Easy Cupcake Topper!

There is a bakery near us that has themed days during the summer where you can come in and get a free cupcake if you dress up like the theme.  The first week was Star Wars, then there was Luau, Harry Potter, and, well, I bet you can guess this one!   

But since Mr. A and Princess O are allergic to milk, they can't have most bakery's cupcakes.  Both cake and frosting generally have butter in them.  So each week I have brought my own for Mr. A so that he can enjoy with everyone else!  All you need for this sparkly design is:

Chocolate (I used a dairy free chocolate, but any chocolate or melting chocolate will do!)

Coconut oil 

Sprinkles

Parchment Paper

Optional: a printed design.

This is really much simpler than it looks!  Melt your chocolate either in a double boiler or the microwave.  Once it's all good and melty, add a scoop of coconut oil to the chocolate, mix, and scoop it into a zipper bag or a pastry bag or a chocolate bottle (I don't know if that's the technical name but I bought a plastic bottle that looks like a mini ketchup bottle, with a nozzle on top, at Walmart for super cheap several years ago, and that's what I use).  If you're using a bag clip the very tiny corner off the bag.

Quick note.  The coconut oil tempers the chocolate, which basically means that it helps it to set up and hold it's shape after it cools back down.  I'm sure there are other places that can tell you an exact amount, I generally wing it.  You don't want too much or it will ruin your chocolate, but too little and your designs may sag.  In AZ, they'll probably end up sagging eventually either way...

Then tape your parchment paper to the counter, a plate, or a cookie sheet and pipe your design with the chocolate.  I just did this free hand because it was just one, it was a simple design, and didn't need to be perfect.  I have done similar projects before, HERE , that were more intricate, in which case I generally tape a print of what I want behind the parchment paper to follow.  

Before the chocolate sets, sprinkle heavily with your sprinkles.

To get the nice sparkle here, and used black-colored sugar sprinkles.  Though I don't recommend trying to make black by yourself, too messy, sugar sprinkles are easy!  All you need is course, white sugar, or even just regular granulated sugar and food coloring.  Add food coloring to your sugar and stir with a fork until it's all evenly coated.  Add more color as needed.  Then once it's even, spread out on a plate or cookie sheet or something to let it dry.  Easy-peasy!

Once you've added a heavy coat of sprinkles, let the chocolates set.  For me, this meant a trip to the fridge!  It's just too warm for chocolate to set inside my house right now!

Once the chocolate is hard, set it on top of your cupcake and enjoy!!!

The possibilities are endless!  Bats for a Batman party, arrows for a Robin Hood party, rainbows for an unicorn party, flowers for a garden party, a crown for the Queen or Princess in your life!  Tell me what you do!  Can't wait to see your creations!

No Melt Popsicle!

To be fair, they do melt, it's not like they stay frozen forever, but when they do, they don't turn completely to liquid all over you and your kiddos!

The secret is nothing crazy or weird...

Jello!

So the instructions are as simple as they come,

One box of Jello

Mix them up according to the instructions for regular Jello!  You could also use the jiggler recipe, I assume they would be even less melty, but I haven't tried so I really couldn't say.

Then pour them into molds and stick them in the freezer until, well, frozen! 

Then all that's left to do is run some warm water over the molds to release them, and Enjoy!!!

These are some tupperware-brand molds my mom gave me from back when I was a kid, but any will do!  They are always available at Walmart or the Dollar Tree this time a year!  Oh, and always check Amazon for some options!

Enjoy!

Grilled Pizza!

You know what I say:

Seriously!  If you can cook it - you can grill it!

First thing, this is a Dairy Free recipe!  Well, at least if you use a dairy free cheese!  We generally make a pizza for each person so everyone has the toppings and cheese they want and need!

First!  Turn your grill on and heat it up!  I like to get it something like 350 degrees, but to be totally honest, I wing it a lot of times depending on how much time I have!!! 

The pizza dough!  I got my recipe from the February 2017, Friend magazine put out by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  That article can be found HERE.  (with a slight tweak)

You will need:

1 1/4 c hot water

1 tsp yeast

1 tsp sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

3 c flour

Pro tip: your water should be steaming, you can microwave it or boil it, but most homes can get hot enough from the tap!

Mix the water, yeast and sugar together.  Let it sti for 3-5 minutes.  It should foam up a bit.  Then add the salt and 2 cups of flour.  Once it's mixed together, add another half to quarter cup until the dough is soft but not sticky.  Take it out of the bowl and knead it a bit (flour on the counter or it'll stick!)  Then pull out a fist size portion at a time, flour your work surface and start rolling!  A rolling pin would be easiest, but I've used my hands, a glass, even a soup can (maybe take the paper off and wipe it clean first!).  I like my pizza crust thin and crunchy, but roll it according to your tastes.  my crusts are generally about the size of a half-cookie sheet.

Next, brush olive oil on one side of your dough and lay it out on the grill.

I generally bring my dough to the grill on a cutting board or cookie sheet and if the dough isn't sticky, it will slide right off onto the grill.  Careful though, I have melted a cutting board or two!!!

Watch it carefully!  Seriously!  Set a timer!  I have burnt soooo many crusts!!!  When the crust is getting toasty and golden use tongs or a spatula and take it off.

Then top THE COOKED SIDE with sauce (red, white, BBQ, etc.) and the toppings of your choice!  Some of our favorites are:

Pepperoni

Sausage

Onion

BBQ Chicken

Bacon

Hamburger

Tomatoes

Fresh Mozzarella

Basil (Fresh from the garden, yum!)

Olives

The possibilities are endless!

Don't forget the Cheese!

SERIOUSLY THOUGH, put the toppings on the side you already cooked!

Carefully bring it back to the grill and slide it on again, then quickly close the lid!  Closing the lid helps the cheese get all melty while the flame will crisp up the bottom.

So good!  The pizza bellow was made with dairy free, Follow Your Heart Mozzarella block cheese we shredded!

Depending on your placement, your grill, and the size of your pizzas, you can probably get several on the grill at a time.  I generally get about 4 at a time.

When the crust is looking golden underneath and the cheese is melty on top, use a spatula to carefully slide your pizza onto a cookie sheet. 

Now all that is left is to slice it and EAT it!!

Seriously sooo good!  It's got a slight smokey taste, ooey-gooey cheese, and delicious, thing, crispy crust!

And remember,

Sweet Baby Sprinkle

A dear friend of mine had a baby recently and these are the pictures from her Baby Sprinkle.  She already has a couple of kids, but we still wanted to celebrate the sweet life that was about to join them!  The Sprinkle is not gender specific because they decided to wait until the baby was born to find out!

We had guests help color an alphabet book for the new baby!  I think we used this one from Cuppacocoa.

This Baby Sprinkle was a Saturday brunch style, so we had juice, fruit, and breads.  We decorated with baby books, some simple flowers, and diaper vases.

!

Oh!  And mini-quiches, how could I forget!

We used white balloons and colorful raindrops to decorate across an archway!

More stuffed animals and diaper vases!

To make the diaper vases I rolled up diapers and secured them with a rubber band.  Then I placed 6 around an empty toilet paper tube and secured with a large rubber band.  finally, I hid the rubber band with some tulle.  I have also done this double high with a paper towel tube in the middle instead!

Happy Sprinkling!

Pom-pom Skirt

I've been drooling over this skirt for sometime now, and I finally have a reason to make it!

First, you need a piece of fabric for your lining and a piece of sheer fabric.  Cut the sheer into a rectangle at least twice as long as the person you're making it for is around their waist, and twice as wide as you want it long.  So if Princess O's waist is 19inches I want to make it at least 38inches long and if I want it 9inches long, it needs to be 18inches wide.  From your opaque fabric you will want to make a rectangle that is twice as long as the waist measurement and as long as you want it. (in this example, 38inx9in)

Putting wrong-short sides together, sew up the short side.

Then flip it inside out and put right sides together and stitch up the same seam.  This creates a french seam which saves you from your fabric fraying and also looks really nice on sheer fabrics

Next, put right sides together and sew the short side of the lining, then hem one of the long edges of the lining fabric.  

Fold the sheer piece in half, wrong sides together and put your pom-poms in-between the layers.

Then pin the lining and sheer layers to each-other at the top (making a pocket for the pom-poms to hang out in.

Then stitch around once to hold it all together, serge the edge, then fold it over and make a casing for your elastic.

Then thread through your elastic and finish it off!

So fun and cute!  Princess O has worn this skirt several times, and it washes up just fine!  Even the pom-poms wash just fine!  Enjoy!  I'd love to see what you make!

Mason Jar Soap Dispenser DIY

Our old soap dispensers in our master bathroom were cracked and old, and to be honest, I was just bored of them! So I decided it was time for a change!

Our kid bathroom has had a foaming soap dispenser for some time now because it cuts down on waste, and lets be honest, kids spend about 4 seconds washing their hands, they need the soap to come foamy or most of their hands won't see soap!

I love the foaming soap and decided I wanted it for our bathroom.  I didn't however, want a plastic bottle... blah.  After looking at lots of soap dispensers foaming and not online and in-store, I determined that I didn't like what I saw, so naturally I took to Pinterest! 

I came across a different mason jar project and I realized exactly what I wanted!

You will need:

*Mason Jar, lid, and ring

*Scissors

*Scrap of Paper

*Foaming soap dispenser I'm using a 78c one from Walmart

*Glue Gun

*Nail

*Hammer

First, Trace your jar lid on a piece of paper and then draw a smaller circle in the center big enough for the bottom of the soap pump to fit.  Then cut it out and test it.  If it's right, draw the smaller circle on your jar lid.

Next, use a nail and perforate around the circle you just drew, poking holes as close to each other as possible.  Be sure you do this on a scrap wood or in the grass or something, otherwise you're going to poke holes in whatever surface you're on.

Then, using pliers to save your fingers from getting cut, pull the center off.  If it won't come, poke another hole between holes so it comes apart easier.

Then use the pliers and hammer to flatten all the sharp edges or at least bend them down so you won't get cut.

Put your pump through from the top of the lid.

Then put hot glue all around the pump to seal it and cover the remaining sharp edges.  For this step, turn the glue gun on just before you are ready to glue and start gluing as soon as it is hot enough to squish out.  If the glue gets too hot it will melt the pump plastic and ruin it.

I set the lid on the jar upside down while gluing and while it dried.  The pump was pretty secure before I ever glued it.

Pour your soap into the jar and put the lid on and screw it tight.  Done!

The blue soap in these jars comes from the bottles I bought for the pumps, but any soap will do.  If you get the soap refills from the grocery store, Sams, or Costco, simple mix your own foaming soap mix.  Put 1 part soap to 9 parts water.  Well, to be fair, I actually normally do 1-to-1 water-to-soap, but I've read that the proper mixture is 1-to-9.  Enjoy!

I also added a Mason Jar for our toothbrushes and toothpaste in our basket in the master bathroom to oraginize things a bit, and pull it all together.

Easy DIY Patriotic Shirts

These were from a couple years ago, but they're still one of my favorite shirts!

First things first, print the following image twice.  I printed it on our black and white printer  which is why the letters are black and the star blue.  That way I could see all the parts for the following steps.

Then, on one image, use an exacto knife to cut out the letters, and on the other, the star.

I then taped my shirts to the counter, with a plastic grocery sack between the top layer and other layers to protect the shirt.

Then using a foam brush or a piece of a sponge, paint the star on your shirt.  I did it on the bottom corner of the shirts.

I then used a glue stick to stick the letter part of the image on top of the star, using the star on the template to line it up.

Then paint on the words in another color.  I did a blue star and white letters because the shirt is red.

Peel off the template before the glue gets too dry.  It will come off in the wash, but it's easier to do now.

Let the shirt dry at LEAST overnight!  If you wash/dry it too soon, it will do funny things, like stick to things or wash off.

Update: Mr. A and Mr. C have been wearing these for two years now, and they still look great!  I wash and dry them as usual, no problem!