Jewlery Display

I had a box where I stored all of my jewelry. That was the problem, my jewelry was only stored because I was too afraid to sort through the mess to ever wear any of it. I was watching the Today Show last week and they had this clever idea to encorporate your jewelry into your room decor so you can actually see what you have an wear it. I took some old frames we had already and then bought a couple more at the the Dollar Tree.

I nailed up some wire to hang my earrings on

Hot glued some gripper to secure my studs

Screwed in some hooks for necklaces and bracelets.

Reverence Book

K is impossible at church. It is getting harder and harder to keep him entertained through the meetings. It's mostly due to the fact he is cranky and wants to lie down for a nap, but that doesn't quite work at church. I decided to make a reverence or quiet book to help. It isn't perfect, but there are some fun activities that might get him through. Obviously some he won't be able to do until a bit older, but might as well give him a head start.

I used craft pellum for the pages and then drew with Sharpies for the background. The accents are mostly felt which is inexpensive and forgiving. I bought dollar store trinkets to use as well to keep the cost down.

A page for a doodle pad and pens




This will also be the "treat" pocket where he can find some snacks

The music notes are attached to yarn so you can move them back and forth along the string
You can turn the "pages" of the gold plates with the rings attached


Magnetic fishing pole and fish

Nephi can move along the rod and the fruit is removable

A mirror
coat puzzle

The coins are velcro-ed on so you can put them in the bank or envelope


This one isn't quite 100% finished, as you can see the pins...but it is the order of the creation with what happened on each day. The numbers are removable and you have to match them to the the outlined number on the page.



Plant the fruit and veggies in the pockets.







Practice braiding

I haven't quite figured out how to bind the book. I think I might just cover a binder with fabric and then hole punch the pages and insert them. That way if I want to add to the book or need to mend the pages from wear and tear it will be less of a hassle.

I love vacations because I get to do more of this...

I love vacations because I get to do more of this...

I finally conquered my Red Velvet Cheesecake, and this time it's final resting place was in our bellies, and not on the floor, or the garbage can.

K had fun with the pumpkin (pardon his crazy nap hair), but the fun ended when I cut it up to make my first homemade pumpkin pie and first pie crust!

I am actually quite pleased how it turned out. One of the crust sides browned a little more than I would have liked due to the tin foil slipping off.

This was the recipe I used...well, I kind of combined elements of a few recipes to my liking.

Pumpkin:
1 Pie pumpkin

Wash outside of pumpkin. Cut down the middle of the pumpkin and scrape out all the guts. Slice pumpkin into a handful of crescent chunks. Steam on stove top until meat is tender. The skin should just basically fall off at this point. Scrape all the meat into a blender and puree. Put puree in small mesh strainer and get as much excess water out as you can.

Crust:

1.5c flour
2T sugar
1/2t salt
1/6 c. shortening
1/3c. butter
1/3c. cold water

mix flour, sugar, and salt. cut in shortening and butter. Sprinkle in water evenly wetting the dough. gently mix- don't over do it. Chill for 3 hrs.
Roll out on wax paper- transfer into pie dish by flipping wax paper upside down into pie plate. Cut edges 1/2 over edge. Fold edge under and finish crust the way you want. Coat crust with 1 egg white and 1T milk and then sprinkle sugar over top (I like sweet crusts)

Pie Filling:

1c. sugar
1 1/2t cinnamon
1t ground cloves
1t all spice
1/2t ginger
1/2t vanilla
3 eggs (4 if you want it fluffier)
3c pumpkin puree
1.5 cans (12 oz. each) of evaporated milk
**You can use 2T of pumpkin spice if you want instead of the individual spices**

Mix it all together

Bake 425 for 15min
Decrease temp to 350 for 45-60 min

Depending on how deep of a pie dish you have, filling can make up to 2 pies

YUM!

Flinstones

Flinstones