I love them.

LOVE ‘EM! LOVE ‘EM! LOVE ‘EM!

…even if you do feel a little weird being there and not being allowed help of do anything.

You feel kind of lazy. Not kind of… REALLY lazy.

But who am I kidding? I’d just be in their way.

They know efficiency on a whole other level.

Day 1 of packers is DONE. Day 2 (tomorrow) . Then the moving truck comes on Wednesday.

And after that… a long drive to California.

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

Last night was my first experience with “morning sickness”… which has hardly subsided since.

I go back and forth between not wanting to even look at food to wanting to order a pizza…stat. (which I did. haha)

Eating seems to curb the nauseousness… for a short while anyway.

I’m not looking forward to the 23+ hours in the car at the end of the week…mostly because being in the car when you feel nauseous is horrible…but also because I forgot my camera at my parents’ house in CA while we were on our house hunting trip. A cross country adventure without pictures?? Who am I kidding… I will probably be curled up in a ball trying to not throw up. haha

I’ll get through it, I’m sure.

Hope everyone is having a good Monday!

Here I am!

I haven’t had a chance to post very much lately… which will hopefully change soon. As you know, our time in Texas is rapidly coming to an end (as in, we are moving next week). At the beginning of March we decided on taking a spur-of-the-moment trip out to California (which lasted a week) to get started on house hunting.

To no avail.

We are optimistic though. We know we will find something we like. Eventually.

Not that there is any cause for concern.

The movers only come on MONDAY.

Yes. As in less than three days from now.

I should be losing my cotton pickin marbles but, surprisingly, I’m not that worried about it.

It always seems like God pulls through and rescues  at the last. possible. second.

…just when you begin to fear that He has forgotten about you and your situation.

And in hindsight, you scold yourself for doubting in the first place.

God will not lead you down a path and then abandon you!

So with this in mind, I have peace.

We will find a house… in God’s timing.

While we are on the topic of God’s timing…

{pic via}

Yes! It is true!

This is our first pregnancy…and we are so excited!

Of course I’m scared to death something is going to go wrong but, again, I know this is completely out of my control and totally in God’s hands.

I am currently 6 weeks along and so far have not had any morning sickness. But according to the 45 pregnancy books I’ve read in the past week… it still can happen at any time. I’m not out of the woods yet.

So yeah! That is my news. Moving to California next week. Having a baby in early November.

It’s only been like two weeks and I already feel so out of the loop in Blogland… I haven’t had a chance to fully get caught back up on my blog reading.  With two weeks worth of posts… I am just going to pace myself. haha

I suppose I better get to work. Movers are coming to pack  on Monday (God bless the [...]]]>

Here I am!

I haven’t had a chance to post very much lately… which will hopefully change soon. As you know, our time in Texas is rapidly coming to an end (as in, we are moving next week). At the beginning of March we decided on taking a spur-of-the-moment trip out to California (which lasted a week) to get started on house hunting.

To no avail.

We are optimistic though. We know we will find something we like. Eventually.

Not that there is any cause for concern.

The movers only come on MONDAY.

Yes. As in less than three days from now.

I should be losing my cotton pickin marbles but, surprisingly, I’m not that worried about it.

It always seems like God pulls through and rescues  at the last. possible. second.

…just when you begin to fear that He has forgotten about you and your situation.

And in hindsight, you scold yourself for doubting in the first place.

God will not lead you down a path and then abandon you!

So with this in mind, I have peace.

We will find a house… in God’s timing.

While we are on the topic of God’s timing…

{pic via}

Yes! It is true!

This is our first pregnancy…and we are so excited!

Of course I’m scared to death something is going to go wrong but, again, I know this is completely out of my control and totally in God’s hands.

I am currently 6 weeks along and so far have not had any morning sickness. But according to the 45 pregnancy books I’ve read in the past week… it still can happen at any time. I’m not out of the woods yet.

So yeah! That is my news. Moving to California next week. Having a baby in early November.

It’s only been like two weeks and I already feel so out of the loop in Blogland… I haven’t had a chance to fully get caught back up on my blog reading.  With two weeks worth of posts… I am just going to pace myself. haha

I suppose I better get to work. Movers are coming to pack  on Monday (God bless the Navy for that!) and I haven’t organized anything yet! Serenity now!!

It has been a while since I’ve done one of my top ten lists…so I figured it was high time. And the Olympics are oh so deserving of their own top ten list.

Without further ado…

I respect the artistry of the sport. I understand freedom of expression. But I am beginning to feel like Blades of Glory was a legit documentary. Why must every male figure skater look like they were attacked by a bedazzler? The more emasculated, the better. And I’m not talking about Johnny Weir. We get that.

I find him quite likable regardless of his extravagant outfits. However, I could have done without the pink sequin corset ties…but, hey, whatever floats his boat.

I’m talking about the guys that try to act like they are the definition of a male sportsman. And then they wear this:

Which leads me to…

Oh Plushenko, Plushenko, Plushenko. I had such high hopes for you with your serious “secret” off-the-ice pre-competition practices in your 1980s sweat pants, pretending like you didn’t know the camera was filming you. And your glorious mullet.  Yes, you were quite entertaining without even trying to be.

And then our own Evan Lysacek took the gold. And Mr. Plushenko turned into Mr. Poor Sport Pity Party Plushenko. Mr. Pity Party even went so far as to stand on the Gold platform when receiving his medal before stepping down to silver. He will not own up to his silver. No, he declared to the Russian people on his website that he received the “Platinum” medal.  In Plushenko-land, his performance was better than gold. And after he was congratulated with his platinum medal, he rode off on a unicorn.

You know what this means? You can’t have a folk or country dance without a “farmer’s daughter/daisy duke” costume. Because that’s legit. And not cliche at all.

Not sure what is going on here, but I’ll give them a B+ for the boot skates alone. Nevermind the lasso big enough to rope a small dog. [...]]]>

It has been a while since I’ve done one of my top ten lists…so I figured it was high time. And the Olympics are oh so deserving of their own top ten list.

Without further ado…

10. Men’s Figure Skating Costumes.

I respect the artistry of the sport. I understand freedom of expression. But I am beginning to feel like Blades of Glory was a legit documentary. Why must every male figure skater look like they were attacked by a bedazzler? The more emasculated, the better. And I’m not talking about Johnny Weir. We get that.

I find him quite likable regardless of his extravagant outfits. However, I could have done without the pink sequin corset ties…but, hey, whatever floats his boat.

I’m talking about the guys that try to act like they are the definition of a male sportsman. And then they wear this:

Which leads me to…

9. Evgeni “Pity Party” Plushenko

Oh Plushenko, Plushenko, Plushenko. I had such high hopes for you with your serious “secret” off-the-ice pre-competition practices in your 1980s sweat pants, pretending like you didn’t know the camera was filming you. And your glorious mullet.  Yes, you were quite entertaining without even trying to be.

And then our own Evan Lysacek took the gold. And Mr. Plushenko turned into Mr. Poor Sport Pity Party Plushenko. Mr. Pity Party even went so far as to stand on the Gold platform when receiving his medal before stepping down to silver. He will not own up to his silver. No, he declared to the Russian people on his website that he received the “Platinum” medal.  In Plushenko-land, his performance was better than gold. And after he was congratulated with his platinum medal, he rode off on a unicorn.

8. Ice Dancing “Folk/Country Dance Theme”

You know what this means? You can’t have a folk or country dance without a “farmer’s daughter/daisy duke” costume. Because that’s legit. And not cliche at all.

Not sure what is going on here, but I’ll give them a B+ for the boot skates alone. Nevermind the lasso big enough to rope a small dog. Nice touch.

These two apparently didn’t get the memo. Or a clue.

7. Two man luge.

The two man luge.

Wait.

What?!

What on earth is the point of this?

There must be an explanation.

There has to be a reason.

Gravitational pull? Body warmth? Best friends?

I need answers.

6. Skeleton

Same frightening Luge track.

Face forward. On your stomach.

Who thought this was a good idea?

It would take some good negotiating skills to convince me to go down a water-slide face forward.

But 90 mph down a slick ice track?

Are you serious?

The skeleton is what nightmares are made of.

Speaking of nightmares…

5. Cross Country Skiing

At what point does sprinting with two long skis on your feet sound like a good idea? And you know the designers of the course had to chuckle to themselves as they created the “uphill” portion.  Really? Uphill? Doesn’t that defy gravity? Shouldn’t that kind of thigh burn be considered a form of torture?

4. McTwist with a Side of McCool

I double McDog Dare you to challenge the awesomeness of Shaun White. With a star-spangled-train-robber-style bandana over his face and Finesse commercial-worthy hair, how could he be anything but cool? Nevermind the Double McTwist flippy Mcflip 1280 to the 10th power. Or the fact that he interviewed saying his mom took his last gold medal to the dry cleaners (medal and all) to be cleaned and it was returned on the standard dry cleaner hanger. haha Yes, Shaun “McCool” White is definitely cool. And my favorite.

3. The Yawn

Surely I couldn’t have been the only one noticing Apolo Ohno’s yawning before the race. What is he? Bored? Tired? No, no, I got it… he is nervous! I yawn when I am nervous, too!

Not true! It is a racing strategy to get more oxygen into his blood! I know! I didn’t know that either. Yawning aside, look how high his boots are off of his blade! He races on stilts! And he obviously races very well to be named the most decorated Winter Olympian in history! And here I thought he could only dance.

2. Curling

Hope.

That is what curling gives me.

Because athletic ability is not a prerequisite to get an Olympic medal.

Hope.

That one day, one of my hobbies and/or leisure pastimes will also be an Olympics sport.

Hope.

For the American team when they benched Shuster.

1. Shuster

“Don’t Shuster it!”

The new phrase of 2010, meaning “don’t mess it up”.

He is only the skip of the US team.

He only missed like four game winning shots.

And, although hope for a win was renewed when he was benched, I couldn’t help but want to give him a hug. I think he needed it. I’d have to say it was an all-around sad situation. Don’t worry Shuster, we still like you. Just not necessarily on game winning throws.

Oh, the glorious olympics. I enjoyed them for the first 8 days…and now I’m ready for The Biggest Loser and The Office to be back on already. How about you?

Happy Olympics to You!

Oh yes. I did.

I made a formspring.

Mostly because I was concerned that I wasn’t participating in enough social networking.

I was afraid that I didn’t have enough sites to visit daily.

Or enough logins and passwords to remember.

But mostly, this account was born out of fear that there were unanswered questions…

that you were just dying to know.

Like what trick I would do if I was performing at the Circus.

Sleep easy tonight.

I answered that burning question at formspring.

And will be more than happy to answer any other questions you were always wondering about…

like…what’s my favorite donut?

I know.  That question is ridiculous.

I do not discriminate against donuts; I like them all equally.

Except I don’t know why they can’t just make a bar with half chocolate and half maple icing.

That way I wouldn’t be forced to buy two and eat half of each.

And five minutes later eat the second half of each.

But that’s another story for another time.

Ask me a question here. But be nice.

Jon has winged! Hip! Hip! Hooray!

He finished his last flight (here in Texas anyway) back in January and had his winging ceremony about a week and a half ago!

{The wonky winging banner that I made Jon. It’s ginormous. haha}

With such an important event, we were so happy that all of the parents were able to attend from out of state.

The festivities kicked off Friday morning with a tour around the base.

We had a fabulous tour guide… Jon.

Gotta love that background. haha

First stop… The Simulator!

I have to land on what?! I can hardly see it!

Next stop… Radar room and Air Traffic Control tower.

We only had to climb 5093 stairs to get to the top.

But the view was worth it.

…and it’s not every day you get to go up in the tower.

Out on the catwalk. It was windy!

Our next stop was the Ready Room and Hangar.

Isn’t this creepy? It’s like two stories up…and it gives me the willies.

And now for the winging ceremony!

At the ceremony…

Pinning Jon’s wings on him.

I was terrified that I would fumble around and not be able to poke the wings through his uniform. (It is actually really difficult to poke through!!) Not to mention I had to remove his first wings (NFO wings…think Goose from Top Gun) and put the new Pilot wings on.

Got it!

We celebrated with the family at dinner and then later that evening we attended a “Winging Party” at the Officer’s Club. They always have a theme and this time around was “Jersey Shore”. Yes. It is true. I actually had to YouTube the show to see what it was all about. I had no idea, but apparently it is all the rage. Not really my cup of tea but it was fun dressing up. More specifically, it was really fun putting bronzer makeup and drawing metro-sexual eyebrows on Jon. haha

Yes. Our tans look oompa-loompa ridiculous. GTL. (Gym. Tan. Laundry.) That’s their motto. Seriously?

Pure ridiculousness.

Jon loses his marbles for shuffleboard.

The next day we visited the USS Lexington.

Jon has winged! Hip! Hip! Hooray!

He finished his last flight (here in Texas anyway) back in January and had his winging ceremony about a week and a half ago!

{The wonky winging banner that I made Jon. It’s ginormous. haha}

With such an important event, we were so happy that all of the parents were able to attend from out of state.

The festivities kicked off Friday morning with a tour around the base.

We had a fabulous tour guide… Jon.

Gotta love that background. haha

First stop… The Simulator!

I have to land on what?! I can hardly see it!

Next stop… Radar room and Air Traffic Control tower.

We only had to climb 5093 stairs to get to the top.

But the view was worth it.

…and it’s not every day you get to go up in the tower.

Out on the catwalk. It was windy!

Our next stop was the Ready Room and Hangar.

Isn’t this creepy? It’s like two stories up…and it gives me the willies.

And now for the winging ceremony!

At the ceremony…

Pinning Jon’s wings on him.

I was terrified that I would fumble around and not be able to poke the wings through his uniform. (It is actually really difficult to poke through!!) Not to mention I had to remove his first wings (NFO wings…think Goose from Top Gun) and put the new Pilot wings on.

Got it!

We celebrated with the family at dinner and then later that evening we attended a “Winging Party” at the Officer’s Club. They always have a theme and this time around was “Jersey Shore”. Yes. It is true. I actually had to YouTube the show to see what it was all about. I had no idea, but apparently it is all the rage. Not really my cup of tea but it was fun dressing up. More specifically, it was really fun putting bronzer makeup and drawing metro-sexual eyebrows on Jon. haha

Yes. Our tans look oompa-loompa ridiculous. GTL. (Gym. Tan. Laundry.) That’s their motto. Seriously?

Pure ridiculousness.

Jon loses his marbles for shuffleboard.

The next day we visited the USS Lexington.

Out on the flight deck…

Oh, you’re welcome Lex. Thank you for having us.

In between that was a whole lot of eating. haha I don’t think I have eaten out that much in a long time. It was nice to have family visit and to be able to show them around South Texas a bit.

With Jon’s winging, we also found out where we will be stationed next. Yes, our Texas adventure is now coming to an end. It is bittersweet. I’m ready for our next adventure…but will really miss Texas, too.

Without further ado…

Jon will be flying F-18 SuperHornets and we are headed to Lemoore, California!

{via}

Lemoore is near Fresno in the central valley. Don’t worry. Wikipedia considers the central valley “a prairie” so I’ll still be legit. I sensed your concern. And there is no need for it.

We will be around 3 hours from LA, San Francisco and Sacramento. It is a pretty central location and considering my family all lives in Southern California (which is where I lived all my life)…I am happy to be a reasonably short drive away from them.

We will be moving sometime in March (we are still waiting for the exact date). So change is on the horizon.

And there you have it! The current scoop with our military life!

E: Earth calling Melissa. Repeat…Earth calling Melissa.

M: Copy Earth.

E: You have been off the radar for over a week. State your location.

M: Here.

E: Surely you have an excuse for your absence.

And, surely you have an excuse for having an imaginary conversation with a planet.

M: Negative and negative. And don’t call me Shirley.

That pretty much sums up my excuse for being M.I.A.

I was in la-la land, if you will.

Engaging in planetary dialog, if I may.

Truth be known, I didn’t feel like it.

There. I said it.

Judge away.

Get off my back, I took a blogcation! haha (almost as ridiculous as saying you took a staycation, but not quite)

Enough claptrap.

We had some family out visiting for Jon’s winging (more on that, maybe tomorrow? tonight? after i get finished calling Jupiter?) and then it was Valentine’s Day (which is completely irrelevant but I feel it may be camouflaged as a legitimate excuse if I type it with enough confidence)…and then nothing really important between then and now. (Except two spider bites! But that is a whole other story for another time) Time away from the Blogging world has been a little refreshing, I have to admit. Sometimes the line between internet and reality can really start to blur and, meanwhile, real life starts passing you by. And even worse, blogging starts to become a check-list, an obligation, like it is something I have to do (both reading and posting) and that is where I draw the line.  There was no way I was going to allow something that started out to be so fun and enjoyable turn into a source of stress. Seriously, blogging? Self-imposed stress? haha It sounds so ridiculous, I know.

So, I decided it was time for me to make blogging fun again. And that meant a few changes around my blog. Since I am a one-woman show, keeping up with four different blogs (within one) was biting off a little more than I wanted to chew at this point. What can I say? I have a big appetite. I know I’m not really considered niche-y, but my problem is not that I can’t think of anything to [...]]]>

E: Earth calling Melissa. Repeat…Earth calling Melissa.

M: Copy Earth.

E: You have been off the radar for over a week. State your location.

M: Here.

E: Surely you have an excuse for your absence.

And, surely you have an excuse for having an imaginary conversation with a planet.

M: Negative and negative. And don’t call me Shirley.

That pretty much sums up my excuse for being M.I.A.

I was in la-la land, if you will.

Engaging in planetary dialog, if I may.

Truth be known, I didn’t feel like it.

There. I said it.

Judge away.

Get off my back, I took a blogcation! haha (almost as ridiculous as saying you took a staycation, but not quite)

Enough claptrap.

We had some family out visiting for Jon’s winging (more on that, maybe tomorrow? tonight? after i get finished calling Jupiter?) and then it was Valentine’s Day (which is completely irrelevant but I feel it may be camouflaged as a legitimate excuse if I type it with enough confidence)…and then nothing really important between then and now. (Except two spider bites! But that is a whole other story for another time) Time away from the Blogging world has been a little refreshing, I have to admit. Sometimes the line between internet and reality can really start to blur and, meanwhile, real life starts passing you by. And even worse, blogging starts to become a check-list, an obligation, like it is something I have to do (both reading and posting) and that is where I draw the line.  There was no way I was going to allow something that started out to be so fun and enjoyable turn into a source of stress. Seriously, blogging? Self-imposed stress? haha It sounds so ridiculous, I know.

So, I decided it was time for me to make blogging fun again. And that meant a few changes around my blog. Since I am a one-woman show, keeping up with four different blogs (within one) was biting off a little more than I wanted to chew at this point. What can I say? I have a big appetite. I know I’m not really considered niche-y, but my problem is not that I can’t think of anything to blog about… I just can’t choose one thing over another! I love having variety in my life.

So… I am going back to the one blog format (for now at least)… so all of the posts from the Homestead, Life on the Prairie, Boots and Bonnets and the Cookery will appear on the main page. All of the new posts will be on ONE page. The pennant menu bar will direct you to “featured posts” (updated regularly. Or when I feel like it. haha) from each along with an index of posts and projects.

This is easier for me and I have a feeling, easier for all 3 of my regular readers (hi mom!). haha

Easier = less stress.

Less stress = more fun.

Got that? You may be quizzed on it later.

So, I really haven’t been doing nothing. I’ve been working on my blog… just not posting this week. Is my momentary hiatus justified yet?

I should also note… that I am playing catch up today with emails. If you’ve emailed me and I haven’t returned your email yet… I promise, promise, promise I’m not being rude. I’m just behind and will be answering emails today. After I detail the kitchen. (I think I used every dish in my cupboards yesterday. I’m not kidding… who uses that many dishes to bake and cook a few things? Apparently this girl. Dishes are done… but the detailing is not. I can’t wait. ha!) So, yes. Emails today.

And now!…For the real order of business…

Happy Birthday George Washington.

You are a champ.

Happy Monday,

I try to be eco-conscious. I really do. Now, I’m not annoyingly crazy about it…but I am trying to be more deliberate in my intentions. Like learning that using the term “upcycled” earns me a pat on the back from “green” people.

One easy, no-brainer way to be eco-smart is by thrifting…and upcycling and reusing what has already been made.

Upcycling: the process of converting useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.

Go ahead.

Give me a pat. I used it in a sentence. I earned it.

I love creating things out of the unlikely.

And thrifting?

If I may quote Alf, “No Problem”.

I love me some quality time at the Goodwill, so I will gladly do my part there.

So searching through the linens section of the Goodwill, I came across vintage kitchen curtains. As I gazed upon them, I thought how they hung in and decorated someone’s kitchen… if only they could talk, what stories they would tell of sweet down-home Texas cookin’.

I don’t know about you, but the kitchen is the heart of our home. Meals are thoughtfully prepared with love. It is where our daily conversations take place. It is where we find so much comfort and joy.

And, now, I was looking at curtains that witnessed all of these moments for some family. One that probably lived in a farmhouse. In the country. Where the farmer’s wife cooked sizzling bacon and baked fresh biscuits every morning to the sound of the rooster crowing. And, after a hearty breakfast, waved goodbye to her farmer husband as he rode off on a tractor.

Ok.

I apologize.

My vivid imagination has gone hog wild.

But that’s the story of these curtains and I’m sticking to it.

Well, I couldn’t very well let these yellow curtains (with scallops, eyelet and ribbon trim, no less!) be orphaned on a rack in the corner of the Goodwill. I adopted them, took them home, and decided they are going to be a part of my kitchen story now. Except with a new, refurbished purpose. By golly, these farmhouse kitchen curtains are going to be my new apron! I then [...]]]>

I try to be eco-conscious. I really do. Now, I’m not annoyingly crazy about it…but I am trying to be more deliberate in my intentions. Like learning that using the term “upcycled” earns me a pat on the back from “green” people.

One easy, no-brainer way to be eco-smart is by thrifting…and upcycling and reusing what has already been made.

Upcycling: the process of converting useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.

Go ahead.

Give me a pat. I used it in a sentence. I earned it.

I love creating things out of the unlikely.

And thrifting?

If I may quote Alf, “No Problem”.

I love me some quality time at the Goodwill, so I will gladly do my part there.

So searching through the linens section of the Goodwill, I came across vintage kitchen curtains. As I gazed upon them, I thought how they hung in and decorated someone’s kitchen… if only they could talk, what stories they would tell of sweet down-home Texas cookin’.

I don’t know about you, but the kitchen is the heart of our home. Meals are thoughtfully prepared with love. It is where our daily conversations take place. It is where we find so much comfort and joy.

And, now, I was looking at curtains that witnessed all of these moments for some family. One that probably lived in a farmhouse. In the country. Where the farmer’s wife cooked sizzling bacon and baked fresh biscuits every morning to the sound of the rooster crowing. And, after a hearty breakfast, waved goodbye to her farmer husband as he rode off on a tractor.

Ok.

I apologize.

My vivid imagination has gone hog wild.

But that’s the story of these curtains and I’m sticking to it.

Well, I couldn’t very well let these yellow curtains (with scallops, eyelet and ribbon trim, no less!) be orphaned on a rack in the corner of the Goodwill. I adopted them, took them home, and decided they are going to be a part of my kitchen story now. Except with a new, refurbished purpose. By golly, these farmhouse kitchen curtains are going to be my new apron!
I then found a single flat sheet that had such a sweet floral print, I knew that it was a match for my new apron. (Yes, I washed it in hades hot water…no need for concern.)

The cast: curtain and  sheet.

Curtain.

Past performances:

Glorious farmhouse kitchen staple.

Sad Goodwill orphan waiting for a home.

Sheet:

Past performances:

Graced a guest bed that was never, ever used. Amen.

Spent time in Hades hot water and is as good as new.

Curtain meet sheet. Sheet meet curtain.

Congratulations, you are getting married.

And… after a little cutting, pressing, sewing and a whole lot of love…

I present to you…

The upcycled apron.

Ta-da!

Curtain. Sheet. Abandoned no more.

Curtain. Sheet. Given a new purpose. A new chance at life.

Rest assured, they will get plenty of love. And plenty of kitchen time.

A true metamorphosis if you ask me.

For more stories of metamorphoses… check out Susan’s Between Naps on the Porch where she hosts a weekly Metamorphosis Monday!

Happy Upcycling,

Haven’t bought your Valentine’s Day chocolate yet? Don’t worry! It’s not too late to give a little handmade love to your Valentine candy box! You can make your own box of chocolates in less time than you think! Personalize it to your sweetheart’s taste… (or just make a box for yourself. we all deserve a little chocolate every now and then, right?)

Some suggestions to get your box of chocolates started:

What you will need:

1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp butter, softened

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp milk

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Approximately 48 maraschino cherries

1 twelve ounce package of  semi sweet chocolate chips

1 tbsp shortenting

How to make them:

Mix butter, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla together.

Form into a ball and chill for at least two hours.

After chilled, place mixture into a bowl on ice to keep nice and chilled.

Drain all of the excess juice off of the cherries.

Roll the sugar mixture around each cherry forming a thin layer.

They don’t have to be perfect… this layer will not be seen.

Place onto a cookie sheet lined with wax or parchment paper.

I like to stick toothpicks in them now (makes the dipping process easier and quicker for me…but it is completely optional). Chill the cherries again for another 2 hours.

After cherries have been thoroughly chilled, melt the chocolate chips and shortening together over a double boiler.

The chips melt nicely in a double boiler.

Continuously stir chocolate until smooth.

Remove from heat and dip each cherry into the chocolate, completely covering the cherry. Set back onto wax paper to dry and remove the toothpick.

Repeat the dunking process for all of the cherries and chill another 2 hours or until completely set.

And you now have chocolate covered cherries that will not only rival but blow any store bought brand out of the water any day!

It’s like a yummy raisin-nutty cluster!

1 eleven ounce bag of dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup almonds (or walnuts, pecans, etc) chopped or slivered.

Prepare a cookie sheet with wax or parchment paper.

Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler.

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Haven’t bought your Valentine’s Day chocolate yet? Don’t worry! It’s not too late to give a little handmade love to your Valentine candy box! You can make your own box of chocolates in less time than you think! Personalize it to your sweetheart’s taste… (or just make a box for yourself. we all deserve a little chocolate every now and then, right?)

Some suggestions to get your box of chocolates started:

Chocolate Covered Cherries:

What you will need:

1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp butter, softened

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp milk

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Approximately 48 maraschino cherries

1 twelve ounce package of  semi sweet chocolate chips

1 tbsp shortenting

How to make them:

Mix butter, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla together.

Form into a ball and chill for at least two hours.

After chilled, place mixture into a bowl on ice to keep nice and chilled.

Drain all of the excess juice off of the cherries.

Roll the sugar mixture around each cherry forming a thin layer.

They don’t have to be perfect… this layer will not be seen.

Place onto a cookie sheet lined with wax or parchment paper.

I like to stick toothpicks in them now (makes the dipping process easier and quicker for me…but it is completely optional). Chill the cherries again for another 2 hours.

After cherries have been thoroughly chilled, melt the chocolate chips and shortening together over a double boiler.

The chips melt nicely in a double boiler.

Continuously stir chocolate until smooth.

Remove from heat and dip each cherry into the chocolate, completely covering the cherry. Set back onto wax paper to dry and remove the toothpick.

Repeat the dunking process for all of the cherries and chill another 2 hours or until completely set.

And you now have chocolate covered cherries that will not only rival but blow any store bought brand out of the water any day!

Cow Pies

It’s like a yummy raisin-nutty cluster!

1 eleven ounce bag of dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup almonds (or walnuts, pecans, etc) chopped or slivered.

Prepare a cookie sheet with wax or parchment paper.

Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler.

Add nuts.

Add raisins.

Stir and mix well, covering raisins and nuts completely with chocolate.

Spoon out clusters onto parchment or wax paper. Chill to set.

Peanut Butter Cups

Who doesn’t love a classic peanut butter cup?

You’ll need:

1 eleven ounce package of milk chocolate chips, divided

1 cup smooth peanut butter

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

Candy mold (or miniature cupcake/muffin cup liners)

Squeeze bottle (optional)

I have found that melting chocolates in a squeeze bottle (for a minute at 40 percent power) in the microwave is the easiest way to distribute chocolate into a candy mold. Just knead plastic squeeze bottle together to churn the melting chocolate. If chocolate chips aren’t melted completely, continue to heat in the microwave in 15 second intervals at 40 percent power until chocolate is smooth.

Squeeze melted chocolate into mold.

Use a paint brush to paint chocolate up the sides of the mold.

Chill chocolate until set (until it hardens).

Meanwhile, prepare your peanut butter filling by mixing the peanut butter, confectioners’ sugar and salt together.

After chocolate cups are set, scoop peanut butter mixture into a plastic cake decorator’s bag for easy distribution…

Then fill the cups!

Take the remaining chocolate chips and melt them in the squeeze bottle. Cover the tops with chocolate and refrigerate until completely set.

Then, once chilled and hardened, pop them out of the mold to get a delicious peanut butter cup!

This also works well in the heart shaped candy mold!

Chocolate Caramels

2 cups milk chocolate chips

melting caramels

candy mold

Melt chocolate chips in squeeze bottle (or bowl, double boiler, etc). Pour chocolate into mold and paint the sides up with chocolate just like the previous peanut butter cups.

Melt caramels and squeeze or spoon caramel into the cups.

Squeeze or spoon over another layer of chocolate. Chill to set and pop candies out of the mold when done! It doesn’t get any easier than that!

Turtles

What you will need:

Approximately 72 pecan halves

caramels to melt

1 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Then melt the chocolate chips in your squeeze bottle. Squirt one inch circles onto the wax paper.

Next, add 3 pecan halves to each chocolate drop.

Melt caramel according to package directions…

Melt until nice and smooth.

Spoon caramel over pecans and chocolate.

And follow up with another drop of chocolate.

Chill to set.

And there you have a complete box of chocolates… all ready for your Valentine!

There are a gazillion different easy chocolate recipes to make to fill your box… be creative and have fun with it!

Place each chocolate (or two) into Valentine themed mini cupcake holders…and arrange them in a tin.

I found the cutest tins at Michaels… all sorts of varieties… to put my chocolates in.

Add a bow and you are all set!

Easy peasy!

Happy Chocolate Making Day!

I had a little fun crocheting different hearts for Valentine’s day…

And hung them clothesline style to give our valance a little Valentine spirit.

Hearts with scallops…

Red, pink and white wonky hearts…

…and classic red hearts.

They are all a little different…

but they like to hang out together.

Consider them BFFs.

Happy hearts = a happy me.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

x

It is winging day! More to follow…