muffin wrappers

We recently just went through a departmental change at my work. I had a great group of "girls", or "my girls" as I fondly called them, that I worked with. We were split up. I was moved into a group with a whole new set of girls. They have been so incredibly warm and welcoming that I wanted to do something nice to show them how much I've appreciated their kindness.

I didn't do anything fancy. I just got some store bought muffins (thank you Costco), and added a cute little wrapper to them. Now if I had a Cricut or even a Silhouette I would have been able to knock these little wrappers out in a jiffy. But I'm not that fancy, so I just went old-school and used decorative cutting scissors. Results = just fine.

I started off with the larger size scrapbook paper and measured my margins and drew a line accordingly.

After that, I made cuts along both lines so my decorative edge would be on both long sides.

Then I used some double-sided tape to attach each end piece together. (You may want to double check around one muffin to make sure the width is big enough to fit around your muffin).

Then just pop your muffin into the wrapper and your done. Simple but with an extra cute little twist.

So even though I miss "my girls", I'm excited to have a new set of females that I may be able to call "my girls" too.

Oh, and did I mention my new supervisor loves cherries? She does. Coincidence? I don't think it hurts to suck-up....just a little bit. ;)

Paper flowers

I've been meaning to do a post about this for awhile. Just hadn't gotten around to it...until now.

Here are some simple and cheap paper flowers that we have hanging above Ry-pie's dresser/changing table.

First take a pack of tissue paper. I unfolded the whole pack cut in half lengthwise and then cut again crosswise so I ended up with this.

Then I just pleated the paper (accordian style), over and under until all the paper is folded.

Next just tie the center together with ribbon, yarn, or fishing line.
Unfold your paper and fluff up some. You should wind up with a nice fluffy paper flower.

Have you met my home-girl Martha? Martha Stewart? Yeah, we go way back. She actually sells make-your-own-kits of thes (thanks Shannon, I would have never known)! You can also make these pretty little flowers even prettier. Just round the ends or snip the ends into a V shape for an extra pretty touch. That's what Martha did. She shows you how here.

I wish I would have done all the flowers with the rounded edge but I'm no Martha. I did get a couple though, and I love them.

Just hang 'em and enjoy. Who wouldn't want to stare up at these fluffs while getting there tushy powdered?! So pretty!

gone crazy...

Before I had children I always knew I wanted to have at least two kids.....Boys that is! But after having CalJ I totally changed my mind and just knew I wanted a girl too. Secretly, I think I changed my mind about having a girl because CalJ had SO MUCH hair! I mean a ton. I always thought how great it would be to have a girl and play with her hair. Well, we all know that I hit the jackpot and had my sweet Ry-pie, and fortunately her hair did not disappoint. She has a ton too! And curly. Man, is it curly.

I'm not actually sure why or what possessed me to do it - but I did. I straightened her hair! What'd you say?! Yes, I'm almost ashamed to admit it but I straightened my 14 months old daughters hair!!! I. Have. Officially. LOST IT! Lol. No babies were harmed in the process. And she actually seemed to enjoy it. I have a monster in the making. She's obsessed with shoes, loves her toe-nails painted, and now, likes here hair blown out. My poor husband!

And I guess I shouldn't be totally surprised by my actions, I have gone a little loopy with Ry-pie before. Remember this?

I couldn't actually straighten her hair perfectly. But I did the best I could. Here she is, my 1 year old with her hair straightened (sort of). Now, if I buy her a flipper or give her a spray tan, please feel free to slap some sense into me. Thanks!




Is it just me or does this picture remind anyone else of Justin Timberlake playing Robin Gibb on SNL? Another possible Halloween idea perhaps?!

Chocolate chip cookies

Have you heard of the Deceptively Delicious cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld? Well, it's great! I'm pretty lucky because both CalJ and Ry-pie are NOT veggie snobs, so I technically don't have to "sneak" stuff into their food - but I'll never shy away from a recipe that tucks in a couple more healthy options.

Here is a recipe for her Chocolate chip cookies. Or as I like to call them... choco chick pea chip cookies. Yup! You heard me - chick peas. Or Garbanzo's. Whatever your fancy.

It sounded pretty odd to me at first. I gave it a try anyways and was totally sold! You can't tell that there are actual - whole - chickpeas in them. In fact, Josh knew something was different just by looking at the little butterscotch colored mounds and asked if they were peanut butter chips. Hehehe!

Ingredients

nonstick cooking spray
1 c firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 c trans fat-free soft tub margarine
2 large egg whites
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cup ap flour
1/2 cup oats
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar and margarine with a wooden spoon or on medium speed until smooth. Beat in the egg whites and vanilla, then the chickpeas and chocolate chips. Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt, and mix on low speed until a thick dough forms.
3. Drop the dough by the tablespoonful onto the baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Press gently with a fork to flatten. Bake until the cookies are golden brown and just set, 11 - 13 minutes; do not overbake. Transfer to a rack to cool.
4. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Hmmmmm...........

Loved them! See? I told you!!!

The 'stache necklace

I've really been into mustaches lately. I mean - really, really, into them. Good thing too, because mustache paraphernalia has been popping up all over the place.

CalJ's birthday isn't until April - but I've been trying to convince him to have a mustache themed birthday party.

me - Caleb, doesn't a mustache birthday party sound like fun?

CalJ - yeah mama!

high fives for me!

30 seconds later

CalJ - but not for me mama...for someone else!

*sigh*

fail

To get my mustache fix - I ordered THE cutest necklace from Bunny Madden Designson Etsy. I'm always ecstatic to get packages in the mail - but when I received this one today I literally squealed with excitement!! Yes, squealed - like a 12 year old girl at a Justin Bieber concert!!! It's the little things in life that thrill me. Did I mention free shipping? And comes in other colors? It does! So, if you have a slight 'stache addiction too - go get one! GO! Now! Time's a wastin'...

Thanks for dropping in!

Felt sweets

One of my good friend's daughter just turned 4. I wanted to make her something cute, and thought what 4 year old wouldn't like a nice array of delicious sweets! Felt sweets - naturally! How 'bout cookies, cupcakes, and donuts - [in my best Homer Simpson voice]- mmmmm....donuts! Take a look. I think she'll like them.

And I hope you do too!

Black forest chocolate cupcakes

These beauties are delicious. These beauties are easy to make. These beauties were extra awesome because all I did was take the pictures! ha!

CalJ had his first stay-away-from-home this past weekend with Josh's parents. So he got to get a little kitchen time with his grandmom, and this is what they made.

Recipe: Black Forest Chocolate cupcakes adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
• 1 (250 g) package brick Cream Cheese, softened
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 (19 ounce) can cherry pie filling
• 1 1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping (or get extra fancy like my mother-in-law and make your own with heavy whipping cream and sugar)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare cake batter as directed on package for the light or low-fat version; set aside. Mix cream cheese, egg and sugar until well blended.
2. Remove 3/4 cup of the cherry pie filling for garnish; set aside. Spoon 2 tablespoons cake batter into each of 24 paper-lined medium muffin cups. Top each with 1 tablespoon each of the cream cheese mixture and the remaining cherry pie filling. Cover evenly with remaining cake batter.
3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centres comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan to wire racks. Cool completely. Top with whipped topping and reserved cherry pie filling just before serving.
4. And add some extra pizzaz with some chocolate shavings - that's what my mother-in-law did!