Re done Candle

I bought some fancy rub on transfers on a whim (because I liked them). I decided to try to rub one off on a plain white dollar store pillar. Tied my favorite "zebra" ribbon around it and presto an instant change!!

crayons

Maddie and Katie made these for their cousins.........we used old crayons, put them into ABC molds and melted them down into brand new crayons.

making coasters

I have been making these for the past few weeks.........

things that make me :) S M I L E

Make Them........Share Them........Eat Them.

Ummmmmmmmm.....these are so good. I make em every year.

Take a pretzel rod, dip it in melted caramel.........let cool for a couple of minutes. Then dip in chocolate...........roll in smashed up heath candy bar bits. Optional: Drizzle melted white chocolate over them. So simple, so elegant and so so good.

Christmas wish lists

It isn't easy having 6 children, especially at the holidays! Trying to make everyone's christmas list wishes come true ~ I think we have worn out Santa!!! I just wanted to post some pictures of (just a small sampling) what is on my kids wish lists this year. Oh the laptop and the perfume are my wishes!!!

Light Show

I am desperately waiting for Christmas to arrive............I am really hoping that Santa will put a new laptop under my tree.........you see, my last laptop went swimming in a glass of wine and has never recovered from the alcohol poisoning :(

I miss blogging and posting pics.........I have been so busy crafting and creating little christmas goodies.............I would love to share everything ~ but that is IMPOSSIBLE when I sneak on my husbands (work) laptop while he is still shhhhhhh sleeping. Umm okay I would like to share some photos of a wonderful light show that our quaint downtown area puts on each year. It is so festive and I truely appreciate the efforts put into this each year. It is a perfect night, when the snow is falling, we are out dining and able to capture the lights twinkling all over the town!!!

Home made Chritsmas Gifts

I handpainted and decopauged a small wooden box.........then I placed some homemade glitter ornaments inside. I have been making these to give as hostess gifts!

A DREAM CAME TRUE TODAY

Today my daughter's dream came true!!! She got an acceptance letter to Michigan State...we are all so excited.

WEEKEND PLANS

Birthday Party

With 6 kids, I am always busy. Sometimes my two youngest get left aside, so this year I have made it mandatory in my life to make sure that each of them get a birthday party. I am running out of time. Maddie will be 10 at the end of the month.......and Katie will be 8 a week later!!! I have been gathering up some ideas for inspiration and this is my favorite idea of the "moment". A candy buffet!!

"Utter {Decorating} Confusion"

This is an area in my kitchen that has given me "utter confusion" since the day I have moved in!! Here it is in the beginning.





Four years later, I added this loveseat!



Four years and 26 days (just in time to return it) I got rid of the loveseat and decided to paint the moldings and mantle shelf black, as suggested when I posted on Rate My Space.







I added two chairs and a table, hoping to capture a "french" look ~ although I liked the black paint on the fireplace surround, I still felt like something was not right............so I reposted on RMS.


It was suggested that I paint the wall between the mantle shelf and the molding black to make it appear as one big mantle, instead of a "floating shelf". So I did....


This is the final look (FOR NOW). I am sure that those chairs will be moving into my master bedroom one of these days, but I am pretty happy for now......except I would like to change out that greyish white builders tile..........

Purple Cast

This is my niece Sophia ~ isn't she the cutest? Poor little thing broke her arm for the second time..............gotta love the cast!

Chicken Squares {you must try}

1 can low sodium cream soup (Cream of Mushroom, Cream of Celery or Cream of Chicken)
6 tablespoons butter (melt, then cool) (okay to reduce to 4 tablespoons)
8 oz. cream cheese (low fat is okay)
dash of milk
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper

4+ cups chopped, cooked chicken
Optional: chives, parsley

Crescent dinner rolls (each package makes 4 Chicken Squares)

(okay to double or triple recipe.)

Mix first six ingredients in mixer.
By hand, mix in chicken (and chives or parsley, if desired).

Unroll Crescent roll package; divide into four rectangles.
Roll out each rectangle into a square (use fingers to pinch together perforated diagonal line).
Drop a large spoonful of chicken mixture into center of square.
Fold over corners to create the “square.”

* At this point, you can put Chicken Squares on cookie sheet and freeze. Once frozen, transfer into a zip lock bag. Take out of the freezer for about 1 hour (or ½ hour is okay) before baking.

When ready to bake Chicken Squares:

Spray baking sheet with cooking oil. Place Chicken Squares on cooking sheet.
Add dot of butter on top of each Chicken Square and sprinkle with bread crumbs.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-30 minutes.