Books We Love

Kristin at Life's Small Moments really inspired me to share some of our favorite books at the moment.  I enjoy reading to the boys and they love sitting and listening to the stories.

One of our most favorite authors is Keiko Kasza.  We are blessed enough to be a part of the Imagination Library from Dolly Parton and each boy gets a new book each month until they are 5.  Nathan's almost done with the program and he's actually gotten these two books over the last couple of years and they are his favorites: Badger's Fancy Meal and My Lucky Day!  We'll really miss getting books each month for him!

Anthony loves this book from Kasza: When the Elephant Walks and trying to figure out who is going to get scared next.

Cheating on the Diet

I have to admit, I have not been doing well on my diet the past few days.  I've had a few sneaks of sweet stuff here and there and I can tell that I am starting to crave the sugar again.  I was doing so well too!  I'll get back on the wagon one of these days....I have to - I would love to be at goal weight by the end of the year!

Back to the whole sweet thing...hubby was gone for the past few days and as a way to welcome him home, the kids and I baked brownies (from scratch!) and frosted them (store bought).  They were so delicious!

Doesn't it look yummy?

Anthony was poking holes in the middle of the brownies instead of spreading out the frosting!

Both boys getting the hang of it.

Here's the Brownie recipe:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 cup melted butter
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3/4 tsp. salt

Mix together and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Enjoy!

So proud!

I just have to share my latest creation for the July Portfolio at Sweet Shoppe.  It's a trinket box and I just adore it!  I used Traci Reed's 'When You're Smiling' kit and am so glad.  The colors are just perfect!

Believe it or not I had this box just laying around!  It used to have some watches in it.

After figuring out what papers I wanted to use in Photoshop Elements, I printed off all the supplies I'd need from Traci's kit and got to work measuring and cutting.  Then I mod podged the pieces of paper on and let dry.  While it was drying, I started working on the phone book flower. I am actually doing a blog post at The Hybrid Chick this coming Friday (the 16th) about how to make flowers out of an old phone book - so keep an eye out for that!  I also worked on the scalloped edge with my edge punch and laid it all out how I wanted it.  I also measured the ribbon to go around the entire outside of the box and adhered it with red line tape.  I added some small embellishments and some twine to the flower and voila!  This is the finished product!

Thanks for looking and happy crafting!