Raspberry & Almond Shortbread Thumbprints

Raspberry & Almond Shortbread Thumbprints

1 cup butter, softened ½ cup seedless raspberry jam

2/3 cup white sugar      ½ cup confectioner’s sugar

½ teaspoon almond extract      ¾ teaspoon almond extract

2 cups all-purpose flour       1 tablespoon milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, cream together butter & white sugar until smooth. Mix ½ teaspoon almond extract. Mix in flour until dough comes together. Roll dough into 1 ½ inch balls, and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Make a small hole in center of each ball, using your finger. Fill the hole with preserves. Bake for 14 to 18 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Let cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet. In medium bowl, mix confectioners’ sugar, ¾ teaspoon almond extract, and milk until smooth. Drizzle lightly over warm cookies. 

These are amazing. I got the recipe from my mom. I was going to make them for my husband's office party, but I ran out of time and sanity. The lemon cookies did me in. So the next time I make them I will post a picture. Enjoy!

Today We Celebrated!

Today was my husband's 29th birthday. Wow! 30 is just around the corner and I am close behind him. Time sure does fly, and we are having a ton of fun. Although he had to work we managed to spend some good quality family time together. While he was away E and I ran off to the grocery to get all the things we needed. I whipped together a homemade blueberry pie while the kids decorated the "Happy Birthday Daddy!" banner. 

We then came together and made his foot/hand print mirror. 

We got a little messy, but it was fun! Baby girl had a blast with the paint. 

She giggled while I tried to wash the paint off her toes.

He loved everything. I think he even almost cried. Almost. :)

My Labor Day Weekend (Sunday)

Yesterday (sunday) was so fun! We started the day in Los Angeles at CityWalk in Universal City, Ca. 

We went there especially for lunch at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. 

Daddy with baby girl.

Uncle P helping E with her puzzles.

Daddy and Baby girl again.

C LOVES the coleslaw. He ate everyone's. :)

One of my collections is Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Beer glasses with the location name on them. I have been to five different restaurants now and I have a glass from each one.

Chicago, Orlando, Charleston SC, Santa Monica Pier, and Hollywood.

There are three more in California that I need to get before we get re-stationed.

Yesterday I added Hollywood to the collection. 

After lunch we went on a very long irritating drive to Venice Beach. Being the clueless tourists we are we could not find parking anywhere. In our search for  a spot we had to leave and find a gas station. Once we found a spot we walked 5 long blocks to the beach (I was already tired and cranky). My baby and I hung out under the umbrella.

While the others played in the sand and water.

It was one of the most gorgeous days.

 I got some great shots and I finally got to bring the little one out where it wasn't too hot. It was a nice change from the desert.

My Labor Day Weekend (Saturday)

It was a nice long Labor Day weekend with my family and my husbands good childhood friend. Since we moved here in California he lives only a few hours away from us now. I know my husband is one happy man. We spent Saturday relaxing, video gaming, shopping at the mall and going out to dinner. ...And trying what seemed like every dessert known to man...that was not planned, but very nice. It started at Marie Callender's-pie included in our meal deal. Then we went to sonic for some Happy Hour beverages-Coke Zero is my drink of choice ;p-the others got ocean waters and chocolate shakes-see where this is going???? Then we went to a local cupcake shop called Double D Cupcakes. 

We already tried Nadia Cakes when we first moved. Both were winners on the show Cupcake Wars. Once you taste them you will know why! We tried 6 different flavors over the course of the weekend. My favorite from Double D Cupcakes was the Red Dahlia-Red Velvet with cream cheese icing. So Delicious! My favorite from Nadia Cakes  is the Lemon Drop Cupcake. Lemon cupcake with some sort of icing on top that I can't seem to remember right now :( with a lemon drop candy on top.

After our sugar rush I bought some yarn from JoAnn's. I got a nice big "cash register surprise." First of all, I forgot my wallet at home, so I went into the store hoping to use my husbands card (same account),  without being carded. Or, I had $15 cash. I picked out my yarn which I was sure was going to be more than $15. While waiting in line one of the employees comes over to me and asks if I have cash because her debit machine wasn't working. I said yes, but I think my things cost more than the cash I have...unless these are on sale. I was fully expecting them NOT to be on sale. She rings them up and the total comes to $14.62...Under $15 and I even got some change back ;p Like I said...nice big "cash register surprise!"

This is what I am making with all of that yarn I bought...a granny square blanket for my daughter's toddler bed when the time comes. I still need to square it off with the light turquoise color, and make a ton more of them to sew together ;p Should I make them all the same? Or vary the order of the colors??