Hap Hap Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a very Happy Holiday!
Mine was a very nice one filled with much happiness...
Oh and looky what I'll be doing this Spring...yup beekeeping.
This is something I've been wanting to do for a few years now, so this will be the year!
It should be an adventure and I hope you'll have fun following along on this adventure with me...

It's that time again, time for the new DOTM. This Month's Design of the Month is something fun and personalized...

Is there something you'd like to say? Something you'd like the world to know?
Maybe your New Years Resolution? A favorite quote? A saying? Kids names? The possibilities are endless...
Plus, you can pick the color of lampwork beads you'd like....How fun is that!
You can check them out here. Plus on Monday Jan. 4th, I'll be adding a few new things on my website too.

Have a Safe and Happy New Year Everyone!
xo

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas...

Wishing you and your loved ones a Very Merry Christmas.
xo

Holiday Gifts

Every year I make (most) of my holiday gifts.
Which also include foody gifts...
This year I made Pomegranate Jelly and Cookies (4 different kinds)
I'm lucky enough to live in central California where we grow tons of pomegranates. I love them! So when I found this recipe I knew I had to try it! And instead of pressing tons of pomegranates, I bought the juice (Costco) which made it so easy peasy...My friend Melissa loaned me her Cuttlebug machine to make my tags, which I think turned out pretty cute. Thanks again Melissa!

I'm warning you...

I'm warning you now, these are so addictive! Before you know it you will have eaten the whole tray of these crunchy, buttery, salty, sweet, chocolaty treats. I'm just warning you...

Saltine Cracker Toffee

Ingredients

• 4 ounces saltine crackers (one sleeve)

• 1 cup butter


• 1 cup dark brown sugar


• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips


• 3/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).


2. Line cookie sheet with saltine crackers in single layer.


3. In a saucepan combine the sugar and the butter. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Immediately pour over saltines and spread to cover crackers completely.
4. Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Let sit for 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate and top with chopped nuts. Cool completely and break into pieces.

Snug as a Bug

(please excuse Kurt's "painty" hands)

When I realized a couple months ago that Molly did not care for wearing hats much, I was rather bummed. But we are trying really hard to over come this because she looks so darn cute in them...

xo

Etsy shop update

I just updated my Etsy shop with some new goodies...
I still have a couple more things here that I'll try and get photographed and listed over the next couple days...
The Etsy show last night was fun!
I meet a couple people that I've only talked to on line, so finally meeting them in person was nice...
A few good friends ventured out in the rain to say hi, plus I meet a lot of new friends from the show.
All in all it was a great night!
xo

Over the river and through the woods...

To The Cirque du Noel Etsy Holiday Craft Show I go...
If you are local, I hope you'll stop by tonight.
December 10th 6-11pm.
The Big Red Church, corner of Van Ness and Yale, Fresno, CA
xo

LOVE ♥

I love, love, love this time of year...
xo

Miles and Miles of Fun...

This weekend we hit the road...
After a four hour drive, our first stop was Anaheim California, no we didn't go to Disneyland. We went to a Air Brush Show for Kurt. When we were done there we hit some of my favorite stops...
Rogers Gardens (love this place!) Versailles (for the best Cuban food) and Sprinkles (for dessert) It was a fun and looong day...
Sunday we headed up to San Francisco for Wicked (which was so good) After we grabbed a bite at Cheesecake Factory (I like their Spicy Crispy Beef) and then headed home.
We were anticipating coming home to freshly fallen snow...but the storm was a little delayed, it just started snowing about 15 minutes ago (so pretty)
I'm taking it a little slower today...I feel like I'm boarder line on getting sick, I think I just over did it a bit...but it was worth it!

I also will be putting the Money Order in the mail today (to the Toys for Tots)
Thank you again to everyone who placed bids!
xo

Ahh Friday...

I finally feel like I've got a handle on things around here...
The Toys for Tots auction was a huge success!
Again, thank you everyone who placed a bid/bids. Thanks to you, so many children will have a very Merry Christmas this year. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I've been working over-time on getting things made for my show next week. I've been making mostly repeats of things I've made in the past, but I also have been working on new things too.
Like the bracelet above...something fun and colorful, that you can wear year round.
Do you you like?

Today I'll be turning up the Christmas tunes and decking the halls...
Our tree has been up for almost a week now and it still sits bare. But not for much longer...
Ho Ho Ho

We have one Wicked weekend planned!
We are taking the kids up to San Francisco to see Wicked. So looking forward to it...
Hope you have a great weekend too!
xo

P.S. My email link on my site is now working again. I'm not sure how long it was down? So if you sent me a email and I never responed (I never got it) so please send me a new one. Thanks

Going, going, gone...

Today is the last day to get your bids in for the Toys for Tots Auction over here.

Bidding ends at 6:00pm PST (West Coast Time)
xo