Scary yet Sweet

How fun is this!! My boys, including my husband would LOVE to make this. Not sure this would be a great Valentine's day treat but I'm sure we can find an excuse. You can find the how-to info here along with a lot of other scary stuff.

Wouldn't it be G.R.E.A.T!!!

Another Silhouette is up for grabs here and here....think I will win??? Let me remind you of all the wonderful things it does!!!!

Here are a few examples of what it can do...

PAPER/SCRAPBOOKING.....

VINYL CUTTING!!!....

GLASS ETCHING!!!

{image source: make it and love it.}

PAPER PARTY SUPPLIES!!...



HEAT TRANSFERS!!!!

{image source: make it and love it}

Here is another ETCHING example...

Here's another Vinyl example...

When I get this, I'll definitely need to learn how to sew!!!

Road Trip Dreamin'

photo credit
I want my next road trip to look like this!!

Another Birthday Party Idea - Toy Story

photo credit http://family.go.com/disney/pkg-disney-recipes/recipe-857832-green-alien-cupcakes-t/

It isn't like I'm madly searching for bday theme ideas...Caden's bday isn't until May but when I saw these I just thought, "Oh how fun this could be!"

http://www.measuringmylifeinlove.com/2010/09/toy-story-birthday-party-treats.html

http://www.livinglocurto.com/2010/06/toy-story-party-ideas-with-free-printables/

http://craftyworkinmommy.blogspot.com/2010/06/toy-story-birthday-partyfathers-dayfree.html

http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/2010/06/toy-story-3-fun-facts.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeDifferentactNormal+%28Be+Different...Act+Normal%29

http://www.etsy.com/listing/66747260/mix-and-match-toy-story-cupcake-topper

Homemade Puppy Treats for the Fur Cousins

My eight year old wanted to bake something with the cookie cutters, I didn't want to be tempted by anymore cookies in the house so we found a perfect compromise...puppy treats for all the fur cousins! I googled a recipe that seemed do-able and we got to work...it was SUPER easy (always a plus!) and the dogs loved them!!











You wouldn't know from this photo, but Rosie loved the treat too!









Here is the link to the recipe... I highly recommend it for the dogs in your life!


http://dogs.thefuntimesguide.com/2008/07/homemade_dog_treats.php

GREEN BEANS

Imagine my disappointment when I picked up those delicious crunchy onion pieces at Trader Joe's to read the recipe in preparation for the big turkey day and the recipe had CHANGED!! Let me tell you the back story here...For years, green bean casserole has been a staple at most family holidays. I was usually "in charge" of opening the cans and mix up this creamy masterpiece.  There is a family story about how I was shocked to discover that this "family" recipe was on a can. Yes, it is true, I thought it was an heirloom. Anyway, fast forward to a few years ago...I'm still making green bean casserole but now Shawn's family is added into the mix  
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<a href="" name="5539448294268315865"></a>  <h3 class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://jahjong.blogspot.com/2009/01/trader-joes-green-bean-casserole.html">Trader Joe's Green Bean Casserole</a> </h3>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KVO3qWlWBMXc87XBXEFTXqT1OFNrlJtox94fmwSun2U?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaohOPlfdm_B38dv4XttZkgVEi-c_bnNR4WHcYpwKSu2ZVoAScrEFMtKji37WcowvgQ61XzhCI_gKcxit1qE3QzPKWe0weXnTtLWbM4egyo8rQXaUbZqfYJTpnLM1YLbPxU8M9210BlAX4/s800/green%20bean%20cass.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<span style="font-style: italic;">I have made this a few years now and everyone comments on it. It is not too far off from the original, but with a better taste as you use mostly fresh ingredients instead of the canned soup. I double the recipe on the back of the can of onions - you need leftovers for Thanksgiving for sure!</span>    12 T (¾ c) butter  2 medium onions  2 lbs mushrooms, quartered  4 t coarse salt  1 t pepper  2 24 oz bag TJ’s frozen French green beans   ¾ c flour  4 c milk  2 cans 8 oz TJ’s Gourmet Fried Onion pieces    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In your largest skillet over medium heat, melt 4 T butter. Add onion and sauté until begins to soften, about four minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until softened. Season with 2 t salt and ½ t pepper and set aside to cool.    Cook green beans according to directions on bag. <i>If you buy Trader Joe's green beans there are no directions. Just boil water and cook beans until cooked through. Pour beans into strainer and set aside.</i>     Melt remaining butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Add ½ c of flour, whisking constantly until mixture begins to turn golden, about two minutes. Pour in milk and continue whisking until mixture has thickened, about three minutes. Stir in remaining salt and pepper. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Pour over beans and toss to combine with onion/mushroom mixture.    Butter a 9x13 pan and add spread out casserole mixture.    Bake casserole, covered, until mixture is bubbly and heated through – about ten minutes. Uncover and cook until top is golden brown about 30 seconds. Sprinkle Trader Joe’s onion pieces over top and serve. 
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just a spoonful of sugar

Logan performed in Mary Poppins this week. This was his second performance and we just LOVE the director/teacher. In appreciation for all her hard work, I wanted to make an extra special thank you for her. Here is what i did...






I started with these simple ingredients...vanilla favored Almond Bark (white chocolate chips would work too), chocolate chips, mini marshmallows and some disposable spoons.
I melted the chocolates in the microwave, 15 seconds at a time, stirring frequently.

Then I dipped the spoons and decorated. Then I let it cool on some parchment paper. I eventually plopped it into the fridge to get nice and firm so I could wrap them up.

I used some bags that I had for Chocolate covered pretzel rods. It was the perfect size!

The end result!

I'm very HaPpY with the way they came out!

I think this would make a great teacher gift too, maybe with a mug and some fancy cocoa mix...mmmmmm