New blog to show my creative side.

http://ramblingsfromagirliegirl.blogspot.com/  Please drop by and say "hello".  It is a bit more active than this one at the moment.

Spring Break 2010

Go Fight Win!!!! Good Luck to Jordan!!!

My dear neice, Jordan, will be trying out for 8th grade cheer leader this Friday night.  She is a cheerleader for the 7th grade, so she knows the drill.  I just wanted to say Good Luck to her and I know she will do her best.

I really hope she makes it, we had such a good time going to her Football and Basketball games this school year.  Oh....and she looks just adorable in her cheer uniform.

She is the girl in the front.

I am really enjoying a new "toy" I got last week.  It is the Xryron Wishblade.  It is an electronic cutter that cuts all these cute little die cuts.  I have used them in making cards, invitations, wedding favor bags and boxes, so far.  I am new at this but having so much fun with the creative process.  Here is a card I made for my neice's try-outs to wish her luck.  I am entering it in Couture Cardstock's Daily Contest.

The first pic is the cover, then the second, and on the last David and I will write a personal note.

I am in love with the sillouettes. 

Hope everyone has a great, and dry weekend.

Best Wishes,

Tiffany

http://www.diamondeventsbytiffany.com/

Top O'the Morning to you!!!! And a Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

St. Patrick's Day is one of my most favorite holidays.  All the bright, pretty green is like a Spring awakening from a dull drury winter.  I love green, and it looks good on me, if I do say so myself (hey...what can I say?  I am blonde and fair skinned).  I LOVE the fact you can wear silly curled toed Leprechaun shoes or bobbling shamrocks on your head.  The sillier the better.

We spent Saturday morning at the Greenville Avenue 31st Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.  I read that this year had a record attendance and beleive me...it WAS crowded.  But not too crowded to have a lot of fun.  We rode the Dart train and just made it a fun time.  My neice, Jordan, brought a friend and her mom (Krystal, my sister), my mother, AJ and his fience Holly, and David and I all got up bright and early to head down to Greeville Ave.  Everyone was Irish, that day.

We caught a lot of beads, saw dogs all decked out in green, and took a lot of photos

Tonight we are going to an Irish Pub but since it is in the middle of the week, I am sure it will not be too wild.  We hope you have a fun and festive St. Patrick's Day.  Be safe!!!!  If you are hosting a party or just looking forward to a quiet evening at home, these cupckaes from Celebrations.com are the perfect treat.

St. Patricks Day Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

yeild 24

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Guinness Extra Stout

• 1 1/2 Sticks Unsalted Butter

• 3/4 Cup(s) Unsweetened Chocolate Chunks

• 2 Cup(s) All Purpose Flour

• 2 Cup(s) Sugar

• 1/2 Tablespoon Baking Soda

• 3/4 Teaspoon Salt

• 2 Large Eggs

• 3/4 Cup(s) Sour Cream

Steps

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees

• Bring stout and butter to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium heat. Do not boil.

• Add unsweetened chocolate chunks to hot stout/butter mixture. Whisk until chocolate melts. Turn heat off and let cool.

• Add sugar to chocolate mixture and whisk to combine.

• Sift flour, baking soda and salt.

• In a stand-alone mixer with a whisk attachment, combine the eggs and sour cream on medium speed.

• Add stout-chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and combine on medium-low speed until encorporated.

• Slowly add flour mixture in thirds to chocolate mixture with whisk attachment. Scrape the sides with your whisk to make sure you get all the dry ingredients combined.

• Place cupcake papers in pan and divide batter into cups evenly. Fill about 2/3 of the cup.

• Bake for 18-24 minutes or until the tops are firm to the touch, and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the cupcake.

• Let cool on wire rack before frosting.

Guinness Buttercream Frosting for St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes

IngredientsBest Wishes,



• 1 Cup(s) Unsalted Butter (room temperature)


• 2 1/2 Cup(s) Sifted Powder Sugar


• 1/4 Cup Milk


• 1/2 Whole Scraped Vanilla Bean


• 1/2 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract


• 1 Cup(s) Guinness Extra Stout


Steps


• In a sauce pan, simmer Guinness on low heat for 10-15 min, until it stout becomes reduced and thicker in consistency. Similar to a syrup. *Tip: keep your eye on the store, so stout does not over cook. Let cool.


• In a stand alone mixer, cream your butter for 1 minute


• Slowly add the powder sugar in thirds, alternating with a little milk each time till mixture is creamy.


• Add scraped vanilla bean and vanilla extract.


• Slowly add reduced Guinness a little at a time. Taste test to desired flavor. You may not use all the Guinness reduction.


• Place buttercream in a piping bag with a #848 french star tip, frost cupcakes and enjoy!




Tiffany
http://www.diamondeventsbytiffany.com/

Pete's Piano Bar

Good morning,

This morning's challenge from Couture Cardstock is to use circles.  I am posting this on my blog as a way to enter that challenge. 

Unfortunatly, the second part of this 2 page layout will not be posted.  Too bad cause it is really cute...but we were at Pete's Piano Bar and well...inappropriate things seem to happen at Pete's and it was captured in the background of a very good photo of our group (the only group shot we got).  It is funny to look at and rmember but not for a contest.

I go to Pete's for my birstday every year and since David's B-day is the day before mine, we had a combined celebration.

If you have never been to Pete's, you should really go.  If you enjoy loud, offensive (at most times), and just acting crazy, you will love it.  It is really fun for a Bachelor or Bachelorette Party.

Best Wishes,

Tiffany
http://www.diamondeventsbytiffany.com/

Cute as a Button

I am entering a design contest for paper crafts at Couture Cardstock. This is a layout featureing my darling neice Jordan.  She had just come off of the soccer field, looking fabulous. 

This started out being a door hanger but I am going to keep it as a scrap book entry.  I placed the bright green cardstock behind the layout when scanning and I think it really makes it POP....so I am keeping it.  I love how accidents become something worth keeping.

Wish me luck,

Tiffany
http://www.diamondeventsbytiffany.com/

DIY Bride Tip: Couture Cardstock

     

 If you are a DIY Bride or just love playing with paper, you should check out Couture Cardstock.  They have an amazing line of paper that has a lot of possibilities. 

They have a color pages of color combinations and most wedding colors are available.  How pretty your DIY menus or programs would be on their specialty papers.  They have several weights and finishes and even a pure silk blend.

"Couture Cardstock only offers products we use in our personal paper crafting. We acknowledge that you work hard for the money you earn, and we think you should get to keep more of it in your wallet." (from their website http://www.couturecardstock.com/)

Check them out, they even have a "buy one / get one free: section.

Best Wishes,

Tiffany

http://www.diamondeventsbytiffany.com/