A Sweet Treat

Today I have the sweetest treat to be a guest barista at Internet Cafe Devotions. Awhile back, I took a step of faith and sent them a rework of a post I wrote here called I Need Thee Every Hour. To my surprise, they sweetly accepted and chose today to post it. You can read it by clicking here.

I also wanted to share a Sweet Treat with you. My friend Krystal made a cake last month for my birthday and put this amazing Peanut Butter Frosting on it. I knew from from the first bite that I wanted to share it with you. So this weekend, when you are doing your weekly shopping, pick up a cake mix, make this homemade frosting, and share it with your family and friends. They really will think you are the sweetest thing! (Or sit and eat it directly from the bowl while you are watching the new BBC version of Emma...another sweet thing you will love!)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup cream

Directions

1. In a large bowl, beat butter and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Slowly beat in 1/2 of the confectioner's sugar. Mix in 1/4 cup of the cream. Beat in the remaining confectioners' sugar. If necessary, add a little more cream or milk until the frosting reaches a good spreading consistency. Makes enough to frost one 2 layer 9 inch cake or one 9x13 inch cake.

***Recipe taken from AllRecipe.com

Looking Forward,

The Porch

I have been looking for a good day to open the 29lincolnavenue Porch, and today is looking like a great day! The weather here, has been amazing, I have a great story to share with you compliments of my friend Michelle, and the grill is fired up! So, kick your shoes off, grab some sweet tea and pull up a rocking chair for some pre-summer fun!

First of all, I want to share with you the most amazing Grilled Chicken Recipe. I promise, this is worthy of your recipe book!

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
2 squeezes of honey from the cute honey bear bottle (about 1 tablespoon)
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (4 oz each)

Combine everything except the chicken and mix well. Pour over chicken. Marinate covered in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Grill chicken until done.

While that is cooking, I want to introduce you to my friend Michelle. When I came across this story on her blog, Some Girl's Website, I actually laughed out loud. I love sharing a joy story with you to open Porch time. I want this to be a place where others can share their story. Some stories will be like this one - pure joy! Others, might be about a faith step or a lesson learned. Either way, you will come away feeling like you just had a great chat with a new friend! This story also fits perfectly because we are hooking up today with Robynn @ Our Homeschool Home for her Weekly Grill Challenge. Enjoy...


I Would NEVER Homeschool! But Celebrity School...

My boys and I were driving in the car on our way to enrichment classes the other day when my oldest one started telling me all about the race car he was going to have in the future. How fast it was going to be, how it was going to look, how he was going to drive it on the street, not on a track, but that he wouldn't drive crazy, and then he said the sweetest thing... "And Eli can ride in the back, 'cause he's my best friend." I thought that was SO sweet! And it made me so thankful that I homeschool... so glad that they have extra time together.

You see, I didn't start off wanting to do it. In fact, when people asked me if I was going to homeschool (because I was a teacher by trade and most of my church friends did) I would always answer, "Absolutely............ NOT!" There was NO way I would ever homeschool! I need a break!

Then, last year, a friend at church asked if I homeschooled and I said, "NO WAY!" Her response made me scratch my head. She said, "I guess God hasn't laid that on your heart yet." huhhh?

Now, I'm not one to say anyone "should" be homeschooling or not homeschooling... you know how I feel about "should-ing." I feel strongly that parents need to look at their children's needs and learning styles as well as their needs and parenting styles to make a decision on what's best educationally for their children. Every child and parent is different. But this is what happened to us....

After a long strand of things, which I just spent a lot of time writing but were all erased with the mistaken push of some little button, I finally decided to try it. I admit I wasn't fond of the idea. I couldn't even say the "H" word for the longest time. It wasn't until I was talking with one of my neighbors and mentioned the fact that my husband was quitting his corporate job, and we were going to be able to travel with his photography business, and because of that we were going to "you know, the H word," that I finally came to grips with it. She said, "That's what the celebrities do." Wallah! I wasn't "weirdo homeschooling" I was "celebrity schooling!" I know that sounds strange, but I had made homeschooling out to be something those weird people do with those weird kids... this new view helped me rethink the whole issue. My children and I didn't have to be weird to homeschool, and we didn't have to be weird because we homeschooled! It's too bad homeschooling carries such a bad rap.

Now that I do it... I LOVE IT! We have been able to take a two week road trip up to New York in the fall, several little trips here and there, spend most Wednesdays with Poppy teaching Social Studies (who is coming over in a little bit to plant a garden with the boys) and, most importantly, we've been able to "just hang out" together. All of this has fostered a wonderful relationship between my boys. Enrichment classes and Wednesday playgroup/Bible study helps me get the break that I need and him to get the socialization he needs. The rest of the time we are learning together, in a modified Charlotte Mason style.... a lot of life learning, some book learning.

Now, I am SO thankful we've homeschooled this year. People ask me what I plan on doing at junior high and I say, "I'm homeschooling this year (first grade) and we'll see what happens next." I have no plans yet. I did sign my oldest one up for a full day of enrichment next year at his wonderful little "school." But, I will play each year as it comes.For now, I'll press on with "pulling teeth" in reading in order to foster sweet relationships in my children with each other, their family, and God. I'm glad He did lay it on my heart! ♥

Btw, I write this knowing homeschooling isn't for everyone... but if you have an inkling of desire, I'd encourage you to consider it for just a little while. It gave me comfort knowing that most schools accept students at any point during the year (and it gave my son motivation knowing that... ;) ). I won't say it's easy, but I can now look back at this year and say it's been worth it!

Thanks Michelle for spending time on The Porch! Now, go visit her:
Blog: Some Girl's Website
Twitter: @SomeGirlsTweets
Facebook: Some Girl's Website

And, find some more great recipe's with Robyn at Our Home School Home:



Looking Forward,
Stacey

Ultimate Blog Party & Coffee Awesomeness

Have you ever decided very last minute to join a party? What to wear? What to bring? Well, I am meeting up with some new friends to join the Ultimate Blog Party sponsored by 5MinutesforMom. They have over 1,000 blogs connected to this crazy event that lasts a whole week. Fortunately, I can attend in my mommy uniform of a casual t-shirt, jeans, and flip flops! But when I thought about what I wanted to share with all the other party goers, I just had to grab what I had on hand! So, here is today's original post, but it is super for this party! It has a great party drink for all you late night bloggers! Check out the Coffee Awesomeness below! And, as you read further down the post you will notice a link to a great article written by Problogger. A perfect for a house warming gift for every blogger! If you want to learn more about me, you can click here! I hope you enjoy your visit can come back soon!




Congratulations! You made it to Friday! Now, here is something that will make your weekend! I call it Coffee Awesomeness....

Ingredients:
8 cups of brewed coffee
1 can fat free sweetened condensed milk

Directions:
Mix it. Chill it. Serve over ice. Yum!


Next Friday, I will have another inspiring woman for The Friday Five! Her name is Cece and you will be blown away by her wisdom! Did you meet Beth our first Friday Five Woman? You can Click here and read about who inspires her! Meanwhile, are you a blogger? I just read this awesome article at Problogger, and I want to share it with you! It is called 13 Quick Tips To Make Your Blog Stand Out From the Crowd. Read it while you are sipping your Coffee Awesomeness Saturday morning. My husband and I are hard at work on a new blog home for 29 Lincoln Avenue! I can't wait to share it with you. You are going to love it! More on that later! Thank you so much for spending time with me this week. I love your comments and appreciate you stopping by. I hope you were encouraged. Have a super weekend!

Looking Forward,
Stacey


P.S. The Ultimate Blog Party also has great prizes! If you are not linking up as a blogger to the event, you can be eligible to win the prizes by leaving a comment at the Ultimate Blog Party website. If I were to win I would love:

#31 $20 Amazon Gift Certificate
#32 $25 to Target
#39 Hilton Garden 2 night stay

Or any of these awesome prizes will do! #40,#56 #74,#97! All amazing items!

Technology Blah Blah Blah

Technology is great when it works. But today, it has not been my friend. For some unknown reason, my blog was popping up a mysterious log in for my Twitter Account. As a result you were not able to actually read any of my posts. My super amazing husband was able to figure out the problem and it is now fixed. Whew! One down, one to go. Now, my email account keeps kicking me out and demanding me to enter in a password. Sometimes when I enter the password, it let's me access my email. At other times it rejects me. It reminds me of Soup Nazi. "No email for you!" Anyway, I'm pretty sure I should just call it a night and go bed. Super amazing husband has gone for a walk, so email will have to wait till morning.

I am so sorry if you were effected by the Twitter glitch. To make it up to you, I am going to share an awesome recipe with you. I made it for a lovely evening out with some neat women last night!

Take two dear friends...


Put them together like this....



And enjoy with a a drizzle of chocolate and a cup of decaf!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

1 brownie mix
Vegetable oil,egg, & water as called for on the brownie mix
1 pouch chocolate chip cookie mix
Butter and egg called for on the cookie pouch

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease bottom of 13 x 9 pan.
2. Make brownie mix and put in bottom of pan.
3. Make cookie mix and drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto brownie batter.
4. Press down lightly.
5. Bake 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from edge comes out clean.
6. Serve with drizzled chocolate.

Now, don't you feel better?
Looking Forward,
Stacey

Bauer Haus Coffee Cake & Giveaway Winner

Linking up with Chatting At The Sky today to show you a glimpse of home. Enjoy!



If you were here this morning, I would share a piece of this delicious cinnamon coffee cake. My husband and I discovered it at a lovely B&B in Harrodsburg, Kentucky many years ago.

Bauer Haus Coffee Cake

3/4 cup sugar
4 Tablespoons of applesauce
1 egg
1/2 cup skim milk
1 1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Streusel:
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons of flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 Tablespoons of butter

Preheat oven to 350.
Spray bottom of 9 inch pan.
Mix together Streusel topping and set aside.
Mix together sugar, applesauce, and egg. Stir in milk. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Stir until smooth. Spread half the batter in the pan and then cover with half of the streusel topping. Then repeat so you have another layer. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes. Of course serve warm with a cup of your favorite coffee.


The winner from the first Friday Five giveaway is Lori! Congratulations friend! I know your mom, and she is an inspiring woman of faith and courage! I think you will love this little book!
Looking Forward,
Stacey

P.S. Don't forget to stop by tomorrow and meet the first amazing Friday Five woman!

Check This Out for the New Year!

Here are a few things I have found that are great resources as you start the new year!

This blog is packed with great ideas. Currently, Molly is focusing on great and easy ways to organize your life. She also has tons of free downloads as well!

I love these super cute elastic bookmarks. This is a fun and easy craft projects that you and your kids can do! My daughter made them for Christmas gifts. While over at Whimsy love, look at her other amazing craft ideas. She is a genius!

I love a good bowl of soup and have I found the best one to share with you! My dear friend Robin, made this Italian Sausage Cheese Tortellini Soup for me in October when she came to visit. We ate some, froze some, and enjoyed it again after our baby was born. You need to stop now, go to the store and pick up these ingredients...mmmmm it is so very good! I found the recipe at allrecipes.com


Looking Forward,
Stacey