Arm Candy Swap Party!

A few weeks ago I signed up for an Arm Candy Swap Party.

Cause I love me some candy.

And when I got my partner email, I am not going to lie I was a little confused and had to read it twice.

First my partners name was Amy, last I checked that was mine.

Then I read she lived in Florida, hello my address is in Florida.

And her an answer to her to her childhood celebrity crush was Joe McIntyre, my childhood walls where plastered with Joey Mc, posters like it was wallpaper.

Which made me think Leonora had lost her mind and partnered me up with myself.

But NO, there is actually another one of me out there, its

Amy from Strands of Sunshine.

So then my mind went to holy crap Leonora partnered me with a legit jewelry maker.

And by legit people, I mean she is even living her dream of opening a brick and mortar shop!!!

Then it came to actually making bracelets for a legit jewelry maker.

Yep, that much anxiety, haha.

So after making her candy, I sent it off.

With fingers crossed that nothing broke before she could get a photo of it!

Then Amy reassured me, it was all good in the hood since she actually had REAL jewelry making tools, not her husbands tool box tools, so she could fix it!

 Then my package came, I was over moon with the fun items Amy made for me!

I loved the variety in the bracelets, making them for fun all different outfits.

                                                

                                                

I would have included more shots of me wearing them, BUT I have some seriously veiny old lady hands that I did not want you to lose your breakfast!

It was super fun to go out side my comfort zone and make jewelry and a new friend!

Thanks Leonora and Ilene for hosting such a fun swap.

Now head over to see all the swap partners links!

Mom in the shot {Seeing myself}

I find myself looking in the mirror a lot, but not in the traditional sense but in the seeing myself in my daughter sense.

The physical similarities are undeniable... 

I feel myself working everyday to make sure she shines.

That I force myself to sit back and let her work her magic.

There is a little bit of me rubbed off in there for sure.

But I strive to keep it at a minimum.

But in the end if she turned into me, would that be a bad thing?

Linking up with Emily...

Quinoa Corn Cakes

We are quinoa addicts. 

Honestly, like the whole family.

I try to make it at least three times a week.

We even have a insider name for it, "the poop grain".

I mean lets keep it real, or in this case regular, anything with that much fiber is helping out if you know what I mean.

But I digress. 

What you will need:

- 2 cups cooked quinoa {and if it is your first time making it MAKE SURE TO RINSE IT OUT!}

- 3 tbsp all purpose flour

- 1 egg slightly beaten

- Juice from half a lemon

- 2 tsp pepper

- 1 tsp salt

- Corn from to ears

- Olive oil

For dressing:

- 1/4 cup sour cream or greek yogurt

- 2 tbsp of lemon juice

- Salt and pepper to taste

- Scallion

-Mix all ingredients except oil olive.  Set to the side for about 5 mins. Heat about 2 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat.  Form patties about 1/4 in thick, if your patties are too wet add a little more flour.  Then fry them about 5mins per side. Just keep an eye and adjust the temp as needed. I worked in batches and  used the oven to keep them warm.

For the dressing mix the sour cream, lemon and s&p. 

Spread on warm cake then sprinkle with scallion.

Makes about 9 cakes.

These turned out super yummy.

I hope to play around some more and come up with other varieties.

Enjoy!

And eat your quinoa on the "regular"!

DIY $8 Glitter Anchor Tee

Nautical is back, but honestly has it ever gone away?

I mean it is such a classic, not sure it can ever really be out of style.

The other day at Target I grabbed a $8 gray crew neck tee and knew I wanted to add an anchor.

So I googled anchor images, printed one I liked and got out my freeze paper {aka ghetto stencil maker}.

Other things I used:

-pencil

-exacto knife

- fabric glitter glue

- fabric glitter

First thing you will do is trace your stencil out on the freezer paper.

Then with your knife cut out the relief portion of the paper, creating your stencil.  And remember to keep any pieces that make the image, like the little circle in the top of the anchor.

Then after laying the image out, iron it wax side down on your shirt. No steam with the iron.

Add glue and then sprinkle with glitter.

What the time the bottle says, then remove your stencil.

Then you will have a super cheap, super cute glitter anchor shirt.

AHOY MATY!

Enjoy!

Tie Dye Shirt turned Razor Back Tank {Pinterest Project}

You may or may not have the razor back tanks floating around pinterest. 

I have and I love them.

After a major tie dye sess, where we had at least 10 shirts made.

I decided we needed to change a few into tanks for this scorcher of a summer we are having.

I started with a tutorial on cutting the shirt in sections, then adapted it for Buggie size.

I did not need her having a boobie hanging neckline or a deep cut back on it.

First you want to cut the seam off the bottom, just above the thread line.

Cut the sleeves just inside the thread line.

And lastly the neck off just at the thread line.

Then take your bottom piece and cut the thread line off.

Once you have it removed cut it into a long piece and pull it so rolls into itself.

I had Buggie put the shirt on and mark where I want to cut the V in the back.

Then gather the V and tie on end of the long string and start wrapping it up, for about 2 ins.

You should have plenty of string left over, then take the shoulders and about 1 in. from the shoulder seam gather and wrap a some tie.

Then lastly at the bottom fringe about 1 1/2in up.

Buggie was super stoked and declared me "the BEST Momma, EVER."

So yeah I rule.

Let me know if you have questions.

Enjoy!

Brave Pancake Art

I have been dabbling in pancake art for a while now.

Nothing fancy, just things I know my kiddlets will love.

Whenever I share my photos of my creations on facebook, twitter, and/or Instagram, I always get the same questions.

And numero uno is "How did you do that?"

Yesterday I made Merida pancakes to celebrate our excitement for a new kick booty princess.

Here is how:

Tips:

- I always use boxed pancake mix, it works best. You will not want any lumps since it will clog your squeeze bottles.

- It is ALL about temp control with your stove top, low and slow wins the race.

- REMEMBER its just pancakes and its easy enough to toss a mistake.

- Have fun, and know if your creation is not exactly how you pictured it, your kid will love that you made it extra special, {even when you think your Merida, see above, is on the verge of drag queen.}

What you will need:

- pancake mix

- food coloring

- small bowls

- squeeze bottles for each color you are using

- butter

And I apologize in advance for the lighting in my photos...

When I mix the pancake mix I always put less water in then the box calls for, just to make sure it is not too runny.  You can always add more but never take away. But here is the consistency you want.

Divide the mix up and add the food coloring.

For Meridas hair I used 4 drops of red and 3 yellow.

Most of the time I just make things up, but for Merida I needed a point of reference. A quick google search help with that. Oh and just another reason to love my Life Proof case, no worries using it in the kitchen :)

                                     

First things first, heat your pan up.

I have my stove on lock down with temps. 

For pancakes I use low medium.

After melting some butter, take the orange squeeze bottle and shape out her hair.

Another tip - remember that the side that will be facing down is the side that you will use to display, SO keep that in mind with making your creations.  So letters need to be backwards and such.

Then you will draw out her face with the plain batter.

Add her face.

Lastly go back and fill in the hair and face. Once it have bubbled flip and cook the other side.

Then plate.

For the arrows, I made upside down hearts.

    

Fill them in and add the stick part and feathers.

Another tip I have is if something breaks, no worries.  Keep cooking it, and just put it back together when you plate it!

Here are a few other recent creations.

Oh and another tip, once you start doing this for your kids BE READY for the requests to roll in.

And when your husband asks for the Sistine Chapel, make sure to have a dish towel on hand for a "playful" swat.

Feel free to leave any questions. Just make sure I have a way of responding!

That love and feeling...

I am alive.

*PHEW*

I just lost that love and feeling for blogging for a while.

My Spidey senses are telling me its back.

But who knows.

Yesterday I did the first project in a looooooong time.

It felt good. 

So I am pretty sure thats back.

I took my blah black kitchen desk chair and went to work on it.

First using white primer.

Then the most gorgeous Valspar color of exotic sea covered it.

Once the last coat of exotic sea dried I taped off the bottom portion of the legs and sprayed them GOLD.  Once it dries for 24 hrs then I will hit it with a clear coat of enamel spray.

I am beyond stoked about it.

Hubs started calling it my "Jasmine Chair".

Which of course made me giggle.

So at least my love and feeling is back today.

Later taters!