Easy (and Delish) Italian Cream Cake

I love italian cream cake... so naturally I made it for my husband's birthday last week (so I could eat some!)  Since the recipe is so incredibly easy, I thought it fit to share: enjoy!

Italian Cream Cake

Ingredients:

1/3 c buttermilk

1/2 c oil

1 c sour cream

4 eggs

1 box white cake mix

1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix

1 c sweet flake coconut

2/3 c pecans

Combine buttermilk, oil, sour cream, and eggs.  Add cake and pudding mix and beat on low speed to combine for two minutes.  Add coconut and pecans, mix for two minutes.  Spoon into prepared 9x13 pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Once cool, ice cake with cream cheese icing (store-bought or homemade), and sprinkle with more pecans.  YUM!

Back to Life, Back to Reality

We made it back yesterday from our family vacation, and now it's back to the usual routine... up at 5:15am, catching up on emails and blogs while I watch Robin and Co. on CNN (don't you just LOVE her?!), drinking coffee, and procrastinating getting ready for work.

It was so great being here...

but it's pretty nice being home, too.


***P.S.  I've been having fun editing photos on picnik - have you tried it yet?

Wish You Were Here

I'm lying on a comfy couch, looking out the window at the waves of the Gulf rolling into the sandy beach as kites and seagulls hover in the blue sky above. It is naptime for the kiddos so it is quiet and peaceful, the opposite of what it was like in here just an hour ago, when the kids were chasing each other, playing hide and seek and just enjoying every moment of this vacation.

This was our first real vacation with our girls. The last few trips we have taken were sans kiddos, and it truly changes the dynamic of the vacation. Whereas before it was about relaxation and getting away, now it about new experiences and savoring every moment of sunshine and every grain of sand.

It is exhausting.

And it is wonderful.

I've been having so much fun playing that I've not even taken many pictures!

Guess that's what happens when you're busy making memories.

Up this afternoon... More beach time and wave chasing and enjoying my chickies. It doesn't get much better than that. Unless of course, you want me to mention the smores.

Mmmmm. Smores.

Yep - definitely doesn't get any better than that!

LBB Round Two!!

Okay - I don't have pics of Lil Sis wearing it... but here are some pics of the LBB halter dress. 

It turned out really cute... dh even thinks so!

Things I did differently this time... I serged the inner seams rather than straight-stitched (for durability).  I think I might try serging on the outer edge next time, but I'm liking this look for now.  I also added three rows of the bottom section to make the dress longer and give it a ruffle-y feel.  Can't wait to see it on her!