Away for a bit…

Hello everyone…hope you are all having a good week. Just wanted to let you know I won’t have my laptop and internet access for about a week. Stay creative and enjoy this beautiful weather!!! :)

Homemade Pizza & some laughs!

Last Saturday evening I threw a girl’s night at our apartment. It was a small simple get together, but it was SO much fun! Making our own pizzas, watching a movie (Johnny English – HILARIOUS if you haven’t seen it), and topped it off with some Pictionary.

I started making the dough about 2.5 hours before the party.

2.5 hours later…the dough was MUCH larger :)

I think I had probably every topping you can think of on the table…more than one option is nice :)

And here is one of the finished products! :) They were SO good!

Here is the recipe for all you to try…this allows for 1 large pizza, 2 medium pizzas, or 4 individual pizzas…I doubled the recipe for the party to created 8 individual pizzas for the girls.

Easy Pizza Dough Recipe

• 1 cup warm water (approximately 110 degrees F)
• 2.25 tsp. (1 Packet) Active Dry Yeast
• 1 Tb. sugar or honey
• 2 tsp. salt (preferably kosher)
• 2 Tb. oil (preferably olive oil)
• 3 c. bread flour
  • I actually just learned that bread flour allows for a crispier crust…although you can still use an all-purpose flour also.
• + additional oil to coat bowl
• + Semolina flour or Cornmeal for bottom of pizza

1. In a large bowl pour 1 cup warm water over 2.25 teaspoons active dry yeast. Allow the yeast to “wake up” for about 5-10  minutes (this means the yeast will dissolve and you will see bubbles in the mixture).

2. Add in the sugar/honey, salt, and oil. mix together with a wooden spoon.

3. 1 cup at a time, add the 3 cups of bread flour; mixing well in between each one.

4. Lightly flour a working surface and place the dough mixture on the counter. Knead for approximately 10 minutes (FYI: you wrists and arms will get a workout). Shape dough into a ball.

5. Then coat a large clean bowl  in oil. Also lightly cover your ball in oil also, place in the bowl, cover with plastic wrap & a kitchen towel.

6. Place the pizza dough in a warm area, and allow to rise for about 2 hours.

7. Preheat over to 500 degrees F. (preheat oven with baking stone if you will be using it – use one or the other…pizza pan or baking stone)

8. After dough has risen, sprinkle your surface (counter, plate, pizza dish, etc.) with Semolina or Cornmeal and roll out the dough to your desired thickness or size.

9. Go topping crazy!!! :) Anything and everything you want goes on top…don’t forget the cheese!

10. Bake in a 500 degree F oven for approximately 10 minutes or until the crust has become lightly golden & crispy, and the cheese has melted…and enjoy!

Prayer is a powerful thing…

So today wasn’t a regular day…I spent most of the day at the hospital for my brother-in-law…he has been very pale, dizzy, & even fainted since Saturday. At first we all thought it wasn’t a big deal and that he would finally would get over it…but Wednesday came around and it got worse. My mother-in-law took him to the hospital and thankfully at a good time (he collapsed there at the ER). And we had many people praying for him Tuesday night and still to this moment. We finally found out that he had a stomach ulcer and lost lots of blood. Thank you God for hearing all those prayers and helping him get better so fast. He is already home with color in his cheeks. First and foremost thank you to God and also to all those who prayed for our family these past couple days…be blessed!

1 <3 My…

Aren’t these the cutest recipe cards! :)

And guess what…they are free!!!

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You can go right here and print them!

I originally saw them on How About Orange Blog … there are many printables on her blog!

DIY Headband Revisited

One of my readers Ilona did the DIY headband last week, but backwards and with a bow!

So cute Ilona! Thank you for sharing!

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You can follow Ilona on Tumblr right here.

DIY Headband

This is probably the easier & prettiest headband DIY ever! And what’s so great is you can use any fabric, any color, & any pattern…why didn’t I think of this?? :)

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A flower for you!

Happy International Women’s Day to all the ladies out there! Here’s a tulip for you! My mom said that when she lived back in Belarus the ladies would be given yellow tulips every year!

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Wood paneling? Really?!?!

Yes really! :) I know it sounds weird, but I’m not talking about the 1970’s paneling with orange shag carpet and a green couch! I’m talking about the new modern wood walls & reclaimed wood walls. I have loved this look for a while, but since we live in an apartment I can’t ruin the walls…I probably could, but would cost me our deposit :)

Here are a few of my favorite looks…the first few are clean, simple, & modern:

But I think I like this rustic, reclaimed look better…just looks great in modern or industrial style rooms:

I think this would be AWESOME on a whole wall…they are tree branches cut on the bias in different heights…Or just as an art piece :) What do you think??

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What do you think?

So what do you think of the new design? Please let me know...I would love to hear from the readers! If you notice something that doesn't look right or needs to be updated; please let me know! I may have just missed it...thank you!

Pretty Nails…

Did you know there is a certain way to paint nail? Well at least a suggested way! :) Check it out…

Also here are a few of the nail colors I am loving right now! Light and sparkly!

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DIY Floral Wool Scarf

I totally forgot about this project! For our Girl’s Bible Study we have a Christmas party every year. This year we decided, if we have a chance, to make something homemade for our Secret Santa. I came across a Floral Wool Scarf DIY, and actually used this tutorial, and it took me only a few hours! I loved it SO much…should make one for myself :) This my Secret Santa Natalya in her new scarf! :) I got my wool felt from Joann Fabrics + used a 40% off coupon. So for less than $20 and a few hours you have something unique and special! Enjoy!! (Yes, I know winter is almost over)

image credit belongs to One Fell Swoop