Stenciled Lazy Susan

I had a reader recently comment that "Sometimes people show room makeovers and before and after pics and make it seem like it was a quick/no big deal kind of thing."  I find that to be so true.  This post will not just be a quick before and after!  You are going to see every step and every mess-up in-between.  If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again.

Guest Blogger : Parrish from Life With The Crust Cut Off

I'm happy have Parrish here today to share with us a tasty recipe.  When your done here hop on over to her blog and check it out.  Be sure to follow her too.

 

Hi!! I'm Parrish, I am married to the milkman and I'm mommy to one ridiculously rambunctious toddler, Dean.  I like creating and sharing recipes and I love sharing "war" stories about parenting.  I strive to create a site free of the "mommy judgement" where all moms can go and feel comfortable about how they decide to raise their kids. Thanks so much to Callie for letting me share my Smores Bars with you!!

I must confess I hate smores, the flavor combo is delicious but let’s face it the construction of smores is just setting up you for a sticky disaster. Your first bite squishes the molten marshmallow and chocolate out the sides, all over your hands, the floor and what not. I get it….smores are fun, messy, outside food but what is the point when after the first bite all you are left with is 2 empty graham crackers and sticky shoes?

This recipe has been all over the internet (and by all over the internet yes I mean Pinterest) and I decided to give it a shot for this National Smores day and boy was it delicious.



This was super simple to make and a million times easier to eat than traditional smores, everyone loved them, and while I messed up and did not read the directions properly and let it cool, we ate it piping hot from the oven and it was melty and fabulous and even after I let it cool like I was supposed to it was still amazingly delicious!

Word of advice this recipe calls for Giant Hershey bars from the candy aisle, not king sized from the checkout. You can use either but the Giant ones fit perfectly. I will be making this recipe again and again and my mind is already spinning with ideas on swapping out the Hershey bars for peanut butter cups or peppermint patties YUM!!!

So grab your kids and some graham crackers and have a Happy Smores Day!!!!!!

Smores Bars (from Lovin in the Oven)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 king-sized milk chocolate bars (e.g. Hershey’s)
• 1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme/fluff (not melted marshmallows)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix at a low speed until combined.

Divide dough in half and press half of dough into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Place chocolate bars over dough. 2 giant-sized Hershey’s bars should fit perfectly side by side, but break the chocolate (if necessary) to get it to fit in a single layer no more than 1/4 inch thick. Spread chocolate with marshmallow creme or fluff. Place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff (most easily achieved by flattening the dough into small shingles and laying them together).

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Washi Tape Wall Pattern

 

I completed this wall pattern using washi tape, a few weeks ago, for One Crafty Contest.  I am just now getting around to posting about it!  I was so excited to take on this challenge because I have never used washi tape before.  I wanted to do something grand and original.  That's when I had the idea for this wall.  The competition challenged me to think about washi tape in a whole new way.  It took 16 rolls of washi in four different patterns to complete this design.

Guest Blogger: Dana from This Silly Girl's Life

Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Dana from This Silly Girl's Life. She is a former professional Chef turned blogger, a newly wed, a homemaker, a daughter, lover of a good book, Mama to 4 beautiful fur babies and a cookin’ fool!

Hi everyone, I'm so excited to be guest posting with Callie today! I hope you like this recipe I brought you! I made these healthy fish tacos with cumin spiced yogurt sauce and they were a great alternative to taco night! A nice light dinner or lunch on a hot summer day, perfection!

4th of July Glitter Jeans and T-Shirt

  I'm sad to announce that I didn't make it into the top 5 at one crafty contest.  

To see who did click here.

 It was so much fun being a part of One Crafty Contest.  It challenged me to complete my paint project on time and work with products I have never used before like washi tape.  The challenge for round 5 was glitter I created this 4th of July outfit for my daughter.  I think I may make coordinating outfits for my other kids.