Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake {Foodie Friday}

Normally I try to copy the photo that Annie takes in an attempt to better my photography skills, but the day I made this, her site was down due to an upgrade, and I had to go it alone. Well, I wasn't too far off!!

DIY Paper Garland

Now that Christmas is over, and we are all completely exhausted, it is time for me to put all my time and attention into Caroline's birthday party as it is quickly approaching! I have been thinking about decorations and these are super simple ones that will add a nice touch. Time to get busy..

View on Whisker Graphics here.

Merry Christmas

Check out our video on Jib Jab!
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/VJrQBqJVatn1yhcS?cmpid=jj_fb_self_holidays

Peanut Butter Crisscrosses {Foodie Friday}

Let me just say, these cookies were SOOO good!! This is probably my favorite thing since the Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip cookies! I made a half batch of these because using two sticks of butter for anything just kills me and I ended up with about 3 dozen cookies. So if you are working on some last minute Christmas goodie boxes, these would be perfect.

Toy Drive Party Printables

I love this twist on a Christmas Party. All the kids I know have more than enough toys, so why not hold a Christmas Party toy drive? Love it!

You can get the free printables for your own toy drive party here.

Christmas Countdown Paper Chain {Free Printable}

I have been on the hunt for an advent calendar for a while now. When I was growing up, we had one with a Christmas tree on top and ornaments in 24 pockets below. Every day we would put an ornament on the tree until Christmas! I thought it was the greatest thing ever. I have been shopping and shopping, but I have not been able to find anything like it anywhere! I enede up buying one that was 60% off at Jo Ann Fabrics last week. It had a Christmas tree on it and a snowflake that moved around the pockets on the outside. It was close enough, so I bought it. Then the next day I saw this. I think this will be equally fun when Caroline is old enough to count and can tear them off every day. (Well I am sure she capable of the tearing now). So hop on over to The TomKat Studio and get yours!

FREE Christmas Party Printables from Bird’s Party

I think I have an addiction to printables and I am hoping that you do too. I am actually getting a printer for Christmas and I can't wait!! What's not to love? They're free and all you have to do is print them and cut them out! Hello! Easy Cheesy. Get your free printables from Bird's party here.

Chewy, Fudgy Triple Chocolate Brownies {Foodie Friday}

Thick is probably an understatement here. These things are huge and this picture is absolutely terrible. Sorry. I was kind of rushing out the door at the time I took it. These turned out to be really good if dunked into a cup of ice cold milk or with a big scoop of ice cream. I would recommend cooking them in a slightly larger pan and for a little bit less time. I prefer my brownies to be not quite cooked and I think I over cooked these a little bit. I'm a half baked kind of gal.

Sweet Greetings Printable

If you are doing a lot of holiday baking this season, here is afree printable from At Second Street that can be used on your baking goodies!

View the printables here. You can also pick up a great fudge recipe while you are there!

North Pole Baking Party

I think this North Pole Baking Party from Kara's Party Ideas is so cute! And i love to bake, so I think it is pretty close to perfect.

Check out these pictures and then hop over to Kara's Party Ideas to see more here!

December Subway Art

Check out this super cute December Subway art from It is what it is:

You can download this and some free gift tags here.

Christmas Cheer Printable

More free Christmas Printables! I am sorry, I just cannot help myself

Thanks, Simply Silhouettes!

Basic Pie Dough {Foodie Friday}

There is a great deal of satisfaction that comes from baking your own homemade pie. That's from scratch, people. I have never made a pie before, let alone a pie with a homemade crust. This turned out to be really amazing in taste and that feeling of accomplishment. I feel like if I can bake a pie, then I can do anything...now. back. to. the. kitchen.

Free First Birthday Party Printables

If you have a child who has a birthday coming up like I do, you may be looking for some party printables to use for decorations. The good news is that Pizzazzerie has posted some free printables for a child who is turning 1! Click here to view.

Rubber Duckie

Be honest. Who doesn't love the rubber duckie? When I saw this party on Kara's Party ideas, I couldn't help but go "AWW"

I think you will enjoy it too. View the full party here.

Christmas Fonts

I just downloaded these super cute fonts to my computer!! You should do the same!

 

I found these at Pizzazzerie.

Free Christmas Printables

I really have a thing for free printables. I don't know if it is because they are free or if it is because they are cute. Ok, maybe it's both.

Here are some adorable printables from How Does She. Cut them out and use them to decorate around your house!

View them here.

Holiday Cheer Printable

It's Christmastime!!

Check out this free printable from Today's Creative Blog! Happy Printing!

Soft Garlic Knots {Foodie Friday}

Let's be honest, these rolls were not as amazing as I thought they were going to be. I'm going to have to try them again. When I was ready to put these in the oven, my lasagna had another hour to go. Then when I put the butter glaze on them, they flattened, so I will have to try them again. They weren't bad by any means, I just had such higher expectations.

Go out there and be amazing free printable

A great message: catch it here.

Pancakes and Pajama Party

This probably sounds really cheesy, but for the last couple of months I have been thinking about how much fun it would be to get together with some of my girlfriends and have a sleepover just like in high school. Most of my friends are different and now we're married with kids, so there are a few complications, but I think a girls night in sounds so much fun. So when I saw this pajamas and pancakes party on Pizzazzerie it kicked my sleepover needs into overdrive. Now this is a party for a little girl, but trust me, it doesn't matter. I still like pancakes.

Come on, any party that incorporates donuts on a stick...I am so there.

View the entire party here.

How to make a recipe binder

Now that the holiday baking season is officially here I thought I would share this little ditty with you. I know my recipes get all messed up quicker than I  know what happened. So the Clean Mama has come to rescue us!!

She has created a creative and fun way to keep and store all your recipes! Just make sure you don't forget to use them!!!

View the tutorial here.

Olive Penguin Appetizers

If you have been skilled with knife skills (I have not) then you should check out these cute olive penguin appetizers that were featured on Pizzazzerie. I thought these would be really cute for a Mary Poppins themed birthday party (which I considered). But they would also be cute for a winter themed party and now that Christmas is right around the corner, I thought you might like to practice!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins {Foodie Friday}

These were delicious.  If I could eat these every day, I would. Make the filling a day or two before and then it will be ready to go when you are ready to make these muffins. Make sure you eat them warm so the cream cheese center is still gooey, but be careful they are not too hot. That is all. You will thank me later.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you all have a wonderful time of Thanksgiving with your family and friends

One Last Chance

Here's your last chance for free printables this Thanksgiving and they are from the master herself. Kim Stoegbauer of The TomKat Studio designed these lovely sunflower printables for an HGTV photo shoot!! Dang, she is awesome.

Get yours here!

We're almost there..

Only 2 more days left until Thanksgiving!!! AHhh!! Are you cooking yet?!! I wish I was cooking more! I know...I'm weird..can't help it.

Pizzazzerie posted a great list of free Thanksgiving printables. My favorite is the Keep Calm and Gobble on. Hilarious. Get yours here.

Remodeling the House: The Bedroom

Here is the evolution of our bedroom. It seems hard to believe that it used to look like this!
This is what it looked like around the time we moved into our house. We only painted it before we moved in.




Circa Summer 2006

  



Circa March 2007

We actually used what is now our daughter's room as both our office and Master Bedroom for a while after we got married while DH was 'finishing' the bedroom. I think that involved putting in a fan... haha. Another important note is that we had no doors on any of the bedrooms when we moved in. This was fine most of the time, because it was just the two of us, but seems weird now that we have doors, and we use them =)

The first paint we had was called Mark Twain House Bark and I loved it. I made an off hand comment one time about how I loved the color because sometimes it had a tint of purple to it, and so DH wanted to paint it.





 Now it is Milk Chocolate. Not a lot different from what we had before, but now there is no hint of purple. Boo.

After DH finished Caroline's room, he added a new built in headboard and some trim to our room. We also added the sconces AND DH put wood on the ceiling. I feel like everything in our house is covered in wood and it drives me crazy, but it looks amazing and gives the room a much more finished look. The best part about this remodel is that it only took about a week to complete. The bad part about that, is that I don't have a whole lot of pictures to show you.

Unfortunately, I do not have fancy bedding and pillows to make the headboard look amazing.

The bedding is from Target. We have the bedskirt, but we upgraded our bed from a full to a queen and now it doesn't fit. We got it for our wedding. In fact, I think we have 4 sets of this Woolrich bedding in different colors and styles. I usually just switch between the two in this post because I like them the best. They don't carry it any more at Target in these designs, but if you are so madly in love that you can't live without them I will let you buy them, and I will get something new ;)  No fighting.

 As you can see I still don't have a dust ruffle and it has been on my Christmas list for 2 years...hehe.

The picture above our bed was a Christmas gift from my aunt and uncle. My uncle's brother, Ray Hartl, is a photographer and you can view his work here.

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles {Foodie Friday}

After my first unsuccessful attempt at fluffy snickerdoodles I opted for the pumpkin version. How could that go wrong? Pumpkin is amazing. In anything.

I told you I like to bake right? Cooking is just not my thing, but these cookies will give you the excuse you need to get back into the kitchen! And you should go...quick!! This batch made me 5 and a half dozen cookies and they didn't last long! Turns out I am married to the Cookie Monster.

Scrap Paper tree

I have a gratitude tree that I got from Celebrating Home and I am planning on using the Cricut to cut out leaves, hearts, snowflakes and such for the different holidays. This is a great alternative if you don't have an actual tree, just go out in your back yard and pick up all thos sticks.

View the tutorial here.

Christmas Card

 Here it is!! The Tryon family Christmas card for 2011!! It's not what I was wanting to do, but when I saw this card I thought it was too cute to pass up!! I got it at Cardstore.com. They were having a 60% off sale last Monday and I jumped on it! They have been having lots of discounts, so if you want to get a head start on the holidays, hop on over and order yours. They have free shipping every day AND if you upload your contacts they will mail them to all your recipients for you with free stamps!! Doesn't get better than that!

November Subway Art

Let the free printables continue!!!

Get your free November Subway art from Beth Proudfoot here.

I know, I know..

I really can't help myself..I just love free printables..and all the Thanksgiving ones are so adorable that I just can't help myself...

Get yours from Eye Candy Event Details here.

Snickerdoodles {Foodie Friday}

I made 2 mistakes when making these cookies. I used all butter instead of butter and shortening as was suggested and I substituted the cream of tartar and baking soda. I just googled substitutions for cream of tartar and used whatever it said. In any case…my cookies were flat…so I wouldn’t recommend it. They tasted great, but they just didn’t have the ‘puff’ you know? 

Thanksgiving Printables

I guess that I forgot to mention that it is Free Thanksgiving printables week..oops.. Here's another from Be Different Act Normal. Tomorrow we'll be back to Foodie Friday!!

View them here.

Free Thanksgiving Printable

Remodelaholic posted this great free printable..A great printable for Thanksgiving

Get your here.