Cupcakes Featured on City of Creative Dreams

What a great way to start my Christmas day off to see I was featured on City of Creative Dreams blog hop City of Links #51. These Minnie and Mickey Mouse Cupcake Toppers were the easiest ones I've made so far, I actually thought it wasn't one of my best creations. These cupcakes were made for a Charity Birthday Dreams help out that brings birthday's to homeless kids.



 

Hope you have a GREAT Weekend!!

We end the year with Melting Snowmen Cookies

2014 is coming to an end and we'll be welcoming in 2015 here tonight. Usually I do a year in a review but that will have to wait until tomorrow and we can start the new year with the most popular post.  My bestie asked that I make her some of my frosting and sugar cookies. Her mom loves them and she wanted to make Melting Snowmen Cookies for her Christmas gift. I had to work the week of Christmas and a few hours on Christmas Eve so time was tight but I wanted to get these done for her.

What you Need:

Frosting (I used my go to Sturdy Buttercream Frosting)

Baked Sugar Cookies (I used my go to Best Sugar Cookie Recipe)

Large Marshmallow

Food Writer Pens

Mini Chocolate Chips

Black Food Gel

Mix up the your frosting, above is my favorite that I use for all the cupcakes and cakes I make.  It can stand up if you leave it out during the party.  

Bake up your sugar cookies, these are requested every time by my bestie.  They are very soft and oh so yummy!  Above is the recipe.

Then I moved on to the Snowmen heads.  I took large marshmallow's and decorating them. I used Wilton food writers to make the faces.  I didn't have a orange for the nose so I first outlined in yellow and then red over the top to make orange (BAM I did learn something in school). 

Now on to decorating the cookies.  One you frost the sugar cookie you can add the snowman head.  You can add mini chocolate chips for the front of the cookies.  You can add the black gel for the arms and if you want you can add a scarf. I did one but ran out of time so I didn't do anymore. 

Happy New Year's Eve!
Any plans?

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Cleaning up the end of Year ... Cleaning up Dishwasher

Next on my clean up for the year is to clean up my dishwasher.  I have been have my cleaner use some CLR to clean up the deposits but that doesn't do much for the smell.  So after I cleaned the washer I found that the ingredients used for that can be also used to clean the dishwasher.  I did a google search and found several version of this same recipe but here is the one I took the notes from Bob Vila's Website. 

What you Need:

- 1 cup plain white vinegar (or unsweetened lemonade mix)
- 1 cup baking soda

STEP 1
Detach the bottom rack so that you can access the dishwasher drain. Thoroughly examine this crucial area, removing any gunk or chunks you find, because they not only impede drainage but can also damage the appliance.

STEP 2
Fill a dishwasher-safe container with one cup of white vinegar, placing it on the upper rack of the otherwise empty machine. Close the door and run the dishwasher through a hot-water cycle. Once the vinegar has worked its magic, you should find that it has washed away grease and grime, and even removed any musty odors that may have been present. Note that you can use a package of unsweetened lemonade mix rather than vinegar to achieve the same result. Remember to stick with regular lemonade, though; flavored options can leave stains.

STEP 3
Now sprinkle a cupful of baking soda across the bottom of the appliance, then run it on a short hot-water cycle. When the cycle’s done, you should notice that your fresh-smelling dishwasher now boasts a brightened, stain-free interior.

OPTIONAL
Has your dishwasher suffered a vicious attack from nasty mold? If so, add a cup of bleach to the bottom of the basin, then run the machine on a full cycle—that is, unless the interior of your dishwasher contains stainless steel, in which case you should completely avoid the use of bleach (bleach and stainless steel are not friends).

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Cleaning up the end of year ... Clean Front Load Washer

Since it's closing out this year time I figure I better clean up things around the house.  I've been wanting to clean my front loader washer. It's a great machine but I've noticed it gets smelly and I have to wipe down the inside and make sure water is dry before closing it up.  I have found that inside the fold of the seal it can get mold .. yuck!!  So I went to research and found a easy and non chemical way to clean my front loader on PopSugar. 

What you Need:

• 2 cups vinegar
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup water
• Scrub sponge

1. Start by mixing together the baking soda and water in a small bowl. This is going to be the "detergent" for cleaning the washing machine. Pour the vinegar into a measuring cup and head over to your washing machine.
2. Add the baking soda mixture to the detergent container of your machine and pour the vinegar into the drum. Set your washer to normal load at the hottest water setting. Close the door and start the machine, letting it do all the hard work for you. The baking soda and vinegar naturally break up mineral deposits and any mold growth while cleaning and refreshing your washing machine.
3. Use a clean scrubber to rub around the opening of the washing machine, removing stubborn mold or residue. Wipe clean with fresh water.
4. Your washing machine is sparkling clean and ready to do a load of laundry! Give your front-loader a cleaning once a month to keep your clothes smelling fresh and your machine working in tip-top condition.

Start the new year off with a clean washer, and do this once a month!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer Lollipop's

Here is a cute and quick idea you can whip up for the kids stockings or neighbors.  I made these for Caden's classmates.  I only had about 20 red lollipops so a few reindeer's had brown noses ... lol darn grab bags of lollipops you can't count on the correct # of red. I found this idea with a FREE template on Bris Bane Kids.

What You Need:

Card Stock - Green (4 per sheet)

Red Lollipop's

Glue (I used Hot Glue Gun to attach)

Scissors

Printer

Print the template on card stock (this makes it easier to cut and hold up when gluing). Cut out your reindeer's and cut out the center for the nose.  This is the time consuming part, I had 26 to make let's just say I sat up in bed for a long time cutting and catching up on my DVR of Christmas shows :). Take a little glue to attach to your lollipop.  I love my glue gun so I used that just be careful and don't burn yourself. Let them dry and bam you're done!  If you would really like you could add a little ribbon but I was already to long into this gift.

Merry Christmas Eve :)!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Elf Kisses

Looking for a cute and easy gift for the neighbor kids or friends kids. I made these for Cole's classmates. Super easy and quick to do!  I found the idea for these Elf Kisses on Kandy Kreations she has a FREE printable to go with it!  Make sure to go over and say thank you to her!

What You Need:

Card Stock Paper (or regular white paper)

Mint Hersey Kisses (Green Foil Wrapping)

Small Clear Bags (Found at the Dollar Tree 40 pk)

Stapler

Printer

Print out the printable from Kandy Kreations and then cut them out.  Add a handful of the green kisses to a clear bag.  Staple the label to the bag to close it.  And bam your done!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve :)!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Basic 7 Layer Bars with an Extra Ingredient!

I love to make treats for my friends as part of a Christmas gift.  I was listening to Spirit 105.3 a radio station here for Christmas music and heard the host talk about these bars she makes every year that are a hit!  I went on a google search and found the recipe for Basic Seven Layers Bars on Chow.  Easy recipe now I added White chocolate chips because they are my favorite and doubled the recipe!

Basic Seven  Eight Layer Bars

Ingredients

• 8 whole graham crackers (about 4 ounces), broken in half
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into 4 pieces
• 1 1/4 cups sweetened shredded coconut (about 4 ounces)
• 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or any combination (about 6 ounces)
• 1 cup coarsely chopped nuts, such as pecans or almonds
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle.
2. Place the graham crackers in a resealable plastic bag, press out the air, and seal, leaving about 1 inch unsealed. Using a rolling pin, roll over the crackers until they are fine, uniform crumbs (you should have about 1 cup of crumbs). Alternatively, you can place the crackers in a food processor fitted with a blade attachment and process for about 1 minute.
3. Place the butter in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish and place in the oven until the butter has melted, about 10 minutes.
4. Remove the dish from the oven and tilt it so the butter evenly coats the bottom. Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs evenly over the butter, then sprinkle the coconut over the crumbs. Sprinkle the chocolate, peanut butter, white chocolate, or butterscotch chips over the coconut, then sprinkle the nuts over the chips. Evenly drizzle the condensed milk over all of the layers.
5. Bake until golden brown around the edges and springy to the touch, about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and cool completely. Cut into 24 squares and serve.

ALEXIS NOTES: I used Chocolate Chips, Butterscotch Chips and White Chips making 8 ingredients used.

I must say these were a HUGE hit my own girlfriend was so funny I gave her treats at church then when I went to an evening service to give my other friend her gift my first friend tried to snag the box of these .. lol.  Even my friends husband and daughter told me how good they are and to make sure to give them the recipe.

Merry Christmas! I promise these will be a yearly treat!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Cinnamon Bun Popcorn Featured on Great Idea Thursday's

I was so excited to see the Cinnamon Bun Popcorn that I made for my co-works was Featured on Great Idea Thursdays 78 on Joybee's What's For Dinner.  This popcorn was so yummy I'm glad I left it in Boston with my workers or I may have ate it all!

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer Oreo Cookies

So I've seen these all over Pintrest and the web so I don't have ONE person to give the credit for.  If you were the brilliant person who came up with this idea, let me know and I'll make sure to give you credit, ok blogger police who leave comments on not giving credit.

Next on my list was some Rudolph Reindeer's for Cole's classroom friends!

What you Need:

Oreo Cookies

Light Brown Wilton Melts

Red Hots

Wilton Candy Eyes

Chocolate Covered Pretzels (Flips are easy)

Wilton Slotted Spoons

Microwave Wilton Melts, mine takes 2 minutes be careful NOT to burn them.  Place an oreo in the melted chocolate.  I LOVE my Wilton Candy Spoon with the slots makes gets all the extra chocolate off the cookies.  I found placing the chocolate covered pretzels on first.  I then added 2 candy eyes and added a red hot for the nose.

Place in the fridge to harden up.  I picked up a some bags at the dollar tree and off they went to school.

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Santa Cookies (Nutter Butter)

Wow it's almost Christmas so it's time for Classroom treats!! Here are the cute Santa's I made for Caden's class.  I found these super cute Santa's on Phaedra's Adventures.  These are actually pretty easy to make, takes a little big of time but so cute!  Here is a step by step tutorial.

What you Need:

Nutter Butters

Wilton Red Melts

Wilton White Melts

Shredded Coconut

Mini Chocolate Chips

Red Hots

Parchment Paper

Piping Bag

I melt my chocolate melts in the microwave for 1 min 30 seconds.  BE CAREFUL not to burn! I melt my melts in my pampered chef glass bowls they are amazing for this.  Take a Nutter Butter and dip in Red for the top of the hat. Place on parchment paper to harden.  I use a plastic piping bag melt the white melts in the microwave.  I added the fir on the red hat and a dot for the end of the hat.  Let this harden, then to the bottom of the cookie.  I melted the white melts in my other pampered chef glass bowl and dipped the bottom of the cookie in the white for the beard.  BEFORE it dries add some coconut for the fuz of a beard.  I then pipped a little white to hold the eyes and the nose.  For the eyes you use mini chocolate chips and a red hot for a nose.  I picked up some plastic bags from the dollar tree for Caden to share with each classmate.

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Mickey and Minnie Mouse Cupcakes

After returning from my business trip I signed up for a cake for Birthday Dreams. I just love this charity Birthday Dreams (bringing birthday's to homeless kids). I of course picked a crazy busy week and almost forgot I signed up.  So I had to make a quick cupcake design.  I had a Mickey Mouse cutter from Caden's party a while back so I made these up.  Not my best but still cute!  Thank God I had a bunch of Modeling Chocolate left over so they were a breeze to put together. Recipe below if you haven't made it before.

Modeling Chocolate

12oz Candy Melts

1/4 Cup light corn Syrup

Melt your Candy Melts in microwave (mine takes about 2 minutes). Stir them to become smooth and add the corn syrup.  It will become thick and form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit out and dry.  Takes a few hours or over night is best. (Alexis note: I found to roll this out use a little powder sugar (like you would do with flour), also you have to kneed it a little like you would dough to make it easy to roll out).

What you Need:

Frosted Cupcakes (I use my Sturdy Buttercream Frosting)

Red Modeling Chocolate

Black Modeling Chocolate

Pink Modeling Chocolate
Mickey Mouse Cutter
Wilton Circle Cutter

Cut the Mickey / Minnie Mouse head out of black Modeling chocolate. I then made red and pink circles to represent Mickey and Minnie Mouse.  I used a little water to attach the black head to the circle.  I then added my toppers to frosted cupcakes.

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Lady Bug Oreo's and Pretzels

Before I left for Boston I was asked to make some treats for a friend baby's 1st birthday.  She found bumble bee's and lady bug's she wanted done.  I posted the bumble bee's yesterday and today is the Lady Bugs. I found the idea on how to make them on Etsy for Lady Bug Oreo's and Lady Bug Pretzels.  They are time consuming and your back and hand will hurt when done .. lol BUT they are so cute.  My camera battery died half way through this project so I'm missing some step pictures for the Lady Bugs.  Click on my Bumble Bee post link above to see the step by step there.

Lady Bug Bee Oreo's

Oreo's (I used Birthday Cake Flavor)

Red Candy Melts

Black Candy Melts

Candy Eyes

Large Heart Candy Decorations

Small Flower Candy Decorations

Wilton Chocolate Candy Dipper Spoon

Pipping Bag

I have 2 glass bowls from pamper chef that I melt my melts in the microwave for 1 min 30 secs, be careful not to go to long it will BURN done it believe me. Take an Oreo and place in the red Melts.  Use the candy spoon to take the Oreo out of the melts.  The slots in the spoon make the extra chocolate come off.  Place on parchment paper and let it set up.  I put mine in the fridge. I took a throw away bag (you can use a ziplock bag if needed) and melted some black melts and did the dots and line down the center. Once they were set up I dipped half of the red coated cookie into black melts, before the black has harden add the eyes, large heart for the mouth and flower.  

Lady Bug Pretzels's

Pretzels

Red Candy Melts

Black Candy Melts

Candy Eyes

Heart Candy Decorations

Flower Candy Decorations

Chocolate Candy Dipper Spoon

Pipping Bag

I have 2 glass bowls from pamper chef that I melt my melts in the microwave for 1 min 30 secs, be careful not to go to long it will BURN done it believe me. Take a pretzel and place in the red melts.  Use the Candy spoon to take the pretzel out of the melts.  The slots in the spoon make the extra chocolate come off.  Place the dipped pretzel on the parchment paper and let it set up.  I put mine in the fridge.  I took a throw away bag (you can use a ziplock bag if needed) and melted some black melts and did the dots. Once they were set up I dipped half of the red coated pretzel into black melts, before the black has harden add the eyes and flower.  

Any treats planned to make?

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Bumble Bee Pretzels & Oreos

Before I left for Boston I was asked to make some treats for a friend baby's 1st birthday.  She found bumble bee's and lady bug's she wanted done.  I saw them on Etsy for the Bumble Bee Pretzels for $90 and the Bumble Bee Oreo's for $23 and thought what the heck.  BUT this is where I EAT my words.  They are time consuming and your back and hand will hurt when done .. lol BUT they are so cute.  I did Lady Bugs also and just charged my friend some of what I paid for the supplies. 

Bumble Bee Oreo's

Oreo's (I used Birthday Cake Flavor)

Yellow Candy Melts

Black Candy Melts

Candy Eyes

Small Heart Candy Decorations

Small Flower Candy Decorations

Wilton Chocolate Candy Dipper Spoon

Pipping Bag

I have 2 glass bowls from pamper chef that I melt my melts in the microwave for 1 min 30 secs, be careful not to go to long it will BURN done it believe me. Take an Oreo and place in the yellow Melts.  Use the Candy spoon to take the oreo out of the melts.  The slots in the spoon make the extra chocolate come off.  Place on parchment paper and let it set up.  I put mine in the fridge.  Once they were set up I dipped half of the yellow coated cookie into black melts, before the black has harden add the eyes, small heart for mouth and flower.  I took a throw away bag (you can use a ziplock bag if needed) and melted some black melts and did the strips.  

Bumble Bee Pretzels's

Pretzels

Yellow Candy Melts

Black Candy Melts

Candy Eyes

Heart Candy Decorations

Flower Candy Decorations

Chocolate Candy Dipper Spoon

Pipping Bag

I have 2 glass bowls from pamper chef that I melt my melts in the microwave for 1 min 30 secs, be careful not to go to long it will BURN done it believe me. Take a pretzel and place in the yellow Melts.  Use the Candy spoon to take the pretzel out of the melts.  The slots in the spoon make the extra chocolate come off.  Place the dipped pretzel on the parchment paper and let it set up.  I put mine in the fridge.  Once they were set up I dipped half of the yellow coated pretzel into black, before the black has harden add the eyes, small heart and a flower.  I took a throw away bag (you can use a ziplock bag if needed) and melted some black melts and did the strips.

Any treats planned to make?

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Family Photo's are DONE!

This year I was really behind, with me heading to Boston I didn't plan so well and didn't get my family photos done, meaning I didn't get my cards out the day after Thanksgiving like I've done for years.

My amazing Friend Jennifer at Johansen Photography travels, she does amazing work and the best part AFFORDABLE!!!

As you know my previous post I was looking for the best family photos. We decided on two and we did those along with a few family photos!

They all were done in my front yard and in front of our tree.  And Thank God for Rick who had been working 2 jobs and had maybe 6 hours of sleep in the 3 days leading up to this shoot was such a GREAT sport!

Here's our Card:

Front

Back

And here our the photos:

I added the bubbles :)

I think this is my fav!

Ahh my boys

LOL Funny Faces!

Cole getting to be such a grown boy!

This is my fav of Caden

Have a GREAT weekend!!

Any plans??