Par-tay :-)

I'm SO excited, this is the first non-kid-birthday party I've attended in a long while (is that sad? nah, I love kids' parties!)... and like so many of my friendships these days, it's online! If you haven't already, head on over to The Ultimate Blog Party 2009 at 5 Minutes for Mom to join the fun.

Welcome to my little home on the web! My name is Vera, and I am so glad you're here. I started this blog about a year ago when I felt called to share the ways in which the Lord has blessed my life. If you want to know what my life is really like, click on the Not Me Monday label on the sidebar ;)

I am a Christian, wife of eight years to my awesome stay-at-home-daddy hubby, working mommy (attorney), transplanted Southern girl (from Austria), and mostly just...immeasurably blessed.

Because I'm in the midst of mommyhood, most of my posts have something to do with my two daughters, Sophia who is three and a half, and Amelia who just turned two.

They are my daily reminders to live in the moment, laugh often, and savor the small joys in life. Sophia was born with a medical condition that has required several (six total) surgeries so far. She is doing great. Although this will always be some part of her life, we are so grateful for the health she has today and for the lessons we have learned along this journey.

Amelia had some health issues herself when she was a newborn and spent a tense week in the hospital after she stopped breathing at four days old (she would stop breathing whenever she ate and her oxygen levels would plummet), but was completely healed "without explanation" or a diagnosis (I wonder Who had something to do with this) and is a perfectly healthy and perfectly TWO two-year old.

Over the past year, my husband and I have endured the trials of infertility due to polycystic ovary disease (which was easily treated before when we got pregnant with the girls, but has not responded to medication this time around) and two miscarriages. Faithful as always, God not only brought me out of the darkness that followed my second miscarriage, but opened a door for us that was completely unexpected - foster parenting. We're still in the early stages of the process, but excited about what might be in store for us.

So, enough about me already... please leave a comment and say hi so I can go visit your blog and learn more about you!!!

Let's party!

In honor of this party, here are some recipes for my favorite party sweets... I'm pretty good at feeding my family healthy foods, but party food is party food, and dessert is dessert, so these would NOT fall into the "healthy" category! If you'd like healthy recipes, check back another day ;)

Toffee Dip with Apples

3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup toffee pieces (such as Heath)
1 cup pineapple juice
Apple slices (granny smith are my fav with this!)

Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl and beat at medium speed until smooth.
Add toffee bits and mix well.
Cover and chill until ready to serve.
Combine juice and apples in a bowl an toss well.
Drain apples and serve with dip.

Buttercream Icing for Cakes and Cupcakes

1/3 cup shortening, softened
1/3 cup butter, softened
4-6 tablespoons heavy cream
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoons almond extract
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
paste food coloring (as needed)

In a large bowl beat together the shortening and butter with whipping cream, salt and vanilla until smooth (about 3 minutes).
Add in confectioners sugar slowly and beat very well until smooth and fluffy (about 5 minutes), adding more confectioners sugar or cream or milk until you achieve desired consistency.
Add in the food coloring (if using) until the desired shade is achieved. I usually dip a toothpick into the paste food coloring to get out just a tiny bit at a time and stir it into the frosting - a little goes a long way!

Royal Icing for Cookies and Gingerbread Houses

3 large egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 (16 ounce) package confectioner's sugar
paste food coloring (as needed)

Beat together egg whites and cream of tartar in a large mixing bowl until frothy.
Add confectioner's sugar and beat 5-7 minutes at high speed, until mixture is stiff and holds a peak.
Add food coloring as needed.

If you're decorating things with kids, one of my favorite tools are these decorating bottles from Pampered Chef - VERY handy to fill with different colors of icing!

Tea Cakes

8 ounces cream cheese

1/2 cup butter

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 box white cake mix

confectioners' sugar

Cream together cream cheese and butter.

Add egg and vanilla and mix.

Add cake mix at mix until well blended.

Dust your hands in confectioners' sugar, roll dough into 1 inch balls, then roll in confectioner's sugar. Bake cookies on greased cookie sheet for 12-13 minutes.

Wait a minute or two before removing cookies to cooling racks (this is a theoretical step - in our house they are instantly devoured by mysterious sugar-deprived monsters).

If you've got baby bookworms like I do, I'd just LOVE it if you'd share some of your favorite children's books - if you do a post on your blog about it, please come back leave a comment on this post. We're always in search of great new reads around here!

I'm SO glad you stopped in! If we've met before, it's so nice to see you again! If this is your first time here, I'm excited to meet you!

Click here to see my latest post.

♥

Oh! Apparently following directions isn't one of my talents at midnight... If I want to win prizes, I need to list my preferences - and who doesn't want to win prizes?! They have some GREAT ones at the UBP, so if you still haven't checked it out, head on over there! So, here are some that I would just love, although I'd really be happy with anything :)

58 – Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand MixerProvided by: Moms Who Think (because mine broke and I cried and cried!)

15 — a pair of ChicBud Earphone58 with Swarovski CrystalsProvided by: The IE Mommy (since my kids broke my non-chic earbuds, and I've been longing for my iPod ever since!)

19 — $50 gift certificate to Target StoresProvided by: Shoot-Me-Now (or any of the other Target cards...c'mon that HAS TO be on everyone's top three list, who doesn't love Target?!)

49 – Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD and The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook: Budget Friendly Meals Your Whole Family Will LoveProvided by: Pudget: Losing Weight On A Budget (because I need it!)

79 – $30 gift certificate to Cute Clips & MoreProvided by: Cute Clips & More (SO cute!)