Love Life and Home

Peanut Butter Surprise Cupcakes

2011-09-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

I have been getting requests for the recipe for these amazing cupcakes...so, here it is!! :)

The peanut butter cupcake, with chocolate buttercream frosting, has a fun little hidden surprise inside...I hershey kiss! SO much fun for kids and adults will love them too!!

For the cupcakes you'll need:

24 paper cupcake liners

24 hershey kisses

1 package (18.25 oz) plain yellow cake mix

1 1/3 cups water

1/3 cup smooth peanut butter

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350 deg., line cupcake pan with liners, and unwrap hershey kisses

2. Place the cake mix, water, peanut butter, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low until blended, about 30 seconds. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides. Increase speed of mixer to medium and beat for 2 minutes longer.

3. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and then gently place one hershey kiss on top of each raw cupcake. Do not push the hershey kiss into the cupcake.

4. Bake the cupcakes for 18-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and bounce back when pressed. Let them cool for 5 minutes and then remove and place on wire rack to cool for 15 more minutes.

For the frosting you'll need:

8 tblsp. (1 stick) of butter; at room temp.

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3 cups confectioner's sugar

3-5 tablespoons of milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Place the butter and cocoa in a large mixing bowl. Blend with electric mixer on low until the mixture is soft and well combined, 30 seconds.

2. Stop the blender and add the confectioner's sugar, 3 tblsp. of milk, and vanilla. Blend on low until the sugar is incorporated, 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, 1 minute more. Add 1-2 tblsp. more milk if the frosting is too stiff.

Now frost it's time to frost...you can also add crushed peanut butter cup on top for garnish. :)

Alicia and Max: Engagement

2011-07-16T14:57:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure to be able to take the engagement pictures for one of my Best Friends and her Fiance. We were so lucky to have the most beautiful weather and scenery in Flagstaff, AZ!!

Homemade French Fries and Onion Rings

2011-07-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

Picture from: www.allrecipes.com

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon onion salt
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup water, or as needed
1 cup vegetable oil for frying

Directions

Slice potatoes into French fries, and place into cold water so they won't turn brown while you prepare the oil.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. While the oil is heating, sift the flour, garlic salt, onion salt, (regular) salt, and paprika into a large bowl. Gradually stir in enough water so that the mixture can be drizzled from a spoon.
Dip potato slices into the batter one at a time, and place in the hot oil so they are not touching at first. The fries must be placed into the skillet one at a time, or they will clump together. Fry until golden brown and crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels.

**To finish them off I placed them all on a baking sheet after frying and then baked them at 375 deg. for about 10 min.. This recipes also works amazingly for onion rings!!!

Recipe from: www.allrecipes.com

Coconut Chocolate Cake

2011-05-08T13:38:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) chocolate cake mix
1-1/2 cups evaporated milk, divided
1-1/2 cups sugar, divided
24 large marshmallows
1 package (14 ounces) flaked coconut
1/2 cup butter, cubed
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted

Directions

Mix cake according to package directions, using a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup sugar; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. Add marshmallows and stir until melted. Stir in the coconut. Spread over cake immediately after baking. Cool for 30 minutes.

In a small saucepan, combine the butter, sugar and remaining milk; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat; stir in the chocolate chips until melted. Spread over coconut layer; sprinkle with almonds. Yield: 16-20 serving

Recipe found at www.tasteofhome.com

Lavender Shortbread

2011-05-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

One of my great friends, Jen, owns an amazing bakery in San Fran, Batter Bakery, with some of the most delicious baked goods you could ever imagine! One of my favorites is her Lavender Sea Salt Shortbread, which sounds interesting, I know, but the soft floral flavor with the buttery shortbread, and hint of salt, make the greatest flavor! I found a recipe for Lavender Shortbread in a cook book by the North Coast Lavender Guild, from N. California, and it instantly made me crave Jen's. I made the recipe, which makes about 2 dozen, for Mother's Day, and if could not have turned out any better! :)

ENJOY!

Image from www.dessertfirstgirl.com

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup butter at room temperature

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 Tb dried lavender (I found mine at Wholefoods)

2 1/3 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup confectioners sugar (for dusting...if desired)

Instructions

Cream the butter, sugar, and lavender until light and fluffy. Add flour, cornstarch and salt, and mix until incorporated.

Divide the dough into 2 equal blocks. Flatten the blocks, seal each in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm (about 1-2 hours, or overnight).

Preheat oven to 325 deg.. On a very lightly floured work surface, roll out each block of dough to measure 9x8x1/4 inches. Using a metal spatula or dough scraper, square up the sides of the dough and lift off the table from time to time to prevent it from sticking as you roll it out.

With a fluted pastry wheel cutter or a knife, cut the sheets of dough into 2x1x1/2 inch rectangles.

Place the rectangles evenly spaced on a baking sheet. Bake on the center rack in the oven for 12-14 minutes, or until pale gold, not browned. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. When the cookies are completely cool, dust lightly with confectioner's sugar.

2011-04-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

Dutch Doors

I have a new obsession with Dutch Doors. I have decided that our next home will have a dutch door, along with my dream kitchen no matter what! :)

I found a favorite new blog and I was so excited to find a post on a dutch door that she made herself!! Such amazing news! Besides the dutch door post she Karla has some amazing ideas! I highly suggest you visiting her blog. Be careful though...you will spend hours searching through her fabulous posts!

Homemade Dutch Door Blog Post

2011-04-21T17:13:00.000-07:00

Found this cute recipe, by Belinda Strong, and thought it was perfect for Easter! :)

Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations

2011-04-09T23:10:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this? Rust-Oleum came out with a new product that allows you to paint over your current counters and make them look brand new. Sounds so strange, but you have to take a look at the before and after pictures people posted (click here). It looks like an amazing option for an inexpensive update to old laminate counters! :)

www.rustoleum.com

I'm Back :)

2011-04-09T22:50:00.000-07:00

Nursing school is coming to an end, and my brain can now be switched back over to it's happiest place...creative mode. :)

Over my few short breaks I found the time for my new table runners. I actually saw a similar one on etsy and figured I would give it a try...

Just some burlap, ribbon, and a tiny bit of sewing! So easy...

...and my two sweet babies allowing me to practice my photography skills since getting my new camera. :)

2010-11-14T20:10:00.000-08:00

Holiday Favorites from Etsy!

I could not be more excited that the holiday's are upon us! I was so excited that the day after Halloween I got so excited to see all the holiday commercials start up, and the holiday items entering the stores (although many stores had Christmas items out well before Halloween). So...in browsing etsy today, one of my favorite past-times, I found some amazing holiday items that I just had to share...

Laser Cut Snowflakes $12 Sparkling Vintage-Inspired Comb

**Image by mahleewan** **Image by JMGJewelDesign**

Leaning Tree Image

**Image by Allison Trentelman**

Baby Booties Ruffled Stockings

**Image by handmadebabylove** **Image by rikrak**

Handmade Cards

**Image by Lockette**

Joy Banner Sparkling Chiffon Rosette Necklace

**Image by Aliceslookingglass** **Image by LaViejaTunTun**

2010-10-19T09:31:00.000-07:00

** 7 Layer Studio **

One of my favorite new blog discoveries is 7 Layer Studio! Shelly, the amazing blogger, has posted some of the most fabulous tutorials!

Check out her amazing blog at: 7 Layer Studio

2010-10-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

No-Sew Halloween Costumes

Still have not found, or even begun looking for your, or your kids Halloween costume? Well...HGTV has some amazing no-sew costume ideas that can be made by anyone!! :)

**Image credits: HGTV.com**

No Sew Costumes by HGTV

Happy Crafting!!

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup...the perfect cool weather meal

2010-10-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

M.S. (aka Martha Stewart) made an appearance on Oprah and shared some fun grilled cheese recipes. Since the weather has officially started cooling down, I thought of one of my favorite cool weather meals...grilled cheese and tomato soup. Check out the fun ideas here...

Fantasy Pumpkin

2010-10-05T15:58:00.000-07:00

Image by Hallmakrmagazine.com

I saw the post on this amazing, and beautiful, carriage pumpkin on Kinser Event Company's blog...and knew I had to share it! :)

This was originally posted on Hallmarkmagazine.com which has since ceased publication.

What You'll Need:

1- 12" tall pumpkin
4- 4" tall gourds
4- ornate drawer pulls
3- ornate metal belt buckles
1- ornate lamp finial
2- 1/4" dowel rods (cut to the approx. diameter of your pumpkin)
Pencil or marker
Knife
Craft glue
Heavy-gauge florist's wire
Cordless drill fitted with 1/4" bit
Instructions:

1. Trace the inside of each belt buckle onto the pumpkin and cut to create openings for two windows and a door.

2. Glue the hardware over the openings.

3. Remove or cut down the stem until it's even with the flesh of the pumpkin, and twist the finial into the top.

4. Drill a hole through the center of each gourd.

5. Insert one dowel rod into the holes of two gourds to create an axle, and secure with glue. Repeat to create a second set of wheels.

6. Finish off all four wheels by inserting a drawer pull into the outside hole of each gourd for hubcaps.

7. Line up the two sets of wheels next to each other at about the same width as your pumpkin. Then wrap wire from one dowel rod to the other to fasten the axles together and to create a webbing for the pumpkin carriage to sit on.

8. Gently place your carriage on the wire.
For illustrated instructions take a look this Pumpkinhowto.pdf

Original Source: HERE

Recipe Box

2010-10-05T15:52:00.000-07:00

I loved the recipe boxes featured Kinser Event Company's blog as created by Weddingchicks.com. Since I am hosting my best friends bridal shower this weekend I thought a recipe box filled with all her closest family and friends recipes would be one of the perfect gifts. I bought all the supplies at Joann's and used the fabric flower tutorial that I had posted on to make the pretty little flower in the front. I created the dividers out of $1 notecards from Joann's, cut them to size, and added the label and a cute little button. I even designed the recipe cards, which ended up being slightly difficult since they had to be a custom size to fit in the box, on photoshop, along with the framed "recipe" image.

Enjoy! :)

Fall 1 and 2 Decorating

2010-10-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

So, my friend Christy and I have a unique way of explaining our fall decorating obsession. First, Fall 1 decorations are those that are strictly fall and stay up from September 1st until Thanksgiving day. Second, Fall 2 decorations are those that are strictly Halloween inspired and go up during the month of October. :) Here is a little inspiration...

Fall 1

I just love the long stem on round pumpkin! :)

Fall 2

Click on this link for a free tutorial on these cute little ghosts

Image Recognition: Pumpkin crafts, ghosts, and treat bags by Country Living, leaf garland by Solutions.com, boo luminarias by Rachelray.com, halloween table by Good House Keeping, and happy halloween image by halloweenforum.com.

2010-10-02T16:51:00.000-07:00

I loved this post by Pepper Design, including the link to the free tutorial by Paper Source! :)

I love when you find inspiration in the most unexpected of places… the other day I was thinking about those little accordion paper fans I used to make as a little girl by folding up 8 1/2×11 sheets of white printer paper. They might turn into turkey tails for Thanksgiving or maybe even folded hearts for Valentine’s Day.

I found this lovely inspiration board (below) at Paper Crave and it brought me right back to the 2nd grade. The grown-up version of paper accordions comes in the form of folded maps, book pages or antique wallpaper.

I really love the simple way these accordion paper poms fit into every type of party decor. I can imagine them delicately hung above a wedding reception dance floor, lined neatly over a bridal shower dessert buffet or in bright & bold hues for a child’s birthday party.

The rosette ‘table confetti’ is my favorite. And how pretty are the button and brooch centerpieces? A little pearl bead would be perfect.

Once Wed designed an entire grey, green & pink dinner party around this theme (see top top photo), and design*sponge shares it here. To make your own paper accordion rosette, Paper Source provides a free downloadable pdf. And finally, a super easy DIY awaits after the jump!

Weddingbee chronicles her blue rosette project using Martha Stewart’s tutorial:

{DIY Paper Accordion Rosette}

a
Materials: Pretty paper, matching embroidery floss, ribbon, ruler, scissors, mini stapler

1. Once you have selected your papers, choose embroidery floss that matches the color as closely as possible; you’ll use this to tie the rosettes in the center.

2. The proportions of an 8 1/2-by-11-inch or an 11-by-17-inch piece of paper are particularly good for these rosettes; as you adjust the size, try to keep this oblong shape in mind. You will need 2 pieces of paper for a single rosette (unless you are making small ones, in which case you should cut the paper to be twice as long).

3. Lay the 2 papers vertically on the work surface. Mark even intervals, top to bottom, on the edges (use 1-inch intervals for an 8 1/2-by-11-inch piece; increase to 1 1/2 inches or so for a larger piece). Score the paper between the marks with a bone folder (use a metal straight edge to guide the bone folder). Fold each piece top to bottom accordion-style at the marks to make pleats. If you want scalloped or spiky rosettes, collapse the pleats of each sheet to make a bundle, and cut each end into a U or V shape.

4. Attach the two sheets by nesting the last pleat of 1 sheet inside the first pleat of the other, securing with double-sided tape.

5. Squeeze the pleats together. Fold in half, end to end, to create a crease at the center, then unfold; tie a short length of embroidery floss snugly around the bundle at the center of the crease, using a square knot to secure.

6. Carefully cut a slit through the topmost layer along the crease, which creates a flap on each side (be sure not to cut the embroidery floss). On one side of the slit, snip off the corner at an angle (this will keep that corner from buckling when the rosette is folded together). Repeat on the bottom of the bundled pleats.

7. Fan out the pleats to form a rosette. To join the sides, slip one pleat inside the other (place the notched corner uppermost). Secure with double-sided tape on both sides of the V (leave the very tips of the pleats untaped).

8. To add the ribbon, slide the end in between the layers of an overlapped pleat, and staple through the ribbon. (A stapler that uses mini staples will give you strong yet unobtrusive results.)

Image Credits (from top): spirograph inspired wedding at Design*Sponge, DIY wedding details at Style Me Pretty, a winter holiday soiree at Snippet & Ink, Posh Paperie’s paper pinwheel tutorial at Style Me Pretty, paper rosette details in this gorgeous floral arrangement by A. Hana Design at Once Wed, lovely gift packaging from Summer of Grey Likes Weddings at Style Me Pretty, paper rosette initial decorations from Cory and Chris’ wedding at Once Wed, Paper Crave, Weddingbee

Fabric Flowers

2010-09-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

Fabric flowers are one of my new obsessions and I found a few super easy and fun tutorials at a couple of my favorite blogs! Portabello pixie has a wonderful download that you can print out...

**Image by Portbabellopixie.com**

Fabric Roses Tutorial

...and Creat and Delegate has a more shabby chic version...

**Image by Create and Delegate**

Create and Delegate Fabric Roses

Eat.Drink.Chic: Floral Gift Tags

2010-09-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

I have found some amazing new blogs, and I can't wait to share some of the fun stuff I have found!! Eat Drink Chic is one of my favorite, and they are wonderful in the fact that they post free downloads! The floral gift tags free download was one of my favorite finds on there site full of wonderful things...

**Image by Eat Drink Chic**

Floral Gift Tags by Eat Drink Chic

Simple Peanut Butter Pumpkin Cookies

2010-09-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

I love these simple peanut butter pumpkin cookies by Pillsbury!! All you need is store bought peanut butter cookie dough, a few simple ingredients, some orange sugar crystals, twisted pretzels sticks, and a tooth-pick and you can make these adorable fall cookies.

**Picture found at Pillsbury.com**

INGREDIENTS

1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated peanut butter cookies

1 egg yolk

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup orange decorator sugar crystals

14 twisted butter-flavor pretzel sticks, broken in half

DIRECTIONS

1: Heat oven to 350°F. Spray cookie sheets with cooking spray. In medium bowl, stir cookie dough, egg yolk and flour until well mixed.
2: Pour sugar crystals into small bowl. Shape dough into 28 (1-inch) balls; roll in sugar crystals. Insert 1 pretzel piece into each ball for pumpkin stem. Using toothpick or tip of teaspoon, make lines around sides for pumpkin ridges. Place balls 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.
3: Bake 9 to 11 minutes or just until set in center when touched with fingertip. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 10 minutes.

Fall Decorating: Jack O'-Lanterns In A Jiffy

2010-09-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

Country living's fall issue is out and they have some super cute, and simple too, fall decorating ideas. Their Jack O'-Lanters In a Jiffy only cost about $2 and are fun and easy for kids to make as well!

**picture from Countryliving.com**

Jack O'-Lanterns in a Jiffy

Turn orange tissue-paper balls ($1.92 each; partycheap.com) into proper Halloween pumpkins. Simply cut facial features and stems from construction paper and apply to the balls with glue dots ($3.99 for a pack of 300; discountschoolsupply.com).

See more fun fall decorating ideas at CountryLiving.com

Walnut-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

2010-08-23T17:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a fabulous oatmeal cookie recipe that I found on www.allrecipe.com. I added my own touch by mixing in chocolate chips and walnuts. :)

Enjoy!! :)

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups quick cooking oats
Any other fun ingredients **chocolate chips and walnuts**

Directions

In a medium bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats (and any other ingredients, such as chocolate chips and walnuts) :). Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls, and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie with a large fork dipped in sugar.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Joy's Hope: Mason Jar Cupcakes

2010-08-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

Another great little post by Joy's hope! :)

**Joy's Hope: Mason Jar Cupcakes**

**Image by Joy's Hope**

A Carnival of Tiered Trays by Joy's Hope

2010-08-22T10:46:00.000-07:00

Look how fun these tray's are! The best part is that they are made from dollar store finds and some spray paint! You can go to Joy's Hope to see the full blog post...what a creative genius she is! :)

Alice in Wonderland Party

2010-08-21T23:27:00.000-07:00

As many of you know I love to throw parties...from the invitations down to dessert...every last detail. I tend to, however, get myself in a little too deep sometimes, but when it comes to parties I will never complain! :)

One of my Best Friends got engaged a few months back and the bridal shower planning is now in full swing! I luckily have a few fabulous girls as partners this go around, but none-the-less I have been diving into every blog, web site, etc... for fun ideas! :)

To start with I went to Etsy for the invitation design, and since we hadn't quite nailed down a theme, I decided to just find a fun design.

Paper Bag Printz had the greatest designs, and allowed me to customize a birthday party invite into a bridal shower invite, and here is the final product...

**Sorry...had to white out the details :)**

Paper Bag Printz

Now...I know the party does not have to have a theme, but I keep running into this same theme over-&-over that I love...Alice in Wonderland! Not the Kiddie version, or even the creepy Johnny Dep version, but the whimsical party-detail version! :)

Here are a few sites that had some wonderful ideas...

**Sweet Designs by Amy Atlas**

**Project Wedding**

There are also some fabulous hand-made items on Etsy to match the theme as well! :)

**Alice in Wonderland on Etsy**

Weekend of sewing...

2010-08-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

Since I have a few weeks still left until my last year of nursing school starts I figured it would be a good time to get some last minute sewing in. My Husband's Aunt and Uncle are expecting a baby girl any day, so I decided to dust off my sewing machine and try out my new yo-yo makers. :)

First...I decided on a diaper clutch and Joann's had these great fabric discontinued fabric samples for $2, and they were the perfect size for the pattern that I found on the awesome blog Diary of a Quilter.

The yo-yo flowers were courtesy of my yo-yo templates that I found at Joann's. It may have been cheating, or just the perfectionist in me, but they really do turn out perfect with the templates. :)

The yo-yo's only took about 5 minutes each and were actually very easy to sew into groupings to add to headbands and onesie's!

Finally...I made a few burp cloths out of the scraps of fabric I had left over...they actually turned out pretty cute. :)

Could my nephew get any cuter?!

2010-08-06T23:07:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to brag a little about my nephew who is quite possibly the cutest little man ever!! :)

Session Nine Photography

Pretty Placemats

2010-08-06T23:03:00.000-07:00

Joel Dewberry has a **free** pattern for handmade placemats that would make wonderful gifts, or be perfect for your own home. They would even be fabulous to make for each season! :)

Click Here

www.joeldewberry.com

Johnny Cakes

2010-08-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

Growing up my Sisters and I had loved American Girls, and I even had an American Girl cook book. One of our favorite recipes from our childhood was from this cookbook, also an American classic, and I thought I would share the simple, yet delicious, recipe for Johnny Cakes...

Recipe from About.com

Image from juliaspantry.com

Some think these fried cornmeal cakes were originally called Journey Cakes, while others believe they were first called Shawnee Cakes after the tribe in the Tennessee Valley.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal
1 to 2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup hot milk
1 tablespoon shortening

Preparation:

Mix the dry ingredients, then stir in the remaining ingredients. Drop or pour on the hot, greased griddle or drop in iron skillet and fry to golden brown on both sides. Serve with butter and syrup as for pancakes, or serve as a bread with butter.
Serves 4 to 6.

Semi-Homemade Banana Bread

2010-07-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

We had a box of Trader Joe's Banana Bread mix sitting around in our cupboard for a little while, since I am more of a homemade banana bread type person, and after getting a craving the other day I decided to finally pull it out. While mixing it together I got the idea to spruce it up a little, so I started pulling out different ingredients and adding them to the mix. I ended up adding a diced up banana, chocolate chips, walnuts, and coconut. It was delicious!! :)

Summer-Fun Cupcake

2010-07-29T21:06:00.000-07:00

I saw these cupcakes by What's New Cupcake posted on Hostess with the Mostess and thought they were the perfect little cupcakes for end-of-summer fun...

Coronado Island

2010-07-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

Being blessed to have the chance to travel to Coronado Island on a whim I can't help but love everything about the picture-perfect Island Town. While spending time reading through all the blogs I have missed the last few months I came across this cute-as-ever post on A Field Journal. She even has vintage post-cards you can download and send out for fun...

**Click here to see the fun travel guide**

Crock-Pot Chili

2010-07-27T10:45:00.001-07:00

Although the weather has not quite cooled down yet, the cloudy weather made me think of all the winter crock-pot recipes I cannot wait to make! Just to put myself in the fall spirit I thought I would share my favorite Crock-Pot Chili recipe...

Bernice's Favorite Chili
from "Fix -It and Forget-It Cookbook"

2 16oz. cans red kidney beans, drained
2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes
2 lbs. coarsely ground beef, browned and drained
2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
1 green pepper, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2-3 Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. pepper
2.5 tsp. salt

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker in order listed. Stir once.
2. Cover and cook on low 10-12 hours, or high 5-6 hours.

**Best served with corn bread or over spaghetti!

Enjoy!! :)

Ramen Salad

2010-07-10T15:09:00.001-07:00

I know it sounds so strange, but this is delicious and perfect for summer BBQ's!! :)

Dressing:
1/2 Cup Vegetable or Canola Oil
1/3 Cup Sugar or less (to taste, sometimes I use only 1/4 Cup)
1/4 Cup White Vinegar
1Tbs Soy Sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste
**Shake all ingredients together

Salad:
1 head cabbage chopped
6 green onions chopped
3T butter
1 package chicken Ramen (you can use vegetable flavor too)
1 small pack of sliced almonds

**Smash up Ramen in package. Melt butter in pan over Medium heat. Add Ramen noodles and sliced almonds and sautee until golden brown. Remove from heat, add Ramen seasoning, stir to coat and set aside to cool.

I typically only make small batches at a time. So I will combine the cabbage and and green onions together in one big bowl, keep the ramen crunchies separate, and keep the dressing separate. The recipe makes A TON, so I just mix the three together in a separate bowl in small batches as you need them so it doesn't get soggy.

Pillow Covers!

2010-01-15T14:50:00.001-08:00

I found the most amazing fabric and decided to make a few pillows for my Sister as a house warming gift. I assumed I would figure it out as I went along, but I decided to see if there were any good "free" pillow patterns out there, other than cutting out two squares and sewing them around some batting, and I got SO LUCKY! The blog Cottage Magpie had the easiest 10-step pattern to make a pillow cover, and it is great because you can slide your pillow forms in and out and make new covers for every season! :) The pattern also accomodates the trim that go around those fancy pillows that are so expensive, so you can make your's look even nicer! I decided to start on some spring pillows for myself as well (thanks to my amazing christmas gift from my Sister) :), and here they are...

Thank Goodness for Lulu Lemon!

2010-01-05T18:53:00.000-08:00

I truly believe that God created Lulu Lemon pants to keep women healthy! How, are you asking? Well, although they are simple looking (they have cute waist bands and are reversible to become all black), they truly make any woman's backside look FABULOUS! This, in turn, makes you actually want to go to the gym, stand on a treadmill and jog as numerous male passer by's actually enjoy the view. :) They create this sort of strange mind set where you WANT to go to the gym every time you pull them out of the dryer. Now, although they are quite a bit of a splurge, and many ppl. would not be willing to shell out the kind of bills needed to own a pair, if you are lucky enough to get a pair, thank you Ali :)...you're the best, you will be one ecstatic female! Maybe they have sales too...oooh, I definitely need to check that out or my one pair may remain my only pair.

http://www.lululemon.com/

Bird Nest Baby Shower

2010-01-05T18:24:00.000-08:00

My Mom, Sister, and I hosted a bird nest baby shower for my Sister's upcoming little boy...who we are hoping arrives any day. :) We used a blue and brown color scheme and I found the best decorations at Joann Fabric's! Little bird nests, blue and brown speckled eggs, white feather's, and styrofoam eggs. Since it was a cold winter day we also did a hot drink and dessert party! We had hot water with packages of cider and coco mix, as well as hot coffee with fun chocolate candy stir sticks. We put out a variety of different desserts, including the cute chocolate covered pretzels w/colored sugar that my husband made, and at the end of the party I put out treat bags and ribbon for everyone to take home their own goodie bags of the desserts that were remaining...we did not want any leftovers! :)

I painted the styrofoam eggs blue and dotted them with brown paint. I placed raffia in the chandelier to mimic a birds nest and then hung the eggs from white satin ribbon.

**Martha Stewart Baby Bird Cupcakes**

**My good friend Alexis made the most amazing diaper cake that matched the theme perfectly! She even customized it with the letter "J" for my Nephews name :). You can purchase your own diaper cake (along with other cute gifts) from Alexis through her blog That's Sew Lexi**

Kitchen Sink Sponge Cleaning

2009-12-29T13:03:00.000-08:00

I really have been MIA due to school, but since I am now bored on break (all my weddings, baby showers, and the holiday's are over) I decided I should get back to blogging!! :) Well, here is a fun little post before I get a chance to post pictures on my Sister's baby shower I threw...

So, I REALLY hate thinking of how many germs are surrounding my kitchen sink, nursing school probably did it to me, but I think one of my largest fears is my sponge. I have always heard that the microwave will kill the germs on your sponge, but I have always found that it makes my microwave SMELL afterwards, so I had resorted to constantly changing out my sponge, which get a little pricey. :( However, once I heard that you can stick your sponge in the dishwasher during your normal dish cleaning for a good de-germing I was all for it! It is kind of nice too, because I now house my sponge in the front corner of my dishwasher so it is out of view and that way it get's cleaned every time I run it!! Genius! :)

Bridal Shower

2009-10-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

We held my Sister's bridal shower a few weeks ago, and I know it is hard to find idea's for shower's, so I thought I would share a few... :)

**Flower Napkin Ring Holder's**
They were actually quite easy to make. I bought flowers at Joann's, pulled them off the stems, and hot glued them to ribbon, which we then tied around napkins...

**Raspberry Honey Jar Favor's**
I posted this recipe below, which was very simple to make in large quantities! My Mom helped me pour it into small Kerr Canning Jar's (Walmart), and then we cut out cute fabric squares and attached them with some rope and a cute label to match...

**Ice Cream Sandwich Bar**
I found this idea in the Country Issue of People Magazine and thought it was the cutest idea! I made the signs by cutting out the pictures from the magazine :), and then bought different cookies, ice creams, and toppings...

**My Mom's ice cream sandwich turned out the best** :)

**Raspberry Honey Recipe**
(Recipezaar.com)

6 cups (change servings and units)
Change to: cups US Metric Close

* 1 quart honey (light)
* 2 cups raspberry jam
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon (see below)

Directions
1. Combine honey, jam and cinnamon (don't stir too vigorously or you'll incorporate air into the mixture and you DO NOT want to do that).
2. Store in pretty jars (give as gifts); keep in a cool, dark place.
3. Try substituting any of these different spices to come up with a different seasonal "essence" such as.
4. SPRING ESSENCE: lavendar buds (organic, you don't want to eat any sprays!).
5. SUMMER ESSENCE: coriander, chive buds.
6. AUTUMN ESSENCE: allspice, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon.
7. WINTER ESSENCE: cinnamon, nutmeg.

I love fall...

2009-10-08T09:04:00.001-07:00

I have to say that Fall is my favorite season of the year. We are going from our most extreme temperatures into the most beautiful time of year to live in AZ. I love to take my fall candles and decorations out early, even when it is still 110 deg. outside, just to give me the feeling of fall! :) Luckily we have been blessed with early fall weather this year and I could not be happier!

Here are a few of my favorite pumpkin idea's by Martha Stewart

**For directions on how to make these twinkle light pumpkins click here**

**These owl pumpkins are super cute and remind me of my favorite little man Jackson**

**Although these lace pumpkins look difficult to make they are SO pretty**

**I have actually made these glitter pumpkins by buying the fake pumpkins, covering them with modge-podge, and sprinkling them with colored glitter...they are very easy and look great!**

Pre-fab home for $22k!

2009-08-16T18:17:00.000-07:00

Although a pre-fab home is not everyone's dream I did think that this article was pretty amazing! My Husband was the one who actually found it on-line at MSN.com and was pretty impressed himself. The guy who built the home actually purchased the kit for $22k and was able to get the structure up in 4 days...and it was all done on a lot in Tucson!! Even if it is not your style it is kind of neat to read about... :)

Click here to view the article
also...don't forget to see the slide show of the home!

Canopy Bed

2009-08-10T17:54:00.000-07:00

I saw this idea in the July issue of Country Living Magazine and absolutley loved how it dressed up a room and a small twin sized bed. It makes for the cutest sitting area and I also thought it would be wonderful over a crib! Besides being adorable it seems like a simple afternoon project...
STEP 1: Unscrew a plastic 10-inch embroidery hoop ($2.99; joann.com) so that it opens; discard the inner ring.

STEP 2: Slide two 44-inch-wide rod-pocket curtain panels onto the hoop and screw it back together. Or sew your own curtains, as we did, from awning fabric ($30 per yard; sunbrella.com for stores). Either way, the panels should be at least 96 inches long.

STEP 3: Take two 24-inch lengths of half-inch-wide ribbon and tie one end of each (with a double knot) onto the hoop at the gaps between the curtains.

STEP 4: Tie the ribbons' loose ends together in a bow.

STEP 5: Screw a pot-rack hook ($5.99; potracksgalore.com) into your ceiling.

STEP 6: Slip the center of the bow over the hook to hang.

I found this idea at: Country Living

Amy Butler and my new sewing obsession...

2009-07-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

In my summer of relaxation and fun I have been taking up new hobbies, or just old one's that I have never had time for, and sewing has quickly become my favorite one. I started looking for sewing patterns and came across Amy Butler, who I am now obsessed with! I bought her birdie sling pattern, as well as the domestic goddess aprons patterns, and never thought I would get to making either of them, but I am SUPER proud to announce that I have finished my first project and a few small one's! :) My birdie sling was a lot of fun until the last two steps, which I think I re-did about 5 times, but to my relief I was finally able to get it right and it is now finished!! Woo hoo!
I also decided to be resourceful and I decided to use the leftovers to make some cute burp cloths for a friend who just had her little girl...

Next up...baby Jackson's bedding! :) I found the Amy Butler Little Stitches for Little One's book and it has the cutest patterns for little one's...I highly suggest it for homemade baby gifts. Plus, it has all of the patterns for the crib bedding that Christy was looking to buy for hundreds of dollars!!

**I really have to thank my wonderful friend Alexis for getting me started back into sewing, since I hadn't sewn with a machine in over 10 years, and for giving me the idea for the burp cloths!

Happy 4th of July!

2009-06-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!! This is one of my favorite holidays and because it is always so hot I always end up making a 4th of July berry cake or a trifle for dessert. Here is the Red, White, and Blueberry trifle recipe from Martha Stewart...it is super easy and delicious!

Ingredients

Serves 6

1/4 cup plus 1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 store-bought pound cake (12 ounces), cut into 3/4-inch-thick slices
1 bar (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup heavy cream
3 cups fresh blueberries (three 1/2-pint containers), rinsed and dried
3 cups fresh raspberries (two 6-ounce containers)

Directions

Make lemon syrup: In a small saucepan, bring 1/4 cup sugar, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup water to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Let cool completely, then brush over both sides of cake slices. Quarter each slice.
With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese with remaining 1/3 cup sugar on high speed until lightened. With mixer on medium speed, gradually add heavy cream in a steady stream; continue beating until mixture is light and airy (mixture will be like a very soft whipped cream).
Arrange half the cake pieces in the bottom of a 2-quart serving dish. Spoon half the cream-cheese mixture over cake in dollops; spread to sides of dish. Scatter half the blueberries and raspberries on top. Repeat layering with remaining cake, cream-cheese mixture, and berries, piling berries in the center.
Cover, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

Father's Day Gift Ideas

2009-06-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

Father's Day is coming up, and since most of us are trying to save money I decided to post some of my favorite "homemade" gift ideas for Dad's that I found on Marthastewart.com...

Car Wash Kit

Coupon Booklet

Scrapbook Boxes with surprises inside...

Homemade BBQ Sauce (click for recipe)

Personalized Notepad

Date with Dad

Framed Photo Card

Father's Day Card (click for instructions)

Tee-Time Cupcakes (click for recipe)

Crock Pot Mac-N-Cheese

2009-06-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

I make this Mac-N-Cheese recipe all the time and keep telling everyone I'll give them the recipe, but of course I forget, so here it is finally! :)

Ingredients:
8oz. dry elbow macaroni, cooked
3-4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
12oz. can Evaporated Milk
1.5 cups Milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients, except 1 cup of cheese, in slow cooker. Sprinkle reserved cup of cheese over top.
2. Cover. Cook on low 3-4 hours. Do not remove the lid or stir until the mixture has finished cooking.

**This recipe is from the cookbook "Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook"**

Banana Crunch Muffins

2009-05-26T20:33:00.001-07:00

Have banana's that are on the verge of being too ripe?! Well...I did and I turned them into these AMAZING Banana Crunch Muffins!
I found the recipe at Food Network and it is by the wonderful Barefoot Contessa :)

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 extra-large eggs
3/4 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2 bananas)
1 cup medium-diced ripe bananas (1 banana)
1 cup small-diced walnuts
1 cup granola
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
Dried banana chips, granola, or shredded coconut, optional

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line 18 large muffin cups with paper liners. Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the melted butter and blend. Combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, and mashed bananas, and add them to the flour-and-butter mixture. Scrape the bowl and blend well. Don't overmix.

Fold the diced bananas, walnuts, granola, and coconut into the batter. Spoon the batter into the paper liners, filling each 1 to the top. Top each muffin with dried banana chips, granola, or coconut, if desired. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool slightly, remove from the pan, and serve.

Peach Cobbler

2009-05-22T15:04:00.000-07:00

I made this Peach Cobbler recipe, which I also found in the June issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine, for my Brother and Husband, as well as our friends the Lundberg's... and it was a hit! :) It calls for basil, which is actually very good, but it can be left out if it is not your style. I also did not bake it in 4 separate dishes...I put it in one medium sized baking dish, and actually used 6 peaches instead of just 4... :)

Ingredients

Serves 4

FOR THE FILLING
4 ripe peaches, pitted, peeled if desired, each sliced into 8 wedges
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon fresh basil (3 to 4 leaves, torn if large)
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
FOR THE TOPPING
2 ounces chopped almonds (1/3 cup)
1/3 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
Heavy cream, for serving (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make the filling: Mix all ingredients to combine.
Make the topping: Combine all ingredients (except cream), rubbing in butter with your fingers until mixture is crumbly.
Divide filling among four 5 1/2-inch round baking dishes, and sprinkle with topping. Transfer to a baking sheet. Bake until bubbling and golden brown, 25 to 27 minutes. Let cool slightly. Drizzle with heavy cream if desired.

Homemade Salt and Vinegar Chips!

2009-05-22T14:58:00.000-07:00

We love salt and vinegar chips and when I found this recipe in the June issue of Martha Stewart Living I had to try it! They are super delicious and actually very easy to make!

Ingredients

Serves 4

1 pound potatoes, preferably fingerling, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 cups white vinegar
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt, plus more for sprinkling
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions

Bring potatoes and vinegar to a boil in a medium saucepan (vinegar should cover potatoes). Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer potatoes until just fork tender, about 5 minutes. Let potatoes cool in vinegar for 30 minutes. Drain well, and gently toss with oil, salt, and pepper.
Preheat grill to medium-high. Grill potatoes in a single layer until browned on both sides and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Sprinkle with salt before serving.

Lemon Ice Cubes

2009-05-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

I love having a slice of lemon in my water, but I have always hated how fast the rest of the lemon goes bad...I can never use the whole lemon in time. Well...my friend Alicia used this idea of "lemon ice cubes" and I thought it was so great that I wanted to share it... :)
All you need to do it slice up a lemon, put them into a ziploc baggie, stick them in the freezer, and whenever you fix a new glass of ice water just take a lemon out and throw it in the water as a lemon ice cube! Voi-la!!

Gold Canyon's Spring/Summer Catalog!

2009-05-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

I have raved about Gold Canyon before and I now cannot get enough of their Spring/Summer catalog! Check out the link below for an online version of the catatlog, and if you would like to place an order you can message my Sister through her blog: click here.

Click here: Gold Canyon Catalog

Here are a few of my favorites...

**Summer of Sun Candles**

New Summer Candles in beachy scents...

**4th of July Votive Holders**

These are the cutest votive holders for the 4th of July...

**Candle Wraps and Tags**

They now make decorative wrappings and tags for their candles so you can customize them for gifts!

**Pods and Pod Warmers**

The Pod Warmers now come with a timer so you can turn them on, set the timer, and forget about them. The Pods also come in almost every scent now!!

Summer time = Grillng Season!

2009-05-17T11:47:00.001-07:00

Time to break out the grills and have a pool party!
I don't know about you but I love hamburgers and I love how versatile they are! Here is a link to some great, out of the box, recipe's for burgers from Martha Stewart!
click here: Burger's by Martha Stewart

Pancakes from scratch...

2009-05-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

I love to make breakfast, other than cereal, on Sunday mornings for my Husband and I. This morning I wanted pancakes, but because I did not have pancake mix in the house I searched the internet for a recipe, that used ingredients I already had, and I found this great recipe! It is very simple and is great to mix other ingredients into...ex. chocolate chips, berries, etc.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour, stirred or sifted before measuring
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tablespoons melted butter

Preparation:

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, combine egg and milk; add to flour mixture, stirring only until smooth. Blend in melted butter. Cook on a hot, greased griddle, using about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Cook until brown on one side and around edge; turn and brown the other side. Recipe for pancakes serves 4

Homemade Party Ideas

2009-05-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

We held an outdoor garden party over the weekend and I wanted to share some of ideas I used. They were inexpensive, easy to make, and looked wonderful!

Sangria and Hanging Chalk-board Sign

Sangria can be quite expensive to make from scratch, but my friend Jennifer shared an amazing Sangria secret with me that I wanted to share with everyone! Carlo Rossi makes jugs of pre-made Sangria (4 liter jug at Wal-Mart for only $11!) and all you need to do is cut of fruit and soak it in the sangria for a few hours before serving! How easy and cheap is that?! The little sign you see hanging in the picture is a mini chalk-board hanging from chain that I found at Sur La Table for $6. If you see my last item below however you can see how to make your own version for quite a bit cheaper using chalk-board paint!

Homemade Table Runners

We had cream linens for the tables and in order to dress the tables up a little bit I purchased fabric from Joann Fabrics (at 40% off...they have great sales) and made my own. I purchased 2.5 yards of each fabric, cut the fabric up the middle so that each runner was about 90"x 20", which is perfect for a 6ft. wide table (many fabrics come in different standard widths so be sure to check out the width before purchasing). To finish off the unfinished edges I made it easy on myself and folded the edges over and ironed them down with bonding web. The table runners are easy to make for one table of many tables, and they look great!

Hanging Flowers

These hanging flowers are my version of the Martha Stewart flowers I posted last month. They are quite easy and inexpensive. Just be sure to have a double sided tape while you are making them...you will need a few pieces of double sided of tape between each bag to make them stick.

Mini-Lanterns

The best part about these lanterns are that they only cost $1! I purchased the glass jars at Joann Fabrics for 99cents and my husband wrapped wire under the lip of the jar and looped another piece of wire over top to make the handle. The lantern hooks can also be found at Joann Fabrics for about $4! They look great at night with a glowing candle inside!

White Luminaries

I used the same white paper bag's that I had used to make the hanging flowers. I scalloped the top of the bags with scalloped scrapbook scissors, then I used a whole punch to punch small holes all over the bag to allow the candlelight stream out allover rather than just through the top. Be sure to fill the bottom of the bag with some sand and place a small tea light...do not use candles that are too tall because these bags can catch fire if the flame get's too high.

Boston Cream Pie and Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes!

I made the Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Boston Cream Pie cupcakes, which you can find the recipe for at Food Network. I also created my own semi-homemade recipe after I found the Martha Stewart Strawberry Meringue Buttercream Frosting recipe. My Mom is not a fan of strawberry so I substituted the strawberry jam for raspberry jam and then added smashed frozen raspberries to my Devils Food Cake mix batter to make Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes with Raspberry Meringue Buttercream frosting!!

Chalkboard Signs

I found the most wonderful chalkboard paint, which comes in a variety of colors, and the wood sign at Joann Fabrics. I painted the sign, nailed two strips of ribbon to the top, which I tied into a bow, and used the crayola chalk, which comes in most of the same colors as their crayons, to decorate the sign. It is great because after the party I was able to wipe the sign down and write a new saying!

Invitations and Cards

2009-04-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

I have posted about Envelope Mall before and how they have the most fabulous, inexpensive paper I have ever found. Well, I thought I would post some ideas of the type of invitations you can make using Microsoft Word and your colored printer. It is super simple and they are great for any party, baby shower, and I used them to create my own wedding invites. Most of the images I found online via google images or at web sites like http://www.tinyprints.com/ and http://www.amysmythmadeit.com/ . I saved the images to my desk top and then re-formatted them using the program called "paint".The fonts can be downloaded for free from http://www.fontstock.net/ . If you want me to send you a template let me know! Have fun!

No Nails Needed...

2009-04-14T21:17:00.000-07:00

I have been going crazy finishing up my extremely long "at home to-do list" now that I have the time :) and I have become a huge fan of the Command Adhesive products. They stick to anything, can be removed without any damage to the wall, door, etc... and can hold a ton of weight! They even come in great colors and designs, such as the brushed chrome decorative hook. I got the hooks to hang the seasonal wreath on my front door, my broom in my hall closet, and the picture hanging strips work great to hang photo's without putting a bunch of nail holes in the wall. They are easy to find at Target and Home Depot, but I have found that Home Depot has the best selection. They are also not super cheap, but they are reasonable and reusable! :)

Go to Target!

2009-04-14T20:27:00.001-07:00

So I, like most of you I'm sure, am obsessed with Target and take at least one trip a week. I actually just went back for a second time this week to grab the new Miss Trish of Capri Sandals, which are absolutley the cutest, and best priced, sandals!! I also noticed that they have Ashley Paige bathing suits, which are hundreds of dollars and super hard to find, but Target has once again proved to be a store that I could live off of if all other stores went out of business! :) You have to go check out the new Miss Trish of Capri sandals, the Ashley Paige bathing suits, the Felix Ray bags, and the "GO" designer collection. Here are some of my favorites...

**P.S. some of the designs are not available in stores so you have to order at www.target.com. However...they are offering free shipping on orders of $50 or more right now!

Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cake

2009-04-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

I love the blog Carolines Bake Shop and I saw this amazing recipe the other day, and of course I loved it because we are a total banana household :), so I thought I would post the link for you all so you could try it out too! ENJOY!

Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cake!

My Easter Cupcakes

2009-04-07T17:12:00.001-07:00

I planned to make a coconut cake for our "early" Easter celebration with my Mom, but I didn't have enough time to compile all of the crazy ingredients, so I decided to be like Sandra Lee and make "Semi-Homemade" bird nest cupcakes. I used a box of Devils Food cake mix, a 16oz. container of vanilla frosting, coconut, a bar of chocolate, and Easter egg peanut M&M's.

**Pipe on the vanilla frosting into a two-layer circle**

**Dip the cup-cake in coconut and then pipe in frosting into the center**

**Place three Easter eggs into the center**

Not everyone likes coconut so I made a non-coconut version as well! :)

**I used a dark-chocolate pistachio bar, but you can use ny chocolate bard to grate down to create your chocolate shavings**

**Pipe of the vanilla frosting to cover the top of the cupcake**

**Sprinkle chocolate shavings onto the center of the cupcake and then pipe on one more layer of frosting on top of the outer edge of frosting**

**Place three Easter eggs in the center**

**Aren't they cute?! :)**

Hanging Flowers

2009-03-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

I found these gorgeous hanging flowers on Marthastewart.com and once I found out how easy they are I had to post them! They would be wonderful for a Spring/Easter party or a girly birthday bash! :)

Martha Stewart Hanging Flowers

**Step 1**

**Step 2**

**Five paper bags taped together**

**Step 3**

**Step 4**

That's Sew Lexi

2009-03-09T13:38:00.001-07:00

My cute-as-ever friend Alexis has an amazing blog with some fabulous things that she hand makes!! The aprons are my favorite...they are one of the best gift ideas for any girl. Package one of the aprons in a mixing bowl with a cook book, a whisk, and some baking mix, and you have one cute gift! :) Oh, and she makes diaper cakes too!! They are wonderful for baby shower decoration or a baby gift!

http://sewlexi.blogspot.com/

Gold Canyon's Spring Catalog!

2009-03-08T11:32:00.001-07:00

Have you seen the new Gold Canyon Spring Catalog?! It has some of the greatest things...perfect for gifts and personal presents to yourself! :) They are always coming out with fun new candles, holiday decorations, and they have a great home line with organic cleaning supplies, and a wonderful body line with my favorite... the Emerge "Grains of Truth Hand Scrub" and "Hand Silk"! Here are some of my other favorites...

**Organic All Purpose Cleaner: Rosemary Mint**

**Cobbler on The Porch Candle**

**Banana Nut Bread Candle...Absolutley Fabulous!**

**Citronella Candles...Will smell up your whole backyard!**

**Changing Seasons Candle Holder...has interchangeable designs for every holiday!**

View the Gold Canyon Online Catalog

My Sister, Christy, is a Rep. for Gold Canyon and if you would like to place an order, or hold a Gold Canyon party, you can message her through her blog... http://ryanchristyandlanden.blogspot.com/

Grandma's Lemonade by Christy Owens

2009-03-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

My Sister, Christy, had a great blog entry on her blog (http://ryanchristyandlanden.blogspot.com/) with our Grandma's homemade lemonade recipe. I decided to share her post with you all too! :)

One of my favorite childhood memories was spending time at my Grandma Owens' house. She had raised four rambunctious boys and continued to have unlimited patience with her four also-rambunctious grandkids. Whenever we came to visit we would spend hours in the pool or playing "store" with her hundreds of poker chips. She would also always have unlimited glasses of her homemade lemonade available for us. Grandma hand squeezed the plentiful lemons that grew on a gigantic tree in her front yard and froze extra so that we could enjoy it year round . Drinking her lemonade can bring back so many memories of being young so I decided to get her recipe and make it for us.

Here it is:

-juice of 4-5 medium lemons (1 cup)

-1/2 cup sugar

-medium pitcher

-Fill the pitcher with the lemon juice and sugar then fill to the top with cold water

Stir before pouring.

Enjoy!

Thanks Sister! :)

Pudding Baths!! Yes...I said pudding bath's :)

2009-03-01T14:18:00.001-08:00

So....my Mom and I were talking about all of our favorite things from when we were kids and I wanted to start blogging about some of the fabulous things she did to make our childhood so memorable! :)

To begin with...PUDDING BATH'S!! :)

If you have a little one you have to try this...it is a cheap, easy, and incredibly funny way to make bath time that much greater!

All you need to do is...

1st...be sure to clean your tub and rinse it well

2nd...make 2-3 (more if you would like) batches of instant pudding

3rd...put your little one in the tub (no water just yet...)

4th...set the bowl of pudding in the tub with your little one

5th...let them go to town!

After the pudding has covered evey inch of the tub and your little one you can now proceed to the usual bath time... :)

Have tons of fun!!

--Stella Dot--

2009-03-01T10:30:00.001-08:00

**Introducing Stella Dot**
It is a fabulous new jewelry line that has been in some of the top magazines (it is in the March issue of Lucky) and it is so exciting because my Mom is the first AZ stylist!! :) You have to check out her website www.stelladot.com/suzyswenson to see all of the fantastic styles!! You can shop right on her website, or if you are interested in hosting a Stella Dot party you can get some of the greatest host rewards...lots of free jewelry! :)

Here are some of my favorites... :)

Letters

2009-02-25T15:11:00.000-08:00

Creating personalized letters are one of my favorite gifts to give for a baby shower. They are a wonderful addition over a baby's crib and add a cute personalized touch. The one's shown below are from Pink Taffy Designs and HGTV.com, however they can get quite pricey off of Pink Taffy Design. They do provide great inspiration though and can be made for 1/4th the cost! :) I go to Jo-Ann Fabrics because I found that they have the best selection of different styles and sizes. When buying the letters also be sure to pick up some paints, paint brushes, clear varnish, sand paper, and ribbon. Jo-Ann Fabrics also has the cutest pre-painted wooden shapes, such as sports balls, flowers, etc..., which can be glued right onto the letters. Also, if you want to add a shabby-chic look to the letters you can use your sand paper to distress some of the edges of each letter.
If you want to add a special touch to any room some great words and phrases that can be easily used are:
Your Last Name/A couple's initials/Dream/Love Life/Imagine/Family/"Est." and a special year

Chocolate-Cherry Cake

2009-02-14T10:30:00.000-08:00

This recipe super-easy recipe is courtesy of my Mom, Suzy, who would make us a chocolate cherry cake for each of our birthdays! We would always look forward to having this cake and we still make it any chance we get! My Husband and I even had chocolate cherry (my favorite) and Funfetti (his favorite...a Pillsbury cake mix) cupcakes for our wedding in place of a wedding cake...and they were an absolute hit!! :)

The Cake...

1 pkg. chocolate cake mix (preferably Devils Food)
1 can cherry pie filling
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. almond extract

Combine cake mix, cherry pie filling, eggs, and almond extract. Mix well with large spoon. Turn into 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until cake tests done. Remove from oven. Pour chocolate frosting over hot cake and spread. Allow frosting to set before slicing cake. Makes 12 to 15 servings.

The Frosting...
The greatest frosting to use with this cake is chocolate chip frosting, which requires only a few ingredients and just minutes to make...
Ingredients: 1 c. sugar, 1/3 c. milk, 5 tbsp. butter, 1 c. chocolate chips
Instructions: First let your cake cool then...in a small saucepan, combine sugar, butter and milk. Boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate chips until smooth. Pour over cake and let cool. Frosting will thicken as it cools.

Greatest Way to Clean Silver Jewelry

2009-02-02T13:02:00.000-08:00

I saw this method of cleaning silver jewelry on TV and had to try it out for myself! It was SUPER easy and I have never been able to get my jewelry so sparkly until now!
All you do is take a baking dish (I used a brownie pan) and line the bottom with aluminum foil. You then lay all your jewelry out on the foil and pour baking soda over the top of the jewery to cover it. Finally, you boil a good amount of water and pour it over the top of the baking soda until all of your jewelry is covered. Let it all sit for about 5 minutes, enough time for the water to cool so you don't burn yourself, and then pull your jewelry out and rinse with cool water! Ta Da!! Sparkly as ever! :)

--Favorite Site: Furry Little Monsters--

2009-02-01T13:27:00.000-08:00

I was visiting Prescott, AZ on a day trip with my Mom and we stumbled upon this fabulous pet boutique! Lila, the owner, was so personable and had the most amazing products that I ended up buying a few things, and I have continued to order from her website since...

The Squirrel House is one of my dogs FAVORITE toys and I am constantly ordering a new one from Furry Little Monsters every few months!

My Furry Little Monsters :)...

http://www.furrylittlemonsters.com/

--Watermelon Mojito--

2009-02-01T13:16:00.000-08:00

My lovely Partner at Work, Nathalie, thought this mojito recipe would be a great addition to Love-Life-&-Home! :)

Watermelon Mojito-

10-12 mint leaves

-1 ¼ oz Fresh lime juice

-1 oz. Rock Candy Syrup

-1 ½ oz. Cruzan Light Rum

-3/4 oz. Marie Brizard Watermelon

-2 oz. Fresh Watermelon Juice

-Splash of Club Soda

Thanks Nat! :)

Favorite Site: Pink Taffy Designs

2009-02-01T12:55:00.001-08:00

My husband, David, and I got married this past August and I went nuts planning every last detail...so, you will see many of my ideas posted here...eventually! :) One of my favorite little items was the tutu's my three flower girls wore! They came from Pink Taffy Designs where they have some of the cutest kids and baby clothes, as well as, room decor, gift ideas, etc...

**Photo by Kim Irons Photography**

www.pinktaffydesigns.com

---Alphabet Cookie Cupcakes---

2009-02-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

I saw this cute idea on a news segment and decided to try it out for myself...
I bought these adorable "Cinnamon Schoolbook Cookies" from Trader Joes and, to make it as simple as possible, I put a little bit of store bought frosting in a sandwich bag and snipped the corner. I piped the frosting onto each cookie and dipped them in red sanding sugar, which they sell in a variety of colors at every grocery store. I then pressed them onto the top of cupcakes that I had added a little extra frosting to, so as to hold the letters a bit better...
Ok, so I know these were made for our Superbowl Party, sorry if you were for the Steelers, but they would be super cute for a baby shower to say "boy o' boy" or "It's a Girl", or for a birthday party...you get the idea! The box of cookies even comes with #'s! :)

Favorite Site: Envelope Mall

2009-02-01T12:03:00.001-08:00

Ok...this is one of my Sister, Christy, and I's favorite websites!! They have the most wonderful paper and the pricing is amazing (100 notecards for $12.95 and 100 envelopes for $16.95)! We both bought the stardream A7 notecards to make our wedding invites, which cost us less than $100 to make, and they turned out so fantastic! They have all sorts of envelopes, gatefolds, notecards, etc..., which are great for making any sort of invitations or stationary for gifts...

** Here is an idea of the "stardream" envelopes which have a slight shimmer to them**

Visit their invitation site at: http://www.envelopemall.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=30

--Batter Bakery--

2009-02-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

One of my greatest friends started her very own bakery catering business in San Francisco and I have to say that she makes the most amazing baked goods I have ever had! Her creations also give us "every-day-gals" some creative inspiration! :)
I have to say that my favorite is the "Lavender-Sea Salt-Shortbread", but here are some of my other favorites...

**Alphabet Cookies & Bridal Shower Cupcakes**

**Ghost Shortbread Cookies & Peanut Butter Blossoms**

**Ghost Shortbread Cookies & Peanut Butter Blossoms**
Check out her website at http://www.batterbakery.com/ and her reviews at http://www.yelp.com/biz/batter-bakery-san-francisco

Welcome to Love-Life-&-Home

2009-02-01T10:46:00.001-08:00

I love how many of my friends have been creating blogs to share their ideas, their passions, and just the fabulous things in their lives, so I have decided to do the same! I am constantly thinking of new creative ways to do things and to become even more thrifty, so I thought I would share them...

I would love to share ideas of other's, so let me know of any fabulous ideas you have!

Love Life and Home

Peanut Butter Surprise Cupcakes

Alicia and Max: Engagement

Homemade French Fries and Onion Rings

Ingredients

Directions

Coconut Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

Directions

Lavender Shortbread

Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations

I'm Back :)

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup...the perfect cool weather meal

Fantasy Pumpkin

Recipe Box

Fall 1 and 2 Decorating

{DIY Paper Accordion Rosette}

Fabric Flowers

Eat.Drink.Chic: Floral Gift Tags

Simple Peanut Butter Pumpkin Cookies

Fall Decorating: Jack O'-Lanterns In A Jiffy

Walnut-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

Directions

Joy's Hope: Mason Jar Cupcakes

A Carnival of Tiered Trays by Joy's Hope

Alice in Wonderland Party

Weekend of sewing...

Could my nephew get any cuter?!

Pretty Placemats

Johnny Cakes

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Semi-Homemade Banana Bread

Summer-Fun Cupcake

Coronado Island

Crock-Pot Chili

Ramen Salad

Pillow Covers!

Thank Goodness for Lulu Lemon!

Bird Nest Baby Shower

Kitchen Sink Sponge Cleaning

Bridal Shower

I love fall...

Pre-fab home for $22k!

Canopy Bed

Amy Butler and my new sewing obsession...

Happy 4th of July!

Ingredients

Directions

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Crock Pot Mac-N-Cheese

Banana Crunch Muffins

Ingredients

Directions

Peach Cobbler

Ingredients

Directions

Homemade Salt and Vinegar Chips!

Ingredients

Directions

Lemon Ice Cubes

Gold Canyon's Spring/Summer Catalog!

Summer time = Grillng Season!

Pancakes from scratch...

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Homemade Party Ideas

Invitations and Cards

No Nails Needed...

Go to Target!

Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cake

My Easter Cupcakes

**Hanging Flowers**

That's Sew Lexi

Gold Canyon's Spring Catalog!

Grandma's Lemonade by Christy Owens

Pudding Baths!! Yes...I said pudding bath's :)

--Stella Dot--

**Letters**

Hanging Flowers

Letters

Chocolate-Cherry Cake

Favorite Site: Pink Taffy Designs

Favorite Site: Envelope Mall

Welcome to Love-Life-&-Home