Holy Sun....

This is ridiulous...If you only watch a bit of it watch at :55 and 1:55. Whoa.

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting.

So if you were my grandparents last night, you would have feasted on these suckers. Oh yes. They were FANTASTIC.

Throwback Thursday: Relocated to Tuesday. The Easter Bunny told me to.

We move to New Zealand a week from today. So needless to say, I have a crazy amount of things to do in an even more crazy amount of time. So this will be the last throwback picture (yes, I know its Tuesday, but it coincides with the blog hop, so its early!) for several months. Sorry kids. But you will just have to be entertained by my Land next to the land Down Under stories! Sucks to be you ;)

This picture just OOZES Easter. Not sure if it is, but pink, pastel, pretty, dresses and bows. Might as well be the day the Bunny brings me too much candy and I beat the other Sunday school kids with my palm branch. Why can't I look like my mother did? Ugh. I want THOSE genes.

Also, my grandparents came over for dinner tonight (kind of a, "see you eventually" dinner) and I made the most pretty/delicious pumpkin spice cupcake tops with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. Pictures shall ensue. Too drool worthy not to.

UNI Fight!!!

Sweet Sixteen here we come!!!!

I am firing my dentist.

This people. Is why I hate the dentist. I had a chipped tooth. A month and a half later he got around to fixing it. One chipped tooth, somehow means three shots of novacaine, a black and blue cheek, and chipmunk effect. NOT HAPPY.

Children of the Sun.

Yes, I know I have been bad at posting recently. But Spring Break pictures are coming soon! Promise! Just got trim em down so you dont look at all 600 ;) But our kitties know something is up. Myla has been needy 24/7 and Nessa has been the ultimate snuggler. But they are still just kitties that love the sun and snoozes!! (No more cat pictures for awhile, I know its been overload).

Proud Panther.

I havent posted in awhile. Been at Disney for a week. But I found this picture, and I can't even express how adorable they are. Super happy for them tonight. Having worked every home game the past three years, they deserved this.

Hello.

There should be a People of Disney website....its almost better than Walmart....

This much dessert should never be consumed in a 24 hour period....let alone 6 consecutive 24 hour periods....

Lucas ORear dances should always be done. But sadly, it will be the last of the season tomorrow. Stupid 9 seed.

I like sling box. And gyms.

Throwback Thursday: M-I-C.....

I'll give you two hints to where Tim and I will be for Spring Break.... Counting down the hours....

Furry Love.

Life is consumed by all things New Zealand and Disney right now. I just finished up sports season this past weekend, so now, the focus is on! But here's a moment of cuteness....

After buying new hiking shoes at REI a few weekends ago in Chicago, Olivia decided she felt left out, and built herself a tent.

This picture has trouble written all over it...nothing good comes from the three of them being in such close proximity....
Unless there are chirpies and squirrelies outside. Then they can join forces to commit mass murder...

Bye Bye Basketball. And Videoboard!!

As of tomorrow, my third season of UNI Athletics will be over. As much as I love it, especially the people, I am ready for the break. Since the last week of August, I have had three weekends that didn't have a single game. Otherwise, I have been in my mini tomb callin the replays and lovely shots. Basketball ends it tomorrow, unfortunately with a women's game (men are already down at MVC tourney). Which means a total of about 300 people (versus the mens average of 6000). Aka, ZERO energy. But then I am free! FREE!!!!

Cue the happy dance.

Throwback Thursday: Doppelganger!

Does anyone else think my mother is the Angelina Jolie of the early 80s? Thank you for not naming me Zahara. Or Vivienne. Or Coco. Or Apple. However, Pilotinspektor would have been just fine! ;)

PS. I am going to totally skip on the Electra Complex with Brad Pitt.....

Blog Hop: Best Bread Recipe

Pumpkin Yeast Bread aka Heaven in a Loaf! (Click for original recipe link)
1/2 cup warm water
2 packages (2 tablespoons) active dry yeast (I like to use three)
2/3 cup warm milk
2 large eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups puréed pumpkin, either fresh or canned
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 1/2 cups (approximately) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
(I also add a good amount of cinnamon)

In a large bowl, stir yeast into water to soften. Add milk, eggs, pumpkin, oil, 4 cups flour, brown sugar, salt, ginger and cardamom to yeast mixture. Beat vigorously for 2 minutes.

Gradually add remaining flour, a little at a time, until you have a dough stiff enough to knead. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead, adding flour as necessary, until you have a smooth, elastic dough.

(At this point, I usually like to add raisins, and/or small spoonfuls of brown sugar in pockets of the dough) The brown sugar pockets, when melted are the BEST gooeyness.

Put dough into an oiled bowl. Turn once to coat entire ball of dough with oil. Cover with a towel and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

Turn dough out onto a lightly oiled work surface. Divide dough in half. Shape dough into loaves and place in well-greased 10 x 5-inch pans or, shape half into a loaf, and other half into 12 large dinner rolls. Cover with a towel and let rise until almost doubled, about 45 minutes.

Bake in a preheated 375°F oven. Loaves bake about 30 minutes, rolls about 20. Check the internal temperature of each with an instant-read thermometer; a reading of 190°F means bread or rolls are done.

Immediately remove bread or rolls from pans and cool on a wire rack to prevent crust from becoming soggy.