University of Cookie: Royal Icing

Hey guys! A quick note to let you know there's a new vlog over at University of Cookie. This one is called "making royal icing."

Come take a peek! {I may or may not have invented a new drinking game to go along with it!} ;)

Wags 'n Whiskers flower challenge, a sale, and news about the next release!

Yay! It's Friday! :) Hope everyone is having a fabulous week! It's time for a new Wags 'n Whiskers challenge, and this week, the fabulously talented Jeanette is asking us to use flowers. I was commissioned to make a Mother's Day card with two boys with skin of color. So I chose both Super Ryan and Just For You. Aren't they too cute? I love these two together, because "Just For You" does indeed look like the older brother, don't you think? I stamped them in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored them with Sketch Copics. I then cut them out and double popped them off the card.

And right now, both of these stamps, as well as all the Wags 'n Whiskers stamps illustrated by Crissy Armstrong, are on sale for 25% off!!! How cool is that!! If you've been wanting to get some of them, now is the time!

Please be sure and pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the Divas fabulous creations! We're sadly saying goodbye to Bree from her GDT spot, and welcoming Melanie on board as our new GDT. We'd love it if you played along with the challenge, and this time you have two weeks to play along, because next week is the NEW SUMMER RELEASE of Wags 'n Whiskers! So hope you stop by on Wednesday and Thursday for the sneak peeks, and then again on Friday for the celebration blog hop for the new release! The new stamps are sooooo CUTE, and I can't wait for you to see them! Thanks for stopping by to see me today, and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!

Nikki, Lacey, Chris, Michelle, Karen, Jacqui, Tina, Jeanette, Christa, Bree, Debbie, Melanie

Images: Super Ryan and Just For You - Wags 'n Whiskers; background and sentiment banner - Magnolia-licious

paper - DP - Nitwits; cardstock is Bazzill

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Sketch markers

Misc: silk ribbon, charms, machine stitching, oval Nestabilities, dimensional tape

My Top Three Asparagus Recipes

Spring asparagus at Santa Monica Farmers' Market

Asparagus. The queen of spring. Elegant, fresh- and addictive. For many of us, the primavera arrival of asparagus is big news. Huge. Exciting. We simply can't get enough. You see, there is something magical about asparagus. Maybe it's the sexy reputation. Isabelle Allende describes asparagus as phallic in her memoir,  Aphrodite, describing gardens lush with it, and stalks thick as trees. She throws in a few maidens with obvious oral fixations and well. You can guess the rest. 

To be honest, the whole thick as a tree trunk thing, though, is a bit much. Big stalks? Not gonna impress me. I tend to gravitate to the slender young asparagus, myself. The slimmer the better, in my gluten-free part of the world. Why? I barely cook them. It's more like a coaxing. A gentle flash in the pan with some fruity olive oil and a kiss of balsamic vinegar. A pinch of sea salt. Nothing fancy. Keeping them tender-crisp is the key to maximum enjoyment-- for me. But I know some folks prefer long, slow roasting. 

And that's what makes the world go 'round, darling.

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For a very POPular Teacher . . .

Can it be? Summer is almost here? But before summer...it's time for teacher appreciation gifts!

Welcome to those of you coming from Woodlands Family Magazine (and to everybody else, too)! I'm so happy to be working with Melissa of Domesticated Lady (you're going to love her!) to bring you not only a how-to for cookies, but an adorable FREE printable topper as well!

Let's get started on the cookies (you can make these NOW and freeze them until the end of school!):

• Make sugar cookies using a candy corn cookie cutter (it's a multi-tasker) and let cool.
  

Using red royal icing and a #3 tip, pipe the outline of a popcorn box (AmeriColor Super Red).

• With a #2 tip, pipe a wide oval in yellow icing (AmeriColor Egg Yellow).

• With another #2 tip, pipe the outline of popped popcorn above the box in white (add AmeriColor Bright White for extra white).
• Thin the yellow icing with a bit of water, stirring gently until it is the consistency of thick syrup. Let sit several minutes covered with a damp dishtowel (see a video of this process here).
• Gently stir the icing with a rubber spatula to pop any air bubbles that have risen to the surface and transfer to a squeeze bottle.

• Fill in the oval and part of each popcorn piece.
• Thin the white icing in a similar fashion.
  

• Fill in the popcorn box and the remainder of the popcorn. Swirl the yellow and white icings together on the popcorn.
• Let dry at least 1 hour.

• Using a #5 tip, add wide red stripes to the popcorn boxes.
• Switch to a #2 tip and pipe "POPcorn" in red on the oval.

• Outline the oval in red using the #2 tip.

• Let the cookies dry overnight before packaging.

My favorite part? The swirly popcorn pieces:

The free printable topper is available from Domesticated Lady here.

Melissa, of Domesticated Lady) has so many wonderful ideas...I know you'll want to check out the rest of her darling blog while you're there! (And the online version of her article about the toppers/cookies is here.) It was a pleasure working with Melissa...this theme was all her idea...she is so creative!!!

If you want to make a few individual popcorn pieces to go along with these, check out these too cute cookies from The Decorated Cookie! Is that the cutest idea, or what?

You know what? I made popcorn cookies about 5 years ago and I am so glad to get a chance to update them. Wanna see?

I like this year's version much better!

I'll be linking it to TidyMom's I'm Lovin' It linky party. :)

Have you planned your teacher gifts yet?

♥ Giveaways. Win Me Plss ♥

♥ kay. more fabs giveaways to enter to.
I hope I'll win!!^^ fingers crossed~~

- Bec's Beauty Buzz Rimmel Giveaway

- Jenulence Eyeshadow Giveaway on Two Thousand Things Blog

love.love ♥♥

Making Extra Cookies . . . Works For Me Wednesday

Well, you probably knew it was coming after last week's WFMW, but something simple that works for me is making extra cookies.

I *always* make a mistake when decorating cookies. Even if only I can see it...there's always "the ugly one." Knowing I have cushion (and not just on my hips) takes the pressure off and I actually think I make fewer mistakes because of it.

Example...I made these 40th birthday cookies a few weeks ago. Next to last cookie, I spelled "Robyn" as "Roybn." ROYbn. There is no recovery from that. I had extras, so....I ate it.

Besides eating them myself, I find my husband is more than willing to eat the evidence of ugly cookies as are my neighbors. (Good neighbors like that are hard to find.)

---

What is working for you this week? I'll be linking to Works For Me Wednesday!


PS....any grill queens out there? I'm honored to be guest judging On The Grill at Our Homeschool Home starting tomorrow (Thursday). Link up your recipes and pictures. You'll get bragging rights, a darling WINNER button for your blog and a FANTASTIC prize! Get your GRILL on!!!

Papertake Weekly - Something Different

Happy Tuesday everyone! Hope your week is off to a fantastic start! We're supposed to be WINDY here today. YUCK! I don't mean breezy...it's always breezy here in Reno. We're talking windy, windy, windy. The losing shingles kind of windy. So hopefully it won't do too much damage. Well enough about the weather. :) With the arrival of Tuesday, that means it's time for a new challenge from Dawny at Papertake Weekly. This week, she is asking everyone to do something different, and since it's the last Tuesday of the month, we're being sponsored by the fabulous Simon Says Stamp! Whether it be a different type of fold for your card, a different technique, different colors than your norm, whatever. It doesn't matter as long as it's something different for you. Me? I chose shabby chic! I hope I accomplished it. I sure did try, anyway.

The teapot was cut with my Cricut Expression using the Dreams Come True cartridge. I cut out several and layered the pot three deep and the handle and spout two deep, all with dimensional tape between them. I took my scissors to the edges and used lots of Cat's Eye Jumbo Java chalk ink around the edges.

The gorgeous lace and ribbon is from Stamp and Create, the tea stamp is from Magnolia-licious, the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, the papers are Nitwit Buds n Blossoms, and the leaves are made with the Martha Stewart frond punch. I tied a piece of twine around the handle of the teapot and looped it around and tied the other end throught the tea stamp. I wanted to simulate a tea bag. I finished it all off by using some Kaiser flat backed pearls.

Because of the dimension, I also made an envelope box to hold it. So what do you think? Did I accomplish the shabby chic look? Please be sure and hop over to Papertake Weekly to see what fabulous creations the rest of the design team came up with. Then grab your paper, your glue, and then figure out what "something new" you've been wanting to do. We'd love to see it, and you just might win a prize! Thanks for stopping by to see me today, and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!

♥ Hair Conditioner Reviews & My Comparison on L'oreal, Dove, & Asience ♥

♥
hello^^
as promised, I will now tell my experience of different hair conditioners that I have tried recently~

1. Loreal Elseve Smooth Intense Cream Conditioner (for Frizzy, Dry and Rebellious Hair)

2. Dove Therapy Conditioner (for Dry, Rough, Frizzy Hair)

3.Asience Inner Rich Conditioner (for Normal to Dry, Damaged Hair, and Prone to Breakage Hair)

My Hair

My hair is damaged. They're very dry & frizzy because I curled them twice this year.

I also dye my hair quite a lot and don't go for regular trimming, treatment, or creambath.

I took my hair for granted because of my lazyness *:(

but now I promise to take more care of them^^

as you can see here how dry & frizzy my hair are.

and you can see the difference my of color of my hair.

I need to re-dye them, I know!

kay, first..

Loreal Elseve Smooth-Intense Cream Conditioner

for Frizzy, Dry and rebellious Hair

(Nourishes, Calms, Smoothes Silky, Sleek, Manageable Result)
200ml

Color: Pale Yellow Orange-ish
Consistency: Rich and Creamy

Scent: Smells really good. Medium strong.

Place Bought: Watsons in Bangkok
Country of Origin: Paris

Product Description:

2 PRECIOUS INGREDIENTS: NUTRILEUM® + SILK PROTEIN
For the 1st time, L'Oréal Laboratories have combined its patented ingredient Nutrileum®, a combination of a nutritive micro-oil and a smoothing agent, with Silk Protein, known for its smoothness and thermo-resistance, to deliver a double action:
     1. Intense nutrition: hair is nourished and calmed from root to tip, for an easy and homogeneous   smoothness.
     2. 48H protection: hair is protected against the effects of humid or dry condition.
Proven results: hair 4 times smoother Anti-frizz 48H, hair is silky, brilliant, sleek and manageable.

MY EXPERIENCE:

Likes:
✔ They rinses off easily & my hair feels so smooth when rinsing them off
✔ They moisture my hair nicely
✔ Not much hair fall
✔ Not oily or greasy afterward
✔ Smells good with long-lasting fragrance. My hair still smells good up to 2 days!
✔ My hair is quite long but I don't need to squirts much to condition them all over my hair
✔ Manages my hair on humid days
✔ A relatively good and really does smoothen my hair gives that softness easy to manage

Dislikes:  
✘ Feels very smooth but doesn't lasts long. In 24hour the smoothering effect will wear off and my hair will start to feel frizzy again
✘ A bit too rich formula for frequent use
✘ Pricey

Will I Repurchase? 
Yes although I might reconsider because it's quite pricey

second,..

Dove Therapy

Dry Therapy Conditioner for Dry, Rough, Frizzy Hair

with Advanced Moisturising Serum

350 ml

Color: Pale White

Consistency: Not too rich nor runny

Scent: Smells really good. Not as strong buy pretty enough

Place Bought: Watsons in Penang
Country of Origin: ---?

Product Description:

Solution: Dry Therapy System

1. Contains Advanced Moisturising Serum made up of millions of micro particles

2. Repairs and moisturises dry hair by replenishing lost moisture even at the driest tips

3. Leaves hair so soft and smooth that is irresistible to touch

Diagnosis and Solution: Dry, Rough, frizzy hair due to daily moisture loss

MY EXPERIENCE:
Likes:
✔ Rinses off easily and feels smoothly good when rinsing off
✔ Mild formula for frequent use
✔ Has a pleasant delicate fragrance 
✔ Nourished and shine my hair nicely. Makes my hair manageable too.
✔ Affordable


Dislikes:
✘ Somewhat feels greasy afterward
✘ Needs a little bit more amount of squirts to covered my hair compare to my other conditioners
✘ The smells doesn't lasts long which could probably be a good thing in the same time because it's a soft delicate fragrance not a strong one


Will I Repurchase? 
Yes. They're affordable & can be quite rely on.

third..

Asience Inner Rich Conditioner

Made for Asian Hair

For Normal to Dry, Frizzy, Damaged Hair, and Hair that is prone to Breakage

220 ml

  

Color: Pale White

Consistency: Rich

Scent: smells really good. strong.

Place Bought: Watsons, Penang

Country of Origin: Japan

Product Description:

Enriched with Royal Jelly Extract (Moisturise) that penetrates into the inner fibre to soften and restrore the hair while strengthening it from the core, keeping it smooth and supple to the ends

Japan's Advanced M-18 Hair Beautifying Technology

Restores, replenishes and nourishes the hair's natural protective coat, 18-MEA brings hair back to its orginal lustruous condition from within.

Asian Energy Essence Natural Precious Ingeridients

- Pearl Protein (Repair)

- Camellia Oil and Ginseng Extract (Moisturise)

- Shell Ginger Extract (Soften)

- Aloe Extract (Protect)

MY EXPERIENCE:
Likes:
✔ Rinse smoothly after conditioning
✔ Only need a small amount of squirts to covered my whole hair
✔ Smells really good although some people find it quite strong but I don't mind..
✔ The smells lasts long!! up to 2 days!
✔ Moisture strongly, feels so soft afterwards without feeling greasy or oily at all 
✔ Not much hair fall
✔ Softness easy-to-manage, I can comb my hair easier now
✔ I don't feel the need of washing my hair as often anymore because the moisturizer doesn't wear off easily & the smells lasts long
✔ Quite Affordable 


Dislikes:
✘so far none. but I will update if there are changes


Will I Repurchase?
Definitely Yes. I love this product. I'm planning to buy the shampoo too to see if both conditioner & shampoo will improve my hair

>> Overall <<

The 3 conditioner I have reviewed above are not bad at all.

Each hair have different needs so what works for me doesn't always mean will works for you.

My rank order choice will be the Asience, L'oreal, & then Dove.

I've been using these products for as long as few months each except for the Asience which I only have been using for a week.

But if there's any updates of more progress-regress or improvement-unimprovement I will definitely tell youu & update you^^

love.love ♥♥

Magnolia-licious blog hop winner

Happy Sunday everyone! It's time to post the winner of my blog candy from the Magnolia-licious blog hop. So without further ado....


True Random Number Generator

Min: 1
Max: 93
Result:
20
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

And the winner is.... Peggie!!


Peggie said...
What a fabulous idea using all the archery folk. This scene is fantabulous.

April 19, 2010 6:30 AM

Peggie, please email me your address so I can get your goodies in the mail for you! Thanks so much to everyone for playing along!

hugs!
Sharon

Kiddo in the Kitchen: Milk Chocolate Pretzel Tart

Kiddo would live on pretzels if I would let him. I've leaned down to kiss him good-night only to hear a crinkling sound and find the bag under his pillow.

But, I'm a mean mom and make him vary up his menu a little with fruit and protein, veggies, and well, cookies.

For this edition of Kiddo in the Kitchen, kiddo chose from my stack of recipes torn from magazines. I'm not sure where this one came from, but I'm going to guess it was Food & Wine.

(This recipe has a lot of waiting time...chilling the dough, rolling and re-chilling, cooling the crust, cooling the ganache and finally time for the tart to set-up. That said, I don't think it's the best recipe to make with a 4-year-old. Not much instant gratification. :))

Milk Chocolate Pretzel Tart

1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 & 1/2 c. thin pretzels, coarsely crushed
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. flour
1 egg
2 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted
1 & 1/2 c. heavy cream
3/4 lb. milk chocolate, chopped
Sea Salt (Maldon or Fleur de Sel)
crushed pretzels

Beat the butter with 3/4 c. crushed pretzels and powdered sugar at low speed until creamy. Beat in the flour and egg. Stir in the remaining 1/2 c. pretzels.

Flatten the dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350. Roll out the dough between the waxed paper to 12" round. Peel off the top sheet and invert over a 10" tart pan. Press dough into the corners and patch any tears. Trim dough and refrigerate 30 minutes.

{Kiddo wants you to know he did not CHOOSE the heart-shaped pan...it's the only one I have. Whew...crisis averted.}

Line the shell with parchment and fill with pie weights.

{Or dried black-eyed peas in our case.}

Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the parchment and weights and bake for another 10 minutes. Cover the edges with foil if needed. Let cool completely.

Brush the crust with melted bittersweet chocolate. Refrigerate 10 minutes.

In a medium saucepan, bring the cream to a simmer. Place the chopped chocolate in a bowl. Pour the cream over the chocolate; let stand 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Let sit at room temperature for 45 minutes, until it is a room temperature.

Pour the filling into the shell and refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours.

Before serving, sprinkle lightly with sea salt and crushed pretzels.

Kiddo gives it a...drum roll, please...

THE END

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Quinoa Cookies

Quinoa flakes make a lovely gluten-free oatmeal-style cookie.

My last cookie post stirred up a veritable stew of feelings. From oat-loving high fives and boogie till the cows come home oatmeal cookie bliss, to very sad, That's okay, I'll sit this one out in the corner moping. Because oatmeal? It's not for everyone. Apparently, oats can be unkind to sensitive celiac tummies. So while many celiacs celebrate the availability of certified gluten-free oats (thank you, Bob's Red Mill!), just as many shun this humble cereal grain for the sake of symptoms or safety.

Avena sativa? Not welcome in many a gluten-free kitchen.

Some believe the trouble starts with its globulin or legume-like protein called avenalin. Some think it's the soluble fiber factor. Others believe that the prolemine in oats called avenin triggers a celiac-like response. The debate rages on. And I'm no scientist, I'm sorry to tell you, so I'll sit this one out. But.

The truth is, Babycakes, you don't want to be around moi after I've eaten oats- gluten-free certified or not. Although I tested negative for oat allergy, these tasty chewy little cereal devils produce enough, um, wind in my nether regions to keep Wyoming well lit for a week. 

It ain't pretty, is all I'm saying.

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