It must be Thursday!

If it's Thursday, we can usually be found at the track.
I have been the soccer mom, the dance class mom, the volleyball mom....you can pretty much fill in the blank with just about any sport here and well you get the idea. My favorite roll though is the one I have been doing the longest.....The motocross mom!
Levi has been racing motorcycles since he was four (he turns twelve next week) and I still LOVE watching him ride.

Thanks Buddy for making my Thursdays so much fun!

~Marla 





Oh to the cupcake!

Here is a little tid-bit on yours truly, I am NOT a fan of bananas.
Also I LOVE cupcakes (I can not say NO to them....EVER).
Last week I had some bananas that needed to be used a.s.a.p! (there are members of my family who do not share my dislike for this fruit). I came across a recipe for Banana Cupcakes over at Crystal B. then and now and got in and made them right away. I do have a LOVE for bananas when mixed with flour, sugar, and vanilla frosting....I mean who wouldn't?

Banana/ Cream Cheese Cupcakes

2 cupcake pans w/ paper liners
Preheat oven to 350.

1 box white cake mix
1 c. sour cream
3 very ripe bananas (mashed)
6 Tbs. butter (melted)
2 eggs
1/4 c. water
Combine all above ingredients in a lg. mixing bowl and beat on med-low speed for 2 min. Using an ice cream scoop, fill the paper liners w/ batter and bake according to the directions on the cake mix box.....usually about 18 min.
Remove from the oven when a toothpick comes out clean and cool before frosting.

Frosting
1/2 pk. (4oz) cream cheese at room temp.
1/2 stick of butter at room temp.
3 c. powdered sugar
2 tsp. vanilla and a pinch of salt
Mix all together on med-low speed for 5 min. until light and fluffy.
*Due to time and ingredients on hand I used a tub of store bought vanilla frosting and it worked well also. I then topped the cupcakes with Sugar in the Raw (found in the baking section next to the brown and white sugar)

All I can say is Ymmm!!!
I think I was the one who ate the most of these.
Happy Monday!
~Marla

1st time to the party!

I have been wanting to join the ban-wagon and link up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy for her What I Wore Wednesday (wiww).

It's a weeks (or in my case 3 days) worth of outfits to get out of the hum-drum of mommy gear.

Thursday~ A rainy soccer game....

Jeans.....Vanity

Layered t-shirts.....Old Navy

Rain Boots.....Local farm co-op

White Cardigan.....Target

Necklace.....Local gift shop

Flowers......I made

Sunday~ Church......

Dress.....Target
Pink Cardigan.....Target
Shoes.....Kohl's
Necklace.....Walmart (clearance)

Avery's trying to get in on the action....her dress and belt are from Nortstrom's Brass Plum (jr. dept.)

Monday~ Lulu's theater class and grocery shopping.....

Dress.....Kohl's (few yrs. ago)

Super Skinny Jeans.....H&M

Skarf....Buckle

Boots.....Bass Outlet (few yrs. ago)

White Cardigan.....Target

I do realize that it's June and I have been wearing boots, but here in the Pacific Northwest the weather is not acting like Summer. I did put all my boots away (other then my cowgirl boots, they are year round footwear) this morning to encourage the sun to shine. And yes I do LOVE my cardigans! I have this Target one in five colors.

Now you'll have to check out the others who posted their outfits from this past week over @ The Pleated Poppy

~Marla

June, Really?

The calendar says June 13th today, but the weather out side my Pacific Northwest Home feels more like March. Oh sun, sun, happy golden sun please shine down on me (I think that's how the song goes). The kids will start their summer break this week and we would LOVE to do all things sunny weather like.

Mean while when the girls and I were at the Farm Chicks show last weekend in Spokane and we had our two hour wait to get in we did one of my favorite things to do....People Watch! We saw a lot of really cute outfits of jeans and cowgirl boots or ruffled skirts and cowgirl boots, sooooo I decided I needed (OK, really it was just a want) me some boots. I can't wait to put these with a fun skirt.

Happy (sunny) Monday!

~Marla

One of those Saturdays.

With Saturday here we decided to get together with old friends and do some major catching up.....

And boy did it feel good. Happy Weekend,

~Marla

Girls Weekend Away.

This last Friday I kidnapped my girls from school and headed east 400 miles for a much needed girls getaway. We made our first ever visit to..... 

This is a big antique show held once a year in Spokane WA, with about 150 vendors bringing all kinds of treasures to be had.

We got there bright and early due to the fact that the rumor was the line to get in is crazy, and yes it was. We did make it near the very front, but this also meant we had a 2 hour wait ahead of us before getting in. The girls were so great about the wait. 

Once inside the show Lulu made a new friend, and Mama found a few goodies to bring home.......



After a great day with the Farm Chicks we found a park to sit and enjoy the beautiful weather we were blessed with before going to Chaps for dinner (a wonderful restaurant recommended by the Farm Chicks).

Dinner was to die for and sitting outside in the front grassy area was the icing on the cake to an amazing day with my daughters.

(Avery took this picture just as I stuck a piece of watermelon in my mouth.)

We finished our 3 day trip with a stop to a road side stand for the boys at home.....

Gary.....kettle corn

Levi.....golden delicious apples (his favorite)

Gavin....bag of fresh cherries

All three men were happy campers with their treats.

What a fun weekend we had with lots of memories made. As far as next year, it's going on the calender for sure.

~Marla

Let the Summer Begin!

With the Memorial Day weekend upon us, we can now begin to think in the terms of Summer!
It is that time again
                ......get the white jeans out of the closet.
                ......the kids are wrapping up their school year.
                ......to have the ice tea ingredients on hand.
                ......to dust off the patio furniture.
And most importantly
                ......go outside!!!

Blessings for a wonderful kick off to Summer weekend.
~Marla