Polka Dot Moon

Synopsis

2012-01-25T19:53:00.000-08:00

It's me again.

Happy New Year!

It's been a while....

Popped in to say hello and give you a picture synopsis of what's been going on!

Basketball season is coming to a close and Baseball tryouts are days away.

Eating MUCH healthier! My family is eating more Vegetarian and enjoying every bit!

Being MORE active! These shoes are a dream!

Out and about enjoying the "scenery"!
Wee one thought this was hysterical. Me....I've got nothin'!

This beauty was just feet away (well, our window was between us!)
A second one was right above him (our son pointed the 2nd out)
He's been spotted a lot as of late.
I was happy to see him so close!

We've had the most amazing January, hardly could call it "winter" here!

Wish it would rain!

A girl can dream.......

In a nutshell

2011-12-26T17:24:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Happy Hanukkah!

Season's Greetings!

I've been busy enjoying the most wonderful time of the year!

Busy enjoying my family.

Busy doing fun family things.

While enjoying them, I have been unplugged from blogland.

Really unplugged.

So much that I forget to capture moments.

I do have a few!

Here's what we've been doing; "in a nutshell".....

We LOVE our library and spend LOTS of time there!
While the kids pick out chapter books and easy readers,
I'm scouring cookbooks!
And crafty books too :)

Wee One likes to bake, cook or really do anything that involves the kitchen.
{yes, even empty the dishwasher with me!}

We made the above named treats from a library cookbook called
"The Happy Baker"
A girls guide to emotional baking

I choose it because it had a cupcake on the cover, and it actually has some
awesome recipes in it!

The above treat were 2 ingredients {the ones in the picture}
Easy Peasy and they tasted good too!
None of my tasters could believe that there were Fritos in them :)

I want to make the Sea Salt Caramels next!

I had the opportunity to do some Holiday Boutiques and
my Posy Headbands and Posy Gloves were everyones fave.

I actually saw a girl on her bike the other day sporting a Posy Headband!
I think I squealed out loud.....excited to see somebody wearing one that was purchased
from one of the boutiques!

And last and my favorite was all the decorating, singing, dancing and
squeezed that I got from my family!

The greatest joy of all!

Wishing you all Peace, Love and Joy in the New Year!

December Eve

2011-11-30T20:40:00.000-08:00

Where has this year gone?

Wasn't it just Halloween?

I just got rid of our pumpkins on Monday.

And no, they were not rotten as we did not carve them this year.

I've been a busy bee baking with the kids...

Decking the Halls with lots of Christmas decorations...

and

making goodies for the shop and the Boutiques I'm doing.

Here's a peek of what's in the shop.

Posy Gloves and Headbands have been very popular.

We do get cold here in the Desert too!

I'll be sharing recipes later.

One made with Fritos!!

Happy Days!

Hello December!

The past few days and a winner!

2011-11-28T12:52:00.000-08:00

Here's a peek of things going on captured by my phone!

Hanging out at my neighbors for a Pre-Thanksgiving Toddy while I watch her back pies!
{She is an amazing cook and friend!}

Making "Candy Cane" and "Pumpkin Pie" homemade playdough
{Thank You Pinterest!}

Making these Posy Clips for my Holiday Boutique this weekend.
I add magnets to the back too.
{Makes great Teacher Gifts}

And congratulations Deserae!
You are the lucky recipient of my new wired bangle.

Hope you're having a wonderful "last" week of November!

Hold on tight....December is quickly approaching.

{P.S. My Cyber Monday special is 25% off everything in the shop....
use CYBERMONDAY25 at checkout}

Something for You

2011-11-22T12:30:00.000-08:00

With so much to be Thankful for

I thought I'd spread some cheer

and give away something new!

Be the first to own one of my

New Wired Bangles!
{These haven't hit the shop yet}

Two ways to enter:

Leave me a comment here

and

you can click on the link to "Like" my FB page.

Leave a separate comment for each.

I'll draw a winner on Sunday, November 27th.

Good Luck!

T minus 1

2011-11-16T07:20:00.000-08:00

In 24 hours

I will be with friends...

who share my obsession.....

TWILIGHT.....

here we come....

Part 1...

Breaking Dawn!

Early Release Day

2011-11-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

Seems like our kids have more early release days and "breaks" then we
ever did!

I try to find something fun to do, but sometime my very early work schedule
has me wanting to take a cat nap ;)

.......

Here's a peek at what we did one day not too long ago.

Bright blue skies and shorts and tee weather in October took us to another one of my favorite
places to go....

The Desert Botanical Gardens.

They happened to have the most amazing sculptures on display.

Insects, Arachnids, and Bugs.....Oh My!

These are the only kind of bugs I think I like.

These were spectacular!

Beautiful and meticulous.

The kids and I really, really enjoyed our day.

It was so much fun discovering where the next giant sculpture was hidden.

And we got to finish the morning off with the butterfly exhibit.

This was truly one of my favorite "Early Release Days" ever!

WHOOPS!

2011-11-07T19:13:00.000-08:00

Had a little hiccup.

Blog went "poof".

Actually thought I'd lost it.

Totally panicked.

Well, kinda freaked out a bit.

So much on here that I could have lost.

........

Huge sigh of relief.

.........

Okay, so here's a peek at what's been going on over in my neck of the woods.

Pre-Halloween we had to check out our favorite "haunt" and visit
"The Haunted Hamburger" in Jerome.

Great little artist town with a history!

One day we might just have to brave a "ghost tour"........

One of my favorite shops has the most beautiful kaleidoscopes I've ever seen.

One of the gals working there showed me how to use my phone to take this picture of Wee One
Had another fabulous day in Jerome!

We'll make that an annual pilgrimage; it's a really cool place!

.............

Okay, I've got more to share, but since I'm a bit behind on my blog....

I'll save it for another post.

Stay tuned :)

MIA

2011-10-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

That would be me.

Missing in action.

So much has changed.
{mostly my schedule}

Juggling.

Didn't know I had it in me.
{if you're a mom or parent of course we juggle!}

Taking on more and not knowing when to say no.

Can't do it.

I can tell my friends, family and children to say NO, but for some reason it comes hard to me.

So while my blog has been on the back burner......

I've been working....
{a job outside of home with a VERY early schedule}

Juggling two school schedules....

Volunteering at school....

Juggling two activity schedules....
{thank goodness I only have 2!}

Making jewelry....
{when I can}{some of these have made it to the shop, others sold before I could list!}

And all my normal "mom, wife, etc. duties.

So while I haven't been around much, it's just because I'm trying to adjust to my new schedule.

But, just so you know......

I do peek in on you!

I want to see what you're up to! :)

Dreaming of Fall

2011-08-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

Exited for Fall colors
{tired of brown, dust and more brown}

Excited for cooler temps!

Excited to wear something other than tank tops & shorts.
{well, we've got a few more months anyway}

Excited to bring out new decorations!

Excited to burn candles!
{not here in the summer!}

Excited to share a peek of what I'm working on!

"Don't believe in zombies, But that is what I saw, A skeleton with corpse like face, I viewed it with awe".

I've got to clear out some space in the shop
so that means a discount for you!

Enter coupon code: FALL30 at checkout to receive 30% off EVERYTHING in the shop.

Never too early to start Holiday shopping ;)

My "Very" special deal today

2011-08-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

Today you can get one of these

over at Very Jane at a "very" special price!

I have a limited number of only 25 of each color rose. The great thing about this is you can adjust the Vintage Seam binding to any length....it's 40" long.

Makes for a great gift :)

They have special "boutique" deals everyday.

You should see what I've gotten from them!

I'm addicted ;)

Fiber One 80 Calorie Review and Giveaway

2011-08-15T13:41:00.000-07:00

Creative Cottage Dreamer gets the goody pack!
Congratulations!

I was excited to receive a box of Fiber One 80 Calories, Honey Squares to review from General Mills and My Blog Spark.

Especially when the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Fiber is age; oh and the taste....tastes like cardboard!

However, not in this case.

I was pleasantly surprised.

Fiber has come a long way in regards to foods. And Fiber One has a complete line of delicious foods from snack bars, yogurt, cottage cheese and cereal.

I'm here to talk about Fiber One 80 calories.

I'm a girl that can eat a bowl of cereal any time of day.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and usually it's my go to for late night snack.

And on top of that, did you know that I have a sweet tooth.
Pretty sure my daughter has inherited that from me!

Anyway....

Fiber one 80 calories, is light honey flavor that will satisfy your sweet tooth, while also giving you 40% of your daily fiber, which gives you that full feeling, curbing hunger which in the end is going to help you manage your weight.

I see this as a win, win!

Want to try it out yourself?!

Thanks to My Blog Spark and General Mills; you could win your own Prize Pack!

All you need to do is head on over to Fiber One and tell me a recipe you'd like to try out; I'm always on the hunt for recipes! While you're there you can print out a coupon!

Contest ends Friday, August 19th.
{CLOSED}

GOOD LUCK!

I received no monetary compensation for this post. I received product samples to facilitate my post. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Red Hot Summer Recipes

2011-07-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

Even though our summer is just about over
(school starts in less than 2 weeks)

There is a ton of summer fun to be had

AND

some tasty treats!

With our temps still hovering in the triple digits; these are on my list to make for the
"Big Kids" aka Mom & Dad!

Don't those look refreshing!

And I love anything with the coconut, rum and the word "cheeky" :)

The kids want to visit EVERY frozen yogurt place in town.

And lately there is one on every corner.
(I have frequent shopper cards to most)

So why not make these tasty numbers
Yummy and pretty!

You can find the recipes to these and so many more
of what I'm calling "Red Hot Summer Recipes"
by clicking on over to Betty Crocker's site and checking out her
Check out all the deliciousness here.

Okay, now I'm hungry!

This information was provided by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark.

We can't visit Southern Cali without...

2011-07-21T17:18:00.000-07:00

a pit stop here!

Well at least that's what our son thinks!

This is our 3rd trip to Legoland and Wee One's first.

It's so interesting to see the differences between first born and second; boy's vs. girls; and the
6 year age difference.

He's more cautious while she's fearless!

She was a bit disappointed that she couldn't ride any rollercoasters there; while we had to talk her big brother into just one ride.

It was a fabulous time!

Big Brother has been a LEGO fiend since before he could walk.

He has tons of sets, gets the "magazine" and really, really wants to join the Master Builders Club.

Maybe I can talk to Santa about that!

Even Wee one will sit there with him and build for quite awhile before the drama starts ;)

We haven't ventured to Disneyland yet...maybe next time we visit SO.CAL. we can try that park instead. It will take some convincing of the Big Brother I'm sure!!

How does your garden grow?

2011-07-17T07:16:00.001-07:00

Living in the desert.....nothing looks like this in the summer!

Gorgeous flowers are everywhere in Cali!

These were all on the property we stayed at and around the block.

Doesn't this look like a Fairy Tale Cottage?!

It kinda is.

An oasis.

Away from all the hustle and bustle; yet close enough to the beach.

A mere half a block walk and you have sandy toes and crashing waves.

On my daily walk; I'd pass this house.

Met the lovely owner and talked for quite a while about her landscaping.

A spectacular house with a delightful owner that I'm sure we could have talked for hours.

This vacation was....

Pure Bliss.

First Destination

2011-07-12T19:39:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Zoo!

A spectacular zoo.

We enjoyed and learned so much from our visit.

The kids had a blast!

Mommy & Daddy did too :)

I love bears and the Polar Bear was doing a sort of dance....
we were told a "mating" dance.

Looked like a Cha Cha to me :)

The Koala's were sleeping of course.....16 hours a day. That's a LOT of sleep! They were so cute in the trees all cuddled up asleep. They looked just like a stuffed animal.

Wee one wanted to see the Panda's on the "Panda Cam".

She learned that term from "Curious George".....one of her favorite shows!

The line was 2 hours.....no Panda Cam for her. She wasn't sad for too long.

We went to see the Gorilla's and the "toddler" was putting on quite a show for us! His parents didn't seem too amused! I think he got a "gorilla" time out too.

The kids got a big kick out of the "Bug and Insect" building in the kids zone.

It was actually quite interesting; although I found myself scratching and feeling as though something was crawling on me.

The "Dung Beetles" were a big hit as they were pushing around a big piece of Elephant Poop.
That itself generated a half an hour of giggles from the two.

We were told that there is so much "poop" from the Elephants that they recycle it as a form of fertilizer to farms/gardens in the area.

Lots of beautiful vegetation too! I have more pictures from the zoo, but they are on my hubby's laptop and I need to figure out how to transfer them!

Next time; picture of the beach!

Have a fabulous week.

I've been gone....

2011-07-10T10:21:00.002-07:00

Spent time enjoying hot sand and salty water with the family!

I have pictures to edit and share; stay tuned!

Enjoy this beautiful day :)

Giveaway Day!

2011-06-29T11:00:00.001-07:00

I'm giving away a $25 Merchandise Credit to my shop over at the
Click here and head on over to enter :)

GOOD LUCK!

'Stache's are in!

2011-06-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

Everywhere I look there are mustaches.

Not just on faces either!

I think they're kinda fun ;)
{I could NEVER picture Sam Elliott without his}

My friend Erin made all kind of Mustache Fabulousness for her nephew's 1st Birthday Party.

And look at some of the fun goodies I found on Etsy!

Just looking at these pictures makes me smile :)

Top Row, Left to Right

Mustache Mug Fun Polka Dots Set of 2 by kaoriglass
{Mustaches & Polka Dots!! WooHoo!}

Moustache iPhone Cozy by yummypocket
{Think my phone may need this!}

Stache Party - DIY Digital Party Decoration Kit by bfatcatstudio
{such a fun and fabulous idea for any age!}

Owl with a 'Stache by babysaywhat
{LOVE, LOVE him!}

Bottom Row, Left to Right

Turquoise Blue Mustache - Affordable Original Painting by PaintMeAPicture
Okay, my FAB friend Erin {remember her from up above} got me hooked on this shop!
I won one of her fabulous pieces {going to Nana & PopPop from the kids}
and I want more!

Upcycled Mustache Crayons - Deluxe Set of 9 by JugieBeeCrayons
{Wee One would love these!}

The Stache Pack Dog Treats by NerdyDog
{'Staches even for Mans's Best Friend!}

Wooden Men's Shave Set by DirtyDeedsSoaps
{LOVE this set! LOVE the handmade beer soap that's included - what man wouldn't?}

I can see a lot of "stache" purchases in my future!

It's a Giveaway!

2011-06-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

I'm giving away a Tattered Bloom Necklace - your choice!

You have to go over to Living with Punks to check it out :)

GOOD LUCK!

Fresh Fruit Colors - Mango

2011-06-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Summer love inspiration; Part 2!

Bright, bold color

Fresh Fruit
{lots and lots of it}

And today it's MANGO

Sweet, bright, fragrant and delicious!

Love, love, love it in my salad.

And Mango Smoothies are a tropical delight; especially here in the good ole' desert!

Well, really just about anything Mango is fabulous!

This lovely collage is items from my favorite place to shop, ETSY!

{from left to right, top to bottom}

1. Summer Mango Dress II
ManiMina

2. Knitting or Project Tote Bag Hand-woven from Natural and Sustainable Plants (Rectangle Bottom)
LolaKo

3. MANGO- Natural Mineral Eyeshadow 5 gram MATTE

4. Cake Stand - Dessert Pedestal - Mango Color - Up cycled
UrbanApple

5. Custom Robert Kaufman Night Owl Mango/Chocolate Minky Baby Blanket(You Create)
ChristinaWerner

6. Set of Five Herb and Spice Jars
dbabcock

Aren't they all just fabulous?!

Okay, now I need to buy some MANGO!

Insta Friday

2011-06-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

Linking up to Jeanette's InstaFriday.

Welcome to InstaFriday!

Take pics of the sweet, funny, random moments of your day and then paint the picture of what you’ve been up to all week!

Went to a Museum; an outdoor prehistoric Indian Village; with the family this weekend and learned some interesting facts about our local canal system and the people that created it.

Celebrated Memorial Day with friends on Sunday and family on Monday.

It's cherry season!

You wouldn't believe how many POUNDS of these we've been
eating!
I need to invest in a cherry pitter though....wee one hasn't quite mastered
"spitting" out the seed.

I sold lots of Honey Bee earrings on Very Jane and spent the week
filling orders :)
We have a couple of gorgeous Palo Verde trees that bloom with the most magnificent
yellow flowers. It's a sea of yellow in our yard; and then on the ground!
But worth all the sweeping and blowing!

What have you been up to this week?

Today

2011-05-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

Thank you to those that serve our Country.

Fresh Fruit Colors - Lime

2011-05-28T07:06:00.000-07:00

There are so many things that I love about summer
{except the triple digits that linger for months}

No schedules
{schools out}

Swimming at night
{the pool is actually perfect}

Summer dresses

Flip flops and sandals
{we could probably wear them year round}

Bright, bold color

Fresh Fruit
{lots and lots of it}

And today it's LIME

Zesty, tart, fragrant, and delicious
{Margarita please!}

This lovely collage is items from my favorite place to shop, ETSY!

{From Left to Right, Top to Bottom}

1. Ginger Lime Sugar Cubes
LifeSoapSimple

2. Lime Green Dream Heart Trinket Dish
artsylois

3. Julie's Fudge - KEY LIME PIE w/Graham Cracker Crust - 6 Pieces
JeweloftheLion

4. Boston Landscape
MagMoment

5. The Zoe Clutch: Turquoise with Lime Green Flower and Dupioni Silk Lining
AsqueezeofLime {LOVE the name of this shop!!}

6. Pincushion Ring 018
blondesbackyard

7. Collection of 24 Melmac (Melamine) Lime Green Dishes
Melindamilkshake

8. Key Lime Rufflette Shorties
EmmaNicoleDesigns1

I'm swooning over all this lime goodness!

I'll be posting more "Fresh Fruit Colors" next week.

and

this weekend I'm offering 20% off everything in my shop.

Use coupon code MEMORIAL20 at checkout.

InstaFriday - Summer Begins

2011-05-27T06:38:00.000-07:00

School is officially over for us.

A year that has flown by!

My little boy is growing up too fast.

We get out early and go back early.
{August - hottest month of the year!}

So I thought I'd share with you what we did this 1st few days of summer

in Pictures.
Flip flop season? Not for her! Cowboy boots and dresses.
This is how Wee One rolls!
Official summer buzz!Pool toys out.
{Great for watering plants and soaking a passerby!}

Found this awesome book at the library yesterday.

AWESOME recipes!
{I may not eat meat, but this girl likes to grill!}

Happy Friday!

Linking up to Jeanette's InstaFriday.

Come play!

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

2011-05-26T17:34:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share with you something I've been working on
for a dear, dear friend.

She is getting married and I'm making some goodies for her and
her Bridesmaids!

A summer Wedding that will take place in the most beautiful outdoor
setting in Idaho.

The Bridesmaids will be wearing these in their hair.

And these around their necks.

And this is what I think is my favorite!

It's for the Ring-bearer.

A tiny nest, to which I added some moss, hand made the eggs; carved the words in it with a screwdriver {best tool!} and gave them a little antique finish then
added her coordinating Organdy ribbon to tie the rings with.

I absolutely LOVE how it turned out and so did she!

It was my first time making something like this.

What do you think?

Have you heard of Very Jane?

2011-05-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm sure some of you might know what Groupon is.

I've bought some great deals for myself, my family and some gifts.

Okay are you ready for this?

Well, there is brand new daily deals site called

Very Jane.

What is Very Jane you ask?

Very Jane is a Daily Boutique Deals site where you can get handmade and boutique goodness at discounted prices.

SQUEAL!

You seriously need to head on over and sign up for the daily deals.

The deals are fabulous!

And guess what!

I'm being featured today :)

I'm not going to show you what it is. You're going to have to head on over to check it out.

I'm hooked on Very Jane.

You will be too!

Cascade Complete 24 Hour Challenge

2011-05-20T06:12:00.000-07:00

** All my samples of Cascade Complete have been taken. Thanks for commenting!**

What if someone asked you to leave your stuck-on dishes lying on the counter for 24 hours?
EEK!
Could you it?
No rinsing. No soaking. No scrubbing.

And then, after the stains are really stuck, you simply know that it's gonna take some elbow grease to clean it, you were allowed to finally wash them?

Actually throw it in the dishwasher just the way it is!

Well, that's what MyBlogSpark asked me to do.

The mission: make a BLUEBERRY COBBLER, let the pan sit for 24 hours, wash in the dishwasher with Cascade Complete.

Well, I'm for a challenge!

I made a Blueberry Dump Cake.

Preheat oven to 350.

Melt 1 stick of butter or margarine.

In an ungreased casserole dish, pour can of blueberry compote in the bottom.

Sprinkle entire box of dry cake mix on top.

Pour melted butter over top.

Bake for 30 - 40 minutes (light brown on top)

Let cool.

I serve with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream or Whipped Cream.

Delish!

Here's the aftermath.

I let it sit on my counter for a whole day!And here is what I took out of my dishwasher after using Cascade CompleteI was pleasantly surprised!

My dish was perfectly clean.

Want to try it?

I have 5 trial size packets to give away.

Leave me a comment so that I can get in touch with you and I'll pop it in the mail.

A big thank you to My Blog Spark and *P&G for providing me with the Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPac Kit, 6 trial packs, information, and the $15 Walmart gift card.

Requests

2011-05-15T16:09:00.000-07:00

I've had several requests for my

Tattered Bloom and Posy Necklaces lately.

So here are a couple that just went into the shop and more to come!
Tattered Bloom Necklace - Cottage Garden

And

Mocha Posy Necklace
Starbuck inspired ;)

I'm also working on a very special Wedding order for my dearest friend.

Can't wait to share what I've been working on for her.

Hope you're enjoying this lovely weekend!

Win a $25 Gift Certificate

2011-05-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

to anything in my shop!

Head on over here to enter.

You'll love Jen's blog too!

Full of fabulous ideas, crafts and more.

And she's super nice!

I got to meet her in person at Creative Estates.

Hop on over to enter.

Good Luck!

This could be trouble

2011-05-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I shared an old flip phone that was probably as old as our son.
{Vintage now}

It served it's purpose.
{calling}

I'm not much of a technology buff.
{more stuff that I don't need}

I'm not "tech savvy" at all.
{texting?}

Look what I now have.
{welcome to the 21st Century}

My Mother's Day gift.

This could be trouble!

Easter Blessing

2011-04-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

May the glory
and the promise
of this joyous time of year
Bring peace
and happiness to you
and those you hold most dear,

And may Christ,
Our Risen Saviour,
always be there by your side
To bless you
most abundantly

and be your loving guide.

Some People's Treasure

2011-04-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Mom, wee one and I went to one of the "antique" malls on Wednesday.

I was actually looking for something to use in my display when I do Boutiques or home shows.

Thought to take my camera
{so glad I did}

and share what "treasures" were for sale!

This old "Coke" gas pump read $.28 cents a gallon.
{I just paid almost $4.00 a gallon today!}
Tons of old beer cans all in a row.
{I'd never even heard of half of them!}

Wee one spotted a cool John Deere tractor and really old
hobby horse.

Plenty of SCARY clowns if you're interested.
{me not so much; I will have nightmares just from taking these photos!}
Seriously......who would own these???

And here's "The Last Supper"

recreated with creepy mannequine's.
And a picture of "The Last Supper" just in case you didn't know WHAT THE HECK
you were looking at!
{you HAD to see this in person!}

As if I wasn't terrified enough; I came across this dandy.

Let the nightmare's commence!

What little girl wouldn't want one of these dolls?
{isn't she sweet with her fangs and bloody face}

The bottom of the box says..."I Sleep with Worms".
How lovely.

I'm gonna need therapy after this adventure!

I did manage to find something to use for my display.

It needs a little elbow grease.

I'll share the before and after pics soon.

Stay tuned!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

{peace in the house}

Short and Sassy

2011-04-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

It was time.

I go through this every year.

Grow it out.

Cut it off.

Wish I would of done it before Creative Estates, but oh well.

I've come to realize that I do not look good with "long" hair.

I just can't pull it off.

Does not work for me.

So I'm back to short & sassy which is just how I feel. Literally!

Oh and this piece of literature arrived in my mailbox!

Just in time too.

I'm seeing the movie next Thursday at a special "sneak peek" preview.

Can't wait!

I get to go with a friend. I'll let you know my thoughts, but honestly with RATZ in it, how can I not like it. :)

Better get reading.

Have a fabulous weekend!

New Friends

2011-04-12T14:01:00.000-07:00

New friends face to face.

For real.

Not just online.

That's one of my favorite things about attending the

Creative Estates Conference!

After 2 years of online chatting about all things TWILIGHT
{and lots of other topics too, but mostly Edward!}

I finally got to meet Erin

Could hardly control my smile!
{can you tell!}

And the image I'm holding
{flash is reflecting on his diamond dust skin}

is a picture of Edward.
{courtesy of Erin}

AND

super sweet and hysterical Heather was there too!

These girls made me laugh countless times!

Two more lovely ladies had me laughing this weekend too!

That would be Lisa & Ashley
{Heather, Lisa formerly Ellesbows & Ashley of Lil Blue Boo}

I wish I had actually taken more than the few photos I did.
{ahem....4 came out}

I was so happy to talk to the collectively creative gals that attended

that pictures became an afterthought.
{plus I REALLY need to figure out how to use it properly!!}

I'm in awe of some of the photos I've seen from other attendees!

These gals are awesome on so many levels!!

They announced next years conference will be in Salt Lake City.

Start planning & saving.

You too could come meet new friends face to face!

Blurr

2011-04-11T16:21:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the Creative Estates Conference.

I have been excited for this weekend for months.

Excited to meet blog/twitter/etsy/crafty friends.
{for reals!}

Excited to hear the amazing speakers they had lined up.
{and did they deliver!}

It was a fabulous time.
{even with the RAIN and cooler temps}

BUT.... it was a blurr.

I can't believe how fast the time went.

I have so many things to process before I share.
{lots of little notes....attendee fail - didn't bring my notebook!}

Pictures were few and far between for me.

Note to self.....
it's about time you learned how to USE your camera that you've now had for 1 1/2 years!

But I promise to share more.

Our son said this yesterday afternoon...

"I wish that life had a rewind button".

Me too :)

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner

2011-04-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

With Loaded Mashed Potatoes!

Lucky Winner of The Betty Crocker Loaded Mashed Potato Prize Pack is...Kristy

Congratulations!

I'm excited to be attending this conference

and actually getting to meet some fabulous women that I've been "talking" to for the past 2 years!

I hope to have lots of pictures to share.

Have a wonderful rest of the week :)

Delicious Giveaway

2011-04-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

My life as of late is all about Baseball.

While a majority of the time I like to make a meal from scratch, these late games turn into late nights and dinner is on the fly.

And you certainly can't eat from the snack bar - well I could but that a different story!

I still like to have a hot, filling dinner on the table. Some days I need a little help.

Hello Betty Crocker.Hello Loaded Mashed Potatoes.

We recently had the opportunity to try the Loaded Mashed potatoes from Betty Crocker. They are made with 100% mashed potatoes and seasoned with naturally flavored bacon, cheese, chives & sour cream. All you have to do is add milk and butter and you have a filling side dish that didn't take half an hour to prepare.

Betty Crocker has eight delicious varieties of instant mashed potatoes to choose from including Butter and Herb, Four Cheese, Homestyle Creamy Butter, Loaded Mashed, Roasted Garlic, Roasted Garlic Cheddar, Sour Cream Chives, Sweet Potato, and Yukon Gold.

What more could you ask for? How about 2 pouches for 2 meals in every box. One pouch generously fed our hungry family of four.

You can sweeten the deal by downloading a coupon good for $.55 off one box of Betty Crocker Mashed Potatoes here.

And a little something extra from Betty Crocker!

One of my lucky readers is going to win a Betty Crocker Loaded Mashed Potato Prize Pack containing a box of new Betty Crocker "Loaded Mashed" potatoes, a mixing bowl, a magnetic hanging pot holder, silicone spoonula, and measuring cup. Here's what you can do for a chance to win:

Visit Betty Crocker's page and come back and tell me about a recipe or tip that you'd like to try

and

an for an extra entry; follow Betty Crocker on twitter

Leave me a separate comment for each entry.

**You must be 18+ years old & live in the USA. The last day to enter is 4/6/2011.**

My thanks to Betty Crocker and My Blog Spark for allowing me to review this product.

I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Merry Days

2011-03-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

Yes they are.

Especially in the morning.

When the "littles" are waking up.

They wake up in the sweetest moods.

Lots of hugs & kisses and "can I hold you"?

Which means "hold me"!

And my merry days are hot & delicious too!

This is one of the mugs I use every morning.

This is the other one.

Not sure why.

The red color? The memories associated with Christmas? The people that gave them to me?

They make my coffee or tea, and sometimes even ice water taste "Merry"!

Hope you have a Merry day too :)

Come back tomorrow for a giveaway!!

America's favorite pastime has taken over

2011-03-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

Our family

and our house

and I LOVE it!

Coveting

2011-03-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

Oh boy.

I guess it was bound to happen.

I really, really, really need this

I have a Cricut with 6 cartridges and all the accessories.

I have a Spellbinders Wizard with several templates.

I have other fun dies that I use with my Wizard.

Now I'm coveting the Silhouette.

How do I talk hubby into thinking I "need" this?

I've heard fabulous things about this machine that I now need.

hmmmmm.......

I better purge some of my other things first!

Butterflies

2011-03-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

Springtime is a time of renewal

The colorless winter is fading and new growth is popping up everywhere!

Our flowers are budding.

The hummingbirds are starting to visit again.

And so are the butterflies.

Butterflies are a favorite of mine.

So delicate.

So colorful.

I love watching them flitting around from flower to flower in the backyard.

You can find lots of fun butterfly items on Etsy!

Like this gorgeous paper wreath

And not only do I love butterflies, but owls too!
You can find this and other fabulous vinyl decals here

Perfect for summer is this fabulous c lutch/wallet Love the colors!

And I also was inspired to make something with butterflies!

These just hit the shop.

I'm welcoming Spring with open arms!

Balance

2011-03-21T12:12:00.001-07:00

There are days that I feel like a gerbil on a wheel.

Spinning round and round.

Running, but not getting anywhere.

So many things need to get done.
{cleaning, laundry, cleaning}

So many things I want to do.
{playing with wee one, making jewelry, catching up w/friends}

Let's say; for example my blog.
{not to forget, FB, twitter, and other social media outlets that I use. can't imagine what would happen if I didn't have my ancient cell phone - and had one of those fancy smart phones!}

It gets neglected.

There are piles of things I want to post.

Pictures, tutorials, things I'm making.

Other blogs that I adore but can barely read, let alone comment on a post.

Then I feel bad when I lose a follower.
{not that I blame them!}

But everyday life is more important and keeps me super busy.

I'm sure like most of you!

I have friends that can do it all.

I'm in awe!

How do they do it?

How do they juggle everything?

How do you balance life and all that comes with it?

Please share!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T07:58:00.001-07:00

An Irish blessing for all.

{from the Grapics Fairy}

and just for today....

17% off Everything in my shop

use coupon code PINCHME at checkout :)

Easy Breezy Breakfast

2011-03-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!

I've added a new quick fix breakfast item to my repertoire and thought I'd share :)

Usually wee one asks for "apple oatmeal"

her brother {and hubby too} asks for "egg in a hole". Recipe found on over "The Pioneer Woman"s blog. I drool over her pictures......stories......pictures....and some recipes too.

So I fixed Spinach Mini Muffins this morning and must say they were delish!

An easy, on the fly, out the door breakfast.

And I didn't properly "measure" my ingredients
{I know that's not a proper way to cook!}

Preheat oven to 350

Spray mini muffin pan {I use Pam}

3 eggs {beaten}

1/2 a bag of frozen chopped spinach - I microwaved and then removed all the water, after it "looked" like 2 cups of spinach {fluffy, no water}

Approx: 1 cup of shredded cheese

Mix all together in bowl.

Divide into the pan. I have a pan that cooks 12.

Bake until tops are golden brown......approx 15 mins.

Pop out and serve!

Seriously only took me 5 minutes to prep and I was winging it.

Next time I want to add some onion and mushrooms. Maybe try a "big" muffin pan!

Anyway, big hit and quick to boot.

Enjoy!

What's new with you?

2011-03-03T15:36:00.000-08:00

I must say that my time has gotten even more limited as of late.

Wee One is on the move constantly.

Gone are the days of her taking a "long" nap so that I could get some things done.

I pretty much scramble at the end of the day trying to get any kind of "housework" done.
{usually right before hubby gets home....shhhhh don't tell!}

And with the Boy in Baseball; let's just say I'm in the car a lot more than I used to be.
{sometimes it's because he forgets an important piece of equipment - but I threw in a BIG consequence this week. So far, no forgetting!}

My creative time usually happens only at night.

And let's be honest.....

I'm exhausted! Like many of you are, I'm sure!

So this week, after two birthday celebrations.

"Our" first game.

Practice.

Oh and I did manage to squeeze in a couple of days at the gym.
Hoping to work off some of those darn Girl Scout Cookies!

I managed to make some new goodies!

Hopefully hitting the shop later tonight :)

I have a ton of work to do before April.

I have a table at Creative Estates!

It's a perfect time to visit the Phoenix area if you're living somewhere COLD!

Lots of great speakers!

Lots of handmade goodness!

I urge you to click here and read all about it.

There's still room and plenty of time to hop on a plane; or if you live in CA - hop in a car and come on down.

I'm looking forward to meeting so many of these creative gals that inspire me.

So on that note.....

I'm off!

Plus 1 = Four

2011-02-28T10:09:00.000-08:00

Three years ago today (really Leap Day)

Another little blessing was added to our family!

We are complete.

A family of 4

Happy Birthday Wee One!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

Mediocre novelty

2011-02-22T09:18:00.000-08:00

We always go out for family Birthday dinners.

It's the Celebratee's choice

Our boy chose this place

I went online to check the hours, menu and read several of 73 online reviews

Shoulda known!

I called for a reservation {thank goodness} when we arrived there were over 20 people in line

Went to the hostess to check-in and waited 10 minutes for them to clear a table

Got seated and waited.......

Looked at the OVERPRICED menu and waited.....

Our server arrived taking drink orders

waited some more......

Came back with drinks {kids drinks overflowing w/no lids....I've got an almost 3 year old that will most likely be spilling a drink that is filled to the rim}

Asked if we were ready to order {almost, needed just a sec longer and she didn't want to wait}

She left; we decided and waited some more

She comes back, takes our order and we wait.

While waiting we witness two "rainforest thunder storms" is what I'd guess they were. These happen every 20 minutes.......The animated animals & noises keep you entertained for a minutes so that you are not checking your watch.

So 40 minutes after our order, our food is delivered. Let's just say the kids meals were pitiful at best.

I had a "veggie" burger that was actually quite good! Fries, not so much.

Hubby and Grandma ordered the same thing and it was cold.

So if you want to wait for over an hour to eat overpriced, cold, mediocre food at best; then you should check this place out.

As for us......NEVER Again.

From a couple to a family

2011-02-21T07:21:00.000-08:00

9 years ago today

"We" became "A Family"

Happy Birthday to our Little Boy!

I {Heart} You

2011-02-14T10:47:00.000-08:00

Wishing you lots of
LOVE
&
HUGS
Today and always!

I LOVE my customers and am offering 14% Off Everything in the shop today

use coupon code LOVE14 at checkout

Rubber Stamped Candle Tutorial

2011-02-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

This is a super easy, fun way to dress up a plain candle.

Can be done for any Holiday or Birthday too.

Here's what you need:

White tissue paper
White candles {any size}
Rubber Stamps
Ink
Wax Paper
Embossing Gun {scrapbooking tool}
scrap paper for work surface
Cello bags {if using for gifts}
Confetti {again, just in cello bags for gifts}

Now the reason you need white candles is because of the tissue paper. You want the design to "blend" into the candle. Colored candles do not work with white tissue paper.
I have never tried to use the colored paper, but I'm sure it could work. If you try it, let me know :)

Stamp your design onto the tissue paper

{I have parchment paper underneath my tissue paper. The ink will go thru the tissue, so make sure you have your work surface covered.
Now you can cut & trim your design to fit around candle.

You can also just stamp one image if you like. Cute on Votives!

Next, tear a piece of wax paper to wrap around candle and leave a little extra for you to hold onto.

Start using your embossing gun.
DO NOT put right up to candle, start further back and move side to side slowly.
You do not want to burn yourself OR melt your candle with the heat of the embosser.

Your design will start to look "shiny" from the wax paper melting it onto the candle.

Take you time. Start & stop as you need to.
Check your progress as you go.

After it's cooled you can embellish if you like.
I added some pearls & rhinestones.

Tie it up in a cello bag, add a tag & your done!

Cute Valentines Day gifts for your friends or a cute little teacher gift.

Have fun!

Scooting along

2011-02-04T06:56:00.000-08:00

You all know how much I {heart} CSN online, one-stop shopping!

Well I was given the opportunity to review a product of my choice.

Super hard decision!

I must have bookmarked two hundred things.

But....

I was thinking that a certain "wee" person might enjoy something as well.

She had told SANTA that she wanted a Pillow Pet and a Scooter.

Well this is what "Santa" brought her
A Razor Jr. Kiddie Kick Scooter in Pink {of course}

I had been researching lots of them and let me tell you that this is pure
pink awesomeness!

Perfect size for the Wee One.

Handle folds down for easy carrying or storing

Super sturdy - not the cheapy, plastic ones I'd seen at the store that will crack after a weeks worth of use

She took right too it and is whizzing down the greenbelt with no fear.

What is it about the second child and no fear?

First born is so cautious. Worried about the consequences of falling and what kind of injuries he may endure.

Not the second one! First day she is flying down a hill saying "dis is sooo fun"!

Giving me a lot more gray hairs......

I have nothing but good to say about this product and CSN!

If you have a few minutes, more like hours; go visit them and I know you'll be finding some awesome goodies of your own!

Picture this.

2011-01-26T13:16:00.000-08:00

Cozies on.

Reading books to wee one.

Her brother is also reading in his room.

We like to read.

Before bed.

A routine I love!

The house is getting ready for bed.

Lights out (except where we are reading)

Hubby is getting ready for the next day. He irons. He's awesome!

Then......ding dong, ding dong. Twice.

Hubby answers the door and quickly shuts it.

"It's for you" he says.....

"Who is it? What? Is it a creepy clown?" (you know I'm thinking this and gonna ask!)

"Just open the door" hubby says.

Hesitant, but I crack the door and peek out into the darkness to see HIM.

Who you ask?

A LIFE Size "Edward Cullen" staring right back at me in the dark.

I go outside and see no one, hear nothing. Who did this?

I stare quietly and then do what any other person would do...take him inside!

Only then does someone shout out "HEY, what are you doing"?

I shut the door. Hubby then says go see who it is. REALLY? You want ME to go outside in the dark and see who it is!

I do. Afraid, yes. It could be a creepy clown after all, playing a mean trick on me ;)

But no.....it's my dear friend (whom by the way gave me this pin) and her fiance, both laughing as they had watched the whole thing unfold!

We laugh for quite a while.

She's the best! A friend that I deeply cherish and that know me so well.

When I come back in, hubby wants to know where "he's" going?! He's so funny!

Well, he's everywhere! Wee one has taken a liking to him and moves him about the house.
A lot.

To the point that I've been scared twice now entering a room to see a life size Edward staring at me!

So aside from our newest addition ;)

I've been working on some fun new techniques and goodies for the shop.

New Peeled Paint Filigree Earrings

New Baby Bloom Earrings

What's new with you?

Another Evening

2011-01-12T08:19:00.000-08:00

in Paradise.

Well, almost. Missing the white sandy beaches and cerulean blue water.

But I'll take it!

Don't think I could deal with the wicked cold & snow anymore.

The news this morning showed Atlanta and a -27 degree temperature!

EEK!

My blood has thinned out and I don't like admitting it, but 68 is chilly to me.

Stay warm my East Coast friends!!

And you too could have your own paradise, just head on over to the desert :)

My birthday gift to you is

2011-01-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

20% off everything in my shop!
Good today only.

Use coupon code 011111 at checkout.

Happy Birthday to my blog friend Lori too!

Recipes to share

2011-01-09T07:51:00.000-08:00

A couple of things I made this week that were delicious!

A super easy "apple dumpling" recipe and my favorite Potato & Corn Chowder!

Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
2 medium apples, peeled and cut into bite sized chunks
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
fresh ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350
Mix apples, a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar & a splash of orange juice together - I just eyeball it. Enough just to lightly coat the apples.
Melt butter in sauce pan, add juice & sugar. Stir until sugar dissolved.
Take each biscuit and roll into a rectangle
Add apple mix to each biscuit, pull up sides & pinch to seal. They resemble a "burrito".
Place side by side in baking dish
Spoon sugar/juice mixture over each. Use all of it.
Sprinkle fresh nutmeg over the top
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until brown.
Serve warm.

You can add a scoop of vanilla ice cream & drizzle some caramel topping and top with whipped cream. Delish!

Potato Corn Chowder

Ingredients

1 medium Vidalia onion, finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups vegetable stock
2 large red potatoes, (I used about 5 small reds) well scrubbed and small diced
1 cup heavy cream
16 ounces frozen corn
1 bay leaf
Olive oil

Directions

Heat olive oil in pot. Add the onions, saute until tender and translucent, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the flour until thoroughly combined. Cook the flour until it reaches a slight blonde color, about 1 minute. Stir in the vegetable stock and the potatoes and simmer for 10 minutes; potatoes will become soft. Add the cream, corn, and bay leaf. Simmer for 15 more minutes. Pour into a serving bowl.

You can kick it up a notch and add shredded cheddar cheese, a seeded and diced jalapeno for a southwest kick!

We didn't have a drop of this left. It's fabulous!

Enjoy!

USPS Clown Commercial

2011-01-04T13:36:00.000-08:00

I LOVE this commercial!

I'm not the only one that is creeped out by clowns.

I can't sleep

2011-01-03T13:30:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Hope your Christmas Holiday was lovely.

Hubby took extra days off so we did lots of things we wouldn't normally get to do with him.

Lots of trips to the park.

Zoolights at night

Zoo during the day

Sledding in the mountains

Teaching the kiddos how to ride a Skateboard & Scooter from Santa!

And in all this

I was learning how to use my camera (a year later) and get out of "auto" mode; while doing that I changed settings and am working to fix it.

No pictures to share.

Total bummer.

I have lots of new things to list in my shop.

I have a tutorial I want to share with you.

And some other goodies.

So I'll leave you this picture of a pin my very dear friend stuck on my Christmas package.

She knows me so well!

Stay tuned!

je t'aime...

2010-12-28T17:49:00.000-08:00

My earrings made it into this lovely treasury.

Made me smile :)

They did it!

2010-12-20T21:01:00.000-08:00

Wonderful news!

Another Well has been funded thanks to all that donated and

The lovely ladies of Project 320!

Thank you to all for your generousity.

The lucky winner of my giveaway is...
KRISTY from Sew Content

Congratulations!

Win a Bundle!

2010-12-13T13:16:00.000-08:00

The gals at Project 320 are at it again!

This week they are building water wells in Africa with fabulous giveaways all over the web.

For $10 you have the chance to win this bundle from me:

* Posy Knit Gloves in Gray & Mustard
* Rectangular Glass Bracelet - Black, Green & Gold
* NEW Antique Copper Sweet Swallow Glass Pendant Necklace on an
18" Antique Copper Ball Chain

Package Valued at $40

To enter to win this set, you need to purchase an entry "ticket". Your ticket is a $10 donation to build the Project 320 well at this link My Charity Water. Come back here and leave me a comment stating you donated and a valid email.

This is open through Sunday the 19th at Midnight.

Winner announced Monday the 20th.

For each $10 donation through the charity:water

Project 320 well page,

you will earn ONE entry to ONE blog giveaway.

There is no limit to how many times, or how many giveaways you can enter, as long as you adhere to the $10/ one entry rule.

Check out the other giveaways going on over here

Ready to build a well together?

Thank you!

Running in the Clouds

2010-12-04T14:00:00.001-08:00

Our sweet little furry girl

is running in the clouds with her brothers today.

We had the best "almost" 14 years with you.

Our hearts hurt and we miss you so much.

You were the best furry girl a family could have.

The kids look to the sky and say that "they are having fun running around up in the clouds where Heaven is".

CSN Stores Fabulous Giveaway

2010-12-02T13:09:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to:
Cheryl from "The Lucky Ladybug"

Enjoy shopping at CSN!

Well you've heard me say it before, but CSN is one of my "go to" online stores!

They sell just about anything you could ever want, from leather messenger bags to swing sets They have products that are within all different price ranges meaning that there really is something for everyone.

CSN Stores features over 200+ stores with only one checkout. They have tons of fabulous products at incredible prices on their site.
The fine folks at CSN have graciously offered to give one of my readers a $45 gift card in the form of a promotional code that can be used on any product on their site....you lucky, lucky folks!

How fabulous is that?! Especially right now during the Holiday Season!

What would you choose with your $45?

Me; I might choose this

Hamilton Beach Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6 Quar t Slow Cooker in Stainless Steel

or

this for wee ones room

CloudB Twilight Sea Turtle

and I think or KNOW the guys would LOVE this

Voit Falcon Electronic Dartboard

Wanna know what you need to do?

Go to CSN and browse through their online goodness and come back here and tell me what you'd purchase with your $45
(Make sure you leave me a way to contact you! Email address)

That's it!

Giveaway ends on Sunday December 5th 11:59 (MST)
Winner announced on Monday the 6th

Good Luck!

Special for Today

2010-11-29T13:22:00.000-08:00

Cyber Monday Sale

on

EVERYTHING

in my shop.

Take 25% OFF the listed price

using coupon code

MONDAY25

at checkout.

Thanks for supporting Handmade!

hello........hello

2010-11-19T12:32:00.000-08:00

tap, tap, tap....(echo, echo)

Anyone there?

It's been awhile since I've been able to actually sit down and post.

I'm having a hard time believing that is ACTUALLY NOVEMBER and we are midway through it.

What happened?

Halloween?
This is all I can share.
Wee one in her Ladybug costume that her Grandma made.

Our "Clone Trooper" took off with his best bud before I could snap a picture of him.
This is the first year that I don't have a picture of him in his costume.
This makes me sad.
Note to self for next year.....don't let him leave the house before I can capture him in character!

Hubby and I also celebrated our 22nd Wedding Anniversary the beginning of November.

Grandma was kind enough to stay the night so that we could go to dinner and a movie.
Well we had a lovely dinner, but couldn't keep our eyes open and opted to skip the movie. Sad thing is that it was only 8:30 p.m.

Maybe next time we should see the movie first. That or eat at 4 o'clock!

This time of year is my favorite.
Wee one is so animated and excited for every Holiday. Her brother digs it too, but for different reasons ;)

I've been busy doing "Craft Boutiques" so not able to do much on the computer these days.
I LOVE giving "handmade" gifts and receiving them! I'm just about finished with most of my shopping thanks to ETSY and the shows I've participated in.

Speaking of ETSY....

They've just come out with a new feature for those of us that have shops.

A coupon code!

This makes having a SALE so much easier.

So on that note; I'm gonna give this a try!

Right now you can get 20% OFF Everything in my shop with the code:

MONDAY20

Wishing you all a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I need to get my "Tofurkey" before they are all gone!

October 31st

2010-10-31T12:53:00.000-07:00

(a little "vampire" editing to the kiddos)

~ HALLOWEEN ~
By Harry Behn

Tonight is the night
When dead leaves fly
Like witches on switches
Across the sky,
When elf and sprite
Flit through the night
On a moony sheen.

Tonight is the night
When leaves make a sound
Like a gnome in his home
Under the ground,
When spooks and trolls
Creep out of holes
Mossy and green.

Tonight is the night
When pumpkins stare
Through sheaves and leaves
Everywhere,
When ghouls and ghost
And goblin host
Dance round their queen.
It's Halloween.

What have you been doing?

2010-10-17T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hubby had a race last weekend.

He did really well.

We surprised him at the finish line!

I wanted to get a shot of him crossing the line, but he was too fast for me and I barely got the top of his helmet whizzing by.

We had our Fall Break this past week.

Kids keep me running!

This helps me keep up my energy.
Well, that in my coffee is pure delight!

This one has been begging to wear her glittery sweatshirt.
Even though we've had near record heat, I had to give in.
She was a bit sweaty, but didn't care one bit.

Getting ready for a couple of home shows and made this custom bracelet for a dear friend!

LOVE these colors!

I have a lot of new things to list, but need the stock for my shows.

How have you been?

A One Stop Shop

2010-10-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

With the Holidays quickly approaching and their 200+ online stores; CSN has become my go to site! From bar furniture to baby strollers, there truly is something for everyone. I can spend hours looking and redecorating our house.

How about organizing with these fabulous "Dry Erase Baskets"! LOVE!

These bar stools would look fabulous at our kitchen counter.

For the kiddos?
No brainer here. Anything LEGO!

Yep. Even "wee one".

I will soon be reviewing one of their great products, but in the meantime, check out their site for yourself. You won't be disappointed!

I'm off to browse some more

It's Raining, it's pouring....It's hailing

2010-10-05T21:27:00.001-07:00

GOLF BALL size hail!

This happened at school pick up....of course it did.

Did I have an umbrella for the rain? Nope.

Was it just dark and cloudy before we left? Yep.

Did the kiddo's want to play with the hail after it stopped? Of course!

I was asked to pose with some hail too. I figured "why not". I'm soaked and still in my "gym" attire from earlier (yes it says "Team Edward" and I wear it to the gym!)

It was one of the best storms we've had. The news reported that some hail was the size of tennis balls. Can't imagine! The sound it was making as it hit the school was as if the building was coming down. Crazy!

Hopefully, this is the turning point for our summer being officially over. I really could do without triple digits until next year.

The Halloween stuff is out and I'm ready for Fall.

Not only

2010-09-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

does this girl like to wear hats....

baseball hats
brim hats
silly animal hats

and clippies or barrettes - pony or piggie tails too.

and dresses (every day).

she's a SHOE GIRL!

Glittery, blinged out shoes.

She carried these sparkly "Twinkle Toes Sketchers" around the entire store.

I have a really hard time getting them off her feet.

If she could, she'd wear them to bed.

Not sure where she gets this shoe obsession from (she has more than me!)

She's my little girly girl that's for sure.

And I LOVE every bit of it :)

I'm Still Here!

2010-09-12T10:42:00.001-07:00

It's been a crazy busy few weeks for me and I'm trying to do my best at catching up with a very "busy" 2 year old and very BUSY 8 year old!

We've had my parents here for the last week. They drive down from Colorado....yes, drive! One day.....stop for gas.....13+ hours! The kids LOVE having them around and we had a really nice visit!

I haven't had much time to stock up my shop lately either.

BUT.....here is a peek of what I worked on yesterday that will be hitting the shop - hopefully tomorrow.
These are a new design....Glass Tile Pendants.

I'm loving these!

And just in time for Halloween.....
I have lots of Blogs to catch up on too. I've missed reading what's been happening around blog land!

I hope you are enjoying this lovely weekend.

My latest obsession (s)

2010-08-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago I mentioned that I have a new obsession.

Well, a couple of them.

I love games. I love puzzles. Always have.

The kiddos and I like to play board games. We have family night games.

Wee one loves her wooden puzzles, while the 8 year old and I attempt 1000 piece puzzles.

Wee one is always interested in picking up our pieces, so we must do it when shes asleep.

In my "free" time; usually late night when wee one is attempting to go to sleep and needs to have her covers "refluffed" or a drink of water (5th one) I wait in the front room and do some uploading of goodies for the shop or edit pictures.

NOT as of lately! I found a game site. Online games. Not war games. Hunting games.
Zombie games.

Plants vs. Zombies to be precise.

Our son likes it too.

Hubby is about to delete this game and block me from the site!

He doesn't understand how we can waste so much time playing a game.

Guess I'm kind of a gamer ;)

another thing I've become obsessed with....

Mini antibacterial soaps.

Not just any.

Look what I found at Bath & Body
Oh yes! Halloween themed and oh so yummy to smell!

We all have them hanging from our purses & backpacks now.

The spider's web is the most fabulous licorice smell EVER.

Go grab some. You'll see!

Special Project

2010-08-22T17:02:00.001-07:00

My 8 year old son is a pretty creative kid.

He can sit for hours with a pile of LEGO's and build the most amazing things.

He loves to draw, write short stories about being a "sporty kid" and is always

asking me if he can make something for my Etsy shop.

Well the other day, he did just that.

He made this special bracelet:

This is a special bracelet.

A one of a kind.

He sat next to me and decided what he wanted to do.

Beaded. Found out those little beads go everywhere! They fall off the wire.
It's time consuming too.

He also wanted a charm for his special project, so I made him the pumpkin dangle.

Want to know why it's special?

Well all the proceeds for this bracelet are going to go toward supplies for a special class at his school.

For a Special Ed class.

They don't have a room mom and are always in need of supplies.

That's what we're gonna do.

This bracelet is in my shop now.

I'm so proud of him!

day trip

2010-08-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

We had an impromptu day trip a couple of weekends ago.

We like to do spur of the moment things.

Get in the car and go.

Off to Sedona for the day.

So we packed up in less than an hour and headed north.

Only the weather wasn't cooperating. Rain. Heavy Rain.

As in a downpour.

Detour.

Exit.

Jerome.

A historic copper mining town. Buildings haven't changed much in almost 100 years. And it's supposedly "haunted". It's even been on the travel channel for haunted hotels/destinations.

This bothered our son a bit. He didn't want anything to do with ghosts or tours regarding ghosts!

They have a HUGE "ghost walk & tour" in October.

Our boy said NO WAY was he coming back for that!

Anyway....

Some have plaques describing the building and what is used to be (many brothels!) and they are really interesting reads!still standing....

After browsing some really cool shops - it's kind of artsy here too - we had to get a bite to eat.

Where does one eat in a historic & ghostly town?

Why at "The Haunted Hamburger" of course!

This was above our table. This building has a "haunted" tale too.
This bug was in a creepy stairwell. Kids were worried it would make it on the menu.I enjoyed a "Red Zombie" and it was DELISH!
(I actually look like a zombie in these pictures. They have taken over....more on that later!)

After enjoying a fabulous lunch. We walked around a bit more and then it was time to head home.

We had a lovely day in Jerome. Rain and all.

Polka Dot Swap

2010-08-11T14:08:00.000-07:00

Have you ever joined a swap?

They are super fun and who doesn't like getting packages in the mail?

I joined Lori's Polka Dot Swap - that was a no brainer! You do know my love of polka dots...right ;)

My partner was Sherri and she sent me these fabulous goodies:

A colorful dotty set of glasses - which both kiddos picked out which color was there's to use as soon as they came out of the box!

Dotty napkins, cute notecards AND she made me the wonderful knitted dish cloth ( I LOVE these) a lovely vase with glass pebbles all around it AND this super cute ring made out of buttons! So cute! Wee one had her eye on it too! She's an accessorizer at 2 1/2. Think I'm in trouble.

Thank you Sherri for all the goodies!

Here's what I sent Sherri:

I made the butterfly tags, dotty floral pin, earrings and matchbox/giftbox.
The notecards are from A Forest Frolic (her shop is fabulous!) And I couldn't resist chocolate in a dotty box - cute and delicious - and the cute dotty towel.

I wish I had more time to participate in swaps. I've had the most wonderful partners!

I have so much catching up to do this week.

We are officially back to school and it's a new time schedule. It's been a challenge getting used to, but once the routine is back; all will be back to normal.

More pictures and posts coming from our day trip to Jerome, AZ and a crazy obsession of mine. At least hubby thinks it's become one!

The lucky winner

2010-08-06T07:34:00.000-07:00

The $25 Kroger Gift Card goes to:

Congratulations Bee and Rose

A BIG Thank You the Kroger Families and My Blog Spark for this opportunity!

$25 Gift Card Giveaway from the Kroger Family

2010-07-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe it, but our summer is winding down and is just about over.

What does this mean?

Back to school for most of us. We start in just over a week.

I can't think of a better time than now to start picking up new supplies for the upcoming school year.

Here’s a heads up: From August 8th through August 21st, be sure to stop at your local Kroger Family of Stores to take advantage of their “Add Up the Savings” Event and stock up on your favorite General Mills & Kimberly Clark brands! When you buy 8 participating items from any Kroger store, you´ll receive $4 off of your purchase. Some of the great participating brands include: Cheerios, Yoplait Yogurt, Pillsbury Cookies & Biscuits, Kleenex, Huggies, Betty Crocker Brownies, Cottonelle, and Lucky Charms.

In addition to these great savings, be sure to take advantage of the special Bonus Box Tops Offers and get a jumpstart on helping the participating school of your choice this year.

We rally at our school to see which class brings in the most box tops quarterly. This is a great program and I have seen first hand what those box tops can buy for your school!

What do you need to do? Well, if you haven´t already, you will need to register at www.RewardYourSchool.com. Once you register, you will automatically receive 5 Bonus Box Tops just for signing up! You will also receive custom offers for Bonus Box Tops for purchasing participating products.

These fabulous offers are:
Buy any 4 Box Tops products and get 10 Bonus Box Tops

Buy any 8 Box Tops products and get 25 Bonus Box Tops

The offers you select will then load onto your Kroger Shopper Card to be redeemed once you purchase the items. No CLIPPING REQUIRED! Just remember to scan your Kroger Shopper Card and the Bonus Box Tops will automatically go straight the participating school of your choice.

Easy Peasy.

Win It

Ready to start adding up the savings?

Thanks to MyBlog Spark one lucky reader will win a $25 Kroger Family of Stores gift card that you can use to purchase your favorite “Add Up the Savings” participating items!

Mandatory Entry:
1.) Leave me a comment letting me know which eight participating items {Cheerios, Yoplait Yogurt, Pillsbury Cookies & Biscuits, Kleenex, Huggies, Betty Crocker Brownies, Cottonelle, and Lucky Charms} you plan to purchase to receive $4 off during the "Add Up the Savings" event at the Kroger Family of Stores.

Bonus Entry:

Tweet this giveaway and come back and leave a separate comment (use one below) I'll be checking ;)

Win $25 Kroger Family Gift Card over @polkadotmoon and #myblogspark

A few details about this giveaway:

*This giveaway is open to US ONLY.
*Sorry, No PO Boxes.
*This giveaway winner will be announced on Friday August 6, 2010
*The winner will be selected via random.org

Disclosure: The Kroger Family of Stores gift card, information, and giveaway were all provided by The Kroger Family of Stores, General Mills, and Kimberly Clark through MyBlogSpark.

** Kroger Family of Stores (which includes Kroger, Ralph’s, King Soopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith’s, Fry’s, QFC, Baker’s, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Pay Less Super Markets and Scott’s Food & Pharmacy) **

Winner and Stay Tuned

2010-07-30T09:27:00.001-07:00

The winner of the $50 Gift Certificate to any of the 200+ CSN stores goes to:

Comment #24

JOSH, STEPH, THE BOYS AND MADDIE

Congratulations!

Email me so that I can get your details :)

and

STAY TUNED for another generous giveaway!

July 31st is the last day for my BUY 2 GET 1 FREE Special in my shop!

I still have lots of goodies and will be listing a few more!

Something for the future & a giveaway

2010-07-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

I happened to come across this fabulous bedroom vanity while browsing on one of the CSN store sites.

I can totally picture this lovely Spring Garden Leg Bedroom Vanity with Mirror Set in Wee ones room when she gets a bit older.
Now I know she's only 2 and I don't want her to grow up that fast, but this has her personality ALL over it!

I love the style of this piece and that you can put photos around the mirror, that it has 3 drawers, and the scalloped detail adds a bit of whimsy to it.

I was only taking a peek because I was offered a chance to do a review or giveaway for CSN stores and you know how much I love my readers! So I thought one of you lucky peeps that leave me a comment will get a $50 Gift Certificate to use as you wish on any of CSN's 200+ websites! Now if you have any trouble, I'm SURE I can help you choose!!

Just hop over to CSN and leave me a comment of what you'd like to use your $50 towards.

I'll use RANDOM.ORG to pick a winner on Friday the 30th

GOOD LUCK!

Christmas in July

2010-07-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that Christmas is only 5 months away?!

I can't!

I always get a jump start on my Holiday shopping so that I can enjoy every bit of it with my family.

So for the first time I'd like to offer

BUY 2 GET 1 FREE
{lesser item is free}

Everything in my s hop

Good for the rest of July

Everything in my shop is ready to ship and comes packaged in an Organza bag.

Just think you can get 3 gifts checked off your list....or a couple and keep something for yourself!

Refund via Paypal.

Shop early and make sure you get what you want. Many items are unique and one of a kind due to Vintage beads & findings.

Thanks for supporting my little shop and buying handmade!

Family Day Trip

2010-07-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

We were lucky enough to have hubby/daddy home on Monday.

We like to do things on the fly.

Shake things up a bit.

Our routine has become mundane.

We decided.

Hit the road in under an hour.
{not bad considering we just woke up!}

Wound up here

Told to stay on trail.....rattlesnake warning. We're not rule breakers.
{no we didn't see one}
Climbed a lot of these.

Twisted my knee, but didn't know it til later.
Crossed this.

Made the mistake of forgetting the "backpack" for wee one.
Hubby had to carry her A LOT!
It was absolutely beautiful in every way.

Nature.

Family time.

Pure bliss.

Can't wait to do that again.

Monday Giveaway

2010-07-05T09:28:00.001-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!

We celebrated with some very dear friends and had the best time.
Even fireworks from our backyard!

Perfect day!

We're off for some family fun time today and wanted to let you know that I'm giving away these:

over at The Funky Monkey. A super fun blog that you must go check out!

Have a fabulous day!

Happy Birthday

2010-07-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

to this wonderful country of ours!

Enjoy all the festivities and as we celebrate our Freedoms we give Thanks
to all that have served this beautiful land!

Happy 4th of July!

An Etsy first

2010-07-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

My Twilight inspired "Bite Me" Necklace made the front page!

Woo Hoo!

Sleep is Overrated.

2010-06-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

I'm running on 3 hours of sleep.

You wouldn't know it (except for the bags/dark circles under my eyes) cause
I'm running on excitement, love, the story.

I went to the 12:01 Premier of "Eclipse" last night with a few of my friends.

We braved the HEAT, and I mean it was hot & sticky! Side note....there were 4 babies in the theater, which means their were FOUR BABIES waiting in the heat. Ladies, it's just a movie. You could have waited til the sun was up and NOT bring your infants into the hot night, cold loud theater.

They actually let us in a bit after 10 - which was so nice to be sitting in the cool air and not on the pavement.

We had FABULOUS seats - thanks to SheyB's friend for braving the line & heat early.

The movie was everything I expected from the book.

They did a great job interpreting the story to fit it in the alotted (2 hour 4 min.) time frame.

Their were funny parts, tender parts, and heart breaking parts.
I do wish they'd find better "wigs". Bella's hair, Jasper's & even Alice have some really bad hair!

Anyway...

I'm Team Edward, but you can't help but love Jacob too.

I can't wait to see the movie again. Maybe a couple dozen more times ;)

While I'm excited for "Breaking Dawn", I'm also sad because like all good things....this means it's coming to an end.

I'm doing a little "Twilight Inspired" Giveaway over on this blog.

Hope you'll go over and check it out.

Now I'm off to take the kiddos to a movie and today it's Book Character Bingo!!

Have a fabulous day!

Where will you be?

2010-06-28T09:13:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow night I will be watching this with a few friends and a bunch of screaming teens!

Can't wait!
{except for the heat. it's gonna be HOT!}

Do you play BINGO?

2010-06-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

We do!

Actually as a family {complete with the cage ball roller and prizes}

and

with some of my dear friends that hold a Themed Bingo Night just for the girls
with food, drinks, prizes and a cash buy in.
This is one of my favorites - especially the girl time! We get quite competitive, crazy and loud!
Some of us even bring "lucky" objects to place around our table!

Every summer our fabulous Library program has "Book Character Bingo" which we've been doing for several years with our big guy and now wee one. They have bingo cards made up with all different characters from popular books (Olivia, Toot & Puddle, Madeline, Toad & Frog, etc.)
This has become a very popular program and now has a wait list! I'm one that signs up right away, so I haven't had to worry.

My friend Lori over at "Morning Glories and Moonflowers" is starting a fun Bingo Game for some of her blog friends. You have to go check it out - it's a fabulous idea!!! Her blog is full of fun goodies too.

I found these "Character Bingo Game Cards" on line at this store.

I like the "respect" bingo card. Great everyday game for any age!

You can incorporate just about anything into a bingo card to make it a fun family game.

Think I'll be getting our game out tomorrow for a boys sleepover. Gotta get some fun prizes!!

Giveaway Time

2010-06-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

My blog & twitter friend Celeste is celebrating today!

It's her Birthday.

And she wants to give you some gifts.

19 Giveaways to celebrate her 19th Birthday!

I'm gonna giveaway this necklace.

Hop on over to her blog and wish her a Happy Birthday and
enter some of those fabulous giveaways!

I'm also offering 15% off everything in my shop.
See how on Celeste's Blog.

A day at the beach

2010-06-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

Crashing waves (cannon balls)

lots of squealing and giggles

sunscreen

even a shark sighting

DESERT STYLE!

{psst......giveaway tomorrow!}

Smoothies To Go-Go

2010-06-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

My family LOVES smoothies!

Going out to buy them gets costly.

So I make them.

Everyday.

I had been using my "Plain Jane" blender forever.

Then I had the opportunity to review a product from one of the many
fabulous CSN online stores.
They have over 200 of them!

Well I knew exactly what I wanted to review!

Check out my

Back to Basics Brushed Chrome Smoothie Elite

This is one fabulous machine!

I feel like a Pro using this ;)

It blends the ice beautifully.
No chunky fruit or ice....unless you like your smoothies that way!

The spout is a nice little bonus. I can "pull" the kiddos smoothies while running and then add the extra protein for hubby and I.

It's easy to clean.
Huge basin so you can make a little smoothie or a lot!

I have been very pleased with CSN stores from their customer service; to shipping; their prices and selection.

You won't be disappointed when you check out their stores.

Plan on being there for awhile.

Lots of fabulous goodies to check out.

Maybe make yourself a smoothie first!

The current favorite at our house:

Pineapple Banana & Orange Smoothie

1 cup Ice (crushed blends best)
1/3 cup Orange Juice
1 banana - sliced
1/2 cup fresh Pineapple (you can use canned if you don't have fresh)
1 cup Vanilla Yogurt

Blend & Enjoy

*disclaimer: The opinion of this product is that of my own. I received no compensation for posting this other than the product I chose to review.
Thank you CSN & Cookware.com for the opportunity to review another fabulous product.

What do you do when a friend gives you this?

2010-06-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

Why you make some delicious

Zucchini Pineapple Bread!

My house smells so good right now.

Almost like a bakery ;)

Here is the recipe for you to enjoy!

Zucchini Pineapple Bread
(2 Loaves)

3 eggs
1 cup oil (salad oil)
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups zucchini, shredded (coarse)
8 14/ oz. can of crushed pineapple
3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup nuts or raisins - optional

Preheat oven to 350
Grease 2 bread pans

Beat eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla until foamy.
Add zucchini & pineapple.
Combine flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg (nuts & raisins if using.).
I sift my dry ingredients first - you don't have to. Something I always do.
Stir into zucchini mixture until well blended.
Pour into the 2 pans and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Cool in pan a bit (if you can wait)

Enjoy.

Battle

2010-06-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

It's a year round battle.

I've not seen many inside in the past 6 months.

Ran some errands yesterday.

Walked in the door.

Back out the door.

And when I came back, this was greeting me with it's tail poised to strike.

That's a Bark Scorpion.

Hubby got stung by one last year.

It can be serious for a little one or elderly person to be stung by one.

I loathe them.

So after Jackson calmed down; Wee One didn't care one bit; and I calmed down.

It met the bottom of my Nike Sneaker.

Several times.

Put it in the cup to show Hubby when he got home.

He went out to spray last night.

Found only 1.

The BIGGEST he's ever seen.

I did not want to see it.

No thanks!

For that matter.....any of them.

Ever again.

Summer Eating

2010-06-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

It gets hot enough here without me having to heat up my tiny kitchen.
I like to make and eat salads, so I'm trying some new recipes.

This is what I made the family last night for dinner.

They all enjoyed it. Even Wee One!

Easy and delicious.
(I don't eat meat, so I know for sure it's easy! And from the mmmm mmmm sounds, delish too!)

Here's the recipe.

Wild Rice and Chicken Salad with Grapes & Orange Dressing

1-3/4 (4 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1-1/2 cups cooked wild rice ( I used Rice-a-Roni)
1/4 cup sliced green or red grapes
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1 tablespoon chopped pecans, toasted (optional)
1-1/4 teaspoons grated pecans, toasted (optional)
Chopped greens

DRESSING

2 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
1/4 Cup Orange Marmalade
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Grill Chicken breasts. Allow to cool and cut up into bite size pieces

Cook Wild Rice according to directions.
I used Rice-a-Roni Wild Rice (hadn't gone to Sprouts!) and it worked great.

Make dressing.

Cut up grapes & onion.
( We did not use the nuts due to wee one and I hadn't gone to Sprouts! )

When chicken is cooled; toss with rice, grapes, onion & dressing.
Serve on bed of greens.

That's it!

Easy peasy.

Enjoy!

Cowboy Caviar & Turkey Sliders

2010-06-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

That's what we were serving up at our house last night with our fabulous neighbors.

I wish I had pictures of the goods to share, but things got devoured around here before I could get the camera out!

Here ya go....

Turkey Sliders
(this fed 7 peeps)

2 lbs. Lean Ground Turkey

1 Cup Feta Cheese Crumbles

2 1/2 Tbsp Dried Oregano Leaves

1 Tbsp Minced Garlic

1 Egg

1/2 Cup Panko Breadcrumbs - Italian Style
(I use the brand Ian's)

The juice of 1/2 a Lemon

1 tsp. Kosher Salt

1 tsp. Black Pepper

Slider Buns
(Trader Joe's has them or you can use dinner rolls)

I mixed everything in one bowl in the order I typed this.

Hubby shaped into approx 3" mini patties - about 2 - 3 heaping Tbsp. each

Refrigerate until ready to grill

We used our outdoor grill and did about 3 minutes per side.
They will be a nice golden brown and juices will run clear.

We toasted the mini buns for a minute on the grill as well.

Served them up with sliced tomato, green chili's, caramelized onions and ketchup.

Everyone loved them!

I made myself Baby Portabello Mushroom Sliders that were delish!
Just sliced them in half and brushed with olive oil before grilling.

and one of my all time fave's...

Cowboy Caviar

1 can White Shoepeg Corn - drained
(you can use regular corn if you don't have White Shoepeg on hand, but I recommend it!)

1 can Black Beans - drained & I always rinse

Cherry or Grape tomatoes cut in half - I use just about 1/2 a container

1/4 cup fresh cilantro - chopped

1 or 2 avocados - chopped

Dressing

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 tsp. minced garlic

1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar

1 tsp. cumin

Mix dressing ingredients and set aside.

Mix all but avocado and toss in dressing.

Right before serving add chopped avocado. It will turn to mush if in too early.

This recipe is forgiving and you can add chopped red onion to as well. Or substitute Red Kidney Beans for the black beans.
Like it spicy? Add a dash of hot sauce.

We eat our with a bag of tortilla chips or Scoops.

Great on breakfast burritos too!

Enjoy!

Memorial Day Sale

2010-05-31T07:24:00.000-07:00

Everything in my shop is

Buy One Get One Half Off!

Good all day today.

Refund via Paypal.

Thanks so much for supporting my little shop.

Memorial Day

2010-05-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

While enjoying your BBQ's, Picnics & Family Gatherings...

Don't forget those that gave us our Freedoms!

Have a safe & wonderful Memorial Day!

The Sunflowers are going to....

2010-05-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

My handsome assistant picked and

Celeste

is the lucky winner of the Blue Sunflower Earrings!

Contact/email me and I'll get them sent out :)

Just Vanities

2010-05-28T12:13:00.000-07:00

Our house has three rooms that need some updating.

Our Kitchen.

Master Bathroom - boy does it ever!

and the Kids Bathroom.

The kids bathroom is something that both hubby and I can do.
(And we know some pretty fantastic Contractors to help too!)

Well I have a new place for you to check out! You know how I LOVE to share fabulous finds with you!!
Today I've spent some time visiting JustVanities and have found some
fabulous bathroom vanities that are on my short list!

While I think that themed bathrooms are great for the little ones, ours has to be functional for guests as well.

I just LOVE this bathroom vanity!

Stylish and modern!
I can totally picture this vanity in their bathroom.

And look at this gorgeous Sink & Waterfall Faucet!
It looks like a piece of art!!

Just Vanities has an extensive variety from Traditional to Modern. Bathroom vanities to Lighting Fixtures.

If you are in need of a bathroom vanity and are ready to remodel and shop. Go check out this wonderful online store. You won't be disappointed!

Stay tuned for a product review that I'm excited to share with you from another one of CSN Stores!

Polka Dot Moon

Synopsis

In a nutshell

December Eve

The past few days and a winner!

Something for You

T minus 1

Early Release Day

WHOOPS!

MIA

Dreaming of Fall

My "Very" special deal today

Fiber One 80 Calorie Review and Giveaway

Red Hot Summer Recipes

We can't visit Southern Cali without...

How does your garden grow?

First Destination

I've been gone....

Giveaway Day!

'Stache's are in!

It's a Giveaway!

Fresh Fruit Colors - Mango

3. MANGO- Natural Mineral Eyeshadow 5 gram MATTE

Insta Friday

Today

Fresh Fruit Colors - Lime

I'm swooning over all this lime goodness!

InstaFriday - Summer Begins

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Have you heard of Very Jane?

Cascade Complete 24 Hour Challenge

Requests

Win a $25 Gift Certificate

This could be trouble

Easter Blessing

Some People's Treasure

Wordless Wednesday

Short and Sassy

New Friends

Blurr

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner

Delicious Giveaway

Merry Days

America's favorite pastime has taken over

Coveting

Butterflies

Balance

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Easy Breezy Breakfast

What's new with you?

Plus 1 = Four

Wordless Wednesday

Mediocre novelty

From a couple to a family

I {Heart} You

Rubber Stamped Candle Tutorial

Scooting along

Picture this.

Another Evening

My birthday gift to you is

Recipes to share

Ingredients

Ingredients

Directions

USPS Clown Commercial

I can't sleep

je t'aime...

They did it!

Win a Bundle!

Running in the Clouds

CSN Stores Fabulous Giveaway

Hamilton Beach Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6 Quart Slow Cooker in Stainless Steel

CloudB Twilight Sea Turtle

Special for Today

hello........hello

October 31st

What have you been doing?

A One Stop Shop

It's Raining, it's pouring....It's hailing

Not only

Hamilton Beach Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6 Quar t Slow Cooker in Stainless Steel