To Make You Smile!

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote 'Revelation 3:20' on the back of it and stuck it in the door.

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, 'Genesis 3:10.' Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter.

Revelation 3:20 begins 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.' Genesis 3:10 reads, 'I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked.'

Remember when the funniest jokes were the clean ones? They still are!

Item: TBAS

Adorable baby/toddler bracelet made from pewter and metal beads with a metal lobster clasp and grow chain. Czech crystal dangle.

4.5"-5.5" adjustable

$12

Easiest Bread EVER!

I found this recipe for this oh so easy Artisan bread on this blog. I could NOT believe how easy it was and it turned out great! It is crusty and crunchy on the outside with a great texture on the inside. You could season the dough in different ways with herbs and spices. Anyway, give it a try. I made it go with lasagna and my family loved it!

Artisan Bread (makes one loaf)

Ingredients:

3 1/4 Cups Flour

3/4 Tbsp Instant Yeast

3/4 Tbsp Salt

1 1/2 Cups warm water

(I added about 2 tsps. of garlic powder to mine)

Directions: Mix ingredients together. I used my Kitchen Aid stand mixer with dough hook and let it knead for about 5 minutes, but the original recipe does not call for kneading at all. I also had to add a bit more flour. The ratio of flour to water that bread recipes use really depends on where you live and the moisture content of your flour. You want the dough to not be totally sticky. It should not be sticking to the sides of the bowl.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough sit for 3 hours (longer if you want, or need).

With Olive Oil on your hands and counter take the dough (which will be gooey and sticky) and form into a round/circular loaf and place in a round casserole dish with lid that you have sprayed with cooking spray. Rub some extra olive oil on the top of the loaf once you have it in the dish. Cover and bake in fully preheated 450 degree oven for 30 minutes. Take the lid off and bake for another 15 minutes. Remove from the dish, cover with a dry towel and allow to cool somewhat before slicing. Enjoy!

PS. Stay tuned for my delicious lasagna recipe!

Baby/Toddler/Children's bracelets with freshwater pearls

The bracelets below are made with metal lobster clasps and extender chains. They feature freshwater pearls and other beads. Prices as listed

Item: BTCFP1 5"-6" adj.

Peacock freshwater pearls and clear Swarovski crystals.

$14

Item: BTCFP2 4.5"-5.5" adj.

Off-white freshwater pearls with pink Cats eye beads and smoke glass cubes. Pewter spacers.

$14

Item:BTCFP3 4.25"-5.25" adj.

Off-white freshwater pearls.

$12

Item: BTCFP4 5.75"-6.75"

Pink and off white freshwater pearls with opaque pink opal Swarovski crystals.

$14

Toddler/Children's bracelets with Cat's Eye Fiber Optic Beads

The bracelets below are made with metal lobster clasps and extender chains. One has a toggle clasp. They each feature fiber optic Cat's Eye beads, as well as other beads. Please email me with any questions at adornmail@gmail.com

Price: $12 each

Item:TCCE1 5"-6" adjustable

Item: TCCE2 5.5"-6.5" adj.


Item: TCCE3 5"-6" adj.

Item: TCCE4 6"

Item: TCCE5 5.5"-6.5" adj

Toddler/Children's Bracelets with Mother of Pearl Discs

The bracelets below are for babies and children. They have metal clasps and some have metal extender chains. They all include mother of pearl disc beads, and some include other beads as well. Please email me with any questions at adornmail@gmail.com

Price: $12 each

Item: TCMP1 6"-7" adjustable

Item: TCMP3 6.5" or 7" (toggle clasp with 2 stations)


Item: TCMP 4 5.5"-6.5" adj.

Item: TCMP5 5.5"-6.5"

Item: TCMP6 5.75"-6.75" adj

Item: TCMP 8 5.5"-6.5" adj.

Item: 1141

Necklace made from 12mm Rose Czech crystals with an off center focal point made from a crystal quartz rectangular nugget, pewter bead caps, and jet Czech crystals. The rose crystals look very pretty against the skin. Lobster claw clasp with a 3" extender chain

17" (plus 3" extension)

$29

Coordinating earrings

$9

Item: 1139

SOLD!! Necklace made from ceramic "dragon art" beads, jet Czech crystals, and pewter bead caps and spacers. Pewter hook clasp.

18"

$29

matching earrings:

hang 1.5" below earwire $9

Sterling Silver Baby Bracelets

The bracelets below are made from sterling silver findings, including a lobster clasp and 1" "grow" chain.

Price: $16 each

Please see above each picture for length. If you have questions about the beads used, please email me at adornmail@gmail.com .

Item: SSB5 4.5"-5.5" adj.

Yesterday's Venture

So, yesterday I got crazy and decided to try making these sticky buns that I had seen on a Food Network episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay. So, I found the recipe here on Food Network's website. Now, this recipe had alot of bad reviews. People said it was unclear and didn't work out. So, I did make a couple of changes:

First of all, in the recipe for the brioche dough, they have included directions for baking the brioche into a loaf. Don't do that:) After you knead the dough, put it in a bowl and cover it and put it in the refrigerator for 6 hours. That's right, 6 hours! It takes a LONG time to make these. Mine didn't get done until nearly midnight. I started at 1:00 pm. So start early, or leave the dough in the fridge overnight and make them in the morning. It makes about 15 buns, not 6!

Ok, for the ingredients in the brioche, I had to change them a bit. When I did what the recipe said, the dough was so dry that even my bosch mixer couldn't knead it. It just moved it around in circles in the bowl. So, after consulting another brioche recipe, I decided to add 2 more eggs. I also decreased the butter to 2 sticks (1 cup). This seemed to work really well. I also did not have high gluten flour, so I just added 2 Tbsp. gluten to my regular flour. Also, the lady who gave the recipe uses cake yeast. I used 2 Tbsp. of instant yeast, which you can buy at Sam's or Costco. And I did not use ice water, just regular water.

For the filling in the rolls, I increased the cinnamon from 1 tsp. to 1 Tbsp.

For the Goo recipe, I added 1 tsp. vanilla and did NOT add the water it calls for. Also, I think it is important to melt the butter, then add the brown sugar and then boil those together for a few minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved. On my candy thermometer, it reached about 250 degrees. I lined my pan with parchment paper, poured in the goo, and added an extra cup of chopped pecans to the pan. This is the way it was on the show, but they didn't write it in the recipe.

Just a note: 1 ounce=2 Tbsp.

So, all in all I thought this was a pretty easy recipe. It is VERY sweet and gooey. It took about 20 minutes longer to bake than the recipe says. I think my 9x13 pan was a bit too small. A large roasting pan would have been better. If the middle isn't done and the top is already brown, just cover it loosely with foil to keep the top from browning further.

Ok, let me know if you are brave enough to give these a try!

A Bit About Me...and a recipe

So, I thought it would be fun to do a post and tell you a little about myself. My name is Emily and I am a stay at home mom to 4 sons. I have another son on the way, due in June. Mostly my days are filled with driving kids around, making meals, and cleaning up after kids. I was raised in a family of seven girls (I am right in the middle). So, I really have no idea what to do with boys! I have learned that boys are very loud, very active, and very messy! They are also quite funny and my youngest is the snuggliest child I have ever known!

So, after finding that this baby I am carrying is going to be another boy, I was really mourning the loss of a daughter. I think this will be our last child, and coming from a family of girls it is sad for me to think I will never have a daughter. BUT, I have come to terms with it and I am trying to embrace being the mother of a basketball team!

The thing about me, though, is that I am very girly. I really like to do girly things. So, jewelry making is one way I put that girly energy to use. I also have a degree in interior architecture and design. So, I sort of have that creative energy. Another thing I like to do is bake (and eat) sweets! Unfortunately, I am NOT one of those people that can just eat whatever they want. So, sometimes I have to restrict myself from baking, because the truth is I really have no self-control when it comes to eating baked goods! BUT, since I am pregnant with my LAST child, I figure this is my last "excuse" to eat some yummy treats! So, I have been allowing myself to bake a little more lately.

Today, I decided to make homemade buttermilk donuts for my kids in honor of St. Patrick's Day. We also had these on New Year's Eve. They are not hard to make, but it is helpful if you have someone to assist you in the assembly line. I am sharing the recipe, so if you make them, plet me know how you liked them. Enjoy!

Homemade Buttermilk Donuts

2 cups buttermilk

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

5 1/2 cups flour

2 tsps baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp fresh grated nutmeg

1/4 cup melted butter

Glaze

a bowl of powdered sugar

a splash of vanilla

a little melted butter

enough milk to make it turn into a good consistency for dipping donuts

Chocolate Glaze

same as above, but omit the vanilla and add some cocoa powder (I use Hershey's dark)

Ok, so I don't always measure. If you don't feel comfortable mixing up your own glaze just find a recipe for one somewhere. They are all about the same.

Directions:

Put the buttermilk, eggs, sugar and vanilla in a bowl mix it up. I use my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix it up until combined. Put a bunch of flour on the counter and plop the dough in the middle. Sprinkle some flour on top and then roll out your dough to about 1/4" thickness. Make sure there is plently of flour underneath so it doesn't stick. Cut out your donuts. You can re-roll the scraps and use them too. And don't forget to fry your donut holes...the kids love them! Fry in vegetable oil heated to 375-385 degrees. Fry until golden brown on both sides. You can test one to make sure the inside gets cooked. Drain on paper towels. I like to eat them warm, so I glaze them when they are warm. Or you can let them cool and then glaze them. To glaze them, just dip them in the glaze and them put them on a cookie sheet to dry. Makes about 2 dozen large donuts or 4 dozen small ones.

Item: 1103

SOLD! Simple bracelet with black line agate ovals, pewter beads, and crystal quartz nuggets. Pewter toggle clasp and agate dangle.

7"

$24

Item: 1104

SOLD! Bracelet with off-white freshwater pearls, jet and dark red Czech crystals, and pewter spacers and bead caps. Pewter toggle clasp.

7.5"

$24

Item: 1101

Bracelet with smoke Czech crystals, flat cream other of pearl discs, and pewter beads and bead caps. The smoke crystals go well with black or brown. Pewter toggle clasp.

7"

$24

Item: 1111

SOLD!! Bracelet with rose toned gemstone nuggets and brown cats eye beads. Pewter bead caps and pewter toggle clasp with a cats eye dangle.

7.5"

$24

Item: 1120

Wide cuff-like bracelet with large gemstone rectangles, pewter beads, and bronze seed beads. Pewter toggle clasp.

6.25" (this is for a very small wristed person. wrist should be 5.5")

$24

Item: 1121

Gemstone and brown glass oval bead necklace. Double strand. Antique copper toggle clasp. Top strand is 16"

$28

Item: 1099

Bracelet with clear crystal quartz nuggets, dark red Czech crystals, and pewter bead caps with a pewter toggle clasp.

7.5"

$24

Item: 1115

SOLD! Bracelet with real turquoise nuggets and pewter beads. Pewter toggle clasp. Nice mix of blues and greens in the nuggets with the one mostly brown turquoise nugget.

7"

$24

Item: 1097

SOLD! Bracelet with 3 large new jade nuggets, copper bead caps and toggle clasp, and green freshwater pearls.

7"

$24

Item: 1096

SOLD! Bracelet with rose quartz nuggets, pink Czech crystals, pewter spacers, beautiful pink cloissone beads and a pewter toggle clasp with hearts.

7"

$24

Item: 1095

Bracelet with crystal quartz nuggets, pewter spacers, and smoke Czech crystals. Pewter toggle clasp. Smoke crystals can be worn with black or brown as they pick up the color they are near.

7.75"

$24

Item: 1092

Bracelet with light green freshwater pearl discs, olivine Czech crystals with pewter bead caps, green gemstone rectangles and a pewter toggle clasp with a Czech crystal dangle.

7.5"

$24

Item: 1086

SOLD!! Bracelet With 3 "cherry quartz" rectangular nuggets, pewter bead caps, and off-white freshwater pearls. Pewter toggle clasp.

7.5"

$24

Item: 1083

SOLD!! Necklace made from nine chunky gemstone beads, each framed by pewter bead caps. Bead are wire wrapped together for a more delicate look. Silver colored chain and a hook clasp finish off the necklace.

18"-21" adjustable

$29

Giveaway Winner

Thank you so much to all who entered this giveaway! It was so fun to see which pieces caught your eye. Thank you for all the sweet comments complimenting my work. A special thank you to those who spread the word via email!



I will be putting on more giveaways in the future...probably monthly. If you did not sign up for my email list, I hope you will consider doing so. It is spam free! I do not send out emails all that often, but when I do they are usually to let my subscribers know about special sales, promotions, and giveaways! I have even had sales that ONLY my subscribers were alerted to.



Now, for the winner. I used the random integer generator and here is what I got:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:144
Timestamp: 2009-03-06 15:04:58 UTC



Commenter #144 is Susie Q! Susan, please email me to claim your prize!

adornmail@gmail.com





Once again, thanks to all of you for playing! I hope you will visit my blog again soon! I deeply appreciate my customers in their choice to purchase handmade! Have a wonderful day everyone!

Giveaway!

I am giving away $35 in free jewelry! Leave a comment here stating your favorite Adorn item to be entered in the drawing.

Deadline: Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 11:00 pm Pacific

For an additional entry: Send an email to 5 friends telling them about this giveaway. Carbon Copy me at adornmail@gmail.com , then leave a comment that says "email".
For a third entry: Sign-up for our email list, then leave a comment that says "subscriber". If you are already a subscriber, just leave the comment.

Good Luck!

Item: 0212

19" Necklace with hexagonal gemstone beads, pewter spacers, hemalyke rounds, and black oval mother of pearl beads. Mathcing earrings measure 1.5", excluding earwire.

$28/ set

Item:0121b

*Necklace with chocolate brown, slightly metallic finish, lumbang nuts with rose quartz nuggets and pewter beads. Strung on waxed cotton cord. You tie to adjust the length.

$24

Item: 0116b

Baby bracelets made of grosgrain ribbon with pink, green and brown flowers on a white background. Grown chain with flower or heart and crystal dangle. Please give me the child's wrist measurement when ordering. If wrist measurement is not available, specify age on order form.

$8 each

Item: 0116a

*Matching mother and baby bracelet set featuring red Czech crystals, platinum grey glass pearls, and metal spacers. Comes with a beautiful poem.

7" adult

$22/set

Item: 0116

*Matching mom and baby bracelet set. Aqua glass pearls with aqua glass crystals and metal spacers. Comes with a beautiful poem.

7.5"adult

$20/set

Item: WB-a

Watch band featuring tortoise Czech crystals, brown glass crystals with metal bead caps, pewter spacers and cream glass pearls.

6.25" (add this to the length of your watch face to determine size)

$15

Item: 0115e

SOLD!! Watch with 2 interchangeable bands to be worn together or seperately. Additional bands can be purchased seperately. One band features large african green turquoise nuggets and pewter beads. The other features pewter beads, african green turquoise rondelles and creamy gemstone rounds.

7.5"

$38

Item: 0115c

SOLD! Watch with 2 interchangeable bands to be worn seperately or together. Extra bands can be purchased seperately. One band features all pewter beads. The other features rectangular gemstones in green and gold hues with green freshwater pearls. Stunning beaded watch face.

7"-7.5"

$38