Yum Yum Dessert Recipe

Recently it was my Bunco partner Shelly's and my turn to host Bunco. We had many a wonderful dish for the ladies that came to play. One was this Yum Yum Dessert. I was introduced to this one as a child and it is still one of my favorites. Granted I have made a few adjustments for my own tastes but it's still on my top 10.

Yum Yum Dessert

1 cup butter softened

1 cup flour

2 cup chopped Pecans

1 8 oz package cream cheese softened

1 cup powder sugar

2 cup Cool Whip whipped topping

1 large package instant chocolate pudding mix

1 large package instant vanilla pudding mix

4 cups cold milk

1st Layer – Melt 1 cup butter in an 8x13 inch Pyrex pan.  Add 1 cup flour & 1 cup chopped nuts.  Mix and press flat into pan.  Bake at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes until light golden brown, cool.

2nd layer – beat with mixer 1 8 oz package of cream cheese & 1 cup powder sugar.  Fold in 1 cup cool whip.  Spread on top of first layer.

3rd layer – Mix 1 large package instant chocolate pudding with 2 cups cold milk.  Spread on top of second layer.

4th layer – Mix 1 large package of instant vanilla pudding with 2 cups cold milk.  Spread on top of third layer.

Final Layer – Spread 1 cup cool whip on top of the fourth layer.  Sprinkle with 1 cup of chopped nuts.  Cover and chill overnight.

Yield: 24 squares, 294 Calories

Prep Time: 1 hour

Chill Time: Overnight

Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa

Guess What! Guess What!

THE GUEST BATHROOM IS COMPLETE!

I'm sooooo stinking excited! What I realized today is I really need to have people over more often. Brian hung up the mirror and pictures and I finished painting the baseboards and VIOLA! a finished bathroom! I'm loving it too. Just in time for the ladies to come over for Bunco!

OK, well I still have lots to do and I just wanted to share my excitement with you. Oh, and I get to cross something off on my to-do list! IT FEELS AWESOME! I love it when something gets completed. I am still on the lookout for other decorative things for the bathroom but I am in no great hurry and just over the moon excited I have one of three projects completed.

Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa

laa-la-laa-la-laa-la-laaaa!

Talk about a roller coaster sort of day today! Oh man I'm just tuckered out here. It's round about 10:15 in the PM as I start to compose this blog post and I have to say my emotions are on the raw setting. I have had so many ups and downs today it's a little weird. With those ups and downs I get the emotional exhaustion. I don't know if you are subject to exhaustion when you've gone to battle but me, yup, I get physically exhausted. So with today's ups and downs I definitely feel like I'm dragging my hind quarters around this house here. I need to spend some quiet time with God to center myself.

With that said I have to say there have been some high points too. For instance I went to Harvey's today and got me a Rosette for my Trail Mix. That's a very good thing. I spent a lot of time in the store talking to my friend there and played with the new handbags and took a gander first hand at the new Caddy and Razzelberry (think I like the Razzelberry better.) Contemplating a boxy next hopefully something will catch my eye soon ;-)  Oh man, I don't need to get as addicted as some of my friends! [silently she thinks to herself; Can't wait til the 19th to get here.]

So as we round out the 10:30 mark I realize I need to get my 20 visuals done for the OC Auction and I should get started before Friends comes on the tele. (I still find that show cute.) We have sooooo many items coming in and they are hitting us fast and furious. Getting ready and excited for this years benefit dinner. Taking a look at the list of items I notice there are a few interesting Teacher Experiences up for bid. Principal For a Day, Girls day, Build a bear, Lunch with the Librarian, and a pool party. All of these items with different teachers. I am sitting here wondering what I'm going to bid on! Man I need more income! You wanna give me a job?

All right, enough procrastinating Miss Marisa. It's time for you to get to work on those visuals. They aren't going to complete themselves! Maybe I'll sneak some ice cream too! It should make me feel better after this [a-hem] bad day.

Oh BTW - I'm down 18 pounds! teehee. OK. Time to work!

Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa

OC Auction!

Yes, it's that time of year again! Right now my life is all about our schools auction. Ontario Christian is gearing up for this years Benefit Auction Dinner. (that link will take you to the benefit website) So if you try to get in touch with me or try to distract me in anyway it may take more effort. AUCTION! AUCTION! AUCTION! AUCTION! I'm all about the visuals right now baby!

This is one of our biggest school fundraisers and it's rather large and consuming. Luckily I am not the only person pulling it off. We have a rather large committee and several chairs that are committed to making this night a hit.

Somehow I have found myself part of the input committee. (Shocker, I know) Our job is to make sure every item donated is accounted for, logged into the system and website and a visual is made for it. But that's not the all of it. Since we know the inventory we are part of several other committees simply by osmosis. My partners and myself are going to be eating, sleeping, and yes, dreaming auction. But don't get me wrong, if you know me then you know how much I enjoy doing stuff like this.

The closer we get to our Benefit date of April 1, 2011 the more you'll probably see me online late at night and more than likely not making any sense at all! If you see me on campus it's ok to stop me and talk to me, I won't bite you.

If you have never been to our benefit auction dinner then you just have no idea the great things that are in store. Without giving too much away when entering the hotel banquet rooms where we have set up you will find many, many tables set up and displaying all of our silent auction items donated by people and businesses all around us. Our teachers get into the spirit and donate their time for special parties and sleep overs or things like that. One year I purchased a swim party for Elena and she got to have a swim party at her teachers house with a few close friends. Talk about a memory! What's funny to see are the bidding wars that go on at the end when we are closing out the tables. I love the spirit of competition!

When we close the tables we move to our Benefit dinner. Our auctioneer then opens bidding on our live auction. We auction off trips, large or more expensive items donated, Our more popular classroom experiences. Some of our classrooms create artwork and that is then made into a quilt. The excitement over these quilts will just baffle you the first time you see it in action. Our students work hard on their artwork in the hopes of being chosen for the quilts. We get some really amazing quilts from them! Our bidders dig deep into their pockets to give back to the school. Many are Alumni, or have students and they want that personal memory.

The first time I went to auction I was just floored by the momentum of the place. Just when I got used to the whole silent auction part we moved into the live auction part and those paddles were flying high in the air. Our auctioneer of last year was invited back again. He's entertaining and brings excitement to the room. I can't tell you exactly what's in store for our other entertainment this year (it's a surprise) but you definitely will be moved and will be sad you missed it.

Now that I have told you where I will be this next month you're thinking to yourself this can't be that big. Oh, but it is. Anyway, I need to get back to work. I just wanted to take a break from designing the visuals to say hi and share what I have been up to lately. I'm sure you will hear from me because I will need sanity breaks every now and then. Not only that but I do have a life outside auction and I do live it. So there will be updates on what goes on in my world. Of course I'm going to be my usual sarcastic self. I'm going to be running all over the place as I pick up donations. BTW - if you want to donate something to the auction let me know....

Anyway, there is still some time before we take control of the DoubleTree's Banquet rooms and begin setting up for our night. So much to do yet so little time. Gotta run for now. Remember, it's ok to stop me and say hi!

Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa