Done and Done...Yay!

Can I just say, one more time, to reiterate, to clarify.....I.LOVE.DOING.THIS.  I love creating something one of a kind and meaningful for wonderful people!  I have had the priviledge to stay busy with "sign work" for months now.   It's awesome.  Did I say that already?  Just to reiterate....again.  ;-)

I'm so pleased to share Allison's sign.  Each sign I create I think THIS one has to be my favorite.  They're all my favorite...but I thought this one was really pretty too.  Okay, I think they're all pretty....but this was special because the sign is to commemorate the location Allison and her husband were married in.  Neat, huh?  So anyway, here's the reveal! 

Do you have a special wedding to honor?  I know someone who can hook you up with a cool sign.  Oh wait, you got me.  It's me. 

I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who thinks I'm funny. LOL 

I loved painting the details on Allison's sign.  Details are my favorite.  To reiterate....again.  ;-) 

THEN, I had the honor to create some fun address signs for a dear high school friend who now lives forty bajillion miles away...okay not forty..maybe twenty.  New Jersey...how far away is New Jersey? 

These will be well traveled signs. 

And the sign's mini-me.

Enjoy your signs ladies!  I've been working away at creating some signs for my Etsy shop.....hope to have the red carpet roll out by the weekend! :-)

Today

We were long overdue for a fun family day out.  Too bad Mother Nature has decided it's winter again in Iowa.  Oh well, that's why mittens were invented. :-)  My guys are geo-cachers...I'd never been.  We set out for the treasure hunt.....

 ....and found one. Under a bridge.  Neato.

 Treasure hunting is really hard work.  I mean, have you ever seen National Treasure?  There are car chases, bad guys, collapsing catwalks....okay our day was slightly less dangerous, but still tiring.

 I also bribed them with the thought of bulk gummy worms convinced my guys to swing by my FAVORITE bulk  Amish store, Stringtown Grocery.  I went crazy...just a little.  Seriously, who can resist organic whole wheat elbow macaroni?  Really?  You think you could?

 Hello Bear Family....I'm so happy you could visit with your cinnamony and blueberry-ey honey goodness.  Two honeys may seem excessive...but actually I had to take four others out of my cart...raspberry honey?  Strawberry honey? Shall I go on.  I'm going on a honey bender.  Keep your English muffins inside...or I'll swipe them and put honey on them. 

And the sprinkles.  They need no explanation.  Everyone needs sprinkles.

Happy family day.

Allison's Sign...A Sneakle Peakle

You're up Allison!  Here's your sneak peak! :-)  Can I just take a moment to say I.LOVE.MY.JOB.  That's what I'm calling it now....I am in the signpainting profession...self declared...that still counts, right? 

Allison's sign was really fun...a sign to remind her husband and herself of their wedding day.  I had lots of inspiration for this one....beautiful farm setting...Allison wanted "vintage" (my favorite!!), awesome piece of wood.

As soon as it finds itself in its new home I'll unveil!

Willow Avenue Pottery Sign..REVEAL

After being a tease, I can finally reveal Becky's sign!  I had the honor of meeting Becky, of Willow Avenue Pottery, yesterday.  She is delightful.  The grand opening of Willow Avenue Pottery is April 9th, and if you are anywhere near central Iowa you simply must stop out and see her amazing pottery.  Oh...and she's also hosting a giveaway right now on her blog....you don't want to miss that!

I love how this sign turned out.  I can't believe the good fortune I had several weekends ago at the ReStore.  This piece of wood practically jumped into my cart, screaming "I'M FOR BECKY!!".  Perfect size, perfect distressing, yay!   There are lots of distressing techniques for new wood, but nothing compares to aged distressed wood...the kind that happens by accident.  ALSO, this wonderful blue green background paint color hopped off the shelf at the ReStore too.  Sometimes you really have to dig through the paint pile to find the good stuff.  Wear your dirty clothes, bring a paint can opener and don't be shy. 

The sign will soon be going up in Becky's window....I'll be sure to link you to that! 

Thanks again for your patronage Becky!!

The Best Italian Beef Ever

This recipe is for Shannon....who asked me if Italian Beef was a "Midwest thing".  I really have no clue...but I do know I tried one IB recipe that was not great...and then I got this one from a friend....this one will ROCK YOUR SOCKS MISS SHANNANIGAN.   My kids loved it, my husband loved it.....it's definitely on the list of things to pop in the freezer for our week away (to somewhere much warmer and much more palm tree-ey) when my folks will be here holding down the fort. 

 I'm going to be nice like that and fill the freezer with ready-to-go stuff. 

So now you're thinking "enough blabbering, give me the recipe already lady."  Right? 
That's okay...here you go. 

I used a two pound roast from our meat guy, Nick.  Use whatever meat guy you like....but Nick rocks.  I just like to know where my meat comes from...call me crazy like that.  

You will also need a packet of dry Italian dressing mix.

Throw the thawed roast, the seasoning packet and 2 cups of water in the crock pot.  Put it on low at 8am.  About 2pm your meat should easily shred.  Shred it up, put it back in the pot...or just shred it in the pot like I did and save the mess. 

Spill in a little pepperoncini juice....then cut up a couple pepperoncinis and throw those in....however many you like...go crazy.

Let that whole show cook on low for the rest of the day (until supper).  Lay out some nice bakery buns on a cookie sheet, plop a blob of meat on the bottoms, cover the meat with a slice of provolone or whatever cheese floats your boat, broil til the cheese melts.   Enjoy!

Willow Avenue Pottery Sign....A Sneakle Peakle

It's done Becky!!  I was so excited to get the sign done for Willow Avenue Pottery that I just went gungho into the night last night!  I think it will be lovely in Becky's front window.  I was so fortunate to find this amazing blue green paint color at the ReStore on Saturday....and the incredible PERFECTLY sized piece of "distressed" wood.  I can't wait to show you all the whole sign....but first Becky should see it.  I'll be dropping it to her studio on Saturday! 

Crystal and Allison....you're next on deck!

Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

If you make donuts yourself they are zero calorie.  Did you know that? 

That's my story and I'm stickin' with it. ;-)

I'm sorry Michael...I know I'm not making it easy for you lately.

These little loverlies are baked...not fried.  Even better, no?

They look yummy, you can't deny.  Run off and make some...I'll wait.

Ours are almost gone.  Seems they are boy-approved.

We can thank Pinterest for this wonderful little recipe find....go here for the recipe!