Kitchen Lovies

What are these you ask?
No….they are not a toy for Connor….

They are scoopers for potatoes, cantaloupe, kiwi, and things like that.  One of my favorite kitchen stores is Sur La Table.  They sell all sorts of fun stuff!  I hate the skin on my baked potatoes and with these you can just scoop the innards out.  Same with cantaloupe and all sorts of fruit! 

I also found these!!!  OMG!!!!
I must bake something pretty now just so I can use these cupcake liners 🙂

And this may seem simple, but I love these vinyl cover clips.  They work on all sorts of baggies that I’m constantly losing twist ties for.

My Daddy aka “Poppy” left this morning on his way back to Arkansas….Major sad face 🙁
It sucks so bad to live away from your family sometimes…..but you just appreciate them that much more when you do get to see them.  I hope you all are having a great 4th of July!!!

Thank God we live in a free nation…that is something we must never forget.

My hubby in Iraq circa 2005
Thank you to all our military who fight for our freedom every day

DFW Fun at Irving Arts Center

Exhibit runs June 1 to Sept. 30, 2011

“The story of Genghis Khan the conqueror, the myth and the man is told through a stunning and highly interactive world-tour exhibition. Genghis Khan: The Exhibition follows the life of a poor, illiterate child as he becomes one of the world’s greatest conquerors and leaves a lasting imprint on modern-day culture. More than 200 artifacts including gold jewelry, weaponry, silk robes, currency, tomb treasures and more are displayed alongside video-screens, hands-on activity stations and role-playing kiosks to create an educational and historical experience for visitors of all ages.”

Genghis Khan: The Exhibition
Genghis Khan: The Exhibition features the largest collection of 13th century Mongolian artifacts ever assembled in a single showing.

The exhibition features the recently uncovered mummy and tomb treasures of a Mongolian noble woman, nicknamed The Princess Giant because of her unusual height.

The opening of Genghis Khan: The Exhibition marks the first time an exhibition of this scale has been on view at the Irving Arts Center and in the city of Irving.

Genghis Khan: The Exhibition was produced by “Dino” Don Lessem, with curatorial consultation by leading Genghis Khan scholars Dr. William Fitzhugh of the Smithsonian Institution and Dr. Morris Rossabi of Columbia University. Lessem is an author, long-time science journalist and president of Exhibits Rex, Inc. More than 10 museums and private collections are represented including the National Museum of Mongolian History, the National Library of Mongolian and the Military Museum of Mongolia.

The WINNER of (4) Passes to see the Genghis Khan exhibit from my previous post is :

BEVERLY

Please contact me @ beckylbranch@gmail.com with you address 🙂

Like the Irving Arts Center on Facebook to keep up with all their events year around!

The Irving Arts Center has so many great events going on this summer.  It’s a great way to spend a day with your family and actually LEARN something new!  Thanks to the Irving Arts Center for allowing me to do this giveaway 🙂 Happy 4th of July!

Indira Salon – Makeover Giveaway!

As you all know I had a makeover yesterday….
Having a one year old I don’t always get time to myself anymore, let alone time to go get my hair done!  If I get a brush through my hair and some bronzer on in the mornings I am doing well. 
I was invited to get a makeover at Indira Salon and oh what an experience!  I walked in and was greeted by the beautiful staff, offered a beverage, and given an IPad to browse hairstyles on. 
I met Beth, the owner of Indira, she instantly put me at ease and made me feel so welcome.  Indira is an Aveda salon and all their products are natural and smell wonderful!
I then met my stylist Nina….who was AWESOME by the way!  This girl knows her stuff!  She was honest with me about what color and style I should go with and she didn’t rush through the service.  She spent a lot of time on my thick, curly head of hair….foil after foil 🙂 
We then headed over to the shampoo area where Nina conditioned my hair and I got a relaxing hand/arm massage.  When I first got there I was a chatty Patty….but I was SO incredibly relaxed I felt like I was in a spa!!!  LOL!!!  I could have fallen asleep in the chair I was that relaxed! 
Indira Salon also offers lash extensions, KeraGreen treatments, & feather extensions.  Indira treated me like a queen for a day and I’ll definitely be going back!  Thank you Indira ladies for such a wonderful day 🙂
BEFORE PICTURE
DURING…..
Oh my look at that fabulous IPad!
(Wonder who that is on the screen???)
Beam me up Scotty!!!
(See I told you Nina puts her heart & soul into her work!)
AFTER
(I am in love with my hair color)
Look at these beautiful feather extensions they offer….
I may have to go back for one!
BACK OF HAIRSTYLE
AFTER MAKEUP APPLICATION
(Thanks LaToya you are a true glam fairy!)
Do you live in the DFW area and want to win a FABULOUS makeover at Indira???
(Includes: Cut, color, style, & makeup application)

HERE IS HOW YOU ENTER :

1.  Follow Indira Salon via Facebook
2.  Follow Indira Salon via Twitter & tweet about this giveaway
3.  Tell me why you would love this makeover

(Contest ends : Friday July 22nd)

Extreme Makeover HELP!!!

Tomorrow I am going for my makeover.  I need advice on which hair color to choose.  As far as a cut goes, I don’t think I’m cutting much off.  Probably just a trim because I don’t look good with short hair. 

Soooooooooooo DARK or LIGHT????

Becky Crocker?

Betty WHO???
I got this FABULOUS apron from ASD Living and it’s SO CUTE!!!
They have several fabrics to choose from and I love the way it fits.  I feel like such a domestic diva in my cute little apron 🙂  I can’t wait to use this during the holidays, it’s so fashionable….this ain’t yo’ Momma’s apron ya’ll! 

So last night I decided to “get my bake” on.  I wanted to sport my new apron and prance around the kitchen like the domestic goddess that I am. Ha…ha…ha..

This is what happens when you are trying to bake these days.  Ahem….the apron also has pockets so you can stuff goldfish in there so when your child whines you can throw them a bone.

I tried out a new recipe for chocolate chip cookies.  They turned out delicious!  I don’t like hard cookies, so I was on the hunt for a soft chocolate chip cookie recipe.  I found one and it worked like magic! 

I know this because this morning after the cookies had been sitting out all night they were still soft.

I love this scooper.  Everyone should have one.  I use it for cake balls and it’s the greatest invention ever!

SOFT Chocolate chip cookies


RECIPE

Ingredients
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 2 cups butter, softened

• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix (this is the magic ingredient!)

• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 4 cups semisweet chocolate chips

• 2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside.


2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto cookie sheets.


3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Edges should be golden brown.

ENJOY!

I just want to remember this little tidbit about my baby.  He is so funny!!!  He walks around the house and talks on the cell phones.  Dude is obsessed with cell phones!  Wonder where he gets this from?

My twinkie Bonnie made him that 4th of July shirt.  Isn’t it cute???  She’s so talented and she even started her own Etsy boutique!  Thank you Aunt Bonnie we love our shirt and we love YOU!

“Hey Poppy!!!  We can’t wait to see you tomorrow!!!”
My Dad is driving in from AR to come see us, we are so excited!!!

Also check out my book review for BlogHer book club on Sarah Dessen’s new book “What Happened to Goodbye”  It’s a great summer read!

Jewelry Organizer Giveaway!

This is the WEEK of giveaways!!!
So keep checking back until Friday 🙂
You can also see the rest of the giveaways on my sidebar or giveaway site

I know I’ve mentioned before that I haven’t found a good way to store my jewelry.  Now that Connor is walking and getting into things…and climbing dressers I’ve lost about 5 pairs of earrings!  I received this great 80 pocket canvas jewelry organizer from Household Essentials.  I love, love, LOVE it!  It’s exactly the solution I’ve been looking for & my jewelry is no longer one big jumble of metal. 

Here it is after I got all my jewelry organized :

See what a crazy mess I had going on? 
I had three different jewelry boxes with jewelry just sitting there, and some I forgot about because I didn’t want to search for it.

Large pockets at the bottom for necklaces, bracelets, & watches
It stores easily in your closet and saves so much space!
They also sell a hang up canvas organizer for necklaces too!
I am giving away (1) 80 pocket jewelry organizer
TO ENTER:
1. Tell me why you would love to win this jewelry organizer?
2.  Tweet about this giveaway & leave comment
Retail value : $24.99
CONTEST ENDS: Friday, July 8th