Snowman Project

I volunteered to make some snowmen for the children's Christmas party on base this year. Their theme was Frosty. They has some large cardboard circles & wanted some snowmen for the party.

I started with these...

12 foam board circles about the height of my kitchen counter.

I started by cutting appropriate sized circles for the stomach and head. Everyone knows snowmen have different sized balls (that was not potty humor)

Then I attached batting to the fronts to look like snow.

Gabby & Ken helped me over thanksgiving break with the cutting and hot gluing. 

Ken cut some wooden stakes and nailed the balls on for me.

I assembled the rest in my kitchen- it got a little creepy at times!

I bought camouflage fleece, used sticky felt for their faces, and a real carrot for the nose. Ken had the idea to screw through the back of the face and twist the carrot on the screw- worked great! 

Here are the snowmen... 

Everyday Hello- Check It Out

Okay, get ready for a proud mom post.
I am very proud of all my kids!
Let me tell you about something Danielle's been up to since her accident.

When she was out of commission she decided to start a business making greeting cards. She opened a shop on ETSY, an online market place. You can buy handmade and vintage goods there. She is calling it EVERYDAY HELLO.

In her shop you can buy an original card or order a custom card for a special occasion. Here are a few that she has created.

 She went through a lot to get this business up and running. She had to create the online shop, register with MA and apply to be able to collect tax, she created a blog to accompany the site, and obviously had to make all the product. Each one of these steps was a huge ordeal. She figured:I have the time...

Please check out her site if you've never been there, Click the Everydayhello link below..

If you'd like to purchase a card go to her Etsy Shop (Click HERE) and use this coupon code to get 10% off of an order :) 
CoffeeAndCats10off (expires Sept. 8th)

I'm very proud of Danielle for taking a tragic time in her life and making it into something good. Read her bio on the site :)

How Do I Love You? Let Me Count the Scones!

108, I believe is the accurate count. Danielle asked me to make scones and other tea party favorites for her senior recital reception, for about 50 people. 

Well, I have never made scones before so I was a little intimidated.

Alice helped me through the process, the girls have eaten at her shop in Manhattan and say the food is fabulous. So, I went to an expert.

I made a batch of three different kinds: Berry, Chocolate chip, and lemon poppy seed.  

So, this is how it went... 

First I mixed the dry ingredients. Next, mixed the butter in using a pinch drop kind of action.

It ends up looking like this

I mixed in berries, or chips, or in this case lemon zest and poppy seeds. 

Made a hole in the center and added the  buttermilk.

By the way. I didn't exactly know what lemon zest was. Thank you google. I bought this little zester and a lemon and I was good to go. Did you know you can actually watch a video on line, on how to make scones. (yes, I did) That's where I got that nifty pinch-drop move :)

After I mixed it all together I dropped it on a heavily floured surface.

 It looked like a hot mess!

Next, I gently gathered the dough and formed it into a 1 & 1/2 inch thick circle. 

This is the chocolate chip one after I already used some.

I cut out small little triangles because I wanted mini scones. 

 I brushed some of them with heavy cream and sprinkled with sugar.

Then baked them at 425 for about 8-10 min.

The lemon poppy seed ones got a lemon glaze. I think these are my favorite!

the last step was obviously the taste test. A few scones gave their lives for this!

Yes Danielle, I do love you very much and would do it all again (someday)!

Her Recital is May 4th at 5PM at Mansfield University. 

If you come, you will get to hear an amazing performance and taste my scones.

Junior Year Recital