When Life Hands You Lemons...

Make a lemonade stand!!! So about a week ago, my husband told me to pick a project so I could learn how to start woodworking. I came across a lemonade stand on pinterest & told him that was what I wanted to make. Every night, he taught me how, & I did everything myself from hand sawing the wood to hammering. It's the first thing I've ever accomplished when it comes to making something with wood, & I completely love how it turned out. I also combined my talents, sewing a pennant banner & hand painting the sign. The pictures don't do it justice, & the banner I absolutely love, but I'll take some better pictures soon, It is far from perfect, but I made it so my kids would have something to play with outside, & maybe this summer we can actually sell some lemonade!

I made the lemonade stand for all my kids, but my daughter Jenaye is just so in love with it! 

After taking some pictures (with Hannah sleeping & Jaeger at school) we were inspired to make some hand-squeezed lemonade. Mmmmmm!! Nothing like lemonade for a sweet taste of summer! Now if summer would just hurry up! lol

First Photo Shoot of 2012

So Saturday was the first photo shoot I've done in awhile. A close friend of mine referred this wonderful couple, & they messaged me two days prior to see if I was up to doing an engagement shoot with their '71 black Mustang. Mind you, it's been quite awhile since I've done a photo shoot. I decided to go for it. They were such a nice couple, & they look so incredibly happy. It was such an honor for me to photograph them.

From the heart....

For some reason, when it comes to photography, I get scared. I start shaking & usually I talk myself out of it. I don't know why, but I think I've always been just scared. Scared to follow my passion, maybe I'm just afraid I'll fail at it. I've had people bad mouth my photography & be unsupportive, & I sometimes let that get to me the most. This photo shoot, I was trembling, but I pushed harder then I ever have. It also helped that I have the most wonderful supportive husband, a best friend who never lets me quit, & a loving mother who has always believed in me, ever since the very beginning. Without them, I probably would have given up. I found an amazing strength when a recent event almost took the life of my daughter, a strength I didn't even know I had. Maybe, it's made me want to face my fears. If I can get through something that nearly destroyed my life, I can do this. I want to live my life with no regrets. I am a strong woman who has had an unbelievable life. It's made me the kind, comforting, loving, scared, humble person I am today. I may sometimes be misunderstood, but I'm living, with nothing or no one standing in my way, & I'm living it the way I want to. Thank you to everyone who always believed in me & supported me, even when I couldn't believe in myself.

Ice Cream for Breakfast?!

LOL Who says you can't have ice cream for breakfast?? An idea found on pinterest, I decided to make these for my kids for breakfast. I just love these fun food ideas for kids! Makes eating so much more fun!

Just make waffles, cut up bananas for the "ice cream" & put a berry on top! All I had was blackberries left after my kids devoured all the rest of the fruit. I'll be putting on my waffle recipe later today.

Photography Challenge: In My Kitchen

A couple days ago I was craving the sweet taste of summer!! I bought a coconut, starfruit, pineapple, peaches, raspberries, blueberries, & blackberries. I almost always have some sort of fruit in my kitchen! Before the kids & I dug in, I set it up to take a picture for my next photography challenge.

Photography Challenge: In My Kitchen

Doesn't this just make your mouth water?!! haha Can't wait for summer!!!

Mardi Gras & Brownies

So our family packed up & headed to the Red Cross Carnival yesterday. They had tons of stuff for the kids! They got paint, played basketball, bowling, tossed bean bags, looked at lizards, ate cupcakes & pretzels w/cheese, & got to win some prizes. My daughter chose this Mardi Gras mask & after she let me take pictures of her in it, I decided to use it for my photography challenge for the week.

Photography Challenge: Selective Color

I changed the photo to a black & white, brought the color back in for the mask & her eye, & added a texture layer. I really love my edits because she looks like a little catwoman.

Today I made my delicious brownies. I found this recipe years ago, & it's gotten the highest compliment I think a brownie can have.... "You don't even need any milk!" I make them for my husband's work all the time & for friends. Here is my secret recipe ~

1/2 cup butter
1 cup milk chocolate pieces
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
3/4 cup flour
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder

1. Preheat oven to 350'. Lightly grease 9x9x2 pan w/ shortening.
2. In a small heavy saucepan over low heat, combine butter & chocolate. Stir constantly until melted so mix does not burn. Remove from heat & let cool.
3. Add brown sugar & vanilla to chocolate mix, stir. Add eggs, beat until mixed. Add flour, cocoa powder, salt, & baking powder, stir until mixed.
4. Evenly spread batter in pan. Bake 25-30 mins.

I used a cookie cutter to cut out hearts & drizzled them with chocolate fudge frosting. Add some sprinkles & enjoy!!

Summer Seashell Necklace

Sooo... I've got cabin fever big time! I decided to make some shell necklaces in anticipation for summer! This idea I found off pinterest. A really creative idea & super easy to make!

What you need:
melon seeds
shells
beads
fishing wire
needle

How to:

• Cut up a melon & scoop out the seeds. Rinse them up using a strainer, & let them dry on a pan for a couple days.
• Collect some seashells at the beach or buy them from your local craft store (what I did since I live in Alaska) I drilled holes in mine.
• String the beads & melon seeds on the fishing wire. Use the needle to poke holes through the seeds.

Put the necklace on, pack your beach bag, & head out into summer in style!

Rose Buttercream Frosting Practice

So last night I made about a dozen cupcakes so I could practice making roses with buttercream. Some of them didn't turn out so well, & towards the end they started resembling roses a little bit more, so practice does make perfect. I think the frosting was a little too soft, so next time I'm going to make it a tad thicker & see if that helps.

Fabric Roses

Had some leftover fabric & decided to make some fabric roses.

Two Special Features

So today, instead of it being about what I've created, I've decided to share what my husband, & my best friend have made. My husband really enjoys woodworking & has created some pretty amazing pieces. His latest, a pizza peel, made from beautiful oak purchased at Superior Hardwoods. He worked really hard on this the last two days, & tonight we are making a homemade pizza to try it out. Pretty darn cool!

My crafty best friend Amber, who just recently opened up her own photography business Shutterbug Photoplay {Visit Site Here}, went out of her way to make me this ADORABLE heart mobile!! Something I've been wanting to make, but she has the cutest selection of hearts & did such a beautiful job putting this together for me!!

Game Day!!

So I got to spend Superbowl with about 13 kids running around having a blast, the guys screaming at the TV, & us girls hanging out. It was a total blast!! I made pretzel dogs & football krispies, both were a huge hit & I didn't bring anything home! Good food & tons of family & friends to fill my day with happiness, life can't get any better than this!!

These football krispies are so adorable & so EASY to make!

Make rice krispies, using cocoa krispies for the footballs. Let it sit once you mix the marshmallows & krispies until it's easier to mold. I buttered my hands & molded them into footballs, then melted white chocolate chips for about a minute. Pour into icing bag with a thin tip & work quickly to decorate the footballs. Absolutely delicious... enjoy!!

Flower Newsgirl Beanie

Yes... I'm on a crochet kick right now! lol Crochet has really been keeping me busy during these cold winter months. Last night, I made a flower newsgirl beanie. I loved this pattern because it was my first time doing a Cr dc (crossed double crochet) & the pattern came out so beautiful!

Pattern found here: Flower Newsgirl Beanie

Up All Night Projects

So the last few nights, I've had the itch to crochet. I wanted to finally make myself something, so I decided to make a slouchy hat & an adorable ruffle scarf. My hubby was nice enough to take some really good pictures for me, & I'm thrilled to finally have some crochet cuteness for myself.

Crochet Slouchy Hat Pattern found here: Gumdrop Slouchy Hat

Ruffle Scarf Pattern found here: Ruffle Scarf Pattern