high five for friday

1. If you aren't a crazy blogger like me, you might have not known that as of yesterday Google Friend Connect (GFC) was discontinued for all non-Blogger blogs. See that blue JOIN THIS SITE button over there (scroll down a bit) ---->>>

What does that mean? If you don't use Blogger (Google's Blogging Platform), then Google users (G+ or gmail accounts) can't follow your blog through those accounts. Why did it go away? Well, because Google+ replaced it. This-in my opinion, is just Google trying to shove Google+ down our throats.

To be honest, before I was a blogger and just a blog reader, I had NO idea what GFC was. I always subscribed via email or in Google Reader. Everyone on Blogger obsesses over their GFC numbers, when really its just another button for people to push. When you hit that button, new blog entries go into this black hole of weird Blogger reader space. No one really uses that. Seriously. I am considering getting rid of GFC on my blog. I know many bloggers who have, just to get rid of a useless stat. If you like my blog and want to stay connected., I would suggest subscribing by email or in the reader of your choice.

With that all said, what are your thoughts? Keep in mind, clicking FOLLOW in the top left hand corner of the page does the EXACT same thing as JOIN THIS SITE. So you still have the option of using Blogger's reader.

2. Speaking of stats, I had a record month. Thanks to YOU! My bounce rate has decreased significantly! It is actually right where I want it! I also had 88,000+ page views with an all time record of 10,000+ in ONE day! You are all such a blessing and show me that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing.

3. My aunt text me this week asking me how her friends could subscribe to my blog. That made me very happy. It is really nice to have that kind of support.

 

4. Things only sisters can understand.

5. A Lenten Prayer for Friday

Creator of my Life, 

renew me: bring me to new life in you. 
Touch me and make me feel whole again. 
Help me to see your love 
in the passion, death and resurrection of your son. 
Help me to observe Lent 
in a way that allows me to celebrate that love. 
Prepare me for these weeks of Lent 
as I feel both deep sorrow for my sins 
and your undying love for me.

Mom's Birthday Cupcakes

My mom's birthday was last week, and she just so happen to have plans to come by on Saturday to assemble the swing set she and my dad got Austin for Christmas. Seeing as it was a pleasant 60 degree January day, it worked out well. I made her some birthday cupcakes that I couldn't wait to share with you! 

Pineapple Cupcakes with Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting


Prep Time: 15 minutes 


Bake: According to cake mix box directions. 


Cool: 20 minutes 


Yield: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients:

Cupcakes


18.25 oz box yellow cake mix
20 oz can crushed pineapple in juice  (do not drain)
2 tablespoons Jell-o Cheesecake Pudding Mix

Preheat oven according to cake mix directions.

Combine ingredients in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat until well combined.

Filled lined cupcake tin, 2/3 full and bake according to cake mix directions, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Set aside to cool.

Frosting

7 ounce jar marshmallow creme

16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

In large bowl, beat ingredients until well combined. 

Spread on cooled cupcakes and refrigerate until ready to eat.

Please visit my link parties page to see who I linked up with this week!

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Also, have you heard about the upcoming Find Some Love Fest? Grab the button and meet back here February 1st!

frantic.

Hey! Let's talk about this watch! 

Betsey Johnson + bling + a doggie that looks like mine? Win. 

My sister in law gave this to me for Christmas! Love her. 

In other news, I'm pretty much frantic when it comes to a blogging/editorial calendar. With my new camera and mixer, I'm DYING to become more of a foodie blogger, but guess what? That takes a lot of time and planning. Add an entire NBA season (read: my husband basically has a ticket to every Thunder home game), and I just don't have the means for it all. So until I figure it all out, you get random posts like this one! 

Look who was just so pitiful looking this morning!

(Not me. Oh, and we don't live on the sun.) 

christmas

Whoa! So, Christmas came and went in a blur. How was your holiday weekend? Ours was...busy? Holidays = lots of driving for us. This was truly was the best Christmas I have had in a looong time, and no I'm not saying that because of all of the fabulous and unexpected gifts I received like:

A KitchenAid mixer in RED from my mom and sister.

A Keurig from my mother in-law!!!

AND A CANON REBEL T2i FROM MY HUSBAND!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have done nothing but take photos all weekend long. Wanna know what its like to be follow around by the paparazzi? Just go hang out with Allison after she gets a new camera. I am going to take a class in OKC  next month with Melissa-Pineapple Lily, who by the way, was the FIRST person I text when I opened my camera! The manual is 258 pages and I think mine is written in Chinese. Ok, no not really...but I really need/want to know how to use this thing correctly! 

This is seriously the first moment I have had to breath, so I don't have a lot of words for you tonight. Not to mention I have felt pretty yucky the past few days. My normal life starts again tomorrow and I have TONS to share with you. Until then, here are a few photos from the weekend! 

Guest Post {Raising Dieter}

Please welcome Shay from Raising Dieter! I absolutely love her guest post! Christmas activities that are family friendly!





1. Go and see Christmas lights or a Nativity.
This is fun activity for all ages! Most cities have lights so bundle up and stay warm (unless your in the South of course.)


2. Read a Christmas story.
Whether your reading chapters from Luke, The Christmas Jars, A Christmas Carol, or Peef the Christmas Bear (my favorite children's Christmas story.) It is always so nice to turn of the electronics and simply listen to a great story!


3. Play games.
Who doesn't like to play games? My son loves it when we play Yahtzee. Settlers of Catan is a favorite for me and Kimball right now. There are so many fun games to play. We have a tradition where we get a game every Christmas Eve. This year it is going to be Quirkle.

4. Make some treats.
The kitchen is always a place to involve the whole family. My husband has been asking me to make cookies for a while (I have put it off until now.) This is my favorite recipe of sugar cookies. They are always soft.

Directions

1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup butter
3 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt

-Cream butter and sugar together. Then add vanilla, egg, and sour cream. Continue to mix until smooth.
-Add soda, salt, and half of the flour. Stir into above mixture and then slowly stir in remaining flour.
-Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness.
-Place on buttered cookie sheet (I use a stone) and bake for 8-10 minutes at 375° (My first couple of batches take around 12 minutes on the stone).

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

-Cream the softened cream cheese: blend with butter.
-Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat well.

I hope your enjoy your holidays! This is such a special time of year! Come by and visit me at Raising Dieter!  :) Shay

Week 1: Day 5

Wow. Its Friday! I had one of those weeks where I thought it was Wednesday on Tuesday...ya know what I mean?


This weekend, we have plans to go "see the Christmas lights." This means going to a huge Christmas lights display about 20 minutes from us. And I am getting together with all of the women in my family for our annual "bake-off." My grandmother started this tradition before I was born (I think) and we have carried the tradition on. Its a day full of baking and belly aches from too much chocolate. We package everything up and give them as gifts to our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. I will take lots of photos to share!

I will probably do tonight's workout 5 times in a row so I can start with a huge calorie deficit for the bake-off....just kidding. That's super psycho and unhealthy. You might recognize this routine from Tuesday!

Oh, P.S. I now have 91 GFC followers! When did that happen?? That is amazing. And I'm at 3,593 page views just from TODAY! What?? I feel so blessed. I find myself so not interesting...this is my awkward way of saying thank you to YOU! My fabulous readers!!!





Week 1: Day 5

30 minutes cardio

Upper Legs 

Exercise	Rest	Reps	Sets
Iron Cross	1 minute	12	1
Iron Cross	1 minute	10	1
Iron Cross	1 minute	8	1
Iron Cross	1 minute	6	1
Dumbbell Lunges	None	12	1
Iron Cross	2 min	12	1

Exercise	Rest	Reps	Sets
Dumbbell Squat	1 minute	12	1
Dumbbell Squat	1 minute	10	1
Dumbbell Squat	1 minute	8	1
Dumbbell Squat	1 minute	6	1
Dumbbell Walking Lunges	None	12	1
Dumbbell Squat	2 min	12	1

Lower Legs

Exercise	Rest	Reps	Sets
Rocking Standing Calf Raise*	1 minute	12	1
Rocking Standing Calf Raise*	1 minute	10	1
Rocking Standing Calf Raise*	1 minute	8	1
Rocking Standing Calf Raise*	1 minute	6	1
Calf Raise on a Dumbbell	None	12	1
Rocking Standing Calf Raise*	2 min	12	1

*Use 2 dumbbells instead of a barbell