more creations

Tonight I attempted my first project that involved a zipper. Pretty annoying if I must say so myself. I made a cosmetic bag and decided to do an exposed zipper because I like the look (and probably did not have the patience to do it another way).

Check out the new bag....

I also was helping Leah pack and start her blog today. It inspired me to change up my design...so enjoy! Still can't believe she is leaving Saturday morning. God is so good though, and blessed us with a wonderful day to hang out and time to see each other without a million things going on. I will be posting more about her journey and how you can support her and keep up with her journey to the Dominican Republic to teach 3rd grade.

Coming later this week:

Our favorite homemade salsa recipe (becoming a Unthank household staple!)

Yummy cheese puffed pastry twists

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

willow house and sewing

As some of you may know I started working with Southern Living at Home in the spring. I love to decorate and find it as a wonderful creative outlet and fun way to mix my love for decorating with my love for hosting parties!

This past summer the company "Southern Living at Home" merged with another decorating company and created "Willow House." I am SUPER excited for the new company and SO excited that I just got the new Fall 2010 catalogs!!!

On that note, the way it works is if you are interested in hosting a party you contact me and we work together to get a group of your friends together and shop through the catalog. The best part is this is not my job....so there is no awkward obligation to buy things like there sometimes is with these types of things. This is a fun "hobby" for me! So if you are interested...email me (laurenunthank@gmail.com). I would love to help you put on a part-ay!

here is a pic of the cute new catalogs...

Also, I have been loving working on my sewing machine. I don't start classes until August, so I know I have a lot to learn! Yesterday I made Brinley, my 3 year old niece, a cute little dress. I got the fabric on clearance for $3. I already had the thread and ribbon...you can't beat a 3 dollar dress!! I took the scraps of fabric and made 3 little rosettes and put them on the top.

She was pretty excited! When I showed it to her she said, "Awww Lauren I WUV my cute dress!"

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday!

Lauren

a blessed birthday

Yesterday was honestly the most wonderful birthday ever.

As some of you may know my beloved little CR-V has seen better days. It seemed like every time we turned around something was broken. So.....we traded her in and got a new CR-V!!!! We started my birthday at the dealership and we are so grateful that we were able to get a new car and everything worked out so great. (It was kind of weird because since I will most likely have this car for 5-6 years at least....James was checking for car seat capabilities and stuff like that!AHH!) No worries that is not another birthday surprise....just something that will probably happen in the next 5-6 years!

After getting the car we got lunch at one of my favvorritteee places, Neiman Marcus Cafe! And to top if off....

A RED VELVET SPRINKLES CUPCAKE!

Does it get any better than a red velvet cupcake?

photo courtesy of Sprinkles

After Sprinkles, we headed home and I got to work on some projects on my sewing machine. I made 2 little drawstring bags....I definitely need some lessons, but it was a good start.

Then it was time for a date! The best part of the day! We decided to get fish tacos and margaritas at Cyclone Anayas! mmmm I love that place!

Overall it was such a wonderful birthday! I feel so blessed! Plus, 23 sounds so much older than 22....so now it sounds like James and I are old enough to be married!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day and thank you for all the birthday wishes!

craft night with Leah

It is hard to believe Leah is leaving at the end of the month. She is going to teach in the Dominican Republic and I am so excited for this journey she is about to go on. We took some time last night to shop around for some crafty things, get some La Madeline, and come home for a good ol' craft night!

Here is a pic from our night...

sporting our cute new headbands

We made a few other things but did not get a picture.

Also, I got my sewing machine today!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited! And James' new lens finally came in the mail....it is hobby time at the Unthank casa!

Since James got his new lens I thought I would share a ridiculously adorable picture he got of Jaxon.

I mean seriously.....he is so cute.....

homemade vanilla cupcakes

James just got a new cookbook "The Kitchen Bible" for his birthday and we have been dying to use some of the amazing recipes. I immediately turn to the desserts, of course. To start out I gave these yummy vanilla cupcakes a try.....I mean who doesn't love a cupcake!

Here is the cookbook we used...

Ingredients for the cupcake batter...pretty simple

make sure the batter looks fluffy...

Ingredients for the buttercream icing

Result...a delicious cupcake!

I used a couple drops of green food coloring to give the icing a green tint. Also, I used whole milk which I would usually be against, but when baking certain things it makes a world of difference.

I will be taking these to community group tonight so I don't eat them all! We are also making a macaroni and cheese bake tomorrow night and having Kerry and Logan over...mmm can't wait!

blueberry peach cobbler...mmm

One of my favorite parts of the beginning of the month is getting the new Cooking Light magazine! It is always full of wonderful recipes, and the best part is they don't sacrifice good ingredients in an effort to make it super healthy. They simply teach you how to cut back in areas, substitute, and overall make a delicious dessert that you don't feel so guilty about!

I served this yummy dessert with a scoop of good ol' Blue Bell!

photo courtesy of Cooking Light

Blueberry Peach Cobbler

Ingredients

• 5 pounds peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced (I only used 2.5 pounds...5 was a little much!)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup granulated sugar, divided
• 3/8 teaspoon salt, divided
• 6.75 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
• Cooking spray
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar (fancy name for "Sugar in the Raw")

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°.

2. Place peaches in a large bowl. Drizzle with juice; toss. Add 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons flour to peach mixture; toss to combine. Arrange peach mixture evenly in a 13 x 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray.

3. Weigh or lightly spoon 6.75 ounces flour (about 1 1/2 cups) into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 6.75 ounces flour, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and baking powder in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Place the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar and butter in a medium bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, beating just until combined. Stir in blueberries.

4. Spread batter evenly over peach mixture; sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Place baking dish on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 1 hour or until topping is golden and filling is bubbly.

So grab these ingredients next time you go to the store and I promise you won't regret it!

initial project

So I have been wanting to put something above our bed (considering I can't stand blank off-white walls) but have not gotten around to it until...now!

This was a SUPER easy and CHEAP project. Here is what you need....

1. 3 square frames (They were 50% off at Hobby Lobby) $15

2. 3 pieces of scrapbook paper (also on sale) $.75

3. A Small tube of white paint (I already had) FREE

Total cost: $15.75

I took the scrapbook paper and painted our initials. Once they dried....I framed and hung them! SUPER easy....as I said. But I think it helped make the wall look much better!

Here is a look....

above the bed and an up close

Overall, it was a fun little project! Next thing to tackle is painting the kitchen table. I keep putting it off because the thought of sitting in a 100 degree garage and painting sounds miserable! Although, I am looking forward to fixing it up!

Thought I would throw in a cute picture of Jaxon.....he is so stinkin' cute!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!

Lauren