Toasted Coconut Pound Cake

I made this last week for Good Friday brunch and it is delicious! The buttermilk gives it a true pound cake texture and all the toasted coconut inside and out make it a rich coconut flavor. It is a wonderful spring and summer cake to make and share!

Get the recipe from Little Bits of here. 

Easter Decor 2014

I pulled out the bunnies and fake eggs and spruced up my home for Spring last week. It is always fun to change out my decorations and make everything feel new. I haven't bought ANY Easter decor this year, so this is all from my stash and I just try to use it differently each year.

My formal dining room table is rarely used so I love to really decorate it. We can see the pretties and not have to move them for dinner every night. 

I used a floral runner from my daughter's 3rd birthday, melamine plaid plates from Target along with buckets and lots and lots of empty plastic eggs!

On the buffet in the dining room, I placed a little collection of Peter Rabbit bunnies from Pottery Barn Kids a few years ago and other little finds.

I went a little crazy on my mantel this year and covered it with bunnies, birdies, carrots, eggs, mason jars and sweet spring flowers. These items are normally all around my house, but I put them all together for more impact. 

The small dresser in my living room was covered in an Easter runner also from PBK many years ago and a BLOOM runner I bought on EBay for a baby shower.

My kitchen bar has a collection of bright and funny bunnies and buckets. I also hung my felt bunny garland on here. I made it last year. The directions were blogged here. 

I was a Mary Engelbreit fanatic 10 or so years ago and these are from that collection. 

Also on the bar, I framed a printable I found online and added one last bucket and carrot.

We host a big hunt for my daughter and lots of her friends on good Friday each year and always have the most fun! I'm so glad my house is now ready for the party!

Messy Scrapping

It is that time of year again- time to get my 2013 digital scrapbook in gear and be ready for the 50% off Shutterfly sale that happens in early January. I created a digital board on Pinterest and saved this page from Libby Pritchett at Sweet Shoppe Designs.  It is my inspiration board filled with color combinations, fonts, and designs I like.

This page has been on my board for months- I just love how messy but beautiful it is! The circle cut off on top, the ribbons hanging off. I just love it all.

Here is my version of that page. I just couldn't get that messy, but mimicked the circle and the fun little accessories peeking out from the circle. Lots of fun!

Peeps on a Stick Printable and a Lil Rant

Have you seen the cute idea to put Easter peeps on a stick and share them? I saw this idea on Pinterest and pinned it knowing it would be an easy and inexpensive little treat Abby could share with her friends at school and church.

I used 2 peeps per stick (found in the cake decorating aisle at Hobby Lobby) and tied them inside a small treat bag (same aisle) with scrap ribbon. Very inexpensive craft and Abby helped me by handing me the items as I needed them. She loves any craft or cooking time that lets her sit on the kitchen island!

I also made a little set of tags with my digital scrapbook software. They are 2" x 3.5", so perfect for tying onto each stick. I made an extra set without "abby lu" on them. Feel free to download and print them.

I am not usually one to rant. I don't like to speak ill of others. I don't leave mean comments on blogs. But, I want to say something that may be a little controversial here.... I hate all the articles and blog posts coming out right now that we need to take the holidays down a notch. Or, that Pinterest is evil. I think just the opposite and here is why.

I like making treats for my daughter and her friends and the holidays provide the perfect venue for that. I want to spend time with my daughter doing things, not just playing in her dollhouse or watching TV together. I want her to learn to make things, but more importantly to make things for others. I want her to feel the joy of giving, not just receiving. I want her to be creative, to get dirty, and to start and finish a project. These are life lessons in the form of sugary treats in a bag.

I don't want other Moms to feel bad when they receive these treats. I don't feel pressure when my friends make green milk for their kids on March 17th or share the cutest party favors. I think, that is fun or I wish I had thought to do that. It is okay. I can't do it all. I can make the choice to do what I can.

I love getting ideas from Pinterest. I love sharing ideas. I think it is wonderful to support others who come up with something cute or helpful by repinning their findings. I enjoy dreaming about a new home, a pretty outfit, a perfectly iced cake. I don't feel pressure to have all those things. I know I will never master folding a fitted sheet no matter how many times I pin a tutorial. 

I hope we can use things like Pinterest and treats shared among kids to get new ideas and be encouraged and not use them to make ourselves feel inferior. The world will do that for us in so many places, don't let Pinterest do it, too.

No Sew Peep Bunny Garland

 I hosted a handful of friends Tuesday night for craft night! I always love having a few girls over with good cake and glue guns! We had fun making no sew peep bunny garland. It is super simple and we all could have finished in about 2 hours.... if we weren't talking so much!

Aren't my little bunnies cute?

Each girl brought 8.5x11 felt sheets, coordinating ribbon and a brown or black marker. I had extra scissors and glue guns on hand for the fun. 

Using the bunny pattern found here, trace your bunny onto the felt sheets. We were able to get 6 per sheet. Cut them out with scissors or pinking shears. Then, using a dark marker add three dots to represent eyes and a nose just like candy peeps have. 

Using hot glue, string your bunnies onto ribbon by their ears. Hang your garland and enjoy!

If you'd like to get all fancy, your can sew and stuff your peeps like Dana did here. Super cute!

I'm All Ready for the Easter Bunny

 Easter is early this year, so I pulled out my bin of fun Spring Easter decor and got my house Easter Bunny ready! I decided to do things a little different this year and I set up just a couple of displays. I typically place one or two Easter items among my already decorated shelves and bookcases; however, this year, I cleared two spaces and gave them a big Easter focus.

One of those cleared areas is my antique dresser that I recently moved into the living room. I took the large ivy away and filled the top with my bunny collection and paper mache carrots.

 

On the bar in my kitchen, I printed out my favorite printable from this post, and framed it with a basket and paper mache eggs from here.

The only addition to my mantle is my He Is Risen banner that I made two years ago. 

Finally, I decided to go a little crazy in my formal dining room. I pulled out a  Spring-like table runner and then began arranging all of the fun bright cheery Easter buckets I have collected over the years.

Once I had an arrangement I liked, I filled them all with bright Easter grass and lots and lots of Easter eggs!

I added in a few of my favorite little Easter people and I had a display that just makes me smile!

In total, I spent $6 on my decorations this year! I just needed more grass and eggs.

Stay tuned for a fun Peeps inspired craft next week!

Oh, and don't forget to decorate your front door! Here is an easy Easter wreath from last year. Mine is on the front door and looks so fun!

Fun Easter Printables

There are a wealth of cute and spiritual printables online for the upcoming Easter holiday. I grabbed a few of my favorites here for you. The blog name is below and links you to their site to download the picture. 

A Little Tipsy

This one is my personal favorite! 

Madigan Made

5thirteen designs

Gewoon Marieke

Hopscotch Studio Designs

A Night Owl

Marshmallows

Happy Easter!

Abby and I made Resurrection Rolls on Saturday morning to bring home- He is Risen! She totally grasped the concept and even told her Daddy all about it when he awoke; however, when it was time to eat and she opened up the "tomb", in all seriousness she said, "but I wanted marshmallows". I love the mind of a child!

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay- Matthew 28:6

Easter Carrots for the Little Ones

Abby Lu and I made a fun kid-friendly craft this morning for her classmates at MDO tomorrow. They are celebrating Easter and I am always looking for non-candy treats to share with her little friends. I originally saw this idea on Pinterest.

You need a big carton of Goldfish, clear cone shaped bags (Hobby Lobby cake section), rubber bands, and green ribbon. Make sure you get the orange cheddar Goldfish.

Easy Easter Wreaths

My Bible Life group holds craft nights every now and again and I hosted this past Friday night. Can you tell what we were making? EASTER WREATHS! Last year we made a "He Is Risen" garland for our fireplaces. I love crafting and it is even more fun with friends and dessert!

 I made a big batch of my favorite Orange Cookies. These are so buttery and addictive! I've made them twice and both times people have asked, what is in these? It isn't overpowering orange, but just enough!

I also looked around on Pinterest for a really rich chocolate dessert. These Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownies are AH-MAZING! They are best the second day and served cold. It is like fudge!

After eating brownies like this, I think these napkins are oh so appropriate!

Onto the wreaths, most of us made the plastic egg and grass wreath seen here. You simple glue eggs all over a wreath form and then plug in Easter grass in the visible holes between the eggs. Super simple, quick, and cheap!

We also had girls make the peeps wreath seen here. We all loved this wreath, but seriously questioned the shelf life of it. Between ants, the sun, and kids we weren't sure how long it would last!

I love the color combination of these eggs. And, the lillies are a great touch!

Here is my wreath- I was the only girl that opted for the super bright Easter eggs. I am just not a pastel girl :) You can see I used small and large eggs and tried to be random.

The finished wreath on the front door! The grass makes the spacing of the eggs very forgiving! I love the way it turned out!

I added a lime green bow at the bottom and lots of grass. I have a really hairy wreath, but hopefully not a hairy front porch! hehe!

Happy Crafting!

Favorite Easter Pins

Can you believe Easter is less than a month away? Wow! I love Easter and springtime and have loved finding Easter crafts, decoration, and tips on Pinterest. Here are a few of my latest Easter pins:

Did you know that you can use a whisk to help kids dye eggs? So smart- this will be my first year to dye eggs with Abby Lu and I know this will save us some frustration.

via Toddler Boredom Busters

 How cute are these jelly bean bracelets? The pinterest link is broken, but I am assuming they are made with a needle and thread poking a small hole through each jelly bean and then the thread is tied off at the end. I love the many color combinations. This would be great for an Easter themed party.

How cute are these "carrots"? I plan to make these for my daughters MDO friends next month. She loves Goldfish so I'm certain she'll have fun handing them out. The paper looks like the simple clear cones sold at Hobby Lobby in the cake/cookie/candy making aisle. 

via Loralee Lewis

This would make the most beautiful tablescape. I love the colors!

via Be Different Act Normal

 I bought everything I need at Hobby Lobby to make this exact wreath last week. I love the simplicity of it and all of the supplies including more hot glue sticks was less than $20.

via Mom & Wife

 As a Christian, I can not decorate for Easter with just bunnies and eggs. I don't want to forget that this holiday is about He who gives life and gives it in abundance.

Free Printable Here

I am decorating for Easter this week and will share my collection of bunnies with you soon! Happy Pinning!