Father's Day gift-pinned

Well, it might be a day late, but I successfully completed a Pinterest project for Sean. He has a bazillion tickets that he'll have to go through and maybe just put the important ones in here. He's been saving them since we started hanging out, I kid you not.

This was so simple that I want to do one each for Abby and Aidan for their hospital newborn stuff...hat, bracelet, etc.

I got a shadowbox frame, sheet of scrapbook paper, and I had the sticky letters. I cut the paper to the sizes I wanted and then used spray adhesive to stick it all on the back inside of the frame. The one piece of paper that doesn't have the sheen to it is just the reverse of the shiny paper. So simple.

{ticket shadowbox}

My thoughts on life right now:

One pinterest project down, a hundred to go! :)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

{delicious}

Recipe:

Ingredients:
1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
15 oz. pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
12-16 oz chocolate chips

1. Cream butter & sugar with mixer.
2. Add egg, pumpkin, and vanilla. Mix well.
3. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, & nutmeg in separate bowl. 
4. Slowly add to pumpkin mixture. 
5. Fold in chocolate chips
6. Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet 
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes. Makes 2-4 dozen depending on size of spoonfuls.

**I used rounded tablespoons to scoop and put it onto parchment paper lined cookie sheets. I probably could have left mine in for 20 minutes, but only because I like a little crunch to my cookies and these were soft all around. They were delicious and a perfect Fall cookie, and pumpkin is high in fiber so it made me feel less guilty about the 2 5 cookies I indulged in had to taste test. I also had to put my batter in the fridge for a little while due to Abby needing me and Aidan needing a nap. They turned out pretty darn good though and I probably could eat all of them on my own.**  

My thoughts on life right now:
There used to be a time when it didn't take 4 hours to make one batch of cookies, but this time is much better because now I have a helper in my kitchen. 

Today's Afternoon Project

Before Christmas I had all intentions of making Aidan his very own Phillies blanket. I bought two yards of coordinating fleece, fairly good fabric scissors, and was ready to DIY a gift for one of the biggest little Phillies fans. Unfortunately, time got the best of me and I never got around to making it. Now that we're trying to clean up the bedrooms and eliminate things that are in the way to make room for baby, that bag of fleece finally needed to be taken care of. No longer could it be moved from steps, to room, to another room. It was time to get to business. So today after a trip to the pool, and while little man napped, this is what I did: 

{3/4 sides have fringe cut, no knots yet}

I started by laying both pieces of felt with the "good" sides out. Then I cut 5" (later turned 7") squares from each corner. I cut my fringe around 1.5" apart by cutting perpendicularly through both layers along one edge of the blanket, stopping at 5" in (later turned 7" to make tying a little simpler since my fleece didn't have the stretch that I expected it to) and then worked my way around the perimeter of the blanket. Once all four sides were cut, I tied the two layers together making a loop around my finger, then pulling the ends of both fringes through the loop. You could also take the quicker, easier way out by tying the top piece to the bottom piece, and double knotting it, but this way isn't quite as neat and uniform. Finally, once all of the knots are done and your fingers are completely exhausted and in need of a hand massage, gently tug on all sides and the corners to get some of the bunches from knotting out. No worry if you hear teensy ripping noises. It's simple, cheap (especially if you have a 40% off coupon to Joann's or another fabric store), and pretty foolproof. Took me less than two hours to make including the stoppage for checking my phone and a quick snack.

{Aidan found it quite comfy}

My thoughts on life right now:

If only I could be this productive every afternoon...my house would be spotless and the nursery might be done! {okay, so I have to wait for the floor to come in and be installed, but once that's done it's productivity central}

Another project I may try, in coordinating colors to the PBK Penelope, of course: baby mobile