Summertime is around the corner and my backyard deck is in need of a makeover! I would love to replace all the deck boards with something like TREX but, yeah that’s not going to happen – too much moola. So I found an alternative solution . . . there are these two products at Home Depot. I prefer to use Home Depot because I have a gift card there 😉 . . . I’ve done the research, read the reviews but it just seems like it depends on who you talk to, soooooo I’m wondering if any of you have used either of these products or know of someone else that’s used them??? I thought I’d try out using a “poll” . . . thought it might be fun and would love your input!! If this poll is successful maybe you can help me pick out the color 😉
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Grammy Necklaces
- Epiphany Rounds size 14 (small)
- Epiphany Rounds size 25 (large)
- I gave this one to Tara 😉
One of my besties, Sherry in Cali, told me about this product by Epiphany. I just love them and thought it would be fun to make them for my daughter-in-law and the Grammy’s as a gift for the baby shower. You purchase the punch, the clear bubbles and the charm settings. I think they are adorable on ball chain so I bought a roll of it from Hobby Lobby. You can use any scrapbook paper or photo. I printed the verbiage on scrapbook paper using my regular printer at home. That green thing is the punch which will punch out the exact size circles for the size bubbles you have – either Size 14 for the small charms or Size 25 for the large charms. You’re suppose to be able to apply your paper circle to the clear bubble with the punch, but Sherry recommended that I do it by hand & rub out any air bubbles. Then I used craft glue to adhere the bubble to the charm -just use a very small amount so it doesn’t soak through your paper. They turned out so cute and I will probably add a picture of my granddaughter later on. You can purchase them at Archivers.com or Amazon.com.
Happy Belated Easter!
It was 20 years ago on Easter Sunday that I asked Jesus to enter my life. I had spent many years trying to make things happen on my own, and it was time to let go and Let God. One year later I found myself living in Colorado. I couldn’t have made “that” happen even if I tried, lol. I can see His hand in my life and the direction it’s taken. My home, my kids, my job, my health – all of it God inspired, God directed. I can still remember something Pastor Ron Carter said over 20 years at a church in Napa that I attended . . . “the difference between doubt & deliverance, is a slight turn of your heart”. Well I can honestly say – it’s TRUE. It didn’t seem like it at the time but that moment when I decided what the heck . . . why not give it all to HIM, in that moment – it changed me . . . not right away but over time it changed me. As I look back at where my life was 20 years ago and where I am today, I can say that I am a different person. Truly blessed and looking forward to the future! Happy Belated Easter!! 😉
Baby Shower – Stuff
Here are the last of the pics! Enjoy 😉
Wow Me Wednesday . . .
I’m interrupting the flow of the Baby Shower pics for “Wow Me Wednesday”. I’ll post the last bunch of pics tomorrow but I thought you might like to try some of these EASY treats – they’d be super cute for Easter Sunday! I bought the pre-made Rice Crispy Treats (40 to a box) and used the vanilla dipping wafers, yellow & white (Joanne’s/Hobby Lobby or Michael’s). For the cupcakes I just bought the boxed cake mix (which is seasonal) and found the baking cups on Amazon.com – love them!!! Just fill the cups 1/2 way and place on a cookie sheet to bake – eat with a spoon – I want them in all colors!!! I bought this Cake Pop machine by “Babycakes” at Kohls a couple years ago. It comes with everything you need & a recipe book which I used for these Red Velvet Cake Balls. After baking, refrigerate the cake balls, then dip them in vanilla dipping wafers & sprinkle with Pink Sanding Sugar. Everything was really good but the guest’s favorite were the cupcakes!! 😉
Baby Shower – Gifts
Jason stayed for the baby shower – I think he enjoyed it all as much as Tara did!! 😉 . . . Thanks everyone!!
Baby Shower
The baby shower was Saturday and oh my gosh the kids got a ton of stuff. Thank you to all our family and friends for making it such a special day!!!! Not sure how many posts this will take to show off all the pictures but here we go . . .
Good Laugh . . . Happy Friday!
Wow Me Wednesday . . .
I thought I’d post about the Monster Cookies I made for Owen’s Party. I started doing “take-away” cookies for the party guests when he was 3 years old, those were Fireman Hats, 4th birthday were Putting Green Cookies, 5th birthday were Astronauts and this year they were Monster Cookies for his 6th “Monster Bash” party.
I always use the sugar cookie recipe below from Sandra Lee. They are easy to make and are not super sweet. One tip . . . when I roll out the cookie dough I use a mixture of flour & powdered sugar on the counter – adds just a bit of sweet to them. For the icing, I always use disposable bags (Joanne’s or Hobby Lobby w/40% off coupon) and normally use a #2 tip to outline the shape, a #4 to fill it in and a #1 for any detail.
Cookies
17.5 oz. Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix (comes in a bag)
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 teas. vanilla
1 c. all-purpose flour
(variation: may add 1/4 c. cocoa & 3/4 c. flour)
Combine cookie mix w/cream cheese until crumbly. Mix in the eggs & vanilla until well combined. Add flour to make a firm dough. Refrigerate for 15 min. Lightly flour/powder sugar board and roll out dough to 1/4 in. Bake cookies for 8 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.
Royal Icing
1 cup powdered sugar/1 Tablespoon meringue powder/water for consistency. Start with 3 teaspoons of water & 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Note: if you want a true “white” icing you’ll need to use clear vanilla & add white icing color. Also if you use liquid food coloring it will thin out your icing consistency: start with 2 teas water, then 1 teas vanilla, then add food coloring and more water if necessary (1/2 teaspoon at a time).
You’re Invited!
Well it’s finally here . . . this Saturday is the Baby Shower. All the planning, all the “Cricut” cutting, all the “Pinterest” pinning has come to an end, LOL. Baby Girl Benson’s room is pink & gray, so for the shower I went with pink, gray & yellow . . . Tara loves Owls. This cute little owl is in the invitation and it’s from Cricut’s “Cindy Loo” cartridge, I added the little flower with “bling” (always need a little bling). Wish my “out of town” family & friends could be here to celebrate with us, but of course I will post pics next week so you can see it all . . . 😉







