Loving My New Look!

     You might have noticed a few changes to the my blog, thanks to my friend Tori, over at Lil' Mrs. Tori.  A HUGE Thanks!  She has been updating the whole look and I am LOVING IT!  She has also linked my blog to my other sites, such as my new Facebook Page: Measurements of Merriment, my Instagram: Candice M and my Twitter: Candice, and Pinterest: Candice Masterson.  Pretty A-MAZ-ING! If you ask me!

     Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Teacher's Valentine's Day Gifts

     I am so excited this year will be Liam's first school Valentine's Day party.  I've already made his classmate's valentines, but I wanted to do something special for his teachers as well.  So of course, I searched on Pinterest to get some fun ideas and here's what I came up with....

Supplies

Bottle of Hand Soap

Card stock

Scissors

Ribbon

"I was Soapin' you'd be my Valentine" printed paper

Paper square adhesives

Stickers

Marker

Paper cutter

Hole Puncher

Instructions

Using your computer, print out 

"I was Soapin' you'd be my Valentine"

Use the paper cutter to cut a rectangle around the words.

Then use some fun scissors to cut around the edges of the rectangle.

Using the paper adhesive squares, 

stick the printed paper onto a piece of card stock.

Next using the paper cutter again, cut another rectangle

around the printed paper leaving enough room 

to cut the edges with the fun scissors.

Punch a hole at the top left corner of the card stock.

Use the fun scissors to cut the edges of the card stock.

I had Liam sign his name, so the teachers know it was from him.

Decorate the card tag with stickers then

thread a piece of ribbon through the hole,

around the pump of the hand soap 

and tie a knot or a bow.

That's it!  A cute Valentine's gift for any teacher or friend.

True Blood Red Velvet Cookies

     With the premiere of True Blood Season 5 debuting tonight, I wanted to make something deliciously sweet to bring over to the Grants.  So I searched on Pinterest for some inspirations.....and I found this FangTastic recipe for Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies on a a great blog Peace of Cake.  Thought they would be perfect for tonight's festivities.

Here's how to make your own...

Ingredients:

8oz. (1 brick) Cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 c. Butter, softened (1 stick)
1 egg
1 t. Vanilla
1 (18-ounce) box red velvet cake mix
Powdered sugar, for rolling/dusting

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth.

Beat in egg, then the vanilla.

Beat in the cake mix.
Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up.

Roll batter into tablespoon-sized balls and then roll them in powdered sugar.

Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, 2 inches apart.

Bake 12 minutes. The cookies will remain soft and "gooey."

Cool completely and sprinkle with more confectioners' sugar, if desired.

Enjoy!