i should be mopping the floor: January 2013
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Make Your Own Star Wars Canvas Art

We've been working to transform our younger son's bedroom into something less toddler and a lot more soon-to-be-six-year-old. We're in complete Star Wars mode. This Star Wars Canvas Art is one of my favorite parts of this new space. See how I created it below.
 

I decided to create a couple of simple art pieces for over each bed. Believe it or not, I was an art major for the first three semesters in college...then I switched majors...twice more (much to my parents' chagrin). While 2-Dimensional Design wasn't my strongest class way back then, I channeled my inner college art student and got to work creating some easy canvas pieces for the younger boy's room. It was really easy and anyone could do this. I basically created a simple line drawing and then filled it in with paint.

See the process below.

Iron Chef Mom Party {Peanut Butter Edition}

ironchefmom2013_200

Iron Chef Mom is back for 2013!

This week’s featured ingredient is PEANUT BUTTER!
I know you've all got some AMAZING peanut butter recipes out there...from sweets to savory items.
I can't wait to see them all!

Before we get started it’s time to announce the winner of Iron Chef Mom Vanilla
{hosted last week by Trish at Mom on Timeout}
You voted and we tallied…

the winner is Renee from Joyful Mom {#52} with this delicious 
Congratulations, Renee! Feel free to display a winner's badge,
because you're an Iron Chef Mom!


iron chef mom
Last week's Host Choice was #89, Scottish Vanilla Tablet
from Tash at The Velvet Moon Baker:



Get ready for next week’s party by looking at the schedule below:
iron_chef_dates

Weekly Linkup Guidelines:

1. Follow the weekly host {ishouldbemoppingthefloor} on FacebookTwitter, or Pinterest.
2. Link up only recipes that include PEANUT BUTTER! Any peanut butter recipes you have: past or present! (Peanut butter does not have to be the main ingredient!)
3.  Vote! This week you can vote by LIKING the three entries of your choice. You're welcome to vote when you link up, however, it would be even more fun if you wait until the weekend when all of the recipes are linked up to the party! We'll be using the honor system in voting...only three votes maximum per person. Please and thank you! ;)


BRING ON:

BATTLE PEANUT BUTTER!

{Faux-Made} Mexican Chocolate Bundt Cake #cakemix

I adore Mexican chocolate with a passion! LOVE it. When I saw several bundt cake recipes with it, I thought...I bet I could figure out a way to faux-make that! And I'm super pleased with this moist and extremely flavorful result! Dare I say...it's even better than homemade! 

You'll need: 
  • 1 box of chocolate cake mix {you will omit the ingredients on the back of the mix}
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 stick + 3 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 1/3 cups milk
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 bag Hershey's Cinnamon Chips
  • Amazing Glaze Chocolate Flavored Icing


Combine wet ingredients and mix well.

Pour the cake mix and spices onto the wet ingredients.
Blend with a mixer until nice and smooth.

Fold in your cinnamon chips.
{You don't have to use the entire bag...it may be too cinnamon-y for some tastes.}

Pour into a prepared bundt pan.
Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.

Remove cake and let cool.

 Remove lid and seal from glaze and microwave according to package directions.
I like to add a teaspoon of cinnamon to mine to carry the flavor into the topping. I add it after its hot and shake the bottle to incorporate it. Simply drizzle the glaze all over the cake.
Dust the top of the icing lightly with cinnamon.

It's complete heaven, y'all. 

{If you're all about the faux-madeness of a good cake,
 check out my just-as-tasty Faux-Made Banana Cream Cake}.

{i linky-party here}

Friday's Freebie: Printable Chore Charts

A friend recently asked if I had any printable chore charts on hand...it was odd to me that I didn't. We adore a good chore chart! This one is designed to be printed on a letter-sized paper...but is 8x10 sized so it can be framed and used with a dry-erase marker, if you like. Or laminated with peel & stick magnets on the back for your refrigerator door {which is also great for dry erase markers}.

It's probably obvious, but here's an example of how we use ours. To be clear, I'm not a complete drill sergeant. Most of our chores are for every other day...to be swapped with brother {vacuuming just occurs Saturdays...although I'm not opposed to "oops I vacuumed up a Lego or six while you were at school" vacuuming}. Plus, I totally filled this in with Photoshop...not 100% accurate. To protect the innocent, I used an alias for the dog. But not the kid. Sometimes I truly question how my brain functions.
To download, please click on an image below {print as many as you like} :
{kindly give a blog follow before downloading any of my free printables...please and thank you}




{i linky-party here}

10-Minute Layered Ice Cream Cake #easydessert

Need a quick and impressive dessert? 
This Ten-Minute Layered Ice Cream Cake is the perfect solution. 
And tastes fabulous!

Ten Minute Layered Ice Cream Cake: this quick, yet impressive dessert goes together in a flash and tastes fantastic!
My older son has been talking up his "100-Month" birthday for the last few weeks. Yesterday was the big day. We didn't do a party or anything, but we wanted to celebrate his milestone...especially since he calculated it up on his own! I made this ice cream cake in ten minutes {that didn't include freezer-time}. But, it was crazy easy, sooooo good, and made gobs of good-eatin'. We still have 3/4 of it left after four of us enjoyed it last night!

I found many recipes for this, but this one that I tweaked and played around with worked best for our family...and had all of the flavors Benjamin loved the most.

Ten Minute Layered Ice Cream Cake: this quick, yet impressive dessert goes together in a flash and tastes fantastic!
{Please note: this can easily be doubled into a 9x13 pan for a crowd} 

You'll Need {for a 9x9 pan}:
  • 12 vanilla ice cream sandwiches {we're from Texas, y'all, if I walked in the door with anything other than Bluebell, I would've been in t-r-o-u-b-l-e.}
  • 1 16 oz. Cool Whip
  • 1 bag Heath Bits
  • 1 jar caramel ice cream topping
  • 1 jar fudge ice cream topping
Ten Minute Layered Ice Cream Cake: this quick, yet impressive dessert goes together in a flash and tastes fantastic!
Spray your pan with non-stick cooking spray. Layer half of your ice cream sandwiches in the bottom of the pan. Cover with half of the Cool Whip. Drizzle with caramel and chocolate and sprinkle with half of the Heath Bits. 

Repeat all layers!


Ten Minute Layered Ice Cream Cake: this quick, yet impressive dessert goes together in a flash and tastes fantastic!

On my last layer, I drizzled my caramel and chocolate before I put my Cool Whip on. I just thought it looked a little "cleaner" this way...but it's total preference.

Freeze the cake for at least two hours.
Cut & enjoy!


Need a printable version? Click the image below and you'll be able to print both a 3x5 and 4x6 recipe card for your recipe box:



Ten Minute Layered Ice Cream Cake: this quick, yet impressive dessert goes together in a flash and tastes fantastic!

{i linky-party here}

The Tuesday Ten



Welcome to The Tuesday Ten! I feature my personal top ten favorites from the previous day's party every Tuesday. The readers' favorite links will be featured at the next party. If you haven't had a chance to link up to this week's Mop It Up Monday, you can still get in on the party action here!

Thank you to everyone partying with me this week! If you were featured, feel free to grab a button:

mop it up mondays feature 



Loving it!! The ice skates are my favorite part.

How smart is this? I'm such a cloche kinda girl.


Just looking at this makes me need to repent. WOW.

{Add Glitter to Your Phone Charger with Ribbon}
from Happy Go Lucky Blog
Who wouldn't want their charger to look like this? So fun!

These are almost too cute to eat!

{Felt Hearts Tutorial}
from Hubby Made Me
So cute. Annnnd...I think I could even make them! Love her colors/pattern.

My favorite tea and hot chocolate...pinkies up, y'all! Yes, please!

This sounds like the ultimate comfort food. Yummers.

Such an awesome graphic statement! Love.

{DIY Conversation Hearts}
from ya gotta have a hobby
What a sah-weeeet idea!

{i linky-party here}

20+ Valentine Sweet Treats


There were so many AWESOME Valentine sweets linked up at this week's Mop It Up Monday! Thought I'd compile them in a post for all of us to enjoy. Yummy!
{{CLICK THROUGH TO SEE THE LINKS!}}

Friday's Freebie: Valentine Mini-Banner

I guess I'm on a Valentine banner kick! I'm justifying it by making this one a mini banner.

Monday night, I went to my friend Carrie's house for our monthly craft night.
You can read more about my craft group {we're the Hot Glue Hotties, babyhere and here.
She showed us how to make an awesome burlap wreath!

We had so much fun and came home with adorable wreaths.
{The tutorial Carrie gave for our burlap wreaths was very similar to the one I found here.}
Several of the girls were super organized and came prepared with embellishments for their wreaths. I, of course, being constantly in "scattered" mode couldn't get it together to bring things ahead of time! But, after chatting with my hotties, I thought it would be fun to make a mini banner for the wreath. I think I may make one for each season!

The banner is just pinned to the back of the wreath.
I printed it on cardstock.

What do you use mini banners for?

To download, please click on the image below {print as many pennants as you like} :
{kindly give a blog follow before downloading any of my free printables...please and thank you}
To see all of my free printables, click here.



{i linky-party here}