pinkcherrymama

{christmas baking}

well, i managed to get some baking and candy made... late as always, but i did it (with the help of little buddy and b! here are the recipes for 3 of our favorites :)

 

{double chocolate cookies}

slightly adapted from martha stewarts cookie book

makes 9 dozen!

3 cups flour

1 1/2 cups unsweetened dutch-process cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 pounds semi-sweet chocolate morsels

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter

4 1/2 cups granulated sugar

6 large eggs

5 teaspoons pure vanilla (i LOVE vanilla)

1. Preheat oven to 325˚. Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baing soda and salt to combine. melt chocolate and butter in a glass or metal bowl over a pan of simmering water. transfer to a seperate bowl and add granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla. beat with an electric mixer on medium until combined. slowly add in flour mixture on low speed.

 

2. using a 1 1/2" scoop, place balls of dough on parchment lined baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. bake until cookies are flat and surface begins to crack (about 15 minutes).

we also always make a huge  batch of fudge for the holidays...

 

{chocolate fudge}

adapted from a hershey's fudge recipe i found in a magazine

this recipe makes a TON of fudge so beware!

8 tblsp. butter

2 2/3 cups evaporated milk

16 oz. mini marshmallows

7 cups chocolate chips

(i substitute peanut butter chips, mint chocolate chips, butterscotch and milk chocolate for different variations)

6 cups sugar

1 tsp. salt

6 tsp. vanilla

*2 cups chopped nuts optional

combine butter, evaporated milk, sugar and salt in a heavy saucepan. bring to boil over meduim heat, stirring constantly. boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. remove from heat.

stir in marshmallows, chips and vanilla. stir until marshmallows are melted. pour into foil lined 12x12 square or 13x9 pan.

*sprinkle colored sugars, nuts, crushed candies, etc.

 

 and lastly...Christmas would not be Christmas without grama rosie's mexican sugar cookies. this recipe was passed down to my mother from either my grandmother lidia or my aunt d. she is having trouble remembering who!

 

 

i really hope you will have time to try one of these recipes for Christmas Eve!

in the midst of having a shoulder injury, baking and wrapping presents, i am also finishing up a bunch of crochet projects for gifts...

i still have 3 more to finish by tonight! better get hooking, huh?

have a wonderful day!

~r

{charity event}

a few weeks back, i was asked by THE PARTY GODDESS, to donate some items for a fundraiser being held by leona lewis for hopefield animal sanctuary in the UK.

with only about 24 hours notice, i went into a mad dash, along with my mother and 2 daughters, to get almost 400 pieces finished for the event!

{cupcake toppers, drink swizzles}

unfortunately, after all that hard work, the post office didn't get my "express overnight guaranteed" package to the party goddess in time for the event....

BIG. HUGE. BUMMER.

even though it did not work out, i was reminded how my mom and my daughters could step up when i need them and without any hesitation or complaining :)

apparently, the charity event for the animal santuary went over well, and, while my items didn't get used for the purpose originally intended, i am told, they were used for charity, which makes me happy!

here are some of the things i have been making for the holidays, but have not had a chance to list in my shop for this season :(

{paper carnival straws}

i am going to take the day off {insert rolling of eyes and sarcastic huff here} to make fudge and cookies while i nurse my baby boy back to health and finish up gifts that i started adn more than likely will not be able to finish!

have a wonderful day!

~roberta

{a year to the day} day 2

so last night i left off in august, when i took my daughter on a "secret" trip to disneyland...

{fuji instax is my new favorite toy}

ok, so i skipped a HUGE part of my year...

while we were in L.A. for the first audition, my truck broke down in hollywood...at 8pm...we were stranded, so we took a cab to "roscoes chicken and waffles" at 11pm....

waited until 1:30am for my lifesaver, katie to pick us up after she got done with work and finally got to sleep at around 2:30am!!! i ended up having to have my truck towed to burbank and had to stay for 3 more days than planned....AND spent $1,300 to fix the dang truck! ugh!!! anywho.. it tured out to be a great week, we saw friends and family and spent time together roaming the streets of hollywood...super fun! we met melanie and ricky from SYTYCD at the grove too!

little buddy started kindergarten in september

 

 

September

we took a LONG road trip to arizona to see my father in law...it was soooo hot! we played in the colorado river to keep cool and i saw a big horn sheep...

 

November

we went back to disneyland for my other baby's 17th birthday!

December

my oldest just got back from another disney audition for disney paris....she made it to the final part of the audition as was the last one cut :( she was so excited to have made it that far this time and it is yet more experience for the next time!

in june, we did go to camp with our church's youth ministry for the 3rd year, which is always fun and always exhausting! we also went to the ocean a few times..of course...  it has been a wonderful, horrible, exhausting, blessed, crazy year and i am so thankful for what we have and WHO we have in our lives! 

and that sums it up for the really exciting parts of 2011 so far! i'm sure i have skipped over a bunch but a year is a lot to fit into 2 days worth of blog!

 

tomorrow... i start back with simple posts and hopefully lots of good ideas and inspiration. i'll post some of the new things i have been working on for my etsy shop as well

 

have a wonderful friday night!

~r

{a year to the day...}

yes, it has been 1 year, to the day, since my last post....

so for anyone out there in blogland... friends, family or the occasional happened-by-accident visitor... i am happy to say, I AM STILL ALIVE! i am so embarrassed for having neglected my blog... i have made it through some major bumps in the road this year and i am  finally ready to come back to blogging. i have missed sharing creative things, ideas and experiences of everyday life so much. just as i was starting to get the hang of it, i gave up. BUT, like i said, i am ready and excited to be back and share what i have been up to and some of the little things that make me happy - or, sometimes, not so happy - in life.

SO much has happened this past year! so for today and tomorrow, i'm going to try to sum it up as short and sweet as possible...

late december 2010:

new additions to our family! louie dog...

and shelby girl...but i can't seem to find any photos of her :(

february 2011:

another day in s.f. nothing really different than any other day...BUT this time, my girls decided to try a new way of taking photos...hang mom's iphone out the window and snap... i LOVED how they came out!

{by the way, HIPSTAMATIC is my MOST FAVORITE APP EVER!}

my oldest decided to compete in dance this year and her team did awesome! i have to admit, i am glad it is over though...lots of travel and fun, but very expensive...

{she's the one on the left}

little buddy began his obsession with boba fete {spelling?} and has not gotten over it yet...

 

March 2011

little buddy turned 5 and had his first trip to disneyland...that he actully remembers!

"sissy b" got a chance to do some modeling for a very good, VERY talented friend of mine... he makes the most wonderful metal art. he lives in a beautiful old mansion in the middle of alfalfa fields where the photo shoot took place...she was a trooper! she stayed in the kimono for 4 hours without a potty break! there were about 5 or 6 layers to the costume and it took about an hour and a half to get dressed. if you have a chance, please check out his work HERE 

little buddy also started playing t-ball this year... what an experience that was (for both parent and child)!

april 2011

grama and grampa had their 50th wedding anniversary! we had to rent a tent last minute because it started to sprinkle. it was FREEZING, but it turned out great...even having to pack everyone into the tent.

(i made an almost exact replica of their original wedding cake and restored their cake top...)

 

June 2011

My baby girl (oldest child really) graduated! oh my goodness, this was a big one for me this year...

AND....she turned 18!

...so we had a carnival :)

August 2011

AND THEN... she went to her very first dance audition at THE EDGE in hollywood. she ddn't get into their dance program, but it was an awesome experience...

the following week, we were back in L.A. for another audition, this time for disney... another no, but no regrets for the experience! i decided to take my baby girl for a "secret" trip to disneyland while we were in socal. it was such a blast...i haven't ever really spent time with her alone since she was a baby...

{photos to come tomorrow :)}

i really want to finish up telling about my year and feeling like i have a new start :) i am exhausted for now, but i will finish up tomorrow.

So for now, i am going to say good night.... sleep well and "see" you tomorrow!

~r

Wrapping, wrapping, wrapping!!!!!

Wrapping presents is always more fun with the beautiful mountains to look at! I am so blessed! Having a very badly needed day off from filling orders and getting lots of Christmas stuff done! I LOVE LOVE LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!
TOMORROW: I will be sharing some of my favorite recipes for christmas goodies :)

I have lots of new Christmas stuff on my etsy site so check it out for some inspiration.

Have a blessed day!
~r

{this weeks giveaway}

 

GOOD MORNING!

this weeks giveaway is...

{set of 8 thanksgiving place cards}

you can also find these in my etsy shop ;)

TO ENTER: leave a comment telling about a thanksgiving tradition you have...tell a friend too! remember, the giveaways will get better, the more people that enter :)

this week will be a bit different...the winner will be chosen once i receive at least 10 comments. i will also be posting some yummy recipes and traditions of my own when i announce the giveaway winner.

anyone who lives in the reno/tahoe area, please come by and visit me at the VALHALLA HOLIDAY FAIRE  on november 20-21 at the talc historic site in south lake tahoe {near camp richardson}.

before i go...

as i look out my window at the snow capped mountains and the green, yellow and orange colors of the valley i am so blessed to live in, i can't help but thank God for his many blessings and for the beautiful world He has created for us. although i try to celebrate thanksgiving everyday,{and don't always do a very good job of it} there is something so special about this time of year. the crisp, cold mornings, the changing scenery and the sudden need to bake and cook comfort foods for everyone i know, make this time of year like no other...

enjoy your weekend and remember to give thanks...always.

~r 

{giveaway winner and new things on etsy}

SUSIE!

YOU ARE THE WINNER!

since i obviously did not get this posted in time...{technical difficulties with my BRAIN!} i will send you a set of 8 personalized thanksgiving place cards instead :)

i will be posting another thanksgiving giveaway on friday so tell your friends and come back to enter!

here's what i have been working on...

alice in wonderland invitations

personalized tea or mulling spice bags

these are both available in the shop

and that's that...for now. mr. migraine has decided to visit so i will have to cut this post short. but please come back on friday for the giveaway :)

good night!

~r

{giveaway, spooky bodie and a little venting!}

{giveaway}

to enter, please leave a comment on this post (not on Facebook) telling me the name of your favorite halloween candy.

i will choose a winner on monday this week since i am late

AND

i skipped last week :)

~ set of 10 treat bags ~

you can see them here in my etsy shop

 

{photos from a recent trip to bodie, ca. great place to take spooky photos!}

all thats left of the bank...

what i found in the schoolhouse window...

little buddy liked the sage grouse the best...

 

if you live in the area, a day-trip to bodie is definitely worth it, BUT watch out for ranger rick! he is a little grumpy :)

{and now for the venting...}

so, i know that purely by putting things on the internet, or offering them for sale, period, i am risking the chance of having my designs/ items/ ideas/ etc., copied. that being said, i had NO IDEA how blatant people could or would be about copying!

here's the deal. last night, after a look at a certain etsy shop from the UK,  {which shall remain un-named}, i came upon many items which bore an uncanny resemblance to many of my own items. while i can't really complain about the images used on the items, {it seems alice in wonderland is VERY popular these days ;)} which are not protected under copyright, what i do have a problem with is the way in which they are being used... i have worked very hard to come up with new, original designs and ways to use images that are flooding the market at the moment. when someone takes that hard work, copies it, then proceeds to pass it off as their own, it is very frustrating!

i have thought about contacting this person and confronting them with the facts, but i have decided it may only make matters worse.i will let it be, for now, and hope that this persons conscience will be enough to make them stop. if not, i know that all things happen for a reason and i will just keep working on ideas and designs, doing business honestly and with the best customer service i can give. i know that God will continue to bless my business. i know that, ultimately, i can't stop anyone from copying designs or ideas. what i can do, is continue to conduct business in a way that glorifies God with honesty, integrity and respect.

if any of you have any advice or want to share how you have responded to a similar situation, please feel free to leave comments!

have a WONDERFUL weekend and see you on monday :)

~r

FRIDAY GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS KIMBERLY!!!

please email me your address and i will get your spider web tags out to you ASAP!

this week's giveaway...

**set of 10 treat bags with tags**

if i get 10 or more entries this week, i will choose 2 winners!

i will post the question on thursday and pick a winner from the answers on saturday...i may be a little late posting the winner ;)

 have a great monday!

~r

FRIDAY GIVEAWAY!!!!

changed my mind...this week will be a set of 5 spider tags with rhinestones...

to enter, leave a comment telling me about your favorite halloween memory.

the more comments i get, the better the giveaways will be, so tell a friend! i hope to have a BIG giveaway  by Christmas :)

i will have new items to show you tomorrow, but haven't been able to get the photos done yet...busy, busy, busy! you can always find more in my etsy shop!

have a wonderful evening and come see me saturday morning for the winner!

nighty, night!

~r