#77 DZP: Complete 3 DIY projects

Now when I say "DIY", I really thought "Craft-Time". So while I was off work, and staying home with Ryan, Craft-Time is what I did during his Nap-Time. :)

My craft store loved me: Ryan and I probably went (at-least) 3 times each week...

 

I always wanted to make melted crayon art, so I bought my crayons, the board, the frame, and the flowers, and took my glue and hair dryer to them. Tutorial to follow :)

 

 

Since it was Halloween, I found this off Pinterest (what else?!) and decided to make my own.

Just take a fake pumpkin (from craft store), spray paint it black (or white, or orange, or neon green... get your Pantone-color on!), take rhinestones and stick/glue them on into a web pattern, then hot glue your creepy (but glittery) spider! I absolutely HATE spiders, but I loved this project!

 

Once again, Pinterest sparked my creative-funny-bone: Halloween Tu-tu Wreath!

Take a roll of tulle (I bought mine from amazon, but tulle is everywhere!) and cut into strips. Tie, knot, slip-knot (whatever you want) on a foam wreath (also from craft store, I think I used a 12" wreath). Then run to the craft store and gather decorations for your fancy wreath: flowers, leaves, glittery-shinnies, and hot glue them on! I used  purple and black flowers, orange-glittered stems, and a decorative peacock feather. And because the spiders were 2-package deal, I used the other for my wreath!

 

Yay for crafts and Do It Yourself Projects!

Light 'Em Up 2012

 

I came across this great website and this idea for the holidays is absolutely wonderful!

It's called Light 'Em Up! It brings out the real meaning to the season of giving, not the season of "how many [presents] are there?" (yes, that's Dudley from Harry Potter).

 

It's for parents to help teach the little ones about giving back to the community, appreciating others (especially the ones we take granted of: janitors, grocery check-out clerks, security guards, etc.), and how to give a little joy into people's hearts.

 

Lil Light o' Mine has 100 ways to "Light 'em Up!" like "Pay the toll for the car behind you", "Tape quarters to buble gum machines", "swing by your dentist or doctor's offices with treats for the whole team", and of course "hug someone". She also has great printables! Check them out!

Involve your whole family, get the friends to participate, and stay anonymous (this isn't about you remember!).

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

{Love}

This Little Happa

Nail {Love} - St Patty's Nails

I wish I had the time, the energy, and the nails to paint/color/decorate my nails every DAY! Most who know me also know I have a ton of nail polish. Not enough to paint my nails a different color everyday, but maybe paint each color 2 or 3 times in a year, if I painted them everyday.

I probably got that from my Auntie Debbie. She had beautiful nails and painted them (mostly reds) all the time, whenever she had down time at work... which was usually when she was staying late. She had those "tough as nails" nails. I wish I was like her, and in some ways I know I am.
But needless to say, I love nails. I love the smell of nail polish. Polish remover. The feel of filing. The designs at the nail salon. Scratching my head with my nails... just my head now, nothing else.
My actual nails are short, brittle and don't grow worth a sh*t. Urgh. They did a good job while I was pregnant with Ryan, but after that... meh. So I go to a nail shop to have fake ones put on. I've been going to a nail salon ever since I was about 16, maybe 17. It was for the Prom (of course) and my Mom let me get acrylic "pink and white" nails. Now a days, I'll get regular ones, just because I love the colors and I have several to choose from.... choosing from my own collection.

Now seeing how it's St. Patrick's Day (almost) I went with these cuties! It was compulsive but I love them nonetheless.

Pin It

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's true... I do love you more than my iPhone.

Happy Valentine's Day lovies!

Ryan - Clean Up Christmas Stuff

I had so much fun helping Mommy clean up Christmas stuff like wrapping paper rolls and ornaments!

My 2011 Christmas

And what a very merry Christmas it was!

Hope your holiday was as happy as mine was!

And of course it a very Hello Kitty Christmas too!

Oh Christmas Tree!

Presenting my first Christmas tree in the new house!

And when the lights are off.

Some of my ornaments:

Happy (early) Holidays Everyone!

Just LOVE these shoes

And they're all mine!

Merry Christmas to me!

Look at all the Glitz!

Special thanks to my coworker for giving me Awesomeness for Christmas!

Tuesday Taste Buds: Apple Cider Snickerdoodle Cookies

So last weekend Erin over at the L&C hosted a lovely Christmas cookie exchange party, second annual btw. There were several types of cookies but this recipe caught my taste buds by surprise. I always enjoy a good snickerdoodle cookie, but *be still my heart* an APPLE CIDER one! Oh that I had to try one.... or five. The kick ass Miss Taryn at Pink.Dazzle.Gloss introduced me to a wonderful new holiday cookie and was so kind to give me the recipe (to share with you too of course!)

Apple Cider Snickerdoodle Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups apple cider
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus 3 tablespoons for rolling
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons finely chopped red and green crispy apple chips, plus whole chips for garnish
2 teaspoons apple pie spice (or a little extra cinnamon if you can't find the spice)



Directions:

- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

- Heat the cider in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Continue to cook until syrupy and reduced to about 2 tablespoons, 12 to 14 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.

- Whisk the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl until smooth. Beat the butter with 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar and the light brown sugar in a separate bowl on medium-high speed until fluffy and smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the reduced cider and the egg (the mixture may look slightly curdled). Stir in the flour mixture and 1/4 cup of the chopped apple chips until combined.

- Stir together the remaining 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons of chopped apple chips and the apple pie spice in a small bowl. Roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls, using lightly moistened hands if the dough is too sticky, and then roll in the spiced sugar mixture. Place the dough balls 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets and top with a few pieces of whole apple chips. Bake until the edges are just set but centers are still soft, 11 to 13 minutes, rotating pans halfway through the baking time. Cool 2 to 3 minutes on the baking sheet, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Hello December!

That's right! Winter comes full effect in December: holidays, shopping for gifts (unless you slack like me), candy-canes, putting lights up, snow days (for those of us who are not fortunate enough to have snow come to them) celebrating with friends and family... all the good stuff ya!

First comes my Mom's birthday, then getting the tree, putting icicles around the house, taking out the Christmas cookie cutters and other baking goodies, wrapping all the gifts up, Christmas Eve and the Day celebration, then my family's Japanese Mochitsuki (google it), and then New Years Eve!

This year will be extra special since it's Ryan's first December (and Christmas and such!) I can't wait to continue the traditions of baking Santa cookies, making a "I've been good" list, and leaving sugar cubes outside for his reindeer. Now I know he's very little and won't remember any of this, but I gotta start the kid of right!!

I love December, not as much as June but that's just because that's my birthday month... but I still love December nonetheless! And now let's celebrate and boogie our festive butts off.... and I leave you with the lovely Ryan Gosling being his festive-self. *drool*

Thirsty Thursday: Pineapple Vanilla Flirtini with Pomegranate Seeds

Came across this lovely cocktail when browsing through Jenny's website! She's AMAZING!

Every great cocktail party needs a festive flirtini cocktail. This not too sweet cocktail will be the hit of your Holiday party!

Pineapple Vanilla Flirtini with Pomegranate Seeds

2 cups of Pineapple Juice

1/2 cup of Vanilla Vodka

2 cups of Champagne or Sparkling Wine

Pomegranate Seeds

Stir together Pineapple juice, vodka and champagne. Shake in ice before serving. Top with Pomegranate seeds.

Doesn't that look tasty!!!

On the Xmas List...

Someone hint to my boyfriend that the little blue box is on my Christmas list...

Thirsty Thursday: Blissinis!

Doesn't that just make your mouth water! I'm sure you would slip right into bliss as you sip on these!

Let's enjoy these while unwinding from holiday madness!

Blissinis
(Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis)

Ingredients:

- 1 1/2 cups Prosecco, chilled
- 1 1/2 cups orange juice, chilled
- 1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice, chilled
- Mint leaves, for garnish

Directions: Combine the Prosecco, orange juice, and pomegranate juice and pour into 4 Champagne glasses. Garnish with mint leaves and serve.

Tuesday Taste Buds: Pumpkin Pie Oh My!

Paula Dean's Pumpkin Pie!

It's October Pumpkin season and that means one thing for bakers: Pumpkin Pie!!!

I love me some Paula Dean and all her buttery goodness! She has this recipe on Food Network and I had to share it. I'm not one for pumpkin pie/cake/muffins/etc but this looks so good, especially with a dab of whip cream.
Eat up ya'll!

Ingredients:

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups canned pumpkin, mashed
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
• 1 piece pre-made pie dough
• Whipped cream, for topping

Directions:

- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

- Place 1 piece of pre-made pie dough down into a (9-inch) pie pan and press down along the bottom and all sides. Pinch and crimp the edges together to make a pretty pattern. Put the pie shell back into the freezer for 1 hour to firm up. Fit a piece of aluminum foil to cover the inside of the shell completely. Fill the shell up to the edges with pie weights or dried beans (about 2 pounds) and place it in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the foil and pie weights and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust is dried out and beginning to color.

- For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the sugar and salt, and beat until combined. Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, and melted butter, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, if using, and beat until incorporated.

- Pour the filling into the warm prepared pie crust and bake for 50 minutes, or until the center is set. Place the pie on a wire rack and cool to room temperature. Cut into slices and top each piece with a generous amount of whipped cream.

Friday Find: No Carve Pumpkins!

No Carve Pumpkins with Happy Tape!

Great idea Real Simple!

Want some tape but with attitude?! Washi paper tape is just like masking tape but available in tons of patterns and colors. "Ready, set, get stickin'!"

Supplies:
- Dry erase marker in a light color (avoid black)
- Scissors
- Washi tape, happytape.com 

Instructions:
1. Using the dry erase marker, create your design, which will guide you when placing the tape. (The marker is great for this project because it lets you draw, rinse, and repeat!)

2. Once you’re set with your design, begin applying tape to the pumpkin's surface. Try using longer strips when possible, because piecing together too many short strips will look sloppy. For this design, begin at the stem and run your tape down the side of the pumpkin, erasing the markings as you adhere the strips to the surface. Finish at the bottom of the pumpkin. After all of the vertical stripes have been made, apply tape around the circumference of the pumpkin to complete your pattern. (If you'd rather stick with stripes, skip the final crisscross step.)

I love, Love, LOVE this idea! My good friend Erin posted a piece about happy tape on her blog way back when and now I see Real Simple has been bit with the washi-tap-love-bug too! Yeah they're a bit pricey compared to Scotch or any clear-taped brand... but can you really put a price on creative decorating? I think not! :)

Welcome Fall Season!

Time for leaves to turn and fall, candy to go on sale, orange is fashionable, and of course costumes for Halloween!!! Bring it on October!

I wish I was out east because when the leaves turn out there, it's beautiful!!!!

Happy XOXO Day!

"Candle light, moon light, star light,

The brightest glow is from love light."

- Grey Livingston

Happy Valentine's Day!

From Your Little Happa

Any Plans...?

I know we still have a while till the 14th of February, but any plans?

Just thought pink roses would make any girl feel loved!

Holiday Sushi Candy

Just for fun...

Holiday Sushi Candy!

Ingredients

•Bakery pound cake

•Powdered mini donuts

•Marshmallows

•Fruit Streamers

•Fruit Roll-Ups

•Safeway Fruit Snacks

•Swedish Fish

Directions
1.Cut pound cake and mini donuts into sushi-sized pieces. Separate Streamers and make into a "roll."
2.Wrap with Fruit Roll-Ups. Top with Fruit Snacks and Swedish Fish.

Now that's the kind of sushi I can eat right now!