B is for... Bean Bag!

Ok... technically it's a corn bag, but what? ... that just sounds weird. Okay- so the other night my neighbor and I put these bags of blissful, beaming, bendy, blue, bean (corn) bed buddies together for those bitter cold, barefoot nights in bed... brilliant! Seriously, they could bump sliced bread off the "coolest" thing invented block... I love my bean bag buddy! Alright.. enough blabbering... Here's how to make your own:

Get some really cute fabric (and a 40% off coupon- yay).. I used flannel to be extra soft, and muslin for the inside lining... go to your local farm supply store and grab a 50 lb bag of whole feed corn (do not use any other corn, it will pop in the microwave) and try not to buy the cute lil potbelly piggies, and then gather up some thread and cute buttons laying around.. and that's it! My 2nd favorite part of this project (my favorite being that I have warm feet at night now) is that the total cost per bean bag buddy = $1.82... awesome.



Cut fabric (inside muslin- 6.5 in X 20.5 in. after folded in half.. and outside flannel- 7 in. X 21 in. after folded) and get sewing! The inside bag will look similar to this ... fill with 7-10 cups of corn (make sure to leave enough room that it can still mold around your feet, neck, stomach, back etc...) sew up the last side, and repeat with the outside layer (except don't sew the last edge shut so you have a way to remove the case and wash it...)



I microwaved the muslin bag for 2-3 minutes and let cool before putting it inside the cover (the corn tends to "sweat" a lot the first time you heat it)... then add your bling and buttons and you've got you're very own beanbag buddy!



Note to self: Don't use metal buttons to decorate it with ... hence the whole microwaving metal issue.. Don't heat more than 3 minutes in the microwave...

P.S- This also can be done with uncooked rice or dry beans but the corn is cheaper, holds heat longer, and doesn't stink up the whole room when microwaved.

W is for... Worms!

For our annual Farr Halloween bash I made my usual treat suspect... Jell-o worms... these are really fun and the kids really enjoy wolfing down the wiggly, wacky, wobbly, withering worms... I got this recipe from theidearoom.net, it takes quite a bit of time to do and is much easier with lots of people to help get the worms out of the straws but this is the basic how-to...

Take 100 of these... (straws not glasses..)



and fill up the cup with the jell-o recipe mixture... pop in the fridge overnight, remove the worms from the straws (hardest part of the recipe by far), crush up some oreo cookies to create a nice home of dirt for the worms to live in... and you've got a creepy, crawly Halloween treat for all to enjoy! ...( and a huge mess of semi-melted jell-o and cookie crumbs all over your kitchen... ) But it's all worth it... Enjoy!

A is for.... Avatar!

Alright this is what I've been up to for my latest Halloween crafting fun... crafting myself and husband into avatars!... Check out these amazing, articulate, artsy, agile avatars! (Full story on our family page joelandkell.blogspot.com). This was lots of fun, I had planned on getting avatar contacts (yellow with green edges) but they wouldn't get here till today.. bummer, maybe next year... I also made various Halloween treats bat sugar cookies, oreo mummies, and chocolate dipped pretzel mummies... but failed to capture them on film before they were captured by people's stomaches... I apologize... anyway I hope you enjoyed your Halloween!



P.S. We aren't by any means more articulate or agile in these costumes.... it was just wishful thinking....

W is for... Witchy pillow!

So I have been up to my neck in projects I've started, and I'm finally finished with some of them... this one I thought was just too cute... I embroidered a little picture I found online, and got some super fun fabric at Ben Franklins and whipped up this whimsical, wild, wacky, witchy pillow! (I only wish that whipped up didn't actually mean.... It took me 3 days to embroider the witch, then 3 hours to finally decide on fabric, then 5 hours trying to figure out how to sew the darn pillow case so everything was lined up and all the same direction... but alas...) Here it is!



and the back.... I just adore this fabric, who comes up with such cuteness?!

H is for... Halloween!

It's funny... I used to hate Halloween all growing up, mostly because it was scary I think, but it is becoming a fast favorite of mine, especially with all the cute decorations out there... so here is my happy, haunted, hokey-pokey, halloween hoop... (a.k.a- wreath)... I think I'm becoming a little bit obsessed about wreaths too- I have so many ideas for all sorts... I just need more doors I suppose...



So I just found the ribbon for 50% off at Michael's, and the wreath form with a coupon at Hobby Lobby, and I used straight pins instead of hot glue to attach the ribbons but I'm sure either would work just fine...



Cute, easy, cheap... enough said.

I is for... Inspiration!

While making a very big effort to organize my craft room, I came across my art portfolio... I love art, wait... let me clarify, I love drawing, coloring, painting, sculpting etc... however I don't love learning about art history, going to art museums, and I have never thought naked people in any way, shape, or form is art... I apologize if this offends you... anyway- I haven't really taken the time since I've been married to continue with my art, which made me sad...(or maybe it's because my cousin always called me a freak when I showed her my drawings (yes you Whit)... I'm sure you meant it in a very endearing way...) I really don't want to lose this talent... So here's to getting inspired! ....









Who knew cleaning out a closet could be inspiring... What is something you've done that gives you inspiration?... And just a little f.y.i - the close up pictures were of ink stipple, and prisma-color drawings :)

F is for... fudge!

Ok I have to warn you.... this fresh, fudgey, forkfull disappeared frighteningly fast! (I may or may not have just made up some words to describe this post using f's)... So there is no end result picture haha... but now you can make it and post your own finished product picture... Alright back to the good stuff- here's everything you need... almost everything anyway...



and this...

Famous Fudge:
1 1/2 C. sugar 2 C. mini mallows
2/3 C. evaporated milk 1 1/2 C. mini chocolate chips
2 Tbs. butter 1/2 C. chopped pecans or walnuts (opt.)
1/4 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla

Line 8 x 8 pan with foil. Set aside. Combine sugar, milk, butter, and salt and bring to full rolling boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, for 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients until melted (f.y.i -this takes some muscles, at least for me it did). Pour into prepared pan and refrigerate for 2 hours until firm. Remove from foil and cut into pieces. Enjoy! (nother f.y.i- I did not remove from foil before cutting- what's the point? and didn't add any nuts either and it still tasted great) Just be careful, you might become a fudge addict since it's super easy to make, and quite scrumptious...

Remember this cutie...?

She finally has a home :) This wreath was from my "B is for...Burlap!" post- The picture isn't the best quality but I was standing out on my front porch in my P.J's in broad daylight- and I didn't want to be spotted... anyway- I think it's just what our front door needed, and now our entry way is complete! ... for now... Also notice the scrappy "no soliciting" sign, if you are a solicitor reading this.... No- I'm not interested... turn back now before it's too late! ... however if you are our friend/family... notice the edge of green near the bottom of the picture (actually you might have to imagine it... anyway)- that's a super cute welcome mat... just for you... so come on over!

P is for... Pink Lemonade Cupcakes!

Ok so I need to work on these a little bit longer before posting the recipe- they aren't quite there yet... but I still had to put these petite, pink, playful patooties pictures up...

L is for... Laundry Room Re-do!

I know I really got you all excited for something not so exciting... But I'm pleased as punch with how it all came together... This is my finished little lovely laundry label... for those of us who forget how the laundering process goes...



And this is my cute soap container (also labeled for the un-laundry-inclined)... And a big ol' jar for clothespins (yes- I know, I have never used a clothespin in my life, but the perfect thing to tie it all together)... and a big ol' penny jar- for the lost and unclaimed laundry change.



There is also a wicker basket for all my dryer sheets, spot removers, etc...



The shelf is actually very big, and still looks a little on the empty side- however I don't doubt that I can manage to fill it up with something :) But I would welcome any other ideas you might have...

P.S- I got the big soap jar from my friendly neighborhood Target, and the basket (1 in a set of 4) for 6 buckaroos at Ross (Love Ross), and no I don't have cute, fun, girly handwriting- that would be my new best friend Fonts for Peas website (Pea Double N Jenn)... love it- I use it for EVERYTHING... I will put up a link in my "I'm a fan" section.

P.S.S- (if there is such a thing as P.S.S) the title of this post is somewhat misleading, I actually didn't "redo" anything, because previously I didn't have a laundry room, so I must apologize for not having a "before and after"... however I'm not changing the title- I like it...

Another sneak peak.. L is for...

Oh boy- I bet your excitement is bursting at the seams! ... Isn't it just for cute? My new faves... raffia and burlap.

Some things I love...

I love the rain. Really LOVE the rain... it is so calming and magical to me - I know its not really 'magic', but it kinda is-... today I woke up to the pitter patter on my window... it was lovely. It turned from cute little pitter patter to downright downpour, so naturally, I went on a walk :) Needless to say, I should have put my cell phone in a plastic bag in my pocket before heading out- but it survived... I was soaked to the bone in about 10 seconds- awesome... Try it some time, you might just like it as much as I do...

Sneak peak... L is for...

Oh the suspense! . . .

Q is for... Quick Tips

Here are two tips for making life less stressful:

1. When cooking pasta, place a wooden spoon across the top of the pan. It will keep it from boiling over- don't ask me why or how, because I simply don't know- haha... just try it. No more burnt, smelly, sticky messes to clean up!

2. Hard boiled eggs- delicious but a pain in the- you know where- to peel. Just add 1 tsp. of baking soda to the water when boiling and the shells will willingly glide off, or you can also just slice the eggs long- ways once cooked and scoop out with a spoon. Genius!

Hope these help, watch for more quick tips to come! (I found these at the "No Biggie" link in my "I'm a fan" section)

B is for... Burlap!

So I got this wonderfully, cute, crafty idea from Tatertots and Jello (see the link on the left) it's a wreath made of scrap fabric, burlap, and some bling... so naturally it's appealing since all the ingredients equal = cheap! Not to mention it's easy, kids can help, and it gave me something to do for 3 hours... Although I didn't escape without injury. I got a blister on my thumb (I think I hold scissors awkwardly or something) and of course... a hot glue burn on my lil finger- ouch! But totally worth it...



I got a straw wreath ($1.50) and burlap ($3) at Hobby Lobby, gathered up some scrap fabric at my moms, and busted out the scrapbooking bling I had already... easy as pie...



I little cutting here, a little gluing there... and badda-bling-badda-bloom! Bedazzled burlap blossoms! Haha- that was a mouthful... then I just attached them to the wreath (this took the longest since I have to strategically place things in random... I think it's because everything has to be symmetrical in my head, so random is not natural to me... anyway- I ended up with this! Now I just need a front door to hang it on...

C is for... cookie- that's good enough for me!

It's a dream come true! Samoa's all year round! Yes, that's right... the beloved chewy, chunky, coconutty cookie can be yours too- whenever you want it ... ah - bliss... I wonder if Girl Scouts across America are mad?... Hmm...I'm sure happy though...



This is a "Coconut Dreams" cookie by Keebler, on sale right now at Smiths- hurry, go get some.... I won't tell...

A girl can dream...

So I've been pouring over the abundance of craft blogs I have found recently, and stumbled across this beauty! This is what my craft room will someday look like...



I can pretend right?.. but lets be honest, I have a lot of work ahead of me seeing as my craft room currently looks like this...



Haha... oh boy...

Z is for... zipper flower!

So I haven't been doing a whole lot of cooking or crafting since our house is packed up and stored all across Farmington... but I just had to make some of these... they are soo cute, not too hard to make, cheap (my favorite part) and quite hip I must say... check it out:

First I went to my friendly neighborhood craft store and bought the necessities: hot glue gun ($4), plastic headband ($0.69), sheer black ribbon ($1), and 24 inch black zipper ($2).



Then I simply wrapped the ribbon around the headband and glued in place...



Then I followed the instructions on MarthaStewart.com to make the zipper flower...


and...


Then attached the zipper flower to the finished headband and poof! Cute, hip, and style appeared on my head...

K is for... Kenzlee

This is my cute (... actually beautiful) little sister Kenz, I was able to take some of her Senior pictures for her. I can't believe she's graduating! Time flies...

You have no idea.. or maybe you do

Hello world! This is my first post for my new blog, and I just want you all to know how difficult it was for me to change to this cute font! Haha... so worth the three hours it took me though, don't you think? Anyway... This blog will soon be filled with random stuff I like to do, I hope you enjoy it, I know I sure will...