Reminding Myself...Black Friday is Cold and Miserable!

Be mentally prepared!4am parking lot... 23 degrees. World's rudest people out at this hour!

Laughing, Starbucks(Five Bucks),
shopping & bonding with my daughter... the reason I do this!

Making Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Okay, I saw the idea on Pinterest... had to try. 

 I was so surprised how much detergent it makes. 

I may have enough for the next 2 years!

This is how I made...

1 box Borax (WalMart, Clothes Detergent Isle $2.98)

1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (WalMart, Clothes Detergent Isle $3.24)

1 jar of Fruit Fresh (I had, I think they are around $2-3... The stuff is full of Citric Acid)

3 Cups Epsom Salt ($2)

Mix all ingredients together in a VERY LARGE Bowl.  When mixed well, put in container of your choice (I have a smaller one for under my sink and I did a large container for storage in the garage) make sure it is air tight to keep the detergent from hardening.

So my whole project cost me a little over $11, but I have enough for at least 2-3 years!

Use 1 Tablespoon at a time!



Summer

Daughter Graduates from College in 3 years...

so proud of her, then she lands her dream job...

she is now always working, and loves it!

Son and husband... always fishing!

I started to redecorate my daughter's room...

more furniture to paint!

Lost my dear sister-in-law at age 46 to cancer. 

 She is missed dearly,

but I'm grateful she isn't suffering anymore

Ideas and projects in my head...constantly!

Then there is this little booger!

I don't blog anymore... maybe that is a good thing!

So enjoying Pinterest...fast, easy, inspiring

The Farm Chicks Show '11

Well, I can check off "The Farm Chicks Show"

off my bucket list!  

Daughter & I traveled three hours by plane to get there, and then enjoyed almost a week in Washington/Idaho.   It was fun, I just wish we could have bought some BIG stuff.  I've decided this a great way to attend a show and not spend too much money! 

Getting My Life Back.

WHEW...

Time to get my life back!

However, I haven't missed blogging.
Does anyone read my blog??? (thanks to the two that do)

Weddings, Parties, Graduation...over

Looking forward to some fun this summer.

I think my garden felt sorry for me...

It grew some lettuce by itself...artichokes too.
It misses me, wants me to plant stuff in its soil!

Why I don't BLOG lately

I've been busy the last month, and realized the next will even be crazier. The last few weeks...

• I hosted a pom-pom making party (decorations for a friends wedding)


• Take daughter for a photo shoot, get announcements made for graduation


• Lead a Bible study weekly for ladies


• Shopping for all wedding stuff


• Teen boys over for an all-nighter dinner, video games, etc.

The next few weeks...

• Make costumes for Easter play at the church


• A few trips down to the flower mart... (long drive)


• Make floral centerpiece arrangements for a spring event at The Ronald Regan Library


• Go to rehearsals and be in Easter play


• doctors appointment


• Son's birthday


• Easter (I want to decorate)


• refinish 2 tables (needed for wedding)


• Coordinate wedding, reception... make decorations & then decorate


• Daughter's college graduation


• Party for daughter


• Son in marathon (this will be so fun to watch!)

REALLY, WHO HAS TIME TO BLOG???

The Last Window IN... yipeee!

Celebrate... The last window in! This was a long project, not only did we replace the windows, we removed the old frames and made new ones. We do feel the house is a little more sturdy.

notice the three beams in the room...

they are holding up the celine while we build a stronger frame.

This project is stressful!

Now we get to frame the windows with wood. One project done, 5000 to go!

We should adopt!

I saw this blog... http://tulipandturnip.blogspot.com/2011/03/more-stenciled-onesies.html and decided I needed another kid because I want to buy this outfit.

It made me laugh so hard!

Some things look BETTER with SNOW

Although, it is sunny and 75 degrees outside,

I'm reminded of two weeks ago

when we had a beautiful dusting of 3" of white.

The snow just encourages me to get rid of the ugly red roof!

He melts my heart!

Chocolate Bundt Cake w/ Ganache

I must admit everytime I make a BUNDT cake,

I can't help but think of MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING,
and laugh while making!

Thank you Sanda Lee for this recipe... I make often and it is ALWAYS a hit!

Cake:

1 box chocolate cake mix (I like dark chocolate cakes)

1 box (3.9 oz) chocolate instant pudding

1 cup water

4 eggs

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Ganache:

1 cup heavy cream

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Cake

• preheat oven to 350 degrees F.


• spray bunt pan with a non-stick spray


• combine cake mix, budding, water, eggs, and oil in large bowl. Beat for 2 minutes


• Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips


• Transfer batter to Bundt pan


• Bake for 45 min or until toothpick inserted near center of cake comes out clean.


• Cool cake in pan on cooling rack for 15 min.


• Invert cake onto cooling rack, cool completely

Ganache (my favorite thing EVER)

• Heat cream in small saucepan over low heat until small bubbles appear.


• remove from heat and add the chocolate chips to cream and stir until smooth


• cool ganache just until slightly warm


• Pour ganache over cooled cake


• Transfer cake to serving platter


• Garnish with additional chocolate chips

I like to use the extra ganache for serving, (I warm up for 30 seconds in microwave) you can drizzle the plate or even better, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the cake and drizzle warm ganache over the ice cream!

Burp Cloths

Baby gift needed ASAP... I'll make burp cloths!
I used two coordinating fabrics
I cut them the length of the fabric 54" (makes 2)
5" for the middle bug fabric
3" (x2) of the orange
3" (x2) again of the bug fabric

Sew all the pieces together, using 1/4" seam allowance

Trim threads and IRON!

I use new white bathroom face towels (wash before sewing)
(I've made with cloth diapers, and they don't work as well)
Put right sides together and pin.
Sew around fabric 3/8" seam allowance,
leaving an opening to turn right inside out
(or is it outside in???)
Trim extra fabric and towel
turn inside out/outside in??? :)

Pin the pieces together and quilt stitch in the ditches of the

seams of the coordinating fabric.

Fold cute, tie a bow around them. Done!

5 things to smile about... part 2

• pulling a weed and getting all the roots with it... victory!


• getting through right away when you call a big company


• When someone's leaving a public bathroom at the same time as you, so you don't have to touch the door (yes, I'm a germ-a-phobic)


• correctly guessing an old password you haven't used in a while


• catching up to the car that just passed you at the next red light..ha!

I think I'll SMILE all day long!

The One who makes me LAUGH!

I saw my son wearing this sweater last week. He looked so handsome in it! There was something about the grEy sweater and his beautiful blue eyes. I made the comment, "if you wore that sweater at school, you would have girls begging you to be their boyfriend". He said, "I'll make sure I NEVER wear it at school, I don't have the time or money". I laughed hysterically!

I washed it for him and today he will see the note I left.

Grey & Yellow Bag

For the record: I was taught in 2nd grade that it was gray not grey... so I'm having to use my brain and reteach myself how to spell.

Last month I went to a Grey & Yellow Party for a friends birthday. She loves the colors, her house is painted grey with a beautiful yellow door.

I had bought her a yellow candle and wanted a bag to put it in as her gift. So, I sewed one!

I cut 2 grey squares approx. 9"x 9", along with 2 straps- 4"x 13"

I cut 2 yellow squares 9"x 9"

I cut 2 pieces of iron-on interfacing 9" x 9"

• Iron on the interfacing to the wrong side of the grey squares (I did yellow & wish I did the grey)


• Sew the 2 grey squares right sides together...3 sides (a big square U), turn out and iron


• Sew the two straps... fold in half so it is now 2" thick (right sides together) leave the ends open, then turn inside out & iron


• Sew the 2 yellow squares right sides together...3 sides also...HOWEVER, leave a 3" opening at the bottom of the U (you will use this to turn bag inside out) turn and iron


• Sew the straps to the yellow piece (right sides together) make sure you space evenly



• Put the two bags together (one inside the other with right sides together



• stitch along the top of the bag



• Turn the bag inside out(that is what the opening on the bottom of yellow piece is open for)



• IRON


• whip stitch the opening on bottom yellow piece


• Make a flower, add a broach, do something!

The Romantic Weekend that went SOUR!

We tried to have a romantic weekend as we traveled to Santa Barbara. We had planned this trip for months, and decided to stay at our favorite hotel, eat at our favorite restaurant, and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. We left early Friday, with it raining cats and dogs and I was feeling a little yucky. We stopped in Monticito and did a little antique shopping at the most expensive antique stores in the country. I wasn't having much fun, maybe it was the prices in the store or the fact I was feeling feverish! Our last store however did take a few degree's off my body. It was a cute little botanical store, which made me smile the entire time I was in there. I found a beautiful G. Wolff pot which I've wanted one for years since reading an article about his pottery. Also, there was a unique vase that I knew I couldn't leave without. My dear hubby, (was he feeling sorry for me?) said "you should buy them". I did walk out of the store with a pep in my step.

Well, hubby was hungry so we decided to go to SB and go to State street to his favorite restaurant. It was raining sooo hard! As we were driving, I noticed everything looked closed and dark. We parked and started walking to make sure it wasn't closed (it seemed strange to be closed on a Friday afternoon). Sure enough, the power was out. After a sad look, they agreed to serve us, but it was limited what we could have. I felt bad watching the chef cook in the dark. We then decided to head to the hotel, the weather was horrible, and I was feeling the same. I put on my PJ's at 3pm and went to bed... didn't get up until 11am the next morning. Feeling worse, we left early and came home. We did stop at the Farmer's Market on the drive home and my sweetheart bought me a orchid (I've always wanted one). Any who... I've been in bed since Saturday, but I keep looking at my new orchid in my new pot which keeps me smiling.

Things I want to get done NEXT month...

work on my garden

make these pillows for me & the Mr.

finish decorating the Awana's Room at Church

redecorate daughter's room...

I want it to look as beautiful as this!

finish the decor for Whit's wedding