Friday, April 22, 2011

A new Chocolate Chipper

Sunday I was totally into trying new recipes, I haven't baked in a bit, I tried a new sugar cookie recipe and this new chocolate chip one...and honestly I love it. The extra brown sugar makes them so much 'richer'.  I plan to take many to work (so I don't eat them)-I will let you know what they say!

Here is a picture and the recipe.

Preheat oven 360 bake for about 12 min
2 sticks of butter
1/2 cup of sugar
1.5 cups of brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 3/4 cus of flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp baking powder
1.5 bags of chocolate chips

Mix, sneak a little dough, bake...enjoy with a nice glass of cold milk!

T.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

New Recipe-Sugar Cookies

Well, everyone knows I have killer sugar cookies (insert pat on the back) but sometimes you just look for something different.  And, Google didn't let me down.

Its actually really funny everyone knows I am a CY fan, well I guess GAC did a spot about singers favorite cookies during the holiday season called "GAC 12 Days of Country Cookies" and I actually stubled upon it, and tried it today. I hope I did his mama proud. 

It is very different from my normal recipe.  First, you don't need to cut them out, you roll them into a ball, sort of like PB cookies. Second, it calls for Orange extract (which-FYI-I didn't have any...I had to go buy some) And finally, there is no baking soda or powder in them.

After baking them, they are really good. The finally test will be at work tomorrow-lord knows they love free baked goods but will always give me an honest opinion-Mrs. Harris I hope they love them!

Here is the receipe and a few pictures of my cookies...do they look ok?? (and lucky you even get to see a small video about it-wink wink)
(Also, I changed the frosting, I am guessing (correct me if I am wrong) she actually uses a thicker frosting I made mine more a glaze, the cookie tasted so good I didn't want to take away from it, perhaps next time I will stick with the her call)

Frosted Christmas Cookies


Time and YieldCook time: 10-12 mins Yield: Varies
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
2 1/4 cups white sugar
2 eggs
4 cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon orange extract
milk as necessary

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and 2 cups of the sugar. Add eggs one at a time and beat well after each. Combine flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 teaspoon orange extract. Add flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture alternately with the milk to play dough consistency.

In a small separate bowl, Dip rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into sugar.

Place on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.

Frosting:
Combine softened butter (1/2 stick) with sifted confectioners sugar until creamy. Add 1/2 teaspoon orange extract, 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract, and food coloring of choice. Mix well, add additional confectioner's sugar to desired consistency. Frost each cooled cookie with dollop of frosting. Serve.


Have a great day!
T.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Cupcake baby

Alyvia recently turned 6, so we have been thinking of birthday themes I totally thought she would pick something girl-Barbies, Princesses, etc., which I would be fine with, but she choose CUPCAKES! How awesome is that! I love cupcakes they are so fun. I have big plans for this party.

While searching the web I came across a pin the candle on the cupcake, can you say perfect.  Well except the price. Sorry I loved it but I wasn't spending $20 on it (I know I am cheap).  I have tons of felt left over why not put it to good use.

It measures about 22x24", its not too big, I made 12 candles with velco on the back so they would stick.


I free handed the cupcake and sewed it using a zig zap stich. The sprinkles are just floss I hand stiched.


If you are not interested in making your own you can purchase it on Amazon.

Have fun--and good luck getting it on the top!
T.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

AG Bed

As I previously posted for Alyvia's birthday she recieved an American Girl doll.  I made her a quilt, bed and pillow.  I previously posted about the bedding here, today I am going to talk about the bed.

At our old house I had this skinny tall chair in the bathroom to hold towels, decorative I guess.  Anyway when we moved to the new house (3 years ago) I didn't really need it for that purpose anymore. Therefore it sat in the garage until about 2 months ago when I found it a new purpose, life.

This was before, cute chair, not very functionable.

Lining up the holes-like the laser level? I scared the crap out of Steve using the saw!

The headboard and foot board are from the chair, the other 'rails' are just spare 2x4's we had around (it looks a little crooked but its not really)


Here it is done.  She loved it! Yeah!

Monday, March 14, 2011

So you wonder where I have been?

With this lovely man....in case you didn't know its
My bestie and I went and saw him in Feb and I got to meet him! Oh happy days.


oh wait, it gets better he signed my kindle...

Anyway....thats what I have been up to (wait-did I mention he was like 6'2-4"?
T.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

AG Quilt

Long time no blog..I know. My life has been CrAzY once again.

So lets back up...for Alyvia's birthday I made her and American Girl doll bed , Quilt and pillow. Today I will be discuss the quilt. I love it! It turned out great. The colors are fun!


This was my first actual quilting project I did, I hope she loves it!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

i stumbled upon...

i seem to stumble upon tons of blogs.  i know how i do it, i visit a favorite one and they link up to their favorite one and so one... which leads me to the coolest new blog i found: flower patch farmgirl.  its a fun, exciting, crisp, true blog. i love reading the ramblings, fun!  i have been really busy lately (hence the lack of crafty blog-shame...hanging my head in pure shame) and not checking in on my blogs i follow, again shame, so to my surprise when i was a couple days shy of her really rodeo of a giveaway! bummer...big bummer.

on the other hand, i am super happy i stumbled upon it because the esty shop is so awesome, farm girl paints, i instantly fell in love with the cuffs. i want one so bad, i have been holding on to a little money since christmas, i think it might be time to break that bill!

i am however having a hard time picking which i REALLY want...
listen leather cuff
yeppers-need to do that every once in a while.

choose joy leather cuff
why wouldn't you?

live brave leather cuff
wish i did more times that i do
fear not leather cuff
dreams...catch them
(all photos are from her website)

i hope you check out her shop, it seems awesome. i just need to figure out which one i need (want).

Happy Tuesday,
T.


http://www.etsy.com/shop/farmgirlpaints?page=1

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

my new bff

Okay Ladies and Gentlemen...who out there has a Kindle? I got one from my inlaws for Christmas and I honestly am in L-O-V-E!! I never read anything other than magazines and crafty books, but now...I am on book number 4 since I got it Christmas Eve.  Can you believe that! I have found it very hard to figure out what types of books I really like (suggestions are REALLY welcome).  So far the ones I have read I really like (another post).

This post is not to toot Amazon's horn for the Kindle but for what I made and recieved for my new bff.  First lets talk about recieved.  For Christmas I this really cute vinyl for the back of my kindle:

It is from Esty (of course), I requested a custom order and she whipped it right up!

Secondly, not only do I share the love of the Kindle but, my besties do to! So of course while sewing my Kindle a new warm and cozy cover I made some for them! (my print is above it matches my owl decal perfectly and B's I forgot to take a picture of ...gasp!)




It took me a little over an hour to make 5 covers. Two I did with zippers....and that is the reason the others have buttons-HA!
Find a good book and snuggle up!
T.

Friday, January 14, 2011

You are so pretty...I must make you mine (all mine)

Happy Friday-for Christmas from my mom I got the most amazing quilting book, a new quiliting foot for my sewing machine and a binding foot too.  I just need some amazing fabric...off to Etsy I went.  Man did I find so many pretty (and needed) fabric! I seriously love this site.  Here are a few of my favorites:

1-Everyone's Favorite Ta Dots Fabric by Michael Miller at the Fabricshoppe
Everyone's Favorite Ta Dots Fabric by Michael Miller- 1/2 Yard Bundle, 8 total
Oh my how I L-O-V-E polkadots...seriously this just makes me so happy to look at!!!!

2-Urban Zoologie and Remix Fabric by Ann Kelle for Robert Kaufman  at the Fabricschoppe

This would be a super cute and fun girly quilt!

3-Love Birds by My Minds Eye for Riley Blake at SistersandQuilters

 

Two words-THINK SPRING!

4-Wheels collections by My Minds Eye for Riley Blake at Sistersand Quilters


Perfect for any little boy who has a special place in your heart!
5-Organic Free to Grow fabric by nancy Mims for Robert Kaufman at fabricshoppe

This is just so pretty and fun!

6-Robots Fabric Boy Bundle at the fabricshoppe

 I honestly just found this but OMG (sad I know) I could make the cutest little baby quilt with this!


7-Urban Zoologie, Metro Market and Remix Fabric by Ann Kelle at the fabricshoppe

Whoo whoo doesn't think this is CUTE?

8-Remix Fabric by Ann Kelle for Robert Kaufman, Argyle in Bright at the fabricshoppe

Um, need I say more?

9-Groovy Guitars in Lime by Michael Miller by Fancypantsfabric


10-Buld Your Fabric Stash-Large Surprise Fat Quarter Bundle of 16 by fabricshoppe

And in case you can't just pick one...or two...or...well you get it.
 
And I can't wait to show you what I bought!!! In due time, all in due time.

T.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Knight=Boy Peggies

It seems like I am always making things for Alyvia...I needed to shift gears and make something for Porter.  My first boy peggie creation...A castle and Knights!

The castle was a bird feeder at Michaels. I started by making the door larger and then decided that just was not enough room to play...I just ripped the front off! (oops, but I like it soooo much better)


Next up are the knights, I used the flat bottom peggies with a mild sparkle gray. I also hand painted all the details.
Finished product:




Perhaps he needs a lady to rescue???

T.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

15 minute Christmas Gift-legwarmers

While paroozing the blogging world I found this simple idea of making legwarmers for babies, well neither of my kids are babies anymore but one is a dancer!  She often says she is cold-perfect! Off to Target I went to buy some long socks. While there I decided on the adult knee socks-she can always scrunch them down if needed. (side bar-as I was shopping I said to myself: I cannot believe I am making my child legwarmers! They were so cool when I was a kid) The socks were only $2 a pair!

This project was super simple-it only took me 15 minutes to make both pair!

Nice fun colors for Alyvia!





Here they are all done! Sew simple (ha)

I am going to Target again today, I think I am going to make a few more pairs! They are so cute, I cannot wait until she opens them!

Happy Thursday!
T

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Simply Fabulous Gift

Happy Wednesday morning, only 2 more days and the big guy comes! I don't know about your household but my kids are SUPER excited! The joy of being a child!

Anyway, I wanted to share with you a thoughtful gift I received this Christmas. I work at Cornell University for the Chair of my department, she has 10 teaching assistants that I work with very closely all semester long. They are great 'kids' full of energy, goals, dreams, spunk, and thoughtfulness.  Below is the wonderful gift I received from them; a ball of super soft and luscious yarn, needles and a gift certificate to our local knitting store.

Thank you PAM 2300 TA's-it is very much appreciated!! 
Happy Holidays!

I hope you get a fun and thoughtful gift this year!
T.

On the 4th Day of Christmas...

Day 4: Faith Hill-Joy to the World

Monday, December 20, 2010

On the 5th Day of Christmas...

Day 5: Kenny Chesney with Alabama: Christmas in Dixie

On the 6th Day of Christmas...

Day 6: Alan Jackson-Let It Be Christmas

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Friday, December 17, 2010

On the 8th Day of Christmas...

Day 8: GLEE - Baby, It's Cold Outside

Thursday, December 16, 2010

On the 9th Day of Christmas...

Day 9-Elvis and Martina McBride-Blue Christmas


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

On the 10th Day of Christmas

Day 10-Jason Mraz - Winter Wonderland