Busy, Busy, Busy

                                                                        

                                                                      I just want to say that I give props to all you 

bloggers out there that blog everyday. I really honestly do not know how you guys do it sometimes. It has been busy, busy busy over here. We just got back from our trip to Disneyland, which was awesome! I had an amazing Thanksgiving with my family and now I'm using the last of my energy to get back into my work routine! I'm really glad that I got most of my shopping and I put up my decor before Thanksgiving or I think I'd be pulling my hair out right now. :) Anyone get some killer deals? I didn't do any real big shopping. I just got a couple things I had been wanting for a while.

 

Well enough about that, let me catch you all up. So along with the Disney trip we also stopped at Hermosa beach. My in-laws like to call it their beach because it is their last name. It was so refreshing and such a change from the dry Arizona weather. Disneyland was great! Going at this time is always something you'll remember. I missed my cats so much and I know they missed us that I got them a present ! Nutmeg is giving Mickey a piggy back ride. :)

I would like to say that I put to much on my plate this week. I promised to make a birthday cake for when my sister came down. I'm no pro, but the cake taste great. It was suppose to be cheetah and zebra. I added a hidden mickey and to make it special for my niece I wrote " Party, Party, Yeah!" This cake was to make up for 4 missed birthdays my sister couldn't be here for. I would like to say it looks pretty good for being made at 12 in the morning. :)

Because I love pets and feel they should be included too, I made this turkey leg for my sister's in-laws dog. 

As a request from my brother in law I made his favorite, eggnog. 

All you need is:

6 eggs separated

3/4  cup sugar

1 pint heavy cream

4 pints milk

1 cup wild turkey whiskey

1 tbsp. vanilla

nutmeg

In a mixer on high mix egg whites and 1/2 cup sugar till fluffy. Place in a bowl. Now mix on high the yolks and remainder of the sugar until fluffy and place in another bowl. Next beat heavy cream til thick. Add  yolk mixture to cream and fold in the egg whites. Mix in whiskey, vanilla and sprinkle nutmeg. Chill in freezer. This eggnog will be a winner every time with your guest!

Even though I left Disneyland , the magic stayed with me! :) We had a girls day and I got my nails Disneyfied! Also because it was so slow at work I decided to amp up my java skills and do designs in my coffee. One of course being Mickey! 

Well that's enough for now. Hope everyone's holiday was truly amazing!

Disneyland inspired shoes

I am so excited about our trip coming up next week to Disneyland.  I've seen a lot of great clothing ideas that help you to fit right in with the theme park. One of those item's was shoes. I've seen that a lot of people liked to paint their own design on the shoe.  This is totally fine but it cracks really easy. Since I've recently become addicted to printable vinyl I knew this would be the way to go for me. All you do is print and iron on to your fabric.  Make sure the shoes you pick out is canvas or else you might run into a bit of a jam. I love my shoes though and totally think they are ready for my trip! :)

Mint Chocolate Swirl Cookies

Hope everyone has had an enjoyable weekend! Mine was busy as usual but fun! My husband and I went to a State Competition for a high-school band that he helps. Unfortunately it was the end of the road for them and they didn't make it to Super State but they all had a great time anyway!  Since these kids have captured my heart I decided to make cookies for them. I got the recipe from Better Crocker. Its really simple and it delicious!
You will need:
1 sugar cookie package
1 egg
1/4 cup melted butter
2 tbsp. flour
1/4 cup powdered cocoa
green food coloring
1 tsp. mint extract
Mix cookie mix, egg and butter together. Now separate into two pieces.  Add the food coloring, extract and 2 tbsp. flour in one, and cocoa in the other.
Roll out chocolate dough on wax or parchment paper, place wax paper on top, roll mint dough out and place another wax paper on top. I placed the dough in the freezer for 30 minutes to and hour.
Now take out and place the mint on top of the chocolate dough.  Start rolling and wrap in wax paper.  Place back in freezer for 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350° about 30 minutes before you take the dough out. Take dough out and cut into slices.  It makes about 20 cookies.  I did 6 cookies per cookie sheet and for 15 minutes. Let cool before you ice.
I just used Pillsbury vanilla frosting because of the amount of cookies I was making and didn't want to be baking til the crack of dawn. :) My plan was to use these cool edible markers I got for my birthday, but for some reason even after all the time spent trying to harden them enough it was just a no go. I ended up piping on 60 cookies until midnight " State 2012".  :)

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Hope everyone has fun tonight doing whatever your plans are! I'll be handing out candy to the little one's with my in-laws. I did my fun partying this past weekend with my sister's in-laws. My husband and I dressed up as Lucille Ball and Ricky Ricardo.  It was so much fun!
Some of the goodies I brought for them to enjoy were pumpkin deviled eggs and pumpkin spice cookies.  The deviled eggs are just a basic recipe with food coloring added. Then I just sprinkled chives for the stem and sweet paprika.
Deviled eggs
•18 eggs
•2 tbsp of mayo (adjust to amount of eggs )
•2 tbsp of mustard
•sprinkle of sweet paprika
•chives
Boil the eggs for 30 minutes. Pour out hot water and run cool water over the eggs. This is just to cool them enough too handle.  I found it better to slide the shell off when they are still warm.
Cut in half and scoop out yolk.  Place in separate bowl. Now get another bowl and place about 4 cups of water, one cup of vinegar and food coloring. Let set for as long as you would like the orange.
Mix the mayo, mustard and food coloring together.  Now take the eggs and scoop the mixture into them. Sprinkle chives and paprika. Enjoy!
Pumpkin spice cookies
• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 2/3 powered sugar
• 1/3 sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. vanilla
• 2 tbsp. pumpkin spice
• 1 1/4 cup butter
Place all the dry ingredients together.  Cut the butter into the dry ingredients and then add the vanilla. Now split the dough in half. Place in two separate bowls.  Make one orange and the other black. You can do whatever color you'd like.  Roll each onto it own wax paper and lay in the freezer for 30 minutes. 
Take out both pieces and lay on top of each other. Roll the dough. If you'd like roll in orange sprinkles like I did.  Place back in for 15 minutes.  Preheat oven to 350°. 
Cut the cookies into slices and place on parchement lined pans. Bake for 15 minutes and take out. Let cool for 10 minutes.  Enjoy!
Have a Spooktacular Halloween Everyone!!!

Pumpkins!!!!

Well I went pumpkin hunting at the beginning of the month. I have to say that going at the beginning is way better opposed to the end. I just didn't carve my pumpkins until this week and they are still kicking. I have learned to awesome ways to keep them alive for as long as you possibly can(1-2 weeks). One is a diluted bleach spray. It works well and it keeps the bacteria from coming back. Another is Vaseline. I've only done this one this year and it is working wonders ( thank you Martha Stewart!).  I cut my pumpkin on Saturday and it looks still fresh today! I got three pumpkins this year, a white and two orange. I painted one to look like the balloons and house from "Up"! The bigger pumpkin I carved with my mom and did like "Pixar's ,La Luna". I haven't decided what to do with the white one yet.

 

Capture Your Grief 2012

Here I am playing catch up with this as well. I want to really do this because I do believe it's helping in some ways. I apologize again if this is not your cup of tea. I'm doing this for myself or anyone else that has jumped onto this unhappy train ride. It's one that you really wish you could get off at anytime, but God has a different plan and you just have to hold on tight. That's how I feel right now at this moment. I find myself looking at my some what empty home (I say that because my husband and loving pets live here. :) ) and wishing it were different. Almost like nothing I do will make a difference or matter until we get what we want. Well enough ranting, here's what I missed.

On day 19 it was what kind of projects have you worked on since your losses. I've only done little projects such as the prayer flag, passing out ribbons to show awareness and making clay figures for their memorial. I know in my heart I want to do more. When I see how excited people get because you care so much about them, that is what makes me happy at this moment and time.

For day 20 we are suppose to share a charity that has touched us on this journey. I'm going to be honest I've found a ton of good websites to go on and they have all touched me in some way, shape or form. I would have to say that Carly Marie's Project Heal is at the top of the list. It was the first one that I came across that I keep going back to and refer anyone who has lost a loved one to. You will meet lots of wonderful people and feel more at home. Now I know this is about pregnancy or infant loss but I want to share this site anyway because I know there are people out there that have heard those horrible words " You won't be able to have children". I came across this wonderful site where this amazing young lady helps parents adopt by selling ornaments, Just a Small Town Girl. 

On day 21 we are supposed to share a altar/sacred space. Our's is in the dining room, it's small but I feel like  they are still apart of us with that space there.

Day 22 was who took care of me. Obviously because I've only experienced early miscarriages it was mostly up to my, but along side me all the way was my husband. Can't say I was the best patient at times, but I'm thankful that he understood. :)

Those are chocolate cigars. :) 

Day 23 is their names or photos.

On day 24 we have to share about their siblings or ours. Since of course we have no living children I will share about my husband's and my siblings. My sister's were at first not sure what to say. It didn't help that a couple week's later one of them announced they were pregnant. I felt like when she approached me I was being told bad news. So for a while I felt I had to be stronger and let a lot of things just roll off my shoulders.  I'm glad now that they are starting to come around and listen a little more. My husband has a brother and sister. I don't remember what his brother's reaction was, but his sister asked me " Why does this keep happening " She was concerned and I think crushed. 

 

Finally day 25 we are supposed to share what we got as a blessing/baby shower gift. Of course we have never made it that far, but for the first lost I had bought white slippers and "Twas The Night Before Christmas".

 

Thank you everyone for listening! Have a wonderful day!

Hello Everyone!

I know it's nearing the end of the week and as usual that's when I like/get the chance to make an appearance on here. You would think with a part time schedule it would leave room for lot's to do, but it sure doesn't feel that way sometimes. I think the holidays are really starting to kick my butt already, on top of all the birthdays and extras I like to do in between.

I recently did over 50+ donuts for a high school band my husband helps out. It always stresses me out at first because I expect perfection in myself and want to show that I care in whatever I am doing. This was my first big project after all, but in the end the kids loved them and that was enough for my. Especially when I got to see them perform later that day and they found out that they are going to State Competitions!!! :)

Then for practically a month now I've been planning a way to send my niece the perfect care package to celebrate here first birthday since we cannot be there. I would have to say the all my hard work paid off and it really made my day as well as my sister's. In her care package was a Yo Gabba Gabba (Foofa) onesie, matching pink tutu and headband, kid drumsticks, Yo Gabba Gabba paper dolls, Yo Gabba Gabba handmade slippers and a "Just add Ice Cream" kit. All of these things are her favorites and it sound like she spent most of the day caring everything around and that melts my heart. :) 

To do the slippers is not too hard. I'm a beginner and I made it work for me! :) Here is the website that I got the template and further instructions from Pink Slipper Project.