Pink Hippo Party #14

Welcome to another edition of the Pink Hippo Party!  This has been a huge week for me.. I got the Sylish Blogger award, a few features and have gained 28 followers.. whooo hoo!  Thanks guys.. you ROCK!

So here is something that I made for a friend last week for her hubby's birthday.

Kinda fun and gets me in the mood for St. Patty's Day!.. but I'm not THERE yet! 

Now on to my favorites from last week!

First up is this adorable felt and yarn V-day wreath by Liz

@ http://fastdaze.blogspot.com/

Next is this sweet felt cake with tutorial by Tammy @

http://www.she-wears-flowers.com/

Last is Cami who made this amazing Harry Potter wand

@ http://youseriouslymadethat.blogspot.com/

My daughter is now begging for one of her own.. so I may have to try that!  Thank goodness her birthday isn't til August and I have lots of time!

So ladies grab your featured button and wear it with pride! 

Now on to the Rules to Party:

1. Grab a party button

2. Link back to this party

3. Link to your specific post and not your home page

4. Become a follower (cause it's just nice)

5. Don't forget some love to your fellow crafters.. everyone loves a compliment!

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Pirate Birthday!

Argh!  There are pirates.. or atleast there will be a few at my house Valentine's weekend!  Of course in order to get them here I must send them an invitation!  So here is what I came up with!

So stop by later this week as I plan for the party!  Not much time to chat now.. I have a few orders to work on and some party stuff to create! 

Oh and here's a little tease of a project that I am working on for later in the week!

Can you guess what it is?  I bet you can't!

Have fun on this craftastic Sunday!

I am sharing with

 

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Stylish Again!

This week I received two Stylish Blogger Awards

one from Tiffany @ http://littlegirltiffanyblue.blogspot.com/ Tiffany has a blog dedicated to the redecorating of her house and is a blog that I have just discovered.. She has some really wonderful decorating ideas!

The second award I received from Judy @

whose blog I am addicted to!  She has amazing ideas on design and decor in all of the areas that I struggle with.. She is a wonderful source of home inspiration! 

I highly recommend that if you have not visited either of these blog that you finish reading MY post and run right over.. literally!

In order to accept this award I must thank those who gave me the award (check) Tell seven things about myself and share with seven other awesome blogs. 

So here are my seven things!

1.  I fight with my sinuses on a constant basis.. Right now the score is 3 million to 25.. I am on the losing end!

2.  I call my little boys my manimals because .. well .. um.. they ARE!

3.  I have one littel girl who is my clone and also my favorite crafting budding!

4.  I have been a GS leader for the past 3 years and hope to continue til my girls are begging me to leave them ALONE!

5.  Popcorn is my favorite snack and I make it on the stove in a huge stainless bowl covered with foil in true Alton Brown style!

6.  Alton Brown is my cooking Guru!  I would follow him to the end of the cooking earth!

7.  I think this is REALLY funny 

.. seriously!

Now on to my recipients.. These are blogs that I read on a daily basis and just adore!

Crystal @ http://crystalscraftspot.blogspot.com/

Ami @ http://alililly.blogspot.com/ (cause Amie's are awesome no matter the spelling!)

Amanda @ http://citygirlgonecoastal.blogspot.com/

Stephanie @ http://redberrycrafts.blogspot.com/ 

Bonnie @ http://somewhereincraftland.blogspot.com/

Amy @ http://increasinglydomestic.blogspot.com/  (again.. an Amy thing!)

Amy @ http://menmythriftyideas.blogspot.com/ ( I don't think I have to say it again)

So please check out all of the blogs that I have mentioned.. they are all amazing ladies with oodles of talent that is waiting to be shared! 

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Organization

Okay.. if you have been a follower than you may have caught on to the fact that I am in desperate need of an organizing intervention.  I am an organization disaster.. just ask Mr. Pinkapotamus!  So I am giving myself a public intervention here on my blog! 

Therefore...

So keep your eye open for my weekly challenges.. and if you want to join in.. you know where to go!

Love and organizing!

Pinkapotamus

Hearts and Hands V-Day Banner

One last grovel on my knees begging plea from me before I present my banner.. My Love me Love my Crafts Swap has 1 more participant.. please help me reach my goal of 20.. that's only 16 more of you!  So here is where you sign up!

http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-me-love-my-crafts-swap.html

C'mon.. you know your already making V-day stuff why not share?

Now on to the banner!  I love burlap.. not so much the feel or the smell of it.. but absolutely the LOOK of it!  So this year I decided to get a little red and white to make a V-day banner.  My inspiration came from this little plaque that my littlest guy made last year for V-day!  It is his birthday after all! 

From this came this banner

It's not perfect by an stretch.. but I love it's imperfects.. kinda gives it that childlike quality.  So here is the quick tutorial on how to make your own!

Ingredients

red and white burlap

pink, red and black felt

cardstock (for tracing)

craft glue

twine

clothes pins

Start by making the triangle penants on the red and white burlap

I made two white for each set of handprints and one red to go at both ends and between the handprints.

Then trace your children's hands and cut them out of red felt

Then make pink felt hearts for each red banner piece

Last cut out the first initial for each child's name.  I used the cricut to cut the letter first and then traced on felt

Then glue all the pieces together

Then hang on the twine with clothespins

This is how mine looked completed and hung on the mantle!

Hope you share your hearts and hands too!

I am sharing with

http://www.soyouthinkyourecrafty.com/

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Eggplant Bruschetta

First I just have to say that I am sooo excited as I was featured yesterday at

for my Love Bugs

and Today at

for my X's and O's Wreath!  Thanks ladies for the huge honor!  I am such a big fan of both of your blogs s.. if you haven't checked out these fine ladies and their blogs.. then you SHOULD!

Now on to the FOOD!  Just the word bruschetta makes my mouth water!  I can't get enough of it and when you add eggplant to it.. it makes it twice as yummy!  So here is my awesome recipe for Eggplant Bruschetta!

Ingredients

Eggplant

2 large eggplants

1 cup breadcrumbs

2 eggs

splash of milk

salt and pepper

Topping

1 container cherry tomatoes

(or several large tomatoes)

1 package of parsley

1 onion

parmesan

Start with your eggplant.

Peel and cut into circles.

Once peeled and cut place in a large colander and salt generously. 

This will get out any bitter taste within the eggplant.  Set aside for one half hour. 

When time is up rinse eggplant well with water and dry. 

Then put eggs, milk, salt and pepper in one bowl and bread crumbs in another. 

Egg and bread eggplant and fry in 3 TBLS canola oil until golden brown.  (If you are looking for a healthier version leave this step out and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.)

Then arrange on a rack on a baking sheet and set aside.

Now is time to make the topping.. oohhh my favorite part!

 Okay if you don't own a NINJA you should run out and get one.. like now! 

Okay and if not.. then ha ha you have to chop the veggies by hand.   Seriously!  Once the veggies are chopped mix in salt and pepper to taste. 

Then spoon over the top of anxiously awaiting eggplants. 

Top with a sprinkle of parmesan and bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. 

Then enjoy and trust me.. you will!  I know I did!

Oh yeah and this dinner is kid approved!

Yum!

I am sharing with

Love,

Pinkapotamus