Halloween Decorations

Yes you have to look closley but there are really cute halloween signs that I made that were so fun for the whole family to make!! I had the kids go find 12-14 sticks. then got a box and cut it up and painted the peices black or orange. Then after they dried I wrote words on them: scary, eek, keep out, boo, danger, go back. Then I used my glue gun and glued a stick to them. Let them sit over night to make sure they were on really good and then stuck them in the ground! I have to say they really turned out cute! Here is the link that I got the idea from: http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Shelter/Decorating/5-Wicked-Ways-to-Decorate.html Good luck and Happy decorating!!

Halloween Advent

So I found this idea here http://www.howdoesshe.com/ under halloween crafts. It is so easy to make. I went to Home Depot and had them cut me a 4x4x8 into 4x4 and 4x8 then I picked out halloween paper. First I sanded down the blocks so they were smooth and then I modge podged the cute halloween paper to the wood. Then I used my slice die cut machine to cut out the letters and the numbers! It turned out so cute I just love it!!

Fruit 3 Ways

We have a nectarine tree in our yard which has yielded a bucket load of fruit this year. So this past weekend we picked the remaining fruit, and made Fruit Leather, Baby Food and Peach Cobbler. Click the links for the recipes. They tasted so good and it was great to use up all this great fruit in a variety of ways - and you could do it with all fruits, i.e. Berries, Apples, Plums etc. etc. etc. Yummo!

Pumpkin Bread

Today at church we had a "Munch and Mingle" I decided to make pumpkin bread. I mean it is nearly October. I think this time of year is all about the pumpkin. Everyone absolutely loved this recipe and was asking for it. So not only for members of my ward who look at this blog but for everyone else out there who would like a really GREAT Pumpkin bread recipe this is for you!

Pumpkin Bread


1 (15oz) can of Pumpkin
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 c. water
3 c. Sugar
3 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Cinnamon
2 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Ginger
1 tsp ground cloves

Preheat Over to 350F or 175C. Grease and flour three 7x3inch bread pans

In a large bowl mix together the Pumpkin, Eggs, Oil, Water and Sugar until well blended. Sift all the dry ingredients together and then mix with the wet ingredients. Por into pepared bread pans.

Bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.


*Note ifyou cant get tins of pumpkin you can make this very simple and you can use pumpkin or butternut squash. Simple boil the flesh of either fruit and mash*

Shes here and shes perfect

I thought I would introduce you all to the newest addition to our family. Siena was born on August 13 weighing 4lbs 12oz and 18 inches long. It was unexcpected in the sence that I showed up for a routine Dr appt and was informed that due to infection I would have to deliver immediatley. So I rang my husband and within 2 hours I was on the operating table. Siena was then in the NeoNatal unit for 4 weeks and is now home where she belongs. There are still a few small issues with her and I but for the most part everyone is Healthy and for definite sure everyone is Happy. I can not thank everyone who reads this blog enough for all the kind words, your thoughts and your prayers. When my waters broke at 19 weeks I never expected to bring home a Healthy baby. But I put my faith and my trust in the Lord and as he has done so many times before he provided me and my family with a miracle.

I am now itching to get back to my crafty self and have a million ideas floating around my head. I can drive starting Saturday and the first place I'm going is to the craftt store. So watch this space because loads of exciting crafts are about to come your way.

Also I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I am thinking that I will start a weekly Family Home Evening post. I know there are loads of FHE sites out there but a few more ideas never hurt anyone. Let me know what you think.

32 Weeks Pregnant

So I thought I would put a new post regarding the pregnancy. Especially as I was begging for your prayers last time I updated about it. Well if you can believe it I am not 32 weeks and 4 days pregnant. The Dr is planning on inducing labor at 34 weeks and a day at the moment which is a week from Monday. I wont lie to you it has been a hard 13 weeks. I have had to go and have blood tests twice a week (Which has to be taken out of my hand or foot because I dont seem to have veins in my arms). I have had to had examinations once a week. At 27 weeks I found out I have gestational diabetes. Which was difficult at first to not have anything sweet and no white bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. But the rewards far outweigh the struggles in this pregnancy. In 10 days I am going to have a beautiful Daughter, whom I think we are going to call Cienna Joyce, to raise along with our other two children. I am over the moon. Between 19 and 23 weeks all I did was cry. I was so scared. But at the same time I gain a better relationship with my Father in Heaven. I felt his arms around me all the time and I still do. I realise more now that ever before that all things are in his hands. He has complete control. I thinking as if he was telling me that as much as I love my children he loves me and all that I want and hope for my children he does for me as well. He is an all loving father. And I cant express enough how grateful I am to him for all that he has blessed me with in my life and especially in this pregnancy and the pregnancy of my 3 yo son (my waters broke with him at 22 wks and he was born at 26 weeks 3 years ago.)

We have decided this will be our last child. We had always wanted to have 4 children but with this happening two times we have decided to be grateful for what we have been given. I do struggle with this decision from time to time. With every movement of our unborn child I am cherishing it knowing that in 10 days I wont be feeling that ever again. I think as women we will always have that desire to have another child. But It is so important to me to have 3 healthy children and for them to have a healthy mother rather than risk anything happening to me or to a baby. And to be honest if something happen to a baby of mine then I would struggle with that for the rest of my life. So as difficult as the decision may be I know it is the right one for us.

Thank you to everyone for all your thoughts, your prayers and your words of encouragement. I have the most amazing friends and family as well who have helped to get me through this time. I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven and for the blessing which I have from him. I just hope that someday I can share my experiences with others and they can be blessed from them. In the meantime I will thank the Lord by being as Christlike as possible and letting the light of the Saviour radiate from me.

Here is a picture of me at 31 weeks pregnant. In the scan done this day the baby was measuring 33 weeks and 5 days. Likely because of the Diabetes. I just look at it as a miracle. Even the Diabetes has helped her to get bigger.

Ice Cream Cake Roll

With the weather heating up every day. I thought it would be nice to post one of our family favorites the Ice Cream Cake Roll. I change the ice cream flavor all the time just to make it different. We love it in our home and I hope that you will too!!



Chocolate Ice Cream Cake Roll recipe

3 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup cake flour
1/4 cup cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
confectioners' sugar
1 quart vanilla ice cream

Beat eggs very lightly and add the sugar gradually, beating after each addition. Add 1/4 cup cold water. Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt together. Add egg mixture, beating slowly. Flavor with vanilla extract.

Line greased 15 x 10 x 1-inch jellyroll pan with wax paper and grease again. Pour in the batter, spread smooth, and bake at 425 degrees F for 12 to 15 minutes.

Turn out on a towel sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Remove wax paper and trim crisp edges. Roll up in a towel. Cool.

Unroll and spread with vanilla ice cream, softened enough to spread. Roll up quickly, wrap in foil and keep in freezer until ready to serve. Slice and serve.

Earing Holder

I was looking at my cousins blog yesterday and she had made the cutest earing holder ever. I have seen some in the past which are for small children but never one which looked adult enough to make for myself. So I emailed her asked her how she did it and if I could post it here because I think you will all like it too! Of course she was more than happy to let me post it here (Thanks Melanie) and she explained how she did it. Here is what she did!

I bought the frame, removed the glass. Cut scrap book paper to fit and then simply hot glued lots of little dots on the doily one at a time and glued it to the paper. I made sure I glued the whole center part and all the edges to give the holder good support! It took me all of 25 minutes or so! And I didn't spend more then 10 bucks! The doilies are like $2.99 at Joanns and I used a coupon for both the doilie and the frame!

Yay to Melanie for a fabulous original idea. Seriously I love it. I think it is absolutely adorable! Thanks too for letting me post it here. Here is a close up of it:

Bananaberry Bread

This afternoon I made some Bananaberry Bread (Cake) which was just delicious and I thought I would post the recipe here for each of you to try if you fancy it. The recipe says to make these muffins but I made a loaf instead because I didnt have any muffin cases.

Bananaberry Muffins

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, room temperature
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (or two medium-sized bananas)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup fresh blueberries (rinse and pat dry)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line tray with muffin cup papers.
Sift flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together with a wire whisk.
Add butter, eggs, bananas and vanilla.
Mix on low until just combined.
Fold in blueberries. Reserve some to place on the tops.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Serve while still warm with butter.

Makes 12-15 muffins.

Beach Sarong and matching Flip Flops

As you know I am unable to do much sewing at the moment. But I have been looking at all the things I have been wanting to make and sew and look how cute these are:




You dont even have to know how to sew to make the Sarong you can easily just use heming tape or some kind of heat Activated Adhesive Tape. I found this easy make at FavCrafts I get emails from this site all the time and I just love it. Hope you enjoy the link too!