Sunday Sweet's

My Hubby has a sweet tooth and usually on sunday I bake or make something sweet for him, and I am always looking for something new and fun to make he might enjoy. This weekend I decieded to try a twist on an old favorite rice krispies treats.

The Recipe is quite simple:
1 stick of butter
1 bag of marshmellows
6 cups of cocoa krispies

Mmmmm they turned out delicious!!!!!

Now what to make for next sunday's treat???

Happy Halloween!!!

A few months ago I found this really cute frame idea on Pinterest and it seemed easy enough wiggle eyes glued to a painted plain wood frame...how hard could it be and such a cute halloween decoration. 

Four weekends and countless hours later the frame is finished 1 day before halloween...and while I must admit it did turn out super cute....unless you have alot of patience...(yes I glued each wiggle eye one by one) this is not the project for you.

Dear Daughter (or Son) Diary

I just read this post from How Does She blog about starting a "Dear Daughter Diary" (you can also do one for your son, niece nephew, grandchildren too). I think this is such a great meaningful idea. It's a diary that you and your child share and write in to each other and leave it on each other's pillows after you write in it. How great would this be as a way to let them write their thoughts down and a way to express themselves through words and a way for you as a mom to see into their lives things they might not have shared with you. In her diary she asks them open ended questions and you and them can write about anything you want. Taelor is almost 5 and soon will be able to learn to read and write and I this is one thing that I will definitely start when she does.

I loved her quote at the end of her post "There is NO WAY to be a perfect mother, but there are MILLIONS of ways to be a GREAT one!” I must remember this everyday!!

Getting Ready for Christmas

I am so ready for the Holidays! Remember a few posts ago when I mentioned I wanted to buy the Christmas Journal from the Creative Place, well this weekend I really wanted to order it, but then I looked over to my stack of paper and saw a whole stack of Christmas cardstock. Yes I know it would be easier to just order it, but I figured we are still in October (for a few more days) and if I start now on making my own journal I will have it ready to go for December. I have a lot more to do to it, but hey it's a start. Last year I started a tradition from a blog I read about doing a December Daily. Starting December 1st we do something that pertains to the holiday season and I take pictures and journal about the craft or memory. It can be anything from a visit with Santa to watching a Christmas movie to making handmade ornaments. We had a lot of fun doing this last year and it made the season so fun and entertaining and I am looking forward to all the fun things we will do this year! Along with this I am going to make this Advent Calendar (or something similiar), I will coordinate the calendar with what we will be doing that day. What are some fun things you do during the month of Christmas?

Pizza pouches

If you are looking for an easy recipe these pizza pouches are so good! A while back my friend Amanda posted them to her blog and of course I had to try them. I use the Trader Joe's pizza dough and fill them with turkey and vegetarian meatballs (yes, I am a vegetarian) and then top them with veggies. My kiddos love these! Happy cooking!

Here is the recipe (taken from Epicurious)

1 16-ounce bag store-bought pizza dough

6 tablespoons fresh or jarred marinara sauce

6 store-bought turkey meatballs or veggie ones

6 tablespoons shredded mozzarella

1 tablespoon grated Parmesan

1 egg

1 teaspoon milk (any fat content)

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Roll the dough out about ¼ inch thick. Cut it into eighths (2 will be left over).

3. Grease a 6-cup muffin tin. Line each cup with a piece of dough, letting the excess hang over the sides.

4. Fill each with 1 tablespoon of sauce and 1 meatball. Divide the cheeses equally among the cups.

5. Gather each bit of excess dough up around the filling, pinching it together at the top.

6. Whisk the egg with the milk to make a wash. Brush it onto each pouch.

7. Bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

Blogs to check out by Amanda

Assorted Lovelies
Blog Author Amanda





 I have an amazing, talented friend Amanda who has 3 great, inspiring blogs that I just had to share. First her "new" remodeled blog is Assorted Lovelies (formerly know as Amanda's Favs) which is her "favorite things with a sprinkle of life". I love reading this blog and have been reading it since day one. Her next blog is My Year of Faith, now this blog is a daily read, a must read! Amanda has had a trying year and has documented everyday how her faith and growing in her faith has gotten her through some of her most difficult times in her life. Her daily inspirations are what I look forward to everyday, so check her blog out and you will be inspired by her faith! Lastly just this week Amanda is now a blogger for OC Family and her blog is called Family and Frills she just had her first post yesterday and will be posting every Tuesday. I can't wait to see what her weekly posts are so be sure to check this one out once a week!

An Amazing Photographer...Marisela Photography

I just had to share a sneak peak of our photo shoot we had with my wonderful, talented, amazing best friend Chela from Marisela Photography. She does such great work, she always captures the best moments even when your kids have had enough! Let's face it taking pictures with two little busy kiddos who both have the attention span of about 10 minutes max can be a challenge when you want to take lots of pictures. My favorite quote from this day was from my son Ethan after 20 minutes of taking pictures "taking pictures is NOT fun"! Well I am sure glad that you can't tell that from any of these pictures! Chela you did an amazing job as always.

As the busy holiday season is approaching and you are thinking of your family pictures, you should check out Marisela Photography. She only has a few weekdays spots available in November so you need to hurry! Let her know we referred you!

Thanks again Chela for your talented eye and for making my kiddos smile!

Journals

I love getting my weekly emails from The Creative Place, she is great at journaling and always has simple, yet meaningful crafts and ideas. This week she featured her Autumn Journal and I love it! Keeping a journal with simple pictures is such a great way to capture sweet memories, especially if you have a little DIY album that you can customize to how simple or extravagant you would like. I am going to start doing this. I am also excited because today's post was that she was working on her Christmas Journals, these would be perfect for my December Daily by Ali Edwards that I will do again this year (that will be a whole other post and comes to find out that Ashley over at The Creative Place does these too). The best part is that she sells these journals on her Etsy shop, so if you're not so crafty or feeling like you have time (because who really does around this season) you can buy one. Head over to her blog and check out all the great journals she has done and then hopefully you will be inspired to journal your next season in your life!

....the champagne taste....

My sweet friend Lauren (aka Mrs. O) just launched her new blog....

....the champagne taste.....

....on a beer budget! A blog dedicated to exemplary home decor and how to get it quick without breaking the bank

We can't wait to have Mrs. O as a guest blogger! Make sure you head over to her blog and become a follower.

Birthday Gift

I have the hardest time finding unique gifts for my hubby, he loves sports but doesn't really collect anything. Usually if he wants something he buys it, so he is super hard to shop for and I always struggle to find personal guy gifts. However my good friend Monica solved that problem for me..she makes the most amazing totally personal wine/beer glasses. If you have an idea she can really make it come to life. I had an idea about an angels glass and WOW did she make it amazing...totally reccomend if you have a friend who drinks wine or know a guy who loves beer.

GiGiGlasses.com

DIY: Transfer ink onto wood

I just came across this tutorial from Diddle Dumpling while I was, of course on Pinterest, on how to transfer ink onto wood. Looks pretty simple and so many possibilities of words or quotes you can do! I must try this, wish me luck! Click here for directions.



Guest blogger...Ed Huse "Guestroom on a budget"

Today's guest blogger is our sweet friend Ed Huse and his guestroom makeover on a budget...



Ed's "inspiration room"

Ed's version...So perfect!!

Guestroom on a budget.

While trying to re-decorate my guest bedroom, I happened to catch an episode of an old T.V. show called the Designer Guys.On this particular episode, they were remodeling a master bedroom for two newlyweds.  I loved the design because of its elegant yet comfortable feel, so I decided to reproduce it for my guestroom. Obviously since the “inspiration room” was designed by professional designers, the cost was probably more than I wanted to spend.

So for around $350 dollars here is my version of the room. The headboard was made using MDF board, 2x6 for the borders, 4 squares made from MDF (which can be purchased at Home Depot), some foam and batting. I got the bed sheets and Duvet from Ikea as well as the fabric (2 twin sized sheets) I used for the headboard. Because my guestroom was smaller than the inspiration room, I decided not to do the shelves on either side of the headboard like the inspiration room. In my version I bought 2 folding t.v. dinner tables to use as bedside tables costing me $19.99 for the pair.  Add in the lamps, some books, flowers and two pictures and Voila!

Thanks Ed for sharing with us!

It's October...

It's October and that means Halloween stuff can go out! Here are some favs that I have found in the world of blogs and of course Pinterest that I want to make this month. What are some of your favorite things to make for Halloween?

Cute DIY Jack-O-Lantern candy jars made from painted mason jars (found on Remodelaholic)

FREE Subway Art from eighteen25 blog

Pumpkin Rice Krispy treats....so yummy and cute

Candy Corn candles found on Your Decorating Hotline (I think the candy corns would be gone by the end of the month they are one of my favs)

If I had a fireplace I would totally do this! (from Country Living)

DIY  fabric pumpkins made from toilet paper rolls (from Pretty Handy Girl)

Our monogrammed pumpkin from last year done with thumb tacks

 I can't wait to eat my Mom's goodies she makes for us....I mean the kids!

Mod Podge fabric covered pumpkins....so many possibilities (from The 36th Avenue)