Spooky Picture Frames

I found some plain wooden craft photo frames at the goodwill for $1, and wasn't sure if I was going to paint them or what. I ended up modge podging them with some Halloween scrapbook paper I've had in a tote for years, and adding a few sticker embelishments from my son's collection. I'm not sure I LOVE them, but they are ok. Had to dig around for a few old Halloween pictures that I love, that wasn't too hard :) For a $3 project, they turned out ok.

Trick or Treat

My 7 year old decided that this year he is going to be Luigi from Super Mario Brothers. Two years ago he was Mario, and that year he had a cute ghost trick or treat bag (it was supposed to be like a Boo from the games). This year, I searched online and saw some cute mushroom bags on etsy. However, they cost more than the costume at over $30!!

I figured I could make it cheaper, so I headed off to Walmart (our only local store) and found a black tote bag on clearance for $3.00 -- it had an ugly metallic peace sign on the front, but I was going to cover it up so it didn't really matter --- and a few pieces of felt for 26 cents a piece.

The rest was just cutting and glueing - I cut it out freehand and it was a pretty easy pattern to make. I even had enough felt leftover to put his name on it :)

He is super excited to fill it up at Halloween!

Halloween Ribbon Wreath

I love decorating for holidays, all holidays, but Christmas and Halloween are my two favorites. This year I wanted to make something new that would last for at least a few Halloweens to come. I found this idea on pinterest, and had to try it, so I set off to ebay to order some ribbon. Then it came, and i started (luckily I used straight pins to start playing around with) and then realized I needed much more ribbon. I ended up using 10 different ribbons (2 yards of 8 of them, and 3 of 2 more). The wreath base was easy enough to find at the Dollar Tree. I think it turned out so cute, and cant' wait to make one for every holiday!

A quick how-to:

Supplies:
styrophome wreath (mine is 14" but 12" would work just fine)
plain ribbon to wrap around the entire wreath (this is your base) - I used 5 yds of black
20 - 25 yds of festive ribbon depending on how covered you want it, and how big your wreath is

Directions:
1. Wrap the plain ribbon around the wreath so that it is entirely covered. I hot glued both ends, but didnt' need to glue or pin while I was doing it.
2. Cut your festive ribbons into 4.5" strips, then hot glue them into loops, leaving 1/4" opening at the bottom of your loops.
3. Pull the ends of the loops apart, and hot glue them all around the wreath, whatever pattern you'd like. There is no right or wrong.

Easy, right?!

Lite Lemon Bars

This was my first time ever making lemon bars. I am not usually a fan of lemon, but these have changed my mind. They are delicious, light and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness and tart. (If you like more tart, add 1/2 tbsp more lemon juice).

Ingredients:
Non-Stick Cooking Spray
3/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour, plus 2 tbsp
2/3 Cup Sugar, plus 3 tbsp
1/2 Stick Cold Butter or Margarine (cut into pieces)
1/4 & 1/8 Cup Egg Beaters
1/4 tsp Grated Lemon Zest
2 tbsp Lemon Juice
1 tbsp Water
1/4 tsp Baking Powder
1 tbsp Powdered Sugar

Directions:
1. Spray an 8 x 8 x 2 baking pan with Non-Stick Cooking Spray.
2. Preheat oven to 350*.
3. In a small mixing bowl, combine 3/4 c. Flour and 3 tbsp Sugar; cut in cold butter until crumbly. (If you don't have a pastry cutter and butter knives aren't doing it, mix with your hands until it sticks together and is crumbly.)
4. Pat mixture into the bottom of the baking pan and bake for 15 minutes.
5. In the same bowl, beat eggbeaters with electric mixer on medium until frothy. Add the rest of the sugar and flour, lemon zest, lemon juice, water, and baking powder. Beat on medium for 3 minutes.
6. Pour mixture over baked crust in pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes more.
7. Cool in pan on wire rack.
8. Once cool, sprinkle powdered sugar over the top.
9. Try not to eat the whole pan, and store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Makes 9 bars. 

Nutritional information:
Per Serving (1 Bar)
123 Calories
3.75 g Fat
28 g Carbs
1.15 g Fiber
2.5 g Protein
 
 

Welcome

I have recently (over the past 5 months) lost 50 lbs and counting :) Not only do I feel and look better physically, I have more energy to do the things I love - craft, bake, read, play with my son, etc. I hope to post craft and recipe ideas (light of course), so check back often!

I will share recipes that I try (the good, the bad and the ugly), tips I learn, really anything that sounds good at the time lol