Party Time! Excellent!

Happy Mardi Gras!  I hope you are all having fun today, and making Fat Tuesday worth its name. 

Here is my final (and favorite!) Mardi Gras bead craft that I put together - I hope you enjoy it!  It makes a cute gift and is simple and inexpensive to put together. 

In testing out different sized containers, I found that smaller ones look the best - try grouping several small votives together in a similar color scheme to pull together your look. 

I tried out a large filled candle and it came out well, but might be a little over the top :)  The smaller containers look funkier and more modern - especially if you mix up different shapes within your color scheme.  Try it out for your next party or holiday!  Swing on over to celebrations.com for a full tutorial.   

PB & Chocolate Brownies

My latest baking foray....

Check out these Peanut Butter and Chocolate Triple Layer Brownies!  I subscribe to a bunch of e-newsletters that fill my inbox with recipes, which I usually file away in a folder, never to see the light of day.  Yet this one I had to try - and had most of the ingredients on hand, so why not?  They came out pretty well, I do say.  What do you think?  Want a taste? 

TRIPLE LAYER PEANUT BUTTER BROWNIES

from Kraft Foods

INGREDIENTS

1pkg. (19 to 21 oz.) brownie mix (13x9-inch pan size)

1cup cold milk (I used almond milk because that is what I had - it worked)

1pkg. (3.4 oz.) Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding (I had a smaller package and it seemed to do the trick just fine)

1cup Creamy Peanut Butter

1/2cup powdered sugar

1-1/2cups COOL WHIP Whipped Topping (Do not thaw.)

3squares Semi-Sweet Chocolate (I had some semi sweet dark chocolate and used that)

1/2cup Dry Roasted Peanuts, coarsely chopped (I had slivered almonds - those worked fine too)

DIRECTIONS

PREPARE and bake brownies in 13x9-inch pan as directed on package; cool.

Meanwhile, beat milk and pudding mix with whisk 2 min. Add peanut butter and sugar; mix well. Refrigerate until brownies are completely cooled.

SPREAD over brownies; refrigerate.

MICROWAVE COOL WHIP and chocolate on HIGH 1 min., stirring every 30 sec. Spread over pudding; top with nuts. Refrigerate 1 hour.

Happy Valentine's Day!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! 

I hope all of you are having a love-ly day filled with fun! 

Here are some cute cards I made to celebrate the day.  Snakey is my favorite - he's gone to my nephew Dorian, but man do I love cutting out hearts!  It really is such a fun grade school throwback.  Construction paper, glue, scissors...ahhhhh.  Sometimes that is all you need. 

Celebrate!

One more week until Mardi Gras, and here is another fun craft for you to try out for your next party or holiday!

Here is a fun little wreath I put together using Mardi Gras beads once again.  I tried out a rectangular shape to try something a little different, but next time I think I would go with a regular round wreath to make wrapping easier. 

I can't wait until Christmas, because I plan on making a red or green (or both?) one!  I think that will give a little modern edge to a classic holiday decoration.  You could also make a red or even a heart shaped one for Valentines day, green for St. Patricks, red white and blue for memorial day or 4th of July, black and brange for Halloween - or any color to match your party plan! 

You can find complete directions at Celebrations.com right here so check it out!

Fat Tuesday is Coming Up...

I mentioned recently that I'd been creating some fun Mardi Gras crafts, and with just two weeks to go today, I wanted to share them with you! 

Here is the first of three I put together.  This is a great, inexpensive craft that you can put together with excess beads you may have acquired, or you can purchase them very inexpensively too.  (I snagged mine at Oriental Trading online.) 

For the complete tutorial, check out Celebrations.com here.  This makes a fun gift, and you can alter the color scheme for any occasion.  I made this one for my niece Rakia, because what (soon to be) 3 year old doesn't love something sparkly? 

I hope  she likes it!  What do you think? 

New York! New York!

Congratulations to the New York Giants and all of their fans!  What a great game (from what I could tell, anyway.) 

Here is my cousin Liam preparing to celebrate after the victory last night. 

And here he goes!  I know he may have developed an ulcer worrying about the G-men this season but I hope he can rest easy now.  Until next season, anyway.  Or, realistically, until opening day for the Mets.  Poor guy.   

And, check out these adorable cupcakes his lady friend Erica made!  Very cute. 

It's a great day to be a New Yorker!