Random Recollections - An Afternoon with Esther

I had a very busy fun-filled Summer with many adventures worth blogging about.
And since I can't remember everything in perfect order, I figured the best way to share would be to just recall things at random when inspiration hits. :)

 Today I'm remembering an Sunday afternoon with my dear friend, Esther Dodd. She's fun, cheerful, mischievous. My favorite kind. ;)
After church we headed out to eat a scrumptious lunch at Olive Garden. SO good! We both got the soup and salad meal and enjoyed it immensely. She told me all about her trip to Africa (which you can read about here) and then we caught up on everything with each other.

After we finished eating we got the bill and with a pretty smile she said, "My treat!" I argued for a bit but then decided I could settle score with buying us something sweet later on.

We headed to a park to chill in the wonderful weather and continue our chatting. The day was seriously epic and I could have sat in that beautiful sunshiny mountain air for decades. We talked and talked then laid back to just enjoy the nature around us. I had really dressed up and the afternoon sun was reminding me more and more as each minutes went on. However, all my clothes were in the states and it wasn't really worth crossing the border and back for a shirt. Esther and I had just decided to go to her place to change when we sat up and behold! Someone we knew? Ah HA! It turns out more young people had decided to come to the park to hang out and play some volleyball. We said hello and then Esther and I went We stopped at the

Weirdest/coolest store ever. I guess like a Super Target - Canadian style? Anyways we had no trouble finding something modest, cute, and affordable. We got matching shirts and wore them proudly. :) Hehe.

We went back to the park and hung out for a while. Then we decided to head to the states. Beautiful weather, windows down, music on, singing. It was a blast. To finish the day off Sis Joy said Esther could stay the night with me. Ah, the fun continued.

I seriously had an amazing time with her. She's so fun and sweet and AH! I love her to pieces. 

Can't wait to see her in a couple of months! <3

Gluten Free Banana Bread

I've never made anything gluten free before but with wanting to lose some weight and all, I figured I'd try it out.
After looking and several different recipes online I just decided to play around and make up my own recipe.
They actually turned out really good and I wanted to share. :)

Trapper likes them too! ;)

Fred+Paula+Baby

Fred and Paula are an amazing young couple and expecting a little one any day now! My dad took them out to get some pictures and I tagged along to try out a few things myself. It was my first try at maternity pictures and they are still in the process of editing. However, here's a few to peak your interest until the rest are ready. ;)

Birthday Cake!

My niece is turning four today! We are heading to her little party half an hour or so. I made her a birthday cake! :D I always make her cakes. 

Last year she wanted a Hello Kitty cake and then this year when I asked her what she'd like and with a giggle she said, "Uhmmmm....a TIGER!" The first thought that went through my mind was, of all things...a TIGER?? I figured it would be very challenging but it was what she wanted and it was my job to make it happen. 

I stalked Pinterest for a few hours, looking at ideas. Fondant, fondant fondant! Yuck...I my other niece's birthday cake with fondant a few years ago. It was butterflies and the fondant was very UNappetizing and me being the way I am, I had spent hours forming each tiny detail. I was exhausted and NOT about to do it again. 

I finally gave up on Pinterest and brainstormed on my own. I thought, man...tiger stripes in the actual cake cake would be EPIC! I looked it up and it was possible. I was hyped and on a roll of inspiration then. I decided on the inside cake being striped and the outside....well? Here.

I drew out a few safari animals and a "4" on paper. Cut them out and found an epic sugar cookie recipe!

I traced around the paper to cut the dough then after they baked up I made a paint-like frosting and went to town "cookie painting". 

It's quite fun! :D Hahaha.

They turned out pretty good so I set them aside and I tried the tiger cake technique. Worked pretty good....I think. I'll find out for sure tonight when we cut cake slices. :p (So stay tuned for the birthday party pictures!!)

Now with making cakes in the past...they were good but....I have always had frosting issues. They all seemed hard to work with and I really didn't want to deal with that again so again...I checked Pinterest. Chocolate Whipped Buttercream Frosting. Hmm, it sounded good and after looking it over, I decided, yes. I do believe I will try this one.

BEST DECISION OF THE MONTH!!

This frosting is the best frosting in the whole world!!! I'm not even joking. Heavenly texture, phenomenal taste, and a DREAM to work with.

This has become my official chocolate frosting, why try anything else when you have perfection! :D

I'm VERY happy with how this turned out and check out those animal print candles! EPIC!! :D Hahaha, now for taking it and cutting it and tasting it. Wish us luck! ;)

The Archery Exploit

I puzzled and puzzled about what it could be. But I never would have guess it was an evening at an archery range! Boy, oh boy!!
I was hyped. My very first time shooting a bow and arrow. I failed completely at the compound and ended up using a recurve.

It was much easier for sure. I had a great teacher too! Bro Willie has been shooting ever since he was a tiny little tyke. :) He taught me how to aim and do all that bow and arrow stuff.

I got this deer pretty good. Hahaha ;)

After practicing on the deer, I started shooting at a target. One shot got super close to the bulls eye and I was determined to get it perfect. Fred chose that moment to pull out the video camera. Behold, my first arrow beside my dead center. Woot! Woot!

Paula was much stronger than me and could manage the compound just perfectly. Hahaha, I guess I need to work out more. :p

A BIG thanks to Fred for the epic surprise. I had a GREAT time! :D

Philip and Melissa

I woke up super early on July 4th, 2013. The house was silent and the light out my window was that soft sleepy light the sun gives as it's just peeking over the horizon. I remember laying my head back into those epic feather pillows, smiling up at the white ceiling and thinking about how stunning Melissa would look in her wedding dress. How handsome Phil would be. They were the most amazing couple ever and I had never been more excited about a wedding before. I just knew the day would be perfection.

I cleared away the dreamy, sleepy mood and jumped out of bed to checked on my dress hanging in the closet. Eeek! I had forgotten to iron it. I ironed it quickly then remembered Sis Joy had B&B guests! I finished getting ready then went out to see if I could help. She had everything under control of course. She's simply wonderful, that's what.

I waited for Charity to come over, for we had made plans that I'd go with her to the wedding then then out to the camp afterwards. While I waited I went over my things to make sure I had packed enough for everything. I was just finishing and she showed up and we headed out. Arriving at the church I began to get all giggly. I was SO excited. We had to take our seats quickly cause we were a bit late. Sitting and waiting for the ceremony to start took forever. I kept wishing time would hurry to when the beautiful Melissa would come down the aisle and when it finally happened I couldn't keep from crying. She was stunning and I loved her SO much. But Phil....his expression as he played the guitar. I got chills. It was the most amazing beautiful thing to see. They were so in love and so happy. I could have just jumped up and down with excitement. I want that same happiness to surround me on MY wedding day. <3

The wedding was perfectly amazing. Tiffany was the maid of honor and she did great! I knew she was about to cry a couple of times but she hid it well. Her big beautiful smile and sparkling eyes. She was almost as pretty as the bride. It was a magical day in all and I was dreamy about it for weeks afterwards.

An Aquatic Adventure with the Mansfields

So last week I stayed a few days with Fred and Paula. A fun cute couple with a baby on the way.....MY baby.
I have dibs on the little fellow. So any locals reading this -

BACK OFF ;)

(....no, seriously....)

Anyways...moving on! So our first adventure was kayaking. I had never been and so it was an extremely exciting thing.

We started off with Paula and me in a kayak and then Fred in his own. I had a terrible time of figuring how to paddle. We seemed to be on the verge of flipping every other second...

We stopped and ate our lunch. It started raining but our sandwiches only tasted more adventurous sprinkled with the raindrops. :) I had just finished my sandwich and I looked down to see this little guy. Cutest Horseshoe Crab I'VE ever seen.

Paula held him too!!

We let the little guy go and as he swam off Fred videoed him so I figured I'd share. :)

Then I saw this baby jelly fish....yeah, wasn't gonna pick him up with my bare hands so I used my paddle. :p

We set off again switching spots. Fred joined Paula on her kayak and I went on my own. It was MUCH easier on the red kayak. Great fun! We tried to go onto a sandbar but just as we were almost there, a storm came up and we rushed to get back to the shore. THAT was interesting. Paddling into the waves, getting blown to the side, distant thunder and rain. Great cardio workout though. I was WIPED out when we finally got to shore. A minute after we were off the kayaks it dumped buckets. Paula and I ran for the bathrooms to get changed and by the time I got inside I was soaked through! Gotta love Florida downpours. :)

iPhones have some pretty cool apps. Fred had this tracking app going the whole time we kayaked so I could show y'all where we went. 

Just follow the yellow path. ;) Grey is land and the other colors I guess are for different depths of the water.

It was a very epic afternoon and I was exhausted. We all slept great that night for sure and I can't wait to go again! :)