Look what came in the mail today. Either the boys have learned how to use photoshop... Or I have some pretty wonderful (and hilarious) friends!! 

It's silly. It's corny. But it sure made my day! :)

It's been over a week now since I got my new Dyson. I really don't relish in sharing with you whats in the depths of my carpet but there's no other way than a visual to express to you how much I am in awe of this new acquision. HOW... HOOOOOWWWW is it possible to have this much dirt in your carpet after "one" (me) has been vacuuming ever day for a week straight. It's frightening. On the positive side, this is no longer in my carpet but the fact that it was there to begin with. And I have to say this new tool is fun to use (yes, for real). I purchased the compact one and its the perfect size for my house. The above picture is just what was found on the main floor carpet. Crazy. But hopefully this will help control allergies issues for both myself, and my younger basset hound Baxter. 

Hope you didn't read this while enjoying breakfast or anything like that.

Buster has his "do not disturb" sign on (ears over eyes). This is what a long walk in the cool spring air buys me. Bliss.

I made these for our #wpgbookclub tonight. (Quick aside: we were reviewing Sarah's Keys.) I love to bring chocolate to our bookclub meetings... mostly becuase I think there needs to be chocolate at bookclub. These are a dense, dreamy treat and SUPER easy to make. They come from a recipe at Bake350.

I made a few changes to it and got it down to three simple ingredients:

1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup of Nutella
1/2 cup of butter and room tempurature

Various items for 'coating' - I used coconut and cocoa (this one was my favourite). But chopped nuts would be wonderful as well.

Melt the chocolate - I like to do this in the microwave in a glass bowl. I microwave on 30 second intervals and mix inbetween till melted (don't over cook - it will burn even in the microwave!). Once melted, add in the butter. Stir till melted. Then add in the nutella. Mix till fully encorporated. Chill for at least an hour. Scoop out and roll into balls. Then roll into your coverings. Chill for another hour. 

They didn't last very long at bookclub! I will definitely make these again!

I made this tonight as part of the final of four classes in a series I was teaching on Advanced Gum Paste Flowers. This stargazer lily has presence but follow the steps and you'll amaze yourself!

(This is a picture of me, my Grandma Sharp, my Great Grandma Fabris, my Mom and my sister, Crystal.)

My Mom and sister don't read this blog so I can post this here (don't tell them, k?).

I'm undertaking a new project that will result in their Christmas gifts. And will also result in a lot more recipes being posted here over the next little while.

Over the last few years I've lost two of my Grandmas (I have more than most because my parents are divorced and remarried). My Grandma Jean (my step-dad's Mom) was well known for her cooking and several traditional family recipes. My Grandma Sharp (my Mom's Mom) instilled in me a love for baking. I remember visiting her and her visiting us and those visits always involved some baking of some sort (always snowballs at the very least).

My Mom has assembled several binders of my two Grandma's favourite and famous recipes. I've also been collected my Mom's recipes as well. Sooo.... I'm going to put all these recipes into one book and have bound through Blurb. But first I have to put together some photos... which will involve baking all these wonderful recipes. Which is why you'll see them here. I hope you'll enjoy our cherished family recipes as much as we do.

Not a major undertaking, by any stretch of the imagination but a fun one no less! Isn't it amazing how something even as little as new cabinetry can make such a big difference. Unfortunately, my current hardware seems to be an odd size (4 1/4 in on the bottom cabinets, and 1 inch for the top) so my options are limited. And with these I had to drill a new hole for one of the screws but ta-da!

Happy Easter from all of us at Will Cook for Shoes!