Monkey Bread, Monkey Bread, oh HOW I Love Monkey Bread!

Every Sunday morning we have our youth kids over for breakfast before church. Ronny usually gets donuts or bagels...but since I had a baking spark in me last night ~ I decided to make them something a little more special than the regular...so I made MONKEY BREAD! :-) Since I'm NOT a morning person...and figured it'd be best not to try and whip it up in the morning before they got there...I prepped it last night, refridgerated it overnight, and then just put it in the oven this morning ~ and it turned out great! SO great - I even ate it for a meal this afternoon too! I just couldn't resist! If you've never had Monkey Bread before - get excited! It tastes like the INSIDE of a Cinnamon Roll! How many times have you gotten a Cinnamon Roll - only to eat the inside of it where all the goods are? This recipe I just got off of All Recipes! :-) I have it here for you too, if you want! :-) This particular recipe earned 5 STARS out of 88 ratings...so I bet it better be good! It was AMAZING!

~ Monkey Bread Recipe ~

3 (12 oz) packages refrigerated biscuit dough
1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 margerine (I used butter)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I used pecans because that's what I had)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease one 9 or 10 inch tube/Bundt pan.

2) Mix white sugar and cinnamon in a plastic ziplock bag. Cut biscuits into quarters. Shake 6 - 8 biscuit pieces in teh sugar cinnamon mix. Arrange pieces in the bottom of the prepared pan. Continue until all biscuits are coated and placed in pan. If using nuts and raisins, arrange them in and among the biscuit pieces as you go along.

3) In a small saucepan, melt the margerine with the brown sugar over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. Pour over biscuits.

4) Bake at 250 degrees for 35 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Do not cut! The bread just pulls apart.

*Variations I Did*
~ I made a little more than called for and used 3 (16 oz) giant biscuit packages and just doubled the brown sugar and butter mixed.
~ Since I didn't have a tube or Bundt pan - I used two round cake pans. I put 1 1/2 biscuit pkgs in each pan- this worked GREAT to ensure even baking throughout biscuits and then when they were finished - I turned over one on the cake plate...then turned over the 2nd on right on top!
~ I used pecans instead of walnuts - since that's what I had on hand. It was just as amazing for sure! I didn't use raisins this time...maybe next! :-)

HELLO: Gooey mass of cinnamon, sugar, nuts and oh so deliciousness!!


Enjoy!!

luv,
naz :-)

'Tis the Season to....DECORATE!! <<<-

I LOVE Christmas!! I'm so happy that now my home is decorated all "Christmassy" ~ so happy and bright! I thought I'd share some pics with you so you might be able to get ideas for your own home! :-) Decorations can get pricey...but when you are resourceful and use what you have first...you'd be surprised at what you can come up with! :-) This is just the START of the holiday season...right? So...have fun...and stay MERRY. :-)
This is the first time I've used tinsel garland on my tree...but I think it adds so much! I found the garland at Target and it was only a few dollars for each strings (I got two). Its called "true silver" so it looks a little more vintage than your regular silver garland. AND its half the size....so pretty! :-)


Yes...this is a leg lamp. :-) One of my favorite Christmas movies of all time is "A Christmas Story" ~ my brother, Lonnie got this for me for Christmas like 5 years ago and its one of the first decorations I put up each year- right on top of my wine cabinet. :-) Needless to say...I have to explain to people WHY I have a lamp that has a stocking'd leg as a base - if they haven't seen the movie. :-) So if you're over at my house and wondering...here's the reason! :-) I do love the fact that if you're walking or driving by my house - you can totally see this from the outside looking in ~ shining so "ohhhhh sexy" (quote from the movie)! Haha. :-) I'm sure you recognize these silver pedestals from my Thanksgiving dinner table. :-) As I'm sure you know already - got 'em at Goodwill for just a few dollars. :-) I love mixing and matching different silvers and sizes of holders - the silver gives it a uniform look...while the differences in them give a more unique and fun look- and it doesn't look too matchy-matchy. :-) I placed a few Christmas balls on small wine goblets, mercury candle holders, and taller candle pillars, making them "peek" out of the green garland. Remember...I got most of these at Goodwill too. :-) I think I'm going to nickname my use of Goodwill treasures, "Resourcefully CHIC". :-) It sounds way better than CHEAP finds. :-) My fireplace is missing something...I know! Stockings of course...I had a couple since they're just not that cute, I think I'm going to make some this year. :-) I have visions of them when I'm going to sleep...and what they'll look like...so stay tuned. :-)

These cute sparkly-cut-glass-trees are my decoration treat for myself this year. I found these at Ravenna Gardens ~ they weren't that expensive...only $7.98 for the small one and the two bigger ones were only $9.98! :-) My coffee table decorations include filling up a silver vase with Christmas balls, placed on a silver tray with fake snow and other Christmas balls placed around it. Top it off with a mercury glass candle holder and wah-lah! :-) Yes...I did get both these silver things at Goodwill. No, I don't actually live there. :-) This is my first year I've used fake snow and I'm actually really loving it! :-) Its a great "resourcefully chic" addition to all my Christmas decorations ~ being its less than a couple dollars a bag. :-)
This is another one of my fave pics of the decorations...not sure exactly why- but its SO pretty and FESTIVE. :-) My balls are on the kitchen table. Christmas balls that is. :-) I took random extra balls I had...placed them on a platter, then dumped fake snow on top. I REALLY love how it turned out! :-) SO cheery & bright! I just love this picture of them too. :-)

So...another one of my favorite things to put up each year is my PINK Juicy tree. Did I just say I have a Juicy tree? Yes, I did. :-) Kennedi, my sis, gave it to me for Christmas a few years ago...and I just absolutely adore it. It goes in my bathroom...so its one of the first things that puts a smile on my face each morning. I strung the tree with my fake pearl necklaces and the pink heart the tree is on is the actual box the Juicy ornaments came in! :-) I decked underneath the tree with random Juicy jewelry boxes I had...and HELLO...it completes the "JUICY COUTURE" themed Christmas tree! :-) What more could a girl ask for, for Christmas? :-)
So...that's it for now! :-) I do have a Sweets Treat Tree for my kitchen that I'll have to share with you after I get it up. :-) Its SO adorably cute not to! :-) I hope you get lots of inspirations from this posting...and HOPEFULLY a smile or two, too! :-)

Luv,

naz

Pumpkins on Pedestals...a VERY Bright & Happy Turkey Day.....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! I hope you all had as wonderful one as I did! :-) Ronny cooked the day away...and my mom & him prepped the turkey together ~ everything turned out AMAZING. I'm one lucky girl to have a guy that can cook! It gave me the time I needed to make my table beautiful and welcoming for all my family & friends that we shared it with. :-) That includes making my napkins & table coverings. :-) I saw the orange fabric at the fabric store & was SO inspired by it. I kind of think of this table as "Anthropology-ish". The mix & match of silver candle holders & orange-colored pedestals contrasted with up-cycled navy blue vintage tapered candle holders...Hello! Sooo.....here are some pics for you to enjoy! Maybe, you'll get a few ideas for your next holiday dinner! :-)

Simple "napkin holder ring" idea is to just to use a ribbon and either double knot it like I did...or tie a pretty bow! Its resourceful and you can reuse it! :-)

The two taller goblets in this picture I found at Goodwill for only a few dollars. :-) I LOVE using these for candle holders ~ they fit tea-lites just perfectly. Aren't they so pretty & warming?

I didn't have time to make anything special for my name tags...so I just leaned these ones I made & printed off of my computer against the stem of the wine glasses at each setting. Its simple...but works! The font I used on this is called "ecolier"...I really love it! Elegant...but simple! :-)

ALL the silver pieces you see on my table I found at Goodwill...I'm so proud. :-) Who would have thought they'd look so pretty on my Thanksgiving table after seeing it on the shelf at Goodwill. I WOULD! :-) Its called...knowing & buying a treasure when you see it! ;-)

Another simple idea for decoration is to "glitter-up" some real mini pumpkins! I used this spray on glitter then poured white glitter on top of it - just pour off the excess & wallah! I placed them on my wider pedestals for a unique and SUPER easy way of integrating pumpkins into my Thanksgiving table decor! :-)

Again! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! On to the next holiday now...right?! :-) I love this time of year & can't WAIT to decorate for Christmas! :-)

luv, naz

Pretty Things ~ Creativity Rings!

So...I've recently run across some things that I'm TOTALLY inspired by! :-) As you know...I love being creative...and these pretty little things make me want to whip out my paper cutter, card stock, tape, glue, scissors...and get CREATING! :-)

Inspiration #1 ---> Sheets of Collages by PIDDIX - They're Digital! :-)
You purchase these online...then they're emailed to you. YOU print - and can print as many as you want! :-) These are a few of my favorites and you can buy them online at:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/piddix
Inspiration #2 ---> Flower Power! These hand-made fabric flowers can be used in ENDLESS ways! Attach to a plain pillow to dress it up, "spice" up a store bought card, put a magnet on the back of them and wallah! Don't these flowers just feed your creative soul? These crafty flowers were hand-made by Sweet Vintage. Check out her store for lots more inspiration! http://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetvintage78


Inspiration #3 --->: Last but not least....HAPPY TAPE!!! My sis, Sasch, told me to check out the website and SO happy she did! I want one of each of these! Santa, pretty please? :-)

Here's their website....http://www.happytape.bigcartel.com/
Oh and need some MORE inspiration....just check out their blog! Such fun stuff on here! :-)

I hope this inspires you to get your creative juices flowing as much as it has for me! :-)

lots of luv,

naz

Happy Birthday to Me? (Celebrating with a GIANT CUPCAKE!)

Soooo....if I had a choice to make my own cake...this is what it would look like! :-) Its a funfetti cake with funfetti frosting-filling and vanilla icing on top. The flower however, is not flavored, nor edible for that matter ~ but it was just too darn cute to resist putting it on top. :-)But since it would be a party faux pas to bake my own cake...I'll have to "dedicate" this GIANT CUPCAKE to my two friends...Sheree AND Sheree...both of who share their birthday week with me. :-) (Yes...I think everyone should take a whole week to celebrate their birthdays!) Sooo...Happy Birthday to us! Now....if you're wondering how to make a "GIANT" cupcake...the secret is...drum-roll, please.... Wilton's Giant Cupcake Pan!

Here is what it looks like:

I found mine at Target (here's a link) ~ but I'm sure any other place that sells Wilton baking items would sell this too. :-) Wilton's Giant Cupcake Pan

There are directions on the packaging this comes with...but my friend Kelcie told me that the top and bottom will come out better if you cook them separately. :-) GREAT idea!

Anyway...I hope you like the new pics on my blog banner! I had so much fun with them...and thanks to my sis, Naomi, who drove to my house at 11pm at the last minute to take them! :-) What are sisters for? ;-)

Have a HAPPY day!

luv, naz!

*******Update!! I just found this silicone GIANT cupcake pan set at Bed Bath and Beyond! :-) This way- you can pull out the top of the cupcake when its done instead of having to overbake the top! :-) AND its only $19.99 - that's almost $10 less than the Wilton Cupcake Pan...! I want one now. :-) Big Top Cupcake *************

The HOLIDAYS are here! :-) ....Celebrating the Season by Making Some Cute Holiday-ish Wine Stoppers!

Aren't these so pretty and festive? I'm definitely getting in the mood for the HOLIDAYS! :-)
<<<- That's my version of a Christmas tree. :-)
Look close at this one - its a VERY deep forest green-color! :-)

U can check out these and more in my Etsy shop! :-) www.oliverrue.etsy.com

'Tis the season to be merry!!

<3,>

OH for the LOVE of BOOKS...

SO...lately I've been so drawn to books with beautiful covers. I know, I know, you can't tell a book by its cover ~ but when they're OH so pretty ~ who cares if the book itself is actually good - at least it LOOKS pretty on the shelf right? That isn't to say that I ONLY read books with pretty covers...I just choose to show off the ones that are NICE to look at! :-)

So...I was initially inspired by these books from Anthropologie ~ aren't they gorgeous?? They are the new CLOTH-COVERED books by PENGUIN. I would buy them all up in a heart beat if they were'nt $20.00 a piece! :( This picture really doesn't do it justice ~ so you'd have to go to their site to really take them all in - in all their beauty! Here's the link: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/category.jsp?popId=HOME&navAction=top&navCount=5&isSortBy=true&pushId=HOME-BOOKS&id=HOME-BOOKS SO...when I made my rounds at the Goodwill outlet in Seattle the other day ~ when I saw these books ~ my heart skipped a beat ~ !! They have beautiful covers...oh so vintage looking...and PERFECT for my sister's new re-make-over we did in her living room! :-) I'll hopefully, be able to get pictures for you soon and show off what a BEAUTIFUL place her living room is to be in now! :-) And....the best part? THEY WERE ONLY .49 CENTS A PIECE! :-)
So...I bought all 17 that I found! :-)

I think this yellow one is my favorite! So happy and bright! :-)

Oh and this one is so pretty too! :-)

So....I hope you are inspired now to "freshen" up your shelves with some cheery looking books! AND hopefully, you're really inspired to go check out your nearest Goodwill or Value Village and see what kind of treasures they have! :-)

luv, naz <3>