on vacation

Hi!

 

Just popping in to say I'm vacation!!!! Totally spontaneous!

Will be back next week with a little giveaway...feel bad for abandoning the blog!

 

xo

TBT

Hello!

A little TBT photo....I came across this photo of my hubby (at the time we were boyfriend/girlfriend) when he served the army....such a handsome guy!! :)

Another sneak peek....introducing Jakov and his dog Rex! (my son named the dog). Coloured with Graph'it markers.

I'm so happy to be able to find more scrapbooking supplies (cardmaking) in Zagreb....here are a few goodies I wouldn't mind getting my hands on from NB Hobby & Art!

I want to paint these cute little light houses!! :) 

I actually already bought this....so far I painted it....now to figure out what to do with it! :)

....you can never have enough of these!!! 

...or acrylic blocks!

These boxes are awesome for personalized gift boxes....I love painting and stamping on them!

Tags!!! I'm not lying when I say finding a simple tag like this one is impossible here in Zagreb! Not any more!! :)

 And doilies!!! Couldn't find these either!!! I only found the HUGE ones but not the size you need for cardmaking and scrapbooking!!

Pop on over to the Jane's Doodles blog and check out Eva's sweet get well card!

xo

BROWNIES

Hello!

How do I stay cool in this HOT weather (with no airconditioner)...bake brownies of coarse!!! (what was I thinking!).

I found this recipe in one of my Good Housekeeping magazines (my gave me a gift subscription a while back). It's easy and uses cocoa instead of chocolate which I prefer. I probably shared this recipe before but here it is again...for those new to my blog.

As I write this the brownies are almost all gone!!! It's a small batch but I doubled it a few times and it turned out great.

I chopped up some semi sweet chocolate and scattered them on top....you can NEVER have enough chocolate!!!!

Cocoa Brownies

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp.salt (I don't put any salt because my butter is salted)

6 Tbsp. (85 grams) butter

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degress F / 180 degress C. Grease 8" by 8" metal baking pan.

In a bowl combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt.

In a saucepan, melt butter on low. Remove saucepan from heat; with spatula, stir in sugar, then eggs 1 at a time and vanilla until well blended.

Stir in flour mixture.

Spread batter in prepared pan; sprinkle with chocolate chips if using.

Bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into brownies 2 inches from center comes out almost clean. Cool brownies completely (this step is impossible in my household!!).

When cool, cut brownies into 4 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 4 squares.

Each brownie - About 120 calories

xoxo

Pop by the Jane's Doodles blog and check out Angeline's gorgeous card! :)

diy earaser stamps and a sneak peek

Hello!

Hope all is well! It's getting really HOT here in Zagreb!!

 I was on Pinterest this morning and came across this pin...I love making my own eraser stamps!

I made this cloud eraser stamp and heat embossed it.

Another cloud eraser stamp....which I stamped onto cardstock using white ink.

My  tree eraser stamp....

I like to use Stabilo erasers because they are soft....you want an eraser that's soft when carving into. Give it a try! :)

I also want to share a Jane's Doodles stamps sneak peek....

you like?? :)

Pop on over to the Jane's Doodles blog and check out Renee's card using our Mr. Smiles digi stamp and some awesome paper piecing action! :)

xoxo

Monday

Hello!

Happy Monday! :)

So my husband put up my corkboard!! It's so pretty I don't want to put anything on it! lol I will be doing the corkboard that I keep in my pantry...will post pictures when I'm done and maybe do a pantry update...how I organized it. :)

Made this heart  a long time ago...one of my first sewing projects...I wish I knew how to sew!  That's a photo of Jakov...one year old SWEETIE PIE who LOVES LOVES the water!!!

I mentioned before I was going to paint the frame a Tiffany blue....turned out mint! LOL It's ok...I love the colour! :)

It's pretty hot here in Zagreb....girls on the porch doing their nails (our porch isn't finished....our house still needs a lot of work...just in case you were wondering! :)  ) .....

Next to them our cat living it up!! Ahhh the life of a cat! :) Our other cat never came back...we miss him!

Made pancakes for lunch....we almost never have pancakes for breakfast! I'm sure I've shared this recipe on the blog but here it is anyways....

Buttermilk Pancakes

1 3/4 cups flour

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

2 cups buttermilk*

1/4 cup oil

In a bowl mix eggs, milk and oil. Add dry ingredients and mix. Don't over mix...a few lumps are a good thing! :)

If your batter is too thick, add a bit more milk...if it's too runny, add some flour.

My kids love Nutella on their pancakes...I love it with maple syrup with fresh berries! I like to prepare pancake mixes ahead of time.....I take all my dry ingredients and store them in ziploc bags so when I'm in a hurry or just too tired it's super easy and quick to prepare! :)

*I use regular milk and it turns out great...if you don't have buttermilk that add 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar to the milk to make one cup.

Pop on over to the Jane's Doodles blog and check out Laura's gorgeous card...LOVE her simple style!

xoxo

Happy Father's Day

Hello and Happy Father's Day!!

I want to thank you for your lovely comments about the post I did on my father and his brothers...it really warmed my heart! :)

Wishing all father's a very Happy Father's Day!!

I created this card using a few Jane's Doodles sets (Patterns for Him, Geometric Patterns, It's a Guy Thing and Just Dad)

And now to announce the winner of my giveaway.....

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

23

Timestamp: 2013-06-16 07:43:05 UTC

Cathy P in AZ said...

Fabulous photos and such a heartwarming tribute to your dad and uncles! I am so blessed to still have my dad and uncles - so my heart goes out to you. Cherish those beautiful memories! :)

Congrats Cathy!!! Please email me at janebeljo@yahoo.ca

Thank you to all you commented....wish you can all win but that's why I have lots of giveaways so maybe next time! :)

Have a wonderful day!!

xo

in town

Hello!

I went into town (down town Zagreb) which I don't do often...almost never...just don't have the time!!  So it's always a treat when I go (especially alone!)...

I had a reason to go....it was to visit Marina and Ivona of Dve Cvoke and Do!ts magazine for the first time....so I decided a little brownie action was in order! :) Will share this recipe soon...it's so GOOD!

Dve Cvoke is a diy/arts & crafts paradise for young and old! It's a place totally devoted to creativity so of coarse I had to go and check it out!!!

So how cute is their chalkboard sign!! :)

Walking up the stairs you're greeted with adorable decor and chalkboard signs like this arrow sign! (that would be my shadow on the bottom right :)! )

Why all the dots....well who doesn't like polka dots!!! and Dve Cvoke means Two Dots (I thought it meant Two Chicks LOL)!

How cute is this Jurasic park! :) No worries....she's a friendly dinosaur! :)

I had a great time at Dve Cvoke!! Hope to be back there soon! :)

Since I was in town I swung by the Yves Rocher which is a French version of something like The Body Shop (and I miss The Body Shop...none in Croatia!!)...I heard so many awesome reviews on their Monoi Precious Dry Oil so it's been on my summer wish list!!

It smells divine!!!! and the shimmer is just gorgeous...I was a little worried because it looks like way too much gold shimmer but it's not....and it's a much cheaper version of the Nuxe dry oil (which I LOVE too).

I also bought their Shea Butter Repair Lotion (which is paraben free) for my goddaughter who is getting married in two weeks....she's having her shower tomorrow (part of her gift...girls gotta have soft skin on her wedding!!)....this smells soooooo GOOD and feels amazing on the skin...on my wish list!! I also got their strawberry perfume for Mia (it's yummy) and their Apricot Scrub out of sheer curiostiy.

Friday was also Jakov's last day at vrtić (jr. kindergarden)...6 kids from his group are going to school in the Fall so it was a huge party....such an awesome group of kids with two amazing teachers!!!

Here's Jakov and his buddy.....my child needs a hair cut! LOL

Here they are eating and scoping out the crowd! :)

Have a great day!!

xo

school is out!!

Last day of school!!!!

This came in the mail....I'm just warning you guys....be prepared for very unprofessional, amateur-ish, low tech Jane's Doodles videos!!! LOL I'm not good with 'computer' stuff .... I just don't have the patience but I will try and do some videos....we'll see! :)

So I finished my pantry now I am going through all our closets....I have clothes all over the house....literally...Lord I hope no one popsby unexpectedly!LOL

My favourite spot to fold clothes is in Mia's room...so girly and I LOVE sitting on her shaggy rug! :)

The other day I made gnocchi...........I L.O.V.E gnocchi!!! I buy it frozen (my aunt makes awesome homemade gnocchi...gotta get her recipe) and I just sauted some onion and garlic in olive oil for a bit, threw in my mushrooms, salt, pepper, parsley and covered it to cook the mushrooms (which doesn't take long)...then added some cooking cream..let it boil over and that's it..........so simple but I just LOVE it! :)

Have a great weekend...I've got lots planned, lots to do!!

Don't forget about my Father's Day giveaway!

Pop by the Jane's Doodles blog and check out Ange's awesome card using my Home Sweet Home stamp set! :)

xo

TBT

Happy Thursday!

Here's a little Throw Back Thursday for ya!!!

This would be moi....I believe 2-ish ......my love for nail polish started early! :)

Check out my parents gold velvet couch!!!!! Don't make them like they use to! lol! :) I LOVED that coulch!

We've been eating so many cherries (from our tree, our neighbours tree...) I literally am at a point where I don't ever want to see another cherry again!! lol

Pop by Jen's blog and check out this free printable....I'm printing it as we speak!! Tomorrow's the last day of school and my summer officially begins!!!! :)

Also pop by the Jane's Doodles blog and check out Amy's sweet card! :)

xo

P.S. scroll down and enter my Father's Day giveaway is you haven't already...it's open internationally!!