A Crafty Holly Day

So here is a random upload of random projects and such since Thanksgiving...

My sister owns a Pilates and fitness studio wanted to gift all her clients with our mom's homemade granola... She hired me to make and package it all - oh my word, that was sooo much granola.  My kitchen was covered from one end to the other in all the random stuff that goes in granola.  I think it was at least five batches!  That was a ginormous project to say the least.  

Recipe HERE

My friend loves owls and I had this idea to make an owl hot pad AKA 'Hoot Pads.'  This was the first edition...  So, I'm making a few changes and these may be for sale this year...  I didn't get a picture of it, but it has a little tail on the back too.

Made some Christmas Jammies!  Hopefully I'll be able to get more in the store next year in time for Christmas than I was able to this year.  It was fun to do some matching ones for a fun family!!  Do you want to place an order for next year?  ;) 

Are they not adorable?

I love any recipe where I can stuff stuff back into the food, stuffed peppers, stuffing dips in peppers, or fruits, pumpkins, etc!  My friend posted this on her blog and I had a butternut squash still left from my Grandma's garden and so I made it!  I left the greens out of one in an attempt to help my children eat it, but no.  I thought it was good, super flavorful - however, my kids and John weren't fans, but look how pretty they were!  (Photo taken before the cheese was added.)

Recipe HERE 

For Thanksgiving I made my yummy pumpkin cheesecakes again, and an old family favorite - a cream pie. 

Recipe for Pumpkin Cheesecakes HERE

One of my college roommates had a baby this past year and said she didn't have a lovie yet.  Her maiden name was Peacock, so I had the idea to do a Peacock Lovie for her.  Another first edition, there are some things I would do different when I make one again. 


New Year's Eve Vacation was absolutely wonderful!  We had a repeat of New Years Eve for three nights in a row!  So sad to leave my sister's house!!

I made Chex Mix - My favorite!!  I only add the stuff I like!  The best addition - BUGLES!! 

Mmmmm.... Two of my favorite appetizers, stuffed mushrooms and bruchette

I made this fondue again, but used gruyere instead of the butterkase it called for because every store was out! But, it came out perfect!  So yummy!

Recipe HERE

I'm insanely behind on my projects and some custom orders...  But it's always fun to look back and see some things you have accomplished!  :)

Refashion Friday - Copy Cat Bead Kit

My six year old daughter asks me if she can play with the beads in my workroom at least four times a week. I was thinking about getting her one of those bead kits for Christmas, but we've spent enough money already, and then I had a thought, "why not just make one???"

So, I did! I already had a bead container to use, I cut up some old jewelry, and went through the beads I already have.

She is going to love this! She won't have to ask me to do beads anymore, she will have her own!

Since this picture was taken, I added some stretchy bead cording, and more beads for a grand total of $2.50!

I took apart some of my old jewelry...

Old jewelry taking up space in my jewelry box.  Whenever my parents would travel they would bring me back the strangest jewelry and I was holding on to it though it was probably never worn.  Ha!  My mom would totally approve of this refashion though!

I went through the beads I have and picked out the ones to add to her box.  Now, no one can say I don't throw anything away, because this pile totally went in the trash! 

Must Have Kitchen Accessory

Forget about the Kitchen Aid or that Le Creuset Pot - what you need most in your kitchen is an Aloe plant!!!

My sister in law gave me one a while back and I can't believe I never had one in my kitchen before that.  My mom had aloe in our kitchen, and I always wanted some too but for some reason never bought any.

I burned myself making these yummy doughnuts with the frying oil. It bugged me so bad I finally broke off an aloe stem and squeezed the juice out onto the burn - and Oh. My. Goodness.  IMMEDIATE relief!  Why have I not always done that with my cooking burns?!??! 

My plant has been re potted and has now grown another plant right next to it. I think this might become my new house warming gift to others...
 

My 2010 Top Ten Gift List

I know I 'm posting this a little late, but here are my Top Ten 2010 gift picks:

#1: Trio Crock Pot sets - Why have these not been around forever? I have always thought I needed multiple crock pots... problem solved! Brilliant!

#2: Gingher Scissors: I recently realized I got my Gingher scissors in 1998, and they haven't been sharpened since. The best scissors ever. Know a crafty person that doesn't have these already? If they really are crafty (sewers), they should already have some... but, if they don't - give them a gift that will last a lifetime (or more).

#3: If I had a million dollars, I'd purchase friends art for all of my friends. Love this one HERE.

#4: Fisher Price nativity set: I wanted one of these last year, but every store was sold out. I got mine this year the day after Thanksgiving, yay!! #5: Then I saw this at my sister in laws and must have it as well... next year!!!

#6: Instead of Christmas music, you can hear this playing in my van. Music my Grandpa and I can both listen to! Love it!

#7: My new favorite! Oh my goodness, sooooooooooo delicious!!!! John bought home some for all of us.... I admit it, I ate my kids cookies too!!! No. Self. Control.

#8: My new favorite apple cider! Thanks to my sister in law, Cheryl, for introducing me! I buy it at Harris Teeter - check your local grocery store.


#9: Our favorite treat this time of year. Years ago, people didn't believe us when we told them Martinelli's sparkling cider had different flavors, but during the holidays you find different flavors, our very favorite! We haven't tried the flavor below yet though! See all the flavors here.

#10: Not a fan of salt scrubs - ouch! But I love these sugar scrubs. Makes your skin sweet and soft!

Hope Santa brings you what's on your list!!!

Halloween Party

I have always wanted to have a Halloween party. I wanted to do one this year, but considering I never even got my Halloween decorations out, there was a slim chance of one happening. A friend mentioned that she wanted to do one too, but didn't know if she had time either. I told her I would help her do one, if she could organize it. I wouldn't mind co-hosting, but I knew I couldn't wrap my head around putting a whole party together.

It was so fun, and pretty great for pulling a party together with not a ton of planning time!

Here's a run down on the party:

THE FRIENDS:
(As with almost every party, I once again only took pictures of a few people before putting my camera away. Oops. I apologize if you don't make an appearance in this post, but you made an appearance at the party...)

This is the host Meaghan.

My husband's costume was an Iphone. Really... He wanted me to be a Blackberry Curve; "...we've got blackberries, and you've got curves..." True story. You should have heard his other costume suggestions. All equally as silly...

THE FESTIVE DECOR:
Meaghan had a lot of fun decorations that I didn't get pictures of. All three levels of her house had spooky decor. I should have taken a picture of the scary man hanging over the shower rod.

One of my favorites! Candles that drip blood! She was so nice and gave me two candles to use next year!

She had this posted in her kitchen. I love it!

The only decor I had any part of were the platters and the name tags for the food. So, not a whole lot. I also was in charge of coming up with names for the food. For the place cards, I downloaded a blood dripping font and brushed the edges of the cards with my red stamp pad to make it look like smeared/splattered blood. I took little skulls, cut slits in the top and put the tags in that. If there is one thing I love about a gathering, it's fun name/food/place cards! I loved how they turned out!

THE FOOD

Meaghan and her mom did amazing food.

Tri-tip sliders

Pork carnitas

Lentil sliders

Italian Cheese Dip

Fun veggie trays

Macaroons

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Doughnuts baked in mini muffin tins, I just put the crazy eye part

on according to Meaghan's instructions.

I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and white chocolate cream cupcakes with a white chocolate spider web.

I also made caramel and chocolate covered apples. I had been wanting to try cinnamon and sugar ones for a while now, and finally did it! So yummy! They are going to be Christmas gifts this year!

With the leftover caramel from the apples I wrapped up individual caramels.

I was in charge of the drinks. I decided to go along with a witches workshop theme idea and do different punches. You can't tell in this picture, but the Rotten Eyeballs actually had peeled grapes in the Apple Cider. The Monster Mucous looked the coolest. I'll include the recipe:

Classic Sherbet Punch:

Two containers of lime sherbet (quart sized)

One large bottle of chilled pineapple juice

Two and one half liters of chilled Ginger ale

(I put my sherbet in completely frozen, I just run the container under some warm water to get it out)

I found some fun skull ice cube molds to use for the party too! You have to look really closely in the picture to even be able to tell what they are.

THE FAVORS/Treats:

Meaghan put this all together

THE FUN (games):

Meaghan organized a MAD GAB Halloween game, and did the guess how many in a jar. I came up with an game involving writing epitaph (grave stone inscription). I had everyone write four different words on four different pieces of paper and then mix all the words together. Then everyone drew four words. They had to include those four words in an epitaph. I cut out gravestone shapes and distressed them with a black ink pad, and that was what everyone wrote their epitaphs on. Then, they put them back in the basket, everyone drew one, and read their epitaph. There were some pretty funny ones. Meaghan also had some Halloween music playing in the background, and I suggested we turn it up and see who could come up with the coolest "Monster Mash" dance. Sadly, there were no volunteers...

'Til next year!