Hello Kitty Cake Pops

This weekend was Kamryn's 6th birthday so I made her Hello Kitty cake pops! They were yellow cake with white frosting. They're pretty cute, right?? :)

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Oreo Pops

Last night Katie and I made oreo pops :) They are so easy and delicious!! We dipped mint and original oreos in dark chocolate mint and white chocolate candy melts. The dark chocolate mint/mint oreo pops were the best in my opinion. How can you go wrong with chocolate and mint?

Here is what you'll need to make these cuties:
A box of oreos
Lollipop sticks
A couple bags of Candy Melts
Sprinkles
Styrofoam blocks

The supply amounts will vary depending on how many cookies you decide to dip. The good thing about these are you can make as many or as few as you want! We wanted 2 different kinds so we dipped almost 2 boxes, and used about 3 bags of Candy Melts.

1. First melt your Candy Melts as directed on the bag (heat a cup full for about 25 seconds at a time until melted. And add shortening to thin it - this will make it easier to dip).

2. Dip your lollipop stick into the melted chocolate about 3/4 of an inch.

3. Stick your lollipop stick halfway into the cookie.
*One thing we noticed was that the mint oreos had more cream filling, so it was easier to insert the stick. For the original oreos: open the oreo, insert your stick in the middle of the cookie. Put a small dab of melted chocolate in the middle and seal with the other half of the oreo. Leave in the freezer for a few minutes to really seal the stick inside the before you dip*

4. Dip your pop into the Candy Melts and tap off any excess chocolate.

5. Pour on your sprinkles and place in a styrofoam block to dry.

6. Let dry and voila! Cute and easy treat or party favor!

What else can I put on a stick and dip in chocolate??

Photo Shoot Fun

I few months back I posted this blog on Ballerina Inspiration. Yesterday I took 3 girls out and we did a similar shoot. Now this was just for fun and I'm not a professional, but I think we got some great shots! Here are just a few...

Pretty fun right? :)

Hallween Cake Pops

It's just barely the weekend but I've already accomplished my goal of making these cute pops! I had some of the high school girls over and taught them how to make cake pops. We had a great time and they were quite a success!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Happy baking :)

Weekend baking

I think I'm going to make these this weekend! The little Frankenstein is my fav :)

Halloween Planning

October 31st is coming. It always sneaks up on me! Halloween has never been my favorite holiday (even though I love dressing up!)... but what holiday can top Christmas anyway? :)

When I was in grade school, I dressed up as a princess almost every year... any excuse to wear a pretty dress! But seriously. I was a princess probably 5 years in a row. But ever since I got too old to go trick-or-treating, Halloween has been a different experience. Basically I've been slacking. The end of October always catches me by surprise and I'm stuck wearing a pair of ears and a tail. Lame.


This year I'm a little ahead hehe. I'm pretty much obsessed with Sutton Foster these days and every show that she's been in on Broadway. Currently she is playing Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes. It's running in NYC until April 2012 and I am doing my best to get over there to see Sutton perform before she moves on to another awesome show. If you want to check out a clip of the show click here.

All that to say I am going to be Reno Sweeney for Halloween! Sounds fun, right? I'm going to do my best to get a little sailor outfit and a blonde wig. (Not something quite so "little" as in the poster, but hopefully something equally cute).

Well I went to Target this afternoon and found a blonde curly wig for $8. Score! Let's face it. I'm asian and it's going to be kind of funny. So we'll see if the wig makes the cut but at least I have it just in case... I also have some cute little white shorts and blue & white striped heels so far.

I've been searching online for possible costume ideas and here are some inspirational pieces I've found...



The red dress is my fav so far. So adorable... but way too pricey so it's working as inspiration!

What is everyone else dressing up as for Halloween?

Catching up...

Wow. I'm behind. I've got to say, Albania hit and things have been a blur ever since! This coming weekend will be the first weekend I get to stay in town since before my trip! Whew.

So here is a quick update...

1. Albania was amazing! I'm still missing all of my new friends there and being in a different place, experiencing a new culture, etc. A few snapshots...

After that I went to Corona for a few days to see Jo before the wedding. We sat by the pool, had breakfast at Silver Dollar Pancakes, and had lunch with Laura and Nat :)
Then I got to be a part of the special day when Jo and Nolan tied the knot!

We also had a "T" party at youth group where everyone dresses up with something that starts with the letter "T." I was a turkey sandwhich and Tiffany was Tofu :)

I then headed to Pasadena for a fun girls weekend with some friends from CBU. We went out, made pizzookies, went to the pool, and had a grand ole time just being together.
And this past weekend I went down to Riverside for my friend Laura's bridal shower. She is going to be a beautiful bride! Below is a pic with Laura and me, and the bridesmaids with the bride!And in the midst of it all, I have moved! I'm finally living in AG and working working working! That's all for now. Hopefully things will start getting back to normal now... whatever that might be :)

Tomorrow...

Well, the time is almost here! In less than 24 hours I'll be flying over the Atlantic Ocean along with my 7 teammates. I think we're ready. So much anticipation. So much preparation.

Our team memory verse is running over in my head...

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

- Colossians 3:1-17

Apple Sauce anyone?

Apple Sauce. Classic.

The new addition to my MacBook Pro. I'm kind of obsessed with it.

Check out all of these other fun decals for your laptop/ipad! ...

So much goodness!

Tonight at youth group and the last week at camp have reminded me of why I wanted to work with high school youth. The kids shared about their experiences this past week and what God has been doing in their lives. I can't explain the joy and excitement I feel when I hear of a student seeking after God with everything they have. A couple things we heard tonight...

"I opened my heart up to God a week from last Tuesday and now I'm like totally obsessed with my Bible."

"I didn't think I'd leave camp accepting Christ, but that last night, Rich said everything I had prayed for. I knew it was from God."

"I realized I had been letting other people fill up my cup... but now I can let God fill me up."

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. – Psalm 73:26

God's word is full of so much goodness!!! Have you read this book?? It's amazing! I have definitely found a new love of God's word lately and I'm holding onto it as much as I can! The more I read, the better it gets! Oh yes.

Apart from you I have no good thing...

One of the first days we were at Hume, I asked my girls "Why did you come to Hume?"

I got a couple different answers, but for many they shared that they always felt close to God at Hume. We went further and they said that they wanted to feel the closeness to God at home as well, but could never quite figure out how to accomplish it once they got down the mountain.

I've definitely felt that way before... you go off to a retreat, a camp, a missions trip and feel God close the entire trip. Then you get home and things change. So I started trying to figure out, what makes being away so different? Why do we feel God's presence in a place like Hume and then struggle to spend time with him at home?

It's pretty simple once you think about it. When we go on these trips, we are taken away from the distractions of everyday life. We're not worried about texting, checking our emails/facebook. We are there to meet with God and for the purpose of worshiping him. But why aren't things always like that at home?

The fact is, those things don't have to be a distraction. We make them a distraction. We fill our lives with stuff, with junk that fills up our days and value things that don't matter in the end. This last week, I purchased a sweatshirt that says "Where you invest your love, you invest your life." I love that phrase. It's a great reminder to examine how we invest our time and our hearts.

When I'm away on a trip, I feel close to God because I invest time into my relationship with him, I want to worship him and experience who he is. When I'm at home, I can do the exact same thing. I just have to work harder to not be distracted by all the other junk. I can't live my days wishing I wasn't at work so that I could go spend time with God. I can spend my entire day with him, praising him and glorifying him through the work that I do and the conversations I have. I want to be intentional. I want to seek after God every single day and invest my heart in him and nothing else.

"I said to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.'" - Psalm 16:2

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." - Psalm 73:25-28

Hume Lake Summer 2011

This last week I had the amazing opportunity to be a camp counselor for our high school youth group. We were at Hume Lake Christian Camp. It was an incredibly encouraging week. God moved in our students lives and answered our prayers in more ways than one.

The theme for the week was ALL IN. We studied David and Saul and what it means to be a person "after God's own heart," no matter the circumstances. We learned that even though David had many failings, he was still a man seeking God's heart. We also saw how Saul lost God's blessing when he succumbed to his jealousy and pride. Our speaker, Danny Strange, talked about what it means to seek after God with everything we have, no matter our situation.

We had a great time of fellowship, recreation, etc. but the most important thing was that the students experienced God this week. I know that many of them walked away with life-altering experiences and stories to share with their friends and family about how God has changed their lives forever. One of the greatest joys in being a counselor is hearing the students share their stories of how God has changed their hearts and to hear that they are seeking after him with everything they have.

Are YOU seeking God's heart today? Do you not only know ABOUT what he's done, but actually EXPERIENCED him? Do you KNOW God or do you know ABOUT God? We might know the facts, but what difference does it make if we don't live our lives accordingly? It's not about us. Are you ALL IN?

"I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." - Psalm 40:8

Daddy's Day

Dad,

Thank you so much for all that you do. You are truly a great example as to what a Godly man should be. I have not only grown in love but respect for you over the years. Seeing how you handle leadership positions in work and church have made me proud to call you my father. You have selflessly cared for our family and I always know you want what's best for me. I appreciate it more than you know. I love you very much.

:) Tamara

Ballerina Inspiration

I just discovered these photos from Ballerina Project on their facebook page. A part of me has always wanted to be a photographer, and another part wanted to be a ballerina :) So these photos are making the artistic side of my brain go crazy! I am now dying to do a ballerina photo shoot...

Check out their facebook page to see more photos!