Happy 2012

I am optimistic about what 2012 has to offer (it's what I do)! At this juncture there are a few things on the agenda that I am REALLY looking forward to. The first is that I am CONVINCING myself to be excited about my 29th Birthday happening tomorrow. Yes!! I will be excited about 29, I will be excited about 29!

Another SUPER thing I have been enjoying already in 2012 is walking into my 10th year with the Mr. We celebrated our 10th Christmas together and our 10th New Year (we started dating in the fall of 2002).  2002 - 2012.... a decade, wow! I feel so blessed that I have able to do this for almost a DECADE with this great, amazing person who is also my best friend and MY HUSBAND! We've grown up together and have forged an amazing little path and no matter how small it seems I know deep in my heart that we are making our mark on this world. It might not be GINORMOUS yet but you and me together can do anything, baby!! I am looking forward to seeing what things become possible in our little love story in 2012. 

Watching our kids grow. Somehow we now have two toddler's who wrestle, play, giggle at each other and kiss each other good night, it is amazing really how fast we got here. I am greatly looking forward to watching their bond grow even stronger in 2012. Not only that but also watching them grow individually and become a little closer to the people they were born to be.

Being a great Wife, Momma and homemaker and blogging about as much of it as I can fit in! I hope to figure out how to write more often, including writing shorter posts and being less worried about if everyone will like it, I still struggle with letting go of the judgement stuff. Also, GIVING MYSELF A BIG FAT BREAK!! The house will NEVER be clean from top to bottom, GET OVER IT LADY.... and it's A-OKAY if 90% of the time you put your make-up on in the car parked in driveway with the kids SECURELY buckled in their car seats quietly eating snacks because lets face it, you are still getting it on your face! Please tell me I'm not the only Momma who does this?? My neighbors are probably starting to wonder what I am doing....I've got it down to 3 minutes though.

Hu, I really wasn't intending on this being a New Year's Resolution type post, I'm not really into resolutions....or I guess the guilt that usually comes with a resolution. I am more of a choice person, make a conscious choice and GO (with lots of prayer along the way). So lets call it that, a conscious choice.... I will consciously put my make-up on in the driveway....hahahaha. Just kidding. I will however, choose to be the best Wife, Momma and Homemaker I can, I will be IN THE MOMENT and blog about as much of it as I can fit in. CHEERS!! Happy Happy 2012.

Have you made any conscious choices to be better in 2012??

I hope you have an awesome YEAR!

That's my Shiny ~

J

JOY! NOEL!! Christmas DIY

Last year was the first year we had our mantel in working condition for Christmas. Well, I attempted to decorate it but ... with our little ladies arrival the day after Thanksgiving, the mantel did not get the attention it deserved. I don't think I even have a picture of the sad turn out.

This year as I was decorating for Christmas I was dreading the mantel because I just didn't know what to do with it! During the rest of the year I have a large family photo centered on the mantel, but surrounded by Christmas decor the photo looked MAJORLY out of place and I needed something large and symmetrical to be the focal point to build from. So I started pondering... then I remember a piece of poster board I bought for Q's birthday but didn't use and a large frame we had stored in the basement.

So I busted out the handy ol'stencils (used previously here and here), craft paint and brushes and got to work. Here's the rundown:

JOY NOEL Christmas Sign

1. Cut the poster board to the size of a large old frame, this one (18x24) we had lying around and weren't currently using.

2. Mixed up some paint colors. I used espresso brown, leaf green, and bronze mixed in different proportions for the two colors.

3. Paint and remove the stencils. This is when I noticed something was off, it was the O, it needed to be green to tie the JOY together (and direct your eye to read JOY not JOEY). Once fixed it looked MUCH better, see photo in step 4.

 4. Decorate the mantel and enjoy the festive holiday decor!

 

 

I contemplated adding a star burst in the upper right corner but didn't end up pulling the trigger. Maybe something I can add next year!

This project was essentially free. I had everything on hand but recently had purchased the poster board for $0.50. The craft paint is about 5 years old, YIKES, and the frame is about 6 years old, both were happy to get some new life!

That's my Shiny ~

J

This is love.....

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:10

Drinkers and Jokers, all soul searchers like you and me. Searching for love love love..... Dave Matthews Band

This is my favorite Christmas song (not to mention the BEST Christmas Pandora Station EVER!!). I love that this song covers the breadth of Jesus' life not just his birth. Also the OVERWHELMING love Jesus brought to this earth and that WE ARE ALL jokers, and soul searches in need of His LOVE LOVE LOVE!

 

 

This is the God I LOVE and the Christmas I CELEBRATE!

 

 

Wishing you and yours the most LOVELY HOPE FILLED Christmas POSSIBLE!!

 

 

That's my Shiny ~

J

REAL DEAL: All that GLITTERS!

There's a LOT of 80's trends going on that I just CANNOT get on board with, but sequins is back people and I can get EXCITED about that! What girl doesn't love a little extra something sparkly every once in awhile and THIS is the time of year to get SPARKLY! Sequins is back and in a BIG way!

Spending lots of money to get your GLITTER ON really isn't ideal. Considering sequins is something you wouldn't throw on for just any old day and this festive time of year only comes around, well, once a year. Here are a few of my favorite finds for under $25.00!! Snag some bling without spending all your cha-ching (wow, I know that was a little ridiculous, but we are talking about SEQUINS here folks)!!

Also, lets remember friends. All things in MODERATION! One glitter item at a time, at most two per outfit, as long as one piece is the Main Character and the other is the Supporting (say paring item #1 and #2 together)

1. Forever 21 sparkly jacket: $24.80

I love this little sparkly jacket, I would wear it just like the picture, with jeans and a white or black tank. You could also throw this over your favorite summer LBD to make it winter friendly. Maybe paired with the flower ring below.

2. Flower Cocktail Ring from Shop Ruche: $11.99

Wear with this great cocktail ring with the sequins jacket above.

3. Sequins Striped flats from GoJane: $20.60

These would look great with a black pair of cigarette skinny pants, a chunky sweater, and simple earrings.

4. Emerald and Black Sequins Tank from Forever21: $15.80

I would wear this with a fitted black blazer, jeans, black heels, and drop earrings

5. Sparkly Bow Belt from Old Navy: $16.94
This belt would be FANTASTIC with a sweater dress to cinch in the waist

6. Boat Neck Gold Sequins Top by Fresh Brewed:

$19.99 at Macy's and $17.99 at Bonton (also in silver)

This top would look AMAZING with a black pencil skirt, sling back heels and a simple gold bracelet

7. Sparkle Mini Skirt from H and M: $23.00

This mini would be quite daring for me, but I think I would definitely wear it with an opaque pair of black tights, a long sleeve white button down shirt tucked in and black platform heels (oh and maybe grab the flower ring from above).

8. Square Sequins Clutch from ebags: $24.32

This little clutch is so CUTE I think I would carry this at just about any night time event!

9. Sequins Strip Top from Forever21: $22.80

This is one of those tops that you could grab for that Holiday gathering when you have no idea if the attire will be totally casual or some what dressy (like a NYE house party). This would be great with some dark skinny jeans and tall black suede wedge boots to wear just about anywhere.

10. Glitter Heels from Love My Shoes: $24.99 plus 30% off

I am a big fan of these glittery lovelies but would probably only really wear these with pants (unless maybe in Vegas or at a bachelorette party or something) I'd wear either of these with a pair of great long and lean flare jeans, a simple snug scoop neck long sleeve top and dangly sparkly earrings.

11. Gun Metal Sequins Dress from Macy's: $24.99

Another daring hemline but it's too cute not to think about! I would wear this to a GREAT party with those same opaque black tights, black heels and some shiny silver earrings.

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL time getting GLITTERY this holiday seasons!

Merry Christmas!

That's my Shiny ~

J

Ladybug Cake

One thing I have REALLY enjoyed doing as Momma is making our kiddos special birthday cakes.  For C's first birthday I made him a big and little monkey head similar to Q's ladybug.

 for his second birthday I made him a baseball, baseball field and baseball cake pops.

 Now for our little lady I got to make this SUPER fun ladybug cake!

Overall I am happy with how the cakes turned out but if I make a ladybug cake in the future I might do a few things differently.

I used this yellow cake recipe from Bakerella, which was amazing!! It was very good and moist. This will be my permanent yellow cake recipe.

Ladybug Cake:

Moist Yellow Cake (adapted)
from Bakerella

1 cup (2 sticks) of butter (room temperature)
2 cups of sugar
4 eggs (room temperature)
3 cups of sifted flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup of whole milk (room temperature)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
1/2 teaspoon butter flavoring (I used butter flavored shortening, it worked well)

Baking Bowls and Pans Needed:
1 large baking bowl (big ladybug's body)
2 small custard cups (small ladybug's body & big ladybug's head)
Mini Muffin Pan (small ladybug's head)

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease and flour all pans 
• Using a mixer, cream butter until fluffy.
• Add sugar and continue to cream for about 7 minutes.
• Add eggs one at a time. Beat well after each egg is added.
• In a separate bowl combine (combine salt, baking powder, and flour 
• Add flour mix and milk (alternating to creamed mixture), beginning and ending with flour.
• Add vanilla and butter flavoring to mix; until just mixed.  
• Poor 3/4 of your cake batter into a large baking bowl (like this one)
• Poor enough batter both of the small custard cups (like these) until 3/4 full
• Poor enough batter to fill 3/4 of one small muffin in mini-muffin tin

Bake Time in Oven:
Mini-Muffin - 8 minutes
2 Small Bowl - 18 - 28 minutes
Big Bowl - 50 + minutes, place bowl on a baking sheet before sliding into the oven, once cake rises and is golden on top tent with foil to prevent top from over browning

Frosting:
Cook's Country 2010 April/May Issue

3 sticks of butter unsalted
3 tablespoons of heavy cream
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups confectioners' sugar

1. cream butter with an electric mixer using whisk attachment, beat butter, cream, vanilla, and salt on med-high until combined, about 1 minute.
2. Reduce mixer sped to med-low. With motor running, slowly add confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth, 1-2 mins. Increase speed to med-high and beat frosting until light and fluffy, about 5 mins.
3. Add desired food coloring, see details below.

Chocolate Frosting:
Prepare as above. Using 2 1/2 sticks of butter and adding 8 oz semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled, in step 1. In step 2, 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder can also be added for additional chocolate flavor. (I didn't make this large of a batch, I used the remaining vanilla I had added 1 additional stick of butter to it and then added only the melted semisweet chocolate, this was plenty chocolaty and delicious)


Assembly:
1. let cakes cool on a wire rack. Using a butter knife or flexible spatula loosen the cakes from the edge of  each pan before removing. Place plate or serving platter on top of the bowls and turn upside down to release cake, tap bottom of the pan gently to help release the cake. The muffins should pop out of the pan with gently pulling the sides up and using a knife from underneath. 


2. Flip your bowl cake over and trim the top bump off your cake so it is flat. Flip back over and place on your serving platter with enough room for the head on one side. Do the same with one of your small bowl cakes if needed.

3. Trim a moon shape out of your remaining small bowl cake to mimic the curve of your large bowl cake. This will be the big ladybug's head (see above), use toothpicks or wooden skewers to secure. For the small ladybug use the small muffin cake and secure to small bowl cake with toothpick.

4. Add red food coloring to about 3/4 of your vanilla butter cream until the desired color is achieved. Frost the body of your large and small ladybugs using a butter knife or small spoonula. Be careful near the head and bottom to not get messy.  It is easier to use a freezer bag and cut off the tip on one corner and carefully pipe on frosting to meet the edge of your cake and the platter and head. 

4. Get out your chocolate butter cream. Start a new freezer bag of chocolate butter cream. Pipe and / or spread chocolate butter cream onto the head of the small and large ladybug. 

5. Let frosting firm up a bit by putting the cakes in the fridge 30 mins is sufficient.  Get cakes back out and work on dots.  Using a pointy tip of a skewer or knife free hand draw your ladybug wings and dots.  Once happy with placement and amount of dots, using a small spoon gently remove some of the frosting inside of the dots. Fill in each dot with chocolate butter cream.

 Presto! A big and a mini ladybug cake!

I also made a standard 2 layer round cake out of this AMAZING chocolate sheet cake recipe from Pioneer Woman, and by AMAZING I really mean the best chocolate cake I have ever made BY FAR! I frosted the cake with the chocolate frosting recipe above.

Have any of you made fun birthday cakes?  What have you come up with? Have you found a favorite cake or frosting recipe? It seems that I am always on the hunt! I'm definitely still searching for the perfect buttercream frosting, if you've found one that you love PLEASE share your secrets!

That's my Shiny -

J

Shiny of the Week: Ending better than the Start

We have had a week of ups and downs. Monday we were still trying to recover from a stomach bug and the Mr. left for a two day business trip. Not the best day. But as the week progressed we got the house cleaned up, food back in the pantry, the Hubs came home and life started to feel nice and cozy again.  

By Wednesday the sun was shining and it was beautifully glorious to spend time outside in the cool air with the bright sun shine all around us!

Today (Friday), we are enjoying being HEALTHY, the snow outside, and the Christmas season by making cookies. Sugar cookies (recipe here) to be exact, with yummy colorful frosting (recipe here). We are still in the process of decorating and I think we will finish tonight around the kitchen table, as a complete unit.

 With the help of the two best little helpers around we made cookie dough, cut out our shapes and baked the cookies. We had lots of fun squishing dough, flattening it, using the spatula, learning to use our cookie cutters and of course EATING a cookie just to be sure we baked in lots of yumminess. 

What Christmas FUN!!

That's my Shiny ~

J

Sleeping This Weekend & A Sparkly T-Shirt

.
Friday Night: 
I slept on the floor next to Q's crib.

Why:
At 4:00 AM our little 12 month old baby daughter LAUNCHED herself out of her crib and on to the floor. Yes, yes you just read that correctly. She is 12 MONTHS and 1 week to be exact, and yes her crib is moved to the lowest level, the side rail was not down and she did not use any type of stuffed animal to aid in her escape. So needless to say, we were a little frazzled and worried. She thankfully landed on her bum so no major injuries occurred other than my nerves being SEVERED! Until we figured out a solution I wasn't going to leave her in there unattended, so what did this Momma do? I rocked my baby back to sleep put her in her crib and slept on the floor until morning. Saturday we hunted down and bought a crib tent. Yes, I know not my idea of cute and precious nursery decor either but at least she will be SAFE!

Saturday Night:
I slept on the couch with a bucket and a towel

Why:
Near 10:00 PM my belly started doing flips. Looks like Q's little stomach bug was not going to be polite and leave me alone. My barking dog friend had returned AGAIN (more about that here).

Sunday Night:
I slept in C's bed

Why: Sunday morning the bug continued it's TORTUROUS rounds and went after our sweet little boy next. He had a rough Sunday and did fairly well sleeping until some time in the middle of the night when he said "lay in my bed Momma", and of course I couldn't resist the request of the cutest little sick boy. So I crawled in, thankfully I was so tired I actually slept.

Hopefully we are on the other side of this mayhem and we are PRAYING that our family can be healthy for awhile after this long stretch of sickness. So yet again I apologize for the delay!

Bedazzled 1 T-Shirt Tutorial:

Supplies:
t-shirt or onesie
stencil
fabric paint
small craft paint brush
ladybug buttons (or buttons of choice)
Scrap book ready to stick gems

1. Pick out your desired number or stencil.  Use some kind of tape to tape down your stencil in the desired spot on your T.

2. Squirt out a little of your fabric paint. Get your small craft paint brush. Carefully paint the outline of your number first, don't use to much paint and try not to push your brush right up against the edge of the stencil too hard, this will result in the paint bleeding. A little bleeding is okay but you don't want it too look messy. After you paint the outline fill the rest of the number in. Remove the stencil and let the paint dry.

3. Bedazzle time! I used the scrap book ready to stick gems. They actually worked GREAT! Not one fell off. I did this for two reasons, I went out to get my remaining supplies on black Friday so the store was crazy and I was not about to continue hunting for other gems among the madness. Second, it saved me a gluing step and I wasn't intending on this being more than a one time wear shirt (after washing only about 1/2 the gems made it). To add longevity you could just put a dot of fabric glue on each gem before sticking. I used two sizes of gems and outlined the number. This is what ascetically looked best to me. Have fun with it and do what you think will look best!(forgot to take a picture of the sticking, sorry)


4. Sew buttons on to your shirt. I choose to sew the buttons on to one shoulder of the shirt to look like little ladybugs where crawling up her sleeve. I thought it looked cute and really pulled the tutu and shirt together. 

TA DA a special little shirt for your special little person!

Cost:
Onesie:$2.00
Stencil: $0 Already owned (I bought this pack of letters and numbers for $5.99 at Walmart, used for this project originally)
Gems and one Pack of Buttons: $3.00 (with sale, I only used three of the 9 buttons)
Fabric Paint: $2.00 (I only used a smidgen of paint, I have lots left for more projects)

Total Cost: $7.00

Time: 2 hours, I spent about an hour making this shirt and probably another hour shopping (I went to three different stores, mostly due to the fact that I didn't have a clear picture of what I wanted when I started).

Enjoy bedazzling and stenciling a jazzy shirt for a special person! Have any of you made a shirt or something special for a birthday boy or girl to wear? I hope you all had more comfortable sleeping situations then myself this weekend. Have you found your sleeping routine disrupted by anything ridiculous, oh say like a 29 1/2 inch little gymnast doing an aerial out of her crib?

That's my Shiny ~

J