Saturday, November 23, 2013

Christmas Light Upgrade!

Hi friends! If you have a string of Christmas lights and ping pong balls lying around, you're in luck; those are the two supplies needed for today's project! Put together, they make a pretty string of soft glowing bulbs!

Okay, so I didn't have ping pong balls just lying around; I ordered them in bulk from Amazon specifically for this. But they're very inexpensive if you look in the right places! I've found that if you search for "beer pong" balls, you can get the cheap ones for, well, cheap! The thinner the material, the easier it is to poke an "x" into the ball with an exacto knife.

I don't think this project needs much explaining, so I'll stop talking and give you the pictures. Here we go!



I love the soft glow these produce, so I leave them up year round. I've even put them out on the patio for special events!



Note: Some commenters have mentioned that ping pong balls are flammable, so you should use LED lights which don't get hot! I, however, have had mine on normal Christmas lights for several years now, and no heat issues yet!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

An Easy Favorite: Banoffee Pie!


I have a go-to dessert that I like to make, and every time I do I get asked for the recipe.
Now the thing is, I don’t use a recipe. But… you don’t have to either!

Proportions are totally up to your tastes, and you can change it up every time you make it, but here are the basics of my one of my favorites, Banoffee Pie!


I apologize for the pictures. I waited too long, and the majority of the pie was consumed by the time I got out the camera!

Crust:
2 cups crumbs- classic graham crackers work, digestive biscuits are more commonly used, HobNobs are my absolute favorite if you can get a hold of them.
6 tablespoons melted butter
If you feel inclined, add ½ tsp of cinnamon or nutmeg

Filling:
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
3(ish) bananas (Sometimes some banana slices end up getting eaten during this process. That’s just a necessary sacrifice.)
2 cups heavy cream
1 tsp almond extract
Handful of chocolate chips or shavings. I like to use mini dark chocolate chips.

Let’s start with the sweetened condensed milk. You can do this step a month in advance, or a day, or do it the day of if you have the time. Remove the labels. You are going to place your unopened cans of sweetened condensed milk into a big pot of boiling water and boil for 2.5 hours.



Make sure they stayed covered in water the whole time, or else they will EXPLODE. (Just picture that for a moment.) After 2.5 hours, remove and allow to cool before opening.

Combine crust ingredients well and press into 9 inch pie pan or a 9x13. Bake at 375° F for 10 minutes, and then allow to cool.

Cut your bananas into coins and scatter them in your cooled crust.

Open your cans of sweetened condensed milk, which are (magically!) now toffee. Stir them well and pour over the bananas until they are covered. I usually only use a can and a half, leaving half of a can of toffee for other delicious uses.

Whip your two cups heavy cream and extract with a hand mixer or food processor until cream forms fluffy peaks. Dollop evenly over your pie, or spread with spatula. Sprinkle your chocolate on top.


Voila. =]

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Christmas is Coming: Font Roundup!

There are several things that make me feel excited enough to use all caps.
CHRISTMAS TIME is one of them. TYPOGRAPHY is another.
Therefore, FREE CHRISTMAS FONTS make me really excited!!
 I've rounded up some of my favorite new fonts for your downloading pleasure, should you feel so inclined.
(Remember, click the grey Download button on the righthand side of the font preview. other "download" links are ads!)

Monday, October 28, 2013

Engaged: Toby & Kerrigan!

Remember that sappy blog post I wrote a few weeks back? Well I have a few more pictures from their engagement shoot to share. We started out at Caribou Coffee, an important place in our group of friends, and in Kerrigan and Toby's relationship, and then ventured to Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve, where he popped the question in September! It was probably the foggiest day I've ever seen in Wisconsin, but we went with it, and it was a pleasure to photograph them.



 









Thursday, October 10, 2013

An Autumn Instagram Round-up

Sharing some of my autumny instagrams... Some of my projects, and just some lovely fall scenery.

I love this time of year...
 







Wednesday, October 9, 2013

As iron sharpens iron...

Today my beautiful best friend left for Thailand.

That sentence holds a lot of emotions. 

I am so thankful for Toby. When I returned from England, I prayed and prayed for an encouraging Godly woman to call a close friend. She came in an unexpected form, of someone very different from me, but someone that God placed in my life just at the right time and used immensely to bless me. She has become my encourager, partner in adventure, a wonderful bridesmaid, and confidante. 

Today she embarked on a journey to the slums of Pattaya in Thailand. I can't imagine anyone more perfect to rise up to this opportunity, but hey, that's why God called her, right? I have the privilege of hearing about what God is doing there in her and through her, and praying for her during the journey.

Shortly after she returns in six months, she'll be embarking on another exciting journey. Next summer, she will be marrying an incredible man named Kerrigan. Kerrigan is another person who God put in my life very specifically, although at a much earlier time. There were countless times that God imparted wisdom in my life through Kerrigan, throughout high school and early adulthood. 

These two have been a blessing to me separately, and I can't even begin to imagine the value they'll add to His Kingdom as they do life and ministry together, faithfully serving Christ.

Thomas and I enjoyed shooting their engagement pictures last weekend, and here's the first of a beautiful set:

I love you guys and thank God for putting you in our lives!

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Happy 40th!

I just made my 40th sale on Threadflip.

"On what?" you ask? Threadflip is a fashion marketplace that allows you to sell your used designer and vintage clothing and accessories.

You set up your shop page, and Threadflip facilitates the payment processing and created the shipping label. Easy peasy.

If you want to try it out, you get $5 just for joining using my referral link!

http://www.threadflip.com/referrals/69z0

There's no fees or catches or clauses, just a great way to recycle your closet, and find used designer pieces!