M&M Blondies

Happy Valentine's Day!!!
I made these bars over the weekend and they were delicious!!! *Thanks Pinterest and http://www.bakedperfection.com/2009/02/brown-sugar-blondies-for-valentines-day.html   :)

Brown Sugar Blondies
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup to 1 1/3 cup M&M's

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside. Melt 1/3 cup butter. Add 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar and mix well. Cool slightly. Add egg (beaten) and vanilla and blend well. Add flour mixture, a little at a time, mixing well. Mix in 2/3 cup M&M's. Spread in 9 x 9 x 2 inch pan. Sprinkle 1/3 to 2/3 cup M&M's on top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

                                                                       Enjoy!! :)

Nephew #2.... James Bradley Wilson

On Friday, February 3rd we were blessed with the arrival of my nephew, James Bradley (JB). My sister in law and brother went into the hospital early Friday morning and James was born at 12:23 that day. He weighed 8'11 and had a head full of dark hair, just like his older brother! It was such an exciting and wonderful day! I absolutely love and adore my first nephew Evan, and I can't believe that now I am blessed with 2 precious little boys to love on and spoil!! I always tell Daniel that I can't imagine how much I will love my own children if I love our nephews this much...and I can't wait to experience that...but for now, loving these 2 nephews seems just perfect. I will never forget the first moment I saw or held either one of them. 

Here are some pictures of our weekend...

It's a Boy!! 

Nothing sweeter than a father holding his baby :)  Especially when it is your older brother that you look up to so much.

My grandparents with their great grandchild #9... such a blessing!! 

Proud GiGi and Pops

Love at first sight :) 

 

My 2 brothers, Brad and Justin

 Amazing parents of 2 precious boys

Evan coming to meet his little brother

So happy to see his mom and dad

Seeing baby brother

 

 He wanted James to stay covered up and tucked in :)

These two melt my heart....

 Thank heaven for little boys :)

I cannot wait to watch him grow up!!

Psalm 127:3Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.

James 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Carmelitas Bars

If you like caramel and chocolate....then you will LOVE these bars!!  They were delicious! Thanks to Pinterest and http://luluthebaker.blogspot.com/2010/10/carmelitas.html we were introduced to these!

Ingredients

 

Directions:

32 caramel squares, unwrapped
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Combine caramels and cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until completely smooth; set aside. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, and baking soda. Pat half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of an 8x8" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Pour caramel mixture over chocolate chips. Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture over caramel. Return to oven and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting.
*Some time in the fridge will help them cool off if you're pinched for time. They shouldn't be served cold, but all of that molten caramel takes a long time to cool down. They should be stored and served at room temperature.
**To make a 9x13" version, simply double the amounts.

Enjoy :)

7 words...

I am a sucker for Chick Flicks!!!!!!!!!

I am so excited about these two movies....

The Vow

and This Means War

I plan on seeing The Vow this weekend and This Means War one night next week or next weekend!!  I absolutely adore Rachel McAdams and Reese Witherspoon, and let's be honest...I could watch any movie with Channing Tatum in it!  *Side note* - if I woke up from a coma and Channing Tatum was my husband... I would not question it or act like I don't know him... I would just go with it!! :)

I have not seen a really good chick flick in a while so I can't wait to see these 2 movies (especially The Vow)!!!!!!!