Crepe Paper Flower Tutorial

This in gorgeous!

I found this tutorial at House of Smith's. I loved it so much I had to show it to you.

This is my next project. i am going to make some for my daughters room makeover.

As soon as I have made mine I post a picture.

Thanks Smith Family!

The Best Bread!

So this is the best bread I have made yet. I got it from my sister Nikole.

It is super easy and you MUST try it!

My Best Bread Recipe

100% Whole Wheat/All Purpose Bread, makes about 2 loaves

1 cup warm water and 2 cups hot tap water
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
1 1/2 tbsp instant yeast
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp Vital Wheat Gluten
4 cups AP flour and 4 cups whole wheat flour

In a small bowl add yeast to warm water. Add about 1 tsp of sugar to yeast and let sit for about 5 minutes to proof. Pour the 2 cups hot water into mixer bowl. Add 4 cups flour on top of liquid. Then add oil, honey, salt, gluten and finally the proofed yeast. Start on low them turn up to speed 2 (kitchen aid) to knead. Add other 4 cups of flour one cup at a time until dough begins to form a ball and pull away from the side of the bowl.

Dump dough onto a floured surface and knead by hand for a few minutes, adding flour if needed. Dough should NOT be sticky. To tell if it is ready poke two fingers into dough, if the dough springs back it is ready. Cover your mound of dough with mixer bowl and prepare your pans. Grease two loaf pans with margarine or shortening. Heat oven to warm or low. Divide dough into two equal portions and shape into loaves. Place in pans, rolling them to coat with grease. Place in warm oven, turn off the oven. Let rise till double in size, about 30 minutes to an hour. Remove from oven and cover with towel to keep warm. Preheat oven to bake. Bake 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown on top and hollow on the bottom when thumped. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack. Rub the top of the loafs with margarine. Dough can be used for pizza crust or cinnamon rolls.

Give it a try, you'll like it!

I was Awarded!

I was checking my comments today and I saw a wonderful little comment from a fellow blogger at A Ruffle in Time. She passed the love onto me and so I am going to pass the love on again!

the rules are as follows:
1. thank the blogger who gave it to you - Thanks Megan!
2. list 7 things that people may not know about you
3. pass the love to 15 deserving bloggers that you have discovered recently - I only did 10

4. let them know that you gave them an award

So here we go! 7 things about me...

1. I love to read, not secret there, but I really love to read vampire romance books. Yeah, I know everyone does that now, but I did a LONG time ago before they were even popular. I was way ahead of the crowd on that one.

2. I can't do my times tables. Well, maybe 1-6, but after that I am totally horrible. I have a 9 year old who keeps asking for help and I just can't do it!

3. I hate to clean! With a passion! And yet I have OCD over clutter?! Does that make sense to you?

4. I have OCD. For those that don't know, that means obsessive compulsive disorder. I check the locks at night several times (and touch them) before bed. I HAVE to check window locks in my kids rooms at night. I say things out loud in hopes of not having to go and do them again later. Crazy? Maybe...

5. I am a horrible speller. You don't know this because i use spell check before you see it. Trust me, it is embarrassing!

6. I eat my kids Mac & Cheese. I know I can't be the only one! It is good! Yummmmm!

7. I would rather sleep than do ANYTHING! I love to sleep. I have to control myself from going to the couch right now!

I am passing the love onto:

1. Brown Paper Packages

2. Craft-O-Maniac

3. Deal to Meals

4. Fingerprints on the Fridge

5. eighteen25

6. You craft me up

7. Sew Hip mama

8. Sisters Stuff

9. Somewhat Simple

10. Seriously So Blessed

Thanks again Megan!!!!

Family Fun!

I am still on vacation at my parents in Reno. We are having a blast and creating a lot of new memories. I have so many ideas that I can't wait to get started on.

Here we are at a day camp area. The kids played in the stream and the pond. This is my oldest and my littlest.
We made PVC Pipe guns and brought them along to play with. The kids had a blast shooting each other with marshmallows. I will post a tutorial later on how to make them.
Look at that diaper! It is full of the creek water AND dirt! She was so daring that I was afraid she would ruin her swim suit. So the diaper was the next best thing!
4th of July fireworks! So good this year, and we had perfect seats right under them.
It has been a long trip. This little one just passed out on day after playing at Lake Tahoe.

We will be home soon and back into the swing of things.

Out of Town

This is my parents backyard in Reno, NV. It is gorgeous! The trees are huge and canopy over the yard. I loved growing up here and the backyard was my favorite place to be. It did not look this nice when I lived here though. My parents have completely redone everything back here. The deck was replaced, the grill/kitchen area was built and this beautiful table area was added.

I get my talent from my parents. My dad is a cabinet maker/maker of everything wood. my mom is a true artist. She paints, draws, makes glass jewelry and crafts just about everything else.
Just wanted to share this beautiful place with the rest of you.
Wish you were here!

Thanks Mom and Dad for such a beautiful place to vacation AND grow up!
I love you!

Established sign

You all have seen these before, but I just wanted to show you mine.

Two different fonts, colors and sizes work great together in this fun sign. Apply it to any old board you have. Paint your favorite color, sand and distress if you desire, apply vinyl and tadaa! You have a super cute (and informative) vinyl board.

Family Picture up-do

I always had the hardest time putting family pictures up on a wall. I thought that they looked cheep and disorganized. Until I decided to do this...

Years ago I got this super cute vinyl saying at a craft show. I decided to apply it to a peice of wood and hang it with white organza ribbon. Then I got several black frames. All of them are different styles but work together because they are black. I also got several pictures changed to black and white (everything looks better in black and white don't you think?)

I did a mix and match of the frames surrounding the phrase board. Because I did not try to make them all level it was MUCH easier. This way it looks like I wanted them to be this way.

Isn't my family cute?!