PB Teen Knock Off

I will have to say that we had a fabulous break and it was great to spend a few days at home. With our weather being unseasonable for this time of year {near 70*} it was just gorgeous out!

So, I had some time to complete Hannah’s mirror that I showed you last week.

I did some light sanding and applied about three coats of almond spray paint. Then brushed on and wiped off a stain to get that “vintage look”.

Though it’s hard to tell from my pictures, her HOT PINK walls never photograph well. It turned out great and she loves it!

Skip on over to Between Naps on The Porch for other great ideas!

Enjoy the Journey

For me it’s hard to believe that tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I can close my eyes and feel the warmth of the sun and the smell of the salt air as if it were yesterday. And I am STILL sporting this awesome tan line!

So many times I look around a wine about what a mess my house can be.

Here’s proof… Nope it’s not an early snow...

Just the top of my refrigerator.

How the kiddos have dragged every last item they own out. Everyone is chanting what’s for dinner? As I realize that I forgot to lay the meat out that morning to defrost. How I almost do everything online yet somehow I can still open my mailbox to find another bill. And at the end of the day, as I help clean up, little man comes close and says mommy you're gorgeous and kisses my check and my heart melts. I pause and realize that I must enjoy this journey HE so graciously has blessed me with. And as I glance down at little guy he has become a super hero and flies off around the living room.


This Thanksgiving I hope you take time to step back and view your journey and then hop right back on. If you are like me I can’t wait to see where I am going next.

 May God poor out His blessings  to each and every one of you this Thanksgiving.

Pooh No More!

Pooh no more!

When I purchased these at my local Goodwill the gal checking me just loved them. She had a thing for the classic Winnie the Pooh. I had noticed the bears but it never dawned on me that they were Pooh. I didn’t have the heart to tell her I had other plans for pooh.

After taking the frame apart and giving it a new coat of spray paint I decided on using some old fabric scraps as a backing. I super fine glittered a cross, and adhered it to the fabric.

Perfect for Hannah’s teacher Ms.H this Christmas

Oh, and take a look at what Hannah and I got this past week.

It's a work in progress in the garage for now. When it’s all done we hope it will look a bit like this $250 one from Pottery Barn Teen that she has been eyeing!

The Perfect Little Gift

Disclaimer…Family and friends stop…look away now… for maybe one of you might be gifted what I am about to show. So, if you choose to continue on please act surprised when you open you lovely little box!

Well I had a few hours last night after the kiddos went to bed to work on my pile of gifts that I need to make.

I have seen some really cute fabric necklaces at Anthropologie and online. So, I grabed some old t-shirts and a string of leftover Marty Gra beads and got to work.

Here is my first finished project. I am planning on making a few more in some deep eggplant colors. Just the perfect gift for my girlfriends and a few lucky family members.

I really like how the little buds turned out. I created these using strips of fabric from the leftover shirts.

                             

And for the black casing I used some of Hannah's old stretch black tights. What I really like, and did not expect, was the slight bit of purple you can see from the beads every now and then when the light hits just right.

                           

Head on over to Finding Fabulous - The Shabby Nest and Todays Creative Blog for some more great ideas!

We have a winner{s}

The winner was to be the total number of comments divided into two. However, I did not end up with an even number so we have two winners for the luxe Christmas tags!

Missty over at 365 Mom

and

Sofia over at Expressive Creations

Congratulations and thanks for stopping by!

Make This...Thank Me Later, Promise!

I'm about to let you in on a little secret…

Come a little closer…
Can you smell it?

That’s right, hands down the best {and easiest} pumpkin roll ever! And I’m about to tell you how to make it.

First you gather just a few ingredients

Two large eggs, 2/3 cup pumpkin, 1 Cup Sugar, 1tsp soda,3/4 tsp. cinnamon and ¾ Cup flour.

There is no need to get the stand mixer out. I have always just used my hand held and it has worked fine. Beat the eggs and sugar together until well blended.

Mix in the pumpkin

And last the flour mixture.

Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper.

Pour batter and spread evenly until about ½ in thickness. The batter will not cover the entire jelly roll pan. I usually have about 2-3 inches on all sides.

Bake in 350* oven for 15 minutes {just enough time to lick the bowl clean to make the filling}. Let set on wire rack for 15 to cool.

Sprinkle a dish towel with powder sugar {I love these thin ones from my local farmers Co- Op}.

Invert bread onto sugared surface and peel off parchment paper.

Sprinkle heavy with powdered sugar and roll up in towel tightly. Let set while you prepare the filling {my personal favorite!}

Beat 2 TBP soft butter, 8 oz cream cheese softened, 1 Cup powder sugar and a tsp. of vanilla.

It will look something like this.

Unroll your pumpkin bread and spread a smooth layer of filling on. Leaving room along the sides and the end for the filling to grow as you roll into a log.

I trim off my ends for aesthetic purposes, and to make sure that it tastes ok {smile}.
And there you have it. What I believe is the best pumpkin roll ever, thanks to my mom! It even has it's own special little plate that I use just for my pumpkin roll.

Pumpkin Roll

2 Large Eggs
2/3 cup pumpkin (can)
1 Cup sugar
1 tsp soda
¾ tsp. cinnamon
¾ cup flour


Mix Flour, soda and cinnamon in bowl and set aside. Beat eggs add sugar, pumpkin and then flour mixture. Line a jelly roll pan with wax paper pour batter and spread out. (will not cover entire jelly roll pan). Bake @ 350 for 15 minutes let cool in pan for 15 minutes.


Sprinkle dish towel with powder sugar and flip cake onto towel. Roll up in towel and let set for 15 min.


Filling:
2 TBP soft butter
8 oz cream cheese softened
1 Cup powder sugar
1 tsp. vanilla


Beat together until creamy. Unroll towel and spread filling on cake them roll cake back up. Sprinkle with powder sugar. Best if chilled overnight.

Vist Grace's Kitchen Friends and The Inspired Room for more ideas!

Ah...Duh...

Ah…duh… I know this just seems too simple but it has really worked for us.

I tried my best to keep everyone taking their daily vitamins but constancy was lacking for us!

Flu season was fast approaching and I wanted to hit it at every angle. So, I purchased a weekly pill box for each family member and fill it up every Sunday night.

The kicker here is that we all help each other remember to take them for that day. The kids love to see who has and hasn’t, and are quick to remind those who have not.

Works for me!

Foodzie, Yum!

It’s that time of year that we all love. Finding that perfect gift for the teacher, crossing guard, teacher assistants, friends and Sunday school leaders.


I found a fabulous new site that I just love, Foodzie. It has the most wonderful things like...

Peanut Butter Fudge Sauce

Pistachio Toffee Butter Crunch

White Chocolate Covered Toffee

Foodzie also helps get my creative juices flowing with lots of ideas.


I can gaze at it for hours…


Just try not to do it around lunchtime {smile}!

It's Here...My Etsy Shop!

Today I opened my first etsy shop hannahkatedesign!


It’s all a bit new to me and hope, with time, will become better and better.

So, to honor this grand opening I am having my first ever GIVEAWAY!

 Up for grabs is a set of Shabby Chic Luxe gift tags just for you!

All you have to do is leave a comment on your favorite item in my shop. If you wish to be entered twice click and become a follower. Please be sure to leave an email address so that I may contact you!
Winner will be announced Wednesday.

There is so much more to come. My creative mind works much faster than my time allows!

Between naps on the Porch and It's So Very Cheri

A little suprise and weight managment!

I am hard a work on a special little surprise!

I hope to tell you all about it on Monday!

Meanwhile, if you are having a bit of trouble getting motivated to drop a few pounds for the holidays I have a great tip!


Head to your closet and pick out a fall shirt, with button capped sleeves. Slip it on and realize that you don’t have it twisted or turned inside out. It’s TOO SMALL!


Proceed to toss it to the floor grabbing a pair of dress slacks. Slip those on realizing that walking is fine but if you attempt to sit down most likely every stitch from your waist to your knee caps is going to pop! Proceed to wear for the next 12 hours. Bet you think twice before popping another tiny little snickers left over from the kiddos Halloween bucket! I hate it when it creeps up on me then hits me one morning on my backside. Now we have moved to the arms!

Too Cute Snow Man Gift

I just came across the cutest gift idea the other day over at Make It Do.

{picture from Make It Do}

Though we hardly get enough snow here to build a snowman like this, on rare occasions it happens and we need to be ready.

{picture from Make It Do}

I think the kiddos and I will be making a few of these to pass out to cousins this Thanksgiving. Make sure to stop by Make It Do for her step by step how too!


Just the thought of that first snowfall brings visions of hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows. Can’t wait!