Our little getaway to Breckenridge

We needed a vacation.  Our last vacation was over a year ago to Florida and it was just time to get away..even it was for a long weekend.  So when my husband brought up Colorado, I was not impressed.  I'm not a nature person, I don't really like being outside in the cold, and I haven't skiied since high school.  But I decided I was feeling adventurous so off to Breckenridge we went. 

I am in love.   I mean this with all my heart, I would pick up everything and move there tomorrow if I could.  It is beautiful...breathtaking.  One of the most beautiful places I have been.  In those 4 short days, we had a blast.  We went for a sleigh ride, did some sledding, saw the International Snow Scultpure Competition and just relaxed and enjoyed the cute little town.  We did not ski this time, but we are already planning our trip back here next year so we can. 

For those of you that have not been there, go.  You won't want to leave.  In the mean time, enjoy some of the pics from our trip!

thought I'd share this all with you....

Xbox Bundle Giveaway Event

Hosted by: Mom to Bed by 8 and Giveaway Bandit

Prize Package includes: Xbox 360 S Console, 250GB Hard Drive, Kinect Sensor, Wireless Controller, Kinect Adventures and Carnival Games: Monkey See Monkey Do

Event dates: 2/15 - 3/1

Free Blogger Event: Sign Up HERE

Red Velvet Cake Mix Brownies

So this weekend my husband and I were in the mood for something sweet.  I happened to see these Red  Velvet brownies over at Tater Tots and Jello and decided to try them.  They looked so easy and delicious and they are perfect for the upcoming Valentine's Day. 

I never made brownies using a cake mix, but these are AMAZING.  So chewy and perfectly sweet.  

Red Velvet Cake Mix Brownies Recipe

Makes one 8×8 pan of brownies
Ingredients
1 box of Duncan Hines Signature Red Velvet Cake Mix (18.25 oz)
1 cup (2 sticks) of melted butter
1 whole egg, plus two egg yolks
1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup of water
Powdered sugar for dusting
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees and spray 8×8 clear glass baking pan with non stick spray. Use parchment paper to line pan so brownies can easily be removed later and cut into squares.
Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on low just until combined.
Pour brownie batter into parchment paper lined pan and smooth top.
Bake at 325 for 35-40 minutes. Take care not to over bake.
Let brownies cool and cover, then refrigerate overnight or pop in the freezer for an hour or two.
Once brownies are chilled, remove from pan and cut into squares using a serrated knife.
Dust brownie squares with powdered sugar and try to eat just one.  

just a day

I am off from work today.  I love that.  Today is just like any other day I am off.  Jack and I spend it together and we run errands or go somewhere just the two of I.  But today was just a little different.  Today was such a great day..and there wasn't a reason why.  We got up, played and had our day off "bagel date" .  

 Can you tell that he loves his chocolate chip bagels?  Getting a bagel may seem like no big deal to most, but for us it's one of our favorite things to do.  I get my coffee, Jack gets his bagel and we sit and talk...about nothing.  I love it.

Then we headed on over to the pool.  You know nothing better than a refreshing pool on a 9 degree day!   Jack is a little fish and we have a ball in there swimming around and playing catch.

Now

 I love that little face.  I loved today.  Now we are both ready for our naps.

I hope you are having a wonderful day (hopefully day off!).

Beer and Bacon....yes please

picture courtesy of tide and thyme

I am sure I have mentioned this before, but I love beer.   Light beer, dark beer, pumpkin, fall, wheat....I love them all.  So when I found this recipe paired with another fav of mine, bacon, I almost lost my mind.  

The two flavors blend so well together and it's a great snack for your upcoming Superbowl party.  The glaze is simple, and throw the bacon in the oven.  The oven makes less mess and cooks to an evenly crisp piece of heaven.

If you are a bacon (and beer!) fan, I'd love to hear if this sounds like something you would like to try.

Beer-Candied Bacon

1 lb thick-cut bacon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp beer (I used Magic Hat #9)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine brown sugar and beer in a small bowl, whisking well to form a thin syrup. Set aside.
Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a wire cooling rack on top. Place the pieces of bacon on top of the rack, overlapping if necessary. Place in oven and cook for 10 minutes.
Remove from oven and brush one side of the bacon with the beer syrup. Flip, and coat the other side with the syrup as well. Return to oven and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and repeat process another time or two more, until bacon is crispy and browned, and you’ve used all the glaze.
Cool on wire rack for at least 1 hour before serving.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

That is Jack's new favorite saying when we play a game with each other.  So I have the winner for my Smitten Image shop giveway!

The winner is ......

#38 Lynn  Wilson

Lynn, an email is being sent and congrats!

love is a four legged friend

Valentines Day is a little more than a month awa!!  And with all the hearts, pink and talk of love and gifts for your significant other, some of our favorite friends are forgotten about.  Our dogs.

I thought I would share with you some of my favorite Valentine's Etsy finds for our four legged friends. They truely show us the meaning of love.

1. dogs incorporated yorkie print   2.  heart collar by shop sew fetching 
3. dog id by dog leg left designs   4. small threads mom shirt   5. custom dog bowl by lucky pups

1 year....and a giveaway

Time FLIES.  One year ago my husband and I lauged as we started our Etsy shop, hoping to get 1 sale. Here we are a year later with 252 sales and 96 items in our shop.  I can't believe how wonderful it's been.  I love speaking with the customers and I love knowing that our prints are literally all over the world!

Because of this, I wanted to have a giveway from my shop Smitten Image. 

The winner will receive a $25 credit to my shop!

These are just some of my prints:

 

 

 

 

 

Enter using Rafflecopter below and good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Valentine's already?!?!

Happy 2013!!!! I hope you all had a wonderful new year.  We had a nice dinner out and then danced the night away in our pajamas.  But now, the decorations are down, the clutter is gone and we are now in the winter depression tha that happens after Christmas.  One thing that puts a little sunshine in my cloudy days are the reds and pinks of Valentine's Day.  I am already ready to decorate for it and getting my cookie and treat ideas ready.

I thought I would share some of my pinterest Valentine Day finds for you browsing pleasure.

 

Gumdrop Wreath from Sweet and Lovely Crafts

 

 food on paper

 

 

c

Tree of Love from Echoes of Laughter

 

Valentine Blondie's from Miner Moments

 

Spiral Butter Cookies

 

Cherry Chocolate Cookies