DIY Dome Polish Ring

I received my Julep December box on the 1st and in the box was a DIY ring. Sadly, my ring was broken so I emailed them and they sent me a replacement! I was not very excited about the ring when they posted about it on facebook but after seeing a few done rings being posted  I really wanted to make one!

My DIY ring!

 I got the tiniest little Julep box today.

 Inside was my new ring!

 The before and after.

 For the look of my ring I taped up the bottom with striping tape.

 Using these lovely colors I painted the back over the tape.

You can use acrylic paint also.

 Let it dry.

When dry carefully tape off the tape. Because the back is so smooth you have to be careful to not pull off the polish with the tape. To help prevent that from happening try taking the tape off starting with the last tape you put on and go backwards. Also, like a band-aid you should take it off fast.

 After all the tape is off apply a coat or two of your next polish.

 Let it dry. 

Once completely dry place the dome button in the ring base and crimp the sides.

 I plan of maybe changing the background of my ring later so I didn't crimp all the sides down, I didn't want them getting weak and breaking over time.

Done and done, enjoy your ring!

I don't believe Julep is selling these, I think it was just a Julep Maven gift for the holidays but you can find ring bases & the button flat back domes on etsy and I'm sure crafts store.  

Join Julep for your intro box here and use coupon code PENNY to get the first box for only a penny!
It is a monthly box but it can be skipped if you do not wish to have a box for that month and also can just be canceled at any time needed.

Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

 

 Doggie Treats!

 I recently adopted this crazy 8 year old pug, Sid.

 We are claiming it a retirement for him and what retirement doesn't have snacks and treats?!

2½ cups whole wheat flour
2 eggs
½ honey oats

 ½ skim milk
2 tablespoons peanut butter
½ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a stand mixer, mix together the flour, eggs, milk, peanut butter, salt, and oats.
Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff.
Roll the dough into a ½-inch-thick roll. Cut into ½-inch pieces.
Bake in preheated oven until hard, about 30 minutes.

I like to flip the biscuits over after the first 15 minutes.
 

Thanks for stopping by!

Creamy Raspberry Marshmallow Filled Chocolates!

While playing with my new mixer I decided I wanted to try making chocolates. I have made candies before but never filled or covered chocolates. I bought a mold & a big brick of chocolate for coating and chocolates. I had a jar of fluff and assumed that was fine for practice chocolates.

I kinda just tossed some things together in the mixer with a raspberry cheesecake in mind and it came out pretty well! The roommate and fiance seemed pretty happy with it :)
For the filling:
1.5 tablespoon cream cheese
2 tablespoon marshmallow fluff
.5 teaspoon raspberry extract

Whip everything together for a few minutes and pour/spoon the mix in your chocolate molds after you've filled it with your melted chocolate.

 I will try to keep all on the filling in the cups next time :)
Leave some room in the cup for chocolate to seal the candies and pour chocolate on top... or bottom, whatever you want to call it.

Set in a cool area to harden or put the in the freezer for a minute.
Pop them out of the mold and done!
I need a little more practice covering/sealing the chocolates as you can see but other then that I am happy with how they turned out and I am very happy with the cream filling.

Thanks for viewing, hope you enjoy!

When you can't decide on what to make, make it all!

 As I posted here, my lovely Rob got me a mixer for Christmas, after spending way too much on different ingredients & tools to make goodies I started mixing... and I couldn't stop!

 This bad boy is going to be the death of my wallet and make everyone around gain a few pounds!

This is just one small haul... That Sur La Table bag has goodies for making chocolates and breads!

 I started with peanut butter oat biscuits for my pup.
View how to make these treats here.

Then a few honey fish biscuits for my kitties.

 I made creamy raspberry marshmallow filled chocolates for myself!
You can see how to make these here.

 They aren't the prettiest but it was my first time making chocolates. They are so good so who really cares what they look like anyway!

 Lastly, I made some garlic bread for me babe and he loved it!

 This is just the beinging of whats to come. I have more bread rising, mints candies will be made later tonight, cookies, cookies, and more cookies!

Christmas came early and I got a mixer!

My lovely fiance and I are going to Chicago for the holidays to spend time with his family. We decided to do our gift giving early so we don't have to wait till after the New Year or have to bring our gifts to and from California just to open them there. I already knew what he was getting me because he is not very good at hinting around asking me, especially since I was in the room with him while he was on Target's site and he asked me what color mixer I'd like and then pulled out his wallet. Anyway, he got me this awesome KitchenAid Artisan 5-qt. Stand Green Apple Mixer for Christmas!

I was so excited that I looked at up a million recipes and couldn't decide on anything so we went to the store to get goodie to make things! Since it is now too late to start anything I just have everything set up so I can get started right after my morning walk with the pup! 

Rob has asked for Italian bread and Sid wants peanut butter dog biscuits.

I will be making raspberry vanilla marshmallow filled chocolates for myself!

Now to get some sleep so I can get up and get this party started!

December Julep Maven Box & I'm A Golden Box Winner!

I became a Maven only a couple months ago. I heard that they gave a few people every month a golden box with either the monthly collection or a big seller but seeing how I have only 2 monthly boxes under my belt I did not think I'd be seeing a golden box at my front door anytime soon. I received an extra tracking number with my monthly box but since I placed an order after my December Box I thought that thing were just shipped apart but boy was I wrong!

I felt like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opening the bigger box and seeing a golden ribbon wrapped around a white box. I opened the box and saw that I was a lucky Maven!

I won the This limited-edition white lacquer jewelry box that includes a twelve polish set of toxin-free Julep nail colors hand-picked by Oprah herself (Oprah is really into pink it seems!) and a lovely green yarn wishbone bracelet.

The goodie boxes that came to my door, I always keep the boxes. They are very handing when you need to ship something, just the right size for most things I need to ship this Christmas too!

The December Box goodies.

 I went with American Beauty instead of my Classic with a Twist box and I am truth be told regretting it. I liked the look of Patti (the black polish) when I picked the box but once I got it and have it a try I am just not digging it. It may just be the wrong time of the year for it too though, I have Christmas on the mind and it just does not fit. This box also came with a freebie DIY ring for a holiday gift from Julep but sadly mine was broken when I opened the box. Julep will be sending me a replacement shortly though!
 *update* I got my ring, see what I did with it here! *update*

Julia oddly is my favorite from this box, I did not think I was going to like but I really do. I think this color is going to be great for New Years with my add-on Vivien.

Patti, Patti, Patti... oh Patti. I want to like you but you make it so hard to, you are just not a lovely polish.

The foot scrub is awesome, I had my fiance use it and he loves it too. I think he likes it more then me :)

The bracelet that with golden box. I almost bough this for myself on Black Friday but did not, I thought it was pretty neat that it came with the box. As you can see the colors match my engagement ring perfectly! From what I saw I was the only one that got green, looks like the other winners got purple.

The box is really awesome too, it is great as a jewelry box.

I have a tall standing jewelry box but this will be nice to have by my bed for my favorite pieces.

After that Patti business I needed something girly, soft and wintery... also needed to play with some of those colors from that lovely box! I applied Carrie as my base color, Audrey went just before my top cost.

I was thinking kinda a pink winter night so I used Amy as my sky and Susie as my snow.

Amy on top and Susie on sponge, after my base coat was dry I rolled it over my nails from side to side.

Audrey went one top to give it some shimmer and then I applied my top coat.

Clean up your nails and you are done!

Get the Favorite Things 2012 Nail Color Jewelry Box for half off!
Promo Code OPRAH
Regular Price: $168.00
$84 with code!
Join for you intro box here and use coupon code PENNY to get the first box for only a penny!
It is a monthly box but it can be skipped if you do not wish to have a box for that month and also can just be canceled at any time needed. For a chance at winning a golden box a monthly box is need to be bought, you are entered when you buy and the winners seem to be completely random.

Thanks for stopping by!
Feel free to leave a comment, I like em!

Holiday Treats

A few simple treats for the holidays.

Strawberry Santas!
Whip cream, strawberries, kiwi seeds and some powder sugar for snow is all you need to make these cute little Santa!

You can also add some hats to sugar cookies!

Peppermint Oreo Lollipops!
Peppermint (or cool mint) Oreo cookies, package vanilla CandiQuik coating & lollipop sticks is need to make this cute treat!
See step by step on these pops here!

Holiday Tree Brownie!

Grab a box of brownie mix, a tube of green frosting, some candies for lights and a peppermint stick for these little trees!

Rice Krispie Treat Christmas Lights!

Rice Krispie Treats, food coloring, tootsie rolls or chocolates and string up your lights with

a little help from some Twizzlers!
See more on these lights here! 

Happy Holidays! 
Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to leave a comment, I like em! 

Nail Polish by Elaine

I have been pondering pondering thoughts about making my own polish for a while now and recently decided to give it a go.
This is what I've come up with, let me know what you think!

My new colors are
 
Elaine's 3 Free Dark Night Custom Polish

Elaine's 3 Free Golden Honey Custom Fine Glitter Polish

Elaine's 3 Free Dart Green and Black Custom Fine Glitter Polish

Elaine's 3 Free A Shade Of Grey Silver Custom Glitter Polish

Elaine's 3 Free Lovely Lavender Purple Custom Fine Glitter Polish

Elaine's 3 Free Silver & Gold Green Custom Fine Glitter Polish

Elaine's 3 Free Princess' Pick Pink Custom Fine Glitter Polish

My base is "3 Free" which means it does not contain the Toxic Trio of chemicals: Toluene, Formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate.

 Try making your own custom color,

See how here!

Check out my new striping tape colors!

Thanks for stopping by.

Leave a comment, I like em!