My Son's Two Years Old

Wow,  has the time flown by this last year. The first year seemed to be a lot longer than his second. We had a wonderful birthday party for him and I made a triple chocolate shih tzu dog cake for him. We have three shih tzus and he just adores them. I had a bear cake pan from a garage sale I bought a couple years ago. So I decided it was time to use the pan and here's the result.

I think now I should of left off the little dark patches that our dogs have but oh well. The cake flavor turned out awesome but had a little sunken part in the center because it was so moist but frosting covers almost all faults. The recipe used brewed coffee and was so yummy. The frosting was from an older Hershey's cookbook and was great. The white centers are just melted white chocolate with semi-sweet. We couldn't stop eating it.

Yum!

I also made these cupcakes with sprinkles and chocolate chips on top. The cookies behind were no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies and were a huge hit too! In the picture is what was left from around 9 dozen cookies.  I had about twenty people of family and friends. I made a salad I just love and it was completely gone, by the end people were picking at the bottom for little bits to eat.

So here is the recipe:

I use seasoned rice wine vinegar Nakano if I spelled it right about 1/2c or more to taste

A really good extra virgin olive oil, which for people who aren't really sure is a first cold pressing olive oil. It will tell you on the package front if it is cold pressed and first pressing. I use about 1/4 c to 1/2 c. Heavy on the pepper. For about 6 c lettuce I use iceberg and mixed greens. Try and find a great blue cheese that you like, there are a lot of blue cheeses and it's worth taking the time to find the type you like. I like an Amish or Gorgonzola. Then I mix in 1/2 c or more dried sweetened cranberries, 1/2 c or more of toasted nuts. I like pecans and it is worth the time to roast them for 10-15 minutes in the oven on 350 degrees till they get a nice light brown and very toasted taste. Then I crumble them for the salad. That is the basic and then you can add from there what you like. Examples would be tomato, some people like bacon cooked crisp. I like a little ground flax seed and maybe sunflower seeds with boiled, diced egg and avocado. Mix it well and serve. We make a meal out of just this salad.

Keith Lo Bue workshop

I had a great time at the Keith Lo Bue workshop "Papering it Over". I traveled a little over three hours for the one day workshop in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Keith is very funny, he brought a lot of his jewelry to show and several tools for purchase. Here's a couple pic's of his jewelry and the one on the cover of  Belle Armoire Jewelry.

He makes his own chain for the pieces and I wish I could of taken that class too but I had to get back home. I was sad to see the picture I had taken with Keith was so blurry.

 Oh well, I was acting like such a groupie I had so much fun. I took several of my frozen charlotte dolls that I have for sale in my etsy shop with me and sold them at the class to help with the cost. The class was held at Scrap 2 It a new scrap booking store and it was a great set up to work in. Christine from the Artist Nook gets all of the artists to come but told us this will be the last year. He will also be doing the online Artful Gathering online classes so check them out.

Keith Lo Bue Workshop

I am so excited to be able to go this week end to a Keith Lo Bue workshop in Ft. Collins. If you don't know who he is google him NOW! He makes amazing found object jewelry and assemblage. I just got my Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine and he is featured on the front, which I will be taking for him to sign. I am only able to take a one day course but I can't wait. I should've booked the whole weekend but couldn't afford it and am now regretting not putting it on the credit card. I love the work he does and find it so interesting. When I show it to my DH he just stares and says "that's nice" he cracks me up! He doesn't want to say he doesn't like something I do so I get a lot of "that's nice honey". I like a wide range of art and his views are a lot more narrow. He's fully supportive and that is what matters. So if I make something worth showing and it's not too embarrassing I'll post it. I've started the search for found objects to bring with me and I still need to go through several boxes in the garage. I didn't start earlier because I know how I am. I would of started searching thrift stores and junk stores for elements and ended up with a suitcase to bring so I waited. But now I feel uncontrollable excitement and my bodies almost vibrating with the need to start the hunt. I'm one of those people that pick stuff up off the ground in parking lots and when I'm walking. I have a ashtray in my car full of acorn tops. I used to think I was weird but realize after reading blogs etc. I am not the only one. ;P

Punkies murals

I decided to show everyone the murals I did for my son's room. Before he was born I found the cutest crib set for him. I really enjoyed painting his room and the whole nesting thing. I'm very thrifty but had to send the money on this set which was on discount by the way.

I did the whole room because I couldn't stop at one wall. We are going to be trying to move this year into a bigger house and I'm really going to miss this room. I have a wonderful upholstered glider recliner and just had a blissful time rocking him to sleep. The room feels so peaceful. I would really recommend doing something like this for your kids. The sense of accomplishment you get and it just makes you smile when you walk in the room.