Bunny Slippers

It's cold today for California...low 50's.

My feet are freezing...not literally. But they are cold.

While rummaging around for a warm pair of socks, a question....why don't I have any bunny slippers?

Couldn't find any cute pink ones, but these are pretty cute...right?  They'll be nice and toasty on my toes...next week.  I just have to figure out what to tell DH once he notices them flopping around next week...

It could have been worse...I think I would have severe nightmares every time I wore them....

Recipe...Pumpkin Spice Cake

Fall is here...time to make the Pumpkin Spice Cake...

This is my go-to recipe, as it is versatile and adaptable.  You can bake it as a jelly roll, using pumpkin cream cheese as the filling; you can bake it as a snack cake for those kids of yours who want something sweet, but yet you want to sneak in a little of those veggies; or you can bake up a sheet cake, frost with cream cheese frosting, and have something that is awesome for any occassion.

PUMPKIN SPICE CAKE

Step #1: Preheat over to 350 degrees.

Step #2: Spray baking pan so nothing sticks.

Step #3: Bring out your large mixing bowl.  Whisk together your dry ingredients:
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 cups Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Powdered Ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

Step #4: Make a hole in the center of your dry ingredients.  Carefully add in your wet ingredients, whisking together just enough to combine:
- 4 Large Eggs
- 1 cup Vegetable or Canola Oil
- 1 can (15 oz) Solid Packed Pumpkin (do not use Pumpkin Pie Mix)

Step #5: Pour the batter into your pan and bake 30-35 minutes...or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean (time dependent on the baking pan you use and the heat of your oven).

Step #6: Let cool on a wire rack, trying to keep your husband/kids away from it so you can frost it (if needed)...I have not always succeeded in the last part of this step.
***Variation:  Through in a handful of mini chocolate chips...you kids will thank you for it!

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

In your mixing bowl, beat together:
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup UnSalted Butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 tablespoon Milk

Once combined, slowly add:
- 4 cups Powdered Sugar
It's best if you don't add all the Powdered Sugar at once...I usually do about one cup at a time, making sure to blend completely between additions.  Add more milk if necessary.
***Variation would be to use Orange Juice instead of the milk...complements the flavor of the cake.

Beautiful Day!

Thought I might share a picture from the front deck as it is so beautiful outside today....

It's Cut!

I saw this fabric in a jelly roll at a local quilt store and immediately dismissed it as "way too dark".

I went back to that same jelly roll time and time again when visiting that store...immediately drawn to it as if it were a huge Cadbury chocolate bar, but I continually kept putting it back.

Surely not a quilt of mine...these colors are so totally not me. They're not shabby chic or happy bright.

Yet it was an intriguing color scheme...no white prints in the entire line.Whatever would I use these fabrics for?

Enter the secret project quilt...I can't tell you anything about it at this point, except that it works perfectly for this fabric...and I cut all necessary pieces yesterday while listening to a movie (In The Heat of The Night), enjoying a Diet Dr. Pepper, and munching on a few Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups.

Project Destashing - Making Pillowcases

Once I decided to clear out my stash by making pillowcases, I got started this weekend...and found I had a great variety of fabrics available....

These match my postage stamp quilt:

Getting a head start on the holidays: the pillowcase fabric is the same on all three pillowcases...just the cuffs and contrasting fabric is different on each.

Modern fabric..and way cute: dancing toasters and hoot owls.

Pinup Men: what girl could resist!

Does sleeping with fruits and veggies count as a daily serving? Garlic...

Junk food basics...

And finally one more Hello Kitty!

Wondering what else is hiding in my stash....

Hello Kitty Pillowcases

I'm the first to admit I have quite a bit of fabric, otherwise known as "The Stash".

It continually grows as new designers give us beautiful fabric that I just can't resist, so much so that my husband notices it every time I he enters the studio.

And, of course, my computer's not working right now...he simply must come down and fix it so I can communicate with the world.

But what to do about it?

Today I actually used my Hello Kitty Stash to make pillowcases...six total. 

- One will have a home locally with Ms. Kaitlyn, who love all things pink...especially those with Hello Kitty. 

- One will go to Kentucky to live with another friend join her Hello Kitty collection. 

- Another might just make it to Kuwait for a FB friend's little girl...maybe, just maybe, if her mommy will let it come.

That leaves three...anyone need a pillowcase?

Only 74 Days Until...

You are so wrong! 

I am not one of those people who count the days until Christmas.

It is only the most amazing event of the year...that is besides my Anniversary and daughter's birthday.

The 24-Hour Marathon of The Christmas Story movie begins on December 24th every year...please create an appointment in your calendar to begin at 12:00 Noon so you can enjoy each and every moment of the movie!



Smile!

Love me some Halloween Peeps...don't they just make you feel happy?

Flunking Basic Math

Sewing Last Night = One Movie (The Cadillac Lawyer) + One Diet Dr. Pepper + One Piece Turkey Jerky

This morning when I was comparing the pattern to the partially assembled rows from last night I found an ISSUE.

Basic Math....

Pattern shows EIGHT (8) blocks per row...somehow I have only SEVEN (7) blocks per row put together...and I have NINE(9) out of TEN (10) rows put together.

Let's count....1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10...isn't that the way it goes?

So how did I skip adding an eighth block?

Perhaps my basic equation for the night was off...maybe it should have included some chocolate?

Potato Chips with Chocolate?

Yes, you did read that correctly...potato chips with chocolate...see?

Oh, excuse me!  They're Milk Chocolate Covered Potato Chips...

I know what you're thinking...ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Does that accurately describe it?

Honestly, that's what I thought when I saw the bag..but then again I've tasted some pretty funky stuff:

- Chocolate Garlic Ice Cream (YUCK!)

- Garlic Iced Tea (YUCK!)

- Chocolate Covered Bacon (YUCK!)

- Bacon Cupcakes (YUCK!)

- 50% Bacon/50% Beef Hamburgers (WAY YUM!)

All I can say...these are WAY YUM!!!! Think thick rippled potato chips with salt covered in Milk Chocolate! 

I'll be stashing these in the studio...along with the Smashing S'mores....so the DH doesn't get them!

A Visit to Orange Quilt Bee

Today I needed a break..no laundry, no dirty dishes, and no cooking.

Can you say "ROAD TRIP"?

Not that I went far...just up to see a quilt store that I've never visited. Yeah, I know...bad me! And it's even in Orange County!

Orange Quilt Bee...located in Orange, California...down the road from the Stadium.

First Impressions: 

 - Welcoming, fun, cheery, and bright!

 - Plenty of fabric variety to choose from!

 - Fabrics grouped together by color, making color coordination easy!

Lasting Memories:

 - Overwelming quantity of fat quarters available...even the new stuff!

 - Riley Blake in stock..totally amazing!

Needless to say, I came home with a few fat quarters that I "needed" to have for the new string quilt I'm doing...don't laugh!  I really "needed" them.