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.