a wardrobe staple

our wardrobe has grown a bit since we made this slip. now even the shorter dresses that are everywhere are options. we took a short slip and added two layers of lace.

Peanut Butter Bars

This is definitely one of our all-time favorite desserts. Every time we bring it to a party, several people ask for the recipe. It’s a perfect combination of two of our favorite dessert ingredients: chocolate and peanut butter. We’ll forever be thankful to Danielle for sharing this recipe! Give it a try…you will not be disappointed!

Peanut Butter Bars

1 cup butter

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 t. vanilla

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

2 cups flour

2 cups oats

12-16 oz. chocolate chips

Frosting:

½ cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla
4 T. cold water

Cream together the butter, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla. Then sift the soda, salt and flour into the creamed mixture. Stir in the oats.Spread evenly in a greased jellyroll pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 350.

Remove from oven and put chocolate chips on top. Spread when melted.

Mix all the frosting ingredients together. Let cool, then frost.

*Let the pan cool a bit, and then put in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes to help harden the chocolate to make spreading the frosting easier.

**Cut into bars before freezing

***These freeze extremely well, and actually taste the best when they are cold.

Recipe from Danielle Lauridsen

French Dip Sandwiches

This is a new recipe we recently discovered from one of our favorite cookbooks. It’s delicious, and easy! Yes, EASY! It’s even great for serving large crowds. It would also be a great meal to make if you’re bringing dinner to another family. It makes enough to feed two families! Enjoy!

French Dip Sandwiches

3-lb. boneless chuck roast
½ yellow onion, sliced
1 packet au jus mix
1 t. garlic powder
onion powder, to taste
1 t. salt
½ t. pepper
deli rolls
mozzarella, shredded
butter

Place roast and sliced onions in slow cooker. Prepare au jus gravy according to package directions and pour over roast and onions. Sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cover. Cook on low all day (8 hours). Shred meat and return to slow cooker. Heat oven broiler. Place rolls facing up on cookie sheet, butter bottom side and sprinkle top size with shredded mozzarella. Broil until golden brown – approximately 2-3 minutes, or less. Put the shredded meat on your toasted rolls, cut in half, and serve with a small cup of the juices from your slow cooker.

Recipe by Katherine Fields in senSAAtional favorites - just what the DOctor ordered

a WILD party

our little guy turned one. the perfect opportunity to go all out and finish the projects that I have been planning the guests were given safari passport invites. i printed safari stamps found on google images and then cut them out into file folder shapes. all of the edges were rubbed with brown ink to give it a rustic look

for some reason I love hanging things from the ceiling. it's kind of like a blank canvas. I made the vines by twisting brown kraft paper (like brown paper grocery bags) and the leaves were cut from green construction paper.

our monkey's birth stats.
pictures of him throughout his first year clipped onto clear thread hanging on eyelet screwsthe jungle grubthe kids decorated binoculars (two t.p. tubes glued together and tied with yarn). and then went on a safari to find little animals around the yard




the birthday boy in his new digs (onesie dyed in Rit dye, monkey appliqued from fabric and iron-on adhesive, and name and number painted with Tulip fabric paint and freezer paper stencil)it was definitely the best party so-fari!!!

We love banners

summer is coming to a close, this banner is about to come down. a new one will be up soon to take it's place

Get the show on the road

my kids love puppet shows. they are a great way for kids to use their imaginations. I made them a little curtain that they can set up in doorways or hallways. I bought a small tension rod and sewed a curtain that would hang about halfway up a doorway. cut some scrap fabric into triangles and sewed them onto a ribbon for a little banner. let the show begin

I love their little feet peeking out

Flower Power

This is where it all began. We would see a hair accessory, love it but knew we could make it ourselves. Now we are obsessed.

Trust us, there are more where those came from. We are going to have to start giving them away...check back soon!

Head in the clouds

Is it possible to have a perfectly balanced life? Time for everything - from creating to cleaning, from crafting to cooking. We've set out on a journey to discover a practically perfect lifestyle. Is that too much to ask for? We don't think so. We have a need to create. Creating makes us feel accomplished (we can't keep our eyes off our finished products), keeps things fresh (always something new & exciting to try), and complete (it's who we are & what we love). Each stitch and brush stroke represents our love, a gift. When we are able to fit a little bit of creating into our days, our needs are met and we are happy. We are then able to meet the needs of our families and keep them happy. We don't have it all figured out but we know we've got to keep it easy. So embrace your life and inspire others. That's all we want to do.