse trouble than they are today.

I would just love to see a world where we as people along with the food we consume were treated with the respect we deserve. I like walking into my local cupcake/coffee shoppe, and waiting in line for a smile and a cupcake.

Maybe I'm the crazy one.



Be good to each other!

♥ Tawny

blah, blah, blah...

JAN. 10th... 6PM
  ...She sits at computer, drumming nails mindlessly on key board trying to put thoughts into words regarding the events of the last few weeks... she feels guilty she has put coming here off so many times, she feels as tho she has disappointed whatever few readers she may have, and figures the only people who are still checking in are lurkers who are waiting to watch her fail and her mom...
                                                                                                                                                    Hi Mom.
  She sighs, and decides maybe what she had to say wasn't as important as she thought, so she closes lap top and go reads Little House book to daughter...


JAN 13th... 7:15AM
... Witty sayings about the day fresh in brain she begins to type, gets distracted by coffee pot or purring cat, or possibly even sleepy eyed child... she leaves computer for mere moments to find that what was only moments ago thought witty, now seems trite and so she again closes laptop and goes about day...


FEB 3rd... 3:00PM
   ...realizing it is only a mere 12 days till her favorite holiday, and wanting to share her ideas for loads of sweet treats she begins compiling thoughts and lists and recipes... even a things I ♥ post.
Computer overheats. with a sigh she closes laptop and sets cookbooks aside... leaves to pick up kiddos from school and magnificent blog post is all but forgotten...

FEB 11th... 8:30AM
  ...Its 3 days till Valentines day. And she has 3 days left to start her "chocolate week" blog party she has been planning. Computer overheats once, she keeps on going... she runs errands and takes pics, plans projects and gets kiddos treats together... then she sits down once again to share the love she has been planning with her readers, only to find her heart wasn't really in it... so she scraps the whole thing, begins to cry, and for a second considers deleting entire blog...

FEB 19th... 9PM
   ...finally she gets up the nerve to really face what has kept her from this place, she has come home... full force...  she sits at computer praying that someone is still out there
                                                  
                                                                                                                   {besides Mother... hi mom. }



Tawny C would like to thank the supporters of The Daily Icing blog, and asks that they hold on to their underpants (and other under type things) as she plans to knock their socks off for the rest of her life...

2012... The year of The Turn Around

Dec. 31st, 2011

   I spent today soaking in inspiration... I blog surfed a bit, spent time with family, and chatted with friends... and of course I spent a very good part of the day in reflection, as I'm sure most of you did...
  
   2011 brought many things here in Daily Icing land, a career change... financial struggles and triumphs... the dissolvement of friendships, others have been made so very much stronger, and new ones have blossomed... the loss of a loved one and in that loss I found what family really means.
   I guess what I'm saying is, 2011 was not at all what I had planned... and with each hurt came healing, with each disappointment triumph followed. I am so very thankful for each moment.
  This time last year I had a list of achievements and resolutions for the new year... some I accomplished... others, well you know how that goes...

So in my contemplation of the up coming new year, I have decided to dub 2012 as the year Tawny gets selfish. Ive heard it said that 2012 is the "Year of The Turn Around"... I kinda liked that.
   I plan on spending 2012 turning around... spending time on ME from getting my self in shape, both mentally and physically... to braving new adventures in my career and taking the time to stop and smell the roses, enjoying every moment with my friends and family. To find the truest me and embrace her.
  
   I pray that 2012 brings you all much love, and happiness, and a chance to see all your dreams come true!

Be Good to Each Other!