Author Archive
Jul 16
Weekend Projects
This past weekend I was determined to get some “projects” done around the house. That just basically means that I wanted to do something “crafty” for my own house for once. I love candy or anything sweet. I’m dumbfounded when someone says “Oh, that’s way too sweet!” Evidently, I wasn’t born with that gene. With that being said, I love the saying “Home Sweet Home” for many reasons. One because is has the word “sweet” in it. Two because despite all the ruckus and chaos that goes on in my house, I always love coming home. And most of all because my house if full of “sweet” little men!!!!
I’ve been wanting to paint a canvas with that saying on it. So, I finally did it. This idea has literally been eating at me for probably 3 weeks now. That’s what happens to me. If I have an idea and I don’t at least get it down on paper, it stalks me!! Don’t worry, I’ve been sleeping easy now that I got this “project” finished!!
All you need is a canvas, some paint from Home Depot (I just bought one of the $2.50 sample paints), and lettering of your choice!!!! Then ta-dah!!! Isn’t it purdey???? I’m still now sure how I am going to decorate that table, but hey, it works for now!!
Did I also mention that smack dab in the middle of that wall is the thermometer? Umm. . . who’s bright idea was that? Couldn’t the builders have put that in a less conspicuous place? You’d think so, right? Well, it has always bugged me. So, I took care of that and slapped a canvas over it. How’d you like them apples? So, if you are ever at my house and you are too hot, now you know where the thermostat is hiding!
The next project “we” completed and I say “we” loosely because I didn’t really have a lot to do with this one. My sister Jamie moved out of one apartment and into another. The first apartment she totally decorated to a fault and when she moved, she decided she wasn’t going to put so many items on the walls until she lived in a more permanent residence. Don’t you all remember that? You never want to get to “settled” into an apartment! Anyways, smart choice Jamie and I get to benefit. It’s a win win! Thanks Jamie!!!
The boys have had a “blank” wall in their room since last year. I’ve been meaning to buy cute skate board shelves that I’ve seen on etsy, but the shipping on them is out of control. I was rummaging through my parents garage (I’ve checked that I did in fact type “garage” and not “garbage” like three times now) and found some cute white shelves that Jamie had left there. Immediately I snatched them up (of course after I called my sister and politely asked to “borrow” them) and took them home. They had been rattling around in the back of the van for weeks, then they took their place in the garage, and finally they made it to their permanent home. My darling husband was nice enough to hang them up for me. I just had the bright idea and he did the dirty work! Thanks honey for taking a break from working on your car to appease me!
I saw a photo of a formal dining room where they hung these shelves all around the room and decorated them with cookbooks. You better believe it that I will be doing that some day when I get a formal dining room! For now though, they will be decorated with some of my boys’ favorite kids hard back books. I just love hardbacks. Plus, our book shelf was getting way too crowded. I think these look nice on the wall. Functional, get decorative and practical all at the same time. I’m just waiting for the day that Jackson decides to hang from them or climb them!
My last project was putting up an ‘oldie, but goodie! I hate solicitors with a passion. Especially the ones that come during nap time and ring the doorbell and wake my sleeping children up! Thank you! That was MY time! Now you ruined it!!!!!! After a few choice words I’m left with a crying grumpy child and a brochure or whatever that ends up going immediately to my recycling bin! Needless to say, I’m totally over solicitors.
We just got our house painted a month or so ago and when the painters came, I had to remove my “No soliciting” sign! I just got around to putting it back up! I absolutely love it! It’s perfect because the solicitors stay away and I only get the occasional neighbor kid that is selling cookie dough or better yet, my favorite, Girl Scout Cookies!!! Yum!!!
So, those were the projects that I got done this past weekend. I’m not sure what projects I have in store this weekend, but if I do anything exciting, I will let you know!! Thanks for listening to me ramble. I just got back from wine night and I’m ready to hit the hay! Enjoy your day!!!
Good night all!
Jessica
PS- This late night, early morning blogging is getting a bit old. Do any of you blog? What time of day works well for you! It sure is quiet at 12:57 am, but then I have to do some major editing to my hap hazard writing!!! HELP!
I’m so excited to be sharing this with you!!! Kristin is this adorable women that I met through my partner-in-crime-and-fellow-crafter-cousin Julie!!! I’m pretty sure that I’ve blogged about her already! She is a woman that keeps me very busy!!! She is super fun to work with and I welcome all of her future projects. (We already have one in the works, stay tuned) Plus, she totally pimps my Scrabble tile charm necklaces. I should put her on the payroll. Wait? No one actually gets paid around here! My husband is still convinced that when the kids are all in school I should get a “real” job. Whatever!? This is a real job, but the proceeds just fund all of my craftyness!!!! Nothing wrong with that, right?
Okay, so where was I? It’s late and I ramble!!! Plus, I am out of chocolate! Okay, okay! Back on track! Kristin had decided to do a Pirate theme for her son Carson’s 4th Birthday Party!!! I designed the invite, the goodie bag labels, and the thank you cards. Oh, I almost forgot that I did the label for Carson’s t-shirt too. Kristin printed it on iron-on t-shirt transfer (Krisin, what brand did you use?). It was an excellent last minute addition! I LOVE how everything came together in a nice cohesive theme. I’m all about party planning and themes (Nod to you January! I got your back on this one girl!).
The invites and thank you cards were press printed on linen card stock. Have I mentioned how much I love the linen card stock? Well, it’s true. I do love it! It’s my go to card stock finish. When in doubt, print in linen!!! It’s like your trusty comfy jeans. It just fits!! Here are all the items I created for her party. What do you think of them? I see a pirate party in our future with three boys, I am always in need for a new party theme! Check them out. . .
I must say that I love the thank you cards. Julie was making a banner to hang at the party and I thought I would somehow incorporate that into the thank you cards. I think it turned out really nice!
Here are the labels that I designed too! Kristin used these on the goodie boxes.
Carson’s party took place this past weekend! Does anyone notice what time the invite says? No, the party was not in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, I made a typo and wrote “pm” instead or “am.” Oops! Always double check my work! It’s late and I tend to make things up at night! Sorry Kristin!! Regardless, it looks like the party was a blast and all of your guests showed up on time. The party photos are compliments of Kristin and her hubby (thank you Kristin for the fun pics). I am so happy I was able to play a small role in this amazing birthday party! I’d also like to add that Julie helped out too! We make a good team, right? WIthout further ado, here are the party photos. . .
Umm. . . can I just comment on the fact that Kristin’s boys come from a good gene pool? Aren’t her boys adorable. I mean, I would know since I have beautiful boys too! Seriously, Kristin, you make super cute kids. Maybe you should catch up with me?? I figure I am doing my good deed by adding beautiful people to the world?
I just wanted to finish off my telling Kristin. . .
I really appreciate all of your business and wonderful referrals!!!
Hello tomorrow, I’m going to Bed today! (I’m not sure if it shows the time when I blog, but it’s 12:40 PST)
Jessica
Jul 12
I’ve made it. . .
on someone’s blog!!!! Yahoo!! Yippee!! I’m jumping for joy!!! AmberLee contacted me this morning to let me know she did a post about my blog. Yes, my blog! You heard right!! Yay! Can you tell I am excited? I am totally honored! If you haven’t already done so, please check out AmberLee’s blog Giver’s Log and check out what she said about me!
P.S. Stay tuned for my post tomorrow on Arg, Pirates!!!
Mmmm. . . pudding! For some reason, I love pudding in the summer time? It is a quick yummy snack. Lately, I’ve been buying/eating a ton of Jello pudding. You know the kind with the chocolate, then a layer of vanilla, and another layer of chocolate? You know! I’m not the only one that likes these pudding cups, the boys think they are yummy too.
So, recently I saw an adorable post that Ree wrote on her blog ,The Pioneer Woman about Dessert Flower Pots. Do you follow Ree’s blog? If you don’t, you definitely should! It’s one of my favs. She made super cute dessert flower pots. Here is the recipe and instructions for Ree’s Spring Flower Pot Desserts. I’m sure you’ve made/seen something similar.
Since I was instructed to bring a dessert for the fourth of July and I am on a pudding kick, I thought using pudding in the pots, instead of ice cream would be a good alternative that wouldn’t melt! I basically followed the above tutorial, but substituted the ingredients.
The majority of my last weekend was spent trying to track down flower pots that were a good size, but were also as close to “food grade” as possible. I originally bought terra cotta clay pots at Michael’s. Then I re-read through Ree’s post and there was a ton of references about there being LEAD in terra cotta pots. Of course, I didn’t want to put the food directly in them. I bought several different sizes and styles of cups to line the pots with. None of them fit!
I thought about creating parchment paper liners, but I didn’t want the kids to eat the paper, and frankly I was being a bit lazy. I just wanted something easy! What to do? What to do? Find new pots! I looked high and low for the perfect pot! It had to be cute and functional. Oh, and LEAD FREE!!!
Finally, we stopped by Fred Meyer’s and I found the perfect little pots. They were cute and eco-friendly! They were made from bamboo husks and other all organic material. Okay, now we’re talking. The pots were made by Rosso’s International. You can also plant them in the ground once they get cracks in them and they are biodegradable. Cool, huh?
I removed the labels from the pots, washed them in the dishwasher, and then we were ready to rock!!!! I made a few batches of Chocolate, Vanilla, and Oreo Cookie pudding. I also made a batch of brownies and used my circle cookie cutter to cut the right size of brownie to place in the bottom of each of t he pots (Ree used pound cake, but I thought brownies were more appropriate). Then I used the Chocolate OREO Sippers in the center of the pots. I just jammed them into the brownie. Next, I did like a 1/3 cup or so of chocolate pudding. I’m really not the cleanest baker/cook. I seriously just slopped it in there. Pudding was every where.
Next, I added a layer of vanilla or oreo pudding. I mixed it up! I didn’t add as much as the chocolate pudding, probably only 1/4 cup or so. Just eyeball it or use as much as you’d like. No one will care! Then I did another 1/3 cup or so of the chocolate. Almost done!
I put several OREO cookies in the food processor and crushed them up. Once they were all blended, they really did resemble top soil! Before I put the crushed OREOS on, I added my flowers. Remember the OREO Sippers I inserted into the brownie? Just put your flower directly in the center of the “straw.” (I used fake flowers, but if I was going to use real flowers, I would use a real straw too.) Then add all of your luscious “top soil.” I added a ton of it! Ta-dah!!! You’re done!
**Don’t forget the best part, the gummy worms. Of course, they are optional, but they are so good. I’m sure your kids will appreciate them too!**
Make these your own. Make ONE or TWENTY! Have fun with these and enjoy!
Sincerely,
The Pudding Monster
P.S. I had to brag about how ADORABLE Julie’s cupcakes looked! Didn’t she do a wonderful job? I love her little patriotic flags and cupcake liners. Oh, and they tasted amazing too! You know me and cupcakes. We go together like bread and butter, like cookies and milk, like salt and vinegar, like. . . well, you get the idea! Great job Julie!!! You’re super talented!!!!
