Cheesecake!!!!!

Ok so I have never made a real cheesecake before. I have done something close but not a real baking one. We were having some of Jason's family over for Sunday dinner and He requested a cheesecake. Usually his brother is the gourmet cook and does fun amazing things for dessert but he didn't really want to make a cheesecake so I volunteered. I found a few recipes and then combined them to make my own. It was not that hard and turned out really really good. It had a brownie layer on the bottom, then a layer of caramel and pecans, then the cheesecake layer then caramel, pecans and toffee bits on top. Oh man it was good. I am going to have to write down the recipe so that I can make it again. In fact I am going to put it on here. So here you go!!!

Brownie turtle cheesecake

1 package brownie mix and the ingredients to make it

3 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened

1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk

3 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

1 cup caramel ice cream topping

2 Tbsp flour

1 Heath bar smashed into small bits

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease bottom only of 10 inch springform pan. Prepare brownie mix as directed on box and spread evenly in pan. (if it looks like its going to be too thick leave some out) Bake 35 minutes or until set. Cool on wire rack.

In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually add in sweetened condensed milk. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. In small bowl mix 3/4 cup caramel with flour and add 1 cup pecans. Spread over brownie mix not getting too close to edge (it will stick to the pan). Pour cheese mixture into pan and spread evenly. Bake at 300 degrees for 50 minutes or until set. (it will still move a little in the middle but you don't want it like jello! If you over cook it, it will be dry.) Remove and cool at room temp for several hours. Chill in refrigerator. Remove sides of springform pan and garnish with remaining caramel, nuts and toffee bits.
Tip: to cut a cheesecake dip a knife in ice water between each slice.

you will want to make this a day a head or first thing in the morning the day you want to serve it. It does take time but is not difficult to do. I hope you enjoyed the recipe and maybe will try it some day! Good luck and happy cooking!

getting ready

ok so as of tomorrow I will be 32 weeks. I am starting to feel the pressure of making sure everything is ready for our little girl to come. So this is a picture of what my nursery looks like. ok just kidding. not at all! I really like this set and am going to use this "theme" in her room but I am going to have to make the stuff I want. Buying this stuff is way too expensive. It doesn't look like it would be too hard to sew on a lady bug shape to a blanket so I am going to try it. I will let you know how it goes. I have a bumper pad from my sister and bed skirt that I am going to use that is brown and pink with brown polka dots. It will match perfectly and go great with this theme. I started going through the clothes today and hanging some up and am going to have to wash some of them so her room is starting to look like a baby room now instead of a big mess. We got the dresser up stairs yesterday (thanks to a kind neighbor) and now I can start filling it. My mom bought me the cutest socks for this little one. They look like they have little black patent leather shoes on them but they are socks, pink purple and white! soo cute. so there you go that's whats been happening here.

We got a big bed for Tolson on Saturday and he loves it. He feels like such a grown up boy. although he always tells me that he doesn't want to grow big. sorry to say son. its going to happen if you like it or not!!!!

So there you go. I guess the countdown is sort of on. !!

Happy again.

Ok so I didn't want everyone to worry so I just wanted to post on here that it was only a few days and it passed. I am on top again and feeling great (except being tired all the time and having feet or head in my ribs) We are starting to get a lot of things ready and get a lot done in preparation for this baby girl. and I think we have decided on a name. (if it changes don't be mad) We really like Atalie Mae Kempton not positive on the middle name either but its looking like we will do atalie for the first name. anyway there you go. Getting very excited to meet this little girl!

Bad Day!

WARNING: Ramblings of a pregnant lady.


ok so generally I am a pretty happy content person! its something I kind of pride myself on. I don't get upset easily and I don't stay that way long. I can usually see the good side of anything or anyone and am happy with life in general. Yesterday was not one of those days. Monday night when going to bed I felt like crying but didn't have a good reason. I didn't sleep well and tossed a turned all night. So Tuesday when I woke up feeling the same way I was not excited. I tried to just get on with the day and figured my day would get better but by 10am I had already felt like crying 3 times. I know I should just cry and get it out of my system but there was no real reason so its not worth the crying headache. I got my tennis shoes on and got to work trying to get the house clean and checking things off my list but never really got over the blues of the night before. This is a very frustrating feeling for me. I am generally very in control of my emotions and being pregnant throws that out the window. Sometimes I think I would rather be sick then feel anxious, scared, worried, grumpy, etc. I know some of you are thinking no way pucking your guts out every day is so much worse. It may be, I don't know but I wonder sometimes. I have really been doing good with this one and have been feeling good... until yesterday. I know there are things I can do and things I can take to help right now but I just hate not being able to just choose to be happy, its frustrating! I love being a mom and I love being able to bring a child into the word to join our family but ugh! anyway I guess I just wanted to put down in words how I was feeling and get it off my chest. Today is a new day and I am going to try to have a good day. I really am so blessed and have so many wonderful things and people in my life. I am thankful for the great friends I have and the blessing of my wonderful Husband and son. I am grateful for where I am in life and for all I have experienced. I know its been a while but I am going to share my list with you again of some things I am grateful for today.

1. my life
2. my husband
3. my health
4. my baby girl (coming soon)
5. good friends

thanks for all the love and support I feel each day. I hope your days are good and that you can choose to be happy.

p.s. you know its a bad day when you can't even make chocolate chip cookies that turn out right. at least they still tasted good!!!!

Not my Favorite Picture!

ok so this is really not my favorite picture but I haven't posted any on here of my pregnant belly so here you go. I am 30 weeks and carrying very high. also keep in mind that I am sitting down. Tolson had just been talking to and kissing the "baby" in this picture! He loves her already and I think will be a great big brother. We were hiking on Mt Graham with my family and had so much fun playing in the creek. Not as easy to hike when you have a big belly in the way. Well there you go, for those of you wondering how big I am getting ..... there you go!

29 weeks and counting

ok so I went to the Dr on Tuesday and I am now 29 weeks along in this pregnancy. I am feeling pretty good and am so glad that things are going well. I tried to have Tolson take a picture or use the timer but It just didn't work so when Jason comes home I will try to have him take one. I passed my glucose test this week and am so glad that I don't have to do the 3 hour one. I have lots of issues with my pregnancies but I am so glad that I am not sick the whole time. I hope the last two months go as well as the rest.

So I have nothing exciting to report about or write about at all except that things are boring with this baby! and that is the best news ever. we still haven't for sure decided on a name but have a few we like. We like Atalie, Alayna, and a few other that are just ok. We will just have to see what we like in 2 months and what she looks like.

Hope you all are having a great day and that those of you that are prego are doing well too!

Good Deals!

OK so this was my shopping trip today! I did get a few other essentials but am not including them in this because they were not the great deals I got. OK so here is a list of all that I got.

6 boxes of cereal

3 cake mixes

2 suddenly salads

1 scalloped potatoes

6 cookie mixes

2 frosting

2 chex mix

1 cheerio snack mix

1 bugles snack

1 steamers veggies

1 Trix yogurt

1 delights yogurt

at regular price these items would have cost me $82.34

with my coupons and sale items I spent........$14.34

that's a savings of $68

there are 27 items on the list which makes them about .50 a piece.

now I know that these foods are not the best healthiest foods for our family but when I can get this stuff for free or cheap then I don't feel so bad about buying the good healthy stuff. SO there you go ! My shopping trip for today was all about coupons and sales and it worked and was worth it. Now if I would just take the time to do this every week then I would be in good shape.