Honeybee Vintage

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!

DIY: Felt and Fleece Stockings

2012-11-30T01:00:00.000-08:00

I made these Christmas stockings last year. Jack was only a few weeks old and I was feeling crafty. I made the whole set in less than an hour.

Materials:

1 yd of fleece

1/4 yard of felt

matching thread

hot glue gun

STEP 1: Cut stocking shapes out of fleece and sew around all sides (with wrong sides facing), leaving the top open. I liked the look of the raw edges.

STEP 2: Cut strips 1" by 4" strips of fleece. Fold in half and sew to the left inside corner of the stocking.

STEP 3: Cut embellishments out of felt and hot glue to the front. I cut strips for my husband's stocking, large flowers for mine, small flowers for my daughter's, and a chevron pattern for my son's.

Since I have no shelves to place the stockings on, I used some old shower curtain hooks to hang them on our curtain rod in the living room.

Getting Away: Disneyland

2012-11-28T20:53:00.000-08:00

I still haven't shared about our Disneyland vacation back in September! I'm not shy about my love for Disney and this vacation (although it had many ups and downs) was still magical:)

We always stay in a cheap hotel across the street and what it lacks in amenities...it makes up for with a fireworks view!

Baby boy's first time in the ocean:

Sandy baby toes:

Jack dumped all his goldfish crackers on the blanket and made a lot of bird friends within a few minutes. They were hoping he might share;)

The next day was Disneyland...I was almost too excited to sleep!

The princesses were our first stop and they did not disappoint! Mulan was our favorite:

Cinderella + kitschy cuteness = perfection:

Hello Minnie...nice to see you again!

Relaxing on a boat tour:

The parade is always the perfect ending to a perfect day. And yes...that would be Cinderella waving at MY daughter! She couldn't contain herself.

Counting down the days until we get to visit again!

DIY: Advent Calendar

2012-11-27T13:46:00.001-08:00

I've never been consistent with the yearly Christmas advent calendar. The wooden ones in the store are cute...but I don't want to pack one...or try to find little things to fit in the spaces (it just leads to more little things to find between the couch cushions or to step on in the middle of the night, right?).

This year I decided I would do an activity themed calendar, filled with things we can do as a family.

Oh, and did you notice I only have 20 cards in my calendar? Well, I decided to do a few less, that way if we miss a day...it's all good. (Plus, I only had 20 clothespins...so win, win.)

I made these cards in Photoshop, folded them in half, and wrote down 20 different things we can do as a family. I used an old frame and strung them on yarn taped to the back. Most of our activities cost little to no money.

Some examples are:

-have a slumber party in the living room

-write letters to family members telling them what we love most about them

-watch a Christmas movie

-pick a child off the Angel Tree at church and shop for them

-have dinner out on the patio

-get hot chocolate at a cafe'

I'm really looking forward to our month of family activities and teaching our children that it's not about opening a present every day...but about being together as a family and giving to others.

Happy Tuesday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2012-11-22T20:44:00.000-08:00

Hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving!

A Vintage Motorcycle Birthday

2012-11-19T10:39:00.000-08:00

Jack's first birthday party was this weekend and we had a great time!

Such a great time, in fact, that I forgot to take pictures of all the treats and favors I made! Oh well, it was such a fun day and we had a blast celebrating our little man.

I've mentioned before that motorcycles are kinda a big deal in our home. My husband used to be a Harley mechanic and now teaches the subject for a living. He also owns a Harley...so it was obvious that the birthday theme would have something to do with motorcycles. We compromised and decided to go with a vintage motorcycle theme.

I made this sign in Photoshop and we stapled it to a wooden stake:

On the dessert table I had chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, cookie dough truffles, cheesecake truffles, and s'mores...all on popsicle sticks. I wrote the name of each treat on the popsicle stick like these treats from Bakerella. I used a plastic table cloth as the backdrop and printed out the monthly pictures I've been taking of Jack to string up. I made the "one" letters in Photoshop as well and used mini clothespins to hang everything up. I also used up some left over scrapbooking paper to make confetti:

Mmmm...cupcakes. I used box mixes for the cupcakes and classic Wilton buttercream for the icing. I got a lot of compliments on both and they tasted pretty close to a bakery cupcake.

I made brunch since the party was early in the day and it was a hit! Not only was it a cheap option to feed a large crowd...but it appealed to both the parents and the children.

I cut down paper straws to fit in the cups and printed out a "fuel up" sign. I saw that idea on Pinterest;)

We already had this vintage Harley metal sign, so I propped it up in a stand and framed Jack's 1 year old picture in a frame I already had for the food table.

Instead of making games for the kids, I set up a cookie decorating station for them outside. It was so much fun and something I will definitely do again. I couldn't resist driving a little out of my way to the cake supply store for this motorcycle cookie cutter! It's all about the small details, right? I also made the "customize your ride" sign in Photoshop.

I made a little paper bunting for the front of the highchair:

I kept the smash cake simple and color free! Ha! I made a small double layer 6" cake and used my star decorating tip to frost it.

The kids went home with homemade chocolate motorcycle suckers and each family got a goody bag with flap "jack" mix and a box of Cracker Jacks. (will post those photos later).

It was such a great day and we all slept really well when it was over! I can rest for a few months until the Little Miss has her birthday in the spring;)

Turning One

2012-11-15T20:22:00.001-08:00

This little man is going to be one in a few days.

ONE.

I am refusing to accept it.

I saw a Dreft commercial the other day that said, "You only have a baby for one year."

Wow, thanks for bringing a mom down.

I can't wait to share his birthday party with you, but for now, I am going to cuddle him and kiss him as much as I want.

Or, you know, until his birthday in a few days...when he's not a baby anymore.

DIY: Painted Oven Mitts

2012-11-14T01:00:00.000-08:00

I needed some new oven mitts and while I liked the price of the dollar store ones...I didn't care for how plain they were. I found this old stamp in with my paints and decided to stamp my new mitts with some fabric paint.

MATERIALS:

fabric paint

paint brush

foam stamp

oven mitt(s)

STEP 1: Brush fabric paint onto stamp and press on oven mitt. Let sit for 24 hours (or however long the fabric paint bottle says) and then use!

These would make a great Christmas gift or hostess gift for the holiday season.

Happy Wednesday!

RECIPE: Baked Pumpkin Spice Donuts

2012-11-12T20:40:00.001-08:00

I finally got around to buying a donut pan last week. Having a 60% off coupon at Joann helped too:)

I know everyone is all ready for Christmas lights and peppermint flavored everything...but we can't forget about pumpkin yet! It's still November and I had to try a pumpkin spice donut.

BAKED PUMPKIN SPICE DONUTS

(by King Arthur Flour)

1/2 cup VEGETABLE OIL
3 EGGS
1 1/2 cups GRANULATED SUGAR
1 1/2 cups CANNED PUMPKIN
1 1/2 teaspoons PUMPKIN PIE SPICE
1 1/2 teaspoons SALT
1 1/2 teaspoons BAKING POWDER

1 3/4 cups + 2 tablespoons FLOUR

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

STEP 1: Beat all ingredients (except flour) together until smooth.

STEP 2: Add flour and stir until smooth.

STEP 3: Fill greased donut pan 3/4 full with batter.

STEP 4: Bake 15-18 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let sit in pan for about 5 minutes, then move to cooling rack. While still warm, dip in mixture of cinnamon and sugar.

Happy a lovely day!