What a Change

Last summer we worked on the landscaping next to the garage.  This is what we ended up with when it was done.  Not bad, but it really needed to grow in more.

Here is what is looks like this summer!  The hostas are now bigger than the bush!

Of course we need to put down some new mulch, but you get the picture.

Pumpkin Update

I'm amazed at just how fast this thing is growing!  It's really starting to take over that little corner of the yard and Jeremy keeps asking me what he's supposed to do with it when he has to mow.  I guess he'll just have to push it out of the way!  This picture doesn't do the size justice at all.

Home Decor: Free Artwork

I can never find anything that I really like to hang on our walls, so I've been looking for great ideas on making my own.  I came across a website called http://www.wordle.net/ where you can make what they call "word clouds".  So I whipped one up in less than 10 minutes and it's now hanging in our hall.  I think it turned out great.  The words I chose for ours were words that relate to our marriage and life together.  Such as, the name of the park where we got married, where we got engaged, where we honeymooned, the name of our son and etc.  I also put one together for Hudson's room to hang once his room is finished.  Here is what ours looks like.

Too Much Rain

We've had so much rain over the past month that my wave petunias haven't been able to really get going.  I'm hoping that they'll really take off in July.  My mom's are already much fuller.  I guess they are starting to look a little better after a couple of dry days.  My daylillies (in the background) on the other hand are doing great!

Happy Father's Day

We went to visit my parents in Sioux Falls for Father's Day.  It was a nice weekend getaway.

This picture was taken at the Sioux Falls.

While we were there we drove over to Palisades Park for some great photo ops.  It's so pretty that there was even a wedding party having pictures taken.

Jeremy already has a drill, but he really wanted a cordless drill. 

Peek-A-Boo

It looks like our bunny family that lives under our deck added a new member this spring.  Can you spot the baby bunny?  This was as close as I could get before it would run back under the deck.  So adorable!

Treats

I made some mini cupcakes with my new mini muffin pan for father's day.  They turned out so cute...they were just from a box this time, but tasty!

Great Grandma's Popcorn Balls

Recipe

1/3 cup of popping corn

3 tbsp vegetable oil

Pop popcorn according to package instructions

Syrup

1/2 cup light karo syrup

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

food coloring

Heat syrup, sugar and salt over medium heat until sugar dissolves stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add desired amount of food coloring. (a little goes a long way)  Pour over popcorn and mix well.  Butter hands with cooking spray and form into balls.   Makes about 7 popcorn balls.

This is such a simple recipe.  My great grandma used to make tons of them every Christmas.  They're my dad's favorite, so I thought I would make him some for father's day.  And of course I had to try one...YUM!!

How Big Will It Get?

Our little pumpkin patch is starting to expand into the lawn.  This picture was taken last week, so it's much bigger than this already.  I wonder how many pumpkins we'll get?

Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze

Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze

*from foodnetwork.com

Ingredients

Cookies:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 lemon, zested

Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 lemon, zested

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cookies:

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In the large bowl combine the butter and the sugar. Using an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Beat to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon the dough (about 2 tablespoons for each cookie) onto the baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 20 minutes.

Glaze:

Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Spoon about 1/2-teaspoon onto each cookie and use the back of the spoon to gently spread. Let the glaze harden for about 2 hours. Pack the cookies into a decorative container.

These cookies were amazing.  They lemon flavor was so fresh and perfect for summer!  I loved them...and so did everyone else I gave them to, so I just had to share!  Thanks Giada for such a great recipe!

Memorial Day

Recently a new cupcake shop opened it's doors here in Omaha.  It's called Jones Bros. Cupcakes.  We got the chance to try it this weekend and it was delicious!  I ordered the Whopper cupcake.  It was chocolate with malted chocolate frosting.  YUM!

I think my son, Hudson, liked it more than I did!  He was laughing the whole time he was eating it!

Peonies

Our peonies are really looking good this spring.  When my hubby was finished mowing the other night, he picked some so I could enjoy them inside too!  They smell great!!  I love the way bringing the outdoors in always makes the house feel so fresh!

Pumpkin Update

The pumpkin has been in the ground for about a month now, and it's looking great!  It finally got it's first flower last week, so I guess that means we'll hopefully have pumpkins come fall!  I can't wait!

Airplane 1st Birthday

My son Hudson turned 1 in April and I was determined to make all of his birthday decorations myself after seeing some on etsy.com that I loved, but couldn't afford.  I came across some adorable airplane scrapbook paper and knew that it was perfect for my bubbly baby boy!  Here are just a few of the photos of everything I made.  I think it turned out great and can't wait until next year to do it all again!  And actually I would love to start doing this for others.  I am an experienced event planner turned stay-at-home mom, so this was right up my alley.

Invitation

Hudson's party hat

Front door sign

High chair banner

Cake toppers

Happy Birthday banner

First 12 months banner ( this was my favorite and everyone else's)

I also made thank you notes to match the invitations, but haven't photographed those yet.

Start of a Garden

We are trying our hand at growing our own pumpkins this year.  They can be so expensive and we really love carving them and decorating with them in the fall.  I actually grew some once when I was in first grade.  It was super easy and they grew like weeds!  I saved seeds from our pumpkins last year, planted them in a plastic cup to get them started and now we transfered them to their little area in the yard.

I hope they survive!  I'll keep you updated.

Housewarming Gift Idea

I was inspired by a picture I saw online to create this adorable housewarming gift.  I've already given these to two friends who recently bought their first homes.  I absolutely LOVE the way they turned out.  Here is one that I did of my own house.

All I did to create this was take the picture and then edit it using Picasa to add the caption.  On the versions I made for my friends the caption read "Home Sweet Home", or you could also put "Welcome Home" or "Home is Where the Heart Is" or any other house related caption. 

After printing the picture I then put it in a new frame so that they always have a picture of their first home. 

I think it makes a great keepsake!

Here is the finished product:

Isn't it so cute!?

This and a bottle of wine and you can't go wrong!