Date Night!

I will fully admit that I am addicted to Pinterest. I just can't help it! I love looking at ideas for kids and think of ways to turn them into fun for adults. The Date Night Jar is an example of this. I came across a pin from Shabby Beach Nest for a Boredom Jar for kids and thought to myself that this would be a great idea for date night jar.


OMP and I are always trying to think up new ideas for date night. We constantly fall short and end up on the couch, watching some bad TV. Well, with the help from friends, we came up with a bunch of ideas. I followed the tutorial on Shabby Beach Nest with a few differences.

The Materials I used were:
jar
Modpodge
scrapbook paper
tongue depressors
sandpaper
Template from Shabby Beach Nest (there are blanks on the last page)


I had to change the template on Shabby Beach Nest from a PDF to a JPG file. I did this so I could upload it to Picmonkey and write on the template for the tongue depressors.

Here's some ideas I used for my jar:

Make a dinner together
Go to a museum
Be a tourist in your town
Take a class
Go for a drive
Act like a monkey at the zoo
Have a picnic in the backyard
Pick a letter (pick one letter of the alphabet and do something beginning with that letter)
Have a photoshoot
Go out for a fancy dessert
Try a new restaurant
Go to the theater
Take the dogs out
Do some fun science projects like you did when you were a kid
Go for a bike ride
Water gun fight
Your choice
Play board games
Snuggle on the couch like you did when you were a teenager

Next, I cut out and modpodged the date suggestions to the tongue depressors. I noticed that the template is a little smaller than then tongue depressor. Once the modpodge was dry, I trimmed up the the edges and sanded any paper hanging over and cleaned up any unkept edges. This also gave it a nice worn look.

I decorated an old jar that I had laying around the house. I had tried my hand and faux mercury glass awhile ago and thought it would be perfect to hold my dates.


There ya go! Easy peasy, lemon squeezy! Now, when you need to think of something to do with your sweetie, just grab a stick out of the jar!

Wild Card Wednesday

Sometimes the best friends are not the ones that pat you on the back, hold your hand and tell you that it's gonna be okay but they are the type of friend that will tell you to put on your big girl panties, cowgirl up and put on your cape, cause you've got butt to kick. My friend Tara, aka Mistress T is just that kind of friend.

Don't get me wrong, she is always there for a hug or some hand holding but this time, well, she out did herself in the friend department.

Do not adjust your computer, you are seeing it right. I gots me a cape. Oh yeah, you know it's true! Not only is it a pink cape, reversible but I now have a new identity-the cupcake cowgirl. EEPPPP! I know! Right? It IS awesome!

Look at the detail (yes, that is a cowgirl hat for a cherry-DYING OVER HERE!)

And when happy hour hits, I turn into the Tiki Terror! Hide your rum and small umbrellas!

A big huge kiss and thank you to my friend, Tara. She makes me belly laugh on a daily basis. I just love her to pieces. Now, if you will excuse me, I have cupcakes to wrangle.

New Media Monday

One of my goals this year is to read a book every month. It has been a blast collecting titles to read!

I have come to the conclusion that there is a lot of great Young Adult books out there. I am reading some of my old favorites, like James and The Giant Peach, and discovering a whole new world. I am also discovering a lot of new Young Adult favorites that keep me on the edge of my seat.

Currently, I am reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone by a local author, Laini Taylor. The book tells of a teenage girl who does "errands" for the devil in exchange for favors. Now, this may sound really dark but so far it is fairly light reading and the author does a great job of keeping it on an even PG-13 level. I will admit that some of the story seems a little forced, like they are trying to remind you that art kids are cool and hip and moody but the otherworld characters are rich, carnival like and make up for the forced arty teenagers.

I also checked out Night Circus. I have heard that this book is wonderful! The story is about two dueling magicians in a circus. It does have a feel of Something Wicked This Way Comes, but with romance. Just browsing through the pages, the images are so vivid that you feel you are in the circus next to the array of over the top characters.

My favorite book so far has to be Miss. Peregrin's Home for Peculiar Children. I really love this book! There are so many creepy pictures scattered throughout the story. I love the way the author incorporates the found images into the story. They better have a part two or I will scream and kick. This book has just the right amount of fantasy without being completely out there. You kind of want to find their home and live there.

These are just a few books that I am loving right now. I have also become obsessed with my friend's blog. She is an excellent source for YA books. She gives honest reviews and sometimes a giveaway or two. Check out Absolute Forest of Words before you hit the library.

What are you reading right now? What suggestions do you have for me? 

Salivating Saturday

Know what you need? A lemony cupcake with coconut buttercream frosting. Don't deny it, you know you need it. You know you want it. Look deep into its eyes...you must take a bite...don't make the cupcake cry.

While cruising Pinterest, I found a recipe that took a box cake and turned it into a cake that was bakery level. How could I resist. You can use any kind of cake mix, I decided on lemon.

The steps are super easy and I bet you have everything on hand to make it.

1 box of cake mix
Add one more egg than the box says (the lemon cake said 3 so I put in 4)
Use melted butter instead of oil and double the amount (so if it says 1/2 cup of oil, use a cup of melted butter)
Use milk instead of water
Mix well and bake according to the directions on the box.

So, I mixed everything together and go the fluffiest cake known to man.

I then baked the cupcakes according to the box, they were very fluffy but fell a little when I took them out. I let the cupcakes cool and decided I needed a bite, just to make sure they were okay. Shut the front door! These cupcakes were the lightest, fluffiest best tasting cupcakes ever. EVER! The taste was rich but not heavy. The only problem that I need to work on is the cake falling just a little.

For the frosting, I used a simple buttercream frosting and added coconut extract and just a smidge of rum. The cupcakes tasted like a yummy tiki drink!

So, the verdict of the bakery box cake? We really like it but I think I might do some more tweaking for the flattening of the cake and maybe experiment with ingredients and the amounts. Try this recipe, let me know what you think-what kind of variation did you use?

Feel Good Friday

Are you ready for some feeling good on this Friday? YAHOO! Let's get this party started!

Octo-gent will make you smile! Cajun Hillbilly Housewife is 100% responsible for putting that smile on your face. Not only is she super talented but, dang, she is beautiful! I should probably dislike her for that but she's always nice so I just can't do it. Check out her other drawings and embroidery. So stinking cute!

I know I've mentioned it before but I LOVE the blog, Oops I Craft My Pants. You guys-the name alone should get you over there and check out the awesomeness!  I just adore Kira and her craftiness. I still think we should team up for some crafty videos. It would be epic! 

Be prepared to be over the top jealous! My friend Becky sent this to me for my birthday. Oh Mah GAAAWWWD! Could this be any more awesome...and by awesome I mean completely and over the top tacky goodness! OMP suggested that I make it into a Roadhouse playset. He knows me too well. 

Unknown source, if it's yours, please let me know

Goats are so rebellious. They break all the rules.

Okay my little babes, Playa de Pedersen is calling me and I can not resist. I am off to enjoy the sun, the surf and the family. I have been  training the dogs to fetch mama a cocktail. So far they have learned "sit."  It's a process. Have a great weekend! 

Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.

  ~Sam Keen

Wildcard Wednesday

Wednesdays have always been a little bit of a wildcard, a little whacky so why not carry on the tradition? Wednesdays will be filled with weird posts, maybe a bit of wisdom but it will always be a wildcard. Gotta keep ya guessing!

So, I had this whole post about depression, dealing with it, how it lies to you, but writing it made me even more depressed. I decided instead to look at my surroundings and see what makes me happy. I'm glad I did, my spirit was instantly lifted and I was reminded how lucky I am and how happy I truly can be. 

Happiness is finding little love notes on the door...
Petey getting caught catching some rays puts a smile on my face...
Enjoying the "ocean" at Playa de Pedersen...
Beautiful pink flowers with a peeking tiki...
And of course, worn out puppers.... Any sad mood I have, any ounce of depression disappears when I come home. It is my sanctuary. My family allows me to breathe and be myself. I can't imagine my life without them. They are my world.

Tie One On Tuesday

We have had 3 whole days of sunshine and my garden is loving it! My little herbs and veggies are soaking up the rays! My Rosemary, Thyme and Lemon Basil are going crazy. Besides cooking with these awesome herbs, I wanted to find a couple of cocktails to go to dinner. 

The first cocktail is made with a simple syrup made from lemons and Rosemary. It is so refreshing on a hot summer day! 

Vodka Rosemary Lemonade Fizz 

Via Epicurous

1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup sugar
2 (8-inch) rosemary sprigs
1/2 cup vodka
Chilled club soda or seltzer

 Bring lemon juice, sugar, and rosemary to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Discard rosemary sprigs.

Fill 8 (8-ounces) glasses halfway with ice.

Divide syrup (about 2 tablespoons each) among glasses and add vodka (1 tablespoon each).

Top off with club soda. 

Thyme also pairs well with lemon beverages. Here is an awesome take on the good old country time. 

Country Thyme 

1 sprig Thyme
10 to 1 blueberries
Half a lemon, roughly chopped
1 1/2 ounces vodka
1/4 oz Organic agave nectar

 Place the thyme sprig in the palm of your hand and slap it to release its oils. Twist it and place in the bottom of a glass.

In a shaker, muddle the blueberries and lemon.

Add the vodka and agave nectar, and fill with ice. Shake vigorously for 10 to 20 seconds and strain into the prepared glass

Lemon Basil smells so good and it mixes so well with vodka (what doesn't go with vodka?). I love a good gimlet-it's fun to say and fun to drink! Again, you are going to make a simple syrup with the herb.

Lemon Basil Gimlet

2 cups lemon basil

2 cups water

1 cup sugar

1 cup basil lemon syrup
1  cups vodka
1/2 cups fresh lemon juice

ice cubes

For the simple syrup, boil the lemon basil water and sugar. Stir until dissolved and then simmer for 2 minutes. After that, let the syrup sit for an hour. 

In a shaker, mix simple syrup, vodka and lemon juice with ice. 

Pour cocktail over ice and garnish with a lemon

Summer time, garden cocktails, lounging in the pool...all of these things make me extra sunshiny happy! Enjoy!

PS-I think I have a hidden obsession with lemons.