2012 Walk for Life

The 2012 Walk for Life is coming up! On October 20, I along with (hopefully many) other participants, will gather in the front of Alpha Pregnancy Center, split up into teams, and load our arms up with gifts and packages. We will cover miles on foot as we deliver these gifts to families who used the services offered by Alpha this year. We will bless those who have overcome obstacles, those that have done a very difficult thing, those who have struggled in choosing life. And we will thank them! (and praise God for them!)

This will be my second year participating in the Walk for Life. Last year, I had a great experience and felt like I got to know the center better and the people they serve. It was great to wander the halls and think of all the conversations that have happened there, all the lives that have been saved there. On the walk, I met a family who had been given hope and encouragement by Alpha so many times. I saw how her kid's eyes and mouths opened wide as they opened their presents. I saw joy overflowing in her family.

With your help, I raised over $400 for the walk (well over my original goal of $250).  And I hope we can do that again! I'm hoping I can persuade a few local friends to join me to make up a team and I'd like to set my goal a little higher this year and raise $500.

Would you consider giving toward this cause? You can give online by going here or send a check in the mail made payable to Alpha Pregnancy Center (contact me for my mailing address).

Below are a a few links about Alpha and what they do.

• Alpha Pregnancy Center Website
• The Great Turnaround (my recounting of the event)

The 2012 Walk for Life is coming up! On October 20, I along with (hopefully many) other participants, will gather in the front of Alpha Pregnancy Center, split up into teams, and load our arms up with gifts and packages. We will cover miles on foot as we deliver these gifts to families who used the services offered by Alpha this year. We will bless those who have overcome obstacles, those that have done a very difficult thing, those who have struggled in choosing life. And we will thank them! (and praise God for them!)

This will be my second year participating in the Walk for Life. Last year, I had a great experience and felt like I got to know the center better and the people they serve. It was great to wander the halls and think of all the conversations that have happened there, all the lives that have been saved there. On the walk, I met a family who had been given hope and encouragement by Alpha so many times. I saw how her kid's eyes and mouths opened wide as they opened their presents. I saw joy overflowing in her family.

With your help, I raised over $400 for the walk (well over my original goal of $250).  And I hope we can do that again! I'm hoping I can persuade a few local friends to join me to make up a team and I'd like to set my goal a little higher this year and raise $500.

Would you consider giving toward this cause? You can give online by going here or send a check in the mail made payable to Alpha Pregnancy Center (contact me for my mailing address).

Below are a a few links about Alpha and what they do.

• Alpha Pregnancy Center Website
• The Great Turnaround (my recounting of the event)

Creating Space

Several months ago, I joined Pinterest and one of the first things that I "liked" was a spice rack that was attached to a cupboard door. Well, it has taken me several months to actually get to it, but I did it! With the help of my handy-man husband, I now have some extra space in my cupboard!

I also picked up some 3M hooks to hang my measuring spoons and cups which created a lot more space in my utensil drawer for other things!

I love finding space saving ideas for my little city apartment!

Several months ago, I joined Pinterest and one of the first things that I "liked" was a spice rack that was attached to a cupboard door. Well, it has taken me several months to actually get to it, but I did it! With the help of my handy-man husband, I now have some extra space in my cupboard!

I also picked up some 3M hooks to hang my measuring spoons and cups which created a lot more space in my utensil drawer for other things!

I love finding space saving ideas for my little city apartment!

Surprise Birthday Party

We had a surprise birthday party for our friend Mark last night. It was a pretty relaxed get together with pizza, cake, ice cream and games. I had a lot of fun and I hope he did too.

I thought I'd share a few recipes with you as well as my latest creative endeavor that were enjoyed by all at the party.

First, the decor:

I made the birthday banner out of scrapbook paper and printed letters on our black/white printer and cut them out. It turned out really well and can totally be used again . . . and again! We picked up some helium balloons too which was totally fun. I loved them. Seriously, I played with them for an hour after everyone went home.

Now, the cake:

 

Alright, before you laugh at my lettering . . . okay. I'll wait! Let me just say now that you are done laughing, that this is the best cake recipe ever! It's the same cake I made last time. It's Betty Crocker's "Best Chocolate Cake," and it does not disappoint. I have issues with frosting, so I was a bit nervous about this one, but the recipe I found online was really easy and it turned out great.

Here's the recipe for Betty Crocker's Best chocolate Cake:

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour or cake flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 cup water

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

4 oz. melted unsweetened chocolate (cool)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour baking pan (13x9x2 or two 9-inch or three 8-inch round layer pans). Measure all ingredients into large mixer bowl. Blend 1/2 minute on low speed, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Beat 3 minutes on high speed, scraping bowl occasionally.  Pour evenly into pans. 

Bake oblong 40 to 45 minutes, layers 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool.

 I also made Butterfinger ice cream! Sorry, no photos of that. But in case you are interested, here is the recipe.

We had a surprise birthday party for our friend Mark last night. It was a pretty relaxed get together with pizza, cake, ice cream and games. I had a lot of fun and I hope he did too.

I thought I'd share a few recipes with you as well as my latest creative endeavor that were enjoyed by all at the party.

First, the decor:

I made the birthday banner out of scrapbook paper and printed letters on our black/white printer and cut them out. It turned out really well and can totally be used again . . . and again! We picked up some helium balloons too which was totally fun. I loved them. Seriously, I played with them for an hour after everyone went home.

Now, the cake:

 

Alright, before you laugh at my lettering . . . okay. I'll wait! Let me just say now that you are done laughing, that this is the best cake recipe ever! It's the same cake I made last time. It's Betty Crocker's "Best Chocolate Cake," and it does not disappoint. I have issues with frosting, so I was a bit nervous about this one, but the recipe I found online was really easy and it turned out great.

Here's the recipe for Betty Crocker's Best chocolate Cake:

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour or cake flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 cup water

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

4 oz. melted unsweetened chocolate (cool)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour baking pan (13x9x2 or two 9-inch or three 8-inch round layer pans). Measure all ingredients into large mixer bowl. Blend 1/2 minute on low speed, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Beat 3 minutes on high speed, scraping bowl occasionally.  Pour evenly into pans. 

Bake oblong 40 to 45 minutes, layers 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool.

 I also made Butterfinger ice cream! Sorry, no photos of that. But in case you are interested, here is the recipe.