Minggu, 30 Oktober 2011

{Mmm, Mmm, Mondays} Pumpkin Cupcakes


Happy Halloween!
I hope you all have a fun & safe Halloween! Here is a little treat to whip up for a little snack today. I know, I'm a little late with posting a Halloween treat but hey...better late than never, right? If anything you can pin it and make them next year.

In my head it went like this:

Fill some green cones with loads of batter, bake it and flip it to look like a pumpkin. Well, didn't quite work out that easy for me. 


 Here is how I made a good one-

Here is what you need:
  • cake mix {vanilla or I used carrot cake mix}
  • food coloring {red & yellow to make orange}
  • a box of rainbow cones {use the green ones, there are 6 I think of each color}
  • chocolate chips
Here is what I did:

Make cake batter as instructed on the box. Die it with food coloring to make it orange.

Using a sharp knife, cut the top off the green cones. You can also use the brown ones too!

Fill your bottom half with cake mix about 3/4 way.
Use the rest of the batter to make regular cupcakes {as many as cones you have}

Bake in the oven according to cupcake instructions on the cake mix box. {Mine took 20 minutes in a 350 F oven}

Melt some of your chips {I melted about 1/4 cup, but I didn't make many of these pumpkins}

When your cupcakes are done, paint on a face on each of the regular cupcakes. {I used a skewer dipped in the melted chocolate}

Dip the half cone in the chocolate to cover the rim and use as glue to stick on top of your cupcake. {you could also use chocolate frosting, I just didn't have any on hand}

Stick them in the fridge for a little to harden the chocolate so it doesn't smudge if you are packing them in treat bags.

There you have it! A Pumpkin Cupcake.


Inspiration Sundays & A Winner

{Source}
 ...and today I have a new look! I cut my hair! {pictures to come soon} It's about chin level {from a little past shoulder level}. I am loving it! 


I also have an idea for a Halloween treat {better late than never} that I will be posting bright an early tomorrow in case you want to whip it up quick for the kiddos snack tomorrow. You will need a box of wafer rainbow cones, white/vanilla cake mix, food coloring and choc chips. I don't know if it will go as planned so we shall see. :) It looks good in my head though!

Thank you all for entering the Vivy's Closet shop credit giveaway. I have chosen a winner using random.org. The winning comment is...#40, Mary!
marysaid...
I like you on facebook. 


Mary, I will be emailing you tonight! :)




Sabtu, 29 Oktober 2011

A Pinteresting {Linky} Party - Week Eleven


We had 9 link ups for week ten! Thank you all for linking up and please spread the word about this Pinteresting Party! :)
{source}
See what I find Pinteresting here.


If you need an invitation to Pinterest.com or have any questions about it please comment here or convo me. I'd be happy to help if I can.



My faves from last week:


Drapes Of Wrath shared how to make Ready to Blend Freezer Smoothies
The Chocolate Muffin Tree showd us how to make Contact Paper Fall Leaf Garland
J&M's Eye Candy gave us a Halloween Tutu Tutorial


Stop on over to these links and show them some love and if you pinned them, you can let them know. :)


Here are the rules:
  • Add a direct link to a blog post along with it's title {not the title of your blog}.
  • You can link up to two posts per blog. {no shops or giveaways please}
  • Visit at least 2 other links and pin their post.
  • I'd love for you to spread the word and post my Pinteresting Party Button on your blog. {& be sure to follow my blog to see when the next party is & if you were featured the following week} :)
  • By linking up you give me full permission to use one photo from your post if you are featured the following link.
  • Please, no Etsy shops or Giveaways. 
BloggerButton

 

Want to know how to check if you were pinned? 
Copy this link into your browser and add your blog URL {does not work for Etsy shops}:
http://pinterest.com/source/YOURURLHERE
for example, mine would be http://pinterest.com/source/tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com
 


Need a reminder about this party? Look to the right...you see that spot that says "Subscribe to our mailing list"? Type in your email and you will receive an email each week reminding you to link up! Hooray! 
 
How to link up:
Click the button below that says "add your link" and type in the following info-
Name:: use the name of your post here
URL:: use your post URL, not your blog URL
Email:: this info will not be published

Not ready to link up yet? No worries, this link party is open until Friday at noon! 


Have you checked out this months sponsors? Well, you should. They make this link party happen...along with new tutorials and projects!
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Jumat, 28 Oktober 2011

{Sponsor Spotlight} Cynthia of AlpacaKids

I'd like to welcome back Cynthia of AlpacaKids for this week's sponsor spotlight. Her shop is full of adorable crochet & knit baby items made only from natural alpaca fiber that has not been dyed. You will fall in love with all the beautiful hats & sweaters Cynthia has created! Visit her shop and have a look around. You will be happy you did!


About Cynthia & AlpacaKids:

About this time last year I found out that I was going to become a grandmother when my two oldest daughters announced (yes, at the same time!) that they were pregnant. I have always loved to knit, sew, and crochet, and I went into grandma overdrive making things for the babies. In the past my daughters had urged me to open an Etsy shop but I had never discovered that unique niche that I felt it would take to be successful at it. Then my brother, who has a small alpaca farm in the mountains of North Carolina, sent me some yarn that had been made from the fleece of his alpacas to make something special for the babies. I instantly fell in love with the amazing qualities of the natural undyed alpaca fiber. It is softer, stronger, and warmer than wool, and hypoallergenic, so it doesn't irritate babies' skin the way other fibers do, and it comes in a wonderful variety of natural colors. After making sweaters for the new babies I realized that I had found that niche that I had been looking for, and alpaca kids was born. So now I make baby items using mostly natural undyed alpaca fiber. My grandbabies are 4 and 5 months old and are a constant source of inspiration. They also make great models for my hats and sweaters!

 Fall is in the air over at AlpacaKids:


She also has a blog which you can follow here.


Kamis, 27 Oktober 2011

{Freebie Friday} Win a Set of Breast Cancer Awareness Magnets from CrazedMommaCreations

Happy Freebie Friday! Being that October is breast cancer awareness month I thought this would be a great prize for today. You have a chance to win a Breast Cancer Awareness Magnet Set from CrazedMommaCreations on Etsy. Her shop has lovely magnet sets, bottlecap necklaces and hair pins. Learn some more about this Crazed Momma and enter below to win!

Tell us about yourself.
My name is Naquai.  (nuh kwi with a long i) On Etsy, I go by Crazed Momma.  My name was created by my father.  If it had an origin it would probably be American Indian.  My Dad always told me it meant Little Joy.  My mother’s name is Joy. 
I have four girls.  It’s always a party at our house.  They are 17, 14, 8, and 3.  I live in Orem, Utah.  It is a town about 30 miles from Salt Lake City. 

How did you get started in your craft and selling on Etsy?

I have always admired Etsy.  It always piqued my interest when I would come across it.  I am a stay at home mom and am always looking for ways that I might help my husband out a little in the income department AND have some kind of creative outlet for me.  I enjoy many types of crafts including scrapbooking.  My girls made some magnets for me and it occurred to me that this was something I could do and maybe sell.  I lurked on Etsy for a while and then just decided to jump in.  



What is your favorite item in your shop & why?

Right now I am in love with my bobby pin sets.  It’s something new I have ventured into.  My favorite magnet set would probably be the Chocolate Love set.  I named my shop Crazed Momma Creations because I wanted the flexibility to have several types of items in my store.  

 

What is one thing you can not live without?

Ok, so anyone who knows me well knows that I have to take a nap every day.  It has always been something I need.  I can make it without one but it makes for a super grumpy mommy.  I don’t always sleep but I do try to lie down when my 3 year old does and get some rest. 

What is your guilty pleasure?

I love to take baths.  Baths with lavender bath salts are heavenly.  I also love to play silly Ipad games.  I try to limit it to only when my other “chores” are done though. 

Tell us a joke.

CHOCOLATE JOKE: Plump lady to the waitress: "I would like to have DEATH BY CHOCOLATE for dessert, but only enough to put me in critical condition. *I really like chocolate.* :-)



You can win this lovely set of 
Breast Cancer Awareness Magnets!


Want to purchase something from her shop now? 
Use coupon code TUTU10 for 10% off your purchase

Want to stalk this Crazed Momma? Keep up with her here:




Twitter account: @crazedmommaof4


I am trying out Rafflecopter for this giveaway so let me know how you like it. If you all think it's easier to enter this way I might continue using this method. 



In case you all didn't see it on the left side bar over there...10% of sales were donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for 8 months which came to a total of $58.02! This total went to my cousin's donation page for the 3-Day Walk for the Cure! She completed the 60 mile walk {did you read that?! 60 miles! Yikes...I can barely walk a mile without complaining} and we are so proud of her and all she is doing {love ya cousin}! If you would like you can visit her donation page for next years walk and read about her and donate if you can.



Rabu, 26 Oktober 2011

{Tutorail Thursday} DIY Hat Stand for Craft Fairs/Photos

I know I said I would show you how to make a layered satin flower pin to add to the necklace Onesies from last weeks tutorial but my dang memory card reader is being dumb and not letting me get my photos! I do have another tutorial for you with photos I took quite some time ago when I was prepping for my last craft fair. I wanted something to display my hats on that was on the inexpensive side so I came up with this:


Here's what you'll need:

  • a cheap flower pot {I got mine at Ikea for $1}
  • a Styrofoam ball {I used 5"} and a Styrofoam block that will fit in your flower pot
  • A wooden dowel
  • Tissue paper
  • Hot glue gun and glue
Here's what to do...it's super easy!
  • DO NOT unwrap any of the Styrofoam pieces. 
  • Place the block in the flower pot.
  • Stick the dowel in it & hot glue around to hold in place.
  • Stick the ball on top and hot glue around the dowel to secure.
  • Tear up some tissue paper pieces and crumple them up a little. Hot glue them around the block to make it look a little prettier.
  • Sick a hat on it and voila!

These are great for displaying hats at a craft fair or to take photos of your hats when you don't have a model.


Selasa, 25 Oktober 2011

{Heart Therapy} My Hopes & Dreams

Time to do something that will help your heart. Something I believe we neglect all too often. 


 
Heart Therapy:
Where we share what we are walking through.
{Like group bloggy therapy}

Today the prompt is to talk about your hopes and dreams.
 
  1. Make a difference. Whether it is large or small I would like to make a difference in someone's life. I want to help people in a major way whether it be through my personal or professional life.
  2. Teach. I have known what I wanted to do since I was in elementary school. Not many people can say that! I had some amazing teachers who have inspired me and I would love to be able to do the same for others. It is my passion! I hope someday soon it can become a reality.
  3. Complete my Masters Degree! I am so close to being finished but with having to work full time and taking care of Bug it is near impossible to finish what I have left.
  4. Own a home. This seems pretty impossible how things stand today, but I am hoping and praying that this becomes a possibility somehow.
  5. Be a good mom. The first thing that came to mind when I found out I was having a baby girl was "Oh no, I don't want to deal with the teenage years!" I feel like there are so many bad influences these days and I hope to give my daughter the knowledge and confidence to be herself and do what is right.
  6. Have more faith. A good friend of mine is becoming a Pastor and runs a young adult group {which I on occasion take part in since I insist I'm still a young adult} and have gained a new perspective and knowledge. I pray daily, but wish to feel closer to the Lord as I do now.
I'm sure I could go on and on, but these are at the top of my hopes & dreams list.

Senin, 24 Oktober 2011

{Toddler Tuesdays} Group Play at a Family Get Together

We took a trip to New Jersey this past weekend for our annual family get together. There are a good amount of us and some of us now have little ones. My cousin was prepared and brought a huge tub of Play-Doh and accessories along with a blanket for everyone to play on. She set everything up outside and it was lots of long lasting fun!







I have to give a big thank you to my cousin for doing this...my daughter woke up close to midnight the night after wide awake and screaming...wanting to play Play-Doh! Lol. 

{Mmm, Mmm, Mondays} Potato Parmesean


I don't know about you, but as for our family, if you add sauce and cheese to just about anything we will gladly eat it all up! Bug loves potatoes...especially in french fry form! 

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. 
Take some roasting potatoes, peel and slice them then wash them.
Cut your potatoes into slices and soak them in a bowl of salted water for about a half hour.
Dry your potato slices and place on parchment paper on a baking sheet, salt & pepper to taste and brush some olive oil on them.
Bake for 45 minutes, turning to be sure they brown evenly.
Spread some sauce on them {or you can put it on the side for dipping} and sprinkle with mozzarella & Parmesan cheese. Yumm! 

Yes, this is messy...but all the best things are!
You can certainly make a baked potato and add the sauce and cheese on top too!

I also have chosen the winner of the $20 credit to AuntieRobin's shop! I used random.org & the winning comment was number 46, lisawith4:

lisawith4 said...
gfc follower as lisawith4.
lisa.otis6@gmail.com

Jumat, 21 Oktober 2011

A Pinteresting {Linky} Party - Week Ten

We had 20 link ups for week nine! Thank you all for linking up and please spread the word about this Pinteresting Party! :)


{source}

See what I find Pinteresting here.


If you need an invitation to Pinterest.com or have any questions about it please comment here or convo me. I'd be happy to help if I can.



If you do not know what Pinterest is or don't have an account, here is a little about it:
Pinterest is kind of like an online, public bookmarking site. You find something online you like, or want to try and "pin" it. It gets stored to a board {or category, i.e. tutorials, recipes...} for your followers & other Pinterest users to see. These "pins" {or bookmarks} can be repined by others, spreading YOUR blog post all over the Pinterest world! How cool is that?!

Now that you know more about Pinterest and how it helps promote your blog for free, look below & link up you blog posts! 

My faves from last week:













Stop on over to these links and show them some love and if you pinned them, you can let them know. :)



Here are the "rules":


  • Add a direct link to a blog post along with it's title {not the title of your blog}.
  • You can link up to two posts from one blog. {no shops or giveaways please}
  • Visit at least 2 other links and pin their post.
  • Not required, but I'd love for you to spread the word and post my Pinteresting Party Button on your blog. {& be sure to follow my blog to see when the next party is & if you were featured the following week} :)
  • By linking up you give me full permission to use one photo from your post if you are featured the following link.

BloggerButton

 

Want to know how to check if you were pinned? 
Copy this link into your browser and add your blog URL {does not work for Etsy shops}:
http://pinterest.com/source/YOURURLHERE
for example, mine would be http://pinterest.com/source/tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com
 
 


How to link up:

Click the button below that says "add your link" and type in the following info-

Name:: use the name of your post here

URL:: use your post URL, not your blog URL
Email:: this info will not be published



Please visit my sponsors.  They are the reason I can have this lovely thumbnail link party!


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{Sponsor Spotlight} Sharon of My Crochet Garden

This month Sharon of My Crochet Garden is back again! And guess what...she was my 100th buyer on Etsy just last week! She is a super sweet person and I am so glad I have had the pleasure of "meeting" her through Etsy. As my 100th sale she was offered a free item from my shop and she requested that I make something to be donated to Crochet Friends Charity. Not only does she have a beautiful soul but she has a beautiful shop too!

Her shop has a variety of items from vintage to beautifully crochet hats for your baby! You might recognise this shop from a giveaway that was here on this blog back in February/March. The giveaway is closed, but you can follow the link to read some more questions Sharon answered! 

I'd love for you to have a look at My Crochet Garden and see her beautiful work! You will not be disappointed. You can also find her on Facebook.


About Sharon:

I’m 51 years old. Married to my high school sweetheart for 32 years.  I taught myself to crochet at the age of 9. I bought a skein of yarn, needle and learn how to book with my allowance. I’ve been crocheting ever since. I typically crochet using a pattern. My yarn of choice would be cotton. I love making baby items. I won a blue ribbon last fall at our local fair for a shawl I crocheted. It was made from a beautiful wool yarn and the roses around the neckline are edged in glass-beaded silk. My true passion and joy lie in the garden, hence the name My Crochet Garden. 

Sharon shares:

What made you want to become an artist?
I don’t know that I ever had a choice. It’s something I have to do. My soul wants me to create. If I’m not creating I’m not happy.  
What is your favorite item to create?
My true joy and passion is gardening, my favorite thing to create is a flower garden.  I enjoy crocheting just about anything; I guess my favorite thing to crochet would be children’s hats.  
What is the inspiration for your work?

I suppose the best way to answer that would be color and texture. I love color and I love the different textures of different types of yarn.

Where do you create?
Everywhere! Crochet is quite portable. I can crochet and watch TV. If my husband is driving I crochet. I love to sit in my garden in the spring and crochet.

A Sneak Peak into My Crochet Garden's shop.




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