Showing posts with label HBD's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HBD's. Show all posts

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Matteo and Tiramisu

My first Colorado bestie turned 30 recently. Of course there was a little shindig for him because he should be celebrated. I was asked to make a cake or cupcakes for the dessert portion of his party. I obviously said yes, because, Uh hello....it's for Matteo!! I wanted to make him something special and came up with quite a few ideas. Then it came to me...Matteo's Italian and he loves his Italian roots. So it had to be none other than tiramisu cupcakes. I thought that would be a great way to honor him for his special day.

Now I like baking. I like cupcakes. I like tiramisu. However, I have never made tiramisu in full cake form; yet, I decide to embark on 3 dozen mini ones. Yeppers. Why do I do this to myself? I know not. I look up recipes and try to find one that will be delectable and not overly hard to make. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was hoping to find something I could make on my first try. Let me tell you that Tiramisu is a daunting and a time stealing baking endeavor. But in short, and via photo, it went a little something like this....

First you have about a million ingredients. Yes, I'm prone to the dramatic. Below is just a few of those ingredients.



Then you start the cake portion....



Again...mixing with the hand mixer. That Kitchenaid is so elusive in my life. So sad!!



Plus you need to have a handy dandy assistant. Love you Jenn! Look at her separate those yolks and whites.



Once all the mixing is done you get this yummyness. I could have eaten the batter on its own. Yeah, I said it. Deal.



Then you put your batter in the pans and bake.



While the cupcakes are baking, you begin the decadence. The icing. Which the primary ingredients are marcapone cheese and heavy whipping cream.



On to the mixing of the icing....again, using that hand mixer. When all is said and done, you come up with this sweet, delectable, oh my gosh I'm going to eat this whole bowl icing. Just look at that photo. I was proud of myself. And mind you, I used a hand mixer. It was a hard task, but I managed. It was so yummy you would have to pause and ponder the goodness of it all.



Once the cupcakes have cooled and while your amazing, i'm going to eat the whole bowl and not feel guilty, icing is chilling you layer on the kahlua, rum and espresso mix onto the tops of cupcakes.



After that you pipe on the to die for icing and then garnish to your liking. I chose chocolate shavings and a chocolate covered espresso bean to top it all off.

Ta da....!!




These cupcakes, I can confidently stay, were fan-flippin-tastic. Everyone loved them and I felt accomplished and proud of myself--and Jenn, my patient helper. But apparently, I'm much more relaxed than I used to be. At least Jenn noted that from my easy response from when we had a few mishaps. I believe with the first problem, instead of freaking out, I said..."Uh, Houston, we have a problem!" And when Jenn appeared, she saw that the ease of how I stated my sentence was not in accordance with the disaster brewing in the oven. Note to you and to self: when you are getting a recipe from a random stranger, sometimes they leave out very important facts about how much tiramisu can rise. Yeah!! (insert the roll of my eyes right here!) But I handled it with gusto and calm, then we began again with baking..this time modifying to what we knew would happen. Overall it was a great experience. Most importantly, Matteo loved them.

That's all that matters, right?! Right.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Rewind: 35th Birthday

2 months ago I had another birthday--the 35th--and had many mixed emotions about this particular one. Happy, sad, strangely adult and still overwhelmingly young and behind on "my plan" for my life.
I know, I know. I'm such a mess.

All that aside, what I want to focus on here is that fact that I was able to celebrate plentifully; first with my Utah Lovelies and then with my Colorado Lovelies. I feel adored and blessed by all of the amazing people the Lord has placed in my life. Seriously ADORED!!!

My Utah lovelies always make me feel so special, loved and like I belong. My life has been extremely blessed since I've started taking my trips to the Great State of Utah. And, lets be honest, I just can't get enough of the Seevinck lovin' that I receive. I feel so at home and safe when I'm in their presence. Plus, I laugh so much and always come back with new insight into life. They just have a way of doing that to me; most times without even saying anything. It just happens.
Love, love, love you all!!

My Colorado Lovelies are fan-flippin'-tastic!! I went to the Rio on my birthday; then had a slumber party with the Y Besties; and just when I thought it couldn't get any better I was able to have a wii bowling party with the lovely ladies that hold me up, inspire me and remind me of God's love everyday. I would be lost without these ladies.

One of the things that blessed me the most from my birthday was some of my friends wrote "35 Things We Love About Raelynn" in honor of my 35th birthday. I ran across it again tonight when I was straightening up my room. So I thought I would share it here because I love it so much.


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"35 Things We Love About Raelynn"

From Jenn
1. Her generosity and giving spirit
2. Her creativity
3. Her love of shoes!

From Gayle
4. How she can make me laugh effortlessly
5. How she faces life straight on...whatever comes her way
6. She pursues her passions
7. She has worked with that personal trainer! I would have quit a long time ago.

From Natalie
8. I love that Raelynn's heart is steadfast with hope and that she keeps trusting even when she doesn't understand how things will work out
9. I love Rae's shiny black hair and deep brown eyes--she's such a beauty!
10. I love that Raelynn can dive the depths of conversation and have your rolling with laughter

From Carol
11. I love that Raelynn honors and values family in truly Biblical ways...living life in community, loving, serving and always showing deep devotion
12. I love that Raelynn is a friend to ALL!
13. I love that Raelynn brings me overflowing joy and laughter in my life
14. I love that Raelynn loves some Strawberry FANTA baby!!!

From Liz
15. I love how she loves kids. She has an amazing way of connecting to them and making them feel special and important
16. I love her passion for her heritage
17. I love that she uses her voice to teach and bless on the worship team and with the kids
18. Her sharing at the CME about dreams
19. Her blogs

From Jacki & Jill
20. Her honesty
21. She is an encourager
22. She is always humble
23. Her gift of wisdom
24. She has such integrity and compromises for no one
25. She is full of grace and the first one to forgive
26. She has endless compassion, even for those who have hurt her
27. She is completely reliable
28. She is a warrior and intercessor for her family no matter what
29. She honors her spiritual leaders
30. She likes cheese tortillas
31. She is sacrificial
32. She loves Jesus, but is willing to admit that sometimes she is pissed at Him too
33. She is willing to share the knowledge the Lord has given her even if she is out of her element

From Shauna
34. I love her passionate fire for the Lord and people
35. I love the overflowing joy and laughter that she brings in every situation

From Halen
Bonus 1. Raelynn is inspiring in her tenderness to the Lord
Bonus 2. I LOVE that her love language includes chocolate bars
Bonus 3. I love that her love for others is accompanied by action

********************

Hello!!!

Can it get any better than that?? I don't think so. I keep this list in my journal and when I start feeling lost or in doubt about who I am...I read this list again. It always helps me find my way back and erases the doubt that is plaguing my mind.

This list is truly one of the best gestures of love I have ever received.


Wednesday, April 7, 2010

HBD!!

Today is my birthday!!

Whoop whoop. :)

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

And the countdown begins...

I'll be 35 tomorrow.

Woah!!!

I have mixed feelings about this birthday.

Excited. Disappointed. Hopeful. Anxious.

But despite all these emotions, today I have the assurance of knowing that He is good. And I am loved by Him. He is more important than any unfulfilled dream or desires. For I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

And that is more than enough for me.


P.S. Rio I'll be seeing you tomorrow.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Birthday month

It officially begins!!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Celebrating Jenn!!

It was 2 weeks after the fact--thanks for your patience Jenn--but tonight we finally got around to celebrating Jenn and her 25th year. We thought a little down home feel was needed to make it fabulous. What do you do? Well you head on over to Cracker Barrel for a yummyliscious-home cookin'-full of carbs-oh my gosh i'll never eat again dinner.

We (Sarah, Jenn & I) had a great time laughing, reminiscing of home...aka Oklahoma...and trying to get a high score on the peg game that supposedly tests your IQ. Which I sucked at horribly. Shhhh, don't say it. After many attempts at getting past the 3 remaining pegs mark I was stuck at, I believe I commented on the fact that I needed to work on some left brain skills such as logic problems, and what not. Sarah suggested we write with our left hand more often.



Regardless of my epic failure at becoming a genius on the peg game, much fun was had by all. Especially when our carb filled yumminess arrived, the peg game was forgotten as we noshed on mashed potatoes, mac-n-cheese, fried okra, dumplings and chicken fried steak. It was a smorgasbord of southern comfort. I can honestly say that I agree with Sarah when she noted that we are not conditioned to eat that way anymore. It was delicious, but after the fact...I was, no scratch that, I AM in pain. Especially since I've been working with a trainer. I just know that when I meet Peggy tomorrow I will be sweating out gravy and butter from my pores. That's going to go over well. But I digress....

We had a blast and enjoyed each other's company. I relished the fact that tonight, as I've been missing my family and my Great State of Oklahoma, I was able to feel a bit more at 'home' than I've felt in awhile. When Jenn, Sarah and I are together life somehow makes sense and a piece of what's missing or lacking in my life gets nourished by the goodness of friends who know me, love me and have journeyed with me--not only figuratively, but literally.


Again, Happy Birthday Jenn. You are loved and adored. I'm blessed by your friendship. I hope Steve enjoys Robbie P as much as you, as I know you'll have him on the flat screen often. wink wink!!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Happy Birthday, Jenn!!!

Thanks for always being such an amazing friend.
I pray your 25th year is the best yet; and that you find your dreams and desires coming true.


Blessings in abundance to you today.






Live it up, Marlow!!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Happy Birthday Ella Bella

Ella is 6 years old today!! And I have enjoyed this little princess spider monkey so much. I'm excited to watch her grow into an amazing, justice fighting, worshipping woman of the Lord.




This is a little video I caught of her one night while listening to Kim Walker when we were getting dinner ready.....



What a precious little girl; and I love her bunches!!!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Sweet 16: HBD Tay Bug

I've known her since she was 4 years old.
I marveled at her ways then...and I continue to be dazzled by her now.


I love this girl!

And honestly, I've yet to find anyone who's loved me more genuinely, purely or passionately than the beautimous Taylor Joy!!