Oklahoma Weekend

We had an amazing weekend! Bryan took off on Friday and early Friday morning we headed up to Oklahoma. My grandparents just built a house, so we met my parents up there to spend the weekend. Kelty got to come too!! He was a great traveler. It was a little stressful taking our puppy to a new house, but overall he did really well for his age. I didn't take any pictures of their new house, but you can check out their blog for pics. They were such great hosts, and we are very thankful they let us bring Kelty.

On our way up there we stopped at a new fabric store in Dallas called City Craft. I took tons of pictures, and it deserves it's own post. But here is a little preview.

Saturday night we stopped at Pops, which is a convenience store/gas station/restaurant along Route 66. This is the huge light up bottle that can be seen outside, it changes colors constantly. They have every kind of soda or "pop" imaginable. There are so many flavors: cream soda, root beer, orange, grape, black cherry... the list could go on for awhile. We got a couple of different kinds to try, and they have all been very tasty!

The outside is all glass, and inside there are rows and rows of different kind of pop. These are all only for display, but you can buy ones that they keep refrigerated.

It's also a fun place for our family because my niece calls my dad Pops. So I took a picture of this license plate, because I heart Pops too!!

Me and the hubby

(Thanks to him for helping me change the font on my blog titles!!)

Saturday night we ate at an Italian restaurant in Guthrie, OK. Here is me and my mom showing off our scarves! It was so nice to be able to hang out with my parents all weekend; just being with them makes me happy. I just love and miss them so much!!

Our weekend was very relaxing. We mostly hung out at the house and helped my grandparents unpack and get things organized. The only bad thing is that it rained all weekend, so we couldn't get their new 4-wheeler out. It's definitely on the list for next time.

On our way home Kelty climbed onto our luggage in the back of the car, and looked out the window! We also stopped in Dallas on the way back and ate dinner with my college roommate/maid of honor/good friend Ashley. It was so nice to get to take a break from our drive to spend time and chat with her.

Now we've been trying to get Kelty adjusted to his normal life again. We are having to reteach him the rules of our house. I guess that's what happens after a week with the grandparents!! :)

Super Bowl = Super Stressed!

Remember those football cupcakes I told you I was making for Super Bowl Sunday? Well I did make them but it wasn't my most successful day in the kitchen. :(

It first started with the chocolate cupcakes. I mixed the batter and filled 2 muffin tins and went to stick them in the oven. I got the first one in, and then realized that the second one wasn't going to fit because I had a thermometer in the oven that was in the way. So in the process of trying to take the thermometer out I somehow ended up flipping one pan of cupcake batter upside down on the oven door/bottom of the oven!!! I just stood there in amazement with my hands on my head. Bryan very nicely came in to the kitchen, calmed me down and helped clean up. The cupcake batter started to bake, which helped with easy clean up. I wish I took a picture because it's funny now, but at the time it was NOT funny whatsoever.

Funny side note: I had gotten blue and gold cupcake liners for the Colts and Saints respectively. All of the blue cupcake liners were in the pan that flipped. I told Bryan after it happened that this must means that the Colts are going to lose.....and what do you know they did!!!! So the battle of the cupcakes was just an omen for what was going to happen later on. :)

So I baked the 12 cupcakes that survived, tinted some icing green and got ready to frost. I don't have a pastry bag, so to pipe icing I usually just use a ziploc bag. I had put the icing in the bag, and piped about 1/2 of the grass on the first cupcake when.....

EXPLODE!!!!!!!!!

This happens to my bag. Apparently the bag wasn't strong enough so it exploded all over the counter. At this point I realized maybe I should take a picture. The best thing that happened because of all this was Bryan told me I should go buy a set of pastry bags an icing tips, to prevent future disasters. Yay!!

Green grass icing.

Chocolate Oreo Truffle Footballs. These were difficult, because it's hard to make the football shape, and it was hard to dip them in chocolate and make them look smooth. Ria knows what I'm talking about, she made some for the Super Bowl too!

Here's the cupcakes after I stuck the footballs on top, and before I piped the laces.

The finished product!! And can I tell you, I was actually very thankful that there were only 12 to decorate as opposed to 24. :)

My kitchen was a disaster!

Our food spread. Everyone said the cupcakes tasted great, so I guess it was worth it!!

The girls in the kitchen. This is Meghan, Laura, and Meg.

The boys watching the game. Don't they look intrigued!? :) This is Eli, Bryan Clements, Bryan Kamp, and Curt. Sorry this isn't the best picture.

We ended up having a good night, even though the day was a little stressful. Next year I'll stick to something a little less complicated...maybe rice krispy treats.

Fabric Flower Tutorial

Finished Product! Here are some step by step directions to make your own flower. I apologize because some of the pictures are a little blurry.

1. Trace 8 circles on a piece of fabric. I used a drinking glass as a pattern. Cut your circles out.

2. Fold each circle in half, and then in half again, and you will end up with a triangle. Staple or glue the corner so that it stays. You can use fabric glue or a hot glue gun.

3. Cut out a small circle out of fabric to glue your pieces onto. Then using hot glue or fabric glue, glue 4 pieces to your small circle.

4. This is what the bottom layer looks like, with 4 pieces glued to your small fabric piece.

5. For the next layer, take the rest of the 4 pieces and glue them on top. Make sure you glue each piece in the seam of the bottom layer. For example, don't put a top piece in the same position as a piece on the bottom.

6. This is what it looks like with the complete second layer glued on. For the second layer, I take out the staples (so you won't be able to see them) and glue the pieces together so they will stay.

7. Glue a button to the middle of the flower. You can use a regular button or a covered button. If you want to cover the button with the fabric you are using, just cut a circle of fabric that's slightly bigger than your button, and use your glue to wrap the fabric around the button as you glue.

Here is a side view, of the layers of fabric. (sorry it's blurry)

This is what the back of the flower looks like.

8. To finish all you have to do is glue a hair clip or pin to the back.

Hope this helps, Holley! Let me know if there are any questions.

Clements Crafts

I have a new obsession with fabric flowers and today I found a new way to make them. First I used the fabric I had at home to try it out, and this afternoon I made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby to get some fabric for a couple more. The pictures just don't do them justice!! There are two layers of fabric, so they are really full.

The pink/green/orange ones are for my niece. They are made out of the same fabric as the dress that she wore as a flower girl in our wedding. I made 2 so she could wear pigtails. I really love the black and white one, it's my favorite!

I also decided to try burlap. I've seen tons of crafts done with burlap in the blogging world so I decided to get some just to have on hand. Then I wanted to try it for a flower. I LOVE how it turned out!

I also made some earrings today. They were WAY EASY! I bought the black earring part for 1/2 off (they were $2.47 full price), and then I bought a package of earring loops (they were $1.47 for 8 pieces). To put them together all I had to do was open the little loop at the bottom of the part that goes in your ear and connect it to the black part. I plan on wearing them tomorrow!!

On Sunday before we went to our Super Bowl party Bryan wanted to make a shirt to support Drew Brees and the Saints. He had an old black t-shirt, so we went and got a gold paint pen at Wal-Mart. We printed off the fleur de lis and the letters and traced them on the shirt. I think it turned out really well! (YAY SAINTS!!!) I have to be honest, I was really skeptical of his idea at first. But everyone at the party was really impressed, and couldn't believe we made it ourselves. I'll post pictures of my Super Bowl disaster baking day later on in the week. It ended up being pretty stressful, but at least my cupcakes turned out well.

For my next project, I decided I needed a container to put Kelty's treats in. I had one that I had already painted a label on it with chalkboard paint, so I used stickers to personalize it with Kelty's name. I think it looks really fun, now we just need to buy more treats to fill it up!!

Also, I had to take Kelty to the vet today to get a shot, and he now weighs 12.6 pounds! I will post a new video of him soon. He's growing so fast!

Hope your week has gotten off to a great start! I'll post our Super Bowl recap later this week.

Kelty Update

Our little boy is 8 1/2 weeks old! He has been a great addition to our family. He has done really good with potty training, and now goes and stands by the back door when he needs to go out. We have maybe 1 accident a day. When he goes potty outside he runs back in and sits right next to our TV cabinet. We keep his treats on top so they're close to the door. He knows he gets a treat when he comes in. Yay Kelty!!

Can you find the puppy in the picture?!?! This is in our backyard.

We are trying to work with him on walking on his leash. I try to take him to the mailbox everyday on his leash to get him used to it. He sometimes acts like a bucking bronco when we put it on. :)

Isn't that a sweet face!!!

Last night we took him to puppy social hour at PetCo. There were 7 puppies there, and they set up a roped off area where the pups can run and play with each other. Kelty was very timid at first and sat under our chairs. He would also lay down and watch everyone, but not interact. The lady leading the class said this was very typical for the herding dogs. This went on for the first 45 minutes. Finally he decided at the very end that he wanted to play. He would run and bark at all his new friends, and it was hilarious! He even picked the biggest puppy there to play with; he was very brave! We plan on going back next week because we want him to be exposed and comfortable with other dogs. It will be interesting to see how he acts.

Also, here are the ingredients for my football cupcakes I was telling you about. I'm making chocolate cupcakes with green (vanilla/almond) icing that I will pipe on the cupcakes to look like grass. Then I'm making Bakerella's Oreo Football Truffles to set on top. I'll be back with pictures after the big game.

Go Saints!!!

Simple Pleasures

Today over at Kelly's Korner, she wrote a post about all of her "simple pleasures." Those little things that just make you smile and bring joy to your heart. I love that she decided to do this because I like to be sure and make a list like this at least once a year. We did this in college at a leadership retreat I went to for my church. We made a list of what stirs your affections for God, and what robs your affections for God. This way you can focus on the things that bring you closer to God, and try to stay away from the things that do the opposite. It's a good way to keep your focus on things that bring you joy. God created all these things for us so that we can delight in HIM!!

The color GREEN! It makes my heart happy.

The changing of the seasons/holidays (and the new decorations)

The kiss I get every morning before Bryan goes to work!

When Bryan gets home from work, Kelty runs to the door with his tail wagging. :)

I also just love when Bryan gets home from work!

Dr. Pepper in a styrofoam cup

New school supplies

Finding a song with the perfect lyrics for my mood

A warm drink on a cold rainy day

Crossing everything off of my list, or completing a project

Check out this "I heart lists" Stampin Up set!!

My niece saying "Love you, Ash." :)

Surprises!

Staying in my pajamas all day

Cupcakes, cookies, or donuts with SPRINKLES!

Daily phone calls with my momma

Sweatpants and zip up hoodies

A totally clean house, with a candle burning

Reruns of Gilmore Girls

The beauty of the great outdoors (mountains, beaches, plains...)

A hot shower

Blankets (I just got an A&M Snuggie!!!)

Cards in the mail

Panera Bread (Asiago Cheese Bagel with Sun-dried Tomato Cream Cheese, yum!!)

Freshly Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies

What are some of your simple pleasures? Make your own list, I promise it will fill your heart with JOY!!

P.S. I am also making some football cupcakes for a Super Bowl party we're going to this weekend. I'm really excited about them, and I'll let you know how they turn out!