Easy, Last Minute Gift Idea

If you need a reason to shop Bath and Body Works Semi Annual Sale, here is one. Last minute gift ideas are easy to throw together when you have a stash of lotions, body wash and other products to choose from. 

It's easy to come up with a clever phrase using the name 'Beautiful Day' AND this scent smells good too. 

There you have it...a great excuse to do some online (or in store) shopping at Bath and Body Works and get your creative juices flowing.  

J

Gooey Lemon Blueberry Squares

Cake Layer~

1 yellow cake mix

1 egg

zest and juice of 1 lemon

6 tablespoons butter, melted

Middle Layer~

1 can blueberry pie filling

Top Layer~

1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened but not melted

juice of 1 lemon

½ tea. lemon extract

½ tea. coconut extract (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Combine cake mix, egg, zest, juice and butter in an electric mixer. Pat into a lightly greased

9 x 13  GLASS pan.

Spread blueberry pie filling over crust.

I used the Blueberry and Creme Pie Filling I had on hand in my pantry. Don't
be afraid to try a variety of pie fillings and change it up according to your taste. 

Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, add eggs, lemon juice, zest, vanilla and flavorings. Beat in powdered sugar, mixing well.

Spoon onto cake mixture, spreading evenly.

Bake for approximately 55 minutes. Begin checking after 45 minutes, testing with a toothpick. It should remain a little gooey in the center. 

Cool completely and cut into squares.

*Adapted recipe was inspired by Mary Ellen at That's My Home 

Father's Day Cards 2015

Here are the EXTREMELY fitting Father's Day cards Don received from the kids this year...

This first one is from Katelyn and Matt-

The card below, that WILL NOT OPEN, is from Casey...

and this more serious card is from Chase (aka Superman) and Talitha...

Family Vacation Gone Terribly Wrong

My son, Chase, his wife and two children set out on a much anticipated vacation Saturday. About half way to their destination, it began to sprinkle, quickly turning into a hard rain. Talitha, my daughter-in-law, was driving when their Chevy Blazer hydroplaned, sending the vehicle sideways down the left hand side of the freeway, then rolling two and a half times, landing on the driver's side in the median. Chase climbed out of the passenger window and pulled the windshield off with his bare hands to get to his wife, who was bleeding and had a huge cut from her eyebrow to the top of her scalp. Many people stopped to help, including two nurses and one EMT in training, but Chase, in his adrenaline rushing haste, didn't think anyone was getting his kids out of the car fast enough, so he climbed to the bottom of the Blazer, opened the door and unbuckled his four year old, while a Good Samaritan went in for their toddler. 

Two ambulances came, one for Talitha and another for Chase and the kids. They spent six hours in the hospital, getting glass out of wounds and stitching up Talitha and Chase. Amazingly, their little boys were uninjured!

The fact that Chase and his little family came out of this accident alive, without even so much as a broken bone, is indeed a miracle. 

Many of you have asked how you can be of assistance. What Chase and his family REALLY need is another vehicle. Please click on the red link below for an explanation and opportunity to help. NO AMOUNT OF MONEY IS TOO SMALL. We sincerely appreciate ANYTHING that you can do!

Replacement Car Deposit Fund