succulent.

Did I mention that I LOVE succulents?  It seems to be one plant that I doesn't die right after I get it, and their petite, unique shapes make these plants one of my favorites.  I caught these guys on sale the other day at my local lowe's for $1 a piece and could not resist! I chose a large glass terrarium for the large ones and then split these others into some smaller ceramic pots I made in college.

 I also picked up this cool coral cactus!

We're off to see the wizard...

I'm feeling like Dorthy these days with our recently painted yellow floors! When we moved into the house we stained the floors a dark navy.  We were ready for a change at least in part of the house, so we painted the living room and kitchen floor only.  The other rooms are still navy, for now anyway!  We used Valspar Latex Porch and Floor and Lowe's can mix ANY Valspar color with that base.  We were excited about our wide range of color options and decided to go with Spring Moss.  I was not loving it at first and actually thought we made a huge mistake.  Once everything was moved back in I realized how much brighter things were! We did this project in just one afternoon as a spur of the moment decision.  Entire update cost just $50!

BEFORE

AFTER

photography.

Check out Sara Catherine's recent session over on my photo blog!

HERE

Dark Chocolate Cupcake Recipe.

 This cupcake recipe is actually from my sister! We have made them several times and they are delicious! Insanely moist, not too sweet... the perfect cupcake for any chocolate lover.

Ingredients:

 2 cups sugar

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup dark cocoa

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 325*. Stir cocoa, sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt in large mixing bowl.  Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla and mix with a whisk until blended.  Stir in boiling water( batter will be very thin) bake for 15-18 minutes. Cool completely.

Chocolate frosting:

1 stick unsalted butter

2/3 cup dark chocolate cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Melt butter in saucepan, or microwave, and using a spatula stir in cocoa.  Alternately add sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.  If frosting is too thin add more sugar, too thick add more milk. Frost cooled cupcakes!

Whipped cream:

Using an electric mixer, whisk heavy whipping cream with 1 1/2 tbsp sugar until thickened.

painted pumpkin.

 I bought these pumpkins on the way home from our mountain trip last weekend from a local fruit stand.  I decided to just do some painting this year and omit the carving part! I used regular acrylic paint and then sealed them with an acrylic spray sealer!

hello fall.

 A few weekends ago we packed up for a little mountain getaway! Shane & I rented a cabin for the weekend in North Carolina with a few friends of ours. We explored,white water rafted, and did some hiking! We did whatever we possibly could that was NOT part of the government shutdown:)

 

photography: fall mini sessions

www.morgancorbettphotography.blogspot.com

teach art: object study

One of my new goals for my blog this year is to post more about what is happening in my high school art classroom! Here's a project my 35 drawing and painting students(10th-12th grade) did at the beginning of this year.  They chose 1 object and had to represent it in 9 different ways(sizes, perspectives), using 9 different mediums.  The 9 mediums was a bit of a challenge, but my students were so creative and came up with awesome ideas. I seriously could post them all, but here are just a few!

baby mina.

Check out baby Mina's newborn session here on my photo blog!

ice-krispy cones.

  This past weekend my sister Savannah embarked on a challenge to recreate a delicious dessert that she found on her recent trip to the beach! Unsure as to what these yummy treats are really called, we referred to them as Ice-Krispy Cones! A rice crispy treat, stuffed onto an ice cream cone and covered in white chocolate and sprinkles! What's not to love?! So here's her lovely version! These are incredibly easy to make so go give it a try!

You will need:

* 1 batch of rice-krispy treats (make as directed on box) will make enough for 7 cones

*ice cream sugar cones

*White chocolate (she used Wilton Candy Melts in different colors, 2+ bags)

* Sprinkles

*Small cups or jars to rest finished cones in.

Directions:

*Make Rice-Krispies as directed and spoon out into cup sized portions onto waxed paper, let cool until comfortable to handle.

* Mold into an ice cream shape and let cool completely.

* Melt the chocolate using a double boiler or in the microwave and dip the top portion(approx. 1/4 inch) of each cone, and press onto bottom of the Rice-Krispy

* let rest on wax paper with the cone in the air until it is completely hard to the touch(you can place in the fridge to speed along process)

* Once everything is cooled and hardened, you may begin dipping and spooning the chocolate onto the entire Rice-Krispy, immediately add sprinkles and then let the finished product rest in a cup or jar to harden!