accountable

Today marks the beginning of Lent. The 40 days (not counting Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Like many others, my family sacrifices something for this period of time each year...sort of a mini-fasting.

Each year, I rack my brain trying to come up with something that I do on a recurring basis that would really seem like a sacrifice. I usually have trouble coming up with one and, at times, flipped it so I did something to better myself - like exercising more, going to church more often, etc. In successful years, I have given up Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs, sweets, eating out, cheese (I love it), and other various things. When I was little, I would try to give up something that I really didn't like...like pork chops. My mom put a stop to that quickly!

This year, I am really going to test my willpower and bid farewell to this sweet friend until Easter:

Well, any soda really. I'm really only writing about this to help me make the decision to give it up and to keep me accountable.

Goodbye, delicious DDP...see you at Easter!

Introducing...Eggy

Mr. Eggy Pop (or should it be Ms. Eggy?) will be heading to my sweet niece for Easter (don't worry, she's only 11 months old, she can't read and this doesn't spoil the surprise, but thanks for being concerned...)


Mr. Eggy Pop originated over at Sew4Home, and I just love him. In fact, his brother will probably be gracing my tabletop come Easter Day...

carrot cake, mmmm

I made this scrumptious looking masterpiece a while back and keep forgetting to blog about it. It was my first attempt at carrot cake and the recipe already has a permanent home in my cookbook!

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

Oh my, my, my it certainly was as delicious as it looked! And, because it's carrot, good for you, right? Sure.

A friend requested carrot cake and since I had never made one before, I gave it a whirl. I love, love, love carrot cake - I thought I was the only one, but there are a few new converters now...

When looking for a good recipe, where do you look first? Why, Pioneer Woman, of course! Her Momma's recipe for Sigrid's Carrot Cake is a-maz-ing. Try it...you won't be sorry.

Since I don't know how to make any recipe true to form, I finely chopped the carrots in my food processor (who likes stringy carrots in their cake? Not this girl!) and left out the pecans in the icing.

music to my ears

I'm loving this song right now....just the sweet, sultry sound of my man Keith singing about his love. 

(Not the greatest video, but just close your eyes and imagine Keith singng to you...)

 And this one...Miranda's a lucky girl.

lunch on the go

The Food Truck is back! It seems to be the hot thing for quick and simple dining lately.

Surprisingly, I've been dying to try one of the two (that I know of) food trucks around town - Mas Tacos (which now has a physical location) and The Grilled Cheeserie.

Today, my fun co-worker Shannon and I ventured out to try The Grilled Cheeserie. She blogged about it over at Why Not on a Tuesday so give that a read for the details and some pics, but I'll leave you with a quick picture of my delicious lunch.

Cheddar and Jack cheeses on Sourdough with sliced tomato and pickles and a side of tater tots.

 Mmmmmm!

Up next...Mas Tacos Por Favor!