A bowl full of lemons.: Thirty-one gift certificate giveaway!!!

These bags are fantastic. I don't own one yet, but my friend recently had a 31 Party and the bags are fabulous.

A bowl full of lemons.: Thirty-one gift certificate giveaway!!!: I am just in love with Thirty-one organizing products , and the organizing utility tote is my all time favorite. If you have been reading ...

52 Weeks of Hershey's - Week Six: Hershey's Triple Chocolate Cookies

Okay, first some bad news.  I know you all wait on each week for the new post of this segment.  You all wait to see what yummy recipe I've whipped up and if I actually liked it.  Well, this segment will no longer be weekly (though I'll still refer to it as 52 Weeks of Hershey's).  See, the thing is, the husband and I have recently started a little exercise regimen called P90X.  Oh, you mean you've heard of it?  Well, if you haven't, click here.  It is eXtreme.  Anyway, we (mainly the husband) has decided that 52 Weeks of Hershey's isn't actually conducive to eating healthy.  So, instead of weekly, the segment will now be sporadically.  As a result, I will try to be more crafty and what not so that I will have things to post about in between the yummy Hershey's.  With that out of the way, let's get down to business.

I have one word for these cookie: Yum!  The triple chocolate consists of cocoa powder, semi-sweet chocolate chips and Hershey's Kisses.  I really liked that they offered variations.  Instead of regular Kisses, they suggested Kisses with Almonds (I didn't use those because I wasn't sure if the kiddos would like it).  I think they would be good with any variety of Kisses, or Hugs for that matter.  There is also a variation for a vanilla cookie instead of chocolate, but then they wouldn't be triple chocolate, just double.  These are so good, I wish I could convince my husband that Tony wouldn't oppose to me eating more.

52 Weeks of Hersheys - Week Five: Strawberry Chocolate Chip Shortcake

This recipe wasn't my favorite.  It was good, but wasn't great.  My kids all loved it (including the baby), but I didn't.  As they were eating it, they asked if I could make it again.  I think it would actually be better if the bottom layer was just a plain chocolate chip cookie dough recipe (actually I was thinking as I made this that it would be easier to just buy some refrigerated cookie dough for the bottom, but then I figured it wouldn't be like shortbread).  Also, I think there may have been too much sour cream in the middle layer, I could really taste it.  As I said before I liked it, but didn't love it and despite my kids' pleading I don't know if I'll make it again.

52 Weeks of Hersheys - Week Four: Chewy Chocolate-Cinnamon Cookies

I almost forgot again this week, but I remembered today and got it done.  And boy am I glad that I did.  I tried another cookie recipe.  They are delish.  As I was making them, it reminded me of a recipe for cookies that I already have called chocolate snickerdoodles.  I was kind of regretting trying out the new recipe, but I'm so happy that I didn't change my mind because I think these are better.  They were super easy to make.  The only set back was the thirty minutes that the dough had to sit in the fridge to get firm (I hate having to wait, so I usually skip recipes that call for this step).  However, I will definitely make these again and probably double the recipe (it claims to make about 40 cookies; I got two dozen).

52 Weeks of Hersheys - Week Three: Reese's Peanut Butter and Milk Chocolate Studded Oatmeal Cookies

See, I promised I'd be better now that vacations are over and life is back to normal.  I'll admit, I almost forgot.  I've been getting ready for the baby's first birthday, so I decided to do something easy.  I found this recipe for cookies and decided to go the bar route (saving me time since I wouldn't have to roll all the cookies one by one).  I liked this recipe because I already had everything on hand, so I just softened the butter and whipped up a batch.  They are yummy.  I have not yet tried one of the Hershey's recipes that I don't like.  On a side note, I found out the baby isn't allergic to peanut butter today after giving her one of these bars (it wasn't until after she had already completely inhaled it that I remembered it contained PB and she shouldn't be eating it).

The Finished Product...Yum!

52 Weeks of Hersheys - Week Two: Reese's Peanut Butter and Milk Chocolate Chip Crescents

Okay, okay, I know I've been remiss.  I said that I was going to try a new recipe each week for a year and post about it.  I made one post and that was all.  Well, I unexpectedly went on vacation for two weeks (well, it wasn't exactly unexpected, it was just pushed up two weeks), then I came home and left on another vacation, then I came home and got sick.  So, baking wasn't on the top of my list; neither was blogging.  I did make one recipe while I was on vacation, so I wasn't a complete slacker.  I will post that today and now I will start posting this as a weekly segment.

The Reese's Peanut Butter and Milk Chocolate Chip Crescents were really good, surprisingly.  I like peanut butter and chocolate, but it isn't my favorite flavor combination (chocolate and mint, now we're talking).  I thought I would try it out, knowing that even if it wasn't delicious my kids would enjoy them.  They were delectable.  I was shocked at how well they turned out.  And they were so easy.

Filling the crescents

Popping them into the oven

Putting the finishing touches on

And...voila!

52 Weeks of Hersheys - Week One: Chocolate Streusel Coffecake

Two years ago I bought this Hershey's Cookbook on Clearance at Target after Valentine's Day.  It has so many recipes that I wanted to try.  I think in that last year and a half I've only tried one of them.  So, the other day as I was grabbing one of my other cookbooks for a recipe, I noticed this one up in the cupboard and grabbed it down.  And low and behold, a new blog segment was born.  I decided that I would try one of the recipes each week and blog about it.

Last Saturday, I made me first recipe: Chocolate Streusel Coffeecake.  It was absolutely delicious and my family gobbled it down.  I'm not a big fan of nuts in my food and this recipe called for chopped nuts in the Streusel (the topping).  I used walnuts.  I think next time I'll leave out the nuts and substitute something else: perhaps more mini chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, Andes mint pieces or peanut butter chips.  Only time will tell.

Chocolate Streusel Coffeecake

Scentsy Giveaway @ ABFOL

A Bowl Full of Lemons is having another great giveaway: Scentsy!!!
Go take a look.

Car Seat Canopies

I make car seat canopies for infant car seats.  They are really cute and great to have.  I have one that use on my baby's car seat.  It keeps out sun and unwanted touching (you know, all those people that just have to touch your cute baby even when he or she is sleeping).  Anyway, I currently have 7 different ones for sale in my shop and I just reduced the price by 20%!!!  So, go take a looksie.  I also can make custom canopies.  Here are a few that I made custom:

This is the canopy that I made for my baby.

This was a custom order last year.  The inner material is flannel (I normally use cotton, but my customer requested flannel to keep her grandbaby warmer).

I made this one as a baby gift (I've made several as baby gifts, but unfortunately I often forget to take pictures before I wrap them up).

So, if you are interested in a car seat canopy, but aren't liking the material of the ones I've already made, you can contact me and I can make it custom.

French Memory Boards

It must be your lucky day: two new posts in one day.  In my etsy shop, I sell French Memory Boards (among other things).  Right now I have two up for sale.  Recently I have made some others.  I made two on special order, and a third I made for a gift for a friend.  I was waiting to make this post because I have two more that I'm working on, but they are yet to be done.  Anyway, I figured I'd go ahead and show you the ones that I have made.

Custom made large (16"x 20") memory board: White and Purple Polka Dot with Green and Pink Polka Dot ribbon

Close up of the above (you can see the colors and the polka dot ribbon better)

Custom made small (11" x 14") memory board: Burgundy Gingham with Black  ribbon

Gifted large (16" x 20") memory board: Purple and White Polka Dot with Pink and White  Polka Dot ribbon

Anyway, if you are interested, you can head over to my shop.  As you can see, I can make them custom for you if you don't like what I have in stock.

I Want a Silhouette

Okay, so I've already mentioned A Bowl Full of Lemons as one of my favorite organizing blogs.  It is just amazing (that is where I got my Couponing and Home Management Binders ideas).  Anyway, this week ABFOL is hosting a Silhouette giveaway!!!  Okay, you are wondering why I am so excited.  I'll tell you why.  The Silhouette SD is this amazing toy that I want.  Its like a little printer that you hook up to your computer.  However, instead of printing out your design, it cuts out your design.  Think of the endless possibilities: vinyl lettering, t-shirt iron-ons, scrapbooking items...  Doesn't that sound like so much fun?  Well, anyway ABFOL had a silhouette giveaway a few weeks ago, and, needless to say, I didn't win.  But she's doing a new one this week so I'm trying to win again.  If you are interested in the giveaway, pop on over and take a look (click here).

Shop Sale: 20%

I am currently running a 20% Off sale in my etsy shop: It Seamed Good to Me.  Use Coupon Code: SALE20 at checkout to receive the discount.  I currently have Car Seat Canopies and French Memory Boards for sale in my shop.  Check it out!

It's That Time of Year

It's that time of year when we show our appreciation for that special someone, that someone who touches the hearts of our children and enriches their lives.  And while this Sunday is Mother's Day, that's not the special someone I'm talking about.  I'm talking about teachers.  This week is Teacher Appreciation Week (and yes, I meant to have this post up on Monday).  I appreciation of my oldest's teachers, I created a super cute, totally usable, craft.  I wish I could take credit for the idea, but alas, no.  I found the idea on one of my other favorite organizing and crafting blogs: Delightful Order.  DaNita is just so creative and just comes up with the best ideas. Anyway, I used her idea, and the flower pots came out super cute, though not as cute as her's.  I forgot the spades.  And I used contact paper to laminate the messages before hot-gluing them to the flowers (I Heart Contact Paper).  Enjoy:

Couponing Challenge

I love the blog A Bowl Full of Lemons.  Each week there is a special challenge.  This week the challenge was to make a Coupon Binder.  The idea is based on The Krazy Coupon Lady's website and book.  She is all about extreme couponing; you know, those women who go to a store and have so many awesome coupons that the store ends up paying them.  Well, I liked the idea, though I don't think that I really will get into extreme couponing.  I don't have the time or inclination to go to several different stores every day to save money.  But I do love to save money.  Who doesn't?  So, I accepted A Bowl Full of Lemons Weekly Challenge to create a Coupon Binder.  I like the idea of having my coupons completely organized so that when I go to make my weekly menu and grocery list, I can take my coupons into account.  Without further ado, here is the finished project:

Here is the finished project next to my Home Management Binder (a previous challenge that you can find here.)

This is the inside.  It is split into sections with a Table of Contents.  See the clip on the left holding coupons.  They will shortly be placed in their correct spot and I will instead put my shopping list there.

My New Blog

So, I like having ongoing projects.  When I finish one, I immediately need to start another regardless of how long it will take me to complete (take for instance the quilt I started making when I was 18; I have yet to finish it, but it is super cute).  Anyway, when I finish my projects, the completed work makes me so happy, but not many people get to see them.  And sometimes I'll make something really cute as a gift for a friend and I want to show other people, but I can't post it to my etsy site because it isn't for sale.  So, this blog is my outlet for that.  I also enjoy organizing.  There are several blogs about organizing that I follow.  Now I care share what I've learned from them or what challenge from them I'll working on with you.  I'm excited about this, but I can't promise you that my blog will be any good.