GIVEAWAYS and Crafty Bloggers

I don't know if you know this about me, because you are overwhelmed by the twilightiness (yes, that's a word...I just made it up) of my blog, but I LOVE crafty bloggers.  I found a new *totally awesome* crafty blog, thanks to Jen @ Tatertots and Jello!  How many of you know that Jen has the 411 on all things cute, crafty, and creative?!  HOLLA!  She posted today about a giveaway on The Pleated Poppy.  I had never been to Lindsey's blog before, but let me tell you, her stuff is CA-UUUUTTTEEE!  Seriously.  She's having a birthday week giveaway...go check it out...click HERE.

Check it...

Here's a list of the pampering items I'm giving away next Tuesday to one lucky blogger:

• My FAV Bath & Bodyworks Body Spray (Twilight Woods)

• My FAV Bath & Bodyworks Shower Cream (Japanese Cherry Blossom)
• My FAV Bath & Bodyworks Hand Cream (Shae Cashmere)

• My FAV Bath & Bodyworks Socks
• My FAV lipgloss
• a few small extras
• a Starbucks gift card

Don't miss out!

If you want to enter my giveaway, go HERE...and leave a comment, post it on your blog, mention it on Twitter, become a follower...your chances are endless!

Who is your favorite crafty blogger...ok, second favorite crafty blogger (because we all know our first pick is Jen, right?!)?

Hope everyone is having a great day!♥ *loves*

Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash - Homeade Gifts

Today I'm joining in the Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash! Jen @ Tatertots and Jello is hosting today and the topic is Homemade Gifts. I have a few things that I'm working on...like some little boxes filled with homemade macaroons and peppermint bark for neighbors and friends, and some handmade ornaments made with mod podge and chipboard for teachers and grandparents. Also, over the weekend, we made a large batch of homemade Creamy Hot Chocolate Mix and Peppermint Marshmallows. So YUMMY! The recipes come from a Christmas Gooseberry Patch Cookbook.

Really simple.

Here's the ingredients:
For the hot chocolate: In a large mixing bowl, put 1 pound chocolate drink mix, 1 1/4 cup non-dairy creamer, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 box (26 1/2 oz) powdered instant milk. Stir together. Divide into small jars for gift giving. (Serving directions: add amount desired of hot chocolate mixture to an 8 oz cup of hot water or milk. Stir, serve, and enjoy!)

For the peppermint marshmallows: You put 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1 t. peppermint extract into a gallon size Ziploc baggie. Mix the peppermint extract into the powdered sugar by shaking the bag. Put a 10.5 oz bag of mini marshmallows into the baggie and shake until all the marshmallows are coated. Divide up into smaller bags for gift giving.

Hope everyone is having a marvelous Monday!!♥

Be sure to hop on over to Tatertots and Jello (click HERE) and join in the holiday fun!

Mod Podge Mania

My AWEsome friend, Xazmin @ This is the Year, hosts MOD PODGE MANIA! She always has some fabulous things that she has mod podged (is that a word?). I'm totally loving the "BOO" blocks that she posted pics of last month. Go HERE to see them. This month she posted pics of some books that she covered in sheet music to use as decoration on her piano...so clever. There are lots of great links to some adorable mod podge projects...be sure to make the rounds!

I've been wanting to play along and haven't had the time to make any new crafts recently, so I'm pulling one out of the vault.

Last year, I made TONS of these little guys. I made them in oranges and golds. I also made some red and black SPARKLY ones (you know, "Twilight-ish"). They are super easy to make. Just take a pumpkin, smear it with a thin layer of mod podge, and generously sprinkle with - glitter (over a bowl, then reuse the excess glitter) - I LOVE things that sparkle. *wink* As a final step, take them outdoors and spray them with a sealant. This year I'm going to make them with artificial pumpkins so that I can save them from year to year.

Ribbon is a cute way to tie everything together...

I LOVE pumpkins!

Hope you've all had a WONDERFUL Wednesday!!

Ok, who let it get Thursday? Thursday Thankfuls (w/ NKOTB pics!☺)

Seriously, people! It's Thursday??! I feel like this week has just flown by! I had all good intentions of being on my best blogging behavior this week, but unfortunately my blogging badness has carried over into another week! It's horrible. When will the madness stop? I had some crafty things I wanted to share this week, a recipe...and above all else, I wanted to be a good commenter and get around and read everyone's blogs! I've been so missing out on staying on top of my blog reading! When I finally get a chance to get on here and catch up, I feel like I'm a million days behind...ok, that's an exageration...a hundred...well, 10 at least! It's a little overwhelming when you log on and realize that you've missed about 40-50 blog posts! Where's my assistant?!

A few "thankfuls"...

1. God's goodness. I've really had to rely on my faith the last couple of weeks. Trying to feel better and get all the cooties outta here!
2. Good coffee. Truly there have been a few days these past couple of weeks if it hadn't been for coffee, I would have walked around like a zombie.
3. Good friends. I'm always thankful for my friends, but I'm just especially thankful for them this week. You just can't put a price on good friends. They lift us up when were feeling down. They can make us feel young. They create good times and good memories. You know who you are...LOVE YOU GUYS!
   
   One little crafty tid-bit I'd like to share...
   
   
   My cousin, Traci @ Living The Good Life, had me make a "happy birthday" banner for her daughters birthday. I had never made one THAT long before, but it was so much fun making it!!! I wanted to post pics while I was doing it, or at least a pic of the final product, but was SO BUSY that I failed to do so. However, this morning Traci posted it on her blog! Yippee!! So, I stole a few photos...I'm sure she won't mind....we ARE family after all.
   
   

What do you guys think?



Oh, did I tell you I was going to the NKOTB...New Kids On The Block...Concert? Well, I did and it was A-mazing! I'm not even kidding...it was the MOST fun I've had in a long time. For four hours I was 12 again. Although I am a happily married 31 YEAR OLD mom, I still felt like Joey and I might have a chance...I kid...no really. Me and my cousin, Renee @ My Glimpse Of Life (I know LOTS of cousins), went together. I took her for her birthday. Here are a few snip-its from the concert...don't be jealous ;)

Hello, Jordan!

Up close with Danny and Jonathan!

"I LOVE YOU JOEY!!!" ☺


Me and Renee!
Awesome concert!

Check out this video! Can you say good seats?? WOOHOO!
For all of you who love Donnie! (Renee LOVES Donnie!)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

A little of this...a little of that...and a whole lotta randomness

I have so many random things running through my head. I want to blog today, but where do I start? Usually I can just sit right down and start blogging about whatever it is that's on my mind, but today it's as if I'm at a loss for...nah, there's no way I could be at a loss for...yeah, that would never happen. My dad likes to say that I have the "gift to gab". *Insert rolling of eyes and a "whatever"!* Maybe if I just get things rolling...


I'll start with the weekend. My aunt and uncle have been in the process of turning an old historical home into a bed and breakfast and a tea room. (More pictures to come...I'm actually going to start a blog for the bed and breakfast. I'll keep you posted.)

Over the weekend, I helped them with an open house. We even had a little craft fair indoors to help draw in people. Here's a few of the banners I made to sell.




I only sold 2. Not good, but it was still fun. I'm thinking about maybe opening an Etsy store and putting them on there to see if they sell. I have so much fun making them, so it would be fun to actually sell some. Plus, I spend so much time (and money) on Etsy anyway...might as well try to sell a few things while I'm there (although all my profits would probably be used toward new purchases ☺).


Also, I want to give Andrea over at My Chihuahua Bites a shout out for posting the awesome Cobbler recipe last week on Tuesdays At The Table! I made that the yummiest blueberry cobbler last night! Thanks, Andrea! (For the recipe click HERE)



I need to fulfill a tag from my friend Shilo over at My Place of Peace. She tagged me to tell you about my purse! Y'all know how I love purses, so I happily obliged.


1) Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No, you cannot go up to your closet and pull out that cute little purse you used back before you had kids. I want to know what you carried today or the last time you left the house.


**This is the purse I'm carrying today...just snapped a pic of it w/ my phone. It's a chocolate brown Coach purse (It's the Ergo Hobo style purse from last year). I love it because Michael bought it for me for Christmas last year and I ♥ chocolate brown. It has just a girl's basic essentials inside...purse-size perfume (Light Blue by D&G), hand sanitizer wipes, Tylenol, lip gloss, iPhone ear buds, eyeglass case, my camera, and matching wallet.

2) I want to know how much it cost☺ And this is not to judge. This is for entertainment purposes only. So spill it. And if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, I’d love to hear it.

**Since it was a gift I don't know for sure, but since I'm kinda a Coach fanatic I can take a guess...$298ish. Don't look at me like that! I take really good care of it and probably only get a new one once a year (or twice) Gosh.

3. Tag some chicks. And link back to this post so people know why the heck you’re showing everyone your purse.
**If you're reading this and haven't been tagged for this particular tag...consider yourself TAGGED!

One last thing before I go, I need some feedback on what kind of photo editing software I should buy. Tell me what you have and why you love it!

Hope everyone is having a fantastic week!

Homemade Food Gifts for the Holidays

Picture from: Parents Magazine

Every morning I get an e-mail from Parents Magazine with lots of great ideas. So, this morning I thought I would share one. They have these adorable monogrammed mugs w/ yummy goodies inside. I think this is what I'm going to make for my co-workers!

Ingredients
3 cups or 3 envelopes (3.2 ounces each) instant nonfat dry milk powder
2-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1 cup powdered nondairy creamer
1 cup mini marshmallows
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
1. Stir together the dry milk powder, confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder and nondairy creamer in a large bowl. Divide among 18 bags (1/3 cup each), and top with marshmallows and mini chips.
2. Attach these instructions to side of mug: Blend cocoa mix and 3/4 cup boiling water together until chocolate chips begin to melt.

There are lots of other great ideas for Homemade Food Gifts. So, be sure to go check out their website: Parents Magazine

Here are pics of my No-Sew Tote Bag from Monday's blog, Monday With Martha:

Here's a pic of the final product. I don't have any of the process. Sorry, next time.

Here's a pic of the inside...that's where you use the duct tape and there are staples underneath to hold it all together.

Another look at the "seem"...you can also tell that it's covered in the iron-on vinyl, which gives it a nice protective coating on the inside.


One more pic of the tote :)
*Idea: You could make some of these and use them for re-useable shopping bags. Eco-friendly :)

Monday With Martha

You all know how I love Martha...Martha Stewart that is. Well, my friend and co-worker, Mary, and I ran across this awesome "no-sew" craft on the Martha Stewart website. It is a No-Sew Tote! Yeah, NO-SEW!!! All you need is one yard of your favorite fabric (Tip: Make sure the fabric is a repeating fabric that looks the same from all sides.), 1 yard of nylon webbing for straps, iron-on vinyl for lining, duct tape in complementary color, pencil for marking, scissors, staples, and iron. Here is the link with all the instructions: No-Sew Tote Bag



These are the instructions from the Martha Stewart website:

No-Sew Tote Bags How-To

1. Cut a 20-by-36-inch piece of home-decorating or upholstery-weight fabric. Line the back of the fabric with iron-on vinyl to protect and reinforce.

2. Fold fabric in half, right sides together, to create a rectangle 20 inches wide by 18 inches tall, with the fold at the bottom.

3. Fold down and crease the top raw edge to create a 2-inch hem on the top, front, and back.

4. Mark where you would like the straps to go and staple the straps onto one side of the bag. Only staple through the strap and the folded over fabric, so that the staples do not show on what will be the front of the bag. Repeat on other side.

5. Use two strips of duct tape to cover the staples and "hem" the top of the bag. Trim the extra duct tape with scissors.

6. Fold the bag so right sides are together. Mark a seam line 1/2 inch from each edge. Staple up the sides of bag along the seam line. Cover seam with a long piece of duct tape, folded lengthwise over the raw edge. Trim the extra duct tape.

7. Create a gusset by flattening the inside-out bag with the seams together. Mark a line perpendicular to the seam, about 3 1/2 inches from the "point" at the bottom of each seam. Staple along this line. Cover the staples with duct tape and trim excess.

8. Turn bag right-side out.



*The size of your bag will vary depending on the size of the fabric you buy...My friend Mary made the cutest over-night tote or weekend tote...by accident :) She bought some of the 56" fabric...too cute! So, you can cut the fabric and get two or sometimes 3 bags out of one yard of fabric!!



I have already made one, and I have pics and everything, but forgot my camera this morning (which totally stinks because my pics for my Twilight Movie blog are on there too...ARGH!!!) So, I'll have to post pics at a later date.


I've bought some more cute fabric and can't wait to make another one!!! Enjoy

Distractions..Addictions...and just plain Craziness!

Distraction...major distraction...I love these little letters and I LOVE making these banners...maybe this is more of an addiction than a distraction? That's such a grey area.

Here's a few banners that I made for friends at work...I went out and bought tons more stuff to make some Christmas banners and some more name banners and a few baby gifts!

Addiction...yeah, I'm pretty sure this is crossing the line from being a distraction to an addiction...This book is such a good read...an easy read too.

Here's where the just plain craziness comes in...this is the Apple Crisp that I made the other morning at 3:15 am! What was I thinking? I'm not sure, but I am sure that this was the BEST apple crisp EVER! So, easy and super yummy! Do you want the recipe? Follow THIS link to Lisa's page :)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Aren't These CUTE?!?!

I just wanted to post a few pics of the CUTE and totally adorable things that I bought from the Pumpkin Pink Cottage for Halloween...

These are some sleeves that I put Hershey's Bars in...I gave them to Isaiah's teachers...they loved them!


These are some little mini goodie bags that were perfect for a couple of mini/bite size candy bars. We gave these to all of the kids in Isaiah's class! Too cute!



Below are some little Halloween goodie bags that I made up for my co-workers and I punched a hole in the top of each bag and put a wonderful "witchy" Halloween tag made by Lisa over at the Pumpkin Pink Cottage (on Etsy)! I wrote "You've been BOOed ~ Happy Halloween~"!

I can't wait 'til Christmas!

Weekend Review!

Let me just tell you, I had the best weekend!



So, we went to Arkansas this weekend for a couple days of crafting (like the buying kind, not the making kind)...and it was sensational! Saturday morning I got up and cleaned house on turbo speed. We left town around 1:30 and got to Springdale, AR around 3:30, usually an hour and a half trip, but we made the necessary stop at Burger King on the way...hey, girls gotta eat. We checked into our room at the Sleep Inn & Suites, which by the way was great! My mom and I both commented on the fact that the room actually looked just as good as it did on-line when we booked it! We had a shorty with us, so we got a suite w/ a hot tub...that keeps kiddos entertained for hours! Our hotel also had an indoor pool, so we took Isaiah to swim for a while to exert some energy...much needed after a 2 hour car ride. The lady at the front desk informed us of another craft fair at the Embassy Suites in Rogers, just a 10 minute drive down 540. After our dip in the pool, we got dressed and hopped back in the car and headed for some crafting! This was totally unplanned and spontaneous. Our entire trip and been planned around going to War Eagle on Sunday morning. However, this little jaunt to Rogers reaped a car load of goodies! The craft show was indoors (of course) in their convention center...nice, carpeted, large, and spacious! We found so many great things and even had to tell ourselves no...*gasp*...a time or two, because we knew we were going to War Eagle the next day...and we had to be able to get all of our treasures back home to Oklahoma! We had contemplated tying things to the roof, but you just never know when a rain shower could occur...I mean we are talking Oklahoma here...weather is spontaneous! Around 9:00 we returned to our hotel room for some R&R...and football. We ate dinner and watched the end of the Texas/Mizzou game. Texas won, of course. OU won too...they beat Kansas 45-31! Go Sooners! Sunday morning, was breathtakingly gorgeous! We set out about 8:30 for War Eagle in a small farm town called Hindsville near Springdale. The drive was beautiful...this is in the Ozarks, so it's a lot of hills/mountains and valleys. The trees are changing and they are all shades of red, orange, yellow, and green. It was so picturesque...but you'll never believe what I did...I left my camera at my office!!! Friday I had downloaded some pics, so my camera would have plenty of space to hold my pics from the weekend...then what did I do...I LEFT it!! I was so mad at myself. My mom had hers, but it's just not MINE...so, I reluctantly used it. War Eagle Mills is where the craft fair is set. It is such a neat place with an old rickety covered bridge that the War Eagle river flows under. There is also a Mill, hence the name War Eagle Mills. The Mill is ran by the water that flows down the river. It is thickly populated with these old towering trees and as the wind blew it snowed leaves...seriously, they were just falling like snow flakes...everywhere...covering the ground. Beautiful! The crafts were just as good as the scenery. There is definitely something for everyone. Mom and I bought anything from handmade sweaters to personalized Christmas ornaments to decorative signs...you get the picture...we bought it all!


LOL...well, maybe not ALL, but a lot. Oh and the food was amazing...roasted corn, tater twisters, chocolate dipped cheese cake! YUM! Our vehicle was definitely loaded down as we made our way back home. We felt totally accomplished in that we did what we set out to do...relax, have fun, craft, shop 'til we drop, and come back feeling refreshed and rejuvenated!


Here's a shout-out to some of the crafty-crafters we bought things from:

• For these great candle "gems", wrought-iron pieces, etc. - http://www.theironfluer.com/
• For handmade and personalized Christmas ornaments - http://www.countrycraftsonline.com/
• For these handy-dandy magnets that are memo holders...they can hold up to 5 pieces of paper and come personalized for free...I got one for Isaiah's artwork to put on the fridge, it says "Look what Isaiah did!" - http://www.nandymemoholder.com/
• For a one-of-a-kind bracelet made from bottlecaps...I told you there was something for everyone...I bought an OU one, of course, but she had all sorts of college teams, pro teams, causes, kitche stuff, trendy stuff...you name it! She said if you e-mail her, she would send pics - rbridwell1@cox.net

I am totally frustrated right now because my not-so-great-but-all-I-had pictures from the weekend are trapped in my mom's not-so-great-but-all-I-had camera! ARGH! I'm even typing with angry fingers...like beating the keyboard...like that's going to help. Well, I guess those are all the pics you get until I take my mom's not-so-great camera to Wal-Mart and get the not-so-great pictures put on a cd! UGH! *sighing*rolling eyes*

HAPPY MONDAY (I meant to type in all caps...I'm yelling...)

Oh, and be on the look out for a giveaway...I've got a few goodies I'm willing to part with! :)

Glitter = Magic!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE glitter! When I work with glitter and glue, it takes me right back to third grade making Valentine's Day cards...I LOVE it! Lisa, the Craft Goddess, over at Pumpkin Pink Cottage made some cute glittered eggs (they are featured in her latest giveaway, btw). So, my friend/co-worker and I decided we wanted to glitter some pumpkins...they are so super cute! We bought glitter and glue on Tuesday and went back again today to Michael's to buy more glitter and more glue! We even have my mom on the glitter trail! I'll have more pics to post soon, but here's one of my tiny pumpkins that I glittered. You should give it a try, it's super easy and TOO fun! The best glitter we have found is the Martha Stewart glitter powder. (You know I love Martha!) Her glitters come in all sorts of colors...jeweled tones, pastels, seasonals...you name it!

Here's one of the other banners I made...BOO...did I scare ya? :P

Hope everyone has a WONDERFUL weekend...full of rest and relaxation! Don't worry about me. I'll be in Arkansas this weekend shopping 'til I drop with my mom at War Eagle! Like 10 acres of arts and crafts! I can NOT wait! You know I'll have pics to share when I get back...maybe even a goody or two...maybe there's another giveaway in the near future? hmmm :)

Witches Shoes and Pumpkins

I still can't leave the Halloween decorating be...I have a million ideas running through my head and I've been jumping from craft project to craft project. Working overtime last week really put a cramp in my style, if you know what I mean?! So, I was able to finish a few things I've been working on and here are some pics...

More pumpkins with ribbons...love these!

And a pair of witches shoes...


I've got a few more things I've been playing around with. I'll post some more soon.

ta-ta for now...

Oh, speaking of ta-tas, everybody knows this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so be sure to do your part...eat some yoplait yogurt and save the lids, go get a breast exam, do a self breast exam, join a walk or marathon! Get out there and save the ta-tas!

SpOoKy

I've been crazy over these cute banners that have been popping up everywhere! I love them!!! I made one that says "harvest". I think I posted it on an earlier blog. Then last week I started making one that says "spooky". It is so much fun...I love paper crafts! I didn't get home until 8:30 last night. I worked late. However, when I got home I couldn't just get ready and go to bed. I wanted to spend some time with Isaiah, and he loves sitting at the table making stuff. So, I decided to finish my spooky banner...here's a pic...



Then I switched out the placemats on my table...and did a little rearranging...

Too fun!

Spectacular costumes!

Pumpkins galore!

One fun night!

Oodles of fun!

Kids of all ages!

Your imagination takes flight!