Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day!

Hey guys!  Today for Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, I had Samantha from Indie and Chic help me out!

Things to do on Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day : indie and chic style.

• Create a new hair style, I love this, haha.



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• Paint with it, I use bubble wrap to add texture to paintings and scrapbook pages.
  
• Pop it, the best stress relief ever!
  
  

Hahaha I love it! Especially the painted bubble wrap, what an awesome idea!  Samantha is an AWESOME girl with such an inspiring blog!  She is a full time college student with an incredibly successful Etsy shop... she recently made her 500th sale!  I don't know how she does it!  Haha.  500 sales while being a full time student?  She is super woman.  Haha.  & the sweetest girl!  I've just recently gotten a chance to get to know her better and I'm so glad I did!  So, you should too!  Check out her blog & go say hi!

Right now I have a couple of different things going on... like a giveaway for a chance to win a cowl in the colour of your choice on Annie's blog! (By the way, I am totally blown away by the amazing comments people are laving on Annie's blog!  Talk about making me blush...)  Or, a chance to win a gift certificate to CSN stores!  This month I am also going to be helping out a wonderful girl named Janel & her husband raise money to adopt their baby girl!  I'm going to be knitting a pretty pink bow & all of the proceeds with go towards Janel & Adam's fund for Peta!  There are a bunch of other amazing artists that are helping out, go check out the blog post to find out more information!  I'll be posting more about that soon! 

I hope you guys are all having a wonderful (and warm!!) night!

*(OH!  If any of you guys would like to help me out by doing a little guest post about how to celebrate any of the days, just let me know!  Send me an e-mail - hollcrawford (at) gmail (dot) com - or comment here letting me know with your e-mail address and I'll send you all of the dates!)

Inane Answering Machine Message Day & Croissant Day!

Paris Patisseries

Today is another delicious holiday!  Just take a look at these (click the link underneath the photo to go to the original website & find the recipe!):

Mowielicious

Not So Humble Pie

Spittoon Extra

Pennies on a Platter

Real Mom Kitchen

Yum! I cannot wait to eat some fresh warm croissants when I'm in Paris.  I know I am going to have SO many food photos to share with you guys!  Haha.  Speaking of Paris, I've been planning something... something about a giveaway for you guys... haha I will share my information about it later this week!  I'm exhauuuuusted right now (I can't stay up as late as I used to!  Haha.  Didn't get in until laaate last night.  Err, this morning.) and I'm going to go watch some Monk & do some knitting!  (With a little Sudoku.)  But I will have a re-cap post of last weeks holidays & what is coming up this week soon, and I'm going to start doing some weekly features like I did a little while ago!  Share my favourite blogs/websites, etsy finds, recipes, etc.  So hopefully I'm going to get started with that this week!  But for now, it's time for Monk!  Haha.  Here is a hilarious answering machine for you guys to listen to!

National Puzzle Day!

Made by the wonderful Mandy!

I wanted to share some awesome Etsy finds with you guys, puzzle style!

Wood Wedding Puzzle by BellaPuzzlesToo

Handmade Wood Jigsaw Puzzle by dogWoodbyDave

Custom Wooden Guest Book by CustomDogBandanas

Puzzle People Salt & Pepper Shaker Set by celestewelch

Wooden Leaf Puzzle by justhatched

Silver Puzzle Pieces Choker Necklace by SilverLotusDesigns

I made a treasury with some more items here, check it out!  Keith & I are just on our way out the door to go to my uncle's house for my grandma's birthday party.   I'm wearing the beautiful skirt I bought from SrsyLiz's shop & I think I might have to do my FIRST outfit post ever!   (I may have to crop my face out of it because I will probably be laughing so hard, I can't take myself seriously in photos!) 

Blueberry Pancake Day!

I'm not a big fan of pancakes (I know, I know... I just looooove crepes so I'm always eating crepes!) but I have to say these were DELICIOUS.  This was the recipe I used:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• pinch of salt
• 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 ¼ cups milk
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
• 2 cups frozen or fresh blueberries 

1. Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a bowl.
2. Beat the eggs, add the milk and melted butter to a separate bowl.
3. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix well. Do not worry if your batter is lumpy. Fold the blueberries into the batter.
4. Add a small knob of butter to a frying pan and pour a small amount of batter. Fry on one side until bubbles start to form on the top side. Flip over and cook the reverse side for less than thirty seconds.

I also made sauce with blueberries, lemon juice, sugar and a little bit of cinnamon sugar!  Yum.  These were reallllly good.  (Almost as good as crepes?)  The cupcakes that I made yesterday were SO good.  I'm going to be making a stop motion video with all of the photos I can't wait to share it with you guys.  Right now I'm just hanging out with my friend Tracy so this is going to be a short one.  Hope you guys all have a great night!

CHOCOLATE CAKE DAY!

What an awesome holiday!  I took a TON of photos while I made chocolate cake (from scratch!).  Well, okay, I made chocolate cake from the box, but I made chocolate cupcakes from scratch!  & took photos the entire time.  I'm going to try and turn it into a stop motion video, but we will see how that goes... ahah.  Especially since I don't have my Macbook anymore.  (BUMMER.)  But, seriously!  What an awesome holiday!  I'm not a huge fan of cake but I had a piece & it was delicious!  I used this recipe:

Cake:
2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Icing:
1/2 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pans with liners.
Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes.
Stir in boiling water (batter will be very thin).
Pour batter into cupcake liners.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
Meanwhile, make frosting: stir melted butter into cocoa.
Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.
Add small amount additional milk, if needed.
Stir in vanilla. (Makes approx. 2 cups frosting)
Frost cupcakes when completely cooled, as desired. Makes approx. 24 cupcakes.

 I'm excited for blueberry pancake day tomorrow!  (I might make a couple of pancakes & then crepes, haha.  I prefer crepes!)  We have a ton of fresh blueberries ready to be eaten!  Hopefully tomorrow I will have the stop motion video of the cupcakes/cake all ready!

Clashing Clothes Day! & getting ready for CHOCOLATE CAKE DAY!

Hey guys!  Today is Clashing Clothes Day!  Um, I kind of celebrate this holiday EVER DAY.  Haha!  Not when I go out, but when I'm at home just hanging out & wearing whatever.  My clothes always clash.  But I must admit, these outfits are a bit worse:

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Haha.  Tonight Keith & I went over to De's house for a bit and hung out with Nat, Turple & Scott.  Tomorrow night we're going back over & bringing CHOCOLATE CAKE!  I'm so pumped, haha.  I haven't baked anything yet this year!  Not that I baked a whole lot last year, I made cupcakes a few times... but I might make a stop motion film of me making the cake tomorrow!  Now, to find the perfect recipe... I think I'm going to spend a while looking around on tastespotting!  Haha.  There are so many different kinds!  Ah!  I'm not even that big of a cake fan, but when I see all of the different types I start to really crave it.    Oh!  I'm also on day 10 of "The Green Monster"!  (I'm finishing one right now).  I LOVE THEM!  Definitely give it a try!  I know it seems strange to drink spinach, but the vanilla almond milk and banana completely mask the flavour!  It's delicious. 

Opposite Day?

Today is opposite day!  How exactly do you celebrate opposite day?  I'm not too sure... so, I decided that I'm going to show you guys some things that I bought from Etsy recently!  Hahaha.  I'm trying really hard not to spend any money, because I need to save for my trip to EUROPE!!!  (I mentioned it in my blog post the other day, but only two people noticed it, haha.)  But, I couldn't help myself with these things.  I've been wanting to make 1,000 paper cranes, so I ordered all of this paper:

from origamipalace

I also ordered a lens cap protector (for my new camera that I will hopefully be buying soon!!) from the lovely hanamik:

And this cute little jar to keep the origami hearts that I've been making in from orzsupplies:

But the mail to Canada takes sooooooooo long to get here, so unfortunately I haven't got any of them in the mail yet.  But every day when I check it I get so excited, haha.  I'm hoping it comes tomorrow!  I can't wait to get started on folding those paper cranes.  I'll definitely take photos & share it with you guys!  And of the little origami stars in the jar!  What have you bought off of Etsy recently?  

So coming up this week for holidays we haaaaaaaaaave:

Wednesday - Clashing Clothes Day (I may do my FIRST EVER outfit post!!  haha.)

Thursday - Chocolate Cake Day (I can't wait to make a chocolate cake from scratch.  I might do a stop motion video of me making it... we'll see!)

Friday - Blueberry Pancakes Day (YUM!)

Saturday - National Puzzle Day (So pumped!) and Corn Chip Day!

Sunday - Inane Answering Machine Day and Croissant Day

Monday - Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day and Eat Brussel Sprouts Day (We will see if I eat any!!  Haha.  I never have...)

Tonight I'm going over to my friend Sam's house for our first ever Girl's Craft Night!!  So pumped!  I'll take some photos & share them tomorrow!  Hope you all have a great night!  Oh & don't forget to enter the giveaway I have going on!!

Beer Can Appreciation Day!

Happy beer can appreciation day!
You don't have to be a beer drinker to celebrate this holiday. Have you ever heard of beer can chicken? Here is a recipe from Michael Smith:

Ingredients

• 1 large roasting chicken
• 1 can of your favourite beer

Directions

1. Preheat your BBQ grill to high.
2. Meanwhile season the chicken well with plain salt and pepper or with your favourite spice rub.
3. Open the can of beer and take a big gulp. Perch the chicken onto the open beer can sliding the can inside the cavity so that the bird is sitting upright balanced on its legs with wings at the top. Place the chicken on one side of the grill turning the heat to low on that side, leaving the heat on medium high in the rest of the grill. Close the lid forming an oven and roast until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°. Depending on your BBQ this will take from 60 to 90 minutes.

I've had it quite a few times, but here are some photos from last summer when we went to Shoon's cottage & ate it!

Keith minutes after waking up, ha.  & the chicken in the background.

  But, of course, beer cans are also good for drinking out of!

National Handwriting Day!

Made by the lovely Janel!

Blondies Day!

Today is Blondies day!  I'm not talking about that comic... but blonde brownies!  They're like brownies, but made with flour, brown sugar, butter, eggs, baking powder, vanilla and whatever else you want to add!  I have found a few recipes I wanna share with you guys:

Cinnamon Blondies

by Sugarlaws

INGREDIENTS

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs

1 tbsp vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 by 13-inch pan with parchment paper and cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cream of tartar and salt, and set the mixture aside. In a second bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar and white sugar, and then add the eggs and the vanilla.

Stir in the flour mixture and blend well. Spread the batter into the prepared pan, evening it with a spatula if necessary. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached. Let the pan cool completely.

Makes about 30 small bars.

 Cinnamon Blondies
by Two Peas and Their Pod

1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup cinnamon chips (or stir-in of your choice-nuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips)

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Spray an 8-inch square metal baking pan with vegetable-oil cooking spray. Fold a 16-inch length of heavy-duty foil to 7 1/2 inches wide and lay it across pan bottom and up two sides so you have foil overhangs to pull blondies from pan. Spray foil with vegetable-oil spray.

Whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk brown sugar into butter in a medium bowl. Whisk eggs and vanilla together in a small bowl, then whisk into butter mixture. Whisk in dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in cinnamon chips or stir-in of your choice. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until blondies are just set, about 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Using foil handles, pull blondies from pan, set on wire rack, and cool to room temperature. Cut into squares and serve.

Snickerdoodle Blondies
by Baking Junkie

1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, room temperature
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 ⅔ cup all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×9 inch baking pan and set aside. Beat together the butter and brown sugar, then add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Slowly add to liquid ingredients and mix until combined. Dough will be thick. Spread into greased pan and smooth top as much as possible (either with back of spoon or spatula). Combine cinnamon and sugar, then sprinkle on top of dough. Bake for approximately 30 minutes.

 Mmm!  I love blondies.  I'm not a HUUUGE fan of chocolate... (although sometimes I get chocolate cravings) but I loooove blondies!  I've had a pretty good weekend so far, last night I went over to my friend Sam's house for girls night, and we decided to get together every Tuesday night at her place for girls/craft night!  She has an AWESOME upstairs loft with slanted ceilings and exposed brick... my favourite!  I'll have to take photos on Tuesday.  It's kind of my dream room, haha!  So I'm excited about that!  That's going to be a ton of fun.  And we can make things for De's wedding!  I'm so excited.  Today Keith & I went out with my friend Erin for coffee and we met her boyfriend Will.  We had a really good time with them & hopefully will see them again soon!  Will is working in the States right now but he comes up to Canada as often as he can.   Then after that I went to my Baba's house for her birthday (for cupcakes) & then I came home and have been looking at things to do in France!  Oh yeah, did I mention I'm going to EUROPE?!  I'm so excited!  I'm going at the end of May & beginning of June.  We're going to France, Italy, Germany & Switzerland.  Ahhhhhhhhhhh.  I've never been, but I'm SO so soooo pumped!  Have any of you guys been before?  Let me know what some must do things are!  I can't wait!!

Hugging Day!

The lovely & incredibly talented Ruby made this banner!  (Check out her blog!  She has the most adorable family.)

Today is just a day about hugging!  Here is a video that is all about the different kinds of hugs:

This guy can't really celebrate the holiday... haha.

And hopefully you guys have seen this video before, but if not, enjoy!

I hope you guys all have a great hugging day! Be sure to hug as many people as you can! Here's a link to the Free Hugs Campaign!  Okay, and I have to show you this last video... my Baba sent it to me. Orangutan and the Hound.

SO sweet!

Bill Cosby Sweater Day Part 2!

Hahaha we are all much more relaxed in the second photo!

Cat in a bowwwwwwwwwwl.

Sibling loooooove.

The greatest photo ever.

Hahaha last night was a lot of fun.  We went over to Tim & De's and all wore Bill Cosby sweaters (poor Tim got home & all of his sweaters were being worn, ha.) and had tons of candy & cheese! I'll be back in a little bit with a post for National Hugging Day (And I have the most adorable photo for that post, made by Ruby!), I just wanted to show you guys these photos!  And have you guys entered the giveaway??