Baby Pumpkin

I got this adorable idea from pinterest! It is my new favorite site. Here is my darling daughter.

Cutest kids ever. SO thankful for them.

Dresser and Matching Night stands makeover

Have I mentioned lately how much I love craige's list? The other day I was surfing it and found a dresser with two matching nightstands for $30, there was no picture, so I had to text for a picture. When I got the picture it was a bad quality photo of some black painted furniture, but it looked like it had nice details. I discovered a whole new ghetto of my town when I went to get them! It was an adventure, but when I got there, it was WELL worth it! Here are the two nigh stands before,

the night stands ALONE I would have paid 30 dollars for, but then the huge beautiful dresser came too!!! Here is the after shot. Some gray paint, light sanding to shabby chic it, and then I spray painted all the hardware, by the way ALL the hardware was included! Can you say steal?

AREN'T THEY BEAUTIFUL!!! It took everything in me to not keep them! I wanted $250 for all three, but sold them to a nice lady for $200! I knew they were going to a good home. $170 profit, not too shabby!

Catering a Wedding

Oh my.. This weekend has been insane. My husband and I took on the task of catering a wedding for my husband's cousin. At first I was just going to do the cupcakes and cake, and my husband was just going to do the main dishes of pulled pork and potatoes. Then last week it got a little more crazy and we got added on the salads and other sides. Well, we did it!!! It was a crazy week, and a little scary that we weren't going to complete it all at times, but we did! Here are some pictures of what we did!

Mommy and Baby Headbands

I got inspired for these headbands from flamingo toes, go here to see her tutorial and her version of the headband! These are SO easy, and I even made the plunge to open an etsy shop! So if you are interested in purchasing some already made, head to my etsy shop HERE 

 

Painted Dresser

I finally moved into the world of technology and got a "smart" phone. One of my favorite features so far, is the craige's list app! I put in the criteria I am looking for, and it notifies when something in my criteria is posted. Last night, I got a notification for a FREE dresser! I was so excited I quickly e-mailed the listing. This morning, I went and picked up my free dresser! Sadly I forgot to get a before picture, but it was ugly... REALLY ugly. It was some nasty brown paint and gold handles. I painted the dresser red with a white damask stencil and then spray painted the knobs a nice shimmery brown.

I LOVE this dresser. I want to keep it, but I know it will sell and I am greedy.

Flourless Chocolate Torte w. Chocolate ganache

I LOVE to bake, but I don't have a big sweet tooth. Last night we were having some of our good friends over, and so I decided I wanted to try out a chocolate torte. I watch Top Chef Just Desserts, and they make these ALL THE TIME! So, I thought I would try this "high end" creation. It turned out BEAUTIFUL! Not to toot my own horn, but I swear it was restaurant quality! I was so stinking proud of it! But, it is extremely rich. I could only have a few bites, and only one of the four of us actually finished our piece. So this is a great dessert in small doses, or for a fancy party. Here it is, and the recipe!

 Torte Pre Ganache

 Make sure and put it on a wire rack when pouring the ganache!

I wouldn't recommend these big of slices! haha

Flourless Chocolate Torte

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus 1/2 tablespoon
• 1 pound semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup amaretto
• 8 large eggs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Confectioners' sugar or cocoa powder, for garnish
• Fresh raspberries, for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Using 1/2 tablespoon butter grease a 9-inch springform pan and line bottom with a parchment round. Cover pan underneath and along sides with foil and set in a roasting pan. Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil.

Combine the chocolate, butter, and amaretto in a metal bowl set over simmering water or in the top of a double boiler. Melt the mixture, stirring constantly, until smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes; reserve.

Meanwhile combine eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until frothy and almost doubled in volume, about 5 to 10 minutes. Fold 1/3 of egg mixture into chocolate mixture using a rubber spatula. Repeat this process 2 more times - until all of egg mixture has been folded into chocolate mixture.

Pour batter into prepared springform pan and place in the roasting pan. Pour enough boiling water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides. Bake until cake has risen slightly and edges are just beginning to set, about 40 to 45 minutes. Remove cake from roasting pan and cool on wire rack to room temperature. Remove foil, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

Remove cake from refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving. Remove springform pan sides, invert cake onto a large plate, and peel away the parchment paper from bottom. Reinvert cake on another large plate or serving platter and garnish with confectioners' sugar or cocoa powder immediately before serving.

Chocolate Ganache

Ingredients:

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

2/3 cup heavy cream

Directions

1. In a heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips with cream over low heat. Remove from the heat. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally.
2. For a pourable ganache, cool until mixture reaches 85 degrees F-90 degrees F and is slightly thickened, about 40 minutes. Pour over cake, allowing some to flow down the edges to completely coat. Spread ganache with a spatula if necessary to evenly coat, working quickly before it thickens. Chill until set.
3. For spreadable ganache, chill until mixture reaches a spreadable consistency. Spread over cake. Chill until set.

  

Remembering Mom.

Five years ago today, a beautiful woman left her earthly home, and went to be with Jesus in heaven. My mom was only 46, and I was 18 when she died. She had struggled with a short 10 month battle with lymphoma. My mom was really one of the most wonderful people you could have ever known. She was a strong Godly woman, and I hope I can someday be more like her. She taught me the most important thing in life, how to be a wonderful Mother. I am sad my children will never get to know her, but thankful one day we will all be in heaven together. Love you mom. Miss you more than ever. 

Here is a video I did for her funeral highlighting her incredible life. 

Zipper Shirt

I think I have been watching too much Project Runway. I have always loved the edgier looks where they add fun zipper details. I was watching some past seasons, and a lot of them did the exposed zipper in either the back of the outfit, or on the front. SO. I think that is where I came up with this! 

Materials:

1. Old or Cheapo Shirt. (mine was a $5 shirt from Kohls)

2. 5-7 inch zipper, depending on the look. Mine was a 7"

3. Sewing machine or needle and thread

 First, lay out your shirt and lay the zipper on top of where you want it to go. Then, while unzipping the zipper, cut down in between the zipper on the shirt.

 It should be open and look like this. Next, sew the zipper to the TOP of the shirt. I didn't do any right side to right side, I just sewed right onto the shirt. I unzipped as I went to make sure it was all lining up correctly.

 DONE! How easy is that? You can unzip it a little, leave it totally zipped, or whatever!

I am so in love and obsessed with how this turned out! I bought another zipper, so expect another zipper project!

Overall Shirt NO SEW

I am an avid watcher/gross obsession  of America's Next Top Model. If any of you have watched it over the years, I have always been in love with a shirt, winner Eva wore during her confessionals. It was a blackish tank top and one strap was an overall! I looked EVERYWHERE for a shirt like this, but after about 5 years of looking, I decided to make my own! This process is super easy, and actually requires NO SEWING! Here are the steps. 

OVERALL SHIRT!

 First, I started with a package of overall clips, and then a long sleeve shirt. A tank top, short sleeve or any sleeve shirt will work. Ignore the other stuff! Projects to come!

 Next, since I used a long sleeve shirt, I cut off the sleeves

 Then on one of the sleeves left, I cut it in half a little above where the neckline is. Then following the directions on the overall packet, nail in the button.

 Next I attached the clip portion. BEFORE you glue it down, try it on to make sure that you have pulled enough of the shirt through and that it fits right. From there I used liquid stitch to glue it into place around the buckle.

 My finished shirt!

 Excuse my son's potty in the background.. I am not the best at self portraits! The husband was napping with baby.

Horray! The shirt I have wanted for 5 years is finally mine! This would be really fun in other colors too! Have fun, and message me if you do this yourself!

Play Cupboard MAKEOVER

My husband's Grandma gave me this really really cute old kid's play cupboard about a month ago. It has been sitting in the garage waiting for me to do something with it. I could not decide what color I wanted to paint it, but yesterday I decided to paint it BLUE with chalkboard paint on the cupboards and counter top. I also found some really adorable pull knobs at Hobby Lobby. Here is the before and after shots!

I love it! It is a little darker than I expected with the chalkboard paint, but I think she will love it when she gets a bit older. I like that it is a neutral color in case my son decides to play with it too!