Why I am MIA

Well I have literally worked or babysat every weekend since the end of April (including this weekend....currently.) And while the Monday/Tuesday after I worked I have had off, I still feel always behind and find myself not having enough time to update here. I have managed a few posts, but not the usual couple times per week.

Well, then our regular desktop PC decided to act up and although I got a PC tower from work, I havent had the chance to get it set up. I am currently writing from my tablet (thank goodness for keyboard add ons!)

That being said, next weekend we are going away to my sisters to celebrate my oldest nephew and dad's birthdays! I am so excited to have a more relaxing weekend with my family and plan to enjoy the time away. I will even more enjoy when June is here and every weekend isn't booked solid.

I just want you all to know that I will be back and will try to squeeze in posts when I can between now and then... but when there's no time to craft, there isn't too much to post about either! I do have some projects that are complete, but am not able to get the pictures post-ready at this point.

Thanks for your patience and can't wait to get back at this more consistently.

By the way... what is your opinion on the whole google + comments situation? I don't get emails with comments in anymore... so if I forget to keep checking back, I don't get to respond as quickly... anyone know how to fix this??

Have a great weekend!!

Upcycled Clothespins

Say what??? I have seen different versions of these floating around and thought that they were such a stinkin awesome and CUTE IDEA. Even better- Clothespins and tacks can be bought at the Dollar Tree! I already had everything else, so $2 craft, woop woop. 

So here is my version.

I just have to toot my own horn and say how much I love, I mean L.O.V.E!!!! these clips. 

Honestly, I started with the painted ones, then was toying around with scraps from another project (later) and thought I'd give the chevron a try. Best. Idea. Ever. Right??

So here's what I did.

1.Simply put, I started by hot gluing the tacks to the back of each of the clothespins. I initially thought, oh yea, 12 will be enough. BAHAHA. Right.

2. After that, I painted 6 with the base color of white, and 6 white a soft yellow. I let them dry while I worked on something else. 

3. How cool right?? 

4. Yep, super cool. Used the tip of a Qtip to make the dots. 

For the Chevron ones, I just traced one with the clothespin and then continued to cut 2 strips of each color since there were 6 colors. 

Then, maybe I had a little fun stacking them together to take this picture. Seriously, can you really blame me?

And there you have it my friends. A really awesome office staple when you live  work in a cubicle and have LOTS of papers that need to be visible/accessible really quickly. They are so cute and so functional and I might just have to make a million more. 

Well, maybe not really a million. 

Have a great weekend :) Back Monday with more loving on my Hobby Lobby Chevron Burlap Ribbon!

Inspiration Thursday #9

I can't believe it was last Thursday the last time I posted here. The good news is that I got some fun craft projects done on my days off Monday and Tuesday and hope to do some serious writing tonight after work. Can't wait to show you what I have been up to. (hint: if you follow me on instagram, you already saw some previews)

Anyhow, onto your weekly dose of inspiration from me :)

(source)

Don't waste an opportunity or a chance to say or do what you really wish you had the courage to do.

(source)

What an interesting perspective

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Haven't seen this movie yet, but plan on it, and totally love this quote. What a great reminder.

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What a cool print and such a cool message. Don't get so busy putting yourself down that you forget to lift yourself up!

Happy Thursday crafty lovies. Be back tomorrow with a fun, summery project :)

Inspiration Thursday #8

Hey everyone- you made it to another Thursday! :) Congrats! I almost forgot it was Thursday because I know I work this weekend so it doesn't have the meaning it normally does. (except weekends at work we can wear yoga pants and a hoodie if we want!!)

So here I am with some more wonderfully inspiring quotes. Thanks to those of you who have left comments regarding the quotes I share each week- it really means an awful lot to me.


(source) This is something I have to remind myself from time to time. Remember to slow down a little and take in the little things


(source) Clever tattoo idea and really wonderful reminder.


(source) seriously. the sooner you learn, the better. Sometimes it just happens and there is nothing you can do about it. seriously.


(source) very important- don't surround yourself with toxic people with toxic lives.


(source) definitely not an easy feat, by any means. But it is always an eye opener after something bad happens- to open your eyes and see all the good around you.

I have some projects that I am ready to tear into when I have off Monday and Tuesday. I hope to at least make some kind of progress in getting both crafty and household things done (or at least more caught up) since the last few months have been somewhat of a rat race.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and some wonderful weather! :)

Hubby's favorite cake

Hubby's birthday is April 19th and somehow I started the tradition of making him a German Chocolate cake each year. It is his absolute, hands down, favorite cake of all time but no one in my family is really a fan- including me. Well, until I got tired of spending so much time making a cake and then not eating it, so I guess you could say I have an acquired taste.

Anyway, here it is!!

Ok seriously, DROOL.

So I am going to share some pictures and the recipe (as found in Better Homes and Garden's New Cook Book- Ltd Edition, 12 ed.)

Ready to get rolling...

The majority of the ingredients needed- missing are flour, sugar and the eggs and butter. I think I already had that stuff measured when I thought it'd be a good idea to take this. Yep, you might realize I love Wegmans :)

Ingredients:
3 Eggs
2/3 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1- 4 oz package of sweet baking chocolate
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 recipe coconut-pecan frosting

1. Separate eggs, Allow egg yolks, whites and butter to stand at room temp for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, grease and lightly flour 2  9-1.5-inch or 8 x 1.5 inch round cake pans and set aside. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

2. In a small saucepan, combine chocolate and 1/3 cup water. Cook and stir over low heat until melted; cool.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, beating until well combined.

Scrape sides of bowl; continue beating for 2 minutes. Beat in egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition (1 minute total). Beat in cooled chocolate mixture and vanilla. Alternately, add flour mixture and buttermilk to butter mixture; beat on low speed after each addition until combined.

4. Thoroughly wash the beaters. In a large mixing bowl beat egg whites until a stiff peak forms (tips stand straight). Gently fold egg whites into the batter. Spread butter into prepared pans.

If you don't know how to fold egg whites (I just used to fudge it!!) here is a great video.

5. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes for 9 inch pans, 25 to 30 for 8 inch pans or until a wooden toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean. Cool cake layers on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove cake layers from pans; cool thoroughly on racks. 

Frosting- 

I actually doubled this recipe so that I had plenty to slather all over the cakes- this is hubbys favorite part so I needed to make sure it was plentiful. 

In a medium saucepan, slightly beat 1 egg. Stir in 1- 5ox can of evaporated milk, 2/3 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat; stir in 1 1/3 cup flaked coconut, 1/2 cup chopped pecans. Cover and cool thoroughly. 

Spread Coconut pecan icing on the cake- stack layers.

6. Hear the happiness in hubby's voice when he says how good the house smells and how happy he is when he gets to eat his birthday cake- even if it is over a week overdue because of crazy, beautiful life. 

We both had a nice sized slice. And I am not going to life, it was so delicious and filling to boot. I am a pretty good German chocolate cake maker- Just sayin. 

Happy Wednesday crafters/bakers/lover of all things creative.