No Deco, just AMARETTO BLACK FOREST CAKE!

Okay so, life happened, as it always does, and I was not able to decorate today. :(
However, I made CAKE! and, still no pictures. But I'll share anyways.

AMARETTO BLACK FOREST CAKE

1 pkg chocolate cake mix (+eggs, oil, water)
1 can cherry pie filling
whipping cream
icing sugar
Amaretto (I use Disarrono)
optional: chocolate chips/chunks

Make the cake mix as the box directs. Add some amaretto, about a shot I guess, I just wing'er. When it's all blended up and good to go, add most of a can of cherry pie filling, reserving some for garnish. Try to get most of the sauce/jelly stuff out and have mainly just plain cherries left. If you like extra chocolatey, you can add some chocolate chips or chunks, but I find it's better without. Mix for another 30 seconds or so, enough to blend it all in but try not to puree the cherries. Bake in 2 circular cakes pans.

When cooled, whip the whipping cream and add another shot or two of amaretto (to taste) and about half a cup of icing sugar (to taste and/or consistancy preference) Try not to make the topping too sweet though, as the cake is going to be pretty rich. If you're going all out, you can prepare a pudding for the filling (feel free to add amaretto to that too) Or I like to make a smaller amount of extra-strong Amaretto Whipped Cream for the middle, too. Ice the cake generously with the Amaretto Whipped Cream (or just eat the Amaretto Whipped Cream, and then make more and ice the cake with that) and then garnish with reserved cherries.

If you want to make it super pretty you can also garnish with chocolate shavings.

This cake is rich and delish and waaaaay easier to make than it tastes like it should have been. Nomnomnom.
I have a serious love of semi-homemade things, if you couldn't tell. Ha. I'm such a hack ;D


I'll try to post pictures when I have a memory card and cake that hasn't been etted at both at the same time. But I'm sure you get the idea.

Big Project this weekend

Okay, I haven't been posting much of my own pictures and stuff lately. This is mainly because my SD cards have all gone missing! I think it's pretty safe to blame that on DD, she likes to take them out of the slot on the computer. But this weekend I have a huge awesome project - DD's room! I have this giant leaf canopy from Ikea that I bought off of usedsomething.com (insert my city name there) because we don't have Ikea here - i just happened to see it and was like, "PERFECT!!!" A few months back I also had bought wallies Doodleflowers (giant mural variety). So the room theme will rotate around those objects, to my entire and absolute delight. It's going to be a very fanciful, oversized garden type theme! Like the Littles, or the Borrowers. I'm absolutely in love with the idea. I have so much running through my head, but I won't share any more - you'll have to wait to see the pictures!
Anyways, I'll be picking up a small, cheap SD card when I do my groceries if I haven't found at least one card back by tonight. That way I can take WIP / progress pictures. I'll hopefully also remember to take pictures step-by-step of some of the fun little miniprojects I'll be doing in here.

I'm so excited!

HomeMade Laundry Detergent!

Little Birdie Secrets does it again... here's a homemade liquid laundry detergent! I really am going to have to try this one, because I have to use only name-brand soap because I need to use stuff that's fragrance-free and I haven't found anything cheap that is. (my mom is allergic to fragrance) But this recipe, the Birdies figured it probably cost around $2.50 for 5 gallons, around 160 loads. I'm not exactly sure what the price is, but I think I pay around $12 or so for 64 loads, something like that. Maybe more, maybe less. Definitely more than the $2.50 for 160 loads! And the ingredients aren't some mystical thing you have to search online for, they're all things you can find in your supermarket (or at least, in my supermarket)

Honestly, if you haven't already, add Little Birdie Secrets to your Bloglines (or whatever, your favourites list. I <3 bloglines though.).

Ummashin's Goodies make me squeal

Okay, definitely scope out ummashin's etsy shop. Firstly, her little hats are soooo cute. I mean, I have crocheted little flower-laden baby toques. I even have some for sale on my etsy shop. But these are ADORABLE. From what I've seen, they're all cotton. Most of them are more for girls but there are some that work just as well for boys. There's a wide variety, which is very nice, something I do not have (my shop basically features the same hat in three different colours). Everything looks so crisp, and so adorable.

AND HER LITTLE MODEL. I COULD JUST SQUEAL. Forget the hats, where do I order one of those? Aw, those chubby little cheeks just slay me. My DD is nothing to shrug at but she's starting to lose the baby chubb so a little dosage of little-bitty cuteness is just what I need today.





Oh yeah. And the hats are what's in the store. So now that you've admired her adorable daughter you can scroll back up and admire the hats she's modelling. lol.

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!
Augh so this is really adorable. And it looks soooo soft. I'd love to win it, but if I don't, at least I can watch the Martha Stewart video and learn how to DIY!

cute quilted pillows for boys and girls

I've been wanting to take up quilting for a while, and designs like these are the exact reason why! On the blog Don't Look Now! you can find these two adorable pillows - and the directions to make them. They're a bit beyond my (imaginary) quilting skills right now, but I'd love to eventually do things like this! (click on the images to be taken directly to the posts with the directions)

I'm sure it's not hard to guess which pillow really tickles my fancy most (the girlie one of course!) But I'm sure my nephews would adore the rocket ship pillows, too. Maybe someday I'll have this level of skill and be able to make these as gifts!

Amish Friendship Bread - starter!

Okay, granted, I've never looked for it. But I always sort of thought of the recipe for the starter of the Amish Friendship Bread as somewhat similar to a unicorn, in that it was a mystical creature that could not be found. (A unicorn, by the way, is another thing I've never looked for.)

However, over on Little Birdie Secrets, the starter is shared today. I'm kind of excited, no lie. Now I just need to invest in some Really Big Ziploc Bags.

bunk bed to beach house

I've got to be honest, I don't think 'love' is a strong enough word to describe how I feel about this little beach-house bed. With the little guardrail and seating area on top! Talk about maximizing your space! I love the bright colours, the theme is adorable, I love everything about it! I'm pretty sure I want to do something very similar (but more cottagey-gardenish than beach house)
Definitely go check this out on craftster. I've pretty much decided that 'Sewsew-a-gogo' has to be the most brilliant person i've come upon today. And my favourite part is that it is so doable.

Speaking of the word 'do'... I realize I have been posting more of what others have been up to and less about me. Truth be told, i haven't been up to much - still struggling with overhauling my office. Plus I've been feeling pretty exhaused. Basically my heart rate at rest is closer to the average ideal 'working out' heart rate than it is to the ideal 'at rest' heart rate. I have an appointment in a week with a cardiologist and hopefully we can figure something out. It's not the coffee! I am drinking only a cup or two a day! I am innocent! lol. Who knows. I hope it's nothing major. So anyways, I've decided that's why i'm so tired and that's why I'm so uncrafty.
Actually, I lied... I'm knitting a cardigan for my DD with a lovely silk/bamboo yarn! I'm making the pattern up as I go along, and making notes, so hopefully I can share the pattern with y'all if it works out. I should warn you though, it's going to be a hybrid project - knitted sweater with crochet edging. yummmmmmmmmmmmm.

Baby Sling

http://cathiefilian.blogspot.com/2009/02/make-it-baby-sling-easy-pattern.html

Cathie Filian shares a pretty easy looking baby sling tutorial! I've seen a few different tutorials for various types but this is the most attractive result I've seen for this particular type.

cute valentine's day hearts amiguri pattern

http://tamiesnow.typepad.com/roxycraft/2009/02/new-free-pattern-hearts.html

I'm saving this one for later, I don't think I'll actually do one for valentine's day, but I'm picturing in my head a little knitted or crocheted hoodie sweater for DD with these in lieu of pompoms... tres cute. (although my smile will be a little lower, personal preference you see)

Doll Quilt Sew-along

I've been thinking trying quilting and I just found the perfect starter! Sew Mama Sew has a doll quilt sew-along going on right now. Check it out!

Adorable spare bedroom/office space

Okay I love this... this is adorable. Not just because it all works so nicely, but the colours are just delicious. I am madly in love with the fact that not only does this really work as a space, with the office and the bedroom blending seamlessly together without encrouching on each others' territory, but that it manages to be both a relaxing bedroom and an energizing office space!
The space is super organized (I wonder if it stays that way? lol... mine sure didn't! But that's why I'm redoing it...) but totally beautiful. I bet she can't look at that desk without it begging her to sit down and start working/crafting.

But then all she has to do is close those gauzy curtains and the space is a relaxing and beautiful bedroom. I love all the little touches, like the old keys and the wallpaper+ribbon in the back of the cabinet and on the front of the TV unit. Since this is a guest bedroom and doesn't need a lot of permanent clothing storage, I wouldn't be surprised if those cupboards are mostly full already.


How can you not relax with an invitation like that? The whole thing is just gorgeous. I assure you, I shan't be able to afford to put that much work and beauty into decorating a guest bedroom for a few years yet. But when I do I hope it is as purposeful and inviting as this space!

For more pictures and information, or just to compliment her on the amazing job she did on this space, visit supershoppertoo's My Office and Craft Space photoset. I'm going to find time to take a look at her other photosets too, from briefly scanning the thumbnails it looks like she has creating a lot of beautiful spaces in her home!