Happy Halloween!

A treat for my little tricksters - 

Here is the progression, with a couple of lessons learned:

I used Wilton decorative icing for the face and binder on the "bones".  The brownie recipe is "Nutella Pretzel" from  Chef-in-Training.  The brownies are great, but next time I will use an unfrosted version as they were difficult to put in the bags cleanly.

My trusty Silhouette for the tags.

Had some extra skulls, so I just dropped them in along with the secured bodies.  Using skewers was essential to keep everything in line.

Have a wonderful time tonight, and may many Twix bars be in your future!

Halloween - My favorite time of year

It begins with lots of spooky fun and ends with a candy coma - not to mention my card making season.

Here is what I sent out this year.  I ran out of the "halloween" background paper, so there were two versions - which do you like best?

Option 1

Option 2 - inside

Option 2 - front

Recycling Aerosol Cans

Given my new found love of spray paint, it got me to thinking about how to dispose of my used-up cans.  I found the following information on the Earth 911 website ( earth911.com ).
 

Tips for Recycling Aerosol Cans

Recycling aerosol cans depends upon whether the container is empty or still has liquid inside of it. If the product is empty, you have the option of dropping it off in a bin designated for steel or aluminum at your local recycling facility or in your curbside bin if it is accepted. More than 5,300 communities across the U.S. have household residential and curbside drop-off and buy-back programs (they will give you a few cents for each returned can). First, here are some key points to remember:

    * Be sure that the can is empty. This means that all of the product has to be used up.

    * Dispose of the empty cans using your curbside pick up service or by visiting your local drop off centers. It is best to touch base with your local centers to be sure they accept this type of product for recycling.

    * NEVER throw aerosol cans in roadside dumps or trash fires. These cans are still pressurized and can explode.

But what happens if your container is not empty? If your product is defective, many times the manufacturer will allow you to return the product to them, free of charge so that they can supply you with a replacement product. As long as there is liquid in the container, the aerosol can is not considered waste, but product.

If  your container is not defective, there are very few options. Do not puncture cans, drain, rinse and then recycle. This is dangerous since the contents in the can are under pressure. Once the container is punctured, you could be injured. Another option would be to contact your local recycling facility to see if they will accept partially filled cans. Many times, they may have a way of draining these containers. You may also contact a hazardous waste facility for proper disposal.

It is extremely important that aerosol cans are recycled for a number of reasons. However, one of the most important is safety. When aerosol cans are thrown into landfills, they become a hazard. If a fire were to break out, these contains could explode and cause physical harm to landfill workers and fire fighters. Therefore, please take the extra step to recycle. 

Good to know!

Fueling My Coffee Addiction!

I know it is CRAZY expensive, but I love it...

Jura Imprezza C5

My Uncle and his brother both had them and when we got it, I haven't been able to look at a Peet's the same way again.  Love, love, love these machines.

jura.com

Stop wasting time!

Even though I never heard a kind word about him, this still rings true.

Salty & Sweet

Rolo are one of my favorite candy - anything with caramel pretty much is.  I came across a recipe for "Pretzel Rolo Blondie Bites on Cookies & Cups website ( cookiesandcups.com ) and I needed a birthday treat to send my son, so I thought I would give them a try.

I had a problem with using the mini muffin pan and they all ran together in a big mess, and I couldn't get them to release from the pan, so I baked the remaining batter in a regular size silicon muffin pan, and they turned out fine.

I did have some left over Rolo candies and pretzels, so I used them to make these tasty little treats:

Photo via Crickets Cafe

Simply put the Rolo on a pretzel (I used a Silpat liner on a baking sheet for easy removal) and pop them in a 300 degree oven for about 4 minutes, pull them out and press the pecan half into the melt-y Rolo.  Allow them to cool completely and enjoy!

Reusable Shopping Bags

So I am very proud to say that I have not taken a shopping bag from a retailer or grocery store since November!  I have a TON of reusable bags that were given away at conferences I attended, as well as some that I have purchased, but they are all very stiff and bulky, so I wanted to find one of those cute nylon bags that can fold into a neat little pouch and not take up too much room in my purse.  A quick search found at least three major producers of just such a bag:

Baggu

Baggu ( www.baggu.com ) $9.00 per single bag

Chico Bag

Chico Bag ( www.chicobag.com ) $5.99 per single "Original" bag

Flip & Tumble

Flip & Tumble (www.flipandtumble.com ) $10.00 per single "24-7" bag

I like the look of all of them, especially the Flip & Tumble two-tone option.  What really disturbs me is that all of them, including bags made by Reusit ( www.reusit.com ), are all manufactured in China.  All of the websites that I visited made a point of saying that they only deal with "Fair Trade/Fair Wage" companies, but I still wish they were made domestically.