Fasching

     Awhile back the family and I attended our first Fasching parade.  It was so much fun!  The bands were awesome, the costumes amazing, the food was tasty, and even the weather cooperated.  I took so many pictures...just couldn't help myself.  

We can't wait to go back again next year!

Happy Birthday IKEA

     Ok, so today's post really isn't about IKEA's birthday.  Sorry IKEA.  No, today is about the creative construction, ahem, let me correct that... the deconstruction of a cake.  Not just any cake...a cake for IKEA.  Get it? No...ok, well let me explain.  Awhile back one of my blogger friends, Tamara, over at Confessions of a part-time working Mom posted up this picture.....

     If you a frequently customer of IKEA's they you see the comedy behind this picture.  If not, then I suggest you get yourself to an IKEA!  Just kidding.  IKEA is well known for their ready to be built furniture system.  Why buy a ready made bookshelf, when you can build it at home right?  Get the picture now?  Great! On to the challenge at hand...

     So back to my friend Tamara, after she posted the picture she challenged us to come up with our own version of a birthday cake for IKEA.  After a little bit of brain storming, I accepted the challenge.  Now to figure out exactly what I was going to create was my next step.

     Just for a bit of inspiration, I decided to take a little visit to our local IKEA while the kiddos were in school, which is only like 10 minutes from our house.  Pretty awesome right?   As I was strolling around, which seemed like an endless maze of a showroom, I actually got to observe the other shoppers, inspect some of the items, and just take my time looking at things I wanted to look at, without the nagging of a hungry bored child whining to go home (the first time we tried to go there was on like the busiest day EVER and the kiddos did NOT want to go the kinder play place, needless to say it was as short visit). 

     I was so mesmerized by mommy freedom, I actually wind up purchasing a few items and made some mental notes (and took some pictures) of a few furniture pieces to start setting up the extra room for my office/photo studio upstairs.  Before I knew it, it was almost time to go pick Kinley up from Kindi.  So, thinking back to the challenge...how can I make an IKEA cake?

     The deconstruction of cake ingredients has already been done in the picture above.  So how could I make it interesting and still relatable to IKEA?  Then it hit me as I was checking out.... 

MEATBALLS! 

     IKEA is known for their meatballs in sauce with a side of Lingonberry jam.  It's probably their best seller in their restaurant.  I knew this would be perfect! So there ya go, that was my inspiration for my IKEA Meatball Birthday Cake!  

  While on my little trip I picked up a bag of their famous KÖTTBULLAR Meatballs, a packet of GRÄDDSÅS Cream Sauce, and a jar of SYLT LINGON Lingonberry Preserves and then got creative!

First, I placed the frozen meatballs in the oven according to the package.

While those were cooking I prepared the sauce.  It was really simple, just some water, cream, and the sauce packet, let simmer for three minutes while stirring.

When the meatballs and sauce were done, I made a little pyramid with the meatballs layering a bit of sauce in between.  Then finished it with some lingonberry preserves.  

I know it's not a tradition "cake" but hey, it's for IKEA!  What says IKEA more then a meatballs, right?!  It actually turned out very tasty and the kiddos gobbled it right up!

Happy Birthday IKEA!

Check out these other creative IKEA cakes:

Confessions of a Part-Time Working Mom

Spatulas on Parade

Sarah Nick guest post on Confessions of a Part-Time Working Mom

The Bergham's Life Chronicles

February's Funny Friday

     So here's the deal and how it works....Funny Friday, is a regular feature published on the last Friday of every month. Funny Friday is a collaborative project.  Each month one of the participants submits a picture, then we all write 5 captions or thoughts inspired by that month's picture.  Links to the other blogger's posts are below, click on them and see what they've come up with.  We hope to bring a smile to your face as you start your weekend!

Today's Funny Friday photo is from The Bergham's Life Chronicles

1. This little shopper has her priorities straight....Juice for her and a JUMBO size can of Coffee for momma!

2. "Ok, so I got the coffee, now where's that special organic, free range, grass fed, nonfat, all natural vanilla flavored goat milk creamer everyone has been raving about?"

3. "Shhhhhh, mom won't notice me putting in a few things, right?"

4. A true foodie in the making...shopping at Trader Joes.

5. "Look mom!" "It's a real cart, not like the plastic one Santa brought me!"

Check out these other funny bloggers:

Someone Else's Genius

Spatulas on Parade

The Bergham's Life Chronicles

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

Not That Sarah Michelle

Southern Belle Charm

My Brain on Kids

Baking in a Tornado

Love Poems

     Since this is February, the month of LOVE, my blogger friends and I linked up to bring you some poems about love.  Click on the links below to check out some more poetry.

Hazel
Inhale the sweet vanilla from her loving embrace. Hear her laughter, Touch the groves in her aging face.

Her hair a bit thinned and ginger blends to gray. A smile so infectious, it brightens your day.

Eyes hazel full of wisdom, with lovely lashes up they flip. Freckles tickled by kisses, stamped by her coral stained lip.

Her majestic fingers wrap,  around my little hands. Wanting her to hold them forever, but God had other plans.

A daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a grandma, Five ladies rolled into one. An amazing accomplished woman, full of zest, of wit, and of fun.

I think of her often and miss her in every way. Especially on February second......her birthday.

In loving memory of my Grandmother  Hazel Irene Conley

~ C. M.


Let Love In

Cupid's arrows take aim, targets the lonely souls. Ones that lack love with a heart full of holes.

Why do we love  when love can be broken? Our hearts kicked around, hurtful words spoken.

Open your heart, give love a chance. You are worth the fight, you deserve the romance.

Love takes time it can't be rushed. The true tackles you over,  cheeks slightly blushed.

A stomach full of butterflies a smile across your face. Longing for their touch, missing their embrace.

Feel yourself blessed if you find the "one", To share your love till your life journey is done.

~ C. M.


Spell It Out
L  - is for Lips, so soft and so sweet. O - is for Open, let your heart skip a beat. V -  is for Valentine, from your one true love, E -  is for Embrace, under the stars above.


~ C. M.



    Check out some of these

 other blogger's Love Poems:      Spatulas on Parade Someone Else's Genius Baking in a Tornado The Angrivated Mom The Bergham Chronicles