Baby Shower!

This weekend was my first baby shower and it was absolutely wonderful! Cathy, Kelly, Sherry and Michelle really out did themselves in making it really special for me and Baby Heller!

The tables were so cute! And I got to leave with a bunch of supplies and diapers...how can you go wrong!

I got some fabulous gifts as well. Everyone was so generous with us, and Adam and I could not be more thankful. People put so much thought into their gifts and books they chose for us, it was really touching.

Grammy Cathy got us some GREAT clothes for next spring in all of my favorite colors, the little tiny shorts made Adam and I laugh, does not get much cuter than tiny shorts!


Grammy Wendy and Papa Paul also had a great gift for Baby Heller. Growing up my parents picked out a new red dress for me every single year. In fact you would be hard pressed to find any photo of me under 5 where I am not wearing red. So, they are continuing our special tradition and bought Baby Heller her first little red dress.

A great time was truly had by all of us and Baby Heller is off to a wonderful start! Thank you again Grammy Cathy, Aunt Kelly, Aunt Sherry and Aunt Michelle!!

All wall art hung and chair delivered!

Well I finally got around to doing a few things with Adam this weekend.

We hung all the pictures (Adam is a champ at this now!) and the mirror. I made the bed properly with all the right bedding and the chair and ottoman got delivered. Adam screwed the changing pad holder to the back of the dresser so the baby is safe, and I finished up the bathroom.

All that is left is for the tall narrow dresser to be delivered, it will go to the right of the other dresser in the corner, and a small TV will go on top of it. And that's it!!!

Apple Spice Cake with homemade caramel sauce!

The rain put me in the mood to bake something fall oriented today. So I made this recipe I found on the Martha Stewart website. The cake itself was a snap, the homemade caramel topping took longer than the cake!

Ingredients
Serves 10
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
3 to 4 Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (3 cups)
1 cup chopped assorted nuts, such as pecans and walnuts (optional)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Caramel Sauce
Nonstick cooking spray with flour
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray; set aside.
Working over a large sheet of parchment paper, sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; gather sifted ingredients into center of sheet; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine vegetable oil, sugar, and eggs; mix on high speed until lemon yellow.
Fold reserved parchment in half lengthwise; with mixer on medium speed, gradually shake in dry ingredients until just incorporated.
Add apples and, if desired, nuts, to batter; mix to combine. Add vanilla, mixing until incorporated.
Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 75 to 90 minutes.
Remove from oven, and cool slightly on a wire rack.
Invert cake onto rack; turn cake right-side up to cool completely on rack, and serve drizzled with caramel sauce .

Caramel Sauce

Ingredients
Makes enough for 1 cake
1 cup light-brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Directions
Combine ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until thickened to desired consistency.