Phoenix Zoo Monkeys

Emmalee and I got to add ourselves to the monkey population at the Phoenix Zoo this week.  We were invited to tag along with Ashley, from Cute As A Fox Creations,  and her two cuties.   

Check out this splash pad!  It comes complete with waterfall!  Cute little Morgan looks excited to give the waterfall a try :0)

I guess I should mention that we got to the splash pad around 8:30am.  It was a little cold, even for Phoenix :0)  This was the point we decided to dry off and see some animals.

I snapped this photo of the sleeping monkey with my big lens.  I have had a lot of fun trying to figure my camera out.  I am certainly not a pro, but the animals and crazy kids at the zoo were the perfect practice for me.  Just to bore you to death, here are some more :0)

This is Emmalee with her claws out to scare the bear.  She has seen a little too much Dora and Diego.  She kept telling the kids to growl like a bear to wake him up and Morgan kept telling her it wasn't working.  You know, in her defense, it always works for Dora :0)

This bird was so very ugly and so very pretty all at the same time I just had to take the picture!  I am still trying to get aperture and exposure compensation down, especially for outside photos.  I think it might be time to take a class.  I am having that feeling like I have figured out all I am going to figure out on my own.  It's time for some professional help!

Remember that embarrassing post about me in my neighbor's yard taking a photo of their pet rabbit, stupidly thinking it was a jackalope?  Well, this really is one :0)  Now it isn't my fault if you end up in your neighbor's yard taking a picture of their pet rabbit.  I have shown you what they really look like!

The splash pad was our main destination, but we were able to both see and act like wild animals the whole visit.  It really was fun.  Emmalee loved to play with new kids, I loved to play with a kid my same age :0) and with my new camera.  Thanks for the invite Ashley!

Satin Blooms

I crafted this luscious plum outfit for my little dolly this weekend.  It was all made from the one yard of floral ribbon fabric I purchased on Saturday.  I made the skirt in the same circle manner as in the past.  

Here is a closer look.  I had a little fun with my PSE actions this morning so here is a look at what the skirt looks like in full color...

This picture makes it look rather bright comparatively, but it is really a sweet plum color.

This fabric is soft and has a lovely shine to it.  While I admit it is a little over the top for the skirt, I am so very tempted to make a whole pile of purses and hats :0)  

I knew that Emmalee would not be a huge fan of the hat, so I made this hairbow out of 4" wide pearl lined lilac shear ribbon, 1/2" lilac satin ribbon, and flower branches from a hydrangea I bought a while back.  

Here is the hat.  I started out making it barre style, cut two circles the same size, cut the center out of one leaving a 2-3" outer circle.  Sew the two together and added a 2 1/5" band.  It ended up a little different than I was imagining, but none the less, I am totally enamored with it :0)

I actually can't wait to try another.

I didn't even try to get a picture when Emmalee got home from church yesterday.  Now-a-days, when I pull the camera out she runs in the other direction laughing.  It has become a sport between her and I, the fawn and the huntress :0)  Today, since she was in a rather good mood, I pulled out all the stops and bribed my babe with a cookie balla as fair trade for a few snapshots. With a willing heart she let me dress her back up and annoy her with my camera in her face yet again.  Wahoo!

As for the fabric, I bought it from my new favorite fabric store, SAS Fabric in Phoenix.  As a matter of fact, it was Ashley from Cute as A Fox that took me there the first time.  Now I must return every two weeks or sooner. Ashley, don't worry.  I didn't tell Scott it was you that started it all :0)

This fabric was only $12.49 a yard.  Wow you say?  Well, I managed to make this skirt, hat and am in the process of making a matching handbag :0)  I think it was totally worth it and don't tell me any one piece alone could have been purchased for the mere $12.49 I paid.  If you are ever in Phoenix, you will have to stop by SAS and check it out for yourself!

How to Make Your Own Pixie Stix - Ode to John

I finally made it out of the bed after day four of being taken out by the flu...again.  No, I didn't get a flu shot.  Never have, probably still never will.  Actually, now that I think about it...maybe that would have helped...Hmmm

Anyway, finally made it out of bed only to realize it was April 30th already.  While April is full of new life, fun and excitement, I dread the last day of the month.  It is the anniversary of my brother's death.  John has been gone for 7 years now.  I so can't believe it has been that long.  He was a nut.  He was crazy.  He was a totally rebellious teenager and a huge softie all in one.  He was my strongest link to childhood.  Probably because I am always running full throttle, I cannot remember hardly anything about when we were kids.  When we got together as young adults John was always throwing out stories of when we were kids and the trouble we he got us in.  He brought it all back for me.

Every year this day sneaks up on me and every year I search for something I can do to celebrate John instead of the alternative, just having a cry-fest.    I decided a few weeks ago to give his favorite drink a try...kind of.  He loved coffee with pixie stix :0P  I don't do coffee, but pixie stix I am a fan of, or at least I was years ago.  

I went in search of pixie stix today and found not a one!  I stopped at several stores along the path to the fabric store (my chosen drink to drown my suffering heart :0) and had no luck.  Finally I decided I would make my own,

  SOooooO, I will now show you...

The first part is making the straw.  Take any random bag of straws, crack it open, and go ahead and cut off the bendy parts.  I do need to mention I got the idea from a very smart woman over at About.com.  I didn't actually use the recipe they gave.  More on that later...

Take the straw and 

Step 1-melt the end

Step 2- clamp it shut.  You only need to hold it a second or two to get it to seal.

Step 3- Let go and do it all over again.  

The same process is used to seal the other end when the tubes are all filled.

*note*I had my kids helping me seal the straws.  I found that if we had the straw already in the needle nose pliers, then melted the straw, we could just pull the straw back and clamp it shut.  It was much easier than their unsteady hands trying to grab the straw before they could clamp it.  

Worked like a charm!  Eli was shocked.  "They look just like the ones at the store!"  I am sure he imagines two guys in the factory, one with a lighter, one with a needle nose, sealing each and every tube before shipment :0)

Last year Madison had a Sweet Shop birthday party.  I read all over the Internet about how to make your own pucker powder.  I found special recipes and sent Scott to Sprouts in search of citric acid.  None of that was necessary.  Buying the pucker powder online is sooo not necessary!  Just use powdered drink mix!  You can buy this HUGE thing of mix for $7 at Costco or Walmart, less than a small pack of the other stuff online.  It tastes good too :0)  Go ahead, lick your finger and give it a try :0)

Want to do sand art?  Just get a couple kinds of Kool-aid with the sugar already mixed in and have at it!

OK.  Soapbox over.

I had the kids hold 5-6 straws and pour.  3 were filled to the top with the first pour.  Another go and the rest were filled.  Everyone had to try it :0)

*Note to self* Can I just say, this picture is awesome!  You need to click on it to see what I mean, but you can see the grains of sugar just cascading off of Madison's hand.  I am still such a newborn to photography so it is probably just fascinating to me, that cameras can take these kinds of pictures, but WOW!  All the camera, I take no claim ;0)

Yep!  That smile is a sign of 2yr old success!

Eli likes to put his heart and soul into everything he does.

Dad, the engineer, even got in on things.  He "engineered" these funnels after he saw the mess on the table.  Man are we lucky he wasn't here for the Science in the Kitchen :0)

Wow!  Who knew that making Pixie Stix could be so fun!?!

Now, on to the Ode to John :0)

Pour and stir.  We used hot chocolate instead of coffee.  Yep!  That's right!  Hot Chocolate with lemonade powder! 

 John, I hope you are watching what your Nieces and Nephew are doing for you (yes, I tried it too-not an easy thing to do with a weak, recovering stomach :0)

Emmalee's didn't quite make it to the cup.

Madison...Instant NO GO!  Emmalee drank and drank.  Oh, that's right!  She had all her pucker first, then the hot chocolate!  The sugar set in all at once.

Eli, my weird "PB and Mustard Sandwich Eater" liked it.  He decided to add another straw.  That was where things went south.  As you can see, he recommends people everywhere considering adding lemonade to their hot chocolate stick with only one homemade Pixie Stix serving!!!

As for my weird brother John, I miss you, even though you broke all my china dolls and hid your gooey hands while you told Mom I was the one that ate all the chocolate chips on cookie day.

I am so sad you have missed out on so much life.

I feel terrible showing you this, but My medicine... 

Found some fabulous fabric!  

Nothing like a little shopping and a little sewing to lift a poor girls spirits.

Circle skirt here we come :0) 

Tennis Anyone?

I am finally feeling better after a terrible bout of the stomach flu.  I tell you what, I have had my share of flu-s this winter and I am through!  I never get sick, ever!  But this year has put me through the wringer.

Anyway, around every corner I turn there are stacks of work staring me down.  Tonight I was finally able to make the miniature tennis balls to complete these miniature clips ordered by one of my customers.  

She ordered these cute little tennis rackets off of eBay.

I like them, but they are kinda plain all by themselves.  Originally I was thinking of using yellow pompoms as the balls, but my brilliant mother suggested while visiting last week that I make them out of clay.

So I did!

I rolled 35 balls of clay.  While they were baking I painted a dowel black, and cut it on my scroll saw into the tiny discs needed for the tennis ball packaging.  

I made the containers from the thick plastic that stickers come on.  I cut it into 1.25" strips, ran a bead of hot glue along the short side, plopped on a disc, three balls, and another disk.  Then I rolled up the balls in the plastic and secured it with hot glue.  Finally, I made little 1/2" labels to complete the project.

Did I mention that they are TINY!?!

I am getting my umph together to take on the clippies full speed again so be ready for the photo storm :0)

It will be here shortly!

Cookie Balla CupCakes

I was cruising along the Internet the other day looking for something random when I came across the cutest blog and a post for Cookie Dough CupCakes.  Since we are notorious around here for freezing cookie dough and eating a "Cookie Balla" as a cool treat, this kind of cupcake was right up our alley.  I can't find the file where I bookmarked the blog, but you can find the recipe at AllRecipies.com.

I thought this would be a fun project for the 2 yr olds.  I decided I would let them have their fun.  Many times while letting them "do it myself!!!" I had to remind myself that the mess was totally clean-able.  What was kinda funny was when I filled up the cup the first time for Chase.  He picked it up and brought it to his mouth. The little rascal was going to drink a full cup of cupcake batter!!!  I yelled out "No!" before I realized it.  The poor little guy's lip began to quiver and his eyes filled up with tears.  I felt terrible.  I showed him what he was supposed to do with the cup, and things got better from there.  I realized while posting this that the pictures are all of Chase.  Emmalee lost interest and went to go play with toys so Chase is the star of the show today.

So basically the gist is to make cupcakes the way you normally do, then add a frozen ball of cookie dough like so... 

The one big thing I read was you must make sure the cookie dough is FROZEN!!!  

At least two hours frozen!

Number two big thing is DON'T OVERCOOK!  Cook your cupcakes at 350 for 20 minutes.  If you over cook, the cookie dough will cook and not be dough, get it?

Poke those puppies down in there.  

When we were done filling the cupcakes, I let Chasey lick the cup.  Finally!  The boy deserved it after the scare I gave him :0) 

p.s. don't tell his mom I let him lick the cup

Happy Camper!

So the batter bakes up around the "balla" and you have a yummy surprise when you hit bottom.

I didn't think they needed frosting, but Madison did.  We happened to have a jar of chocolate chip chocolate frosting hanging around the back of the fridge.  It went well with our chocolate chip cookie dough inside.

Other lovely combinations are chocolate cake and peanut butter cookie dough, Butter Pecan cake and snickerdoodle cookie dough, white cake mix and orange cookie dough (orange like the fruit, not the color :0)

Yummm!

Sweet Treats for Prom

I spent the day with my friend Christina.  She was put in charge of dessert for her son's prom dinner.  Originally she had requested help making flower cake pops.  After the 3 page email I sent full of links to cupcake bouquets and the cake pops below, she had a slight change of plans.  You can see the cupcake bouquet she liked at the flickriver site for Mossy's Masterpiece cake/cupcake designs.  It is the 5th picture down.  We didn't end up much like it, but I am totally happy with the finished product.  The kids are eating outside in someone's backyard so we went a little "garden" with the bouquet to make it a fun centerpiece for the table.  

Christina really liked the cupcake pics in the picture, but unfortunately, they are not available at any local craft stores around here.   I decided we had to have them so I made my own.

It was really simple.  I cut (out of 1/8" wood) small circles about the size of a cupcake bottom, drilled holes wide enough for my BBQ skewers, and inserted the skewer pointy side up.  I poked the skewer through so that about 1 1/2" poked out the top to spear the cupcakes.  The hole was pretty tight, but I piped a bead of hot glue around the skewer right were it meets the bottom of the circle as an added "shelf of safety". 

I have used the whole cup system in the past as shown here, but it is kind of hard to get the cupcakes out if you plan on serving them right then. 

These picks let you arrange the cupcakes like actual flowers in a bouquet, plus they make the cupcakes easy to grab.  I will tell you, since we used shiny aluminum cupcake wrappers, and since the bouquet had to be transported, I blobbed some hot glued on the top side of the circle before stabbing the cupcakes.  The skewer would probably have been enough, but I wanted to be extra sure they would not come off in transit. 

For our bouquet, I started with a wooden box made to fit a block of green floral foam.  I painted the box green for a background color, then painted the cupcake pics and box white.  Once dry, I sanded the edges of the box and hot glued the floral foam to the bottom of the box.  Two sheets of pink tissue paper were thrown in as a filler, then, one at a time, each cupcake was added to the bouquet.  I used clippers to cut each skewer to the desired height.  Then I blopped the hot glue to the pic top, stabbed the bottom of the cupcake with the skewer point, and inserted the cupcake flower where I wanted it in the bouquet.  

You would probably be interested to know only about 3 stayed in their original places.

I kept taking cupcakes out from over here and moving them over there over and over again until I got the look I wanted.  For a final touch I added the dainty pink flowers and a couple more pieces of pink tissue. 

How sweet is that!!!  I wish I had something else to make a cupcake bouquet for. 

These icing colors are just perfect for Spring :0)

Here are the cake pops we made.  The site with the photo we really loved was from the Wisconsin State Journal.  I really shouldn't say we.  Christina can take full credit here.  I simply mixed up a chocolate color or showed her the next step.  She took over and made these babies all by herself!

Surprisingly, all the work and mess didn't deter her!  She spent the whole time thinking up occasions to make more cake pops :0)

It is addictive I tell you!

How cute is this couple!?!

What a fun treat for the cute kids going to the prom tonight!

Thanks for today Christina!  It was a total blast :0)