Thursday, April 3, 2025

Carrot Pretzel Rods

I just got a catalog from Olive & Cocoa, their stuff is quite expensive but it's a very pretty catalog to look at! They sell gifts, flower arrangements, home decor, and edible gifts and I've gotten many ideas in the past from flipping thru the pages. I love these carrot pretzel rods and they'd be easy to make - yep, I'm still not able to use my right hand (carpal tunnel surgery) but I have a growing list of things I want to make as soon as I can - carrot pretzels are definitely on the list before Easter.

Dip each pretzel rod in melted orange chocolate leaving about an inch and a half or so at the top, sprinkle with tiny white sprinkle balls. Lay on a cooling rack and let dry. Then dip the end that isn't orange in melted green chocolate and let dry. Drizzle melted green overtop of the firm green chocolate end simulating the green tops of a carrot. Let dry. 

The bunny pretzels are a little more involved but doesn't seem too hard - spoon melted white chocolate on a pretzel twist leaving the outer part of the pretzel showing (see photo), lay on a cooling rack until dry. Pipe on melted pink chocolate for the ears and nose, and melted milk chocolate for the eyes and whiskers. Let dry. 


4.3.24: summer pasta salad

4.3.23: limoncello

4.3.22: ðŸ”¥ week 14

4.3.21: Easter white chocolate bark

4.3.20: neighborhood messages

4.3.19: sheet pan pork chops

4.3.18: peeling potatoes tip

4.3.17: K-cup bunnies (fun Easter craft!)

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Grapevine Bunny Wreath

Last year I posted a cute bunny wreath using a wire form, twine, and artificial flowers (click here to see that post); I found another cute idea that is completely different - I plan to make this in the future but right now I'm still not able to use my hand so crafting is pretty much on hold for the time being, I'm sharing this inspiration photo I saw on bhg.com in case you want to make one. 

Their description is only "use two inexpensive grapevine wreath forms. Customize your wreath with your favorite faux flowers. We chose a mix of garden roses, ranunculus, pom-poms, and dried seeded eucalyptus" with no other instructions I can find - I don't know about 2 grapevine wreath forms, we can see the one that is the head is just a round wreath form, for the ears I guess I'll check out what is available at the craft store - maybe two small ones that I can shape into ovals for the ears, or maybe they took a round one apart and reworked it into the ear shapes, or maybe it's one smaller wreath that they opened up like a book to make two ears and then wound grapevine around them to keep together. I'll attach the ears to the head using craft wire. Then wire on bundles of fake flowers and plants all around the head-shaped wreath form. Attach a chenille stem loop on the back to hang. I think this is adorable!! 

photo found here 



Tuesday, April 1, 2025

April Challenge - Sleep!

Everyone knows we are supposed to get enough sleep, and when we don't it affects all kinds of things negatively. This month I want to consciously try to get a better quality of sleep and lots more of it! I have an apple watch and downloaded a sleep app, if I wear my watch to bed it'll track how long I'm asleep, how long I'm awake, and the types of sleep (REM, deep, light). In addition to tracking, I'm going to turn off my light by 10:30 (I go to bed earlier already but I read wayyyyy too long!) and shoot to sleep until 6; not eat anything after 8pm; and move as much as I can during the day - I also started taking melatonin and hopefully that'll help. 


That's my April challenge for myself if anyone else wants to join me and work on getting more/better sleep! 

Here's a Tip-sy Tuesday tip - I can't wear my apple watch all day and then sleep with it all night and have enough battery, so any time I have a window that I'm just sitting around and don't really need the watch then I throw it on the charger; or charge it while taking a shower or getting ready for bed - it charges pretty quickly. 

4.1.24: april fools' 

4.1.23: words

4.1.22: april fools' day

4.1.21: meatloaf cake 

Monday, March 31, 2025

Easter Egg Wreath

Well, because of my wrist (carpal tunnel release last week), I'm still not able to do anything with my hand but typing is easier this week so I thought I'd share some ideas that I have in my file of things to make hopefully in time for Easter. Easter is later this year (April 20th) so we have a little extra time to make some things! 

Once I'm able to wield my glue gun I want to make 2 of these plastic Easter egg wreaths for our front doors. I found the photo on bhg.com and it says they'll show you how to do it but I don't find instructions - so my thoughts are to cover a straw wreath form with Easter basket grass (hmmm not sure if I'll do the plastic stuff or paper); decoupage a bunch of plastic eggs (I like they have used different sizes, will see if I can find and if not I'll just do all standard size) and hot glue them in place. Will add a chenille stem loop at the top of the backside to hang them up.

Click here to see my post about how to decoupage plastic eggs

photo found at bhg.com 






Sunday, March 30, 2025

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 13)

Dear Campers ~ 

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week - actually all that happened was a trip down memory lane of what happened in years past, thanks to my wrist surgery and my not being able to make/cook/type this week! There's lots of good things to look at though, hope you found some good old ideas that you might have forgotten about! 

Posts ~

3/23: 🔥 week 12

3/24: thru the years

3/25: thru the years

3/26: thru the years

3/27: thru the years

3/28: thru the years

3/29: words (spring lamb photo)

That's it for this week! See you next week for more projects, crafts, recipes, whatever we can think of to make at camp - bye :)


Sincerely ~

Jill
camp counselor

3.30.24: bunny cookies

3.30.23: air-dried clay ornaments

3.30.22: lasagna casserole

3.30.21: TT deviled eggs (and cute deviled egg chicks) 

3.30.20: April plan



   

Saturday, March 29, 2025

3/29 ~ Words

ok, not exactly 'words' today but sooooo cute. don't know who to credit for the photo


3.29.24: bunny wreath




















3.29.21: Reese's bunny cars

3.29.20: ðŸ”¥week 13





















3.29.17: Mark's cowboy casserole

3.29.16: make a kitchen file

 



Friday, March 28, 2025

3/28 ~ Thru the Years

I had carpal tunnel surgery Friday and naively thought I'd still be able to blog - but I was wrong! For the next week I can't use my (right) hand and it's wrapped in super thick batting and ace bandages so I can barely move my fingers...typing is a little hard one handed, not to mention trying to cook or make things - so I'm going to have to take a few days off. Before I get my left wrist done next month I will plan ahead and hopefully have some new things scheduled to share with you while I recuperate! 

Until I have more use of my hand let's take a look back at what happened in years past on this date:

3.28.24: zucchini banana bread

3.28.23: GF baking tips

3.28.22: Miss Lori's Easter porch decor 



3.28.21: ðŸ”¥week 13

3.28.20: road trip day 6

3.28.19: how to sew silverware pouches




















3.28.17: DIY mod podge

3.28.16: make a zipper bracelet



Thursday, March 27, 2025

3/27 ~ Thru the Years

I had carpal tunnel surgery Friday and naively thought I'd still be able to blog - but I was wrong! For the next week I can't use my (right) hand and it's wrapped in super thick batting and ace bandages so I can barely move my fingers...typing is a little hard one handed, not to mention trying to cook or make things - so I'm going to have to take a few days off. Before I get my left wrist done next month I will plan ahead and hopefully have some new things scheduled to share with you while I recuperate! 

Until I have more use of my hand let's take a look back at what happened in years past on this date:

3.27.24: pineapple stuffing

3.27.23: black bean tacos

3.27.22: ðŸ”¥ week 13

 

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

3/26 ~ Thru the Years

I had carpal tunnel surgery Friday and naively thought I'd still be able to blog - but I was wrong! For the next week I can't use my (right) hand and it's wrapped in super thick batting and ace bandages so I can barely move my fingers...typing is a little hard one handed, not to mention trying to cook or make things - so I'm going to have to take a few days off. Before I get my left wrist done next month I will plan ahead and hopefully have some new things scheduled to share with you while I recuperate! 

Until I have more use of my hand let's take a look back at what happened in years past on this date:

3.26.24: tt cilantro leaves tip



3.26.20: road trip day 4

3.26.19: the front tuck

3.26.18 and 3.26.16: Peep cupcakes















3.26.17: Al's west african peanut soup 


Tuesday, March 25, 2025

3/25 ~ Thru the Years

I had carpal tunnel surgery Friday and naively thought I'd still be able to blog - but I was wrong! For the next week I can't use my (right) hand and it's wrapped in super thick batting and ace bandages so I can barely move my fingers...typing is a little hard one handed, not to mention trying to cook or make things - so I'm going to have to take a few days off. Before I get my left wrist done next month I will plan ahead and hopefully have some new things scheduled to share with you while I recuperate! 

Until I have more use of my hand let's take a look back at what happened in years past on this date:

3.25.24: dotted Easter eggs

3.25.23: words

3.25.22: ants on a log

3.25.21: oatmeal bread

3.25.20: road trip day 3




3.25.16: Brooke has some Easter kid crafts