Strawberry Sprinkles

Welcome

2015-01-01T16:53:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Strawberry Sprinkles! I hope you will find something yummy during your visit here.

A little about me. My name is Ashley. I am a 29 years young. I love to bake for family and friends. Being able to put a smile on someone's face is pretty much why I do this in the first place. I have two little boys Jakob and Conner who are the absolute loves of my life. I am in an amazing relationship with a wonderful guy who is in the USAF. I have one dog, Leo he is a German Shepherd who pretty much marches to the beat of his own drummer. We call North Carolina home, Fort Bragg area but are relocating to Georgia in the Summer of 2014 to be around family. If you ever have any questions or recipe requests or product review requests please feel free to email me.

What makes my site special is these recipes are ones that I personally try. I will never put up a recipe that I have not personally tried and made my self. I will include personal pictures along with the recipe.

****Please DO NOT ADVERTISE on my blog!! If you would like to trade links or whatever it maybe I will be more than happy to do that but do not leave your blog in my comments as I do no do that to you..My email is below feel free to contact me.****

This is me and my youngest son. If you ever have any questions or you need to contact me please email me at reverie_pixels@yahoo.com

DISCLAIMER: I in no way claim these recipes. Most are things that have been handed down to me or found in magazines or some other way. I am simply sharing ones I like.

Also this blog does not focus on healthy eating. I make what I like and then exercise it off later =D Just making you aware.

Long time no update

2014-03-19T15:44:00.002-07:00

So I have seriously been slacking on updating my blog.

Things got busy with trying to leave Belgium and head back to the states. Jason got orders to Pope AFB or Army Air Field as it is now known. We got back to the states in April of 2013 and we were in the process of having the house built and my grandpa died shortly after getting back to the states and I couldn't attend the funeral so I had emotional stuff to work through.

The Summer of 2013 Jason and I decided to separate and divorce. It's been a very friendly and mutual divorce and we've both moved on and are co parenting the boys.

I am currently still in North Carolina, Lillington while the boys finish the school year out and as of right now unless plans change I am going to head back to Georgia to be around my family and rebuild my life. I am very excited about the future and what it holds for the boys and I.

I am going to try to keep up with my blog and get back to recipes and product updates as I test things for companies since I have seriously gotten away from it. I am still making cupcakes just not as much as I was in Belgium. There are just so many cake makers here in the states. None of them really offer what I do so that's a glimmer of hope ;)

If you have any recipes you would like please let me know. If you have a cupcake recipe you would love to see I can create them from scratch or using doctored up cake mixes to make it easier on the baker just specify what you want.

Montagne Jeunesse Clay Spas

2013-12-25T09:07:00.000-08:00

I was given one of these clay masks complimentary for testing purposes from http://www.influenster.com/

You can find out more information on the masks and the company from the following places http://www.montagnejeunesse.com/, https://www.facebook.com/montagnejeunesseusa , https://twitter.com/montagnejeuness, http://www.pinterest.com/montagnejeuness/

These natural bamboo fabric masks are infused with specially sourced clays, are 99% natural with powerful and natural ingredients, and are designed to be used as part of your weekly skincare regime. They are easy to apply and are all suitable for combination, normal, and oily skin.

Dead Sea Mud Spa "To cleanse skin. With Cloudberry (to soothe, protect, and heal, high in nutrients), Red Grape (anti-oxidant to protect skin from damaging free radicals), and Glacial Clay (to cool, rehydrate, and deep clean pores, removing impurities)."

Glacial Clay Spa "To cleanse and help thirsty skin. With Dead Sea Mud (to draw out impurities and open blocked pores), Dead Sea Salt (to heal), Seaweed (to moisturize, revitalize, and firm skin), and Kelp (with vitamins and minerals to nourish and moisturize skin, regenerate cells, and help anti-aging)."

Red Earth Clay Spa "To deep cleanse. With Pomegranate (for healing, and anti-oxidant rich, protecting skin from damaging free radicals), Cinnamon (for natural anti-bacterial properties), and Mediterranean Clay (to detox and draw out impurities and excess oil)."

They are very reasonably priced at 2.49. I loved my mask. It felt great and really improved my skin. It was tingly and refreshing and helped my face regain some of that natural glow that I had in the Summer that has gone from the harsh winters we've been having and lack of sun. I would give this a thumbs up and totally recommend trying it.

Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics

2013-07-04T05:26:00.000-07:00

I was chosen to test the sunkissed vox box by Influenster. I was super excited to be able to participate. We've been overseas for the last 3 years and just recently returned to the states and I was really looking forward to getting back into blogging and being apart of influenster again.

These ouchless Ribbon Elastics were apart of the box and I am so glad they were. I hadn't heard of them before and was super excited to try them. I normally don't put my hair up a lot because I get headaches from using hairbands. I didn't get my hopes up for these because normally I just toss hairbands because they bunch up, break, or cause headaches. I tried one and threw my hair up for a day at the pool with my kiddos and to my surprise at the end of the day I still had it in and no headaches and I got tons of compliments. I highly recommend these to my fellow headache sufferers as a cute fashionable way to throw your hair up. You can wear one and look cute or use a few different colors for a adorable and unique look.

About the product:

*Soft, stretchy material that looks beautiful on the wrist or in the hair

* From America’s #1 elastics brand, Goody® Ouchless®

* Unique knot style hair ties are perfect for personalizing or dressing up your look.

You can find more out about these cute accessories and all their other products by going to http://www.goody.com/

I did receive these hair bands complimentary for testing & review purposes from http://www.influenster.com/

All opinions are 100 percent my own. Would love to hear your thoughts =D

Coming Home

2013-06-28T12:27:00.001-07:00

If any of you have followed me for a while or are friends and family you will know my family and I spent the last 3 years in Belgium due to my husband's service in the United States Air Force. I would be lying if I said I loved our time over there. I am just not a fan of traveling or being in the unfamiliar. I love my country and lets be honest, I love convenience. You don't get that a lot over there. We did get to meet some fantastic people while there and got to do some neat things and that is awesome.

My husband called me one night from work and let me know we had orders. He was hesitant I could tell at first, to tell me where we were going. It turned out we had orders to Fort Bragg/Pope AAF. He was not happy about this because this was actually his first assignment and he spent 6 years here prior and he hated it here. I told him not to stress it. It would be totally different now that he has a family and we will be together and that is all that mattered. I had to keep an open mind because I was tired of being in the negative. Belgium just broke me honestly as a person and I was miserable all the time and I couldn't live that way anymore and I didn't want the boys to see me like that. So I went into this expierence with a whole new out look on things. For one it wasn't Belgium, two we would be in the country we love, three there are so many more opportunities here, and four it isn't Belgium haha.

We had quite the ordeal getting home. We basically had no choice in flying home because Brussels airlines wouldn't fly our dogs out. So we had to take Germany and go out of Ramstein AB. We got stuck there for a couple of days due to delays. We finally got out of there and because we had to connect in Baltimore we had to stay there an extra day because we had already missed our connection due to delays and they didn't have another flight to Raleigh for a few days. Then we get to the airport finally going to North Carolina and they tell us they can't fit our German Shepherd on the plane going into Fayetteville NC. It was to small a plane I guess. So they booked us on a flight to Raleigh NC that could accommodate his XL kennel. Relief! I was going to go into all out panic mode. We'd been traveling so I was already stressed and I was going to lose it. Luckily the manage of Delta understood and spared no expense on Delta's dime getting us home. So finally we get to Raleigh and we just rented a SUV and drove to Fayetteville our selves. They were going to drive us down but I just said forget it we will drive our selves.

We have been in the process of buying/building a home here. We decided we didn't want to live in Base housing any more after our nightmare experiences with that and that it was time to just buy. It was going to save us a massive amount of money and we wouldn't be told what to do by some company. We also would be investing in something instead of just flushing rent down the toilet every month. We were in the hotel on Pope AAF for a month and 7 days. It was decent we had 4 bedrooms and a decent kitchen and the boys had other children to play with. It was a pain driving them 30 minutes back and forth every day to the school they were going to but we wanted to have them in the school they would be going to when we eventually got in our house.

We finally closed on the house and we love every minute of it. Well minus all the deposits you have to pay to get all the electricity and water and trash turned on but it's all part of the home owning experience. We chose not to live in Fayetteville because of all the crime that is around so we live a little way away from the base and I am glad we made that decision. The day after we closed on our home, my boys and I went to Georgia for 2 weeks to visit my parents and sisters. So we just finally got back and I am working on unpacking boxes and trying to make my home, a home. I should be back to baking, cooking, and coming up with new recipes once I get everything settled.

I hope to have some new recipes up very soon including the banana split cake that I love and is my favorite thing to eat for the moment. I also am going to continue Friday Favorites. I am really excited about being back in the states. Thanks for following along on my baking adventures.

Here are a few pictures of our life along the way they include first haircuts in the states, house progress as it was being built, yummy cupcakes and dessert, fire ant bites, adorable puppies, and just shenanigans.

Spicy Enchiladas

2013-01-21T06:41:00.001-08:00

I am a huge Enchilada fan. I love Mexican food and so does my husband. My kids just don't know what's good and they don't like anything but popcorn chicken so their opinion doesn't count in this.

The original recipe calls for avocado and I am not a fan so I skipped that and I really ended up changing a lot of the recipe. So my version is below and the original version is linked below if any one is interested.

Please excuse the crappy pictures. It gets really dark in Belgium early and the lighting in the house is not the greatest. Really looking forward to moving to the states where our next house is going to have impeccable lighting I am making sure of it.

Bonus! The left overs heat up really well and taste amazing.

This bad boy has a pound of cheese! When I say it is amazing, please believe me haha!

Spicy Enchiladas my recipe
Inspired from The Novice Chef's Spicy Avocado Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:

for the sauce:
2 tablespoons butter
1 Jalapeno pepper, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 red or green pepper, minced
2 tbsps flour
1 1/4 cup chicken stock
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
1 cup medium salsa
1/2 cup fat free sour cream or greek yogurt

for the enchiladas:
3 cups chopped cooked chicken breasts (about 4 breasts)
1 lb Monterrey Jack Cheese, shredded
1 small yellow onion, chopped
8-10 flour tortillas

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Heat the butter on high in a sauce pan. Then saute garlic & both kinds of peppers for a minute. Then add the flour and stir constantly for about 2 mins. Then add in your chicken stock, cumin, salt, & pepper and bring to a boil. Gently stir in salsa and sour cream or greek yogurt.

3. Pour a little sauce in the bottom of the pan about 1/2 cup. I don't like my Enchiladas super saucy so you could put a little more if you like.

4. Fill your tortillas with chicken, cheese, & onion (you can omit if you don't like onion). Place in the pan and continue on until pan is full. Then pour as much or as little of the sauce as you like on top of the filled tortillas then use whatever cheese you have left and put on top and bake for 20 mins.

For the best results DO NOT buy bag cheese! Buy the cheese in blocks and shred yourself. It always melts the best. Enjoy the cheesy goodness! It pairs well with chips and salsa or a salad.

3 layer Banana Cake

2013-01-15T07:51:00.002-08:00

Moist... it's just not a word I like to use. It just I don't know quite how to explain my hatred of that word. There just is no other word to describe this delicious cake! It is super ..moist.. and just so good. The cream cheese frosting is the perfect compliment to this cake.

I made this cake for my 27th Birthday. I don't order cakes from bakeries here because the Belgians are huge on like pastry cake piled with lots of fruit. They are delicious but for my birthday I wanted cake, good old fashioned cake piled on with loads of yummy frosting. I also am a baker so that means I am super picky. So I decided none of my friends should deal with my serious obsession with food and worry about what I would like, commissary cake was not happening, and my husband can't bake to save his life.. poor guy lol. So I decided to make my first 3 layer cake. I am so glad that I did. We went out and had Indian food at Ashoks. If you ever find yourself in Belgium in the Mons area please do yourself a fantastic favor and look up Ashoks. The atmosphere is not only so inviting and authentic but the food is fantastic. The chef himself came out and checked on us quite a few times and gave ice cream to our friend's little boy.

I topped my cake with lots of sprinkles to celebrate turning 27 and my oldest son Jakob photo bombed the cake picture, it just makes it that much better.

3 Layer Banana Cake by The Novice Chef modified by me

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter
2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
4 oz non sweetened applesauce
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup mashed over ripe bananas (about 2 large bananas)

For the frosting:
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 (12 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
5 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease and flour 3 8-inch round cake pans. In a small bowl, mix mashed bananas with lemon juice, set aside. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla, sour cream and applesauce. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk. Stir in banana mixture.

Divide batter (about 2 1/2 cup batter in each pan) into prepared pans. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove pans from oven and immediately place in freezer for 45 minutes. (This keeps the cake moist by immediately stopping the baking so the cake does not continue to bake when you remove it form the oven.)

For the frosting: In a large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese & cinnamon until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Add confectioners' sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high until frosting is smooth. Assemble the 3 layers with a thick layer of frosting in between each layer. Then apply a thin crumb coat on the top and sides. Pop back in the freezer to harden the crumb coat for about 10 minutes. Then apply a thick even layer around the outside of the cake.

Crock Pot Chicken & Noodles

2013-01-08T12:12:00.001-08:00

We all have them, those days where you don't have enough arms, legs, time, etc. etc. You need to feed the family a savory & filling meal. I use my crock pot all the time. I think next to my food processor it's my most used appliance. I could go on and on about my crock pot. It's true love I tell ya.

Today was one of those days. The husband had a huge meeting and my youngest son had a doctor appointment. Basically we left house at 10 and didn't get home until 4. So before I left the house I threw this easy, delicious meal in the crockpot. It was well worth the few extra steps I went through!

Excuse the crappy lighting in my house. We don't get a lot of natural light in the house and lets face it, the weather in Belgium is most of the time cloudy and rainy.

Excuse all my cheese =P

Original recipe found at Eat your heart out

Ingredients:

4 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
½ teaspoons Kosher Salt
½ teaspoons Black Pepper
1 cup Chicken Broth
1 cup Low Fat Milk
3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
1 teaspoon Sugar
½ teaspoons (heaping) Garlic Powder
½ cups Reduced Fat Sour Cream
½ cups Non-Fat Greek Yogurt
¼ cups Flour

Directions:

Cut the chicken into strips or bite-size chunks. Place in the bottom of the slow cooker; sprinkle with salt and pepper.

In a medium-sized bowl whisk together chicken broth, milk, cornstarch, sugar and garlic powder. Pour over the chicken.

Cover the crockpot and cook on high heat for 3-4 hours or low heat for 7-8 hours.

Then, in a separate bowl, combine sour cream, Greek yogurt and flour until smooth. Stir this into the cooked chicken mixture and continue cooking for an additional 15 minutes until thickened.

Taste for seasoning, adding more salt as necessary. Serve hot over egg noodles or even rice.

* You can use all sour cream or even all Greek yogurt instead of halving them if you prefer.

* You can add veggies in this like peas, carrots, mushrooms, peppers, whatever floats your boat. We just paired our dinner with a salad and called it good.

** I did something almost totally different with this recipe. When it came time to mix the sourcream/yogurt mixture, I put it all in a big pot on the stove and let it boil for a bit to make it less watery. It came out fantastic and really incorporated everything together nicely. If you want to do this, this is the time I would add any veggies and let simmer for about 20 mins **

Coffee Talk: Happy New Year

2013-01-03T11:18:00.001-08:00

1. It's 2013! What will be the first thing you do that is memorable?

Hmm... that is seriously a tough one. Honestly I think it will be when I go to DisneyLand Paris with my family and momma (yes I still say momma and mommy, I spend a lot of time in the south =P ). We are PSCING soon after that ( can I get a Halleluiah?).

2. It's also income tax season... what do you plan on doing with all of that $$$?

Nothing very fun, well we are moving to Pope Army Air Field/Fort Bragg so we need that money to move, we need furniture since having 2 small children is not conducive to keeping what you have nice, & try to find a small junker for Jason to go from work to home in.

3. What are your 2012 pros/cons?

Pros

My husband put on E6
My husband lost a bunch of weight
My mom came to Belgium to visit
We made a bunch of new friends
The boys got the teachers we wanted for the 2012 school year
My cupcake business really picked up
We traveled a bit

Cons

My son got locked on a bus for 3 and a half hours in the snow and no one could find him
My best friend moved ( the joys of being a military spouse)
We still didn't find a good church
It didn't really snow much..
I am sure there are more but I can't think of them right now.

4. What are you looking forward to this year?

We are moving to North Carolina & buying our very first home! We are more than excited! I will be 6 hours from home and my mom and dad so that is freaking fantastic!

5. What was your favorite movie, CD album, book of 2012?

Hmm that is really tough..

Movie: The Hobbit. Freaking fantastic. If you have not seen it, you're missing out.
CD: The new Maroon 5 CD hands down, I Itunesed it.. yup new word itunesed
Book: The Hunger Games, nothing else compares. I have been disappointed in the rest of the books I've read because nothing else adds up for me to their awesomeness.
TV Show: hmmmmm Downtown Abbey of course. I just love British Drama what can I say.

Hershey's Chocolate Double Mint Cookies

2012-12-13T05:01:00.002-08:00

What goes to better than chocolate and mint? Not much. You could use Hershey's mint chips or you could even use Andes mint chips. These are super simple to make and pack a really yummy bang! You should add these to your Holiday cookie making list. They would be super easy to make for a cookie exchange or for neighbors.

Ingredients:

2/3 cup butter or margarine , softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S Mint Chocolate Chips

Directions:

Heat oven to 350°F.

Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in mint chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8 to 9 minutes or just until set; do not overbake. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 3 dozen cookies.

Coffee Talk

2012-12-06T10:08:00.000-08:00

I am loving the coffee talks with Natalie of The Spunky Poser. I think they really let you get some insight into the blogger behind the blog. If you guys missed it I just posted a super easy, home made recipe for some Christmas cookies that are sure to get you into the Christmas mood Clicky. Okay onto Coffee Talk.

1. How did you meet your partner?

My husband and I met while he was retraining into another field of the military. He was at Fort Gordon and I lived near by. It's hard to resist a hunk in a uniform ;)

2. How did you feel about your partner when you first met them?

I was a little cautious because I was in a bad relationship and didn't just want to jump into something else right away.

3. Where was your first date taken place?

We hung out at the park at Fort Gordon where there is a beautiful gazebo, we hung out there and talked for hours.

4. Where do you see y'all in 5 years?

I see us in a house, hopefully one we've been able to buy and hopefully in Warner Robins Ga. We recently just got orders to Pope Air Field/Fort Bragg and not really loving that but going to make the most of it for sure. It's hard to really picture where we will be in 5 years because things change so much with the military but wherever we are I hope we are financially stable enough to adopt.

5. Show a picture of you and your partner!

I gotta say I love my husband and this crazy life we lead! I loved this Coffee Talk for sure!

Peppermint Blossoms

2012-12-05T10:05:00.000-08:00

I needed to get in the Christmas mood. I love to bake and especially around the holidays. I have just been in a funk lately for some reason. So I decided to surprise the boys and bake some for them and my husband's office.

These were the perfect cookie to make. They are so cheerful and use my favorite Christmas candy made by Hershey. You really have to have the candy cane kisses if you haven't yet. They are just the most addictive thing ever! I even use those to make my peppermint bark.

I hope you enjoy the recipe. They are super simple to whip up and really yummy!

Decided to eat one while they were still nice and warm and they were fantastic!

Candy Cane or Peppermint Blossoms
Recipe: Hershey

Ingredients:

HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Candy Cane Mint Candies
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine , softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons milk
Red or green sugar crystals, granulated sugar or powdered sugar

Directions:

Beat butter, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended.

Spray cookie sheet with non stick cooking spray and line with parchment paper.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in red sugar, granulated sugar, powdered sugar or a combination of any of the sugars. Place on cookie sheet.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and cookie is set. Remove from oven; cool 2 to 3 minutes. Press a candy piece into center of each cookie.

Bakers Notes:

The recipe said it makes 48 but I didn't make that many, I may have made the cookies a little bigger than 1 inch.

I also unwrapped the candies while the cookies were baking to save them from getting to soft.

To keep your cookies from going flat make sure your butter is not too soft just soft enough to cream with the sugar.

If you don't have colored sugar you can always make your own by mixing some food coloring to about 1 cup of sugar. Add enough color until you get the desired color and just keep mixing. It should dry over night so this should be done before hand.

Enjoy!

Fantastic Discovery

2012-11-30T11:46:00.001-08:00

My husband and I decided to take a day to our selves and go out and shop around town. Belgium has unique things. I really wanted to go to the art store here and find some paint. I really want to make these hand ornaments out of the salted flour dough and paint them as Santa Claus. The post on Pinterest is super cute so I am going to give a go and I will blog about the results when I get them done.

So we got paint and paint brushes. We went to the mall and picked up Christmas presents for family and friends. Then we went looking for a stocking for a stocking exchange I am doing and I was surprised to realize the Belgians don't fill stockings. I wonder if it's an American thing. I did find my amazing new Christmas table cloth and runner and then my husband found this sugar. It's not just any sugar it's FLAVORED sugar. I got the Strawberry, Cotton Candy, Green Apple, and Chocolate. I thought about doing a give away since this is so awesome. If I get enough interest I might do it.

Coffee talk # 2

2012-11-29T05:08:00.001-08:00

So this is the second coffee talk I've participated in and I am having so much fun with it and bring something new to my blog. I decided to do this again.

1. What is the meaning behind your blog name?

I am a huge strawberry fan. I love anything and everything strawberry. I am also a sprinkles fanatic. I have a huge massive collection of sprinkles that I hesitate to touch because of my love for them and how beautiful and simple they make everything look. When I was starting my blog I wanted something that meant something to me and could bring some of who I am to my blog.

That is just a few of them. I have since added to my collection =P

2. How long have you been blogging? What made you start?

I have been blogging since 2011. I mostly started to blog because it's lonely over here in Belgium and I needed a creative outlet to help me get through this long assignment. I also wanted to start saving my favorite recipes. I found that people wanted to know what I was cooking, how I was doing it, and the recipes I used or came up with on my own. So Strawberry Sprinkles was born.

3. What is your blog generally about?

Mostly food and the traveling I do around Belgium and Germany. I love baking and love to share what I've created and recipes for others to use.

4. Do you have any funny blogs you would like to share?

I am still very new to blogging so I haven't met a lot of people yet. So I may come back to this.

5. What are your hopes for your blog?

Honestly I would just love to be able to provide new and fresh recipes. I don't really want to make money or anything off my blog. If I do then hey that is amazing and I would love to be able to sponsor give aways and things like that but if not that is awesome too. I just want to be able to connect to readers and meet new people =)

Please come Join Natalie & the other wonderful bloggers who are joining in the coffee talk.

Brugge Ice Festival

2012-11-25T01:55:00.001-08:00

Every year in Brugge, a very famous city in Belgium, puts on a big Ice show. 30 artists from 12 different countries including the USA come together to form a team and create these massive ice sculptures. Last year's theme was Paris Disney. This year's theme was Harry Potter, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings. If you would like some information like pricing & addresses you can check out that link Here.

This year we went for my son's 9th birthday. We took one of his friends and off to the train station we went. We had to change trains in Brussels and while we were hustling our way to the next station we saw a huge gigantic train made all in chocolate. It was to celebrate Brussels chocolate week.

We had to take 2 trains to get there and it can be quite a bumpy & long ride. The boys did really well and my husband I just chatted the whole way there. It wasn't too bad and most of the trains were fairly nice. They have 2 classes. You have first class and then you have 2nd class. We went on a weekend day so our fare was half price and kids under 12 are free which saves a bundle of money.

My children and Jakob's friend Jeremy being goobers on the train. I love the second picture. It perfectly captures my youngest son's personality. He is quite the character.

We finally make it the Brugge train station. I had been previously disappointed because there was no StarBucks at the Brussels midi station. What do I find staring at me in the Brugge train station??? Yes, a Starbucks!! It wasn't there last year. The Starbucks in Belgium are all hours away from me so I took advantage of this magical moment and got a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato. Let me just say there was a moment between me and my coffee. I also got a new Starbucks mug to add to my collection & the new 2012 ornament for the tree. I am thrilled! I love coffee. The boys also got some cinnamon roll things and hot chocolate. They were loving it.

After my freak out because there was a brand new Starbucks in the station we headed over to the Ice Festival. When they say it's chilly, they mean it. They gotta keep that ice cold. I had 2 layers on plus a wool jacket and massive scarf and gloves and I was frigid. The boys were cold but they didn't care. They were too busy going down the ice slides to care worry about that.

A little dwarf dude and Ice Festival sign greeted us and that is when the cold hits you. You need a minute to take it all in that is for sure.

I want to party with those guys!

You know some one was ribbing their friend and saying "I dare you." Seriously..

I think the sculptors have a sense of humor.

Giant mug o ice beer anyone?

You Shall Not Pass!!

Scary!

My husband losing his head!

Chilling literally =P

Seriously an ice slide!! How fun is that?!? To bad they didn't have the ice shovels this year to let the kids fly down that thing. I wonder if people got hurt with it last year and that is why they didn't do it again.

Jakob and his friend Jeremy.

My little man Conner

Finally able to relax with some coffee and warm up! I hope everyone enjoyed living through us on this magical journey through the ice. If you get the chance to go, please do! This is a once in a life time experience and something you won't regret getting to see. This was our last year being able to do this so I am glad we went.

Friday Favorites # 2

2012-11-23T09:59:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know we can all find something to be thankful for! We are in Europe right now so I am thankful for family who called to talk to us and friends who came over and celebrated with us to help us all feel a little less home sick. I think I am still turkey drunk ; )

Today I am going to tell you about my absolute favorite Etsy store to order cupcake supplies from. They have seriously everything a baker could dream of. Also score for you guys right now they have a sale coming up Monday at Midnight you can use the code THANKS15 to get 15% off your order. I am not lying when I say I get everything from them. They have single handily fueled my sprinkle addiction =P Go check them out The Bakers Confection .

First let me show you what I love about them. I get so excited every time I get one of their boxes. The ladies put such a personal touch in these boxes. They don't just slap it together and throw some bubble wrap and call it a day. They added glitter.. that speaks volumes!!

Yeah see, not kidding about the glitter. Glitter makes me happy.

They add a recipe in the box along with a thank you note. It's super awesome.

Close up of the cute recipe card.

As you can see I make a ton of cupcakes and yup more sprinkles. One of these days I will have to show you my sprinkle collection =P I need sprinkles addiction anonymous.

Let's go over a little of what they offer. They have a nifty bulk/close out section if you are looking to save some money. That is awesome in its self if you ask me. Who doesn't like deals? They offer printables, cupcakes liners both regular, mini, & jumbo, they offer straws/cake pop sticks, sprinkles, food coloring, spices, twine, tie bags, and so much more.

I wanted to show how amazing they are and I asked if I could share their beautiful photography with you because as you can see mine leaves something to be desired. All the credit goes to The Bakers Confection for the photos below.

Photo by The Bakers Confection, used with permission

Photo by The Bakers Confection, used with permission

Photo by The Bakers Confection, used with permission

Photo by The Bakers Confection, used with permission

Photo by The Bakers Confection, used with permission

Photo by The Bakers Confection, used with permission

If that doesn't convince you to go visit their amazing little spot on the web I don't know what will! Please go stop by and tell them Ashley from Strawberry Sprinkles said hello! You can also find them on Facebook, go by and give them a LIKE

What to give your favorite baker for Christmas pt.1

2012-11-20T03:06:00.001-08:00

I don't know about you guys but I know I have tons of people I love who bake. I am always wracking my brain for ideas of what to get them that they could truly use. Here is a good list that you can use for a few ideas.

First I would be remiss if I did not mention a Kitchenaid mixer. It is the true workhorse in my kitchen and I would not be cranking out half the things I make without it. This mixer makes my life so much easier. It is also so versatile and you can buy all kinds of attachments for it. You can make your own pasta & ice cream with it as well.

They retail between 267$ and on up from there. Here is a link where you can purchase one from Amazon

Next up is a good, cute apron. I can't seem to bake without getting flour in my hair, on my clothes, or all over my kitchen. I always make a huge mess so this is essential. I love Jesse Steel. The company makes amazing aprons and they are so old school and retro.

You can find them all over Amazon for less than 40$. This makes the perfect Christmas present.

If the baker in your life decorates cakes this next item is a must. This bad boy is so sturdy and revolves making your next cake frosting a job a piece of cake so to say ;) Ateco is a great company and I will swear by them and this stand.

You can find that here on Amazon.

Next up is measuring cups and spoons. This area so you have so many choices and some are better than others. My personal favorite is the set I am using from Pampered Chef. You really just gotta look around and see what fits you and what you are comfortable using. Here a few ideas though.

You can find that Here on Amazon. It retails for less than 10$ making this a very affordable gift that your baker will appreciate.

If you are looking for something quirky or just not the norm this is perfect. I love these. You can find those here for less than 11$. This is another affordable gift.

Next up is a Food Processor. I am in Europe so we use 220 power so right now I have a cheapy food processor that gets me by until we move back to the states and I get a nice one. I could not live without my food processor. I love it! It chops and grates and purees things in seconds. Food processors are almost magical. They can mix doughs together, grate cheese, make quick work of those veggies you need to chop up, and so much more. Here is the one I am currently drooling over.

These are a little pricey but believe me when I say so worth it. You can find this one Here for 216$. You can NOT go wrong with this.

So that was pt. 1 of what to get a baker for Christmas. There is so much more and I will be doing a pt. 2 here soon. I hope this helps inspire some of you guys.

Favorite Things Friday # 01

2012-11-16T13:50:00.002-08:00

So I am constantly being asked who to use for cupcake liners, premium vanilla, baking equipment, Kitchenaid or off brand, who to go to for spices, etc. etc. So I am going to start my favorite things Friday. Every Friday (well almost) I will try to post a new blog about a favorite product of mine. I am not being compensated or given anything free. These are all products I have purchased with my own money and have fallen in love with.

Without further adieu I give you Favorite Things Friday reveal 1. I am in love with, as if I could I would marry Beanilla. If you have never heard of them don't walk, run to this website as fast as your legs (or well fingers) will carry you. Why are you still here go to Beanilla. This site is essential in my baking. I won't, no I refuse to use any other site for my vanilla extracts, vanilla bean pods, or any other flavor extracts.

You are actually in luck because of Friday November 16th 2012 they are having a 25 for 25 sale. You get 25 Madagascar beans for 25 bucks plus free shipping. That is a steal, those beans can be expensive.

Let me give you a short run down as to why I love this company and then I will get into what the site offers and all that amazing stuff.

Living in Europe presents it's challenges. I have to use the APO mail box system and anyone who uses them can assure you it's a pain and it takes a long time to get anything. That is a problem for me as one I need ingredients that I can't get here in Belgium such as amazing vanilla, my American size cupcake liners, etc. etc. So I shop online and have to wait for the mail system to provide my goodies.

Beanilla got my box here in a week! So that a plus for them. I always love opening up my box and seeing this.

Who wouldn't smile seeing that?

Another reason I love Beanilla is because they provide high quality vanilla at great prices. So far I have tried the Tahitian Vanilla that is to die for and now I am working on Madagascar vanilla. They are both amazing and I wish I could bath in it.. not really but you get the point.

I also ordered these glass jars to eventually make my own vanilla extract when we PCS back to the states.

Throw some vodka and vanilla bean pods in there throw a bow on it and you have yourself a fantastic Christmas present.

Beanilla also provides other wonderful extracts such as Chocolate extract, Lavender flavor, Cinnamon flavor, Cherry Extract, Coffee flavor, raspberry extract, coconut, orange, almond, and it keeps going.

They provide an assortment of glass jars and bottles and also have instructions so you can even make your own vanilla extract.

So for all your extract and vanilla needs please be sure to give this site a chance. You will not be disappointed. I sure wasn't.

Coffee Talk # 10

2012-11-15T08:31:00.000-08:00

So I am really trying to be more active and steer my blog away from just more than recipes. It's not really any fun unless you really get to connect with your audience and let them get to know you a little more.

So a friend recently has been doing swaps and I really wanted to get involved. So she steered me to a blog who is doing a coffee mug swap and that is awesome! It kinda stinks being overseas because the mail is sooooooooooooooooooo slow..literally slower than the speed of snail. Not joking here.

So without further adeu I give you coffee talk with the very funny mrs. Nat over at ohemgee

This week it's all about your pet peeves and bad habits and we all know I have a ton of those. I am super opinionated so here we go.

1. What is your worst habit?

By far my worst habit has got to be that I bite my nails and the skin around it. Also when I paint my nails, because I am super lazy, I don't repaint them until the nail polish has chipped its way off my nails. I know attractive. My hands are a mess. Here I'll even throw in an example. No judging.

2. What is your biggest pet peeve?

My biggest pet peeve has got to be when my family leaves trash around the house. Case in point- my husband is losing weight right now so he makes these nasty diet shakes and drinks them in the living room. He will just set them on the window sill behind the couch, his computer desk, or even on TOP OF THE TV. As you can tell that infuriates me to no end. I don't get why he can't simply pick up his cup and take it to the trash can. My children are included in this. They leave trash all over the place. It is seriously maddening.

^ Totally my husband ^

3. What is annoying you right this very minute?

This is an easy one. We are waiting for the USAF to give us orders so we can get the heck out of dodge (Belgium). It's maddening waiting for something and being told well for sure on this day.. no just kidding we actually meant this day... oh just kidding 2 more weeks. I really just want to know where we are going so I can start planning our PCS back to the states.

4. How do you relieve stress?

I either drink a nice glass of red sparkling wine, watch my favorite shows, or bake.

5. What TRULY makes you happy?

Maybe it's cliche but really it's my family. They are my rock. This includes my amazing mom and dad & my husband & boys. My boys are truly one in a billion. They are both seriously hilarious and so loving. My husband is hilarious too, well when he is not being irritating by leaving his empty cups everywhere ;)

I hope you enjoyed reading about my bad habits and pet peeves =P

Julep: Trick or Treat Mystery box

2012-10-29T14:37:00.002-07:00

So I am brand new to the whole Julep thing. I have seen several friends who have been doing the monthly boxes so I thought you know why not? I should treat myself. The boxes are 19.99 a month and so totally worth it. The nail polishes them selves are amazing. You also get a beauty product as well.

So I got the email that they were doing a Trick or Treat mystery box and I thought why not? I need some fall/Halloween colors anyways. The box is 19.99 but because I am a Julep subscriber I got it for like 16.99 or something along those lines. I also ordered a crackle nail polish as an add on.

That is what I got. I wasn't thrilled but eh. I am glad I didn't get the cheapo bracelet that a lot of others got.

I bought Sabrina the orange crackle thinking I would get the black nail polish in the mystery box but I didn't so not sure what I am going to put it over top of. It doesn't look good with the neon green from Wet N Wild's Saved by The Bell Collection that is for sure.

The colors that came with the box are :

Parker

It's described as a "tangerine cream" and I am not sure I am liking it. I will try everything once though and if I don't like it maybe I can swap it with friends or give it to someone who may actually use it.

Alma-

Alma is described as a retro dijon yellow creme and it launched in September of 2012 as part of the Tina Turk collection. I honestly rather like it. It's something bright, new, and different. I am thinking of making candy corn design on my nails if I can master it and not make my nails look like a 5 year old child painted them.

Lastly in my box I received Zoe

I really rather like this metallic orange! I can't wait to paint my nails with this color.

Next lets move on to the glitter pots. I wasn't excited about those because while they are neat colors I don't like to plaster glitter all over my nails because it is insanely hard to get glitter off.

Next the nail tattoos thing. I am never going to use those because I am not patient enough to put them on my nails. So never going to use those either.

I did get candy corn but those got eaten by my children before I had time to snap the picture. So I was pretty pleased with the box. Not sure I will do another mystery box but looking forward to my next nail colors.

Verdict: I would give this box a B-.

IPSY (myglam) September bag review

2012-10-29T13:57:00.001-07:00

If you guys have not heard of http://www.ipsy.com/ you should check them out. You basically pay 10 dollars a month and you get a 5 high quality samples and a cute little bag for them to come in. I have done this for a couple of months and am going to start reviewing them. I didn't get the best picture because I was in a hurry. Next time I will get much better pictures.

This month's goodies came in a really cute black wristlet. I really loved the bag this month. It's something I will for sure use when traveling.

SOHO Smudge Brush- I am in love with this brush. I am hoping to perfect the smokey eye look (finally) so this is awesome. I was super pleased with this. You can find this brush at any Walgreen's or Walmart for under 7$. It's a really good score and works really well. I love it so far.

Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Split End Sealer- I have not tried this yet but anything that will help keep split ends at bay I am all over. So I am going to try it and hopefully it will work well. I've heard it smells amazing. You can find this at http://www.carolsdaughter.com and it retails for 25.00 $.

Mirabella in Semiformal- This eye shadow seems like the perfect shade for fall. I was hoping it would come in case but will be using this. I am excited about the color. You can purchase it at http://www.mirabellabeauty.com for 10$

Jane. Sparkle Gloss in Sparkle Pink- This lip gloss is a very bright pink. I don't like super sticky lip gloss and wouldn't be using this so it's one I handed to a friend who would get more use out of it than I would. You can purchase this at http://www.janecosmetics.com for 9.99$

Circus by Andrea's Choice in Tightrope- and finally we come to the nail polish. I have loved this whole Circus set. I loved every color I recieved. I was so looking forward to the purple! I can't wait to use this. It's so bright and vibrant and is sure to make your nails look amazing. You can purchase the nail polish at http://www.circusbyandrea.com, the nail polish is awesome because each chip-resistant shade is vegan, cruelty free and free of Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP.

Verdict: So all in all I am pretty chuffed (yeah that's right) with this month's bag. Although it's taking them forever to get here becuase of the APO system but I love the anticipation and can't wait to get October's bag even though October is almost over. So I give this bag a solid B +.

Buffalo Chicken Pasta

2012-10-18T04:51:00.001-07:00

So my husband has been bugging me for weeks to make this Buffalo Chicken Pasta stuff. So I finally had enough energy to make it. I have been so exhausted between running to the hospital to see Jason and then having to pick the boys up and then go back up to the hospital, we lived on McDonald's because that is really the only fast food type stuff Belgium has. So I was ready to have some real home cooked food. I can only eat so much McDonald's and cereal. The boys were loving life but my diet not so much.

The recipe is super cheesy and really good. If you like spice or love buffalo chicken wings you will really like this.

My husband loved it and said it was worth every minute he begged me to make this. He has been home from the hospital for about a week and a half. He had to have back surgery done. It was nothing super intensive so he is healing nicely.

I am not an expert picture taker like some of the food bloggers out there so please bare with me =) I hope everyone will enjoy the recipe.

Baked Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

* 1 pound of pasta ( I used Farfalle)
* 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cut into chunks
* 1 tablespoon butter
* 1 tablespoon flour
* 1 1/2 cups milk
* 4 ounces freshly grated monterey jack cheese (I used half a brick) + more for topping
* 1/3 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese + more for topping
* 1/3 cup buffalo wing sauce
* 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
* for garnish: 3/4 cup chopped green onions, 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, 1/2 cup gruyere cheese, additional buffalo wing sauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Prepare water for pasta and cook according to directions.

While pasta is cooking, heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter, and once it’s melted and bubbly add the flour. Whisk together to create a roux and cook for 1-2 minutes until mixture gets a bit golden in color. Add milk, stir and turn down heat to low. Continue stirring until milk thickens. Add in grated cheeses and continue to stir until mixture is smooth. Stir in buffalo wing sauce. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.

Spray a baking dish with non-stick spray. Add pasta and chicken, then pour cheese sauce over and mix throughly until everything is coated. Sprinkle with additional grated cheese and bread crumbs. Bake for 25 minutes or until cheese is golden brown. Remove from oven and immediately top with gorgonzola, green onions and cilantro. Drizzle with buffalo wing sauce.

Influenster

2012-10-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

Usually I post recipes but occasionally I like to post reviews of restaurants or products I seriously love or even the occasional website. Today is one of those days my friends. I am apart of an amazing site http://www.influenster.com/ if you have not heard of it let me give you a brief overview.

What Is Influenster
Influenster is a free-to-join community of invited trendsetters who live to give opinions of products and experiences. Influenster creates links between brands and members to reward participation and influence future products.
So...what exactly is Influenster?
So glad you asked. Here’s a handy definition that would make Merriam-Webster proud: Influenster [in-floo-uhn-ster] noun An exclusive online community where tastemakers and trendsetters (such as yourself) come to share the latest and greatest news, places, products, and reviews with each other. 2. The hotspot you just bookmarked on your web browser that turns your social influence into sweet rewards. Basically, Influenster is a place for culture junkies to come together and share their unique opinions of products and experiences. Active members of Influenster get exclusive access to deals, promotions, and swag from brands that thrive off the input (the good, the bad, and the ugly -- they just want to know what's up).
Do I have the chops to be a member?
Probably. Members have an active social life -- both online and offline -- and are always the first to tell friends about the latest discoveries. They want to be the first to know about the products other cool people are loving and hating. Is that you? Awesome, we want you as a member.
What’s involved in a membership?
As a member, you prove your influence by gaining Expert Badges and show how you live by earning LifeStage Badges...both of which are won in a variety of ways, such as: completing surveys, writing reviews, creating videos, and engaging in other social media. What’s in it for me? Very important. As a contributing member of Influenster, you get the chance to share your knowledge and know-how with other like-minded people. You also get exclusive discounts on products and services based on the Expert Badges you unlock. You’ll have access to content and sales based on your influence and area of expertise. As an active influencer, you’ll have the chance to get invites to Influenster programs so you can try the latest and coolest products catered towards your lifestyle before anyone else. Members who participate actively on Influenster and engage in programs increase their opportunities to receive rewards. If you participate in online challenges, play interactive games, spread the word to your friends, and gain currency within our system, you’ll earn serious street cred.
So wait, is this about getting free stuff?
Nope. If you’re here to mooch, this isn't the place for you. Nobody, no matter how high his or her Influenster Score, is guaranteed rewards. Even if you are offered a reward, you can always opt out. The real benefit of membership is access to exclusive content, product reviews, and discussion within a community of tastemakers. Perks are just the icing on the proverbial cake.
Why is this so fun?
There are many reasons. First and foremost, it's a forum for you and your peers to share your interests and discover what other trendsetters are doing and saying. It's like-minded people coming together to inspire one another and offer advice. Secondly, you’re competing with other members for the highest Influenster Score and Expert Badge scores. Just like a game that you can win, and winning is never not fun.
How did Influenster get started?
It was a dark and stormy night…wait, that’s not right. Influenster was started in 2010 by a team of people just like you: culture and beauty junkies with a whole lot of opinions about everything. We wanted a place to come together to share our opinions and hear what other people like us had to say about products and services.
The goal?
To learn what other influencers care about and to help brands make products that better serve us. After so many hours of labor, out popped Influenster -- an active community where real people share their experiences and give feedback to improve the products we use and the world we live in (yeah, we went there). After all, you don't have to be a celebrity to think Diet Coke is bubbly and delicious. Every one of us can be influential in different areas with opinions that matter. As consumers, we want to know what other people like us think about products. Influenster is our answer. We give your opinions a voice and your feedback a direct route to brands and trendsetters.

The above information is from their website. It seems like a lot to take in but it's really an amazing site. I have had a chance to receive a couple of the vox boxes and I even got to test out a Palmolive dish soap. I have discovered a lot of new products that I can't live without through this program and the best thing is that it's all FREE! All you have to do is give a little bit of time to give your opinion, write reviews, and sometimes make video blogs about products. That is all voluntary but the more you are active the more you get to participate in the vox boxes. I really hope you guys will check it out.

Chicken & Biscuit Casserole

2012-08-21T09:57:00.000-07:00

So I found this on Pinterest and of course it looked amazing. I needed something easy to try. Jason is out of town on a mission so it's just me and the boys. Easy and quick are essential when you are dealing with 2 kids and 2 huge dogs. Never quiet around our house and it's even more hectic while my Airman is away. I made a few changes to make this as healthy as possible. The boys didn't really like this recipe since it had peas in it but I thought it tasted pretty good. It was fast, easy, came together pretty quick. So give it a try. There are a bunch of variations you could do. * If you have not shredded chicken with your mixer, you must do that next time you need to shred chicken for anything. It seriously takes care of business in like 10 seconds. No joke! It sure beats shredding it by a fork. *

Ingredients :

1 can of Pillsbury refrigerated Biscuits
1 can fat free condensed cream of chicken soup (regular sized)
1/2 cup of fat free Sour Cream 1 can of peas or mixed veggies ( canned, frozen, or fresh)
2 cups cooked chicken previously cooked & shredded
1 cup mild cheddar cheese you can use fat free
3 TBS milk you can use skim
Directions:
1. Bake your chicken before hand. I bake mine at 350 for 40 mins and I seasoned it with salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder and then shredded it. I baked it in the same pan that I baked this dish in that way I only use one dish for everything.
2. Preheat oven to 375 3. Mix soup and 1/2 cup sour cream in 8-inch square baking dish. Stir in chicken, and peas, milk, & spread evenly in pan.
3. Then sprinkle your cheese on top of everything.
4. If you are using thicker biscuits flatten down or cut in half cover the mixture.
5. Cook for about 35 mins. The Biscuits on top should be golden brown, and the cheese nice and bubbly.

Quaker Soft Baked Oatmeal Cookies

2012-07-10T00:02:00.002-07:00

I was sent a complimentary sample of Quaker Soft Baked Oatmeal Cookies through Influenster. I am writing my honest review and my opinion is my own and not influenced by anyone. When I first opened the box I received from Influenster, the cookie was the first thing that caught my eye naturally. Being a pretty talented baker (at least I think so) I am always curious to try baked products that are put out by companies to compare to home made. So I was kind of skeptical about this becuase normally the cookies are hard, tasteless, and overly salty.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised when I bit into the cookie. I was very impressed with the fact that it is only 170 for the HUGE cookie. It's not one of those tiny cookies. I had the cookie with my coffee for breakfast and I am still full. The cookie was super moist, was easy to bite into, the raisins were plump, the oats were crisp, and you could taste a hint of cinnamon. The only thing I didn't really enjoy was a slight after taste of salt. If the sodium could be slightly reduced I honestly think you would have the most perfect cookie!

A few of the reasons why you should eat this cookie

* Although I tasted the sodium it is low. * The cookie is low in cholesterol. * Good source of Fiber. * The cookie is also whole grain.

So overall I would buy these cookies for my family. I have only tasted the Oatmeal Raisin. I would however love to try the other flavors. If you would like to learn more about Influenster please visit http://www.influenster.com

I hope you enjoyed the review as much as I really enjoyed testing the amazing cookie.