Big Batch of Caramel Rolls

Here is a yummy recipe for a Big Batch of Caramel Rolls. The recipe was given to me by my mom. Enjoy...

2 loaves frozen bread dough, thawed
1 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 [heaping] tsp Cinnamon
2 Tbs Corn Syrup

In sauce pan over medium heat melt butter

then stir in sugar, cinnamon, and corn syrup...just until blended. Cut 1 loaf into small pieces [each loaf about 30-40 pieces] and place in the bottom of a greased 9x13 cake pan.

Pour half of the caramel mixture over the top. Cut the second loaf and scatter over the top of the caramel mixture/first loaf. Pour the remainder of the mixture over the top.

Cover and let rise until double in size [I usually do all this in the evening and then put it in the refrigerator. In the morning, take it out an hour or two before you are going to bake it]. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. When you take it out of the oven, let it set in pan abut 5 minutes then invert it on waxed paper or foil and serve warm.

**Couple side notes: The first time I made this I accidentally put in 1 HEAPING Tablespoon of Cinnamon instead of Teaspoon and my husband prefers it that way now. However it doesn't get as "caramelly" it was just more cinnamon. The second time I made it I did a 1/2 TBS and I thought that was perfect!!

Linking Up to...

   

Mini Photo Session Pictures

In my Monday MOPS group they do a Spring fundraiser called Mini Photo Sessions. This year two amazingly talented photographers, Jennie Gaskins and Rachel Nadeau, took mini photo sessions for families, couples or individuals. And this year I talked Josh into doing a session!!

Here are some pictures that Jennie took of us...

Thanks Jennie for the amazing photos! ALSO...if you have not seen the Sand Baby pictures Jennie took of Elijah head over to her blog post, Sand Baby Project!

The Oprah Winfrey Show

Since today is Oprah's last day on The Oprah Winfrey Show, I thought I would share my experience with The Oprah Winfrey Show...yep that's right, I have an experience to share!! Aren't you excited?!?

So it all started in 2005...I started calling the Oprah show trying to get tickets to go and be in the audience for a taping of the show. I had called and called and even sent a few last minute email reservations, never getting through to anyone on the phones and or having anyone email me back about my emails.

Well, that ALL changed on Friday, March 14th at 12:27pm 2008! I was at the Champlin library, so I had to have my phone off...well I put it on vibrate...and felt it go off...so I looked down and had a missed call with a voicemail.

I started to listen to it....and then I heard it..."This message is for Daphne. This is Becky from the Oprah Winfrey show, we received your email..." and my heart started beating so fast, I was shaking, and then I gasped....no way was this really happening! I threw all my stuff in my purse and ran out of the library. I got in my car and played the message again while driving...I listened to the whole message and started screaming!!! I called Josh...no answer, called my mom....no answer, called Kelsey....no answer! I drove to the church and ran into Josh and Dave...I told them and they couldn't believe it either!

I finally gained a little control and called Becky back...no answer, so I left a message and drove home. On they way home she called me back and we worked out all the details...were ready to go for Monday, YES that coming Monday!!

I asked Bert to go with me! We were so excited!

We left Sunday night and drove to Chicago, arriving about 12:45am. We stayed with Bert's aunt. We were wiped out but we were suppose to watch Oprah's Big Give (that was part of the show) so Bert (just newly pregnant) went to bed and I stayed up to watch it. I went to bed around 2:30am...only to wake up about 5am.

We got ready and headed to the studio to arrive a little before 7am, only to find there were about 250 people ahead of us already! So we stood in line and waited...We finally got in  and waited some more. Then it happened...our number was called and we were allowed to enter...and it was so great!!

Oprah was beautiful and walked in right in front of us! Then Simon Cowell came out...who by the way is very funny, and pretty good looking for an older guy! We also got to see Leona (the winner of the British "American" Idol), Carlana (the 3rd to get booted off Oprah's Big Give), The Naked Chef, Jamie Oliver, and Kristie Alley.

We also got to stay and be in the audience for the taping of Kristie Alley's potential new show. We were in the 2nd row for that, so we should be on TV for sure if it airs!! Oh and as we left we received Leona's brand new CD!

After the show we headed back to MN...it was an AMAZING 24 hour trip!!

Now you would think the story would end there...but it doesn't! Nope it sure doesn't...

After my year of waiting, because you do have to wait a year to try for tickets again, I would check Oprah.com every once in a while rarely for tickets. Then they changed the way you get tickets and instead of calling it is all done by email reservations. One night I just happened to look and see there were some tickets and the deadline was that night! So, I thought "why not give it a try." Well the next day there it was...the email from Oprah...telling me I got four tickets!!! (*last time I got only two)

I asked Rawney, Michelle and Kristi to go with me!

Me, Kristi, Michelle, Rawney

We left the day before because we had the chance to see a "sneak preview" of Why Did I Get Married Too? by Tyler Perry (and FREE popcorn and pop...Thanks Oprah).

Us waiting in line for the Sneak Preview

We stayed at a nice hotel and then the next morning had our Dunkin Donuts and off we went to the taping! We waited in line but thankfully not as many people were ahead of us (as were the first time I went). We got in, and thanks to Rawney and I being pregnant we got to sit close to the doors and bathrooms, then we waited...once we got in we enjoyed the show! We saw Oprah, Tyler Perry, and Janet Jackson! We got Janet Jackson's new CD, and some men's body wash!

AND you could see a little bit of me on the show once it aired!!

It was a wonderful girls "weekend" (midweek) away! I mean, no better way to bond then driving to Chicago and back in less than 36 hours!

Well Oprah, you had a good run with some great guests, bad outfits, crazy hair, and many tears...thanks for taking me along!

Disclaimer...I am in no way obsessed with Oprah or believe in everything that she believes in...it was a fun couple experiences and chances of a lifetime that I just couldn't pass up.

5 Joys...2 weeks

Two weeks ago I shared with you about a MOPS speaker, Dienna Goscha, creator of River's Edge curriculum, who challenged us to write down 5 things each day that brought us Joy. Read about that post here: 5 Joys.

Well two weeks have passed and I have written down my 5 joys every single day! I thought I would share a few of my top joys of the past two weeks. (**Picking just 5 was way harder than I thought**)


1. My MOPS table...simply put...they are the best!

2. Surprising my Mom! Kelsey, Elijah and I drove up to Staples on the Tuesday after Mother's Day to surprise her on her day off!!

3. Getting our Mini Photo Session pictures back!! (Here is a sneak peek...more to come in Thursday's post)

Photo taken by: Jennie Gaskins

4. Elijah and I making it to one of Josh's softball games!


5.Elijah's new scrunchy face!!  

What about you... Have you been writing down your joys? Did you make a journal? What have been your top 5 joys in the last two weeks?

SHMILY

I was invited to join an event on Facebook called "S.H.M.I.L.Y for 30 days of prayer." This event is all about prayer...praying for our husbands through the month of June.  And in case you don't know...SHMILY means See How Much I Love You!

via

Check out the event here on Facebook: SHMILY

Here are a little more details...(details found here on Facebook)

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: “The Power of a Praying Wife” by Stormie OMartian.  (You can use the “older” version as well.

WHAT YOU’LL DO: Read a chapter a day, which includes a prayer. (Even if you’ve read this book before, you can just do the prayers and skip the reading… the point is for you to PRAY!)

FYI:  Click the following link to join women all over the world in the 3rd Annual S.H.M.I.L.Y. for 30 days of prayer… (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188071037909718).  To stay updated, join SHMILY Time on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SHMILYtime)!

THE POINT: To get wives praying for their husbands… that’s it! Doesn’t matter what the background, denomination of faith (or lack there of), or current state your life is in… Let’s get those hubbies covered in prayer and stand back and expect great things to happen to them, our marriages, and even ourselves as we petition God on their behalf!

SPECIAL NOTE:  We’ve had not only married women sign up for this event, but also women separated praying for reconciliation, and divorced, widowed and single women wanting to pray for their husband to be!

Please spread the word to others and invite them to join the event!

I am excited to see what God has in story for me and my relationship with Josh on this June Journey. Will you join me on this journey of praying for our husbands?

Fabric Flowers: Tutorial

Today's DIY project...Fabric Flowers!

I first saw how to make two different kinds of Fabric Flowers on Delightful Order and also on Beach House in the City. I attempted to make one of each with a few variations of my own.

Here is the first flower I attempted from the Beach House in the City tutorial. I have to admit, Natalie's turned out way cuter than mine.

I cut some fabric (*Fabric: I used an old denim dress and bought some black cotton fabric in the remnants section) in long strips and then into shorter strips. 

I layered them. hot gluing in between each layer. 

At the end I crinkled up the last piece of fabric and hot glued that on.

Here is my second attempt at a Fabric Flower, this time using Delightful Order's tutorial. I must say I personal like this pattern better. Probably because my first attempt didn't turn out using BH in the City's tutorial. (Well it didn't turn out as cute).

For this flower I cut out "circles" and purposely did not make them perfect circles. I made each circle smaller. 

Then layered each circle, hot gluing them in the middle. The first flower I just laid flat. The second one I kind of crunched up as I hot glued, making it more dimensional. (I like the second one better...with the more dimensional look). At the end I scrunched up a piece of fabric for the center of the flower.

I then hot glued on a "jeweled button" I had laying around the house. I haven't decided what I am putting on the back yet...maybe a pin? Maybe a Hair Clip?

Have you made any Fabric Flowers? What did you use for the back?

Elijah's Top Ten Updates

Remember my last Top Ten Update?! Well, here are the latest Top Ten updates on Elijah...

1. He is crawling everywhere...and FAST!
2. He has pulled himself into the standing position 2-3 times. [The first time was with his babysitter, Kayla].
3. He sits on his own!

4. He loves to make a new scrunchy face [He started doing this at the ISCR Auction last Thursday].

5. He dumps out his books every single morning and LOVES looking at them all!

Photo taken with Camera Phone

6. He has had some finger foods like turkey, chicken, mashed potatoes, and pasta. He loves eating ''real'' food off our plate.
7. He does NOT care for the grass! [Although he is getting better]

8. He tries to give Mocha [our cat] Eskimo kisses!
9. He still only has one tooth...but I think more are coming.

10. He has his 9 month appointment in June!

I WON!!

Did I mention that I won the giveaway over at FTM (here is the post)!? Well I did, and I won two reusable bags (one snack bag and one sandwich bag) from generationMe! They are a beautiful print...I love them!

All Photos from generationMe's etsy's shop

All Photos from generationMe's etsy's shop

Today I am using them to pack lunch for our playdate with some wonderful MOPS women. I'll let you know how they work out! **They worked great!!**

I do have to take a quick minute to tell you about generationMe. It is a company started by Meg, a mom in my MOPS group. She is a mother to four children and an amazing, creative business woman! A few products I love: Large Dirty Bag (even Josh said, "it's a good thing you bought this" as we were filling it with Elijah's dirty clothes on a trip), Wash-Up Towel Washclothes, Swiffer Sweeper Pads, and now the reusable bags. You must check out her Esty site!! You can also check out her Facebook page.

Coffee Filter Wreath

My latest craft/DIY project...

A Coffee Filter Wreath 

I have seen several wreaths done on several different sites and decided to give it a try. Now I am no professional crafter by any means, but I gave it a shot. 

I started with a package of coffee filters and a foam wreath all from the dollar store. 

I also had a hot glue gun, glue sticks and ribbon (all of which I already had).

I attached the ribbon first to the back of the wreath with hot glue. I used brown because I had it on hand and plan to use it with a brown frame.

Really all I did was fold the filters in half, then in half again and again, until they looked like this...

Then I folded the tip and put some hot glue on...carefully...and just started putting it on the wreath in a circle fashion. I really didn't have much "pattern" going on.

And I kept on a folding and gluing...until it looked like this...

Not 100% sure where I am going to use it...

Your turn, have you ever tried a coffee filter art project? I have plenty of coffee filters left so I need to find something else to try. Any ideas?


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