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  • Homemade Ice Cream Drumsticks

     

    OMG.  OMG.  OMG.

    Must…make…these…NOW!

    The look like they might take a little work to make, but I’ll bet they’re totally worth it!

    I need a kitchen!  And a deep freezer!

    For the full instructions, go HERE!

    I can’t wait to make these!  Hopefully they aren’t SUPER DUPER messy to make!

    ,

    ib

  • Wish List: Cookie Bags With A Window

     

    I’ve been wanting to start my own dog cookie, dog bakery business out of our home.

    These bags would be perfect, and I haven’t be able to find anything even remotely as close to what would work!

    Definitely need to pick some of these up when I’m ready!

    Maybe once I’m able to work from home full-time or I’m a stay-at-home mommy one of these days (hopefully!), I can focus on this venture for sure!

    Bubbs LOVES the cookies I make, so I’m sure other doggies out there would love to try them out too!

    Go HERE to purchase them if you’re in need of some cookie bags with windows too!

    <3,

    IB

  • Wish List: Wine Basket

     

    Love this Wine Basket I’ve found on Etsy!

    I’d love to have this in my kitchen instead of a wine rack!

    It also goes with the woodsy, natural theme I’m thinking about!

    Modern, practical, and natural!

    -ib

     

  • Old 2011 Goals

     

    Just thought I’d do a little update to see where we’re at for the year now that we’re almost at the half way mark, believe it or not…
    1. Quit smoking. It’s just a really nasty habit that is killing me, and also killing the bank.
    2. Develop a monthly budget for Lowell and I.
    3. No more useless spending on things I don’t need.
    4. Save. Save. Save.
    5. Buy a couch.
    6. Limit eating out to once a month (and that includes ordering pizza, LOWELL. :) ).  UPDATE:  I’m beginning to think this one is going to be the HARDEST one to commit to. lol
    7. Start writing everyday. (*sigh* I say this every year…I try…)
    8. Listen to music more, and watch less tv.
    9. Read more books. (I started this last year, and I’ve actually stuck to it!)  Currently reading Eat, Pray, Love before I watch the movie!
    10. Save. Save. Save. Yes, I know I said this one already, but I’d like to save at least 300 a month, but after rent and bills, that really only leaves me with 25 bucks a week to spend on groceries and toiletries. We’ll see!  UPDATE:  Since getting the new job, we’ve saved so much  money in the past 6 months, we’re able to put a pretty significant down payment on our house and with some left over to buy some things we’ll need when we move in!!  So proud of us!
    11. Keep the house clean and tidy. I try.
    12. Keep up on newspaper articles (for writing purposes) and keep them organized somehow.
    13. Buy a large desk for the office. And set up the office for everyday use and use it!
    14. Buy a coffee table…well, a SMALLER coffee table.
    15. Get organized and stay organized on all aspects of my life. It’s so difficult to stay happy when I feel like I have way to many things out of order in my life. And it’s so easy to drop the ball on this one.  UPDATE: This blog is helping me with this one immensely!  Love it!  But this is an ongoing project of course.
    16. Look into going back to school for real.
    17. Pick a major.
    18. Take Bubbs and Lowell on more walks! :)
    19. Continue couponing and shop for deals. I do this pretty well.
    20. Love the people around me more.
    21. Take photography more seriously and put up some prints for sale.
    Hopefully, I’ll be able to get all of this stuff crossed off by the end of the year and be able to make some new goals!  However, I’ve learned that it’s okay if I don’t.  If something carries over, it carries over.  No reason to fret over it, and no reason to feel guilty about it.

     ,

    ib

  • Gift Idea: A Sacred Bath Set

     

    This would be a wonderful gift idea for a mom, a sister, a sister-in-law, and a new mom to reminder her it’s okay to relax and have some “me” time, don’t you think?!

    Go visit St. Helena Olive Oil Co. and send this Sacred Bath gift set to someone in need of some love or de-stressing!

    This makes me wish for my Garden Tub right now…

    -ib

  • Outdoor Living Spaces

     

    Some really great outdoor spaces I just simply adore!

    Love,

    ib

  • Living Rooms [Inspiration]

     

    Just 4 quick living rooms I'd love to try and replicate!

    All are so inviting!

    <3,

    ib

  • Wish List: FujiFilm Instax Mini

     

      thought it might be a good idea to keep a running Wish List of things I’d like to purchase.  Just so I always remember, because I always tend to forget!  Something that I’ve always wanted…

    A FujiFilm Instax Mini Camera.

    You can get them for pretty inexpensive on Amazon right now, but the film is still a little pricey.

    I LOVE the way the photos turn out though, and I just love instants!

    I’d love to start taking instants again.

    The film for my Polaroid Spectra is just so hard to find and so expensive!

    Here’s some examples of the photos it takes!

    Are they not just dreamy?!

     

    Soon enough, as long as I remember!  Once I have my new office set up in our huge Master Bedroom, I get more organized and have a true place for everything in my life…it will be so much easier to be creative and have more time and space to be able to enjoy the small things in life.

    Can’t wait.

     ,

    ib

     

  • Paper Cranes [Inspiration]

     

    I would love to make these paper crane garlands and hang them from the ceiling for a party or even in a corner of a baby’s room, or over a bed even!

    So Romantic and fun!

    ,

    IB

     

  • Homemade Peppermint Oreos

     

    Boy oh boy do these look yummy!  I can’t wait to make and try these out!  They may Christmas-y, but I’ll be these will be great with other flavors and different colored sprinkles!  Great to make with kids too!

    Check out the recipe and tutorial HERE!

    Homemade Peppermint Oreos
    2 boxes Devil’s food cake mix
    4 eggs
    2/3 cup vegetable oil
    Frosting:
    1 (8ounce) package cream cheese, softened
    1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
    4 cups powdered sugar
    1 teaspoon peppermint extract
    sprinkles or crushed candy cane for decorating
    green or red food coloring

    Directions:

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
    In a large bowl combine the cake mix, eggs, and oil with a mixer. The batter will be very stiff. Pinch of pieces of batter and roll into 1 inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheets and flatten slightly with fingertips. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove immediately from the cookie sheets with a spatula and cool on a wire rack.
    In a small glass bowl, combine the cream cheese and butter until completely blended. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and peppermint extract and mix until the icing is smooth. Color frosting green or red if desired. Spread half of the cookies with icing and top with remaining cookies.
    Roll in sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or just leave them plain.
    Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container or resealable plastic bags.
    I’ll bet these would be great with white/vanilla cookies, lemon frosting and yellow sprinkles!!  OH YEA!  :P
    <3,
    IB