DIY Apothecary Jars

So... Apothecary Jars are everywhere.  I didn't have any, but I thought it would be a cute decoation to have in my house.  I saw some cheaper jars at Ross's, but they were still $11-14 dollars for 1 jar.  Then, as I was perusing the Pinterest, I came across this tutorial: Mason Jar Candy Jars; and I ran with it.

I decided to use Dollar Store Vases instead of my Mason jars....

I spray painted all the wood parts black-kept it super simple.

I bought table legs from Home Depot {found here}, and cut off the top & glued them to round circles of wood I found at Hobby Lobby.

I took the bottom of the legs & screwed them into plaques I found at Joanns.  I then glued the vases to the base using Gorilla Glue.

And because Valentine Day is coming up, I tied pretty red ribbon around the tops.

And there you have it, a nice pretty new decoation for my house.

Price Breakdown:

• 3 Dollar Store Vases =$3
• 3 Table Legs = $9.60
• Bottom Wood Plaques = $2.40
• Top Wood Pieces = $0.90
• Black Spray Paint = $1
• Total = $16.90 or $5.63 for each jar

Lots better than paying $10-14 for one in the store.

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Crazy Cooking Challenge : Marshmallow Chocolate Cake

 

Hey Ya'll!!!  I'm so excited to show you this fabulous dessert!

I loved this month's theme : Chocolate Cake.  The only hard part was picking one type of Chocolate Cake to make {I pinned and looked at so many}.  But when it came down to crunch time, I chose Dana's {from MADE} Marshmallow Chocolate Cake.  It just sounded {and looked} delicious at the time.

The cake was very easy to put together, as well the frosting.

But I did have to add to the frosting:

Yummo!

Chocolate-ty Cake with ooey-gooey Chocolate Frosting {the marshmallows ever so slighty melted onto the hot cake}.

And let me tell ya.....after having surgery & feeling a little blue, this cake was a bright spot to a dreary week.

Marshmallow Chocolate Cake

{original recipe found here}

Ingredients

·         1 Cup Boiling Water

·         2 Cups Sugar

·         1 ¾ Cups Flour {I used 1 Cup White Flour & ¾ Cup WW Flour}

·         ¾ Cup Cocoa Powder

·         2 tsp Baking Soda

·         1 tsp Baking Powder

·         1 tsp Salt

·         2 Eggs

·         1 cup Buttermilk

·         ½ Cup Oil {I substituted Applesauce for the oil}

·         1 tsp Vanilla

·         Chocolate Satin Frosting

Directions

1.       Heat the oven to 350⁰ and grease a 9x 13 pan.

2.       Bring some water to boil and keep it simmering while you make the batter {I stuck my water in the microwave & hit my “Hot Water” button}.

3.       In a large mixing bowl, combine the following ingredients: Sugar, Flour, Cocoa, Baking Soda, Baking Powder and Salt.  Mix slightly.

4.       Add the Eggs, Buttermilk, Oil, and Vanilla and beat with an electric mixer {or your Kitchen Aid w/Whisk Attachment} for 30 seconds.

5.       Carefully stir in the boiling water until it is mixed in.  Beat for 1 ½ minutes.

6.       Pour the batter in the 9x13 pan {batter will be thin}.

7.       Bake at 350⁰ for 35-38 minutes or just until the top springs back when lightly touched.

8.       Make the frosting while the cake is baking.  When the cake is done, pour the frosting over the hot cake.

9.       Cool to room temperature before serving.

10.   Enjoy!

Chocolate Satin Frosting

Ingredients

·         ½ Cup of Butter

·         6 Tbls Buttermilk

·         4 Tbls Cocoa Powder

·         16 oz Powdered Sugar

·         1 tsp Vanilla

·         2 Cups Marshmallows {I would say 2 ½ to 3 Cups}

Directions

1.       In a medium saucepan, combine the following ingredients: Butter, Buttermilk & Cocoa powder.  Cook, stirring constantly, just until it comes to a boil and then remove from heat.

2.       Whisk in the vanilla.  Slowly whisk in the powdered sugar, a little bit at a time until the frosting is nearly smooth.

3.       Stir in the marshmallows.  Pour the frosting over the hot cake, gently spreading it all over.

And in case you were wondering {because I was}, based on 15 servings, each piece of cake would be 285 calories {with my substitutions}.

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Go check out other entries in the Crazy Cooking Challenge : Chocolate Cake!

Raspberry Cheesecake Pudding Cookies

So.  There's this awesome food blog that I like to frequent {Alli'n Son's}, and one Thursday night a couple of weeks ago, Allison posted a cookie recipe that I knew I had to make immediately.

Luckily....I was heading to the grocery store the next day, and as fate would have it, the Hershey Kisses were on sale aaannnddd there was a coupon.  Score.

After borrowing a friends small muffin tin {Thanks Teresa!}, I went on to make these lovely beauties....

I used my own cookie recipe {the one that's made these.these.these.these.& these}

I also decided to take the cookies out 2 minutes before they were fully done, and stick the kisses in, and then let them finish baking for the last two minutes.  My thinking was for the kisses to slightly melt into the cookies.

Those Raspberry Hershey Kisses......Fantabulous!

Cheesecake Flavored Cookies....Awesome.

I loved the little shapes.  I was about this close to adding some kind of frosting; but my husband & I couldn't decide on what flavor to do.  Oh well.

Raspberry Cheesecake Pudding Cookies

{Printable Recipe}

Ingredients:

·         1 Bag of Hershey Kisses-Raspberry Hugged

·         1 Cup of Butter

·         1 Cup of White Sugar

·         ½ Cup of Brown Sugar

·         1 Box of Sugar-Free Instant Cheesecake Pudding

·         2 Eggs

·         1 tsp Vanilla

·         ¼ tsp Salt

·         1 tsp Baking Soda

·         2 ½ Cups of White Flour

Directions:

1.       Preheat your oven to 350⁰.  Grease your Small Muffin tin pan.

2.       In your mixer, cream together the following ingredients: Butter, sugars & instant pudding.

3.       Mix in the eggs and vanilla.

4.       With the mixer on, add the salt, baking soda & then slowly add in the flour.  Add enough flour so that it’s not too sticky {usually between 2 ½ & 3 cups}.

5.       Using a small cookie dough scoop, scoop out little balls of dough and plop into the muffin tin.

6.       Bake for about 8-10 minutes; the little cookies should still be a light color.

7.       Invert a kiss into each little cup.  Place back into the oven and bake for another 2 minutes.

8.       Take cookies out & let them cool for about another 2 minutes before popping them out of the pan.

9.       Enjoy!

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Weekly Winners : Jan 29-Feb 4, 2012

*All shots taken with my Canon Rebel xsi-

-I got up and made this cake....Great decision.-

-The view from up here-

-Self Portrait for the week-

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Pinterest Friday Finds

I've got some fabulous Pins I want to share with ya'll....

I love how Pinterest sparks my creativity, and how it sparks my productivity!

Alas...my knee {with all it's post-op swelling} does not allow me to create all that I want.  But I can dream right ;)

{Source}

When I saw this, I knew immediately that My bathroom could handle it.  All I got to do is make a trip to the ole' Home Depot.

{Source}

I wish I just had scrap pieces of wood around....these are totally darling.

{Source}

I had a United States Puzzle growing up...I wonder if my parents still have it for me to swipe & make into this project.

{Source}

This looks absolutely delicious...

{Source}

I so need a Donut Pan...I know, I know...I could just make them muffins, but what's the fun in that ;)

{Source}

I already stockpile Instant Pistachio Pudding, and I've got white chocolate chips on the grocery list....I see this in the foreseeable future.

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Madison's Toddler Bed

I am finally done.

This project goes to show how much of a procrastinator I am.

A project that should have taken me 2 weeks to do {generous amount of time}, has taken me a little over 4 months to complete.

But look at this end product:

She is a happy girl.  I am a happy Momma.

6 Months ago, it was decided that we would make Madison a toddler bed.  She's so petite that buying another set of bunk beds kind of seemed silly.

I love Ana White's site and her free furniture plans.  When I decided to make Madi a bed, I went to her site and printed off these plans.

The plans were easy enough because I did this project all.by.my.self.

I bought the wood.  I cut the wood.  I put the bed together.  I filled holes.  I sanded the bed.  I primed the bed.  I painted the bed.

We decided to paint the bed a chocolate brown.  It matches her room, and would be safe for any future children {because we thought about painting it pink to match her bookshelf}.

It's kind of weird seeing my little girl in her "Big Girl" bed.

But I'm so happy that I did it.

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Wordless Wednesday

After the craptastic week I've had {a little post-operative depression}, I got up and made me this wonderful chocolatety treat.