Cinnamon Stick Candle

Yay for being able to post more gifts!! So you may have noticed I am somewhat obsessed with Pinterest (but really who isn't these days). At least I'm attempting to make some of the things I've pinned right?!?! The inspiration for these came from this pin.

There wasn't a tutorial so I did the best I could. I hot glued each one on individually hoping for an uneven but not messy pattern and tied Christmas ribbon around. The one on the left has been given to a friend and the one on the right is chillin' on the kitchen island waiting for a loving home.

By the way...hot glue and I have not been friends this gift making season...grrr...all I want it to do is hold and all it wants to do is make me think it's going to hold then I turn my back and what ever was glued down has now fallen off. Curse you hot glue! But I guess it did work in the end.

Don't Forget the Puppies this Christmas!

Just because I don't have a dog anymore doesn't mean I can't spoil all of my friend's and family's pooches with homemade dog treats!!! The recipe comes from Jordan over at Ramshackle Glam.
These are soooo easy to make and they make your whole house smell like peanut butter...mmmmmm...

forgive the iPhone pictures...These are waiting to go into the oven and yes I have a dog bone cookie cutter...ha ha

Cooling down

All packaged and ready to be devoured by some hungry puppies!!

Pink & Black Bday Card

Inspired by this...

Christmas 2011 Ribbon Wreath #1

I can finally post a Christmas gift I made this year! Since this one was delivered to my friend last Friday, I decided I could finally post it...woo hoo! This is the same size wreath as this one, but the same technique I used for this one. Of course I had to change it up a bit and attempted to add a HUGE wooden letter (painted white at first then I used extreme glitter paint in silver). The "S" was problematic, but eventually stayed glued with some E6000 and small wooden balls underneath for support.

Pretty ribbon! That's 169 ribbon strips (plus a few extra b/c sometimes I lose count...ha ha)

I did put a hanging ribbon on the wreath, but since the letter is so heavy it actually looks better if the wreath is sitting on a hook instead of hanging.

Super 8

Source

From the mind who brought us Lost, Fringe and Person of Interest comes Super 8. (totally just felt like the movie trailer guy)

I didn't know this, but Super 8 is actually the type of file they used in video cameras back in the day.

Super 8 was actually a good movie! It's not scary in case that's why you haven't watched it yet. This movie is about a group of friends creating a zombie movie (using Super 8 film) and while filming they witness a horrific train accident and everything goes crazy from there. Throughout the movie you see how powerful friendships are and how the craziest things can bring a family back together.

I would give this movie a solid B.

Chocolate Covered Popcorn

Doesn't that look mouth watering???

There is this place called Chocolate Pizazz and they have this amazing chocolate covered popcorn! The downside is that unless there is a special going on it can be a little pricey...sadness. There is also this thing that goes on in November called the Nutcracker Market where Chocolate Pizazz sets up a both and where for 3 years straight I had bought popcorn, but didn't buy any this year.

Why didn't I buy popcorn this year? Because I told myself I could probably make it for a fraction of the cost. It might not taste exactly the same, but it has my favorite food items so if anything I would still be happy!

What you need:

1 microwave bag of lightly salted natural popcorn
1/2 bag of melting chocolate
1/2 bag of melting white chocolate or vanilla
1/2 medium size bag of M&Ms
1 to 2 crushed Heath bars depending on how much you like toffee (not in the picture above)
Small bowl
Large baking sheet
Wax paper

What you do:

Pop the popcorn (don't burn it! or I'll hunt you down)
While popcorn is popping cover baking sheet with wax paper and pour your chocolate melting chips in the bowl
When popcorn is done spread it out on the cookie sheet and look for and leftover kernels

Melt the chocolate according to the package
Drizzle chocolate over popcorn

Repeat with the white chips
Spinkle M&Ms and crushed Heath bar over wet chocolate popcorn and let harden

Break apart and enjoy!

Of course you can tailor this to your particular candy likings or a particular season...red and green M&Ms perhaps...I think yes!

Thanks! Card

I wanted to send my Aunt and Uncle a little thank you for letting us stay at their condo while on vacation and of course a store bought card just wouldn't do. I based the design of this card off of this one I found on Pinterest.