V-Day attire

I decided to keep our Valentines attire simple this year. My older daughter requested a shirt to wear with jeans. She is over skirts and dresses (sad, I know). I figured making pleasant blouses would be a quick easy project. 

Unfortunately, I also decided to use fabric I had on hand. When I went through my stash, I fell in love with this vintage dotted swiss fabric.  It turned my simple project into more work than I wanted. The blouses only took about 30 minutes each to make, but I ended up making knit undershirts that took more time, Grrr. I was hoping to use white undershirts we had on hand, but they just didn't look right.  

In the end, I love the look. I think it was worth it?  

I'm loving the matching headband.  

This one was having a hard time not untying here bow, probably not the best shirt for a toddler. 

Hope you all have a Happy Valentines Day! 

chocolate rum cake

In the spirit of LOVE, I'm sharing a family secret today. It's a good one too. 

This is our award-winning, infamous Rum Cake. People go crazy for it. It's one of those cakes that everyone wants the recipe for, and I'm always embarrassed when they ask.  

 The truth is, there is no recipe. It's just your typical chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, chocolate ganache, and a little secret weapon. 

Butter Rum flavoring oil. 

We use it for our chocolates, but it's just as good added to chocolate frosting. You can find it at your local baking supply store. I bought this one at Orson GYGI's, but I've also bough it at Bakers C&C. You can also find it HERE online. But, here is the important part, you want {BUTTER RUM}, not butter or just rum. Trust me they are not the same. 

The cascading chocolate ganache makes it look fancier than it really is. People will think you put a lot of effort into the cake, when it really doesn't take much. 

-For years I made my chocolate cake with just a cake box(devil's food), but recently I've been using THIS recipe, which is almost as easy. 

- Any chocolate frosting will work (even a can). When adding flavoring start with a few drops of oil and taste. Continue adding drops to taste, I like mine strong. 

Here is a simple frosting recipe I like to use:

4 Tbsp cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

4 Tbsp soft butter

2 or 3 Tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

mix cocoa and powdered sugar in mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients, beat until smooth. 

-For the ganache melt half a 12oz. bag of good chocolate chips(I like Ghiradelli) in the microwave. Melt them in 30 second increments, stirring each time. When they're all melted, add 5-6 Tbsp of cream, milk or half & half. Stir the mixture as fast as you can. For a minute you'll think you've done something wrong and then it will come together. Pour the ganache over the top and smooth it out so it runs over the sides. 

As I was making this cake for my mother-in-laws birthday (she asks for it every year), all my kids came running into the kitchen the minute I added the rum flavoring to the frosting- no lie. The amazing aroma filled the house within seconds. Seriously it's that good. 

blow me a kiss {valentine} with free printable

 I am so excited to share our valentines for this year. I hope you love them as much as I do. They are perfect for any gender and any age. 

 I bought several of these fabulous lip whistles online for about 18¢ a piece. 

I can't tell you how much my kids love these whistles. They are blowing them 24/7 and surprisingly they don't drive me crazy. 

 I printed a simple document in word, cut it into six cards and attached the whistles with a small dot of hot glue, which is easily removed. 

You can download the document for free HERE.

Let me know if you have any questions or problems with the downloads. 

{family love} subway art

I've always tried to stress love for family and friends during Valentines and not so much on romance. Adding everyones names to subway art was an easy and fun way to show the kids what a big part they play in our love story. 

I put mine together in a special program, but I don't think it would be to difficult to make one in Word. All my fonts were free downloads online. 

It was instant gratification. All it took was a few minutes typing, printing and a $1 frame. 

Since it is customized I can't share a free printable, but here are two free-printables that inspired mine (the links are under the pictures):

get this free printable from Girl Creative HERE

get this free printable from eighteen25 HERE

The Emma Dress

I made something yesterday.
My friend Jess, at craftiness is not optional, did a sew-along for this super cute Emma Dress last week. I wasn't feeling well, and had to put it off until yesterday.  Jess has the tutorial split up into 3 days, but I was able to finish it up in a couple of hours. Lucky for me, our daughters wear the same size, so I was able to print her pattern and save myself some work.  

I love the off-center bodice.

 Not to mention the collar and ric-rac.

I was worried it was a little too yellow, but it really brings a ray of sunshine to a cold January day. 

Best of all she loves it.

I was at a meeting yesterday and left all the fabric and supplies laying around the dinning room table. When I came home, my husband said my girls were talking about how much they loved the fabric and how much they love it when mom sews for them, and soon there was a fight over who was getting a new dress. Ha, I love it. I think I just go the motivation to make something for valentines.

love is in the air

In honor of finally getting all our valentines decor out, I thought I would post a list of my favorite valentines projects I've done in the past. I absolutely love Valentine's Day. It's not about romance for me, but celebrating the love I have for everyone around me.

Hope you'll be inspired and feel the love in these past projects:

(click on the title under the photo for the original post)

 Love Juice Valentines

Valentines Mail Pouch Tutorial 

 {LOVE} and {BE MINE} banners

Crepe Paper Hanging Hearts 

Vintage Valentines and DIY stands 

 LOVEly ruffle dresses

 Valentines Attire

Cherry Chocolate Fudge 

Sweets for your Sweets

I don't get to spend as much time blog surfing. I'd love for you all to share any fun valentines ideas you've seen out there or better yet your made yourself. 

favorite homemade gift I received this year

Sorry, I have to share one more homemade gift from Christmas and then I will move on with life. 

My sister made these for me and I love them. Do you know what they are? 

 Does this help?

 How about this?

 Or this?

They are handmade luggage tags. I've seen a lot of different ideas for handmade luggage tags, but these are so classy and she put so much heart into them I had to share. Our entire family travels a lot, thanks to a mother who has worked for Delta and has provided years of free and discounted airfare. 

 I've been wanting to make something to help me find my black luggage at the airport for years but always forget about it till I'm packing my bags. 

They are made of special vinyl purchased at Mood during our trip to NY. She said it's typically used to make high-end ski clothing. 

This one was for my husband, I'm glad she kept his simple. 

Thanks again Shelly for the perfect thoughtful gift. 

Clair's Christmas Dress

As usual I insisted my girls have matching dresses for the Holidays. I know it's a sickness. The fact that I couldn't find three that matched, in all the right sizes, didn't stop me either. I had NO choice but to make Clair's.  

Kate on the left is showing the original dress purchased for her and big sister Lydia. Clair on the right is wearing her copy-cat dress made by me. Although I couldn't find the exact same materials, I think it's a pretty good match. 

She loves it and declares herself a princess every time she wears it. 

I was quite proud of myself, making my own pattern and once again using an invisible zipper. 

Okay, I took my first leap and went with non-traditional colors for a Christmas dress. Maybe next year I can take another leap and get them dresses that don't match. 

On another side note, I found it interesting that I really didn't save much money making the dress myself. Luckily I got all my fabric at 50% off plus and extra 20%. In the end I spent $16 on supplies and the original dress cost $25. I would have gladly paid ten dollars and saved myself the time.