What I do during a snow storm….

I has been snowing all day - we are expecting up to a foot!

It was a perfect day for "projects"

Look at this pathetic address book:

Now all my addresses are neatly rewritten in this new book:

I baked a banana bread….

…organized my scarves at the end of my closet….

…made a taco salad for lunch...

…baked more cookies...

…and I even managed to find time to paint a few things:

…tonight I will enjoy a glass of wine by the fire….

…while I watch the Grammys!!

How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

Have you seen these new items at MacKenzie-Childs?

Just look at these cute cupcake cups in checks….

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 …and imagine them served with these adorable napkins:

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And imagine this adorable dish towel hanging on my stove….

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….and what a great way to welcome my guests:

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And Deb over at Mountain Breaths needs one of these:

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Click on any of the "source" links to visit Mackenzie- Childs. 

 I see a "road trip" in the near future!

Sharing with BNOTP

Valentine Day Treats

Valentine's Day is right around the corner.

I have a few "hearts" around the house….

My 2 favorite Susan Branch books are on the coffee table:

The candy bar is set up:

…BUT I don't think any of the sweets will last til the 14th!

I have already been nibbling on the hearts!

Today I decided to test a new recipe from a baking blog:

After trying the Cherry Bundt Cake the other day and being so disappointed, I thought I would try another recipe.

The recipe for "Fairy Bites" also didn't work as well as expected...

 …but they were easy to make.

I just struggled with the batter because it didn't want to stick together!

But they finally turned out well after I tweaked and tweaked!

The Fairy Bites are a cute little shortbread cookie!

I also baked a few mini cupcakes...

Do you have any special recipes you use for Valentines Day?

sharing with BNOTP

My Attempt at a Cherry Almond Bundt Cake…..

What goes better together than cherry and almond flavor!

I recently bought a bundt pan, so this recipe I found on Pinterest caught me eye:

Looks beautiful in the photo, doesn't it?

I made the batter:

I followed the directions perfectly - I taught culinary skills for years, so when I try a new recipe, I follow it to a "t".  I greased my new pan very well, too!  After cooling the cake for 20 min, and struggling to get the cake out of the pan, this is what I ended up with:

She's a beauty, isn't she:

So, I carefully lifted each broken piece and placed it on the top, where it should have been:

Then I made the glaze (that recipe was also a lousy one) and "glued" the cake together:

It's a good thing that this cake was just for us and not for any company!!

You are probably wondering how it tastes? 

 Well, the reason I am not sharing the recipe is because it is dry, and no one should go through all this craziness for a dry piece of cake!!

AND, see this lovely pan:

This is the second time I used it and had the "sticking" problem each time…so off to Goodwill it goes and hopefully someone else will have better luck than I!

I have tried quite a few recipes found on Pinterest and I am not sure if it is ME or not, but some are real lousy, or lacking flavor, or missing ingredients.

 I feel like someone is playing a trick on me!

So if anyone has a great recipe for Cherry Almond Cake - please send it my way!

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Show and Tell Friday

Cookin and Craftin

Shabby Vintage Sewing Chest

Last fall I bought this little vintage sewing chest and I have been looking at it for months...

…just waiting for some inspiration...

I pulled out some white and grey chalk paints and just painted away...

...I painted some branches and birds...

…and then waxed it with dark wax.

Now, on to the next project….

Sharing with Met Monday and Show and Share

A Slow Start….

The holidays are over….and I should be full of energy and rejuvenated by now - right?

It's been hard for me to get back into refinishing/painting furniture, even though I have quite a few items in my basement.

It is a slow start.

I am sluggish.

I have lost my creativity.

This is something I finished last week and I am trying to move on to the next project….but I just can't get moving!

I bought this little toddler chair at the market in the fall….

…and did all I could do to spruce it up:

That's been it - 1/2 hour of work and I am tuckered out.  

I need some inspiration. 

Drive.

Energy. 

Maybe I will go down into the basement and stare at all my projects - that might do it.

RIGHT?

(doubt it!)

Joining Winter Blues Wednesday
Grace at Home