Barbie Food, Pop Corn Cones, and Cupcake Topper Printable

I hope you all had a very Happy Easter!  We had a wonderful time; baskets, eggs, sugar.  Other than the fact that it snowed and Cindy almost wore her snow suit during the egg hunt it was great.

 As you know I was working on a Barbie party and it was this weekend.  It came out really nice and the birthday girl was happy.  That's all that matter to me.  Lot's of party stuff to share but lets start with the food.  All the yummy sugary treats.

 We set out a basket of individual bagged chips for the kids and had this amazing salsa and chips for the parents [I'll have to ask my friend for the recipe].  And also for parents and healthy kids, veggie cups and we had a big fruit bowl.  For those of us who eat junk food, I used candy melts and drizzled on pretzel sticks.  I also used the candy melts to outline the rim of the heart shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  And I can't forget the marshmallow pops.

My favorite treat on the table were these ADORABLE pop corn cones.  Yup I love them and yup I love popcorn.  Here's the quick how to.  I created a stencil on card stock.  Roll until you have a cone and I used a hot glue gun to glue it down.  Print the cupcake toppers HERE and punch out circles.  Glue the circles to the front of the cone.  Make a few more, and then fill them with pop corn.

To make the display I used these  Styrofoam circles my cousin sent me.  Cover the top with scrap book paper, the trim with ribbon.  Then I cut an X using an Xacto knife where I want the cones to stand.  Poked it with a pencil and...

 WALA a stand.  Be sure to tape these down to the table so they don't tip over easily.

If you have wood crates you can display them like this also. 

And it isn't a party without cupcakes.  So yes I took apart the decorations from the Very Hungry Caterpillar Party and re did it for the Barbie Party.  You can find the cupcake topper printable HERE.  Her mom is a cook so she made the cupcakes, we piped them with pink frosting, and added some small pearl sprinkles.  They came out cute and yummy!

So until next time!  Happy Easter everyone.

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Currently...

 As of recently Patty and I have been exploring some collaborative posts, and I ran across a blog and thought that answering these would be interesting. I knew how I would answer these questions and wondered how Patty would answer them. Here they are... Hope you enjoy it! Feel free to answer some of these questions yourself in the comments section below.

Making
Patty: Paper pom poms, T-shirt, and centerpieces.  Barbie party this weekend!  
Dannielle:  A burlap covered cork board.

Cooking
Patty:  Bow Tie pasta, it's my little loves favorite
Dannielle: A fried egg (sunny-side up)

Sewing
Patty: Just about to start my next quilt. 
Dannielle:Taggie Blanket for one of my best friend's daughter (tutorial coming...)

Waiting
Patty: To get orders for our next move.  We are heading to.....
Dannielle: To hear back from jobs I applied to.

Needing
Patty:  Here's part of my list of things from Ikea.  Can't wait to make the trip next week.  I'm addicted to that place. 

Dannielle: Some pantry storage containers... Why are they soo expensive! 

Reading
Patty:  Purpose Driven Life
Dannielle: Sweethearts for a Lifetime (hubby and I have been reading this together).

Feeling
Patty: Busy busy busy
Dannielle: Overwhelmed

Wanting
Patty:  To go on a family vacation to Spain.  I need some sun in my life. 
Dannielle: A teaching job! (Not sure if you know this but Patty and I went to college together and we were both an Education Major).

Enjoying
Patty:  Playing with Play Doh with my love.  It's very therapeutic until all the little animals I make have to be put back and a wild raging fit occurs as a result. 

Dannielle: Adapting a new healthy lifestyle!

Learning
Patty:  How to keep Jesus my number one priority.  
Dannielle: To be diligent.

So this is currently what we are feeling, thinking, and doing. What are you feeling, thinking, or doing?

Norden Gateleg with Wheels Sewing Table

I am oozing with excitement to share my new sewing table with all of you.  I first off have to say, I come from humble beginnings.  A few weeks ago, my sewing corner looked nothing like this, not to mention this is years in the making.  It is a work in progress, but I am pretty happy with my little sanctuary for now.  Meet the newest addition, my Norden Gateleg sewing and crafting table from Ikea!  Hooray!

In the future I hope to have my own sewing room with lots of pretty things, but lets get real.  ONE, stuff cost money.  TWO, thanks to the military we move every 2 to 4 years so I can't even guarantee that I will have my own room in our next house.  Right now, this is our craft room/office/guest room so this table is perfect!  Why?  Because both sides fold down and it turns into this nice compact little thing.    

I love that I can just occupy one wall with all my stuff.  When I want to get a little crafting done, I just put one side of the table up.  

And when I mean business, both sides come up and ironing board makes it's appearance.  The table is actually a dining table from Ikea so it's huge.  It's pretty much working on your kitchen dining table.  There is enough room to sew on one side, then go to the other side and cut.  Not to mention it is white so the perfect backdrop for tutorial pictures.  I love my new work space, can you tell? 

I have to say that the table is really good quality.  It's so heavy it took both my husband and I to bring the box into the house.  It's also really easy to put together.  I did it myself in 45 minutes.  When my hubby saw it he had the genius idea to add wheels.  I went out the next day and bought some.  GENIUS.  I can turn the entire table around in 5 seconds.  Even though it is so heavy it moves where I need it to go no problem.  I found casters that were the perfect size for the main legs but because the leg that pulls out is much thinner it was too big. I only got to screw half of it on as you can see in the third picture.  It hasn't been a problem though.  I also love the wheels because it makes for opening the table much easier.  It does make the table a little taller, perfect cutting height but sort of weird sewing height.  You get use to it. 

One of my favorite things about this table are the 6 deep drawers.  I keep all my sewing stuff on one side and all my paper tools on the other side.  If you looking for a sewing or craft table, the Norden Gataleg is the one!  I spent $180 on mine plus $12 for the wheels but it has been worth every penny.  And did I mention it would be great for parties to use as a main table or for drinks?!  Yup it's a dream come true table for me. 

And if you are wondering where the rest of my stuff is, it's behind the door.  I used a shoe organizer for the rest of my junk.  It looks crazy but surprisingly I know where everything is.  The bar with the small hanging cups is from Ikea.  One day I will trade in the plastic ones for the ceramic ones but the bar and the cups were about $6 altogether.  I LOVE IT!  Jars are from Ikea, under $5 each.   One hold zippers and the other keeps extra bias tape.  I bought the spool holder [which I have been meaning to paint since forever]   attached hooks like in this frame and hung it to the wall.  Lots of super space saver ways to store your stuff. 

And where is all my fabric?  It's on the book shelf that I bought from where else but Ikea for $21.  Great price and again so easy to put together I was able to do it.   Each box hold a different type of material and the bottom one has paper.  I know, it doesn't match, I'm working on that.  I actually want to get nice bins but they would cost more than the actual book shelf!  Yikes.  So until then, my temporary solution are diaper boxes.  Yup, it's a facade.  Only the front is covered in paper.  

I hope you enjoyed the tour into my craft corner.  Definitely still a work in progress but I still love it!  Have a happy busy crafting Tuesday. 

Free Barbie Silhouette Printable

So last week a friend of mine asked if I could help her think of a craft for her daughter's birthday party. Silly me who loves parties managed to weasel myself into helping her plan it.  It's this weekend and I can't wait.  You know how much I love crafting for parties!   To get things going we needed some inspiration so I created a Barbie party board HERE.  All photos below can be found on the Pinterest board with the links. 

So, if you are planning a Barbie party too here is a free printable.  is the one with the pink circle behind her head and  is just the plain one.  Will share soon whI used these for though I am sure you can already guess that they were turned into cupcake toppers.  And is the link to jus

Crispy Granola Pecan Cookies

 I do not know about your hubby but mine LOVES cookies! So the other day I decided to quickly    whip some up. However, I was limited in ingredients believe it or not. For example, I ran out of baking soda, baking powder, and only had 1/2 a cup of flour. But Bisquick came to the rescue (since it has baking powder & baking soda in it already)! Also the initial recipe I was following called for Rice Krispy cereal and I did not have that, but I did have Nature's Path granola from Costco (which had pumpkin seeds, toasted oats, pumpkin seeds, and other seed).

      First preheat oven at 350 degrees. 

Cream the softened butter (1/2 cup). Then add eggs (2) and vanilla (1 tsp).

   

     In a separate bowl mix Bisquick (1/2 cup), flour (1/2 cup), 

oats (3/4 cup), granola (1 cup), and pecans   (1/2 cup) together.

     Then add in brown sugar (1/2 cup) and sugar (1/2 cup) to flour mixture.

Finally, mix flour mixture into butter mixture. 

Then scoop onto a cookie sheet (preferably lined with parchment paper) and bake until golden brown.

 Tip: Immediately after taking it out of the oven, quickly transfer cookies onto a baking rack. 

This will make the cookies nice and crispy!

These cookies are super easy (and flexible), hope you enjoy them!

xoxo,

Our 20 Favorite Products

Dannielle had this idea for us to do some collaborative posts and I thought it was such a fun and great idea.  So, for our first one we will share our 20 favorite products.... and any products.  Items we love, always have on hand, and can't live without.  It was hard to narrow it down but we did!  

I'm in red and Dannielle is in yellow.

Let's start with cleaning products....
1. This is by far my favorite cleaning product. I use it for everything; windows, counters, floors, mirrors, pots & pans (the grime that's impossible to take out) walls, you name it! I am really sensitive (my lungs and skin) to cleaning products, however Shaklee's concentrated cleaner is my best friend. It is nontoxic (safe for babies and adults too). What I do is I put a cap or two of the concentrate in a spray bottle and dilute it with water and PRESTO! Another great thing about this product is that it really goes a long ways!

2. Have you ever tried Crock Pot Liners?!  I won't use my crock pot without it.  Makes clean up a breeze and there's usually always a coupon for this. 

3.  You won't find me cleaning without the magic eraser in my pocket or bucket.  It's amazing.  I use it on EVERYTHING.  Not to mention it's great for sticky oil on the stove top.

And our favorite beauty products....
4. I really do not wear much make-up daily for several reasons 1. my eczema and 2. because I really do not make time for it. So on a daily basis I at least try to slap on some mascara and BLUSH! I love this blush balm because I just slap it on. No need for a brush, just a finger! 

5. My second most absolute item I cannot live without. Along with the eczema, I am allergic to a chemical that is most often found in lipsticks, lip gloss, and lip balms. However, this is the one lip product that my lips love. 

6. There are absolutely 2 things I cannot live without. Meaning, if I was marooned on an island this is one of the two things I absolutely CANNOT live without. I have eczema and I have tried every single product out there and this has been my best friend. This buddy of mine is so mild and just absolutely wonderful! I usually get mine from Costco because it is in a bigger tub and it lasts me like 2 years.

7.  I'm not much of a makeup person either but one product I love is this BB cream.  It's a combo between a moisturizer and light foundation.  It is amazing at evening my blotchy skin and it is so light.  I love it! 

Heading on over to the pantry....
8. This here is a new favorite for me. I truthfully am not a big fan of milk, and at times I can be lactose intolerant (sorry TMI). But for some reason Almond milk is just oh so yummy! I love it with cereal, cookies, oatmeal, lattes, and whatever else.

9.  You won't find my pantry void of these two products.  I don't have a coffee maker since I'm the only one who drinks coffee and it's not everyday so these Folder's Coffee Singles are perfect.

10. And I don't make much boxed food [my hub refuses to eat boxed Mac and Cheese.... it's sad] but this Simply Pasta is so yummy and even more so after you add some veggies to it.  Both hubby and toddler approved.

As you know I am an organizing freak....

11.  I can't live without these shelf helpers.  Perfect for my small kitchen.  I have them in every cabinet no joke and use to organize all sorts of things. 

12.  Plastic bins.  Who doesn't love these?  They aren't pretty but I love them.  Stores clothes, fabric scraps, holiday stuff, etc.  I use them in my bathroom, bedroom, and pantry to organize.  This is my favorite bin, it holds our snacks. 

Dannielle is a bag and jar lover..... 

13. Don't you hate it when your fruits or veggies go bad so fast? These produce bags do wonders! I usually either buy my produce at Costco or produce boxes from local farms, so if you can imagine I get an abundance at a time so I try hard to make them last. These bags really work and are affordable since you can find them at the 99 Cent Store.

14. Now tell me, who doesn't love Ziplock Bags? I do! Especially freezer bags! These bad boys not only help me store my meats and veggies in the freezer with minimal frost, they also work as piping bags, excellent compact storage for camping, etc.

15. Oh my JARS! Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a jar hoarder. I love jars because they are so useful for organization. I use it to organize buttons, cupcake liners, toothpicks, spices, vases, office supplies, etc. I usually use mason jars (my favorite) or use the glass jars that sauces and such are in.

Every crafter has his or her tools.....

16.  You know I love to sew but every once in awhile I dabble in the paper crafts too.  Banners, cupcake toppers, and mainly just party stuff.  Can't live without my Slice, and I love that it was only $20.  My favorite paper cutting brand, EK.  Hands down they are the best punchers and circle cutter. 

17.  I got a laminating machine for Christmas.  I know it's random, who asks for that for Christmas.  BUT it has already paid for itself [$30 on Amazon]!  I love it.  I use it to make white erase boards and lists to keep me organized, I made Cindy a white erase board book [coming soon], reusable calendar,  laminate Cindy's art work.  Possibilities are endless. 

18. I cannot even imagine baking without this! I use this mini scooper for cookies, whoopie pies, cake pops, scooping batter into mini bundts pans and cupcake liners. I love it because when you use this tool your cookies turn out pretty uniform. My favorite brand is Nordic Ware (can be found at Target) 1. because it is metal (sturdy) 2. the metal band that scoops the batter out is very pristine. I initially bought the plastic Wilton brand, but it isn't my favorite.

19.  Freezer Paper.  I use it ALL THE TIME.  I use it for patterns, as an alternative for a rotary cutter, to cut felt, as a stencil for screen printing, as painting paper... pretty much everything it isn't made for.  Let's just say it's amazing.  

Big congrats if you read through this extra long post and made it this far!  We leave you with this final product....

20.  What girl does not want to smell good? I tend to lean towards more floral scents. However, I am very selective in picking scents because I do not like them too strong. I usually like them light and fresh, but yet still floral. This perfume is the happy medium for my criteria.

Flea Market Fancy Strip Quilt

I am ashamed to even say how long this quilt took to get finished.  The actual making it part only took a few hours, but you know how things get started and put on the "finish later" pile.  When I first started it I wasn't sure if I was going to keep it or give it, but halfway through I knew it was a quilt for my mom.  She is going to get it for Mother's Day.  It will be the perfect little throw blanket for her and it did come out a lot prettier than I expected.

Before I started making this, I read tips from THIS fantastic mini tutorial on strip quilts.  It was really helpful.  Then, one night I just went for it!  Did the cutting, sewing, and ironing.  I folded it up way back in September and it didn't resurface until a few weeks ago.  Just a side note, this is a great quilt for beginners like myself and maybe you.  This is my second one, but I'm hooked on quilting.

I used the crib size quilt batting so it isn't too big and not too small.  I didn't do anything fancy to the top either, just straight lines a fourth of an inch from where two pieces meet.  If you need tips on how to baste and sew the binding on check out THIS blog.  She bastes using safety pins [which is totally new to me!]  Definitely going to try that on my next quilt.  I do have to say, I prefer to bind the quilt properly.  I think it looks much neater.  If you are going to spend that much time making it, you might as well finish strong.  And if you are wondering, the fabric collection for this quilt is called Flea Market Fancy and I ordered it on fabric.com and it's still in stock.

 It seems as though after I finish a quilt I am ready to start the next one!  If you follow me on facebook  you know that I already ordered the fabric and I will be sharing the design soon.

Crochet Beanie Tutorial Links

Busy busy busy is the life of a stay at home mom.  Well, at least this one.  I always seem to put so much on my to do list, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  This is a late post considering I made these a few months ago but it's still snowing here in Germany so I figure it's worth sharing.  They are my first ever attempt at a real beanie so if you are a pro at crocheting don't judge too harshly.  

Special thanks to my friend Adria with her gorgeous hair from The Crunchy Lion for modeling.

This first one is just a plain ol' beanie.  I do love the color and the feel of the wool yarn.  I was so surprised at how easy the tutorial was for this!  Really easy to follow to especially for a beginner like myself.  The video link is HERE.  I still fell like it needs something, like a bow.  What do you think?  It sure did come in handy though in our trip to Berlin where it was below freezing.  

[Yup, that's me being a goof and posing with my Aunt].

This second one is my first ever slouchy.  Again, the tutorial was pretty easy to follow though  I did make a few tinkers to it like making the band thinner and the slouch not as slouchy.  Now this bad boy sure keeps my head warm!  The link can be found HERE.

If you are a beginner at crocheting, these two tutorials are really great.

Toddler Easter Basket

I can't believe it has already been a year since last Easter!  Well, this year I got things done early and am super excited to give my loves their baskets.  I really enjoy picking out the things to go inside and making them even though it can be a pain to arrange.  Last year, I shared THIS pin that links to 101 Ideas for Easter baskets.  She has some really great ideas.  My sister actually bought one of the things on the list, the Mr. Potato Head.  I know she is just going to love it! 

I am very thankful because some family helped contribute to the basket so I didn't have to get everything.  Auntie Marlaine gave me these fun treat bags.  I filled them with marshmallows and gold fish [two of her faves] and a great alternative to chocolate.

Cousin Krista sent some adult knee high socks so I turned them into toddler leg warmers.  The tutorial for that is HERE.

She also sent her some other socks that were suppose to be the mate to this bunny, tutorial link for that HERE in case you missed it.  I had so much trouble with this little guy that I might have to turn it into something else.  Any ideas for sock crafts? 

I splurged a little and got the train but most of the stuff is from the dollar section at the store.  A puzzle, some hair clips, and some stamps.  The stamps and hair clips are also great alternatives to chocolate when you fill the Easter eggs though not as tasty.

I added a chocolate bunny and a few sweet treats to finish it off.  It does cost a little bit more to make your own depending on what you buy, but it's totally worth it.  This year I also made the hubby a basket.  I don't care how old you are, Nerf guns are just so much fun!

And if you are looking for more ideas, here are the baskets from the past two Easters.  Check out the Holiday tab for more Easter ideas!