Let them eat cake

So I tried my hand at baking, and made this luscious four-layer pumpkin cake (no really that's what it was called). It is SO easy, but looks like it took forever. I actually think it looks like pancakes, but the cream cheese icing makes it AMAZING.

I was the popular kid at work for a day... well worth it. :)

what you need:
1 pkg. (2 layer size) yellow cake mix
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin, divided
1/2 cup of milk
1/3 cup oil
4 eggs
1- 1/2 tsp. Pumpkin pie spice, divided
1 pkg. (8 oz) PHILADELPHIA cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tub (8 oz) COOL WHIP Whipped topping, thawed
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
1/4 cup PLANTERS pecans

HEAT 350 degrees F

MIX cake mix, 1 cup pumpkin, milk, oil, eggs and 1 tsp. spice in large bowl. Divide into two greased and floured 9 inch pans.

BAKE 28 to 30 min. Cool 10 min in pans then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

BEAT cream cheese in medium bowl until creamy. Add sugar, remaining pumpkin and spice; mix well. Stir in Cool Whip. Cut each cake horizontally in half making four layers; stack on serving plate with the icing in between each layer. Do not frost top layer. Drizzle with caramel before serving and top with nuts...

Sweater vests for everyone!

A few weeks ago Airmen and Soldiers from the Ohio National Guard were invited to attend a practice at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. As a proud Buckeye and graduate of OSU, I was so excited to attend.

Coach Jim Tressel, head coach for the Buckeyes has been extremely supportive of troops all around the world. In 2009 Coach Tressel visited troops overseas with a handful of other college football coaches. As we toured the Woody Hayes facility, the troops attending were greeted by many military themed corridors and rooms in the facility. The workout room actually has "Combat Ready" scrolled across the entry and Army Core Values lining the room.

My personal favorite was seeing Woody Hayes last words scrolled on a chalk board he kept in his office. He was truly a supporter of our troops, and Coach Tressel has carried on this legacy.

The OSU players and coaches stayed after practice, and signed autographs and took photos with troops. What a nice bunch of young men (now I sound like my grandma...lol).

So as you can see from the photo above, Coach Tressel and I are BFFs... Sweater vests for EVERYONE!