Take the Challenge SPRING FLING 2010

The other night I couldnt sleep...I was thinking about all of the stuff in my house.  So, I decided to get rid of some things, not just "some" things, 100 things.  In the morning I called my sister and told her about my plan...so we decided to make it a challenge for anyone who wants to participate.

Before Spring Cleaning, this year, comes SPRING FLINGING!!

The challenge:

FLING 100 ITEMS BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING, MARCH 21ST

 

Definition of "FLING":

ebay, re-gift, donate, craigslist, give away, freecycle, recycle, trash...just about anything you can think of, but on March 21st, 2010 100 items must be GONE.

 

If you're up for the challenge

1.Leave a comment on this post, and let us know you are participating

2. Create a list on your sidebar and start tracking as you fling

3.Feel free to post a button as well to let your readers know what you're up to!!

Enjoy, and happy flinging!

bath salts...in 2 seconds!

Last night at our RS meeting, we learned how to make BATH SALTS.

ok..brace yourself, this is easy...

1. ziploc bag

2. 1/3 cup sea salt

3. 1 cup epsom salt

4. a couple drops of essential oil or fragrance

5. a couple drops of food coloring (optional)

6. mix.

Isnt that fun.  I love baths and usually just stick in crystals, bubbles or anything else I have close.  I think these make cute little gifts though...for someone who needs to RELAX a little!

 

Happy Valentines Day!

My Valentine cut out brownies & icecream worked!
Add caramel, raspberries, macademia nuts and whipcream...and it was yummy!

ONE WORLD ONE HEART WINNERS!

I am happy  to announce the winners for the

SWEET ROSIE CLIPS:

(drumroll please)

Sharon from SharDonexclusives

Kristin Neal

Betty Boogie from Betty Boogie's Oddventures

Congratulations you guys...Ill send you your clips this week!

Thank you everyone for participating!  This was FUN!

So you need a Valentines Idea...by tomorrow!

OK, here is what I can offer you if you are up to it.  All you need for tomorrow is a special invitation for your hubby...and the date can be Next weekend.  See, I have just given you one more week to plan.  The invititation could be for one of the following things (all of them could be with the 2 of you or with another couple or two to share the fun):

1.  Did you see Modern Family this week?  Yes, you can invite him to meet you in a hotel lobby next week (with or without the role playing) Then, go out to eat, eat there...whatever you want.  

2.  Bachelor style.  What is the one thing they do on the bachelor for dates?  Did I hear HELICOPTER?  Give him an invitation (bachelor style wording)  to soar above the town with you next week.  I looked into rides here and they range from 35-100 dollars per person...so do the 35 and then eat at home!

3.  My new favorite, but would be super fun with another couple, give him an invitation to a special live dinner.   Then decorate one of your homes or dining rooms, and next week have all the sides put together except for the main dish...LOBSTER.  Pull out the live lobsters and all figure out how to make them!  There are so many sources for figuring it out...I think this would be so fun!

4.  An invitation to your favorite country themed night...next week, go all french with fondue and a french movie, italian, mexican, japanese and watch memoirs of a geisha...anything.

5.  Romantic picnic

It doesnt matter what you decide...just get out of your comfort zone a little and tomorrow, surprise him with the invitation.  Then work on the planning!

Have fun! 

Elle's Valentines

Elle's Valentines my way.

Elle's valentines the right way...with her special touch.
We spent an hour looking at princesses online...and this was the winner. (I think its because of her beautiful long hair)

Cookies on a Stick Valentines

Well, because I am on the cookie on a stick kick...I thought Id tell you how to do them.

First, I searched the internet for a good sturdy recipe, and this is the best I found.  They are SO yummy, but they taste a little more like a butter cookie, or shortbread than a sugar cookie...but I really love them.

Michelle Bommarito’s Sugar Cookies For Sticks

3 c. all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 sticks butter, unsalted, softened (8 oz)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg 1/2 t. kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
dash of almond extract

Sift together the flour and baking powder. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the egg, salt and both extracts.
Slowly add flour mixture (1 cup at a time) and stir until incorporated
Form the dough into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Roll the dough onto a lightly floured surface to approximately 5/8″ thick. Cut the cookies into shapes and place the cut cookie shape on a parchment lined cookie; Poke a stick into cookies.
Bake the cookies for approximately 8-10 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden brown in color. Remove cookies from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.

Royal Icing
1 pound confectioner’s sugar
5 T meringue powder or 1/4 cup pasteurized egg whites
Ice cold water according to desired consistency and 1 teaspoon vanilla
Stir together, using as much water as needed for desired consistency

So, once my cookies while my cookies were baking...Miranda gave me the most brilliant idea.  Make my design on parchment paper first...so I wouldnt have to freehand the batman symbol.

So, I melted chocolate chips...and piped the chocolate onto the parchment.  You could use royal icing in colors if you wanted a different color.  I happened to need dark. I put mine in the fridge to harden.

 

Then, I first piped around each cookie, filled them in with yellow icing and stuck my symbol right in the middle.

 

Wa La...Robbie's batman Valentines.  Then of course I googled "batman valentine" and found this vintage picture.  He loved it! 

So, here are 2 dozen batmans on a stick! 

and with the left over dough I did some of my own valentines!  These were fun...but, I have no idea how to do polkadots.  They kept making stringy points.

Happy Valentines Day!