Hoppy Easter Cake

With Easter right around the corner, I wanted to share one of my very favorite holiday cakes. This Bunny cake is super easy and always turns out very well, even if you don't bake a lot. It is delish too!

INGREDIENTS

• Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 1 (18.25 oz.) package Pillsbury® Yellow Cake
• 1/3 cup Crisco® Pure Vegetable Oil
• 1 cup water
• 3 large eggs
• 2 (16 oz.) cans Pillsbury® Classic White Frosting
• 2 cups flaked coconut
• Red licorice strips
• Jelly beans

PREPARATION DIRECTIONS:

1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with no-stick cooking spray. Prepare cake according to package directions using oil, water and eggs. Pour into prepared pans. Bake as directed. Cool 10 to 15 minutes before removing from pan. Cool completely.
2. TURN one cooled cake layer upside down. Mark center of cake with toothpick. Measure about 2-inches in from two sides of cake lining up the toothpicks. Using the tip of a sharp knife, lightly draw a 2-inch wide x 6-inch long oval, football shape, to make the ears. Cut with a serrated knife. The middle part of the layer will be the "bow tie" for the bunny (see photo).
3. PLACE whole cake layer in center of large tray. Place ears and bow tie, rounded side up, to make bunny. Frost entire surface and sides of cake, connecting the pieces together with frosting. Sprinkle with coconut. Cut licorice pieces for mouth and whiskers. Cut jelly beans in half for eyes, nose and bow tie.
4. To make green "grass" around bunny, toss an additional 1/2 cup coconut with a few drops of green food coloring until desired color. Place around base of bunny.

Recessionista Chic Guest Room

I recently made over our guest room on a VERY tight recession budget, so thought I would share some ideas and bargains I found. The inspiration began with a cozy flannel comforter cover and pillow shams I found at Home Goods for a mere $11! I could hardly believe my eyes when I spotted it, some things are not too good to be true after all! I dressed up the comforter cover with an elegant headboard made from fabric from Hobby Lobby. You CAN use their 40% off coupons on fabric purchases, just FYI. The headboard was easily constructed of foamy posterboard covered with quilt batting (I just wrapped the edges of the batting around the posterboard edges and secured with packing tape.) Then the fabric is secured over the batting the same way. Super easy and no one will know you used such inexpensive items! The entire headboard cost around $22. Some nails hidden in the corners and it is securely fixed onto your wall. Using the same fabric, I whipped up a simple valance curtain and used a chocolate brown satin ribbon and decorative tassle to give it a gathered look. Curtain cost totaled around $17. I had enough fabric left over to create a fun pillow embelishment. Simply stitch the raw edges of a strip of fabric and tie in a knot around one of your existing pillows. This is a great way to brighten up your everyday pillows for spring or even conceal a spot on a pillow that is stained or ripped. Decorative recycling...the prettiest way to be "green."

A Perfect 10

Convenient for us ladies, with warmer (sandal!) weather finally here, Sally Hansen has introduced a fabulous new product called the Nail Art Pen. It is like a paint pen for your nails. Talk about the perfect craft/beauty project in one! I am so excited to show off my first creation..... a vampy plum shade of polish (courtesy of Sephora by OPI Meet for Drinks) with glimmery silver done in french mani style. I can't wait to create some other bright color combinations on my toes this spring! With 8 colors available, including black, white, both light and dark pink, blue, silver, gold and red the possibilities are endless. I found my nail art pen on sale at Walgreen's for only $4 too, what a beautiful bargain. This would make a great Easter basket stuffer for the little chickas in your life too!

Arrrr! A Pirate Party

My friend Brooke recently hosted a Caribbean/Pirate themed party that was adorable! The inspiration started with a Treasure Chest cake that she did a wonderful job on! This would be a perfect birthday cake idea for a Pirate themed kid's party as well. Have a treasure hunt for goodie bags and have everyone dress in pirate costumes. A few snacks like goldfish crackers, chicken nuggets "Golden Nuggets" and fruit kebobs on sword shaped toothpicks and you will have a swashbuckling good time.

Girls Weekend Invite

Just wanted to share a glimpse of a girl's weekend I am planning for April. The rhyming invite below was so much fun to come up with, and I hope it really gets my guests excited. Now I can't wait for the actual weekend to be here!

Godas Spring Fling Weekend

Mark your calendar now, don't be a bore
Can't wait to see your lovely faces at my door
Godas Goddesses head toward the 'Lou
There is no telling what we might do!

A girl's weekend full of all kinds of fun
Let's each hope we have some sun!
We will laugh, drink, dance and talk
And stuff ourselves 'til we can hardly walk!

We have lots of catching up to do
Bring an air mattress or two!
Celebrating new jobs, new baby joys
And a weekend full of no boys!

Spring....where are you?

So, with today being the first day of spring and the weather here not spring-like at all, I can't think of anything better to do than to curl up with a good book, or some exciting March Madness games, and a super large mug of hot cocoa! And it just happens I came across possibly the world's most perfect mug/bowl today from www.delight.com Designed to rest in the palm of your hand, the Buddha Bowl, is great for lattes, ice cream, soups or even cereal. Yum!
I will be enjoying my hot cocoa with some homemade peppermint marshmellows as well!
So easy to make...take some leftover candy canes or peppermint candies and crush up into little bits (a meat tenderizer works great for this.) Dip large marshmellows into a mixture of powdered sugar and water, just enough to make a glaze, and then into the crushed candy. Let the glaze harden on a sheet of wax paper and store in a zip tight bag. Enjoy!