Thursday, February 28, 2013

Snowshoeing

Hello! I was sitting at the computer trying to remember what I was going to post today but I couldn't remember. So I started looking through all of my photos and found all my snowshoeing pictures from Friday! Yay for snowshoeing by candlelight...



Very beginning of the trail, about 5:50



Candle, 6:05



Tiki torches for the cross country skiing path, 6:15

I have finally jumped on the moon textures train! Loving it although I think this photo is too halloweeny? 6:30
Texture Credit to Anna Lenabem.


Silhouettes,  6:38


Snowshoes, 6:41

Creepy Little Building, 6:50

The times by each picture were so you could see about how long it took me to finish a 3 mile trail. But the times are not all going to be right, because they are mostly guesses!

It was a really fun night, we started out by driving the hour or so drive listening to Christina Aguilera.
Then went snowshoeing for about 2 hours. 
Then we went to Olive Garden (so good!) basically for free because I had a gift card from coaching soccer. 
Then we went grocery shopping and went home.

I make it seem like a really short night but it wasn't and was really fun!





Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprises

YUM! If you saw my SHS post this weekend you know that I was looking forward to posting this recipe.
And the day is finally here! I want to get right to it so you can hopefully go make them!




Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus more for rolling)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter, divided  into 3/4 and 1/4
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used extra)
1 egg
3/4 cup powdered sugar


1. Mix 3/4 cup powdered sugar and 3/4 cup peanut butter until fluffy and combined. Roll small balls and freeze on a cookie sheet.

2. Preheat oven to 375.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. 

4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together sugars, butter and 1/4 cup of peanut butter until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and egg, beating to combine. Stir in the flour mixture and stir to combine, blending well. Set aside.

5. Pull off a heaping tablespoon of cookie dough and flatten with your hands. Take 1 peanut butter ball and place it in the center of the chocolate dough. Wrap the chocolate dough around the peanut butter center, pressing to seal. Roll the cookie into a ball and roll the cookie in the sugar. Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet 2 inches apart. Using the bottom of a glass, flatten each cookie to about a 1/2 inch thickness.
(note if you let the peanut butter balls freeze completely you will most likely not be able to successfully flatten them.)

6. Bake in preheated oven for 7 to 9 minutes. Let stand on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack.

Recipe adapted from Sweet Pea's Kitchen

Rating 5 stars. These were AMAZING!


Kleinworth & Co., your best weekly button, DIY sharing, project sharing, recipe sharing, weekly Wednesday blog link up

The Self Sufficient HomeAcre




Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Golden

Hello! So today I used Kim's tutorial on how to add a soft gradient color. And I found it so easy and am looking forward to using it again!


I once again found myself brave enough to have a photo shoot with Dixie. Until she scratched me, then I left because I am so not going to be nice if you are going to claw me 
(which I don't like). But I definitely got some good photos (which is all that matters right? :P)! I also just realized that I shared a photo of her exactly one week ago...
I used Kim Klassen's texture Sybil from the Downton Collection





Also, I would love for any of you to link up to Inspired Tuesday!
No matter what your post topic is feel free to link up!
HERE is a easy peasy link where you link up your post!



Inspired Tuesday ~ Week 3


What is Inspired Tuesday?

Each Tuesday Not So Ugly Ducklings hosts Inspired Tuesday along with two awesome co-hosts Dawn's Disaster and Peanut Butter and Jelly, where we offer up a free printable with some encouraging words.
Me and my co-hosts believe that any post written can inspired someone else, whether it is a personal story, a photography, a recipe.. whatever, so I invite everyone to link up their posts no matter the topic.

The rules are simple:

1) Follow Not So Ugly DucklingsDawn's Disaster and Peanut Butter and Jelly  in any way of your choosing.
2) It would be nice if you added the Inspired Tuesday button to your post, or even just a link back to the link-up.
3) Try to visit others and be inspired!

That's it.

Here is the button if you would like it:

<div align="center"><a href="http://notsouglyducklings.blogspot.com/" title="Not So Ugly Ducklings"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh540/sommerfugldesign/inspired-tuesday-button_zpsa22cc19f.png" width="150" alt="Inspired Tuesday" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

I am sorry but there is no free printable this week. I am in the middle of moving and wasn't able to find the time to make one. However here are some words of Inspiration:


If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son! 

By Rudyard Kipling

Saturday, February 23, 2013

SHS 2.23.13.

I am so tired. Definitely not enough energy to dance along with Eye of The Tiger again... Lets get right to the hunt!


If you have been following me for a very long time you remember this photo. I used it back in May 2013.
When I saw scrub-a-dub I thought of bubbles and so I am digging into my archives and taking this bubbles shot for the prompt...
Scrub-A-Dub

So today, I made some cookies that have been on my bookmarks bar for almost a year. And they were DELISH! And I will be sharing the recipe here on Wednesday... I am currently getting ready to eat a few more :)
Getting Ready
Last night my mom and I had a bit of a ladies night, and it was lots of fun! We went to Olive Garden, and it was totally delicious and this is what I got... You can find out all the details of my night later this week!
Time To Eat
It was playtime for me when we went snowshoeing...did I mention that the trail was candlelit?
Playtime
Yes I am aware that this photo is super duper grainy. But since it was dark out I couldn't really get a good picture without my tripod. There was a spooky building near the end of the trail which gave me the chills. And with all of the Supernatural I watch I can imagine some pretty creepy things. Definitely won't give me sweet dreams...
Sweet Dreams





Serenity you


Weekly Top Shot #71




Breathe

I was able to get outside and breathe, I haven't been able to get out there in awhile so it was nice to see what little color there is. I took lots of macros but here are just a few...









Nurture Photography Autumn 2012 Photo Challenge


Have you been outside lately?



Thursday, February 21, 2013

3 of the Same

Hello! This has to be a quick one, I have an important practice with a new team!  This post contains 3 photos of the same sunset at different times. Take a look :)



Start

15 mins later

8 mins later

 Awesome right? Personally my favorite is the last one, I love the silhouettes and strong colors.
How about you, which one is your favorite?



Little Things Thursdays
Thursday Favorite Things
Share The Joy
Imperfect Prose
Loves on a Thursday




Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Tea Ring

Hello! Today I am excited to be sharing a very special treat in this house. The Tea Ring! Its not a really sugary and sweet treat, more something to go with hot chocolate or tea (It pretty much says it in the title!). 
Today we made a few different flavors:
Caramel and Swiss Miss
Lemon Curd
Lemon Curd and Honey

Another favorite is to put jelly inside, so good!




Tea Ring

Makes 2 Tea Rings

Ingredients:
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package instant rise yeast
1 egg, well beaten
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2-2 tablespoon melted butter
brown sugar
Cinnamon


1. Measure milk, water, butter, sugar, and salt into saucepan and heat to scalding.

2. Measure 1 1/8 cups flour into large mixing bowl; add yeast. Blend.

3. Pour milk and melted butter  mixture into flour and yeast. Add egg. Beat about thirty seconds at low speed. Beat three more minutes at high speed or by hand. Add remaining flour a little at a time until soft dough forms. Knead. 
Cover and let rest 20 minutes.

4. Break dough into two parts. Shape each part into rectangle with rolling pin. Spread with melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll into Tea Ring Shape. Bake at 375 for about 10-15 minutes.

Note: This recipe doubles well to make four tea rings.


ENJOY!



Kleinworth & Co., your best weekly button, DIY sharing, project sharing, recipe sharing, weekly Wednesday blog link up





P.S. I am looking to do some button swaps!
If you are interested look at my navigation bar up there and click on button swaps :)
I will be putting 5 200 x 200 buttons at a time.


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Kitty Silhouette

Hola, so now post yesterday. I felt icky all day, and have since Friday. And I actually took a nap, which I haven't done in years.
Then I went and played in a soccer tournament. I really did not feel up for it but I'm not the kind of person to miss a tournament (or any game for that matter). We had 2 games, the last game decided if we made it to the championship or not, end score was 4-3 and we lost. I scored to of the goals and got an assist. Okay, picture time.


So Dixie is a very affectionate cat, and believe it or not it gets super annoying. And she stares at you, and literally will not look away as if we are having a staring contest.

So, do you have cats? If so, do they do something that gets to be very annoying?

Texture used is Sybil from The Downton Collection.





Inspired Tuesday


What is Inspired Tuesday?

Each Tuesday Not So Ugly Ducklings hosts Inspired Tuesday along with two awesome co-hosts Dawn's Disaster and Peanut Butter and Jelly, where we offer up a free printable with some encouraging words.
Me and my co-hosts believe that any post written can inspired someone else, whether it is a personal story, a photography, a recipe.. whatever, so I invite everyone to link up their posts no matter the topic.

The rules are simple:

1) Follow Not So Ugly DucklingsDawn's Disaster and Peanut Butter and Jelly  in any way of your choosing.
2) It would be nice if you added the Inspired Tuesday button to your post, or even just a link back to the link-up.
3) Try to visit others and be inspired!

That's it.

Here is the button if you would like it:

<div align="center"><a href="http://notsouglyducklings.blogspot.com/" title="Not So Ugly Ducklings"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh540/sommerfugldesign/inspired-tuesday-button_zpsa22cc19f.png" width="150" alt="Inspired Tuesday" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Here is this weeks Free Printable:

It can be downloaded from Here

Do't forget to link up below!


Saturday, February 16, 2013

SHS 2.16.13.

Hola, happy Sunday! Or almost Sunday. I am so stuffed up I can't really hear much. I had one burst of energy today, which was spent doing my own lip-syncing version of Eye Of The Tiger. Why you ask? We have recently been listening to it on repeat and so it was stuck in my head and I felt the need to do it. Oh and its on video... I used my cat, a guitar, and a little red riding hood cloak.



So I got a bit of candy for Valentines Day, and most of it was pretty gross. The best part was being able to take lots of pictures!
Candy
 My camera was acting up again and turned the picture all fuzzy. Right now I have been loving orange juice. SO good.
Love
Heart pancakes with strawberries? Yes please! Today I got a pancake set thing-a-mi-jig that I won in a giveaway and I was having fun with the little squirt bottle and shapes. This is the only heart that turned out like a actual heart...
Pink Or Red
 Surprisingly, there wasn't even you heart that said kiss on it.
Kisses
 This kitty very rarely smiles. This is the closest she gets, since she is still a kitten and acts like a kitten she loves picking on the older kitties.
Smile

Okay, I'm going to go watch some more Supernatural with my new best friend, a box of tissues. 




Ni Hao Yall


Serenity you