singin' in the freezing rain

happy friday!  i don't know what the weather is doing where you are, but here... it's gross!  however, my fellow new yorkers would say, "shut up rhea, at least it's not snowing."  touche

so as i'm drowning my dreary rainy sorrows in a large, hot cup of caramel mocha coffee, i stumbled across this...



toffee mocha cupcakes by jocelyn @ bru crew life



how stinkin' perfect!?!  so guess what i'll be making this weekend?  ;)  although it's already gonna be busy (hair appointment, helping hubs pick up our new truck, friend coming to visit (and buying our motorcycle), church on sunday morning, and of course the pro bowl on sunday afternoon) i'm definitely going to squeeze in some baking / decorating time.

how are you spending your weekend?  out and about?  keeping it low-key?  going skiing? (that one's for you ma!)  whatever it is, remember to smile while you're doing it because we have an awesome GOD that we serve and HE is incredibly merciful and gracious towards us all.  PRAISE HIM TODAY!

Knitted Heart Mittens

I LOVE FAIR ISLE KNITTING!!

Alright, so I understand that these aren't technically fair isle, but they're really close and still beautiful none-the-less!  And they have that traditional Scandinavian look without so many color strands to handle at one time. 

Just for your own knowledge, fair isle knitting* are patterns that incorporate three or more color strands in the pattern, knitting no more than three stitches in a row before switching colors, the unused yarn is carried behind the work, and the patterns originate from the Shetland region of Scotland. 

*Not to be confused with intarsia (the technique used to make argyle socks, sweaters, vests, etc.), double knitting (used most notably for super thick reversible socks), and mosaic slip stitch knitting (geometrical and Grecian designs, great for coats and jackets).

If you would like the pattern to these adorably festive mittens,

check out this blog:

Knitty: Little Purls of Wisdom

Party Cupcake Pics!

Yellow cake with vanilla frosting and colorful sprinkles!

In orange and gold harvest wrappers!

Displayed in my amazing cupcake tree stand!

 

I'm so happy with how these cupcakes turned out!  :)

Merry Christmas... and happy Friday the 13th!

Hello all you crafty people!!  I'm back! :)  My brief sabbatical turned into a 6 month hiatus and I'm just now getting back to "normal" life (normal only being defined as a setting on one's dryer).  So here's how I'll be getting my feet wet as I'm easing into my creative enthusiasms...

First of all, my sister-in-law rocks solely and completely because she gave me THIS for Christmas:



A Beautiful Silver Cupcake Tree Stand



 So between the cupcake carrying case that she gave me for my birthday, and this display stand, EVERY event should now have cupcakes in attendance!  Event #1 - Ladies Ministry Meeting on Tuesday evening... be prepared for pictures!

Next, even though I have promised myself that I will NOT start any new yarn projects until I have completed or frogged all my UFOs, I'm feeling a little weak on my conviction because I have decided to teach myself how to crochet!  I've watched a couple video tutorials and I'm ready to tackle the chain... I figure it's best to start the way I did with knitting; making a washcloth (btw, I didn't originally intend to knit a washcloth, but at the time a scarf just seemed to take way too long to complete). 

As an aside, I can't believe 19 years ago I taught myself how to knit by reading a book!  I look back and that's just a freaking miracle to me because now I'm going to crochet and it seems impossible without videos, blogs, multi-angle detailed pictures, AND a real life human interface.  I think the Internet has made my brain mushy.

So here's to cupcakes and crocheting!!

Meeting Goals

Since I haven't blogged in almost 2 months, going over my 31 before thirty-one list seemed like a good way to catch up:

4. Write out my testimony of accepting Jesus Christ.  -DONE!
27. Be tan before the summer family reunion.  -DONE!
28. Fly in a plane.  -DONE!
29. Buy a new bathing suit.  -DONE!
30. Go swimming.  -DONE!

And there are a few more in the works that will hopefully be coming to fruition in the next couple months:

3. Make a family spending plan/budget.
6. Save $1000.
10. Pay off a credit card.
16. Get my passport renewed.
17. Build a sand castle.
26. Host a party.

Check out my other blog, Parsonage Project to see what else has been going on :)

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Due to my lack of Mexican heritage, I view Cinco de Mayo as yet another excuse for me to eat tacos... like I really need the motivation

(I love tacos!!)

But this was a nice twist and I wish I had know about it before today, because then everyone, and I do mean everyone, would have gotten one of these delicacies:



Courtesy of RecipeGirl.com



Margarita Cupcakes!!  Olay!

  

Tea Party

This past weekend was the annual Mother's Day Brunch at my church and this year we incorporated a tea party theme to the festivities.  Everyone was invited to bring their favorite tea cup and we had a little table and little chairs set up for the little girls to have a tea party with apple juice and chocolate milk.  It was so incredibly adorable and we all loved it.  I was also asked to speak and that was a very challenging experience (I get so nervous) but also quite rewarding as I overcame my fears.

With regards to crafting and creativity, the day made me think that I really should acquire a functional (yet elegant) tea set and have ladies over for crafting and tea get-togethers.  I also was thinking how amazing it would be to actually paint china!  I can't draw or paint, but what an amazing skill to have.



Courtesy of Roses & Teacups