Hello Monday, Hello James

I'm staring a new Monday feature called Hello Monday, Hello James. Little Miss Momma and Lisa Leonard do a similar weekly post and it's always one of my favorites to read. I got inspired and thought it would be fun to start my own.

Hello Monday. Hello James.

Hello to a new week. A new start. New blessings. 

A chance to set new goals, have fun, and make new beginnings. 

Hello to static hair, a sure sign of a successful trip to the playground. 

Hello to popsicle season. 

Hello to morning love notes. 

Hello to two boxes of leftover sparklers from the 4th. 

Hello to selfies and the pink polish I've been wearing for over a month. 

Hello to the sweetest sleeping baby and long afternoon naps. 

Hello to the cutest little pup with a new hair do cuddled up in a blanket. 

Hello lots of date mornings with my husband for brunch and movies since my kind parents watch James. 

What are you saying hello to today? Start your own Hello Monday or play along in the comments. 

Today Is My Mom's Birthday

I will spare you the novel I wrote on my social media sites about my mom. But the thing is, my mom DESERVES a novel. She deserves a lot more than that even. 

My mom is like a real life superwoman. I bet a lot of people think that about their moms, but mine really is. 

She gives until she has nothing left to give. She is the most selfless person I know. She is beautiful and kind and sees the good in everyone. 

She was the room mom every year. Came to every single event I ever cheered at. Made a homemade dinner and dessert every night. 

She stayed home with us vs working. She is a constant reminder to me just how important that is and every day I am thankful I can stay home and do the same with James. 

When James was born, she came to my house every single morning for over a month to cook, clean, and do my laundry while I slept in.

She taught me to know and love Jesus. The most important thing you could ever do for your kid. 

She sacrificed buying herself anything so she could buy my sister and I everything. 

She loves her family with a huge love and pours blessings on us daily. 

^^ Me and my mom via 1986. 

The number ONE thing my mom has done for me though, is been my mother. And while that may not seem like a lot to the world, it has meant everything to me. It's people like my mom who raise amazing generations of kind and loving people who make the world a better place. 

Thank you, mom for giving me everything. 

And now, some photos of her special day. 

We started the day off with presents and breakfast. We headed out to the mall where I spoiled my mom with some shopping. 

For lunch we went to a fancy crepe place that I take her to each year for her birthday. Tradition at its finest. 

^^ I had a delicious and healthy egg white sandwich. 

^^ I may or may not have majorly bribed James while we were there. Candy, portable DVD player, you name it. He was good as gold. 

^^ don't know who that man is but whoa look at that sparkler!

We spent the rest of the day just being together. It was amazing. 

We are planning on having a nice dinner in and of course her birthday wouldn't be complete without me ordering and designing a cake from our favorite bakery. 

"Happy birthday to the best mom and me-ma" (what James calls grandma) Lemon cake with cream cheese frosting. The best. 

James even got a puppy cupcake..

Happy birthday, mom! I love you so much. 

A Recipe For Chocolate Lovers: Double Devils Food Fudge Cupcakes

You better love chocolate for this one. Today I'm sharing my delicious recipe for double chocolate devils food fudge cupcakes. All from scratch. 

Sometimes I just have a craving for chocolate and if you do too, make these!

Ingredients for cupcakes-

• 3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup hot water
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter
• 2 1/4 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream, room temperature

Directions for making cupcakes- 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together cocoa and hot water until smooth. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

2. Melt butter with sugar in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring to combine. Remove from heat, and pour into a mixing bowl. With an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat until mixture is cooled, 4 to 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add vanilla, then cocoa mixture, and beat until combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the sour cream, and beating until just combined after each.

3. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-
   quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool 15 minutes; turn out cupcakes onto racks and let cool completely. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.

   Ingredients for fudge frosting-

   Half cup butter

   4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped 

   4 cups powdered sugar

   Half cup milk

   2 tsp vanilla

   Directions for fudge frosting-

   For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan, melt butter and chocolate over low heat. Remove from the heat; cool for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, beat the confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth. Gradually beat in chocolate mixture until frosting is light and fluffy. 

   
   
   

   Wait until your cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting. 

   

   
   

Frost your delicious cupcakes. I usually put the frosting in a plastic zip lock bag and cut off an end to frost. 

Cover those babies with sprinkles if you have a kid who loves sprinkles like me!

What do you think? Are you a chocolate lover? What are your favorite kind of cupcakes?

Fourth Of July Style

We will be spending the 4th at my grandparents house where we will grill, eat my grandmas famous rhubarb pie, swim, play games, and of course, fireworks.

We will be surrounded by family, my husband has off of work and was able to come down, and it will be an amazing day. 

I am so thankful to be an American. I am blessed to call the USA home and I am forever grateful for my freedom and for the men and women who served, fought, and died for our freedom. My dad is a veteran and I am always extra thankful for him on this holiday. 

We are all about patriotic clothing in our house. James has quite a few USA themed outfits which we use year round, regardless if it's on the 4th or not. In honor of this holiday I'm sharing 2 American themed outfits with you today. 

Outfit 1 Details-

Shirt- American Apparel

Jean shorts- Old Navy

Hat- Old Navy

Sandals- Salt Waters

James wore outfit 1 the day before the 4th to prepare for all the fun we were about to have. 

Outfit 2 Details-

Shirt- Old Navy (I can't find it online but it is currently in the stores)

Jean suspenders- H&M 

Hat- Old Navy

Moccasins- C/O Freshly Picked

James is wearing outfit 2 today on the 4th for all our festivities. When I saw the shirt at Old Navy I knew he had to have it. Anything that combines pirates, USA, and a mustache is aces with me and perfect for James! 

I am loving that Stars and Stripes are becoming such a trend. Why not? It's awesome to wear your American pride year round and I'm all about putting my kid in it! 

What do you have planned for today? What are you all wearing? Leave me a comment and share the fun things you have planned. 

My Own Personal Peter Pan

Life is good when you have your own personal Peter Pan by your side. Ready to fight off Captain Hook and whatever other bad guys happen to cross your path. 

My Peter Pan likes to stay in character. The hat comes with us no matter where we go or what we do. And who am I to stop him? 

Want to guess how many people said he was cute on this particular day? Too many to count. Who doesn't love a little boy pretending to be Peter Pan?

I love James' sweet and funny little personality. 

So I'm back to regular posting now. We are down visiting my family and I can't wait to share some of the fun things we do with you guys!

Outfit Details- 

Shirt- H&M 

Leggings- Old Navy

Sandals- Salt Waters

Daily Adventure: Part Five

My sisters last day in Bakersfield was today.

I woke up early and made cute Mickey Mouse pancakes for everyone complete with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. 

After that we lounged and watched Pineapple Express, House Sitter, and Fletch while James napped and played bubbles with his new fancy bubble maker. We're really into movies if you couldn't already tell.

We went shopping at the mall, went out to a local place for lunch, and stopped by Goodwill to drop off the TEN boxes of stuff I had piled up to be donated. I don't shop at goodwill but I am there donating things constantly. I can't stand clutter or build up! 

Once it got hot we made our way over to a free water park here in town. It's only open during the summer when it's crazy hot and it's so much fun! Plus hello, FREE!

Here are a few pictures I snapped-

We had a blast! We will definitely be back here several more times this summer!

Tomorrow I take my sister back home and James and I stay down for a week because.. Why not!? We've got fun things planned for the 4th, my moms birthday to celebrate, and I have lots of friends to see and fun things to do. I just LOVE being home. My husband will even get to come down part of the time. 

Thanks for reading along about my silly adventures. I had so much fun having my sister visit. I am so blessed to be close to my sister and so thankful that James has such a wonderful auntie!  

Daily Adventure: Part Four

Happy Monday everyone! 

Here's what went down today-

Our first stop was a morning coffee date at Starbucks where James decided to build things with his "pink cake". 

Next stop was some shopping. Got to add shopping to the list at least once a week.  James scored lots of new clothes. 

We hit the playground next. We have to do the playground early now.. Like 9am early while its only 90 degrees vs the 110 degrees.

After the playground we went out for cupcakes at the BEST place ever. If you ever find yourself in Bakersfield, make sure to stop by Sweet Surrender. They've been featured on The Food Network's Best Thing I Ever Ate. Everything there is amazing but their red velvet cupcakes are to die for!! 

We also picked up lunch, got manicures and pedicures, went swimming, and watched The Avengers. 

All in all a really fun day! Here's the thing about adventure- it doesn't have to be big. Sometimes adventure just means getting outside and exploring your city. Doing something different and having fun!! 

Tomorrow will be my last daily adventure post- check in to see what goes down.