i---Pin: Camping

 This week I am on a canoe trip with our church youth group. It is 6 days in

the woods away from civilization.  It should be really fun! I won't have very good 

pictures because I am just using a disposable waterproof camera. Maybe in a few weeks

I will post pictures from the trip. For now, I'm off to paddle my canoe!

i---create Granola

Today I am sharing my famous recipe for making granola. Okay, okay, maybe it isn't famous, but it sure is delish!

Doesn't it look good?

Here's the recipe:

i---create Granola

8 Cups Rolled Oats
1.5 Cups Wheat Germ
1.5 Cups Oat Bran

5 Cups of any mixture of the following:
Soy nuts
sunflower seeds
finely chopped pecans
finely chopped almonds
finely chopped walnuts
coconut
any type of nuts really

1.5 tsp salt
3/4 Cup Brown sugar
1/2 Cup Pure Maple Syrup(the fake stuff works, too)
1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 TBS ground cinnamon
1 TBS vanilla
2 Cups Craisins or raisins (optional)


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Combine the oats, wheat germ, oat bran, soy nuts, pecans, almonds, walnuts, and coconut in a large bowl. Stir together the remaining ingredients (except for the raisins) in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to coat. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheets.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and toasted, about 20 minutes. Stir once halfway through. Cool, then stir in the raisins or cranberries before storing in an airtight container.

Tips and tricks
*you don't have to use the exact amount of nuts shown. I sometimes use more than needed if I want to use up a bag.
*To finely chop the nuts, just stick them in a food processor! Works much better than chopping with a knife.
*Take the granola out of the oven when it is still a little bit wet.  Keep in mind that it will clump together when it is out of the oven.
*For storing I put it in 2 ziploc bags. I freeze one and leave the other one out to eat.
Granola is perfect for snacks and breakfast.  I enjoy mine like a bowl of cereal: with milk in the bottom! I also drink a glass of orange juice.  This granola keeps me full until lunch time with all of the protein it contains.

And the winner is...

So much suspense! Who will win these beautiful magnets?

Comment #11
Ruby Taylor said...Love what I have seen on your blog...I am now a follower and gladly placed your button on my blog!! http://rubyinga.blogspot.com

Please email me within 48 hours so I can get these magnets shipped! If you don't I will choose a new winner.

Hair Bows

Today I am showing how to make hair bows! These bows can be whipped out very quickly and look adorable.

Step 1: Cut a 4x6 inch rectangle of fabric.  Fold it in half the "hotdog" way.

Step 2: Sew along the short side and 1/3 of the way into the middle. Repeat so both sides are sewn.

Step 3: Turn it right side out and tuck the hole in. (you may need to iron this)

Step 4: Take a 1x2.5 inch piece of fabric and iron the sides under 1/4 inch.

Step 5: fold the sides in and wrap the small piece of fabric around.  I use fabric tack glue to secure it, but you can hand sew if you like.

You're done!

I attached a barrette to the back of the bows so I can wear them in my hair.You can attach them to bobby pins or safety pins.  There are so many options with bows!


What would you attach these adorable bows to?

i---Race: Turtle Races!

This weekend we picked up a few friends and headed off to the turtle races. I

thought this turtle portrait was too cute!

i---Guest: MD School Mrs

I have a guest post on MD school Mrs. today! I am showing  how to make i---create granola.  It is my favorite recipe of all time and looks delish! Wouldn't you love a bowl of this for breakfast!?

i---Pin: Peony

I love peonies! There is no doubt about it.  They are elegant, modern, pastel, delightful, and the list goes on and on and on and on...

This picture is so relaxing....I just love it!

This is the most beautiful wedding bouquet I've seen.

 

 

What flowers are you loving this summer?

Dear 16 Year old me

I found this video on youtube and think it has a pretty powerful message. As you are heading out to the beaches, make sure to wear sunscreen and protective clothing! You will be glad you did.

i---Guest: Pink Lemonade

 I have a guest post on Pink Lemonade today! Isn't this exciting :) I show how to make hair bows. Very cute, easy, and fun! 

i---Give!

I have a super fun Giveaway going on right now. I am giving away these charming magnets! Aren't they adorable? 

Here are some smaller, but equally snappy magnets.

Wouldn't they look fantastic on your fridge! I can only imagine the to-do lists they would hold up.

Want to get your paws on these?

1. Follow my blog (mandatory)
2. Add my button to your page
(leave a comment if you do any of the above please!)

Good luck and let the entering begin!

 *Giveaway closes Thursday, July 16, 2011 at 6pm Central.
**Make sure to check back BEFORE Saturday, July 18, 2011 to see if you won.  If the winner doesn't contact me within 48 hrs I will choose a new one.  :)

Polymer Clay Watermelon Magnets

I made these watermelon magnets yesterday out of polymer clay.  They were pretty easy to form and then I put them in the oven to bake.  After they cooled, I attached magnets to the back with hot glue. 

*photo taken with instagram

Ruffled iTouch Case Tutorial

This tutorial is how to make an iTouch case. I have been wanting a case for my iTouch for a while, so I finally bit the bullet and made one myself! This case takes about 1 hour to make and it will protect your iPod from many dents and scratches. You can adjust the dimensions if you are going to use it for an iPad or iNano.  It will work for any device as a matter of fact.

Let's get to it:

Step 1: Cut your fabric.  The outside, lining, and batting should all be 6.5x5 inches. The ruffle fabric should be 3x8 inches.

Step 2: Sew the outside and batting together. Measure up 1.5 inches on the top and bottom and sew a line. This will help keep the batting in place when you use the case.

Step 3: On the ruffle fabric iron the long sides in 1/4 inch.

Step 4: Sew on the ruffles in the center of the outside fabric.

Step5: This is where it gets a little tricky! You are going to make a sandwich with the zipper on the inside.  Place the outside fabric face up and lay the zipper face down on the top of it. Then add the lining fabric face down and sew a 1/4 inch seam along the edge of the zipper. Repeat with the other side.

This is what it should look like after you have both sides done.  Make sure to open the zipper about halfway.

Step 6: Fold the case open like so. Stitch around all sides leaving a hole at the bottom so you can pull it right side out.

 Step 7: Fold it right side out and stitch up the hole in the bottom. There you have it!

i---Pin: Caffeine Overload!

I am starting a series called i---Pin and I will post a pinterest collage every Tuesday. This weeks theme is caffeine overload! Hope you enjoy the caffeinated pictures. :)

Truffles
coffee owl
Pouring Coffee
Many cups of coffee
Heart Hot Chocolate
Turquoise Chocolates
Chocolate Coconut Bars
Geometric Pattern Chocolate Bar

Eye Chart Print.

I saw a print like this on etsy and I knew I had to have it! The only problem was that it cost $15(no frame included).  So I decided to create one.  It was pretty simple.  I just opened a word document and started messing around with fonts and text sizes.  After about 1/2 hour, I had it perfect! I printed it on computer paper and put it in a $3 walmart frame. I am very happy with how it turned out!