summer lovin'

i have always loved the summer season ever since i was in grade school. but nothing beats summer AND being married all in one.

here are the recent summer lovin' happenings:

art city days

art city days were fun. we sat in the grass eating cotton candy and listening to various bands play.

the following sunday ammon and i were craving chocolate cake.

we didn't have very much butter, but we did have mayonnaise.

and guess what? mayo makes the most delicious, moist, chocolate cake i've ever tasted!

here is the recipe:

Chocolate Cake

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

2 cups flour
2/3 cup cocoa
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3 eggs
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup mayonnaise
1 1/3 cups water

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Grease and flour 2 - 9" round cake pans.

Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and baking powder. Mix well and set aside.

Beat together eggs, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl for 3 minutes, using the high speed of an electric mixer. Mixture should be smooth and creamy. Reduce speed to low and beat in mayonnaise until blended.

Add flour mixture in batches, alternating with water, in 4 equal additions (1/4 of the flour, then 1/4 of the water etc). Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the center of the cake springs back when lightly touched or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake is clean when removed. Cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pans and allow to cool completely before frosting with your favorite frosting.

Serves 10 to 12.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 ozs cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 C unsalted butter, room temperature
• 4 C sifted powdered sugar (You can decrease this amount if you don't care about it being as stiff for piping)
• 1/2 C cocoa powder

1. Mix cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.
2. Mix in powdered sugar, one cup at a time.
3. Mix in cocoa powder

(we doubled the amount of frosting to fully cover the cake)

now my last item of business. acrylic nails. i hate them so much. i got them done for my wedding day. a month and a half later, i am pleased to say i finally removed the last nail! here is what was left over:

i will NEVER get acrylic nails again. ever!