Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The AMAZING I don't take up space Spice Rack

So I saw something similar to this a bit ago online somewhere & have been dying to make it. They used a piece of sheet metal on their wall instead, but I didn't have the room for that. So I ordered the containers here, SUPER CHEAP & FAST. When they arrived today I glued magnets on the back of all the containers, (I bought 50 at Walmart for cheap, but you can buy them at the same online site as the jars here) I typed out my spice names, printed them, had them laminated, cut them out & glued them to the front of the containers. Then I went searching at my local hardware store for something they would stick to, that would work for my kitchen. I found a long piece of metal for $5.99. I don't even know what it was called or I would tell you. Just take a magnet with you, & if it sticks & will work for you get it!
Then when Mr. Nielson got home from work he drilled it into the wall for me & WALLA!
I LOVE IT SO MUCH & NOW I CAN FIND WHAT I NEED!



I made this today too, burlap, old window frame, paint, & leaves spray painted with a coat of clear.
These are some of my favorite lyrics from the amazing Regina Spektor!


Monday, October 24, 2011

Witches Night Out-Gardner Village

The ladies went toRed Lobster, Witches night out, & Yogurt land for grandmas Birthday.
It was loads of fun!













This owl was sooo cool. 

It was a blast, glad we could get together. 
Love you Grandma HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Ghouls night out-Craft Party


So my Halloween Party came & went. There was a ton of preparation for it..
It turned out good though. I had a blast. Thanks to the ladies who attended. 

The Invites
I just bought cheap ones & added paper on the inside.
Inside there was a fall candle, ring pop, rings, erasers, sucker, tattoo, & my homemade Halloween soap.I got all the stuff to make the soap at Hobby Lobby, it was way easy. The skull & cross bone mold were suppose to be ice trays that I bought at the dollar store.
These were suppose to be return address labels, I made them into stickers for my party favors, 140 of them for $4 (with shipping) on VistaPrint
These would be great to make as christmas tags.
Some of the decor.
My diy cake stands coming to use.
 Added fun labels to soda, dyed halloween shaped ice, made carmel apples with white chocolate,  cinnamon& sugar, & Monster munch. It's sooo good here is the recipe.


Monster Munch {Halloween Popcorn Mix}

Recipe by Our Best Bites

1 package Almond Bark (1 lb)
12 C popped popcorn (about 1/2 C kernals)
1 C candy corn
1 C dry roasted, salted peanuts
1/2 C Reeces Pieces

Pop popcorn and place in a large bowl. Much larger than you think you need. The largest you have. It will make mixing easier! Pour peanuts, candy corn, and reeces pieces on top.


Take a large knife and break up almond bark. Melt according to package directions. I just chop it up a little and microwave it in intervals until smooth and melted.

Pour over popcorn mixture.


Stir until everything is well coated and then spread out onto waxed paper, parchment, or foil. Let sit until completely dry and then break up into clumps.

See? Easy :)
Double layer Pumpkin Cheesecake above Left (recipe found on Allrecipes.com). 
Sooo EASY & so good. I will be making this for Thanksgiving too. 

Ingredients

  • 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 pinch ground cloves
  • 1 pinch ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed


Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.
  3. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.
  4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping before serving.



Above right Chocolate coconut cupcakes.

I just use a basic chocolate cake recipe & then add coconut creamer instead of milk. 
Bottom right Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes(recipe from allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  •  
  • Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 3 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Directions
Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 24 muffin cups, or line with paper muffin liners. Sift together the flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, allspice, salt, baking powder, and baking soda; set aside.
  1. Beat 1/2 cup of butter, the white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the room-temperature eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into the butter mixture before adding the next. Stir in the milk and pumpkin puree after the last egg. Stir in the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin cups.
  2. Bake in the preheated oven until golden and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, about 25 minutes. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
  3. While the cupcakes are cooling, make the frosting by beating the cream cheese and 1/4 butter with an electric mixer in a bowl until smooth. Beat in the confectioners' sugar a little at a time until incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; beat until fluffy. Once the cupcakes are cool, frost with the cream cheese icing. I added carmel dyed orange on top.

 Painted pumpkins & mod podged some images on some.

The crafts we made!


Book pumpkins how to here.
Bottom left is mason jars mod podged with Halloween tissue paper, then I used my Cricut to add Halloween images, except for Frankie, I cut him by hand. Then add a battery powered tea light, ribbon & walla. 




ENJOY 
AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Amazing Things by Amazing Ladies

  I have been very fortunate lately, or maybe just pushy....
I saw some things I wanted & I didn't have the skills to make them so I asked some ladies who do.   
Anyways, I asked some of my lovely friends to make some things for me & they did amazing jobs, so I had to share. Thank you to Megan Parmenter BanksBrittany Parmenter, & Bonnie Leavitt!
YOU LADIES HAVE SOME AMAZING SKILLS!

Meg painted these awesome TOMS like Starry Night  from Vincent van Gogh.
THEY ARE GREAT RIGHT!

I saw a book stamp online very similar to this, but you wrote your name in & it was $45.00! Holy crap right!
Britt works at a stamp place, & she designed this for me. I love it & it was way cheaper.

 I asked Bonnie to make me these coffee cup cozies & gloves! I love them tons.
She can make just about anything, all I did was send her a picture, also all proceeds go to a local animal shelter near her in California. Not only are  you getting warm & cozy for winter, but you are saving lil animals. 


THANKS AGAIN LADIES YOU ARE AMAZING!