A Ladies' Tea Cake

Well, if you are like me and you live in a world where laundry always needs to be done, the baby does cry, things get stressful, hubby has a demanding job, and weeds grow in your driveway, and above all this you are trying to keep a good devotional life going, only to be disturbed at least once during your prayer time....then like me you like to get away for a few moments and chat about the silly things of life with a few of your girlfriends.
So this being the case in my life, I had been invited for a ladies' tea and I was supposed to bring the cake. Since I am NOT a cake decorator (and the hostess said the tea was to be fancy), since I DON'T have time to spend hours baking, and since I hope to present something that is tasty, this is what I settled on - Pistachio Cake. Ugh, you might say, but you really aught to try it before you place judgment upon it:)

As you can see from my pictures (I have to do a LOT of editing to make it look pretty), the icing sets quickly so slap it on and don't fret if it is not quite perfect, it still tastes good:) Also, I have found that those pretty little chocolate leaves make you look like a genius even though they really are ridiculously easy:) Just find some leaves from outdoors (please check online to see that they aren't poisonous:). Wash them, coat them with some Crisco, spoon a medium layer of melted chocolate dip on them, chill them in the fridge, and then ever so gently remove them and place on your cake. I just melt about 1/4 cup choc. chips with a tablespoon of Crisco to make my dip.
I also like to use edible flowers as a finishing touch. Cheap and easy. I just soak them in vinegar water to remove nasty lil' bugs, you can then rinse with fresh water, and shake remaining water out of them or pat dry.
So hear is the Pistachio Cake Recipe. You should give it a try:)

(See my cake isn't even on a pretty plate 'cause I was going to walk to the tea. So a cake carrier was much more reasonable, and look you can even see my cake through the icing. So don't be discouraged if your life isn't perfect either. Just enjoy it and focus on what matters most:)

Pistachio Cake
White Cake Mix   1
Instant Pistachio Pudding (4serving)   1
Large Eggs   4
Cooking Oil   1/2cup
Club Soda   1cup

Combine and beat smooth. Place in greased food tube pan. Bake at 350 for about 50minutes. Let stand for about 15minutes and then turn out onto rack to cool. Cool completely before icing.

Pistachio Icing:
Envelope Dessert Topping   1
Mild   1/2cup

Beat until soft peaks form.

Instant Pistachio Pudding Powder (4serving)   1
Milk   1/2cup

Add to dessert topping mixture and beat until smooth. Then apply to cake.

Welcome Night at PBVI 2011

PVBI Welcome Night was a lot of fun this year. The brass trio, Proclaim, played a few songs out on the ball field. They did a great job:) Khloe who is very fond of her PR friends just had to be with Kathryne, and when some of her friends were put on teams. She just knew that she was supposed to go out to the field with them. Khloe thought the whole balloon idea was pretty cool as well! After the balloon launch we had a couple games of softball, followed by some fun activities, and Root Bear Floats in the Miller Dining Center.

Khloe's Car

Khloe is very fond of her "new" car. She loves to climb in and out, sometimes through the door and sometimes through ...or tries....to go though the window. She likes to put her "junk" in the back cubby, and make car noises as she "drives" down the road.

Our Vacation!

Well, when we got back this summer after all our travels...that is Kent logged 10,000miles, 60 days, and 21 states....our trailer was in need of some TLC. I know it is just a trailer, but let me tell you after campin' out in small lil' campmeeting rooms all summer, it feels like a palace!:)

....Anyways, earlier this spring tornado like winds had de-skirted our trailer and over the summer many weeds had grown, etc. So one day Kent's mom and dad and sister, Susie, came over and helped us make our place presentable. No, it is definitely not elaborate now, but it sure does seem nice.

We put in a couple "flower beds." Seeing as we are gone so much we figured the least weed growth possible the better!

I am so excited at the way these mums are starting to open up. Autumn is such a wonderful time of year, and mums are such a must during this season!

Daddy's lil' helper...I think:) ...So like I said not a mansion,...but then again, what makes a mansion?....love, joy, peace, and the Lord....if those are the ingredients then I think I live in a mansion!

............AND...........

We added something to just give it that finished look!:)

Mommy has lots of nice shoes

Maybe there is girlyness in there after all. This has become a new fad to wear Mommy's shoes. They make such neat sounds when you walk....clunk, clunk.