Girls gone Wild

spring break edition!

yep, that's right, darling and i were on spring break last week and took a girl's only trip to the north.  the mister stayed home and worked so we can continue our faux lavish lifestyle!  we headed to one of our favorite spots (well, not really since our favorite spot is hawaii!!), our favorite spot in our home state!  we loaded the volvo and headed to traverse city, mi.,  an adorable town right on lake michigan.

see that? 216, 516 miles!!  and yes, it says "check engine" all the time.  i often open the hood and check it, yep, it's still there!  could someone please dust my car for me?

instead of killing you with a slide show of our entire trip, i'll entertain you with the highlights!

 we got to our hotel and darling "fish girl" tried out the pool...for about 4 hours!

there was a butt fan on the loose...

 we got to the cupcake shop too late (they only stay open till the last cupcake is sold), and this was around 2 in the afternoon!

 we got our butts in gear and made it before noon the next day! we tried 4 flavors of macarons (pronounced mac-a-roans, we got schooled!) & 2 cupcakes.  my teeth felt furry and i thought i was going to puke!

 i found out i look pretty darn sexy with black socks and purple shoes, or pretty darn creepy!

we had a gorgeous view of lake michigan from our room.  darling said "look the waters not even brown", SCORE!

hope you had a great week too!!

DIY Cupcake Stands from old dishes.

this Sunday,  the mister, darling and I are throwing a 50th wedding anniversary party for my parents!

50 years, no lie!!  they are among the few.

 i ordered "professional" cakes (due to the fact that my mother dropped some pretty obvious hints like "if you order cake, i like clara ____'s cakes".  my mother and her discriminating taste is fodder for another post). i also made SEVERAL mini cupcakes since I really am not sure how many people will show up-YIKES!

I knew i wanted some cute displays for the mini cupcakes but since i didn't have the carpenters from "Cupcake Wars" at my disposal, i went to goodwill.

If you wanna make your own, you're going to need:

1. saucers

2. plates

3. glass candle holders

4. E-600 glue

 these plates happened to have that little lip for the cups, but since they were iridescent, i knew they must be mine!

i found these glass candle holders for .99 each

Step 1: put the glue on the edge of the candle holder and press down onto the plate, let this set up for several hours.  after the plate is set, put glue on the other end of the candle holder and press the saucer into place.  that's it! 

because mine had that "lip", i had to off set my saucers, but i didn't think it made a big difference.

at the party we'll be serving mini cupcakes so i didn't need huge plates, but you could do any size you need.

i think they turned out pretty cute!

If you make some, let me know!!
Get yourself over to my pal Angela's blog for another cool DIY!!  She'll tell you how to do antique a mirror!!
pickles on pizza

**don't forget to go to Tuesday's post and enter my my memories suite 2 software GIVE-AWAY**

Best Cupcake Quest of Summer 2011

I know I said I'd show you my porch make-over today, but trust me, this is SO much better!  Plus the porch make-over is just starting so I'll post it when I've actually finished the cuteness!

Yesterday I was reading my friend Angela's blog - Pickles on Pizza (you can link to her on the left over there!).  She was saying there was a cute cupcake shop in the town where she works but how she was being good and resisting the urge to go in.  Well, that made me think how much I love cupcakes,and how I have no control to resist one.  I also wondered if we even have a cute little cupcake shop anywhere in our city, then I started thinking of the quest she and her husband went on to find the best snow-cone flavor one summer.  Suddenly Darling and I were headed out for Day 1 of our Great Cupcake Quest!!

 We loaded into "The Oven", which is my OLD Volvo that has NO a/c.... 

and made our 1st stop at: Cookies by Design, which is "Now Offering Cupcakes".  I should have taken my camera inside, the lady that was working wouldn't have minded a bit, but I always feel like a dork doing that-I know you're surprised that that stops me!

 Darling picked "Smores" and I picked a Raspberry Chocolate!!  

 Darling gives her pick the Thumb's Up!!

 The ONLY thing I didn't care for with mine... it was covered with chunky sugar.  I do NOT like sugar sprinkled on stuff-I hate that crunchy crunch of sugar, it feels like I'm eating sand.  I was the kid that soaked gumdrops in water to get the sugar off...  Did that sugar stop me from eating this cupcake like I hadn't eaten in 45 years?? Heck to the NO!!

Both cupcakes were SUPER moist and totally delicious, so our 1st stop definitely got 2 thumbs up....

WAY up!

 This is what it did as we were sitting in the car snarfing on our cakes...Hence eating the cupcakes IN the car and not on the curb like some weirdo.

(and yes, that is a headlamp hanging from my rear view mirror... I use it for my running club in the winter when it gets dark at 2 in the afternoon!)

A quick note about the baby hat/kid hat donation drive for the kids in China...

I am collecting Winter hats in ALL sizes for boys and girls.  They can be handmade OR store bought, trust me, these sweeties just need a warm hat! 

AND...

there will now be a paypal button where you can just donate funds and I will buy hats and ship them over to a chosen orphanage!!!!  Easy Peasy, right?!

Contact me at: chinamommy_04@yahoo.com with ANY questions!!!

AND...

see the tab above for more info and ADORABLE pictures of the kids from year #1!

Friday... where have you been?

I don't know about you, but this week was NEVER ending for me!  Monday seems like 18 years ago!  Why is that?

I wanted to share some new pictures for some new listing in my shop.

Darling was my assistant yesterday

My favorite picture of the day...

Cute and maybe a little creepy?! haha!

This Cutie Cupcake is full of vintage goodness: vintage lace from my Gram's sewing kit, vintage buttons and a vintage tin!!

This is IN my etsy shop NOW!

Doll-face made her debut in eyeshadow pallet earrings!

A ~CUTE~ cupcake necklace with pink velvet trim!

A new Swarovski crystal pendant.

Hot Pink button stacker pendant with Swarovski crystals.

Tween Owl necklace with chain :)

We had to clip these necklaces in the back or they hung too low, so it's really NOT a choker necklace!!  See how HAPPY she is with her jewelry on?!

**don't forget today is the LAST day to enter my Crochet Today give-away**

***go to LAST Friday's post to enter***

Have a GREAT weekend!!

I'm off running with Darling today, I need to start blogging at night until school starts...

I go from feeling bad that I'm ignoring her to wanting to pull my hair out if she interrupts me one last time.  These years are going TOO fast, so I'm off to enjoy the day with her!!

I'll post the winner of the magazine tomorrow!!

*NEW ARTWORK* on etsy Friday!

This week has FLOWN by for me... I woke up & couldn't believe it was Friday!

To show you I REALLY have been busy, here are some goods that will be in my etsy store soon:

(I say "soon" & yet, I couldn't even get online yesterday...Grrrr!)

Here are some of my "Cutie~Cupcakes" in their vintage tins:

Cupcake in Red & Turquoise:

My friend, motherof5,  was kind enough to let me know that Pantone has declared TURQUOISE the color of the YEAR for 2010!!

Yippee for TURQUOISE! (& don't you know this blog doesn't have a decent turquoise!)

& then some paintings...

I haven't painted in years & am still trying to "find myself".  I was tramatized in art school by my crappy Prof. (you know who you are KH!).  This week I learned a guy that was in my painting & drawing class died of a heart attack.  We knew each other, but I wouldn't say we were friends- just the kind of guy that was in class with you & you said "HI" to when  you saw him on campus.  I do have 1 very fond memory of him... We were in a drawing class, which REALLY wasn't my thing & our crappy Prof came over to my project & YELLED "you're kidding, right?".  He then went on to belittle me in front of the class- NICE hun?  Especially when my parents were paying BIG $ for me to go to that college!  After class Jon came up to me & said how sorry he was & if KH would have yelled at him like that, he would have cried.  He was proud of me for keeping a stiff upper lip.  A real nice guy that leaves behind a wife & 3 young kids...

Anyway, here are a couple of painted items:

a little clipboard that can be used as a piece of art, or you could clip a picture or note to it!

Here's some homework for you: i have GOT to get this great room painted & I am so stuck on what color to paint!  I know, I know... turquoise!  I think this room a little TOO big to do all turquoise, it's my kitchen, dining area, & living room with NO breaks, it has to be ALL the same color!  It's off my yellow entry way... I like electic cottage & am NOT afraid of color.  Any ideas?  Any good design links?

Thanks dolls!

Have a GREAT weekend

 & share the love- send my blog onto a friend!

Cupcakes & Diamond Rings...

I couldn't say a peep last week, but this past Friday was a wonderful, fabulous, long-time-coming, fantastic, joyous PARTY!!

Yes, yes...those are horns coming out of the top of my head- cause I'm all devilish! And... the weird pose I've got? It looks like I have this long body & tiny short legs- when in reality the 4' 11 3/4" that i do have is mostly legs...It's not much, but being this short, I am glad I don't have the long body short leg thing going on! I also seem to be suffering from hip dysplasia (yeah, that's spelled wrong but even spellcheck didn't know what the heck I was talking about) .. but how about those fuchsia tights?

Oh HOW flippin' excited was I when this doll said "Oh, i recognize you from your blog", who just peed right there on the floor? Whose head blew up like a t

Thanksgiving day parade float? Who is going to have to pay an extra baggage charge next time she flys due to her giant ego?

Oh Candy-Cane girl, you made my night... no, make that my entire holiday season!

Oh yeah, this PARTY.... Yes, yes... let me quit talking about myself for a second-albeit hard for me! This party was for my cousin (Yes, the famous author Naughty Nurse *see previous post for the autobiography she wrote about ME). November 20th was her birthday AND the night her DARLING boyfriend POPPED the question! Thankfully I caught that, 'cause you know i just typed POOPED the question.... Anyway, she said YES!!! He had taken her out to dinner & then asked her where they both went to HS (back in the 80's-no they were NOT high school sweet hearts). It is wonderful, fabulous & perfect- we are all over the moon for these 2!

Now, let me tell you what a doll this man is: after he asked, he brought her back to the country club in town where he had planned a SURPRISE birthday/engagement party! I think he got her:

My pictures are horrible, but I think you can see how surprised & blown away by this party she was! See that glimmer? That is the beautiful diamond ring he bought for her... Do I have a good picture? Nope, but it's gorgeous!

Here I am with Naughty Nurse! How much do i love this girl? Neither of us have a sister, so I guess we're about as close to that as you can get being 1st cousins! This is one of the sweetest, most thoughtful gals you're ever going to meet... No silly, not ME... HER!

Naughty Nurse, if you're reading: I love you like a sister & am thrilled beyond words that:

your love has come at last...

dang, wish we'd have brushed our hair!

Here they are with his guys!

So, it was a wonderful, wonderful Friday night!

Ok, I think I told you I was in a Christmas show (Beneath the Tree) & decided 24 hrs before it started to be involved... Well, I did pretty well- I sold 7 of my cutie-cupcakes! The 10 I have left with be in my etsy shop:

Here is my Teddy Bear Cutie~Cupcake still available.

So, is anyone getting their home decorated for CHRISTmas?... I'm thinking I'll start pulling things out today or tomorrow.... The Mister started the outdoor lights yesterday, but you know 1/2 of them didn't work- of course! I reminded him that was part of the joy of outdoor decorating!

Have a great day & if you're not a follower- join my cult- we have cupcakes!!

Sundays storm = Double Rainbow!

i didn't have any plans to blog today, but i had to post these tonight: a DOUBLE rainbow!!!i just took the dog out to pee before bed, glamorous, i know! Go ahead, picture it: khaki shorts, t-shirt that reads "Barbie dumped Ken" & black rubber boots (not the cute ones with designs printed on them, real kids FARM boots, i call them poop boots) & a small dog on a pink leash... i look to my right & what do i see? a WHOLE 1/2 circle rainbow with another one right above the left side!

so pretty i couldn't quit snappin'...

there is NO way my pictures do it justice.... NO WAY!

I will be announcing the WINNER of the "Cutie~Cupcake" on my blog 1st thing Monday morning!

Yes, it's TRUE... this could be yours! Go back to last Monday's post to get all the details & to enter... go, run now & tell your friends & neighbors!

i was suppose to do my day in pictures yesterday & post them, but let me tell you, my day was SOOOOO boring, i left my camera someplace & forgot about it. So, today is going to be MUCH more exciting & i will post those tomorrow... if i can find my camera!

Sorry this is a short & nothing post but i've got to get on to my adventure for the day.

See these pics below though...

do YOU know what they are? am i the only one just hearing of these?

bento's?! Here is the Wikipedia explanation (LOVE that Wikipedia!).

Bentō (弁当 or べんとう?) is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables as a side dish. Containers range from disposable mass produced to hand crafted lacquerware. Although bento is readily available in many places throughout Japan, including convenience stores, bento shops (弁当屋, bentō-ya?), train stations, and department stores, it is still common for Japanese homemakers to spend considerable time and energy producing an appealing boxed lunch.
Bento can be very elaborately arranged in a style called kyaraben. Contests are often held where bento arrangers compete for the most aesthetically pleasing arrangements. Kyaraben is typically decorated to look like people, animals, or characters and items such as flowers and plants.
There are similar forms of boxed lunches in the Philippines (Baon), Korea (Dosirak), Taiwan (Biandang), and India (Tiffin).

these pics are from http://www.bentocorner.com/ and you need to go see these things! Never mind, don't go, i just did & she hasn't been there since 2008! But seriously... would YOU take the time to make these? i mean they are cute & all, but... i have a hard enough time just feeding darling daughter a regular meal let alone make it CUTE! These kill me! Ok, food is NOT my thing. i wish we were like the Jetsons- remember they ate a meal pill!? NOT that i'm a pill popper, i just don't like the work of food. If i could afford a chef to make all my meals i would do that over a housekeeper ANY day! We're still doing the "Skinny B" diet but not the vegan part. We like the milk, we do! Honestly, we are feeling so much better & we're exercising & RIGHT now on the "today" show they're doing "Die Fat or get Tough"... how ironic! Anyway this post is boring me so i'm off like a prom dress!

I'll be back with some NEW ART! Yes, i made it to the studio late last night! Yippeee.... paintings & pendants.

Go enter the cupcake giveaway!