Easter Morning!

Let me start off by telling you all that Easter is my favorite holiday of the year (yes it even beats Christmas)!

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Fun Facts

When taking a bite into a chocolate bunny, 76% of Americans prefer to bite off the ears first. 5% eat the feet first and 4% eat the tail first.

In the old days pretzels were associated with Easter because the twists of the pretzel were thought to resemble arms crossing in prayer.

The White House has hosted an Easter egg roll every year since 1878.

The tradition of giving eggs at Easter time has been traced back to Persians, Egyptians, Gauls, Greeks and Romans, to whom the egg was a symbol of life.

And here's a good one...

In medieval times a festival of egg-throwing was held in church, during which the priest would throw a hard-boiled egg to one of the choir boys. It was then tossed from one choir boy to the next and whoever held the egg when the clock struck 12 was the winner and retained the egg.

Now for a little Easter DIY

Fave Crafts posted this cute tutorial on how to make some festive garland.

Find the instructions here.

"These festive cookies are loosely based on the Greek Easter specialty koulourakia."

Don't know what koulourakia is? Click here to be enlightened.

Head on over to My Recipes to learn how to make these Easter Egg Cookies.

I hope you all have a wonderul Easter Sunday filled with family, friends, and lots of chocolate.

DIY Valentine Crafts Roundup

Yay it's Friday!

Now you've got a whole weekend in front of you that you can fill with oodles and oodles of Valentine crafts.

Let's start with food shall we? (guys like food anyway)

These cute little cake pops are simple to make and great for just about everyone.

How about a 5 minute cake in a mug for that special somebody? Or...make a bunch of these before watching a chick flick with all the girls!

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You don't just have to give away chocolate on Monday. Why not bake some bread of muffins? Don't forget to wrap them up in pretty paper!

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This is a popular trend this year with crafter and bloggers. You can either glue together your own candy bag topper with pretty paper and stickers, or create your own using your computer. Just print it out, cut, and either staple or glue your topper to the candy bag.

Now how about some flowers?

Use all those left over fabrics to make a dozen pretty roses and tie them all together with some red ribbon.

Here's another tutorial on how to make a cute felt rose. (and there great thing about felt it that...no hemming!)

You could also use these fabric roses for headbands and decorative pins. Just take the idea and run away with it!

I know I've shared this tutorial before, I just love it so much!

I just Heart these next tutorials!

Here's another idea you could use to clean up all your scraps of fabric. Make some pretty heart pillows!

Here's girl who know what to do with those conversation hearts. I think that they taste like chalk personally...

Paper garland anyone?

I must learn the art of crocheting hearts!

And I saved this one for the last tutorial because I am so in love with this idea!

Don't you just totally heart this love note?????

Click here to see the step by step instructions for making this sweet note. 

So that's it for my little roundup. I hope you all have a relaxing weekend full of whatever it is that you love. For me? That would be sleep...crocheting...and chatting with my handsome fiancée over gmail.

Don't forget to check out my youtube channel for some more tutorials and what not. 

Happy Valentine Weekend! 

My First Product Review

Click here if you would like to order your own!

Also check out...

Matching Measuring Spoons

Matching Cups

Surprise Valentine Cupcakes

Inspired by...

A don't forget to see...

These cute cards were inspired by...

How to make my tomato soup

If you've been reading along, you should have known that I am again sick in bed...ugh...but being sick means I get to eat soup all the time! I simply love soup and I wanted to share with you how I make tomato soup (from a can) my own. 

From the can, the soup can become rather boring and blah...so here's how I jazz it up using things I already have in the cupboards. 

DIY Dog Treats

Hot Chocolate...Mmmmm

Mom and I have this thing that we do...at least once a week. We get into our  Pjs and jump on the couch with a warm cup of hot chocolate. Sometimes we'll surf the web together sometimes we'll watch tv but whatever we do, it's always special.

So in honor of that little tradition, let's learn about the glories of hot chocolate!

"Back in the days of the Aztecs, cocoa beans were valuable not only for their culinary importance but also as currency. Cocoa beans were often given as gifts during important ceremonies and festivals. Even so, they also used the roasted beans to make a chocolate drink. Their version is much different from the hot chocolate we know today. The Aztecs actually drank it cold, flavoured with wine and chili peppers, and not at all sweet.

Chocolate was discovered and brought to Europe in the early 1500s by the explorer Cortez. After its introduction in Spain, the drink began to be served hot, sweetened and without the chili peppers. The Spanish were very protective of their wonderful new beverage, and it was over a hundred years before news of it began to spread across Europe.

When it hit London (in the 1700s), chocolate houses became popular and very trendy. It was the English who started adding milk to their chocolate and it was enjoyed as an after-dinner beverage.

It wasn't until the middle of the eighteenth century that chocolate began to evolve past its drinkable form. First, cocoa powder was invented in Holland. Cocoa powder blends much easier with milk or water, allowing for more creations to come. Then came chocolate as a candy by mixing cocoa butter with sugar. In 1876, milk chocolate was developed. From then on, chocolate has become more popular as a solid treat rather than as the drink it started from."

So here's a mixture of crafts and recipes that I found related to hot chocolate.

You can make this fake spilled hot chocoalte yourself! Click here for the instructions.

I could not find instructions for this little guy, but I am determined to figure it out on my own. As soon as I do, I'll post a video on youtube for you all.

Can you say yum? These spoons might not even make it into the mug of hot chocolate before their gone!

And this, is the icing on the cake (or the marshmallows floating in the hot chocolate)!

Oh my word! I think I just died and went to heaven!!!!!!

I seriously looked in awe at the mug for like...5 minutes when it first popped up on my computer screen.

So...In a large ovenproof mug combine 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1½ cups hot milk. Top with miniature marshmallows and place under broiler until golden brown and puffed.

I'm so trying this when I get home!

Guess Who's Got A Birthday Comming Up?!

Me!

I will be turning 21 on the 8th of December (this Wednesday!!!!!!!)

I'm super excited!

It's so happens that Jenni (bff) and I are exactly 1 year and a day apart (I'm older) so we'll celebrating out birthdays together this year.

Hopefully it will include friends, yummy food and a movie.

I just finished making her birthday present last night and I won't post pictures until after she gets it (in case Jenni has the uncontrolled desire to read my blog).I'm very happy with my work...

I'm also making our cake (which will have a surprise inside as well). But you'll all just have to wait and see what I have up my sleeve like everyone else!

Cupcakes All Around!

Christmas Decorations- Part 11

                                                        

"Many people have given religious meaning to the shape and form of the candy cane. It is said that its shape is like the letter “J” in Jesus’ name. It is also in the shape of the shepherds’ crook, symbolic of how Jesus, like the “Good Shepherd” watches over his children like little lambs. It is a hard candy, solid like a “rock”, the foundation of the Church. The flavor of peppermint is similar to another member of the mint family, hyssop. In the Old Testament hyssop was used for purification and sacrifice, and this is said to symbolize the purity of Jesus and the sacrifice he made.

Some say the white of the candy cane represents the purity of Jesus and his virgin birth. The bold red stripe represents God’s love. The three fine stripes are said by some to represent the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Others say they represent the blood spilled at the beating Jesus received at the hands of the Roman soldiers.

When the practice of using Christmas trees to celebrate Christmas became popular in Europe the people there began making decorations for their trees. Many of the decorations were food items including cookies and candy. The predecesor of our modern candy cane appeared at about this time in the seventeenth century. These were straight, white sticks of sugar candy."

From the Kitchen...

Peppermint buttercream is sandwiched between homemade chocolate cookies...MMMmmmm! Can you say yum?

Click here for the directions.

Or what about this candy cane bark? 

I don't know about you, but this thing wouldn't last a day in my house. Find out how to make it here.

Please excuse me as I wipe up the drool...instructions here!

And last but not least...

When I first saw this picture, not gonna lie, my whole world just kinda stopped as I stared in awe. Pretty sure my lungs stopped breathing and I blew a few brain cells.

I just can't stop oooooing and awwwwing over this candy cane biscotti. 

Mom, if you're reading this...THIS is what I want for Christmas!

Learn how to make these heavenly treats here! (hint hint Mom)

Click on the image for instructions.

I really hope you are enjoying these Christmas themed craft posts as much as I am. It's so much find to search the internet high and wide looking for the most unique ideas.

I would do more of my own tutorial, but being at school and dealing with the mono takes up all my time. Sometimes, as you know, I hardly have time to make these posts. I do spend about an hour or more on each one.

Anyway, as always, my school books are calling me away. 

Have a great night readers!

Christmas Decorations- Part 9

"Gingerbread dates back to the 15th century, and figural biscuit-making was practiced in the 16th century. The first documented instance of figure-shaped gingerbread biscuits appearing was in the court of Elizabeth I of England. She had the gingerbread figures made and presented in the likeness of some of her important guests."

Next, I wanted to show you some of the most adorable gingerbread man plushies! I hope to make a video tutorial when I get home for Christmas featuring gingerbread men.

I also found these fun ideas for decorating your edible gingerbread men (and women!)

And my personal favorite...

So all these are great, fun, and cute...but what if I found a cooking/craft project that involves gingerbread that is tottaly amazing and creative? What if I found a craft that would be the talk of your Christmas party? What if I found a project...that would even put martha stewart to shame?

Well, dear readers, I HAVE!

Is this not the cutest thing EVER!?!?!?!?!

Instructions for these gingerbread houses may be found here.

And a few funnies to finish off...

Hope you all have a great night!