Valentine's Day Bunting

I love  bunting banners. They just make me happy. I don't really have any Valentines day decorations. So I wanted to make something. I saw a Valentines Day bunting banner on pinterest, but decided I wanted to do my own thing. 

I went through my craft stuff found some red, white and black paper. I went through my buttons and found some sparkly buttons I got for a project I never did. I then had the idea of cutting up some paper grocery bags for the back. Next up was my search for ribbon and I found some old lace. I am not sure how that piece of lace went unnoticed for so long. I just love lace.  

I have some old templates that I used to make the hearts and triangles. 

You will need

3 sheets of paper

a heart template or just use a cricut 

3 paper bags

a triangle template or cricut

Some sort of buttons

glue or two sided tape (I used tape)

Lace, string or ribbon

a hole punch

I put the bunting up by this quote on the wall. I think it went together nicely. 

1.) Once you have everything gathered trace the hearts and triangles. Once you have them traced cut them out.
2.) Glue or tape the hearts onto the triangles. Place your buttons in the center of the hearts and glue.
3.) Use a hole punch and evenly punch holes in the top two corner areas of the triangle. Except for the first and last triangle. You will only put on hole on each of these triangles to help connect the bunting.
4.) Connect the bunting with lace. You could choose not to use the hole punch and run lace across the top or the back. I did not have enough lace for that option.
5.) Find a spot to display your cute bunting.  

Monster Cookie Dough

This is by far one of my favorite treats ever! I take this almost ever time I am asked to bring a treat. This is perfect for a Super Bowl Party and Valentines Day or anytime really. 

Best.Treat.Ever! 

 Recipe
-1  8oz package of cream cheese softened
-1/2 cup butter softened
-1 cup creamy peanut butter
-1-2 cups powered sugar depending on how thick you want it
-3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
-1/4 cup all purpose flour
-1 teaspoon vanilla
-2 1/2 cups rolled oats ( I usually do three, because i love the texture)
-1 cup M&Ms (if a is holiday coming up I used the holiday M&M's)
-1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips ( I like to use the mini ones for this)
- some times I will add toasted coconut

Directions
1.) With a hand mixer beat butter, cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth.
2.) Add powered sugar, brown sugar, flour and vanilla.  
3.) Use a wooden spoon to mix in oats, chocolate chips and and M&Ms.
4.) For me it is a must serve it in something cute.
5.) Serve with apples or pretzels

I originally found this recipe at this website the girl who ate everything and have adapted it to what I prefer.  Both recipes are pretty close and mine was inspired by hers so it's only fair I give her credit.

*Be sure to mention to parents and expecting moms that it does not have egg in it. 

Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls!

Red Velvet is something you either love or don't really care for.

I am a lover of Red Velvet anything. I saw a few pins floating around pinterest 

for red velvet cinnamon rolls. I knew I had to try them... 

These are perfect for Christmas or Valentines day. 

My first problem was that I have never made cinnamon rolls by myself.

I have only ever made them with my mom. My second problem it has been years since 

I have made them with my mom. 

So I searched and searched the world wide web for recipes. I found two that I 

liked and mixed and matched a little.

The recipe that I manly used can be found at No. 2 pencil and the other at the skinny fork.

Here is the recipe 

Red Velvet Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls

These took about three hours from start to finish

Makes 24 rolls 

1 box red velvet cake mix 

2 envelopes active dry yeast

2 and 1/2 cups warm water 

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups of all purpose flour

The Filling 

1 stick softened butter

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

1 cup of white sugar

cinnamon 

1 Tablespoon coco powder

The Frosting

2 sticks softened butter

3 cups powered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

a pinch of salt

2 packages of softened cream cheese 

I think these are worth drooling over! 

These clearly are not healthy.... but very Delicious 

Combine two packages of active dry yeast with warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir until dissolved. Add cake mix, flour, vanilla and salt. Mix, I used a hand mixer but I am sure a dough hook would be much much better. Move to larger bowl, cover (I used a towel), and let rise for about an hour. Punch dough down after an hour (my favorite part of the whole thing), and let rise again for another hour.

Use plenty of flour on a clean surface and turn dough out.  Shape into a ball, then roll into a rectangle shape. Spread softened butter over dough. Combine brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon and coco powder and spread onto the buttery dough!  Start from farthest edge and roll dough tightly into a long skinny log shape. Slice into 24 rolls.

Place rolls in pans that have been greased with butter, or sprayed with non stick cooking spray. I used one 9X13 and another round spring cake pan. Let rise a final time in pan for about 30 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

While the rolls are baking, prepare cream cheese frosting. I once again used a hand mixer and bowl, combine room temperature butter with powdered sugar. Beat until well combined, then add vanilla and pinch of salt. Mix again, then while mixer is going, drop cubes of softened cream cheese in the bowl two or three at a time until frosting is well mixed. Do a taste test or five of the frosting.... 

Oh and I realized once I started baking them... I forgot the the cinnamon. 

Enjoy!