My Weblog

When life gives you lemons

...trade them in for some chocolate, don an apron, and then make the best brownies you can.  :)  Thanks for all the pick-me-ups.  Everything is good now.  I never did figure out why I was so ornery.  Just one of those days that we girls are allowed to have from time to time.  But I got quite a giggle at some of the comments.  Especially Miss Becky's quote of Harry S. Truman.  (Go back and peek at the comments if you want to get a laugh.  Ewwwwwwwww!!  But actually quite fitting of my mood.  LOL)   

BACK to the brownies!!  We had a neighborhood party last night and I whipped up a double batch of  one of my favorite recipes.  It's SOOO easy-peasy!  Fudgy, gooey, rich, and decadent...I'm telling you, these are the BEST!!

MARSHMALLOW BROWNIES:

• 4 oz. UNSWEETENED chocolate
• 1 cup butter
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 TBSP vanilla
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a 9"x13" pan.  In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the unsweetened chocolate and the butter being careful not to scorch the chocolate.  Take pan off the heat and mix in the eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat until well combined. (I literally mix it right in the saucepan!) Stir in the flour. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, just until set.  A toothpick inserted in the middle will still have moist crumbs attached. 

When there are 10 minutes left on the baking time, make the frosting.

FROSTING:

• 2 oz. UNSWEETENED chocolate
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 package powdered sugar
• 2 cups mini marshmallows

In a large saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate and the butter. Remove from heat and immediately beat the egg and vanilla into the chocolate mixture.  (This will cook your egg.)  Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth.  Then stir in the marshmallows.  If the frosting gets too thick, add a TBSP of milk or return it to the heat until it melts just a bit.  Spread the warm frosting over the hot brownies when they come out of the oven.  Let cool on rack for about 30 minutes, and then put the pan in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.  These brownies must be cold to cut or you'll have a sticky mess.   That's it!!  As simple as it gets, and soooo much better than a box mix.  :)

So come on over, we've got lots of leftover brownies to share.  I'll have *Henry* pick up some drinks on his way home, and we'll sit on the patio and chit-chat the night away.  Have a lovely weekend my fabulous friends~

a terrible case of the grumps

G.R.U.M.P!!  That's me.  I just can't shake it.  This morning, I was fine...it was shaping up to be a beautiful summer day.  But as the hours progressed, my mood went into the trash.  And for no obvious reason.  Though I WAS out of Diet Coke, which always makes me a wee bit cranky.  LOL  (Yes, I realize it's an unhealthy addiction.  No matter.  I've embraced this fact and moved on.  HA!)   So I put the babies to bed early, caught the last half of my favorite summer entertainment, and turned to the ol' stand-by mood lifter. 

But my fail-safe cure didn't even phase it.  2 Haagen-Dazs bars later and I'm still as sour as ever.  (And now SICK!!  LOL)   To make matters worse, *Henry* just phoned to share that someone had walked on the freshly poured cement leaving footprints all over the new driveway.  Yes, they went THROUGH the hazard yellow caution tape that was on the perimeters and quite clearly, on purpose, scuffed and twisted marks into the surface.  BLAST!  That's just not nice.  Anyone know a good joke? I'm in serious need of a little chuckle.

Here's hoping tomorrow is happiness and floof filled, for me, and all of you. 

WOOPS!

Thanks for all the great feedback!!  I'm figuring out all the details, and will let you know when the club is underway.  ;)  As for today, I'd completely underestimated all the craziness that goes along with this fun holiday.  We've been to parades, fireworks shows, family BBQs, and swimming.  I'm sure many of you have done the same and certainly haven't had the time to check my blog for the new apron.  (Gosh, I'm such an airhead!  What was I thinking?!!)  So I'm off to my parents house to light some more fireworks with the kiddos.  Instead of getting the new apron/kit up really late tonight, which seems a bit tacky at this point, I'll do a scheduled boutique post for 8a.m. tomorrow morning.  Sound good?  BUT, I do want to announce the outcome of the drawing. 

I used one of those random number generator thing-a-ma-jigs that I've seen so many people using.  The number 26 was picked, and Cyndi happened to have made that comment.  After checking out her blog, I see that she is QUITE the seamstress herself.  Very cute stuff!!!  Anyhow, here's a sneak peek of what she'll be getting....either this apron or the kits to make it herself.  Whichever she wants.  :)

Okay, gotta run!!  Enjoy the rest of your night, and be safe out there with all the sparklers! 

It's gone...

...the entire month of June.  POOF!  Just like that.  A thick foggy haze, my brain can hardly remember the details of the past few weeks.  Sick babies, 2 wrecked cars (SOOO sorry Mom & *Henry*, really I am!! *sigh*), an emergency room visit to get a little gash in our sweet Liv's head super-glued back together (who knew that super-glue was so useful?!!).  GADS, just a few of the downer adventures that I hope to forget.  But no complaining for me, MANY wonderful things have happened too! 

• A new "job" that is loads of fun!
• Custom apron orders for some favorite customers.
• The new house is even CLOSER to being finished.
• Liv passed her level 1 swimming lessons.  So brave!  ;)
  
• Mr Gray-dude is FINALLY talking.  So proud of this little guy.
  
• I discovered that Pepperidge farm makes a WHOLE GRAIN goldfish cracker variety.  YUM!!
• Many trips to Sonic for cream slushes.  Double YUM!!
• Great feedback on the first batch of apron kits. 
• Fun new business ideas....

I could go on and on.  All in all, it was a really good month. I just pray July slows down a bit.  But since I left so unexpectedly, and haven't had a chance to update the shop just yet, it's only fitting that we do a giveaway.   Don't ya think?!!

I'll have the next apron/kit up in the shop on July 4th.  Before I put it up, I'd love to have a random drawing for one of my blogging friends to win either a free apron kit, or the sample apron that I use for my pictures--it'll be the winner's choice, of course.  But there's a bit of a catch.  :)  In order to enter, I'm asking for a big favor.  After receiving many emails from the last apron kit recipients asking when they could get the next one, and a dear customer giving me a little pep talk (Thank you Marion!!!), I'm thinking about starting an OliveJuice & Company Apron Kit CLUB.  It would be by subscription, and members would receive a new original apron kit project every month or so.  What I'm asking of YOU, is any advice you might have regarding this kit club idea.  Is this something you'd be interested in?  How often would you like new kits?  Only womens aprons, or child sized options too?  Is the idea just totally loony?!!!  (Be honest, I can take it!!  OK, be a little nice about it though.  LOL)  I'd love any opinions you have.  :)

Thanks friends!

Special thanks to Shabby Miss Jenn for use of her digi goodies.  Find them here.