Marley...and Pinterest

I think Marley appreciates all of the time I spend on Pinterest:) Among tons of other ideas I've come across and "just know" I'll have time to try some day, I found a yummy (Marley thinks so anyway) Pumpkin Doggie Treat to bake for her. The above image is the one I pinned from Pinterest, the rest of the pics are mine.

You might think it's a little silly to take time out to bake treats for a dog when you could be baking "real people" food---like awesome tasting cinnamon rolls or chocolate chip cookies. But, if you have ever bought treats for your dog, and that particular dog REALLY likes treats, they can become pretty expensive. Since I was making Pumpkin Bread for "real people" anyway, I thought it would be the perfect time to try out the doggie treat recipe.

I found the recipe on this blog. It was very simple to make. After I filled up the jar with baked treats, I put the extras in the freezer. I'm glad I did because after about a week and a half the few left in the jar began to mold. So, next time I bake them I'll keep a weeks worth in the jar and freeze the rest.

Can you tell she appreciates me?

She definately liked them...

Yummy, yummy!

A very Merry time...

As always, I had a great time during the holidays celebrating with family. Several days were spent in Carrollton visiting the girls and grandsons. This is the first year I didn't take tons of pictures, the boys were so involved in their games and toys, I wanted to play along, too! Jamie was the gracious hostess, as always, and we had a great time relaxing, eating, playing, and visiting. Here are a few pics from Christmas day. You'll notice the "big" kids' pics missing---they were there all right, they just weren't too keen on having their pictures taken!

G and Dada figuring out the new game...

Mama and M playing his game...

G "ooo-hhhing" and "aaahhh-ing" over something:)

G admiring some new clothes...

M with a new train set...

So much fun...

M playing "drums" with mom's new salad set...

Reading a new book...

And, still having a fun time figuring out how to play his newest games...

These 2 boys are growing up way too fast! Can't wait until our next visit. I look forward to seeing what the new year brings to our family!

Happy New Year & a Project

I found this inspiration on Pinterest yesterday and couldn't wait to try it. I already had the perfect frame to use that would look great in my sewing room. I found another frame to move the existing picture to before I started the project.

All you need is a small piece of fabric and some pillow stuffing, I had both of those on hand so the project cost me ZERO $$$! The directions were super simple, you can find them here. The only step I added was using a glue gun in a few places on the back of the fabric to help hold it in place as I put the back of the frame back on.

This was a very quick and fun project--a great way to start off the new year, creating...Happy New Year to all of my family and friends, I sincerely hope that 2012 will be the year all of your wishes and dreams come true:)

...still celebrating

Here are a few more pics of the birthday "weekend" for sweet little M....he adores Spider-Man, so of course we didn't want to disappoint this cute little fellow...This next picture really cracks me up, it shows his reaction to mommy and daddy's big present for him as they came around the corner with it...he was beyond excitement!

...Happy Boy! He couldn't wait to get his hands on it. It's the cutest Fire House Station you've ever seen, complete with a workout room and potty:)

It's as close to a doll house as Jamie is going to get...but, seriously it was the coolest thing, full of furniture, exercise equipment, emergency vehicles, ect. They will play with it for hours.

I think the entire family will have fun...

Daddy even helped arrange some of the furniture:)

His favorite piece out of the entire set up was this cute little dalmation puppy! He started carrying it everywhere with him. He opened so many gifts I'm not sure where we're going to put all of the Christmas presents! I'll finish up in a couple of days with more pics from the gymnatics party!

Birthday Boy!

Isn't this the cutest birthday boy ever? We had so much fun helping him celebrate this weekend! I won't take you through all 142 pics that I took, but trust me, they're all good ones.

He's "showing" me his 3...

Now, he's counting for me. He is growing up so quickly, and he is so sweet and polite.

Just look at those hams....

We played and played and played...why do they have endless energy and Nienie always has to stop and have a "rest" time? The birthday party was where he takes his gymnastic lessons. It was wonderful, the gym coaches did all the work and kept the kids busy the entire time. Everyone had fun, and there was no mess to clean up afterwards!

Happy Birthday, little man!!!

...a scarf and a birthday

Another fun Pinterest project...A scarf made out of an old t-shirt...I may have to quit my day job to find more hours to play....

And....one of my favorite little guys is getting ready to turn 3 years old. We had to make birthday hats while they were here for Thanksgiving, I guess we were practicing for the big day.

Happy Birthday to sweet Morgan!

...a sugary post

Pinterest is dangerous....

Here is the proof....

Finding a recipe for THESE cookies.... (aka, Wal Mart cookies:)

I really wanted to try out the recipe because I just couldn't believe there would be instructions on how to make the "real deal" at home. I can honestly say, they are certainly not exactly like Wal Mart's bakery cookies---but, they are good enough for me to keep eating just "one" more!!! The thing that will save me from baking them too often is the time involved. I mixed them up on day one, they had to be in the fridge overnight, they were baked on day two, and iced on day three. I'm going to try freezing some to see if they are still tasty since the recipe made over 6 dozen! If you are interested in trying them out, here is the link http://authenticsuburbangourmet.blogspot.com/2011/09/lofthouse-style-frosted-sugar-cookies.html