cupcakes and cakestands

A couple of my friends in my neighborhood are having birthdays this week and so I decided to make some cupcakes for them. As I was making the cupcakes I realized I didn't have any cute plates to put them on. I decided to run to target to see what they had and I found some darling plates. I decided to make them into cake stands and give them as gifts! There isn't a whole lot to them but I think they turned out pretty cute!

The cupcakes are banana bread cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I just used my banana bread recipe and cooked them for 18 mins. ( my banana bread recipe can be found on one of my older posts from 2008) They are really moist and taste so delicious with the cream cheese frosting! One of my new favorite cupcakes!

letter to a complicated old friend

Dear blonde hair,

Hi old friend! I miss you and think you are golden and beautiful. You make me feel young and fun! You also tend to make me a little more carefree. I think it's time you came back to me.

What do you think? Do you think you can behave yourself this time and not make my hair dry and gross? Do you think you could stay nice and shiny golden just a little longer and hide my nasty dark and recently graying strands? Do you also think you could cost a little bit less? You are kind of expensive and I am kinda not rollin in the dough.

Listen I know I am asking a lot but brunette and I are kinda having issues lately and I'm seriously considering leaving brunette behind. Think about it. Please get back to me in a timely manner as this is very time sensitive. Also no pressure but even though brunette and I are having our issues I think brunette is building an incredibly strong case against you. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours truly,

Stacey Bacon

Easy Tasty Corn Chowder

I made this corn chowder tonight and served it with BLT's. It was delicious! Casey doesn't like summer squash so he picked out all of his squash pieces, (he's a good sport) but I loved it just the way it was. Super fast and easy and a great way to use up squash from the garden.

Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

Get 2 RISK-FREE ISSUES!

Ingredients

• 2 slices applewood-smoked bacon
• 3/4 cup sliced green onions, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1 pound yellow summer squash, chopped
• 1 pound frozen white and yellow baby corn kernels, thawed and divided
• 2 1/4 cups 1% low-fat milk, divided
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese

Preparation

1. Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 2 teaspoons drippings in pan. Crumble bacon, and set aside. Add 1/2 cup onions, celery, and squash to drippings in pan; sauté 8 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

2. Reserve 1 cup corn; set aside. Place the remaining corn and 1 cup milk in a blender; process until smooth. Add remaining 1 1/4 cups milk, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to blender; process just until combined. Add pureed mixture and reserved 1 cup corn to pan. Reduce heat to medium; cook 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring constantly. Stir in 1/8 teaspoon salt. Ladle about 1 1/2 cups soup into each of 4 bowls; top each serving with about 1 tablespoon bacon, 1 tablespoon remaining onions, and 1 tablespoon cheese.

So Refreshing!!!!!

Yesterday as I was thanking passengers and bidding them farewell after

our flight, a lady smiled at me and said, "You look so healthy! It is so

refreshing to see a healthy young lady. There are too many skinny

girls in the world! " To which I replied......"uh thank you?"

What is wrong with people? I know she was trying to pay me a compliment

but seriously who wants to be told she doesn't fit into the skinny girl category?

I know I'm not a toothpick. I don't want other people telling me this. Sheesh!

Girls Weekend!

Casey was out of town this past week and so I invited Chloe over to keep me company. I love spending time with Chloe and we always have so much fun because we always do little projects and crafts when we get together. Abbey's birthday was coming up so I decided to make her a headband. Chloe was my model so I could see the finished product.

Kim found this darling idea for "grate gifts" for fathers day. They are brownie cupcakes that look like the grill. I think they turned out adorable. I especially love the shishkebabs ;)

Thanks Chloe for keeping me busy so I didn't miss Case as much!

Hawaii 2010

Our Awesome Swimming pool!

We enjoyed many hours laying out by this massive gorgeous pool

This is a beautiful courtyard on the hotel grounds.

There were a couple of black head swans and some cute ducks

wandering around.

Of course there were beautiful flowers everywhere!

There were several hammocks throughout the grounds

Casey's best totem pole pose :)

This is the beach that is right outside the Marriott

I love this picture. Casey is smiling so nicely! I think

the dark silhouette of the palm trees looks beautiful.

Eating at Portifinos and enjoying the view!

This beach was gorgeous. The sun was setting

and there were surfers everywhere. I do not love

this picture of me but I think Casey's look is especially lovely!

The gang at the 4 mile mark of our 8 mile hike.

We all look a little rough!

Hanakapiai Falls

The views and scenery on the hike were stunning.

This picture is my favorite of the whole trip. I've

swallowed my pride and posted it (lets be honest

I look like a weirdo) Casey's face is priceless! We were

facing into the sun and the squint factor was in full force.

Oh how I love Hawaii! Casey and I were able to go to Kauai the first week of May. We joined his parents and his sister Cari and her husband Jason. We stayed at the Marriott and enjoyed every minute of it.

We went on a beautiful hike to Hanakapiai Falls. It is an 8 mile hike round trip. 4 miles into the Falls and then 4 back to the start. I'm pretty sure that's the longest and most beautiful hike I have ever been on. I was absolutely filthy and should have planned better for photo opportunities. We woke up extremely early and I opted for no make up and a braid. (not my best look) Parts of the hike were a little tricky. We had to cross the river several times and grapple on some steep rock inclines but all in all it was a nice easy hike! I loved it!

The rest of the time we just relaxed and enjoyed the sunshine and refreshing ocean air! We ate many incredible meals and delicious desserts. ( my favorite was a delicious carrot cake with the most amazing cream cheese/butter cream frosting I've ever tasted)

I've been to all the major Islands now and I'm thinking Kauai is my new favorite. I love them all for the different beauty and fun they have to offer but Kauai is the epitome of what I think Hawaii should be ;) I cannot wait to go back!

Easy Cute Headbands

I was watching Studio Five one morning and they were making these cute necklaces out of metal washers. I loved the necklace idea but even more than that I loved the cute fabric flowers that were pinned to some of the necklaces. I researched some blogs and finally found an instructional post on how to make the flowers.

They are super easy to make and I thought they would be darling on a headband. If you know me well you know I have quite the impressive collection of headbands ;) I have been obsessed with making them for a few months now!