Beach trip

Adam and I took a beach vacation to the beach we used to live at, and his family came to join us for a portion of the time there.  We had a great time in the waves and building sand castles, and Adam and Jason did a bunch of fishing.

 The ocean and the shells!

Adam's half-sister with the sand castle we built 

Adam's big fish he caught!

 

Sunset on the beach our last night there.  I walked down and sat on the beach for a long time watching the waves.  

Cake!

Here it is again, the blackberry cream cheese filled chocolate cake.  This is the one I took to work for the bake auction - it sold for $300 dollars!

Recipe: 

1 box chocolate cake mix

 --- follow directions on cake mix, but add 1 more egg that it calls for ---

2 packages cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

blackberry jam

 

Cook cake as directed, let cool

Mix cream cheese and powdered sugar together

Once cake is cooled, fill with blackberry jam on one layer, cream cheese icing on the next.  Finish by icing the cake with cream cheese frosting, and decorate with ganache as needed. 

Weekend San Antonio Getaway

Adam, the dogs, and I took a weekend jaunt to San Antonio.  Now that Adam's semester is over, we are taking some vacation time to ourselves. 

 

Each night we ate on the Riverwalk outside, since the weather was so nice.  We were lucky and were able to be seated right away every night with no wait (helps when you decide to eat at the less busy hours).  We got to people watch the folks in the boats and on the riverwalk -this boat had some engine issues! 

 

Our next day we went to the Natural Bridge Caverns, one of the largest cave systems in Texas.  It was a fantastic 1.5 hour tour through the caves, with many different rooms to see. 

 



 We also went and stopped by the Alamo one night.  I wanted my picture with the building.  I love my dress, too - I always get all dolled up when he takes me out, whether its in town or in San Antonio.  I just like getting glammed up for him. 

 

 

 We also went to Six Flags - which was built into the side of an abandoned limestone quarry.  Very cool to see the outcrops while riding roller coasters!

 

This is from the last night in San Antonio - I liked how huge the elephant ear plants were, so I had Adam take my picture with them. 

 

All in all, a good trip!

 

Paint your own Pottery!

My neighbor and I went to paint pottery at a nearby studio. I chose white/gray as my base, and then free-handed the swirls of black/pink.

 

Check it out!  Will post pics after it is fired!

 

 

 

No Bake Peanut Butter treats

 

 

From here.  These were delicious - I modified it a tad bit.

 

Ingredients 1 cup butter melted
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Directions
In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners’ sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9×13 inch pan and place in the fridge. In the microwave, melt the chocolate chips, stirring every 30 seconds until melted until smooth. Spread over the peanut butter layer. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares.  Keep these refrigerated until serving time, or they will get melty.