Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Chocolate & Peanut Butter Chip Cookies ( Levain Bakery knockoff recipe)

 It was a cookie making kind of day today and I thought I would share them with you!
There are alot of Levain Bakery copycat recipes in blogland ..My neighbor Jamie ,gave me this recipe a few years ago and I make them all the time .. and yes ,there is yeast in a cookie recipe ..  These are Double chocolate with peanut butter chips. They are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G !
 Ingredients:
2 sticks unsalted butter (not softened)
1-1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup dark Dutch process cocoa powder
2-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 tsp. yeast
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
2 cups peanut butter chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Using a stand or hand mixer, cream butter and sugar...add eggs..then add in cocoa powder.
Mix in flour , salt and yeast . Add the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips ..Don't overmix.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a ice cream scoop , scoop the cookies onto the baking sheets. This makes about 20 cookies.  They take about 16-18 minutes to bake..They should look a little oozy on top. Make sure you have lots of cold milk on hand...

I would love for you to follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest ..all the links are in the sidebar !
 Have a great day !Thanks so much for stopping by ! I love your visits and nice comments !


Linking to :

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/
http://stringtownhome.net/
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/
http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/
http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/
http://www.stonegableblog.com/
http://www.theidearoom.net/
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/
http://www.alderberryhill.com/
http://sweethaute.blogspot.com/
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/ 
http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/
http://www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com/
http://www.onemoretimeevents.com/
http://alittleclaireification.com/
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Monday, January 27, 2014

DIY Winter Decomesh Wreath

 It's Monday !
Hope you had a great weekend ! No school around here today or tomorrow because of the below zero temperatures ! When it looks like this outside you need a wreath on the door that is very wintery ! I took down the Christmas wreath and didn't put anything back up ..It was just too bare.
I got this decomesh at Hobby Lobby after Christmas for 90 percent off ! So it was about $1.50 ! I should have bought more ! I used a evergreen wreath that I already had.
 To make the wreath you just bunch up how big you want the loops and use the evergreen wired branches twisted together to hold it down and secure it. Like using a twist tie..I made these loops about 8 inches long.
 I did 2 rows of the decomesh , one on the inside one on the outside..I used this light aqua ribbon for the bow...
 I got these glitter snowflakes at Joann fabrics after Christmas .. I think they were about 25 cents each ( 3 snowflakes on each pick)
 I also used some glittery cord from Hobby Lobby ..its an aqua color..
 I added light blue tulle bows to make it really full
This took me less than 30 minutes and look how fabulous it looks on the door !


 These wreaths are so easy ! Hope you will try one !


Yesterday I had my granny square blanket spread out to take the pictures for my blog.. I left the room for 2 seconds and this is what I came back to..She had to be the first one to try it out..:)
This is what I see looking out the front door..Lots of snow..and so cold !

I would love for you to follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest ..all the links are in the sidebar !
 Have a great day !Thanks so much for stopping by ! I love your visits and nice comments !


Linking to :

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/
http://stringtownhome.net/
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/
http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/
http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/
http://www.stonegableblog.com/
http://www.theidearoom.net/
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/
http://www.alderberryhill.com/
http://sweethaute.blogspot.com/
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/ 
http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
http://alittleclaireification.com/
http://www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com/
http://www.onemoretimeevents.com/

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Grannies, Stitching, Soup ,Snow and Cold !

 Good Sunday morning ! Hope you are having a great weekend !
 I am still working on the Granny Square blanket , Probably 1/3 of the way finished .. Still loving it !
 The other blanket is the Puffy Flower blanket I made last year ..
 I completed this ornament for January .. Little House Needleworks and Country Cottage Needleworks , started a facebook group and Vonna suggested to stitch an ornament for each of the 12 months , so at the end of the year you will have 12 ornaments from LHN or CCN.. Couldn't resist that :)
 My progress on Silent Night , hope to get some stitching in today for #santasundayxs on Instagram !

I have supervisors for Dog Lessons..
 Yesterday I made the Pioneer Woman's tortilla soup .. I make it ALOT .. I do a couple things different.. When I cook the chicken I use 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper and 1 tsp. chili powder with a little garlic salt for the spices..( This chicken is also really good just sliced on top of rice with colby jack on top )  Also.. instead of big peppers I use a whole bag of the mini sweet peppers chopped..and I add a quart size bag of frozen zucchini from our garden ..I omit the black beans ( just don't like them  ) sometimes we also add corn ,either frozen or fresh. Great way to get lots of vegetables in :) I fry the corn tortillas for the top.. and you have to have fresh cilantro .. This soup is amazing !! If I ahve alot left over , I put it into single serving size  plastic containers ..It is great to take one of them out for lunch :)

Since I now live in Antarctica...( just kidding , Chicago suburbs) We had more snow last night and tomorrow it will be -6 for the high ...-24 overnight !!! Wonder if they will close the schools again ..

They were all enjoying watching the snow plow..

I would love for you to follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest ..all the links are in the sidebar !
 Have a great day !Thanks so much for stopping by ! I love your visits and nice comments !


Linking to :

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/
http://stringtownhome.net/
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/
http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/
http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/
http://www.stonegableblog.com/
http://www.theidearoom.net/
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/
http://www.alderberryhill.com/
http://sweethaute.blogspot.com/
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/ 
http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
http://alittleclaireification.com/
http://www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com/
http://www.onemoretimeevents.com/

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Valentine Chalkboard with Crocheted Rose Wreath

 Good Morning !
First things first ...The winner of the Dollar Tree $100.00 gift card is Sandi from The Primitive Skate ! Congratulations Sandi !

 I got this frame at the GoodWill store, and I wanted to use it for a chalkboard.
 I painted the frame off white , I didn't paint it heavily , I wanted a lot of the dark areas to show through, kind of a white washed look ... I painted the canvas with chalkboard paint..It took 2 coats. Looks better already:)
 I cut a heart shape out of light weight poster board.( I folded it in half and cut the heart shape )  Then cut about 3/4 inch inside that ...I made 14 more of the Attic 24 crochet roses ...and hot glued them to the cardboard shape. If you don't crochet you could use silk flowers , or even make a wreath from pom poms !

 I used red ticking stripe fabric folded in half and glued to the back of the cardboard to hang the heart from the top of the frame.
 I hot glued the top of the ribbon to the top of the frame. Wrote the word Love, added a heart and a little stitching line around the outside of the heart..


 I hung it on the stair landing ..gives us a little Valentines day decoration !

I would love for you to follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest ..all the links are in the sidebar !
 Have a great day !Thanks so much for stopping by ! I love your visits and nice comments !


Linking to :

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/
http://stringtownhome.net/
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/
http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/
http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/
http://www.stonegableblog.com/
http://www.theidearoom.net/
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/
http://www.alderberryhill.com/
http://sweethaute.blogspot.com/
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/ 
http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
http://alittleclaireification.com/
http://www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com/
http://www.onemoretimeevents.com/

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Grannying ,Stitching and Thrifting !

 Good Sunday morning ! I have been making a lot of granny squares ! They are so simple and fast to make .. The colors in this blanket seem so spring -summery !
 I have 4 rows completed and lots more to join with the white ..
 Hopefully I will have enough yarn to finish it :)
 I have also been stitching ( and ripping out some stitching) Love this Lizzie Kate  Dog lessons ! It is very quick to stitch if you don't make mistakes !
 For the Santa Sundays On Instagram ( #santasundayxs) I am working on this Country Cottage Needleworks , Silent Night .. I started it before Christmas but just didn't have any stitching time to finish it!
 Yesterday we went to an Estate sale , It was 75% off , so I got the pedestal, small corning ware dish , and platter all  for $4.50 !
 The platter still has a $28.00 price tag on it like its never been used.
 I stuck the pedestal under these plates on the dining room buffet,
 and for now the platter is under the snowman in the cloche.. love great bargains !


Then... I have been wanting an armoire for my youngest sons room , for more storage for his clothes ..They had $150.00 price tag on this so we got it for $37.50  !Its a Bernhart piece... I haven't decided whether we will paint it or leave it , it does need new knobs ..but where are you going to get a piece of furniture for $37.50 !

Don't forget to stop by and enter to win the Dollar Tree $100.00 gift card !
 I would love for you to follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest ..all the links are in the sidebar !
 I love your visits and nice comments !
Linking to :

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/
http://stringtownhome.net/
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/
http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/
http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/
http://www.stonegableblog.com/
http://www.theidearoom.net/
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/
http://www.alderberryhill.com/
http://sweethaute.blogspot.com/
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/ 
http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
http://alittleclaireification.com/
http://www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com/
http://www.onemoretimeevents.com/

Thursday, January 16, 2014

The Cutest Crocheted Rose Valentines Pillows

 Good Morning ! Are these not the cutest ? I l-o-v-e them ! I am not usually a Valentines day decorator , but my imagination wouldn't let me not make these ! I wanted to make pillows with this red ticking stripe at Christmas time but I just didn't get around to it..I do have some ideas for next year :) So I love these crocheted roses and whats more Valentines day than roses ?
 I bought the red ticking stripe fabric and the duck fabric ,pillow forms and yarn  at Joann Fabrics. The fabrics I used  are in the utility fabrics if you are going to make these. I used 1/2 yard for the red stripe and a yard for the duck which made 2 -18 inch pillows. I just made 18 inch squares and sewed a small 1/4 inch seam on 3 sides .. then hand sewed the bottom .. Super easy ! You could even glue it all if you don't sew :)
 Each 18 inch pillow took 14 roses ..These are the same roses I used last year for the sweater pillows .. I used a G size hook and worsted weight red heart yarn.
 I used hot glue to attach the roses , you could sew them also .. I just layed them out and glued away :)
 For the red stripe and one of the cream ones I glued them on after the pillow was stuffed and the bottom sewed up.. The other cream one I did without stuffing it first and I didn't like the shape of the heart as much ..I even tried to peel the flowers off , but they weren't coming off !
 I think the cream colored ones are coming to my bedroom after Valentines day ..


Thanks so much for stopping by ! There is still time to enter the giveaway for the $100.00 gift card from Dollar Tree .. Entries are open until January 19 ! I would love for you to follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest ..all the links are in the sidebar !
 I love your visits and nice comments !
Linking to :

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/
http://stringtownhome.net/
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/
http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/
http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/
http://www.stonegableblog.com/
http://www.theidearoom.net/
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/
http://www.alderberryhill.com/
http://sweethaute.blogspot.com/
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/ 
http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/
http://alittleclaireification.com/
http://www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com/
http://www.onemoretimeevents.com/