Hello Kitty

Welcome to Whipped Up Wednesday!

Today I am sharing a few things that my daughter whipped up!

She is spoiled rotten and her grandma gave her this sewing machine for her 8th birthday.  Not only has her love of Hello Kitty appeared from nowhere, but her passion for sewing is out of control! 

Luckily grandma is super smart and also purchased some super cute little girly fat quarters for her to start some simple projects with!

Her birthday landed on a Sunday.  My grandma used to say, "A stitch sewn on Sunday is a stitch through your nose in heaven!"  But how could I tell her she couldn't play with her new toy right away! I have no problem sewing on Sunday.  To me it's not work it's fun.

So Aurora got set right to work.  I showed her how to lay out a pillow case and measure and in no time...

 she was sewing away!

Warning...  I am normally not a freak about washing fabric before sewing.  I do was after the project is done.  She was so excited to sleep with her new pillow case that we didn't wash it.  Yup... rash in the morning on her poor little face!  Went away in like 30 minutes, but still wash your fabrics before actual use.  Lesson learned!

To start her out learning we did lots of pillow cases.  When Grandma came to visit she showed of her skills to make pillow cases to take back to girly cousins whose birthdays were coming up!  I find it amazing how quickly she is learning to sew.

From there she made a bag for the headrest of the car.  She ended up making one for each of her brothers too.  I put on the buttons. and helped her line it up.  

Grandma would be so proud.  She asks to go to the fabric store all the time.  On our last trip she insisted that she needed a keeper for all her bobbins like me!  Funny girl.

On our last trip we went to Joann's Fabric to get something completely unsewing and fabric related, but I let her walk among the fabrics anyways.  She spotted a fluffy neon teal with black and hot pink cheetah spots and fell in love!  

"Oh mommy!  I need this!  I can sew that cute black and colorful fabric and make a quilt.  I would look so cute with this mommy.  Please, please?  I promise to sew right away when I get home!"

Now...  I am not a spender and have no problem saying NO to my kids for things in the store that we don't need, but...  She was way to cute! 

Above she is sewing the edging around her quilt.  She worked almost tirelessly until it was done.  And by this project I no longer need to sit right by her.  It was a little weird.  She understood my sewing directions and just went to town.  She came and got me when she needed something!

Here is her very first quilt all done!  She sat and helped me pin the top, batting and back together for over an hour!  I did the quilting on my sewing machine and I did the binding.  She sat and watched me the whole time to be sure I did it right.  LOL

See this face!  Remember it!  She just might be a famous seamstress one day!

I can't imagine what she will be sewing in year!

Universal Studios Butterbeer Recipe

It's Tummy Tickled Tuesday Time!

Today I want to share with you a recipe for Butterbeer from Universal Studios!

Last year we went to Disney World as our last hurrah before moving... and then we didn't move.  So this year, when again we thought we were moving, we decided to hit Universal Studios for Harry Potter World!

I am a bit of a Harry nut.  I was so excited I could hardly stop to take pictures!  It was super cool, even if you aren't a Harry Fan.

The kids have just reached that age where they can really appreciate Harry Potter!  The three year old loves it cause...  Big Bro and Sis love it.  They cast spells on each other all the time!  "Eat Slugs" is a family favorite.  They love to make me vomit invisible slugs.

I am gunna say that we went at an absolutely perfect time.  February in Florida can be warm, but not hot and there is a slight chance of rain, but bring ponchos and you should be fine.   Harry Potter World was easily the most crowded portion of Universal Adventures Theme Park.  It seems that everyone was there.  And it is easy to see why!  But... still.  The longest line we waited in the whole time was The Forbidden Journey.  The sign said 30 minutes, but it didn't seem that long.  Perhaps it was because the line was constantly moving and 90% of that wait was inside Hogwarts Castle!  We do a rider swap cause we have a little one, but.... It was so cool we did it again!  (If you don't want to wait in line for this and aren't a die hard Harry fan...  do the Spiderman ride in the Marvel Hero section of the park.  It is similar and 3D AND it was my favorite simply because our 3 year old could ride it!)  The Forbidden Journey was a little scary for our very sensitive 6 year old boy.  He has a bit of an issue with Monsters.

We just happened to me some friends while we were there and we all headed to The Leaky Cauldron for lunch!  We all decided we could get ONE cool souvenir while at Universal.  And my hubby is a big butterscotch lover so...  He ended up buying Butterbeer after Butterbeer for his prize!  

They are pretty YUMMY!

He actually became a bit of a snob about them.  He swears the frozen ones INSIDE the Leaky Cauldron are more frozen and therefore more yummy than the ones at the little shops outside.  

There are two different Butterbeers.  One is regular cold soda and the other is Frozen.  Just different textures.  Frozen was about a buck more.  The food was pretty good but the Butterbeer was something I could wait to try at home!

First I google searched and then Pinterest searched.  First, nothing I could find was really EXACTLY what I imagined the original recipe would be.  I have a Butterbeer Expert in the house so I  knew I had to get it just right!  And... I came pretty stinkin close if you ask me!  Second, every recipe I could find was for one serving or... had ice and you had to serve it right away.  Seriously, if you have had Butterbeer and like it you don't want one little serving!

So, after many trial and error recipes with the "expert", here is MY recipe for

Universal Studios Butterbeer!

Stuff You Need to Start

1 Big Bowl

2 2 Liter Bottles of Cream Soda

1 Jar of Butterscotch Topping

1 Tub of Cool Whip

The some Light Karo Syrup

and a little Rum Extract

First - The Frozen Butter Beer

In large bowl dump 1 bottle for Cream Soda and stir in about 1/2 - 3/4 Cup of Butterscotch Topping.

Stir that slowly till slightly blended and then place the whole bowl in the freezer.  I go back every half hour or so and stir it, just cause... then it's slightly easier to break it up at the end.  Plus...  I want to make sure it isn't magically done early so we can drink it!

Second - The Froth

Open up your tub of Cool Whip.

ADD 3 Tablespoons of Butterscotch Topping

2 Tablespoons Light Karo Syrup

1 Teaspoon Rum Extract

Then whip all that together until it's blended well, place the lid back on and stick it in the fridge to await your frozen Butterbeer.

Third - The Consumption of Yumminess

To serve you will want to chop up your froze stuff from the freezer and fill your cup lightly about 3/4 the way full with the slush.  Then pour some cream soda from the none frozen bottle, over the the stuff until your slush is at least covered.  I like the slush to be floating about and inch from the bottom.  Then plop a heavy spoonful of the Froth over the top.  It seems to expand a little as time goes by.

There!  A bulk recipe that can be froze and kept for a while and enjoyed at any meal or... just because it's yummy!  The only way I can get closer would be to go drink another and then try mine right away OR find the stingy person who created the one at Universal and won't share.  Believe me it asked.  But... take that!  Mine is pretty stinkin close!