Happy New Year's Eve!

Hey Lovlies. 

I hope you all have a fantastic time ringing in the New Year. 

Remember to whom all glory and praise is due for 2012 and the hope to come in 2013!

I know we'll be praising Him tonight! 

{Now. Insert random photos that have nothing to do with New Year's.} 

 Yes. Chara is wearing a gutted giant stuffed bear. 

This is what we'll be doing tonight. 

Along with lots of wine drinking, eating and hopefully lots of laughing. 

I love a good excuse to celebrate. 

Which is why we drank champagne last night. 

Is there ever a reason to NOT celebrate?! 

Get ready 2013! You're gonna be totally rocked. 

And get ready readers to hear all our New Year Resolutions and all that jazz. :) 

Love you guys!

Long Noodles & Cute Headbands

I have just bits of randomness for you all today. 

{Also, get ready for some fantastic quality photos..;P I apologize in advance for my laziness in editing photos.}

Like, check out the world's longest noodles. 

 Okay. Maybe not the world's longest, but these babies are long. 

And they were inspiration for several noodle jokes & a Chinese noodle game show idea among Zachary and our friend CJ. 

Who doesn't love a good noodle game show? 

 Just a bed of drying fish. A normal sight on the seaside of China. 

My sweet little sister and bubbles. 

 We got Scrabble for Christmas and can't stop playing!! We're not very good at it but we still have fun!

 Chara thoroughly loved Christmas. 

{Can't wait to tell you more about all our awesome gifts and festivities! 

We were immensely blessed this Christmas. So thankful. }  

Have you seen Prep and Landing? 

It's the cutest. Really, we love it.

We've watched it the last few years, since it came out. 

You can watch it on hulu.com. 

Check it.

The cutest headband I've ever warn alert.

I am loving this headband and I won it on a blog giveaway!!!

Also, you should definitely go check out Teresa's blog over at Newborn Mama.

She is the sweetest and most beautiful blogger. I love her blog because not only is she a gorgeous Mama on the outside, she is even more beautiful on the inside, and it shows in her blog. 

Also, she has one cute baby! You know those adorable tangled up in lights baby pics from Pinterest? Ya, well her little guy could be a poster child for those! So sweet! 

All you married ladies will appreciate this post, on being intentional with your husband.

 I love their wedding pictures, too! 

And if you're still not intrigued, click here to see a fantastic idea for soup in a jar. I have seen this on Pinterest and at the store, but I had never thought about this 

being such a great gift for families in need. 

Ya, I told you. Gorgeous on the inside. :) 

So thankful for your sweet heart & that I get to read about it on your blog, Teresa. :)

Hope you are having an awesome Thursday! 

Santa's Lookin' Good

Our school had a special Christmas time today and Zachary got to play Santa Claus.

I think he made a pretty good Santa. :)

What do you think??

Lookin' fine babe. :)

The kids were so excited! They jumped up and down when he walked out! 

It was precious. 

He did such a great job!! 

*Sorry for the terrible quality pics! No camera today.*

Zachary made a little video for you all. 

Creepy? Or Santastic?! 

Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas day!!!

 Merry Christmas night! 

Chocolate Cupcakes w/Marshmallow Frosting

Wow! You guys. I'm so excited to post this recipe from Helen. 

Mostly because readers of this blog are seriously deprived of AH-MAZING recipe posts 

because I am too lazy can't get a lot of basic ingredients here, in China. 

These babies look fantastic! 

I think I will try to make them! Want to join me?! Eek! Excited!

{Christmas in Texas last year.}

Welcome Helen!

Hi The Mosbys in China readers! I'm Helen from Eat.Enjoy.Live.

Its Christmas Eve!!!!!! Are you as excited as I am? Santa's coming tonight!

I hope your already for Christmas. I'm skipping Christmas for this post and sharing a recipe that would be perfect for new years drinks.

These are full size cupcakes, but you could make mini ones and they would make the perfect dessert and drinks party treat.

Who doesn't like a dessert and drinks party?!

Chocolate Cupcakes w/ Marshmallow Frosting

Serves - 12

Ingredients:

For cupcakes:

1 c. self raising flour

2tbsp cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. caster sugar

2 eggs

For marshmallow frosting (makes enough for 16 full-size cupcakes.)

3/4 c. granulated sugar

1/4 c. golden syrup

2 egg whites

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

Cupcakes:

1. Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/350. Put 12 cupcake cases into a tin.
2. Sift the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder into a mixing bowl. Add the low fat spread, sugar, unbeaten eggs and vanilla extract. Vigorously beat the mixture until smooth.
3. Spoon the mixture into cupcake cases. Place on the middle shelf in the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.*

Frosting:

1. Place the sugar, golden syrup and 1 1/2 tbsp of water into a saucepan and cook on a high heat until the mixture reaches the soft boil stage - this is when the bubbles in the mixture almost start to stick together and drops off a spoon in a smooth slow stream. This takes about 2 minutes.
2. In a mixer or food processor, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form. Now, with the machine on a low speed, slowly and evenly pour the hot sugar mixture into the bowl. Continue to beat on a low speed until all the hot sugar is in the mixing bowl.
3. Increase the speed to medium-high and continue whipping the mixture until it becomes thick, glossy and cool. Add the vanilla extract.

*Wait until the cupcakes are totally cool before even attempting to make the frosting. The frosting works best when its slightly warm, and there is nothing worse than frosting sliding off warm cupcakes.

You can keep the frosting in the fridge for up to 1 day, no longer. Just give it a quick beat before using so it loosens up.

There is no doubt that these cupcakes are decadent. The frosting is extremely sweet, its like eating liquid cotton candy. I was worried they would taste like a sugar overload, but luckily the bitterness of the cocoa in the cake balances out the frosting.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Have a good one!


Thanks Helen! These look delicious!!

Also, you should definitely pin these babies!
Post your pin URL in the comment box for a chance to win a guest post/giveaway day on my blog!
I know, so exciting right?!
Merry Christmas you guys!!! 

Because it's always good to laugh...

Please read click this link right now... CLICK it like it's haawwt.

I promise... it's hilarious. 

I can't stop laughing. 

My favorites:

I know they're bad. But that's what makes them funny! Because it's stuff you'd NEVER say in real life.

One time my phone auto corrected something to my grandma about a penis. haha. 

{Do you remember what it said grandma?}

Have you had any awesome auto corrects experiences? 

Oh ya, and the world didn't end. Hip hip horaay. 

Were any of you slightly worried? 

I'll admit it. 

I had my moments. 

But then I remembered that God is in control, not the Mayan calendar, and then I got over it. 

And then I wrote a song about it. :) My first song to ever write actually.

 Maybe one day I'll magically wake up with the most beautiful voice ever and post it on here. 

Because I have had no camera the past week {so lame. I've had so much to show you guys!!}
I am instead going to post a few random, terrible quality pictures taken on my computer. :)
Because they say you always need a picture to draw the eye.
So eyes, be drawn.

Just a little bit of snow out the window.

This is how excited I get from even the tiniest bit of snow. So excited my jaw goes crooked.

A lady at our school just had a baby, so as tradition goes, she gave everyone at work 2 hard boiled eggs. 

Check out that kid totally photo bombing my picture. 

Hope you guys have an awesome weekend!!!

It's soooo close to Christmas!

And Zachary flies out in less than 24 hours!! 

So happy to have him home! 

And the fire's still burning... :)

Today, I am blessed and thankful to say, Zachary and I have been married for 4 years.

It has been, by far, the best four years of my life.

And while, today is sad, because he is on the other side of the world, and his grandma will be laid to rest today, there is so much still to celebrate. 

Like her life. 

Mawmaw. We love you. We will miss you. You were an amazing woman, mother & grandmother. 

We take comfort in the fact that you are safe in the loving arms of your Savior. 

Isn't she beautiful, ya'll? 

And I celebrate that God has given us 4 years so far together and even though we're on the opposite side of the world right now, I feel more loved and more in love with him than ever. 

So thankful that after 4 years, our love is still growing and still strong. 

And the fire's still burning. ;)

I know it would be more appropriate to post photos of our wedding, like below,

but that will be another post for another time, instead I'm posting our engagement photos. 

When our love was first blossoming. ;) cheesy. 

Get ready for tons of pictures. Cause that's how I do.

Austin sky line in the background.

 I am my Beloved's and He is mine.

I love that you still look at me like this each day.

Blessed that you kiss me every.single.day. Full of love.

So thankful we can still laugh together every day. 

 I love that you are always goofy and look at the bright side of things. 

He's a hot creeper. :) 

Let me just say. 

Marriage rocks. 

It's amazing. 

It makes me more like Jesus everyday. 

And points me to Him.

Zachary, 

I love you. 

I miss you.

I hate being away from you.

But I feel so close to you even when your far away.

Your all I can think about.

Your all I want to think about. 

Your amazing. 

I could never have dreamed or asked for a better man.

You are gentle and kind and loving.

You show me every fruit of the Spirit. 

You make me want to be a better woman, a better wife and follower of Jesus.

You serve and love so well.

Your voice melts my heart and fills our home with worship.

Your love and desire for the Lord is contagious.

And refreshing.

Even if I see it every day. 

It's still a cool drink of water. 

I am so in love with you.

I love you more and more each day. 

Thank you for loving me, for holding me, and always being so patient with me.

Thank you for always being so strong for our family.

I love you.

Here's to you babe and  many, many more anniversaries to come.

Zachary had a friend deliver me roses & wine. :)

Happppppppy Anniversary!!!!