Halloween Treats

I am one of those people who LOVES to make fun and festive treats for my kids...and I think they enjoy bringing them to school too! (I mean they do ask, so they must like them right???)   Now on most occasions I make cake pops, since they are a favorite of my kids and their friends!! Most teachers think they are pretty tasty too!! But this year I decided to try something new!!   I got some melting chocolates, sucker sticks and cookies and got to work!!   Here is the end results:   An alien invasion cookie style...

 

And a bunch of ghostly ghouls:

  Enjoy the treats...there may be TRICKS tomorrow!

Time to Make the Doughnuts

I suddenly have a HUGE obsession with baking...I just LOVE to do it!! Sometimes that is a good thing and other times, well let's just say not so good for the diet! However, I have been working hard to find healthy alternatives in my baking!   Well, I LOVE doughnuts! Who doesn't??? But...with the diet they are NOT my friend! Searching Pinterest I came across a baked doughnut recipe and just had to give it a try! Now they are a new fall favorite and my kids want me to look for more recipes! (You know it's serious when you go out and buy an actual doughnut pan!!)  

Apple Cider Doughnuts

 

Ingredients:

granulated sugar for preparing pans
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 large egg, beaten
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup apple butter
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup apple cider
1/3 cup plain nonfat yogurt
3 Tablespoons vegetable or canola oil (I use unsweetend applesauce, which make them healthier!!)

 

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray. Sprinkle with sugar, shaking out excess.

2. In a mixing bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; set aside. In another bowl, whisk together egg, brown sugar, apple butter, maple syrup, cider, yogurt and oil. Add dry ingredients and stir just until moistened. Don't over mix! Divide batter among the cavities in the prepared pan. Don’t fill them to the top or your doughnuts will lose their holes when the batter puffs up while baking!

3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until the tops spring back when touched lightly. Loosen edges and turn the doughnuts out onto a rack to cool. Clean the pan, re-coat it with oil and sugar. Repeat with remaining batter.

4. Ice your doughnuts, if desired. Sift 1 cup powdered sugar and mix w/ 2 ounces light cream cheese, a dash of cinnamon and enough nonfat milk to create a spreading or dipping consistency. Dip tops of doughnuts into the icing, then set right side up on a rack to let the icing set.

 

One batch goes a long way...I got about 18 large doughnuts per batch. You'll get LOTS more if you go mini!!

 

Recipe from Recipe Girl.

Breakfast Muffins

I don't know about your family, but my family really likes breakfast...my kids would be completely okay with just having cereal for dinner (and I'm not gonna lie, there have been a couple of occasions when that is what they have had!) So when I found the idea to make breakfast muffins I just knew that everyone was going to LOVE them!!  

Ingredients:

egg substitute

sausage (I used turkey sausage)

bacon (again turkey)

cheese

veggies (onions, green peppers, mushrooms)

 

 

To start I went ahead and cooked up both my bacon and sausage...then it would be ready to be added to the egg. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

 

Next I greased up my muffin tin and we got to work making our muffins. We filled each muffin cup about halfway full of "stuff" (sausage, onions, bacon, cheese etc.)

 

Once we all had our muffins done...we filled all of them figuring we could each have 1-2 and there would be some left over for a quick breakfast.

 

Bake in the oven for 25-30mins.

 

Once done take out and ENJOY! These would be great for a brunch, Christmas morning, or a quick dinner!! Don't forget to serve with hashbrowns and toast!!

Chevron Fun

We are on the move and planning to finish up the basement, meaning the playroom and my craft room! YEAH!!!   With a number of projects on my list I have started to work on some of the small ones bit by bit. One that I have been wanting to do is chevron initials for the playroom. I have a current color scheme going of yellow, red, turquoise, and lime green. So I got my supplies and got started!!  

Supplies:

craft paint

canvas (I used 11x14)

wooden letters

painters tape

foam brush

pencil

ruler

 

To start I measured off 3 horizonal lines each 3.5" apart. That was where the bottom of my chevron hit, this kept them evenly spaced and pretty staright.

I then taped my chevron...this wasn't easy, but wasn't too bad once I got going. Once I got the first row of chevron, I then drew a vertical line from the tip of each down point (sorry, you can't see the pencil lines) this helped me to make sure that all my zig zags were even.

 

Once I had it completely taped I then painted using my craft paint. I didn't completely cover the tape, and also made sure to keep the paint off the sides of the canvas...I plan to go back and paint this one of the other accent colors.

While my canvas was drying I took that time to paint my letters. For the letters I used another bold color to make them stand out. When all the paint was dry I pulled the tape off and then hot glued the letter right in the middle.

 

Here is what the finished product looks like:

 

And I can't wait to hang this up!! This one is of course Jake's, Emmah's is turquoise and green...they are going to look great!!

Month to Month

I LOVE making crafty gift for others...its fun, personal, and gets my need to be craft out!!   Well with babies galore coming in every direction right now I have been on hunt for some good ideas. I am sure you have seen all the adorable monthly onesies out there. Here are a few examples:   {photo credit: boogaboohandmade.blogspot.com}   {photo credit: brittanyleighpotter.blogspot.com, and be sure to stop by her site since she even gives you the files to print your own (both boy & girl colors!!)}   Since I have a Silhouette I decided to create my own since the mom-to-be isn't sure if her bundle is a boy or girl!!   To start I went out and got onesies in a variety of sizes. The sizes I purchased were 3 month, 6 month, and 12 month. I figured that even if they were a little big it would be okay.

 

Supplies:

Onsies (variety of sizes)

Inkjet Transfer Paper

Iron

 

To start I used my Silhouette to make a basic design for my onsies. I went with a frame and then added the month on the inside. Once you have your design down (you'll want to keep them at a size you can fit 4 per page, print them out on your Inkjet Transfer paper. **For colors you could totally customize for a boy or girl or go neutral like I did.

 

Then cut them out, keeping only a tiny edge around the outside of your design.

 

 

Once all mine were printed and cut I ironed them on the onesie.

(Follow the instructions from Transfer paper package as times may vary)

 

Here is a completed onesie:

Here is my collection, I rolled them and put them together in a box.

I added a fun little note to go with them for the mom-to-be!!

   This is one of my new favorite gifts...now if more people I know would just have babies!!  

Initial

I LOVE to put a festive holiday wreath on my door, but sometimes there isn't a holiday that is really celebrated and you have those in between months.   So problem solved:

 

Here's the how to on how to make your very own Door Initial!

 

Supplies:

 

Wooden Initial (mine is 10", but you could go bigger or smaller)

Craft Paint

Foam Brush

Ribbon or Trim (for decor, I used ric rac)

Accessories (flowers or buttons)



 

1. To start paint your letter using the craft paint in the color of your choice. I went BOLD since my door is black and I wanted it to stick out!

 

2. Once the paint is dry begin to layout your accessories. I started with my ric rac.

Depending on your letter you may want to omit this, and just use a flower or some buttons just add a little fun to your inital.

 

 

Here it is ready to go:

 

 {Sorry, not my best pic!}

Bumps in the Road

Sometimes things just fall into place...like they were perfectly meant to be!!   Then there are other days when you hit a bump, and then another...and you just can't seem to get where you need to go! Yesterday was one of those days. Emmah has been doing great!! Things couldn't be going better, she is LOVING school, her teacher, started GEMS at church, and was really showing some maturity.   And now things suddenly have changed....   She is still loving school, her teacher, and enjoying GEMS, but her fits are back. And although they seem to be less frequent they are very deliberate and purposeful. The last few fits we have seen have been of epic porportion we are hopeful and looking into some help not only for her, but for us as parents and as a family!   We ARE hopeful...there will be answers, it is just going to take time!