Saturday, October 27, 2012

trick {er} TREAT

Do you have a sugar high yet?  If you're like me, you've probably been having more sweets lately than you should!  You know, snagging a few pieces of the chocolate hanging around the office and deciding you must make some goodies to share with family friends (and sample too of course).  
My sweet tooth was calling me to make the ghost sugar cookies that my parents used to always make for Halloween, but thankfully I gave most of them away instead of eating them all.  


Here's the recipe in case you need a little more sugar in your blood! ;)  It's deliciously sweet!

Sugar cookies
3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup shortening
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs

Mix ingredients and roll into a ball.  Refridgerat e dough for 2 to 3 hours.  Roll out dough on lightly  floured surface and cut with cookie cutter.  Bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes.  Cool before frosting

Frosting
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspooon cream of tarter
2 egg whites

Mix at low speed and frost cookies


Monday, October 22, 2012

28 Things

1.  Today is my birthday and I'm 28

2.   I got the idea for this birthday post from a fabulous and talented blogger I follow

3..   I actually enjoy birthdays especially my own, maybe that makes me a little self-centered but I love being able to hear from family and friends on this day {and be treated special too!}

4.  Around my birthday 2 years ago was when I started dating my husband


Clint and I, October 2010

5.      I knew my husband for 2 years before we started dating, but it wasn’t until we had church assignments together that we truly got to know each other

6.     I am a Mormon

7.     I’m not a California girl by birth, but I’ve lived in the golden state for the last 20 years 

8.      I am the youngest of 3 
my sister Megan, me and my brother Bryson
9.      For as long as I can remember I have considered my mom one of my best friends

10.  I have two best girlfriends that are very different, but both are very giving and talented

11.  I have been best friends with one of the two since 7th grade {although she always claims it was 6th grade}, my other best friend was my roommate for 4 years

12.  Antiquing is something I grew up doing

13.  My first job was at a scrapbook store {I was only 14!}

14.  From the time I was 12 until my first year of college I wanted to be a nurse

15.  Science was my least favorite subject in school 

16.  For a month when I was 19 I worked at a nursing home.  That experience helped me decide I didn’t really want to be a nurse {along with #13}

17.  Instead I majored in public relations in college

18.  I used to be deathly afraid of public speaking

19.  I’ve ran 4 half marathons


me completing my first half marathon in 2008

 .20.  I ran a full marathon {26.2 miles} shortly after my 26th birthday

21.  I can’t really do a full cartwheel

22.  In junior high I was voted best sense of humor

23.  In high school I was voted most likely to be a designer on trading spaces

24.  I have 3 family members with holiday birthdays—Mom’s birthday is April Fools, Dad’s birthday is Halloween and my oldest nephew’s birthday is St. Patrick’s day

25.  I’m only about 1/5th of the way to my goal of visiting all 50 US states

26.  I didn’t really get into or enjoy cooking until I married my husband

27.   I got a fancy dancy KitchenAid mixer for my birthday!

Happy Birthday to me!!

 28.  I’m hoping that 28 is a fabulous year for me!! If you want to give me a birthday present… just share my blog with someone who has never checked it out since this has been my joy to create and share with y’all! :)
Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Apple harvest

A couple of weeks ago we got a surprise delivery when a neighbor from church stopped by to give us two BIG boxes of apples. 

Getting all of this delicious apples on our doorstep reminded me that it's officially fall even though it's still been hot as summer around here!
With this abundance of apples hanging around I decided I needed to try some apple goodies that I've never tried before.  
First up, apple strudel

Not only was this my first time making apple strudel, but it was my first time using phyllo dough.  I love how the thin flakey layers of the phyllo stacked around the yummy apple, pecan, brown sugar filling making the pastry a fall fiesta in my mouth!  I will definitely be making this again!

Next up, apple pie


I used this simple crust recipe and was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to make this scrumptious pie.   The glaze over the pie made the crust take on some extra sweetness without being too sugary.
While the outer crust wasn't picture perfect, I'll be making this pie many more times and will hopefully get it just right soon. 

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Spooktacular stuff {part 3}

It's time for my last spooktacular craft, which happens to be my favorite one!  Two great fall things are combined in this Halloween decoration, candy corn and burlap! 

I started with 8 inch strips of burlap

I then drew out triangles on the strips of burlap

The triangles were then cut

Painters tape was used to prep the triangles for various colors of paint

Yellow paint was applied to the top third of the triangles

White painted was applied to the bottom third of the triangles

After the yellow and white paint dried, I pulled off the painters tape and painted the middle third of the triangles orange

Once the orange paint dried I hot glued the triangles to jute, leaving about 2 inches in between in triangle


The candy corn burlap banner is finished and looks so whimsical above the dinning room window!  
I hope you enjoyed my spooktacular stuff installments with 3 simple crafts that can add to your haunted house this Halloween!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Spooktacular stuff {part 2}

I’m back…with more spooktacular fun!  My next Halloween craft is another simple one that happens to have a little family memorabilia incorporated into it.  


 I started out with a plain frame that I had lying around.  This was one that I picked up a while ago at a thrift store for less than $2. 
  
With a little bit of black paint I covered the whole frame. 

 Once the black paint dried I printed out my “Happy Halloween” in a cute font and prepped it for tracing onto the frame. 
  
 I then lightly taped the printed out word strip onto the frame, with tracing paper underneath it and traced over the words with a pencil. 
  
 After tracing the words and removing the paper I used a fine paint brush to apply orange paint the letters.  




Even though the frame was "complete" I felt it needed a little more vintage character, so I sanded it down a bit.


With the vintage touches finished, the frame is ready to have a picture added.


This picture is special to me since this is my grandpa dressed up for Halloween when he was a toddler.  While this family picture was perfect for this Halloween craft, you can use any Halloween inspired picture or poster to frame.  
Stay tuned for one more installment of Spooktacular stuff...and I think it's my favorite one!