Summery Cake Recipe

I posted awhile back and mentioned a yummy, Summery cake I had made...and well lots of you inquired about what it was. I have no idea the name of the cake or where I got it from. Probably my mom or mother in law but I can't remember. It's like super easy & fast to make...and it's a cake that you keep in the refrigerator. So it's that perfect dessert to cool everyone off. Only thing, you have to like coconut_no coconut pieces are in it_ just coconut flavoring. But it is definitely one of my family's favorites!

Ingredients:
*Yellow Cake Mix
(I usually get Moist Deluxe & you will need the ing on box as you follow & make the cake using the box directions)
*Creme de Coconut (in a can)
*1 can condensed milk
*Big Cool Whip

Mix the cake ing. together, following the box directions, put in the oven to bake.

Then mix together condensed milk & creme de coconut. If you can't find the creme de coconut, like me this last time, I found something similar over by the mixed drinks isle in my grocery. It worked just the same.
After cake comes out of the oven let it cool really well.
Next, you are going to poke holes all over it_all the way down to the pan. I used a wine topper thingy cause it makes wide enough holes. But whatever works..

Then pour your condensed milk/Coconut mixture into the holes filling each one until mixture is gone. This is not a pretty step but it is like sinfully good. I mean, this cake had me at condensed milk.

Last, top with your cool whip & refrigerate for at least 3 hours. The colder the better...

I hope you guys' love it! Have a great weekend!!

Linking up with Casey for her recipe exchange:

Heather :) 

Wordless Wednesday

Heather :) 

Knocking down some pins

While looking for something for the fam to do this weekend, Jode found a deal at AMF Bowling 

for $30. It allows you to bring up to 3 adults & kids are free to bowl til' September. 

We're really not big bowlers but it's fun and it gives the kids another little something to do through the summer, so we bought it...and went bowling. 

All of us are pretty competitive and hubs shows no mercy on trying to get as many strikes as he can. 

But thats Ok cause' I want to know when I beat him that I beat him fair & square_ there was no helping me out_no mercy shown. :) 

The girls kept making fun of Jode cause' he has a leg swing that he does...but it's probably like the professional thing to do...

Heather :)

Insta_Friday

Well today I'm linking up over at life.rearranged with a sweet blogger, Jeannett. The goal is to post pictures  taken throughout the week that are not really blog worthy on their own but together make up a beautiful mess...life. :)


Girls painting a sign to hang in their room that said"they rock"...

Waking up on our Anniversary to find these little notes posted around the house...

I got a new coffee mug...

an oven mitt that matches my apron...

He wins hu-uge props for being this creative and thoughtful....

Getting to swim at a friends house while they were away on vaca....

making a Summery, yummy cake....

craftin' and the mess it leaves behind..

Getting these "happy's" all ready to be shipped out...

Have a great weekend!

Heather :) 

Unexpected Joy

It is so much fun to be able to make/create/craft something of your own, isn't it? 

There is such joy in creating.. for me it was an unexpected joy that came in the moving and making with my hands. Now I'm a doer... I don't want to just sit at a table talking about doing something_ I want to be a part of the "doing". 

Over the last year, I've really learned how much this truly makes up who I am.

Anyhow,  I'm lovin' all of the headbands out there lately but some days I'm like "can I still wear these"? Or am I too old? But then I'm like naaah...old is all in how you perceive yourself.

So here are a few of the lovelies I've been working on lately_

  

I could eat this color...:)

Heather :)

15 Years

15 years ago today I married Calvin Joseph Holden(yea but he goes by "Jode", we laugh cause' we think it came from Joseph?) _he was 20_I was 19. Whew..has it ever been a ride. Haha... and can you say, awful, or just say awww for us in that above picture because we were a mess...just didn't have a clue. 

We both have changed so much over 15 years and I always say how awesome it would be to now get to plan our wedding..knowing all, or the little of what we know now.

There have been great times, trying times, wanting to quit times, but we've held on tight & fought for "us" and for "what is ours".

Statistically, the odds have always been stacked against us. High school sweethearts married right out of high school & coming from divorced parents & grandparents on both sides. We've had to learn and sometimes re-learn "us" and how to have a healthy marriage...it hasn't always been easy...but it has always & continues to be so worth it! 

Jode and I have one factor that has been the difference maker and that is our love, trust, and belief in Jesus Christ. He is the difference maker in our marriage and how we have made it through. Always at the end of the day we know we've promised/vowed before a holy God "forever" and we have been so blessed for it along the way. 

Our story is by far a perfect one... but it's our story and everyday another page is being written. These past 15 years have flown by and so I know the next 15 will probably do the same. But I'm excited/hopeful/expectant to see where God leads us/takes us in this journey. Good things are behind us, but greater things are ahead for us..... I can't wait!;)

One person could be overpowered.

But two people can stand up for themselves.

And a rope made out of three cords isn't easily broken.  Ecclesiastes 4:12

Ok. so since today is our anniversary & all..I wanna do something kinda out of the box. Aren't these earrings the cutest...I know, they're everywhere, right. Well,...if you would like a pair of these cuties, you don't have to do anything for me. I want to give you a pair...just because.. just a little "happy" for today. Now obviously, you will have to leave a comment so that I can contact you about sending them to you. But that's it...yay for cutesy earrings and for 

Happy Anniversary's!

Heather :) 

Randomness & our weekend

Yay.. for getting my kids back this weekend after them being gone... and celebrating Jode on Father's Day. We drove in on Friday, quick scooped'em up, then drove back in late Saturday night. We had a full & packed weekend and I'm still re-grouping from everything. But I didn't
want to let it pass without writing a few thoughts_takeaways_blessings from the weekend:

• seeing my kids sing & enjoy the VBS songs/program

• laughing with fam about stories of past
• a mother in law of influence
• girls first go cart ride
• hearing my girls tell of the waitress they met and then got to bring a birthday gift to
• a healed ear infection
• gifts that were given for Father's Day

• celebrating a self-less husband

• being given the cutest pair of earrings by sister in law
• seeing cousins express their love for my kids
• hearing oldest disappointed that he wasn't spending Father's Day with his dad

• watching my girls text/call just to tell the fam how much they miss them already
• Jode getting to play guitar in church

Heather :) 

Honeymoonin'... Kinda

A whole week Jode and I have had to just be...

Our kids have a yearly event where they go to my mother in law's, spend a week catchin' up on lovin', and attend there VBS. It's hard having them gone, and of course, youngest, got an ear infection right as we were about to leave...so that made it even harder. Yet I know they enjoy it so much and it's good for me & their dad that we get to have time together. We don't get that luxury near enough... part of the downside in living far away from family. So this is dedicated to our week of just being... kinda felt like we were honeymoonin' again. :)

Heather :) 

Inspirational Thursday (warning this post contains a cuss word)

I stumbled upon this store while having my hair did a few weeks back but didn't have an opportunity to go inside. So me and the hubs checked it out yesterday and Oh. My. Goodness. it is a funky, vintage lovin', filled to the top, store of inspiration, kinda place. Like you literally have to step over things just to get through ...I felt like I couldn't take it all in. There's stuff hanging from the ceiling, stacked on top of each other, & places you can't even get to.

This is the "Oh. My. Goodness. face" upon walking in. :)

Shinola is the name of this little gem so I had to see what that meant. K, you ready...the dictionary refers to it as "no shinola!"  meaning You are kidding! or no S_ _ t!  "So taxes are too high? No Shinola!" haha  Or you could say "this place is so inspiring & filled with great finds"..to which someone could reply "No Shinola!"

Anyways, I did a lot of oohing & ahhing while looking in Shinola and can't wait to go back!

Heather :)