Another Free Patterns Website

I came across this website in a crocheting pattern book I am currently using. I went to check it out, and I have just found lots more projects to keep me busy (if I get around to it!). It has free patterns for beading, crafts, crochet, cross stitch, knitting, paper crafts, plastic canvas, quilting, and sewing. These free patterns can be found at www.freepatterns.com . Happy crafting!!!

Extra 40% Off at Catherines - Clearance Too!!!

This weekend (Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22), Catherine's is having a great sale! They are giving 40% off of everything, including clearance! I have ordered from them a few times, gotten some great deals, and have been pleased with my purchases. The sale is in stores, and online. To order online, go to http://www.catherines.com/ . For ordering online, enter code 48HOURCA at checkout.

Homemade Carpet Deoderizer Recipe

As a kid, I used to LOVE using the prettily scented carpet deoderizing powders when I vacuumed. Buying things like that are not currently high on my list of priorities nowadays, but I do like a fresh scent to brighten my home every now and then. I just came up with a very simple carpet deoderizer recipe that incorporates whatever lovely scent suits my fancy. It's a piece of cake, comprised of only two ingredients: baking soda and your favorite essential oil. Today, I used sweet orange essential oil - it added a cheery scent to brighten up my living room!

Carpet Deoderizer Recipe

2 cups baking soda
25 drops essential oil of your choice (more or less depending upon your preference)

Mix baking soda and essential oil thoroughly. Sprinkle mixture evenly over carpeted surface. Let sit for a few minutes, then vacuum. Store mixture in a sealable container.

Homemade Candy Bars - Heath Toffee Bar Copycat Recipe

I just tried a new recipe today that turned out fabulous! It is a toffee bar recipe that I tweaked to my own styling, and it turned out wonderfully! It tastes just like a Heath candy bar. It was really simple, and made from ingredients that I keep regularly stocked around my house. I have always wanted to try a toffee recipe, but never did, thinking it might be complicated and hard to do. It's not! It's one of the easiest things I have ever made, and it is relatively quick as well.

Toffee Bar Recipe

3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chocolate chips

In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter until boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium and boil for seven minutes, continually stirring. Remove from heat and fold in walnuts. Place mixture in a greased square baking pan. Top with chocolate chips. When chocolate chips melt, spread evenly over toffee. Cut into squares immediately, and place pan in refrigerator until toffee has hardened.

Hearty Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread - Family Size!

I have recently begun making pumpkin bread more regularly to have around for a quick breakfast and/or snack. This recipe is hearty, filling, full of fiber - and delicious - so the kids will eat it gladly, and I am happy because they are eating a good, healthy snack. This is also made using natural honey, rather than sugar. This batch is large enough to make one big 9x13 pan of pumpkin bread. Here it is!

Hearty Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread

1 - 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1 cup oil
2 cups honey
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together pumpkin, eggs, oil, and honey in a large bowl until well blended. Add flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to the mixture, blend thouroughly. Pour into a 9x13 greased, floured pan. Bake for 50 minutes.