Exciting News & Foodie Fun

Hey Guys.. Happy Monday!
Y'all ready for the new week ahead?
How was your weekend? Do anything fun/exciting?
I got all my orders finished and shipped out early in the week, so the weekend was all about my lil' "Love Bug". Had 3 whole days of much needed grandma time.. swinging, swimming, dancing & just having fun.
In a few months it will be double the fun..
Yep, exciting news to share with y'all.
"Wild Woman" is going to be a mommie!
It's A Girl!
I don't think we can have boys in our family. LOL
Well, I've been planning the shower menu for the past few weeks... Since it will be full-on South Texas Summer, I am definitely going with light dishes; lots of fresh fruits & veggies and cold appetizers. I made these

Pink Champagne Cupcakes for "Baby Girl's" shower so I think for "Wild Woman's" shower I'll make Margarita Cuppies. =)

Now I want to introduce you to a fun new blog that I just recently found.
www.OutAThyme.com
is now one of my favorite foodie blogs. They feature lots of "different" and "do-able" recipes.

Bunuelo Dessert Nachos with Nutella
(photo via of Out A Thyme)
The first one that jumped out at me was the Bunuelos. Maybe that's because "Wild Woman" loves them so much; or maybe was the Nutella syrup. Mmmm.. Either way I am hooked!
and Bonus...
Last week they were hosting a giveaway for a OXO Salad Spinner. Guess what? I won! WooHoo.. My first ever giveaway win and my first ever salad spinner.. lol.. Thanks Girlies!
Stop by www.OutAThyme.com and say Hi to Melba & Kim!
In case you need a little nudge their way;
Check out these little treasures..

Creme De Menthe & Pretzel Nutella Cookies
(photo via Out A Thyme)
Talk about yummy!

Okay now.. Be sure to watch for my next post telling you how you can win a new Kitchenaid stand mixer. =)

Spring Is In The Air

The weather has been gorgeous here in H-Town the past several days.

Pear Blossoms have filled the trees and the sounds of singing birds have filled the air.
Although... I did have a run-in with the first blood sucker of the season.
Unfortunately, it was the

"state bird of Texas" variety
and NOT the

"hot Hollywood heartthrob".
Awe well.. just my luck.. lol

Baby Girl and I are still hard at work getting ready for the
big reveal next weekend.
As my girl Paula would say, "I can't hardly wait y'all". =)
Even Wild Woman is coming to help out this week. Yay!

We've had one itty bitty set back.. well actually its just a little stall.. I've lost the pattern for one of my previous best sellers.. sooooo today I am working on making up a new one.
I think that deserves one more bit of eye candy.

Hope you are enjoying whats left of your weekend.
Smoochies all!

What's Kept Me Away

Hey y'all! Happy Monday.. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!
For the past week Baby Girl and I have been working on something
super-deee-duper top secret.
Since it's just between me and you, I'll give ya a little sneaky peek. :)

I am so excited to have Baby partner with me on this.

She is so amazingly talented that simply watching her work inspires me.
Also in the works is a giveaway to help celebrate the big reveal and my

that slipped by me last week.
Stay tuned... It's gonna be a good one. =)
In the midst of all this creativity & planning, Love Bug has started teething. Poor baby has got 3 coming in at one time. =( Thank goodness for baby orajel.
Have a great Monday everyone.

Baby Girl's Baby Shower

Hiya Sweets!
Hope you're all having a wonderful week.
As per the norm, things have been crazy busy around here.
We finally had Baby Girl's shower on Sunday.

Between everyone being sick and not knowing when Love Bug would be coming home, we were on hold with everything. But... as last minute as it was, we had a full house and she had a wonderful time. I love how everything turned out... And this was my first time making a diaper cake. =)

Yesterday was Baby Girl's 22nd birthday.

This was her at 3 weeks old

and here she is 22 years later.

With everything else going on her birthday didn't get quite the attention that it should have. She did however get the best present ever.

Our Lil' Love Bug got to come home from the hospital yesterday. YAY!

and this has been my view for the past 36 hrs. =) teehee

I suppose it's time for me to get back to work now.. I have 2 new wholesale customers and lots of special requests for custom designs

like these

and these

I love "ALL" my customers! They are the best!

Time for more coffee.. ;)
Have a great night Dolls!

2011: Week 2

Only 2 weeks into the new year and I am already behind.
We had a death in the family last week which pretty much brought everything to a halt. The only way I can describe the past week is melancholy. I have to say though, the services were beautiful. This is the first time I have ever seen the doves released graveside.. it was a very emotional and breathtaking experience.

Trying to get my focus back has been a challenge. I have almost caught up on orders.. just a couple more days and I should be good to go. =)

Since I have been busy working, I recruited "Wild Woman" to put her creativity to use and decorate my 2011 project binder. She still has to put the finishing touches on it but I LOVE what she has done with it.

Pink, Black, Pocket Tags and Polka Dots!
And how cute is that cocktail!?.. teehee
Isn't it just Deeelish?

Now it's your turn April.. Where's your binder? =)

Okay, it's time for me to get back to work.
Hope you all have a fabulous day!

XO XO,

My Word for 2011..

I didn't choose a word last year but one sure chose me.
My life went through a complete upheaval in 2010. Everything that was, is no more. But that was then and this is now.
The start of a new year is the perfect time to take the reigns
and "Create" myself anew.
So my word for 2011 is

Create the daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, artist, designer, teacher, business woman, blogger, friend & stranger... the "Me" that I want to be. The "Me" that inspires & nurtures others to be what they see inside themselves.

** Create the highest grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe. ~ Oprah Winfrey

Have you picked your word for 2011?

XO XO,

Introducing Maddison Lynn

MZ6WV8CQKRUT

It's been a tough week.. My daughter had complications and they were forced to deliver her baby. The pregnancy caused Cec's liver to completely shutdown so it was a matter of life and death for her. I am so blessed to be able to say that she is doing much better and will hopefully be able to come home tomorrow. And I am happy to introduce to you our precious little miracle Maddi.

She joined us 3 months early but she's a fighter just like her mommy.
I have been sick so I haven't been able to meet her yet or even be at the hospital with my daughter since the first day. And that is driving me crazy.. but I will not chance either of them getting sick.

Now if I could just figure out what my "grandma" name will be.. It's a lot tougher than you'd think.. LOL..

xoxo

Happy Tuesday...

Hope your week has gotten off to a great start!

I've already had some creative time to make up some new bead sets and aprons. I also got the vinyl lettering up in the foyer.



I am sooo loving these vinyl sayings! I want to put them all over! :)

As promised, here are the goodies that I got for Mothers Day!

Hubby and "Wild Woman", took me for a day out and then to eat at our fave Mexican food restaurant.
And look at the fun goodies they got me...


Papercraft magazine, fun printed & textured, velvety papers, cricut blades & vinyl..


Loads of cardstock & clay...


And 3 great, new movies to add to my collection...
(I lurve me some Jason Statham!)

And look at the goodies that "Baby Girl" sent to me.. (she wasn't able to come down for Moms day, but will be coming in this weekend)..



She knew that I had my eye on this book.. annnd the entire season of Swingtown! YAY! That was our show.. We always watched together before she moved out.

I have such a wonderful hubby & kiddos! and I treasure every minute I get to spend with them!

Thank you all for letting me share!
Have a wonderful day!

Huggs,

Having Fun...

Here are some pics of my new baby hard at work...





I am sooo glad that I finally decided to make the purchase. I am having a blast.

This weekend I will be:
~ designing new hang tags for my aprons;
~ working on a birthday surprise for my BBF April
~ Finishing up a "just because" surprise for my BFF Kim
~ shopping & thrifting with Cec
~ taking a trip to Lowes for the kitchen paint

Have a great evening all!
Huggs,

Ebates

I have got to tell you about my new favorite website!
Get paid to shop for what you want, where you want.
I must admit, I was a little skeptical at first and thought "ok what's the catch?"
Really, there is no catch..
You actually get rebates every time you shop at your favorite online stores.
It is really simple too.. All you do is go to your ebates account and then select the store you wish to visit (even ebay)! You are then transferred to the shop and your purchase will earn the rebate! YAY!
In about a month's time, I have earned a little over $30 already.. and that is on purchases that I was going to make anyways.. So really it is like free money!

Follow the link below to sign up at



and we will both earn $5 buckaroos..
Then after you sign up, you can earn $5 for referring your friends! YAY!!
And... the cash you earn can be mailed directly to you via check or you can have it sent straight to your paypal account.. How Great is that!

We can ALL use a little extra cash now can't we?

Thank y'all for letting me share this sweet little morsel with you!
Happy Shopping (& Saving) All! :)

Huggs,