Baby Shoes Tutorials

I've been working on making some little booties for Colby.  He's not quite to the walking stage so he doesn't need real shoes and these will keep his feet warm when we take him for walks in the stroller.  Many of the tutorials I ran across looked especially cute for little girls but I had a hard time finding some for baby boys.  Here's a list of the best ones I found:
Shwinandswin@blogspot.com

Pic from here Tutorial here

homespun-threads.com

Pic from here tutorial here

homespun-threads.com

Pic from here tutorial here

stardustshoes.blogspot.com

Pic from here tutorial here

HELLOmynameisHeather.typepad.com

Pic from here tutorial here

Baby Photography Ideas

I've been needing to take some more fun photos of Colby so I've collected quite a few I would like to try with him.  Some of them I don't think I can get him to stay still long enough but I've got a niece or nephew set to arrive in April so I can try some of these shoots out with him/her, yay!

 

 

  

Cookie Oreo Brownie Bars

I must say I was quite disappointed by this recipe.  I had been drooling over the pictures on Pinterest for several weeks when I finally decided to make it for an upcoming trip back home.  These bars were touted as the best of all worlds-brownies-cookies-oreos-what would be better?  Well I can tell you brownies, oreos, and cookies would be way better separately.  The brownies burned, the cookies weren't moist, and the oreos didn't have their tell tale crunch.

Here's the picture from Pinterest-gooey and delicious

 Here are mine, dry, burnt, and blah:

Baby Photo Session

Yes, yes, I have been spending far too much time gleaning ideas from Pinterest.  I not only have been finding great recipes but I've also been trying out some baby photo ideas as well.  Here's my inspiration photo:

Here is my version.  I've got to work on my back grounds a bit and if I had wood floors it would be awesome, but alas, this is what I've got to work with.

Sugared Pecans or Walnuts

Yum.  That pretty much sums up this recipe.  I'm hoping to revisit this recipe over the holiday season and share with my friends and family as gifts.  The original recipe came from here.  I found that adding more powdered sugar helped coat the nuts better.

Ingredients:

• 16 ounces pecans or walnut halves
• 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Preparation:

Turn slow cooker to HIGH about 15 minutes in advance. In hot slow cooker, stir together the nuts and butter. Add the powdered sugar, stirring to blend and coat evenly. Cover and cook on HIGH for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to LOW and remove lid; cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 2 to 3 hours, or until the nuts are coated with a crisp glaze.
Transfer the nuts to a bowl.
In another small bowl, combine the spices; sift over the nuts, stirring to coat evenly.
Let cool before serving.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Dessert

Alrighty, I've been struck by a sweet tooth, and I must say it is doing the scale no favors, but the treats are so delicious.  I've been visiting Pinterest lately and have been bookmarking lots of tasty treats so I have been trying them out lately to see if they turn out as well as they look.  Most of the desserts have not disappointed. 

This recipe came from Taste of Home
Ingredients:  

• 20 chocolate cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, divided
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 package (8 ounces) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese (softened or cubed), softened
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, divided
• 1 carton (16 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate fudge pudding mix

Directions

• Crush 16 cookies; toss with the butter. Press into an ungreased 9-in. square dish; set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, peanut butter and 1 cup confectioners' sugar until smooth. Fold in half of the whipped topping. Spread over crust.
• In another large bowl, beat the milk, pudding mix and remaining confectioners' sugar on low speed for 2 minutes Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in remaining whipped topping.
• Spread over peanut butter cups. Crush remaining cookies; sprinkle over the top. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours. Yield: 12-16 servings.

I had to put part of this in the freezer so I wouldn't eat it so quickly and it is way better frozen-creamy and delicious!

Side Cabinet Redo Update

Here's an update of the cabinet that my husband helped me redo.  I originally bought the cabinet for two dollars at a garage sale.  At the time I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it, but it had really good bones and was sturdy.  We spray painted it paprika, made a drawer, and bought new knobs...needless to say it is worth a bit more than two dollars now, but still rustic.  If only I had another piece of furniture to refinish, I must go garage saling soon. 

New Look

I've been stuck in a rut as far as style goes for quite a while.  I've always dreamed of being the well dressed one at a party, the one people look to for fashion advice, the person not afraid to mix pattern, sheen, and textures.  Alas, I am the one that blends in with the wall most days, wearing clothes from several years ago-most of which were bought by my mother-in-law.  I worry what I would wear was it not for her (she buys me nice things) but I just don't go out of my way to go shopping, especially now that I have my little man to tote around.  I decided the other day, after another long look into the mirror at my brassy dyed hair, frumpy jeans, and baggie shirt, that it was time to make a change, if not now, when.  Well, that's what I said when I decided to dye my hair blonde, and that didn't really turn out, so hopefully this will be a better outcome.  Here's a few looks that I think I have always envisioned for myself.  I've got to start the transformation with an awesome pair of boots-that's where I will start.

Here's an example of an outfit I would love, laid back yet bright and put together from Anthropologie:

Yet more from Pinterest:

and another: