Homemade GIANT-SIZED personalized FORTUNE COOKIES

For Valentine's Day I'm making some fun stuff for my lover. My kids are pretty spoiled and usually get all the surprises, but I like to focus more on my husband for the 14th of February each year.  Chris is an avid reader of my blog (love that!) but I made him cross-his-heart-and-hope-to-die that he wouldn't read this post. 

I recently discovered super cool GIANT-sized fortune cookies that can be ordered online. A few day ago, I actually ordered and shipped some to loved ones because I was crazy about them.  Later that night while I was in bed I thought to myself, "Self! You can totally make those!".  So the next morning I woke up and decided to make some for Christopher!

 HOW TO MAKE SUPERSIZED PERSONALIZED FORTUNE COOKIES:

1) First I cut long strips of paper and penned some secret fortunes for my lover.  Every cookie he opens will have a good prediction for his future, that's guaranteed.  ;)  

See the secret fortune hidden inside?

 2) Next I found a solid recipe for homemade fortune cookies and followed it precisely.
*Please note: If you are making giant-sized cookies, you must DOUBLE the recipe*

Homemade Fortune Cookies

via AllRecipes.com

Ingredients

• 1 egg white
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup white sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a cookie sheet. Write fortunes on strips of paper about 4 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. Generously grease 2 cookie sheets.
2. Mix the egg white and vanilla until foamy but not stiff. Sift the flour, salt, and sugar and blend into the egg white mixture.
3. Place teaspoonfuls of the batter at least 4 inches apart on one of the prepared cookie sheets. Tilt the sheet to move the batter into round shapes about 3 inches in diameter. Be careful to make batter as round and even as possible. Do not make too many, because the cookie have to be really hot to form them and once they cool it is too late. Start with 2 or 3 to a sheet and see how many you can do.
4. Bake for 5 minutes or until cookie has turned a golden color 1/2 inch wide around the outer edge of the circle. The center will remain pale. While one sheet is baking, prepare the other.
5. Remove from oven and quickly move cookie with a wide spatula and place upside down on a wooden board. Quickly place the fortune on the cookie, close to the middle and fold the cookie in half. Place the folded edge across the rim of a measuring cup and pull the pointed edges down, one on the inside of the cup and one on the outside. Place folded cookies into the cups of a muffin tin or egg carton to hold their shape until firm.

I don't have any photos of the preparation because everything moves very fast so the fortunes could get folded in before the cookies set and harden.  


4) Instead of making many normal sized cookies as in the recipe above, I made GIANT cookies.  My husband supersizes everything so he needed GIANT fortune cookies!  To make giant cookies simply pour the batter into the middle of a cookie sheet and rotate the sheet until the batter is about 6-8 inches in circumference. 

5) Once the cookies are complete, let set, dry, harden, and cool for a few hours or overnight.

6) Decorate your finished cookies!  You could dip the edges in caramel or chocolate and dip in sprinkles.  Or what I did was melt candy coating and put it in a pastry bag.  I then piped on shapes and words onto the cookie to customize it.

 

Ta Da! 

If you're like me, you'll realize it's quite entertaining (housewives are easily amused) to make different shapes with the leftover red candy coating.

I've actually showed ideas on how to use abstract melted chocolate shapes before on a previous Valentine Day dessert post HERE. 

I will save these shapes and pop them off the wax paper to use in some way on Valentine's Day.  Maybe I will place them on top of a big bowl of breakfast oatmeal...

Okay, back to topic.  The finished GIANT fortune cookies!

To give you an idea just how big these are, I put one on a stack of love books.  Each cookies is about 4-6 inches long.

It adds intrigue to have secret, hidden messages folded inside a classic fun food.  Discovering and reading our fortunes have always been one of those few-second delights that we get to experience in life.  Meaningless, light fun that glitter our days.

Love and relationships are kindled by wonder, mystery, and dreams for the future.  Fortune cookies are the perfect fit. 

I love this guy,

can't get enough of him. 

Lucky in love, 

that's my fortune.

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This post is linked to:   Under the Table & Dreamin, Think Pink Sundays, Seasonal Sundays,  Met Monday, Making the World Cuter, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, HOMEWORK: Be Inspired, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, DIY Design, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff,   Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up  DIY by Design  

Personal-Care Bathroom Organization & Fresh Homemade Soap Lovin

Organization (not to be confused with cleaning) has always been a big passion of mine ever since I was a little girl.  I would organize for FUN everywhere I went.  I've shared a tiny bit of organization here and here and here and here on this lil blog and I'm hoping to share more this year. 

In our master bathroom I've used a categorized box system for years that works very well for me! Against all organizational advice, I don't have ANYTHING labeled in my bathroom. Umm, wow and oops.  This organization system for my personal care items is more raw and homemade instead of professionally polished.  But it has worked so well, that I haven't changed a thing!

 Okay, this is the system I've used for years and I double love it.  On the inside of my cabinet you'll see boxes holding products. (Behind the boxes is just extra inventory).  Each box serves a purpose.  I have a box of anti-aging products, a box of morning and night cleaning routine products, a hand & foot care box, a hair care box, etc, etc.  The most important thing I've found with organizing bathroom self-care supplies is that it is key to keep products that are used AT THE SAME TIME together...in the SAME SPOT.

Let's pull a couple of the boxes out so I can show you examples.  To hold my supplies, I re-use all those sturdy, pretty boxes that make up and perfume gift sets come in.  Of course, you can easily buy baskets, bins, or tupperwares for a cleaner more polished look, but I really like those free pretty boxes!

Everything is designed to be instantly grabbed with one quick movement.  No more opening and closing drawers one thousand times.  Grab a box, put it on the counter, use the products, put the box back.  Hello simple.


This is my most-used box.  It holds the products I use for my DAILY cleansing routine.  I just pull it out and set it on the counter each morning and evening.  Box it up and put it away when I'm done.  So easy and everything stays organized forever and ever. {wink}

This is my anti-aging box.  Anytime I want to do a skin care routine for preventive maintenance, I easily pull out this box and it has everything I need. 

This box isn't used as often but it is hand and foot care items.  You can also store nail polish with these supplies.  And while you're staring at my favorite hand lotion, let me explain! ;)  I love, love, love times a thousand L'Occitane Shea Butter hand lotion.  It is better than anything else.  I'm not the only one who feels this way.  Every 7 seconds, someone around the world buys this hand lotion.  It is worth every pretty copper penny. 

I have every topic and category for personal-care in BOXES!

I've always said that if something is not pretty I don't keep it. This applies to things behind closed doors as well.  After I return from a trip to Sam's Club, I take the inventory of supplies out of the commercial packaging and line my shelves.  Not only is it prettier (big points there), but the supplies are easier to access which will keep cabinets neater.    

On the bottom shelf is our first aid area.  I have a pull out drawer instead of a box since there are too many supplies to keep in one box.  I also use a glass cube for the more commonly needed first aid supplies. 



I also keep this clear travel bag in my bathroom cabinet.  It is the correct size for airline travel.  I keep it stocked so when we leave for any vacation I can just grab and go.



As I've mentioned, I use quite an eclectic collection of organizational boxes for my bathroom.  This basket was a gift from my parents when they arrived home from a coastal vacation one year.  I use it to store our extra toothbrushes.  Toothbrushes need to be replaced EVERY MONTH to keep the family sanitary.  Keeping a bundled supply in this basket makes it easy for everyone to grab a new toothbrush when needed.  



Because I use Q Tips and cotton balls with nearly every box, I keep them out all the time for easy access.  I store them in this beautiful goblet vase.  Chris gave me flowers in this vase for my 19th birthday and I've used it for this purpose ever since!

In summary:

If you're already over organizational ideas on just waiting for the PRETTY stuff, I have something FRESH and exciting to share...



SOAP.



Who knew?


 


I've never gone so crazy over body soap as I have recently.  Last year I did a homemade soap giveaway.  I also shared more about this soap over the holiday season.  My friend makes incredible homemade soap.  I was instantly sold on how pretty is was but after I used it I was sold on how AMAZING it was compared to typical store bought soap.  I will not be using store bought soap any longer! Seriously.  This homemade stuff makes us feel so fresh and clean! Chris was instantly sold on it too.  It is much healthier for our skin too because of the ingredients it is made with.  I am not getting paid or compensated to say this.  This is NOT a sponsored post.  I just love this stuff. 

 

Sarah makes a large variety of scents.  I bought a collection from her.  It is extra fun because when we need a new bar of soap I get to pick out whatever I want out of my jar!  It's these little things that make life happy.  

Just peek in the jar and choose a scent...

Citrus and Oatmeal...

It seems silly, but pretty little things and fun choices make life brighter.  My soap bar jar makes me smile.  We live in such a monotonous society sometimes.  We all shop at the same retail locations and buy the same stuff.  We go through the same motions, at the same time, and it robs us of our purpose and joy.  If you try to change just a few tiny things in your everyday life, you will create YOUR OWN life, with YOUR OWN identity and life will never be boring. 

 Handmade soap in every bathroom...

 

See more scent varieties at Sarah Lee's Soap Blog.

Fresh homemade soap is one of my new FAVORITE THINGS! 

If you use homemade soap, I would love to hear from you! It's a little thing that has made a big difference in my life.  To see more about the soap I use, visit Sarah Lee's Soap Blog.

 

That's a wrap on 

bathroom self-care organization 

and fresh homeamde soap heaven.

If you have any other orderly ideas to share, please do!

Order is so under rated.  

It we gather a few minutes to organize,

we save TIME. 

With order, we are able to be 100% more effective with our daily tasks, 

giving us more time to do what we love. 

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This post is linked to:   Under the Table & Dreamin, Think Pink Sundays, Seasonal Sundays,  Met Monday, Making the World Cuter, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, DIY Design, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff,   Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up  DIY by Design  

Now the ground is white...A one-horse open sleigh ride

photo via AllAspen.com

This is part 3 of a 3 part post.  Please read part 1 and part 2 for more details on snow days in Aspen, CO.  

This year I wanted to find a  

timeless,

classic, 

old fashioned

winter charm family activity.

So I searched and googled and then... 

Umm, hello sleigh ride!   

 

In Aspen, Colorado, we finished off our vacation with a traditional old-fashioned sleigh ride.

"Dashing through the snow, in a one horse open sleigh...over fields we go, laughing all the way..."


The boys took some time to greet the gentle yet powerful animals.  Horses are incredible! The boys picked out their favorite horses and waited with anticipation to see which horse would pull their sleigh and what his name would be.

Meet Ben.  

The powerful horse that pulled us gently through the snow powder.

The bells were the most charming of all!  

Their light jingle made a merry path 

with every step of the way. 

Cameron loves horses.

Everything had to be JUST RIGHT before we took off...

Lots of warm blankets layered on the black sleigh 

to provide extra comfort for little toes. 

Finally time to bounce into the sleigh!

Cuddle close and hold fast loves.

Scarves,
down coats,
thick blankets,
hats pulled tightly over heads...

only our noses are exposed to greet
the icy winter.

"Dashing through the snow..."

in a one horse open sleigh..."

"Over fields we go"

 

"Now the ground is white...

go it while you're young...

and sing this sleighing song!"

"Jingle bells, 

jingle bells, 

jingle all the way...

O what fun it is to ride 

in a one-horse open sleigh"

Hot chocolate followed our ride, 

warming us up from the inside out.

Bye beautiful horse

and thank you for pulling us over 

the snowy white hills.

 I thrive on experiencing these charmed moments 

with the ones that make my heart laugh over and over again.

I love my family truly, madly, deeply (said in true 90s lyrics).

Our sleigh ride was magic.  All my days I spend with my family is magic, whether it's washing dishes together or painting the town red. 

This is part 3 of a 3 part post.  Please read part 1 and part 2 for more details on snow days in Aspen, CO.  

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This post is linked to:   Under the Table & Dreamin, Think Pink Sundays, Seasonal Sundays,  Met Monday, Making the World Cuter, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, DIY Design, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff,   Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up  DIY by Design