3 Pink Week ~ Swirl Sugar Cookies

How often do I get to go pink crazy?!?!? Never! I'm the only girl in this house... except maybe, the fish. So when my sister asked me to help her plan and decorate for my niece's Pink Birthday Party I was like, hellz ya!

All week I am going to tempt you to cheat on your diet {I know I did} with these fabulous goodies. I started with pink swirl cookies and found a fun recipe here at Flexible Dreams.

I made my traditional sugar cookie dough. Uh Yum. Then broke it into thirds and added food colouring to two of the thirds. Colouring one portion red and the other pink.

I rolled out my three dough portions and layered them on top of each other.

Then I rolled them all into a log shape, refrigerated and cut.

After baking they turned into these cute swirl cookies that tasted as good as they looked!

Be sure to come back tomorrow for a cheaters way to fluffy, sparkly shortbread cookies. Thanks for visiting!

0 A Bloglift

I am super excited to be getting a BLOGlift! It's time for an updated, more cohesive look I think. Kim, from seven thirty three, has been working very hard on pulling all of the ideas and concepts that have been floating around my head together. And let me tell you, she has the patience of a saint! I had a really hard time putting what I would like to see, into words. Kim has done a fabulous job and I can't wait for you to see it!

AND it's Pink Week ~ Monday to Friday I will be sharing fabulous pink treats and inspiration. So yummy looking that you might want lick the computer screen. I'm just sayin'.

Thanks for reading my blog. I love having you visit!

3 Sewing ~ Rhythmic Dance Ribbons

You know how I said that word has got out? Hello, my name is Heather and I own a sewing machine? Well here is another fun project ~ by request.

28 Preschool Gymnastic Ribbons for the City's preschool dance programs.

I began by melting the edges of each ribbon with my BBQ lighter {who needs fray stop anyway?} :P

Then I looped the ribbon through a metal ring.

And sewed a sturdy x-box {hee hee}.

Here's a finished ribbon. I wish I had a picture of the participants using these ~ they'd be so cute!


Thank you for stopping by. Have a fabulous day!

4 Painting with Snow

Have I mentioned that I teach Preschool? No? Well I do. And it is a blast! I started offering programs for the City's Parks and Recreation department last fall. I have to say that instructing Move, Groove and Play has been one of the most rewarding.

I was asked by one of the parents, why on earth would I want to teach preschool with my own preschool aged twins at home? Wouldn't I want a break from toddlers?

At the time I didn't really have an answer. Who doesn't need a break from their toddler?

But now I have discovered that teaching preschool has had many benefits and rewards.

It has inspired me to sing more,

to read more and

to create more with my boys at home.

What I learn at preschool through the children and their parents, I take home and use with my own children. So here's a projected that I tested out on my Preschool Class and recreated at home with Cameron and Isaiah:

Using equal parts shaving cream and white glue they "painted" with snow. {Here's Isaiah}

They weren't too keen on finger painting so I pulled out some impromptu "brushes". {Here's Cameron}


This one kind of looked like a superhero to me.

Here's one of the paintings dry and all puffed up!


I am going to make an effort to post more Preschool Inspiration. What do you think of having videos with the ACTIONS to go along with all of those preschool songs? Like Bloop, Bloop Went the Little Green Frog and Zoom, Zoom, Zoom?


Thanks for visiting. Have a wonderful day!

2 Inspiring Creativity

Thank you for linking up and sharing your projects. I am loving all of the Valentine's Day inspiration:

Abbi from My Garden of Eden created these fabulous Valentine's Blocks.

Lindy from Itsy Bitsy Paper shared her cute Valentine Printable.

And Suzy, of Suzy's Artsy-Craftsy Sitcom, has created quite a trend with these Conversation Hearts!

Thanks for linking up ladies! Please grab my "I was featured" button.


Please grab my button so that others may share in the fun! You know what to do...

5 Sewing ~ New Life for a Guess Purse

It's funny what happens when people find out that you own a sewing machine... and know how to use it!

Long lost projects and well loved keepsakes start to come forward.

Could you? Would you? My reply? Of course! I'll try!

One of the girls at work had this gorgeous Guess purse. The insides were just a mess. Made with silk, the lining was falling apart. {The above photo is AFTER I fixed 'er up}.

The silk was frayed and hand sewn back together {with care} in many places.

I had fun pulling the lining out and using it as a template for new, sturdy cotton fabric.

I love this print - houndstooth with stripes and checks.

I even added a few pockets for a cell phone and lipgloss! I really enjoyed giving this gorgeous purse a new life and my girlfriend was thrilled!

What's next for the girl who owns and knows how to use her sewing machine? Stay tuned for Rhythmic Dance Ribbons and Window Seat Covers.

Thanks for reading! I am glad that you could stop by.

0 Test Kitch ~ Taco Salad

...adding some green to the menu.

Mixed greens, chili, shredded cheese and corn chips.

My Chili Recipe

1 lb ground beef {browned}

1tsp garlic {minced}

1 green pepper {diced}

3 celery stalks {diced}

1 med onion {diced}

1 can mushrooms

2 can beans

1 can tomatoe soup

1 28oz can diced tomatoes

2 tsp chilli seasoning

Into the crockpot for 8hrs on low.


Enjoy!

2 Feature Friday ~ Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

I am so going to have to try these!

Stop by I Design and say hi to Jackie who shares this easy, peasy recipe.

Thanks for stopping by!

1 Inspiring Creativity

Keep the inspiration coming! Link up and share your latest projects...

Thank you for visiting! Be sure to come back for Feature Friday. Have a fabulous day!

0 Test Kitch ~ Gluten Free Muffins

So this month, in support of our friends with wheat allergies and to start eating a little healthier, the hubs and I are going Gluten Free.

Disclaimer ~ I am so not an expert, you can learn more here from good ol' Wikipedia.

For this yummy recipe I simply substituted the regular flour in my amazing Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins for rice flour {pictured below}.

These muffins tasted the same as my usual batch however the texture was grainier and slightly drier. I give my friends who are Gluten Free {not by choice} mad props because it certainly has been challenging this month. But with easy substitutions like this one we've discovered some yummy alternatives to wheat.

Thank you for reading on! Have a wonderful day!

0 Test Kitch ~ Leftover Hash

Does your fridge overflow with leftovers? Mine does. While my hubs is pretty good about taking leftovers for lunch we often have a little... left over.

Simply adding frozen hashbrowns to my diced ingredients created an instant favorite.

Here's our hash with leftover stir fry, sausage and diced pepper and onion.

Fried up with margarine, salt and pepper.
Enjoy!


Happy Sunday.

1 Feature Friday ~ Dinosaur Hoodies

So I am totally going to have to make two of these! Sew cute!

Staci at Just Sew Sassy hooked us up with this fabulous project during my Inspiring Creativity Linky Party ~ check it out!

Check out Staci's tutorial here.

Thanks for reading my blog. Have a wonderful day!

0 Inspiring Creativity Linky

Welcome! I love Wednesdays and look forward to seeing what you have all been up to each week. Here are a few favorites from past parties:

Natacha at Scrapbooking, Card Making and Me shared her Reindeer Food treats. So cute! I think that the Easter Bunny might be getting some "rabbit food".

Lori at Paisley Passions showed us how she resurfaced her dining room table with chalkboard paint. Love it!

April from Wildflowers and Whimsy linked up this super cute jacket and pants project.

Thanks you so much for sharing and Inspiring Creativity. Please grab an "I Was Featured" button from my sidebar.

Now on to the PARTY!

Please grab my button so that others can share in the fun.

7 Super Hero T-shirts

Hey guys! I am thrilled to share these Super Hero T-shirts with you. Here's a project to kick off 2011:

Have you seen Astro Boy? During the holidays we had a movie night with the boys and watched it together. Well. Needless to say. They are hooked on superheros. It's so cute!

I designed monogrammed superman logos for each of them.

C for Cameron

I for Isaiah

Detail.


Thanks for visiting. Have a wonderful day!
Linking to these fab parties!

1 Test Kitch ~ Sausage Spinach Bake

I love pasta. And cheese. And baking.

My resolution for 2011? Sticking to my diet. Yeah. So this yummy Sausage Spinach Bake is from 2010.

Ooey, gooey, goodness. Sigh.

I sauteed a package of hot Italian sausage until cooked through. Then I added one diced onion and 2tsp of garlic. When the onion turned opaque I added one large can of diced tomatoes and a package of fresh spinach and removed from the heat.

I put the mixture into cannoli shells and layered them into my baking dish.

Then I sprinkled with 1/2 a tub of ricotta cheese...

and added one cup of mozzarella cheese on top.

I baked this at 350 for 40 mins.

We're a low carb household for January. With a couple of friends with wheat allergies ~ we're Gluten free this month. Be sure to check back for some new recipes that I have been trying!

Have a fabulous day!

0 Feature Friday ~ DIY Toddler Bed

This DIY Toddler Bed is on the top of my TO DO List this year.

And. I. Can't. Wait.

This project is from Gabrielle at Design Mom with a fabulous tutorial on the Design Sponge. As one commenter put it. It's kick ass.

Coming soon to a Pirate Bedroom in our house.

2 Inspiring Creativity Linky ~ The BEST of 2010...

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to share YOUR creativity! Today I wanted to review some of my favorite projects from last year. So here they are:

My super cute niece's birthday is in January. Last year I helped my lil' sis plan an Asian Inspired Birthday Party. I loved getting girlie!

For one of my Workshops in February I created these
Valentine Rice Krispies as party favours.

In March I painted and decorated the boys' bedroom to look like a
Pirate Ship. Seriously my favorite project!

I had a blast putting together a Mad Hatter Tea Party
in April. It's sure to be an annual event!

These Soft Swords were a perfect addition to the boys' pirate antics in May.

I went all out planning a Pink Lemonade Baby Shower for Alyssa in June. June was party time with a killer Poker Party and tons of planning for my grandparents' anniversary party.

I broke out the sewing machine for these Canada Day Tie T-shirts in July. Cute eh?

In August I started planning for my twins Birthday. A Monster Cake test run was totally successful.

This Monster Doll tutorial was a hit in September.

October was full of favorites. This Fall Cake was one...

and the boys' Monster Birthday Party another.

I pulled out my sewing machine again in November for this T-shirt Refashion for my sister-in-law.

In December I gave Sugar Cookies one more shot... with fabulous results!

Now it's your turn. What have you been up to?