Boy's Room Makeover (Part 1): The Art Work

The month of May holds a fun DIY project for me — to makeover my son, Parker's bedroom. 

My to-do list includes:

• Create artwork
• Paint dresser
• Paint walls/trim
• Update window treatment
• Bulletin board
• Paint chalkboard one section on wall
• Update bedding

I'm done the first thing on the list, so that's a start!

While we were on our epic summer vacation last summer, we picked up some memorabilia with Parker's room decor in mind.

We got these coasters in Cars Land at Disneyland & the Lego minifigures at Legoland (you'll see them below).

After picking up some frames from Michael's, I simply backed the openings with cardstock, then mounted these coasters on with some permanent adhesive squares.

No-Bake Haystack Cookies {Revisited}

Today, I have for you a recipe that I've posted before. 

Like a few of my other early recipe posts, the photos were less than stellar or even appetizing.

I'm working on re-takes for those recipe items. 

My most recent recipe retake projects were these delicious, unbaked chocolate cookies, called Haystacks.

You can whip them up in a few minutes, chill them to set & have them ready to serve in hardly any time flat!

Insta-Friday #14

Welcome to another Insta-Friday! 

Spring has finally decided to grace Saskatchewan with her presence & I must say, 

I for one, am loving it!

I had almost forgotten what warm sunshine felt like...

Last Friday evening, I went to a local handmade market with a friend of mine. These custom made dolls tickled my fancy.

The old man dolls & the bears with glasses were my favourites.

How can you not smile when you look at them?

Confetti Birthday Cards

This time of year, there sure seems to be a lot of birthdays! The kids seem to be invited to more birthday parties & our extended family has quite a few spring birthdays. 

Why not make some fun, handmade birthday cards for the special birthday boys & girls in your life?

Supplies Used:

• Cardstock -  Core'Dinations & Michaels
• Patterned Paper - My Mind's Eye
• Sequins - Martha Stewart
• Happy Birthday Sticker - American Crafts

Supplies Used:

• Cardstock -  Michaels & Colorbok
• Patterned Paper - My Mind's Eye & Stampin' Up!
• Sequins - Martha Stewart
• Happy Birthday Sticker - American Crafts

Make your birthday cards shine with a handmade touch.

Thanks for reading. If you like what you see here on Silver Boxes, I'd love it if you would become a follower on Google Friend Connect, subscribe by email (sign up on the right sidebar), 

or follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter. 

And please leave a comment when you do so I know who my new friends are! :)

Enjoy your day,

Check out the great parties I link up to!

Lemon Roasted Potatoes

Wow, looking through the recipes I've posted here on Silver Boxes, it's been a long while since I've posted anything other than a dessert or some kind of sweet!

We do eat foods other than sweets. I promise. 

Now that the days are longer I'm starting to have better light around supper time to take better photos.

So I've been doing just that - taking photos of our favourite meals. 

Yay for variety!

One of our very, very favourite side dishes are these lemon roasted potatoes.

With garlic & oregano, they're a perfect side dish to souvlaki & Greek salad!

You can even do them on the BBQ if you want! (Just see my notes at the end of the recipe.)

Lemon Roasted Potatoes  Print recipe
serves 6

4 lbs. potatoes (8-10)
1 cup water
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 cup lemon juice (or 1/3 cup if you don't like a strong lemon flavour)
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper

Preheat oven to 325º.

Cut potatoes into wedges. Place in 13x9" baking dish. Whisk together remaining ingredients. Pour over potatoes. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 2 hours, basting often, until most of the liquid is evaporated.

**Notes: If you're in more of a hurry, you can still make this. Reduce water to 1/2 cup, heat oven to 350º, & bake for an hour. Still super yummy!

To make on the BBQ: Make sure you use 1 cup water - no less. Use a disposable aluminum baking dish, cover with aluminum foil & BBQ on medium heat for 30 minutes. Baste often.**

Have you been barbecuing already this Spring? We sill have snow on the ground here in Saskatoon, but I have promised myself that I'm barbecuing this week anyway!

Thanks for reading. If you like what you see here on Silver Boxes, I'd love it if you would become a follower on Google Friend Connect, subscribe by email (sign up on the right sidebar), 

or follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter. 

And please leave a comment when you do so I know who my new friends are! :)

God bless you,

Check out the great parties I link up to!

Plus The Country Cook

Insta-Friday #13 {Even Though It's Saturday}

We started off last weekend with... you guessed it... Snow.

My friend & I started our #nosockrebellion just to stick it to the snow. 

We must have hurt the snow's feelings because it's now quickly retreating.

Finally.

Have I told you that I'm in love with washi tape? It's true! It can be used for so many things. One of my favourite being a great way to dress up a plain brown paper package. And topped with a little felt pinwheel... the ultimate cute factor.

Diaper Box Upcycle Tutorial

Hello, friends!

Today I have an extra special treat for you... my beautiful friend, Darlene, is going to share with you how she made these fun "baskets" for her baby's change table. 

Aren't they super fun?

Darlene & I have been friends for many years - since our college days! 

She is a SAHM to her 3 adorable children. She makes divine bath & body products. 

(Her bath bombs are the BEST!)

In the last year or so, I've started to see Darlene share some of her other creations & home decor on Facebook. I asked her if she would like to share a project with my readers & I'm thrilled she said yes!

She's put together a fabulous tutorial on how to upcycle diaper boxes into storage baskets!

Enjoy!

Strawberries & Cream Trifle

On Friday evening, I had the pleasure of attending a baby shower for a dear friend of mine. We were celebrating the birth of her precious little boy. 

The night was full of delicious food & desserts, cuddles with the new baby, & laughter with friends. Perfection.

I was asked to bring a dessert of some kind 

so I was thinking through some of my favourite things to bring to a party, 

& this trifle popped into my mind.

It's a wonderful thing for a spring party. After all, strawberries just scream spring, don't you think?

Just look at the yummy layers of angel food cake, strawberries, custard, & jam... **drool**

Insta Friday #10, #11, & #12

***WARNING: This is a very photo-heavy post. Proceed at your own risk.***

In the business of the last few weeks, blogging has mostly fallen by the way side for me. 

I'm looking froward to getting back to a more regular schedule. I've been working on some recipes & projects this week so I'll have some brand new stuff to share with you next week!

Because blogging has taken a back seat, my weekly update - Insta Friday - has also not taken place, although I'm still posting on Instagram when inspiration hits.

Let the epic update begin...

Week 10:

My husband, James, & I started the weekend off with a bang - date night at our fav Mexican joint here in Toon Town, La Bamba. I drank an apple pop in honour of our last trip to Mexico when I was introduced to apple pop. It's yummy!

After supper, we perused a favourite home decor store - Urban Barn.

Never-Fail Chocolate Cake

When I was a beginner in the homemaking profession, a big goal of mine was to build up a repertoire of great recipes that I would go back to & use time & time again.

One such recipe I wanted to find was a great basic chocolate cake that I could use for birthday cakes & such. Ever since I first made this chocolate cake years ago, it's been my go-to recipe for chocolate cake. You can use it for a sheet cake, a layer cake, & it also makes great cupcakes! Just adjust your baking time accordingly.

Another great thing about this recipe is that you can reduce the fat & it tastes just as good if not better! (See my notes in the recipe.)

Spring Break

Hello, friends!

I just wanted to let you know that I'm taking this week off to spend time with my kids on their...

Have a wonderful week & I'll see you back here next week!

Spring Coconut Cake

What kind of recipes do you like to make for Easter? One of my favourite flavours for Spring is coconut.

This past weekend, we had an early Easter/birthday celebration with my family. It was the first opportunity we had to celebrate my husband's 40th birthday with them & since we're all busy people (plus some of us will be out of town next weekend) we also decided to have our Easter get-together a week early.

Happy Easter Card {Stampin' Up!}

Easter weekend is almost here! Can you believe it? It seems to just have snuck up on us this year. I think it's because it's in March this year. 

Well, it's coming & I'm doing a few things to get ready.

I made a few Easter cards to spread the love to some of our family.

Insta Friday #8 & #9

Wow, I have had a couple of crazy weeks! 

Let me give you an update...

Two weeks ago, my family & I went to the Home Show here in Saskatoon. The kids went into it not really wanting to be there, but we told them to just keep a good attitude & they would be blessed. Wow, were they ever! They got tons of candy, colouring stuff, got to jump on a trampoline, play a wack-a-mole wii game, were given balloons & mini footballs. Those businesses sure knew how to treat the kids!

I enjoyed this cool grey sectional couch & gorgeous entryway.

My friend, Laura, & I were both sporting our spring colours for church on Sunday.

Jam-Filled Cinnamon Doughnut Muffins

For some reason, this recipe reminds me of my Granny. She loved to bake & cook. I remember spending cozy Sundays at Granny & Grandpa's house which would always include having faspa, a light evening meal. It would include homemade buns, cold cuts, cheese, jam, pickles, & would always include homemade baking.

The homey flavours of these muffins brought back those memories. Memories of helping Granny set the table, going to her freezer to pick out some baking for the evening, & sitting beside Grandpa while we ate. 

Insta Friday #7

Have you had a good week, friends? I hope so!

Last weekend was a weekend of celebrating for us because...

Last Friday was my husband's 40th birthday! We went out to Chili's for a fun, family supper.

Following supper, we explored Cabela's to look for my sweetie's birthday gift. The kids always love this place too!

Chocolate Dr. Pepper Cake

Last week was my husband's 40th birthday party. Big stuff, right? Happy birthday, hunny!

Every year, I ask him to choose what kind of birthday cake he would like. 

Seriously, he picks the best cakes... even though they usually are really time consuming to make. 

He's worth it! 

After taking a stroll through my "Let Them Eat Cake" board on Pinterest, he chose this cake. 

He's been a lover of Dr. Pepper for a long time.

It turned out to be a wonderful, moist chocolate cake with just a hint of Dr. Pepper flavour.

This was one of the simpler cakes he's chosen for his birthday, but so very yummy!

Paint Dipped Votive Holders

Happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Mine was mostly good. Our little girl had the flu on Saturday, but rested a lot & got better quickly. I ended up staying home from church with her on Sunday just to make sure she didn't have any more episodes. :) Because we were home & she was resting, I hung out in my craft room for a good portion of the weekend. I pulled up my Pinterest boards & did a whole bunch of little projects. It was great to be so productive!

Here's one of the projects I did. I actually just saw a picture & did my own thing to come up with the end result, so I did a little tutorial so you can follow along if you want to try making some of your own paint dipped votive holders.

Insta Friday #6

It was a busy week here in the Richardson household. My husband, James, turns 40 today (Happy birthday, sweetheart!) & I seemed to have a bunch of prep work to get ready for the big day.

But let's start at the beginning.

Last weekend, I baked up one of our favourites - Chai-spiced loaf - for our church's coffee bar. 

Our church friends seemed to really enjoy it! Yay!

I also worked on a fun card order for a sweet lady.

Fantasyland Layout {Echo Park}

It's been a few weeks since I shared a scrapbook layout. This is one that I did for our Disney album from our trip last summer. 

Fantasyland was one of our favourite parts of the whole Disneyland park. It was our very first stop on our very first morning.