homemade pizza night

go ahead. be impressed. we made homemade pizza with homemade crust and everything. i have to say, this was a first for me, but my friend Cate sent me her super simple crust recipe. I can't help it. Lately i am obsessed with cooking:

then it was time to chop everything up. I decided to make it cute for my hunny:
collective "awwww"? Anybody?

ok, this stuff was AMAZING. so much flavor!
then we spun:

and spun

and spuuuun

and spun...

shew! that was a lot of spinning. i think that covers my work out for the day.

Pat and form the dough
and add crazy amounts of the awesome pizza sauce


i made a little baby one too...
THEN add as much or as little toppings as you want:


throw that sucker in the oven on 450 for 15 minutes:

and VOILA is an understatement.
This crap is gooooood.

what other toppings do you think would be good?
what good substitutes do you have?
Why am i so obsessed with cooking lately?

need some extra holiday cash?

go check out my hubby's site to get easy holiday money just by reffering!
www.wear96apparel.blogspot.com

donka! (and thanks for your help!)

darn, darn, double darn

OK, this time of year I toil over what to get my loved ones. I want that perfect gift. This year, i have NO idea what to get my MOST loved one. Help! So here is my plea to you, my beloved blog reader:

Dear Darling Blogger and Reader,

I need you and you need me. we check up on each other and encourage each other with thoughtful comments. This Christmas you can "encourage" me with one thing: creative present ideas for my hunny.

Come on. I would do the same for you if you were in my predicament! I trust your judgement. Anything goes. There are no bad ideas (well..maybe...)

So please, please, PLEASE, send me your wonderful, creative Christmas present ideas for the most precious darling that you have. For me, his name is Matt...and he still only has one arm.

Much love and peace to you this holiday season. May you be filled with creative ideas to send to me and may you find all the wonderful presents and love that you need this year.

Love and Sincerely,

Jenna Marie Lewis Cox of the Quirkie Bird

please pray for my friend Heidi

My friend Heidi and her family are going thru some difficult times in their family with their newborn baby girl. Please go to her site, read her story about her child and PRAY for them! Pray complete healing for her sweet baby girl.
http://dekorne.blogspot.com/2008/12/fix-my-baby.html

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS!

drag-along Tuesday and the Christmas crafts

I must say, this is the most drag along day EVER in the history of drag along days. I went to lunch a little after 12 in order to come back and say WHOA it is only 3 1/2 hours till i get to go home! Yea...wouldn't life be so grand...

I looked at the clock at 3...

3:09...

3:14...

3:22...

SHEESH! what is going on here?

I quit. I am throwing in the towel. I'm outta here.

No you say? I have to stay at work in order to keep my work? Ok fine.

Then you need to know that i am being cheesy-Christmas-project-wife-that-has-no-children-but-might-as-well-have-children-because-when-i-do-i-will-make-them-do-random-craft-projects-all-the-time-productive this week. Check out the cute FOAM Christmas tree I made last night while the hubster and I were watching 24 (dare i mention how great of a television series 24 is? While 100% unrealistic and sometimes borderline silly, it is amazingly fantastic and addictive at the same time. Try to explain that one.):

Then check out the attempt to let Mr. 1 Shoulder make Cake Balls Christmas-Festive (Mr 1 Shoulder being my hubby Matt who had shoulder surgery last week):

You can say it. they look like a 3 year did these...unsupervised. Its ok. I know it.

Tonight i think i will do something with this:


But i am not sure yet. Ideas or thought? please comment.

Last thought: Also, can i mention how much i love my friend Deeann? She came over last weekend when i was taking care of Matt and we made pumpkin pie, watched Friends, drank coffee, and caught up. It was lovely. Go check out her blog and website and buy her art. TRULY she is amazing:

yuuuuuuummmmmm. Punkin pie!

http://joydeeanncarson.blogspot.com/

Cake Ball Phenomenon

[consider this a present from me to you!]
There is an epidemic, I tell you, of Cake Balls all across this great Nation and i must say, I LOVE IT!

The options here are LIMITLESS!!!

You can cake ball your whole day away!

that could be a song

And it truly is amazing how easy it is! who wouldnt want to. come on.

i don't normally post up recipes unless they are really good, so consider the cake balls for your next Christmas Party, puppy party, birthday party, ANY PARTY WILL DO!

(I wouldn't lie about a thing like this. And shame on you for being skeptical!)

I recommend using a Christmas-y type cakes like Spice Cake or Red Velvet.

DISCLAIMER: This recipe is very versatile and heavily addictive.

You can mix and match cake and icing flavors as well as the chocolate coatings. If you want to go the extra mile, cake balls can be rolled in nuts, sprinkles, coconut, etc. or double dipped in white and dark chocolates. Chocolate confectioners' coating is also called Almond Bark in some stores.
Or go to a specialty store like Michael's, Joann's or Hobby Lobby and coat them in flavored candy coatings!

Have i sold you on cake balls yet? Sheesh. This has made me tired.

I guess I should go home for the day and not sit in my office.....
...No you say? Stay and work? Fine, but i can't promise i wont blog all day and dream of different cake ball concoctions!

Ok. ENOUGH ALREADY!
take a stab at this and then check out other famous cake ballers that i linked at the bottom:

INGREDIENTS
1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix (or your favorite cake mix)
1 (16 ounce) container prepared chocolate frosting (or your favorite combination)
1 (3 ounce) bar chocolate flavored confectioners coating (or your choice of candy coating)

DIRECTIONS
Prepare the cake mix according to package directions using any of the recommended pan sizes. When cake is done and cooled for about 30 minutes, crumble into a large bowl, and stir in the frosting until well blended. Use melon baller (or ice cream scoop for larger cake balls) to form the mixture into balls and then place in freezer until cake and icing is set. (45 minutes or more)

Melt chocolate coating (or candy coating) in a glass bowl in the microwave, or in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
Remove treats from the freezer. Dip the balls in chocolate using a toothpick or fork to hold them. Place on waxed paper to set.
WALLAH!
Not only gorgeous but delectable and AMAZING!

now for crazy awesome THEMED cake balls and CAKE POPS, visit this other Blog that i frequent:
http://bakerella.blogspot.com/
she is fantastic. Themed for all of your holiday needs.

ENJOY! Leave me comments! Try them out and let me know how it went, chicas and cake ballers!

blog name changed

i am now http://www.quirkiebird.blogspot.com
make sure to change it in your blogroll and "Favorite Blogs."

thanks!!

senior pic preview

I LOVE photography! My dear, sweet friend Jacey asked me to do a few senior pictures for her so of course i obliged. You are only a senior in High School ONCE (well, some of us.) We took almost 300 pictures over the course of the day, and i couldn't wait to get started on them (and give her a preview.) Take a look at a few that i really like already:

thoughts? HOORAY for Seniors, Class 2009!!

and this right here is why i want/need a dog asap!

tell me you dont loooove this little guy and then tell my husband that i need a dog that looks like this:

or

or

You can reach him at http://wear96apparel.blogspot.com/ or by email at MattCox96@gmail.com or if you message me (and bribe him) then i might give you his phone number.

hehehehe

It is Christmas time in the Cox House-hold!

So it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the Cox household! On Monday night we went to get our yearly FRESH Christmas tree:

Then we started working hard to get everything up and going in our sweet little home. Well, Matt got it set up:

i think this is where Matt was getting irritated at me b/c i was taking pictures and not helping! HAHA

stockings and table decorations.

and then the "O CHRISTMAS TREE!" Tree 2008:

Isn't that just the prettiest darn Christmas tree?

And here is our homemade wreath:

other household Christmas decorations:

do you see it by the coffee maker? It says "Santa Stop Here." You know, in case he needs some caffeine.

ALL Christmas candles and smells MUST be out. duh!

And lastly, my sweet husband sleeping on our chair and a half. He had shoulder surgery yesterday and is on some pretty powerful KNOCK OUT meds. He is in a lot of pain, but hopefully he will be all better in a few weeks/days/seconds. Say a prayer for him.

P.S. that lucky duck didn't have to do ANY of the decorating. He was passed out.

P.P.S two posts in one day! Don't forget to check out my Thanksgiving recap at http://quirkiebird.blogspot.com/2008/12/thanksgiving-recap-from-texas.html

or just scroll down...

Happy decorating!