Simple Baby Shower Invitations

Seems like everyone in my office is having a baby! I got to help throw a shower for one of my co-workers recently and I wanted to craft a simple yet modern/elegant invitation. Here were the results!

The small onsie was cut out using my Cricut and the New Arrival cartridge I borrowed from a friend. The invitations were a big hit! Simple to make, but cute and modern.

Best Shower Cleaner Ever!

Simple! Simple! Simple!

I keep seeing blog posts and pinterest posts with a version of this shower cleaner. Everyone claims that it is the BEST. Well, I'm here to tell you that it is! I hate using smelly, chemical filled shower cleaners in our poorly ventelated bathroom, so I was eagar to give this a try.

Just mix equal parts vinegar and dish soap in a spray bottle (I used a funnel to prevent spilling). Spray on your shower and tub and after about 10 minutes wipe clean. It worked so well! No harsh chemicals, no smell and a fraction of the cost of most shower cleaning products!!



Wedding Shower: Orange and Green Cupcakes and Cookies

Here are some pictures from the wedding shower I just helped throw for one of my best friends! We have known each other since my freshman year of college, and I am so excited to be celebrating her wedding day with her!

The colors for the wedding are green and orange, so I had to make sure that the cupcakes and favors (decorated sugar cookies) fit right in!

I decorated the cupcakes with buttercream frosting tinted with Wilton's leaf green coloring. I used a medium sized star tip to decorate. Then I topped each cupcake with a simple orange flower that I pipped using orange tinted royal icing.

I felt like there were cupcakes everywhere in my kitchen that day!!!

The favors were simple sugar cookies decorated to again match the green and orange theme.

Again, I felt like my kitchen was taken over! But these cookies were really simple. I used royal icing to pipe a boarder on the edges of the cookies and a simple sugar cookie frosting to fill in the rest. The white flowers in the middle were also made by pipping royal icing.

All in all the shower was a success and everyone loved the treats! I can't wait to celebrate with the bride and groom at the wedding!

Simple DIY Cupcake Stand

My friend is getting married! And we just threw her a lovely shower to celebrate. I was put in charge of the desserts and favors.

To give the dessert table just a little some extra, I decied to make matching cake stands using the wedding colors (green and orange).

The project was simple, I purchased two chargers (one round and one square) and a bud vase from Michaels and then used a strong adhesive to bond them together!

In total, this project cost $6 for each stand! So simple and it really added something to the overall presentation.

Cars Cake: 2nd Birthday Cake

A few weeks ago I got to make a birthday cake for a cute 2 years old. After talking with his mom, I found out that he was really into toy cars and trucks. Searching around online, I found some excellent inspiration and quickly put this cake together.

I used a yellow cake mix in a 8x3 pan, which I torted and filled with frosting. The majority of the cake is covered in Wilton's Leaf Green tinted butter cream and the black fondant I purchased as a precut sheet. The "tunnel" on the front of the cake was made from a square of cake that was cut off the top when I was leveling.

I hope that Caden enjoyed his cake! I can't wait to see pictures!



Creamy Meat Sauce

The other night, I realized that I had a partial carton of cream left in the fridge from making whipped cream. I wasn't exactly sure what I could do with it, but I did not want it to go to waste.

Looking around in my freezer and pantry, I was able to come up with some ingredients for a creamy meaty pasta sauce. The end result was delectable....even if it wasn't very healthy.....but I won't tell anyone if you won't!

First, I started off by boiling an entire box of pasta. Then, I cooked 2 small onions that had been chopped and 4 minced garlic cloves in some olive oil in a large skillet. Next, I added in a pound of ground beef and cooked it thoroughly, until it was no longer pink.

Next, I added a large can on crushed tomatoes to the meat mixture. I allowed the mixture to come up to a boil and then reduced the heat as low as it could go.  By this time, the pasta was finished, so I drained the water and returned the pasta to the pot. I went back to the sauce and with the heat still on very low, I slowly stirred in a cup of cream. I then poured the sauce on top of the pasta and stirred in about a cup of mozzarella cheese.

This easy and quick meal comes together in less than 30 minutes and makes a rich and tasty meal!

Recipe Recap

1 Tsp olive oil

2 small onions/1 medium onion chopped

4 cloves of garlic minced

1 pound ground beef

1 large can crushed tomatoes

1 cup cream

1 pound pasta cooked

1 cup mozzarella cheese

Cook the onions and garlic in the oil until translucent. Then add the beef to the pan and cook until no longer pink. Add the tomatoes and bring to a boil, reduce the heat to its lowest setting and stir in the cream. Pour the sauce over the cooked pasta, stir in the cheese and serve.

Perfect Pot Roast

Looking for an easy and simple pot roast recipe?? To start, you will need any sort of beef roast and some simple root vegetables.

Start off by browning the meat on all sides in some vegetable oil until it is brown. Use a large, heavy bottomed pot. While you are doing this, chop up your veggies. I used carrots, celery and onions, but you could add potatoes, turnips, anything that can stand up to a long cook time.

When the meat is browned, take it out of the pot at brown the onions for a few minutes by themselves. Once the onions have a little color, add in the rest of the veggies and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir the veggies a few times, allowing them to pick up some of the bits and pieces of brown form the bottom of the pot. 

Put the meat on top of the veggies and then add 4-6 cups of water (enough to cover veggies and come up to the sides of the beef) and some beef stock base/bullion cubes. If you want you can also add some herbs, I added 1 bay leaf and some oregano. Allow the water to come up to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover the pot and allow the meat to cook for 3-4 hours, turning the meat every 30 minutes.

I like to serve the pot roast with crusty bread. Ymmmm!!! 

Recipe Recap:

3-4 lb beef roast

3 medium onions

4 carrots

5 stalks celery

4 cups water

2 tsp beef base

1 bay leaf

1 Tsp  oregano

Brown the meat in 2 Tsp of oil, then remove the meat and brown the onions and other veggies. Put the meat back in the pan, add the water, herbs and beef base and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 3-4 hours, turning the meat every 30 minutes. Enjoy!