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WOW!- Kenya Boys Choir @ the IWK

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

What an incredible experience!

I still have chills and goosebumps from what I very literally just experienced. About 10 minutes ago I had the privilege to take in a performance by the Kenya Boys' Choir who are in Halifax to take part in tomorrow's We Day Atlantic celebrations.From the moment they were introduced they captivated the whole audience! They entered singing and chanting and kept us all engaged the whole time. I loved how they gave their music movement the whole time. I could feel the music.

They sang accapella and I was completely amazed by their voices. These young men have sung for President Obama at his inauguration and have been part of WeDay celebrations the world over. What a blessing that they sang for us today. They did a cover of a Joe Jonas tune and I think it was way better!

I did take a video of them singing "O Holy Night" but I can't upload it just yet. I will update the post with that as soon as I can.

UPDATED!

Here is the link to part of their performance. I dare you not to smile :)

Longer version of the Kenyan Boys Choir | Videos | The Chronicle Herald

You tube these guys...you won't get the exact same shivers as being in the room with them but it's pretty close!

Pumpkin cinnamon rolls

Thursday, November 21, 2013

I was on the phone with my sister a while back and it was clear that she was stressing about mid terms. I wanted to cheer her up a bit so I thought I would send her a care package to take her mind off exams. I had been seeing pumpkin cinnamon rolls all over Pinterest and read a lot of the recipes but I kept coming back to my favorite cinnamon roll recipe and I thought I would try modifying it.


I added 1 cup of pumpkin puree to the milk mixture. I followed the recipe from there but I ended up needing a lot more flour. Like 4 cups come flour! Next time I will add 3/4 cup of pumpkin puree, 2 extra cups of flour with the first addition of flour and then 1 extra cup of flour with the second addition.  I usually divide the dough into 2 batches but I decided to go for the mega rolls this time...




Normally I get at least 4 dozen of rolls...this time I got 2 dozen. Instead of using my usual cream cheese icing I decided to mix it up a bit. Fall calls for maple! 


All tasters seriously approved of this modification. Sorry it has taken me so long to get this post up Stantecers!

Want someone to love you forever? Make these. I'm not kidding. Go do it...NOW!

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

-Adapted from The Pioneer Woman
  • 4 cups Whole Milk
  • 1 cup Vegetable Oil
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 3/4 cup pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
  • 2 packages Active Dry Yeast, 0.25 Ounce Packets
  • 12 cups (Plus 1 Cup Extra, Reserved) All-purpose Flour
  • 2 teaspoons Pumpkin pie spice (I use this recipe from My Baking Addiction)
  • 1 teaspoon (heaping) Baking Powder
  • 1 teaspoon (scant) Baking Soda
  • 1 Tablespoon (heaping) Salt
  •  Plenty Of Melted Butter
  • 2 cups Sugar
  •  Generous Sprinkling Of Cinnamon mixed with additional pumpkin pie spice
    ____
  •  MAPLE FROSTING:
  • 1 kg bag Powdered Sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Maple Flavoring
  • 1/4 cup room temperature Butter (salted is best for this recipe)
  • 4oz room temperature cream cheese
  • milk as needed to achieve consistency

Preparation Instructions

For the dough, heat the milk, vegetable oil, pumpkin puree and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat to just below a boil. Set aside and cool to warm. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit on the milk for 1 minute.
Add 10 cups of the flour. Stir until just combined, then cover with a clean kitchen towel, and set aside in a relatively warm place for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the towel and add the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1 cup flour. Add the remaining cup of flour as needed so dough is not sticky.  Use the dough right away, or place in a mixing bowl and refrigerate for up to 3 days, punching down the dough if it rises to the top of the bowl. (Note: dough is easier to work with if it’s been chilled for at least an hour or so beforehand.)
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
To assemble the rolls, remove half the dough from the pan/bowl. On a floured baking surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 30 x 10 inches. The dough should be rolled very thin.
To make the filling, pour 3/4 cup to 1 cup of the melted butter over the surface of the dough. Use your fingers to spread the butter evenly. Generously sprinkle half of the ground cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice (this is up to you- how do you like it?) and 1 cup of the sugar over the butter. Don’t be afraid to drizzle on more butter or more sugar! Gooey is the goal.
Now, beginning at the end farthest from you, roll the rectangle tightly towards you. Use both hands and work slowly, being careful to keep the roll tight. Don’t worry if the filling oozes as you work; that just means the rolls are going to be divine. When you reach the end, pinch the seam together and flip the roll so that the seam is face down. When you’re finished, you’ll wind up with one long buttery, cinnamony, sugary, gooey log.
Slip a cutting board underneath the roll and with a sharp serrated knife, make 1-inch slices. 
Repeat the rolling/sugar/butter process with the other half of the dough and more pans. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cover all the pans with a kitchen towel and set aside to rise on the countertop for at least 20 minutes before baking. Remove the towel and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until golden brown. Don’t allow the rolls to become overly brown.
While the rolls are baking, make the maple icing: In a large bowl, beat together the butter, cream cheese add powdered sugar and maple syrup. Whisk until very smooth. Taste and add in milk and more maple, sugar, butter, or other ingredients as needed until the icing reaches the desired consistency. The icing should be somewhat thick but still very pourable.
Remove pans from the oven. Immediately drizzle icing over the top. Be sure to get it all around the edges and over the top. As they sit, the rolls will absorb some of the icing’s moisture and flavor. They only get better with time… not that they last for more than a few seconds. 

The Countdown is on- to a GIVEAWAY!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

The weekend before last was what I like to call the official Holiday weekend kickoff!  It didn't go nearly as planned or how I had it all worked out  in my head. Usually we take in the Parade of Lights, kick back afterwards and watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and I start really planning Christmas gifts. This year we ended up not going and then by the time we figured out we could go it was late and we rushed to get to the city.By the time we got there the parade had started and there was just no way we were going to make it to our usual spot on Barrington street. Instead we ended up in from of the Casino struggling to get the kids close enough to see. Thankfully a friend of ours was also down by the Casino and had a good spot so we were able to hook up with them.

Austin danced, Amelia ooooh'ed and ahh'ed and Santa was the highlight (well the reindeer for Miss A.) We hustled and bustled to bring my nephew home and get the kids to bed, I made a dress and then hit the sack myself. No movie, no hot cocoa, no list.

I need a list night do-over. I love making my holiday list. Who is going to get what, what items I need to make, when I need to start, the whole shebang. I love giving gifts. I love thinking about each person on my list and trying to figure out what would make them happy. It may be a gag gift that makes them smile, something thoughtful that they didn't even know they needed or something practical that they know they need but never pick up (yes SH you are getting a silicone spatula...) I get pure enjoyment from seeing people smile.

It's time for me to add some new names to my list- my readers!

Thanks to all of you, my blog has been gaining a lot of momentum. I can't get over how many people are reading my babblings, pinning my projects and recipes and sharing what I have to say. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am truly grateful and I wanted to give you back some of the joy that you have brought me. I called on my awesome circle of crafty friends and starting November 28, I'll be hosting a countdown to Christmas giveaway! I can't wait to share these gifts with you and best of all all prizes will be awarded on Dec 13 so you can have them in time for the holidays!

I'm excited and you should be too because this contest is open for US/Canada citizens! (Some items may require additional shipping charges depending on location)

Merry Christmas!

I need this!!!- Christmas Baker's Edition Event GIVEAWAY

Monday, November 18, 2013

My kitchen is ALMOST done! Yes it has been a long haul but we're nearly there. The list of "To Dos" is getting much shorter. What is left is the painting of the cabinets, upgrading the hardware, making the new cabinet doors and boxes for the existing cabinets and installing the back splash. Those last two items are going to take a bit of time but hopefully not too much. It is almost Christmas baking season and I don't want to have an unfinished kitchen.

 I'm looking for accessories and THIS would be the best accessory of all! A brand new Kitchen Aid! Best of all it could be mine (or yours) FREE!



It’s Christmas Baker’s Edition Event
Organized by: Mom Powered Media
Grand Prize: KitchenAid Tilt-head Stand Mixer + accessories
Event dates: 11/18 - 12/9
Open to US + Canada
Referral prize: $25 Amazon E-Code or Paypal Cash

Bloggers: Sign Up HERE

I'll be posting some great recipies to go with this giveaway!

The Jingle Dress

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

I love Christmas fabric. Usually I can barely decide which fabric to use when I'm designing my holiday dresses. This year I wasn't having much luck finding a stand out fabric when I walked into the local fabric store and saw this gorgeous Ann Kelle fabric on the shelf. I couldn't resist the little birds in their Santa hats!



I love the fit of this dress. Amelia is very comfortable and loves to wear it. I love the elastic at the waist, neck and sleeves that give this dress a great fit.

took awhile for our model to warm up to the camera

I love me some polka dots too!
Everything about the dress just screams fun to me. And that is what the holidays are about, fun and family. This dress wears and washes well. I love that I can thrown leggings and a long sleeve shirt under this and she can wear it over and over. Dresses are fun and all but they have to be able to be worn for more than for pictures, church and the holiday dinner.


The little red shabbie comes off the sash and can be used as a hair clip too. Do you love the hair band? I do! Shelley created it and I just love the bling. I'm so thankful for my very talented cousin and friend Andrea for taking these shots. We had a reluctant model and I was sure there might have only been one good shot in the bunch. I'm not exactly sure how she managed to capture all of these.

Seriously...this girl kills me!

The dress is now available on our Facebook page and I'll be listing it in the Etsy shop soon. I'm so exciting to share this adorable dress with you!

A few of my favorite things- Christmas at the Forum Edition

Saturday, November 2, 2013

The sweets aren't even all gone and the Halloween decorations are still up but it's already Christmas craft fair season. Christmas at the Forum has always been a highlight for me and, while it has changed it terms of the type of crafter that has set up there I found a few gems last night. The craft show is still on until Sunday, November 3 at 5pm. If you are in the area go check it out and snatch up these gifts if you can!

HomeGrownGoods

Mandy has her awesome playdough, crayons and chalk for sale...and these awesome chalk mats {that's a total plug by the way...I made them for her :) }She's got great gifts for littles who like the create and I love that the playdough doesn't have any chemically stuff in it.







Stitches that Bind




Seriously cute dolls, wallets and bags. Amelia already has a super hero doll but if she';s good I think Santa might bring her a ballerina!







Blue Frog Creations



I picked up a new coffee cozy!!! Last year I grabbed two snowman cozies for gifts because I loved mine so much. I decided that December coffees will need a reindeer the keep my hand from burning. I also picked up a pot scrubber. She has an amazing selection of hats too!




Pink Bucket Designs

Krys makes awesome personalized (and practical) item. See this placemat? It's for Santa's cookies and clearly I bough one for my kids. There is a spot for them to write Santa a note. She makes dishes, cups, placemats, tags...you name she makes it. I'm excited to pick this one up and a countdown calendar too (See A1 &A2's little names are on her sample!)





M & A Doggie Delights

Homemade doggie treats and dry treat snack bags. She has a great selection and I know a few fur babies who will be getting these :)


East Coast Momma Collective

There are too many creative mommas to list  but you really need to check out this collaborative booth! I picked up some artwork by Jack and Jill and fell in love with a bunch of signs by From Heart Creations and so many gorgeous items you are bound to be able to find something for anyone on your list! Little Lemonade Stand has some gorgeous bunting there. I love mine and this is your chance to grab one before she runs out!







Ella's Cottage

I loved everything she had at this booth and then it got better...I was admiring her fabric selection and she told me that she sells the fabric...as if I needed another source to feed my addiction!!! And I consider PEI local so even better.. I can't wait to check out her selection. I wish she had a picture of her mustache quilt on her facebook page. I didn't get to grab a shot and it was beyond gorgeous!

Laughing Pear Soap Co.

I bough soap. All natural COFFEE soap! They use coffee grinds from a local supplier in their coffee soap and I was very impressed this morning. It doesn't have an overwhelming coffee scent or anything and my skin feels amazing! I will be buying more of these soaps for Christmas gifts. Love her packaging and company name too








I am trying to support local whenever I have the chance and I found a few new favorites at the Forum this year. I hope you get a chance to check it out! 2 for 1 admission Saturday night- grab a friend and go!
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