Bella 12 Month Photo Props

Our big girl turns one next month.

How did she get so big!!!

I keep collecting photo props for her 12 month pictures. I think I have too many and I might have to narrow it down for her pictures....
Today I finished a layered petal filled tutu for her.

It has matching tutu leg warmers!

I'm getting the crafting fever again! AAAAAAAHHHHH!

Messy Food Face

Here is a video of my daughter falling asleep in her food. My daughter was eating really well for months. She would clear her whole tray and still want more. Now she just wants to throw it all on the floor and smear it in her hair. It makes me feel like she is not getting enough to eat. I guess she is a big girl for her age and she is healthy and strong and if she gets hungry she will eat instead of throwing it on the floor lol. I shouldn't worry.

Birthday Gift

My friend Kayla can crochet like a Grandma on steroids. She is very talented. For my birthday she sent me this giant pink crocheted bow.
I love giant bows and I love pink!

Go check out my friend's shop! QuixoticKiss on Etsy.com. My giant bow kinda reminds me of Lady Gaga.

Cappuccino Muffins

Today I made cappuccino muffins with cappuccino spread. My husband and I decided to try 5 new recipes a month since we usually eat the same things over and over and over. We will try one new breakfast, one new lunch, one new dinner, one new dessert, and one new drink. Ill post the recipe later but these are VERY tasty!

GiveawayScout.com

Giveaway Scout is a site where you submit your blog and they periodically scan your blog for giveaways and post them on their website for FREE! I am going to submit my blog because sometimes our etsy shop, Little Lives Count, has a giveaway on my blog. : )

Upcycled Layette Gowns

My husband and I have finally started going through the garage and we found a zillion tie dyed t-shirts. He didn't want most of them so I washed them all and didn't really know what to do with them. Finally I decided to recycle them into layette gowns. It is pretty fun!

Here is the old t-shirt with my pattern layed out on it. I got the pattern from when I made some layette gowns for humanitarian aid for the church to send to other countries.

Here is the finsihed result. What do you think? I am going to decorate it some more but not really sure what to put on it. ANY IDEAS!?

Twin Sister

My twin and I usually make handmade gifts for eachother. We both love crafting and sewing. This is what I made for her this year since she is into cameo tops this year. : )

Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

Today I made chocolate marshmallow cookies. I am pretty proud that they turned out good. I also made Chili ConQueso dip yesterday. It turned out super thick so we had chili con queso nachos instead of dip lol. This cooking from scratch thing is pretty fun!

CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW COOKIES

1/2 cup butter,softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-3/4 cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup baking cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

16-18 large marshmallows

ICING:

6 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons baking cocoa

1/4 cup milk

1-3/4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

16-18 pecan halves

1 In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, milk, and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; beat into creamed mixture.

2 Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Meanwhile, cut marshmallows in half. Press a marshmallow half cut side down onto each cookie. Bake 2 minutes longer. Remove to wire racks to cool.

3 For icing, combine the butter, cocoa and milkin a saucepan. Bring to boil; boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Cool slightly; transfer to a small mixing bowl. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; beat well. Drizzle over the cooled cookies. Top each with a pecan half.

Yield: about 3 dozen

-June Formanek: Belle Plaine, Iowa

Pizza Pie

My husband and I decided to start cooking from scratch more because it is cheaper and healthier. Also it is fun and satisfying. So far we have made fajitas, stir fry, and pizza pie. I am really proud of my pizza pie. I had to kneed the dough and everything! I didn't have a pizza pan so it is kinda square instead of round but it was delicious! It came out perfect and golden brown. My husband ate half of the beast in one sitting! The rest was gone the next day. : )

Crust

1 Pkg. Pillsbury Hot Roll Mix

1 cup hot water (110-120 degrees F)

1 egg, slightly beaten

Filling

1 large onion, sliced

1 medium red bell pepper, cut into julienne strips

1 tablespoon oil

1 teaspoon basil leaves

1 teaspoon oregano leaves

8oz. can tomato sauce

3 1/2 oz. pkg. sliced pepporoni

15 oz. carton ricotta cheese

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg, slightly beaten

8 oz. (2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 tablespoon water

Grease 12 inch pizza pan. Open Hot Roll Mix. In large bowl, combine flour mixture and yeast from foil packet; mix well. Stir in hot water and 1 egg until dry particles are moistened. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. With greased or floured hands, shape dough into a ball. Knead dough for two to three minutes or until smooth and no longer sticky. Reserve about 1/4 cup dough for decorative cutouts. Divide remaining dough into two equal parts; shape into balls and cover loosely with plastic wrap while preparing filling.

In large skillet over medium heat, saute onion and red pepper in oil until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add basil, oregano, tomato sauce, and pepperoni; simmer 5 minutes.

In small bowl, combine ricotta, parmesan, and 1 egg. Mix well.

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. On lightly floured surface,roll half of dough into 14 inch circle. Place in prepared pan; spoon hot pepperoni mixture over dough. Spoon ricotta mixture evenly over pepperoni; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Roll second half of dough into 14 inch circle; place on top of filling. Fold edge of top crust ender bottom crust; flute to seal. With tip of knife, make 5 slits in top crust for steam to escape. In small bowl, combine 1 egg and water; brush over crust. Roll out reserved 1/4 cup dough to about 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into decorative shapes and arrange on top of crust. Brush with egg mixture. Bake at 375 degrees F for 25 to 35 minutes or until deep golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Sea World

We got thid adorable picture of Bella done at Sea World. The artists are really good and draw so fast! I love it!

My Birthday!

My Birthday was August 5th. My husband surprised me with a cake and candy! Then we went to Sea World and saw the evening shows. It was lots of fun. HAPPY BIRTHDAY FONTANNA!!! (My twin sister.... )

San Diego Zoo

We took a trip to the San Diego Zoo. Bella really liked it. She is scared of fish though! She also HATED the goats at the petting zoo.