Our DC Trip

Heights Christian Junior High 8th grade at the White House

It's hard to believe that a month ago today, we were on the last leg of our AMAZING 12-day Washington DC/East Coast trip! We started in Virginia and went to places like Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg. Then, we went to Washington DC and if you've never been there, I suggest you go! Pictures just don't do justice to the majesty of the place!

Me and Matthew @ the World War II Memorial in DC

We saw pretty much everything we could see in DC (even went over to Annapolis in Maryland). After that, we stopped at Gettysburg and then Philadelphia. You can really appreciate this country and all that was done to make it what it is today when you visit all of these places.

Me, Matthew & the boys atop the Empire State Building.

We ended the trip in New York City - Lion King, Ground Zero, pizza, shopping @ Times Square, the Empire State Building, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Awesome!

Thanks to everyone for their prayers and support. I will cherish EVERY memory of the trip - especially because I got to share it with Matthew and some other really special kids!

xoxo,
Julie

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter Everyone!

May you be blessed and all of your

chocolately bunny dreams come true!

xoxo,

Julie

Our BIG Trip

Matthew and I are getting ready for the

BIG 8th grade Washington DC Trip.

We leave on March 9th and will be gone until March 21st.

We will be going to places like Jamestown, Williamsburg and Monticello, Arlington Cemetery, Washington Monument, the Pentagon, Gettysburg, Amish Country, and NYC! It's a LONG, FULL trip, but we are all looking forward to it!

While we are preparing (and while we're gone), there are a few things that we could use prayer/happy thoughts for:

• safe/smooth travel (especially in the air)
• good health for us AND our entire group (151 people)
• perfect weather (NO rain)
• that we are chosen to tour the White House
• perfect-little 8th grade angles
• happy parents
• wisdom for our leaders/directors
• I would be a great chaperone for Matthew and the other two boys in our room
• everything would go smoothly back home while we're gone
• strong friendships and bonds would be formed
• God would richly bless the students on this trip

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!
Can't wait to share stories and pictures from our trip!

xoxo,
Julie

Cupcakes, Cupcakes, Cupcakes!!

I've been bakin' up a storm in my little

Valentine-Cupcake kitchen!!!

This one is a chocolate-cherry cupcake with

cherry-almond buttercream covered in

chocolate and a cherry on top!

Check out my other cupcakes on my new blog:

Hey Cupcake

Happy Valentine's Day!!

xoxo,

Julie

Lost in the Quake

On January 8th, there was a 6.5 earthquake in Eureka, California. My parents, my brother and his family, as well as several friends were effected by the quake. We are so thankful that the damage was nowhere near the devastation suffered in Haiti, however, my parents still suffered loss and damage.

The house is still in shambles. A broken toilet in the upstairs bathroom caused major water damage. Now they only have one toilet (downstairs) and very noisy dehumidifiers and fans going 24 hours a day in both bathrooms to dry things out. There are also holes in the ceiling in the dining room because of the damage. They also had broken windows, cracks in the walls and the house shifted from it's foundation. They are getting estimates from 2 or 3 contractors to put things back together, but the repairs will not be quick. Mom said, "Oh the joys of living in a 105 year old house!!!"

The pantry and cupboards in the kitchen emptied in the quake. Among the broken dishes, smashed into a million pieces, was mom's set of Colonial Homestead china. My grandma had given them to her and she had just recently gotten rid of her everyday dishes and decided to start using this set.

Mom has been able to replace a few pieces via ebay. I think the search has kept her mind off of everything else. I'll be keeping an eye out for more at flea markets, yard sales and antique malls. I would LOVE to replace and add to her set. So all of my thrifty-shopper friends, while you're out and about, you keep an eye out too. Let me know if y'all find any.

xoxo,

Julie

First Cupcake of 2010

There's Chocolate in My Peanut Butter!

Triple Chocolate Surprise Cupcake
(the surprise is a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup)
with Fluffernutter Buttercream and chocolate drizzle

You're gonna need a tall, ice cold glass of milk too!

YUMMO!!

xoxo,
Julie

"Be Mine" Valentine Swap

Happy 2010 y'all!!

I just wanted to let you know about my first swap of the new year...

Be Mine VE Swap

Sign-up Deadline: January 14, 2010

Send Deadline: February 5, 2010

Let's spread the LOVE!

We're swappin' at least:

ONE handmade item

THREE Valentine inspired/thrifted items

ONE embellished candy box (any size) filled with ephemera

and maybe a little something sweet

Come on by and sign up!

xoxo,

Julie

scrappyjessi's cookie exchange

I found the recipe for theese YUMMY little gems on FoodNetwork.com! ENJOY!!!

Swedish Christmas Cookies

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup unsalted butter, (2 sticks), at room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Colored sanding sugars or chopped toasted pecans

Directions:
Whisk the flour, cardamom, and salt in a bowl.
Put the butter and confectioners' sugar in a food processor, and process until smooth. Pulse in the egg, vanilla, and lemon zest until combined. Add the flour mixture and process to make a soft buttery dough. Divide dough in half onto 2 (12-inch long) sheets of plastic wrap, using the plastic, shape into rough logs. Refrigerate the dough logs for 30 minutes until just firm enough to shape into uniform logs, 8-inches long by 2-inches in diameter. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Scatter either the sanding sugars or toasted nuts on a work surface and roll the logs until completely coated. Cut into 1/4-inch thick cookies and space about 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until golden around the edges, about 20 to 25 minutes. Cool cookies on the pan on wire racks. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Yield: about 3 1/2 dozen cookies

Stop by scrappyjessi's and see all of the other yummy cookies!

Happy Holidays!

xoxo,

Julie