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Fabulous Friday Link Party #8

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Fabulous Friday Link Party #8

Thank you to everyone who entered something last week.  
I really enjoyed reading all of your blogs!

If you are a featured winner this week, please grab a "FEATURED BUTTON" below!



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Winners from last week...



Cyndi at Blue Star Antiques sure did work some magic on a couple of sweet pieces this week.  She used a little pop of color to spice up this adorable bookcase.  You should hop over there and check out her sweet bee stool too.




If you're going to be hosting a baby shower, you MUST bookmark this blog post.  Nichi from The Mandatory Mooch hosted a shower for her sister and it was owl themed and just ADORABLE.  Even if you're hosting a shower with a different theme, you must head over and look at the different decor ideas, dessert menu, etc.  What a fun shower... thanks for linking up and sharing with us!




Laura at Now Things Are Cookin' shares this awesome recipe for Stuffed Zucchini.  It's made with a reduced fat sausage and is actually pretty healthy although it looks sinfully delicious!




Head over to Decor Niche and check out the transformation made when Sherry refinished these beautiful stairs and banister.  They really changed the entire look of the room and it's stunning.




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Wont' you join us for this week's party?

Rules:
Share your DIY projects (crafts, furniture, sewing)...do not post link parties or advertisements.
Post a permalink to your POST only - not your entire blog.
Grab my BUTTON (below) and attach it to your posted link...


LINK-PARTY-BUTTON


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Neapolitan Nutella Popsicles

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Neapolitan Nutella Popsicles

I found this great popsicle mold at Target in the dollar section. Isn't it fun?  I decided to make some healthy yogurt popsicles and Nutella came to mind for the chocolate base so...


*I mixed a spoon of Nutella with a little organic chocolate milk (to a thick liquid consistency) and filled the bottom of the cups.  I stuck them in the freezer for 10 minutes.  


*Next, I mixed vanilla greek yogurt with a little bit of organic 1% milk and just a touch of cool whip.  


*After the popsicles had been in for 10 minutes, I took them out and poured a layer of the vanilla mixture (again, it was a thick liquid).  


*While those were freezing up for 10 minutes, I made a pink portion using strawberry greek yogurt with a little organic milk and cool whip.  


*Now, my pink wasn't quite right so I added some strawberry all fruit jam to give it a little more color.  


This is not a very precise recipe and I apologize but I think it would be hard to go wrong with these!  My only issue was that the Nutella section seemed to melt faster than the other sections.  I might add a little more chocolate milk and less Nutella so that it freezes better.


These were delicious and my entire family LOVED them! Pin It Now!

Making Soap

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4th of July Soap



How to make soap...

12 oz coconut oil
12 oz olive oil
10 oz vegetable shortening
5.2 oz lye
2 c water
(Heat fat & lye/water to 120 degrees)
4 tbsp fragrance oils (berry essence)
large box (0.6 oz) strawberry (or blueberry) sugar free jello

Tips:
Line wooden molds or pan with freezer paper.  Wax paper will not work! Cut the paper the size of the pan and make sure the corners are creased and the paper fits well.  

Use a kitchen scale to weigh all oil and fats.  

Use gloves, goggles and mask when working with LYE. 
Begin by weighing/measuring your oils and fats in a microwavable bowl.  Set aside.
Measure water, set aside.
Measure lye and then add it to the water but do not add water to the lye... BE VERY CAREFUL, AVOID SPLASHING AND DO NOT BREATHE FUMES!
Measure the temperature of the Lye/Water mixture, it will heat on its own.  When it reaches 135-140 degrees, place oils in microwave for about 2 minutes, until temperature reaches 120 degrees.  When the lye and oil mixtures are both simultaneously 120 degrees, stir the lye into the oil using a wooden spoon and slowly stir and mix.  Stir in jello and fragrance oils. Continuously stir until it begins to thicken (you might want to use a mixer for this part), it usually takes 10-20 minutes.  You will know it's thick enough when it starts to leave "trailings" on the surface and it is the consistency of pudding.  At this point, pour the soap mixture into the lined wooden mold.  Let it set a room temperature for 48 hours.  Then cut into desired shapes and allow to cure 4-6 weeks before using.

How did I learn to make soap???

My parents started "The Banner Elk Soap Co." in Banner Elk, NC.  They sell their organic, all natural soaps in their gift shop.  I was visiting last week and got my sweet Mom to give me a lesson on making soap.

This is my Mom (isn't she adorable?) giving me a "soap lesson"
This is my handsome Daddy standing behind the store counter.

This is my favorite soap.  Aren't the stripes super cool?  It smells WONDERFUL too.  It's the apple cinnamon soap.  They have many different scents and they all come from local plants.  It's pretty cool... this is a pic (below) of the soaps curing in their back stockroom...

I got to help set up a new soap display in the middle of their store.  We took an old washstand that came from the old Banner Elk Hotel (before it was torn down years ago).  It's a BEAUTIFUL antique...



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Fabulous Friday Link Party #7

Pin It Now!

Fabulous Friday Link Party #7

Thank you to everyone who entered something last week.  
I really enjoyed reading all of your blogs!

If you are a featured winner this week, please grab a "FEATURED BUTTON" below!


Photobucket

Winners from our last party...


I love these sweet chenille pillows from Anne at Vintage Goods.  I also love the ones made from old feed sacks that she features on this post.  Hop over there and check out her recent projects, it's a great blog!



Crys over at This Euphemeral Life explored a new combination of latex paint over chalk paint with a milk paint wax and it turned out BEAUTIFUL!  I love the sweet old antique hardware and the blue color is great.  



Rachel at Remastered Relics covered this fruit with twine and they turned out really cool.  I've been wanting to do this and she made it look so easy!


What a great idea!  Honey Sweetened Snow Cone Syrup... a much healthier option for this summer time treat.  I love the Salt Tree blog, Amber always shares inspiring projects and delicious recipes.  



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Wont' you join us for this week's party?

Rules:
Share your DIY projects (crafts, furniture, sewing)...do not post link parties or advertisements.
Post a permalink to your POST only - not your entire blog.
Grab my BUTTON (below) and attach it to your posted link...

LINK-PARTY-BUTTON



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Frozen Freckled Lemonade

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Frozen Freckled Lemonade


If you've ever had the "Freckled Lemonade" at Red Robin, then you'll know what I'm talking about.  This tastes just like a frozen version of that drink.  Just don't forget the whipped topping cause it tones down the tartness quite a bit.

Drop the following ingredients into your blender... 1 can of frozen lemonade concentrate, 1 can of water, 2 cups of frozen strawberries, and 16 oz of ice cubes.  Blend it well.  Pour into glass and top with whipped topping. 

Now, go sit by the pool and enjoy your drink and your summer!

Come and par-tay with me at these awesome LINK PARTIES...

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