Seeing Dots!

I'm making Cake Dots for my sister-in-law's high school graduation dinner party. I've made 2 test batches so far. My technique still needs to be perfected, so I decided to make another batch over the weekend. They turned out really great thanks to the advice from my friend Amy Ann!! Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
1 box cake mix, any flavor (plus ingredients to bake it)
1 can icing, any flavor
2 bags vanilla flavored Candy Wafers - for dipping
1 bag vanilla flavored Candy Wafers - for drizzling

Supplies:
Cling Wrap
Foil
Melon baller
Parchment paper
Toothpicks
Make 'n Mold squeeze tube
Individual paper wrappers

Start out by baking 1 cake from a box. Let it cool completely and then crumble it into a stainless steal mixing bowl. I use the hand mixer to get it really broken down. Then add 1 can of icing and mix completely. Cover the surface with Cling Wrap and then cover the bowl with foil; chill over night or for several hours.

When you're ready to make the dots, use a melon baller so they are all about the same size.



Roll each ball and place on a cookie sheet.



Cover with foil and refrigerate for at least an hour. I like to use several smaller cookie sheets so I can dip them in smaller batches. Really cold dots coat better.

When you're ready to dip, melt a handful of Candy Wafers (purchased at Hobby Lobby) in a small but deep bowl. Be sure to follow the microwave heating directions very carefully.



When it's melted completely, spear a dot with a toothpick and put in the bowl of coating. Use a spoon to help cover the dot with melted coating.



Let excess drip off into the bowl and then place each dot on parchment paper and remove toothpick by twisting. It works best if you melt the chocolate in small batches.



Once the dots have been dipped, you will want to drizzle them to cover up the toothpick holes. You can either use the same color of coating or a different color. Crumble the wafers into a Make 'n Mold squeeze tube (this is from Hobby Lobby too) and microwave according to package directions.



Drizzle each dot to your liking. You can also add colored sugar, nuts and other embellishments before it drizzle hardens. After the coating has set, place each dot in an individual wrapper and store in an airtight container. Do not refrigerate because the coating can crack.









Each recipe makes about 58 cake dots, depending on size (and how many you eat while making them!!). For this batch, I used lemon cake and lemon icing. I've also made strawberry cake with cream cheese icing and also lemon cake with cream cheese icing.

Enjoy your Cake Dots!!!!

Mother's Day

What a special weekend! This was my first actual Mother's Day and it couldn't have been better!! Last year on Mother's Day, I had a wonderful surprise...here is my journal entry from my other blog:

"What a wonderful Mother's Day surprise! Last night I felt little Peanut kick for the first time!!! I've felt a few flutters in the last few weeks, but last night it was unmistakable! I’ve actually read in my books that it might feel like popcorn and I thought that was a little strange, but that’s exactly what it felt like! When I gasp, Scott came over and put his hand on my belly, but of course, he couldn’t feel anything yet. It made me sad that he didn’t get to experience it with me, but I know his time will come. Every night this week, I’ve had dreams about our ultrasound next Thursday, and now this makes me even more excited!! Happy Mother’s Day to all moms…I’m so thrilled to finally be part of the club!!"

I have been treated like a queen this weekend and have felt so special! My loving family has given me so many wonderful gifts.

Addison and my sweet hubby let me sleep in and then they got me Starbucks! Well, actually Scott got me Starbucks because Addison slept until almost 10:00 this morning...that's almost 14 hours of sleep!!! Once Addison woke up, I sipped my coffee and opened my cards. Can you believe Addison bought me a card and signed her name? She even traced her hand...what a smart cookie! Scott and Addison got me a massage from Le Visage - I can't wait!! We are also adding on to our patio so that's also my Mother's Day! Scott made me waffles from scratch with crispy bacon and "the mixture". I know it looks like gravy (especially since it's in the gravy boat!), but it's LuLu's top secret waffle and pancake topping!! I would tell you the recipe, but I'd get in big trouble:)



Scott also offered to take me to dinner tonight, but in the end we opted for take out. What's better that Charleston's brought to your door? Before bed, Miss Addison was so snugly and playful. Scott took some cute pictures of us on my first Mother's Day!







This Happy Everything plate is from my mom and dad. I've wanted one of these forever and my mom just read my mind! The birthday cake on top comes off and you can put different "charms" on top. They have tons so now I'll have to start collecting them!! It's so great because it can be displayed all year!



Steve and Sherra had this beautiful pink hydrangea plant delivered to my office on Thursday! It's so fun to get surprise deliveries at work!! And aren't the blooms just gorgeous? I can't wait to plant it in my yard!



My grandmother (Addison's Great-Granny) sent me this stunning arrangement. The roses are even more beautiful in real life!



We had a mini photo shoot today and here are some of the cute pictures I got!







Thank you to all the Mothers in my life! I hope your Mother's Day was as special as mine!!

Thank you all for such wonderful first Mother's Day! I think my friend Carrie said it best: "They say it takes a village to raise a child, well I think it takes a village of women to teach a girl how to be a mother."

Sale-ing?

Today, Suzanne and I went on an adventure! We went Garage Sale-ing!! We had an absolute blast. I had really high expectations and although I didn't find all kinds of treasures, we did purchase matching rocking chairs for the kiddos! We bought 2 child rockers for $10. Suzanne made fun of me because that was the asking price and I paid it without even trying to get them down on the price. Oh well, $5 for this adorable rocker isn't bad! Of course it needs a paint job, but I just know it will turn out so darling!! Thanks for going with me Suzanne...we must go sale-ing again soon!!!

Routine

We're pretty routine people at the Hofmann house, so typically every evening is about the same. When we get home from work and daycare, we have a little play time until around 6pm, when Addison eats dinner.



I'd like to say that I'm the best wife ever and prepare a wonderful homemade meal from scratch every night, but that is far from the truth. I do try to cook a few nights a week and on the off nights we either eat leftovers or popcorn. Yep, that's right...we eat popcorn for dinner! Our friends Travis and Suzanne think we’re crazy and we probably are. Corn is a vegetable right? So we’re being oh so healthy…at least we like to think that way! This is not just any popcorn, you see, Scott makes it on the stovetop and it's very, very tasty! We love to pop a big batch and settle in for a little TV watching after Addison has gone to sleep. I know those days are almost over but for now, we still enjoy our popcorn nights! (And please don’t worry…I know what a balanced meal is and Addison gets her fruits and veggies every day! When she’s eating “big people” food, I promise to serve a variety of foods for dinner instead of popcorn!)

After dinner we either play outside with the bubbles or play with Bailey Bear. Around 7:00 it's time to start getting ready for bed. I would love to give Addison a bath every night because she loves it so much, but because of her eczema, we just do 2 nights a week (usually Thursday and Sunday). When she hears the bathwater running, she knows what comes next!



Addison has learned to splash in the tub so by the end, I too have taken a bath!



Her favorite bath toy is her rubber ducky – thanks great-grandpa Bob!!





Addison has an array of hooded bath towels, but her chickie and hippo are her (our) favorites…they are so darn cute with an adorable wet baby inside!!







After bath, we get her “lotioned up” and then it's time for a bottle and stories.



When our favorite book, "I'll See You in the Morning" has been read, it's time for Pacie and Lovie in the rocking chair. Once that Lovie touches her face, her eyes get heavy and that's all she wrote! We usually rock for a few minutes and then in her bed she goes, to have very sweet dreams until morning.

Just because you've asked...

A few of you have asked what camera I use. When Addison was born, I just used a small pocket size Olympus. It was an okay camera for quick things, but when I really wanted to get some great images of my newborn, it really let me down! My dear friend Carrie talked me into purchasing Big Black. So for Christmas, my family pitched in and gave me a Canon XSi. It's truly wonderful!! I don't know why, but I was a little intimidated to actually own such a thing, but once I started taking pictures with it, I can't imagine anything else. Needless to say, the good ol' Olympus is now stashed away in a drawer. Just to clarify, I have no idea what the buttons actually do and I've been too scared to press them and mess up the settings. I bought a photography book in hopes of learning all about my new toy, but I haven't had the time to open it yet...maybe someday! For now, I just take tons of pictures, crossing my fingers that a few turn out. I have not been let down yet, so I'd say Big Black is a keeper!