Décor, Food, Holidays, Just for fun, Leah

Gingerbread House

December 16, 2014 No Comments

pretzel gingerbread house header

I absolutely love making gingerbread houses and try to build one every year! Last year I bought a kit, but after seeing this log cabin, I decided I should try making one myself! So I found a handy contractor and hired him and his cousin to help me out 🙂

At first, they were acting way too cool for such childish activities, but once I got started they kind of took over! The outcome wasn’t as picturesque as this, but there was joy in the process. And isn’t that what matters?

The Tools

I rounded up all the graham crackers, gumdrops, peppermint candies, hard candy, frosting, pretzel rods, and sprinkles I could find.

how to make a gingerbread house tools

Crafts, Holidays

It’s Gonna be a Crafty Christmas

December 4, 2014 2 Comments

Crafty Christmas

Looking for Christmas crafts this year? I’ve got some super simple ideas that you can whip up. Honestly, if I can make them, so can you. It’s always fun to give/receive a personalized gift. Bonus points if you make it. If that’s not your style, no big deal. But this post is for all the Christmas DIY’ers.

Coasters

I made coaters again, this time for my coworkers. I had to reference my tutorial from last year just to remember how. But they’re just like riding a bike – pretty simple to pick up again. I found these funny napkins at World Market last year.

Candles

I bought a few little candles and peeled the labels from them. I took some music paper and stamped the names of my friends on the paper, then cut them to the size of the labels. The jars were still sticky, so it was easy to stick the new labels on. The candles were less than $1 each. Then just added some twine bows!

Crafts, Food, Holidays, Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 26, 2014 No Comments

Happy Thanksgiving header

Giving Thanks

It’s that time of year again. The turkey, the touchdowns, the togetherness. Can you wait?! Well this year is probably not as crazy as last year, but I’m definitely looking forward to whatever tomorrow brings.

Got the urge to bake some cookies for the big T-Day tomorrow? I’ve got two super simple styles for you. They’re both sugar cookies so you don’t even need to use two bowls. How great is that?

owl and pumpkin pie cookie

Pumpkin Pies

A simple bowl will work for cutting out circles. Or if you own a triangle cookie cutter, even better for you! I just have a pizza cutter. And hey, you could even make Santa hats out of some of them!

Holidays, Just for fun, Uncategorized

Give to the Max Day

November 12, 2014 4 Comments

Pssshhhh … beep boop beep …pshhh

I’d like to interrupt our regularly scheduled programming for this PSA.

Thursday, November 13th is Give to the Max Day. It’s a day where nonprofit organizations all over ask for your help. Whether or not you already give to a favorite charity, #GTMD is a day that we try to get everyone on board because we need all the help we can get! So I’m asking you to take a minute to think about charity.

Holidays, Just for fun

Happy Voting

November 4, 2014 No Comments

vote

Find your local polling place here!

Happy polling, peeps!

Holidays, Just for fun

Happy Halloween (Twenty Fourteen)!

October 31, 2014 No Comments

Happy Halloween

BOO! Trick-or-Treat! Hocus Pocus Abbbra Cadabra! Whatever you are supposed to say for Halloween. We’re not exactly sure what our plans are tonight; Joe keeps saying he’s going trick or treating. Har Har.

I opted to not buy giant bags of candy, fearing I’d get stuck eating them if we went out… So I guess we’re not staying home. And if we are, we’re definitely hiding with all the lights out! Hey Hey – Spooky movie night idea. Anyhow, we did our duty of passing out candy last year.

Crafts, Décor, Design, Engineering, Holidays, Sewing, Thrifty

Halloween Costumes

October 29, 2014 1 Comment

halloween costumes

Costumes: An Anthology

I’m surprised I didn’t post anything about Halloween costume-making last year. But by now I have two years’ worth of costume concocting photos. Mwa Ha Ha. Would you rather buy your costume or make one? Or maybe you have a tried and true go-to that you wear annually. (I wore my pirate costume 3 years straight. I was in a pirate phase.) I’m definitely a fan of making something out of existing clothes or thrift finds.

Crafts, Engineering, Holidays, Just for fun, Leah, Sewing

Good Things Come in 3’s (2/3)

September 19, 2014 No Comments

Sewing Things

I think you can guess that my three projects were all sewing related! I’m afraid I jinxed myself when I said good things come in threes, because first Joe was sick and now I’m sick! I hope there’s not a third person next. I’ve tried my best to quarantine myself all week.

At least I was able to whip out my sewing machine last week before all the sneezing ensued. Now I just have cabin fever.

Fixes, Holidays, Just for fun, Outdoors

Labor Day Weekend

September 3, 2014 1 Comment

lake life is the good life

Laboring Days

Did you have a restful weekend? As much as Joe tried (or I tried to coax him) to relax, he found ways to work. We snuck away to my grandparents’ cabin in Wisconsin for a couple days and soaked up the summer/fall goodness.

Activities included the mandatory games of Phase 10, walking around the lake, boating, giant garage sale in the city of Siren, Shell Lake Days, and plenty of stories and laughs. But by Sunday afternoon, we were right back to fixing up the yard and boat.

Holidays, Just for fun, Leah

It’s Alive! Margarita Cupcakes

July 3, 2014 1 Comment

Margarita flavored cupcake recipe

How To

This is a totally made up recipe on which, I admit, I went a little mad sciency. They turned out pretty good, so I thought I’d share with any sweet teeth looking for something to bring to a picnic… or fiesta. They’re not very patriotic, but that ship has sailed. America let me down in the World Cup. Then again, so did Mexico.

Leah and Joe: Home DIY Projects & Crafts