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life | blogging...

Wednesday, February 29

If the blogging "world" really existed as a physical entity...
You'd think I had fallen off the planet.

I've said it before...
blogging is one of my very favorite things...
and with the time constraints in my life lately...
blogging has had to take a back seat to some of the other priorities that are competing for my time right now.
And trust me when I say...
it's driving me nuts.

This is my place to sit and connect with you for a few minutes...
My place for a little bit of "therapy" actually...
My little escape from the world to share thoughts...
fun things I've stumbled upon...
and ultimately bits of inspiration.

So...
to keep things light...
but also be able to share SOMETHiNG fun from my world...
Today I want to share with you...
one of my recent purchases from a site I have become quite addicted to...


cupcakeplate.tiff



This little gem is from Antique Farm House...
I spied this item some time back and it was SOLD OUT!
I begged for them to bring it back...
and today...
I was freaking-out excited pleasantly surprised to see that it's available again.
(and I'm certain it was only because of the request from little ole me) *wink*
So I snatched it up.
You may want to check out the site too.
Be warned however...
Addiction awaits you my friend...


KEEPiNG iT REAL
I hope you'll continue to hang in here with me...
My blog posts have been few and far between.
I'm re-prioritizing (constantly, it seems)
I've got so many irons in the fire...
Feeling like I've bitten off more than I can chew...
and trying hard not to get burned...or choke 
...all at the same time. *wink*

So with that said...I'm holding on to this thought:

promise ME | #26

Wednesday, February 22


We are counting down the days as we finish our year-long journey of promises...
I've been working diligently on completing mine...
(for those that have been participating...I hope you've been working on yours as well)

So Monday...
I had an appointment to cross off promise #26

numbertwentysix


I decided to go with something symbolic...
hennatattoodrawing

"Clarity" is my focus word for 2012
(I'm looking for Clarity or rather direction, guidance, a clear path in all areas of my life...)

So I chose to have this symbol for "Clarity" put on the underside of my wrist...
HennaTattoo6262sm


And then a pretty little flower band to wrap around the top portion of my wrist...
HennaTattoo6276sm
(Wow...I need some major lotion on my hands...*chuckling*)

Why was this on my promise ME list?
Only because I was intrigued...
And because I know it's not permanent...*wink*

Through the process of researching the art of Henna/Mehndi body art...
I'm so grateful for all of the different things I learned...
...the rich history behind the art
as well as the significance for different cultures - specific to ceremonies.

Promise #26...
Done!!


KEEPiNG iT REAL
It was REALLY difficult taking these photos with my Digital SLR - using ONE hand!! 
(It's a bit heavy and I was too lazy to swap out the lens)...lol

But what was REALLY so frustrating was...
I literally spent weeks making phone calls and searching online to find someone close by that could do this for me.
I was getting so frustrated.
I even planned on attending a local festival in which I was told there would be a Henna Artist there.
Thank goodness I called the morning of the actual festival to see if there really was a Henna artist available...
Guess what?
No artist.
I seriously thought about just doing it myself...
Yeah...
I found numerous websites for making my own henna paste, etc...
But I really wanted the cultural experience of it.
So...
I finally gave in to the fact that I would have to drive an hour away if I was going to make this happen.
And I did...
I made it happen! *wink*

Thank you World Henna for helping me fulfill promise #26!!!

holiday | St. Patty's Day Giveaway

Tuesday, February 21

Feelin' LUCKY?
Want to win everything you need to host a festive St. Patty's Day Party?
Check out all of the fun party accessories being offered by these fabulous vendors...

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From Top to Bottom, Left to Right:
25 Green striped straws - The Cupcake Social,  3 Paper Poms - PomLove,
300 Hand-punched paper shamrocks - Looneyjoon Tees, 6 Kusudama Paper Flowers - Origami Delights


collage2
From Top to Bottom, Left to Right:
24 Cupcake Wrappers - Well Dressed Cupcakes, 8.5' long Luck O' the Irish Garland - Origami Delights,
6 Glittered Shamrock Gift Tags - Almond Crafts, 25 Lucky Cupcake Toppers - Origami Delights


collage3
St. Patty's Day Downloadable P.I.Y. (Print-it-Yourself) Paper Bundle including
3 Sheets of Designer Paper and 24 Party Tabs - Pen N' Paperflowers


A special THANK YOU to Nedra from Origami Delights for putting this giveaway together
and including me in the abundant "Pot O' Gold" for one LUCKY winner!!

Here's how to enter:
Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter...

R.A.K. | The Pastry Pedestal™ Starter Kit

Saturday, February 18

Good morning all of you party people...
I thought I'd surprise you this morning with a "long-time-coming" giveaway...

That's right.
It's time to offer up The Pastry Pedestal™ Starter Kit to THREE lucky winners...
Right here...
Right on THiS blog...
The blog where the idea was born...
The blog where all of you SWEET readers encouraged me...
congratulated me...
inspired me...
supported me...
and shared with me the journey of the actual launch of this patent-pending product...
This product that I have been living...
breathing...
dreaming...
eating...
loving...
photographing...
wrapping...
manufacturing...
and shipping around the globe since the official launch in May 2011...


















So here's what you need to do to enter to be one of the lucky winners of The Pastry Pedestal™ Starter Kit....

holiday | Valentine's Day 2012

Tuesday, February 14

Sending out a little bit o' LOVE to all of you today...
Hoping each of you is having a very Happy Valentine's Day!!

You guys are seriously the "peanut to my butter"...*wink*



Here are the surprise beverages I'm serving at dinner tonight.
(It drives me nuts that I couldn't find the glass bottle rendition - but the tags still look great on the cans)

R.A.K. | FREE Valentine's Day printables

Monday, February 13

So...
I told you I'd be back with a little something to kick off Random Acts of Kindness (R.A.K.) week...

Here are some FREE Valentine's Day printables to help you celebrate...


Introducing "The Crush Collection"

Mini Peanut Butter Cup Labels
CRUSHpeanutbuttercuplabels
(Secure to the bottom of mini Reese cups using double-stick tape or using a small dab of low-temp hot glue).
 Package them in a cellophane bag for classroom treats, leave them in unexpected places around your house for the kids to find...or just leave a couple on the desk of a co-worker, associate, etc.



Crush Collection Celebration Circles 
celebrationcircles
(to be tied to the neck of a glass bottle(s) of Cherry Crush Soda)
this idea came about from a very sweet customer of mine, Mel Gracia
who requested some printables to be able to do this for some co-workers - SO SWEET! 






The Pastry Pedestal™ Paper Rounds
paperroundtemplate
(use these with The Pastry Pedestal™ or create a festive banner by stringing them  together.)

I hope you use them...
and enjoy brightening some else's day!!

inspiration | Random Acts of Kindness Week

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day...
Which automatically causes us to think of
chocolates...
flowers...
and sharing heart-felt expressions from...
well...
our hearts! 

Well...
Did you also know it's...
Random Acts of Kindness (R.A.K.) Week"?
Yep...
February 13th through the 19th.
What a great way to actually OPEN YOUR HEART to...
• people in your community
• your workplace
• neighborhood...
• friends
•associates

Need some ideas to get you fired up about reaching out and doing kind things for others?


Check out this "Kindness Poster" taken straight from randomactsofkindness.org
Kindnessposter600w


They have an array of FREE downloadable tags to choose from for you to
print and then leave behind for the person(s) you may be doing a R.A.K. for.
(Find FREE printable"Kindness Cards" here)

I was SO excited to stumble upon this information in the February issue of  Martha Stewart Living Magazine.
It just so happens to be occurring at the perfect time...
 I'm wrapping up my "promise ME" goals...
and check out Goal # 34:  
Make a R.A.K. (random act of kindness) list with Clara & Ema - execute together in one day!


Happy Monday Everyone!!
What little act of kindness will you do today? this week?
It can be anything. Just do something...
and PASS IT ON...*wink*


If you decide to participate...
leave a message on my FB fan page
and be sure to use #rakweek if you post on Twitter!!


Pssst...My very first R.A.K. is for all of you...
I'll be back later to share it...

coming up | Bedazzling Inspiration...

Friday, February 10

Are you kidding me?
Only one blog post this week?

Things have been sooooo busy.

However...
I just can't stand to let you go into the weekend...
without SOME sort of new eye candy.
So I've decided to share with you...(drumroll)
an image from a blog post I just finished moments ago for Hostess with the Mostess.
(literally 5 minutes ago) - and it was due yesterday at 4p.m.  yikes!
See...
I'm THAT busy!!

So here you go...

perfect for Valentine's Day!
bedazzlemybonbons5817wm

Enjoy your weekend...
I'll be working to catch up on that list of things I needed to catch up on LAST week! *wink*

I truly love you guys.
So many fun things coming up to share with you!!

One of the fun things is going to be a FAB giveaway for The Pastry Pedestal™!!
Finally...
right?
*wink*

real parties | Rustic Bridal Shower • Ally Sowers

Monday, February 6


trufflesCROPPED

Ready to be charmed by the super sweet details of this Rustic Bridal Shower sweets table? This ought to get you in the mood for celebrating Valentine's Day with all of the LOVELY details throughout. Ally Sowers, a very sweet friend of mine,  (mentioned a time or two here and here), styled this beautiful bridal shower dessert table for a dear friend of hers. Taking inspiration from the actual "Rustic Country Flair" wedding details from the bride-to-be, Ally incorporated burlap, twine, wooden crates, hand-stained clothespins, and natural twig floral pieces as the perfect accents to pull everything together.  Using a papier-mâché letter "B" (first letter of the bride-to-be's married name) and tying it with a collage of fabrics with different textures and patterns made for a super-cute focal point for the backdrop of the dessert table. What's even better? All of the details used in the dessert table can now be re-purposed for the actual wedding and even the brilliant backdrop can later be used in the home of the newlyweds - a great keepsake as well as an adorable home-decor item. I'll let you dig in to the rest of the fetching details of this country love affair...

backdropB

desserttable3

cupcakes3cropped

collage2

desserttable2

collage1

foodtagsCROPPED

whoopiepiesCROPPED

sugarcookies2


Party Host: Ally Sowers
Celebration Type: Bridal Shower
Theme: Rustic Country Love
Inspiration: Wedding details
Color Palette: Pink & Brown
Party Style: Rustic

Here to sum it all up, Ally...
"To save money she [the bride] decided to incorporate the wedding theme with the shower to re-use items. The wedding will have a rustic-country flair. We are going to use burlap as table runners - with mason jars/various bottles filled with flowers/twigs and candles. That's how I decided to use the burlap as a backdrop and I thought the crates added a rustic touch."

Noteworthy Details...(my favorite party elements)
• The use of The Pastry Pedestal™ for displaying the mini cupcakes
• The oversized letter "B" and rustic frame backdrop
• The creative names used for the dessert table sweets (ex. "double-dipped in love marshmallows)
• hand-stained clothespins 
• whoopie pies 

Wouldn't the Rustic Popcorn Bar go perfectly with this dessert table?
Just sayin....*wink*

A super-big "thank you" to Ally for sharing this with us.
You did a beautiful job...I'm certain Jodie was thrilled with the results!!

Party Resources/Vendor Credits:
• Mini Cupcakes - Cupcake Delights
• Mini Cupcake Holders - The Pastry Pedestal™
• "Neopolitan Lollipops - Vintage Confections
• Custom Sugar Cookie Favors - The Cookie Jar
• Chocolate Chip Whoopie Pies - Box Mix from Crate & Barrel made by Ally's mom, Vicki Cooley
• Marshmallow Pops (using crushed graham crackers and chocolate) - Ally Sowers
• White Chocolate Truffles -  Mount Dora Confectionary

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

KEEPiNG iT REAL
The Chili Bar I created for Superbowl Sunday yesterday...
was a success!
Not only was it easy preparation but it filled a lot of bellies!

(Notes for next year)
I would definitely add more chili seasonings next time...
I couldn't make it spicy because of little ones that would be eating it...
but it lacked in flavor. And instead of baked potatoes I should've done
the crinkle french fries - I think that would've been a bigger hit). 

I'd been doing incredibly well on my Detox/Cleanse I've been doing via Whole Living.
Yesterday was Day 7.
I caved.
I was surrounded by too much temptation. *frown*
But today is a new day and I'm ready to tackle the remaining 3 weeks ahead of me...

coming up | Rustic Bridal Shower...

Friday, February 3

With Valentine's Day fast approaching...
and LOVE filling the air...
how about a little "wedding shower" inspiration?

Watch for all of the details on Monday...

For now...here's a peek at the beautiful cupcakes used on the dessert table...
displayed on The Pastry Pedestal™!!!  LOVE them!!
cupcakes3cropped
{photo via Ally Sowers}

Have a FAB Friday everyone...
and enjoy your weekend!!!



KEEPiNG iT REAL
My day is jam-packed today...
And my weekend will be too.
Busy...
Busy...
Busy around here.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Did you know I'm on Day 5 of the Whole Living Action Plan?
It's been QUiTE a challenge.
I am so proud of myself for sticking to it.
Looking forward to Week 2/Phase 2 starting on Monday!

inspiration | Make a Wish...or Make It Happen

Wednesday, February 1

It's the first of February!!!
I originally thought I would have to be done with my "promise ME" list today.
But...
a couple of weeks ago...
I realized our deadline is actually THROUGH the month of February!!

That means we have 29 days, (including today)...


Source: etsy.com via Jessica on Pinterest



What's it going to be for you?
Wishing?
Or Making it Happen??

I know what I've decided! *wink*

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
My Google Calendar is MAXED!
I've filled in every available space with "promise ME" goals.
You know the saying...
"Fail to plan...plan to fail"!!
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