Pinkeeps

Pie Pinkeep

     Here they are... Pinkeeps. They are all vintage containers.  So, yeah.  I have more containers.  I ran out of fluff. I am a Fluffer-Nuthin'...

Ode to "Coffee Cake in a Cup"

Okay, So...

     I was hankering something sweet today.  I know I am a "Coffee Cake in a Cup" addict.  Well, I had this poor, lonely, beat-up banana that I took to school on Friday and never got around to eating.  Those last bananas always get too ripe, and no one wants to touch them.  I hate to waste them, but I don't feel making banana bread and dragging out bowls and making a mess (I am not THAT worried about wasting them). Plus, one little banana  does not make bread.

     Okay, commercial break.  If I don't make sense during the course of this conversation, it is because my husband is watching the Steelers' game and is YELLING! Okay.  Back to the program...

     SO, I thought about how the coffee cake cup thingy was made, and well, I thought that maybe I could make banana bread in a cup.  Here is what I came up with.  I am not a cook.  I make good homemade apple pie.  That's it.  So, I will not be offended if you don't care for it or adjust it.  You don't need to comment if you hate it.  Really.  BUT, if you have some ideas for it, comment away.  All right, all right- here is what I did:

Banana Bread in a Cup

• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 2 tablespoons of sugar (Sugar in the Raw gives it a nice texture)
• A ripe banana that no one will eat (I took a little piece out because it was a little brown.  You may need to add more flour for a bigger banana)
• 2/3 cup of flour (I threw a little oat bran in it to make myself feel not as guilty.)
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla (I never measure this.  So what if you put more in?)
• Cinnamon to taste  (Oh, I like the taste.  I will not share how much I put in.  It is best you don't know.)
• Chocolate chips (I like semi-sweet.  Put in as much as you want, but be aware, it may become too chocolatey.  Heh.  That's so untrue.)
• A biggish mug

Directions:
Put the tablespoon of butter in the mug and then into the microwave for about 5 seconds to soften it.  Dump in the sugar.  Cream it together with a fork right in the mug (EVERYTHING is done in the mug!  Less mess!).  Break up the ripe banana and throw it in the mug.  Mash and mix the banana with your fork.  Then, add the rest of the ingredients, right in order.  Mix well.

Put it in the microwave for about 1 minute and 20 seconds (You may need to adjust this according to your microwave.  You want it to be fluffy cakey, not rubber chickeny).  I break it up with a fork so it will cool faster.  That means you can eat it faster.  You don't want to eat it cold though.



Well, that is it.  I don't think I forgot anything.  Hmmm. I think I am going to make some right now.  I need to check my directions.  Just to make sure.  Truly.

I will post more later about decor, thrift shopping, and my pinkeep journey.  I have 11 made! :)

Have a wonderful evening, all of you!!!!

Love and Blessings!

The Marm

It's Just That Kind of Day...

Psalm 28:7

"The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my song I give thanks to him. "

It is a "Coffee Cake in a Cup" kind of day. I haven't pulled that one out in a while, and it "ain't" for no celebration! Coffee Cake and improper grammar usage? What can this mean?

This teacher would like to give herself a time out to give herself peace and quiet. Is that wrong? Oh well. They may drive me nuts sometimes, but like I always tell them... Thank goodness you're all cute! ;)

I just wanted to pop in to say you are all cherished and prayed for! I will write more this weekend- Teacher and Non-Teacher editions! I have a pinched nerve and my arms and legs feel tingly. I think they will be much better by laying on the couch and eating coffee cake!

Blessings and goodnight!!!

The Teacherwhowantstothrowherwhistleoutawindow

Apples for the Teacher...

     So, another day of In-Service done.  I think this one needs coffee cake too. It all started when there were 8 turkeys blocking my drive to school this morning. 8! They stood and stared at me like I was in THEIR way.  The group split in half, but one stayed in the middle.  I tried reasoning with them, but I don't think they were listening to me.  Great.  Turkeys aren't listening to me.  What does this tell me about the school year? ;) The turkeys started to move to one side, but at the last moment, Tom called his group to the OTHER side.  Indecision may or may not be his problem.  

      See, I live in the country.  Most of my colleagues do not.  So when I say that turkeys, combines, cows, Amish buggies, etc slow me down in the morning, non-country bumpkins just don't get it. So, I usually take pictures with my phone as proof!  But, I'd rather have turkey traffic than the car kind!

     But the day ended with a wonderful surprise!  At first, I thought that it was from outer space (been watching too much Star Trek lately). But, I saw the name- and I knew! Granny Trace!!!  Apples for the teacher!  Yippeeeee!  Here are the goodies I ordered from Trace from Granny Trace Scraps and Squares. They are wonderful!  And, I mustn't forget my pumpkin pinkeep! Awww! I AM SO pulling out my Fall decor this weekend!  Bye-Bye, Summer!

    

      My dear friend also tucked in some sweet stickers!  Yea! Stickers! Teacher+Apples+Stickers= Happy Teacher. And LOOK! If I hold it in front of the window, it looks like Autumn outside!  Magic!  

     So, here's the summary- turkeys, apples, pumpkins, and stickers for the teacher from a dear friend. And coffee cake.  Again. Oh, yeah, I got a paper cut (But, the coffee cake cancels that out!). A day in the life of a teacher. Not, really, but I'd like to think that for now!

Coffee Talk for Today- When do you plan on putting up your Fall decor?

Why I need coffee cake...

     Okay, so first, I am leaving for school with my brand new book bag laden with, well, books.  Apparently, during the summer, I have lost the ability to walk correctly while carrying a backpack.  So, I tripped on the stairs and sprained my ankle. Um, sounds to me like Anne Shirley walking the ridge of a building.  Well, except no one dared me.  And it wasn't the top of a house.  And there wasn't a bush to break my fall.  Or Diana to help me walk home.  Okay, okay.  The only thing the same is the ankle.   But, praise the Lord, it could have been much worse!  

     This is the disaster area that is my room right now.  It's worse around the corner, but I couldn't bring myself to share such a disheveled mess.  So, I will try to update you on my classroom later in the week.

But!  Some goodies came in the mail!  The pumpkin is from Natalie at Tins and Treasures! It has all different textured materials and perfectly prim! I bought it off of her etsy. The adorable cow is from Wendy at Ravenwood Whimzies!  Check out her blog for great stuff, but she is requesting prayer for a friend.  I posted it on the Prayer Board as well.  There are some new requests, so check it out!

 Oh, my other "Anne" moment- I have a ton of eBay things ending tonight.  I didn't think it through that it may not be the best idea to have 20 THINGS ENDING ON THE SAME DAY!  Ugh.  I think my hair is turning red.  I think I also hear Marilla calling me... HOWEVER!  I think she has coffee cake in a cup for me!

Goodnight and blessings, Friends!

Heather

Coffee Talk for Today:  How was your day?  What can we pray for?

Thank you, thank you!

^{II Thessalonians 2:16-17}

^" Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word."

     I just want to say thank you to my 25 new friends!  I am so appreciative of your taking the time to respond, encourage, and just fellowship! To be honest, 25 is a number I didn't think I would hit!  So, thank you for taking a chance on me and my craziness!

     So, your reward is another cup of goodness.  This is Brownie-in-a-Cup! Now, I must say, it says ice cream with it.  I highly recommend it because the brownie is really chocolatey, so the ice cream is a sweet balance and cools it more quickly.  My favorite is still the Coffee Cake one (my hubby says to put ice cream on that one too...), but this one is a good fix for a chocolate craving.  There are many other recipes out there for brownie-in-a-cup, so if you find a better one, please post it!  We all thank you!

     If I ever hit 50 followers, I will try to offer a treat more substantial than a coffee cake or brownie addiction.  Sorry! (Oh, and I KNOW a lot of you went to that coffee cake website.  My "Feedjit" thingy showed a lot of you exited this blog to the coffee cake one...  Heee Heee!) 

 Brownie in a Cup 

(I don't know why a promotional blog is giving away recipes, but okay!  I originally found this on Pinterest!)

Blessings!

Heather

The Final Countdown...

 “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32

     Give us what?  What are all things?  For me, right now, it is the prayer for a calm heart, wisdom, diligence, and creativity.  I have 4 days left before starting school preparation and In-Service meetings (which are THE WORST for people like me with ADD and can't sit still.  Ugh.)

     This is a late post, I know.  Many are going to bed, eating dinner, or already fast asleep. I have been working on my welcome email to my new students.  I put it off because I just wasn't excited about it.  The end of the summer, the revival of early morning routines and late nights, concern about the hearts and needs of this new little "family".  I'll get over it.  As soon as I go into Staples on Friday to get supplies, it will be game on!

     I have been working on my crafts today.  Making clothes pin dolls, prepping my lantern for its new paint job.  Stitching.  Grunging ball jars and cans and basically anything I can get my stucky, Modgepodge-hands on.  Only problem, which you will see in a bit- I used up all of my baking cinnamon. I will go to the grocery store tomorrow, but I need it now.  Just wait, I will tell you in a moment.  I used it up and then realized I have a big container on my craft shelves for just that-crafts.  Ugh. So, I have been grunging, working on my newsletter, stitching, working on my newsletter, gluing and now...

     I am going to make COFFEE CAKE IN A CUP!  Woooooohooo. Seriously, it is more addictive than shopping on Benadryl.  (That's why I am bummed about the cinnamon.  I may use the container I use for crafting.  I am desperate.)  And you all were there!  You know!  This Coffee Cake is just comforty goodness in a mug.  Now, I adjust the recipe in the link below by taking the flour measurements and "halving" it- half of it flour and half of it oat bran.  That way you don't feel so guilty.  Well, I don't.  Truly.  Now, you can click on the link way down below and see step-by-step directions.  You need to try this. Now.  Seriously.  Go out in your kitchen, make it, and come back and tell me about it.  I will give you an extension until tomorrow, but after that, your work will be considered late.  You WILL NOT get full credit.  Those of you who do it and respond get gold stars.  

     See, the teacher in me is starting to creep out.  It is funny, well I think it is, you may think I am plain weird.  In the mornings, when I get into the car and start for school, I always put on my lanyard with my whistle and school key.  Now, before I put it on, I am just me.  Heather.  But when I put on the whistle, I feel a little like Clark Kent changing into Superman.  I am no longer "Heather".  I AM "MRS. WISE"!!! (Say it like a superhero.  It sounds much better.  I have said it in the car before.  Told you. Weird.) 

     Now, here are another couple things you should know about me as a teacher.  The more coffee I drink, the faster I talk.  My students KNOW when I have and have not had coffee.  If I have had a lot, well, let's just say I have a lot of students staring at me like I am talking in another language. BUT, we get a lot done!!!  

    Here is another weird thing about me as a teacher.  When I say, "Gold stars for you!" I mean I really give out gold stars. And I put them on my students' foreheads. Yup. They walk around proudly all day with gold stars on their heads (if they earned one that is).  Sometimes a student may have as many as six (Those students are my favorites...).  You should see the looks I get from visitors...  LOL.  So, it is too bad you all are not close by, or you would have gold stars on your head!

     Well, I must warn you, friends.  Starting next week, I will probably do more reading your blogs than writing on my own.  I am going to try to keep up with it at least a couple times a week.  Once school gets rolling, maybe more.  Writing and talking to you all is really therapeutic.  I want to thank you all for allowing me to come into your circle of friendship, for your encouragement and fellowship.  I will also warn you that I will try to write about crafts and decor at least once a week, but the other posts may actually be the "Schoolmarm" part more than the "Country".  I will still be seeking wisdom.  And, I am sure, provide some entertainment courtesy of my munchkins...

And now, GO MAKE THE COFFEE CAKE IN A CUP!

Coffee Cake in a Cup

Coffee and Coffee Cake Talk for Today:

• Well, how was it?
• What things could you add to it to change it up?
• If you could be a super hero (You can't use one that already exists.  No Thors or Ironmans.) what would you call yourself, and what would be your "super power"?  Mine is ear shattering whistle blowing!