Labor of Love

Hi all you wonderful readers out there. In case you haven't notice, I have a new banner and a new background. I think it's so stinking cute! There will be a few more changes and I will be tweaking things a little bit more-adding and removing links, revamping, basically making the blog bigger and better! So here's the low down as I see it right now.....

Monday-Movie Madness Monday.
Tuesday-Tie One On Tuesday
Wednesday-Wild Card Wednesday
Thursday-Crafty/Pattern goodness
Friday-Feel Good Friday (now with themes!)
Saturday-Salivating Saturday
Sunday-Scrappy Dog Sunday

Read one day or read them all! It's up to you!

Big hugs and smooches to everyone who has stuck around and read my ramblings. You guys rocks my socks off!

Big shout out to AlwaysInspired and Digital Misfit for their awesome banner making skills. Watch your mailbox for some love!

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

I have a confession to make. OMP is not going to be happy with me. I've found a new man. He's short, dark and handsome.

See that little paw, I am officially wrapped around it.

OMP may think he has dibs on this little man

But in reality, he's all mine.

Sweet Saturday

Okay, first let me apologize for being MIA this week. It's been so crazy this week and I have been absolutely exhausted that I just haven't had a chance to keep up with everything. That being said, I made you something today. Let me begin by saying for the past three months I have pined over a donut baking pan. I saw one on another blog and wanted it so badly. I finally went out yesterday and bought one. So, today I have cake donuts to bribe you into forgiving me.

I tried the recipe that came with the pan and well, it wasn't as sweet as I wanted so I scoured a couple of sites to find one that was just perfect for you.


Baked Cake Donuts
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup oil (vegetable or canola)
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare donut panwith non-stick cooking spray, if you don't have a donut you can use a muffin pan.
In a large bowl, beat sugar and egg together until creamy and light-colored. Add oil, milk, and vanilla and mix well.
In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.
Slowly add flour mixture into egg mixture until well combined.
Fill donut pan about 2/3rd way full or the muffin pan about 3/4 full and bake for 10 minutes for donuts or 15 minutes for muffins, or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
Do not overcook! You want a nice, dense, moist cake.

Powdered donuts: While donuts are still warm to the touch, remove from tins and immediately roll the crust with powdered sugar, until it is well coated. Dust the tops with sugar as well.

Sugared donuts: Using a pastry brush, coat each donut with a thin layer of melted butter. Roll each buttered donut in the cinnamon/sugar mixture. (Perform this step immediately before serving. If the butter and sugar cool for too long, it will make more of a “crust” on the donut)

Jelly filled donuts: Layer the donuts. Put in about 1/3 then a ring of jelly then another 1/3 of the batter.

Icing donuts: Mix one cup of confectioners sugar with two table spoons of HOT water. Dip the donut into the icing.

I made chocolate ones and they tasted more like a chocolate bread, so I still need to find a good recipe for those. These were actually so much easier than I ever imagined. You can leave the plain, sugar them or decorate any way you want. They keep for several days but I'm doubting they will be around that long. Now...don't you forgive me? Let's always be friends. Have another donut. 

And The Winner Is.....

Extra big love to everyone who entered the giveaway. You guys rock my sock! The winner is....DRUM ROLL.....

SEW LOVELY EMBROIDERY! Yahoo!!!

Sew Lovely-if you would be so kind as to email me your address I would be ever so grateful. You can email me at v1313(at)hotmail.com or on flickr or facebook.

Stay tune for more cocktails, patterns, cinemas and of course giveaways!

Feel Good Friday!

 Picture courtesy of fabricio leal

For the love of all things holy, I am SO tired this Friday. I'm pretty sure it's because Lola and Pete decided at 5am that they wanted to play chase and sprung out of bed chasing eachother. It's a good thing they are cute, otherwise they would be going in the stew pot. Let's see what I have for you on this sleepy Friday.

Cross Stitch Ninja kicks major butt! This is an EMBROIDERED Lego plans. You should also check out her embroidered loom part. It will blow you away!

I absolutely LOVE history and the Wessels Living History Farm keep me supplied in farming and in wonderful history. I haven't been yet but one day I hope to make it. In the meantime, I will continue to read the website.

The past few days the weather has been a bit crisp which gets me in the mood for fall, specifically hunkering down for some cool weather stitching. I found this pattern and just adore it. I can't wait to stitch it up. It is so me!
For those of you who haven't seen it yet. A new Craftster video starring yours truly with cameos of Pete, Jujube and Mark's hand.

Alright my pretties. I am completely wiped out. I'm gonna put my feet up, turn on a bad movie and "rest" my eyes. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Get out there and enjoy the last days of summer or the beginnings of fall.

Optimist: Person who travels on nothing from nowhere to happiness.

~Mark Twain

Cause I'm Nice

Maybe it's because I'm super nice or maybe it's because I'm lazy but I decided to have a giveaway today. I'm giving away not one but TWO super cool books! You heard me! TWO SUPER COOL BOOKS!

First we have a great book that I reviewed on Feeling Stitchy, Bags In Bloom. This book not only gives you patterns to embroidery but also patterns for different purses

Second we have the wonderful Design It Yourself Clothes. This book gives you the abc's on pattern design so you can be the next Project Runway winner!

Now, what do you have to do to win these two awesome books? Leave your answer to the following question:

What is your favorite season?

A winner will be announced next Thursday so hurry up and enter to win!

Tie One On Tuesday!

I know that most Tuesdays I post yummy alcohol concoctions but today I thought I would tell you about my favorite sodas-which can be used to mix with some great spirits to make some of your own fun loving drinks .

My all time favorite soda is Cheerwine. This drink not only brings back childhood memories of growing up in North Carolina but also is a dang good drink. Cheerwine is only brewed in the Carolinas but they do distribute to other areas of the United States. This soda has a wonderful cherry taste and is made with real cane sugar. It's also fun for little kids as it produces the biggest burps I have ever heard! Get it in the bottle if you can. The taste can't be beat.

Now for those of you in the midwest, you have a little drink called Green River. This Chicago based soda has an interesting taste which my husband describes as a "kind of lime and delicious " flavor. The bright toxic beverage is especially popular during St. Patrick's day. It is another very carbonated soda that will produce maximum burbage on a hot day.

If you are lucky enough to live close to the southern border of the United States or have an international food store near you, you can indulge in a Jarritos sodas. My favorite is strawberry but with flavors like Sangria, Tamarindo, and Jamaica you can try local flavors without ever leaving your lawn chair. I might also add that a Mexican Coca Cola with cane sugar is the best you will ever get.

These are only a few of my favorites. There are so many local sodas out there to be found, drank and enjoyed. If you are feeling adventurous, you can make your own (but that's for another Tie One On Tuesday).  Oh my goodness! Mark found me a Cheerwine, now if you will excuse me, I'm gonna gulp this puppy down and rattle the walls.

The Spoof....or How To Tastefully Rip Off Another Movie.

The Spoof movie. It could be a hysterical tasty morsel that leaves you full and wanting more or it could be the worst meal ever that leaves you with heartburn not even Pepto Bismal could get rid of.  Here are a few of my favorite spoofs, and I promise they won't leave you with a bad taste in your mouth.

One of the best all time spoofs and probably my favorite is Airplane! This 1980 comedy mocks the disaster movies of the time. When you hear someone say, "I am serious and don't call me Shirely", you know exactly where it came from. It's a simple story. When the entire airplane ends up getting food poisoning, it's up to veteran pilot Ted Striker to bring the plane down safely. Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges and Leslie Nielson round out this rich comedic cast. If you like Gladiator movies, you will love this one (if you've seen the movie-you will totally understand).

Next on our  homage to fine cinema is Austin Powers (only the first one). Mike Myers pays tribute to the 1960's super spy films. Austin Powers is a spoof of movies like Our Man Flint which is a spoof of James Bond. Wow! A spoof of a spoof. Classic....Anyhoo. Myers plays a English secret agent that is brought back from deep freeze to bring down his evil nemesis Dr. Evil. Lots of tongue and cheek jokes makes this movie a fun romp in the park.

Last but not least and kind of a stretch, but I still love it so I'm gonna tell you about it anyway, is Mars Attacks! This film is a spoof on all those 1950's "B" science fiction Alien Invasion movies. Jack Nickolson in duel roles is amazing. He plays the President of the USA as well as a sleazy Las Vegas casino investor. Aliens land on Earth and much to our surprise they are hostile big brained boogers set on world domination. Who knew Slim Whitman could save the world?

Oh, the spoof. You make us laugh, you make us cry, you sometimes make us wonder why (your were ever made). There are so many ways you can play on the spoof-if you are lucky a smile will ensue, do it wrong and the world will never forgive you. Heed my warning young film makers, the spoof, she's a harsh mistress.

Feel Good Friday!

Yahoo! We made it to Friday! I didn't think we were going to do it and then BAM! We pulled it off! Pat yourself on the back!

Oh yeah-you are reading it right. Quit rubbing your eyes and close your mouth. AlwaysInspired and Digital Misfit created a new blog banner for me. Digital Misfit drew it up and AlwaysInspired stitched it up. It has all my favorite things. Cocktails, crafting tools, and pups! I really think they captured the chest part just right too. I look H-O-T all stitched up! Thank you guys SO much, seriously from the bottom on my heart for this. I just love it. You will be seeing it on my blog very soon!

I am completely blown away by Dalton Ghetti. That is lead from a pencil. CRAZY!

If you are thinking of something to get me for Christmas. This would be perfect. The Junk Gypsy has such great stuff! As a matter of fact, I think I'll take just about one of everything in their store.


You guys know I love a good cross stitch or embroidery pattern and if they are vintage-even better. Denise Felton shares my love of patterns and all things needlework on Craft Gossip. There are tutorials, patterns, and just plain cool stuff. If  stitching isn't your thing, check out the other amazing categories. Paper work, quilting, recycle crafting are just a few.

I would love to stay and chat more but the sun is calling my name and demanding that I get outside. Time to throw on my bathing suit, head to the backyard and play with the family. I've almost got the dogs trained to bring me beverages. ALMOST-only a few years away from perfection. Have a great weekend and enjoy life.

Jumping for joy is good exercise.  ~Author Unknown

Cross Stitch Animals

These would be so adorable on a quilt, dress or cardigan. I can't decide which is my favorite. Please make sure you color in the eyes, unless you want weird alien animals. Oh, that gives me an idea!

My Interview

The following statements are based on a true story.

I went on an interview today. I could tell right off  that I was not meant for this position. The woman interviewing me, the building, everything was just not me. At first, I was fine with that, I mean, I could mold into any type of job as long as the money was right and the people were nice. This was not one of those deals. Here are some excerpts from that interview.

Interviewer: Tell me at little bit about yourself

Me: Well, I'm very organized. I know a lot of different software. I can do insurance billing.

Interviewer: :Let me stop you there. First off, if you get hired, you can't wear perfume.

Me: Okay, no problem.

Interviewer: Okay, so.. tell me who you are, what makes you tick.

Me: Well, I would like to leave that to the history books.

Interviewer: Excuse me?

Me: Yeah. I mean, I'm not completely defined yet. Plus, I'm sure when they find my corpse, the historians will have a field day with me and my life will be much more interesting than it already is. So, yeah, I'll leave it to the history books.

By now, the interviewer is looking perplexed. I'm pretty sure that it was because my perfume was sending toxic fumes to her.


Interviewer: Interesting...Let me put it to you this way. In 5 minutes define yourself


Me: 5 minutes? Lady! You want me to define 40 years in 5 minutes? I am much more than a 5 minute spill, but here it goes.  I am a woman but sometimes a little girl. I am a southern. I am liberal. I am conservative. I am a wife. I don't have children and don't want them. I am free. I am a survivor. I love my life but sometimes wonder what it would be like if I took a different turn. I am a friend, a sister. I lost my mother and constantly look for an older woman to guide me. I am creative and caring. I can carry a grudge. I love flashy things and if I was born a man, I'm sure I would be a fab drag queen-I'm betting that I am fab drag queen now. I have tattoos and I don't care what you think about that. I am tolerant to most but get angry when people hide behind their faith, art or political beliefs to promote hate. I weigh more than I should. I have great boobs. I have a gap in my teeth that makes me self conscious but not enough to stifle my laugh. I am smart and funny. I love candy. I have a loud laugh that you can hear from a mile away. I am from a small town and never thought I would miss it but I do. I love my husband more than life. I will defend anyone's right to speak, even if I don't agree with them. I want harmony between rural and urban cultures. I love Willie Nelson. I like to indulge in a beverage or two and have been known to dance on a table after a few cocktails. I will cry at commercials. I am usually pretty calm but get completely ticked off when some trust fund urban hippie ask me to define who I am in 5 minutes when there is not a time or a box that can hold me. *Stands up and starts humming the national anthem.


Interviewer: Umm....Mrs. Pedersen? You answer?

Me: Oh, sorry, I was thinking. Did I say that I was organized?

Interviewer: We'll be in touch.

Me: Yeah, you do that.


The moral of the story...don't let anyone put you in a box. You are more than  a 5 minute answer.

Tie One On Tuesday!

If there is one thing I love, it's baking. The other thing I love, a good cocktail. So, this week on Tie One On Tuesday I've decided to combine my two loves into one great concoction.

The easiest and most versatile alcohol cake is a Rum Cake.
Rum Cake
Ingredients
1 cup chopped pecans - substitute with chopped walnuts if preferred
Jell-o instant vanilla pudding - 4 serving pack
1 18.5 ounce box yellow cake mix (make sure the ingredients does not contain 'pudding' in it)
4 eggs
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup oil - vegetable or corn
1/2 cup dark rum

Glaze
1/2 cup butter - substitute with margarine if preferred
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup dark  rum
 Excepting the pecans/walnuts, mix all the other ingredients of the cake and mix in blender for couple of minutes.
Grease a bundt pan.
Spread the pecans/walnuts at the bottom of pan. Pour the blended cake mixture over this
Heat oven to 325 degrees and bake the cake for 1 hour.
Just before cake is ready take prepare the glaze.
Take a pan and place on medium heat. Put in and melt the butter.
Put in the water and sugar. Allow to boil till sugar melts.
Turn off the heat and stir in the rum.
Once cake is ready, pierce the entire cake using a fork. Please do this gently. We do not want to shred the cake to pieces.
Keep the cake on a big plate and pour the warm glaze slowly over it, allowing it to seep into the cake.
Let the cake stand for at least a couple of hours. There is no need to refrigerate this cake, but it will taste better chilled.

This cheesecake recipe sounds so decadent and perfect for a small get together.
Cranberry-Tequila Cream Cheese Tart
Ingredients
Crust
1 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon sugar
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2/3 cup cream cheese, chilled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons (about) ice water

Filling
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons Cointreau or other orange liqueur
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon tequila
1 tablespoon (packed) grated orange peel
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cranberry glaze
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons Cointreau or other orange liqueur
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
2 cups fresh cranberries

For crust:
Mix first 4 ingredients in processor. Add butter and cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add cream cheese and pulse 3 times to combine. Blend in enough ice water by tablespoonfuls until moist clumps form. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Transfer to lightly floured surface. Roll out dough to 15-inch round. Transfer dough to 11- to 12-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Fold in excess dough to form double-thick sides. Transfer tart pan to freezer and chill crust for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until sides are set, about 15 minutes. Remove foil and beans and bake until crust is firm, about 20 minutes. Transfer tart pan to rack; let crust cool completely in pan.

For filling:
Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until light. Beat in powdered sugar, then remaining ingredients.

Spread cream cheese filling evenly in crust. Refrigerate until filling sets, about 2 hours.

For glaze:
Combine first 6 ingredients in medium saucepan over high heat. Boil 2 minutes. Add cranberries. Return to boil. Boil 1 minute. Transfer glaze to bowl and cool completely.

Spoon glaze over filling. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 4 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)

Last but not least is a wonderful Stout beer brownie that will be a hit at the next bake sale.
Stout Beer Brownies
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted room temperature butter, cut into cubes
8 ounces dark bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup superfine or granulated sugar
1-1/4 cups (10 ounces)Extra Stout beer
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/8 cup (about) confectioners' sugar for dusting

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with nonstick foil.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour,cocoa powder, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.
Melt butter, bittersweet chocolate, and white chocolate chips in a double-boiler over very low heat, stirring constantly until melted. Remove from heat.
In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add melted chocolate mixture, beating until combined.
Beat reserved flour mixture into melted chocolate mixture. Whisk in stout beer. The batter will seem a bit thin. Drop semisweet chocolate chips evenly on top of batter (some will sink in).
Pour into prepared baking pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes on center rack in the oven, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean.
Let brownies cool, uncovered, to room temperature. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.


Oh wow! My mouth is just watering from all these wonderful confections. These recipes make look like they take a bit of time, but believe me-they are worth it and you will be the booziest Betty Crocker around.

One of the Best

I love a good leading man. Someone who is tough as nails yet sensitive to his leading lady. Someone smooth, good dresser yet can get down and dirty when he needs to. I'm talking about Steve McQueen. I adore this man.

A young McQueen stars in one of my favorite "B" movies, The Blob. From the entrance music to the Blob oozing through the theater, you will be at the edge of you seat for the leading male. The story is very simple, alien life force comes to Earth, kids find out about it and try to stop it. The police and army aren't near as smart as Steve McQueen. He comes in and saves the day with his dashing good looks and nerves of steel. This movie was a huge hit, which surprised McQueen. It continues to be a cult horror classic.

 I'm not a huge western movie fan but The Magnificent Seven is one of those movies that breaks the general western movie genre. Maybe it was because it was an American version of The Seven Samurai.  A bandit threatens a small Mexican town and the villagers decide to get find gunmen to defend them. They come up with seven. Steve McQueen plays Vin Tanner and although his part was smaller, he stood out as a leading man. A little trivia-he absolutely hated Yule Brenner and tried to steal the scene every time they were on screen together.

As his career progressed, the smoother he got. He was already known as an action hero but Hollywood was worried about putting him in the role of  the sophisticated man. The Thomas Crown Affair showed that he could be rugged and debonair all at the same time. Steve plays a mulit-millionaire that is suspected by an insurance investigator (Faye Dunaway looking mighty fine herself) of pulling off a bank heist. Lines are crossed in this cat and mouse game.

There are so many other great Steve McQueen movie, Bullitt, The Great Escape, The Hunter-just to name a few. Steve played by his rules, which was practically unheard of at that time. He was a a broken child who not only achieved greatness but was one cool man. The smile, the voice-everything about him would just melt the coldest heart. Men like Steve McQueen are a lost breed.

Feel Good Friday!

Why hello there Friday..You are looking mighty cute today. Is that a new outfit?

This is just too much. Chunkychooky is wonderful. Check out her other work on her blog.

This song cracks me up. Such a southern girl thing to say.

I LOVE cowgirl boots! I don't even want to tell you how many pairs I have. Of course I always need more. Corral boots are handmade and I'm sure I need a pair.

For all of you in the Portland metro area-and even if you're not. You need to come out and see one of the best Alt-country/Traditional country bands out there-The Redeemed.They are playing Saturday night at Biddy McGraws.  Now, I'm not just saying that they are one of the best  because the drummer is super cute. Their lyrics are wonderfully written, the music is fun to dance to and you'll probably see me out there-so BONUS! Check out their facebook page and give them a listen.

The leg is killing me...seriously...dying...

Alright all you wonderful people. I am going to go fill up the kiddie pool, have OMP make me one of those fruity drinks and sun my buns. Have a wonderful weekend-you deserve it. 

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open.  ~John Barrymore

Tears of Joy

 Special thanks for ingrido411

Have you ever been so happy that you just cry? Today was that day for me. I came home and just looked at my amazing husband, my wonderful pups and burst into tears. I felt so overjoyed that all my happiness had to go somewhere and my body decided that it would be in water form. Of course OMP looked at me like I was crazy but I didn't care.

After I wiped the tears from my eyes I started thinking about how I felt a twinge of guilt for feeling so happy. I had a brief internal struggle with myself. Here's what I came up with.

It is absolutely 100% okay to be happy. It's okay to have a smile so big that it hurts your face.

You don't have to feel guilty for taking care of yourself. So, you are looking for a job and play around on Facebook for a little while. The world will not stop spinning, you won't end up homeless, your mom won't ground you. You are taking care of yourself-you're under a lot of pressure and if visiting with friends is the way to ground yourself, by all means-do it! This includes reading trashy entertainment news, following your favorite blog or playing a quick game of Mah Jong.

Act like a kid. Dance, sing at the top of your lungs, and giggle. It is good for the soul.

 Be a tourist. Go somewhere in your hometown or maybe one town over and act like it's the first time you have ever been there. See your surrounding from a different view point. I guarantee you will appreciate what is around you a lot more.

NEVER EVER EVER feel guilty for your accomplishments, your glitz, your freedom. You deserve all that comes to you.

There are amazing adventures to have in your life and a million things to be happy about. Don't let guilt shield you from experiencing all that you want and need. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to grab my tissue box-I'm tearing up again.

Here Comes The Bride

My good friend Casey just got in engaged over the weekend. I'm so happy for her and Rey. She is like a little sister to me and I just adore Rey. So, in honor of their engagement, I'm giving you a few of my favorite wedding movies.

I love a good Ginger Rogers movie. It Had to Be You is one of the finest. Ginger stars as a runaway bride who has left 3 grooms at the alter. In order to "get her head straight" she takes a month long vacation and meets a very dashing yet rugged fireman. There are strange dream scenes, crazy antics and lots of love. It is a quirky little film that makes your heart feel good.

High Society is another great wedding movie. Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby star in the musical comedy about love lost and found in the 1950's. Kelly plays an ice queen who had a quicky marriage and divorce from Bing Crosby. She decides to get married again and Bing comes to wish her luck. Frankie plays a tabloid journalist who covers the wedding and begins to fall for Grace. Who wins her heart? You just have to wait and see.

The last on my list is the original Father of the Bride with Spencer Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor. The movie centers around the trials and tribulations of a father losing his daughter but gaining a son. This gem was directed by Vincent Minelli and is a funny romp around a wedding and a father's love for his daughter. It is a delightful sweet comedy that is great for the whole family.

Casey and Rey, may you have many years together and may your weddings never turn out like these movies. I wish the both of you happiness, health and love. You are two of my favorite people and I'm glad that you found eachother.

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

Okay! I'm sorry! I've been gone for a week. I took a little vacation, slowed down a little bit and now I am back in the saddle and ready to go! Yehaw! Now that I've got that out of the way-here's a little public service announcement

4 out of 5 teddy bears say....

Having a Jack Russell Terrier in your house, could be hazardous to your health.

The 5th teddy bear....blames the Min Pin

So, if you are a teddy bear, stay away from these animals. Do not approach! Do not look cute! Don't even play dead! 

Your very life may depend on it. This message was brought to you by the Center for Mangled  Teddy Bears. Repairing teddy bears, one stitch at a time.

Sweet Saturday

This Saturday I am handing the writing over to my friend missmuffcake. She is an amazing Vegan baker, her blog has great recipes and right now she is having a giveaway! Let's find out more about missmuffcake in her own words...

Imagine adding up small numbers from the minute you wake up to the minute you fall asleep...little pieces of paper littering your purse, your room, your kitchen. Numbers consumed my life and I hate math....   
I was counting calories, starving myself and for what I do not know. I had anorexia and exercise bulima for most of my twenties, my skin hung off my body, at 5'10" I got close to 100 pounds...I never used my stove because my meals consisted of plain cereals and fat free soy milk...Then it changed.
I was about 7 months into a new relationship and my boyfriend was over after we had a date night and I was so hungry when I got home I ate everything in the house, I felt ill but also like a burden was lifted off my shoulder. I remember picking up a vegan cookbook and found a recipe for a simple coffee cake and decided to try and make it. My boyfriend thought it tasted like oatmeal and I set out to improve it and myself.
Fast forward to about 4 years later and I am trying out new recipes daily and have plans of opening my very own vegan bakery! Right now I am doing catering, organizing vegan bake sales in my town to help shelter animals and getting feed back from my boyfriend on new ideas in the works.
Anorexia is something one never leaves behind and I still have my days but I try to stay positive and think about my sweet new life.


I am giving away a new copy of Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar: 100 Dairy-Free Recipes for Everyone's Favorite Treats by Isa Chandra Moskowitz, and Terry Hope Romero. Head over to my blog (http://missmuffcake.com/), tell me what your favorite cookie is. I will pick a winner and contact them via email on Aug. 15.


Because this is Sweet Saturday, I can't leave you hanging with just a story, you need some treats! Check out these yummy cupcakes by Kendy.

Super Walnut Coffee Cupcakes + Coffee Butter Cream Frosting
[makes 12 standard sized cupcakes]

3/4 cup Earth Balance (room temp)
3/4 sugar
3 tbsp. of Egg Replacer with 9 generous tbsp water - mixed
1 1/4 cups ap flour
½ tsp. baking powder
½ cup walnut pieces
1 packet* of Via Instant coffee -Italian Roast- dissolved in 1 tbsp. of hot water

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with liners.

Beat the Earth Balance and sugar together until creamy and then slowly add the Egg Replacer mixture. Sift in the flour and baking powder and then mix in. Fold in the walnuts (checking for big chunks, discard those). Divide the mixture between the cupcake liners evenly. Bake for 20-22 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

[Coffee Butter Cream Frosting]
2 tbsp. of plain soy milk
1* packet of Via Instant coffee -Italian Roast-
6 tbsp. of Earth Balance
1 1/4 cups of sifted powdered sugar
large walnut halves to decorate

Warm the soy milk in a pan (do not boil) add coffee and stir until dissolved. Let cool in a medium sized bowl till warm - not hot. Beat in the Earth Balance and frosting till creamy. Frost each cupcake and decorate with a walnut half.

*About 2 teaspoons

Thank you so much missmuffcake for your wonderful inspiring post. I can't wait to see what else you bake. I'm sure it will be super yummy! Don't forget! Head on over to missmuffcake's blog and sign up for the giveaway. 
 

Feel Good Friday!

Well, we made it through the week. There were times I was a little worried that Friday wouldn't get here but YES, we made it! Let's see what good stuff I have for you this week.

I've had a few request to show you some of the things that I have been working on. Well. here's my latest project. It was a pillow for a swap on Craftster. Recognize the pattern? Look back on a Thursday and you will find it. I'm thinking that I may have to make one for myself.

I searched my blog and couldn't find where I posted this so if you have seen this before, please forgive my lapse of memory. Pink of Perfection is a great site full of yummy food, great ideas and wonderful images.  It's a great thrifty guide to life. Beautiful and cheap-I'm there!

Have any of you gone Letterboxing before? OMP and I love it! Every summer we pick a few adventures in Letterboxing to go on. We take the dogs cause they can always help with clues. It's a wonderful way to get creative, get some exercise and use that ol' melon of yours.

I have several penpals right now. It is so much fun to write a good old fashion letter but now I am obsessed with stationery. Lydia & Pugs has the cutest stationery. I really want to get some Jack Russell cards from her. Her April Shower series is jut adorable.

Ugh....I can't believe I ate the whole thing....

Okay troops! It's time for you to get out there and enjoy the weekend. Play in the grass, soak up some rays(don't forget your sunscreen), and eat your favorite ice cream. You deserve it. 

There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state to another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness. We must have felt what it is to die, that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life.

Alexandre Dumas