Beginning Of St Pattys day {& apologies!}

OK I realize I have been MIA for a while, haven't been doing much cooking or crafting these days just started PACKING!! The Husband and I just bought our first house, which was very stressful and overwhelming, but now that that part is all over its time to pack this place up and move on! The house we are moving into needs some Bre touches, so I fore-see a few blog posts about painting, decorating and re-doing cabinets. Once we are moved in and settled I'll be posting Before and After photos on the Blog.


Lately I have been working on some ideas for the St Patricks Day Party we will be hosting. I have a link to some Free Printables to share too, from Bird's Party.

St Patricks Day Free Printables!

Don't forget about the Subway art from eighteen25 I posted about not long ago, they do have a St Patty's Day one! The eighteen25 Blog also has a St Patty's day themed "You Gotta See This" post, you can see all those ideas here.

I have also cut and glittered another cardboard banner for the occasion, not quite done but here's where I'm at with that. Needs some ribbon and some kind of accent on the background I think.

My one lonely little craft...

Other than making THIS Leprechaun craft with Charlee the other day, that has been the extent of my creativity these days =( Im hoping to get all the St Patricks Day things out of the way before the Big move, so I'll be updating you on ideas, and menus. Keep Checking back!

Pintrest & Subway Art

Ok I realize that "Subway Art" has been around for awhile, you see it everywhere. At first I didn't really get it, but I must say...I have grown to love it! So today while cruising around pintrest I came across this really cute St Patty's Day one, and it was posted on a "Printables" board, so I went to check it out.  JACKPOT!

On this site, eighteen25 they have Subway Art for every Holiday and then some other cute ones too. So I've decided to share, its such a cute and low cost way to decorate for a party or just your home. Cute frame a Costco Print and you're on your way.  Here is your first step, FREE Printable Subway Art.

 eighteen25 Subway Art Downloads

While your there, be sure to check out the rest of their site, its really great. They also have many many pintrest boards all of which are filled with great Pins.

{eighteen25}Pintrest

This was my great find for the day, so I thought I`d share. If you have Pintrest and want to see what I`ve been looking at you can!

Bre Entertains Pintrest

 

Homemade Bread--From Scratch!

When I was in College, taking cooking, we used to bake bread almost every day, and it always turned out.  Taking my newly learned skills home, I tried this same recipe for bread...well folks I ended up with an inedible DOOR STOP! Very discouraging when you spend hours, kneading and waiting, and portioning and waiting some more, only for it to NOT rise when its in the pan and become nothing more than a solid mass. I didn't make bread for years.

About 2 years ago Mom and Dad gave me their bread maker, so I decided to try again, I made the dough in the bread maker then took it out to rise and bake in the oven. (These were the days before the Kitchen-Aid) It was edible, but it wasn't that AMAZING homemade bread like Grandma made. So after a few attempts I gave up on this too.

A few weekends ago mom and dad came up to Babysit the little monster Princess and brought homemade bread they had made. It was soooo good. The urge to play Suzy homemaker and try again came over me, and today I finally did it. And in case you hadn't guessed by the post, IT WORKED!

*Insert Very very Very Happy Dance here*

Not only does it LOOK like bread and smell like bread, when you pick it up, its light and squishy and I don't think it would make a very good Door Stop.

Here is the recipe I used, its from the old school Purity Cookbook like your Mother and Grandmother had.  I halved it because...well I didn't need 17 loaves (well not quite) of Bread for our house. You can make the whole thing and freeze it, I'll probably do this next time, now that I know I can actually do it.

White Bread

(Makes 1 loaf; 1 pan rolls)

Dissolve 1 tsp sugar in 1/2c warm water and sprinkle 1 package of yeast over the top, 8g. let sit for 10 minutes, then whisk with a fork.

Scald 1c of milk
Pour into a large bowl and add:
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
2 tbsp shortening
1/2 c water

Stir until the shortening melts, cool to lukewarm.
Add yeast mixture to milk and add 2 1/2 c flour. Mix (I used my Kitchen-Aid, with the dough hook attachment)

Gradually add 2-2 1/2 c flour, ensuring that each time the flour is mixed into the dough. You may need to add it all or not. I ended up using 4 1/4(ish) cups of flour when I made it this morning. If your dough becomes too dry, add some water 1 tbsp at a time.

Cover and let rise for 1 1/2 hours, until doubled, in a warm place.
(Bre's proofing Trick: When I start getting stuff ready for the bread I turn the oven on 300. I then turn it off and keep the door shut, when I'm ready for the bread to rise I stick it in the oven covered with a dish towel, and leave the oven door open a crack. Works like a charm!)

Punch Down and put in greased pans, as rolls or loaves, cover and let rise to double the size and bake at 425 for 30-35minutes. (check at 20)
When you tap on the top of the loaf and it sounds hollow, that's when you know its ready. (trick from school)

Valentine Votive Holders



Sadly I found this Picture on Pintrest...My Name is Bre and Im a Pintrest addict.

So I went on a Pintrest Binge last night and this morning...last thing I did before bed last night, PINNED....first thing I did this morning (after feeding Binks and making coffee of course)...PINNED! Yikes....this is getting out of control. BUT! I did find a tip on how to make my crappy dishwasher work better, on Pintrest, and then actually DID IT. Ill keep you posted on how it works.


When I finally pulled myself away from Pintrest, Charlee wanted to decorate for Valentine's Day. So I went and pulled out all the little things we had to put up around, then realized "this isn't enough!". Back to Pintrest! oh god.


Here is what I found! Mason Jar Votive Holders, they look super cute as a centerpiece when they are bundled together. Different sizes would be adorable, but I only had 1 size jar on hand so this is what I ended up with.

All you need:

• mason jars
• sm. doillies
• fabric (or scrapbook paper would work too)
• thin ribbon or twine
• tape or glue
• votives

Cut hearts out of your fabric or paper, I used fabric because I had some end scraps laying around.
Glue or tape the doilie to the jar. Tape the heart in the center of the doilie.

Wrap your twine or ribbon around a few times and tie with a bow.

Drop a votive down in the jar and light it up for a romantic centerpiece. You can add some sand or coarse salt in the bottom of the jar to raise the candle up a little bit and make it easier to light.


I used tape so I could use the mason jars again after Valentines Day. Maybe revamp these only with a country theme to match my kitchen, hmmm.

Super Bowl Recap!

After last nights game we had a room full of disappointed men, here we are Pats fans, if you hadn't already guessed. Although it was a great game until the very last play. Anyway if you're here reading this blog...chances are you couldn't care less about the Football game, so Ill get right to it. Here's an overview of the Super Bowl Spread we had last night. I've been feeling under the weather since Thursday so I apologize, I took the easy route yesterday and did Bre's Rendition of the Hostess with With Mostess' Super Bowl Party. One of my absolute favorite blogs, for multiple reasons, check her out and I assure you it won't be the last time you check her blog for Party ideas.

I used her Printable Snack Baskets to hold the "Team Spirit Popcorn" (recipe is also on that page). Very easy and so good. Perfect for a kids party too!

Team Spirit Popcorn-Berry Blue

I didn't use the printable popcorn boxes because ...well...I liked these ones better. Simple as that!

 Made a little Centerpiece for the table using some more free printables I posted on my Super Bowl Recipe Mashup Post.

Football Cupcakes

Some team flags I chose to use them on straws, can also be used on Beer Bottle Necks, wine glass stems or as cupcake toppers.

For Bre's Super Bowl Menu, and recipes check out my Previous Post!

For tons more great party ideas and recipes be sure to check out The Hostess With the Mostess Blog! You won't be disappointed!

Now ....back to the couch with Hot Lemon to watch Disney Junior with my Sick Princess, I can feel another Lysol Spray and Wipes day coming on this week.

More Free Superbowl Printables

Superbowl Sunday is TOMORROW!! In case you are the one hosting the party and want to add a little something here's a little link to help you out from the Hostess with Mostess Blog, and she is just that.

Free Super Bowl Printables!

Here is another Link with some Patriot and Giants Printables to add a little friendly competition to your party.

Team Super Bowl Printables!

You'll see these being used tomorrow afternoon at our get together and I hope you can put them to good use too. Or keep them for a Football themed Birthday Party.

What will you be serving at your Super Bowl Party? Here's What I'll be serving up: Homemade Pizza, Marshmallow Oreo Squares, Marble Cupcakes (of course!), Cream Cheese in Phyllo Cups. The recipes for the Pizza Crust, Oreo Squares and Cream Cheese Appie are all on my Super Bowl Recipe Mash-Up.  Be sure to check it out for some easy and delicious recipes to serve your guests or bring to the party you're attending. Also some different Free Printables on this post! Enjoy! :)