Monday, September 23, 2013

I have moved

I have moved to a Wordpress self hosted site. Please visit me over there at http://tillthensmileoften.com.


Monday, February 18, 2013

Weekend Update

Such a crazy weekend. It was not at all what I had planned but fun either way.


weekend-1


image


1. Packed my bags to spend the night at my friend Heather's house in order to run a 5k race.


2. We went to the mall to the "Bouncy House" best invention for wearing out kids. It has multiple areas of bouncing obstacle courses. My friend Heather's daughter met her first boyfriend. This little boy was so cute. He followed her around opening the mesh doors for her, moving obstacles out of the way for her. Such a gentleman.


3. We woke up to snow which ending up cancelling our 5k race but it did not stop the dance party. She was rocking it out 80's style. She is so cute and has so much energy. Oh to be young again.


4. We did a lot of shopping since we couldn't run (makes sense to me!) so I had to catch up on the missed workouts so Les Mills Combat 45 was one of many I did today.


5. Weekend is never complete without a snuggle session with Seamus. Seriously he is just so adorable I can't help myself from snapping many pics of him.


What did you do this weekend? Would love to hear from you.


Linking up with Sami at Sami's Shenanigans and Leann at Join the Gossip .


Labels:

Saturday, February 16, 2013

I am a DORK!!

 


                                       Source: sturdyforcommonthings.com via Rebecca on Pinterest




 

 

Yes I really am. To those who don't know me, I am really SHY.  To those who know me, you may be laughing your faces off. It takes me awhile to warm up but when I do I become outspoken, silly, dramatic and some may wish that I was a little more quiet. Hope not but I am realistic! ;)


Do you ever have those moments that haunt you, that you overanalyze a million times as to what you could have done differently. See I spent my vacation day running around like a crazy person trying to catch up on all the errands I am behind in doing. While at Lowe's I passed an aisle and caught the eye of this guy. No big deal, right? Wrong. Because I AM A DORK. I bolted into the next aisle which wasn't completely wrong since I was looking for a flashlight and it was the electric section, however I am sitting there looking at SOLAR landscape lights. Why is this weird? People we still have a FOOT of snow on the ground from last weeks blizzard. Why would I be looking for SOLAR lights? Funny thing is he turned the corner and started looking at the lights too! Would I see this as a sign to strike up a conversation? NO!! Because I am a DORK! I slowly started to keep walking down the aisle until my palms stopped sweating.  Seriously what am I seven?


So I got the rest of my items and I am checking out and the guy appears and is next in line. Do I take the chance to strike up a conversation, stop to give him a chance to check out then talk to him. No I run, not walk out of that store.  This is why I am single, because I am a DORK!


This is why I am single. I do not read the signs until hours later. SMH. Hopefully next time I will read the signs a little earlier and maybe hit up Lowe's for a little more embarrasement next weekend! Please tell me I am not the only DORK out there?!!


 

Labels: , ,

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Saw It. Pinned It. Did It. - Heart Shaped Pie

What better Pinterest inspired Saw It. Pinned It. Did It then a heart shaped pie!! On Valentine's Day no less!?!


I almost went to Le Cordon Blue to become a baker (still a bucket list goal) so I tend to like to bake from scratch whenever possible.  However I know that some people want things to be quicker and easier so I will try to provide alternate versions.


 




 


 


The inspiration :





*This recipe for the pie crust is from an old magazine with pull out recipe cards so not sure which one it was in. Here is the recipe card.


recipeIngredients:


pie-1


3 cups flour * 1/2 cup powdered sugar * 1 Tsp baking powder * 1/4 Tsp salt * 1 cup (2 sticks) butter cut into small pieces * 6-8 Tbsp ice water


1. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.


pie-2


Cut in butter with blender, pastry blender or two knives until coarse crumbles form.


pie-3


Add water 1 TBSP at a time toss with fork until mixture holds together.


 pie-4


Divide dough in half ; cover and chill for 30 minutes or until firm.


pie-5


EXPRESS VERSION : Go to the frozen food section, and buy frozen pie crust.


For the pie filling I used the recipe found here.


2 pounds sour cherries, pitted * 1 1/8 cups white sugar * 3 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch * 1 tablespoon butter * 1/4 teaspoon almond extract


Pit and de-stem the cherries.


pie-6


In a saucepan, combine cherries, sugar and cornstarch.


pie-7


Let sit for about 10 minutes. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until the juices thicken and become translucent. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and almond extract.


EXPRESS VERSION: Pull out pie filling from cabinet.


pie-14


Pull out your pie crust from the fridge. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness.


pie-8


Cut with your heart shaped cookie cutter.


pie-9


 Re-roll and cut out more heart shapes. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Beat one egg and 1 Tbsp water in a cup. Moisten edge of dough with egg mixture. pie-10


 Place about 1/2 Tbsp of cherry pie filling in the center of each heart.


pie-11


 Place another crust on top. Press edges together with a fork to seal in filling. (A little might smoosh out, that's okay)


pie-12


Brush the top with more egg mixture. Cut a few slashes in top to vent.


pie-13 Bake 20-23 minutes at 375 degrees or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely.


pie-15


OPTIONAL: Using a pastry brush wet the top of the pastry with water and add sprinkles.


 pie-16


So for those of you who didn't want to do the from scratch version let me recap the express version - Let pie crust come to room temp, roll out, cut with cookie cutter, egg wash, fill with canned pie filling of your choice, fork to close, egg wash, cut slits, bake. Done! ;)


What do you think, worth a shot? Happy Valentine's Day to everyone.  If you are single, remember Valentine's if for showing ALL the people you love how you care. Spread the love!


Don’t forget to check out the two co-hosts of this linking party, Steph and Katie. Join the linkup with your Pinterest projects and take a look at all the other projects completed!


Labels: , , ,

Oh, how Pinteresting

It’s time for Oh, How Pinteresting!! Looking forward to the end of this week, as I have a four-day weekend!! Yeah, baby!!




Head on over to The Vintage Apple and linkup! Feel free to add me on Pinterest to share our other wonderful things!


**********************************************************************
 





 


 Absolutely stunning.





 


 Orange Julius tasting drink. I'm in.





 


 I have two adorable nieces that would look great in this dress.





 


 I have been in love with anchors recently.


 





 


 





 


 





 


 My puppy LOVES peanut butter!!


 **************************************************************


  Look forward to seeing what everyone else is pinning.


Don’t forget to come on by tomorrow for another addition of Saw It. Pinned It. Did It! I have some yummy treats to share.


 

Labels: , , ,

Monday, February 11, 2013

Weekend Update

 Thanks to a little Blizzard called Nemo, my weekend actually started on Friday!! My work notified us on Thursday they would be closed on Friday to prepare, so I got extra pajama time. I am not going to turn that down!!


  Collage


 One. Seamus got a little tired waiting for the snow to come. 


Two. Nemo arrived!! This was what I woke up to on Saturday. I already plowed about 6 inches of snow so another 2-2.5 inches dumped overnight.


Three. Bundled up Seamus to go for a walk! Isn't he adorable! :)


Four. Hearty breakfast in preparation of shoveling. Egg Bakes, low carb bread and coffee. Yum!


Five. The day and night consisted of getting warm, watching movies and a little adult beverages. Don't judge!


Six. I was lucky in that I only needed salad fixing and fruit since the grocery store was void of frozen foods, and bread was annihilated.


Seven.  Even the chicken section was bare.


Eight. After grocery shopping Sunday consisted of snuggling with Seamus. This is more like an every night kind of thing, but a lot of Sunday. Love him to the moon.


What did you do this weekend? Would love to hear from you.


 Linking up with Sami at Sami's Shenanigans and Leann at Join the Gossip .



 


 

Labels: ,

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Saw It. Pinned It. Did It. - Valentine's Display

It is Thursday! Woohoo! Which means it is almost Friday and time for another Saw It. Pinned It. Did It. I absolutely LOVE this linkup. I actually get to complete some of my pins and not just look at how pretty they look. :)


For some reason I keep picking inspiration from Pinterest without instructions so I have to wing it. This week is no exception! My hands went a little numb from cutting all the circles so if I missed anything or you need clarification feel free to email me at tillthensmileoften@gmail.com. Hope you like this project because I LOVED it!!


My inspiration:


 





 


 


What you will need:


Picture frame - I used an 8x10 frame


Printable - free (download directly here)


Picture frame stand (Cookbook stand same diff)


Hurricane/Apothecary type jar


Felt in Pink and Red (I used 3 sheets of each color - 8x10 in size)


Scissors


Glue Gun


Glue Sticks


Sewing Pins - flat head


2 Small Styrofoam balls


Pinterest


The first step is to print out the free Valentine text and place in the picture frame. Place in the plate stand. That is the easy part.


Next begin cutting out your felt circles. I used a circle candle holder as a template and then used the cut circle as a guide cutting out the rest. I ended up using about 60 circles. The circles were about 2-3" in diameter. *On a side note my fingers started to go numb so I cut one color and then rested for a few hours before cutting the other color out.


Pinterest-1


 


Take one felt circle and fold in half. Place a dab of glue in the center and press flat in half.


Pinterest-2


 


Fold that in half again, glue in the center and press flat.


Pinterest-3


 


It should now look like a triangle. Pin the corner point to the styrofoam ball using the flat head sewing pin.


 Pinterest-4


Repeat and place next to the first working in a circle.


Pinterest-5 Pinterest-6


Keep working until the ball is completely covered, then place another folded circle and hot glue onto each circle covering the pins.  Fill in any gaps as needed.


Pinterest-7


Repeat with the other color and ball. Place in the hurricane glass, display and you are done!!


Pinterest-8


 


Don’t forget to check out the two co-hosts of this linking party, Steph and Katie. Join the linkup with your Pinterest projects and take a look at all the other projects completed!


 

Labels: , , , ,