winter at our new home <3 nc

well now that spring is settling in..and winter is leaving [trying to linger tho!]
i decided to share my experience here in nc this winter hehe...it was very beautiful! i love NC...all the seasons here are simply beautiful! each so0o special and unique! we had many nights of blistering cold...yet those made the coziest hott cocoa nights..most of the big trees have gone bald & lost their leaves..everyone is bundled up..[i would use between 4/5 blankets :)] our hollies are full of juicy looking red berries and in between all this cold weather we have some random warm days..[which was a nice treat!] The holidays were lovely.. spent it with the people i love..

made a home-made wreath together:
..and our first snow day here was on Jan 20 20o9! it looked so beautiful i couldnt help but to be outside running around in the snow at 2AM LOL! our house looked cute "winterized"

..here are some pics of my furry children enjoying the snow..
i haven't posted pictures of them in a long time..and the last you saw kujo he was my scrawny baby....this is him in jan at 6 months..

such a big boy... :)
another of my furry ones that i haven't introduced on here is sid! he's kujo's partner in crime.. 1 month younger and act like brothers ;)


[more stories on them later..[kujo's in blue..sid's wearing black] enjoy the pics of their snowy adventures <3]




sid in winter wonderland:


frosty nose kujo... ::kisses::




zimii makes an appearance too:






evidence..









delicious little "beak"


..then the boys unfolded a series of "winter diving"







i love those boys..

two of my little foxes [elektra and zeus] enjoyed a nice ten-minute-introduction to the snow!
they really enjoyed it....these two were diving, hopping, chasing!








..and just to prove how much fun was had..


in case you missed that...
a little smile of happiness from Zeus:


also..we enjoyed a lovely winter visitor... meet Herbert:




i hope all of you had great winter experiences and made loving + silly memories too!!
feel free to share some of your favorite winter moments!
have a blessed day!!

cake balls..mmm

so0o i did these a while back and forgot to share them!

cake balls.
one of the best creations in life. ;)
they're uber presentable for parties/special occasions..contemporary looking...and fun to make! [really cute family activity to0!]

here's a link from the lovely pioneer woman and also from bakerella

i altered the recipe a little..
ingredients:
- 1 can of sweet yummy condensed milk [you can substitute this for icing..]
- 1 box of cake mix [flavor entirely up to your current desire] [and all ingredients the cake mix box requires...iusually substitute the water for milk..]
- 2 bags of melting chocolate chips [reg milk chocolate or white chocolate]

basically here's what you got to do:
step 1.] follow the instructions on the box of the cake mix..and bake in a 9 x 13-inch pan...
step 2.] once done... let it completely cool down.
step 3.] crumble all the pieces of that gorgeous looking cake.
step 4.] pour in that whole delicious can of condensed milk.
step 5.] mix it in - till its completely blended in.
step 6.] time to get dirty. get some of the mixture and roll it into a meatball sized ball. [you can use an icecream scoop for this if you'd like!] [ i like mine on top of parchment paper] they will look like lovely cake balls..and it will be hard to resist..

step 7.] put them in the freezer for atleast an hour [this will prevent them crumbling once we introduce the chocolate coat!]
step 8.] pour half the bag of chocolate chips into a bowl and melt in microwave for 30 sec's...stir..then add a few more seconds if all chips are not melted [don't over cook!] [you may use a double boiler for this..but i prefer the complicated microwave + bowl technique ;) tehhee]
step 9.] dunk the cake balls in the chocolate using a fork or two to hold it..covering the whole cake ball. once coated line them up on top of parchment paper.


let them set a few minutes..and you will notice the chocolate on the outside will dry and become hard...and you have officially completed making cake balls!! mmm!! :)



bonus: you can add food coloring to white chocolate to make fun looking cake balls
bonus: you can buy lollipop sticks and turn these little yummies into cake-pops!


bon appetite!

ps. kids LOVE these and can make multiple cake-balls disappear within seconds!


have a blessed cake filled day! <3 :)

i grant you a happy valentines day! bwahah :) <3

Good Day guys!
its been a while..but valentines day is a great day to be back!
i've been busy lately.. but am going to try and post a little more often :) [how many attempts has it been? LOL]
well i felt extra crafty yesterday and did some homemade valentines day go0dies..valentines day is as good as you want it to be. why not celebrate your love for whoever a little extra than the usual on this special day? i don't want to pass over on such a potentially cute day! :)

i decided to make a cute valentines day tree..

with little dangly heart ornaments... :) simple. nature..hearts..def. eye pleasing :)
i started off collecting some TWIGS from my backyard......gathered some white and red paint.....and got to work! [you'll also need some construction paper to cut out hearts..and red string] and a little vase...

you can add a matching candle as a touch...i also used shredded [junkmail] as a filling :);)

--
i also was in a baking mood after seeing this idea from morgan moore ..and decided to make these simple delights:

i changed the recipe a little bit to my taste..
ingredients:
- 1 Pillsbury Moist Supreme Strawberry Cake mix
- 1/2 cup Canola Oil
- 2 Eggs
- 1 TSP Vanilla
- 1 TBS Condensed Milk

mix all that together... and put tablespoons into a cookie sheet [or you can use the cupcake pan..just only put the 1 tablespoon]
@ 350F for about 10 mins...

- Some Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Cream Cheese Frosting
- Powdered Sugar
- Paper
- Exacto-Knife

when they are done and a bit cooled.. you will make them into sandwiches.. spread a little of the cream cheese frosting on one of the 'cookies' and place another one on top... On a piece of paper attempt to draw a little heart.. and cut it out with the exacto knife.. making it into a stencil..then put it on top of your 'cookie sandwich' and sprinkle some of the yummy powdered sugar on it..


these little guys are delicious - and uber easy to make!

....and finally...the home-made card!

beautiful..fun..and you can make one too! check out little acorn's post :)

also..don't forget to cut your napkins [and any food you can get away with] into heart shapes! + set the table red and festive :)


my hubby was definitely surprised and cheerful after seeing all the cute goodies..
i hope you all have a beautiful <3 day :)

kitty korner

so0o lately i've been really busy working on the yard...its amazing how fast weeds grow..and TAKE OVER! ROAR. today we planted a few trees and surrounded them with a nice layer of CYPRESS MULCH [mmm yummy!!!!] haha.

I also am always busy taking care of my furry children.. today let me talk about "kitty korner" its my kitty house. its where all my kitties live...they even have their own backyard [outdoor enclosure] talk about spoiled huh?
so here are some pics from the other day!
-----
poseidon the siamese flashing his blue eye candy:

zimii the F3 savannah:

and kujo the baby. [a serval]


..we finally finished the roof of their outdoor enclosure..and once i let them in they morphed into squirells! all jumping,running,climbing,throwing themselves up and around! .. i was just sitting there with my camera watching them..they are so entertaining and beautiful.. i love them.










have a wonderful catty night! <3