Merry Christmas seniors of SW Florida. You are loved! We will have all the presents delivered by next Tuesday. Thank you for helping to brighten the lives of our greatest generation!
working long hours
not getting things done at home
missing my family
missing my friends
loving my husband, but being too grouchy to show it
and tired, really tired.
Hopefully today is better.
What is going on with Westboro church? It honestly will make your skin crawl.
As a Christian, I am personally disgusted by what this 'church' stands for, and so for them, I apologize, but I did want you to see what is going on there. I think that the worst part about it is that they are pulling their kids along with them, and forcing them into their crazy lifestyle. I would love to know your thoughts.
Sorry for the long title, but here is the recipe that you may not have known that you have been waiting for...
As previously stated, my camera battery charger is mia, so you can pretend that this is the picture that I took. To be honest with you, mine looked even more delicious. 
CINNAMON BUNS
Ingredients:
* 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast (2.25 tsp. of the granular kind= 1 pkg)
* 2 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
* 1 yellow cake mix
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 T vanilla extract
* 5 cups all-purpose flour
Filling:
* 1/2 stick butter, melted to paint on the dough
* 3/4 cup brown sugar - I don't measure, I just spread it all over the top- probably like one small bag's worth
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon - I just shake it all over the brown sugar
Frosting:
* 3 cups confectioners' sugar
* 3 ounces cream cheese
* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 1/2 tablespoons milk
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in one cup of the warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the cake mix, remaining water, salt and vanilla; stir well to combine. Stir in the flour; mix well. (I used my hands, because the dough is pretty sticky) Cover bowl and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
3. Deflate dough and turn it out onto a well floured surface. Roll dough out into a thin, large rectangle and spread with butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar and the cinnamon. Roll up dough and cut into 1 3/4 inch thick rolls. Place rolls in two lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. (I needed another pan, because this recipe makes a lot)
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
5. Bake rolls in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. While rolls are baking, prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, vanilla and milk. Let rolls cool slightly then spread with frosting.
For my birthday, Lindsey and Julie gave me two of the most delicious cupcakes that I have ever had. They were from Whole Foods and came individually in their own package. Adoreable, and Carly and I enjoyed both the vanilla and the chocolate while she was here. This is what they looked like...
Along with that, they also gave me a gift card to Starbucks... and as you know Slim and I are broke. On Saturday morning, before a full day recording session, Slim and I stopped at Starbucks for breakfast. I got the usual skim peppermint mocha twist(except I went twistless, without the peppermint whipped cream), and a slice of their Gingerbread loaf. Now, I love Gingerbread, but had never had theirs. It was magnificent. 
So thank you Linds, and Jules for a most delicious birthday!
I made a new friend this week, well actually, we get to be friends by association.
Slim played a show in North Ft. Myers and met this amazing artist named Jubilee. While they were at the show, she fell in love with the playing of the Slim One. Her manager called and asked Slim if he would record on her new album, and of course Slim was honored.
On Thursday night, Slim, Brad, and I ventured to North Ft. Myers for him to record. It was an awesome time, and when we were done, Slim and I headed to a late night dinner with Jubilee and her husband Devin.
She is totally down to earth, and way too talented. For those of you who know him, she was featured on a few songs with KJ52.
Click here for a free download of one of her songs. Slim isn't playing on this one, but I will let you know when the cd is complete, so that you can all get a copy in hand! Enjoy!
My mom wanted to try a new recipe for sweet potatoes. We love the Sweet Potato Casserole at Boston Market, and so my mom and I tried to recreate it... It was a huge success.
Here is the recipe:
6 sweet potatoes
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 stick butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
***Crunch Topping***
1/3 cup melted butter
1/3 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Boil potatoes until tender. Remove skins when cooled. Put into a large bowl and whip them until fluffy. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into a greased casserole and top with the Crunch Topping. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes.
Trust me... you won't be disappointed.
