5 little links

Today involved copious amounts of bleach and many other brain numbing cleaning products (and the repetitive up and down motion of cleaning WAY too many cabinets). Yes today was spring cleaning day. it warm and pretty, the right kind of day to clean.

Anyways currently I am working on a yo-yo table runner. Hopefully the first time it will be used will be Mother's day. I think it's going to turn out nice, hopefully.

Speaking of hopefully, in the next few days or so I want to have pics up of the finished placemats the go with these flowers.. And maybe a shirt I made recently. Who knows?

And here is some links to five little blogs that I enjoy reading. I wouldn't say they are my favorite but I find them very inspiring.

Wee Wonderfuls

(Inside A black Apple)

Sew Liberated

Stephanie Congdon Barnes

Posie Gets Cosy

Well I am off to enter the world of yo-yo's once.

Happy creating!
Ashley

just a hi + happy weekend!

can hardly believe that the weekend is upon us again. where has the week gone?! it's so beautiful and spring-like here, which I love. spring is certainly a favorite season (second to autumn). this past week I have actually accomplished quite a bit: finished up a dress I was working on, some personalized napkins I was embroidering, did some baking and much cooking, and made some sugar/salt scrubs. totally getting into those lately! so many good and fun recipes you can find by simply searching google. and I love that most of the things it requires are already in your kitchen so no trip to the store is needed! :)

as for my weekend, I plan to do more of the same. gotta' get started on a few more projects that I've been pondering for a while and I'm so making some lemon blueberry muffins! I've been all things lemon lately and am excited to try to alter my favorite blueberry muffins recipe. I'll be sure to post about that one. ...now I'm off to mix up some strawberry syrup for breakfast tomorrow. I'm making those peanut butter waffles I posted about a bit ago. sure to be a hit!

happy weekend!!

xo!
Candice


p.s.
the photo is one of my favorite, most inspiring, spring photos from offbeatideal.com's 'TTV' collection. beautiful!!

beautifully spring!

today is one of those perfect spring days. the weather is just right, it's sunny and the air is lovely. these days always, always make me want to create!! :) altho this recipe that I'm about to post is not from today, and reminds me more of autumn, it's still yummy. :) Ashley and I made it on Sunday for our big Sunday dinner (which included company). a great way to start the week!



Caramel Apple Cake with Carmel Topping
from The Lady & Sons, Savannah Country Cookbook
(I LOVE this book!)

2 1/2 c sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 c oil
3 c flour
2 tsp vanilla
1 c chopped walnuts
2 1/2 c diced apples, canned or fresh

preheat oven to 350 degrees. cream together sugar, eggs, and oil.
add flour; mix together until well blended. add vanilla, nuts, and diced apples. spread into lightly greased and floured 13x9 inch baking dish; bake for 45-60 minutes. cake is done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. when cake is done, punch holes in it with a knife and pour topping over.

Caramel Topping
3/4 pound butter (3 sticks)
2 c brown sugar
1/4 c milk

heat all ingredients together over medium heat. bring to boil, stirring constantly. let boil for about 2 minuets. pour over warm cake.




today I made zucchini muffins -- they're baking now so we'll see how they turn out. it's my first time making them, but the recipe is from the same book as the cake above, so I'm sure they will be delightful.

and now I'm off to be a bit crafty. :) hope you're all enjoying your spring! (or, autumn for our readers from down-under. ;))

xo!
Candice

*edit*
the zucchini muffins are DELISH! but they don't look all that pretty. note to self for next time: use liners and don't fill the cup so full! :)

afterall, I am only a beginner: the skirt turned dress

finally, I have the photo. :) I'm honestly not all that great at explaining, and because I'm a beginner I don't really know the terms which should be used to explain what I did. I took an old, straight denim skirt, removed the top band (and zipper, sewing that section shut), and added the red floral top. to make the top I 'altered' a shirt pattern to fit what I needed. I also put piping around the edges (which I also have no idea how to properly pipe -- I need to better educate myself!), added a button placket and some cute round red buttons. it is no where near flawless, but afterall, I am only a beginner. :) it's a learning experience and I am overall happy with the outcome. just waiting on the weather to warm up a bit more before I wear it.

okay, the photo (and please take notice of my cute cat who wanted to join in on the fun!):



xo!
Candice

another 'break'

busy as usual, only this time with a few added things. thank you for hanging in there with us!! :) still planning on posting my skirt turned dress, just haven't taken the time to take a photo. plan to do that this week. my famous words: we'll see.

for now, I wanted to post one of my current favorite recipes - peanut butter waffles. I'm pretty much in love with waffles right now. they're easy to make, and they are GREAT to prepare the night before and then just stick 'em in the toaster in the morning. (that's for anyone who is like me, a late night lover but NOT so much a 'morning person'.) but these peanut butter ones are SUCH a smash hit! I love them warm with butter, but I also think they'd be delicious with fruit syrup. any way, if you like waffles and/or peanut butter, give 'em a try. :)



2 1/4 flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 c creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 tbsp sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/4 c milk
1/4 c oil
1/4 tsp salt

oil or melted butter to grease waffle iron

mix all ingredients. (I use a mixer)
preheat waffle iron, grease.
pour batter onto waffle iron. (I use a full 1 cup measuring cup)
close waffle iron and cook for 3-5 mins (I always do mine 4.5 mins because I like them crispy, but not too crispy since I always reheat them in the toaster)

pretty simple, eh? if you give them a try, I hope you like them as much as I do! :)

xo!
Candice