A random post

8.9.11- 

  I love having something over & done with that you have been in charge of & worrying about- WheW! It's a good feeling. 

{Now onto the next thing- right?!?}  

That's life- there is always something you can't wait to cross of the to-do list & then you look down the list & see the next thing looking right back at you.  

Deep Breath & keep going! 

But I wanted to come back & share a picture of the SWeeTeST cake I've seen in a long time.  I hope to reinvent this on my Schmoopie & my 50th wedding anniversary.  

{Yummy carrot cake, my Favorite, to celebrate our friends the Kartchner's 50th wedding anniversary} 

Served on 

-Served on a rustic wood cake stand of coarse, not to mention the darling little cake topper-

-Photo courtesy of my friend- Rachel- 

Isn't it just charming, simple & sweet?

There was a quick snap shot of it shown on Studio 5 last week but I thought it deserved it's own little post on my blog. 

Speaking of taking a deep breath... this is the lastest project I'm involved in- 

The sun will come out tomorrow......ANNiE!

  I'm happy to say that my 3 girls & I are in our upcoming community theatre's production of Annie.

I stepped out of my comfort zone 

{did something I haven't done since High School} 

& auditioned for a part in the play, nothing specific. 

I was THRiLLeD to be given the part of Lily St. Regis. I'm so excited to get to sing- Easy Street, Easy Street & tap into my inner Jersey girl.

{My Mom was born in Jersey City} 

I'm also looking forward to meeting all the Swap-ettes

{those who are returning & those that will be new}

at the 365 Swap round 3. It should be great & the Cultivate girls & I are already dreaming up some new fabulous decor for #3. 

{Thanks to everyone who hurried over & grabbed a ticket on our blog & for those of you who didn't get one this time- don't worry there will always be #4 to look forward to}

Lots to look forward to-  

{and lots to keep checking off the to-do list} 

{M}

Oh, Yeah! Remember this GiVEAWAY?  I never heard from the winner 
so K if you are still out there email me your address please! ;) 

It's coming.... Swap #3 {but now it's SOLD OUT!! }

8.6.11- 

YiPPee!  It's time for round 3 of the famous  

& {the Original} 365 Swap.  

This time we are doing something a bit different & actually selling tickets to come to the Swap.  

{But you better hurry if you want to come - there are limited tickets available} 

Go to the Cultivate blog to purchase your ticket & learn more about the 365 Swap. 

You can also go {Here} & {Here} to see what it's all about. 

Maybe I'll see you at the Swap! 

{I already have a great pile of stuff to unload- yeah!} 

{M} 

  
Looking forward to start planning & creating the Swap decor with the 5 other {Cultivate} girls. This is something I have been inspired by for my little decor to bring to the party-you can see what has inspired me {here} 
-come fly away- love it! I better learn how to fold paper airplanes ;)-

A peek inside my {clean} pantry!

8.3.11-

  This just might be one of the most popular rooms in our home.  My kids love going in here throughout the day 

{& eating everything in sight} & guests, friends & visitors that come to our home always love to see it.  Even if they have seen it before if there is someone that hasn't they love to ask if they can show them.  Especially now that I was up late cleaning, wiping down & organizing - it is worth showing off. 

{before it gets messed up again} 

It's a little hidden treasure in our home {I'll explain why} 

 At first glance it might just look like a cupboard door but then...... 

Wha-la!! 

The perfect little hidden spot in the kitchen. 

 I just love these bright red cubbies to hold all of this & that. I had these built after a photo I was inspired by in a Sundance Catalog & loved the look of them. 

{proud to say that my Hubby & I painted them ourselves 

before we moved in} 

-Love the old vintage metal signs up top & also the old glass 2-liter A&W bottle-
We really do have Pancake breakfast almost every weekend-whole wheat pancakes-yum! 

 Each bin is labeled with what belongs in it.  

{sometimes things get misplaced} 

I just used scrapbook metal tags that I had & just nailed them into the wood. 

The muffin mix bin with my collection of glass vases & such off to the side. 

 A look of the end wall {to the side of the red bins}  Love having all this space to store cake stands, wire baskets, vases, candle sticks & various cooking machines on the shelves. Having the deep freezer in here too is also nice. The rolling shelves off to the side are great for food storage purposes. 

{LoTS of canning jars just waiting to be filled up with jams, jellies, tomato sauce & salsa.  Better get busy- when to find the time who knows! ;)} 

 This is looking from inside the pantry back out into our kitchen & family room.  I like to think of it as more than a pantry but as a staging area, servery & storage of all 

things entertaining as well. The best part is that the door can be shut & it can all be hidden- the chip bags left half open, cereal smashed on the floor & even granola bar wrappers left on the shelf. 

{love it!} 

That's all for today-  happy that it's all clean & everything is in it's place- ahhh! 

{M} 

As seen on TV- the SPiCY, SMokY SMoreS recipe

8.2.11-

  

CAUTION- These are addicting!! 

{they also pack a powerful, flavorful punch- but they are good!} 

I love these because it's Smores but without all the smoke in your eyes & stinky clothes for hours afterwards.  

{Does anyone feel the same way as I do about campfires?} 

I was introduced to these delightful treats last week when my husband's sweet Aunt brought them up to a family dinner we were having at our home.  

{Thanks for sharing the recipe Bonnie!} 

So here you go- 

-SPiCY, SMokY SMoreS-

2 Sticks of unsalted butter- melted.

2 1/2- 3/4 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs {about 3 paper packs} 

1/3 Cup Sugar 

1/2 tsp. Sea Salt 

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9x13 pan with tin foil, leave about a 4" overhang on each side.  

{You'll use this overhang to lift the bars out of the pan to cut up} Butter the foil bottom of the pan. 

  Grind up the Graham Crackers in a food processor.  In a bowl combine crumbs, sugar & salt.  Pour melted butter over it & blend well. Put into foil-lined pan and press well. Reserve 1/2 cup of Graham Crackers. Cool on rack. 

2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips & 2 broken up milk chocolate Hershey bars in a bowl. Melt in microwave  for about 45 sec. and then stir well. If you need to heat anther 45 sec & mix again- don't over heat!  

  Once it is well mixed stir in 1/2-3/4 tsp of Cayenne Pepper {Wha-za!!} & stir well together.  Pour over the cooled Graham Cracker crust & spread well.  

  Sprinkle 3 1/2 cups mini-marshmallows over the top of the chocolate & then top with reserved crumbs. Place under the broiler & watch CAREFULLY- marshmallows will brown quickly.  Wait until completely cooled before lifting them out of pan to serve. 

Cut up & Enjoy!!
{Don't forget to serve them on a cakestand or create a level!! ;)}  

Here is the Smores television debut in case you missed it yesterday.  I thought they looked great on camera.

{M} 


This post has also been linked up to a "Link-Party" 
go here to check them all out. 

WiNNeR!!

8.2.11-

  First of all THaNKS to all of you who stopped by my blog for the 1st time after seeing Studio 5 yesterday & for those of you who left a comment. 
{even those who are H&H regulars-thanks!}  
I hope you all keep coming back & checking often.  

{I like having new friends!} 

So here we go- 

-everyone is lined up & ready to go-

My little helper Em ready to play 

The Toss..... 

Congratulations to........ 

Yeah for you!! 
{Karissa, please email me your address so I get your cute coasters in the mail to you}

Enjoy adding some Woodsie Whimsy to your next party, outdoor BBQ or for family dinner around the table. 

Thanks for playing everyone- have a nice day!
{M} 

Today is the day- GiVEAWAY!!

8.1.11-

  Happy August everyone! 

Remember this photo?- 

Well ToDAY is the day that I'm going to tell you all about what I have done with this big truckload of wood I got from the Sawmill last month. I bet you are wondering right? 

{So excited!} 

Be Sure to watch Studio 5 today at 11:00  on Channel 5 

{If you miss it don't worry I'll post a link of it 

here later today} 

If you see the show today{please} leave a comment here to be entered to win a charming set of 6 wooden coasters of your own so that you can have the "WooDSie" feel at your next dinner party.

{Be sure to tell me if it is your 1st time stopping by or 1st time leaving a comment & I'll give you an extra entry ;) } 

Hope you all have a wonderful day- 

I'm off to St5. Better go pack up the car! 

{wish me luck!} 

{M}


psst..... for more pictures of the fabulous dinner party 
{along w/ great recipes} that I talked about go {here} 


For more pictures of a wedding reception friends & I got to help decorate for & tie some "Woodsie" elements into go {here} 


For more info about the NiGHt-OwL Birthday Party go {here}