Yummy eyeballs!!

One of my favorite sites I absolutely love is Just A Pinch.  It is a great place to look at all different kinds of recipes, start your own recipe box, easily post some of your own...all in one site.  Well, while I was going through some of the recipes, one showed up that I knew I just had to make.

THESE!!!!

How cute...right??

Stormy Stewart, aka Karlyn Rayne, posted this recipe and I made them for Halloween at work. At the end of this post I have a little bit more on Stormy/Karlyn and links to her blogs.  You really have to stop by her blogs and take a look. I work at The Cincinnati Eye Institute and these were a HUGE hit!!  They are mighty tasty too!  Sweet and Salty are always a good combination.  This will be something I thinkI am gonna make every year!  It is fast, easy, and tastes good.  This is so easy...take a gander just how easy it really is!!                                               

 

 

Lay all of the waffle pretzels out on a baking sheet.

 

 

add the vanilla wafers

 

 

put the chocolate chip in the middle and out them in the oven to melt

 

 

add the red sprinkles and let them cool and you are done

 

 

I even made zombie eyeballs!  Ran out of red sprinkles so I used red and clear surgar jimmies.

 

ENJOY!

 

Now, a little more about Stormy/Karlyn.  She has two blogs.  The first is called Returning to the Old Ways.  This blog, I have to say, is awesome.  She has collections of home remedies and recipes that are fantastic.  I have been in the Christmas spirit and just finishing a Christmas Ornament Swap over at The Crafter's Cafe, I am definietly making the Lavender Bubble Bath and The Energizing Bath Salts for gifts.  I also really like the home remedies for cold/sinus.  I have always felt my family consumes way too much medication for sinus/cold.  We live in Ohio and sinus problems are a given here so I am looking forward to trying these on my family.  The other blog is called The Crone Chronicles.  I am going to try several things she has posted with some of the items going on in my body.  Especially the thyroid.  So go and visit her blogs, visit her on Just A Pinch, say Hi and subscribe!  I am so looking forward to getting to know her...that is for sure...she seems like a gem of a person with much wisdom!  Thanks so much for letting me share you and my favorite Halloween treat....I know I will be doing this every year!

 

Celebrating My Birthday!

 

Yes, I turned 47 on October 23.  I just can't believe it but it is what it is...another year older!!  I had a wonderful birthday.  I did have to go to work but my co-workers and the doc I work for made it a very special day right down to the multiple cakes and lunch from Jimmy Johns.  I have pics but on my phone.  I have asked hubby to help me get them off so I am thinking this weekend it will happen!!  We have had SO much yard work to get caught up on so he has been taking care of most of that so I won't get on him too much.  In the meantime I will share the pics that I can get off of my camera!  After work, I came home to find this waiting for me.

 

                          The beautiful arrangement all together now!  It just brighten my day!

Also, this beautiful card!  Made me cry!

 

I truly love my husband...he is the best!

Finally, the last wonderful treat is this bag of candy...and it is sugar free!  Woo hoo!

This will help me stay on track.  120 pounds off...about 55 more to go...I will get there!

 

Now if that was not enough of a surprise.  He said let's go out to eat.  He decided to take me to a place called Silver Spring House.  We have wanted to go there for some time.  A friend of mine gave of gift cards to go and have dinner (after Cameron was diagnosed with cancer) and we never got to go...seemed like the perfect time.  Their web page is thesilverspringhouse.com if you want to know a bit more about them.  Truly wonderful food and the company (my hubby & my son) made it over the top!  Here are a few pics from our time at my Birthday dinner.

 

 

You can't really see the sign for the place...we ended up parking in the back but what you can see is something on the roof.  Yes, that is a huge spider!!  They were crawling all over the top of the building. OK, a bit of an fib but I really don't like spiders at all.  Real or fake!!

 

The colorful menu!

 

 

A pic of my son, Cameron.  His hair is coming back slowly but surely.  He is getting color back in his face.  Still has that beautiful smile!

 

 

A pic of my wonderful, handsome hubby..David!

 

Here we are altogether.  I rarely get my pic taken so I will cherish this one...even if I hate pics of myself!  I would not have missed this opportunity for the world (even if I was still in my scrubs).

 

 

Oh yes, and the food!  The wonderful, tasty food.  This was my plate...I still have chicken to take to lunch!  Broccoli too!

 

 

 

Well, I could not have asked for a better birthday that is for sure. 

 

 

 

 

Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Cake

Yes, the title just makes you drool doesn’t it?  All I can say is run, don’t walk, to the market and get the ingredients if you don’t have them but chances are you do have them so you HAVE to make this.  It is SO good…you will not be disappointed!  It is all ooey, gooey, and when served warm just makes your gums melt!!  Had to share this gem of a recipe…ENJOY!

CINNABON CINNAMON ROLL CAKE

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups of flour

¼ tsp salt
1 cup of sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 ½ cup of milk
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
4 T butter, melted
2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 T flour
1 T cinnamon
2/3 cup nuts (optional) *I used finely chopped pecans

GLAZE:

2 cups powdered sugar

5 T milk
1 tsp vanilla

With an electric mixer or stand-up mixer, mix 3 cups of flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, milk, eggs, and vanilla.  Once combined well, slowly stir in 4 T melted butter.  Pour batter into a greased 9x13 baking pan.

In a large bowl, mix the 2 sticks of softened butter, brown sugar, 2 T flour, cinnamon, and nuts until well combined.  Drop evenly over cake batter by the tablespoon and use a knife to marble/swirl through the cake.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out nearly clean from center.  Place powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a large bowl.  Whisk until smooth.  Drizzle over warm cake.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

*NOTE:  I would like to try this with a cream cheese type drizzle too!

Here are my pics of this wonderful creation.  I am not good photographin objects…give me people and I am good…objects I need to work on for sure!! LOL 

 

 

 

Very HAPPY baking!!

 

 

Getting Some MoJo going!

I have truly had some wonderful time over the past several weeks and will post some pics of my baking and crafting as soon as I get the pics downloaded.  I AM getting my MoJo back slowly but surely and so many wonderful blogs have helped with that.  I joined The Stamping Boutique/Crafter's Cafe a while back and what a wonderful group of people that does keep growing daily (a good thing).  I joined a handmade ornament swap...it is a secret ornament swap so I can't say which person I was lucky to get but she is a gem that is for sure.  Talented beyond belief.  I got out bits of this and that and really came up with some wonderful designs.  I even made one for our swap hostess Kristy!  I can post pics early December of those.  Can't wait to share.  I have had a blast. 

Life is slowly getting back to normal here at our house.  My son got his port removed and is going strong now.  Facial hair is coming back and in no time he will have a full head of hair again complete with eyebrows!!  He has so inspired me to start living again.  For 4-5 months my husband and I worked and then went to the hospital...that was pretty much it.  Everything in our lives came to a complete halt.  Now, we are slowly, and I do me slowly trying to catch up on everything that just had to wait.  I am getting caught up too (very slowly) but seems my crafting is something I am making time for now...baking too! 

Another blog (I will do a seperate post for all the blogs I have fallen in love with and visit often...they deserve the kudos) I visit quite often is Creative Breathing.  I love her vitage flare and one of her posts was about an whitman sampler-box-ornament-swap.  Extremely clever, looks like loads of fun to make but the swap filled up.  I am looking for swappers to do something similar.  If not Whitman's Sampler boxes then maybe a match box swap.  I am kinda digging the Whitman's Sampler box tho.  I am currently digging up swappers for this swap so hopefully it will be up and running before the end of October. 

A Good Things of Focus in Life CAN Make a Difference!!

I know I have been abscent from my blog for quite a while.  I will try and fill you in on the last two years.  It has been difficult to say goodbye to so many family members.  My mom, my cousin, my aunt (my mom's sister), my step brother, and my uncle (my mom's brother).  Yep, lots of loss!  Also, in that time my son graduated high school, started college and I went back to work full time.  Lots of changes...some really good and some that leave a hole in your heart!  Most recently, in April, my son was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma call T-cell hystiocyte large B-cell lymphoma.  I have to say this has been the hardest of the news to take but we are moving in the right direction of treatment.  I have an incredible kid with a wonderful attitude and love of life.  He is doing fantastic and that keeps me going for sure!  We will get through this!

I have also been able to keep my sanity through all of this with scrap booking, card making, and paper crafting.  I have created many pages and cards through all of the losses and the scrap booking has been so very therapeutic for me.  I have been able to dig in photos and scrap many memories of the family members that I have lost over the past two years.  I have hauled major stuff to the hospital and during the long nights I have been like edward scissorhands in the corner of the little room on my bed/sofa at the oncology ward at Children's Hospital.  I just have not thought to post anything.  I think I have just been so focused on living for the day and working through things...posting on my blog became a very distant thought.  That really sounds horrible now doesn't it??!!  My blog sitting here all by itself!!  LOL  Well, no more!!  I am back and I have DCWV to thank for that.  I am so stoked to submit for a spot on their design team.  I have been a huge fan of DCWV for so long and even have items posted on here made with their wonderful products.  The design call is for Stack-A-Holic-Design Team.  I am for sure a DCWV stack-a-holic!  This has given me a drive I can't even begin to put down in words.  I was so excited to make the Mini Scrapbook Anonymous Design Team but am equally excited to even submit my work to this wonderful company.  Many of you know me and know that I just do not apply for design teams.  I have to love the product or mission.  I have to be moved by it and live with it to give my best.  So I can honestly say DCWV would be only the second design team I have even applied for....that is how much I LOVE DCWV!  So, I am back, loving it and looking forward to picking up, inspiring others, moving on, and living life out loud again.

I WON FIRST PRIZE!

Holy cow...I am so excited. If you read a few posts down, past the homemade lemon cake...my toilet roll mini I entered into the scrapbook-crazy.com contest won first prize. Woo Hoo for me. I get to pick a scrap/craft store to spend 50.00 in....no problem! There are some Tim Holtz items calling my name not to mention some UTEE to use in my melting pot to make some jewelery....OH BOY....have to get cruis'n the web!

Mini Books Anonymous Design Team

I am SOOOOOO excited everyone. I am just bursting at the seams. I just logged on and read an email that announced that I was 1 of 8 that made it on the Mini Book Anonymous Design Team. I am so thrilled and so honored to get this opportunity and just can't wait to dig in, get to know everyone, and start creating. Here is the post making the announcement. I still can't beilieve my name is on that list. Wow....I am one lucky gal!!
Congratulations to Raquel, Wirda, Sandra, Jenna, Lida, Cheryl, and Melody too! These are the names of the other ladies on the design team.

While the boys are away....I get to play!

My hubby is fishing with some of the Bengal players today, my son is at rowing practice and out with his friends and me, well, I am home and LOVING IT! My dog is in his usual position right now (asleep on my feet) while I am posting but it is sooooo quiet here and wow, this is such a treat.

I will be posting my creations in a little while. I bought some new stamps from LOTV (Lily of the Valley) and I am in love with these stamps. They are so wonderful, super cute, and well, I will post pics later with a link...promise.

Now, on to another project I have been doing and no, I did not eat the whole cake...scroll down and you will see. I keep forgeting these pics load backwards so we are starting with the piece I took and sampled. This is a wonderful recipe of vanilla cake, fresh lemon curd filling and cream cheese icing. Oh....My.....Gosh......to die for!!! It does not look like a millon bucks but it sure tastes like a dessert from a 5 star restaurant.
WARNING: Drooling on keyboard may occur! :o)

It is a beautiful weekend here in Ohio and looking forward to sharing the other items I am working on. While it is still quiet, I am gonna go and turn on Lifetime Movie Network, get me a nice glass of fresh tea, and start coloring my new stamped images.

Many HUGS,

Crystal

A Teacher's Gift

I thought I would post a gift basket that I made for my son's teacher. Throughout the year I made gifts, mostly edible, to the teachers. This one teacher just loved it all but especially love the cake balls/pops I made for Valentines Day. I got the recipe from bakerella. Warning though, once you visit her site....you are hooked! She has the cutest ideas and makes, really, works of art. Well anyway, I made them for Valentins day, chocolate cake balls dipped in white chocolate and then drizzled red and pink white chocolate on the finished balls. Very pretty. She loved them and told me I needed to sell them. HA! I can't even get dinner on the table half the time...I can't image me mass producing these but it made me feel good knowing that she and her family liked them so much. Well, for the end of the year present I knew what I was going to give her. A basket full of homemade goodies with all the ingredients to make her own cakeballs.
I included everything. She is an environmental science teacher so I had to recycle some things to keep with the them of the basket and her teaching position.

Yes, I know...I am a sick, sick woman.....BUT....I had to. This was a store bought tub of cream cheese frosting and I just ripped the label off and covered it with pretty cardstock from the DCWV Kitchen collection.

Here is the devils food cake mix...taken from the original box (which I used later in a mini project) and put it in a decorated hot chocolate container. Of course it was cleaned out and everything....just thought it was nicer all jazzed up to match the basket.

Here is the way too cute, oversized clothspin I decorated to match everything and then put the recipes in it to hold them up while she is cooking. I had to remember to include the instructions for the devils food cake since the box was cut up and used for the mini. The other recipe is for the cake balls.

The bucket o'mini! LOL I used a red bucket I got from somewhere...target??....not sure. Anyhoo, I decorated it all up and it housed the little mini scrapbook I made from recycled Starbucks drink sleeves (yes, I keep everything much to my familys dismay), oval shaped coaster, and some of the cardboard from the devils food cake mix.

I also did two large (jumbo) paperclips for her to keep recipes together or to hold coupons...whatever. Here is the front of the mini scrapbook made from recycled materials.

I hope you enjoyed looking at my gift basket!! I had so much fun making this and to see the look on her face was just priceless. Hope you have a wonderful Friday. I have a few more things to post but need to sit and organize it.

Take care,

Crystal

Toilet Paper Roll Mini - My contest entry!

I will never look at an empty toilet paper roll the same way....ever again!! LOL It truly amazes me that something so common, thrown away, boring, and just down right, well, ugly can be turned into (transformed I should say) something that is pretty, personalized for an occasion, useful, and definitely gets people talking. I give you....drum roll please....the empty toilet paper roll(s).
This is definitely the before picture. Sorta like the What Not To Wear show. Now, the transformation of these rolls into their new purpose. They are all beautified, dressed up, doll up, putt'n on the ritz. At least that is what I tried to do anyway!! I present to you my version of a toilet paper roll mini album. This is one I am entering into Scrapbook-Crazy.com contest.

This is the front cover. The cover, back, and spine ar made out of coasters that a waiter gave me at a local restaurant. I cut them down to the size I needed, spaced them out to allow the book to close, used a template to hole punch for the eyelets and binder rings and covered with SU retired designer paper. Easy peasy!!

I added some cute little charms to the front of the cover, via the spine, and I think it adds another whimsy layer to it. I just love this ribbon...heck all the fibers are fabulous!

This is the view of the spine. I added another charm and this time I used a dragonfly because I used butterflies in the inner pages (you will see) and thought it was a nice addition. I did not want to overload on the charms but I guess I did not have that problem with the fibers. Seriously, holy cow! :o)

Here is the back view of the mini. I just love how the covers and spine turned out. Using the coaster gave me a very smooth surface to attach the cardstock too!

Here is a peek of the pages so you can see, even though, I changed the direction of the rolls, cut them down the middle and scored and folded to make like pocket folders, they still are 100% toilet paper rolls covers in DP.

This is the first page. I only decided to do 3 pages. I was not sure what to expect with the size of the mini so I thought three was a good number and well, as I was planning I did go ahead and utilize the most of the space and tucked a journaling card in the top and the side. you could put pictures, journaling, ticket stubbs...anything in the pockets. I did use the one inch circle punch to notch out a place for the way cool silver, bling emblishment that I made to ease in removing the card to write, read, attach things to. I thought it dressed up the tag. Also, I added some rhinstone bling after I used the scalopped edge punch to the boarder to make the pocket for the outside tage. As you can see, the whole book is held together by ring clips that go through the spine of several eyelets. I just love how it came out. Very neat, clean, and smooth. I just love it!

A look at the tages out. Way cool...whaddaya think about that!! Ha ha!

Here is the backside of the first page. The same type of scalloped pocket with the rhinestones. The second page is the homemade, die cut, butterflies. I kept with the rhinstone bling both small and large. This time the tab to ease in getting the tag out was made with prisma flowers and a beautiful flower (pink, of course) rhinestone

This is a close up of the back of that page. Still keeping with the theme of the rhinestones and the die cut butterflies. Oh yes, I did stamp on these butterfiles to give them interest.

Still the back of the second page..showing off the butterflies again. Meanwhile on page 3 we have a double heart charm nestled in a lovely scalloped edge pocket to hold the cute little piece of paper for journaling, a small photo...whatever you think of. Note the bling on the flowers. More rhinestones.

Close up of the third page.

Back of the last page. Again, I showed off the rhinstone, and added a cute little heart LOVE charm.

A close up of the dragonfly charm and the wonderful fibers I used on this mini.

I hope you have enjoyed taking a tour of my Mini Toilet paper book. I really enjoyed making it and am looking forward to making many more.

You have got to give it a try.

Many HUGS!

Crystal