Birthday Party

These are all pictures that I love, love, love! They all go along with the theme for Hudson's birthday party and are just really fun pictures! I have saved them along the way for inspiration and creative ideas.

Appliqued Onesies

These are fun to make, and can make wonderful gifts for a new baby. I made mine on a small t-shirt instead of a onsie for Hudson to wear on his first birthday. I love the dog sillouettes used on this Martha Stewart video, however I used a whale for the one I made. Here is a link to one of the dog templates. Get creative: you can add a button for an eye, extra decorative stitching, embroidery for personalization, or use felt to add a little extra something (as I did with the number 1).

Lambie's Aprons

We called my great-grandmother "Lambie" and she was always making little gifts and things for everyone in the family. My mom gave me a couple of her aprons when I got married and they inspired me to make some of my own. They are very simple and easy to make, but I think turn out very cute! These pictured above are one that Lambie made, and one that I just finished following a similar pattern that she may have used.

Moroccan Oil

This is my new favorite hair product. You use a small amount in your hair when it is wet or dry and it leaves it feeling soft and silky! The products also actually repairs and protects your hair. You can feel the difference in your hair after just using it once. I love it!!! Here's a link for more information. I bought mine at Industry 12 Hair Design located in Scottsdale.

Hanger Cafe

Hanger Cafe is located in Chandler, and is a small cafe tucked back by the Chandler Municipal Airport. It is a great place to take your kids and sit on the patio so you can watch the planes go by while you eat. The food and the service are great as well. Click here to get directions.

Cranberry Scones

Here's a yummy recipe for cranberry scones. You could also substitute the cranberries with raisins, dried cherries, or currants. They are very good when still warm out of the oven, and taste great plain or with a lemon preserve!

Cranberry Scones

-2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
-2 teaspoons baking powder
-1/4 teaspoon baking soda
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-3 tablespoons sugar
-1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
-3/4 cup dried cranberries
-1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
-1 large egg, lightly beaten
-1 tablespoon milk

-Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 2 tablespoons of sugar.
-With a pastry blender or two knives, cut butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in cranberries. Make a well in the center; add buttermilk and egg. Stir until just combined (do not overmix).
-Transfer dough to lightly floured surface; knead 5 to 6 times. Pat into an 8-inch disk. With a floured 2 1/4-inch biscuit cutter, cut out rounds. Re-roll and cut scraps once.
-Transfer to baking sheet, about 1 1/2 inches apart. Brush rounds with milk and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar. Bake until scones are golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on wire rack.

Nutrition Facts Per Scone:
191 calories, 8.3g fat, 5g saturated fat, 3.5g protein, 26.3g carbohydrates, 1.2g fiber

Recipe from Everyday Food Magazine

Blue's Clues Cake

Here's a cake order that I made for this past weekend. I had a lot of fun making the dog out of fondant! To place a cake order please e-mail me at katecakes@gmail.com.

Happy Valentine's Day

Chocolate Sweet Heart Cookies

Here's a great recipe for chocolate cut-out cookies. I have tried several recipes for chocolate cut-out cookies before and most of them came out a little dry; when rolling them out the dough cracks. But this recipe does not have that problem. You roll the dough out between two pieces of parchment paper and it rolls out beautifully! Not sticky, not dry, but very moist and perfect! I cut out hearts for Valentine's day, but this recipe can be used any time of year. It is found in the February 2009 issue of Everyday Food.

Chocolate Sweet Hearts

• 1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 large egg

1. In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water, place chocolate, butter, and brown sugar; stir frequently until almost completely melted. Remove from heat, and stir until completely melted; let cool slightly.
2. Add egg to chocolate mixture. With a mixer on low, beat until well blended. Gradually stir in flour mixture (dough will form a ball).
3. Divide dough in half; roll out each half on a sheet of parchment paper to a 1/4-inch thickness. Transfer each half (still on paper) to a baking sheet; freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Working with one half at a time, flip dough onto a work surface; peel off paper. Using a 2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies; place, 1/2 inch apart, on two baking sheets. Bake until firm and fragrant, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to a rack to cool.

Valentine's Day Date Ideas

If you're looking for some good ideas for something to do with your special someone on Valentine's Day, but also stay within a budget, here are a few ideas.

• Go for a picnic at a local park. Try to find one with a trail so you can take a walk, bike ride, or skate after you're done eating. Some parks even have lakes to go fishing.
  
• Stay home and enjoy a romantic candlelight dinner together. Cook a fancy dinner together, or order in. After dinner pop some popcorn and snuggle up and watch a movie together.
• Spend the day at the zoo. Or in the evening the Phoenix Zoo is having Jungle Love Valentine's Day Date Night for adults 21 and over. However, the cost is $70 per couple. Includes drinks, dinner, and entertainment. Reservations are required.
  
• In the evening find a local bar that will be having live music.
• Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix presents Chihuly: The Nature of Glass. They are offering free admission on Valentine's Day, however you must call ahead to make a reservation.

Wesley's Birthday

Tonight we celebrated my sister's birthday. I made the dinner that she always used to request from my mom when we were kids. Roasted chicken with rice, gravy, and string beans with toasted almonds. For her birthday cake I made a yellow cake frosted with chocolate buttercream. HAPPY BIRTHDAY WES!!!

Michaels Coupon

Michaels 40% off printable coupon expires February 14th.

Organizing Tips

One thing that I love to do is organize, so here are some tips that I have found helpful for keeping things in order.

1. JARS: jars are a great way to keep clutter from collecting around certain areas of the house. Displayed in the first picture are jars that I use in my craft room to hold items such as: buttons, loose ribbons, and fabric scraps. Jars can also double as a decoration in a room, depending upon what you put inside of them. Some places to find jars at reasonable prices: Michael's, Target, Wal-mart, and Ikea. Jars are also great to use in the kitchen pantry for food items that you always have on hand. It keeps the pantry looking neat and organized, and also keeps the item fresher longer.
   
2. DRAWERS: these drawers are nice because they are fairly small and also have a place for labels. This allows for each drawer to not become overloaded with many different objects. This way you can know exactly where each item is and where to put it back when you're finished using it. The drawers shown above are from Micheal's and can be purchase either on sale or with a weekly coupon.
3. PAPER CUBBYHOLES: if you like to scrapbook or do any kind of crafting I am sure you have lots of paper laying around. These cubbyholes are a great way to keep papers organized by color or theme, and from getting bent or torn. They are from Micheal's and can be stacked with the other drawer organizers. They can also be purchased with weekly coupons to save money.
   

Fancy Clipboards

This is a fun way to dress up a plain clipboard for an office or craft room. I painted the edges of the board black and then covered the center in a piece of scrapbook paper with mod podge. I then added little rhinestone jewels to the corners. You can hang the clipboard on the wall to display it, and also use it to help organize loose papers.

Memory Jar

This is a memory jar that I just made for my Aunt who got married last year on Valentine's Day. The memory jar is customized for their wedding day and contains the following: 12 pictures cards, envelope to hold wedding memorabilia, wedding date card, card with ideas for filling the jar, heart confetti, and cards for their favorite things to do together. If you're interested in ordering a memory jar please e-mail me at domesticcharm@gmail.com

Coupons

Here are links to some coupons that I know I use on a regular basis!

Michaels 20% off purchase (expires Feb. 7th)

Hobby Lobby Coupon (expires Feb. 7th)

Target Grocery Coupons (expire Feb. 28th)

Phoenix Zoo Coupon ($2.00 of adult admission $1.00 of child expires Dec. 09)

Francesca's Collections

If you're looking for a new place to shop for clothes, purses, accessories, and gifts this is a great place to check out.
Francesca's Collections is a very cute boutique that is full of great things with affordable prices. They are always having a great sale of some sort and a pick of the week, which is also on sale. They have many locations across the US and several here in Arizona.

Valentine's Day Napkins

These are a quick and easy craft that can be made for any holiday or season. I made four valentine's day napkins. Here's how I made mine: I bought four fat quarters of fabric, washed and pressed them. Then I cut them to 16" squares and made a 1/2" fold twice on all sides and pressed with an iron. Then I sewed around all the sides.

Diaper Cakes

Seeing that I love cake decorating, i guess it was only a matter of time before I learned how to decorate diapers. Diaper cakes can be a lot of fun to make and to receive. They can even be kept in the baby's room as a decoration. Here's one I made for my friend Jessica's baby shower that was Rock Star themed.

Aprons by "That's Sew Lexi"

Aprons make a great gift for a new bride or for anyone who loves to cook or bake. This is my new apron, and I love it! It makes me feel extra girly when I am in the kitchen. They are made by "That's Sew Lexi", visit her blog for more information on how to get one of these adorable aprons.

Artichoke Dip

This is a recipe that my Mom and Dad came up with together. This is a really easy and really yummy recipe! Also great to take to a party.

Artichoke Dip

• 1 can artichoke hearts, chopped
• 1 small can green chilies, chopped
• 1 8oz block of cream cheese
• 1/2 stick of butter
• 3/4 cup monterey jack with jalapeno pepper cheese, grated

Soften the cream cheese and butter in the microwave. Add to the pie pan and stir in the artichoke hearts and green chilies. Mix together and spread smooth. Top with grated cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with crackers or pita chips.

Jewelry Making

Fallon and Lex had the idea to make these adorable necklaces, and I joined in on it. At first I gave up but on my second try it turned out really cute. The beads are threaded onto a wire and then wrapped around a washer. So now we all have matching necklaces! The inspiration came from necklaces at Domestic Bliss in Mesa.

Wine Bag

Here's a great idea for an extra something to bring to a dinner party. Instead of buying a gift bag for your bottle of wine, you can make it. Pick a fabric of your choice and a matching ribbon to tie around once finished. This is a really easy and fast sewing project. First cut the fabric to 6.5" by 34" and zig-zag around all sides on your machine. Next fold the fabric in half and sew the two sides together so that the wine bottle can slide in the top of the bag. Tie the ribbon around the top and you're done!

Make a Frame

This is a fun craft that is easy to do and only takes an hour or two to complete. They are great to make for your own home or as a gift. All you need is a wood frame, a piece of scrapbook paper that you like, matching paint, and some buttons or anything else you would like to attach to the front. Start by painting your frame along the sides and the back. Once it is finished drying you can trace the shape of the frame onto your paper. Cut out the paper and mod podge it on to the wood frame. Once that has dried you can gently sand the edges of your frame to make them smooth. Now you can attach anything you'd like to the front. The scrap booking letters are great for putting words on the frame.

Mojitos

I don't like many drinks, but this is one of my favorites. Here's the recipe, you're going to want to write this one down!

Mojitos

1/2 cup water
4 tablespoons sugar
1/4 fresh mint leaves
4 limes juiced, 1 for garnish
4 oz white rum

Prepare the glasses by dipping the rims into lime juice and then sugar. Bring the water to a boil and dissolve the sugar in the water. Stir the leaves into the hot water. Add the juice of the limes and the rum. Pour into a pitcher and refrigerate if making a larger batch or into a shaker with ice and shake. Pour over ice and garnish with a few mint leaves and a lime wedge. Enjoy!

Carrot Cake

Over the past few years a new family tradition has been formed. Each year on my mother-in-law's birthday I have started making her a carrot cake for her birthday cake. I guess the tradition formed because, well... the recipe is just that good!!! So I thought I would share it with all of you, it's a great one for the Spring. It is from Maida Heatter's book Maida Heatter's Cakes.

Carrot Cake

Makes one 9-inch
3-layer cake;
serves 12 to 20

1 cup dark raisins
1 pound carrots (to make 4 cups shredded, firmly packed)
2 cups minus 2 tablespoons sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
11/4 cups corn oil
11/2 cups (5 1/2 ounces) walnuts, cut into medium size pieces

Cream Cheese frosting:

16 ounces Philadelphia-brand cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups sifted confectioner's sugar

12 to 20 walnut halves or marzipan carrots (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter three 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with rounds of parchment paper. Butter the paper and dust the bottom and the sides with fine dry bread crumbs, tap out the excess.
Steam the raisins: place them in a steamer basket over shallow water in saucepan. Cover the pan, place on high heat and let the water boil for about 10 minutes. Uncover and set aside.
Wash, dry, and peel the carrots. The carrots can be grated on a metal grater or in the food processor. You can do them fine, medium, or coarse; it doesn't make much difference in the cake.
Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cocoa together and set aside.
In a large bowl beat the eggs. Beat in vanilla, both of the sugars, and the oil. Next on a low speed, add the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated. Stir in the carrots, raisins, and nuts.
Pour the batter into prepared pans. Place two pans on one rack and one pan in the center of the other rack, so that no pan is directly above the other. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. The top of the cake should spring back when gently touched with your fingertip.
Remove from the oven and let stand for a few minutes before removing the cakes from the pans. Leaving on the parchment paper will help to keep the cake moist. Once cool brush any loose crumbs off the sides of the cake.
Before filling and frosting the cake it is best to freeze the cakes for at least one hour, or until firm enough to handle. I typically freeze the cakes overnight. When doing this make sure to wrap them after they become firm. Do not thaw the layers before frosting.
To make the frosting: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. On a low speed beat in the vanilla and sugar. Then beat on high for a few minutes, until smooth.
To frost the cakes: Place each layer one at a time upside down on a plate or cake circle. Spread a thin layer of frosting (2/3 cup) evenly over first two layers as stacking. Place the third layer upside down and cover the whole cake with frosting. This frosting can be worked with over and over again until you have it the way you like it. Sometimes I choose to frost in smooth, other times I have swirled the icing.
The cake can me left plain or marzipan carrots make for a nice decoration around the top. If you don't have time for that then a simple circle of walnut halves make for an elegant and beautiful decoration. Push them gently into the frosting while soft.