Valentine's Day garland

It always feels good to make something I could've bought. I came across this adorable garland on Little Miss Momma's blog(my favorite blogger) and have been wanting it ever since! It's made by Aidie's Hideaway but it was always sold out. So I set out to make it myself! There was only one problem...I lacked a sewing machine =( But thanks to my sweetheart Mom I now have access to one! She is letting me use hers indefinitely. Thank you mama dear!

I love it! I used wool felt instead of the cheaper kind. And all for under $5 bucks! More easy sewing projects to come!

Fall Wreath

Easiest wreath I've ever made.

Thank you Hobby Lobby! =)

make the tastiest cupcakes. . .

by taking out a secret ingredient! =)

I wish I could take credit for discovering this genius way of baking cupcakes!

My girlfriend/neighbor Larissa let me in on this secret and it has changed my life in the kitchen! Everyone who has tasted these cupcakes have asked
what on earth makes them so moist and delish!

plain and simple: egg whites. Who knew??

It is SO easy. I suppose you can make them from scratch without egg yolks but I just buy the box of vanilla or french vanilla cake mix. Make sure not to get "moist" or "super moist."
Just plain old vanilla cake mix. Brand doesn't matter just not anything claiming the cupcakes will be moist! I made that mistake and my cupcakes wouldn't stick to their liners = hott mess :(

Just add the ingredients that the box calls for but use egg whites! It's that easy.
No other changes are necessary.

Decorate with your favorite icing and voila! Your cupcakes will win the hearts of all that have a taste.

these are cupcakes I made and decorated for my little babes birthday.

pay no attention to this link.

homemade granola

This is a recipe I got from my girlfriend Mickelle a while back and it is too good not to share!

Ingredients:

-canola oil

-pure maple syrup (or honey or regular syrup even)

-vanilla

-salt

-coconut flakes

-wheat germ

-sesame seeds(i leave these out because i'm too lazy to find them.)

-sunflower seeds(the pits obviously not the whole seed)

-cranberries

-chopped almonds

-old fashioned oats

To prepare:

heat together slightly(just so it's warm. not like bubbly hot or anything):

1/2 cup canola oil

1 cup pure maple syrup(or 1/2 cup honey and 1/2 regular syrup)

2 Tbs vanilla

Mix in a big bowl: 

1/2 tsp. salt

2 cups coconut

1 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup sesame seeds(I left these out since I couldn't find them. Still tasted wonderful!)

1 cup sunflower seeds(already pitted obviously.)

1 cup cranberries(or raisins)

1 cup chopped almonds

7-8 cups old fashioned oats. 

mix together with the heated syrup. 

spread onto cookie sheets and bake at 150 degrees for 8 hours. (I did like 6 1/2 and it was fine. It's just to dry out the oats to your desired liking.)

So after you take it out of the oven, take the edges of the tin foil and curl it over itself (if that makes sense) to separate the granola. 

Not only does it make lots of healthy delicious granola, but you have enough ingredients left over to make another batch later on!

It's so yummy.

black out your "black out" drapes!

The hubs and I went shopping for black out drapes(that actually do what they say-BLACK OUT) the other day in hopes of getting our Lil' Miss to sleep longer in the morning. They were a little pricier than I had anticipated! So this is what we did to save a few pretty pennies:

 I took a sheet and safety pinned the top half over itself. Then I strung a ribbon(all I had), tied at one end of the curtain rod . After I took this pic, I put the ribbon underneath the curtain and with the hubbies help, tied the sheet across the window UNDERNEATH the current curtains and tied it at the other end of the rod.
These are actually "black out" drapes but I don't think they do a very good job...

 before

after

Much better!