Tutorial Hesitation

Why the hesitation:

no one cares

not as creatively cool as I think I am...and someone is going to tell me

this wasn't a Larissa original idea

it is too simple of an idea

should I really show it here or start a craft/project blog already

everyone already knows how to do it

and last...

because I am a big chicken and never want to take new chances

So with one last "cluck", I have decided to say good bye to Larissa the Hen and and usher in the era of Larissa the Conquer of her fears. So with a deep breath (and hopefully some applause from those who know me best), I give you the

Pebble Magnet Tutorial

Material List:

glass craft/vase rocks
pieces of super cute scrap paper
disk magnets
Modge Podge

Tool:

glue gun
paint brush
pencil




Have materials? Let's get started!

Turn the piece of paper you are using over so there are no pencil marks on the pretty side. You will have to trace out each pebble you are going to use separately as they are all different sizes. I suggest you number as you go and leave the pebbles in a row with coordinating numbers. Each pebble has a flat side and rounded side, trace flat side a little smaller than actual pebble. After you are all done, cut out and place with matching pebble.



Take out handy dandy Modge Podge. With craft brush, apply thin coat to the right side of one cut out.



Adhere paper to matching pebble, adjust so it fits best. Then press and hold making sure the glue holds. Then repeat on however many you have.

When all of your pebbles are Modge-Podged, get out your faithful glue gun. Then glue on each magnet directly to the back of your newly paper-covered pebble. I know people who also apply a thin layer of Modge Podge to the back before gluing the magnet on. I find this step unnecessary. The paper will stay on just as well without it.

Guess what! Now you are done! Find yourself a cute magnet board or head to the fridge (no not for a snack...although nothing like a congratulatory treat after finishing a craft) and start putting these babies up.

Say good bye to ugly fridge magnets. Your pictures, kids' art work, and to-do list will be thanking you.

PS. I thank you too for indulging this crafting mommy's tutorial debut.

Awwwww

That's right...its official, eight years. Who knew it would fly by just like that. In order to avoid too much cheese, I will make it short and sweet. At the time, that was the happiest day of my life. I had waited and planned and prepared to marry someone not only worthy but worthy of me (no not vain, but a girl has to have standards)...finally it was here. I could not have been any happier then that day...

And then followed innumerable happiest moments, innumerable happiest days. Yes at the time, August 25, 2001 at 8:20 am (yes AM!) was the happiest day of my life. However, now it is one of the happiest memories of my life and to that has been added an abundance of happiest memories over these past eight years.

Here is to eight years of happiest days.

Eight of My Favorite Memories of 8.25.01

in no particular order

1.getting ready in a cold bath because I had no hot water

2.the long drive to Salt Lake City just waiting to see you

3.the Salt Lake City Temple

4.having friends and family there

5.you grabbing my toukus while we were taking pictures

6.getting lost trying to find a grocery store before honeymoon

7. baowm chick-a-wah-wah

MOST FAVORITE

8. marrying you

Recipe Thursdays

I am getting rid of my "recipe box" here in the blog. I was super ambitious when I thought I could keep up on three recipe blogs. Seriously, what was I thinking. So they are gone. In their place is Recipe Thursdays. I know you are probably jumping up and down with excitement.

First installment is an easy and sinful one. A couple months ago I came across the idea of doing a cookie dough cupcake (yes I drooled a little bit the first time I heard it too). As Spencer and I were deciding what event we could use as an excuse to make these, he piped up, "hey don't you think it would be better if it were cookie dough in a brownie instead?" Bells went off, the heavens sang, and it was reaffirmed why I married this man. Brownies and cookie dough...PERFECT!

So here is an easy pretty much recipe free sweet treat. Enjoy.

Cookie Dough Meet Brownie

1 batch of your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe
1 box mix of your favorite ooey gooey brownie (Use 2 mixes if you want to use all of your cookie dough for this)
Prepared cream cheese frosting (store or yours)
Chocolate chips
1. Make cookie dough. Roll into small balls and then freeze. Let freeze for several hours. You will need the dough really frozen in order to still have dough consistency in brownie. If you do not let it freeze enough you will have a dry cookie center instead of lucious gooeyness.
2. When dough has been frozen long enough, prepare brownie mix. Spray a cupcake tin generously. You could use liners, but it is prettier with out. Fill each cupcake mold about a third. Take out cookie dough balls and put them in the center of each cupcake. Use the rest of the batter to cover up each cookie dough ball. The ball shape will still be visible. Just play with it so that it is as covered up as you can get it.
3. Bake at recommended temperature for brownies. Since you are cooking brownie cupcakes and not bar brownies, the cooking time will vary from the instructions. Use the smallest time suggestion...but watch them. If you over bake your brownie...well first you have an over baked brownie and who wants that...second you have a dry cookie center. Nobody wants that.
4. Let cool. Feel free to add to the sugary delight with a cream cheese frosting garnish with some whole or shaved milk chocolate chips.
5. Put the kids to bed, find a happy place, and fell no shame as you devour 1...okay maybe 2 of these delightful babies.

Dumpster Diving AND In the Works

Every day I wake up and make up lists of the things I need to get done and then the list of the the fun things I would like to get done.

Every night I go to bed with the list of things I need to get done only half-way done and the list of fun things I would like to get done sadly tossed aside waiting for yet another day.

I am in the works of trying to put together my first tutorial...I know we'll see if it happens.

I am in the works of finishing up some really cute projects to share.

I am in the works of editing some photos that I took of my kids in an I-wanna-be-a-photographer-moment.

"In the works" for me is turning into... "remember that fun thing you were going to do 2 months ago.."

BUT a time and a season. So while I wait for time to finish all my fun projects I will just be glad that the house is clean (sort of) the boys are happy (most of the time) and I am showered!

On the "boys are happy" note I will let you know that I have done something I have never done before...I took something from a recycling dumpster. Nothing antique-y or kitchy...but something that sure added to that "boys are happy" business.

I found this:

Reaction to my trash treasure (yes he is in his underwear):

Can I Be Like You When I Grow Up?

I love the blogging world for many reason. I love that I can have an online journal. I love that I can keep in the know with my friends. I love that I can share/get great ideas. I love seeing how really creative women spend their time.

I might also envy quite a few of these awesome individuals...which leads me to a little bit of blog stalking.

Here are three new sites that I pretty much adore.

Sensibly Styled - A site that puts together some really cute modest outfits AND then tells you where you can buy them.

Made - super cute sewing site

My Food Storage Deals - pretty self explanatory

I am only 20% jealous that these woman have managed to put together a blog that is is so useful and allows them to share their talents. Some day I too will grow up and get my creative blog on to get a main stream following and become a guru in something...how to look good in your pjs all day maybe?