I just wanted to share the latest Mormon Messages video.
I LOVED it.
Charity IS the pure love of Christ.
Enjoy.

I have done a lot of blog surfing these last few days.
I have found some awesome stuff!
Be sure to visit:
It is an awesome little website I stumbled upon today.
These Nicholette and Vanessa are SO creative!
I am loving their Newspaper Rings.
Go check them out HERE!
Happy Wednesday!

The List

I know what your thinking.
A random post.
What's going on here at ADP?
I decided to get more involved with this little blog of mine.
I want to make it more fun.
A little more of a look into
my love of all things crafty, yummy, and beautiful!

This post is about my list.
What list you ask?
The PROJECT List.
It is never ending.
It is ever growing.
I hope to start slimming it down.
And soon!

So just for my own record keeping,
here is the list:

Project List:
- Singed Flower Headbands
- Practice making the Cookies for my kids birthdays.
- Make my own Candlesticks.
- Make THESE with Dallin's drawings, to decorate the playroom.
-Make Rylee a bubble skirt.
-Make Dallin a tool belt.
-Make me a travel pouch.
-Make me some earrings to put in that travel pouch.
I have a bunch more, but for now it's a start.
Wish me luck! I will be posting on Super Saturday the ones I finish,
so...stay tuned!

Singed Flower
I am sure many of you know how to make these.
I have seen them everywhere and wanted some
for me and some for my baby girl.
Here is my tutorial!

Supply List:
-Organza fabric made of 100% nylon, rayon, or polyester
(you don't need much, so scraps will work)
-Scissors
-Lighter
-Needle and Thread
-Center Embellishment

Step 1) - Cut 4 circles out of the fabric.
I cute mine with one large and made the other three slightly smaller than eachother.Step 2) - Melt the edges of each piece using your lighter.
(The longer you heat a spot, the more curl you will get,
careful not to light it on fire)

Step 3) - Stack the pieces on top of eachother.

Step 4) - Take your needle and thread and put a stitch in the middle.

Step 5) - Tie it off in the back and embellish how you would like!

In the very first photo is my finished product,
I added a bobby pin to the back for fun hair accessory!
There are SO many other uses for these flowers.
Check out Drab to Fab's ideas!

I LOVE Red Velvet Cake.
I don't make it very often,
because I would eat the whole thing.

I thought I would share the recipe.

Red Velvet Cake

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 Tablespoon cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 oz. red food coloring

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease and flour two 8 inch cake pans.
• Lightly stir eggs in a medium bowl with a wire whisk. Add remaining liquid ingredients and stir together with whisk until blended. Set aside.
• Place all the dry ingredients in your mixing bowl and stir together really good with another wire whisk.
• Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix on medium-high for about a minute or until completely combined.
• Pour into cake pans and then drop the pans on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles.
• Bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• After about ten minutes, remove from pans and cool completely on a wire rack. I also cover in plastic wrap while the cakes cool.
• Then make the frosting.

::Source - Bakerella.com::

I love finding a good deal!
That is pretty much the point of my Frugal Friday posts!
My good deal for today is from me!
Starting today, and only for the weekend,
I am offering 30% off your order at Designs by Lei.
After that it is 20% off for the whole month!
Be sure to get your orders in soon!Thanks to Recessionista RPDD for this opportunity!
All you have to do is order and mention Recessionista and you will automatically get 30% off, and then 20% thereafter!
Be sure to check out RPDD and Designs by Lei!
Happy Friday!

This will be short and sweet.

I have been thinking a lot about things I am blessed with daily.
My health is one of them.
Rarely am I sick.
Rarely is there a day where I don't have the energy to take care of my family.
Rarely do I have any health problems whatsoever.
Being adopted I have always wondered what sort of things might run in my biological family, like high blood pressure, breast cancer, etc.
I have stressed about it a time or two.
Then I realize I don't have anything to worry about.
I am healthy.
I haven't had any problems.
I think it is a tender mercy from my Heavenly Father.
He blesses me with health.
I am ever thankful.
I have a healthy body, mind, and spirit.
So today and everyday, I will count as one of my blessings, a healthy body.

I blog surf ALOT. Probably too much.
But in my surfings I find awesome websites to share,
and add to my every growing link list.

Today's website is pretty awesome.
It's How Does She.com.
It is full of inspiration.
It's one of my favorite daily spots to visit.
I love to browse and find new and exciting ideas.
Go check it out!
Happy Wednesday!

Today's tutorial is a zipper flower
from Linda at Craftaholics Anonymous.
Isn't is awesome?!
Go check it out and make yourself one!

I am not sure what happened last Thursday and Friday.
I got really busy and didn't post. So sorry...
We are trying to finish the entertainment center,
and we had a family get together this weekend.
I know those aren't good excuses,
but that's what we have been up to!

Today's recipe is:
Honey Lemon Salmon
Neil made it for me for our Valentines Dinner.
It's his recipe.
Enjoy!

Ingredients:

4 Salmon Fillets
1 Lemon
4 tsp. chopped garlic
3 Tbs. creamed honey
4 Tbs Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning.

Preparation:
- Layout foil and place all four fillets on it.
- Squeeze juice from the lemon on fillets.
- Spread honey on fillets, dividing it evenly.
-Spread garlic on the salmon, dividing evenly.
- Shake seasoning on.
- Wrap foil up into a packet.
-Place on the grill and cook for 30 minutes or until Salmon is done.

I have been a little behind this week on my daily posts.
I do apologize.
It has been crazy around here lately.
But today I am going to highlight my business website.It just got a makeover,
go check it out!
And if you know anyone in the market for invitations and announcements,
you know who to contact!
Happy Wednesday!

2" Mini Basic Bow

I love to make these with my ribbon scraps.
Someday Rylee will have hair,
and I will have quite the collection to adorn her lovely locks!

Supplies List:
7/8" Grosgrain Ribbon Scrap
3/8" Grosgrain Ribbon Scrap
Hot Glue Gun
Scissors
Lighter - to heat seal
Needle and Thread

Tutorial:
Step 1) Use a scrap or cut piece of 7/8" grosgrain ribbon to 3 1/2".
Prep the ribbon by heat sealing the ends.

Step 2) Fold the ribbon in half.

Step 3) Create a crease.

Step 4) Bring the ends to the middle crease,
and overlap just a little bit.

Step 5) Now with a needle and thread,
make a running stitch through the middle.

Step 6) Pull through and wrap the thread around the center.
Tie it off in the back of the bow.

Step 7) Cut a piece of 3/8" grosgrain ribbon to 2 1/4".Step 8) Place a small amount of glue on either side
of the center ribbon.
Fold to meet in the middle as shown:

Step 9) Place a dab of glue where you will be wrapping the ribbon.
Wrap the folded part (shown in step 8) around the center,
and then cut off the excess and glue closed.
Add your favorite clip or bobby pin and your done!

Tutorial Copyright: adailypostforyou.blogspot.com

In honor of Valentines Day,
I am sharing this delectable recipe,
and these are my all time favorite cookie!
Happy Baking!

Shortbread Raspberry Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup butter, room temp
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Filling:
1/4 - 1/2 cup raspberry jam
2 ounces white chocolate, grated

Preparation:

In separate bowl whisk the flour with the salt. Set aside.

In bowl cream butter until smooth. Add sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Gently stir in the flour mixture until incoporated. Flatten dough into a disk shape. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

On lightly flour surface roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick. Use your favorite cookie cutter to cut out dough. Place the cookies about 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheet. Using a matching smaller cookie cutter, cut out he centers of half of all the cookies on the baking sheet. ( You will be sandwhiching the two cookies together and there will be a small window or cut out in the top so you can see the jam underneath.) Place the unbaked cookies in the refrigerator for about 15 min. This will firm up the dough so the cookies will maintain their shape when baked.

Bake for 10 min. or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

Assemble the cookies:
Place the cookies with the cut-outs on a wire rack and dust the tops with powder sugar.

On the bottom surface of the full cookie, spread about 1/4 - tsp of jam. Sprinkle with a little grated white chocolate. Place the cut-out cookie on top and gently sandwhich them together.

Makes about 12 sandwhich cookies.

::Source: Photo and recipe thanks to www.joyofbaking.com::

The main project around our house lately
is our new entertainment center.
We have progress ALOT since my last post about it.
Here was where I left you last,Here is the piece we finished today,
it will house the sound system reciever
DVD player, as well as hold our new 50" TV on it.

Here is a completed side.
We need to finish the doors for the middle piece
and the drawers for the base piece.
(Don't mind the strange ghostly elements in the photo,
our camera picks up the tiniest flecks of dust...)

And here is the whole thing so far,
as you can see with doodles,
we still need to add the top shelf.After we finish that we will be sanding,
adding edge banding,
and staining it!

For us the cost is out weighing the price of buying one from a store.
It is exciting to see the fruits of our labors too.
We did choose to use a nicer wood so it would last longer,
but we are still under $400.
It is going to be beautiful!
We are SO excited to get it done,
and equally excited to get a new TV!!
More pictures to come soon!

:: Thanks to Ana at Knock off Wood for her amazing plans!!::

In other news,
I am rejoining the CT's at Manda's Scrappin Creations!!I am SO excited!
I will be posting my pages,
and the great kits you can purchase from Amanda,
here on my site.
So be sure to stay updated!
I begin soon and I can't wait!
Thanks again Amanda for this opportunity!

Looking for some great kid buys?
Visit Nick Jr.'s online shop:Right now they are have a 50% sale online, even on clearance items!
Happy shopping!

Lately I have done a lot of thinking about where I come from.
Being adopted it is always on my mind.
I found THESE videos last night and felt an overwhelming feeling of gratitude.
Each of these women went through a different expirience.
Each of them gave up a baby.
Each of them are heroes.
My birth mother is also a hero.
I am grateful that my birth mother was unselfish enough to give me up.
I am grateful that she was able to show unconditional love.
I am grateful to have my Mom who was able to adopt me,
provide for me, love me, and who is one of my best friends.
I cherish the love my parents have for me.
I recognize their sacrifice to raise me and give me a life I might not have otherwise had.
Though I don't know my biological mother,
I do know this, she gave me life, and I love her for that.

Are you looking for awesome homemade baby gifts?
Go browse Baby Bug Creations!Ashley makes some amazing stuff!
I have worked with her a little bit,
and she is one awesome woman!
So take a minute and check out her stuff!
Happy Shopping!

This week at MADE they are highlighting all things BOY!
I found this tutorial over there and thought I would share.
For those of you with awesome sewing skills,
here is a little boy's shirt tutorial,
I think it is incredible!
Click Here to see the 90 min. tutorial!

:: Source - Photo and tutorial from MADE::

I found this recipe on Kevin and Amanda.com.
I am making it this week!
Just thought I would share, Enjoy!

Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo

2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup diced onion
1/4 cup diced celery
1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tbsp minced garlic

4 cups chicken stock
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 cup rice
2 cups water
1 tsp salt

2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
1 tablespoon file powder

3/4 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 pound smoked sausage

In a large pot or dutch oven, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium-low heat. When foamy, add the onion, celery, red peppers and salt and “sweat” for 5-7 mins, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook 5 more mins until the onions begin to turn translucent.

Add the chicken stock. Add the black pepper, cayenne pepper and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer and cover.

Start the rice- combine 1 cup rice, 2 cups water, and 1 tsp salt. Bring to boil, cover, and let simmer over low heat for 14-15 mins.

Meanwhile, slice the sausage and add to a skillet. Turn the heat to medium, and cook, tossing occasionally until browned, about 7-10 mins. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to the gumbo. Pour off any excess fat left in the skillet.

In the same skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter. When foamy, add 2 tbsp flour and whisk until incorporated and the roux is light brown and fragrant, about 2-3 mins. Add to gumbo, and stir, then add file powder and stir until it is well incorporated.

Add the shrimp, turn off the heat, cover and allow to sit for 10 mins before serving. Serve over rice.

Makes 4 servings.

::Source: Image and Recipe from KevinandAmanda.com::