Tasty Tuesday - Chocolate Chip Cookies

I finally did it!

I actually found a recipe for perfect chocolate chip cookies!

I have tried to make chocolate chip cookies many times and they never turn out.

I don't know if I just never put enough flour in the mix or I let them bake too long, but I just couldn't get the cookie to look or taste right.  

Remember that cookies and milk theme bridal shower that I helped throw for my cousin?

Well that is where I came across this recipe and made it work for me.

You can download the recipe by clicking on the link.

I don't know if the key was 1/2 shortening and 1/2 butter,

1/4 cup extra flour I added to the recipe,

Or the fact that in my oven I cooked them for exactly 9 minutes.

But they were soft and chewy and tasted just like my mom's homemade cookies.

Even the hubs said they tasted like he remembers his grandma's cookies tasted.

He eats almost anything, but he hasn't liked my previous attempts at chocolate chip cookies til now!

Give these cookies a try and I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

Happy Baking!

see my linky party people page to see where I link up

October Blogger Events

This month I was able to attend a couple of super fun blogger events.

First up,

I attended the Glitter Academy.

Please excuse the poor quality of my pictures.  I only had my phone with me at these events.

It was held at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Chandler, AZ

by some fun local bloggers.

 Jamielyn from I Heart Nap Time

Steph from Somewhat Simple

Kristyn from Lil Luna - I didn't get a picture with her :(

They had a beautiful display of edible glittered goodies that was too pretty to eat!

 The cost of the ticket included not only a delicious dinner,

but a fun craft by Poppyseed Projects.

 No event would be complete without some giveaways!!

Unfortunately, I was not a winner. :(

 The best part of the night was getting a chance to meet some wonderful people who love to blog and love to have a good time!

Wendy from Choosing Love

Vanessa from See Vanessa Craft

Laura from Pink Cake Plate

There were about 100 local bloggers there. 

It was fun to put faces with names and meet people who's blogs I've been reading for awhile.

They have done 2 Glitter Academies a year for the last couple years and I went to the last one.  But I think that this most recent glitter academy was my favorite.  You don't have to be a blogger to attend the Glitter Academy, but you do need to like having a good time!

If you'd like to know more about the Glitter Academy, check them out here.

The next blogger event I was able to attend was just last week.

I was invited to check out Rod Works.

Have you ever heard of Rod Works?

Have you ever been to Rod Works?

I had never heard of nor been to Rod Works and it's close to my house!

Well I was invited to come have an evening on them and check out their store.

I couldn't narrow down which clock was my favorite!  I wanted them all.  Plus they were all really affordable.  

Not only did I love the shopping and seeing something cute around every corner, but I got to chat with some super fun ladies.

Laura from Pink Cake Plate

Heather from Brie Brie Blooms

Kelli from Lolly Jane

If you live in AZ, Rod Works on Higley and Ray 

is have a Christmas Open House this weekend!!

November 1-3, 2012

you can get 20% off picture frames, clocks and wax melters.

AND 25% off one regular priced item!!

Did you see all the cute stuff?  Did I mention their awesome prices?

Both events were so fun!

I appreciate the opportunity I had to attend both of them.

I really appreciate a hubby that allows me to go!

Have a great week!

Canning Jar Jack-o-Lanterns

Happy Sunday!

Today I have another fun Halloween Kid Craft for you!

Canning Jar Jack-o-lanterns

 I've seen many versions of these canning/mason jar jack-o-lanterns but this is how I made these with my kids.  I decided to give these a try when I saw this Wash Out for kids mod podge.  It gave me hope that I could make something with mod podge with my son and it wouldn't be a complete disaster!

Here is what we use:

pint size canning jars

1 strip of orange tissue paper the width of the jar

1 per jar, the length is the length of a sheet of tissue paper

mod podge (wash out worked great)

paint brushes

battery operated tea light candles

black paper (I used construction paper)

scissors

 First we painted the entire outside of the jar with mod podge.

Then we started to wrap our tissue paper around the jar.

Once we had gone around one time, we put mod podge on the tissue paper then continued wrapping the remaining tissue paper around the jar until it was all wrapped around.

 Using my scissors and construction paper, I cut out shapes to make the face of our jack-o-lanterns.  We used mod podge to glue them onto our tissue paper covered jars.

 Once our faces were glued on, we covered the entire outside of the jar with mod podge to seal everything together and finish it off.

 Once they were dry, we added our battery operated candles and waited until dark to turn them on and check out our work.

The kids kept saying "scary" "spooky" as they watched them flicker in the night light.

These will be decorating our car at our trunk or treat this Halloween.

Who needs a real jack-o-lantern?!?!

Need some other Fall kid craft ideas?

Paint Chip Halloween Craft

Egg Carton Spider

Candy Corn Flower Pots

Hand Print Turkey

Happy Crafting!

see my linky party people page to see where I link up

Egg Carton Spiders

Over the last couple weeks the kids and I have been making Halloween crafts.

So now I'm in a rush to get them posted and share them with you.

 This craft was a quick and fun one.  You may even have all the supplies right there at home.

I first saw this craft from my sister in law.  She does craft classes at her house and was making these one day during October break.  I thought Mr. C would love to make this, and little miss and I made one together too.

I first cut out a couple of cups from a cardboard egg carton.  I cut them down so they would sit evenly on the table.  Then using my smallest hole punch, I punched 3 holes in each side.  

(I didn't think 4 would fit!)

 Then I let the kids paint the egg cartons black.

 Once they dried, I put some craft glue on the back of some google eyes and they put them on the "face" of the spider.

(I only have colored google eyes but they work!)

 Then Mr. C thread pipe cleaners through the holes so they went through the entire spider body and out the other side.

 I bent the pipe cleaners to make the legs.

I don't know why, but I always end up liking his imperfect ones better than the ones that I make of help little miss make.

These make an extra fun decoration for Halloween and Mr. C loves playing with them.  

(We've even had to re-glue the eyes a few times!)

There's still time to fit in some crafts with the kids before Halloween!

Happy Crafting!

see my linky party people page to see where I link up

10 Cute and Simple Halloween Mantels

A few weeks ago I was able to be a part of the 52 Mantels fall mantel link party!

It was my very first time being a host to a link party.

I didn't get a chance to comment on all of the wonderful links that were shared, but I appreciate all those that linked up.  There are some great mantels.

I wanted to share some of those mantels with you guys.

If you are looking to finish up (or start) your Halloween decor, here are 10 cute and simple Halloween Mantel ideas that you can get done before Halloween next week!

Spooky Halloween Mantel by Madtown Macs

Halloween Mantel at Love Grows Wild

Enter if you Dare by Sweet Boutique Home

Halloween Mantel for $5 at Creatively Living

Halloween Mantel from Katie Did It

Halloween Happenings at Insanity Rules

Halloween Mantel Decor at Creatively Southern

Halloween Mantel from The Grant Life

Going Batty by Easier than I Thought

Spooky Halloween Mantel by Worth Pinning

What I like about all of these is that they each have elements that can be reproduced with things you already have in your home, or with a quick trip (and not alot of $) to the dollar store!

You could even combine some of your favorite elements from a couple of these mantels and make it your own.

There is still plenty of time to spookify your space!!

Happy Decorating!

1 Year Blogiversary!!

Welcome Friends!!

Today is an exciting day!

Actually it is an exciting month!

You see Lizzie Jane Baby came about in a kind of by chance way.

The actual blog started in 2009 as a "shop".

read more about it here.

But it started to become what it is today in Oct. 2011.  

Because of that, I'm officially declaring it my 1 year BLOGIVERSARY!!

And I want to celebrate with you!

Lizzie Jane Baby is slowly but surely growing and I appreciate each of you for coming back to see what I've been up to.  I've learned a few things along the way (don't judge my photos in the beginning too harshly), and hope I can keep you guys coming back and excited with my projects and recipes.

In appreciation for following along with me, the lovely comments and for becoming my friends, I want to do something for you.  

I am going to be giving away some of my favorite things!

A $25 Gift Card to my all time favorite store: TARGET

and

A $25 surprise box of craft supplies, things I use in my crafts!

Total Value of $50!!

The two things I do the most are, wander the isles of Target and Craft!

To enter this giveaway, use the rafflecopter below.

If you have any questions, let me know.

US Residents only please

Giveaway will end on midnight EST on Oct. 31st

Winner will be notified by email on Nov. 1st and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck Friends!

And thanks for an exciting year!