Honeybee Vintage

DIY: Frozen Inspired Birthday Cake

2014-08-17T22:41:00.000-07:00

Yikes, so much has been happening and this place got flat out neglected. Between computer changes, vacations, tantrums, and our new adventure into homeschooling, life has been kinda crazy.

Sorry about that.

Anyone out there anymore??

I have been getting many comments and messages asking if and when I will post about the cake I made for my daughter's Frozen party. Well...it's finally here!!

While I don't have step by step pictures, I will give links to recipes and techniques used. Hope that's good enough;)

First off...let me say that I am NOT a cake maker so I hope that is encouragement to anyone out there who wants to make pretty cakes (and doesn't want to shell out $50 or more for a birthday made by someone else).

Materials:

Wilton Romantic Castle Cake set

(I found mine on Craigslist for $5...score!)

Box cake mix or cake recipe of your choice

(I did three 8" layers)

Wilton buttercream icing recipe

(I doubled the recipe so that I had enough to crumb coat the cake and then frost it)

Wilton royal icing recipe

(tinted blue)

blue sugar sprinkles

clear crystal sprinkles

edible pearls

dowel rods

white chocolate melts

Glass hard candy recipe

(tinted blue with neon food coloring)

STEP 1: I baked the cake and leveled all the layers. I stacked them and applied a crumb coat with the buttercream. I placed it in the refrigerator.

STEP 2: I made the royal icing and tinted it blue. I started on the plastic cones for the tops of the turrets. I used the petal method. I started at the base of the cone and went all the way around and then worked towards the point. I repeated the same method for the triangle piece for the center of the cake. I used a larger circle tip for them.

STEP 3: I used a small circle tip to outline the windows and door pieces with the same royal icing. I also topped them with the blue sprinkles and placed an edible pearl in the centers. I let all the pieces sit and dry (which doesn't take too long with royal icing).

STEP 4: I cut dowel rods the height of the cake (a little shorter) and melted the white chocolate melts. I dipped the rods into the melted chocolate and placed them on the bottom of the tower pieces and let them dry.

STEP 5: I pulled the cake out of the refrigerator and frosted it with the rest of the buttercream and put a dot border around it. I used more of the melted chocolate and dipped the bottom of the surrounding tower pieces (the ones I used around the cake) and placed them on the cake board and pressed them slightly into the side of the cake. I placed the triangle roof piece in the middle and then the three towers with the dowels into the top of the cake.

STEP 6: I dipped the cone pieces into the melted chocolate and placed them on top of the tower pieces. I then took more of the melted chocolate and drizzled it on top of the towers with a spoon to look like snow. I sprinkled some crystal sprinkles on top before it hardened and around the cake plate.

STEP 7: I made the glass hard candy and broke it into pieces and placed it around the top and base of the cake. This was the kids' favorite part of the cake! They thought it was so cool;)

STEP 8: My daughter had the Frozen play set from the Disney Store so I dipped the characters in the chocolate and placed them on the cake board.

DONE!

I hope that helped! I know my kids' birthday cakes haven't been and never will be "perfect" but I love the process of making them. And remember...your kid will think they rock no matter what;)

Happy Sunday!

A FROZEN Birthday Party!

2014-03-10T00:29:00.000-07:00

I thought my first post back should be one of my favorite things ever...a birthday party!

So, back when Frozen came out...I think every 5 year old girl ~~and their mom~~ decided that it was the desired theme for their birthday. I have this theory because there were NO Frozen party supplies within a general 20 mile radius of me!

This was probably the easiest party to pull off because I was able to use some Christmas decor I already had and I scored the rest on clearance at 75% off after the holidays.

I keep my parties simple and sweet. Thanks to Pinterest I could throw $200 parties due to all the amazingly cute ideas that keep me up at night, but instead we keep things low key, enjoy our friends and family...and put more of that $ away for our future Disneyland trips;)

Sugar cookies are always a crowd pleaser:

Powdered donut holes served as "frozen snowballs":

Yogurt covered pretzels were "snow covered":

Because the Frozen girls (and myself) love chocolate...there HAD to be a chocolate treat too:

The gold trees are a part of my Christmas stash. I purchased them at Target. I also made the Frozen signs in Photoshop.

I picked up this iridescent Christmas tree for my daughter's room at a yard sale and my daughter's grandparents gifted her the Frozen barbies for her birthday. Instead of wrapping them up, I set them out as part of the decor and I think her reaction to seeing them was better than if they had been wrapped!:

Funfetti cupcakes were requested by the birthday girl. I topped them with Wilton's buttercream icing and I got the idea and recipe for the royal icing snowflakes from Glorious Treats.

The centerpieces were mason jars with a snowflake paper cup inside. I used some left over silver tissue paper I had, some "s" stationary, and some glitter bows from the Christmas clearance section. I made the Olaf sign in Photoshop and placed it in a vintage frame I had on hand.

I cut snowflakes out of coffee filters (hello...100 snowflakes for under $1!) and I made a large Olaf out of poster board.

Here is another view of the coffee filter snowflakes. The silver streamers are a cut up silver table cloth.

Possibly my favorite thrift store find is this mason jar drink dispenser! I've been wanting one for so long and scored this baby for less than $5! I made "snowball punch" by combining Sprite and raspberry sorbet. It was a huge hit with the kids and matched pretty well;)

I passed on traditional party bags this year and went with "Queen Elsa wands" which are similar to last year's Cinderella wands. These are floral picks from the dollar store (6 in each pack) and I tied strips of tulle around them.

With the wands, I decided to make Elsa crowns. I used the template from My Sister's Suitcase. Since I couldn't find any matching foam, I went with white and drew a design on them with a blue marker and glued on some gems I had in my stash. I also glued on some elastic to the back to make them comfy and durable.

It was a random rainy day here, so I am so glad I had a craft for the kids since they couldn't go outside. I set out snowman cookies and the kids had a blast building their snowman!

My favorite party of this party was the cake! I got this crazy notion in my head to make a cake about a month before the party (instead of just making cupcakes like I usually do). Of course it escalated from a simple cake to a castle cake and I am pretty proud of how it turned out! My daughter was in love with it and I learned a lot with it being my first cake. I will write another post about the cake and it's construction.

My babe had a great day and to end it all...we got hail or "frozen rain" after the party was over. Considering we live where it almost never rains...it was a magical ending to an amazing day!

Second Wind

2013-12-25T22:18:00.004-08:00

I have missed this place!

Over the last few months we have been searching for a house (when did they get so expensive again?), dealt with some health issues with our son (nothing that's an emergency...just lots of tests) and I've been trying to volunteer in my daughter's kindergarten class as much as I can.

Life is busy!

We also soaked up the last of the summer sun and temperatures:

Picked some pumpkins:

Celebrated our little man turning 2:

And we visited this place...again. I think we might have an addiction...

It just never gets old!:

I've been debating a lot with what to do with this blog. Part of me just doesn't have the energy to keep it going...but I know I could never let it go. I've met so many awesome people through this space and I look forward to meeting many more!

I think 2014 will come with a second wind for my craftiness and when it does...my sewing machine and I will be ready!

Happy Holidays and have a safe New Year!

Busy and Simplifying

2013-08-27T22:59:00.003-07:00

I can't ignore that I haven't posted on here in over a month. I hate that I haven't put anything new on here, but I'm also enjoying the break.

We have been enjoying a relaxing summer (that included a trip to San Diego) and my daughter started kindergarten two weeks ago.

I'm in the middle of a few larger DIYs which I hope to share. For now, I'm going to keep up with what needs my attention (chores, school, and playtime with the kiddos) and relax with my free time (hello Netflix!)

I hope to be back in a routine soon, but for now I'm accepting that blogging is a full time non-career for me that I need to take a little break from. I hope you will still be here when I get back!

DIY: Reversible Painted Throw Pillow

2013-07-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

I have a slight obsession with throw pillows. I love them. I was thinking of a new pillow design for this "new to us" vintage chair and I couldn't decide between two ideas, so that gave me an idea to use one pattern for each side.

Materials:

plain fabric (cut into two panels for the front and back)

black fabric paint

foam paint brush

sewing machine

matching thread

For the first side, I traced squares in different sizes to make a geometric pattern. I painted them in with the black fabric paint and set aside.

For the second side, I took the end of the foam brush and made little crosses with it. You can use a paint brush for a more uniform look...but I liked the random variety better.

Once both panels are completely dry (read the paint bottle for instructions), place both panels together with right sides facing and pin. Sew along the outer edge with a straight stitch along three sides.

Flip the case right side out, put your pillow inside, and hand stitch the bottom closed.

Done! A perfect pillow for my indecisive mind;)

RECIPE: Frosted Animal Crackers

2013-07-14T22:38:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely baby shower to attend this weekend and I was in charge of the favor bags. After cruising the grocery aisles for a recipe idea to come to me, I decided to make frosted animal crackers. Aren't they cute? Plus, they taste a million times better than the waxy frosted crackers in the bag.

First, I grabbed a huge bag of animal crackers, picked out all the broken ones, and ~~ate them by myself later while they kids were napping~~ let the kids have them.

Next, I melted white chocolate candy melts and tinted them pink. I mixed in a little bit of vegetable oil to make the coating a little more runny. I also bought a tube of multicolored sprinkles. I dipped half of each cookie in the chocolate and let them harden on wax paper.

I will be making this snack again in the future. It was a fun project to do with my daughter (she is an expert with the sprinkles) and they have such a lovely handmade look!

Have a lovely day!

Life Lately

2013-07-12T16:01:00.000-07:00

We've been keeping busy this summer. It gets a little challenging when the temps outside are over 110 degrees...but I love this city and I wouldn't have it any other way. We've been hitting up the libraries, movie theaters, and ice cream shops. Here's a little bit our what we've been up to.

Since he refuses to sit in a cart (or a stroller, or the bathtub, or his highchair), I do get his help in pushing it around the grocery store:

Oh, and he has a love for Mickey lately. They are inseparable:

We all crammed into our car and made the 15 hour drive out to Texas to visit family. There was laughing, crying, games, yelling, sleeping, and stopping for burgers along the way:

I realized I might have a slight cardigan obsession:

Our neighbor gave us this dresser that he didn't want...and I took it before he could change his mind. Score!:

The Lego table at the library is his favorite place:

Cupcakes for Father's Day:

My three favorite people:

Thank goodness for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It's gotten us through some tough times:

Making my daughter's dream of a Mary Poppins costume come to life (more on that later!):

Strawberry pie:

Date night, concert style:

My husband offering to make dinner and then realizing it's all wrapped in bacon:

Another vintage gem that was given to us:

Making some baby shower treats:

A "new" record player has been our favorite find this summer. When it's too hot to do much outside...then we grab a slice of pizza and walk over to the record store:

It feels like summer is almost over already. My daughter starts kindergarten in 3 weeks and then it's just Baby Boy and me for a few hours each day.

I hope the summer has been treating you all well;)

DIY: Painted Herringbone Memo Board

2013-05-31T00:41:00.001-07:00

I found this cork board on a walk with my mom one day. It was out in front of a neighbor's house in their pile of things to be picked up by the city for removal. I am always amazed at the perfectly useful items that people put out for "trash".

So, obviously I picked it up and carried it another block back to my car.

I had the idea of a painted memo board in my head for some time. I taped off the frame of this one and spray painted it black. Then, once I decided on a herringbone pattern, I drew it out with a black marker.

I started with vertical lines:

Next, I used a ruler to make alternating diagonal lines. A herringbone pattern is similar to a chevron pattern. The only difference is alternating the colors between the lines. I colored in the lines that needed to be painted so that I wouldn't loose track while painting.

I used regular acrylic paint to paint in all the lines. I redecorated my daughter's art nook and it makes for a fun and new way to hang her artwork:

She's in a rainbow and heart phase...if you can't tell;)

I also wanted to incorporate my latest vintage find. This basket makes for the perfect place to keep her coloring books and crayons both organized, and away from her little brother;)

I originally created this board to hang horizontal, but found that it fit the space better if hung vertically. Oh well, it was a fun and free project and I love the way it turned out...no matter which direction:)

RECIPE: Baked Chocolate Donuts

2013-05-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

I love homemade donuts. To be honest, going to a donut shop would be much faster than making them, but there is something about Sunday morning breakfast from scratch that makes the time spent and dirty dishes worth it.

BAKED CHOCOLATE DONUTS

(by Photo a Day)

3/4 cup FLOUR
1/4 cup COCOA
1/2 cup GRANULATED SUGAR
1 tablespoon BAKING POWDER
1/4 teaspoon SALT
1 EGG
1/2 cup MILK
1 teaspoon VANILLA
4 tablespoons VEGETABLE OIL

(original recipe says canola oil, but I didn't have it)

STEP 1: Preheat oven to 450 degrees and spray donut pan. Mix together flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder and salt.

STEP 2: Mix in egg, milk, and vanilla for 1 minute.

STEP 3: Mix in oil until well combined and pour into measuring cup with a spout.

STEP 4: Fill donut pan 2/3 full and bake donuts for 7-9 minutes.

While donuts are cooling, roll some in powdered sugar. For glaze, combine 1 cup powdered sugar and 1 tbsp water or milk and mix together. Dip top of donuts into glaze and let set on cooling rack until glaze sets.

RECIPE: Simple Vanilla Cupcakes

2013-04-24T21:19:00.001-07:00

I have had cake flour in my pantry for a while, waiting to try it out for the first time. The kids were restless the other night, so I plopped them on the counter to "help" me make some cupcakes!

These are simple and really yummy. I used a quick powdered sugar glaze for the frosting and it made for the perfect treat!

SIMPLE VANILLA CUPCAKES

(by Wilton)

3 c sifted CAKE FLOUR

2 1/2 tsp BAKING POWDER

1/2 tsp SALT

2/3 c BUTTER softened

1 3/4 c GRANULATED SUGAR

2 EGGS

1 1/2 tsp PURE VANILLA EXTRACT

1 1/4 c MILK

STEP 1: Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

STEP 2: Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

STEP 3: In mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in eggs and vanilla. Mix well.

STEP 4: Alternate adding flour and milk and beat another minute after all ingredients are in.

STEP 5: Bake 15-18 minutes or until center is set. Cool for a few minutes in pan and then move to cooling rack.

POWDERED SUGAR GLAZE

1 c POWDERED SUGAR

2 tbsp MILK

STEP 1: Mix together and dip tops of cupcakes into icing. For the heart cupcakes, I used a tiny heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out the center shape. I dusted them with powdered sugar and then filled the centers with the glaze.

Happy Tuesday:)

RECIPE: Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls

2013-04-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

I had a can of crescent roll dough in my refrigerator that was about to go bad and I decided to experiment and try to create semi-homemade cinnamon rolls. They actually turned out super yummy and are an easy "go to" on a Saturday morning when the family is demanding sugary carbs.

CRESCENT ROLL CINNAMON ROLLS

1 can CRESCENT ROLL DOUGH

1 tbsp BUTTER

1/8 cup sugar

1 tbsp BROWN SUGAR

1-2 tbsp CINNAMON (depending on how much you like cinnamon)

STEP 1: Roll out the pastry dough and press seams together. Spread butter on the dough.

STEP 2: Mix together sugars and cinnamon. Sprinkle over buttered dough and roll up tight.

STEP 3: Cut into 1" slices and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for amount of time on dough package (but keep an eye on them and take them out as soon as the tops are browned).

While rolls are cooling, make the icing:

1/2 cup POWDERED SUGAR

splash of milk or water (about 2 tsp to 1 tbsp)

1 tsp CINNAMON

STEP 1: Mix together powdered sugar and milk until you get a thick glue consistency, add more liquid if you need to. Mix in cinnamon and a little vanilla extract if you like.

STEP 2: Drizzle icing over cinnamon rolls while they are still warm and enjoy!

(I have also made these by adding in some broken up walnuts and they were even yummier!)

My New Glasses with Firmoo (and get your first pair FREE!)

2013-04-02T23:42:00.000-07:00

I have had to wear glasses since I was 12 years old. Unfortunately for junior high Melissa...glasses were SO not cool. These kids today don't know how lucky they have it. So, Middle School Me picked out a value pair of glasses at the local Walmart and ~~sobbed in the mirror before school~~ cried a little inside every time I had to wear them.

Luckily, glasses fashion has changed for the better and people even wear glasses for FUN now! I like trying to find new glasses that fit my personality and I was so excited when Firmoo contacted me about trying one pair of the many stylish pairs they have to offer online.

If you haven't heard of Firmoo yet, it's the world's most popular online eyeglass store. They have many different options for prescription glasses, non prescription glasses, and sunglasses. So, whether you need glasses (I feel you), or you just like to use them as fashion accessory...they have something for everyone!

In addition to having many styles to choose from, they have a First Pair Free program for new customers. Basically, you get your first pair of prescription or non prescription glasses for free...just pay shipping. How can you resist that?

Nervous about ordering glasses online without being able to try them on in person? Luckily, they offer a Virtual-Try-On System where you can upload a picture of yourself to see how each set of glasses will look on you. Save time and gas by getting to browse many styles all in one place and at affordable prices.

These were my favorite:

What I loved most about the website was how easy it was to choose my frames. Not only could I see how they would look on my face, but there are other people who bought the same frames and their photos on the website. I liked being able to see how the same frames looked on other people in different settings and lighting.

After putting in my prescription information, my frames were ordered and shipped out quickly and I avoided a dreaded trip to the store to try on glasses. I often get asked if my glasses are "real" or just "for fun" and I say BOTH! I love that something I used to hate wearing is now a fun way to show my personality and start conversations with others!

Now that I have my first pair, I have already started browsing for my second pair...or third:)

Now, for some silly pictures of me, because trying to take serious pictures of myself while two children were yapping at my heels begging for snacks and for me to take their pictures can make anyone feel a little crazy after a while:

How about you? Do you need glasses or do you wear them for fashion? Which pair would you choose for free?

I received a free pair of glasses from Firmoo in exchange for my personal review. All opinions in this post are mine.

A Cinderella Birthday Party

2013-03-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

Back in the fall, my daughter decided she wanted a Cinderella party for her 5th birthday in March. Seeing as how that was months in advance, I was sure she would change her mind. She didn't, so we celebrated her 5th birthday in true princess fashion.

I made this castle out of white posterboard and blue cardstock. I got the idea here and knew I had to use it!

I found this glass slipper cookie cutter at a local bakery shop. I tinted the icing a real light blue and used sugar crystals on top:

I made some raspberry cheesecake truffles:

I used some leftover cake batter to make a few cake pops with my new amazing pan:

I found these little glitter pumpkins at the craft store in the fall clearance. They were $.10 each...score!

I made chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. For some of the cupcakes I made crown toppers made from sticks of chewing gum. I figured it was much faster and cheaper than fondant. I took a stick of chewing gum, cut points out of one long side, folded it around to make a circle (using a bit of water to keep it together) and then I brushed the front side with water and rolled them in pink sugar.

I made this simple banner the night before. I picked up silver tissue paper on clearance after Christmas. I cut rectangles, folded them in half, and cut slits on one side. They I glued them all to one long piece of yarn by folding the paper over the yarn.

I took our living room clock off the wall and set the time to almost midnight (and took the batteries out). I cut out silhouettes of Gus and Jaq. I got the idea for Jaq here but I decided to add Gus too...because he's a favorite;)

For party favors, I found a pack of nail polish in the Christmas clearance at Walmart and made my own labels in Photoshop. I printed the labels onto sticker paper and wrapped them around the bottles.

I knew I wanted to make Fairy Godmother wands for our guests. When I found these floral picks (5 for $1!) during Christmas, I thought they would make perfect wands. I tied on pink and silver ribbon to make them a little more special:

Outside, our princess guests were able to decorate their own crowns. I cut crowns out of posterboard (getting 6 crowns out of one $.50 sheet) and set out markers and stick on jewels. I got the sheet of jewels at Michael's for $1 (after a coupon) and cut the sheet into strips so each girl could have her own set.

We had a great day celebrating our daughter turning 5!

Back to Real Life...

2013-03-07T22:09:00.000-08:00

I have a few recipes and my daughter's 5th birthday party to share on here, but for now, we are trying to ease back into life after visiting The Happiest Place on Earth.

We are feeling the vacation hangover big time today. There is something so wonderful about no computer, no emails, and no laundry or dishes that makes vacation so wonderful. So, when I am back at the grocery store grind tomorrow, I'll imagine myself in this spot to get me through:

January in Instagrams

2013-02-11T19:42:00.000-08:00

The first month of 2013 is over...and this is a glimpse into our lives through Instagram pictures:

Washing all the bedding and "friends"...getting rid of all those nasty cold germs!

Having a car isn't stopping me from scoring at the thrift stores. This garage shelf was $8 and it was going to get home with me:

I fit this gem into the car too. It has since lost it's skirt to show of those great vintage legs:

We celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary with our yearly tradition at the same restaurant and a mini version of our original wedding cake:

Baby Converse...does it get any cuter?

Disney on Ice...it was awesome:

Fairy Godmother wands for someone's Cinderella party!

I'm pretty sure a clean fridge is linked to low blood pressure:

Soaking orange peels in vinegar to make a better smelling cleaner:

Yup...one more thing in my car. This time it was an 8 drawer dresser!:

When someone gives you a beautiful pie plate...you make apple pie. It's required.:

He moves pretty fast these days:

Honeybee shower curtain rings:

Painting outside (airplanes and monsters to be specific):

Homemade biscuit donuts and a delivery to Daddy's work to share the sweetness:

January was fun and I can't wait for what February has in store for us;)

RECIPE: The Easiest (and Best Tasting!) Cake Pop

2013-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

I've admitted before that I can't make cake pops.

I started to wonder why I cared about making them so much when I didn't care for the way they tasted. Something about being a perfectionist and ticked off that I couldn't make one stupid little ball of cake stay on a stick.

Whatever.

Well, I was browsing through Target and saw a cake pop pan. I liked the idea of having a cake ball entirely of cake and not a weird cake/frosting mixture. It was on clearance for $4.89 so I had to give it a try, right?

They turned out super moist, super delicious, and super symmetrical to ease my perfectionist's heart.

Best part, I used a new recipe that uses Greek yogurt instead of oil! So, obviously you can eat them ALL.

You're welcome.

LIGHT VANILLA CAKE POPS

(recipe adapted from Skinnytaste)

VANILLA CAKE MIX (24 cupcake batch size)

6oz VANILLA GREEK YOGURT (I had Yoplait on hand)

1 cup WATER

2 large EGG WHITES

1/2 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT (optional depending on how much vanilla you like)

STEP 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray cake pop pans with baking spray.

STEP 2: Beat together ingredients until well combines. I also added a drop of pink food coloring because pink makes everything better. Spoon heaping tablespoons into bottom of cake pan (side withOUT holes).

You want to fill the cups so that they bake up into the top portion of the pain.

STEP 3: Place the top part of the pan on, secure, and bake for 13-15 minutes. Let them sit for 5 minutes and then remove from pan and place on wire rack to cool completely. Trim off edges with scissors.

STEP 4: Place the cake in the refrigerator for about 30-45 minutes. While they are in there, melt coating of your choice. I used vanilla almond bark.

STEP 5: Dip the end of a sucker stick into the melted coating and press into center of the cake ball. Dip the whole cake ball into melted coating and shake off excess. Add sprinkles while coating is still wet. Press into foam board or shallow glass to harden.

My daughter already requested these for her upcoming birthday and I might bypass cupcakes all together. I am excited to try new flavors and recipes.

Enjoy!

DIY: Alphabet Valentines

2013-01-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

Although my daughter isn't in school yet, she is still very interested in "Valentimes" Day and she was more than thrilled to make valentines with me.

I was inspired by this idea over at Oopsey Daisy . I wanted to make them a little more personal by using my daughter's handwriting.

This craft took a total of 20 minutes and I think they turned out pretty cute!

Materials:

plain white printer paper

your choice of cardstock

black and pink markers

ribbon

hole punch

candy hearts

scotch tape

STEP 1: I folded a standard piece of printer paper in half and had my daughter write her letters in black marker, but using pink for the I, O, and U.

STEP 2: I placed the half of paper in our printer/scanner and put my own cardstock in the paper tray. I copied her original image as many times as needed for how many valentines we wanted to make (I got two valentines to each piece of cardstock).

STEP 3: I punched holes in the top and tied bows through them. I rolled a piece of tape and had my daughter place all the hearts where the "O" went.

Done!

Simple Days

2013-01-28T20:33:00.001-08:00

I have been kinda absent on here. I cleaned out our house and while pulling out bags and bags of things once wanted...it had made me rethink our spending and accumulating.

That kinda hurts my crafting life.

It's not that I don't want to craft or have a ~~million~~ few ideas running through my head at all times. It's that I am thinking more about the long term projects I want to put my time into. Sometimes it's fun for quick projects that are just silly, but for now I want to put my spare time into my family.

So, there might be bigger gaps between posts on here. There might be more posts about my other passions, like cooking and photography. There will also be a few crafts too:)

For now...I will admire these baby toes hovering above a floor that he helps me keep messy:

...and I'm going to spend more time in the doorway of her room, just listening to her play without knowing I'm there.

These days are short and I want to remember them all.

RECIPE: Chicken Pot Pie Soup

2013-01-19T21:48:00.000-08:00

We had a really cold few days here in Arizona, so homemade soup was a perfect meal to warm us up!

CHICKEN POT PIE SOUP

(from Skinnytaste)

1/4 cup FLOUR

2 cups WATER

4 cups FAT FREE MILK

1 large CELERY STALK, chopped

1/2 cup diced ONION

2 CHICKEN BOUILLONS

10oz frozen MIXED VEGETABLES (corn, peas, green beans, and carrots)

2 POTATOES, peeled and cubed

2 cups cooked diced CHICKEN

SALT and PEPPER to taste

STEP 1: Mix flour and 1/2 cup of the water together and set aside.

STEP 2: Pour remaining water and milk into a large pot and slowly bring to a boil. Add celery, onion, chicken bouillons, pepper, and vegetables and return to a boil. Partially cover and simmer on low for about 20 minutes (or until vegetables are tender).

STEP 3: Remove lid and add potatoes. Cook until soft (about 5 minutes). Add chicken and slowly stir in flour mixture. Cook another 2-3 minutes until soup thickens. Either serve immediately, or place in crock pot on warm.

This soup made enough for leftovers and the kids enjoyed it too!

What is your favorite cold weather recipe?

DIY: Sharpie Soap Dispenser

2013-01-11T12:42:00.001-08:00

I thought I would pop in today and share a quick DIY! Drawing on ceramic items with Sharpie markers is all the rage right now, so I decided to give it a try.

I found this soap dispenser at the dollar store (the bottom part was already painted black) and I drew a diamond pattern on with the marker. Then, I baked it on a cookie sheet (with the pump top removed) at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

I let it cool overnight and filled it with dish soap!

NOTE: The design stayed permanent for a few months, but I have noticed that it is starting to wear off now since it gets wet every day. I think this method works best on items that will be left alone.

Have a wonderful Friday!

December in Instagrams

2013-01-04T15:50:00.001-08:00

The start of the new year came with head colds for me and the kiddos. So, while I sit here with my ears plugged up and waiting for my antibiotics to kick in, I thought I would share part of our December through Instagrams:

Early in the month I used my monthly allowance to buy a tripod and remote for my digital camera. We actually got family photos this year!

Who says Christmas cookies can't be in the shape of a heart?

My husband and I swapped out our photo gallery wall of three years with a DIY shelf:

This little girl tagged our backyard every day (and didn't believe me when I said the rain washed away her creations...not me.)

It got cold enough to wear my favorite gloves!

Getting McDonald's and driving around looking at lights. One of my favorite Christmas memories this year.

She had to swing with him. They are best buddies.

A little love in the mail from our landlords. (It was filled with chocolates and nuts! They know the way to our hearts...)

Our Christmas gift to the Little Miss. We tied a string around one end and tied the other on our door knob upstairs so she had to follow it down on Christmas morning. So fun!

Christmas at Grandpa and Grandma's house never disappoints.

Our last advent calendar activity: writing letters to family members. Shayne and I made placemats for everyone coming to Christmas lunch and I wrote down what she told me are her favorite things about each person.

And, with only a couple of days left of 2012 we decided to sell our SUV and get a hybrid car. I am in love! I'm still adjusting to the blue color...but when you get blessed with a car at wholesale price...you take it!

Now onto January!

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Starting a New Year

2013-01-02T14:04:00.000-08:00

We started off our new year by traveling up north to look at some amazing sunset views. We did this last year on New Year's Day and I'm excited to make it a tradition each year.

I always get excited for a new year. Part of me is sad that the past year is over but I'm so excited for what's to come!

My goals for this year are:

1. Continue being healthier. My goal is to do another race this year. Probably not a half marathon, but something to train for that will keep me motivated to make healthy choices.

2. Recycle more. I'm really passionate about this topic. I have never been the best at watching what I throw away and I want to change. This last year I started implementing small changes into our lifestyle like taking reusable totes to the grocery store and keeping one in my purse for small errands, making my own laundry soap, and recycling what plastics we did have. It was so exciting to see how these changes made us feel about ourselves, while saving us money!

I know these few changes are small, but I am excited to start bigger projects (like our own compost and an "electricity free night" here and there) and show our children how we need to be intentional in our spending and consumption.

3. Take a family camping trip. I will admit that I don't like camping. The thought of spending time and money to live outside sounds, well, awful. My husband wants to camp so badly. I decided this is the year I get over my fear and go camping! We are going to do a trial run in the backyard first:) Mama needs to ease into this wilderness stuff!

4. Revise our family budget. This one is long overdue. We already cut some large bills out of our life and sticking to our grocery and entertainment budget will make it possible for us to do bigger things like help others and take a family trips.

5. Keep it simple. I have been feeling like our lives need to be simplified for a while. We got caught up in the "bigger house, bigger car, better phones" craze and we had to stop and look at who we were becoming. Now, while I won't be trading in my iPhone (it was half off...so I get to keep it!), we made some decisions to slow down and simplify. That means staying in our 2 bedroom condo instead of upgrading to a larger house when our lease is up and trading in our SUV for a hybrid car.

Making these decisions to simplify have reduced stress in our lives. Driving a smaller car was a change at first (I missed my heated leather seats), but not having to calculate how much gas it will cost to do...well, anything...has been freeing. Also, we all kinda love being closer together in a car (ask me how this is working out when the kids are 10 and 7!).

I want to live a calm life. Days where maybe the most we get accomplished are a few puzzles and baking cookies. These days when my kids are little are going by way too quickly and this year I want to take in each moment. Being over scheduled is not an option.

What are your goals for 2013?

Recap: 2012's Resolutions

2012-12-28T22:03:00.003-08:00

I am proud of my accomplishments this last year. I think it's so easy to set the bar way too high and then be unhappy with not meeting unreal expectations of ourselves.

This last year my resolutions were to live a healthier lifestyle, be more authentic, speak kinder, and try new things.

My results are as follows:

-I have lost over 20lbs since Jack was born last year. I still have more work to do, but I am happy with what I have accomplished so far!

-I made this space more authentic this year. Sometimes that means taking a break from blogging for a few days at a time because I don't have any fresh ideas or just want to spend time with my family more (no offense!). I've also learned this year that it's impossible to make everyone happy and at the end of the day, my husband and kids mean more to me than the opinion of anyone else.

-I have to be honest and say that I haven't always chosen to say nice things 100% of the time, but I am working on understand how my attitude and words affect others. I want to be a source of joy, not annoyance for others.

-Finally, I think a tried a lot of new things this year! First off, I completed my first half marathon in Disneyland! Then, I experimented as a red head, challenged myself to cooking at home for a whole month, and flew to Utah to visit friends.

It was fun to accomplish new goals and it has made me so excited for 2013! My husband and I already sat down to discuss new goals for the upcoming year. I'm sure it will be filled with crafts, messes, lazy days, and maybe even a trip to Disneyland:)

DIY: Numbered Coasters

2012-12-11T14:27:00.000-08:00

I had been wanting to make a set of numbered coasters for a while but wanted them to look more vintage than shabby chic.

I found these blank wood coasters at Joann for $1 and I used a coupon that was about to expire on them...making them just $.60. Sweet!

I found a font I wanted to copy (this one is EcuyerDAX from dafont.com) and I printed the numbers out to create stencils. I traced each number with a sharpie marker and then free handed the boarders and lines.

I gave them two coats with a clear satin sealer that resists water and then one more coat of matte Mod Podge so I think they are well protected from our cold drinks;)

Now we have a new place for our newly thrifted owl glasses.

Hope you are having a lovely Tuesday!

DIY: Replace the Glass in an Old Clock

2012-12-05T20:45:00.001-08:00

Our old living room clock had an accident and fell off the wall. The glass shattered everywhere and left us with either replacing the glass or the clock as a whole.

After going to the home improvement store (and them having NOTHING in the entire warehouse to help me) and being referred to a glass specialist (do you know it's hard to cut glass in a circle?)...I ended up at Walmart.

Yup, Walmart.

For once, that store actually had something I needed!

I bought this cheap $6 frame with thin plastic (instead of glass) and decided to take a chance on cutting it to fit in the clock.

I took the face out of the clock and traced it onto the plastic:

I cut out the circle and it splintered just a bit:

I put the plastic back into the frame, sealed up the clock and it is good as new!

It looks exactly the same and is a lot lighter now too.

Happy Wednesday!