MMMMM.....Gooey...

In the Pacific Northwest, we have a very scare beast called the Geoduck (pronounced Gooey Duck). Today's recipe IS NOT in honor of that scary thing. Its so disgusting that I'm not even gonna post a picture. You can thank me for that later. Nope, today's sweetness is all about the Gooey Cake aka Gooey Butter Cake.

Those of you in the Missouri area know exactly what I am talking about. This pudding-y, cakey goodness is so sweet but so addictive that you just can't stop eating it. I am warning you, this cake is EXTRA sweet. I might be committed blasphemy here, but I think it would be so wonderful with raspberries or blackberries and I plan on making it again with summer fruit. I wonder if you can freeze it? It would be so good in pop form.

Now, without further adieu, I give you the Gooey Cake

Ingredients
Crust

• 1 pkg yellow cake mix
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
• 1 egg

Gooey Butter Filling

• 1 (8oz.) pkg cream cheese, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 (1lb.) box confectioners sugar (roughly 3 3/4 cups - 1 pound of confectioners sugar)
• 1 tsp vanilla
  

Mix cake mix with 1 stick of butter and 1 egg (DO NOT FOLLOW CAKE BOX DIRECTIONS!)
Pat mix into a 9x13 ungreased dish
Cream together cream cheese, eggs, sugar and vanilla. The batter will be of a thick icing or cake consistency.
Pour over cake mixture and spread to the edges.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes, until you have a nice light brown crust on the top.
Let cool and dig in. Traditionally the cake is dusting with more confectioners sugar, but I left mine all naked.

This cake is a wonderful compliment to coffee or a nice strong tea. Trust me, once you try this, you will be hooked!

Feel Good Friday!

I am SOOOOOOOO happy it's Friday! You have no idea! Seriously guys, this week has kicked my butt! Wait, do I say that of most weeks? I should start taking karate out so I can kick back.

Easter is just around the corner and these cross stitched eggs are just what the bunny ordered. How absolutely clever of kokoleo to think these up. She always creates adorable dolls and monsters.

I have been obsessed with Aunt Peaches blog. Her tagline of Making Sunshine on a Shoestring is just too perfect for words. The blog has wonderful tutorials, beautiful pictures and just all around greatness. I heart her.

I'm pretty sure I see this book in my near future.

Oh yeah, I did it. You know you want to squeal in delight at the computer. I want to kiss that little nose. 

Oh man, I wore myself out! I think I need something sweet and a nice beverage to wash it down. I'm gonna grab my babes, my OMP and snuggle in for the night. Life is good, no, let me correct that. Life is great.

Building a Bridge

I'll admit it, I've been blue lately and neglecting this wonderful blog and your wonderful people. I'm really sorry, no, I am. I love coming here and chatting it up with you guys.

I think last night was the final straw for OMP and my bluesy feeling. He looked me square in the eyes and said...

Get down off the cross, we need the wood to build a bridge so you can get over it.

Then he flashed that perfect smile and those wonderful eyes lit up. And I giggled then I got angry, cause I hate when he's right. To make matters even worse, he made me make a list of things that make me happy and made me print it out so I can carry it with me at all time. So whenever I'm feeling sad or anxious or angry, I can pull out this list and look at it and remind myself to smile.

Did I mention I hate when he's right?

Anyhoo...Here's my list. You can borrow it if you want or make up your own. Cut it out and carry it with you everywhere. We all need to be reminded of happiness.

Things that make me happy:
1. OMP and my pups (that's a given. I'm not sure OMP or my monsters will make you equally as happy, but   you can still use it)

2. Singing my favorite song

3. Fresh flowers

4. Candy

5. My friends

6. Crafting

7. Laying in the sun with a glass of ice tea and a magazine

8. Baby animals

9. Fart jokes

10. Cowboys and rodeos

But...I'm not finished...OMP also made me make a list of things to do when I'm sad. A little pick me up reminder. Did I mention that I hate when he's right?

So...again, you can borrow from my list

1. Hang out with my pets

2. Stitch up something

3. Bake/Cook (I think he may have added this one)

4. Dance and sing

5. Call a friend

6. Get in the car and go for a drive

7. Watch a silly, scary or otherwise pointless movie

8. Help someone who needs it

9. Dress up

10. Shower OMP with kisses (I think he may have added this one too)

I hope this sparks a smile. It has definitely helped me. Now, if you will excuse me I must shower OMP with kisses. A girl has to do, what a girl has do to.

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

See this little man....he is a mess and he is all mine.

He can try to ignore the tough love I am about to bestow upon him, but it won't work. Do you hear me Pete? The kisses are coming.

Oh, I'm glad I got your attention, the snuggling with commence in 5, 4, 3, 2,1....KISSES!

Feel Good Friday

 Can you believe it? We made it to Friday! No broken bones, smiles on our faces. Whew! I didn't think we could do it! For once, the sun is shining in the great Pacific Northwest and that makes me happier than you will ever know. Let's see what I can do to put a smile on your face.

Over at Feeling Stitchy, I am hosting a April Stitch Along. My wonderful, sweet , talented friend Digital Misfit drew this up for us to stitch. She rocks my world! Check out Feeling Stitchy and Digital Misfit's blog for all the details. You can post your progress on the Flickr Embroidery Group.

BUGS! VARMINTS! They are running rampant, ruling the world, destroying our yards. Well, now you stop them by purchasing one of these Voodoo Varmints from BubbleOffPlumb. She has got you covered! I am a huge fan of the crow.

I love blogs that show me how to make things, that bake yummy treats and that are fun and uplifting. A Cuppa Tea with Me is just that! Lisa is so fun and she makes me smile. Plus, she rides a Vespa-Hello! How cool is that?

The. Feet. Are. KILLING ME! Seriously...how could you not be happy with baby bunnies?

Okay my favorite people in the entire world! Time to get out and enjoy that sun for a few hours. The blue sky is calling my name and I must respond. Enjoy your weekend!

Optimist: Person who travels on nothing from nowhere to happiness.

                                                                         - Mark Twain

Thank You!

Can I just tell you how much I love my friends? They know the exact time when I need a little pick me up.

My friend Elicia is one tough broad. She may seem sweet on the outside but she is tough to the bone! She has a strength that few possess. Her style,  humor and genuine love makes her a stunning classic beauty. I love her to bits!

See how well she knows me. Homemade cookies, puppies dogs and embroidery! Thank you so much Elicia! You make me so happy!


Oh my! Did I mention my friend Becky? Becky lifts me up in ways I can not explain. I only wish I had as much intelligence, style and wit as she does. She lets me vents and never tells me how silly I am when I continue to bitch about not getting the last cookie. As a matter of fact, she will agree that I needed that last cookie and will tell me that yes, indeed my butt is looking smaller. Her love for stitching and Mary Tyler Moore makes me smile. So, today when I got home and saw this wonderful package, I was full of smiles.

Yep, I have the best friends in the entire world. They make me smile. In a world that can sometimes get me down, they are there to pick me up, brush me off and put me back on that pretty pink pony. I love you guys more than you will ever know. Thank you for everything.

Oh My Roku!

 

I am a huge fan of public domain movies. HUGE FAN! So, when I was cruising the channels on my Roku and found Pub D Hub, I was in bliss. It's a free channel and I am loving it! Educational films, bad scifi, vintage commercials, and radio shows erupt out of this channel.

If that wasn't good enough, there is another channel that streams a crazy TV channel. This is just plain weird. I mean, really strange and if I say it's weird-than you know it is certifiably nutty. One night OMP and I watched some crazy western followed up by a 1940's biography on Hitler and his war efforts.

If you don't have a Roku. I suggest getting one. They aren't that expensive and you can stream Netflix, Hulu as well as other channels free movie channels. They have a channel all about firearms for pete's sake. Who needs a channel about firearms? Well, if you raised your hand-then get a Roku.

I love my Roku, even though OMP says there is only so many times we can watch every episode of Psych on Metflix (I tell him...he's wrong). It's the perfect little device that helps me indulge in my stitching and bad movie habit. You should look into the Roku and check out the available channels. At the very least, you will be perplexed, but in a good way.