Triple Layer Lemon Pie

Have you checked out Kraftrecipes.com? You should. They have some of the easiest and idiot proof recipes. I have tried a TON of them and it's usually the first place I look when I want something quick and simple.

I made this pie for dessert after Easter dinner at my house. This is the 'laid back' meal of the day with just my husband and I and the kids with my parents.

Now, when I say idiot proof I mean only if an idiot reads directions and package sizes.

Be careful. I thought there were only TWO sizes of Jell-O. The really big box and the small box. However, there are TWO small box sizes and evidently you have to search high and low and in the back of the shelf and all around to find the right one in lemon flavor. The recipe calls for 2 packages of 3.4 oz. jello. I just grabbed the small box that I thought was right...no, that would be the 2.9 oz box. Really??? We  need two boxes that are THAT close is measurement??? Needless to say my first pie did NOT turn out correct but after I bought everything over again adn got the right size this pie was delicious. Even my mom who doesn't care for lemon meringue pie and my husband who doesn't eat desserts often thought it was good.

Go here for the original recipe.

Triple layer lemon pie:

You will need:
2 pkg 3.4 oz. Jell-O lemon flavored instant pudding
2 cups cold milk
1 T lemon juice
1 graham cracker pie crust
1 tub Cool Whip, thawed, divided

Beat pudding mixes, milk and lemon juice with wire whisk about 2 minutes. This mixture will be thick. Spread about 1 1/2 cups of mixture into bottom of pie crust.

Whisk half of Cool Whip with the remaining lemon pudding mixture from above. Spread over pudding layer in pie crust. Top with remaining Cool Whip.

Refrigerate for 3 hours or until set.

First Easter Decorations

My brother and his wife are having a baby; the shower is this weekend and I am helping host it. I decided to make most of the things I am giving them so that has occupied most of my time lately. As soon as the shower is over I can post pictures of what I made them and move on to more fun crafts :)

I can't wait to decorate for Easter. Even if it isn't Spring outside, decorating for Easter at least allows spring to be inside. Again, once I have more time on my hands my Easter decor will begin to come together.

I hosted a Craft-In night with my sister and two girlfriends this weekend so I did get to work on some fun things for Easter then. I have so many things bookmarked to make it isn't even funny!

First, I found this guy for $1 at Salvation Army

I knew just what to do to make him ready for Easter. A whole bunch of primer, yellow spray paint and a few coats of Pearl Enamel and he is ready! As soon as I pull all of my other decorations out he will have some buddies. Until then, this is all I have to show for him:

Much better in my opinion!

I also threw this together after perusing Dollar Tree and coming up with an idea. I LOVE topiary's and saw these little picks and really liked them. I knew I could use them somehow! The pots came three to a pack so I was all set. I painted them white, added the ribbon (had on hand) around the top, put some styrofoam (had on hand) in each one, topped with Easter grass and I have a cute decoration for about $2!

They were supposed to be taller :( I liked them much better with the longer sticks but alas, I was a klutz. I do my crafts in an area of our basement and when I brought them upstairs I had too many things balanced between my two hands and one of the pots fell! It landed on the egg end and the stick cracked <tear>. The picks come 5 in a pack but the blue and purple ones (while my favorite colors) just weren't soft and spring-y looking enough for me. So I just cut down the other two picks and they are all short now. Still cute but I am considering going to find another pack and maybe redoing it but then I couldn't say it only cost me $2 to make :)

Can't wait to put all the Easter stuff around the house!



Going to the birds

My husband is an outdoors-y type of guy. We live on a lake and he fishes all summer. He used to go hunting every year too. He also points out every type of bird he sees wherever we go. He knows alot about nature, animals and all things outside. When I moved into this house after we got married every room had a outdoor-ish/nature vibe going on in it. Our main bathroom was no exception. On one wall was a framed painting of a polar bear. Cute, but it came down. On another wall was a painting of a soaring eagle. Nice and patriotic, but it came down. Above our toilet is a painting of two golden retrievers. Adorable and it is waiting to come down :) The shower curtain has a cabin/hunting/bear and moose theme to it and since it is the only tub in the house I let that one stay. For now.

I wanted something new and fresh and springy for the countertop near the sink. I used to have a candle with a hurricane over it but it was just too plain, simple and frankly boring for me. I tried keeping the hurricane and filling it with things but the shape it is made it too hard. Everything I tried to put in there looked odd unless I filled it all the way to the top. When I did that, something usually stuck slightly out of the top of the hurricane and got in the way of our mirror/medicine cabinet when you opened it. My husband got tired of forgetting about that hazard really quick.

I have seen so many bird statues and figurines out in stores lately and for some reason I am obsessed with them. The bright shiny colors, the sleek lines and shape. I don't know what it is. Since the bathroom already has an outdoor feel to it I decided to play on that but make it much more chic-er. I have seen birdhouses all over blogland lately but since I have that height restriction I couldn't just attach one to a candlestick or other such apparatus. I decided to make it all myself.

  The birdhouse was $4.99, the wooden square was .59 and the wooden spool was .79. Total cost was just over $6.

I found this little guy at the Dollar Tree and knew with the right spray paint he would look as wonderful as all of those other birdy decorations I have come to love. Plus, he wouldn't cost so much either!

I glued all three wooden pieces together, primed and then sprayed them in a light green. After they were dry I also roughed up all the edges and 'seams' to look a bit weathered. My bird friend got a lot priming and painting too. I also finished him off with a pearl enamel to make him shimmer.

I really like the new look in my bathroom :)