Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
CSN review comin' up!
I'm pleased to say that I have been contacted by CSNstores.com as a Preferred Blogger to do yet another product review! I am so excited! CSN has over 200 online stores easily accessible from their website selling anything you need from cookware to tv tables! You may remember when I reviewed my shiny new hand mixer... I'm thrilled to do it once again! Stay tuned darlings, the review will be coming soon! Perhaps another Christmas present for Cayden is in order!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
My first Thanksgiving [in photos]!
So how was everyone's Thanksgiving? I've had a CRAZY week (more on that later...) and am just now getting around to blogging about mine. Seeing as it's now December that's a major fail, but what can ya do?
I won this 'GiveThanks' banner in a blog giveaway and I LOVE it! It has the perfect fall colors and I knew instantly that I would hang it behind the dinner table.
This is the centerpiece I made for the table. I measured the candle and cut out a circle with a sharp knife and then I hollowed out the pumpkin and rubbed allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon inside of it. My house smelled wonderful! Once the candle was in I started cutting leaves and berries from a fall leaf garland I got from Michaels and placed them all around the candle. It was so easy and I love how it came out!
Cayden looked so cute on his first Thanksgiving! He was full of smiles!
As you know I hosted Thanksgiving for the first time this year! I had so much fun putting everything together but it is HARD work! I woke up and started right away baking my annual cherry pie. I made the dough and let it refrigerate while I worked on the filling. I still haven't learned how to properly lattice the top so it always looks messy but believe me, it tastes delicious!
The funny thing is that I was going by a 14 lb turkey recipe and failed to think that my 20 lb turkey might just take a little longer to cook. We didn't end up eating until 7pm but thankfully no one complained so it all worked out! The turkey turned out gorgeous and was SO yummy! I think it may have been my biggest cooking accomplishment yet! I was so mad at my mom because she picked it up and put it on the serving tray and totally mutilated it before I got a good picture, but I did manage to snap this one which shows how yummy and golden brown it looked!
All of my sides came out so yummy! Garlic mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, , asparagus and of course stuffing!
To top it all off, I ended the meal with a homemade apple crisp topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce! I made this specifically for my sister who was too full to eat it in the end! What a brat!
The day was a success! I may or may not have Tweeted 'I AM THE THANKSGIVING MASTER!' that night... But everything turned out great and I couldn't be happier to spend the day with those I love most! Mando, my mom, my sister and I sat around the table and I made everyone say what they are thankful for. (Yes, I am that person. We sounded like a bad Lifetime movie!) Hopefully this can be a new tradition for my new family.
After dinner my mom stayed the night so we could wake up early the next morning and go shopping without worrying about bringing Cayden out in the cold. We spent way too much money of course but ended up buying presents for all the babies in the family plus some crafty stuff for me to make some presents! I seriously can't wait to get started!
I won this 'GiveThanks' banner in a blog giveaway and I LOVE it! It has the perfect fall colors and I knew instantly that I would hang it behind the dinner table.
This is the centerpiece I made for the table. I measured the candle and cut out a circle with a sharp knife and then I hollowed out the pumpkin and rubbed allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon inside of it. My house smelled wonderful! Once the candle was in I started cutting leaves and berries from a fall leaf garland I got from Michaels and placed them all around the candle. It was so easy and I love how it came out!
Cayden looked so cute on his first Thanksgiving! He was full of smiles!
As you know I hosted Thanksgiving for the first time this year! I had so much fun putting everything together but it is HARD work! I woke up and started right away baking my annual cherry pie. I made the dough and let it refrigerate while I worked on the filling. I still haven't learned how to properly lattice the top so it always looks messy but believe me, it tastes delicious!
The funny thing is that I was going by a 14 lb turkey recipe and failed to think that my 20 lb turkey might just take a little longer to cook. We didn't end up eating until 7pm but thankfully no one complained so it all worked out! The turkey turned out gorgeous and was SO yummy! I think it may have been my biggest cooking accomplishment yet! I was so mad at my mom because she picked it up and put it on the serving tray and totally mutilated it before I got a good picture, but I did manage to snap this one which shows how yummy and golden brown it looked!
All of my sides came out so yummy! Garlic mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, , asparagus and of course stuffing!
To top it all off, I ended the meal with a homemade apple crisp topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce! I made this specifically for my sister who was too full to eat it in the end! What a brat!
The day was a success! I may or may not have Tweeted 'I AM THE THANKSGIVING MASTER!' that night... But everything turned out great and I couldn't be happier to spend the day with those I love most! Mando, my mom, my sister and I sat around the table and I made everyone say what they are thankful for. (Yes, I am that person. We sounded like a bad Lifetime movie!) Hopefully this can be a new tradition for my new family.
After dinner my mom stayed the night so we could wake up early the next morning and go shopping without worrying about bringing Cayden out in the cold. We spent way too much money of course but ended up buying presents for all the babies in the family plus some crafty stuff for me to make some presents! I seriously can't wait to get started!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
No yeast cinnamon rolls [RECIPE].
One of my favorite things about the weekend is waking up and making a delicious breakfast. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and I love to go all out. This weekend I woke up craving cinnamon rolls and knew I had to make them. I quickly did a search for a recipe that doesn't use yeast because I didn't have any on hand and I stumbled upon this one. I decided to give it a try so I tied my apron on and got to work!
(Original recipe below with my notes in bold. Pictures taken by me)
Cinnamon Rolls
INGREDIENTS
Roll each strip into a tightly formed roll. Place rolls in a 9×13 inch baking pan, allowing some room for the rolls to expand.
Makes 10 cinnamon rolls.
Thoughts: These rolls were yummy! The only complaint was that the icing had TOO much cream cheese (and I halfed the recipe) but if you love cream cheese icing then it's probably perfect for you. I'm not a huge fan of it so next time I'll probably use plain ol' icing! I also loved how fast they were to make... with a teething 4 month old I need quick and easy recipes and these definitely fit the bill.
If you decide to make these let me know how they turn out! Did you love the cream cheese frosting or will you use regular icing like me? I'd love to know!
(Original recipe below with my notes in bold. Pictures taken by me)
Cinnamon Rolls
INGREDIENTS
1 cup warm milk
2 eggs
1/3 cup butter, softened
4 1/2 cups bread flour (I used all-purpose flour which works fine although bread flour does taste better)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp water (eliminate if you’re opening a new package of brown sugar)
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature (I used half this amount)
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
DIRECTIONS
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Mix the first six ingredients together in a large mixing bowl, mixing thoroughly until the dough forms a large ball.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine brown sugar, butter, water and cinnamon.
Divide the dough into ten pieces, and roll each one into a 2″ by 10″ rectangle. Spread the dough with the cinnamon mixture.
Roll each strip into a tightly formed roll. Place rolls in a 9×13 inch baking pan, allowing some room for the rolls to expand.
Bake the rolls until just starting to turn golden, about 15 minutes.
While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, and confectioners sugar. Spread frosting on the rolls before serving.
Makes 10 cinnamon rolls.
Thoughts: These rolls were yummy! The only complaint was that the icing had TOO much cream cheese (and I halfed the recipe) but if you love cream cheese icing then it's probably perfect for you. I'm not a huge fan of it so next time I'll probably use plain ol' icing! I also loved how fast they were to make... with a teething 4 month old I need quick and easy recipes and these definitely fit the bill.
If you decide to make these let me know how they turn out! Did you love the cream cheese frosting or will you use regular icing like me? I'd love to know!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
My first blog award (and 7 things you didn’t know about me).
Guess what friends? My blog has been chosen for a Lovely award by Kerry over at Momster! I am positively delighted! Be sure to check our Kerry’s blog for fun crafts and mommy tips! She’s a doll!
Rules to accepting this reward:
-Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award
-Share 7 fun facts about yourself
-Award 15 of your favorite bloggers
-Let them know!
Here we go!
I hereby nominate the following bloggers for this award:
Crunchy VT Mommy – hilarious mama of 2 who always keeps it real!
Brown Paper Packages – my favorite inspiration blog. Her handmade creations are fantastic!
Mommy Wants Vodka – the funniest person on the Internet and a HUGE heart on top of that.
The Journey of the Unfinished Woman – a down to earth mama with all kinds of cooking, thrifting, and crafting tips!
Baby Rabies – a DIY mama to a little boy (and a baby girl on the way) with a great sense of humor!
Blogging Dangerously – anonymous blogger telling hilarious tales of her great sex life with her husband
A Beautiful Mess – lovely entrepreneur blogging about her new vintage shop, upcoming wedding, and DIY creations!
Party Like a Kid – great blog dedicated to showing off the cutest kids parties of every theme imaginable!
Enjoying the Small Things – wonderful photographer and mother of 2, this blog is full of inspiration from all aspects of life.
Spearmint Baby – a blog of all things baby related including tons of pictures of amazing nurseries! (Also check out her Spearmint Wedding, Décor, and Kitchen sites!)
Lovin’ from the Oven – makes the most amazing baked goodies and she ALWAYS shares the recipes!
So Fawned – wonderful mama and photographer who enjoys the simple things in life and everything handmade!
I Am Baker – makes the cutest cookies (and other baked things) I’ve ever seen and is expecting a new baby!
Yellow Songbird – sweet blog showing love to everything handmade (and always has a fun little giveaway going on!)
Le Wedding Party – a new blog full of wedding inspiration and gorgeous photos!
Make sure to pay these lovely ladies a visit and thanks again Kerry for the nomination!
Rules to accepting this reward:
-Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award
-Share 7 fun facts about yourself
-Award 15 of your favorite bloggers
-Let them know!
Here we go!
Seven unknown tidbits about yours truly.
- When I was a little girl my sister and I were in the newspaper for winning a painting contest!
(that's me in the minnie mouse shirt.)
- My favorite thing to bake is cherry pie. (My homemade pie crust is to die for if I do say so myself.)
- When I was 18 I wore hoop earrings every single day and all my friends called me ‘Hoops’.
- I don’t drink soda. Ever.
- My 2 sisters and I all have French middle names (Renee, Nicole, and Michelle) but our family isn’t French.
- Nail polish always chips on my nails within an hour of putting it on, even if I get it done professionally. This saddens me greatly because I despise chipped nails.
- Mando and I chose Cayden’s name by a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.
I hereby nominate the following bloggers for this award:
Crunchy VT Mommy – hilarious mama of 2 who always keeps it real!
Brown Paper Packages – my favorite inspiration blog. Her handmade creations are fantastic!
Mommy Wants Vodka – the funniest person on the Internet and a HUGE heart on top of that.
The Journey of the Unfinished Woman – a down to earth mama with all kinds of cooking, thrifting, and crafting tips!
Baby Rabies – a DIY mama to a little boy (and a baby girl on the way) with a great sense of humor!
Blogging Dangerously – anonymous blogger telling hilarious tales of her great sex life with her husband
A Beautiful Mess – lovely entrepreneur blogging about her new vintage shop, upcoming wedding, and DIY creations!
Party Like a Kid – great blog dedicated to showing off the cutest kids parties of every theme imaginable!
Enjoying the Small Things – wonderful photographer and mother of 2, this blog is full of inspiration from all aspects of life.
Spearmint Baby – a blog of all things baby related including tons of pictures of amazing nurseries! (Also check out her Spearmint Wedding, Décor, and Kitchen sites!)
Lovin’ from the Oven – makes the most amazing baked goodies and she ALWAYS shares the recipes!
So Fawned – wonderful mama and photographer who enjoys the simple things in life and everything handmade!
I Am Baker – makes the cutest cookies (and other baked things) I’ve ever seen and is expecting a new baby!
Yellow Songbird – sweet blog showing love to everything handmade (and always has a fun little giveaway going on!)
Le Wedding Party – a new blog full of wedding inspiration and gorgeous photos!
Make sure to pay these lovely ladies a visit and thanks again Kerry for the nomination!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Winner winner chicken dinner!
First, thanks to everyone for your suggestions on my DIY Christmas! The winner has been chosen! (drumroll please)
"I think the album and blocks are way cute.. How fun =)"
Congratulations Francine! Leave your email in the comments and I'll email you with a few choices of handmade prizes! :)
I followed Francine's suggestions and decided to make the albums and blocks. The albums will only be going to 2 special people though; the blocks will go to everyone. I've also decided to do the baked goods idea!
I actually ended up getting lucky on the price of materials for the photo blocks. I was searching around online for a place to buy 20 plain wooden cubes (2 for each of the 10 people) and I didn't see anything under $50. Since I didn't have that kind of budget I decided to try Home Depot and see what I could come up with myself. Well, I was in luck! I ended up getting an 8x8 piece of wood for $7 and a member of their friendly staff cut it down into 30 cubes for me (for free)! I also bought some wood stain and sandpaper to smooth out the sides and make it the perfect shade. I think I ended up spending $18 total. Score! Now all I need are pictures printed out, some scrapbook paper for the sides, and vinyl lettering or a stamp for the message. I'm still trying to decide between 'Joy', 'Peace', or just '2010'.
As for the chipboard album, I went to the scrapbook store Tall Mouse and got large pieces of chipboard for $.49 each. 1 piece of chipboard will make 2 pages so I only needed to get 6. It ended up costing less than $4! I need scrapbook paper for this too, so I'm going to get one of the bulk packs of paper in a Christmas theme. Hopefully I'll find some on sale on Black Friday!
I want to get baskets to put everything in also on Black Friday (you'd be suprised how much 10 baskets can cost) and find a cute container for the baked goods. Suggestions welcome!
And lucky for you I'm going to document my progress on these crafts so you all can watch! Here's to hoping I don't cut a finger off or anything...
First step is sanding 30 wooden cubes! To be continued...
"I think the album and blocks are way cute.. How fun =)"
Congratulations Francine! Leave your email in the comments and I'll email you with a few choices of handmade prizes! :)
I followed Francine's suggestions and decided to make the albums and blocks. The albums will only be going to 2 special people though; the blocks will go to everyone. I've also decided to do the baked goods idea!
I actually ended up getting lucky on the price of materials for the photo blocks. I was searching around online for a place to buy 20 plain wooden cubes (2 for each of the 10 people) and I didn't see anything under $50. Since I didn't have that kind of budget I decided to try Home Depot and see what I could come up with myself. Well, I was in luck! I ended up getting an 8x8 piece of wood for $7 and a member of their friendly staff cut it down into 30 cubes for me (for free)! I also bought some wood stain and sandpaper to smooth out the sides and make it the perfect shade. I think I ended up spending $18 total. Score! Now all I need are pictures printed out, some scrapbook paper for the sides, and vinyl lettering or a stamp for the message. I'm still trying to decide between 'Joy', 'Peace', or just '2010'.
As for the chipboard album, I went to the scrapbook store Tall Mouse and got large pieces of chipboard for $.49 each. 1 piece of chipboard will make 2 pages so I only needed to get 6. It ended up costing less than $4! I need scrapbook paper for this too, so I'm going to get one of the bulk packs of paper in a Christmas theme. Hopefully I'll find some on sale on Black Friday!
I want to get baskets to put everything in also on Black Friday (you'd be suprised how much 10 baskets can cost) and find a cute container for the baked goods. Suggestions welcome!
And lucky for you I'm going to document my progress on these crafts so you all can watch! Here's to hoping I don't cut a finger off or anything...
First step is sanding 30 wooden cubes! To be continued...
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