Yummy Home-Made Chocolate Chip and M&M cookies

(Just baked these this morning for my house guests coming this evening!)

1 Cup butter, softened
1 Cup brown sugar
1 Cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 Cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons hot water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup of your favorite kind of m&m's (or 2 cups chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth.  Beat in the eggs one at a time.  Stir in the vanilla.  Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water.  Add to the batter as well as the salt.  Stir in the flour, chocolate chips, and m&m's.  Place large spoonfuls onto un-greased pans.  Bake for about 10 minutes or until the edges are browned.

This makes 4 dozen

If they are too hard in a day or two after baking them, pop them in the microwave for 10 seconds and they will be soft like you just took them out of the oven!  They are so yummy.

Have a great weekend!

Things in Things

I just realized how many baskets or things I have holding things.

But I do think it is a good idea having a designated place for certain things so that the house doesn't get cluttered and you know where those things are if you have to look for them!

This is a basket I have on the credenza for mail and Drew's magazines or things we need to go through.

When Drew bid on this Gucci golf bag on ebay a long time ago, he knew there would be some use for it right?  The umbrella holder by the door!

I bought this basket for $12 at Old Time Pottery and I have it in the first landing of the stairs.  If I don't have time to run upstairs or I just don't want to, I put it in the basket and take it up and unload when I want.

THE BEST.  My utensil crock.  I can't imagine life without it or how all this stuff would fit in a drawer! So easy to grab anything I need when I'm at the stove.

I just recently received this footed compote in my every day china. I think it is beautiful.  It is the perfect size to store fruit and veggies.

Besides my Juliska everyday we registered for, my grandmother gave me all of her everyday china a couple of years ago.  This is a serving piece from it.  I love that it is white so I can mix pieces with my new.  This is Drew's Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine candy.  I don't touch it!

This big bowl sits on top of the fridge with all the bread.

I really don't like clutter and I live to be organized.  So these pieces help make my life simple!

Flower Obsession...

I never really thought I was a big fan of flowers...  I received them at every performance since I was 3, maybe I just didn't take them all in for what they were worth.  I DO NOW!  I love them.  They brighten my day.  I end up changing the water, trim, and re-arrange the ones in our house, daily.  Like grooming a pet, I suppose.  I am just now looking through a lot of our wedding photo's and thought I would post some of my favorites of the flower arrangements.

Wreath on the gate in front of the church.  

Roses, spider mums, hydrangeas, and those little green berries I love!

Can't seem them very well.. I couldn't find a close up of the altar flowers.

Hydrangeas marking the family pews.

My bouquet

Gardenias (3rd generation for a gardenia wedding bouquet!), roses, stephanotis

Bridesmaids bouquet

Spider mums, roses, berries, artichokes

Bouquets

I am obsessed...

Reception centerpiece

For the wedding ceremony, we just had ivory and green flowers because the church is so colorful and beautiful, I didn't want to take away from that with flowers.  For the reception we had some pinks and peaches added to the green and ivory mix.

Used the bridesmaids bouquets for some of the centerpieces at the reception.

Those were my favorites.  We had the BEST florists, best in Huntsville.  They were wonderful to work with and SO helpful.  Not sure if they would want me to advertise them on my blog, so if you want their info, leave me a comment with your e-mail address!  Now if only I could plant them and have them survive.  For now, I just purchase.

A spot for now.

This is where I am trying out the sun burst clock.  At the top of the stairs in the landing across from my desk area.  I couldn't find an appropriate spot to hang it on the wall so, propping it for now will have to do!  I will also find a different spot for that chair once I have the "bedroom" chair recovered.  And once I find the fabric for it! ha

Still have to find the correct battery size so it will work!

Hope everyone had a magical Valentines day!  We had a good one.

Recipe Friday

Warm and EASY! 1 side 1 dessert.

Corn Casserole

1 stick butter
1 egg
1 can cream style corn
1 small box cornbread mix
1 small sour cream

Melt butter and mix all ingredients well.  Pour into small baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

(I made this for my family last night and it is a new favorite!)

Easy Fudge Pie

1 stick butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 regular frozen pie crust

Mix together first 3 ingredients.  Add in the 3 dry ingredients.  Pour into unbaked pie shell.  Cook until almost set, 30-33 minutes at 350 degrees.  Remove from oven and allow pie to cool.  Top with whipped cream or ice cream.

(I make this pie ALL the time in a pinch, when I need a dessert, it is SO easy and SO yummy)

Happy weekend and Valentines Day!!  I'm going to Black Eyed Peas on Saturday night with some besties and to my favorite place for dinner on Valentines Day!

Obsession..

SO my parents came yesterday!  We had a quick lunch and only got to go to ONE store.. Then we went car looking for my mom.  So that took the rest of the day.  Luckily they will be here a little longer today and we are going to hit the old Ethan Allen store and Home Goods.  

Found these jewels at the Consignment/Antique store on Rocky Ridge behind the old Starbucks.  The name has completely left me for the moment.  It is 1960's Danish sofa and 2 chairs.  For $475 with %20 off.  If you are interested let me know and I can give you directions.  It is a steal of a deal for me.  Probably because I want it so badly... I have no where to put it.  I would OBVIOUSLY recover the cushions, but if you like the fabric... you are in luck!  Each piece is in PERFECT condition, even the straps under the cushions.  Some one took perfect care of these puppies.. As I would. =(

This is actually very similar to the Danish bedroom chair I bought recently that I have been meaning to re-do for a month or so...

Maybe we will find something else spectacular today!

Hope everyone has a great Thursday and I'll put up a yummy recipe tomorrow (or 2)!

Dinner food? Sides? or DESSERT?  Someone tell me what they would rather me put up!

Cheapest Nightstand EVER!

Good morning!  After D and I got engaged of course I went CRAZY trying to do the house.  Well one of the last things I needed was my own nightstand.  I had redone Drew's to match his dresser and to match the one I bought for myself.  I looked EVERYwhere for a night stand.  Then my mom had a bright idea to buy one of these little round stick tables, skirt it, and have a piece of glass cut for the top.  Well one time I was at home with my parents and I ran to a garage sale (this was after I had given up on the nightstand for a while).  I found this table... for $1!!!!

This is the table skirted.  The green is the same fabric as the chair I recovered for our bedroom and the topper is the same fabric as our duvet.  Less than $30 of fabric.

Finished product.

Table: $1

Fabric: $30

Glass: $10

So a $41 custom made night stand!  I like it.  I just wish it had a drawer.. So I have to stick some things under the skirt!  Have a great Wednesday!