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Cake Mix Cookies

Sometimes you need something quick and easy, but don't want to a cake from a mix. Well, there are many things you can do with a cake mix besides make cake, and one of my favorites is to make cake mix cookies. You can use any flavor cake mix, and do anything you like as a mix in, or just keep them plain. Try chocolate chips, nuts, coconut, dried fruit.

Ingredients:

• 1 box cake mix (any flavor)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 c oil
• 1/4 c water
• 2 c mix ins

For my cookies, I did a yellow cake mix and mixed in chocolate chips. I also wanted to mix up the flavors a little so I put a little bit of peppermint extract in to give it just a hint of peppermint flavor.

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Place spoonfuls onto lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Let cool on a cooling rack

 

These cookies are light, fluffy and soft. So, how do you keep them that way? See in them all in the green bucket? One of these is not like the other ones...Yep, there's a piece of bread packed in with the cookies. This is a great way to use the ends of the bread that no one wants to eat anyway. Anytime you make cookies, after they are cooled put them in a sealed container with a piece of bread. The bread dries out, and the cookie miraculously stay nice and soft. 

I have

I have several more things I need to share with you, but I seem to have lost the camera cord, so once that is found be ready for a funfetti bake off, assorted craft items, and the best cake ever made (sweet & salty - chocolate with salted caramel filling, and a caramel ganache - don't worry if you mouth is watering, so is mine).

Tie Onesie

We recently had a baby shower for a co-worker, Marcela.
Isn't she an adorable preggers? :)

I wanted to make something cute and fun for the new little boy, but was limited on the supplies I had, so I went with adding ties to a couple of onesies.

It was simple, and you can go bigger with patterned fabrics, or keep it simple.
First, I drew out a couple different size ties and cut them out to see which I like the best on the onesie. Then, I traced around my favorite on my fabric and cut it out. Next, get out the stitch withchery, and put cover the backside of the tie in it. Now comes the hardest part...flip it over and have it still fit properly without sticking out. It can be done, just takes a little coaxing.

Now, just follow the directions for the stitch witchery. Heat iron to wool setting, put damp cloth in between iron and shirt, and press down. Then, flip the shirt over and do the same on the back. Voila! You have a cute, custom onesie!

Rummage Sale finds

Each year there is a huge rummage sale in Balboa Park hosted by The Thursday Club. All money raised from the sale goes back into the San Diego community. This is the largest sale of its type, and they were expecting to raise over $110,000 from the sale this year.

I did my part, gave them my $37 and got lots of goodies! :) The sale lasts two days, and I went on Saturday and spent about 4 hours inside finding fun things. I told myself I was done, but Sunday morning I just kept thinking about how everything was half price, so I went back and got some more.

 

The sale began at 9, but people start lining up as early as the night before. Yep you read that right, people camp out for the best deals. (Is a $10 bike worth it? I guess if you really want a bike...) I got there about 8:30 and got in line, the long, long line. Because it was going around the courtyard, I couldn't quite capture the length of the line in a picture, but I waited patiently.

Once inside, my first stop was the arts & crafts section, followed by the clothes. then meandering around the rest of the area.

All in all I think I did pretty good, I ended up with 9 shirts ($13), 7 pairs of good quality pant/jeans ($14), a patten cutting board (my first grab and only $1), 4 mason jars ($1), assorted fabrics ($2) a rug ($1), blanket ($2), sheet set ($2), and mini backpack($1).

I'm excited to start using the fabrics and the cutting mat. It's old and a little beat up, but I remember my mom having one of them, and when I saw it I knew I needed it! :) 

Can't wait for next years sale!

3.14

Happy Pie Day!

I guess I should be baking something yummy tonight!

Mickey & Minnie

I thought I'd share things I have in my kitchen that I love.

First off, these Mickey & Minnie mugs. Now, I like Disney movies, and to go to Disneyland, but I'm no collector of Disney things. I try to stay out of the souvenir shops and save the money. However, a couple years ago I was at Disneyland and I saw these mugs and I fell in love with them. I tried to say no, but I ended up having to get them. I thought that they'd be great for sitting on the couch drinking hot chocolate on cold mornings.
I guess I wasn't thinking that I live in San Diego, and few mornings are cold enough to require drinking hot chocolate. And, I didn't think about the fact that even on cold mornings, hot chocolate (while delicious!) is rarely drunk around my house.

But, I have still always loved these mugs! I have recently moved, and in the new place the cupboards have glass doors. I didn't know if I would like that at first (I have no pretty dishes), but I must say that I do enjoy being able to get a peek of these mugs anytime!

 

Stay tuned for my great rummage sale finds from today!

Woohoo!

I'm so excited to have a new little niece as of yesterday & can't wait to meet her! Everything was smooth, and very quick - a special thanks to the EMTs who could deliver a baby in an apartment lobby!

Jealous of my mom who is with them now, but I guess grandma gets first dibs. :) I suppose I'll just have to wait patiently and make some goodies for her.