"P" Ring

I bought this sweet ring last fall, wore it a few times and then tucked it away in my jewlery box. About a week ago I dug it out and started wearing it again..since then I have gotten so many compliments. The compliments always make my day and so does the ring. Adam took this photo, I wish we had a beyond fantastic camera....I would have the best photos curtesy of him.

1936-ish Bookmark?

The book I have been curled up reading is: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. It is one of my favorites and anyone who wants to get me the perfect gift - there you go! I have a decent collection of about 8 that my family has given me over the last 12 years or so. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend you do.

While reading from a particular book from my collection at about page 200 I came across this little comic and thought oh, how fascinating...someone's little bookmark. This is how one person choose to mark their place in my favorite book. A bit of interesting pop culture. We'll I got really interested in this little cartoon after a few days and thought I would use a little google ingenuity and see what I could find:

Pud and Pep the dog - I think

In 1930, he started his business in a small Philadelphia loft with nothing more than a barrel of sugar, a barrel of glucose and about $25. There were two rooms in the loft; Bowman lived in one room and mixed the gum ingredients himself in the other. That small start-up was built into Gum, Inc and his chief brand was called Blony. By the end of the decade, Bowman was among the top executives in the bubble gum industry through his skill and determination. He had even expanded from those initial two rooms to the entire building. By 1938, he was ready to sell his gum with cards.

During this time, many of these gum companies were wrapping their larger gum pieces with comics. Fleer's Dubble Bubble long used cartoons -- Fleer Funnies -- on its packaging, and gave each a number. Starting with #131, the comics had color added and characters introduced: Pudge, Bud, Tim and Pep the dog. Later, Pudge's name would be shortened to Pud and he became the most recognized character.

If you would like to read the entire article (1 page) click here!

Obviously I am not an authority, but this might ( just might) be a cartoon from when the book was originally publish in 1936! How cool would that be?

Little Sprouts

I went out to inspect my garden beds and guess what I found:

My daffodils!- they will be white with an orange center

My peonies! - they will be a deep red

My tulips! - they will be a pretty soft pink

I can't wait!

Block Exchange

While hosting Tom and Lucy' s Art Shoppe I met up with an old friend from my hometown. Come to find out, she and her two sister's love to quilt. What a small world! A few weeks ago, I was asked to participate in a block exchange with them. I jumped at the chance, I have never participated in a quilt block exchange, but always thought it would be fun: a perfect opportunity to meet local quilters and go out of my comfort zone with a new pattern! Kristin, thanks for the invite.

Here is my first block completed, only 11 more to go!

Hiatus

Hello Everyone,

I'm back from a little R& R and wanted to update you on some of the fun we have been having....

Most of the snow is off the roads and out of the valley, so we have been enjoying one of our favorite Christmas presents.

To play and sled we headed to the mountains.

Curled up with one of my favorite books...want to guess what it is?

Visited the Pony Express Memorial.

Winner!

Drum Roll Please......

Congratulations! Amber you were selected at random to be the winner of the Valentine Giveaway! I will been contacting you shortly.

A big thank you to everyone who entered, it was really fun to do my first giveaway, lets do it again for Easter!

Here is the proof. He thought it was a fun game!

VaLeNtInE GiVeAwAy

Hello Everyone! Thanks for stopping by, hope everyone is having a great Valentine's Day! Here is my giveaway: 3 oh, so cute hair barrets - handmade by me. One lucky winner will recieve all three! Just make a comment on this post and tell me how you are spending your Valentine's. (please include your email, so I can contact you) Giveaway ends Tuesday 2/17 at noon!

Example: Today I made a delicious breakfast for my family, we went to a great movie with the kids, had some chocolate dipped strawberries and I watched a romantic movie at home with my hubby. cardwelldone@gmail.com

I will pick a random winner and announce it Wednesday Morning! thanks pamela

Valentine Marshmallows

Since Valentines falls on a Saturday, there is no excuse to not make a great breakfast for your loved ones!!! I am making aebleskivers (recipe here) and of course hot chocolate. I don't know about you but my boys always want marshmallows, like the very idea of hot chocolate without marshmallows is inconceivable!

I made these yesterday with my three year old (super easy) he loved dipping them in the sprinkles. I also love that the marshmallows are the strawberry kind, which makes them pink! All you need is large marshmallows, candy sticks from Wilton, chocolate chips and sprinkles.

"Stick" your marshmallow into the candy stick. Melt your chocolate, I did about a half of bag of chocolate chips in the microwave for 45 seconds. Then, dip your marshmallow into the chocolate and then into the sprinkles. Place marshmallow sticks on tin foil or wax paper so the chocolate can set.

My boys are going to love having their hot chocolate tomorrow with these Valentine Marshmallows. Don't forget to check back tomorrow I am doing my first giveaway ever!

Valentine Shoes

I treated myself to an early Valentine Gift!!!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Before I was married, when I lived in Salt Lake I lived a stones throw from Cummins Studio Chocolates, and on more than one occasion I would drop in for their famous chocolate covered strawberries. The were always big, sweet and beautiful. We even had them at our wedding!!!

After a few years I wised up and started making my own. They may not be as beautiful, but they are easy on the bank account and you can eat twice as many!!

Dipping Strawberries is as easy as 1,2,3: FIRST: clean and dry all your berries SECOND: melt your chocolate - I use my favoarite chocolate chips and melt in the microwave THIRD: dip strawberries in chocolate.

steps 4, 5,6 are as follows: Place strawberries on tin foil or wax paper allow chocolate to set. Sprinkle berries with festive color. Eat and enjoy.

A Candy Box for Dad

Although my boys are young they do notice around Valentine's Day the smorgasbord of Valentine gifts and candy boxes. So this year, I thought lets make our own "candy box" and give it to Dad for Valentine's. This project was very easy, simple and all boy!

I took the boys to our local craft store and found a suitable box. My boys thought this one kinda looked like a briefcase!! We got out all our paints and brushes and they went to town. Covering the entire box with fun colors and designs. (Allow box to dry overnight, depending on how many coats of paint were applied.) Then we went to our local grocery store and loaded up on all of Dad's favorite candies and valentine treats.

In a quick afternoon we had painted and put together a great gift for Dad. The boys want to surprise him and leave it in his car tomorrow morning so he can take his candy box to work.

Sugar Cookies

cookie pictures provided by Fahrenheit 350

Sugar Cookie Recipe:

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup softened butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Cream together powered sugar, butter, egg and vanilla. Add flour, tartar and soda mix thoroughly.

Wrap dough in cellophane and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. This will make it easy to roll and cut the dough.

Roll the dough out on a flour surface, about 1/4 inch thick. I like my sugar cookies thick! Use your favorite heart shaped cookie cutter, keep rolling and cutting until all the dough is gone. Cook at 375 degrees for 8 minutes - the cookies should just barely be browning on the sides. You will be sad if they over cook!

After the cookies have completely cooled: frost and decorate.

My little Sis, Kitty, decorated these cookies on her blog. thanks for the pics!

Teacher's Sugar Free Gift

My son's teacher has just recently been diagnosed with diabetes and she is asking all her students for sugar free candy this Valentine's Day. My family is no stranger to diabetes and I thought instead of sugar free candy I would give her a gift she might enjoy just a much.

Winter Soup - this is a great recipe because you make it, enjoy it and give it away. Here is how it works.

In a large mixing bowl combine your Main Ingredients:
14 ounces of split peas
14 ounces of small pasta shells
1 3/4 cups or 12 ounces of barley
12 ounces of lentils
1 1/2 cups of long grain rice
2 cups dried onions
1/2 cup dried parsley flakes

I thought since it was a Valentine's gift I would put the soup's dry ingredients in this cute polka dotted container. Found and purchased at the dollar store!

You have now created your Main Ingredient Packet: Place 1 1/3 cups in 6-7 separate zip lock sandwich bags. Each Main Ingredient Packet also needs a Seasoning Packet, now combine:

2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon of seasoning salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1/4 teaspoon Shillings Fajita Seasoning

Place in small zip lock bag. Remember each Main ingredient packet needs its very own seasoning packet. (matchy, matchy - 6-7 separate seasoning packets to go with your 6-7 main ingredient packets)

seasoning packet, I included the bullion cubes - just to be nice!

Now Combine Altogether:
2 quarts of water
Main Ingredient Packet
Seasoning Packet
4 chicken bullion cubes
2 cups cooked cubed chicken
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, sliced
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
This last portion of directions is what you will include when you give your friends the soup!

Keep one packet for yourself and give the other 6 away as gifts to your teachers, friends, neighbors and loved ones this Valentine's Day.

Poems for Valentine's Day

Translation: Roses are red, I like you but I don't like BYU, I like the U. I like red not blue.

Translation: Cupid was really happy it was Valentine's Day he was looking for somebody who was in love, he went in a school he was looking and looking but a teacher came out of a classroom.

Cupid Quilt

Last Valentine's Day I made this quilt. I was inspired by a pillow on the front of the Jan/Feb 08 Issue of Mary Engelbreit's Home Magazine. A cupid very similar was on the cover! Making a Valentine Quilt and has always been on "my list" and once inspired with the direction to take the quilt the creativity flowed.

The harlequin fabric is from Anna Griffin.

One of my very favorite blocks is the Nine Patch, I just love it!

I got to use all my favorite fabrics in this quilt and my other love, washed wool. The wool was originally white until I washed it with red (wool) to make pink! My dear friend Ella machined quilted it, with a meandering heart stitch.

A Sweet Valentine

My husband knows how much I love Valentine's Day and after my grandmother's death, in Boise, we went to an antique store. While in the store he secretly bought me this sweet gift.

This Valentine only gets better....this hand written (in pencil) message was on the back! message: Can you guess?

Go out there and find, make, create or buy that special love a one-of-a-kind valentine.