Puffy Heart

I've decided to start a series of posts called "puffy heart". I could call it something else, yes, but since that has become my coined term for things I share here on the blog that I absolutely adore, it fits. So be looking for regular posts that are filled with joy, silliness, yumminess and home.

I just found these photos from our Canopy tour at Lake Lanier resort this summer.  This was a HUGE puffy heart family fun moment!!  It was a 2 hour tour around the lake...and sometimes OVER the lake.  I highly recommend this activity.  Highly!!  There is nothing more thrilling than soaring through the air suspended from a tiny rope.  Here's the link for the Lake Lanier's canopy tour.

I also understand that the tour at Banning Mill near where I live is amazing.  It's on the to-do list for Spring Break this year for us!  So, you guys have any fun zip line stories? 

Puffy Heart

I've decided to start a series of posts called "puffy heart". I could call it something else, yes, but since that has become my coined term for things I share here on the blog that I absolutely adore, it fits. So be looking for regular posts that are filled with joy, silliness, yumminess and home.

 

Today I am sharing with you our "pickle gift".  What's a pickle gift?  Glad you asked!  We have a little glass pickle ornament that each year gets hidden deep into the Christmas Tree.  On Christmas morning William and Mailey search for the pickle hidden in the tree.  The child that finds it gets to open the "pickle gift".  Always the gift is a family game.  And they know this.  But getting to open one extra gift after all the unwrapping is done is quite a big deal!

 So this was the family game Mailey unwrapped (she always seems to find it....too many games of I Spy I suppose).  Let me tell you, this GAME ROCKS!!  It is hilarious and appropriate for many ages.  In fact we ended up playing a rather lengthy game of it with Billy's family ages 9-71!!  I of course received some pretty funny cards thanks to Mailey, the official card giver.  I was a Lollipop, unicorn and dragon.  So funny.  You have to ask yes or no questions of the group then pass or guess.  When it comes back around to you again you ask questions until you figure out what you are.

We ran out of headbandz so Billy used his finger.  A bed....geesh you shoulda heard some of his questions and answers.

My two children could hardly stand not giving hints to people what they were.  It was funny how they would just blurt out amazing hints.  Which was cheating yes, but the thing is, their cheating didn't help them win!  I suppose they just wanted everyone to succeed.  Which is a lovely trait in your bag of tricks, right?

So, do you guys hide a pickle in your tree?    Or do you have any other Christmas traditions that are silly like this?  I am hoping you all had a lovely holiday.  We are doing a bunch of nothing in the Horne house for the week.  Well, that's not entirely true.  I have ONE goal.  Promise to share later in the week once/if I get started!

Puffy Heart

I've decided to start a series of posts called "puffy heart".  I could call it something else, yes, but since that has become my coined term for things I share here on the blog that I absolutely adore, it fits.  So be looking for regular posts that are filled with joy, silliness, yumminess and home.

The Forgotten Cookie

As a child I have very fond memories when it comes to holidays.  They were always brimming with yummy foods, family time and gift giving.  We had a large family on my Mother's side that was loud, joyful and full of holiday cheer!!  My Dad was an only child, but I also remember his mother spending much of the holidays with us as well.  And she could cook!!  Oh, yeah.

We had certain food items that were made each year.  Like my Mother's graham cracker fruitcake....yes, I will be sharing that as well here!!  Molly and my favorite by far though was the Forgotten Cookie.  Maybe it was the mystery of what happens in an oven overnight....I don't know.  But these cookies seem a bit magical.  I also personally think that when you bite into one of these and it literally melts on your tongue...if you think about it really hard its like sparkly snow on your tongue!

Mailey and I made these last night for her "Cookie Exchange" today.  They are super easy!  Here's the recipe:

*Preheat oven to 350'

*Ingredients:
       2 egg whites
       pinch of salt
      2/3 cup white sugar
      1 cup chopped pecans (I NEVER do this, but in case you want to)
      one bag of chocolate chips  (this time we used Andes Mint brand Peppermint chips and OMG....we will use nothing but.  It's in the red bag, not green.  All chopped and ready to go.  Also fabulous are mint chocolate chips)

*Steps:
Beat egg whites and salt until a soft peak forms. Gradually add sugar and beat until sugar is dissolved.  Fold in nuts and chips.  Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil.  Drop cookies on sheet not too close together.  Turn the oven OFF and leave over night.  No peeking!!  In the morning, enjoy!!

This recipe is one you can easily double without messing up the texture. 

For a little something extra we sprinkled snowflake nonpariels while the mixture was still moist.  With the red and white chips and the snowflakes this cookie is sure to be a snowy treat for Mailey's friends tonight!!  I hope you enjoy making these!!

I Puffy Heart This

When I get excited about something....like really excited, I say to my blog friends to express this joy that I "puffy heart" it.  Yep.  I don't puffy heart something unless, well it truly deserves such a title.  It's my 10 so to say.  Last week I was doing just as I promised and was visiting all your sweet blogs.  Yep....if you've left a comment in the past month I've been visiting your blogs.  And honestly I've enjoyed every minute getting to know who is reading and commenting here in Mattie's Social Circle.  It's amazing how much we have in common even across the ocean!  Wow!

So while visiting this one blog I found these PUFFY HEARTS!!!!  EKKKKKKK!!  Of course I hit her etsy page immediately and poured over them to find the perfect one for me.  A few moments later Tammy sent me the sweetest darn email....made me cry.....so here's the thing.

 As blog writers we have no idea what words we say will strike chord with who.  I just write what I feel, straight from the heart. Sometimes it's silly stuff, sometimes what I am making, and sometimes how I am feeling.  All those words though at some point are bound to connect us.  Me and you.  And I like that.  I like that my words make you happy, inspire you, encourage and challenge you.  I puffy heart that part of my job as an artist.  Yep.  And I really like the words on this puffy heart:

"she believed she could so she did"............wonderful words to live by.

Puffy Heart Reminders

This morning I started my second art camp for the summer.  Saying  I was excited doesn't even quite fit.  The projects are AMAZING!  I could not wait for my munchkins to arrive and get started.  Anyhoooooo...for some reason 2 canceled on me last night and I had 4 no-shows.  Now let me tell ya.  This put me in quite a snit.  You see, unlike a banker with 9-4 paying hours, I have rather sporadic pay periods.  You creative types get where I am going with this? Yep.  No Apple for me right now.  pout.

So tonight I am reminding myself of what I BIG PUFFY HEARTED today.  Because despite the woes-me I did have some yeah moments.

1-  art making all day with very enthusiastic campers ages 5-12:  including plaster sculptures and super big canvas paintings
2-  surprise hello from a friend during camp....always nice
3-  PB&J sandwich for lunch on super soft wheat bread
4-  cruising the fabric aisles while eating #2 and then buying wayyyyy too much of this fabric for projects I am beyond giddy about starting
5-  drinking a cold one with a friend while our little girls ran in the sprinkler on the front lawn, adorable puppies ran circles around each other and big boys play pickle
6-  finished 9 frames for functional art part of upcoming show

So I'll probably be MIA from here until Saturday.  But when I get back I'll have camp love to show and finally all my paintings finished........I'm on 31 and counting!


PS.....I also knocked myself out with my car door, I have NO IDEA how. Seriously.  My right eye is a little twitchy and I am sure to have a shiny bruise on the forehead.  Thank goodness my children came running since husband was is on the golf course.