Christmas Cookies!

I am a huge baking fan, I love to bake and find new recipes (baking is NOT to be confused with cooking...cooking, I could do without) I love the whole Christmas season, and baking goes hand in hand. So I thought I would share how I do my baking. I like to have Christmas cookies at any given time during the month of December, so rather than baking 5466326 dozen cookies all in one day, I bake two kinds each week so we can enjoy them, plus, hubby doesn't mind having gluten free cookies ALL MONTH!! (Yes, ALL of my cookies are gluten free! Here are the ones I made this week!

^^^chocolate Crinkles^^^

 

^^^Sugar^^^

 

Open on CHRISTMAS EVE!

 

Growing up, my family always opened one gift on Christmas Eve, While I do love this tradition, I wanted the "gift" to be special...New pj's? A special stuffed animal to sleep with? A Christmas Activity? These sorts of questions usually leave me perusing Pinterest for the perfect plan. I stumbled upon this GREAT idea! "The Christmas Eve Box" Our Family's box contains;

 

 

  New Christmas Pajamas

  An Ornament

  A Christmas Movie

  Hot Chocolate Mix

  Popcorn

 "Movie Theater" Candy

      

You could certainly include anything in your box that's unique to your family, these are items I chose to include, I may include the "last" Christmas book in our Christmas book countdown as well. There are so many special ideas and variations you could do to make it your very own!

All in a festive box! I think as Addie gets older she will really look forward to this special box, it is a "gift" but it has a movie, and snacks, something to enjoy as a family as we await those final hours until Christmas morning!

25 Books of Christmas Countdown

        We are in 100% full Christmas celebration over here! I thought I would take the time this season and share some of our family traditions, recipes, and projects this season! I am a complete Christmas junkie! I plan Christmas festivities like a bride plans a wedding, and scope out Christmas gifts with the same enthusiasm as a toddler searching for Easter eggs. All my Shopping is DONE (I started in February) wrapped, and ready to go! The stockings are stuffed, the tree is up and NOW I am just enjoying every moment of the season!
        The tradition I want to share tonight is our book tradition, I chose 24 books with a Christmas theme, wrap each book and starting December 1st my little one chooses one book each evening to unwrap and read as part of her bedtime routine. I think its a very special way to countdown to Christmas, I use them same books each year and just wrap them again. Some are classics like The Grinch, Frosty, Rudolph, etc.) but others are just fun board books that will be replaced as she gets older.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

These whoopee pies, blew my mind...its like a fall festival in your mouth!!

 

I will first, give you the recipe..and then the gluten free adaption...for all my Celiac lifers.

 

3 cups flour, 1T cinnamon, 1t baking soda, 1t baking powder, 1/2t salt, 1t nutmeg, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup white sugar, 1c vegetable oil, 2 eggs, 1 tea vanilla, 15 ounces pumpkin (I used the pumpkin pie mix...it was FABULOUS

 

FILLING: 1 8z cream cheese, 1 stick butter/margarine, 16 ounces powdered sugar, 1t vanilla, cinnamon to taste

 

 

GLUTEN FREE: I substituted the all purpose baking powder with "Pamelas Pancake and baking mix" and since the gluten free flour does not thicken quite as much as a wheat blend I added an extra 1/2 cup, and did NOT put ANY vegetable oil in.

 

Bake at 350 for 11 minutes, makes about 2 dozen whoopee pies

 

Enjoy!!

 

 

Big Sister kit

I was recently invited to a baby shower for my nephew-to-be, so I instantly began scowering pinterest for the cutest items (I settled on basic NEEDS...clothes, diapers, etc) but I came across a "big sister kit" and of course...my creative juices started flowing!! Most kits included a shirt, and small activities. I settled on a coloring book/twist up crayons, a "New Baby" book (little critter is one of my favorites), and some snacks. Then I started on the custom items. I got a pink shirt and iron on letters from hobby lobby (I do sell the shirts on my page Belly Buttons & Baby Bottoms I got my friend from the Darling Diva "Bow"-tique to make a bow (as "crafty" as I am, I just cant seem to wrangle ribbon into anything that remotely resembles a bow...hers are amazing!!) and then I made her a matching Minnie mouse necklace also sold on my page! Here are all her goodies...

I added some tissue paper to a cute bin (also found at hobby lobby) and put everything inside! I can't wait to give it to her

 

Operation..SHHHH!!

Ok, so my princess is just over a year, the age where she is finding her voice and loves to communicate (she says hi, more, Momma, Dada, and Nay Nay (night night)) however she has no concept of what's socially appropriate...for example, yelling "HI" and waving her hand off to everyone that passes her in the grocery store...go for it. Standing on the pew and yelling hi to the person behind us in church during the sermon....not so much. So, I set out to make her something to keep her busy during those SHHHH moments, you know the ones I mean, where everyone is looking at you, and even your whisper has an echo. Our church does have a nursery, but....she is not so fond of going there and...I just cant seem to bring myself to force it yet. After making this I think its extremely CUTE...but well beyond her years, but I think she will like to at least look at it for now..and if it buys us 10 minutes of quiet, it will be well worth the time and effort.

 

I made her a "quiet book" a book full of fine motor activities made from mostly felt. I plan on making 3 hole punches in them and placing them into a 3 ring binder, this way I can add to the book often because I have SOOO many ideas, plus adding to it will make it new each time she sees it. I cant be certain it will keep HER quiet, but it kept me quiet while I worked on it! Here are the pages I have done so far!

"Ice Cream Shoppe" page, 3 scoops that are removable, and a place to store them!

                                                                             

"Pick the Apples" removable apples to place in a basket...complete with a tire swing!

"Laundry Page" The door opens on the washer, and she can hang the clothes to dry!

And my personal favorite a barn! I love how this one turned out! The animals are finger puppets!

                                                                                                                                  

I plan on adding lots more pages to this as I have time (who am I kidding, I barely have time to go to the bathroom!) I will add when I do!

 

 



First Birthday...DIY version

I figured I would share how my daughters first birthday turned out with you all, because I did post some preparations...but never the final turn-out. Here it is! She had her very own chair (complete with banner, balloons, pin and her bib! This was a simple set-up, but made her area look special.

The cupcake table! I ordered the banner, the cupcake stands were cheapies from Wal-Mart that I decked out with some ribbon!

Food table (Buffalo chicken dip, brown sugar smokies, chips, lemonade) The banner is the one I made, I had great plans for this table...but in a mad rush, just the basics got done, and guess what?? No one cared that I didn't go ALL OUT, they were more interested in the food ;)

Gift table, super simple set-up...the "back drop" is just plastic table clothes and streamers. I did bring her scrapbook. It contains everything from the first pregnancy test to her 11th month (12 month is its OWN book...way to many photos to cram into a scrapbook page or two!

and....her cupcake 'guest book" turned out really cute I think! :)

 

Buffalo chicken stuffed...chicken

Well, I had almost forgotten about my blog, and then it hit me as I was eating dinner tonight, that I started a 30 pins in 30 days adventure and never finished...because life took over and I have been oober busy! Anywho, I believe today would be pin #19 out of 30, I will do 30 pins, possibly in 30 months rather than 30 days based on the current whirlwind my life has been the past few weeks...nothing major, just my princess (better known as princess HURICANE) is now mobile..so I mostly spend my day following her around picking up dumped baskets/bins, and seeing what the newest thing is that she has decided to stick in her mouth. This has become more of a challenge lately because she now has 6 teeth and has learned how to use them just right to get my fingers out of her mouth as quickly as possible in order to continue her chomping on whatever small item she has dug out from the deepest crevice  of the couch. ANYWAY, tonight's dinner was a PIN, and a success so I figured I would hop on here and share while I have a hot second.

Buffalo stuffed chicken (Yeah, it was as good as it sounds!)

*I don't have a photo of it because #1 we were starving and because #2...who takes a pic of there dinner anyway?? (blogging was an after thought. I promise to be more prepared next time)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2c cream cheese
1/2c ranch dressing
3/4c shredded cheese (I used mozzarella)
hot sauce to taste

cut a "pocket" in your chicken breast, stuff with buffalo mixture. Bake at 400 for about 30-40min. YUMMO
 

She's almost ONE?

Good Grief!! I have been so busy (I started baby-sitting a 3 month old) having two little ones is pure, wonderful, chaos! BUT..I am back and here to show some of the things I have been working on! I started this 30 pins in 30 days and I am here to finish..it may not be 30 consecutive days...but I will do 30 pinterest projects!! I have 10 left and I have some ideas that I am excited to share!! So for today, I decided to show off some things I have been working on for my daughters 1st birthday, only 2 months away. I have been having a hard time with this, although I love nothing more than to watch her grow and explore (or destroy rather) the world around her (she has earned the name "Princess Hurricane") I wish that I could slow the process down. I was telling my husband about this and he brought to my attention that in the 10 months of her little life I have probably missed LESS than 24 hours!!  HE'S RIGHT! I have gotten to see everything I possibly could and you know what? I am just going to enjoy the ride! :)

Ok, enough personal things!! Here is her party so far!! The first thing was an idea found on pinterest (I saw the "tree" guest book, like this one)

and decided, Hey!! Her theme is cupcakes, I will have people add a "sprinkle" to her cupcake, I think this will be really cute for her scrapbook, and a great way for her to see all the people that love her! :)

 

The little fold-y card says "Thank-You for coming, please add one sprinkle to Adalyn's cupcake!"Jeremy and I will add ours early so guests understand what they are supposed to do.

I then decided to make her a couple banners, one for around the tray of her high chair, and another to hang somewhere. The first one was a free printable that I added scrapbook paper for a border/backing  and glued it on some ribbon to hang.

The second Banner was a free "frame" I found on a google search, I opened it in paint and printed each letter I needed (time consuming, but FREE) I backed these ones in scrapbook paper as well, punched holes in them and strung them on ribbon!

I also took plastic ware and wrapped it in cupcake theme napkins, secured with scrapbook paper and a smaller version of this frame that says "Adalyn's One" ..Also time consuming. Also FREE!!

 

 

 

 

 

GLUTEN FREE Mozzerella Sticks! Yumm

Gluten Free Mozzerella Sticks, Day #20!
 Day 20, I am 1/3 of the way through! Today I'll share a pinterest recipie I found..I was looking for a batter, but found these and they looked easy enough. I made them with gluten-free products (because there is no such thing as a gluten free mozzerella stick) You can make them with your "regular" products as well and they would be much better for you than the frozen ones you buy.

You will need:
 8 mozzerella (or your favorite cheese) sticks..any brand will do.
 2 eggs
 3/4 cup brad crums
 1tbs ittilian seasoning
 2 tbs parm. cheese

Cut your cheese sticks in half and FREEZE them, solid..this will help you to be able to cook the outside until its crispy, beofore you have a puddle of cheese!

Dip frozen cheese into egg, then into crumb mixture. Bake at 350 until they are crispy (I did mine about 7 min.)

 

Easter Eggs..or...Easter Globs!! ..YUMMY!!

I know, I know...I am slacking!! This is yesterdays Pin, I started it yesterday, THEN realized it was a 2 day project so here is yesterdays...todays will follow. Anyway. Its just a few days before Easter so..I decided to tackle and concour easter eggs. HAH!! It was an experiance..They taste WONDERFUL, but...they do not resemble an egg..at all. There was a wonderful tuditorial on how to make your own easte egg molds..but I dont have time for all that nonsence, when I decide I want something...that means I wanted it 5 minutes ago!

RECIPIE:
 8oz cream cheese
1 cup peanut butter
1lbs powder sugar
1tsp vanilla
Mix togetherm form egg shape (or use a cookie scoop and hope for the best!!
Chill in fridge overnight, cover in melted chocolate, chill until chocolate is hard, ENJOY!!

My Hubbay says these are really rich..make them small...just eat one...blah blah blah, I could eat 6 and if I had a much higher metabolism..I would do just that!

Christmas Countdown

YEP! I am counting down already..don't get me wrong I REALLY enjoy all holidays but Christmas is absolutely my favorite. I love the exctement of wrapping and giving gifts, I love all the lights, the festivities such as baking, parties and shopping. I love that stores play Christmas music....I am the crazy person that when the Christmas items come out in Novemeber...I don't mind a bit!! I love everything about the Christmas season and so therefore, here I am...4 days before Easter...completeing a Christmas pin!! This was super simple its a cookie sheet from the dollar tree and some scrapbooking supplies! TAA DAA!! A Christmas countdown, I think it will be great in my kitchen this year! I want my house to oooze Christmas, my hubby says thats wonderful but I HAVE to wait until the turkey is cold to start celebrating, last year I decorated the house on November 15th (My birthday) we will see how long I make it this year!!

Day 17, More sweet feet!!

Day 17, After yesterdays "Sweet Feet" post, I couldn't help but do another one with her little feet! So, We made a fathers day card! Jer works at a John Deere dealership so this is so fitting! When I first saw this one on pinterest I figured I would stash it away in my head for if a little boy comes along someday..but then I figured Jer will love it just as much from his little princess!!  It was simple to make...I am no artist, so I made very simple lines, hopefully he understands that its a tractor!! lol I think it turned out really cute though!!!



 

Sweet Feet

This idea is one that I have seen many versions of on pinterest "Thats cute" but I never actually did it. I had a friend post it on my facebook wall and decided...that would be so cute if I added a picture and....my creative jusices started over flowing!! I started with my little ones foot prints, RIGHT BEFORE BATH TIME!! She wanted to squuze the paint between her toes (she liked the texture I guess) I added the "body" and "face" to the butterfly, and a photo of her that I love, and a few vellum accents from my scrabooking supplies, I took down my CHRISTMAS (yes in MARCH) display and hung this one up for spring/summer. I am happy with the turn out! :)

**I AM aware that the picture quality here is awful!!

Day 15!! HALF WAY!

Half way through my pinning adventure! For todays I decided to try homeade modge podge (I do have/use the real thing) But..I htough making it might save me a mney if it really works as well as the pin says and guess what?? IT DOES!! :) I used this recipie:

MODGE PODGE:

-1 1/2 Cup Flour

-1/4 Cup of Granulated Sugar
-1 Tsp Oil (any kind)
-1 1/4 Cup Water
- Empty Jar (w/air tight lid)

- Slowly mix all the ingredients together over low heat.
 Combine the ingredients until they are well mixed, if it gets too thick add more water. Make sure the water doesn't boil, or the mixture will get very clumpy. If you want a higher varnish, add more oil.
-Pour mixture into jar (with lid) and store at room tempurature.

I used this for a puzlze Jeremy put together. (Started with the back to test it) Its not quite as shiney as my real modge podge (maybe I should have added more oil?) but..It did the trick..here is the puzzle all glued together, I just need to grab  alarge frame so we can hang it up.

 

Cards!

Day 14, two weeks in!! Today I did nt have much time...or access to lots of supplies so..I decided to make a couple cards that I seen on pinterest, I have tons more I would like to make but..these are the ones I did so far. One is for a wedding or bridal shower and the other for a birthday..I think it will be for Adalyn since hubby and I decided on cupcakes for her 1st birthday party theme. Here they are!!

 

Bunny Cake

Day 13, This one.....I am not so sure about! lol, but its the pin for the day! I made an easter cake...and easyer BUNNY cake. It did not turn out as beautiful as I had planned in my head, but its cute enough and the kids will get a kick out of it. :)

I started with two round cakes and cut ONE like this..

Next, place the peices on a large flat surface like this...sorry its sideways!

Then...decorate him up!! I would suggest using a tip..but once again my tips are MIA, I know I put them SOMEWHERE that I would not loose them, so they are not lost...just in a safe spot. :/ Anyway, here he is!

 

Pretty up those blocks!!

Day 12!! This one took some TIME...But, The outcome is very cute!! I bought blocks when I was pregnant, for this photo....

A close freind helped me carefully balance them on my belly...a few times because I was laughing...and then, I put the blocks away and they have not been seen since!

 

UNTIL, I saw somehting on pinterest!!! BLOCKS that were redone! I quickly set to work..I gathered my supplies (blocks, paint, paper, modge podge and paint brushes. 

Then, I began to paint the basic colors into pretty, girly colors...This was extreemly time consuming and I did end up with some paint on the wood on a few blocks :(

After all the bocks were painted, I modged pogded scrapbook paper to ALL the blocks...this took FOREVER, be sure to put modge modge first on the block, then the paper, and then another layer of modhe podge to seal it.

Here is the finished product....

I am happy with the outcome..for playing with, some of them do have wrinkles and smeared paint (whoopsie!) so I would not give them as a gift..but they are cute enough for my little one to play with at home!

Watermark Shirt

Day #11
 Todays pin took a little time but was so worth it! I forgot to take pics of each step..if you are a visual learner you can see the origional blog post here > http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2011/08/creative-guest-watermark-tee-by-sweet.html She has a great tuditorial!! The shirt REALLY does work! I was so impressed when it came out!
1.) Get yourself a white shirt
2.) wet it with cool water, and write on it with Elmers GEL glue (white school glue, will just run all over the place and soak into the shirt
3.) wait for it to dry (the worst part)
4.) use your favorite dye (I used RIT liquid) and dye the shirt your color of choice
5.) ..let dry.. AGAIN!
6.) Wash and dry as normal, heres MINE!!

Cinderella: Proof that a pair of shoes can change your life!

Day 10. Soo... I know that this is not a crafty post, but it DID start as a pin!! I have a "style" board a mile long, so I am working on (slowly) purchasing things that complete my wardrobe. I usually treat myself to summer shoes, for the most part they happen to be flip flops from t.j maxx or ross...cute...but I get about one summer out of them and they are toast. I wanted something that was a shoe, not a sneaker. (socks in the summer? NO.) I finally settled on the "boat shoe" and what better than sperrys? I tossed the idea around added them to my "I want them, I love them, but I don't want to pay for them" list. (Also a mile long list) Well, income tax time came and Jer said that he would give me a chunk of the return and I was to buy MYSELF stuff (ME?? You mean NO baby clothes??) I spent weeks making lists, researching (I do know how nerdy that sounds) and finally decided on the items I would buy. One of those items were.....taaaaa daaaa. Sperrys! The pair that I has been drooling over. Tan with cheetah accents. I was in love and today when my mail man brought them...I could hardly wait to get them on my feet. They are comfy, cute, and best of all....I can chase my princesss at the park with them on! NOW!!! I have to tell you one more thing about them. They are $90.00 shoes BUT I am always looking for a deal, I found them on amazon.com for 78.10 and free shipping, but I was determined to do better. I stumbled across them on the peebles website, signed up for e-mails (got a coupon) and ordered them when shoes were on sale soooooo, I was able to score them for $60. WHOOT WHOOT!! 

Hoppity-Hop!

Day # 9!! Pinterest is FULL of Easter basket ideas that are not candy/junk food, so I thought I would share Adalyn's easter basket! Her easter basket has NO candy. (She is only 9 months old!) I wanted to get her an easter basket...mostly so I can take pictures and do a scrapbook page, because she is not old enough to understand the concept. Although she is only 9 months, these ideas could most certainly be used for older kids as well!
Her Eatser basket includes:

 

   A lace petti romper

   The Lorax, By Dr. Seuss

   Llama Llama Hoppity-Hop

  Gerber puffs

  A teether

  A couple hair prettys (made by her Momma!)

  Sunglasses

  Pink (toe) nail polish (for her sweet little toes this summer)

  A baby bracelet (again, made by her Momma)

I think I will also get her a plastic "lawn chair" ($5 at walmart) for this summer and her basket will sit on it! She is so fun to shop for at this age...she wont complain about ANY of the things I chose for her!

Who needs cake? I have a SPOON!

Day 8! I am trucking right along in my 30 days of pins, Today's pin....Homemade chocolate buttercream frosting (yeah, its as good as it sounds!!) The frosting was simple to make and tastes amazing....like a melted chocolate bar on your cupcake!

**please excuse my rough frosting skills, my tip is MIA**

I added a chocolate drizzle and hersheys square to disguise that!!

 

Anyway...here is the recipe, a pinterest KEEPER!!

 

1 cup unsalted butter, room temp (NOT melted)

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

4 Hersheys milk chocolate bars (chopped and melted)

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

 1.) Cream together your butter and sugar. 2.) Add heavy cream and vanilla 3..) Add melted chocolate (needs to be cooled to room temp. but still liquid, this will make sence while you are making it!) 4.) once it is well mixed, spread/pipe and enjoy!! :)



Tooth Pocket!

Day 7! A whole week of pins are completed!! WHOO!! So, I have to admit that I did cheat a little on this one. This I actually made last night and I was so excitred with it that I posted it on my business page as well! http://www.facebook.com/BellyButtonsBabyBottoms?ref=hl < Thats my page. I sell them for $5 each...but they are very DIY so you can make your own!! :)

Bring on the summer sweat!

Day #6! I found this shirt on pinterest and  fell in love with the saying! I do not go to the gym, but I can wear it on my walks or just because its hot out! Its a cheap tank from wal-mart and iron-on letters! (I am the WORST iron-on-er ever) so my letters are attached via...stitch witch! lol Vola! A cute summer work-out shirt! :) There are a few others I liek as well "Beauty trains like a beast" or "sweating for the wedding" would be cute for a bridesmaid gift!

 

Spring flowers, that will not die!

Day 5, Pin 5! I love flowers, I love to get them (hint to my hubby if he is reading this! lol) I wanted some flowers for spring on my table..but I am not a fan of the fake looking silk ones, and I do not want to buy fresh ones every week. So I set out to find a solution on pinterest and this is what I found!! I had all the materials laying around and so I made myself some "flowers" from burlap and material (and one lace flower because I had it in my stash of "someday i will put this to good use" stuff. I hot glued them to twigs and tied a peice of burlap around the jar!  I am happy with the outcome and I have flowers on my table!

Potty Party!

Day 4, Project 4! My princess is only 8 months old, but I have to admit if there is ONE thing I could give up it would be DIAPERS. They stink, and they are expensive! I want to start potty training around 18 months so she is getting a princess potty for Christmas (I am hoping that will make her excited to use it??) Anyway...on pinterest there all sorts of reward system ideas, but i loved the idea of a prize jar, filled with little things that she can coose (candies, stickers, bubbles etc.) So...I set to work and made her a Jar! It says "Adalyn's Potty Party" "Biggie girl in training" :) Here it is!! I am stashing it away until shes older but I am happy with the way it turned out. The jar was under $5 at walmart, I trimmed the top with ribbon and the label is just printed and modge podged on! ;)

This house is protected by the good lord, and a gun.

Day 3, project 3! I found this wreath on Pinterest and showed it to my husband (thinking it was funny) and he decided he NEEDED one. He proceeded to tell me about all the shotgun shells in the basement. He reminded me about it a few times and I replied...yeah...I'll get to it. Well, today I got to it! I think it turned out well and certainly fits in with our life style (we are consumed with the first and second seasons of Duck Dynasty on DVD at the moment) So here it is, a grape vine wreath from wal-mart,  ($2.48) leftover shotgun shells and a hunk of burlap! I think it turned out kinda cute! Hubby will love it when he gets home from work! :)

 

Mistle Toes in March, because I will not scramble for gifts this year!!

I "meant" to make these last year, but just never got around to it! I found these on pinterest (surprise!) and I think they are so fun. I have a few more to make but I want to give one to each girl/woman on my christmas shopping list with there gift this coming Christmas. I got Essie (my personal favorite) nail polish for the women on my list with a foot cream, Piggy Polish and remover (a non-toxic polish for kids) for the little ones on my list and a few fun things for an early teen! I hope everyone likes them!! :)