Sharpie Tie-dye (Pinterest)

Pretty simple and straightforward.

 Take a lightweight fabric (I tried to do this to a hoodie and it didn't really work), decorate with sharpies, spray with rubbing alcohol. 

From there I let it dry and then washed it as I would normally!

 Before

 

After being sprayed

 

My sisters shirt

SIDE NOTE:

So I learned to not go crazy when spraying the shirt. I added dots to the rest or the eBay shirt and sprayed until the 8 ounce bottle was empty. I wish I would have taken pictures because spraying it so much took all of the color to the bottom and the dots remained at the top. It sounds cool, but trust me, it looked like a hot mess.

SIDE SIDE NOTE:

I noticed that you will get different effects with the watercolor look depending on how you apply the rubbing alcohol and how you let it dry. For the sleeves of the eBay shirt I let it dry on the drying rack like you see in the pictures and when I did the body I hung it on a hanger on the drying rack.
For my sisters shirt she sprayed the left side where she created the design and then folded the right side to it and twisted it together to spread the color & then she let it dry flat. 

Coffee Cake

I love a simple yet easy thing to make for breakfast for my work week. I make this on Sunday and bring a piece to work every morning. (I cut the cake into thirds and so there are 4 pieces to have as a treat/snack, or I will pack an extra piece for my husband and/or work friends, just so that the rest of the cake doesn't go to waste.)

 Cake batter

 Before being baked

The end result

I know there isn't much difference from before and after baking, but the topping gets more brown and crunchy/crumbly.

COFFEE CAKE:

1 1/2 cup flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup oil

1 beaten egg

1/2 cup milk

Preheat over to 375. In a small bowl mix flour, sugar, baking powder, & salt. In medium bowl combine oil, egg, & milk. Add dry ingredients to milk mixture & mix well. Pour into greased 9x9 or 8x8 pan. Sprinkle with spicy topping. Bake for 25 minutes. 

SPICY TOPPPING:

1/2 cup brown sugar 

2 TBSP flour

1 tsp cinnamon 

Combine and add:

1 TBSP butter

SIDE NOTE: 

I use a fork to combine the spicy topping mix, I think it helps get it to the crumbly stage faster.

3 Yarn Blankets (Pinterest)

This is a quick and easy blanket to make, and looks great using only a chain stitch.

(I have no idea if chain stitch is right?!?! I am self taught and all I know is it looks like a braid and my mom calls it a chain stitch)

Finn's blanket

Navy silky yarn, grey yarn, & cream boucle yarn.

 

Carter's blanket

 Light green baby yarn, cream boucle yarn, & grey yarn.

 

 

Mr. Carter. He's so cute I can't handle it sometimes!

 

  

GO PACK GO!!!

Not going to lie, I love how easy and amazing these blankets so I had to make one for our couch in Packer colors!

 Green boucle yarn, cream silky yarn, & mustard yarn.

All you need is 3 different colors of yarn and a large crochet hook. For the crochet hook size P or Q work fine, it just depends on how thick your yarn is, once it is all together.  I always use 3 different brands just so you have all different textures. I personally make sure that they are all kinds of yarn that can be washed, I do these blankets mostly for when my friends have babies, and we all know it would be a waste of time and money to make something that nice that couldn't be cleaned.

Tollhouse Cookies (Pinterest)

Simple and delicious.

NESTLE TOLLHOUSE COOKIES:

2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 sticks softened butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Small bowl: combine flour, baking soda & salt.
Large bowl: combine butter, sugars & vanilla.
Beat until creamy.
Gradually beat in dry ingredients.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2" apart onto cookie sheet.
Bake @ 375 for 9-11 minutes until golden brown.
Let cool for 2 minutes then transfer to wire rack.

SIDE NOTE: I have made these twice. They were delicious both times, but the second time I think the butter was way too soft because they cooked really fast and almost created one big cookie on each sheet. I put the dough in the fridge for about 20 minutes and they turned out much better.

Bob's Lemon Cookies

These are so good I can't even tell you. They are a delicious cookie with the perfect amount of lemon flavor!

 The mix is crumbly.

 Mark with forks just like peanut butter cookies.

So good!

BOB'S LEMON COOKIES

(I don't know who Bob is, but he makes damn good cookies)

1 cup shortening

2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp lemon extract

3 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp soda

2 tsp cream of tartar

Sift flour, baking soda & tartar. 

Mix remaining ingredients in given order.

Grease cookie sheet & press cookie with fork, just like peanut butter cookies.

Bake @ 350 for 8 minutes. 

DON'T let cookies brown.

Reeses Cookies (Pinterest)

REESE'S COOKIES

1 cup sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup shortening or 3/4 cup butter
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup reese's peanut butter chips
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Cream shortening, sugars & vanilla in a large bowl until light & fluffy.
Add eggs & beat well.
Combine flour & baking soda & add to creamed mixture.
Stir in peanut butter& chocolate chips.
Drop teaspoons and bake @ 350 for 10-12 minutes.

SIDE NOTE: I have only used the shortening, and they are delicious.

SIDE SIDE NOTE: This is also a great recipe for chocolate chips. Just use 2 cups chocolate chips!

Flat Iron Cleaner (Pinterest)

You know how gross your flat iron can get? Worry no more. This cleaner is AMAZING!

 GROSS!

 The miracle worker.

Looks new!

MIRACLE CLEANER:

1/4 cup baking soda

Hydrogen peroxide

Mix baking soda with peroxide until it forms a paste. Scrub with fingers over the offending flat iron until clean. Wipe down with damp cloth!!!

 

Brownie Cookies (Pinterest)

Here is a yummy brownie cookie recipe. While they were delicious I like a basic cookie.

 

 The final product!!!

BROWNIE COOKIES

1 pkg dark brownie mix

3 TBSP water

1/2 cup melted butter

1 egg

1 cup chocolate rice cereal

1/2 cup quick oats

1 cup M&M's 

1/3 cup melted white chips 

Mix: brownie mix, water, butter & egg. Stir in cereal, M&M's & oats. Mix well. Bake for 350 for 9-12 minutes or until edges are set. Cool for 10 minutes. Drizzle with baking chips.

 

Cinnamon Roll Waffles (Pinterest)

Cinnamon roll waffles... I mean, come on. They are easy and ridiculously delicious. 

 

 You're welcome

CINNAMON ROLL WAFFLES

Tube of your favorite breakfast rolls

Waffle iron

Take 4 of the rolls and place in the center of the iron. Shut iron. Remove when iron tells you to. Devour.

Mobile

When I found out my friend Stacie was pregnant I knew I wanted to make her something really cute, and so one day while perusing pinterest I saw a pin for 30 DIY mobiles. So I looked over them and I love the one that had raindrops, but I knew I wanted to add clouds, and then I just took off with the idea!

Pretty simple and easy, I had my friend pick out colors she liked and I cut out a few of each color of clouds and of raindrops. I don't know how much fabric I used, but the width of the clouds was no more than 4 inches or so. So you could easily get an 1/8th of a yard and get a few clouds and plenty of raindrops from each piece.
I sewed everything by hand and filled with batting before I closed each piece up.
Then I added 3 strands of raindrops, with 3 raindrops on each strand, to the bottom of the cloud.
*I just estimated what looked best and used the first cloud as a template so none of the raindrops were at the exact height of the strand next to them.
Then I added a strand to the top of the cloud and tied them, in varying heights to the inner round of an embroidery hoop.
I added a few strands of ribbon and added a small plastic circle to the top, so that they could hang it from a hook in the ceiling.
This was SUPER easy to make, it just took time because it was sewn by hand.


SIDE NOTE: Carter loves his mobile!!!

Famous Oatmeal Cookies (Pinterest/Childhood)

When my dad was adjusting to working from home he would get a wild hair and decide to reorganize the kitchen. Which was odd considering he didn't make meals... well on a rare occasion he could, when needed, whip up tuna fish sandwiches, breakfast for dinner, hamburgers & home made french fries.

During one of these moments he, for some crazy reason, through out an old quaker oat tin. This tin had the following recipe. My mom and I were distraught and upset, and couldn't find a similar recipe for a long time (I think after some time we forgot about it). But then because Pinterest is amazing we have the recipe again!!! 

 

 

QUAKER OATMEAL COOKIES

3/4 cup shortening 

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1.4 cup water

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

3 cup rolled oats (NOT QUICK!!!)

Raisins - optional, I add until I think there are enough to my liking. 

Large bowl: beat shortening, both sugars, egg,  water, & vanilla until creamy. Beat in flour, salt, & baking soda until dough is smooth. Fold in oatmeal & raisins (if desired). Drop by heaping tsp 2" apart. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Store in air tight container. 

SIDE NOTE: 

I only make a few at a time and freeze or refridgerate the dough. After a few days the cookies can get a little soggy.

SIDE SIDE NOTE: 

Not only has my father been forgiven for throwing out the old tin, but he has branched out from his 3 meal staples that I had as a child. A few years ago my mother told him that she did the cooking for the first half of their marriage and it was now his turn, and rightly so. I don't know how he took this at the time, but for the last 2 years or so, he has flourished. He is a chef in his own right, buying the fancy tools he needs, watching America's Test Kitchen, checking cookbooks out of the library and trying new things frequently. He is killing it in the dinner making game. He is pretty much amazing in my book. 

DIY Dryer sheets (Pinterest)

This is so easy and inexpensive, I don't know why I haven't done this sooner.

I got everything at the dollar store.

DIY Dryer Sheets
Sponges: there were 2 per pack and I think I bought 4
1 container: mine has a screw on lid
1 bottle of fabric softener
Water

Cut the sponges in half, put 2 parts water for 1 part fabric softener. Gently shake bottle to mix water and softener. When ready to use lightly wring out sponges (you basically don't want it to be soaking wet)
I put in about 2 or 3 sponges for each load. If I am just doing towels I do 4.
I have a friend that does this as well, but she uses Bounty softener, and only uses 1-2 sponges per load.

SIDE NOTE: I put my sponges in before I put in the wet clothes, and then used the wet clothes to get the liquid off of my fingers.

SIDE SIDE NOTE: your hands will be super soft on laundry day!

Memory Jar (Pinterest)

 I notice every year that this idea is pinned a lot and I am so glad I did it last year. I just took a basic jar, cut a piece of glitter paper, wrote 2013 in permanent marker and taped it to the jar. I then took a bunch of colored paper and cut them and put them in a baggie next to the jar. Throughout the year my husband I wrote down funny, cute & lovey things we wanted to remember.

The only thing that differs from the pin that I saw is that my husband and I read them on January 1st and we also put them in a scrapbook that we will add each year until the book is full.

This is something I know we will write even more things this year than we did the last, because it is so cute to remember things that would otherwise be forgotten.

Jar with 2014 and to the left are the scraps of paper.

 The first page to mark the year of memories.

 

One of my memories.

 

One of Kyle's memories.

SIDE NOTE: 

I got everything at Hobby Lobby at 50%. I didn't go at the same time, but they rotate their sales frequently.

Glittery Glue (Pinterest)

This is basic craft, but super addicting. 

Basically you find some glitter you like (I have found that I prefer super fine glitter because it takes fewer coats, isn't lumpy & doesn't stick out from the item).

I just use modge podge, you can also use watered down Elmer's glue. I take a bowl and line it with tin foil and add your glitter, add it slowly because you still want the glue to be 'runny', you don't want to put in to much glitter and create a paste. 

Then using a foam brush (you get better coverage) apply the glittery glue. Let it dry so that you can see spots that need to be touched up, should only take 3 coats max. When not in use leave the brush in the bowl and cover with tin foil, making sure to wrap it around the brush, so it won't dry out. 

 Glittery glue

 First coat

 Up close.

 Final product

This is a jar that I couldn't find a lid that fit. I used glitter that looked like little slivers, I really like the glitter, but it doesn't lay flat and is chunky in some spots, which is why I prefer super fine glitter. 

SIDE NOTE: 

If you don't have the time to do this in one day, you are in luck. If you wrap and cover the glittery glue it will keep for about 2 days if you don't use it, otherwise if you do nothing with it for 3 days plus it will harden.

Brownie Mix (Pinterest)

Super easy mix to make, store & bake. However... nothing compares to the boxed mix, at least in my opinion. This was a little dry, where the box mix is moist and has that flaky top. 

 

BROWNIE MIX

4 cup sugar
3 cup flour
1 cup cocoa
1 1/2 tsp salt

TO BAKE

2 1/4 cup brownie mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla

350 in greased 8" pan for 30-35 minutes.

SIDE NOTE: 

The fact that I had to use the word moist hurt a little bit. But when contemplating using a synonym I realized that no one wants to hear the following words in relation to food: damp, humid, muggy, soggy, dampish, dank & oozy. Yeah... I'll stick with moist for the blog, though I would rather use juicy. 

SIDE SIDE NOTE: 

If you can't tell from the previous side note, I detest that particular word. Personally I think it is the most vile word in the English language.