Trader Joe's Mixed Berry Scones

These are crazy easy and very good!

2/3 cup water. Mix with a fork.  Drop onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. (I sprinkled tops with some pearl sugar.).  Bake 15 minutes.  Yummy warm!  It looks like you fussed when you didn't!  

Things I bought at IKEA that I really Didn't Need

I know you've done it too, so don't judge me!

Blue and white dishes - to add to my collection, can't resist any blue and white dish!

During the summer, I plan one trip to Ikea just for fun.  Usually I have a list of things I am looking for, but typically end up with things that are completely different, just because they are cute and such good prices.  I try to go right at 10 am when they open - great parking, no crowds, and this time no line to check out!

White enamel colander - only $9.99, will use for fruit.

Cobalt blue serving bowls - $1.99, will go great with blue and white dishes!

Small Ribba frames with mats, price recently reduced to $1.99.  Have a clever project in mind for this!

Scented candles in glass holders - only $1.99!

Actually bought some of these lacy metal candle holders last spring, but picked up a couple more for outside because they make such a great light pattern in the dark!

Cute pillow, but really doesn't match the couch, might return.

These stencil stickers because....

I want to do this to an old dresser!

I've been trying to find a new bolster pillow for months.  This is a new addition at Ikea - think I bling it up a bit with some vintage fabric!

I didn't find the kind of shelves that I was looking for, but just had fun looking around.

Chalkboard Door

I've recently done some painting in my dining room.  One of the changes that I made was to change an ugly brown door to the upstairs into a chalkboard door.  Below is a "before" picture of the door.


 I used Valspar chalkboard paint that I purchased at Lowes.  I first put multiple coats of Rustoleum Magnetic Paint as a base.  I never could get the magnetic paint to really work - after about 4 coats it would hold a very light magnet, but not a piece of paper under the magnet.  It also left a very rough surface for the chalkboard paint.  This week I added several more coats of the magnetic paint and sanded it smooth, but most magnets still aren't sticking.  Then I covered it with another coat of chalkboard paint.  The chalkboard paint works great, so my advice is to skip the magnetic paint!

Anyone who knows me knows I love all things Apple, so this was my first drawing!

Today I made this inspirational message.   It's not perfect, but I love it!

I love having the challenge of coming up with ideas that will inspire and encourage me.

Here's a little closeup - I did get a few vintage button magnets to stick, so I used them as "dots" to embellish the drawing.
I've been somewhat obsessed recently with all the clever ways people are creating chalkboards.  If you want to see some more ideas, check out my Pinterest Chalkboard board!




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Vintage Italy Postcards

I have always loved the colors of vintage postcards.  I picked a bunch up at an antique shop after my return from my trip to Italy.  Today I was scanning them for a little digital project, and thought that I would also upload them to Flickr as well as post them here.  I hope you enjoy a few faded views of Rome, Venice, and Florence!

Ireland Shutterfly Book

Yes, I know it was almost a year ago that I went to Ireland, but I finally had some time to put together a photobook of my trip pictures.  I used Shutterfly last December to make a book of our trip to Italy.  I was very happy with the process and the end result.  It was very easy to directly upload my photos to Shutterfly from iPhoto. They had lots of cute template options, but I LOVED that you could easily customized each page and change the layout and background and add decorations.  They had many free options of colors, fonts, and stickers.  It allowed me a simplified way of digital scrapbooking.  Shutterfly also has frequent discount codes which bring down the price - I took advantage of discounts on the book and shipping.

AND they give you an embed code so you can also share the book digitally!  LOVE!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Create a gorgeous, high quality wedding photo album at Shutterfly.com.

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Pinterest can be such a tease! It tempts you with recipes that are supposed to change your life, but too often I find their amazing claims to be overstated.  However, I was enticed by this recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes at the Kevin and Amanda blog which I located via Pinterest. I decided to try it out over the Memorial Day weekend.

The recipe gives directions to make the cupcakes from scratch.  I confess I was looking for a short cut, so I adapted the recipe to use a mix for both the cookie dough and the cupcakes.  We had a taste test in the teacher's lounge today and they were a hit, so don't think they suffered too much from using mixes. I did follow the directions from another pin "For Making a Box Cake Taste Homemade" which added a bit more richness to the cupcakes.

This recipe is definitely a keeper!

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

For the Cookie Dough:

One package Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough mix (I used the brand from Target)
butter

For the Cupcakes:

1 Box Vanilla Cake Mix (I used Betty Crocker French Vanilla)
3 eggs
milk (use in place of the water)
butter (use in place of the oil)
1 teaspoon vanilla

For the Frosting:

2 sticks of butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
4 cups powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:


1.  Prepare the cookie dough mix.  Follow the directions on the package, combining the mix with melted butter.  OMIT THE EGGS!!  (Yes, you can eat any little leftover bits!)

2. Divide the dough into 24 small balls.  I put mine in mini cupcake tins, but you could put them on a cookie sheet.  Put in the freezer for 2 to 3 hours until hard.

3.  When the cookie dough is frozen, prepare the cake mix.  Follow the directions on the cake mix package for the number of eggs, but replace the amount of oil with melted butter and the amount of water with milk.  Add a teaspoon of vanilla.  Use your mixer to combine according to package directions.

4. Put 24 cupcake liners in a muffin tin.  Add about 2/3 of a cup of batter to each cupcake liner.  Then drop the frozen cookie dough right on top.  Bake according to package directions.

5.  The batter will rise and cover the cookie dough.  There might be a slight indentation on top where a tiny bit of dough will peak through like a belly button when done.  Let the cupcakes cool completely.

6. To make the frosting: Combine the brown sugar and butter with a mixer.  Then add the powdered sugar, milk, salt, and vanilla and blend until smooth.  Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the chocolate chips and blend the remaining chips into the frosting by hand.

7. Top the cupcakes with a mound of frosting and garnish with a few chocolate chips on top.

8. Keep in the refrigerator - I think the "dough" tastes best when it is firm!

This is what they look like inside!  Yummy!

Two Cute New Friends

These two little bundles of cuteness joined my house this weekend. I adopted them from the Royal Oak Animal Shelter. Needless to say, they are proving to be an entertaining distraction from all the things I SHOULD be doing!












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