Five....

More days until my grandaughter Chloe is born~

Mmm-mmm Monday~

Here is a wonderful sugar cookie recipe. It is absolutely fabulous, no lie. When you make these cookies you also need to make a bowl of air popped pop corn-- (for YOU to eat) and invite your super-skinny friends over because these suckers are loaded with calories! The cookies plus the frosting take a total of 5 sticks of butter!Sugar cookies~
3 cups powdered sugar
2 cups butter or margarine, softened (thats 4 sticks!)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 eggs
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1. In a large bowl, beat together the 3 cups powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, 1 teaspoon almond extract and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in the flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

2. Heat oven to 375°F. Divide dough into fourths. On lightly floured surface, roll each half 1/8 inch thick. I always add more flour to the dough as it is super sticky. I would say I add about 1/2 a cup to each dough (fourth....) so it doesn't stick to the rolling pin/cookie cutter and plastic cutting mat. Then cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. I put 8 on each cookie sheet~

3. Bake 7 to 10 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Did you know that a dark cookie sheet cooks things faster and darkter? Anywho, once cooked, cool completely, about 30 minutes. Then frost away! Here is a wonderful frosting recipe that sets up nicely so you can stack the cookies...and it stays semi-soft.

Frosting:

4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

5 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

food coloring of your choice & sprinkles if you desire~

I had said I was going to put up a Mr. Linky for people to link up to share recipes, but it was to complicated for my pea-sized brain to figure out-- that combined with my laziness to read & figure it out put "Mr. Linky" on hold for a long time lol....sooooooooo if you'd like to share a recipe, leave a comment and I'll place you right *here* with a link to your blog. If not, seriously, go make these sugar cookies.... you'll thank me!

Boutiques~

Today I hit my usual haunts... picked up some fun things: I am always curious as to what people pay for things...so I've listed what I've paid for all this stuff~2 antique spools-$3 for both, 3 round stacking trays-$2 for the set, a pink vintage apron-$2, cook books- stack for .50cents, 2 metal/floral square tins-$4, small black floral tin-.10cents, acrylic paint & brushes-.50cents, old glass bottle-.5cents, silk flowers-.25cents, zippers & trim & ric rac-.50cents, tiny trays-.50cents, a box of 36 tart molds and 24 cookie cutters-$2...Lastly, these two stitched pieces and an egg wreath, all for $6. Also, a small box/trunk (that is not pictued) that is going to be made-over into a pirate chest. I'm going to do a tutorial on how to do an easy-peasy faux leather treatment :-)

Theme Thursday~

This weeks theme is: bordersI curved my border around the circle in this door hanger. I love to use this particular "border" which is made out of vintage book pages then just painted white around the edge. I am such a creature of habit~ I made 4 of these... You can see more borders here.

Taming Kid-clutter party!

Wendy at "The Shabby Nest" is hosting The Taming your kids clutter party. I am looking forward to seeing some new ideas and possibly adding them to my own decluttering endeavors!

My child... is a married 23 year old who is the mother of a 22 month old baby boy. The "kid clutter" in my house is all the toys this Nanna needs to keep her little love-bug grandson happy! The first photo is the all important diaper changing table. I picked up this vintage beauty for FREEEEEEEEEEE off of Craigslist. It had the original finish which I easily painted over with white paint then I added new drawer pulls to update the look a little bit. It holds a lot of essential things like diapers, wipes, bibs & blankets... and the top drawer holds things that I pull out on occassion to keep my grandson from throwing a tantrum while his diaper is getting changed! The gold caddy was another freebie, at one time I think it held office supplies. The pony normally doesn't stand in front of the changing table-- but it is so darn cute I had to display it. (you can see the $2 dollar vintage ponies transformation here) Here is a 3 wicker basket etagere stand that I picked up for $30 buckeroos (off of craigslist) The whole thing was originally yellow, I painted it white and made the liners for each basket. It now holds Mr. Potatoe head parts and race tracks and other odds & ends~The bookcase I picked up for $8 bucks at a yard sale is jammed packed with pop up books and early reading books. The table and chairs I picked up for $8 dollars as well (yard sale) right now I've got them pushed up against the bookcase since he has no interest in sitting still or reading at this young age. But when he is ready...I'm ready!Finally, some toys. I put together this $1 dollar wire rack (yard sale find) and purchased the baskets off of craigslist (I love that site) for $2 dollars each.... I loaded up each basket with toys and weeded out the "junkie" toys as I went along. When my grandson gets older I will get larger baskets or bins to fit into each little cubbie :-)Lastly, my grandson's toddler bed. (I recently made over this vintage toddler bed, you can view that transformation here) This bed is at my daughter's house, under the checkered flag bedskirt of his bed is two flat under the bed plastic bins- full of his blankets, and bedsheets. Things you need....but never can seem to find in the linen closet when your looking for them! I thought that was a great idea for storing bed linens, under the bed!If you've linked over from The Shabby Nest and wish to view more of my blog.... click here for a lookie-lou.

Mmm-mmm Monday~

Something new!! Every Monday I'm going to share a new (or old) recipe. I would like to do a "Mr. Linky" so everyone who would like too... could add a recipe they would like to share...but right now I'm to lazy to do it :-) Sooooo keep this in mind if you'd like to join in. I'm shooting for NEXT MONDAY.... but with my grandaughter's impending birth, who knows for certain. (okokok, that and I'm lazy lol) Anywho, here is a wonderful recipe that I have used for years & years. It is sooooooooooo good that everyone asks for the recipe-- which until NOW I have never shared-- I'm telling you, its THAT good!

Toffee-topped Muffins (easy-peasy)

2 cups firmly packed brown sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt (I never add the salt)

1 teaspon vanilla extract

1 cup milk

1 egg

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup walnuts

1/4 cup flaked coconut (optional)

Paper muffin cups~

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the brown sugar and flour. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. (I just use my hands)Remove 1 cup of the flour/sugar mixture and set aside. To the flour/sugar mixture, add the baking powder and salt (again, I never add the salt) I use my large kitchen mixer and beat the vanilla, milk and egg together. I slowly add the flour/sugar mixture into the mixing bowl until it is all blended together. Continue beating until a smooth batter forms. (like a watery cake mix) Fill each muffin cup with the mixture filling half full. Once all the muffin cups are filled (approximately 15) sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over each muffin (approximately 1 tablespoon each) Next, mix together the coconut, chocolate chips and walnuts together and place a heaping spoonful onto each muffin. (I add a lot more than what is called for, and I even added some white chocolate chips!) Thats it, bake the toffee muffins at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer each muffin to a wire cooling rack so the bottom doesn't get overcooked or burnt while sitting on the hot cookie sheet.

Seriously, these are wonderful and be selfish, don't give out the recipe! lol

Mixed Media Monday~

This weeks theme is: Fruit

I created a pear out of stretchy golden fabric. I had to use a zig-zag stitch on the whole thing before doing any straight stiches as this was super stretchy fabric....which is what I had in my fabric stash. I cut a twig to use as a stem and added some satin-wired leaves. I think I would like to do this again only stamp on some muslin then cut and sew a peach out of that-- or create a muslin pear and use that as a canvas to paint on....or.... just make a bunch of these and place them in a white bowl and stick them on the kitchen table! This pear is sitting on top of a round gold egg stand that I picked up at a craft store. You can see more mixed media pieces here~