Galentine's Gifts

 Last year a few friends and I decided to go out for Valentine's....it was my second year to do Galentine's with a group of friends.  I'm not one that is bothered much by Valentine's Day regardless of my relationship status, BUT I AM one who is always up for a little holiday celebration.
I decided some cake balls were in order.

 Let me pause and say I never have perfected the cake ball, the chocolate cooking time, or the perfectly round balls of cake, but....I've perfected the taste, so.....I can live with that.  I bagged up my cake balls...

 ...and I put them in these little jewel boxes I got from Stampin' Up.

This is not an ad, I don't sell stampin' up, but when my Mom got into scrapbooking a few years ago I wanted her to have fun learning some simple techniques and I found out about this monthly club called paper pumpkin.  It's less than 25 dollars (depending on how many months you do) and they send you a kit each month where you can make banners, cards, favor boxes etc.  This was one she got and didn't use, and so I used some Valentine's Stamps in place of the original stamps.  They turned out really cute if I do say so myself. 

Ode to the Gluestick

I recently went on GMT and did 8 life hacks with the glue gun.  The first 4 are practical, the last 4 are necessary to my life.  Here is a link to the video.

Scrapbook Pages-Just add Photos

I recently went to scrapbook with my pal, Amber.  I had very few pictures I hadn't scrapbooked.  NOT because I'm caught up, but because I gave up on printing photos a few years back b/c I got so far behind, SOOOOO now I'm just scrapbooking current events and working from there.  As a single gal, it's not as though I have my kiddo's pictures stuck in a camera, and if I did, I'd just pop those puppies into a digital album and call it good.  SOOOO, in an effort to not get behind again, I did the two events I had photos from, and then did some pages for upcoming events so that I just have to journal and pop the pages inside the albums.  
This was the one page I actually had photos from, a shower I this summer. 
My sister from another mister and I think we are funny, so we do something called "ladies who Mensa" it was that or 'chess club.'  We said we were going to do monthly meetings where we tried new things.  We meet up, but usually just to eat the same old bad food, but occasionally we Mensa.  This weekend we went and got scalp massages and made some macaroons.  This page is for those adventures. 

Unicorns and birthday, you just never out grow them if you do life right.

I loooove vintage Easter, but I've had this paper combo for a few years and wanted to use it, so I went ahead and made a page.  I'll make an Easter 2019 with my vintage paper later.

I fell in love with this paper at the scrapbook store.  I'll definitely add some journaling to the blank space and some more doodads.

OK...time to put the scrapbooks up for awhile and get to work on some serious Valentine-ing.

One Little Word

 Last year I picked a word to focus on for the year (Shine).  I did some bible journaling, and tried to bring it to mind throughout the year.  This year, I'm getting more intentional about my word.  I'm doing a monthly challenge with my word.  I picked Hope.  In some ways it seems overused, but I really need 'it' right now and I don't feel like I've given the word it's due.  This is the year.

 I'm loosely basing this project on Ali Edwards and using some of her prompts.  I am using a scrap journal I bought a few years back at an antique store as my base, and my plan is to use it for several years.

 I defined my word (biblically), picked a verse, and gave a reason why.

 I also described some of my hopes and fears, and then what it would look like if I can successfully apply hope this year.

 My plan is to do something each month, sometimes a one 'project' type entry, or in February, my plan is to track 'hope.'

 I've picked one specific prayer to pray each day, and I'm going to mark off my daily success with these enamel dots.

I've loosely plotted out each monthly challenge, but....I give my permission to adjust my plans, just not my word!

Strawberry Crinkle Cookies

Last year I needed a dessert to take to a lunch for Valentine's Day.  I had made a version of these cookies once as Christmas Grinch Cookies, but the strawberry flavor is my new favorite....and I'm one of those 'take it or leave it' kind of strawberry fans....I usually leave it.
Not to mention-this has 4 ingredients....I've been known to miss an ingredient or three while cooking, so this is one of those I can be distracted and get right-which is a win.
So....if easy, affordable, and tasty is on the list-Strawberry Crinkle Cookies for the win.

Strawberry Crinkle Cookies

PRINT HERE

Ingredients:  1 box of strawberry cake mix, 8 oz tub of whipped topping (thawed), 1 egg, powdered sugar, sprinkles (optional)
Instructions:
1.  Mix the egg, dry mix, and pudding.
2.  Roll 1 inch balls in powdered sugar (they will be very sticky).
3.  Place on greased cookie sheet (or silpat lined pan).  Add sprinkles.
4.  Cook for about 12 minutes (until the edges are firm, but not brown).

*Makes 2 dozen.

Sopapilla Cheesecake

If you have never had sopapilla cheesecake you haven't really lived.  This is a staple at a lot of events around here at least.  It has some really simple ingredients, but it's about the best thing you can do with canned crescent rolls!

Sopapilla Cheesecake Pie

PRINT HERE

Ingredients:
2 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese (softened), 1 c. white sugar, 1 t. vanilla, 2 (8 oz) can refrigerated crescent rolls, 3/4 c. white sugar, 1 t. ground cinnamon, 1/2 c. butter (room temp), 1/4 c. honey
Instructions:  
1. Heat over to 350.  Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
2.  Beat the cream cheese with 1 c. of sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
3.  Unroll a can of crescent roll dough and use a rolling pin to shape each piece in 9x13 inch rectangle.  Press the seems together.  Put 1 in the bottom of the pan.
4.  Evenly spread the cream cheese mix over the first crescent triangle.  Top with remaining piece of crescent dough.
5.  Crumble together sugar, cinnamon, and butter.  Dot the mix over the top of the top crescent roll.
6.  Bake for about 30 minutes (crescent dough should be puffed and golden brown).
7.  Drizzle with honey (I used about half the amount).  Cool completely.  Cut into 12 squares.