I may or may not have posted on this topic before...

Oddly, today I received two emails from two different people asking me about a gift that I have given to my sister-in-law and mother-in-law. I made my own knock-off stamper from these designed by Three Designing Women. My friend Becky of Miss Bee's Specialties actually sells these and they are really well priced. You can find her full selection here.

Megan got me this one for my birthday one year. I love it!

There are so many clever uses and they sell really cute coordinating tags and labels.

I will also say it makes stamping an envelope a million times easier (and cuter).

Welcome to My World

I will admit, my blog has been lacking. Life has kind of taken over...

We are in the process of selling our current house...
and buying a new one...

Have had family in town to visit. (Seriously, are my cousin's kids not absolutely adorable?!!)

Went to see the best concert ever - Black Eyed Peas.

We were like teeny boppers down on the floor. Well, I was. Not so much Tommy.

I also had to share this birthday party I went to last weekend. It was a family friend's daughter's 2nd birthday (is that too much detail?) and the party was precious! If you look on the table, she handmade each invitation. (And you guys, there were a ton of people there!) Her mother-in-law is cake decorator and made these amazing cakes. It was the cutest!

The polka dot theme was throughout the whole party and I love the banner she made. She used a pizza round as her form and her cricut for the letters. Love it!

I will say, the one bonus of a busy life -- your week flies by and you don't realize you haven't touched your blog since Tuesday.

Mark Your Glass

I love a glass of vino as much as the next person. What I don't love is getting my glass confused with the next person. You know...germs.

So I loved these really clever and creative Hibiscus Slip-On Coasters from Etsy Store I came Diammalimm Home across yesterday on Twig and Thistle. Um, hello, dual-purpose -- a coaster AND a a wine marker. Brilliant.


Hibiscus not your thing? How about a Lotus flower from Etsy store The Ring Leader?
Also very clever are these reusable chalkboard labels from Lil B Designs. Just have your guests write their name and wipe off at the end of the night.


If you are looking for a little more color, I love these tags from This Wine is Mine. (Cute name, too.)
Need a drink?

Tomorrow's pastries are on me

Tomorrow, March 23rd, is free pastry day at Starbucks! Buy a beverage, get a pastry. Sold. I will enjoy driving to work with my tall, non-fat, white chocolate mocha with no whip. Just print out this certificate or show it on your phone.

There's One Plus Side to the Snow

Gotta love the weather. I prefer the 70 degree temperatures of Friday, but you know, life is full of changes. So I thought I would leave you guys with these words of wisdom from Silverbox Creative. XOXO

For my Peeps

This week on Everyday Celebrating, Chella featured a cake that I am now obsessed with.
1- It is adorable.
2- It looks so easy a kid could do it. (This translates to me being able to attempt.)

The recipe and pictures come from Taste of Home Magazine.

1. Bake a round cake. Cover in chocolate icing.

2. Place chocolate chips in circles around the center for the seeds.

3. Place yellow peeps around the edges for the petals.

Let me serenade you

I came across the most brilliant site today. You write a letter to your favorite person and the letter is "sung" back to you by some of your favorite artists, like Extreme, Bobby McFerrin, you know "the greats." I created a little song for you guys. You can listen to it here. Or create your own song for me and leave it in my comments. Here is the link: http://www.sr.se/P1/src/sing/ (PS - Make sure your pop-up blocker is off.)

XOXO!

Need a Laugh?

This isn't my regularly scheduled programming, but I got a laugh out of this forward my mom sent me, so I thought I would share. Happy St. Patty's Day! Hopefully, you didn't end up "like mommy." : )

A first grade girl handed in the drawing below for a homework assignment...



After it was graded and the child brought it home, she returned to school the next day with the following note:

Dear Ms. Davis,
I want to be very clear on my child's illustr ation. It is NOT of me on a dance pole on a stage in a strip joint. I work at Home Depot and had commented to my daughter how much money we made in the recent snowstorm. This drawing is of me selling a shovel.

Mrs. Harrington

Random

First, I have to start with the cutest story. My sister-in-law emailed me today and told me that my nephew, this one:

was "driving" in his toy car and she asked him where he was going. He sweetly answered, "Aunt Cake's." (Aunt Cake would be me. Short for Aunt KK. He is such a smart boy. He knows the keys to my heart.) Um, told you guys I was world's greatest aunt.

Next, I know Easter is a little while away, but I ran across these napkins on Martha Stewart (who else?) and had to share. You can get full folding instructions here. I would say I would attempt to do this at Easter, but (confession) I only use napkins once and put them in the washer only to never iron them for use again. So...who am I kidding, I am sure I won't be motivated enough to iron anything between now and then. So if you guys attempt this, let me know.
Lastly, I have a birthday party for a two year old girl this weekend. Any fun ideas of what little girls might like?

Max is turning two in a few weeks and I am really excited about my gift for him. Kristen is redoing his room with this theme from Pottery Barn Kids.

I am having my friend, Betsy, make him a stool with his name and a pirate ship. Here are some of her designs.


More soon!

I'm Lovin' It

I totally heart this backdrop featured on Hostess with the Mostess today.

I have a secret

I hate to let go of this secret recipe, but because I love you guys I will. I am kind of known for two things in the culinary world (isn't that sad?):
1- My Bruschetta
2- My Brownies

Sadly, neither are gourmet. But that's not why you come here.

Today I will give away my brownie recipe. And it comes from a box. The first secret is, you must get the Betty Crocker Triple Chocolate Chunk mix. Trust me.

Bake as shown. Only (and this is the secret part) undercook them by 4-5 minutes.

Let them cool and ice them with chocolate icing.

Then watch your brownies disappear in an instant.

**Note, I just reread this and realized you guys must think I am crazy. Like you didn't know how to cook boxed brownies. I am telling you, though, you will come back and thank me if you follow these instructions.**

XOXO (Um, anyone else excited Gossip Girl is back on???)

Party Kits

I love it when party planning is easy. And cute. And reasonably priced. I was excited yesterday when I came across the shop Meri Meri through the blog Lucy*isms. They not only have the cutest cupcake kits, but they also have all the ancillary accessories.


Like the banner (perfect for you guys who do not have cricuts ; )

And matching plates.

I have to admit, even though I am not a cat fan, I thought these were super cute. (Megan, this excludes Tavia.)

There are party products for every type of party, including a luau. Who doesn't think dancing hula girls are great?

And I love it that when you click on a cupcake kit it automatically pulls up the matching invite down below.

That is my kind of shopping.

Yesterday Finley got baptized. It was a very special day and I am so happy to be Finley's God Mother.

Allison had me make some invitations for the special event. I think the bird really makes it "Finley."

I am sure you are wondering what this wedding picture has to do with my niece's baptism. Well, my mom had her wedding dress made into....Finley's baptismal gown.
Isn't that just the sweetest thing ever?

Kyle's brother was the God Father. And I will be honest, I totally put this picture in because I think I look tall. (That is saying a lot...I am only 5' tall.)

(I am so about to do the thing that always cracks me up when people do it, write a note to a small baby on a blog/Facebook/Social Networking site as though the infant child can read it. I am now that person.) Finley, thanks for letting me be such a big part of your special day. You are just the most precious baby and I love you tons!

Feeling Crafty

I love reindeer moss and all I have really ever used it in is flower arrangements. I was thrilled to come across these ideas on Imperfectly Beautiful on how to use it in a different way.


Basically, all you need is a form (styrofoam, wood, whatever) from the craft store, moss and a glue gun. For more details, click here.

Words to Live By

For some reason this cracked me up. Maybe it is because I love french fries. Found it on All Things Lovely who found it on Etsy Shop Studio Mela.

Topiary - Totally Doable

I love a craft that I can accomplish. Not too many are that easy. However, I came across this adorable Jelly Bean Topiary on Crafty Sisters and I thought to myself, "Self, you can do this." So I had to share.

Basically, all you need are jelly beans, styrofoam, a styrofoam ball, a pot and moss. (Cheap, too!) The crafty sister hot glued each jelly bean onto the ball, however, I would think toothpicks would work well, too. (If you have no idea where you hot glue gun is...like me.)



Once completed, add some moss around the base....

And, voila, you have these cuties.

If you try this, you must send me pics!

New Discovery

You guys might remember when I discussed my complete disdain for cake decorating. (I was a cake decorating school drop out.) However, I think I might have found the perfect cake decorating tool. A cricut for cake decorating. Hello, brilliant!!

Here is someone who used their cricut prior to the new cricut cake (apparently, due out soon. They must have seen the YouTube videos). I think I could soooo do this!



Enjoy!

People Actually Read This!

I am always beyond thrilled to get a comment on here and it is even more exciting when I find out my blog inspired someone. My friend Stephanie emailed me today with a picture of a diaper cake she created for a shower this weekend. She used the diaper cake how-to that I posted in January.


Stephanie claims she is not crafty at all. However, I would say this definitely shows great craftsmanship. So, A + to her and thanks for reading!