Crafty times

So I've decided to become a craftier person. I'm not sure how that's going to turn out since I have no patience whatsoever but we'll see. For Christmas I decided to use a bunch of bags for sack lunches as my "wrapping paper". I went to a craft fair with my mom and sister about a month ago and found some Stampin Up stamps in a clearance bin for $13 that were all Christmas so I bought them with the idea of using them on the bags.

I tried this last night with some cheap clearance ink I found at Michael's. First thing I learned, only buy acid free ink, as non acid free will stain your stamps. Found this out the hard way. But my tester bag was cute enough so once I get better red and green ink we'll be in business.

I did get gold and silver and they don't really show up. I'm thinking they'll make cute snow flakes though.

Attempting to bake while sick...

I took a sick day yesterday and used that time to sleep, watch amazing daytime TV, and make Chocolate Peanut Butter cupcakes.





They were a box recipe but I still somehow managed to jack up the icing. I think I added too much milk. It said to add the milk one tablespoon at a time until i was light and fluffy. Well, I'm lazy and I don't like idea so I added it as I wanted too. Thus I ended up with a really thick, heavy icing that wanted to fall off the cupcake. So I refrigerated them. Hooray for good ideas!

Maybe next time I'll follow directions? Maybe not : p I think time I'll try a pie, or a super fun new way to do Mac N Cheese.

Halloween!

Our work had a Halloween contest and a Halloween spread. I made this for our spread. I don't remember where I got the idea for the witch hats or wands but I know the marshmallow faces were from ColormeKatie. We dressed like "the 80's". Pictures below!

Sickness

So I'm sick. I have the stuffed nose, sore throat, all over blahs. But, that's not what I came here to talk about today!

The holidays are almost here! Hooray! Because of that, and because I really want to learn how to cook / bake Amber and I have been pouring over recipes trying to figure out easy, tasty things to cook.

Yesterday Amber and I made this braided Apple tart thing. It was really pretty easy to do. Well, I made the first one on my own and it looked like crap and then Amber helped with the second one and it looked a TON better so hooray!

So here was the first one:

And here was the one Amber helped me with:

My plan is to make an Advent Wreath one for Christmas. Who knows if that will turn out or not. Oh! And I made Amber help me high jack the pies for Thanksgiving. WHAT WAS I THINKING?!

Weekend Update

This weekend was a lot of fun and more productive than usual. Friday Amber and I made a birthday dinner for our Uncle. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and my Mom's home made cake filled us up until we were about to burst. Then we all watched Pineapple Express, very inappropriate but very funny. We all retired early, which was nice because I was about to be in a food coma.

Saturday was lots of family time, we went shopping with Mom (never a good idea). I did get a lot of Christmas gifts out of the way for the people I "have" to buy for aka work folks. I have to figure out what I'm going to get my Dad. This is year number two and it's no easier than last year. (He wants to "spend more time together" and I just don't know how to say 'sorry dad, you broke my heart. You get three days a year') ANYWAY Saturday was shopping and then lunch at Mom's. Later was when the real fun kicked in and Amber, Allie and I went out. Hooray for Allie driving so we could drink : ) I need to learn that eating massive amounts of grease and cheese is not a good idea.

Sunday was upset tummies for everyone, even the puppies. We had a very relaxing day and helped Mom decorate for Halloween, and then Amber and I decorated our places and picked out our 80s costumes for work. I'll start taking more pictures so this blog is less boring : p

Vacation

Starting Friday the 10th we're going on vacation! I am so excited. We're going to Nebraska! Woot. I know that Nebraska seems like an odd spot for a vacation but it has a lot of amazingly fun things to offer.

-Pumpkin Farms
-Arbor Day Farm
-Giant Tree House
-World's Largest Front Porch Swing
-BBQ Cook Off Between Local Firemen and Police Officers

That's just a few of things that drew us to Nebraska. I am very, very excited. We haven't been on a vacation that didn't involve going East in a long time. I'll update when we get back. Hopefully after four days we can rest a few more. We're hoping that maybe Al will let us have lunch with them on Lee's birthday since we should be back by then. If not, some time later next week so he can get his birthday presents.

That's all for now!

Long Time...sort of new update?

So I have a new couch! I bought it off Craigslist for $75. Woot. Here is Quinn modeling it.

I'm pretty sure that I found a new self that I want for my living room but I don't want to spend $100 on it. Poop. It's at the Container Store and it's super sleek and Mid Modish...I don't know. I just need to figure out what I'm going to do.

See, I have this problem. I have a freakish love for all things mid century. I'm also just tacky enough to love cheetah print and rockabilly designs. I'm torn between making my bedroom a trashy girls haven or something light in color and feminine.

All I have decided right now is that I want my main colors to be white, teal, and yellow with splashes of red.

I'll go home tonight and take more picture so you can see how everything is set up now. I gave in and bought a DVD player so my home will no longer be TV free. I'm kind of sad about this but also kind of excited.

Love, love me do!

Amanda