Food

I have a dear friend, Janeen, who makes the most amazing Chocolate Cake EVER!!! It’s one of those cakes that leaves a lasting impression, it haunts you until you finally break down and beg your sweet friend to please share the recipe with you.  Then you beg some more to see if you can share it with the world.  Janeen, my dear, the world is going to LOVE you and your amazing cake!!

The Most Amazing Chocolate Cake… Ever!

1 Chocolate Cake Mix (any kind, I've used chocolate fudge, Swiss chocolate, or milk chocolate)

1 C Mini Chocolate Chips

1 cup Sour Cream

1 Pkg. of Chocolate Pudding (small 3.5 oz. box)

Prepare cake as directed on box, and add sour cream, pudding and chocolate chips.  Pour into 2 9-inch round baking pans.  Bake as directed on box (you might need to add a minute or two to the baking time because of the added ingredients).  Place on a wire rack to cool.

Equally Impressive Chocolate Frosting

1 cup butter at room temperature

3 oz. Ghirardelli 100% cocoa chocolate bar

4-5 cups powered sugar

milk

Chop the chocolate, then place in double boiler until melted.  Cream together butter, chocolate, and 4 cups of powered sugar. Add milk as needed for desired consistency.  Combine until creamy; continue to add powered sugar and milk until it is the consistency and taste that you want.  Place one layer of cake on cake stand and frost the top, then add the second layer and frost the rest of the cake.

Garnish with chocolate curls.  I like to make bigger curls for this cake.  Melt some chocolate, get a 9 inch round cake pan and turn upside down and then spread the chocolate on it as a thin, thin layer.  Let cool until the chocolate is set and then get a cheese slicer or potato peeler, and slice the chocolate into curls. 

Janeen made this Heavenly cake for our Bloggers Night Out {Vegas Style} [more on that to come!] this past weekend, and blew everyone away!! Janeen you are a doll!!

 

 

Let’s get a few things out in the air…

I may live under a rock, but until sweet Robyn, an independent consultant from Thirty-One, contacted me, I had never heard of Thirty-One bags. But I have now!

Robyn sent me the Retro Metro Bag to take for a test drive and I would have to say I’m a bit of a bag snob, so I had the full intention of being really tough on this little find, and not letting anything hide under the rug.  Well I have to admit it, this bag has won me over!!

I am one of those girls that likes my designer bags, and will even use a designer diaper bag… I know, I’m a tad crazy!!  The thing is just going to get loaded up with spilled formula, cracker crumbs, and a few other things that we won’t mention because they are just too gross to talk about.  I wasn’t too sure how I would like to transition to this cute tote for my everyday bag/diaper bag.  Let’s just say… it had me at hello!

To keep it real, this afternoon when I was getting ready to photograph the bag I thought that rather than taking everything out, and staging it perfectly, I was going to photograph it AS IS!!  Diapers, Goldfish crackers, and all.  I love that I can carry all of the necessary items close at hand.  Let’s just be honest here, a toddler is almost worse than an infant to plan and pack for.  This bag holds it all.

• My SeamsMod diaper clutch {Thank you once again Heather from SeamsMod…I am still madly in love with this little bag}
• My wallet
• Books {I have 5 small to medium board books for my little guy}
• My Think Baby Bento Box full of Goldfish crackers
• Toys galore
• My Baggu bags… yes this girl has gone green!  The cool thing, I can carry like 6 Baggu bags in my Retro Metro Bag {along with everything else} and be ready for the market at all times!!
• My little guy’s Think Baby sippy cup

I love how the side pockets are extra large, and can hold anything from a large sippy cup to a medium sized notebook.  It has fabulous inside zipper pockets for my lip gloss, and pockets for my cell phone and iPod to boot!  Not to mention, the fact that it is super cute with its fabulous polka-dots and frayed edges.  What more could a girl need?

Robyn, what can I say, I owe you big my friend!  This is a great bag.  Thanks for sharing the love!

Head on over to Robyn’s site and shop around. Thirty-One has so many great styles—totes, baskets, cooler bags, you name it, they’ve got it (and they’re cute too).  Here’s their special for the month of April:

Isn’t that great?!  Head on over and tell Robyn that WhipperBerry sent ya!

We are going to start things off by announcing the two winners of last week’s giveaway! Each of these ladies are going to win $25 gift certificates from Karis Kisses Boutique.

And the winners are…

#33 Vivian
#74 Brooke

(Chosen by Random.org) Congratulations, Ladies!!

 And now for our features from the Friday Flair!

Framed Spring Ruffle Wreath by Just Sew Sassy

Kettle Corn by This Chick Cooks

Hydrangea Eggs by Sweet Little Smoothie

Chevron Wall Art from The Mathews Family Happenings

Mossy Ampersand by Two Twenty One

Chocolate Raspberry Forest Cake by Chocolate and Carrots

Boy Neck-Tie by Wannabe Crafty

Easter Eggs by Homework

Jellybean Bark from Scissors & Spatulas

Salted Caramel Nutella Brownies from Vittles and Bits

Master Bath Re-do by Welcome to Heardmont

Tissue Paper and Twine Egg by The Answer is Chocolate

Carrot Top Cupcakes by The Seven Year Cottage

Weathered Wood Sign by Hill Country Homebody

Mini Cheesecakes by Life is Sweet

Easter Garland by A Pretty Life in the Suburbs

I think it’s official and Spring is finally here. Everybody seems to have gotten into the pastel/hatching/blooming spirit. There is so much to celebrate!

If we featured you grab a button from the sidebar, and thanks to everyone for another great week!

I cannot wait to introduce you to this week’s {Blog Love}! Suzanne from She Paperie & Design Boutique, is a dear personal friend of ours who also calls Las Vegas home. I cannot tell you how much I admire this talented lady. She loves paper as much as I do, and has a proclivity for event styling and design.

Here’s a taste of what she can do!

 

Her blog is brand new, so start following her now—you won’t regret it!

So now on to the party. Welcome to the Friday Flair at WhipperBerry! A place where you can link up all things tasty, fancy, and fun.

Show us what you have a flair for:

• Recipes
• Sewing projects
• Craft tutorials
• Dessert tables/events
• Photography
• Printables
• Gift ideas
• Décor/DIY Projects

We like to do it all—so we want to see it all!

Just remember these guidelines:

• Please link up only your own projects, and link to the specific post, not your blog home page. No Etsy shops or giveaways, please.
• You must grab a WhipperBerry button and include it somewhere in the post you’re linking, or on your home page (a text link is great too).
• Stay and mingle (remember, it’s a party!), and leave a couple comments for other guests!

We reserve the right to remove any link that we feel is inappropriate, or does not follow the guidelines. Thank you for understanding. 

Let’s get started…

My sweet husband gave me a Silhouette for Christmas, and in true EllieG style, I baptized her Sophie. Then, the other day, I realized the girl needed some INK!  So, using the Silhouette software, I was able to create a vinyl cutting straight from the fonts of my computer!!  Gotta say, so far that is my FAVORITE feature!!

So, now it’s official…

Sophie, my love, welcome to the family!!

We’re linking up with…

• Tatertots & Jell-o
• Friday Favs @ Naptime Crafters
• Show & Tell Saturday @ Be Different Act Normal