Card Table Up-Do

Hello all!  I hope things are going well wherever you are.  We are getting a little overwhelmed here in our humble abode.  We've had play dates, doctor's appointments, teacher appreciation day, quilt prep, and of course lots of wedding preparations.  If I haven't already said it, my brother is getting married on Saturday.  I have volunteered to take care of some of the responsibilities, so if I go MIA for the next few days, you'll know the reason why.

But over the weekend I took a short break from wedding stuff to redo a terribly embarrassing possession.  I have a card table that is awful!  It is old, stained, and UGLY.  Last month we needed a few extra tables at our church potluck, so my husband loaded up the eyesore and took it to church.  I wanted to crawl under a table, but not that one because it looked like someone may have died on it.  Then and there I decided that I needed to do something about that.

 

Now I am what people like to call "frugal", because it's less offensive than other terms.  I am though, I cannot stand to throw something out because it's ugly when it still works just fine.  I was sure there was something that I could do with that table to make it presentable again...that's not frugal, it's creative right? ;o)  So when I was at the store I found a super cute outdoor, vinyl, picnic tablecloth for $4.  I thought that it would be a good start to my new card table. 

I then found a can of red spray paint and got really excited.  I LOVE spray painting things.  I don't know why, but it's a lot of fun for me.

Saturday morning came and I couldn't wait to get to work.  I got the table out, flipped it over and started to find a socket wrench that would take out the little bolts in the table.  It would have been a lot easier had the little bolts not been a little rusted. 

 

 

Then I took the frame to the field next to our house and began the first coat of paint.  I so recommend this Krylon brand!  I could have gotten away with one coat, but went ahead and did two for safe measure. 

While that was drying, I took the vinyl tablecloth, the tabletop, and a staple gun and got to work.  After it was stapled, I just went around it with a rough cut (once it's completely put together I trimmed it again).  It did not take long at all!

Once the paint was dry, about an hour or two, I put it back together again.  As my oldest would say, easy, peasy, lemon squeezey!

I LOVE the result.  I cannot wait until the next church potluck...I think a little redemption is in order.

 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week.  If I don't see you until Monday, have a great weekend too!  God bless!

 

Amy

Rootbeer Ice Cream

I love summer.  Well, I like summer.  Actually, I'm not sure I like summer at all.  The weather is way too hot, the clothes are too small, the kids are more whiney than usual, and it seems like there's always something to do.  For being on break, it never feels like we have a break from anything. 

You know what, I take it back, I do like summer a little.  Well, at least the homemade ice cream that comes along with summer.

Homemade ice cream is such a wonderful treat.  Growing up it was always saved for special occasions and gospel meetings.  I was blessed years ago with an awesome, first-rate ice cream maker.  I love it!  However, it is difficult to get out, prepare the bucket, find the rock salt, buy the ice...do you see where I'm going with this?  But a year or so ago, I came across a countertop ice cream maker at Costco.  All the deliciousness of homemade ice cream without all the fuss!  I have to say there is one pretty big drawback, it only makes about 1/4 of the ice cream that my real ice cream maker does.  But it's enough for our family after dinner, so it'll do. ;o) 

 

**Now I have a confession, this is not my recipe.  It was given to me a long time ago by a very close family friend.  She has been making this for years, and I am now sharing it with you!**

 

So down to the nuts and bolts of the recipe:

nuts- 2 liter of root beer

bolts- 1 1/2 cans of sweetened condensed milk

*Side note: I was doing WW last year and I substituted for diet root beer and fat free condensed milk.  It's not as good as the original (they never are, that's why we LIKE fat), but still tasty.  And if I'm remembering correctly only 1 (old) point.

This recipe is made for a large traditional ice cream maker, so I go ahead and put it all together and just put the rest of the mixture in the fridge.  Now I can have it ready to go any time I feel like it! Do you see all the milk settling at the bottom?  Make sure you really mix that up before you pour it in.  If there's not enough milk in the mixture, it turns out very icy.

Pour it in your ice cream maker and let loose.

I've found that in this particular machine, it takes about an hour to really get a good freeze on the ice cream.  And even then, you could serve it immediately (a little soft) or put it in a freezer container and let it set up a little more).

Here you go...

In my family's haste to get a taste (hey you like that...except I have no more -aste words), I didn't get a chance to take a picture.  Was getting it set up when my youngest dove in with her fingers, after the clean up I completely forgot.  So just imagine the above picture in a pretty little dessert bowl  ;o)

I hope you all have a wonderful day.  If you're local, enjoy the cool down because I have a feeling this will be the last time until November. God bless!

Amy

Petunia's Place

OK, so I've already failed!  I couldn't even make it through the first week without missing a day.  The really sad thing is that I went over and over what I was going to post in my head, but the day got away from me and I ended up posting nothing.

But today's a new day and the start of a new week.  And at the end of this week my brother will be married.  Yikes right?!? ;o) I'm just kidding Billy!

Enough chit-chat...This week I want to share with you one of my youngest's favorite places. 

It called Petunia's Place.  And it's a little bookstore in Fresno near Fig Garden. 

I love the cute little corner window, and every month they change the theme of that window.  Last month was rodeo themed and this month it's butterflies. 

I know I reference movies often, but I can't help but be reminded of Meg Ryan's little bookstore in You've Got Mail. 

It's just a little cute, quaint children's bookstore, but the absolute best part about this place occurs on Thursdays and Fridays.  Two days a week this little store opens its doors and allows young children to come in, sing songs, and get read to. 

Little Miss with her very best friend!

 



And it's not just anyone reading...Miss Priscilla is AMAZING!!! 

 

She has to be one of the best storytellers that I have ever seen! 

After all the songs and the stories (about 30 minutes) the kids can stay inside and read some of the "touching books" or go outside to blow bubbles.  I honestly have no idea what happens inside after story time, because my daughter is one of the first outside excited chanting bubbles the whole way. 

I know this little bookstore often has authors in for readings and book signings and special days of fun centered around a certain book or book series.
I strongly recommend this outing to anyone in the Fresno area.  It's a time spent encouraging reading, singing fun songs, socializing young children, and best of all it's FREE!  And take it from me, there aren't a lot of outings around here that encompass all of that. :o)

Here's the link to all the upcoming events going on at Petunia's Place

I hope you all have a wonderful Monday, and maybe we'll see you soon!

Amy

Cupcakes for a Good Cause

Good morning everyone!  How is everyone today? 

As I was summoning up the courage to start blogging again, my husband and I were brainstorming a schedule.  I am a person that if it's not written down for me, I will probably forget.  So during this brainstorming session, I decided that if this was something I was going to commit my time to, then it needs to be something worth while.  Time away from my kids, must be time well spent.  With that being said, I decided to make Thursdays a give back day.  So Pay it Forward Thursday was born. 

Unfortunately this Thursday's good cause is going to be delayed until Saturday.  This week, my girls and I will be making cupcakes for a bake sale to help a local family that has recently been in a car accident.  I'm hoping to get the word out about a bake sale so that anyone who is in the area could stop by and assist in any way...maybe even get a chocolate/peanut butter cupcake in the process.

• On Thursday May 2, 2013 Central Cal Ripken Rockies (minor) Payton and his mother Aaren were hit by car that ran the stop sign.  Both suffered major injuries. Payton is currently in ICU at CMRC in Fresno. Aaren as a loving and hardworking single mother of four beautiful children. Some of the local families are getting together to raise some money to help with medical expenses for this family.  Any donations are greatly appreciated!  If this is something one of you would like to help with, it will be happening Saturday May 11th at Polk Elementary from 7:30-1:00.  Please leave a comment if this is something that you would be interested in helping with and I will make sure the right people are contacted.

If you are in the area on Saturday, it would be wonderful to swing by and help the family out.

 

I have come up with a short list of some local non-profits that are always in need of donations & assistance.  If you are personally involved or know of any charities that may need help, or a little free publicity, please comment below and I will make sure that our family gets to help them in some way.

 

Thank you for your time & God bless!

 

Amy

Spring is in the Air

Do any of you remember the old animated movie Charlotte's Web? Of course you do.  Every year around the end of April/beginning of spring I think of one scene of that movie in particular where all the farm animals are out playing with their babies.  Well, I didn't every realize this because neither of my girls came in the spring, but this seems to be true for people too (at least this year it does).  It is unreal how many people I know have had or getting extremely close to having babies!  The local hospitals have to be bursting at the seams!!

This is not some tricky little way to try and gently tell you that I'm "with child".  NOPE! NO way! Not happening any time soon...Have you met my youngest?  I've just been to shower after shower, visiting friends with new babies, and sewing an endless array of baby quilts.  One of which I wanted to show you.

Most of the recent arrivals have been baby girls.  I love that because it is so easy to find things for baby girls.  It's even easier to make things for baby girls.  Because it doesn't matter what you pick, it's not too girly.  Well that's not the case for boys.  As any of you who have, love, or know a little boy, you know that crafting for them is extremely difficult!  So this blanket is for a longtime friend who just had his first baby...a boy.  He's real sweet too!  But the blanket is what we're here for.

I know that my friend is a huge S.F. Giants fan (as are most educated people ;o) ), so I thought that a Giants quilt would be cute for his new little mister.  But upon discussion with our local fabric store, I found out that MLB has taken their trademarked fabric off the shelves.  The reason is people are making things out of this fabric and selling it online.  Are you shocked that someone would actually pay obscene amounts for trademarked cotton and have the audacity to try and sell their creations?!? (Do you hear the sarcasm in the text, because I am totally not serious).  When I found out about this I was utterly disappointed in my favorite professional sport!

But, I digress...I decided to stick with the "Giants themed" idea, but just do simple solids.  I think it turned out to be a nice, simple, and sweet little blanket.  That I hope little mister, and his parents will like.

 

 The little rick rack accent is my favorite...maybe a little girly, but it is for a baby after all!

 

And the little one cannot help it.  When the camera is out, she says, "CHEEEEEEESE", until you take her picture too.  :o)

I hope you all have a fantastic day! God bless.

Amy

Strawberry Lemonade Cake

It's an unusually cool day today.  It rained last night, has been overcast all morning, and there is just a cool, calm about today.  It really feels, smells, and looks like Louisiana this morning.  I must admit, I'm a bit nostalgic for Baton Rouge today. 

 

On to today's post...

My sweet husband just had a birthday this past month, and since we have been married he has always asked for the same dessert Better Than (insert answer here) Cake.  This year was different though, he wanted my strawberry lemonade cake instead.  I made this cake once upon a time in Louisiana during their early strawberry season and apparently David fell in love with it.

 

It's a surprisingly easy dessert, that seems to be a crowd pleaser...I mean who wouldn't like a strawberry lemonade cake?  Strawberries...GOOD, Lemonade...GOOD, Cake...GOOD!  That's what we call a win, win, win. ;o)

There's something about strawberry lemonade that makes me get to feeling like summer.  I love it!  It's just so sweet and refreshing. 

So here goes.

The Cast of Characters are:

 

• A Lemon Cake Mix (I didn't have it here, but the Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme is the best)
• 4 Eggs
• 1 C. Apricot Nectar
• 1 C. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. Salt
• 3/4 C. Veg. Oil
• 1 C. Strawberries (Fresh or frozen)

                Glaze:

• 1 C. Powdered Sugar
• Juice from 1 Lemon
• Juice from 3-5 Large Strawberries (not pictured)
 

You'll also need a Bundt pan.  Now you don't have to have this, but I have decided that I love. Love. LOVE it.  It's the PAM baking spray.  It is so nice to have for things like this.  Makes the cake slide right out of the pan.  If you don't have that, you will need to grease and flour your pan.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Mix together all the cake ingredients above, minus the strawberries.  Beat together on medium for about 2 minutes.  After that, add 1/2 of the strawberries and continue to beat for 30 seconds.  Then fold in the other 1/2 of strawberries.  See how it's a little speckled.  I wanted that, but whole strawberries as well. :o)

Pour in greased and floured pan and bake for 55 minutes.

Let cool in pan for 30 minutes or so, then turn out on a cooling rack.

To make glaze mix together the powdered sugar, lemon and strawberry juice until it has a smooth consistency.
 

Once the cake is cooled, pour glaze over the top.  I like to do it the night before and let the cake absorb the glaze.

That's it.  Pretty simple, but really good.  It can be a hit at your first summer picnic.

Someone has an eye on the cake.

Have a wonderful day, and if it's already getting hot where you are try to stay cool!

God Bless!

Amy

 

Fresno Fun with Kids

With summer quickly approaching and school ending, I have been hard at work trying to figure out fun things to do with a 6 and 2 year old that keeps them learning, having fun, and spending time with me and not the television!  In this process, I thought that these activities don't have to be centered around "summer vacation" but something that can happen all year long.  So from now on every Monday I will try and attempt to convey some of ways that my girls and I have fun here in Fresno.  Sometimes we will be doing activities, experiments, or projects here at home, while other times I'll post about some of the outings that are fun for the family.  I will keep the outings local...at most day trips.  Here are some of the ideas that I have come up with, and hope to get around to. 

• The Fresno Chaffee Zoo
• $3 Movie Theater
• Local water play parks
• Homemade bubbles & bubble makers (my 2 year-old's favorite activity)
• Swimming
• Drive-In Theater
• Sidewalk chalk games (my girls love sidewalk chalk)
• Story time at a local bookstore
• The Discovery Center
• Fun science projects
• Outside Movie night
• Back yard water park

Today's fun activity is actually what we did on a field trip with my Olivia's class.  We went to the local university's farm.  As you know, we live in California's San Joaquin Valley.  It is the home to much of the agriculture in California.  Now I know when people outside of CA think about us, we live on one long strip of beach, surrounded by movie stars, and go to Disneyland for dinner dates.  Now that is the case in one particular area of California, but not here.  The valley is very much an agriculturally based area.  Fruits, veggies, dairies, cotton, etc., that's what we are surrounded by here.  So it's no wonder that at California State University, Fresno they have a thriving ag. department equipped with it's very own farmer's market and everything.

We got to look around a little at the animals on this farm today.  We saw dairy cows, beef cattle, pigs, horses, foals, and a little Shetland pony.  The kids had a great time...and the questions they come up with are too funny!

Olivia in front of the row of dairy cows getting their morning meal.

We got to see the world's stinkiest pigs! And they were HUGE.

This little Shetland pony was a crowd favorite...probably because it was the only animal they got to pet.

Those foals in the distance were only 1 month old! Can you imagine your 1 month old being that size?!?

 

If this is something that you think your kids or family would be interested in, here is the link.
We had a great time...just remember wear closed toed shoes, bring water, and don't say I didn't warn you about the stinky pigs!

Also, if there are some places that you can suggest we go for an outing, or any ideas you want us to try out for you, please let me know...I would love for us to test-drive some cool places and share!

Have a great day & God bless!!

Amy

I'm Baaack!

Hello all!

It is so exciting (and to be quite honest a little nerve racking) to be back blogging.  I have taken a yearlong+ hiatus and I think am ready to return again.  YIKES!

Well here's what's happened since I've been gone:

• Moved from Louisiana back to California
• Lived with parents until we could sell our LA house
• Still haven't sold the house, but moved into a small 2 bedroom in the meantime
• My baby girl started and now has almost finished Kindergarten :o(

• My little sweets is going to be 2 in less than 2 months

Yeah, I think you're all caught up.

As you can tell, things are a little different around here.  I've updated the look, the content, and hopefully the feeling of this little blog. I'm hoping to make this thing stick around for a while.  I was feeling like I was keeping it up well before the move.  At some point I would like to return to that level of consistency and enjoyment.  So if you come across a post that you or someone you know would really like, please pass it along.  The more the merrier, and it helps me to fuel the creative fire and keeps me going.