The Salt Dough Throwdown!

Are you ready for a throwdown? A salt dough throwdown, that is.

Making salt dough is easy peasy. It's so easy a 5-year-old can do it! Hee Hee! 1 cup flour, 1 cup salt, 1 Tablespoon oil and approximately 1/2 cup of warm water. Mix together the flour, salt and oil. Add the water in slowly to pull the dough together. Don't use too much water or you will have a huge big mess. Just enough to make the dough pull together in a ball.

And that's it! You have the dough... get creating! Breuklyn was more concerned with making fruit out of her dough than making beads. She made the cutest teensy tiniest grapes ever!

Maddux made a gazillion little balls out of the dough.
Once you have made the beads for your bracelet/necklace, you will need to poke a hole in them. We used skewers. This is Carolyn showing you her delicate stabbing the dough method.

Make sure that the hole is all the way through the dough because they will close really easily in the oven if the hole isn't big enough and isn't all the way through. That was a really long sentence, but you get the idea.

Once you have completed all of your beads, bake them at 200 degrees. We had some really big beads, so we baked them for 3 hours. Once your beads are baked, just turn the oven off and let them cool completely. This was a 2 day project because I wanted to be sure that the beads were cooled completely before we started painting. Be careful in trying to cool them too fast because the dough will crack. Patience is required.

And now we paint. Maddux chose the rainbow method for his beads.

Breuklyn ever so carefully painted her fruit. We thought that hers were so cute that we made them into magnets for my mom.

Breuklyn's fruit.

Carolyn's necklace. I love the big bead in the center.

These are mine. I am addicted to the teal colors lately.

And Maddux's sweet "rainbowed" beads.

Once the paint is dry you can cover in a coat of Mod Podge or you can immediately make your jewelry. We had so much fun with this project.

We didn't pick a winner of our throwdown, who do you think the winner is?? (I think Breuklyn is the winner, but I am partial to grapes!)

If Carolyn were a Flower...

She would look like this. Maddux misses his dear Aunt Murray very badly and he drew her this picture. He is standing over my shoulder because he doesn't believe that I can put him on the internet. If he only knew. He says, "I love you, Aunt Murray. You are the big flower. I am the little flower because I am only three years old." I think it looks just like you, Mur.

I hugged the UPS guy today. Literally. He didn't have his two front teeth. And yet, I hugged him anyway. See how shiny and out of focus this picture is? That is why I bought a new camera. I can hear the owner's manual calling my name.

Back to the 12 Days of Cookies...

Day 1: Andes Mint Cookies
Day 2: Rolo Cookies
Day 3: Peanut Butter Blossoms
Day 4: Snickerdoodles! I will be back later with the recipe. I know... the suspense is killing you, right?

Here's hoping...

Maddux loves to make wishes on the fuzzy dandelions, well, they're not fuzzy, but you know what I mean, right? He searches diligently for the perfect one so that he can blow the fuzzy stuff all over our yard which makes him happy and drives Brad bonkers simultaneously. The whole purpose of the whole deal is to make a wish. Most often he wishes that the neighbor's kittens would come and live at our house. It is ever so entertaining.

Today he found a particularly promising one and lifted it serenely to his face. He smiled a smug little smile and said, "I wish... that mommy would disappear!" Then he ran around the yard wildly for 10 minutes yelling, "Mommy! Mommy! Where did you go? You disappeared!!"

Let's hope that next time he wishes me away to Italy. Hey, a girl can hope, can't she?

In other news, my Mom and Carolyn have reached Knoxville and should arrive in approximately 3 hours. Yippee!

Carolyn is a College Graduate!!!

Watch out New York City!!! I love you, Carolyn!! :muah:

Virginia Tech... One Year Later

I love you, Carolyn!!! I can't believe that you are graduating in less than a month. GO HOKIES!

Happy Birthday Carolyn!!!

Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday little sissss-terrrrr! Happy Birthday to you!!! Ok, yes, this picture is about 3 years old and slightly less than flattering, but it makes me smile every single time I look at it. I also love that you are almost a whole head taller than I am. So unfair. Have a happy day, I love you!!
In other scrappy news, I am still using my Mosh Posh kit for April.

I love the new Just the Edge cardstock from Bazzill. It is the perfect touch to add a little extra to a layout. So much fun. It is in the 70s here today, so I am going to bust out the sidewalk chalk. I hope that everyone is having a great day. (and one more time... Happy Birthday Carolyn!!!)

I also {Heart} Project Runway

This show makes me happy. I am, however, so sad that Chris didn't make it to the final 3. Love, love, love him because he has the best laugh ever. And he takes lots of naps. And he sits around in his robe, which sounds creepy and weird, but isn't. Really. It isn't. Next week is the season finale and the best part is that... Carolyn will be here to watch it with me! YAY!! 2 more days until mom and Carolyn arrive! Double YAY!

The Hot Dog Dance and Pajama Day

Carolyn has arrived!! In celebration, I took her and the kids (ok, mainly we went for the kids) to see Playhouse Disney Live. Oh the entertainment. We rocked out to the Hot Dog Dance and generally made total fools of ourselves all in the name of entertaining Breuklyn and Maddux. We also paid $10.00 for cotton candy. Seriously. I think I am going to set up a stand outside of the Nashville Municipal Auditorium and sell my very own cotton candy for $9.50.

Today is Pajama Day. I have been all over the world trying to run errands this past week and today I refuse to get dressed. I made a huge pot of potato soup in my crock pot (that's right, I own a crock pot) and have been happily making cookie dough and gossiping with Carolyn. I love Pajama Day. And Carolyn. And the Hot Dog Dance. In that order.

Countdown to Carolyn... 1 MORE DAY!

Mom's Snowball Cookies

1 c. butter

1/2 c. confectioners' sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2-1/4 c. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 cups finely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla, stir in flour and salt. Add nuts. Form into 1 inch balls. Bake on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper for 14-17 min. Roll in confectioners' sugar while warm and then again when they have cooled off.

Carolyn is busy packing and I need to be sleeping. I will be leaving on my 6 1/2 hour journey to Virginia Tech in the morning. Oh Carolyn!!! I will see you soon!!!

Countdown to Carolyn... Only 2 more days!!!

Malted Toffee Cookies

1 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 package (3.4-ounce size) instant vanilla pudding

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2-1/4 c. flour

1 c. quick-cooking oats

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup malted milk balls (Whoppers), chopped

3/4 cup English toffee bits or almond brickle chips

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add pudding mix and vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture. Fold in the malted milk balls and the toffee bits (dough will be stiff). Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 12-15 mins or until golden brown. Cool for 2 mins before removing to wire racks.

YUM! YUM! YUM! Carolyn, are you packing???

Countdown to Carolyn... 3 days

Peppermint Biscotti


3/4 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup crushed peppermint candy
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy


In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extract. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir in peppermint candy. Gradually add to creamed mixture, beating until blended (dough will be stiff).

Divide dough in half. On an ungreased baking sheet, roll each portion into a 12-in. x 2-1/2-in. rectangle. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully remove to wire racks; cool for 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; cut diagonally with a sharp knife into 1/2-in. slices. Place cut side down on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until firm. Remove to wire racks to cool.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip one end of each cookie in chocolate; roll in crushed peppermint candies. Place on waxed paper until set. Store in an airtight container. This recipe makes about 42 biscotti.

3 more days!! Only 3 more days!!! :)

Countdown to Carolyn... 4 days

Chewy Surprise Cookies (or Milk Dud Cookies)

1-1/2 c. butter-flavored shortening

1-1/2 c. peanut butter

2 c. sugar, divided

1-1/2 c. packed brown sugar

4 eggs

3-3/4 c. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. salt

1 package (10 ounces) Milk Duds

In a mixing bowl, cream the shortening, peanut butter, 1-1/2 cups of sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Chill for at least one hour.

Preheat oven for 350 degrees. Shape 4 teaspoons of dough around each Milk Dud so it is completely covered. Roll balls in remaining sugar. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. This recipe makes about 8 dozen cookies.

--I don't have a picture of these, so you will have to deal with cookie monster today. These cookies, along with the Rolo Cookies and Andes Mint Cookies are perfect for freezing. For these cookies, I made the dough, rolled them into balls and then lined them up on a cookie sheet. Then I stuck the cookie sheet in the freezer until chilled. Once they were cold enough that they wouldn't stick together, I popped them into a Ziploc freezer bag and they will hang out in the freezer until I am ready for them. To thaw them, I just pull the bag out of the freezer and let them sit on the kitchen counter for about 30 minutes. Once they are no longer frozen (they don't have to be room temperature, just not frozen) I will roll them in sugar and then bake as directed.

Oh Carolyn... are you getting excited??

Countdown to Carolyn... 8 days

Spritz Cookies

1 cup butter flavored shortening
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (make sure that you use a good quality vanilla, not imitation because you can taste the extract)
1 teaspoon orange zest
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, cream together shortening, cream cheese, and sugar. Beat in egg yolk, vanilla, and orange zest. Continue beating until light and fluffy. Gradually stir in flour, salt, and cinnamon.

Fill the cookie press, and form cookies on ungreased cookie sheet. If the dough is too sticky, refrigerate it for 30 minutes. If that doesn't work, then try sticking your cookie sheets in the freezer for a few minutes until chilled. I like to try out all of the discs that come with my cookie press, so have fun!

Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet, and cool on wire racks.

Good luck on your exam tomorrow Mur!! Love you!

Countdown to Carolyn... 9 days

Gingerbread Men and Women (I don't discriminate)

1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg yolk
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg


In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until smooth. Stir in molasses and egg yolk. Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg; blend into the molasses mixture until smooth. Cover, and chill for at least one hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 2 inches apart cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until firm. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks. Frost or decorate when cool.

These cookies are very spicy. I love cloves and nutmeg, so if you don't you have been warned. Bwahhahahaha! Oh Carolyn... we are down to single digits now!!!!

Countdown to Carolyn... 12 days (leaving a day earlier now!!)

Orange Slice Cookies (or... "Oh. My. God. these are amazing even though I hate orange slices" Cookies.)

1 c. candy orange slices
1-1/4 c. sugar, divided
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. shortening
1-1/2 c. packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 package vanilla or white chips

Cut each orange slice into eight pieces. Roll in 1/4 c. sugar; set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening, brown sugar and remaining sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well before each new addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the creamed mixture. Stir in chips and orange slice pieces.

Roll these into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
**Warning** This recipe yields 10 dozen cookies. I am assuming that you could halve the recipe, but I never have. I know a lot of hungry people.

Bwahhahahaha Carolyn. I know these are your faaaavvvvorites! After you are done with your 10,457 projects, classes, group meetings, studying and final exams we will bask in a sugar coma that will last you well into your final semester at Virginia Tech. Muah!

Coutdown to Carolyn... 14 days

Candy Cane Blossoms

48 Hershey's Kisses Candy Cane Mint Candies
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons milk
Red or green sugar crystals

Heat oven to 350°F. Remove wrappers from candies (this is usually Breuklyn's job).

Beat butter, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in red sugar, granulated sugar, powdered sugar or a combination of any of the sugars. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and cookie is set. Remove from oven; cool 2 to 3 minutes. Press a candy piece into center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. This recipe makes about 4 dozen cookies.

These cookies are Ah-mazing! Love, love, love them. Yum. Carolyn, you can focus on your final projects for your 4oo classes and I will dream of cookies. Deal?

Coutdown to Carolyn... 16 days

Andes Mint Cookies:

3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 T. water
12 ounces chocolate chips
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
24 Andes mints


In a medium-sized sauce pan, melt together the butter, brown sugar, and water, stirring occasionally. Add the chocolate chips and stir until melted. Let stand 10 minutes to cool. Add remaining ingredients. Chill dough at least 1 hour because it will be really sticky. You can cover tightly with saran wrap and stick in fridge overnight if you want to.

Roll into balls and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake at 350° F. for 8 to 9 minutes.

Remove from the oven and on top of each cookie, place half an Andes mint. Allow the mint to melt and then swirl the mint over the cookie with the back of a spoon or knife.

Oh Carolyn! Are you dreaming about cookies??

Coutdown to Carolyn... 23 days

Rolo Cookies:

2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa
1 c. sugar
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 c. butter (2 sticks), softened
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
48 rolo candies
confectioners' sugar for dusting



Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off with the back of a knife. In medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa and baking soda; mix well. In large bowl, combine sugar, brown sugar and butter; beat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs; beat well. Add flour mixture slowly; blend well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.



Preheat oven to 375 degrees. For each cookie, shape about 1 Tablespoon of dough around each rolo, rolling in your hand to make a ball and covering the rolo completely. If the dough gets sticky, place back in the refrigerator to chill. Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 7-10 minutes or until set and slightly cracked. When cooled completely, dust with confectioners' sugar.


In preparation of Carolyn's arrival, I have been sorting through my cookie recipes because there could not be Christmas without a ridiculous amount of cookies. Have any fun recipes to share?? I'll trade you. :)