Homemade Crystal Rock Candy!

 I've seen some recipes for Rock Candy before...but never with any pictures!!! Isn't that the FIRST thing you look for? Well, here's a tutorial for Rock Candy with fabulous pictures!  Recipe: 3 Cups Granulated Sugar 1 Cup water Flavor (optional) (I used Cherry)  In a medium sized saucepan, bring the sugar and water to a boil to dissolve all sugar. You don't need to rapid boil at all...for any amount of time. Just dissolve the sugar. It makes a super thick syrup!  Add the flavoring...  Prepare your jars and sticks I used mason jars...pint size. In looking back, I would use the tallest and thinnest glass I have. I used wooden skewers and clothespins. The clothespins keep the sticks centered and not touching the bottom of the glass. Critical in rock candy crystal structures! You'll take your sticks and lightly wet them.  Then roll them in sugar. Allow them to "dry".  The sugar gives the syrup something to  stick to and get

Cooler Police Car Toy!

 My 10 year old son approached me with a project idea. He had a flashing RED and BLUE LED light...probably from a cheap toy...  And he wanted to mount it to the top of a police car. He said he had seen police cars at the Dollar Store...so the next time we were there, we picked one up! (I can't resist when it's my kids planning projects!)  He just used a knife to pop the button off the top.  Then we glued the LED right on top. Not much to look at in the light, but super cool zipping on the floor in the dark! Linking up to THESE parties this week!

Doctor Who Inspired Signs!

 I did a bunch more Doctor Who Inspired Vinyl/Painted Signs! Some are available in my Etsy Shop ...  Absolutely love the Tardis! Linking up to THESE parties this week!

Yummy Butter-less Pantry Brownies!

 We moved back in March and now are way further from  stores than I have ever been...and we only have one car, so travel is usually out of the question. So, I like to shop monthly or so. I decided to stop buying extra candy and chocolate to help save  money and help me to eat less of it. My thought was I might lose some weight? And I have... But I found that I was craving just a little chocolate sweetness and there was none to be found. (this went on for a full month) So...I decided I'd make something simple...not too decadent and complicated. Just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth for another month. Here's what I did: Butter-less Brownies. (I didn't have butter anyway, so this is basic staples you would likely already have in your pantry!)  1/2 cup oil     1 cup sugar     1 tsp vanilla extract     2 eggs Beat together Then add...     1/2 cup flour     1/3 cup + 2 tbsp cocoa powder     1/4 tsp baking powder     1/4 tsp salt Pour in

Army Blanket Bedspread!

 Here in Alabama the humidity is a killer. Cold times are so FRIGID and when it's Hot, it's BRUTAL! So the comforter I had for our bed wasn't cutting it. It was too thick...and therefore ended up in a wad on the floor. And...we needed something that the Husband and I both agreed on.  Then my hubby needed to get a poncho liner for some training...and it was awesome. But it was Multicam.  He suggested putting a couple of those on our bed. Not happening with my aqua and black decor!   But... I found out they were available (and cheaper) in black!  Yay. I like that they are lightweight...but still covering. I have to be covered--even in the summertime...except I put my feet out  of the blankets.  (does anyone else do this?) The silky-ish material stays nice and cool too. And it's sewn all the way through, so they wash up really easy  I ordered 2.  They have ties that you can tie them together... We tried it out just a couple nights tied together,