wordless wednesday

decluttering ~ finding treasures

Cleaning up and organizing is not only getting things neat and tidy; it feels like Christmas, a birthday, or finding lost treasures. 

We found some long lost and forgotten paint powder in the garage.  My Girlie got a cupcake tin and started mixing the powder with water because she had plan to do something fun.

I think she is planning on mixing up some more paint tomorrow to continue with her project.  Her brothers are planning on making some powdered paint bombs.  I think tomorrow is going to have a lot more color in it than today. 

cupcake challenge ::: week 7

My brother JCub asked me the other night if I could let him know the theme for the cupcake challenge before I post my cupcakes. He would like to have time to think about what he would like to do before he sees my cupcakes.  I thought I'd let all y'all in on it too in case anyone else is having the same thought.  So seeing as there is a special day coming up on Sunday the theme for week 7 is:

I'm going to start thinking of something yummy to bake up inspired by Mother's Day and all y'all do the same.  Need a little help? Does Mother's Day have y'all thinking of flowers, chocolate, or something sparkly?  Go on and make your Mom's favorite cupcake, a cupcake to give her on Mother's Day, or make your favorite cupcake if you're the Mama.  Check back in a couple days and we'll swap recipes.

fibers on friday ~ flowers

I've been playing around with making crochet flower pins to add the the baby hats I made last week.

This flower is almost as big as the hat. It will look so cute on a newborn!

I made a couple flowers with a sports weight yarn to show the flowers more clearly.

All three of these flowers are basically the same.  I chained 32 for the yellow, 48 for the blue, and 66 for the pink to start.  After you get the chain done, double crochet in the 3rd chain from the hook, double crochet in each chain to the end.  Chain 1 turn and single crochet in the 1st double crochet, *5 double crochets in the next double crochet, single crochet in the next double crochet, repeat from * to the end. Single crochet into the 2nd stitch of the chain 3 from the previous row.  Finish off and cut the yarn leaving a  long tail (about 14 inches.)Follow the natural curl; arrange and stitch to hold in place.  Sew the pin hardware to the back of the flower.

(I chained 60 for the big girl hat flower.)

cupcake challenge ::: week 6 ~ malted milk

My oldest was reminiscing the other day about practical jokes he has pulled off and got onto one that he treasures.  It was the first one he pulled off that involved someone besides his younger brother and sisters. This inspired the cupcake them for this week.  But before the recipe I'm going to share his joke with all y'all.

The sister missionaries came over one afternoon for a little visit and I had made cupcakes that morning for us to have as a treat.  The sisters had shared a message with us and we were all enjoying the cupcakes.  One of the sisters asked what was in the cupcakes.  When I had told her one of the ingredients was crushed up Whoppers she asked, "How do you crush them up?"  My oldest popped up with a grin and said, "With my teeth." 

Both of the sisters turned green and stopped eating.  I had to quickly pull out the little device we used to crush the Whoppers and show them before they lost their cupcakes. 

Meanwhile my son is rolling with laughter and quite proud of the reaction he got from his little joke.  And still after several years he still rolls with laughter when he thinks about it.  To this day whenever we have the missionaries over he will ask if we can make these cupcakes.

chocolate malted milk shake cupcakes
3/4 cup malted milk candies, crushed
3/4 cup chocolate malted milk powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup half-and-half or light cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin tins with 24 paper liners.  Mix together the chocolate malted milk powder, flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside.

With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is mixed in, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add vanilla and mix it in.

Keep mixing and add the flour mix and half-and-half a little at a time alternating between the two.  Fold in the crushed malted milk candies.

Fill the liners about 3/4 full and bake for about 20 minutes till done. This makes about 24 cupcakes.

The cupcakes do bake up a little 'flat.'

chocolate malted milk frosting
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 cup chocolate malted milk powder
2 cups powdered sugar
pinch of salt
1/4 cup half-and-half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
whipped cream (use the recipe from this post but omit the chocolate)
chocolate malted milk candies

Mix the butter, chocolate malted milk powder, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy.  Gradually add the half-and-half and vanilla until the frosting is the right consistency.

Frost the cupcake, top with a dollop of whipped cream, and chocolate malted milk candy.  I cut a bendy straw down to size and stuck it into the cupcake.

Now if any of y'all want to make malted milk cupcakes this week please drop a link in the comments so I can see what you have made. 

a reason to declutter

Sometimes what I need is a reason to do something I need to get done. 

Last Wednesday my boys had a Court of Honor and afterwards there was a quick committee meeting.  One of the things discussed was a service project the guys are starting.  They will be collecting gently used clothes and small appliances and having a Grandma's Attic type night where people can take what they need.  Then the rest of the items will be taken to the Needs Network. 

One of the concerns brought up was where things could be stored until they are distributed.  I said that I could hold on to some of it in my garage AFTER they are cleaned.  I don't want bags of dirty clothes and toasters piled up in there. 

I knew when I volunteered that my garage needed some decluttering before I could follow through with my big mouth said.  So when I got home that night I took a look to see what needed to be done; lots.

Friday I took about an hour to toss out all the obviously unwanted items and recycling.  It made a big difference. 

I got all the easy stuff taken care of.  Now I have to sort and organize the rest of it.  Right now I'm wishing that my sister Amy lived close enough to come help me out.  She has a knack for dejunking.  She purges the stuff out of her house on a daily basis and would never let her garage turn into a junk den.  She is probably cringing right now at my "cleaned up" garage and shaking her head. 

My garage has been needing some tlc for a while and this service project is the kick I've needed to get it done.  My goal is to get everything that isn't bolted down off the floor.  Time to tackle a bit more, get organized, and simplify.