Vinyl Word Tile

I have been given the task of teaching Relief Society (womans organization in the church) and my lesson is on service. As I was wondering around the LDS bookstore, I saw this awesome quote made with vinyl on a tile. I inspected it for a couple minutes, then thought.... I can make that.

If I would have known at the time that it was going to be so much work, I would have spent the $30 on the one at the store but I have a cricut for a reason.

You will need to purchase from vinyl sheets and vinyl transfer tape. You take the sticky part of the transfer tape off and assemble the letters on the grid side. Cut out all of the letters using the Cricut... now this would be totally fine if the letters were large but when you do a quote- the letters are small. So it was a pain in the butt getting the letter to cut right and then not losing parts of the "i".... ughhh.

Next you assemble the letters onto the vinyl transfer tape. This part is a pain in the butt too because you have to get the spacing JUST RIGHT and it takes a lot of little adjustments. Because the vinyl still has its baking on it, you can move the letters around freely.

You then put the sticky side of the transfer tape on and rub it with your fingers or a paint scraper or ruler or spatula or something that will get all the air bubbles out--- you get the idea.

Then you peel the tranfer tape off and take off all of the back of the vinyl letters... you will have to be careful here.

Now you stick the transfer tape with the vinyl letters on it onto the tile you have picked. I got the 12x12 size tile because it is easy to measure it out with the cricut. Line the transfer tape up really well and make sure all of the air bubbles are out. Again use the scraper or ruler or whatever to make sure the letters are stuck on well. Then pull off the transfer tape and the letters will be stuck to tile.

I spent $20 on the supplies and it took me 2.5 hours to make this tile. I think it turned out well. I definitly think using the vinyl to make tiles as gifts would be a great idea for the holidays especially because they can be personalized.

The-Women-in-Our-Lives

Just a little Spiritual Juice... Love this


The-Women-in-Our-Lives

ME

When I first started blogging (ohhh like a couple weeks ago), I wanted to mimick all of these amazing women that I see in all of the blogs that I stalk... I have come to realize through this experience that I don't need to mimick anyone because I am amazing just being myself. I may not be perfect... I may not comb my hair everyday... I may not be the friendliest person all the time, but I am ME and I am happy that way. I am grateful for my life, I am grateful for my husband who loves me just the way I am (and laughs that I change hobbies all the time), I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who allows us to grow and make choices and forgives us when we make bad ones. Even though I desperately want babies right now, I am grateful that I have this time with the Hubbs (just us) to be together, experience each other, and grow together before we bring mini-me's into the world (which I hope its only like ONE mini-me and more mini-hims because too many mini-me's would be REALLY HARD). So I am still going to document some neat things I try and make but moreso going to document about how cool I think I am (just kidding).

p.s. KNITTING SUCKS... I don't think my mind allows me to process it. I have taken apart the same dang dishcloth five times because I screwed up knitting- plus being left handed makes it difficult because I can't just mirror the you tube videos. UGH.

Busy Busy Busy....

I am feeling like I have not been domestic in weeks although I have made a batch of cookies every weekend and am attempting some new crafts recently. I cannot post pics yet because they are in their starting phases but will keep you informed when they are done.

The Hubbs has taken on the task of being my personal trainer. I have had bouts of gym attendance in the past but never really stuck with it. Which is not a surprise to those who know me and those who don't- I am kinda flighty in my ideas... which is a whole nother post in itself. Anyhows, this gym gig sucks. I am sore, can't bend over, can't lift my arms up, my back hurts, and seriously me belly is not getting any smaller. Why can't there be this magical place that you can go in and walk out 20 pounds lighter with no muffin top (oh wait... is that lypo). Anyways- I have been commited to exercising more. I have been having a wee little problem getting pregnant (another post in itself) and think I need to be just a little healthier and maybe my body will allow me to carry a child- and just for the record... my last friend that was my crutch of infertility is now pregnant. I am so happy for her but still have this inner being telling me to be angry, sad, disappointed, bitter, and all of those other feelings. I put on some Joshua Radin- "Brand New Day"... its a great song that gets you up and going on the days that inner being is overpowering.

It's a Brand New Day, the Sun is shining, Its a Brand New Day. And for the first time, in a long time, I know I'll be okay.

Sumptin Pumpkin....

I mentioned this before that The Hubbs loves pumpkin items. I have ventured this season to make two kinds of pumpkin bread, pumpkin pancakes, and now I have made the super yummy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies as seen www.designmom.com (by the way if you have never popped over to see her fabulous blog... go check it out). When I asked The Hubbs what he wanted me to bake- it was no surprise when he said "sumptin pumpkin".

Try these out---

Old-Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter (1 stick) softened

1 cup 100% pumpkin (you can find cans of this in the pie-filling section of the grocery store)

1 egg

1 tsp vanillaGlaze (see below)

Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips or nuts.

Preheat oven to 350. Grease baking sheets.Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and set aside. Beat sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle glaze over cookies.

For Glaze:Combine 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 tsp vanilla in small bowl until smooth.

***HINT FROM THE BAKER BROOKE*** These cookies taste soooo much better after being completely cooled off. They "get happy" when they sit overnight and are completely cooled down.

Sidenote: I am pretty excited about moving onto other food sources then pumpkin- you'd think I would have learned how to make a pumpkin pie yet but I haven't.... maybe next week

One Year....

I can hardly believe that its been a year since The Hubbs and I got married. This has been such an awesome anniversary. Friday I took off work to go buy a cute little dress... its hard to buy cute dresses when everything in the store is not very modest. I did find a cute black dress that I was able to wear a little sweater with. I bought some SEXY black high heels that made my legs look super hot... (well I thought so) and then I spoiled myself with some new jewelry and a manicure and pedicure. Can't have super sexy high heals with a poor manicure. Bri took me to a fancy restaurant and we ate the MOST EXPENSIVE MEAL I have ever eaten but it was SOOOOOO yummy. Bri said it was a special occasion so we can splurge on a fancy meal. Today is our actual anniversary and we have skipped out on church (forgive me) and spent the whole day hangin out in our backyard playing boche ball, chess, enjoying yummy beverages and food, and just enjoying each other as we speak we have food on the grill and have hooked up the TV outside so we can enjoy this wonderful weather and watch the Cardinals play Sunday Night Football. I LOVE MY HUSBAND SO MUCH... I am so grateful for him and and feel SO BLESSED TO HAVE HIM. This year was amazing and I look so forward to so many more.

Talking in Church

So why is it that speaking in church is like a love/hate feeling.... I mean there are some amazing women who stand up at the pulpit and give this heartfelt, super spiritual, inspired, divine message from the heavens.

And then there is me.

I have to give a talk in church this Sunday and well needless to say.... I am not really thrilled with the idea.

I am sorta "pouting" about it.

The funny thing is that I love to teach- but its a new ward so I am not sure if they will have love for the Brookism's

I guess this is a good reason to buy a new dress.... hmmmm

Gardening... sorta

SO I have not been my "semi-domestic" self because I have been so busy farming on my stupid Farmville on Facebook. Who created such a thing??? AGHHHH! Now if gardening and farming was just as easy as it is in the stupid game.

BUT... if you want a fun thrill go to Farmville on Facebook and become a farmer- You will get A.D.D.I.C.T.E.D I promise.

My Hubbys Birthday

It was my wonderful husbands birthday yesterday (I won't tell you how old he is but will let you know he will be the big 40 pretty soon)... Love him. We have this problem in our family... I can't keep a secret for anything and my money is his money and his money is mine. SOOOO with that said, I can't really buy him anything because I would tell him before and after I bought it AND everything he likes or wants is well over a couple HUNDRED dollars. SO I let him pick out what he wants. Last year, I got him some nice seats to Metallica... this year he bought some BOSE Speakers for his recording studio. He says they sounds great. Anyways- this post isn't all about his birthday... its more about the AMAZING CAKE I made for him. He requested a TURTLE CAKE (and not like Teenage Mutant).

I consulted with my good friend Betty.... Crocker.... and got a great recipe for TURTLE CAKE.

YUMMY YUMMY

1 box of Betty Crocker SuperMoist Devils Food Cake Mix

1 1/3 cups of water

1/2 cup of Veg Oil

3 eggs

1 bag (14 oz) caramels

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1 cup of chopped pecans

1 bg. (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup)

-- heat oven at 350 degrees F. Grease or spray bottom of 13x9 inch pan. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour half of the batter into pan. Bake 22 minutes. Refridgerate remaining batter.

--meanwhile, in 1-qt saucepan, heat caramels and evaporated milk over medium heat, stirring frequently, until caramels are melted. Stir in pecans. Pour caramel mixture over warm cake in pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Spread with remaining batter. Bake 25 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Cool at least 30 minutes. Serve with ice cream, drizzle with caramel topping and sprinkle with pecans.

YUMMY YUMMY... Enjoy

COOKIES...

I am one of those people that love the quick and easy pre-made cookie dough from the grocery store. Its simple, its quick and honestly... it tastes yummy. I decided to make some cookies FROM SCRATCH... you heard me right ladies-- from scratch AND they turned out super

fab.u.licious

so I would like to share this wonderful recipe with the world (well really for the 2 people that read my blog)...

Oatmeal White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

1 1/2 Cups of all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 cups (2 sticks) butter or margarine softened

3/4 cup of granulated sugar

3/4 cup of packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 cups of quick oats

1 cup of white chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups of dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a small bowl. Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla in large bowl. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture. Stir in oats, cranberries, and white chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto the ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 1/2 minutes and then cool on wire racks.