Donuts are a girls best friend…at least they are this girls best friend.

Yup, I heart a good donut. Nothing beats a warm, fluffy, glazed covered sugarfest that is a donut. My very favorite donuts are old-fashioned glazed ones. My mouth just drools thinking about them. I love how they smell. I love how they taste…have I mentioned that I am pregnant?

Man, I could use a donut right about now!

Anywho…

I have run across many homemade raised donut recipes but I have seldom seen an old-fashioned donut recipe. The other day I came across one. The recipe seemed easy enough. Of course almost immediately I thought of some ways to revamp the recipe. I tend to do that sometimes.

My revamp? Well instead of the sour cream called for in the recipe I used Greek yogurt…but not just any Greek yogurt. BLUEBERRY Greek yogurt.

YUM. Seriously, I had to start giving them away so that I wouldn’t eat the entire batch.

Homemade donuts are never a bad idea…in moderation at least right? Hahaha.

Blueberry Greek Yogurt Donuts

Donuts-

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

3/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1 /2 cup white sugar

2 TBS shortening

2 large egg yolks

2/3 cups Blueberry Greek Yogurt (about 2 containers)

oil for frying

Simple Glaze-

2 cups confectioners sugar

1/4-1/3 cup milk (depending on how thin you want it)

1 tsp vanilla

1/2-1 tsp lemon juice

Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside.

In a mixer, mix the sugar and shortening for about a minute on low. Add the egg yolks and mix for another minute on medium speed. Make sure to scrap the sides of the bowl so no one is getting left out.

Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients ALTERNATING between yogurt. So basically, 1/3 third of the flour mixture, then 1/2  of the yogurt, 1/3 flour, 1/2 yogurt, and end with the last third of the flour mixture. Combine on low speed until just combined. It will be a sticky dough.

Transfer dough to a clean bowl and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes.

When it is time to make your donuts, start heating up the oil in a large pot or high-sided frying pan. You will want the oil to get to 325 degrees to fry the donuts.

While the oil is heating up, roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to about 1/2″ thickness. Cut as many donuts out as you can fit. There are donut cutters, however I always use a cup and then I find a smaller circle to cut out the hole. Save the holes. You can gently fold up and roll out dough again.

Add donuts to the hot oil a few at a time. Once the donuts float let them fry for 15 seconds and then gently flip them over. Fry for another minute to minute and half until golden brown and slightly cracked. Then flip and fry the first side for another minute. If the donuts are cooking too fast and getting dark brown quickly, check your oil temp. You don’t want them cooking too fast.  Transfer to a cookie rack that has been placed over paper towels.

Mix glaze ingredients together. PS My glaze recipe is kind of a throw it all together until it tastes how I like. Use any glaze recipe you normally use if you want to, but I HIGHLY recommend throwing a little lemon juice in there to compliment the blueberry.

Mix until sugar is fully incorporated. I drizzle my donuts, but if you make enough you can also simply dip the top of your donuts into the glaze. Let it dry just for a tad…no really, just long enough for you to grab a napkin and maybe a glass of milk.

Then enjoy.

Don’t forget to fry up the little holes. We wouldn’t want them to feel neglected. They make a pretty yummy pop-in-your-mouth indulgence.

Happy Donut making…

While we are talking about donuts…

So what is your verdict, DONUTS or DOUGHNUTS? The never ending debate right?

I am thrilled with the look and quality of the huge canvas they sent me!

I’m in the process of re-decorating my living room, and this canvas is the perfect addition to my family photo collage.

Hanging several pictures in a straight line can seem a bit daunting, but the tip I will show you today should take your photo hanging fears away!

Simply add a small dot of toothpaste to the back of your picture where the nail(s) will go.

(Crest did not pay me for the above picture, though they totally should because it is the only toothpaste I will ever use and I could be a great spokesperson for them!)

Then, press the picture to the wall where you want to hang it so that the toothpaste from the back of your frame sticks to the wall.

Next, put your nail where the toothpaste is…

…and hang your picture!

I love the way it looks and I am so excited for this starting point in my living room re-do!

If you’d like to recreate this idea in your home, visit Hello Canvas.

They have a lowest price guarantee, free shipping on orders to the US and Canada, a 1.2 inch frame depth, and your product will be shipped within a week. (Seriously, the turn around time was amazing!) Hello Canvas will create beautiful art of your greatest memories.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hello Canvas. All words and opinions are my own.

Today I’m breaking out of my cookie shell and talking cupcakes!

I’m looking forward to sharing a more broad range of baking posts with you here on somewhat simple.  Today I wanted to share a few cupcake tips with you.  Cupcakes seem to be all the rage these days.  Everyone wants to make them for both formal and casual events.  So lets get talking about ways that will make whipping up a batch of delicious cupcakes even simpler!  {Please note that I am just sharing what works for me in my experience, because I bake far too often!}

Tip #4- Your list of frosting options is a mile long too.  But if you’re looking for a really buttery-buttercream, give this one a try!

 Tip #5- Fill your bag with ease.  If you drink large amounts of soda, you might have one of these lurking in your cupboards.  Not only are they good for watering plants, but filling your frosting bags!  You need to buy larger bags (16 or 18 inch) if you want them to fold over a big cup.  Just set that bag (tip uncut) right in the cup and fold the top over a good 4-5 inches.  Fill it by scraping the frosting on the side of the cup, then tapping it down in.

First, I thought I would feature my newest Pinterest board- CHALKBOARD PAINT CRAFTS!

Have you tried this stuff before? I love it!

Here are some of my favorite pins:

Make your own chalkboard paint with The Idea Room

Make mini chalkboard frames with Madigan Made

Make mini calendar magnets with Gadget Sin

Make a chalkboard headboard with Chic & Cheap Nursery

Make a chalkboard globe with Apartment Therapy

Make a chalkboard picture calendar with Dream Big

My Chalkboard Paint Pinterest Board has even more ideas, so jump over there!

And if you need a Pinterest invite, just contact me and I will send you one!

AND NOW FOR THE LINK PARTY!!!

2011 was a memorable year for my family.

My oldest son turned 8 and was baptized.

We took a fabulous family vacation to Hawaii.

We celebrated my grandpa’s 80th birthday with a bunch of extended family.

Leah started Kindergarten, got her ears pierced and we went to a Taylor Swift concert together.

We took our family to Knott’s Berry Farm in California.

We welcomed my brother home from a 2 year mission in Mexico.

And we had a great holiday season with our family who visited for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

But by far, the most meaningful moment of 2011 was the day we welcomed Mason into our family.

Arriving 6 weeks early, this little guy proved to be a fighter and only stayed in the NICU for 8 days.

Now, 7 months later, he has more than caught up and is as happy and healthy as can be.

And, he is the best baby ever. {No joke- I wish all my kids were this sweet!}

I was ready to stop having kids after my 3rd because life was hard as a mom of 3.

But since Mason has been born, I’ve decided I want 2 more!

Trying to talk my husband into even 1 more will prove to be quite the task!

{I will keep you all posted!}

I just love this little guy and feel so blessed to have him as part of my family.

Let’s Discuss!

What was your most meaningful moment in the last year?

Leave me a comment and you’ll get a chance to win one of 10 complete skin care Anti-Age Systems from Meaningful Beauty- Cindy Crawford’s break through secret for younger looking skin.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Meaningful Beauty. The opinions and text are all mine. Contest Rules.

I’ve seen probably a half-dozen tutorials all over blog land showing you how to frame a bathroom mirror featuring amazing transformations simply by adding some molding around the edges.

And everyone says something to the effect of:

“THIS IS THE EASIEST UPDATE EVER! I WISH I WOULD’VE DONE IT A LONG TIME AGO! I’M GOING TO DO ALL MY MIRRORS NOW!”

So this project is one that has been on my to do list for a while now, because if it really is that easy, maybe I could do it? Except I had something standing in my way. Two things, actually. Two little, {ugly} plastic clips that were holding my mirror to the wall and holding me back from completing this project.

I searched high and low on how to frame a bathroom mirror when your mirror has little {ugly} plastic clips and I couldn’t find any solution.

And so my mirrors sat there. No frames, no pizazz, no nothing.

And then I learned that the theme for the Lowes Creative Network this month was “Bathrooms”. My house is only 7 years old and not outdated. I like my fixtures and hardware. I like my flooring. I like it all… except I really don’t like my builder-grade mirrors.

And so, I set off to find a solution to rid those clips and make my mirror pretty.

And guess what- I found one. {Insert happy dance here!}

And the best part is, the solution is literally 1 more step than all the tutorials I’ve seen to frame out your mirror, so this project is still super easy. {YAY!}

Here is the secret:

Yep, washers!

Look for the thinnest washer you can find- you might want to buy a few sizes and see which one lays flattest against your mirror. (You can purchase washers individually for 10-20 cents each.)

When you find which one fits best, unscrew the screw holding the plastic clip and then replace it with the washer, using the same screw and hole already in your wall.

Do one at a time, obviously.

The washers will hold the mirror to the wall as securely as the plastic clip does, but it lays {almost} flat, so you can glue molding right over the top of it.

HOW EASY IS THAT?!?!?!?

And now you are ready to frame your mirror!

I followed the simple tutorial on framing your mirror from Blue Cricket Design. Her post was the first one I saw featuring this project and I’ve also seen this mirror in real life, so I can attest to how good it looks and rest assured there were no “hidden” ugly spots.

Because I followed Becca’s tutorial step-by-step, I won’t repost the entire thing here. but I do want to tell you a few TIPS I had. Some of you will thank me for sharing these, and others will think I am lame for needing to spell it out. But that is how I am, and I need things spelled out.

TIP: First, when you buy your molding, you might want to pick up one of these:

A miter box.

I had heard of them before, I just didn’t know what they were and how to use it.

A Miter Box is a plastic tool used to cut perfect 45 degree angles- something you need to do for molding projects. I bought mine at Lowes for less than $8 on the same aisle as the molding and it came with its own miter saw. With my new miter box I was able to take my molding home and cut it myself.

Tip: Look at the molding around one of the doorways in your house to get a visual and to be sure you are cutting it right. I almost made some cuts upside down, but luckily I had something to go off of.

Tip: Get a caulking gun to apply your liquid nails. I didn’t know I would need one, so save yourself the hassle of trying to apply it without a gun (or a 2nd trip to the store!) and make sure you pick one up.

(I got the one above at WalMart in the paint section with the caulking for $2.)

Tip: Be generous with the amount of Liquid Nails you use. You will notice in Becca’s tutorial, she mentions putting the liquid nails in the center of the molding and avoiding the edges so it doesn’t seep onto your mirror when you press it. This scared me a bit, so I went too light on the liquid nails so as not to have a seeping mess. The next day when it was supposed to be dry, my molding was bowed in the corners of my mirror and not stuck to the glass because I didn’t have enough liquid nails holding it down.

Tip: If you find your molding bowed in the morning, don’t get discouraged and walk away. Don’t vow not to ever attempt another home improvement project again and accuse those other bloggers of lying because they called this “easy.” Don’t let this project sit for a week and contemplate hiring someone to fix it for you. Just add some more liquid nails and let it dry again overnight. I may have done the above dramatics and when I realized how easy the fix was, I felt silly.

So there you have it. My pretty mirror.

And this tutorial wouldn’t be complete without saying,

“THIS IS THE EASIEST UPDATE EVER! I WISH I WOULD’VE DONE IT A LONG TIME AGO! I’M GOING TO DO ALL MY MIRRORS NOW!

And I am serious. I totally am.

I will be sharing a couple more bathroom projects before my final “Kid’s Bathroom Reveal” so stay tuned.

In the meantime, go subscribe for a free Lowe’s Creative Ideas Magazine. It’s free and has TONS of great inspiration!

Do you love color but can’t figure out how to add it to your home? Take a look at some terrific ways the designers of the following rooms brought colors to a space in what appears to be an effortless way.

From bedroom designs to bathroom designs, paint is one of the easiest and most captivating ways to add color to your room. Paint one wall or the whole room to enliven your space!

In the kitchen, add color through china and ceramics or a boldly-hued light fixture. This room’s got it all.

Metal furniture and accessories are easily spiffed up and given a new personality with a fresh coat of paint.

Bright and cheery yellow is a perfect shade for color lovers. Pair with green, blue or pink for an energized look.

Colorful furnishings can be a lovely way to add extra spice to a room, like the turquoise chairs in this living space. Are you getting any living room design ideas?

Bright doors and trim give this dining/living room a major pop of color and character.

A single burst of color, as with this egg chair, can take a space from gray to wow! Does this room inspire any interior design ideas?

Add color to a room through artwork in a gallery format as in this home office. Or bring in a burst of color with a single large piece! Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

For more colorful bliss, go to Design Shuffle where you can view various interior design styles and connect with Boston interior designers and more!

The inspiration for today’s idea came to me while browsing one of my favorite stores- Lowes! I was walking down an aisle that had shelves full of boxes and rolls of chains.

I grabbed the first person in a red vest I could find and asked him {very nicely} to cut 2 feet of this chain for me. From the 2 feet of chain (for only $1.40 a foot) I was able to get 3 bracelets. (The worker actually cut the 2 feet into 3 pieces for me so I didn’t have to buy my own tools- yay!) I thought the chain I chose is perfect for a chunky bracelet, but still delicate and feminine.

I had an image in my mind of what I wanted to create with this chain, but when I got home, I actually just started playing around with some ribbon and different weaving methods to see which bracelet I liked best.

Here is just the basic method of weaving a ribbon in and out of the chain and tying a bow at the wrist. Simple.

This one I created simply by slipping ribbon loops up into each chain link. I really liked the way this looked, but I should warn you to keep this type of bracelet away from kids- it will hold up fine until someone pulls on the loops, then the entire thing comes undone. It’s easy to fix, but just be careful.

The last method I tried was probably my favorite.

I took this fun trim and just wrapped in and over both sides of the chain. I left enough ribbon hanging from each side that I was able to tie a bow and slip it over my wrist! This one would be for more casual days, but using this same method, you can dress it up with fancier (or more plain) ribbon and embellish it with pearls or buttons for a fun kids bracelet. Or, to see more of the chain, use a skinnier ribbon. {Maybe even spray paint your chain before hand to make it extra matchy!)

I love how versatile this project can be.

Jewelry from the home improvement store, who would’ve thought?

For more great ideas, visit Lowes Creative Ideas.

And you should really sign up to receive their FREE magazine!

This show was held in Anaheim, CA (close to my old stomping grounds) and I was thrilled to have the chance to go back “home.”

I took Mason with me- not because he is my favorite kid (though I can say he is the best baby I’ve ever had!) but I took him because he was free, he is still nursing,  and my fabulous Mother-In-Law wanted to spend some time with him. It was his first flight, and my first flight alone with a baby. I might have had a {minor} anxiety attack that lasted the entire 2 weeks before the trip, but everything went great and the trip was stinkin’ fun.

I mean, what is not fun about a trip to Disneyland with some fun bloggers for Tauni’s birthday?

(From left to right), Mique from 30 Handmade Days, ME, Jen from Tatertots & Jell-o, Marie from Make & Takes, Kami from No Biggie, Heather from Dollar Store Crafts, Lara from Less Cake More Frosting, Heather from Whipperberry & Tauni from the Snap Conference!

And just to prove how badly I give in to peer pressure, this is the picture of our group on Tower of Terror- the only ride at California Adventure I said I would never go on.

Here, let me blow it up. (Sorry for the blur!)

Can you see me- the one in the middle row not opening my eyes and screaming out of sheer fright? (Actually both Mique and I  were pretty freaked out, so it was nice to have another wimp person with a fear of heights & drops with me. )

{And do you see crazy Lara? Raising her hands like this ride was fun or something?}

I’m more of a Soarin’ Over California type of gal. I’ve never come close to peeing my pants on that one.

It was simply AMAZING seeing all the creative booths and fun new products out there. Here are just a few of my favorite finds:

(Product links and descriptions at the end of this post)

Of course the weekend wouldn’t have been the same without some socializing. And sitting. {and eating!}

I’m kind of spacing out in this picture, but whatever. It was a long day and I was so tired!

But I made some new friends and met up with old buddies!

(Left to Right) Beckie from Infarrantly Creative, Linda from Craftaholics Anonymous, ME, Heather from Whipperberry, Kristyn from Lil’ Luna and Jamielyn from I Heart Naptime.

We had waayyy too much fun at Red Robin. It was fun seeing Julie, who decided to hang out and not eat with us- supposedly the Slurpie she had on the way over was enough to fill her up- whatever!

Mason was a doll, smiling at everyone there…

… and then he got grumpy…

…so it was time for us to call it a day.

I had a blast and I can’t wait to go to CHA next year.

I’ll be better prepared and know more of what to expect.

And it is going to be so fun.

Links: (Top to Bottom, Left to Right)

Flower tissue paper wall from GCD Studios
Pinwheel display from Silhouette
Monogram Wall from GCD Studios
Wall of paint from I Love to Create
Wall of Mod Podge from Plaid
The GCD Studios booth.
Polkadots were everywhere!
Washi tape from Elmers
Ruffled Paper from the Dear Lizzy line by Elizabeth Kartchner and American Crafts.
The Westcott Scissor Mouse
Rotary cutter by The Grace Company
Amy’s new Mod Podge book

Today’s link party is sponsored by

ShoeDazzle is premier, one-of-a-kind, styling service, founded by Kim Kardashian.  The ShoeDazzle team of celebrity stylists makes you look and feel gorgeous by choosing shoes for you every month based on your personal style, while giving you a great value on beautiful, quality shoes, handbags, jewelry and more!

How it Works:

. First, complete the short style-survey so your personal stylist can get an idea of what you like. {The survey took me just a few minutes to complete, and probably could have been faster if I wasn’t so indecisive on my taste- I can’t ever make a decision on anything!!!}

. After your survey is complete, you can sign up for a monthly membership of $39.95 and a stylist will email you back with five shoe suggestions for the month. You can pick your favorite pair and they will ship them right out OR if you don’t like the suggested shoes, you can skip the month (and not get charged) or ask the stylist to suggest more options.

So basically it’s less than $40 a month for fabulous shoes chosen just for you, with no obligation to buy, which is important to me ’cause I hate commitments! {You don’t have to pay for shipping or anything! Even if you decide you don’t like them, you can send them back for free!}

Each week, Lindsay hosts a super fun link party on her blog The Pleated Poppy. I’ve been wanting to join this link party for a while now because I  think it would help motivate me to get dressed in something cute for the day. The cuter I dress, the better I feel and the more productive I am- it is a proven fact.

So this is what I wore today:

(Yes, I am standing on my bath tub and yes, I am sucking in my gut!)

Teal Sweater- Target ($7 on clearance)

White Wrap T Shirt- Target ($10)

True Religion Jeans- Bought direct from China ($30)

Heide Boots- ShoeDazzle ($39.95)

Do you love these boots as much as I do???

You’d love them even more if you knew how comfortable they are! I’ve worn them several times this month and I’d recommend them to everyone!

If you’d like to snag a pair for yourself, check out ShoeDazzle and add some fun to your feet!

Like ShoeDazzle on Facebook and stay up to date on sales and promos they have going on.
(Right now you can get 20% off your first pair of shoes!)

Happy Shopping- you totally deserve it!!!

AND NOW FOR THE LINK PARTY!!!