Caramel. The Homemade Kind. A Tutorial.

Click here for this week's Sponsor Giveaway or scroll down.
Click here for to win a *Shey*[B] gift certificate.


You all want to see some tutorials on here. :) Well, here we go.
This one isn't in the sewing room, however. It's done in the kitchen, and it is SO easy! Ready?

Here are my step by step [mostly] instructions on making HOMEMADE Caramel... I made it to put on popcorn last night for movie night, so popcorn is included in this tutorial...


I popped popcorn old school style [of course you can use microwave popcorn if you'd prefer]



Follow the instructions on the popcorn kernel bag on the how to's of popping them into delicious puffs... It normally starts with some oil...




Putting in the kernels...



Watch the fun start! They pop and pop. And when they're done, I spread the popcorn on a cookie sheet covered in Parchment paper [wax paper would be fine as well]...





OK! Now the fun part!! Listen carefully, because Caramel can be ruined! I had to remake mine last night, because I ruined it. But I will tell you how to avoid that...

Start by pouring about 2 cups of sugar in a pan.



Turn your burner on high...



IMPORTANT! DO NOT LEAVE AT ANY POINT! ALWAYS STAY WITH YOUR SUGAR!

No need to add anything else to your sugar. But, while you are there, get another pan. Put about 1 cup of milk and 1tsp of butter in a pan. DO NOT BOIL. Just heat up. I forgot to do this last night when I redid it which will make more work for yourself. So, just get the milk and butter hot, but not boiling.

You will start to notice the sugar melting. It should look like this...



Start moving your sugar around the pan more and more frequently. When it starts to look like this.... add the milk and butter mixture... [I forgot to show the milk part... I messed up at first, remember? LOL!]






Stir CONSTANTLY until you get a smooth consistency. Like this...





Turn off the burner. Immediately start dribbling the smooth yummy luscious brown caramel over the popcorn... [unless you're using it for something else. ;) ]







Enjoy!!!


WARNINGS:

DO NOT TOUCH THE CARAMEL RIGHT AFTER IT'S COOKED! IT WILL CLING TO YOUR SKIN AND BURN LIKE A SON OF A GUN! I HAVE A BLISTER TO PROVE IT! :) ACCIDENTS HURT, PEOPLE! LOL!!

DO NOT FORGET TO ADD THE MILK AND SUGAR AS I DID THE FIRST GO ROUND. UNLESS YOU PLAN ON MAKING PULLED SUGAR... IF YOUR "CARAMEL" LOOKS DARK AND STRINGY LIKE THIS...



DO NOT USE IT. IT GETS ROCK HARD AND DOESN'T TASTE ALL THAT GREAT. I PROMISE. ;)

This recipe is very simple, and it's DELICIOUS, if made correctly. If you have questions, feel free to email me. And PLEASE tell me if you made this!! I want to see! :)

XOXO,

Shealynn

If you're interested in Sponsoring a Giveaway on The Benner Daily, please email us!
shealynn@gmail.com

Honored! And Another Giveaway!

Scroll Down For Our Sponsor Giveaway!

Just stopping in real quick to let you all know that I was interviewed last month, and have been honored being the "Mommy of the Month" over at Luvin the Mommyhood! I am so thrilled with the interview, and it was so much fun! The blog owner, Shannon is lovely! She and I hit it off from the start!

To read the interview, click here, and there is a giveaway I am offering there too! Check it out! ;)

I will be back later! ;)

Uptown Jane Giveaway!!!

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED! WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY IN A NEW POST. THANK YOU ALL WHO ENTERED! :)
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SPONSOR AND HOSTING A GIVEAWAY, PLEASE EMAIL US! SHEALYNN@GMAIL.COM - WE LOOK FORWARD IT!

Today The Benner Daily is hosting our first sponsor giveaway!! How fun!

I am sure you have all heard of Vanessa. Her blog, V & Co., is fabulous! Much inspiration there! Her's is one blog that I love reading. When I see she has written a new blog post that pops up in my Google Reader, it's one of the first ones I click on.

She and I have found out that we have lots in common. Besides our love for sewing, we also share a love of reading. The reading of Teen Fiction, that is. :) It's so much fun to connect with people that love teen fiction as I do. We talk about books we like, books we recommend, and the different scenes in said books. Our latest book talk has been about the Vampire Academy series. I got the 4th book in the series when it was released [yesterday] and I finished it today. Waiting for her to finish it, so we can talk about it. ;) ha ha!

Anyway. Vanessa is a super sweat gal with a super huge talent. And she lives in the Cuntry ya'll. There are cows right by her house. She has blogged about them before. Funny stuff!

OK! I will get on with it, and stop musing. ;)

Vanessa owns an Etsy shop called, V & Co. and Uptown Jane. She sells some great stuff in there! Want to know how generous she is? Dang! You're all going to love this!! The winner gets FOUR things!! Ready for it?

Here is what's up for grabs...

3 PDF Tutorials/Patterns!! Yes, you read that correctly. THREE of them!


Pincushions!




Ruffle Pillows!





Fabric Bracelets!




AND!! 1 yard of some delicious Vintage Flower Fabric!!

She's so rad! Want to know how to win this awesome giveaway??? OK, here's how to enter... remember. You do not have to answer ALL of these questions, but the more questions you answer, the more chances you have to win! ;)

Leave a comment for each one!!
And PLEASE remember to check back here to see if you have won! If you win, you must send me an email claiming your prize.

1. Leave a comment.
2. Go visit Vanessa's Shop. Tell me what other's things you're drooling over.

3. Visit Vanessa's blog. Leave some comment love.

4. Tell me about yourself! Could be anything! I love to get to know my readers! And/Or tell me your favorite book(s)!
5. Follow her blog.

6. Blog about the giveaway.

7. Tweet about it.

8. Tell your vast network of Facebook friends.

9. Follow Me on Twitter.

(Two options: here or here.)

10. Follow my blog.
11. Grab my blog button and/or my shop button on my sidebar, over there ------>
12. Click here to win a gift certificate for one of my camera strap slipcovers! You can also learn more about [if you want] me. I was honored as their Mommy of the Month!



This giveaway ends Next Monday!!

Thank you Vanessa for sponsoring The Benner Daily! You Rock! ;)

If you're interested in becoming a sponsor, we would Love to have you!
Please email for more information!
shealynn AT gmail.com

Cutest baby boy EVER!

OK! Here are more pictures of baby Ben! Is he the CUTEST, or what?!

Ack! Too cute for words! So... no more words. Just pictures of this cute little bebe...

More of him to come! And, more wedding pics too!! Soon. ;) How are you???

WINNER

The winner of the fabulous Springtree Road yarn chosen by the Random Number Generator is....


#9 [SHAE!] Nice name! ;)

Lucky you! The Circe yarn is yours!


Thank you to everyone else who entered!!! Go on over to Springtree, and get your very own yarn! Your choice. ;) Or if you'd rather buy a print or 2, go for it!

New giveaway on Wednesday!! I will post more tomorrow!

90 Days

Scroll down or click here for this week's giveaway.

As I said before, I began P90X day before yesterday. I can barely walk and can barely stand for a long amount of time, because my muscles are so sore! My muscles have pretty much been dormant for over a year, and I am now shaking them awake in a big way! ha ha!

The program is 90 days... so, but Thanksgiving I should be in the best shape of my life!! What better thing to be Thankful for? Despite the fact that I am currently limping with every step, feel sore with every movement, I feel good! I can't wait to see myself 90 days from now!! All of this pain and stiffness will be SO worth it!!!

I will do a weekly update for everyone to let you know how it's going, and how I am feeling!

In other news... the white cat is driving us all nuts AGAIN! Turns out, she is in heat, yet again. 3 times in 3 months!!!!!!! I can't even tell you how irritating it is. I need to plant a money tree in the backyard so I can get her spayed. Otherwise I will commit myself to the asylum. Take something you find annoying and times it by 1 million - she could make any annoyance seem like nothing with all of her howls, yowls, and literal screams. Cats sure are horny if they need to make that much noise to call a man cat to them. All I want is for her to SHUT UP! ha ha ha!

How about another wedding picture or 2? Here you go...

My brother is such a big goof! LOL!



The bride...

More later!

Springtree Road Giveaway

I started P90X last night!! Thought I was going to die halfway through. Afterwards I found out that I had worked out to the wrong portion. There are 2 #1's. The #1 I did was for graduates of P90X only. LOL!! No wonder! :) I am super excited about this exercise program, and look forward to updating you on my progress! For now... let's have a giveaway!!

Maya just opened a shop a couple of months ago called, Springtree Road! She sells photography prints and yarn. Today she is offering you all a skein of her beautifully spun yarn! This skein has been named Circe...



Now who wouldn't want to knit something up with that? I know I would. But, I can't win, only you can! How awesome is Maya for offering a skein, Circe, Circe is 166 yards of worsted weight, single-ply, & 100% Merino Wool yarn deliciousness to one of The Benner Daily readers? Her shop is full of pretty items, I know you'll love it!!



All Maya's skeins are spun by her, and they're all so beautiful! So, now you want to know how to win. I know. Here's the details...

Leave a comment for each one!!
And PLEASE remember to check back here to see if you have won! If you win, you must send me an email claiming your prize.

1. Visit Maya's shop, here. Come back here and tell me what else you love in her shop.
2. Anything that I haven't blogged about that you want me to?

3. Visit Maya's blog. Leave some comment love.

4. Follow her blog.

5. Blog about the giveaway.

6. Tweet about it.

7. Tell your vast network of Facebook friends.

8. Follow Me on Twitter.

(Two options: Here or here.)

9. Follow my blog.
10. Grab my blog button and/or my shop button over there ------>

This giveaway ends Next Tuesday!!

P.S. Did you see this week's birthday sale in my shop? 15% off your entire purchase!! Ends Saturday!

Winner

The winner of the giveaway from Polka Dot Moon and Wild Moon Studio is...

#12! Heather!!!

Congratulations! PLEASE email me to claim your price: shealynn AT gmail.com - I need to hear from the winner in 1 week or less. If I don't, I will have to choose another winner.

Thanks! There will be another giveaway tomorrow! Be sure to head on over to Polka Dot Moon, and Wild Moon Studio and pick yourself up something purty. Make sure and tell her that Shealynn sent you! ;)

Weekend

I was away this weekend. My husband and girls stayed home, and I flew to Oklahoma for the event.

My brother got married yesterday! I can't believe my baby brother is now a HUSBAND! That's crazy! :) I will share more pictures later. I am so tired, and SO SORE from shooting their wedding yesterday! Feels like I did 1,000 lunges. haha.


Don't forget!!! The giveaway ENDS TONIGHT!!! Please enter now! Scroll down or click here to enter! There will be another giveaway on Wednesday!

Oh my, my, my!

Scroll down for this week's giveaway, or click here.

Today was a good day! The UPS man came!! Do you know what he brought for me? This beauty...

Oh! It turned out SO GOOD!!! Thank you to The Backporch Quilters!!! It's perfect!

Do you think they'll like it?

Incase you didn't know, I made this for my brother and his fiance. They are getting married this Sunday. I will be flying out to Oklahoma on Saturday to photograph their wedding.

I picked the heart design for this quilt... I figured it was a good choice considering it's a wedding gift to them from me and my family. ;)

Oh! I love it! There will be more quilts in my future!! :)

P.S. Scroll down for the sneak peak of a photo shoot I did last weekend.