Painting

Once upon a time, I had a super crazy day. Things needed to get done and the boys were antsy, so this desperate mom pulled out the box of painting supplies and let the boys (C, age 3, and D,age 1) have at it. They had a blast!



And now I have one-of-a-kind wrapping paper with a personal touch. These are going to look so great under the tree!

It's coming...!

I finally started my Christmas crafting last night! It began with cutting out a two-toned skull and crossbones fleece scarf for my 8-year-old, the skater wannabe. Today, I will be putting it together and hemming a denim skirt of mine that desperately needed a remodel. I cannot tell you how satisfying it is to cut of a huge chunk of fabric!

Also coming:
*lap desks for my little artists
*book bags for some young readers
*another scarf or two
*a darling wrap-around dress for a darling baby girl
*hooded towels for my water monkeys
*curtain and a quilt for my baby that were supposed to be done for his first birthday in March (oops!)
*

Keep posted!

Sweet Rolls

Due to a last minute change of plans, a lunch that was supposed to be at a friend's house was switched to mine, so i spent yesterday morning frantically cleaning and baking bread and caramel apple sweet rolls. I had it all done by 11 am! Need less to say, the baking isn't as time-consuming or complicated as you think it might be. These are super easy and sooooo yummy! I use Pampered Chef sweet sprinkles. They are a MUST for amazing sweet rolls.I use my regular bread recipe (below), but for the sweet rolls do this:

After it rises in the bowl you divide it in half and roll each half out to about 1/4 inch thin, spread thinly with butter, and sprinkle with the Pampered Chef sprinkles liberally (I love mixing the Sweet Caramel and Sweet Apple for Caramel Apple Rolls, but we also love the lemon sprinkles and, of course, good old Sweet Cinnamon, too). Roll the long side up and slice into 16 rolls. Place in a greased 9x13 inch pan and let rise 20-30 minutes. Bake at 350* for about 30 minutes or until a light golden brown. I don't usually frost them, but sometimes I'll make a thin glaze with powdered sugar and milk (add the milk slowly- you don't need much) and drizzle it over the top.

2 loaves
6-7 cups all-purpose flour
4 T. sugar (or ½ cup honey)
3 ½ t salt
3 pkgs. (2 T.) active dry yeast
¼ cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups very warm water (120* to 130*)

Place 5 ½ cups flour, sugar or honey, salt, yeast, and butter in mixer bowl. Attach bowl and PowerKnead Spiral Dough Hook to mixer. Turn to Speed 2 and mix about 20 seconds. Gradually add warm water and mix about 1 ½ minutes longer.

Continuing on Speed 2, add remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, and mix about 2 minutes, or until dough starts to clean sides of bowl. Kneed on Speed 2 about 2 minutes longer.

Cover dough with plastic wrap and a towel. Let rest about 20 minutes.

*****START SWEET ROLL INSTRUCTIONS HERE*****
Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a load. Place in greased baking pas. Brush each loaf with vegetable oil and cover loosely with plastic wrap. (You can refrigerate dough up to 12 hours.)

When dough has risen to the top of the pan, uncover dough carefully. Bake at 350* (if made with sugar) until done. Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks.

Welcome to my new blog!

My name is Charity. I am a stay-at-home mom to 3 adorable, rambunctious, precocious, amazing little boys, ages 8, almost 4, and 19-months.

This is us!

I am also a part-time Paralegal student and just opened an Etsy shop (still very much a work in progress), so I'm pretty darn busy. Crafting only happens in the rare spare time that occasionally pops up when I'm not exhausted- hence the name "In Between the Crazy"- which doesn't happen as often as I'd like but I sure do enjoy it!

Here are a few of my favorite completed projects:

Diaper Changing Kits

Earrings
These are for sale in my Etsy shop. All of my earrings are nickel free.

I have about a dozen other things in the works that need to be done by Christmas, so stay posted!