SWEET BABY O' MINE ETSY TREASURY

Here are a few of my favorite

baby creations 

by

Etsy designers.

Burp Cloth and Bib

by

MissyPop Creations

Bloomers

by

Sister Embroidery Shop

Strawberry Rolled Brim Hat

by

Playground Bound

Door Sign

by

Little Monkey Doodles

Groovy Guitar Gift Set

by

Abigail's Hope Design

Check out the other beautiful baby creations in my Sweet Baby O' Mine Etsy Treasury.

SUMMER GARDENING TIPS

MULCHING

Mulching is one of the keys to success many homeowners use in their gardening and landscaping efforts. Adding a three-inch layer of mulch to your plantings will reduce evaporation of soil moisture and help insulate the soil from the drying wind and hot sun. Mulching also prevents weeds from sprouting and reduces the spread of soil-borne diseases. Whatever your choice of mulch, the final result gives a nice finished look to your flower or shrub beds!

SUMMERTIME WATERING

Conserving water is a must during our Texas Summers, and using soaker hoses will place the water exactly where you need it. Select a quality soaker hose to keep your flower beds and around pool decks and foundations adequately saturated during our hot, dry months. Soaker hoses "weep" instead of spraying thus reducing the amount of evaporation and run-off. When used correctly, soaker hoses can save you money, water and simplify your garden maintenance.

Source:  http://calloways.com

CHOCOLATE AND ALMONDS MACAROONS

Macaroons

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (14-oz.) package sweetened flaked coconut
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 24 whole unblanched almonds
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate morsels

Preparation

• 1. Stir together first 4 ingredients. Drop dough by lightly greased tablespoonfuls onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Press an almond into top of each cookie.
• 2. Bake at 350º for 15 to 17 minutes or until golden. Remove to wire racks to cool.
• 3. Microwave 1/2 cup chocolate morsels in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 minute and 15 seconds or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals and at end. Transfer to a 1-qt. zip-top plastic freezer bag; cut a tiny hole in 1 corner of bag. Pipe melted chocolate over cooled cookies by gently squeezing bag.
• Note: For easy cleanup, put wax paper under the wire rack to catch the excess chocolate as you drizzle it on the cookies.

Fran DeAngelo, Long Valley, New Jersey, Southern Living 
NOVEMBER 2006

PLAY DOUGH RECIPE

This would be fun to make with your children or grandchildren. Can't wait to try it!

Play Dough

Ingredients

1 cup water, cold
1 cup table salt
2 teaspoons canola oil
2 ½ cups All Purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Food Coloring

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the water, salt and oil.

2. Add a few drops of food coloring at this point.

3. In a separate medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour and cornstarch.4. Add a half cup of dry ingredients to the wet ingredients at a time, mixing thoroughly with each    
    addition.5. With cornstarch on your hands, knead the play dough until the right consistency.6. Store in a zip top bag.

DISPLAY SOUVENIRS OF YOUR TRAVELS

Souvenir Tray

Table Traveler

Keep the memory of a recent vacation alive long after you've returned home. Assemble a collection of vacation mementos to display inside a tray. Line the bottom of a tray with a souvenir map, layer a piece of glass or acrylic on top for protection, and include a small photo album to share your memories.

THE PIONEER WOMAN

Ree Drummond

I'm sure by now you have all heard about The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond.  If you haven't checked out her blog, please do so.  It has lots of delicious recipes and photographs.  She is a very humorous lady with lots of great ideas and stories!

SUNDAY WISHES

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday
with friends and family.

Jesus is peace,

Jesus is hope,

Jesus is love.

5 TIPS TO BUILD WEALTH

Warren Buffett is worth $45 billion. That wealth isn't only a factor of savvy investing and good business — the "Oracle of Omaha" is also known as a penny pincher. Follow his frugal formula, and you too may wind up with a lot more money than you ever dreamed.  This week Financially Fit covers five tips to build wealth and success.

1. Live Below Your Means.
2. Bounce Back From Defeat
3. Self-Promote
4. Have Street Smarts
5. Buy Cheap

FABRIC COVERED JOURNAL PROJECT by Jennifer Paganelli

Covered Journal

I came across this great tutorial on covering journals.  I can't wait to make my own using this tutorial.  

Materials

Designer: Jennifer Paganelli

1/2 yard each novelty print (journal cover) and white flannel (interlining)
1 or 2 — 1/8-yard pieces contrasting prints (band, tie)

Finished size: fits 7-1/2 x 9-3/4" composition book

Quantities specified for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics. 
All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance unless otherwise indicated. 
Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Cut Fabrics

Cut pieces in the following order.

From cover print and from flannel, cut:
1 — 14 x 29-1/2" rectangle

From contrasting prints, cut:
1 — 1-1/2 x 42" strip1 — 6 x 29-1/2" strip

Assemble Cover

1. Fold contrasting print 6 x 29-1/2" strip in half; sew along long edges (Diagram 1).

    Turn right side out and press to make band.

2. Layer cover print and flannel 14 x 29-1/2" rectangles wrong sides together.
    Position band on right side of cover print rectangle; topstitch long edges of band in place.
    (See Diagram 2)
    Zigzag-stitch around all edges of rectangles.

3. Turn under short edges of layered rectangles 3/4"; topstitch close to edges.
    Then fold each short edge 6-1/2" toward center to make a 14 x 15" rectangle.
    Sew 2" from each long edge (Diagram 3).

4. Turn under ends 1/4" on contrasting print 1-1/2  x  42" strip (Diagram 4).
    Press strip in half lengthwise with wrong side inside.
    Open up fold and press under 1/4" along long edges.
    Re-press strip along center fold; stitch close to both long edges to make tie.

Finish Journal Cover

1. To reduce bulk, trim upper layer only of cover seam allowances as shown. 
    Topstitch tie in place to complete journal cover (Diagram 5).     Turn cover right side out and insert 7-1/2 x 9-3/4" composition book.

"LET'S DO THE MONKEY" ETSYKIDS TREASURY

Who doesn't love monkeys?

Here are a few of my

favorite "monkeys"

created by

the EtsyKids South team.

Monkey Diaper Cake Baby Shower Centerpiece

by

My Little Angel Co.

Surfer Monkey Burp Cloth

by 

Originali Tee Too

Crochet Monkey Hat

by

Little SideKick

Animal Alphabet Growth Chart

by

BronStar Originals

Please check out the other monkey creations in my "Let's Do The Monkey" treasury by  EtsyKids South designers.

BHG MONOGRAMMED WALL ART PROJECT

Monogrammed Photo Frame Art

A Personalized Gift

Need a quick gift? Round up scraps of pretty patterned paper and a few frames. Cut a piece of patterned paper to fit the frame opening. Die-cut or hand-cut an oversize monogram and, if desired, a mat. Mount the initial to the patterned-paper background with adhesive foam, add the mat, if using, and slide the assembly into the frame. Dress up the frame edge with ribbons and charms.
These would make perfect teacher gifts or party favors for your best friends.

TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES IN TEXAS

Can't wait for our Texas hot summer to cool off. It has been over 100 degrees the past 17 days with no end in sight.  At least my purple coneflowers are loving the heat.

INDOOR POTTING ROOM

I love to flower garden and would enjoy having a potting shed. This is a potting room I found that had been added as an extension to a sunroom.  Maybe in my next lifetime!

JULY ETSYKIDS DESIGN CHALLENGE ENTRY

Boy's Security Blanket

by

SnazzySnugglies

This month's design challenge theme is "all about the boys".  My entry is a security blanket created from Robert Kaufman's Spacewalk Royal designer cotton paired with a soft, blue dot minky fabric.  I was drawn to the designer cotton by its vivid colors and real-life space icons.  I entered it in the challenge because what boy doesn't dream of becoming an astronaut!

Check out the EtsyKids Design Challenge for other entries.

HOW TO CLEAN AND STORE BERRIES

Curtis Stone

This week I highlighted several recipes using fresh berries. Here is a video by Curtis Stone on how to clean and store berries.

WHITE CHOCOLATE - RASPBERRY PIE

White Chocolate - Raspberry Pie

INGREDIENTS:

1

Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crust, softened as directed on box

5

oz white chocolate baking squares

3

tablespoons milk

5

oz cream cheese, softened

1/2

cup powdered sugar

1/2

to 1 teaspoon grated orange peel

1

cup whipping cream, whipped

3

cup fresh raspberries

DIRECTIONS:

• Heat oven to 450°F. Make pie crust as directed on box for One-Crust Baked Shell, using 9-inch glass pie plate. Cool completely.
• In microwavable bowl, microwave 4 squares of the white chocolate and the milk uncovered on Medium about 2 minutes or until almost melted. Stir until melted. Cool to room temperature.
• In small bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and orange peel with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Beat in white chocolate mixture. Fold whipped cream into white chocolate mixture. Spread in bottom of cooled baked shell. Arrange raspberries on filling.
• Melt remaining square of white chocolate; drizzle over pie. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until set. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pie.

CHICKEN SALAD WITH GRAPES AND PECANS RECIPE

Chicken Salad

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup light or regular mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup light or regular sour cream
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 pounds skinned and boned chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
• 3 cups red and white seedless grapes, halved
• 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• Lettuce leaves (optional)
• 
  

• Preparation

  1. Stir together 1/2 cup mayonnaise and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl. 

  2. Add chopped chicken and grapes, tossing gently to coat. 

  3. Cover and chill at least 1 hour. 

  4. Stir in pecans just before serving. 

  5. Serve in stemware lined with lettuce leaves, if desired.
  Southern Living AUGUST 2006

CHICKEN AND STRAWBERRY SALAD RECIPE

Chicken-and-Strawberry Salad

Strawberries and sliced avocados might seem like unusual toppings for chicken salad, but paired with a poppy seed dressing, they create a delicious dish that is loaded with flavor. Slivered toasted almonds and crisp red onions add a crunch to each bite.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup poppy seed dressing
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 pounds chopped cooked chicken (about 3 1/2 cups)
• 2 celery ribs, sliced
• 1 pint fresh strawberries, halved
• 1 avocado, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
• 1 (10-ounce) package mixed salad greens
• Garnishes: avocado slices, whole strawberries

• Preparation

  • Whisk together dressing and mayonnaise in a large bowl; cover and chill 30 minutes.
  • Add chopped chicken and next 5 ingredients to dressing mixture, gently tossing to coat. 
  • Serve over mixed salad greens. Garnish, if desired

FOUR-BERRY SMOOTHIE RECIPE

Berry Smoothie

Ingredients

• 2 cups vanilla ice cream, softened
• 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, sliced
• 3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Garnishes: fresh blueberries, raspberries, mint sprigs

• Preparation

  • Process first 7 ingredients in a blender. 
  • Add ice cubes to 4 1/2-cup level; process until smooth, stopping once to scrape down sides. 
  • Garnish, if desired; serve immediately.
  Southern Living
  JULY 1997

RASPBERRY TIRAMISU BITES RECIPE

Raspberry Dessert

These luscious little gems are so quick to fix you can make dozens at a time. Inexpensive shot glasses sparkle as contemporary dessert dishes. For large parties, miniature (5-oz.) clear-plastic tumblers, available from party stores, are a great option.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons seedless raspberry preserves
• 1 tablespoon orange liqueur
• 1 (3-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 8 ladyfingers, halved crosswise
• 8 fresh raspberries
• Garnish: fresh mint sprigs

Preparation

• 1. Microwave raspberry preserves in a small microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 20 seconds. Stir in liqueur.
• 2. Beat cream cheese and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy (about 1 minute).
• 3. Beat heavy cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Fold into cream cheese mixture. Spoon into a zip-top plastic bag. (Do not seal.) Snip 1 corner of bag with scissors to make a hole (about 1/2 inch in diameter).
• 4. Press 1 ladyfinger half onto bottom of 1 (1 1/2-oz.) shot glass. Repeat procedure with 7 more shot glasses. Drizzle about 1/2 tsp. raspberry mixture into each glass. Pipe a small amount of cream cheese mixture evenly into each glass. Repeat procedure with remaining ladyfingers, raspberry mixture, and cream cheese mixture. Top each glass with 1 raspberry. Cover and chill 2 hours. Garnish, if desired.

BIPPITY BOPPITY BOUTIQUE - DISNEY WORLD 2011

My daughter and I 

had lots of fun 

watching the girls get

"beautified"

at 

Disney World's

Bippity Boppity Boutique!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap ... but by the seeds you plant! 
-- Robert Louis Stevenson

TIPS FOR FARMERS' MARKET SHOPPING

Farmers' Market Produce

1.  Go Early

The best produce is often found right when the market opens. Avoid choosing from picked-over produce by arriving at your local market as early as possible.

2. Go Often

Buy only as much as you will eat within a few days, and store produce (except tomatoes) in the refrigerator or in a cool, dark place. Flavor and nutrients diminish quickly.

3. Bring Cash

Most vendors appreciate it if you have small bills for purchasing. And while some larger markets will accept credit cards, most will not accept personal checks.

4. Recycle, Reduce, Reuse

You're already a steward of the environment by shopping at your local farmers market, so remember to take it one step further and bring your own canvas bags, baskets, or boxes to carry away your purchase for the day.

5.  Take Your Time

Scope out the entire market before making your selections. Prices and types of produce vary among the different vendors. You'll want to shop just as wisely here as anywhere else.

6.  Bright Is Best

Look for blemish-free, brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Any bruised or damaged produce will spoil quickly.

7.  Don't Wash Right Away

Wash fresh produce just before cooking or serving–not before storing.