Crafting Time!

Damask Cork Board Project

I loved the damask cork board project I previously blogged about so much that I decided to do it on my own!

Originally, I printed out a beautiful damask patten I found online and traced it onto my cork board with carbon paper and filled it in with a Sharpie pen.

After I did that I realized that it would take an enormous amount of time to cover the entire cork board that way. In an effort to save time I went to Michael's craft store, found a damask stencil (one used to paint on walls), and painted it onto the cork board.

It was amazing how much time I saved and how beautiful it turned out (you couldn't even tell the difference between that and the part where I used the Sharpie!)

Cupcake Wars

Congrats to Sweet Arleen's for winning Cupcake Wars!

Before the show aired on Food Network, I stopped by Arleen's shop in Westlake Village, CA and picked up some of her winning cupcakes...

Not only were they beautiful but SO yummy :-)

I think my favorite cupcake from the show was "The Snack Attack" while Randy's was "Slush Berry Cream."

What a yummy night ;-)

In The Kitchen Again...

Christina and Ted's Wedding!

When I heard that my good friends, Christina and Ted, got engaged I decided that I wanted to make them an engagement cake...

When it was time to start planning the wedding, I thought it would be nice to help Christina with Ted's Grooms Cake (and save them some money)...

(This is the original sketch for the cake)

Ted's favorite cake combination is chocolate with raspberry filling...

I started with 6 boxes of chocolate cake mix, 18 eggs, and a few cups of oil (don't even get me started on what was in the frosting hehe).

Baxter decided he wanted to help with the powdered sugar :-)

After I "dirty iced" the cake I put some grass on.

Then I frosted the baseball for the top of the cake...

Originally the baseball was going to be on top of the cake, but at the last min. (when I saw the top layer start to slide) I made the executive decision  to take it off the top.

I had Ted's favorite video games, beer, favorite baseball team, and cat Darth printed on edible paper to adorn the cake. I also found some Storm Trooper and Darth Vader masks at my local cake store to stick on the sides.

Before the wedding a friend asked me the theme of the cake and it was easy to respond, "nerd."

The final product...

(oh yeah, Christina stole some of Ted's Star Wars figures to use as the topper. hehe.)

USNA Class of 2010

Crabcakes and Football... That's What Maryland DOES!

Well, it's been a little while since I've posted anything but I have a good reason... my little brother just graduated from the US Naval Academy and my entire family and I were in Annapolis to celebrate.

We are all so proud of you Alex!

and I can't forget to mention the cookies my Mom and I made for the occasion :-)

Shredded Chicken

The ABSOLUTE BEST Crock-Pot Shredded Chicken recipe! 

I found this recipe somewhere on the internet years ago and it has proven to be amazing!!! I use the shredded chicken in burritos, tostadas, on top of rice, the meals are endless!

Ingredients:

2 lbs chicken breasts (I cook more to use for leftovers!)
*Note: I put these in my crockpot completely frozen, no need to defrost!

1 (16 ounce) jar medium hot salsa (enough salsa to cover the chicken)

2 Serrano peppers, chopped

6 garlic cloves, pressed

1 packet McCormick taco seasoning

* You can also add 1 can of diced green chillies for a little more flavor!

(Or even onions, feel free to play around with different spices/veggies)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in crock pot and cook for 6-7 hours (on "high").

To shred chicken, remove from crock pot and use 2 forks to pull apart (Note: I like to shred the chicken and then put it back into the crock pot for another hour or so to soak up all the juices).

Enjoy!

Baxter

If you ask anyone, they'll tell you that I am (to put it lightly) obsessed with my dog Baxter.

     

I suppose the things I love about Dachshunds (aka "badger hunters") are that they have short stumpy legs that keep them close to the ground (like me) as well as funny/quirky little personalities (also like me).

When no one is looking, one would most likely find Baxter snooping around the house hiding bones in the couch cushions/in between my pillows or burrowed underneath the sheets. He has also been known to steal cupcakes, open bags of chips, and take sips of coffee when you're in the other room.

All in all, the sneaky little guy has melted my heart and there's nothing better than coming home from a long day at work and snuggling with the fur-ball. :-)

Since rescuing the little guy, I have been on a perpetual mission to find any/all things Dachshund...

Recently had to buy this pillow.... beyond cute.

Although, I almost got this one...

Oh yeah, I am also into buying him fun/funky collars. Love the ones from TheModDog they have such fun names like, "The Big Bad Wolf," "Squirrels Just Wanna Have Fun," and "The Jolly Roger."

And how cute would these be on a little toddler?

This trench is too funny... He looks like Sherlock Holmes!

The ultimate Dachshund lover also needs to accessorize (*cough*birthdaygiftsforLindsay*cough*)

Also would like to make a shout-out to Ashley and her adorable jewelry on etsy!

Rachel Ashwell

I've always had a place in my heart for Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic. There is just something so femine and calming to her designs.

I love big beautiful WHITE bedding..... so simple, yet so classic.

and you have to add some sparkle...

These hooks were so cute that I had to get one (I bought the gold one from the Rachel Ashwell store in Malibu, Calif.) !

Ballard Inspired Damask Corkboard

While browsing some fun blogs I came across this wonderful tutorial on how to make a great damask corkboard... A wonderful way to make any office a little more chic!

Domestically Speaking writes:

While browsing Ballard Designs I fell in love!

Isn’t it lovely?

After my awe wore off, I realized how simply (yet monotonously long) this would be to make!

I had a corkboard in the garage… small than Ballard’s… but free.

I found a damask print online and printed it off (I picked a more modern damask because it seemed like it would be easier to trace). Then I tried different methods of tracing a line on the corkboard. Ballpoint pens didn’t work (like on canvas) and pencils just pushed through. My plan was to use a Sharpie pen to make the lines, so I decided to try tracing with the Sharpie. I discovered that if I traced slowly the pen would bleed through just enough to give me a line I could see and draw over.

During my Sunday afternoon I worked 10 minutes and then took a break. I’d say it took me about an hour total of work.

But totally worth it...

I used my free Glidden black paint to paint the frame…

Not sure where this beauty will go… laundry room, computer hutch door, master bedroom desk area?

 

That’s one of my paint strip choices I’m considering for our master. This corkboard might make a cute planning board for the master makeover?

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me.....

I've never quite figured out why I love any/all things pirate (maybe I was one in a past life? haha), but I know that pirates and Lindsay share one thing in common... the love of sparkly things.

That's why, on a recent trip to Z Gallerie, I saw the most beautiful chandelier that made me want to say "arrggggggg." Come on, who wouldn't love something unique like this hanging above their table? :-)

Mini-Cakes

If you love regular-sized items that also come in mini sizes (like I do), then you're going to love this!

I've recently purchased the cutest cake pan known to man.... it's the Chicago Metallic 3-Tier Mini Cake Pan.

Beyond the fact that Chicago Metallic makes amazing bakeware (even has a 10 year warranty) I thought that this cake pan would make the most adorable individual mini-cakes for my next dinner party.

I originally thought that I would make a mini cake for each individual person, but turns out it is the perfect amount for two people to share :-)