Macarons.. dang cookies

So I have come across Macarons lately in the wonderful world of the world wide web, and thought you know those would be so much fun. I consider myself to be a pretty good baker, its one of the few things that I have more confidence in and feel that I really can't mess up too badly. I attribute that to working at Gygi's and helping to solve others problems that they have, so of course I have to try things out to help problem-solve. Bakerella put them on a stick, which I thought would be a great idea for Candace's shower favor.

That was until I came across the Macaron. Its not the coconut cookie type, but a fluffy Meringe based cookie-no flour, just egg whites, sugar (lots of sugar), almonds, and some flavor and color. Simple i thought.

I had the right supplies, my food processor, mixer and of course my silpat. LOVE LOVE LOVE that thing, if you do not have one, come chat with me. Nothing, I repeat Nothing, sticks to it. The bake cookies perfectly and makes clean up the best!

I carefully piped out the cookies all to the right size, I had such high hopes for the dears at this point.

After resting for about 20 minutes, they started to lose their shine and look a little dull, exactly what was suppossed to happen.

I tried 4 different batches, each turned out SO differently.... the pistachio turned out best but still not, I repeat NOT, what they were supposed to be.

Although they were not what I was expecting, they tasted really good, pistachio, orange cream and strawberry. So I filled them up, with chocolate ganace and mango ganache and served them anyways.......

Didn't seem to stop anyone unless they knew they were suppossed to look like this:

Dang that bakerella and all those other bloggers out there who made it look so easy. I will attempt again, and maybe master the macaron. Until then.... check this ladies out, they are much much better! Bakerella
and Happy Hour

I really tried out both recipes, the Happy Hour recipe was the best but that could be that egg whites hate me. Try them out have fun and if all else fails, go see Romina {i love her} at Les Madeleines.

She will make your heart melt with her delicious treats.

Candi Andi's Babyshower

My little sister Candace is having a baby. We are so excited, the end of April cannot get here soon enough. She is having a girl, and might {if we can convince Grant that it is not a dog name} name her Josie. love it.

We had a fun family shower, and got some pictures. I had a sleeping Milo in my arms and didn't get many pictures but we had a great great time. Thank you to all the family that made it, we have a wonderful family that supports us in so many ways. We love you all!

Ellen and Chloe

Lynn and Grandma Foote

My best friend Ella Grace.

What's a baby shower without a quilt? Thanks Grandma Foote, you are the best! Seriously, this lady can do anything. If it has to do with food, fabric, a garden, and a home, she can do it { and so so so much more!}

I love her hands, they tell such a story!

Apparently someone made Staci sad....

...And Saige? Must have been me.... oops.

So many fun and great presents! Just what this babe needed!

Sometimes boys come {in the form of our Dad and Grant ~the soon to be Daddy}!

Candace and Ella, funny girls!And what would a true McDonald Party be without FOOD! We love everything about it! Connie you are amazing, you do such good work!

Even Ella loves the treats, sorry Bonnie, that is how we are such good best of friends.


Thanks to everyone again, I just realized we got pictures of NO ONE but us {mostly because Milo woke up at the end and then I had time to take them, sorry} but we had fun being with our family!

Love you Candace and Grant and Babe. We cannot wait to see you!

Happy Green Day

Happy Green Day! {Saige has a hard time remembering "St Patrick's Day" So she shortened it to Happy Green Day!}

Last night we told her that leprechauns might come during the night and surprise her. She would not fall asleep, she made sure her room was spotless, and since her walls are already green that her room would be ready for the leprechauns when they come. { secretly i was so excited for her, I love her excitement with all things!}

I guess you can blame my Mother for this, but Holiday's were fun and a big deal at our house, and its is something I will always remember as a child so OF course we are passing fun holiday things with our kids.

Last night our house was visited by Leprechauns that made footprints all over our house, across pictures, the fridge, the mirrors and glass doors. Saige could not believe he made it all over and no one heard or saw him! Along the way he must have had a hole in his bag cause he dropped gold coins EVERYWHERE!

He must have helped himself to our food, as our milk some how turned Green!

He then sent us on a wild chase to try and catch him in our house with a fun message on the mirror...

Our Stops:

After a long and tiring search, with several stops to eat the chocolate in the gold coins ~mostly for Milo~ we made it to the end

No Leprechaun but we found our GOLDEN TREASURE!!!

Hope everyone has a great St.Patrick's Day, we have a fun filled day of making sugar cookies, and maybe spending some time with our Mimi, and hopefully take advantage of the nice weather out there! And hopefully getting Milo away from all the chocolate......

UP UP and AWAY...

I had every intention of posting these pictures, and for some reason had convinced myself that I had. But better late than never here are Milo's birthday pictures. He had a super party with our family! He is in love with UP and we had a great time recreating our friends on UP.

{if you have yet to see the movie, please stop by, Milo and Saige will kindly watch it with you, and the best part they have it memorized so you can hear it twice!}

Our Milo Boy, dressed as Russell.

Birthday cake, Milo loved helping to make it, I was suprised that there was frosting still on the cake when the party started!
Mr. Fredrickson pins, turned out great! And they were not that hard to make! Thanks Matt for making me the picture!

yes we have a good family!! They were ALL kind enough to dress the part. We have Kevins, Mr. Fredricksons and Russells. {dont mind the two kevin's in the back!}

Gramps dressed as Russell, thrilled I am sure. What a trooper, and Milo loved it!

Banka and Mimi dressed as Kevin and Russell, great blackmail right!?!

Con and Ty kindly came down from Logan, we LOVED having them here, and they both dont mind dressing up!

jake and macy

adam and aatalie {milo has started calling Adam Aatalie, who knows why it could be cause of his size haha}

Candi Andi and Grant, the glasses turned out to be a bit like burglars.

Ella Grace, fixated on something!! Lovely version of Russell!

Aunt Pete dressed as Kevin

Stac and Milo, his most favorite girl in this whole wide world. Any time Staci is around he will only talk to her. Always says "hey stac, did you see that!?" he loves his stac

Coast dressed up, loving it so much!matt's brothers josh and nate

Nate, Shana and Coasten gave Milo pringles (frank chips) and orange juice. HE WAS SOO EXCITED!!!


I have more pictures, more of everyone else. But they are on my Dad's camera, will get those later.

THANKS TO EVERYONE who came, we have been so blessed to have a huge family that supports us in everyway! Thanks for the gifts and for coming to Milo's party! WE LOVE YOU ALL!!

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY MILO!!

Happy Birthday MILO!!!

Happy Second Birthday my Milo boy. You are the funniest kid, and we are so happy to have you in our family!

Some of the things we love most about you:

-"big boy" attitude

-love for orange juice

- your love and patience with your sister, that is a special talent all in itself

-your GREAT head of hair that is by far the best in the house

-your sensitive heart

-your brave heart, you can trip, smack your head on the wall, roll over and jump right up and laugh

-how proud you are of your self when you sleep in your big boy bed

-willingness to share, wants to make sure EVERYONE has the same treat he has

-his love for all of us, each very unique but we feel very loved by our BIG BOY MILO!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, fun pictures to come of his small but very "up" party!!

LOVE YOU