I mixed up a yellow box cake mix as per the box instructions.

I had rolled ready made cookie dough and put them into the freezer in advance. Divided the mix into cupcake liners (24) and dropped a cookie dough ball into each one , pressing down lightly.

Baked for 25 minutes.

Made a brown butter buttercream ( sorry no recipe amounts) but powdered sugar, brown sugar , tablespoon milk, stick of butter and  a dash of vanilla. Mix until thick.

Topped with chocolate sprinkles.

There goes the diet ……..AGAIN !

I have a little girl who I am trying to  raise with a sense of self-worth and respect for herself,  not dependent on the way she looks.  (She is a very pretty blue-eyed blonde but that’s not the point.)

As an avid fan of Pinterest, I came across the idea of repainting the face of some of her dollies.

I ended up going to the thrift store and buying $.99 Bratz dolls. These are over made up sexy looking dollies.  Think of shorter Barbie with too much make up .

I found this lady in Australia who repaints her dolls and sells them.  Her dollies are repainted with a natural look and she even knits little sweaters for them !

I give this a go myself and my  little dolly didn’t come out as natural as I’d hoped , but I’m happy with the effect.

I used acetone and a cotton ball to remove the factory make up then wiped it clean with warm water and  dish soap.  I used acrylic paint from my craft stock and a very fine paintbrush.  I’m not going to lie, the eyes took me about 10 attempts !  And even then I still feel they are too big.

Just a side note, if you choose to buy these type of dollies they often come without feet.  Their shoes are also their feet so if you remove the shoes , the feet are gone  I’m trolling craigslist for feet! Haha

I will keep trying to make them look more natural but  a LITTLE make up never hurts !  I’m also going to give them birthmarks freckles and scars !

Keeping it real, dolly style ❤️

I bought this drinks dispenser for $8 at my favorite local thrift store.

Instead of filling it with alcohol , I decided to use it for flavored syrups. We like to use these for coffee, hot chocolate , and the froo froo cocktails we enjoy.

We bought a new to us, 34 foot class A , Winnebago RV a few weeks ago and are making it our own through little modifications here and there.

One of the projects was to go to the AAA office and get a map of the USA.

I cut it to the size of the table, dampened the table , and a thin coating of mod podge next. Placed the map carefully on top and used a damp sponge to apply a couple more coats ( allowing to dry in between). It just needs a top coat of polyurethane and it’ll be visually pleasing as well as durable.

I was putting the littlest into her car seat today and a man behind me yelled out , “have a blessed day Ma’am ” and I was a little startled because I didn’t know him and because I’m wary of strangers around the kids. It only took a moment to get over that and I smiled and wished him “thank you, same to you”

Driving home I began thinking about my faith and beliefs. I was brought up going to a Protestant Church of Scotland and the minister was to be revered and feared. Church playgroup was fun , but sitting inside the main old musty church,  wriggling in an uncomfortable dress , trying to be quiet for the longest hour of my week was unbearable. Even the hymns were boring and bland to me. In actuality looking back , they are pretty words just with music that doesn’t appeal to me. Now if it had been gospel and happy , clappy…..or disco, yes a flashing mirrored ball above the minister, and him busting a move like John Travolta ( see that’s where my head went during services)

Old ladies with big hats and purses with peppermints, lace hankie and their collection money in a little brown envelope stared at me , daring me to move again.

I haven’t attended church since I was about 18 years old , even being asked to leave my joined church by my minister for non attendance ( and in turn , non contributions).

Throughout my adult life I have drifted in and out of my faith,  but continued to believe there is a higher entity looking over me. At least I hope there is.

I took a job at a local SDA hospital and they expected me to pray with the patients.  I don’t know how to say a prayer out loud as that wasn’t our way ,so I asked in orientation about this and the answer was “Google one”! Really, wow. So I did.

When I had surgery in that very same hospital last year they asked pre anesthesia if I’d like a prayer said for me  I waited for my google prayer but what I got was heartfelt , sincere words of love and warmth. Last thing I heard before the dizzying gases entered me.

I am a little envious of those with strong faith who attend church as they have their community and circle but I’m happier staying home and believing in my own way. I am of the mind that you don’t have to attend church to believe in your God and worship

When asked if I follow a religion, my answer is that we follow Christian values, after all,  it’s just about being a good person and kind to others, right? Treat others as you would have them treat you.

There was a comedian on tv years ago whose sign off was “may your God bless you and keep you safe” . That makes perfect sense to me, opening your heart to all religions.

Dont stop believing! Journey would be disappointed.

I used the ingredients above, mixed them all together, oiled and floured a loaf pan. Baked for an hour at 350 degrees.

You could add nuts or chocolate chips if you’d like.

I used a spice cake but most cake mixes would be okay to use , maybe not angel cake though , or sad as I have to say, not lemon

Easy peasy banana bread!

It’s meant to be a gag gift , I don’t get why! Haha.

To go with the boots I updated, I bought a hat from the dollar store  I carefully removed the ribbon embellishment ( it was $1.50 so not the greatest quality).

I added some bling I had from my craft cupboard and painted a button , also from my stash , with nail polish! Instant fake turquoise.

Hot glued it all together and tadah, I’m a rhinestone cowboy! 

We are going to a country  music concert in Las Vegas and I just LOVE a theme. I will be there in my cowboy hat, boots and a Tshirt blinged out with the bands name on it ( or something sillier like ‘tequila makes her clothes fall off’ ) That’s the name of a song,not what happened to ‘my friend’ when she gets inebriated. 😜 but what happens in Vegas…

I looked online and cowboy boots are pricey , and I’ll only wear them once. Anyhow,  I didnt have the afore mentioned boots , that is until a trip to one of my favorite thrift stores today. There they were up high on a shelf, couldn’t be my size , could they? They fit beautifully, YEEHAW! $10 , even better. Sold to the Scottish cowgirl

Problem was they were blah brown  I wanted the pretty ones with turquoise stitching I saw online ($100 plus shipping)

My craftiness and frugal side kicked in and two minutes later, turquoise paint and a paintbrush were in hand and off I went!

I am very pleased with the effect and as we say in Scotland ‘ a blind man running past wouldn’t know the difference ‘

I just hope it doesn’t rain and I’m left with blah brown boots again in a turquoise paint puddle!