Simplicity

Debbie and I have been working on some new designs with the beautiful new fabrics from 3 Sisters & Moda - "Simplicity". I have listed two dresses and the White Eyelet Underset, and I have plans for one more very soon! Perfect for Easter - it's not too late!

Click here to go see the listings on eBay.

Rainbow

Green & White

Pink Petals

I have listed two ready-made, ready-to-ship sets tonight:

[click titles to go see the listings on eBay]

Pink Petals

Breezy Birdie

Chocolate Fix

I took this cake to my ladies' meeting today, and upon receiving several recipe requests, I agreed to post it here. This cake is chocolate-y to the max, but it's not too rich & heavy... enjoy!


Quick Tunnel of Fudge Cake

Filling:
1 1/2 c. milk
1 pkg (3.4 oz.) chocolate pudding mix - the cook & serve kind, NOT instant!
1 c. chocolate chips
1 Tbsp. butter

Place milk in med. saucepan, whisk in pudding mix. Cook, stirring, over med. heat until the mixture comes to a boil (4 to 5 min.) Remove from heat & stir in the chocolate chips & butter. Stir until the pudding is smooth and thickened and the chocolate has melted. Set aside while you mix the cake.

Cake
1 pkg. devil's food cake mix
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. sour cream or plain yogurt
1/2 c. water
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly mist a 12-cup Bundt pan with non-stick spray, then dust with flour. Or, I just heavily spray with the non-stick spray & skip the flour :)

Place all cake ingredients in large mixer bowl. Blend with electic mixer on low speed for 1 min., stop machine & scrape sides of bowl. Increase speed to medium, beat 2 minutes more.

Reserve 2 cups of the batter. Pour remaining batter into the prepared pan. Spoon the pudding filling in a ring on the top of the batter, making sure it does not touch the sides of the pan. Spoon the reserved batter over the filling, smoothing it out with a spatula all the way to the sides of the pan. Place pan in oven.

Bake until it springs back when lightly pressed with your finger & is just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan. 45-50 min. Cool for 20 minutes. Run a long, sharp knife around the edge of the cake and invert it onto a rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar when it is cool.

Self Portrait Challenge - Blue {Eyes}

There was some discussion when Nicole was born as to whose eyes she "got", and certain people concluded that she "got" them from my husband's side of the family. I feel the need to point out that my husband has dark brown eyes.

To see the final week of Self Portraits involving Blue, click here.

Fun + Functional

I've had this idea for quite a while. The row of cabinets in my kitchen ends right over a perpendicular counter bar, which left this empty wall space. I liked the idea of some small shelves for decorative purposes and to keep some of my cookbooks handy.

I finally bought moulding and a wood plank, primed it all, and waited for my husband to come home on the weekend. Have I mentioned that he is so good to me? He took my plan and some tools, headed for the garage, and made these:


I painted them with the same semi-gloss I used for the walls, and I think they blend in nicely.

Leave me a comment - I need suggestions for what I could keep in the trifle bowl to spruce it up a bit! I want something I can remove easily if I want to use it for dessert (so no terrariums). I have mostly white, silver & light green in my kitchen - shabby chic - no pinecones! If I pick your idea, I'll take a picture of the completed look, add it to my blog with your name, and link it to your blog.

Self Portrait Challenge - Blue {Moon}

I realize that a true "Blue Moon" occurs when two full moons fall within one month, which happens approximately every 2.72 years...

But tonight there was a total lunar eclipse, which was amazing to watch, and personally I find it much more fascinating than just another full moon in the month. After all, we won't have another total lunar eclipse again until December 2010, so the frequency is quite similar.

This was during the "total" phase of the eclipse, where the moon actually takes on a warm, reddish color, a nice contrast to the deep, cool blue night sky.

Tonight was also my first try with my 75-300 lense, and with my newly loaded Photoshop cs3...

For more Self Portraits involving Blue, click HERE

Valentine's Baby

This is a few days late, but I did not want to miss posting about Claire's birthday! She turned 5 on her love-ly birthday - Valentine's Day.

Daddy has been out of town, so before he left he set up the video conferencing on the computer. Claire was able to open her gifts, blow out the candles on her cake, and eat her cake & ice cream while Daddy watched from his hotel room. I am thankful for technology, despite all its flaws, it allowed Claire to have the best birthday possible in her situation!

Happy birthday to my sweet, smiling sweetheart :)

Breezy

New listings for Lilyplum's "Breezy" launch!

I worked on a fun collaboration with Angie & Jen - you can find the skirt, dress/top & barrette by searching Lilyplum on eBay.

First for me is a custom crochet top to match the other pieces: Next are the Embellished Jeans:

And finally, a new set I've called Breezy Birdie, created with a vintage pattern & some gorgeous green & blue fabrics:

Self Portrait Challenge - Blue

Melissa is a dear friend. I have known her more than half of my life now, and she is a treasure to me. I know I can always tell her what is on my heart, and she will listen and advise with love. We've had a lot of fun together - we've laughed to the point of tears! (hey, M, we need an un-grown-up day to do that again soon :) ) She also has excellent taste. She sent me a beautiful book for my birthday last month that is characteristically "Melissa". I sat down immediately and started thumbing through the detailed pictures of well-appointed rooms.

This is one of my favorite pictures - I love the mis-matched dishes and the way the green & blue pop on the the white background. I love green, Melissa loves blue :)

Melissa's classic taste led to this beauty, a silver mint julep cup, that she gave to me the day of her wedding 5 years ago. I just pulled it out of hiding in a cabinet a few weeks ago, added this blue peony, and placed it on a vacated little shelf. I liked how they look together, and how they remind me of my friend.

To see what others are doing for "Blue" Self Portraits this month, click HERE

Coal = Cola?

For a project for school today, Nicole had to find as many things as she could from around our house that were on a list of items made from the by-products of using coal. We learned that when they burn coal to generate electricity, the leftover "stuff" is used for many other useful items we use every day.

For instance, we learned that both laughing gas & the carbon dioxide used for soda can come from coal by-products, as well as asparatame (the artificial sweetener).

Here is everything we found around our house, except for cement, shingles, and insulation which are also by-products of coal usage, but they would not fit on our countertop.

What did fit on our counter from the list:

Posterboard
Fertilizer
Moth Balls
Bug Spray
Abrasives
Pens
Baking Powder
Perfumes
Plastics
Paint
Rubber Bands
Rubber Cement
Batteries
Paper Clips
Chalk

Red Roses...

My second listing for the IvyLane Party!
Thanks again to April for inviting me!

{Red Rose Layer Cake}

Join the Party!

I was invited to celebrate with IvyLane, as they turn 2!

April invited me as her guest, and we brought cake to the party...

Here is my cake - Buttercream:

This spring & summer, I have a number of one-of-a-kind and custom dresses planned, and all of them will be shown over my new

{Custom White Eyelet Underset}

(now available - click ^ to see )

While many of the dresses will not be customs, the Underset will be available at all times as a custom, either through auction or private listing. This will allow you more sets for your money, as you really only need one underset to go with the darling dresses I will be offering!

Eight Years Ago...

...I was in a hospital room recovering from an unexpected c-section, holding a newborn we had named Nicole. I am amazed that the tiny, squished, red & wrinkled bundle that came squalling into our lives that day has grown to be this girl before us.

We had a fun birthday today, including pizza, chocolate cake with sprinkles, and presents!




She is a joy, full of humor and laughter.

She is a delight, always finding something interesting in the world around her.

She is adventurous, taking off after things that intrigue her.

She is kind and generous, and she has a tender heart.

And most of all, she is not really mine. Chad and I are just stewards of this precious gift, until she is old enough to go out into the world and live for her true Father, God who blessed us with these eight years so far.

Happy birthday, big girl. I love you :*)

The Ugly.... Turkey?

We've all heard the story of The Ugly Duckling.

If not, click here to read a shortened version of this Hans Christian Anderson tale.

But here is the scene I found in my girls' bathtub. I'm not sure what was being imagined during the last bathtime, but when I pulled aside the shower curtain the next morning, this discovery made me giggle.