Summer Felt Foods

Here are my new felt food creations made this weekend - ice cream sandwiches and popsicles! I also have an ice cream cone in the works.

Also, if you have an Etsy account you need to vote for my cupcakes! : ) I'll post the link to the voting as soon as it's up (July 1st). I am doing a challenge through an Etsy team - you vote for the best (or the one you like the best) patriotic themed idea/product. And since you read my blog, the best product your going to see is my cupcakes! haha.

Sydney's First Week of School

Well, I guess it's actually not school - it's a Mother's Day Out program at our church. Either way, it's "school" at our house. It's twice a week and runs through the end of July. Syd did great both days and has really taken to one of her teachers. Very cute stuff. Here she is with her very large backpack!

What have I been doing with all my new free time? I run errands and workout with my trainer/circuit training teacher. He kicks my behind every time and I love it! I try to sneak in some crafts too! : )

This week's baking consisted of cupcakes. I added mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in the batter (before baking). I believe I saw it in a Martha Stewart Living "Good Things." I put a little batter in the bottom then the peanut butter cup and topped it off with more batter. The Reese's totally sank to the bottom. I think next time I'll put them right on top of all the batter. Hopefully, at that point won't fall to the bottom. It is a nice little surprise in the cupcake though! It's also just a vanilla batter with chocolate frosting. Here's the 2 pictures - I couln't decide which one I liked better so you get both!

Limited Edition Cupcakes

I'm part of this military group through Etsy. We are doing a red, white, and blue challenge in celebration of the 4th of July. Everyone is to vote starting on July 1st for their favorite. Here is my entry. Nothing like....cupcakes! : )

The listing for the cupcakes are here.

Another Austin Weekend

This past weekend we all went to Austin. Matt's sister and her family have moved back to the States after living in Korea for 2 years! Hooray! So there was a family reunion of sorts. Here's the family picture (minus just a few others).

My niece and nephews have grown just a wee bit in the past couple years! : )

Notice Syd on the outside edge - she was pretty intimidated by the big kids.

We had a lot of fun being able to see them again. They are pretty close to where we live now so I'm sure we'll see them a couple times before we move again.

I did a couple crafts last night after we got home. I had a custom order requesting french fries. Here's my version. I think I'll have to take a picture with the hamburger too. You know - to get the full effect! : )

There's nothing like new crafts & new shoes

...well, except a new dessert! It's a chocolate-vanilla oatmeal bar. The recipe is found in this book here. I'll definitely make these again.

So wandering around Target, I found these oh-so-adorable shoes for Sydney. I absolutely couldn't pass these up. They are little peep-toe shoes! I couldn't find a stock photo at target.com, so here is my own picture. I'll be sure to take a full shot with Syd wearing them for next time.

Sydney also needed a new pair of sandals. She grows so fast and I know by the fall (when we move back to warm Florida) she'll be ready for new ones. Here are the ones I bought her. Aren't girl's shoes just so cute - and obviously addicting!

Now, I couldn't let Syd get new shoes by herself - here is my pair! Love, love the red!

Now, it's time for the new crafts! I haven't been showing a lot of my crafts lately. I pretty much have just been making felt food and everybody can see them in my shop. Business has been great and it's been keeping me busy. I did make this new barrette for Sydney. Basically a flower super-glued onto a barrette. Easy - I love it though.

It's fashioned after this headband my friend, Amy, made. I met Amy through a spring craft swap - which I don't think I ever shared pictures of my goodies that I received from her. The headband is just one of the goodies I received. So cute. I just love all the other stuff I got too! Thanks Amy!


Now, Martha! I made her this new collar. It's the same concept as Sydney's barrette. It's a new game: What else can Becky put flowers on?! haha. Martha doesn't mind it. It reminds me of a lei! I do like the bright red/pink color against Martha's black fur. Let's just think it makes Martha look more cheery! haha. Now that's a good laugh!



Finally, Karen asked me if I've ever had a cupcake that I didn't like. I thought that was a very good question. So after some pondering my answer is no! I have had some cupcakes that I didn't really care for - they weren't bad, but they weren't all that good. These cupcakes have been ones that I have made from cookbooks and shows I've seen. These are the cupcake recipes that I tried once and won't make them again. I think it's just been about 3 recipes too. I guess you have to have some not-so-good ones to appreciate the excellent ones! : )

Thanks for reading my ramblings! : ) Have a great day.

Girl's Weekend

So this past weekend, I was able to hang out with 2 of my very best friends - my college roomies! We ate really great food, received pedicures, and massages. We shopped and was able to try clothes on without kids sitting in the dressing room with us eating fruit snacks! haha.

Here's Rachel and Jenn.

Getting pedicures!

Now, all of us have a deep affection for cupcakes so we tried out Hey Cupcake! They sell there cupcakes out of an Airstream. Very fun!

Oh man, they were delicious! We almost went back for seconds but decided not too since we were going to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner!

Back at home, Matt and Sydney did great together. They went on a daddy-daughter date on Friday. They went to the park AND the pool on Saturday. It went so well maybe I'll be able to have another girl's weekend again!

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Here's my newest felt food creation: spaghetti & meatballs. It's pretty hard making realistic looking spaghetti! Anyway, here's my version:

You know where you can find it! Here!

Sydney's Pool Party

Being our birthdays are in the winter, Matt and I never had a swim birthday party. So we will live vicariously through Sydney's summer birthday! So this past weekend, we invited a few friends out to the pool to celebrate and eat cake. Here's me and my big girl.

Our fashionista opening presents!

And the pièce de résistance!

Happy Birthday Sydney!

I can't believe she's 2!

Here she is trying to tell you how old she is with her fingers...

We're working on it! : )
She loves to open presents.

My parents sent Syd her gifts in this big box. She loved the toys, but really loved the box!

Eating birthday cupcakes!

Nothing like a frosting mustache to complete the day and to signify a tasty cupcake.

Our busy weekend in Dallas

Syd and I went to Dallas for a few days last week and through the weekend. The main reason we went up was my best friend, Jenn, had her son's 1st birthday party. So we stayed at her house for a couple nights. Here is Syd and her daughter, Brinley.

Here are the birthday boys.

We had a great time at her house. We did some shopping and just caught up.

Then, we went to my brother's house for a couple nights. Here is Sydney and Karalyn holding hands! So cute. You'll never guess where we were going....

Ha, you guessed it!

I just had to go. They only serve chai cupcakes with chai frosting on Fridays! And we all know I love chai! Also, in the box is pumpkin (yummy!) and red velvet (also yummy!).

The girls did a lot of swimming. I can't stress enough how much Sydney loves to be outside and loves the water.

Now a funny story - Sydney received a bunch of balloons as part of the party favors from Austin & Logan's party. I was playing with Karalyn and I decided to weigh the balloons down so they would hover around Karalyn's head. Well, I underestimated the weight of the toy I tied to it and let go. Up and up it went, then around and around it went in the ceiling fan! Thankfully, it just took a few minutes to unravel. I thought it was going to be at least a good half hour before the fan was working again. Ah well, the moral to the story - don't let me play with balloons around ceiling fans that are turned on!

I also want to thank Natalie, a high school friend, for meeting me for lunch. It was really great to see her and meet her daughter! And apology to everyone I wasn't able to see. It's so hard getting to be with everyone with a limited amount of time. I know we'll be in Dallas again soon!

Our Upcoming Move

Hey everyone. We just wanted to let you know we found out we are moving back to Florida! We are moving to a different part of Florida though - the panhandle. We are super excited. Matt's going to love his job, we have some friends there, and we love the weather. Just a few months until we'll be Floridians again. I can't wait!

Memorial Day Weekend

Hope everybody had a nice long weekend. It's officially summer here. It's hot - and the pool has opened! Matt got off work early on Friday so we went to the pool. Sydney absolutely loves the water. She loved it so much, she threw a big fit when it was time to leave. We went back to the pool on Monday, thankfully (this time) we left without any tantrums.

Matt's parents came up on Friday night. The graciously gave us free babysitting for 2 nights! Thank you Karen and Charlie! On Friday night, we played tennis. I haven't played since moving here (since I left my tennis partner back in Florida). It was really great to play again. On Saturday, we went to a great restaurant (probably the fanciest in town - ooh la la!) and went to see Prince Caspian at the theater. It was a good flick. I think it should be rated PG-13, but that's my opinion. It was a fun weekend and everyone had a great time. Well, maybe not everyone...

Poor Dixie, succumbed to more harassment with Syd's new Nemo slippers!

More Randomness

My baking for the week was cinnamon roasted pecans. I had some at Tulsa's Mayfest last weekend and wanted to make some of my own. My pecans come from a very special source - Matt's grandpa. He has a number of pecan trees in their yard. Nothing like fresh pecans! Very tasty and very addicting! The recipe is found here.

Also, I had a couple good mail days last week! I ordered some Amy Butler stuff from RuralFabric on Etsy. Notice my new pattern. Yippee!

My sister-in-law is always so good to me. She sends me fabric on a regular basis! I love polka dots!

My friend, Lauren, tagged me with 3 random things about me. I'm really having a hard time with thinking of things, but here it goes.

1. My favorite cupcake(s): I love Sprinkles (but you knew that) and these Key Lime Pie Cupcakes we had down in Key West from the Cupcake Alley. One of the best I've ever had!

2. My favorite restaurant: Louie's Backyard (again in Key West). The food is delicious and the view from your table is indescribable.

3. Best lemonade: At these old hotel and restaurant in Waynesville, Ohio. I can't remember the name of the place. Crystal, do you remember the name? They have the best raspberry lemonade! It can't be duplicated, believe me, I've tried! : )

Does all the food talk make you hungry?! : )