3-2-1 Cake in a Jar

5.14.2015

One more day until I can indulge in all things unhealthy, without feeling any guilt about my choices. While most people indulge on cakes, pies, and cookies on their birthdays, I will be having a cheeseburger, fries, and a beer. Or a few beers. Why limit myself?

But for those of you that want to indulge in a little cake every now and then, you should try making a “3-2-1 cake.” I am by no means the genius behind this amazing little piece of heaven, but I did come up with a cute way to gift it to others. Who doesn’t want their own serving of cake?

Start with one box of Angel Food cake, and one box of cake mix (any kind your little heart desires). Mix the dry mixes together in a large bowl and store the mixture in a Ziploc bag (it’ll last for a long while).

I used baby food jars, spray painted the tops to give it a little more color. Measure three tablespoons of mix into each jar. Save and print the tags below, then tie them onto your jars for a fun gift! One tag has instructions, but if you choose to use the other tag, your recipient needs to take the mix from the jar, mix with two tablespoons of water, and microwave for one minute. Be sure your container is microwave-safe before heating!

Just Eat Cake tag

3-2-1 Cake tag

DIY

DIY Dollar Store Cake Stand

5.11.2015

And just like that, it’s officially my birthday week! B said the opening ceremony will begin tonight. Tune in to Channel 3 at 7:00pm sharp. You’ll probably end up with something like Modern Family, but hey, a party is a party. I’ll drink a fancy-pants margarita in honor of you watching Modern Family, in honor of my birthday.

In order to really get this party started, I am going to grace you with “All Things Birthday” this week. Don’t worry, I’ll open all your cards and gifts on Friday (the official birthday), no need to get a head start. I have all day, I took off work.

Let’s start this party with half of the most critical thing: Cake (the other half, clearly, is alcohol). You can’t have cake without…

A DIY Cake Stand. There are tons of these on Pinterest, so I am not that unique. I mean, I am unique, but my cake stand is not. The only difference may be my detailed photo steps. I wanted to give you all the info, since a teacher is only as successful as her worst student (at least that’s what my teachers always told me).

I bought the two items pictured above, a martini glass and a tin plate at Dollar Tree. Just a heads up, the tin plate was actually by the cookie sheets, not the plates. You’ll need a glue gun, and a spray paint color of your choice.

Hot glue all around the rim of the martini glass, and add it to the upside down plate. Then hot glue around the outside rim again (trying to keep a steady stream of glue). It doesn’t have to be perfect, as most people will not be looking up, from underneath. Unless your party is serving shots of tequila. Then you may have a few people looking up from the floor. Party on!

Use your spray paint to spray the entire stand. I chose gold (shocker), and it took about three coats.

Remember, you will always need to use a doily or some sort of napkin (or lace, as pictured), as food shouldn’t come in contact with the paint.

This project was extremely easy, and it turned out adorable if you ask me. But you didn’t, so I’ll shush now.

Four more days! Can I eat the cupcakes now?

DIY, Holidays!

DIY Gold Dipped Candy Dish

5.08.2015

If your mother is anything like my mother (which would be impossible, because my mother is one-of-a-kind) (double brownie points), then you have no idea what to get her for Mother’s Day. Or her birthday. Or Christmas. This may come as a surprise to you, but I typically like to make my own gifts. Weird, right?

Well Mother’s Day causes somewhat of an issue there. See, I’ve already hand made her just about every single thing there is to hand make. And by now, the storage unit she has to pay for to hold the boxes of junk I’ve made over the years, is costing her a small fortune. So, out of pure love for my mother, this year I will just send her what she asks for every year: a card.

But in order to keep her from loving her other child more, i.e., my husband, I guess I will make her a little something. It totally counts if all she can do is see the photos on my blog right? Sorry mom, but I’m not mailing this vase across the country. Plus, gold isn’t really your thing.

Start with this clear glass vase above, from the Dollar Tree. You can find these at many other locations as well, but they shouldn’t be much more than $1. Then, use painter’s tape to tape off the top half (see below).

Next, you will use gold spray paint (any kind will work, as long as the glass is clean), to spray the whole bottom. Leave upside down to dry, try to give it at least an hour. Then you’ll SLOWLY pull off the painter’s tape, to reveal a gold dipped vase. Perfect for a candy dish at work!

I tied my little Mother’s Day tag onto the vase, and filled it with one of my mom’s favorite candies. Next time she visits, she can enjoy the sweets. Until then, hopefully she enjoys the photos.

Print your Mother’s Day Tag Here, save a copy, and size it to your liking.

Since I made the cute tags, I thought I’d share them with you (even if you don’t use them for a vase). I’d love to see what gifts you use my tags for, tag me on Instagram (@raeofsparkles), Twitter, or Facebook so I can enjoy them! Then I can show my mom how her tag has spread the love! That’s way better than a gift.

Happy Mother’s Day weekend to all my mommy friends!

Uncategorized

Easy Apple Pie

5.07.2015

Disclaimer: I wanted to call this recipe, “Easy Healthy Apple Pie,” but as fake-healthy as it is, you’d be better off just having an apple. I can hear parents everywhere: An apple a day keeps the doctor away! But when you feel like having a treat that’s a little more satisfying than an apple, try this easy apple pie recipe. I dare you to find a healthier version of apple pie (mostly because if you do, I want it).

Easy Apple Pie // How to make a relatively Healthy Apple Pie! I grew up with this apple pie, thinking this is just how apple pie is made. My mom seemed to have always been on one type of diet or another (even though she has always looked GREAT the way she is). But I guess I benefited greatly from her diets, because this apple pie is a game changer.

You only need four ingredients for this pie. If you want to get adventurous, you can add one more for fun.

You will need:

5-6 Large Green Apples (or crunchy reds)

1 pkg (1.4 oz) Sugar-free, fat-free, vanilla pudding mix (unprepared)

1 pkg Pie Crusts (2)

Cinnamon

1 tbsp butter/margarine (optional)

Easy Apple Pie // How to make a relatively Healthy Apple Pie!

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375.

Peel apples, slice into 1/4 in slices.

Toss sliced apples with dry pudding mix.

Add apple mixture to bottom pie crust, making a dome-like top.

Add butter to top of apples if you wish.

Sprinkle apple slices with cinnamon.

Add top crust to bottom crust; use a fork to connect sides.

Bake the pie at 375°F for 20 minutes (or until crust begins to lightly brown).

Reduce heat to 350°F and bake until crust is golden, apples are soft, and pie is bubbling (anywhere from an additional 45 minutes to an hour).

I know you’re probably thinking this pie cannot possibly be that great, but let me tell you, you’re wrong (and we all know how much I love being right). I made this pie for work last week, and every person who had a piece asked for the recipe. Which is why you’re reading it now. You can thank me later.

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