Magnetic Calendar - February

I’d like to give myself a pat on the back for having February’s calendar ready to post so early in the month but first I have to remind myself that I have yet to complete January. Oops - there’s always next year! The good news is that last year I started this project with March so next month I can begin reusing the months. But back to February. Here it is in all its pink and red glory!

 

As I said, I started this project last March which was just the right time to load up on clearance Valentine’s Day stickers. I had no shortage of embellishments to work with this month. Here are a few close-ups so you can get a better look.

Of course I’ll have to change out one square for my baby boy’s birthday – whenever he decides which day that is! The poor guy’s birthday month is looking pretty girly but I just couldn’t resist all the hearts. To see more of my calendar months or to learn more about how I made them you can click here. This calendar was a lot of work but now that this project is (mostly) completed I’m so glad I took the time to create it!

By the Batch – Cookies & Cream Bark

Well I am now 38 1/2 weeks along in my pregnancy and life has become a bit uncomfortable! Carrying this baby around has officially worn me out so I’ve been looking for activities and recipes that are quick to complete and don’t require a lot of standing. This Cookies & Cream Bark totally fits the bill and is amazingly yummy!

It’s so easy to make this stuff you can hardly call it a recipe. Simply take 10 ounces of white chocolate, chop it up and melt it using a double boiler (or a bowl over a pot with some water simmering in it like I use). Once it’s completely melted and smooth remove it from the heat and let it sit for a few minutes. While you’re waiting, chop up 15 Oreo cookies. Once the chocolate has had a chance to cool stir the cookie pieces in and then spread the whole mixture on a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet. You can spread it as thick or thin as you like, just remember it’s harder to break apart if you make it too thick. Pop the whole thing in the fridge until it hardens (about 15 minutes) and then break it up into pieces and enjoy!

Some of the recipes I read said to crumble more cookies or nuts over the top to disguise the grey colour created by the crumbs in the chocolate but, since this batch was just for us at home, I didn’t bother. And I don’t think it looks unappetizing at all!

My Baby's Room - Part I

In honour of my first day of maternity leave I thought I would share some pictures of the baby's room. I'm calling this post Part I since we still have to hang his art (from the wonderful Etsy seller Mateo & Tobias) and because there are some additional DIY projects that haven't made their way into the room yet so I will definitely have to follow up with a second post. I've already shared these pictures on my personal Facebook page so I apologize to all my friends who are also readers who aren't getting anything new out of me today!

This is the view from the doorway. It's not a large space so we kept furniture to a minimum. There is a dresser but it's just around the corner to the right - you can just see the end of it in this picture. The moses basket you see beside the crib has moved into our bedroom and we now have a wicker toy chest there - I'll be sure to include a picture of that in the next post.

I think one of my favourite things in the room is the jam cupboard in the picture above. It belonged to my Grandad who passed away last summer and I knew I wanted to make it a part of the baby's room. My mom had given me a set of woodland wall decals that I applied all over the cupboard which I think made it really cute and appropriate for a baby's room. The best part is that as my son grows we can just peel off the decals and he can continue to use the cupboard.

Hope you liked the peek into my little one's room. He's due to arrive in just two weeks so we'll be putting the finishing touches on the room soon and I'll be back to post Part II!

By the Batch - Best Ever Chocolate Toffee Bark

Around Christmas I kept seeing this recipe around Pinterest labelled as "Christmas Crack". Apparently the stuff was so good it was the hard drug equivalent of the chocolate and toffee world. With only 4 ingredients I was a little sceptical but this past weekend I decided to put it to the test. And I am here to say that this stuff is the most delicious and addictive thing I have made in ages!

Don't let the simplicity fool you - this recipe is incredible. My husband and I have not stopped eating it since the moment it was cool enough to break into pieces.

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
40 saltine crackers

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with non-stick spray. Lay a flat layer of crackers out on the foil. Melt the sugar and butter until a boil is reached. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5-6 minutes or until mixture is thickened and sugar is completely dissolved. Pour this mixture over the crackers and spread to coat evenly. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the toffee becomes bubbly. After removing the pan from the oven, let it sit for 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle on the chocolate chips, let them soften and melt, and then spread them into an even layer. Let cool and thenrefrigerate until hardened. Break into pieces.

So easy, right? And chances are you've got the ingredients already. Just don't say I didn't warn you ;)

Follow Me on Bloglovin

Lately I'm seeing links to Bloglovin everywhere so I thought I had better get on board! If you're using Bloglovin to keep up with your favourite blogs then click here to add Sugar and Shimmer.

DIY Initial Canvas

I've officially reached 37 weeks today so I'm sharing a quick little project I made for the baby's room - an initial canvas.

I was inspired by this tutorial and then made it my own. This project was really simple. Start with a square canvas and a piece of scrapbook paper. Cut the paper to the size of the canvas including the sides so you can cover those too. Using Mod Podge, adhere the paper to the front of your canvas and then let it dry. Once the front is dry then flip it and make 45 degree cuts on your paper corners so you can fold them over and Mod Podge them shut like in the picture below.

Next choose another piece of scrapbook paper and cut your initial into it. To do this I printed an N onto regular printer paper, cut it out and then traced it on to the back of my scrapbook paper (just make sure if you're tracing on the back you do it backwards). Once your initial is cut out use Mod Podge to attach the paper to the front of your canvas. Once everything is dry, embellish however you like.

I used stickers that had some dimension because my paper had such a busy pattern but you can use anything you like. In fact, you don't need to embellish at all if you think just the initial is enough. This project was so simple and it would be really easy to change it up for an older child or even for yourself depending on the paper and embellishments you use.

My initial canvas is resting on the baby's windowsill, waiting for his arrival!

By the Batch - Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sometimes the simplest recipes can be the most delicious. I think that's definitely the case with these Martha Stewart Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter with both sugars; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low; add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake until cookies are golden around the edges, but still soft in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely. 

According to Sarah:

These cookies could not be simpler to make and the ingredients are probably ones you already have on hand. I followed the recipe exactly and yielded about 3 dozen cookies that are still soft and chewy a week later. Pair these cookies with a cold glass of milk and you've got a winning pair. I'll be honest and tell you I don't know how we manage to have any left after a week ;)