Adventures in Fudge

This is my second attempt at making fudge. The recipe is my mom's and I love it. It isn't thick chewy fudge like you get at candy stores.

It isn't pretty. But, I think it will set up nicely. I know my mistake; I left it in the pan about 30 seconds to long. lol

And most importantly, it tastes just fine.

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Truffles

The truffles are done. I dipped them in milk chocolate and sprinkles a variety of Christmas sprinkles to make them festive.

Here is the link to the recipe I used do the ganache.
http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/fundamentals-simple-homemade-truffles/

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Baking: Part Tres

Many sugar cookies were made today. I found a tip in one of my cookbooks to roll out the dough between parchment paper to reduce the amount of flour needed. It worked nicely. Amelia and a friend are decorating them tonight.

I then moved onto forming my truffle balls. I found the trick to that as well. I kept a bowl of ice next to me. I would chill my hands on a piece I ice, part them dry, and roll the truffles.

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Baking Part Deux

$75 dollars at Publix
1 batch of sugar cookie dough
1 double batch of truffle ganache, truffles to be assembled tomorrow
1 batch of oatmeal no bake cookies

All in all, a successful night. Tomorrow I will be baking all those sugar cookies I love all the cute cutters I have for Christmas. Until tomorrow!

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Holiday Baking

The holiday baking has begun. Tonight it was snicker doodles and sugar cookie dough. I need more vanilla to make another batch of sugar cookie dough.

Tomorrow is a trip to Publix. I have a long list of needs for the weekend. I will be baking the sugar cookies in lots of pretty Christmas shapes. The list also includes peanut butter, no bakes, truffles, and if I am feeling adventurous, my mom's fudge.

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Fun With Chocolate

I saw this idea for strawberry shortcake skewers on Pinterest and decided to try it. Since I was melting chocolate anyway I made a couple more things.

For the kids; chocolate dipped marshmallows with nonperells of course.

And for Michael; chocolate and peanut clusters.

I am working on doing more of the things I love. I love baking; bread, cookies, brownies, playing with melted chocolate, etc... I am going to do more of it. I really had fun this morning doing something relatively simple.

Happy Sunday to you all.

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Fun Mail

I saw this idea on Pinterest and it looked like fun. Mailing every day objects. She mailed full size frisbees, but I found these mini ones and they were too cute to pass up. They will go out tomorrow. I wonder who the lucky recipients will be????

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Life Defined

Here is the mixed media canvas I created yesterday. I found the quote/definition on Pinterest. I really like it.

I retyped it, changed the fonts, and added some color to some words before printing.

I painted the canvas and covered it with papers. I added a few embellishments as well.

I realized a few things while doing this:
I love fonts
I love bright colors
I like empty space on my art

It is so easy to look at other creations and compare our Art to it. But I am embracing mine and what I like. After all, the art I create is for me and is should reflect my style and my tastes.

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Dirty Desk

My desk is dirty today! And it makes me smile. I am working on a mixed media canvas and am sorting through all my stuff to find things to put on it. My hands are covered in Mod Podge, Alcohol inks, and paint, but I don't care. I am having fun.

Now, this mess will need to be cleaned and organized later :( But not right now. 

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Goals

I have made three goals to work toward over the next couple of months. I am going to use my blog for accountability. Blogging daily was NOT a goal, so that won't be happening. Here are my goals:

1. Exercise at least three days a week. I have made a calendar and am giving myself a star on the days I exercise. That way I have a visual reminder, it is on the cabinet door above my computer.

2. Take piano lessons. This is a much longer-term goal. I have to start. I will be calling an instructor tomorrow about lessons. I can read music and know the notes, but I need guided practice, drills, and a plan of action. My goal is to play anything (within reason), not just learn to play specific songs.

3. Take more photos. I found a cute 30 day photo challenge on Pinterest. I will be doing that for the next month; and that is where most of the posts will come from. I am also taping it to the other cabinet above my computer! I like/need visual reminders.

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Committed

Are those really tennis shoes on my feet? While I am in vacation? Really?!?!?

Yes they are. I guess this healthy lifestyle is getting to be a part of my daily life. I needed to move, something with a purpose. This morning I put on my tennis shoes, workout clothes, (I actually packed clothes just to exercise), plugged in my headphones and went for a walk. I will even admit that I feel a bit better having worked out.

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Vacation

Amelia & I are in Myrtle Beach for the week. We drove up Saturday. We are sharing a condo with one of my brothers and his family.

Right now, I am sitting on the balcony, listening to Enya, drinking my tea, and enjoying the view.

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Check it Out! Scrap Book Challenge

First,  I want to thank Michelle at The Scrappers Sanctuary for asking me to join her design team. (i will add the blinkie when I figure out how.) There is a group of talented paper crafters over there. Everyone should check them out. The Scrappers Sanctuary

Onto my challenge.

July's Ad Challenge
Click the link above to find out more. But here is a little peek at the ad you are going to use as inspiration to create something wonderful.

And a sneak peek at what I created.

 

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Tuesday

Tuesday is my scrapping day this summer. I did 2 1/2 layouts today. Hey, I still have other things to do.
Here are some sneak peaks at what I did. I am finishing up 2003 with the last of the Christmas photos.

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Another Test

Testing email to post.

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Testing a texting post.

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Blog Hop

Because I needed another website to look at daily, I joined The Scrappers Sanctuary. It is full of a diverse group of artists, scrappers, photographers, card makers, mixed media artists and more. Want to learn more? They are hosting a blog hop, complete with prizes.

the scrappers sanctuary

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Canvas Fun

Dancing with you feet is one thing, dancing with your heart another. 

I have started doing mixed media in journals and on canvas. It is just what the name implies, a mix of paint, paper, embellishments, and whatever else you feel like adding. My friend Sandi posted a challenge at The Scrappers Sanctuary last month to create a piece of art using an image she posted. I originally made this canvas in sepia, with purples and browns. I love the quote, but something about the canvas was just off. 

I decided to redo the whole thing this weekend. I converted the image to B&W, found some basic grey paper I liked, inked some clear hearts and put it all together. I am much happier with this version. 

I will hang above my work surface in my studio. 

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Friday

Another week has come and gone. It is the first week on my summer time. However, I am working. Silly me. I am teaching a half day class for the Kindergarteners who start in August. It gives the kids a chance to learn about our school, learn some of the expectations, and gives us a glimpse into the incoming students.

So my summer time will start on June 24th at 12:00!!!

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At Goal

I am not saying this in an After photos. This is me at my weight loss goal. After implies that I am done. That is far from true. Now I need to learn to maintain this new weight. So the next goal is to look like this in September. 

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Before

I didn't tell lots of people. I just started losing weight. I felt if I announced it to everyone, I would jinx myself. And this time it was personal; I wanted to get healthy for me. After all, if turning 40 isn't motivation to get healthy, I don't know what is.

Anyone who has seen me in the last two or three years has seen the before, but I will post a photograph anyway. This was last summer, so it is a perfect before. And it is good for me to see where I started.

The 'after' photo will be coming soon.

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My Poor Neglected Blog

I should post more often. I have random things to say. I have things going on in my life. But I am not sure anyone even reads this. I started it for family to keep up with our lives since we live so far away.

Now I think it will be random thoughts. If people want to read it, fine, if not, that is fine as well.

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Our House

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Slacker

That would be me. WOW, I knew it had been a while since I blogged, but 9 months! Oh well, can't change the past. Time to move forward.

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