Cookies Still Warm From the Oven

Who does not like cookies? Especially ones warm just out of the oven.

My favorite trick is to make the cookies, then form them on a cookie sheet. After freezing, put them in a zip lock bag. Mark on the bag how to bake, then toss them in the freezer. Take out a few and bake. Ta da, warm and fresh cookies just out of the oven, who does not like that? Some can even be baked in the air fryer, test first before making too many that way. The great benefit is that you don't have to eat a massive amount before they get stale. Much better for the waistline, too.

Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars

My oh my, I love Starbuck's Cranberry Bliss Bars. They usually only stock them around Christmas time. So sad.  This Maggie Mack Makes version is just in time for Valentine's Day. Poor me, I must have sampled four or five versions of these bar cookies just for you! 

The one that was easiest and closest to the real thing was the recipe I found on the Recipe Girl blog site, however, I did change it a bit to suit my taste. Only used a little over one cup brown sugar and it was just right. 

Just right click the recipe and "save image as" to your computer, then print from there. So yummy! This recipe freezes well, too.

So worth making!

Enjoy! Maggie

Valentine's Day Gifts - Just 'Cause

Oh, I still love Valentine's Day! 

Last year I made Valentine's Day gifts for nine of my local girlfriends.

Inside each small gift bag was a hand poured vanilla scented goat's milk soap, face mask, and a purse-sized pill container inside an organza bag.

It was so much fun choosing the fabric for each mask to match the personality of each friend. Nothing much, but fun to share with them. I was hoping that we would not be wearing masks this year but COVID had other plans.

Hugs, Maggie

Tea Cozy for Mother's Day

Here is a fun idea. A darling knit tea cozy with crochet roses and leaves which would be a prefect gift for Mother's Day.

Hint: be sure to make the roses removable especially if you choose to make a white tea cozy as I did.

I used this pattern for the tea cozy base:

Ravelry: Tea Cozy pattern by Cheryl Fisher

It was very easy to knit and was finished in no time.

Here is a link to a video to make crochet roses.

How to Crochet a Rose: Beginner Friendly Tutorial. Free Crochet Pattern - Bing video

Blooming Today

This beautiful evergreen Armand Clematis with its heavenly scent.
 

Deck Refresh

Finished deck refresh!

This is what I started with:

and...

Here is the final look after the pillow covers were finished!

A few months later I found these matching umbrellas at Walmart.

Now all I have to do is RELAX!

Craft Room Update - Storage Bins Galore

My craft room is also my guest room, so it serves dual duty. Keeping projects corralled with small objects organized and easy to find has always been a challenge. Walmart storage bins to the rescue! Twelve bins later...

Now, two years later it still looks pretty awesome.

These bins are still available on-line, but unfortunately they are so much more expensive than the $3.99 I paid for them back in 2019. However, they may be less in the store. My closets already had the shelves when this house was purchased which allowed me to skip that step.