Make your own Valentine's Day Sign.

This year I decided to decorate my house for a lot of the holidays, and one of my favorite is Valentine's Day. I also thought it would be a good way to teach Tiffany about the different things we celebrate, and she loved seeing the house decorated.
I don't have a lot of decorations for Valentine's Day, so I decided to make my own. I went to Porter's and purchased these wood pieces.

 Then I did quite a few layers of red and pink paint to cover the wood well.

 I found this cute paper with stripes that was just right for the colors I was looking for. I glued it on the wood with Mod Podge and right after I applied a layer of it all over the wood.

 I also found in my craft closet this block and these letters, so I went ahead and did the same thing to them and applied Mod Podge over the finished product to give it a glossy look. (it really makes a big difference.)

 

I waited until they were dry and put them up on my shelf. Cute, huh? And it seriously took me less than 1/2 hour to make it.

January is almost over...afff!

Is January really almost gone? Uau! I've been meaning to stop by and post something, but we've been having a lot of family time, which is GREAT and a priority! I guess after all the craziness that was December I've been taking things slow and getting back on track.
I'm SO excited for this year. I have lots of plans and dreams, but mostly I'm just hoping that this year things will fall into place and we will be able to enjoy it!

I have been working on my resolutions and I'm sad to say that for the first time in my life losing weight is on that list! The second baby really takes a toll on us mothers, huh?!  And for various factors I wasn't able to lose the baby fat as easily this time around...But I can't diet...just thinking about it gives me a HUGE appetite, and for caloric things! So my motto this year is "Have Healthy Thoughts!" That way when I'm making food choices I can think of healthier things I can eat that will still satisfy me! I'm also trying to always have juice around the house so I'm not tempted to go with soda. I'm also working out with my new XBOX 360 Kinect that I got for Christmas! It's been SO fun and a real work out! I don't have to go anywhere and I can do it on my own time. The kids have been great about it and Tiffany will even dance with me some times!
So YES, I'm excited for this year!

But to start off, here is something I've been working on for a looooooong time! My picture frame montage wall!! I've always wanted to make one, but I didn't have any frames or the money to just go and buy a bunch of frames. So one day I was at DI (a thrift store) and found this glass frame. I paid one dollar, painted it brown and just had it sitting around FOREVER! Then after we moved back to Rexburg I started collecting frames. Porters (a local craft store) has these frames that are always 50% offand sometimes they even go to 60% off, so I purchased one or two at a time until I felt I had enough. Then I used my AWESOME silhouette machine to cut the H in vinyl to put on my glass frame. THEN I had to wait for my brother to take the pictures, SEND me the pictures, so I could finally develop them! By the time I had it all done it was Christmas e the Christmas tree was right by the wall, but I couldn't wait any longer...I HAD to hang them up! But I waited until I put away the Christmas tree to take a picture and show it to you guys!
I just love how it turned out! And talk about feeling accomplished!

Goodbye 2011!

Ultimo post do ano!!! E que ano! Foi um ano de altos e baixos, mas com muito mais altos do que baixos! Tivemos a bencao de receber o Adam em nosso lar. Nao podia ter pedido por um bebe mais bonzinho e bem humorado! Que alegria que eh ter ele em nossas vidas.

Tambem tivemos a oportunidade de voltar pra Rexburg e refazer algumas metas para o futuro. As coisas deram muito certo pra que isso acontecesse. O Bryan esta com um emprego muito bom e estavel. E por enquanto estou podendo ficar em casa e curtir meus filhotes crescerem.


Mas quando penso em todos esses momentos importantes do ano, nao tenho como nao pensar nos meus pais e sentir uma gratidao enoooorme por eles. Eles fizeram com que tudo isso fosse possivel. Minha mae veio me ajudar por 5 meses (tah, tambem ajudou meu irmao nesse tempo!) Eu estive doente, de repouso, e ela cuidou da minha casa, cuidou da Tiffany para que ela nao se sentisse abondanada, fez de tudo! Meu pai mesmo de longe, tambem foi e tem sido uma graaaande ajuda! Eles estao sempre torcendo por nos e sempre procurando o nosso bem estar. Eh muito bom saber que mesmo de longe eu posso SEMPRE contar com eles!

Christmas 20111

We had a great Christmas this year. We spent most of it by ourselves but we really enjoyed each others company. Our Christmas Eve dinner was Brazilian style, and SO GOOD! Christmas day we got to go to church early in the morning before we even opened gifts and remember the true meaning of it. Tiffany and Adam really enjoyed their gifts and we just had a great time!

 

 

I will finally be able to take better pictures of my kiddos and my projects to post here! YAY!

Caramel Pops

This is my FAVORITE holiday recipe. I ate it for the first time at my in-law's house and was absolutely addicted to it. After a couple of years, my mother-in-law stopped making them so I had to learn how to make it to keep up the tradition! It's pretty easy and makes a lot!
 Ingredients:

1- 8oz bag of Barrel O'Fun Corn Pops (not the cereal) You'll find it in the potato chips section. I actually got the 15 lb and doubled the recipe. (place it in a large roasting pan and preheat oven to 250 degrees.)

Caramel Coating (mix in 2 qt saucepan)

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

While mixing, cook first 3 ingredients for 2 min or until bubbly around the edges, remove from heat. 

Add the 1 tsp of baking soda to cause foaming ( this will allow for proper coating of pops. Pour caramel over corn pops and stir until pops are properly coated.

 Place in oven for approximately 45 min. stirring every 10 min. 

 

Remove from oven and pour onto waxed paper. Break apart before pops can cool to desired size.

 

Para quem quiser tentar essa receita mas mora no Brasil, minha mae usa Cheetos (nao sei qual tipo, vou perguntar) e ela disse que tambem fica muito bom!