Love.

this was suppose to be for my fashion post on wednesday but i could not wait until then to share it with you all! isn't he handsome! i will post more photos wednesday along with where all his clothes/accessories are from!

TRES LECHES CAKE....

...is to.die.for!

this is the best cake you will ever eat! tres leches means "better than the better than sex cake" in spanish. ;)

here is the recipe exactly how i make it.

Tres Leches Cake


1 box Pillsbury White Cake Mix
1 1/4 cups water
1 tablespoon oil
2 teaspoons mexican vanilla
4 eggs
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 cup evaporated milk
4 cups whipping cream 

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease and flour or spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan.
2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan.
3. Bake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan. Let stand 5 minutes. Poke top of hot cake every 1/2 inch with long-tined fork, wiping fork and running under hot water.
4. In large bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and 1 cup of the whipping cream. Carefully pour evenly over top of cake. Cover; refrigerate about 1 hour or until mixture is absorbed into cake (I personally think this cake tastes better the day after its been made. I always make mine at least 3-4 hours before severing). 
5. Whip the rest of the whipping cream with about 2-3 tablespoons of sugar until stiff peaks from. Frost the cake. I like to sprinkle cinnamon on top but Mick likes strawberries. You pick! Store covered in refrigerator.

Makes 15 servings

 kenny was playing so happily and contently in the dirt, ignoring me when i called his name until...he saw the cake. i have never seen that kid run as fast as he did to get to the cake!

even in the shade i could not get him to keep his eyes open when he took a bite. haha. we would take a bite and then say "mmmm!".  yeah...it's that good!

note the dirt all around his lips...

a post from Kenny...

kmikkkjmnm  bhasdfb bb  bbbb b bbb bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb3C.W.ER';DL.434E  hfiuk   m,      au7

kenny is so funny these days! his personality is so much fun and i love how much he makes mick and i laugh!

he loves raspberries

he loves doing his daily chores, dusting his toy shelf, sweeping the kitchen, and helping mama vacuum.

he puts himself to bed.

he doesn't like to share with other kids but will share everything and anything with an adult.

he hears a beat, he WILL shake his booty!

later today i will be sharing with you one of my very favorite recipes! tomorrow will be a tutorial, and on wednesday a fashion post! 

fun things are happening over here! be excited!

Etsy Treasury

i created my first treasury on etsy! i am already addicted. i think i may make this a sunday blog tradition.

this weeks treasury features my favorite patterned tapes and hand embroidery.

enjoy!

to see the full treasury go {here}

Our Vegas Vacation

our first stop of was of course the fountains at the belagio! amazing!

in front of new york new york

our hotel! we stayed in the vdara, a spa/hotel. it is one of the only hotels in vegas that doesn't have a cassino or smoking. it was lovely! our room was big, the bathroom alone was probably the size our bedroom at home! haha. we loved our stay there!

just losing money at the slot machines. :( we lost a whole 11 dollars...

mick chilaxin' at planet hollywood restaurant.

 going to see Cirque Du Soliel! "O" MY GOODNESS!!! this is by far the best show i have ever seen! i was on the edge of my chair the whole time.

 Hoover Dam

our last drive down the strip until our next visit to vegas

freemont street

we drove through zion national park on our way home. it was lovely! i was pleasantly surprised.

we had such a great trip! it was our first time being away from kenny for so long. we missed him more than we ever imagined possible but we didn't have to worry about him and that was nice. 

our favorite part of vegas was definitely going to see "O". my other favorite part was that mick refused to let go of my hand where ever we went. i loved walking hand in hand with my husband. he makes me so dang happy and i am so grateful that he is a part of my life!  

HELLO FROM VEGAS!

i am sitting in my amazing hotel room looking out at the lights of vegas. it.is.incredible!

this is my first trip to vegas and it has been so much fun! i have loved every minute of it. the hotels are breathtaking, the shopping has been awesome, and the company perfect! (yay for being married to mick swenson!!)

we have done a million things these past few day and i will post all about it with pictures as soon as our vacation is all the way over. i am excited to get back to my sweet boy. i miss him so much! 

until next time...

Sew-vivor Final Round: PLEATS

Okay, Mick and I are out of town this week and I simply cannot be at the computer all day promoting my project this week. i truly think it is pretty awesome. i worked hard at it and it deserves to win! i would love  your vote and if you would help me promote my project and get some votes! i am already behind by nearly 200 votes! AHHHH!

here is what i did! i wont be able to add more photos today due to being out of town but i hope these will do! please please vote for me!

go {HERE} to vote. i am contestant #3.

OH.MY!

i have never sewn anything that involved pleats. i had to figure it out on my own and it was definitely hard at first but once i got the hang of it i enjoyed it very much. i may have fallen in love...

i found this fabric several weeks ago and i had to have it! i knew immediately what i wanted to do with it!

after researching this springs top trends, i was able to incorporate many of them into the outfit that i made for this weeks challenge.

pleats.stripes.metallic.maxi skirt.mint green.

i love this pleated skirt because the shiny, silk and chiffon stripes allow you to dress it up for a nice event by simply putting it with a pretty embellished blouse (made by me!) and a pair of gold sparkly heels!
or you can dress it down with a pair of wedges, t-shirt, some bright chunky jewelry, and a big sun hat (pictures of this outfit will be coming later on my blog)!
the creamy silk/crepe blouse is a simple boxy top with a vintage (1930's) gold, metallic embellishment.
i was inspired by {this} skirt and {this} shirt. please note the prices on these babies! yeah...

um...

yesterday i had 61 followers, today only 60.

to the one who decided to not follow along with my little ol' blog anymore, i am sorry to see you go!

to the rest of my followers, new and old, thank you so much for following along! i am so happy to have you along for the ride!

much love,

me

someday...

i will be able to focus.

i have so many hopes and dreams for this blog, for my etsy shop, for my home, for my wardrobe, heck for life in general.

i have so many things on my plate right now, how do i get organized? ahhhhh!

one thing at a time. i have a couple of orders to finish, this sewing competition to finish AND WIN!! and a vacation to enjoy. then i will be cutting back, organizing, and getting focused.

i won't be doing photography...i'm not that great at it anyways. i won't be doing sewing competitions...i'm not good with pressure. i won't be comparing my blogging to others...it only makes things worse.

i have a new blog design underway, a giveaway in the process of being put together, and a week of fashion, a week of tutorials and a week of recipes!

keep in touch! i love comments!

STRESS!

that is the number one word i would use to describe this sew-vivor competition. i am so excited that it is almost ever. i have definitely had lots of fun! i have loved the challenges. especially this weeks. today, rachel left the polls open for us to see. i think it's way worse than keeping them closed. i think...

for the past several hours...like all freaking day actually, i have been fight super closely with 3rd place. it's beyond frustrating. i need to keep reminding myself that this is just a competition and that it wont be the end of the world if i don't make it to the last round. that doesn't really help. hahaha. aw man...i only cried twice today.

and just to be clear i am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GRATEFUL for all the votes and for my friends and family who have shared this with their friends and who have been so supportive! i cannot say thank you enough!

this is my first and last competition like this. i can't handle the pressure!! ;)

if you have a moment please go vote for me at familyeverafterblog.com {here}. i am contestant #5. i would greatly appreciate it. AND if you have another moment share it with your friends. force them to vote, they will probably forgive you a day or two... hehe.

love me

one year ago and today

i never blogged about kenny's baby blessing that took place exactly one year ago today! it was a very very special day for us! 

  if you're interested in knowing more about baby blessings go {here}.

mick was the one to give kenny a name and blessing. it was so beautiful, even though kenny cried through the whole thing...and he NEVER cried. he was hungry...of course.

Kenneth Robert Swenson

-blessed with a mind filled with light and the ability to discern between light and darkness and to understand the value of virtuous living.

-blessed with a healthy body and strong bones and the ability to resist the bacteria's and hardships of life.

-blessed with the gift of empathy and to be able to recognize the needs of others and be able to dedicate your life to service.

-blessed with a strong will and a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and the ability to recognize the spirit.

-blessed with a good sense of humor so that offenses will wash off easily

-blessed with a sense of logic and judgement

-blessed to be valiant and strong in service of Jesus Christ

he was told to "press forward in life's trials"

i am still so grateful that my family was able to come and enjoy that beautiful spring day with me, mick, and mick's family! we went to church and then played outside with the babe and some adorable little kittens my sisters found. they (my sisters) are animal whispers. fact.

*happy sigh* 

we sure do love our boy! he has been the biggest joy of our lives these past 13 1/5 months!

he makes mick and i laugh every.single.day. 

he is always so smiley and happy! 

he is silly. 

he loves to dance and actually has rhythm! 

he loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and gummy bears more than any other "food".

he brings me his blankie when he is ready for bed.

he gives showers mick and i with kisses every day.

he would spend ALL DAY in the stroller going for a walk if i would let him!

he sings and says "no".

he plays but mostly fights over toys with chaz on a daily basis.

he is 28.2 pounds and 32.5 inches tall.

he has the biggest brown eyes and fullest kissy lips, which often makes people think he is a girl...even though he is obviously dressed in boys clothes.

today we had to take kenny to doctors because he fell and hit his eye on the coffee table and cut it open. 

a. it really wasn't that serious. 

b. it still scared me. 

c. he didn't have to get stitches!!!

we didn't get very many smiles out of him after our traumatic eventful afternoon. he did smile when i gave him a gummy bear though. haha.