Wordless Wednesday: Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, MN

We just bought an annual pass to the Minnesota Zoo, so we will be there more often this year. We haven't has a family pass there in about 3 years. You can read more about this trip to the MN Zoo on My Adventures in Travel. Next week I will share a collage of pictures from the Aveda Butterfly Garden at the MN Zoo.

Hand Painted Wooden Spoons

I made these as gift for a couple of different people and included a gift jar of Patchwork Soup to go with the hand painted wooden spoons.

I bought these sets of bamboo wooden spoons and used acrylic paint to paint on the stripes. I did 3 coats of paints, then I did 3 coats of high gloss lacquer over the top of the paint to help seal it in and keep it from flaking.

Grilled Pizza and a Homemade Pizza Crust Recipe

Homemade Pizza Crust
1 pkg fast rising yeast
3 C all purpose-flour
1 tsp. salt
1 C water (120-13 degrees)
2 T olive oil

Directions:

• Place heated water in a large bowl and sprinkle yeast over the top
• Allow to sit for 5 minutes so that the yeast can bloom
• Gently stir in olive oil
• Stir in 1 C of flour and salt and beat on med. speed
• Stir in remaining flour by hand then begin kneading
• Knead for 5-7 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic
• Let dough rest 20 minutes
• Divide dough in 2 parts
• Roll dough out in to a 12" round greased pizza pan (if grilling, brush olive oil on both sides of the crust but do not put in a pan, it will go directly on grill grates)
• Prebake for 10-12 minutes in a 400 degree preheated oven (or preheated grill one side over medium heat on a grill for about 5 minutes)
• Top with topping (if grilling, flip so the grilled side is up and top that side)
• Bake for 15 minutes in the oven or Grill 2nd side with toppings for 5 minutes
• Enjoy!

Apple Print Kitchen Hand Towel & Loom Knit Towel Holder Instructions

My kids made these for their great grandparents. I like to have my kids make gifts whenever possible so that they are thinking about those special people in their lives.

I bought these very large kitchen towels from Fleet Farm. I had them print (stamp) on only one side that would be hanging out. We picked out 3 different fall colors in acrylic paint and then stamped with apple halves and wine corks (to add a different size and more interest).

I made the loom knit towel holder by casting on 6 pegs on a straight loom for 20 rows and casting off at the end.I doubled up my yarn to make it thicker and more sturdy. A button pretty easily slips through the stitches, so I just tied on in to place where I wanted it and put it through the stitches. To make the loop I used the Clover Wonder Knitter to make the length of looped I wanted. When I was done, I stitched the ends together to make the circle and then I hand sewed the loop to the hanger piece using yarn. I had previously used the Clover Wonder Knitter to make this Skinny Looped Infinity Scarf.

Wordless Wednesday: Boating & Tubing on Cannon Lake in Faribault, MN

This was about 7 weeks ago at the start of summer. We have a bit more of a tan now. :)

Tubing and Boating on Cannon Lake in Faribault, MN

8 Fun DIY Gift Ideas for Your Book Club or the Book Lover in Your Life

Since I am traveling today, I thought I would share some ideas that I thought were pretty awesome from other bloggers. I might need to do some of these with my book club.


DIY Book Jars - These are such cute candle holders and look super easy to make. Check them out at Arrow and Apple.

Library Tote Bag - What could be easier than an inexpensive tote bag and an iron-on Tranfer. See how it is done on U-Createcrafts.

Beaded Bookmarks - You could easily customize these beautiful bookmarks to suit the taste of any book lover you know with this idea from Tip Junkie. 

Rolled Book Page Wreath - This one looks like it may take a bit of time, but if you have time to spare you could make this beautiful looking wreath from Brassy Apple. 

Book Necklace -  This is just darling and looks like it is a quick and easy gift to make. You can find the tutorial on the Darice website.

Fabric Covered Book - I am just in love with all the beautiful colors of fabric used in these journals. I have made a few of these before and they are always well received. Check out how they are make on two twenty-one

Paper Mache Bowl - What a clever use of an old book that is falling apart or just something you picked up at a thrift store. See how to make your own on The Lulu Bird.

Hardcover Book Purse - OMG! I have to make this! I just need to find a book with a really interesting cover to make this with the tutorial on HGTV and then I can use the pages from inside for some of these other crafts.

Easy Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

These are super easy to make and you only need a few ingredients. You are going to wonder why you haven't made these before. Everyone loves them when I make them. Make sure you buy the grand size biscuits. All these does cell large biscuit that works as well. Just don't buy the small biscuits.

Easy Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Tube of large biscuits 
Canola oil 
1/2 C sugar
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon 

Directions:
Pour enough oil into a frying pan to cover it 1/4-1/2" in the pan. Heat the oil so that it is hot before putting in your first biscuit. This will take about a minute on medium-high heat.

Cut circles into the center of the biscuits using a small circle cookie cutter.

Microwave for biscuits at a time and their corresponding donut holes for 1 minute at 100%. This helps to start cooking it in the center. If you don't do this you will have to fry them longer and they may not taste as well.

Place microwave biscuits in the hot oil and cook until golden brown on the bottom, then flip and cook until golden brown on the second side.

Immediately toss in some cinnamon sugar, which you made by mixing together the cinnamon and sugar. Allow to cool on paper towel on a plate. The paper towels will help to absorb excess oil.

Enjoy!