Feel Good Friday

Because sometimes we need a little reminder. 

There is always so much going on in life, whether good or bad, and it's important to remember that our actions today will have an effect on our tomorrow...Good and bad. 

Have a Wonderful Friday & weekend ahead!

How To Make a Patchwork Headboard

A few years ago, before Pinterest had made it's way into my life, I actually got decorating magazines in the mail each month. One such mag was Better Homes and Gardens. At the time, I was re-decorating my daughter's room from preschooler to "big girl". I wanted to do something different and fun, and had seen in BHG the coolest headboard that I knew for sure I could create. It was so easy and not expensive. You can see the original post here. Of course, being me, I had to do things slightly different to cut down on both time and cost. *These directions are for a twin bed.

Start by cutting (with a saw) 16, 7.5in x 10in pieces of wood, as seen here
Cut 16, 10in x 13in pieces of 4 different patterned fabrics
Cut 16, 7.5in x 10in pieces of quilt batting

Place a piece of batting on a piece of wood, then cover with a piece of fabric. Using a staple gun (I didn't have one so I used a desk stapler), wrap the fabric and staple to the back of the wood. Once all 16 wood pieces are wrapped and stapled, place side by side in the design of your choosing. Using 6 strips of wood, like found here, connect using wood screws. 

Once all the rectangles are connected and secure, turn over and admire your work. Hang using ring hooks. 

What's great about this headboard is now that my daughter is over pink and black and wants a blue and green room, I can easily change out the fabric covers and recover using new, fresh fabrics of her liking. Also, this headboard not only looks good as an addition to a bed, but with a few minor tweaks would look great with pins, photos or or any other favorites attached! 

Mini Austrian Apple Strudel Bites

Last week, my son had an international food fair at his pre-school. This event was one to which I was very much looking forward. Only when I dropped him off at school that morning and noticed all the parents carrying dishes of food, I realized I had completely forgotten about it! I knew that the fair was on the 23rd, only in my mind I still felt like it was the beginning of the month. I mean, where the heck has January gone?? Anyways, I freaked out and ran home, realizing that I was not going to have the time to make a homemade Austrian Apple Strudel from scratch like I had planned. And I didn't want to go buy a strudel that wasn't going to be authentic. So I rummaged through my pantry, trying to collect enough *simple ingredients that I could use to create a fast, kid friendly, and yummy apple strudel. 

Luckily, I had a few basic ingredients that are actually used in an apple strudel and was able to put something together...and quick. The kids and parents loved these treats, and I was happy to have made something from scratch (well, sort of). 

So here is the recipe I used for my Mini Austrian Apple Strudel Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 Apple
• 1 tbs Cinnamon 
• 1.5 tbs Agave 
• 3 drops Vanilla or Almond Extract (I used Almond but Vanilla taste great, too)
• 1 can Mini Biscuits (10 count)
• Raisins 

Cut apple into thin, long slices... not thick cubes 

Add Cinnamon, Agave, Almond or Vanilla Extract, and Raisins, giving the ingredients a good mix

Take out the Biscuits and break them in half (now you have 20 pieces of dough)

Take each piece of dough and press flat and thin

Add a spoonful of apple mixture

Roll dough over, blanketing the apples

Place all 20 rolls onto a lightly greased baking sheet and bake for 13 minutes at 325 degrees. Check on them frequently so they don't burn. Take out and let cool for 5 minutes before moving.

 

These are perfect for an after school snack, potluck, shower, Super Bowl dessert or International Food Fair dish. Enjoy! 

Travel: Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

              Back in September when I was still living in Switzerland, my husband and I decided to take a day trip to Bavaria (Southern Germany) to visit one destination that has been on my bucket list for a long time... Neuschwanstein Castle. This place is beyond magical and was a perfect spot for family pictures and a day spent outside. And as a bonus, the kids thought this truly was Sleeping Beauty's castle! 

                 

Located just minutes from the Austrian border and built in the last 1800's by King Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein (Neu means New and schwan means swan in German) is like a real life Disney princess castle. There are actually two castles and one museum on the grounds, along with restaurants, buggy rides, hiking/biking trails and so much more. 

To get to the actual castle is quite the hike but so worth it. The views of the valley from the top of the mountain are breathtaking...and the castle itself is huge! There are shuttles available to and from the castle but that does cost money and the line was way too long for me. 

                     

    

There are tours of the interior of the castle available for only 9 Euro and lasting about 30 minutes (no cameras allowed inside). I recommend getting tickets early as it was very crowded and the lines were long for everything. However, there is plenty to see on the outside and within the castle walls for no cost, except parking. If ever in the southern German, northern Austrian or eastern Swiss areas, taking the time to see this gorgeous, very touristy destination won't be a let down! 

Feel Good Friday...My Life in *someecards*

I found a few minutes the other night to go on Pinterest and look for some yummy recipes to spice things up a bit in the kitchen. It had been ages since I had actually had a minute to just browse and explore and pin to my heart's content. Within a minute, I had completely been taken over by all the pretty, bright and amazing pins to explore and look at on the site, as I think most of us have experienced a time or two. Anywho, I clicked on one someecard that totally cracked me up and then another and another. They were telling the story of my life! So here for your viewing pleasure are {some} someecards that pretty much sum up me and my current life situation...

Truer words have never been spoken

                  

Every Thursday night..

OR being used as a giant tissue...wearing black with a sick kid is the worst! 

And people wonder why I eat so fast

                 

Gross but true

                   

Or a whole blog post...text...email...

Because we do speak German in our house 

Story of my Life

                   

Or any food for that matter

                   

Thank Goodness it's not just me... Why Tess, Why?!

Right??!

                   

That's right, I do! My babies are way better than any stinking planet. 

Enjoy your Friday and have a great Weekend!!