Happy New Year

This is the last post for 2008. We wish all of you friends and family a very Happy New Year. Big hugs from us. Let's hope I still remain good about using this blog and my wish is that you start blogs of your own for me to visit. I want to see stuff. Happy New Year!

A Beautiful Day

We had a really nice day. Lady B took the barn gang out to lunch at one of our favorite spots (Thank you Lady B) and then the girls, the princes and I took a walk in the hood and down to the river to walk off that wonderful lunch. The temps were in the 50's with cool breeze and warm sun.

Yummy!

We made yummy cupcakes from this book yesterday. We made caramel apple and pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting ( from scratch)

Pretty girl

Pretty girl has come to stay with us for a week. We are enjoying her a bunch. The queens and PG played Monopoly for three hours before PG finally bankrupted the Queens. Queen 2 still regrets buying the motels. Live and learn.

My toy

Don't mess with my toy. It's mine!!!

Wii wars

Queen 1 was defeated early on in the round. Queen 2 held her own with soulmate and beat him. I had to serve up some humble pie to Queen 2, but of course no one gets a picture of that.

Bookmarks Handmade

Merry Christmas

In love with Tyra

Yesterday the queens and I went to one of our favorite places and met a new boarder, a mini named Tyra. She was a sweet little thing with a girlie attitude and very fitting of her name. Queen 1 very much wanted to put her in her back pocket and sneek her home. I wasn't very far behind in that thought. To my friend that collects minis - you need this one!

The best peppermint cookie recipe

I love this recipe. It is only because we don't live near any of you all that I'm willing to share. Otherwise you'd be receiving it on a plate with some other goodies. These melt in your mouth. Merry Christmas!

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 sticks of salted butter

1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract

(cream together) then add

1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup cornstarch

(Mix well then refrigerate for 1 hour)

Oven at 350- shape dough in teaspoon sized balls on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes. Let stand for 1 minute then transfer to cool.

Top with glaze and sprinkle crushed candy cane

I use a buttercream frosting recipe and add 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract instead of vanilla and 2 to 3 drops of red food coloring.

Makes 30 cookies

Order up

Soulmates order was completed yesterday. There were dark chocolate covered pretels, peanutbutter with choc. drizzle, white choc. with sprinkles, white choc. with dark choc. drizzle and milk choc. with health bar. Yummy! I love the mugs. They look like something I would paint.

Grandparent gifts

Who would have thought that Queen 2 would love a cookbook? Not only love a cookbook , but make lists of what she want to cook first and take it to bed for nighttime reading. Good choice.

Queen 1 is enjoying her DS game. At first she said it was boring, but that was because she didn't know how to play it. Now we can't get her off the thing. She brings it to the dinner table. Another good choice.

The board games will be enjoyed by the whole family. Mucho gracias!!!

Area to create

I bought some of the wire racks to store all the crafty stuff, set up a couple of tables to make a big work space and filled the drawers and closet. I found things I forgot I had and have about 10 projects in mind. I should write them down before they are forgotten.

5 hours of work

Why am I showing you my storage area? Cause I'm so proud. That's why. I went through all the boxes and got everything organized. Feels better knowing where everything is.

Queen 2's party

I think she spent most of her time painting this ornament. She had a great time and managed not to paint her sweater.

Screens for lower level bedroom

I found these screens at my favorite furniture consignment shop and am going to use them for the headboard of the bed in the lower level. Our project for this weekend will be to hang them up and get the bed set up. My second "Tee Hee" of the day.

Monkey Love

The box was opened, the monkey taken out, hugging and happiness, then some immediate stitching, Sash was made with name for monkey, then posing- cause yeah, she does tricks. I'd call that a great gift.

Oh Happy Me

Look at how cute this is!!!!!! Look! Yeah, I'm a little excited. My friend made this for me for my half bath in the manor. I've been running around trying to find pins or nails to hang it, but decided I couldn't wait to take a picture and share so I put it someplace flat for photos. I'm all jazzed up. Tee Hee

Last school day in 2008

That seems weird, doesn't it. Time has just been flying by. Queen 1 went to school. She has a party today. I don't think there will be much work to be done, but that's ok. Queen 2 has stayed home with me. She was feeling a bit frumpy. Her party yesterday was really cute. They made snowmans soup, decorated an ornament and decorated a rice crispy snowman on a stick. Great ideas! Take some time to relax and eat a Christmas cookie. Love to all.

cross stitched

I have rediscovered an old love. Cross stitching. My middle sister introduced this to me years ago and I have been using my TV time to do some things like above. Others are presents and I will post after the holiday.

Two days

Two days left of school before break and it's crunch time. There are parties to attend and help at and teachers gifts to get out. Soulmate liked these so much, he put in his order. Thankfully not due until next week.

Baker Queen

She is totally into her work as she cuts out the gingerbread trees. Note the flour on the cheek.

Christmas Lights

Nuggets of Goo for you

You will need mini muffin pans for this one and make sure to spray them with non stick even if they lie and say non stick pans.

1 cup salted butter
1cup sugar
(cream those together)
1 4oz chocolate baking bar melted
(I used the Ghiardelli 60% cacoa bittersweet chocolate
Add to creamed mixture)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla
(Mix it all up until fluffy)
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
(Gradually add to creamed mixture)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spoon about a teaspoon and a half into sprayed muffin pans. Bake for 10 to13 min. depending on oven (I'm still fighting with mine) When you take out the baked cookies, take the handle part of a wooden spoon and make a hole in the top of each. Immediately fill with peanut butter chips and let cool. To top off the cookie melt 1 cup of choc. chips in the microwave add a little oil to get the right smoothness and dollop some choc. goo on the top to hide the peanut butter chips. Enjoy!!

The shipping is done

With two trips to the post office in the last two days I am proud to say all the shipping of gifts has been done. Now it is just getting the teacher gifts together. Today I made a bunch of vanilla spice mini muffins for the Teacher Luncheon. I also created a recipe by tweeking from a picture I had seen in a magazine. Soulmate has called them "Nuggets of Goo" I think I'm going with that. So stay tuned for the Nuggets of Goo recipe.

Stockings

I made these last year when one of my NY sisters introduced me to crazy quilting. Now to fill them.....Oh wait - Santa does that.

Waiting for Soulmate

Prince 2 sits at the entry of the kitchen where he can see the front and back door so depending on where Soulmate comes in Prince 2 can be the first to greet him. He starts his watch about an hour before Soulmate comes home and just sits very still with ears twitching for the sound of Soulmates car. Oh to be loved like that!