Fantastic Playroom/Guest room

I LOVE this playroom! I really want to try and copy these pillows on the right as some Christmas gifts. Also love the idea of sewing two sheets together as a makeshift duvet cover!

Extra details here.

Menu Monday

Going to try and get back to blogging...it seems I have my act together a little more and get more done if I plan on blogging about it!


Menu Plan Monday

here's our menu for the wk:
tonight: baked ziti I sub cottage cheese for sour cream and omitted provolone since I didn't have it on hand. I don't really layer...just mix it all up together. (this is great for make-ahead--I will freeze half for another day.)
tomorrow: chicken and rice (new favorite recipe)
wednesday: white chicken chili
thursday: quiche lorraine (I add swiss)
friday: leftovers, or some corn chowder from the freezer.

cutest jewelry ever.

Head here to register for the Isabella & Max Stella and Dot giveaway, ends tomorrow! I LOVE everything on this site!

another giveaway.

okay my only posts now are about other people's blog posts. sad, but this one is so good! head on over.

Giveaway

Make your way to my new favorite design blog! Janell has a fabulous Amy Butler dining set up for grabs. Thanks, Shannon, for telling me about her!

Great deal on entry-level DSLR

Run over to staples.com and pick up a Nikon D40 for $375, with free in-store pickup! Use coupon code 27083, ends tomorrow January 31!

Squishy Color Bags

We did this this afternoon to teach Clark colors and teach Audrey about secondary colors. Lots of fun and super easy.

Fancy-schmancy smores brownies

Photo from foodnetwork.com

I made these this weekend for some friends and they were pretty good and really pretty. I didn't have chocolate so I subbed my regular cocoa brownie recipe without any problems.

Cocoa brownies
6 oz. (12 Tbs.) unsalted butter, cut into large chunks
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
2-1/4 oz. (3/4 cup) unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch processed)
1/4 tsp. table salt
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
3-1/2 oz. (3/4 cup) unbleached all-purpose flour

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 325ºF. Line the bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving some overhang on the sides, and spray with cooking spray. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk the butter until it is melted. (Y'all know I microwave it.) Remove the pan from the heat and add the sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Whisk until well blended, about 1 minute. Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Add the flour and stir with a rubber spatula until blended. Scrape into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake until just a few crumbs come out on a tester, about 35-40 minutes. Remove from the oven and put on a rack.

Love it.

If ever I spend $188 on a cardigan, you can be sure it will be this one.