Lucketts & Leesburg

When you're from northern Virginia and you hear Leesburg, you think of one thing: Outlets! It's not a terribley far drive and you can find some great deals out there. I have found another hidden treasure out in Leesburg! The Old Lucketts Store. It's not your momma's antique store. It's old meets revamped, classics with a modern twist and just flat out amazing. I could spend a fortune in that store...if only my husband wouldn't care. The best thing is that they are antiques at reasonable prices. They are holding their annual fair coming up in May. If you will be in the area make sure to check it out! I know I will be there!!! We're going to make a girls day of it! You can find all the details at The Old Lucketts Store blog.

Ball Jars and Betty Crocker

Ball Jars and Betty Crocker = A cake in a jar! I don't know who first thought of this fabulous idea, but I'm going to share it with you all because it is one of the best things to throw into a care package. I mean, who doesn't love cake and mail?!? Here is what you'll need:

 * Ball canning jars
 * Your favorite cake mix
 * Boiling water

1. Make the cake batter according to the instructions/recipe (***note*** I only used one box and it made 5 jars)

2. Grease the inside of the jar by spraying with cooking spray
3. Fill jar no more than 1/2 way with batter (about 1 cup)

4. Place jars on cookie sheet on rack in the oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean @ 400 degrees

5. While baking, boil jar lids in a pan of water (make sure lids are dry when placed on jars)

6. When cake is done, take one jar out at a time and cover with hot lid and ring.

7. The lid will seal as it cools. Listen to hear the "ping" as they seal. The center of the lid won't make a "pop" noise when pressed if it has sealed properly.

 Voilà!!!! You have made a delicious Cake-in-a-Jar. When you put them in your care packages make sure you pack them in bubble wrap. Don't forget to send along a fork or two and some frosting. I like sending the funfetti frosting because it has the frosting AND sprinkles in one package.  PLUS...they come in just about EVERY occasion! Perfect for any care package theme!

Hello Murphy...

  You know you're starting a deployment when Mr. Murphy's Law shows up. He's an old friend to us all. You know what I'm talking about, right? Your husband leaves for the field, training school or deployment and something breaks, your basement floods, you lose your cell phone and you have to take your child to the Emergency room all in the same day. We've all got those stories! As my husband has just left we had our own clandestine meeting with Murphy. After we dropped my husband off and said our goodbyes we started for home. My daughter didn't eat that morning and when we got home I made her favorite for lunch, mac n' cheese. She wouldn't eat it and ended up throwing it at the dog. I spent the next 20 minutes trying to pick mac n' cheese out of the poor ol' dogs fur. 

  Finally we reached nap time! She played for a little while and drifted off for a lovely 3 hour nap. I was emotionally drained and took a nap with her thinking the day would be better when we woke up. Silly me! I knew better than that, but alas it was not to be. When my baby girl woke up we were playing and she ran to her favorite spot in the house; the front window. (Enter Murphy) I hear the kind of thud that mommies know ice, band-aids or a trip to the ER are about to follow. I dart over and pick up my poor baby who has a geyser of blood pouring out of her mouth. My heart breaks for the second time today as my poor little angle is screaming. When the dust settled it wasn't as bad as all the blood made it seem, just a little cut on the inside of her lip. At dinner time the little princess decided she would not eat again.

  The day ended with one wore out fat-lipped baby, a frazzled Mommy who was covered in tears, blood and chocolate. We kicked Murphy's Law in the bum and wrapped up the day with a glass of wine and a phone call from the husband.