Bunny Cakes

Happy Turkey Day

{Drawing by Jax}

Jax's turkey above was inspired by the Joy of Cooking.  The boys and I hid their turkey drawings under everyone's plate so they got a nice surprise when it was time for dessert.

-K

Blue Ribbon Pie & Other Thanksgiving Desserts

This year for Thanksgiving I am planning on contributing three desserts: Pumpkin Roll, a Turkey Cake and the winning pie from Martha's First Ever Pie Contest--an English Toffee Pecan Pie.

 

The Pumpkin Roll is a family favorite (it is the first dessert the boys go for) and makes the best morning-after-Thanksgiving breakfast.  I am actually hoping to make four rolls to distribute to the various Thanksgiving dinners that A and I go to.  However, due to this year's pumpkin shortage that may prove to be a challenge.  The shortage explains why it was so difficult to find canned pumpkin earlier this Fall.  If it was bad then, I can't imagine it will be any easier now, so if you are planning on making any pumpkin recipes it would be best to get your canned pumpkin very soon (not to make you panic).

The Turkey Cake will be made using a turkey bundt cake mold I picked up last year.  This is the dessert I am least committed to, so if I am feeling overwhelmed I might bail on it (its nice to have that freedom).  I have a Chocolate Mocha Bundt cake mix and a Cherry Vanilla that I am decided between.  We'll see, like I said I am not too committed.

And finally on to the *Blue Ribbon Winner* from Martha's Pie Contest...the English Toffee Pecan Pie.  After seeing how easy and delicious the winning pie looked I have decided to give it a go.  The recipe can be found here and the video can be found here.  The sweet lady who made the pie has been making pies for over 60 years and her pies have earned over 1,000 blue ribbons.  She was actually asked by the American Pie Council to attend Martha's contest.  Don't tell Martha, but I will probably use store bought pie crust. 

-K

Stoneware Cake Mold

 

I can't believe Thanksgiving is only a week away!  Check out this lovely Wreath Stoneware Mold from Williams-Sonoma.  The Molded Cranberry Sauce would look stunning on any Thanksgiving table!  I don't know what else you can make with stoneware molds, but I am suddenly interested.

 

 -K

Fondness of Teak Furniture

My father was very fond of *Teak Furniture*.  I can't help but think of him whenever I see teak.  Unfortunately it is so rarely found these days.  However, last weekend I got lucky, really lucky.  I was out shopping at a second hand furniture store with A (my sister) and Crafty Friend Karen when I came across a teak secretary desk/bookshelf.  The piece was a little dusty and had a few pen marks, but my father had taught me how to care for teak (steel wool and teak oil) so I knew I could easily clean it up.

Two days later the desk/bookshelf was delivered to my house.  Hubby was there to receive it and surprisingly he voiced his approval instead of inquiring of the price.  When I got home from work I ran into the study to admire it.  It was perfect!  The study already contained a teak desk and a wall of teak bookshelves which I had inherited from my father, so the new piece was the perfect accompaniment.  That night I scrubbed it and oiled it, so that it was back to its former glory.

For me it has become a new gem in my home.  I feel like my father is smiling down on me and nodding his head in approval.  I also feel like I have carried on the torch for the fondness of teak (it sounds silly, but I am proud of it).  It is five years today since my father has passed and I am thankful for all the ways I have to keep his memory alive.  I miss you Dad.  I treasure my memories of you and the parts of me that are you.

-K

If You're Wondering...

I have become obsessed with the *New Weezer Song* (If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To.  I need to hear it at least a couple of times a day.  To and from work is a must.  I found this great AOL Sessions version with Sara Bareilles...please enjoy & share my obsession:

-K

Fall Planting

This weekend I logged over 6 hours of weeding and general garden maintenance.  I haven't done anything gardening related since being diagnosed with Lyme's Disease in early July, but the lovely weather and insidious weeds lured me out.  Once I had finished weeding I couldn't stop there, so I headed to our local nursery to pick through the last remaining plants.  Luckily I found what I was looking for--purple pansies and decorative cabbage...perfect for bringing some color & cheer to the patio!

-K

Vampire Love

If you remember my Twilight Fever post from early September on the boys' Halloween costumes, then you will remember I was trying to convince the boys to be twin Edward Cullens (aka handsome Robert Pattinson Vampires).  Well I am happy to report the boys decided to be Vampires for Halloween.  It was mostly because they couldn't find anything else they wanted to be and less because of my (fading) All-Powerful-Mommy-Influence.  I followed Martha's instructions for making the capes and added an embroidered patch to personalize each cape.  Overall the cape project was pretty easy and I would highly recommend giving it a try (you only have to sew two straight lines per cape).  I had a lot of fun doing their hair...check out my twin vampires:

And of course this post wouldn't be complete without my other Vampire Love fresh from the Vanity Fair photo shoot...

Photo by Bruce Weber

-K

Happy Halloween

Have a delightful Halloween!  Wishing you all lots of candy and Halloween desserts!

 

The Halloween Cat container is from Pottery Barn.  I used wired floral picks for the very first time today to add the berries to the arrangement...so easy, I can't wait to use them again.  And you have to love the nice Fall leaves!

-K

Halloween School Treats 2009

OK, so I pretty much followed the same technique as last year to make *Halloween Treats* for the boys to share with their classmates: Stamp, Stuff & Sew.

 

At Micheal's I purchased Glassine-like favor bags (in the wedding section, 100 per pack) and stamped them with Halloween motifs (Martha makes great stamps -- not the clear kind, but the block kind).  Then stuffed them with Halloween goodies.  I enlisted the boys to help with the stuffing part and they quite enjoyed it.  Finally, I sewed the bags shut.  The sewing step is completely optional.  I was feeling lazy about the sewing part and was just going to fold over the tops of the bags and seal with a clear circle sticker, but I couldn't find them at the craft store (I didn't check any office supply stores though).

For their teachers the boys brought in mini-bundt cake brownies tied up to look like a giant piece of candy.  To make these use wax/parchment paper, colored tissue paper and cello to wrap up your baked goods, tie with bakery twine and add card.

 

-K

Glitter Spiders in Action

Halloween is almost here!  I wish I were a kiddie again so I could get dressed up and go out trick-or-treating!  What would I be?  Just what any girl would want to be (besides Edward Cullen's beloved)...a princess.  Princess Leia that is.  Okay, so I am too old to go out ringing doorbells for candy (not too old to be Edward's gal), so I will have to settle for some glittery Halloween decorations.  Here is how we put the Glitter Spiders to good use...

1.  Bling on a stack of pumpkins:

 

2.  A tie-on for a bag of Halloween Goodies:

 

3.  Extra spook an a Halloween Wreath:

-K

Halloween Football Treats

This Fall the boys took a break from soccer to try out flag football.  Though they missed soccer and their soccer teammates, football turned out to be a lot of fun.  For our traditional end-of-season treats the boys passed out these cute little bat 'tins' filled with Halloween Chocolates.  To give the bat tins some extra Halloween character we attached labels adorned with sparkly & spooky Halloween stickers from Martha's craft line.  Both the plastic tins and stickers were purchased at Michael's.

To make the treats, start by assembling the supplies: tins, sitckers, circle punch, chocolates & labels. The labels were printed on light green paper and then punched out with the circle punch.  The fonts for the label can all be found at dafont.com: the 'Happy Halloween' font is Bone; 'Connor & Jackson' font is Matchbook; Spider font is Trick or Treat BV; Football Helmet font is WC Sold Out B Bta; and the Bat font is KiddyHalloween.

Next, fill the tins with Halloween candies or other treats.  Then tie with ribbon and label.

Lastly, distribute the tins!

-K

Pumpkin Cookies

I used to not be a fan of pumpkin desserts.  My only reference being Pumpkin Pie, which is OK, but definitely not drool worthy.  Then I was introduced to the Pumpkin Roll (which A and I have tried to rename to a more appealing option, Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl, but the name just doesn't stick) and I became a staunch believer in pumpkin desserts.  So as soon as I read Amazing Mae's Do Not Make This If post on her favorite Pumpkin Cookie Recipe I knew I had to make them.  She warns those who have little self control to not make them--I quickly disobeyed.  And I'm glad I did.  The cakey pumpkin flavor was complimented nicely by the buttery glaze to produce a very yummy cookie.  The perfect treat for a Fall day (or any day).

 

-K

Glitter Spiders

If you follow Martha at all, then you probably know she loves to glitter anything and everything.  I have always wondered why she seemed so obsessed with glittering.  On a recent trip to Michael's craft store I picked up one of Martha's *Halloween Glittering* kits on sale.  I had no immediate project in mind and like many of my crafting supplies, it found its way into my shopping cart because it was on sale.  Then this past weekend while hubby was off watching the Giants lose, I decided to impress the boys with a glitter project.  I busted out the Martha Glittering kit and a bunch of spider rings and went to town.  The boys claimed the project as 'boring', but I had a hard time stopping.  After glittering a bunch of spider rings I wanted more.  As I quickly moved on to bigger and better Halloween objects I fully understood Martha's obsession.  The results were very easy to come by and very sparkly...who wouldn't love it!  And even though the boys thought the project was boring, they were oohing and ahhing at the results.

The glitter spiders are great to embellish Halloween treats or to add a little sparkle to your Halloween decorations.

-K

Halloween Doors

When it comes to decorating the front door for Halloween I definitely prefer a simple treatment.  Pumpkins are a must!  Fall flowers or a few other select Halloween props look nice.  I think it helps to repeat the decorative item(s) and limit yourself to only 2-4 different kinds of items (too many may look busy).  Here are some nice examples:

 

 

 

 

 

 

{Top 2 images Martha Stewart, 3rd image Pottery Barn, 4th-6th images Country Living, last image Eddie Ross}

 -K

Pumpkin Love

*Pumpkin Picking* with the boys has become one of my favorite fall events.  We have been lucky enough to have found a great farm close by.  Wegmeyer Farms wowed us again with its excellent variety of pumpkins & super nice owners.  I could easily spend all day there (as could the boys), but then I wouldn't be able to stop myself from buying all their pumpkins!  Check out the eye candy below.  I definitely recommend seeking out a local pumpkin farm if you already haven't.

-K

Boys in Kilts

We just got back from my brother-in-law's wedding.  It was a tremendously fun & elegant affair.  The boys were decked out in kilts to pay homage to the bride's Scottish roots.  I helped out with a few small details, which I will shall soon.

-K

Halloween Treat Buffets

If you are planning on throwing a Halloween Party check out these great examples of *Halloween Treat Buffets*.  It definitely makes me want to have a party!

This first example is from the ever-so-talented Amy Atlas...

These next examples are from the long lost (& loved) Martha by Mail...

Some current Martha examples...

And finally a Pottery Barn example from their current catelog...I love the cat buckets!

A late edition from Eddie Ross...

 

If I find any more worth sharing I will definitely add on...

-K

The Theo Quilt

It is hard to believe the summer is over.  It started out with great expectations and lots of promise.  I had many projects earnestly queued up on my to-do list, but sadly most of them stayed there.  One of the projects was a quilt for a dear friend who [many months ago] 'just' had a baby boy.  To be honest, the quilt should have been finished up before summer even started, but it wasn't.  Then something went bad.  A dark cloud came into my life--Lyme's Disease.  My hair started falling out, my hands and feet hurt, and I was worried about the disease all the time.  And then after many weeks of antibiotics things were suddenly normal again.  My craftiness returned and the quilt was finished.  So it is with much happiness that I share these pictures of a long overdue quilt and other goodies (monogrammed photo album & burp cloths)...

I really love how the blues and greens turned out together.  

-K

P.S. Use sunscreen AND bug spray. 

Cookie Stack Treat

Yes, I know, more *Cookie Treats*.  But who doesn't love cookies!?!  This stack of Chocolate Chip Cookies is packaged up in a cello bag from Martha Stewart Crafts.  The top of the bag is folded over and punched with two holes and then tied with ribbon and hand-stamped card.  A perfect little treat to give to someone to show you care.

-K

Oreo Chunk Cookies & First Day of School

For the boys' first day back to school I decided to make them special treats.  I tried out a new cookie recipe...*Oreo Chunk Cookies*.  The cookies are very similar to Chocolate Chip Cookies, but instead of tons of chips they have chunks of Oreo cookies.  The resulting cookies were very excellent the day I baked them, but the next day were a little too crunchy (still yummy).  Next time I might try increasing the oven temp and reducing the bake time.  Here is link to the recipe I followed if you would like to try them out.

The boys also helped package up some of the cookies to bring to their new teachers and their teachers from last year.

-K

P.S.  C$ just finished reading the whole Harry Potter series.  I am very proud of him!