Gingerbread House...or Whatever!

Okay, so for FHE (a few weeks ago) they had a big Christmas dinner. But while we waited they had us all make different kinds of Gingerbread houses. It was soooooo much fun! The different kinds of houses were things like; a Swiss Chateau, an Igloo, Teepees, a church, a stable, a windmill, a train station, a bird house, etc. The bestest of them all is the one I got to make with my friends. I was the one that did the actual construction (I knew I should have gone into contruction) and they handed me the materials and helped with the planning of it!
While we were making it we had so many people walk by and start laughing and say it was the best gingerbread house in the whole room! They also said it looked so life like...if only they were little enough to use it!
Have any idea what it is? If you haven't guessed what it is yet maybe this will help!


Isn't great? I think I should be a professional Out House Builder! AHAHAHAH!

Here are some other shots I took of it...for your enjoyment. Pay attention to the great deails! The ptiched roof, toilet...including a seat(mind you it's down and not up!), the toilet paper roll with a holder, the moon on the door, the door handle, and the air pipe on the back. I know it looks like it was made with actual poop, but it's just icing...don't worry! Prett ironic that they gave us icing that color for that Gingerbread House! Teeheeeee!







I think each Christmas I want to make a different kind of Gingerbread House. Who wants to do it with me? We could do a little Gingerbread Club! I think it would be fun to get together and just create some fun stuff! Who's in?!

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Festivities!!!

Things have been so busy around my house that I haven't had much time to sit and blog. I don't really know how many people actually read this but I thought maybe it is time to post some pictures of what I have been up to. Other than stressing out at the beginning of the month and deciding to take back my life instead of letting work rule my life!

I have had so much fun with the whole "Cake Pop" thing that I decided to make some and take some pictures of them. So they are now part of my "Favorite Things To Do"! I love taking photos (though I'm not very good at it) and making cake pops/balls. I like other things but these are up there on the list!

These cake pops were so fun! I actually got my mom involved and it was a BLAST! It not only allowed me to the opportunity "de-stress" but it allowed me to get into my creative element and share some time with my mom! I love that! I now also have found a yummy kind of cake that I really like, RED VELVET! The one I used is by Duncan Hines(?) and the best part is that it DOESN'T HAVE MILK IN IT! Yea for them! They know how to make me happy! The coating on these is dark chocolate MINT! woohoooooo! Now, if you haven't had these you are so missing out! They are amazing and I got all excited about using SPRINKLES! THEY ARE SO CUTE!

Take a look at some of them with the cute background! Now rembmer these were done at night and in a room with my moms favorite color...YELLOW! It doesn't help with the way the photos turn out:)!

If you ever want to get together and do them, let me know, I am all for it! I LOVE making them, I'm not kidding! It is a blast! My hands get really dry from doing it but I love it none the less!


These are actually some Pops from a batch I made for a Christmas thing for work. I loved how the chocolate got all swirly! Don't they look cool with Santa and Mrs. Claus kissing in the background?!


These are 3 of my favorite pops from the batch for work! I love the background, seriously! So cute! I saved these 3 for me because I love the design the candy coating made. Don't they look better than the ones I made for Halloween?! I think so!


Okay so these are the ones that my mom and I did. They were a blast to do together! What a great bonding time it was!
This picture makes me think of the movie "ELF". YOu know when he is describing the places he had to travel through to get to NY? The cand cane forest, the gumdrops, etc. This is the forest of Cake Pops! Not only are they cute, but they taste so YUMMY!


I tried doing double pops for the snowman effect...didn't quite turn out the way I wanted it to but they still look fun...right?! My niece loves them. She even screamed at her mom when she tried to take it away from her so she could feed her dinner (so cute)!


These were the cake balls I made. I don't know what the deal is, but everytime I try to make them they turn out looking like a plops of candy poop! I don't know how to get them to be smooth like the cake pops. If you have any ideas I would love to hear them. I need help. I am helping make some for a bridal shower and I want them to turn out better than this.
OH, the candy coating I used for this is candy cane candy coating. It was so yummy, and with the red velvet cake it was absolutely DELISH! My mouth is watering like crazy right now!

So what did you do for your work parties or neighbors for the holidays? Anything fun you want to share? I would love to hear about it! Leave a comment, I really enjoy hearing your insights!

Wow, it has been a while since I have been on here! I don't have any pictures of me! I don't want to make you throw up! But I have found a new and fun project that keeps me going and has me so excited that I have to share!

Now the first batch of this lovely new stuff totally BOMBED! I didn't do it right, I was completely guessing on the amounts for the recipe. NOTTHING worked and like my kids said...the icing smelled like playdough! YUCK! I won't be using that kind again!

For those who read this and work with me, you already know what it is! I made CAKE POPS! They are so fun to make...when you do it the right way, they taste YuMmY, and they look adorable! I found out about them from a website about food blogs! The lady who created them is so adorable, she goes by Bakerella! I can't get enough of these. I am putting the cake mix business in even more business! And my wallet in severe trouble! I just need to work on making them lactose free!

Now, when I made my second batch (the ones that turned out a TON better) they tasted amazing! But, I'm still working on getting them to look cute! So bear with me! Here are some pictures of the end product! I was so proud of myself..but as I get better I will feel more confident!



Sorry about the dirty wall behind the pops. That is what I get for taking pictures in the kitchen and on the stove! Next time it will not be that way...I hope! If not, oh well!

Hey, I would love some more imput on the taste! Any takers!?!

Brownies!!!!!!

Last Sunday I was in one of those moods! I WANTED BROWNIES! I am not eating sugar during the week and so on Sunday I was going nuts for some chocolate nutirents! Since I am not able to have dairy I was at a loss for how to fullfill this one craving...since most brownies have dairy in them. My darling sister informed that she had come across a recipe for brownies that I could try. So I did! I had to alter it a wee bit by leaving out the chocolate chips, but oh well it should still be so delicious! Here's how it went...I'll let ya know how they tasted in a minute!


This here is the yummy looking brownie dough...is that what it's called? I'm not sure!


Here's the flowered pan I poured the yummy mixture/dough in. MMmmmmmm!


Here we go...into the oven my lovely! Bake away, bake away! I can't wait to cut you up and devour you! Ooooh-la-la!


Here is what the oven popped out! A pan full of lovely, gooey goodness! No burning, no sagging, no unkindly wierdness! I am drooling just thinking about them! Oh I can't wait to eat them, WHERE'S THE KNIFE AND A PLATE?!


And for your viewing pleasure....the gooey goodness! Flaky on the outside and a moisture rich center! The steam rolling off the top, the smell of baked yummies, and the grin of a child about to shove the entire thing in his/her mouth...is the discription I am going to give as I end this post and tell you they are YUMMY! Simply DEEEEVINE!

Here is the recipe for my tiny audience! If you try them let me know of your reaction or feelings!

Speedy Brownies By: Diane Heier.......Altered for better eating by Sara Johnson
2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon salt (I didn't put the full amount in...it's not necessary)
5 eggs (I know it's alot but well worth it!)
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used a new product I found that is vanilla in powder form and tastes a TON better and it is better for you)
*Diane adds 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips but I left those out for two reasons. One, I can't have them. Two, they would have made the brownies WAY to rich. I personally loved them without the extra calories! You can add them if you wish!

In a mixing bowl, combine the first seven ingredients: beat until smooth. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack (or eat imediately!). YIELD: about 3 dozen.

Happy baking!

SCHOOL, AHHHHHHHHHH!

It is almost the end of August and if you have kids you know what that means! Or if you watch tv, shop, or talk to others you probably have heard! SCHOOL IS STARTING and I am so not ready. I think I am going to cry!
I think all the responsbility of teaching these young minds and the old minds (other teachers) is a little overwhelming! I'm scared I won't measure up to my standards or the standards of my principal. If the kids start crying on the first day I KNOW I will be right there with them bawling and screaming for my....mommy!
I could use a few words of comfort and guidance! HELP!

For those who read my blog you are about to learn a very fun and easy way to make a scrub for your hands. Now, I haven't tried it anywhere else, but I am really excited to try it on my elbows. They are so dry and callused that I think it will be a great way to moisturize them and make them soft!
I got the recipe from a great site I only recently found. I fell in love with it, Stephanie (it's her website) has some of the most amazing ideas! And to boot, she is a very sweet lady! Honest, she said I could copy some of her ideas! If you are looking for something to do or want to get a spark going in your life for crafting YOU HAVE GOT TO CHECK OUT HER WEBSITE!
It is: http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

I made her "Lemon Sugar Scrub". It is deeeeeevine! Here are some pictures of what I did. Now I wasn't prepared to take photos of the actual making of the scrub, but I did show you what I did to the jar and other pictures! I had a blast making it in the heat of my kitchen and with my niece crawling all over the kitchen! It seriously smells so good. I added a little extra lemon scent to make it pop so you can do the scenting to your liking like Stephanie says!

Here are the pictures I took! Let me know what ya think!



Here is the "bowl full of jelly", no just kidding! This is what it looked like when it was all mixed up! I thought it looked like playdough...but not the right consistency!



I found this jar at DI (a second hand store). I thought it was a little plain, so I took it to my craft corner and decided to apply some rub ons. I didn't have enough of the same flowers to go all the way around so I found something that I thought would go together.



I just put the scrub in the jar and thought it made it look good! But there was something missing! So.........



I thougt a little ribbon and a spoon so the person I give this to will be able to get the scrub out with would be appropriate! Tell me your honest oppinion. What do you think? I would love some feedback!

Happy Crafting!

Manti Pagent 2010

On Saturday, June, 26th I went to the Manti Miracle Pagent with 2 of my bestest friends and 3 boys! Leah and her hubby Presley came, Bariann and her 2 handsome boys David and Jacob, and of course...how could I forget Mindles (Mindy). It was a severe blast!
Friday night I spent the night at Leah's house...on the couch. Oh of course we had to watch a scary movie in the dark (Drag me to Hell). I won't be watching that EVER again soon! Then we sort of collapsed into bed (me on the couch...silly)!
Saturday Leah and I had to go shopping for a skirt for me so I could go to a very special baby blessing for Cher! Her adorable little girl was being blessed on Sunday! I was so excited she invited me to come! She and her family hold a very dear place in my heart. OHHHHH, there I go again getting off subject. So Leah and I went to the mall and I had the hardest time deciding if I should get a skirt that Leah told me I looked adorable in. I hated the way I looked in it and she said I looked way cute! I wasn't so sure. I hate my legs and normally refuse to wear anything higher than mid calf in length! So in the end I caved and bought the skirt (it has a green top that is WAAAAAY too big)! I got some compliments but I was totally self concious! UGHHHH!
As soon as Presley got home from work we got Leah's sister and were on our way! We went to Bariann's house where we changed (some of us) and I had to show off my recent purchase (that was a total embarrassment). Then we all headed off to Manti for the funnest night I've had all month! I'm not kidding!
We saved our seats, parked the cars at B's brother's house and then walked to the church for the bestest dinner I've had in months! We had green beans, mashed potatoes (from potato pearls), gravy, salad, a brownie or carrot cake, and the star of the plate was......MORONI TURKEY! It was so delicious I savored every single bite!
After dinner we walked around and ended up getting shaved ice and upon eating it started freezing! It was so fun! Then B's sister in law came with 2 of her boys and they finished off B's ice and another one that wasn't finished by one of her sons! Yeehaw!
Then the Pagent started! It was amazing! It was such a spiritual experience! The stories told in the Pagent strengthened my testimony and brought the spirit more wholly into my heart. I stirred some emotions and feelings within me that only can happen in or on Sacred ground! I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints is TRUE! I know that the Book of Mormon is TRUE and I know that FaMiLiEs can be together FoReVeR!
Those who were in the Pagent I give a round of applause! They were amazing! GoOd WoRk!

Here are a few pictures of us in our grandest moments! Yeehaw! I do reccommend going if you haven't ever or if you haven't been in a while!






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