New Look

Oh My Lanta, Georgia~ Check out my new blog makeover by Danielle at The Design Girl. I love my new design. Thank you, Danielle.

If you’d like a super cute, unique, and completely fabulous blog makeover, click here. Danielle is offering my readers $20 off any blog design until February 14th. Y’all, that is $5 cheaper than her store wide sale and returning customer price. Make sure you tell her I sent you for your discount.

Check out Kate's new blog makeover by Danielle. I LOVE it, it's so classy! E-mail Danielle at, thedesigngirl@gmail.com for your new spring look! Since I don't like to post without a photo, here's a photo of Me, Danielle, and Kate in Los Angeles. Happy Monday!

Diet Soda Cake

If you do weight watchers or you subscribe to Hungry Girl, you may know about the Diet Soda Cake or Cupcakes. I tried it for the first time and the results were great!

You can use any cake mix, add 12oz. of diet soda, and 2 egg whites. Mix the ingredients together and follow the baking instructions on the box.

I made cupcakes using yellow cake mix and diet 7-up. I used Reduced Sugar Chocolate Fudge Icing. Each cupcake is 4 points with the icing. Without icing each cupcake is 2 points. You could use Fat Free Cool Whip instead of icing.

I've heard these are some great diet soda and cake mix combos...

Lemon Cake Mix and Diet 7-Up

Chocolate Cake Mix and Diet Coke

White Cake Mix and Diet Cherry 7-Up

Red Velvet Cake Mix and Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper

White Cake Mix with Diet Orange Soda

Am I in China or San Antonio?

I'm hosting a baby shower for my friend, Amy, in April. The theme is "Big Top Circus," which is SO perfect for Amy! Amy is having twin boys and loves Circus food. I've been on the hunt for some unique shower items. I can't wait to show y'all all the cute things we are doing for the shower, but you'll have to wait until April. I want Amy to have a few surprises!

I've heard Big Lots had unique items that you can't find other places. I'm in San Antonio visiting my family so my mom and I decided to check out Big Lots. It was our first time in a Big Lots and possibly the last time. :) They definitely had some unique, hard-to-find items. Check out this Miracle Whip. I think this shipment was meant for China, not San Antonio.

A Few Questions Answered

I've had a few questions in the comment section of my blog. I thought I would answer them in a post. If I ask a question in a comment section, I very seldom go back to the comment section to find the answer. ;) I thought this would be easier!

How did you become involved in working with China orphans?

In October I told the story in this post about how I starting volunteering at Chinese orphanages. Here's a few of my favorite photos from my trip in 2006... because I don't like a post without photos. :)

This is my little friend Yu Mei. We had just spent the morning at the beach. For the kids, this was their first time to experience a beach. They loved it. Everyone was boarding the bus to leave. I was trying to rush Yu Mei onto the bus but she was walking really slow. I finally realized what she was doing. As she was walking she was looking back at her footprints in the sand. She had never seen such a thing. At that point, I decided to not rush her. Hey, who cares if you're the last on the bus.

Feeding a little cutie

My friend Nancy took this photo in Beijing. I love it!

What kind of sunscreen do you use on your face (everyday)?

I have a form of eczema called Seborrheic Dermatitis (SD). SD is usually found on the scalp but it can also affect the face, which is where I have it. When I’m in an outbreak I get red, flaky, dry patches on my cheeks and around my eyes and ears. It’s itchy, painful, and ugly. I will spare y’all and not link websites on SD on my blog, not cute! I can usually tell when I’m about to have a serious outbreak and I have prescriptions to help control it. The exact cause of SD is unknown. However, outbreaks have been linked to stress, fatigue, change of season, and travel. Hello, that’s me!! I’m not kidding~ a couple of years ago in one week… 7 days, I traveled to Orange County, CA, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, and NYC. That’s a lot of stress, fatigue, change of season and travel.

To answer the question about what kind of sunscreen I use on my face on a daily basis, I use M.D. Forte Total Daily Protector Sunscreen. I’ll probably never get to buy any skincare from a make-up counter at the mall or the newest product on-line. I only use products recommended by my Doctor and Prescription Products. I’ve purchased M.D. Forte from my Dermatologist. However, you can purchase it online now (with your doctor’s physician code). It’s a little cheaper than buying it from the doctor. Sorry for the long answer. I wish it weren't so complicated.

Can you share Amy's Recipe for Strawberry Cheesecake with White Chocolate Chips?

Since Amy doesn't update her blog anymore, I've ask her if I can post it on mine. Ha Ha Amy, you know I love ya. This is a very easy recipe; it's made in the microwave. The trick is you have to use the Pampered Chef fluted stone bundt pan.

Strawberry Cheesecake with White Chocolate Chips

1 Strawberry cake mix
1 tsp. strawberry or vanilla extract
1/3 C. white chocolate chips (Amy doubles the chips)
3 oz. box cheesecake pudding mix
16 oz. sour cream
1/3 C. oil
3 eggs

~Generously grease your fluted STONE (pampered chef bundt pan)
~Whisk eggs and pudding mix together in batter bowl
~Add remaining ingredients-blending well
~Drop batter into Fluted Stone and spread evenly
~Microwave 12-14 minutes (works best with microwave turntable, if no turntable rotate after 7 minutes
~Invert cake immediately onto platter, but leave in pan for 10 minutes
~Cool and garnish with sprinkled powdered sugar or whipped cream and fresh strawberries

Can you share something that has helped you on Weight Watchers?

I used the be the WW Queen but not anymore. I don't follow it the way I should, which is why my results are slooooow. I was just given a recipe for WW cake. I'm going to try it soon and I'll post the results.

I really love cooking at home because you know exactly what's going in your food. One of my favorite things to make is broiled veggies. I broil them because it's fast... 5-10 minutes. My favorite broiled veggie is eggplant. I slice it and spray it with Pam Butter flavor or the Crisco Olive Oil flavor. Sprinkle the eggplant with salt and pepper. Broil for 5 minutes; then flip the eggplant and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Broil for another 5 minutes. Yummy!

Remember this blog post about the coloring book my sister made for Olivia at the Foster Home in China? Olivia got the package! I love how happy she looks in these photos. When I was in China there were days Olivia wasn't happy.

Olivia was dropped off at an orphanage at age 3 with a severe heart problem. At age 3 you know your mom and dad. Just thinking about how she must have felt hurts my heart. Olivia's heart problem was so serious that she couldn't even sit up on her own. She was sent to the Special Needs Foster Home outside of Beijing (this is the Foster Home I visited in the fall). She had a pacemaker installed. This foster home is such an amazing place. They are saving lives.

After Olivia's pacemaker was installed she had congestive heart failure and had to spend time in the hospital. Visitors were only allowed for 3-4 hours a days. Once again in her short life she was alone. Oh my goodness, I'm crying as I write this.

Please pray for Olivia and all the orphans in the world. If you're interested in sponsoring a child or donating to this amazing Foster Home, let me know. I can email you their information.

Gracie with her Valentine's Day present. She's so funny.

The tag is always the best part.

Pink Swap

Today my "Pink Swap" package arrived from my partner, Melissa. Check out Melissa's adorable blog. My favorite thing on Melissa's blog is "Pink Saturday." I am completely overwhelmed with all the CUTE items Melissa sent me and her generosity. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Melissa. You have made my week.

I just know y'all are going to love scrolling through these photos. Check out Melissa's Etsy store here for adorable note cards, stationery, and more. Each set of stationery is packaged in clear cellophane with a coordinating ribbon. It's the perfect gift.

Pink Jelly Beans and a Sweet Card

Adorable Monogrammed Tip Towel

Candy, Cookie Decorating Supplies, and the Cutest Fingernail File

Hot Pink Headband~ Can't wait to wear it

Notepads, Labels, and a Pink Pen

Cutest Picture Frame and a Fun "J" Tag

Set of Note Cards

I LOVE these Note Cards

One of my Favorite Bible Verses

How cute is this???? Hot Pink Business Card Holder.

I've had Business Cards for 10.5 years but never a Business Card Holder.

Thank You So Much, Melissa!

Valentine's Day Girl's Night

Saturday night was our monthly Girl's Night. We started the night at Amy's house for a cocktail. Maria surprised us with a cute Valentine's Day goodie. Thanks, Maria!

We met Gretchen at a local Italian restaurant. We took a TON of photos~ as always. I'm sure the people sitting around us wondered what was going on.

My Dinner~Lasagna

Not on weight watchers but so worth it

When we left we realized Amy accidentally parked in a handicapped spot.

Ooopps...

On the way back to Amy's house, we stopped at the grocery store for cake ingredients.

A Dare~Amy didn't push me around the store. We just took a few photos for laughs.

I'm so excited that Amy is making us a strawberry cake

Umm... Strawberry, White Chocolate Chip Cake.

It was so moist.

Relaxing before a game of Scattergories~ I dominated yet again.