Garden Melodies

Harry Potter's "The Burrow" Gingerbread House

2022-09-20T19:28:00.007-07:00

I couldn't resist creating another Harry Potter Gingerbread House. I thought it would be fun to try a topsy turvy feel. I tried to make as many textures as I could. I created it in October as a Halloween Gingerbread house then converted it into a Christmas gingerbread house. I donated "The Burrow" Gingerbread House to the the Festival of Trees at the beginning of December.

I started with a fun Pinterest image.

A helpful toddler asking every 5 minutes if it's try yet.

Branch & Main Farmhouse Tables and Benches

2017-08-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

My sisters-in-law and I have been having a lot of fun this year making farmhouse tables in Utah Valley. It started when we wanted farmhouse tables of our own but were too cheap to buy a $1200 + table. My dad suggested we build our own plus one extra to pay for the supplies. That is exactly what we did. We had some saws and drills. We borrowed tools that we didn't have from my dad (the ultimate do-it-yourself guy)

It was harder and took longer than we expected but we really enjoyed it. I usually get pretty depressed during the winter. These tables gave me something to look forward too. We decided to build a few more and see what happened. Eventually Branch & Main was born!

We build custom farmhouse tables, benches, consoles, coffee tables. It's a lot of hard work but we really enjoy it. Here are some pics of what we've done:

Office Pets

2013-11-07T11:51:00.002-08:00

I know, I know, nobody panic that I'm writing a blog post. Its been too long, I know. I'm about to make up for it with the longest post I've ever written.

I work at an internet marketing company. To spice things up around the office we have pets. Now this started long before I got here. I would like to blame Paul. He would keep (in a Costco pretzel container) an assortment of spiders and other creepy crawly things that people would catch around the office.

When I came to work here he had Gandhi the praying mantis. Gandhi stayed alive for quite some time. We would feed it crickets from the local pet store. We'd throw the crickets in and Gandhi would go into this trance death sway and nab the crickets. It was a hit around the office.

One day I was taking a nice Sunday walk around my neighborhood in Provo when I saw a big ol' hairy tarantula! I, of course did some appropriate girl freaking out, then promptly caught it to take to work. That same Sunday my roommate saw another tarantula. We caught that one as well. Naturally.

I took them to work and we decided to have an ultimate cage match. Luckily, another coworker had caught a black widow, so that took it to the next level. Just for effect we bought a bunch of crickets at the pet store. We had 1 praying mantis, 2 tarantulas, 1 black widow, and 6 crickets. We dumped them all into the Costco pretzel container. I have never been more disappointed in my life. Gandhi scurried up a stick out of danger. The black widow webbed a perch on the wall. One tarantula, out of over stimulation, dropped dead and the other tarantula hid under a leaf. The crickets just hopped around completely unaware of anything. Total bust. In the end, all the the crickets got eaten. Gandhi ate the black widow and died. The remaining tarantula won by default.

Side note. We put the body of the dead tarantula on the stairwell down the side of our office and really gave the lawn care people a fright. Ha

After a few months the other tarantula died. About that same time was Paul's birthday. He being the ringleader of the pets-at-the-office brigade, we decided to get him something special. We stewed and stewed about it and finally decided on an Emperor Scorpion. Beautiful. Off I went to the pet store.

We named it Jezebel. Jez for short. She lasted 9 months. She feasted on crickets and occasionally cockroaches. Once while I was gone they fed her a baby mouse. I think that scarred everyone and they never did that again. One day she died. We placed her on the outside window ledge so she could stay in our minds and hearts. She is still there.

While all that was going on we got some fish tanks. Fish are pretty boring though. All you need to know is that we also placed the dead ones out by Jez. We still have a bunch of fish: 2 angels, a dragon fish, 2 plecostomus (one white, one brown), 1 shark something something, 1 neon tetra, 1 invisible fish, 1 gold fish, and 1 other gold sucker fish.

After Jez died Paul decided he wanted something a little more friendly and furry. The hunt on KSL began. We decided on a pair of gerbils. One black and one white. We named them Smeagol and Gollum. Side note: we had a Frodo action figure that we put in the cage. They bit off the hand first. No joke.

Last week I felt something on my foot. I was right in the middle of a project so I didn't pay much attention to it. After it moved for a 2nd time I looked down and saw one of the gerbils on my foot. I freaked out! I do NOT do mousy type animals. See previous post. I scream bloody murder and the office came to my rescue. Smeagol was safely returned to his cage.

This morning I come into work and am immediately greeted by my coworker who says, "Don't you think it smells funny in here?" Bad sign. Come to find out Gullum had passed in the night. There was NO way I was about to touch a live gerbil, let alone a dead one. I coerced another coworker to take him out to the dumpster (he definitely was not going to end up on the windowsill with Jez). Now my office smells like dead gerbil. Gross.

Now for my pet: Lil' Brother. I got her as a baby on Cinco de Marcho. She has grown so big over the summer. Sniff sniff. They just grow up so fast. Lately she has been into digging.

My boss just got a puppy for his boys and occasionally brings it to the office. She is the cutest thing!!!

I also caught a black widow under my desk a few weeks ago. My coworker is taking good care of her. Her name is Carl.

Death by Insurance

2013-01-16T14:07:00.000-08:00

I just need to vent for a minute. Insurance. I. hate. you. If having diseases doesn't kill me, insurance will. Why must insurance be such a pain? If it wasn't absolutely necessary I would bag it and take my chances.

If having MS and RA wasn't bad enough it is compounded a thousand times by insurance. There is one insurance company in the state of Utah that will accept me. They have to accept me but that doesn't mean that they have to make it easy. I applied 6 times. Count them, 6. I am finally accepted. Its a Christmas miracle. But of course they don't any pre-existing conditions for the first 6 months. Of course. Why the heck else would I be getting insurance??

I spend more time thinking about insurance than anything else in my life. I could start my own insurance agency now.

I feel so much better now.

On a more positive note both of my doctors cleared me to run a half marathon this summer. Take that.

Music

2012-11-18T22:43:00.000-08:00

I have a confession. I love music. L-O-V-E. I think about music all the time. I am constantly looking for new bands. Spotify has really taken my music listening to a whole nother level. If you have some spare time search "Hipster Heaven" and enjoy my favorite playlist.

I'm definitely not one of those people who loves all types of music. I really dislike several kinds of music. Anything with loud drums and electric guitars... no thanks. Anything where they sing about trucks, guns, beer, and sitting on the porch in a wife-beater... no thanks. Anything that is remotely connected to EFY... No Thanks!

I am about to give you a smattering of music that fills my life with great joy:

I want to be her. nuff said.

If there is anything better than a hipster band its a hipster band doing a cover of another hipster band.

I also want to be her.

I just want to say that I liked this song before it was popular.

I just like this one.

I... I... no words...

This song has been a favorite for years. I cant help but smile when I hear it.

My phone ringtone.

This one is for sure the weirdest. He is so fascinating. I think this is termed "Agressive Musical Poetry"

I really learned the dance. It comes in really handy.

Music just makes me so happy.

Funny Things

2012-09-19T11:43:00.002-07:00

Sometimes funny things happen to me.

Once I was driving down the road with the windows down, probably singing really loud to the radio, when a bee flies in through my window...and right down my shirt. I freak out. I pull the car onto the shoulder, which is really small. So I'm half in the road half in this bike lane, I jump out of the car and start flipping my shirt trying to get the bee out. Understandably.

That would all be fine BUT in my panic to get the bee out of my shirt I forgot to put the car into park. So here I am trying to get this bee out of my shirt while my car is driving away from me. In the end I ran and jumped in my car with a bee free shirt.
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Another time my car was so dirty that the car wash could not be avoided. I was a hazard on the road. I really hate the do-it-yourself car washes so I always go through the ones that are automated. I pay my $5 and drive in.

I'm listening to my podcast and playing a little spider solitaire. My podcast finishes and I realize I've been in here a while. I notice that the jets are just spraying in the same spot. Its one of those cage sprayers so it not like I can just drive out.

I start looking around for ways out. What is the next step...call 911, call my brother, call my roommate, call ??? Then I notice a sign on the wall with a big red button, "Push for Emergencies". That would be a great idea if the jets weren't spraying full blast right at me!! I would have to get out of my car getting myself and the inside of my car soaked. No thanks.

I sat there for another few minutes trying to decide what to do. I decide to just rattle the machine a little... so I start driving forward a few feet then back a few feet. Finally that jars the machine enough to finish the cycle and let me out. Car Wash you are dead to me.
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This story isn't really a funny story, its more of an "are you serious" story. I was out jogging by my house. I'm on a downhill stretch so I'm going fast. Across the street this guy is playing in the field with his 2 dogs. His little yappy wiener dog spots me and takes off after me. I start running faster but its still coming at me. It only had to cross the street before my ankles were going to be dog food. I look ahead and see 2 cars coming...

I can tell by their trajectories that this is not going to be good. What could I do? Nothing. So I just cover my eyes. Poor little dog didn't make it. The owner ran over. I felt awkward. I wanted to go over and comfort him but I also didn't want to see a squished dog. After a minute I edged out and ran home. I felt bad but it was either me or him...and I'm glad it wasn't me.

Oh they say when you marry in June...

2012-07-08T15:58:00.001-07:00

Apparently June is the month to get married. I did flowers for 5 weddings in the last month not to mention a billion other things. June, I'm glad you are over.

June 9th - First 10k and Wedding Flowers

I have to say I am really proud of myself for running in the Utah Valley 10k. I'm not athletic by any stretch of the imagination. I got talked into running in this race. I'm so glad I did. I wasn't running to break any records but I ran the whole time and didn't drop dead at the end. Success.

In this wedding I used lavender roses, lavender football mums, and spray painted daisy mums. Floral spray paint is the best thing ever invented.

June 16th - 2 Weddings. Never doing that again.

There were so many flowers in my apartment that night. I lined all the arrangements up on the railing to be out of the way. The arrangements on the left are garden roses and they smelled heavenly. I loved this wedding.

Her bouquet was tulips, daisy mums, stock, football mums, roses, and anemones. I'm so glad she picked anemones. They are so beautiful.

We just did simple baby's breath arrangements.

I was an honored guest at this Engagement Party. Angela got us ao dias from Vietnam. It was a beautiful and delicious celebration.

June 17th - Flew to Texas to visit Natalie

(aka Mavis, aka Best Sister Ever)

At the Dallas Zoo (everyone is thrilled to be there)

The cutest fattest baby on earth

Insert your own caption

Ollie eating sand/Natalie eating sand (like mother like son)

Ethan's awesome bird costume from Science School

Lego airport

On the plane to Grandma Utah's house!

June 28th - Family at the Temple

Bryant went through the temple for the first time in preparation for his mission to Nicaragua. It was really great to be in the temple with all of my family (except Jay who is 10). I love this family.

June 30th - Wedding Flowers

Natalie's sister-in-law and a good friend's wedding. My favorite arrangements I've done so far.

July 5th - More Flowers

One of my friends and old roommates got married. I did her flowers and was a bridesmaid. (1 of 14 bridesmaids). I failed at taking pictures of flowers at this wedding.

(Picture from Kate Osborne Photography)

Sorry about this being the never ending post but June needed to be documented.

A Day I Will Not Soon Forget

2012-05-20T17:47:00.002-07:00

Yesterday my friend text me asking me if I wanted to go to a Renaissance and Fantasy Festival. No Brainer! We made the trek to Ogden and man was it worth it! It was amazing what a minority we were in normal cloths. I wont make that mistake again next year.

Unfortunately, we had just missed the jousting when we got there. Very disappointing. Again, wont make that mistake again next year.

One of my requirements was a leg of something. Of course they had giant deep-fried turkey legs. mmmm...

Gotta love the manbrella.

This guy... I'm not sure he wasn't Captain Jack Sparrow. He was the real deal. He walked and spoke EXACTLY like him. It took so long to organize this picture cause he kept wandering around and weaving in between us.

Turns out there is a Pirate Festival in the fall. I will be there...dressed like a pirate.

The lady in this shop was out of control. She kept saying the most outlandish things in a french accent. At least I think it was supposed to be a french accent. The boys bought those shirts.

Hanging out with the royalty. Another manbrella. People would stop in the road and bow and say, "Your Majesty."

Otis the Tortoise. Best. Pet. Ever

The most unexpected/coolest thing I found there was this time turner. Seriously though, it is straight out of Harry Potter. I can now go back in time.

After all the excitement of the Ren Fest we went back to my friends house and made this thing out of a Pringles can. There is a solar eclipse in Utah today. Somehow this helps you look at it with out burning your eyes out.

After the that project was over we went and looked at the sidewalk chalk art on main street in Bountiful. There were some amazing works of art.

To finish off the amazing day... Yoda. As we were walking around looking at the chalk art we spotted at Yoda peering at us from an empty dark shop. Creepy. Yes, he is holding a baby. Double Creepy.

A day I will not soon forget.

The mouse saga continues...

2012-03-29T20:59:00.001-07:00

Well, the end of my last post wasn't far off. There was another mouse....who's laughing now mouse.

mouse, Mouse, MOUSE

2012-03-26T21:08:00.000-07:00

We had another mouse in our apt this week. I pretty much went into hysterics whenever I saw it. Screaming, jumping, and running around. I HATE mice. HATE. I can do spiders and bugs all you want but not mice. yuck.
I set a bunch of homemade booby traps. You know the kind with a box propped up by a stick with a string. My logic was sound. Well, it didn't work. Then my friend told me to put peanut butter on the end of a vacuum hose and when it comes to eat it you just turn on the vacuum. Sucks it right up. That didn't work either. I spent hours trying to catch this stupid mouse.
Finally, we put out sticky traps and a few very long days later we caught it. The problem with sticky traps is that they aren't dead.
I came home from work and saw that it was in the trap, but it was ward temple night so I only had a few minutes to get dressed and leave. I didn't want the mouse to get away while I was gone (it was only stuck from the waste down) so I decided to put a bucket over it and take care it when I got home (meaning have some boys come over and take care of it). The trap was up on the counter and against the wall so I had to move it out away from the wall to get the bucket over it. I got a long shishkabob stick and started moving the trap out...
Well, the mouse freaked out!!!! It flipped the unstuck part of its body up over the top of the trap, looked me in the eye, and started screaming bloody murder. Then I freaked out and started screaming bloody murder. I dropped everything and ran onto the balcony. Luckily I still had my phone. I started texting every boy I knew to come get the mouse. I finally got someone.
While I'm waiting for him to come over I can hear the mouse dragging itself and the trap across the counter. I then hear it fall off the counter and start dragging itself across the floor. I can just imagine it doing some creepy mouse army crawl with his beady little eyes popping out. Freakin' mouse. I ran out of my house and waited on the street. My friend came over, went upstairs to the kitchen bagged the mouse and stepped on it.
Mouse, no longer a problem.

As I am writing this I can hear something rustling over by the stove. I'm going to freak out. I'm a paranoid wreck.

Shampoo

2012-03-17T23:36:00.002-07:00

I have a problem. The problem is that when I go to buy shampoo and conditioner I get 2 shampoos. Honestly, I do this more often than not. It drives me crazy. I KNOW that I do this so I make a conscious decision to buy 1 shampoo and 1 conditioner. I don't know how both turn into shampoo from the time I pick it up off the shelf to when I put it in my hair. It is especially bad when I am just buying conditioner. 85% of the time I grab a shampoo. So dumb.

Car Wash...not my friend.

2012-03-13T17:44:00.001-07:00

I got stuck in a car wash.

It snowed recently in Utah which means the roads turned into salt which means my car went from red to white and I couldn't see out of any of the windows. Finally, I went to the car wash. I should have gone to the one I normally do but I decided to go to one a bit closer to my house. I pay my $5 for the "Deluxe Wash" and drive in. It is the kind where it pretty much cages you in and the sprayers circle around your car.

Well... about half way through the sprayer stops circling (its still spraying full blast). After a few minutes I was like this isn't right. I thought NBD I'll just drive out of here. nope. One of the metal sprayers was in front of my car and there was a tire stopper. I couldn't escape the car wash. I turned off my car and started looking around. It is the biggest oversight in our solar system that there isn't a "Call for Help" number in the car wash. There was a big button on the wall that said, "Push for Emergency Exit". Like I'm going to get out of my car while it's still spraying like crazy. No thanks.
I played a game of spider solitaire on my iPod while finishing up a RadioLab podcast...still nothin'.

I wasn't going to die in there so I either had to call 911 or take matters into my own hands. I decided on the latter. I drove forward as far as I could then reversed as far as I could. I did this a bunch of times until it jarred the machine. It finished the cycle and I drove out never to return again.

Saddest Songs in the World

2011-12-26T17:00:00.000-08:00

This is a conversation between me and my co-worker. I've never laughed or cried so much. Enjoy!
Co-worker: few songs are better than Faith Hill's Where are you Christmas

don't come in my office.....

I might be crying

me: hahahahaha

amen to that

i'm getting choked up just thinking about it

Co-worker: :D

me: this one kills me too

k hate when i comes on cause i know i'm going to cry

haha

Co-worker: oh yeah. Natalie (wife) loves that one

me: killer

Co-worker: reminds me of this song

me: tears

Co-worker: have you heard that one before?

me: no

its killing me

i'm listening to it again

Co-worker: did you see the whole thing

yes, please do

me: yeah, the gun picture was a little weird/morbid

Co-worker: yeah

I had never seen the video. just heard the song plenty

me: who writes these songs..they are so sad

Co-worker: seriously

well sad

but then warm and fuzzy

she knew Him. he was behind the couch with her

tough song to get through without feeling the pull in your swallow instinct

or whatever I'm saying

me: agreed

Co-worker: any more sad songs?

me: let me see...

oh i got one

Co-worker: ah yes, one of my dad's favorites

me: http://www.spinner.com/2007/05/03/the-25-most-exquisitely-sad-songs-in-the-whole-world-no-25/

i dont think this list is accurate

Co-worker: even better

#13 is "Naked as we come"

that's a sad song?

yeah, that list is worthless

me: #1 - booo. didnt even think about crying

i like how it has the songs broken down

"the breakdown"
"the waterworks"
"casualty count"

me: ok this is seriously the saddest song in the whole world:

Co-worker: great, now I have to close my door again

tear stains on my cheeks

me: haha

Co-worker: the saddest part is the boy's name is Jamie

Co-worker: this song is making me laugh. that's probably a bad thing

me: no heart

haha

so cheesy

Co-worker: oh, so this is LDS?

"families are forever"

dead giveaway

me: dead give away

Co-worker: I get it!

me: and the temple shot

Co-worker: the mom is going to build him a rainbow while she is in heaven

awesome

me: what a thoughtful dead mom

Co-worker: hopefully Jamie gets a double rainbow

A DOUBLE RAINBOW

me: all the way across the sky

Co-worker: (have you seen that youtube video)

me: oh yes

have you seen the remix

Co-worker: been a while

me: its always been too long with that one

and to think we wouldnt have this video if jamie's mom hadnt died

Sock Buns

2011-11-13T21:50:00.001-08:00

I was just looking on Pintrest, like I do, and I came across this hair style. Its a sock bun. I had to try it. I went directly to my sock drawer and grabbed the nearest tube sock. I cut off the toe and roll it in on it's self (kind of like you are trying to turn it inside out). After making a high pony-tail you put the end of you hair through the hole and start rolling. As you roll the sock, spread your hair around evenly to create the perfect bun. It took like 2 seconds.

Fallingwater Gingerbread House Plans

2011-11-03T14:08:00.000-07:00

Brenton and I have decided to make our plans for Fallingwater available for PURCHASE!! We have had several requests over the past year so we decided to let other people have a go at it. Good Luck!

Here are some links to previous posts about the Fallingwater Gingerbread House:
Fallingwater Gingerbread House
A Little More on the Gingerbread House
Fallingwater Gingerbread House EXPLOSION

Wedding Cake

2011-09-25T21:43:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends from high school got married this summer and asked me to do his cake. Of course I couldn't say no. I love making cakes even though I get stresses while I'm making them.

It is all worth it when its all done.

I had a different wedding the same day that I was doing flowers for so I was a little crunched for time. Luckily, 2 of the layers were foam so I could make most of it several days in advance. This was my first fondant experience. I learned a lot with this cake. Here is a step by step:

I hot glued the foam blocks together and cheese grated down the corners and edges. I left the layer separate from each other so the fondant would be easier to put on.

I put down a layer of buttercream so the fondant would stick. I also hammered in shish-kabob sticks to keep the layers together. I used a rainbow chip cake for the top layer (as requested by the bride and groom).

Strangely, the dry fondant leached a hot pink color out of the frosting. It looked tie-dyed!! Obviously that was no good so I used a damp paper towel to moisten the whole thing before I did the tip work.

Hippie wedding cake... avoided.

I had to drive the cake to the reception and I was afraid it would slid all over...

Cinder blocks...problem solved. That cake did not budge.

In the end the stress is all worth it.

Harry Potter 7.5 and Totally Awesome T-shirts

2011-09-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

For Harry Potter 7.5 my friend Martha and I decided to make t-shirts. Why?

A) We love Harry Potter.

B) We love making t-shirts.

It was Martha's idea so I cant take all the credit.

For theses shirts cut out 8 1/2 X 11 sheets of freezer paper.

Using an inkjet printer, print out your preferred saying and cut out the individual letters. Make sure the letters print out on the paper side not the plastic side.

Place the letters on the shirt and iron them on plastic side down. (Don't worry they peal off really easy).

Put bleach in a spray bottle and squirt around the letters.

Press the hot iron on the sprayed area for instant color change.

(I usually spray a few squirts then iron, then spray some more then iron)

When you are content with the contrast, peel off the wax paper letters.

Wash.

Wear totally awesome shirt.

Me and Martha at the Harry Potter 7.5!!!

My shirt: "Make Love Not Horcruxes".

Martha's shirt: I solemnly swear I am up to no good".

Owl Apron

2011-08-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

Recently I decided I wanted to spice up my boring old apron. I didn't have a lot of time or money so I took some scraps I already had around and downloaded this free pattern.
For the bigger owl I increased the "adult" owl's size by 150% and kept the "adolescent" owl the same.
After I cut out all the pieces I used iron on transfer put it all together. It has to be done in layers so just make sure you do it in the right order. I put the wings down first then the body and the stomach, then the rings around the eyes and finished by hot gluing buttons on for the eyes.

It's all glass...

2011-08-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

Two funny stories:

1. If you know me you know I'm a total pack-rat. I'm convinced that someday I'll be on the show Hoarders, Buried Alive. My friend Tristan is an extreme minimalist (click HERE to read more about that journey) he tries to convince me all the time to get rid of stuff that I don't need. I took his advice and went through all of my stuff and got rid of a TON of stuff. I was talking to him later and told him how I got rid of a lot of stuff I didn't need. He was so proud until he found out I started collecting glass bottles...FAIL at being a minimalist.

2. This one has to do with the title of the post. Growing up my family loved going to yard sales. To this day if I see a yard sale sign or pass one something inside me says, "Stop... you never know if you are going to find __________ (insert some random item)."

The code word in my family for a bad yard sale is, "It's all glass." This phrase expanded to all bad yard sales, even if there is nothing glass there. My father coined that phrase because who would ever want to stop at a yard sale with a bunch of glass. Well father, the "all glass" yard sales are now my favorite.

Courtney's Bridals

2011-07-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

I must admit that is is one of my favorites. It really took me by surprise. I think its the lilies. There are only 3 kinds of flowers: Stargazer Lilies, Hot Lady Roses, and White Stock.

AND it smells AMAZING!

Fallingwater Gingerbread House EXPLOSION

2011-06-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to the life and death of mine and Brenton's Falling Water Gingerbread House. It was built in November of 2011, became famous, then died on June 11, 2011 in a blaze of glory.

The tender memory of the gingerbread house will stay alive through the kind words said by others. I would like to share a few posts written about our house:

My personal favorite: The Blogging Couple! Ha

http://www.thelmagazine.com/TheMeasure/archives/2010/12/24/couple-makes-frank-lloyd-wrights-fallingwater-gingerbread-house

The most distinguished comment about the house:
Melodie, WELL DONE and entirely deserved FIRST PLACE. Great grandfather, (I'm FLW's great grandaughter and an interior designer) would be proud and looking for royalties! LOL. Your rendition was festive and infinitely more attractive than the "thrown up candied Santa intestines" of your competitor. There is just no accounting for taste. Cheers! Melissa

On June 11, 2011, in a field in Wyoming the Falling Water Gingerbread House was blown to smithereens. In just a few short minutes hundreds of firecrackers, fountains, roman candles, other explosives and gas undid : 12 hours of design, 40 hours of building and decorating, 164 pieces of gingerbread, 12 square feet of gingerbread dough, 8 bags of powdered sugar for frosting, 40 sleeves of large Smarties used for the stone on the exterior, and three batches of hard candy.

R.I.P

We will always remember you!

Stats about the Falling Water Gingerbread House:
Total views on my blog : 31,184

December 2010 alone : 22,356

Brenton and I have decided to make our plans for Fallingwater available for PURCHASE!! We have had several requests over the past year so we decided to let other people have a go at it. Good Luck!

Original Posts: Falling Water Gingerbread House, A little more on the gingerbread house

Easy Hair-do:

2011-04-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

Me trying THIS:

Sometimes...

2011-04-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I want:
- a road bike
- to never work again
- to visit Africa
- to have a garden
- to shave my head (aka to never have to do my hair)
- to visit Harry Potter Land
- my own room
- it to never snow again
- to craft all day, everyday
- to have a life DJ (Mine would be Angela T.)
- to visit the gardens of Europe
- to know if Castle and Becket will ever get together
- a really nice camera
- my sister to live closer
- to go to the pool
- to read Les Miserables
- to meet Matthew Bomer/ date him
- to have all of my stuff out of storage

to be continued...

Headbands

2011-03-10T16:56:00.000-08:00

For these headbands you will need:

fabric

wire

needle and thread

scissors and ruler or rotary cutter and mat

fabric measuring tape (or some way to measure your head)

sewing machine

Begin by measuring your head from the base of your neck to crown, (mine happens to be 24 inches) then add 10 inches to get your total length (my total would be 34 inches).

Cut your piece of fabric 6 inches wide and the length that you figured in the step before.

(Mine would be 6"x 34"). I like using a rotary cutter and a mat but you can use a ruler and scissors.

Fold the cut piece of fabric in half length wise and with wise so both ends are together.

Cut a triangle off the end so both ends taper. Cut only the open sides!

AVOID cutting any sides that have folds!

(The cut doesn't have to be specific. Just make sure you

leave enough room to turn it inside out later on.)

Put right sides together and begin sewing. Sew up one end then along the long side.

Line up the fabric with the outside of the presser-foot.

Sew ONLY ONE end shut.

When you get to the other end, REMEMBER to leave it open!

Turn your fabric around and sew a second seam just inside of the first seam.

This is making an area for the wire to go. I just line up the first seam with the edge of the

presser-foot and follow it all the way back to the other end.

Use the open end to turn it inside-out.

At this point you have a big fabric tube. I like to iron mine (using my hair straightener :) so it is flat and easier to wire.

Take your wire (I just asked for wire at a craft store) and make a loop at the end.

Slide it between the 2 seams.

When the wire is running the full length of the headband cut it and loop the end.

Fold the raw edge inside and sew up the end.

There are a lot of really fun ways to use this headband. My personal favorite is to tie

it in a knot to look like a flower. The wire it will hold pretty much any shape so be creative!

Divine Caramel Apples

2011-02-02T20:36:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing I love in this world it is caramel apples. These apples take caramel apples to a whole new level. Apples dipped in caramel, dipped in chocolate, dipped in your favorite whatever... YUMMMMM. Here is how to do it:

Large Granny Smith Apples. You can use whatever kind of apple you want but I love the green-ness and tartness of the Granny Smith.

Put a popsicle stick in each one and dip it in caramel. I just used the caramel wrapped in those little plastic squares. On the back of the package it says to add water but I found that it sticks better to the apple if you do NOT add water. Melting in the microwave is fastest.

Set on wax paper to set up... about 20 min.

Take the carameled apples and dip it in chocolate (either white or milk). I like using Almond Bark because it is easy to melt and re-melt and it goes on really smoothly.

This is where it gets tricky. The chocolate has to be set up enough so the toppings wont drip off but not too hard or it wont stick at all. Just watch until the chocolate is done dripping and is starting to set up around the top.

Fun toppings:

Cinnamon sugar (my personal favorite)

Coconut

M&Ms

Cocoa Powder

Any candy bar (cut up)

Toffee

Gram Crackers

Oreos

If you are doing the one with the chocolate flipped over the solid background, just wait for the base chocolate to dry completely. Then use a fork to flip the chocolate on top.

* These are pretty much impossible to eat off the stick. Its easiest if you cut it off the core.