Petite Insanities

This is probably the most fun (and the most addictive) DIY ever! I seriously made these for days while watching holiday movies on the couch. They're actually pretty easy too! The more you make, the better you get at making them!

Here's what you need:
Yarn
A fork (yes... a fork!)
Scissors

Step 1
Loosely wrap the yarn around the fork about 70-90 times. The thinner the yarn, the more you'll end up needing to wrap. Tip: It's important to keep it loose to make it easier to work with in the next steps.
Step 2
Thread another piece of yarn through the center of the fork and tie a double-knot creating a bow-like shape. Remove from the fork and flip the ball over and double-knot the back as well. Tip: Double-knotting both sides will ensure the pom pom doesn't fall apart as you begin to shape it.
Step 3
Cut all the loops on both sides. You'll see it now starting to look more like a pom pom!
Step 4
Cut the edges to shape it into a ball. Tip: Use the short sides as a guide as you cut your longer sides. Leave the strings you originally used to tie off the ball. You'll need those in the next step.
Step 5
Knot those two longer strands at the end to create a hanger OR if you want to make garland, use those strands to tie the pom pom to a string and then trim them away.
That's it! Now you have the cutest, awesomest pom poms for your Christmas tree, mantle or even to attach to your shopping bags, keys or purse! I told you they were addictive. So addictive, in fact that I made way too many and will be selling them at the Silver Lake Flea market this Saturday!

Happy Pom Pom making!!!

xx Sécia

(9 yards) hot pink, black and white ribbon

(3) hot pink pom poms

(1) hot pink carnival ticket

(3) hot pink mini clothespins

Ahhhhhh! Donuts are my weakness! (and it doesn't help that they are my husband's too!) Another thing that I love more than anything... HOT PINK! So what's better than Hot Pink Vanilla Bean Cake Donuts!? Um... I don't think anything... !!!!! This recipe has a very close consistency to actual cake so they pretty much melt in your mouth. So light and airy and super yummy!
Cake Ingredients
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 vanilla bean (scraped)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
3 egg yolks
3 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water

Cake Instructions
Preheat oven to 325F and grease your donut pan with cooking spray.

Combine all dry ingredients and vanilla bean. Mix thoroughly making sure the vanilla bean is evenly distributed.

In another bowl, mix egg yolks, vegetable oil, water and vanilla extract. Slowly add the dry ingredient mixture to the egg mixture and beat until smooth. Set aside.

Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form (approx. 5 minutes). Gently fold the egg whites into the batter until combined.

Spoon the batter into the donut pan filling them almost all the way. Bake for 12-18 minutes, checking them every few minutes after 12 minutes to make sure they don't go too long. You want golden brown edges. Run a knife around the edges for clean removal and transfer to a cooling rack and allow to completely cool before icing.

Icing Ingredients
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
3 Tbsp milk
pink food coloring and sprinkles!

Icing Instructions
Combine powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla and salt. Slowly add milk, 1 Tbsp at a time until desired consistency is reached. Add food coloring. {Tip: I used one drop of the pink color for the light pink donuts and 8 drops of the pink color for the hot pink donuts.} Warm in microwave for 6 seconds, stir and begin dipping donuts. Warm again if the icing begins to harden before you're finished dipping all your donuts. Add sprinkles and enjoy!!!
Cake recipe adapted from A Cozy Kitchen with slight changes and icing recipe adapted from Cooking Classy.

xx Sécia