Fall is in the air..

Can you feel it?... cooler mornings and cooler nights... It's subtle, but I definitely feel it.. What a relief it is from this summer's torching 100 plus temperatures and hardly any rain. It seemed, as though my grass could never get enough water and every time the water bill arrived, I would cringe at just the sight of it. So happy those HOT sticky day's are behind us now...

It's been raining almost every day this week Thank God and, so I decided I would start some early fall planting..

Planted some impatience in the shade.

These Autumn sage bushes were a whopping $2.00 a pop. I couldn't resist.

I planted them around the trees... I can't wait till they get bushy!!

 I hope Fall is in the air in your neck of the woods..

How clever..

Saw this on Pinterest the other day!!

New lace down pillow..

I am loving my new lace lumbar pillows!!! I bought two for each couch over the summer, and have not had a chance to post them up until right now..

here is a closer look at the pretty lace!

the gold shimmers through the lace perfectly..

They are down filled, so they are super soft to cuddle up with...when I am NOT wearing any make-up of course! ( I have to remember that though)

Fresh cut grass

There's nothing like it..

Birthday Cake...

This is the Birthday cake I made for Romeo Best chocolate cake ever There are many different versions of this cake floating around the cyber world..I picked one and slightly changed it..

The only thing that is missing here is the cinnamon..

I dumped everything except pudding and frosting.

It becomes very thick!!

Now it's time for the oven.

Can you smell the cake?..smells so good!! now its time for pudding- I use instant vanilla.

Pudding is sandwiched between two cakes..

Now it's ready for the frosting!!! I used regular store bought cream cheese I think it tastes just as good, as homemade, and saves time too.
Best Chocolate Cake ever

• 1 box devil’s food cake mix
• 1 small pkg Jello instant chocolate pudding mix
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp coffee extract (this is what I added optional)
• 1 tsp cinnamon (another thing I added optional)
• 2 cups mini chocolate chips
• Instant pudding to put between layers ( this is what I added optional)
  
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a very large bowl, mix together everything except chocolate chips. Batter will be thick. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour batter into cake pan of choice (I normally use two 9-inch pie pans). For cooking time, I use the cooking times on the back of the devil’s food cake box as a guide and usually add 10 Min's to whatever it says. Then I do the toothpick check, and if it’s not done, I check on it every 5 Min's after that. It usually takes around 45 Min's for two, 9-inch pie pans.

Talavera Love..

A few years ago I started collecting Mexican Talavera for my first home in Mission.  I loved the many different patterns and designs and loved how instantly it brightened my kitchen. Living here so close the border we would go to Nuevo Progresso on Sunday's and bring back a few plates at a time after a few trips I had enough to fill a my whole dining room wall  (it was a small dining room) from top to bottom. (when I find that picture I will post it)

When we moved here two years ago, I knew didn't want the same look for my kitchen after all I was in a "newer home". I wasn't sure how or if I would use them I kept playing and playing and well, this is how I pulled it off.... I think...

I bought some red pottery from Hobby lobby on sale at 65% off brought it home and started playing with it..I told Romeo I thought the red pottery was too RED after rolling his eyes his response was..."too bad you have to live with it" :(

I put some plates in my book shelves

then after a couple of days staring at them I took some off.  I love the talavera touch in my living room, I'm just not sure of the red pottery..now I'm thinking of painting the back of the shelf ...... it never ends does it?

What do you think?

Happy Birthday Romeo ~

Romeo,
you are my favorite person in this world and I feel blessed every day to be your wife.  I know I've said this before on another post, I don't care because it's the truth and I will say it again, again, and again...

I am thankful to God for bringing you into my life, and cannot imagine my life without you! I am thankful for all the humor you bring me every day. You are the most funniest, honest,wisest, and rational man I know, I never ever have to worry about any decisions you make because I know they are well-thought-out.

I love that you are humble and enjoy the simplest things in life. I love hanging out with you it's always the best part of my day.

 Thank you for all the happiness, silly laughs, crazy moments, and wakiness you bring my way each and every day.

May God bless you today and always!
Love you!!

My Summer read....

Yes, I read it... all three books in fact! I just couldn't resist all the hype surrounding this book. Everyone around me was reading it all my friends near and far, my neighbor, sister in law, the pedicure lady and even the old ladies at the beauty shop so, I caved and downloaded the first book. I have to be honest though at first I thought, I was the only female on earth who disliked the book! For me it was just too bizarre and way too much sex!

Truthfully I wasn't sure if I was going to continue reading the second book.  My good friend Marre, who was  a few chapters ahead of me kept reassuring me " just keep reading it gets better" I would call her after I was done reading for the day, and we would have our own book review.

After finishing the first book, I felt a little obligated to the character Anastasia Steele after all she left me hanging so, I borrowed my sister in laws book and continued.

"Fifty Shades Darker" was in my opinion, much better! I could finally see a story forming! I skimmed though all the bizarre, crazy, out of this world sex scene's just to get to the actual story. Before I knew it, I was done and once again left hanging..

"Fifty Shades Free" was the BEST book of the three. The book became more intense as the drama unfolded I, finished the book in a week and now I am having Christian Grey withdrawals! As it turns out, I am the one reassuring another friend Branda to keep reading it does indeed get better...

Avocado Tree..

While house sitting for my sister in law and her family over the summer, I noticed her neighbors huge Avocado tree that was growing over my sister in laws fence. I had never seen an avocado tree this full of avocados before, so on the next trip back I made sure to bring my camera.

and a plastic bag for picking! I kept thinking guacamole with chips...

the more I picked the more my mind would  race with endless possibility's tostada's with avocado, orange avocado chicken, avocado with a plain corn tortilla, guacamole with chips....

between my husband and I, we managed to pick two HEB plastic bags full.

and this is what I made a simple chunky guacamole and chips for dipping...yummy~~~

Lazy days of Summer

I am not kidding when I say "Lazy" I really just couldn't pull myself together to sit and write, not that I didn't have anything to talk about its just with Romeo being home on vacation everything takes a back seat. Yes even my household chores!!

and, so while he is gone for the day I'm sitting here in my living room admiring my big splurge of the day my gladiolus flowers a whopping $2.49 at HEB aren't they beautiful? They remind me of my old home in Mission sweet memories! I would buy them all summer long.

My neighbor brought me some limes from her tree nothing like fresh picked limes especially squeezed into a bottle of a cold beer.

sitting here on the porch as the sun is coming down is my favorite part of summer cool breezy Texas evenings are the best!!

At last....

Romeo graduated with his Masters this past weekend.

He chose the hooding ceremony instead of the whole big arena graduation with thousands of others

Here he is with his classmate and professor.

In his acknowledgement letter he thanked all the people who who helped him along the way...

including his parents

Here he is with my mom

And a bunch of his classmates..

Romeo, your hardwork and persistence has finally paid off. I am so proud of you!!! May the lord continue guiding you though life and may you continue chasing your dreams!!! Love you always Marissa.

Spring break garage organizing.

Some people spend their Spring Breaks at Islands, others relax and enjoy the week one day at a time, and that's great I'd love to do that too, but for us right now we would rather tackle a quick home improvement job.
let me show you.

but first.... yes everything in that garage was out laying in the driveway.. I felt like I was camping out at Garner State Park the only thing missing here is a tent and a picnic table! I had the roller and according to him "the brush is much faster" putting together shelves is not fun! At least not for me. oh, but so worth the aggravation! I still need a broom & mop holder, but it feels so much cleaner!

Super bowl Cupcakes

Can you make them out? ... They are supposed to be Foot ball's!! Had so much fun making these even though the white chocolate lines are a little crooked and fat. Did your favorite team win? I really enjoyed watching Madonna preform during the half time show to all my old time favorites. That was the only part of the football game that I watched.