Shabby Chicks. . .happy little things

Crack Sticks and Walking Tacos...Delicious!

2013-05-04T21:23:00.000-04:00

hey y'all. . . . .

Here are a few recipes i posted on my fb page.

everyone seems to love them, so i thought i'd

share them with you:)

The first is for Crack Sticks...

so named because they are addicting!

CRACK STICKS

1 loaf (16 ounces) thinly sliced white bread, crusts removed

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup confectioners sugar

1 cup sugar

1-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 cup butter, melted

Directions
Flatten bread with a rolling-pin. In a bowl, combine cream cheese and

confectioners’ sugar. In another bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

Spread about 1 tablespoon of cheese mixture on each slice of bread. Roll up, jelly

roll style. Dip in melted butter, then in cinnamon-sugar. Place on an ungreased

baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Yield: 16 roll-

ups. Good warm or cold. ADDICTING!

Okay, and for Cinco De Mayo. . .

Tacos in a Bag.

or Walking Tacos

Really simple and very good!

I have since learned that they are even better with Nacho Cheese Doritos or

Chili Cheese Fritos.

And on a plate with chili. . . .you'll have frito pie:)

sorry for the quick post.

Be blessed. . .

Suzanne

Comfort and Joy on a Rainy Day. . . .

2013-05-02T19:54:00.000-04:00

we've had a few really rainy days around here. . .

but i'm not complaining.

that's what happens when you live in the sunshine state.

a rainy day once in awhile is like a snow day:)

so what does that mean?

see. . . .just like a snowy day,

only in Florida,

and in the rain:)

rainy days mean comfort food.

and what is more comforting than a

teddy bear egg and rice breakfast:)

awwwww. . . .almost too cute to eat:)

and when it rains,

out come the colorful boots and umbrellas.

okay, now for lunch.

i LOVE a good grilled cheese.

and i also love caramels, apples and brie cheese.

so how about a Grilled Caramel Apple with Brie Cheese Sandwich?

Y.U.M!

Caramel Apple Grilled Cheese

Yield: serves 2

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

4 slices multigrain bread

2 tablespoons butter

4 ounces brie cheese

1 honeycrisp apple, thinly sliced

3-4 tablespoons of your favorite caramel

Directions:

Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-low heat.

Butter the outside slice of each piece of bread, placing two of the buttered-sides down once the skillet is hot. Spread a bit of caramel sauce on the bread, then top with an ounce of brie cheese on both sandwiches. Add a bit more caramel, add the apple slices, and then more caramel and remaining ounce of brie for each. Spread the top piece of bread (sandwich-side down) with caramel too.

Grill or cook on each side until bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

source; howsweeteats.com

sigh. . . .i love a rainy day:)

did i say that already?

almost done.

dinner on a rainy day should be soup, don't ya think?

like Lasagna Soup!

You can get Bobby Deens healthier soup recipe HERE.

before i go,

look at these cute, precious kitties:)

gotta run through a puddle!

xoxo

Suzanne

My Favorite Budget Make-Up Finds. . . .

2013-05-01T01:09:00.001-04:00

howdy everyone!

i have been SO missing in action around here,

on my OWN blog!

what can i say. . . .

i'm kinda-sorta facing an empty nest next year

and i think i'm in a bit of a panic.

Can i rewind a few years?

i know. . . .if only!

i mean, i've been gone so long. . . .

i have so much to write about,

yet i can't seem to focus.

so i'll do a wildly random post,

starting with

MAKE-UP!

i was looking in my make-up bag the other day and

realized something.

i'm a ~~cheap~~ budget make-up user.

then i got to thinking,

who cares?

i like my make-up!

THEN i thought,

maybe someone else would like to know what i've found

(for the moment:)

ok, maybe nobody cares.

but just in case. . . . .

see?

i told you i'm a real cheapo:)

i used to use a chanel lipgloss,

but they went and discontinued my favorite.

no worries...i found one i LOVE from MARK cosmetics.

okay, here's the breakdown. . . .not in the order i put them on my face,

unfortunately.

that would mean i was organized:)

1. ULTA Extreme Wear Mousse Foundation.

drys to a soft powder finish, great coverage.

$12.50

2. Almay Mascara. . .I use two.

first, I use One Coat Black Waterproof. $6.99

then on the tips, I use Intense I-Color in Plum. $7.99

(I learned this trick when I sold makeup. . .Use black on your lashes and then

a color mascara on the tips to bring out your eye color.

since i have hazel eyes with green flecks,

I use the plum to bring out some green.)

3. Camouflage Cover by Hard Candy (Walmart)

These are the BEST concealers and come in a cream and a fine pencil.

$6.99

4. Rimmel Bronzer in Sundance.

I am the queen of spray tan and bronzer.

Addicted.

I use this on my make-up sponge if i want sheer color,

if i have a bit of a tan and need to darken my foundation,

and i use it with my blush, mixing this with a pink blush.

$4.99

5. Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink
$6.99
6. Sonia Kashuk Eye Pencil in Purple Passion
Target: $5.99
7. I use matte eyeshadows in brown shades,
but if on a special occasion i want a bit of shimmer,
my hands-down favorite is also by Milani
in a shade called "Beached".
$6.99
8. Earthtone Eyeshadows...I like NYX for a cheap brand,
find it at Ulta. Also L'oreal eyeshadow too.
9. Since my girlfriend Taylor became a MARK rep,
i've tried a few things. One of my absolute favorites is the
Luxe Lipgloss.
It has the perfect shimmer, a great brush and easily competes with
the Chanel lipgloss.
$6.99
10. I was using a primer but then I discovered a
pore filler from NYX.
i LOVE this.
it really does minimize pores. it's really light and. . . .
you guessed it. cheap:)
$12.99 but often on sale.
11. Again from MARK,
my new favorite moisturizer.
It has antioxidants, including blueberry and dk chocolate.
it has a cool dispenser, great scent, light and easy to use,
and it has a 30spf.
$15.00 range
12. shampoo. . . .
what can i say?
my husband got me started on this one. . . .
Suave shampoo.
I especially love the Coconut or Tangerine scents.
It justy does what a shampoo and conditioner is supposed to do,
at a very low price:)
$1.00-$1.79
can't beat that!

i'm not saying everything i use will be great for all.
but i can recommend it if you're searching for something new.
i change my makeup up quite a bit,
but over the past few years, it's been fairly consistent,
which says something, right?

well, i was going to write more but
i've rambled enough.
hopefully i've showed you that you can buy most of your
make-up at the drugstore,
and feel good about it!

i hope you've all been doing well,
enjoying your spring and feeling
happy:)

shine on!
Suzanne

Origami Owl Winner. . . .

2013-04-27T20:24:00.004-04:00

finally,

the big moment!

i know, i know. . . .

this moment is overdue!

however, i was blown away by the response to this giveaway.

i don't mean just in numbers. . .that was great too.

i'm talking about the time some of you spent looking at

Tammy's Origami Owl site

and "creating" the locket you would love to have.

your stories were ALL so special!

i took so long announcing the winner

because while i drew a winning number

by random number generator on Thursday like I promised,

i was trying to figure out if there was any way i could have

more than one winner and

give a locket to the 2nd place person also.

and 3rd place.

an 4th place.

and so on:)

because that's how much i love my readers and how

very special y'all are to me!

as it turns out, i can only really award two prizes so

first and second place. . . .it's your lucky day:)

but please know, to all my blog readers and

facebook followers that i would do something special for all of

you if i could!

and now, the winners. . . . .

whoo hoo!!!

Lacey and Shari...you won!

i hope you're as excited as i am!

all i need you to do is send me a message

with your mailing address

and also confirm the locket you want from

Origami Owl.

(shabbychicks@gmail.com)

i will place the order with Tammy and your living locket

will be shipped directly to your home. . . .

no waiting for pokey ol' me to get them packed and shipped out:)

please know that there are a few items on back order

due to the spring buying season but as soon as they come in, you'll get them. . . .

and the items you want may not even be backordered at all.

that's it friends.

thank you all so very much for taking the time to write, comment,

and most of all read the silly ramblings on my blog and page.

while this helps to keep me sane,

i do hope i'm not driving you nuts in the process!

God bless each and every one of you. . . .

and thank you for being in my circle of friends!

Suzanne

a lil' pink and shabby. . . . .

2013-04-24T12:22:00.000-04:00

hello chickies!

it's been awhile since i had a pink post here on shabbychicks.

and since i believe you can't have pink

without having shabby,

let's get our shabby pink on!

oh wait. . . . .

first i need to remind you about the

Origami Owl Giveaway ending tomorrow.

seriously. . . .i don't like to call people crazy,

but you are if you miss out on this:)

xoxo

NOW it's time for some

shabby and pink stuff that caught my eye recently. . . .

oh.my. goodness. GRACIOUS!

look at this gorgeous pink ruffle duvet and drapes. . . .

with bows, at that!

i wish i knew where exactly they can be found,

but i think it is on etsy.

i just love the vintage jewels on this frame. . . .

this next photo is a dream for any pink lover out there.

so pretty, shabby and sweet.

someone really special and girly must live here, right?

guess who's house this is????

i'll give you a few clues. . . .

~she can be kinda loud.

~she was on Cheers

~she danced with Max on Dancing with the Stars

~well, she did her best to try and dance:)

figure it out yet?

this house belongs to

Kirstie Alley!

i am NOT kidding!

this is her vacation home in Maine.

don't you love it?

i don't know why this just tickles me.

probably because it's so delicate looking.

i don't know.

but Kirstie?

of Kirstie and Max?

hahaha

it just makes my day:)

moving on. . . . .

i'm sure there's a bit of photo editing going on here,

but no matter.

the effect is stunning!

looks like a cotton candy tree:)

i leave you with this. . . . .

be blessed,

Suzanne

Sno Cone Cupcakes and Teddy Bear Treats. . . .

2013-04-21T15:51:00.000-04:00

just when you think you've seen it all,

some brilliant person (Bakerella?) discovers

sno-cone cupcakes.

aren't they the cutest idea for cake since. . . . .

cake pops?

here's the good news. . . . .

they're super easy to create yourself.

first, buy some short paper cups or

paper sno-cone cups from a party store, like party city..

you're gonna need those on hand or you have a regular cupcake:)

next, make vanilla cupcakes. . . .

color them if you want the cupcake to be colored like the frosting.

try to make them so they have at least a bit of a rounded top.

when cooled, remove from wrapper and place

in the short ice cream cup

or sno-cone cup.

finally, frost and add sugar sprinkles.

pop a pretty little straw or mini spoon in the cupcake and

enjoy your sno-cone cupcakes:)

here's another cute treat. . . .

help me now, this is adorable!

Teddy Bear's in a Bubble Bath!

awwwwww. . . .

the recipe uses cake mix but it seems

to me it would be just as easy with a brownie mix.

1 (18 1/4 ounce) box chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg
24 Rolo chocolates, unwrapped (optional)
2 cups miniature marshmallows
48 Teddy Grahams honey graham snacks (any flavor) or 48 Teddy Grahams chocolate graham snacks (any flavor) or 48 Teddy Grahams cinnamon graham snacks (any flavor)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cake mix, melted butter and egg together. This should be like a soft dough. Take a spoonful of batter and roll into a small ball. Push dough ball into a mini-muffin tin. Take a Rolo and push into the center of the batter. Fill up the muffin tin and bake for 10 minutes. Take the muffin tin out and add 3-4 mini-marshmellows on top of each treat. Push in 2 Teddy Graham bear cookies into each treat. Bake for 2 more minutes to melt the marshmellows a bit. Cool and enjoy!NOTE: Please use muffin tin liners and spray with cooking spray -- these treats get sticky!

(food.com)

it's hard to beat yummy and cute!

***************************************

don't forget about the giveaway for an Origami Owl Locket!

all you have to do, if you want to do the least possible,

is go to tammybrewer.origamiowl.com and see what you like most,

then come back to leave a comment on my blog

my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ShabbyChicksNaples

that's it!

come on. . . .you know you want this!

xoxo

Suzanne

Big News. . .ORIGAMI OWL GIVEAWAY from Shabby Chicks. . . .

2013-04-20T11:17:00.002-04:00

okay, where do i start.

maybe i should make this like a child's party invitation. . . .

who, what, where, why and when:)

well, i started a shabby chicks facebook page recently and

decided to have a giveaway when i reached 100 "likes",
just for the fun of it.

that day has come and gone, so here we are!

********************************

enough about that!

how about the

Origami Owl Giveaway!!!

have you heard of this company?

they have a line of jewelry that is just awesome.

i believe the Living Locket is kind of what they're known for

and it is so pretty and VERY unique!
they're fun to create and are great gifts for others or just for you!
the one below is perfect for a new mommy:)

Origami Owl is based on the belief that each one of us has a story to tell.

it might be a story of survival, a story of faith, a celebration of family,

a special memory, or a realization of a life dream.

Maybe you've welcomed a new member to your family through adoption,

become a grandma, suffered the loss of a loved one,

returned from a dream vacation or just want to share

your hobbies, interests, or team spirit.
see what i mean?
we all have a story:)

are you ready to create your locket and tell your story?
well, i have just the person to help you do that!

Tammy is an Independent Jewelry Designer with Origami Owl.

mission statement:

OUR MISSION IS TO BE A FORCE FOR GOOD; TO LOVE, INSPIRE

+ MOTIVATE WOMEN OF ALL AGES TO REACH THEIR DREAMS +

EMPOWER THEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

this jewelry line is so awesome, it's no wonder

her business is taking off like crazy!

having been involved with various companies myself,

that's how it goes when you have a great product,

inspiring leaders and a ground floor opportunity.

being outgoing and genuine like Tammy doesn't hurt:)

look at this idea for a mother's day gift. . . . .

and. . . .did you know, these lockets are for guys too?

yep. . .especially if you look like this guy, whose a well known actor
(but not by me because I don't know his name)
hahahahaha!
no worries. . . . .he looks like the confident type! lol

okay, so with Tammy's help,

i'm giving you the chance to create your very own locket!

YAY!!!!!

here's what you have to do. . . .

you can get entries a number of ways but

one step is required if you want to be entered.

visit Tammy's page at http://tammybrewer.origamiowl.com/index.cfm

and take a look around..

then come back and leave a comment

as to what your locket would look like if you won.

see below for additional ways to get entries.
you can list all of your entries in one comment if you like:)

this is one of those "how can I not enter" giveaways,
because there is somebody in your life who would love a Living Locket. . . .
and maybe that someone is YOU!
still not sure if these are your style?
well, i wasn't either.
until one Friday night i saw a VERY stylish 30 something attractive lady
walking down Fifth Ave. in Naples, Fl.
she had on a beautiful outfit and an eyecatching necklace.
i almost fell over when i realized that THIS was what
the lockets looked like in person.
absolutely gorgeous!
trust me. . . .you'll love them too:)

if you have any questions about Origami Owl,
just ask Tammy.

she is beyond friendly and helpful, kind, understanding and NOT pushy,

you'll have a new friend after talking with her, i promise:)

p.s. did i mention the best part?

if you win, your locket will ship directly to you and you won't have to

wait on pokey suzanne to get her act together:)

good luck!

Shabby Chicks

be the sunshine in someone's day!

Suzanne
linking up with Pink Saturday

Maybe This World Needs Prayer, a Group Hug, and a Milk and Cookies Party!

2013-04-19T10:36:00.000-04:00

photo:www.adoreevents.biz

and you think i'm kidding, right?

nope!

really, after this week. . .

year. . .

decade. . .

there's a whole lot of sense to this.

to me anyways:)

prayer is a given.

number one on the list.

because nothings really gonna change without it.

prayer and love. . . . .and Faith in God.

and a moral wake up call.

and some good ol' simple, Christian values.

but at least, let's start with prayer.

a group hug. . . .

you know what i mean by this, right?

there's so much hate floating around out there,

and while we can't "hug" everyone,

we can care.

and love.

and pray for them.

which is kind of like a group hug:)

and when all else fails,

we can throw an awesome party for those we care about.

a comforting, reassuring,

remind you of innocent days kind of party.

like maybe a

milk and cookies party!

i told you i wasn't kidding:)

actually, Robert Fulghum said it best in his book

All I Really Need to Know

I Learned in Kindergarten

(one of my favorite books EVER)

“Think what a better world it would be if we all. . . .the whole world. . . .had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you are. . . .when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.” Robert Fulghum

LOVE THAT QUOTE!

some of the pictures i'm gonna show you are

from a child's birthday,

which, in my opinion, is genius!

i mean, what else does a 1 or 2 year old even need for their party?

it's brilliant and adorable...what more is there?

other pictures are from weddings.

oh yes, some people know how to do it.

a rustic wedding, with great decorations and themed dessert tables,

like a milk and cookies table, a cupcake and ice cream cone table. . . .

and instead of confetti or rice, they throw sprinkles.

(are you listening girls? because i know one of you

will let me plan a wedding reception like this someday:)

anyway, i hope you like these ideas.

and what am i trying to say here. . . .

oh heck, how could you not like them:)

alrighty then, let's get started!

photo: www.occasionsonline.com

i mean, these babies in their rustic chic setting should convince you,

but if not. . . .

this bride and groom have milk and cookies for the ride home.

cute:)

and some awesome party favors. . . . .

photos: www.swankypear.com,

am i convincing you yet that this is a great idea?

photo:www.greenweddingplannerblog.com

photos: www.libbyjamesblog.com, party-wagon.com
no one says you can't have other stuff at your party,
personally i think whoopie pies would be a fabulous idea too:)
photo below:shop.andersruff.com

photo: glitterweddings.com

and because i'm kinda nice,

most of the time(;)

i'll share a few recipes with you.

one is mine, and it is a repost from a few years back,

but it's been pinned a lot of times so i'll make it simple and share with you.

These are so good, so white and sugary and look pretty wrapped in a

clear cellophane bag and tied with a ribbon.

Oh my gosh, I'm making myself hungry for sugar cookies at 9:30 in the morning!

*note. . . .these are not cut-out sugar cookies to decorate, but more like a classic

sugar cookie you would buy in a bakery.

you know, back in the day:)

AMISH SUGAR COOKIES:

Beat Well:

1 C Sugar

1 C Powder Sugar

1 C Butter

1 C Corn Oil (We used Canola Oil)

~~~ Beat the above ingredients, then add in:

2 Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp Cream of Tarter

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

4 1/2 C Flour

mix thoroughly

Baking Directions:

Drop a heaping tsp on greased or parchment lined cookie sheet.

Flatten with a glass bottom dipped in sugar.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 min. or till edges are golden.

(we add a sprinkle of sugar when they come out too. . . what can i say:)

not in the mood for sugar cookies?

how about some big, soft, ginger cookies!

go to allrecipes for the yummy recipe:)

that's it for today.

i hope you have a milk and cookies kind of day:)

xoxo

Suzanne

what a week. . . .and not in a good way

2013-04-18T17:03:00.002-04:00

i can't get my head around the

tragedies

of this week.

first Boston. . . .

and now West Texas.

i'll be back tomorrow with a giveaway announcement,

but for today,

just pray.

xoxo

Suzanne

More Precious than Gold. . . .

2013-04-16T11:22:00.000-04:00

i love flowers.

even more, i love receiving flowers. . . .

who wouldn't, right?

i remember when my girls were younger,

they walked to and from school.

it was so great. . . .i often felt we lived in Mayberry,

it just seemed so cute and old-fashioned.

probably the best part of them being able to walk

to school, was how every day

they would pick flowers for me on the way home.

they came running to the front door,

dropping their backpacks on the porch,

screaming my name,

holding out a bouquet of beautiful flowers. . . .

red, yellow, white.

beautiful!

precious!!

i loved those flowers and whether there were 2 or 12 stems,

they went into a vase in a prominent place in the kitchen.

always.

they made me so happy. . . .

and my girls were so proud of their gift.

now, have i mentioned that these "flowers"

were actually weeds?

we called them wildflowers. . .

but you and i know a dandelion is basically a weed.

maybe a beautiful yellow weed but still. . . .

especially when the fluff has blown away by the time they got home.

there were others. . . .little berry colored ones.

but they were still a treasure to me.

i guess i feel a need to remind young mothers out there,

that the best gifts they will ever receive,

besides an "i love you",

a sloppy kiss or a big hug from their child,

is the broken seashell, shiny rock, or colorful weed they so proudly give.

. . . . . treasure these gifts, for they are

far more precious than gold.

hugs,

Suzanne

Ideas. . . . .

2013-04-15T13:33:00.001-04:00

we all have them.

some are better than others.

but we have ideas.

some of us act on them,

and many of us let them fade away.

my goal is to follow through on one good idea this year.

at least, good to me:)

maybe even more than one,

but I better be realistic!

how about you?

any good ideas you wish you had acted on?

Pick one and let's DO THIS together!:)

xoxo

Suzanne

from shabby to rustic. . . gorgeous bedrooms to drool over!

2013-04-13T19:26:00.000-04:00

oh. my. gosh!

don't you love looking at pictures of

beautiful bedrooms?

makes me want to jump right in the picture and

plop myself on the bed

with a good book and a mug of cocoa:)

i found a few awesome rooms

and while i should just let the pictures speak for themselves,

i think i might have to ramble about my

favorite things in the room.

sorry:)

first up. . . .get ready to

do you love it?

this one is the room i might most be able to duplicate.

here's what i love about it:

1. THE MATCHING DOG BEDS!!!!

oh my goodness. . .those are too cute:)

i need them!

(for real:)

2. the white shabby chic furniture.

mine looks similar but is dark wood.

(i see a painting project in my future:)

3. love the walls (mine are chocolate too)

and the dark hardwood floors

basically, i love it all:)

oh. heck.

check this out. . . .

this room must be a display in a store,

cause it's a bit jam packed. . . .

but with amazing things!

i love:

1. the number boxes

2. the color/decor scheme of rustic chic.

3. the art work...don't you love it?

4. the chandeliers

5. the pillows (especially the burlap ones)

6. the touches of paris

7. and everything else:)

makes you want to say. . . .

here's another rustic, chic, romantic beauty of a room!

love the. . . .

1. beams (although i'd probably wack my head:)

2. the canopy

3. the chest

4. the white bedding

5. the stone wall

i always wanted an attic bedroom. . . .

and looking at this, i still do!

1. love the color scheme (again)

2. the stenciling on one ceiling

3. the windows/window treatment and beams

how about a room fit for a princess. . . .

hmmm. . . .what's not to love, right?

this next room isn't a bedroom

but i had to share.

it's small, but cozy.

and goes to show you can have a lovely white room. . .

and make it cozy with shabby chic sofas,

lots of pillows and quilts.

love. it.

okay, can i show you one more thing?

i love, love, LOVE this white bathroom with

pink accents!

i bet i could put my make up on much better in this room:)

how about you?

see any rooms you like?

is there a room makeover in your future?

tell us about it so we can drool about your new room, too:)

xoxoxo

Suzanne

Cute Stuff from Storenvy. . . .

2013-04-11T08:18:00.003-04:00

do you like to shop online?

i have to confess. . . . .i do from time to time.

Amazon is a favorite stop of mine,

and i love finding unique handmade things on etsy.

and now, there is storenvy.

i don't know quite what the site is all about but

i think it's like etsy, where you open your own little shop,

but the items don't have to be handmade.

anyway, i thought i'd show you a few cool things i saw while

browsing the shops.

oh gosh, where do i start?

how about those keyboard protectors. . .

from 1point99.com

some seriously cute stuf, don't ya think?

storenvy shop info. . . .

Rainbow Color Keybaord Pr... 1Point99.com $3.99

Heart Bracelet My Lavender Milk $1.00

Grey Loose Casual T-shirt... Whitelily Fashion $18.00

Vintage Style Buckle Flap... Reiji $19.00

Lovely Pearls & Lace iPho... 1Point99.com $5.09

Denim stone washed and to... Socishop $15.99

Retro Lolita Skater Skirt... Chicnova $28.80

Handwarmers - Custom A Stitch in Time $15.00

Lace Boho Tank Lucky Seven Shop $14.99

Boho Fringe Messenger Pur... Lucky Seven Shop $17.99

Be Awesome Today 8x10 Print LuciusArt $18.00

Heart Necklace in Gold, S... P.S. I Love You More... $13.50

Cute Dog,puppy Necklace Flowerdays $12.00

Delicate Miniature Heart ... GlamPuss $10.70

magic mirror necklace. FemmeZecret $18.00

Lacey Top in White DoubleLW $19.00

Cute Simple Whale Animal ... Dotoly $10.00

love ring Rooted $41.00

happy shopping!

xoxo

Suzanne

a little bit of lace, a little bit of denim. . . .

2013-04-09T23:16:00.001-04:00

hey, hey, hey. . . .i'm back!

what???

you didn't know i was gone?

no worries. . . .

half the time i don't even know what's going on:)

it's a busy time of year, you know?

but i have been thinking, and saving up stuff to share with y'all.

so if i'm more scattered/random than usual,

please understand, okay?

gosh, where to start. . .

i'm the furthest thing possible from a fashion expert.

i just know what i like.

and what i am really liking these days,

(actually, for awhile now)

is lace.

especially lace mixed with denim or other fabrics.

you know that opposites attract, right?

take a look at this picture. . . .

pointe shoes and cowboy boots.

total opposites!

yet because they are so drastically different,

showing them together enables them both to shine.

just like mixing a sweet, innocent, delicate ivory lace dress with boots. . . .

classic opposites.

and awesome, if you ask me!

that's how i feel about denim and lace

i love this look!

and it's so easy to do by adding a bit of lace or a lacy doilie to a

pair of shorts, a shirt or even a bag!

there are many ways to create these looks,

but the simplest would be to use a washable fabric glue to attach.

and you don't have to stop at lace.

gather jewels or buttons,

cut off the backs with clippers to enable them to lay flat.

using fabric glue, attach them to your denim,

like this cute shirt. . . .

the jackets are really amazing, too.

it looks as if the collar was cut out and lace applied.

the lace peeking out of the sleeve and at the bottom of the top left jacket is

super cute!

look at these backpacks. . . .

~adorable~

but maybe the piece i am the most crazy about is the denim and lace cuff. . .

LOVE. it!

lace clothing and/or accessories are all by themselves are another favorite.

see anything here you like?

i love it all, but especially the lace skirt, shorts, sundress, caftan and phone cover.

and everything else, too!:)

lastly,

i leave you with this. . . .

Jeremiah 29: 11-14. . . .

my very favorite.

be blessed, my friends!

xoxoxo

Suzanne

Cool Stuff. . . .Like Vintage Jewelry and Lemon Merengue Pie Dip!

2013-04-02T17:49:00.002-04:00

so guess what?

i actually made the vintage jewelry project i'm going to show you!

i didn't just stalk other blogs but made them myself:)

baby steps folks, baby steps!

i love collecting vintage jewelry to re-purpose into

cool jewelry for today.

and not just vintage. . . .there are great pieces of

vintage-like costume jewelry out there

just begging to be made into something unique.

but this time, i didn't make repurposed jewelry,

but something way simpler. . . . .

magnets!

(these can be made with cool buttons or scrapbook goodies too:)

all you need is a magnet back and E6000 glue
and about 15 minutes (plus drying time)

and TADA. . . . .
you have a set of awesome magnets!

well, what do you think?

Okay. . . .next, i could use some help.
i have a bunch of these flower cabachons and could make
so many cool things,
but what do you call the gold filigree backs they are glued on,
and do you know where I can get them?
if you know, please email me or comment.
thank you!!!

now, i just don't seem to have it in me to NOT leave you with something
amazingly yummy
(fattening)
to eat.
(or devour:)
so when i saw this lemon merengue dip from
Ashton at Something Swanky,
i had to share it!

and. . . .if you gain weight, you can blame her, not me.
i'm just the messenger;)
mmm. . . .mmm. . . .mmmmmmm

if i were you,

i'd hightail it over to her and grab the recipe!

bye for now. . . .

Suzanne

it's not about the bunny. . . .

2013-03-31T08:14:00.001-04:00

bunnies are soft and cute.

when they're chocolate, they're yummy, too!

chocolate bunnies. . . .such a fun part of Easter celebrations!

but. . . . .

it's not about the bunny.

He is Risen!

wishing each of you a beautiful, blessed Easter Sunday and a

fresh and lovely Spring:)

be blessed,

Suzanne

Don't Forget to Wear Your Easter Bonnet. . . .

2013-03-30T17:30:00.000-04:00

remember dressing up in a brand spankin new

Easter Dress and Bonnet?

i used to love that!

i still love seeing hats or bonnets on Easter Sunday morning,

although it's much more rare.

but not with these beauties. . . . .

aren't they purty???:)

need a last minute table decoration for Easter Dinner?

head out to the dollar store and grab some of these glitter eggs. . . .

find a pretty container around the house, some styrofoam to stick the eggs in and

Easter Grass.

Now look what you created. . . .

or, get out your favorite mason jars

(i love mason jars)

and you can do this. . . .

isn't that choclate bunny cute???

and if you have time. . . .

and some paint around the house,

you can do this. . . .

Happy Saturday!

Suzanne

Jelly Beans, Jelly Bean Cookies and Magic Jelly Beans. . . .

2013-03-29T20:57:00.001-04:00

ahhhh. . . . .i love me some bright, colorful jelly beans.

they're just plain fun!

i have a board on pinterest called "fun food". . . .

and for sure, jelly beans qualify!

so i was just tickled as could be to find some

cute jelly bean ideas out there.

read on for a few great ideas.

but first, check out this jelly bean cake, costume and my favorites. . . .

jellybean happy pills:)

oh gosh, i almost passed out when i saw these jelly bean sugar cookies.

sign me up for a double batch. . .please!

the recipe for this is at :sallysbakingaddiction

or here's another one from

simplyklassichome.

magic jelly beans anyone?

this next idea is seriously too cute!

full instructions can be found at nothingbutcountry.com but in a nutshell,

in a pail with some wheatgrass or even easter grass,

have your child "plant" a few jelly beans.

the next morning,

you have replaced the jelly beans with a giant rainbow lollipop.

get it?

the jelly beans turned into a lollipop.

soooo cute!

and the lovely lady behind this at nothing but country provides you with a printable

magic jelly beans seed packet to make it oh. so. real!

when i taught Sunday School for the little ones years back,

i just had to find a way to give out jelly beans.

so we used something like this attached to a cute bag of jelly beans:)

meaningful, clever and YUMMY:)

wait. . . .

we need more jelly bean cookies, don't you think?

here are simple, colorful cut-out sugar cookies.

Thank you to Partiologist for the idea!

No jelly bean cookie cutter?

well. . . .buy a tin of jelly bellys and use that!

works awesome!!!

these look super good. . . .

and i think will be made in this house tomorrow!

Jelly Bean Blondies

Ingredients

1 Stick Butter or margarine Melted (1/4 cup)

1 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract Pinch salt

1 cup allpurpose flour ( or Gluten Free Flour Mix) 1/41/2 cup jelly beans

Instructions

1. Butter an 8×8 pan

2. Mix melted butter with brown sugar – beat until smooth. Beat in egg and then vanilla. 3. Add salt, stir in flour.

4. Pour into prepared pan, and sprinkle top with Jelly Beans.

5. Bake at 350°F 2025 minutes, or until set in the middle.

6. Cool on rack before cutting them.

Recipe by A Few Short Cuts at http://afewshortcuts.com/2012/04/jellybeanblondies/

have a beautiful Easter weekend!

be back tomorrow:)

Suzanne

WANTED: My Birthday Girl. . . . . .

2013-03-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

my baby girl has a birthday today.

a special birthday.

today she is sweet sixteen!

let me tell you a bit about her.

she's a God-fearin

country music lovin,

cowboy boot wearing

football watchin

sweet tea drinkin

southern girl.

she has down home values

and old fashioned morals in a modern world.

her faith is solid and strong.

(she's actually been called a "female Tim Tebow" by people she just met:)

she's fun

she's brave

she's thoughtful

she's generous

she's a cutie

she's adventurous

she's friendly

she's smart.

she's my girl.

she's 16.

and i love her!

happy birthday baby girl!!!

xoxoxo

mama

AND a birthday cake to match those boots,
made by a sister, with love:)

Palm Sunday. . . .

2013-03-24T13:45:00.003-04:00

Wishing you a beautiful and blessed Palm Sunday.

Hosanna!

Marshmallow + Bunnies & Chicks =

2013-03-23T13:47:00.000-04:00

PEEPS!!!

gotta love those little sugary peeps, right?

or are you one of those people who pretend not to like them,

as my husband does every year.

(although they do seem to disappear. hmmm. . .)

well, on this i am totally honesty.

i love my peeps:)

i mean, they are amazing little things.

you can eat them, bake with them, decorate with them.

and they're so cheap.

cheap, cute, yummy. . . .

what more could you want, right?

and as this preschool church sign shows,

apparently i'm not alone:)

(it IS for 3-5 year olds so very cute:)

and they look so darn cute in an Easter basket.

so be warned. . . .even if you hate them, they will be in any basket i make

cause they're just so bright and fun.

you can throw them away. . .

or better yet, throw them MY way:)

i know you're holding your breath to see all the cool things you can do with them,

so let's take a look.

you can

DECORATE with peeps.

how CUTE are these ideas?????

you can make "peep" kabobs. . . .

or "peep" pops!

anyone up for s'mores?

maybe you want your peeps dipped in Chocolate.

one bag of chocolate chips will dip about 20 peeps.

don't ask me how i know this:)

but the grand finale of peep ideas is this. . . .

a "peep" mobile

i tell you, some people are SOOOO creative!!!

i found most of these on pinterest and many were hard to track down.

however, a number of the ideas can be credited to

Misty Kearns, CEO of Me.

i almost forgot!

i've talked about how much i LOVE caramel popcorn.

have i mentioned how much i love

marshmallow popcorn?

i don't make it, because i would eat it.

all of it:)

now you can make marshmallow popcorn with PEEPS!

Yum, YUM!

well, my peeps. . . .
that's it for me today.
xoxo
Suzanne
linking up with pink saturday:)

Princess Cupcakes, Silly Eggs, Sea Glass and Spring. . . .

2013-03-19T21:22:00.000-04:00

well, that's a lot to cover for sure.

and i know what you're thinking. . . .

at least some of you;

spring???

what's that???

but you know it's coming. . . .

and for what it's worth, it's going to be WAY nicer for most

of you than us here in south florida.

cause that's when our humidity hits full blast for, like, EVER!!!!

some people deny that but it's all too real.

the good news. . .we have nice winters.

it's all a trade-off, right?

so today, i have a few cool, random things i stumbled on

over at pinterest.

see what you think. . . . .

are these the cutest princesses or what??

and surprise. . . . . .

they're cupcakes!

yep. . . .some genius person turned a cupcake upside down,

stuck a plastic doll pick in it, frosted it and

voila!

adorable!

actually, i think what i like best about these is it looks like a regular mom

frosted these.

don't get me wrong, they look yummy and cute,

but they are not some fondant frosting or something perfect like that, you know?

the best kind:)

keeping with the kid theme for a minute here,

these alphabet crayons are amazing!

they melted down crayons and hardened them in

silicone alphabet trays.

you can get these trays at Amazon for $10.99

a tip i saw was to use cooking spray to enable them to pop out.

there are tons of tutorials all over the web if you want to make these.

i know. . .looks like a bit of a project.

but think what great favors these would make:)

spring makes me think of Easter.

and we used to color eggs when i was little.

what's funny,

except for some super creative types who came up with a new way to do that,

we still pretty much color eggs the same way.

with colored tablets and vinegar.

and some pathetic little egg dipper thing that never worked:)

but how about adding google eye stickers to your colored eggs.

isn't this cute?

i always get an urge to paint something in the spring.

and besides various shades of cream and white,

my favorite color around the house is aqua.

like sea glass.

so very pretty!

okay, this next one is way off track but i had to share.

inside out caramel apples.

oh gosh, i'd love these. . . .

spring, summer, fall or winter!

go to cup of sugar pinch of salt for the how to's:)

pretty soon, y'all will be trading in those snow shovels for these. . . .

pretty bicycles and flowers.

so hang in there!

xoxo

Suzanne

Lucky Charms and more from a controlling mama bear. . . .

2013-03-17T15:11:00.004-04:00

yes, i admit it.

i can be just a wee bit controlling sometimes.
like every good mama bear,
sometimes a bit of meddling/controlling is what's needed:)

but in a good way, of course.

so what have i done now?

well, as i mentioned before, my daughter will most likely be

moving to Chicago in the next year.

and like any good mama,

i'm checking out neighborhoods, safety, weather. . . . .

and churches!

it helps that there is a good Bible college in the city,

with church recommendations.

it helps a LOT!!!!!

2 of the recommendations sound very promising. . . . .

everything i would love for her to have in a church.

but one in particular jumped out at me right away.

Willow Creek Community Church Chicago.

yesterday i received an email re: today's sermon topic, "Simplify"

here are the questions they will be asking. . . . .

Question. What's the most important thing in your life?

Follow-up question. What would the people who know you say?

and here is a bit of the rest of the message from Pastor John. . . . .
"Sadly, I find in my own life that these answers can sometimes be different. I really wish they were the same. I wish that the thing I most longed to have preeminence in my life was obvious to everyone else, but that's not always true. I may be alone in that, but I doubt it.
So if the answer was the same, and the most important thing in your life was obvious to you and others, what would that look like? If your answer is your family, how would others know that to be true? If your answer is God, what attributes would be present to show it?
This Sunday we will be teaching about how we simplify one key area of our lives, while also showing how important God is to us."

i love simple, biblical messages that give you something practical to take into your week.
i can't wait for us to try Willow Creek Church!
sometimes, being a meddling mama is a good thing:)

don't forget that another episode of The Bible is airing tonight!

today on CBS Sunday,
they interviewed Mark Burnett and Roma Downey,
the creators/producers of the series.

GREAT interview if you can catch it again somewhere.
but when asked if the idea for the mini series was hers,

Roma Downey said "not mine. God placed the idea in my heart".

well said!
When asked why they made it,
Mark said he believed that even if someone doesn't go to church
or isn't particularly religious,
everyone should hear the stories of the Bible.
i like that too!

***********************************and no, i haven't forgotten that today is St. Patrick's Day.
to those of you who are Irish. . . .Happy St. Patrick's Day!
we don't do anything to celebrate it, although when my girls were younger,
we might color our food green and stuff like that.
but some things even i can't resist.
like a good excuse to have a nice big bowl of
Lucky Charms.

aaaahhh. . . . . i love me some marshmallows in my cereal!!:)

the Grand Ol' Opry sent this photo out today with the message

"Hope you're wearing your John Deere green!"

(you might need to like country to get that:)

Happy Sunday!
xoxo
Suzanne

2013 Spring Fashion Trends I WON"T Be Wearing. . . . .

2013-03-15T06:18:00.002-04:00

well, it's official.

i'm pretty much gonna be the girl around town in jeans

(surprise, surprise) or home in my jammies.

because fashions are pretty hopeless these days.

not that i'm a slave to fashion. . . . .

but since it does influence what is in the stores,

i do read about it a teeny bit and try to adapt for me. . . .a real person.

like the blog post i did about Mint Green.

I mean, emerald is the bigger color, but to me,

emerald is fall and winter, not spring.

so i chose to focus on mint, which is also popular for a pastel green.

this is the "official"(?) color chart for spring.

they "say" you can veer off it to create your custom tone.

well, thank you for that.

geez. . . .

and not included is black and white, which is supposedly VERY big.

(note. . . .I have nothing against black and white. My "NOT" to wear
list is after the black and white photo.)

but let's get to the real juicy part of this blog post,

what i will NOT be wearing this spring. . . . .

1. Exaggerated Volume.

i'm serious...that's what they call this trend.

well, NO THANK YOU!

I don't need to exaggerate anything these days.

uggghhhhh. . . .

OH MY HECK!!!!!

let's see Heidi Klum wear this!:)

even Tim Gunn couldn't "make it work"!

2. Gaudy, all-over Stripes!

Yikes. . . .prisoner fashion is not for me.

now, maybe a subtle stripe in a nautical tee or something.

still not me but not awful. . . .and kinda cute for some.

but this? you think I'm kidding, don't you?

well, i saw stuff like this at the stores this week.

regular stores for regular people like me,

not high end stores.

so be warned. . . . .the stripes are out there;)

3. Funky Sunglasses

nope.

not me.

not anyone over age 5, i would think.

or not for anyone whose name isn't Taylor Swift.

(even then, it doesn't make them right!:)

4.. Cutout Fashion

ya, right!

but the sad thing is, i saw lots of cute blouses like this.

please, now i have to find a cami to go under it and. . . . .

too much work.

and those dresses. . . . . . whatever.

5. Leather for Spring. . . .

IF i was ever a leather person,

it was in coats.

period.

oh wait, i think in my college years i had a VERY appropriate

leather skirt.

that i wore to CHURCH. . . .

with a nice sweater.

in the WINTER!

which pretty much beats anything they wear these days.

and to think i caused such a scandal. . .

(hahaha. . . .)

6. Pretty Much anything that strikes me as ugly. . .

be it a print, a color, a cut. . . . .

or low pointy shoes that make my size 9ish feet look like

a size 14.

just sayin. . . . .

okay, that does it.

since the heat down here does kinda get to me,

can i hibernate for a while?

in jammies???

because i have to be honest. . . .

this is MUCH more my style!:)

happy friday!

xoxoxo

Suzanne

Yes, I have M.S. . . .

2013-03-13T12:14:00.003-04:00

i was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago with MS,

although we (my Dr. and I) think I actually had my first episode

almost 12 years earlier.

i don't have an "MS" blog, but i don't hide the fact that i have this disease.

if it comes up, i talk about it.

but i find it best for me to focus on good things,

the happy things and moments in life.

which is why my silly 'ol blog sometimes lacks substance,

but then the whole point is that it is a fun, HAPPY release for me:)

and i sincerely hope that it's a happy place for you to visit!

so. . . . .why now?

well, in case you didn't know

(and there's a very good chance you didn't know)

March is MS Awareness month.

yes, it's ORANGE ribbon time.

because we also do not have a cure.

and while we survive every day, there are technically no "survivors".

instead, there are people who live with a disease every day,

one which will never have an end

unless a total cure is found,

and it is getting closer, i pray.

anyway, i figured it was my turn to do a little educating on MS.

starting with,

What is MS???

Multiple Sclerosis means multiple scars.

MS is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system

(the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord).

It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder, which means

the immune system incorrectly attacks the person's healthy tissue.

among other things, it can cause blurred vision or vision loss, loss of balance, poor coordination, speech difficulties, tremors, skin sensitivity, sensitivity to heat, numbness, muscle spasticity, muscle weakness, extreme fatigue, short term memory loss, concentration difficulties, immobility and MORE. These problems may be permanent or

come and go, depending on the type of MS you have.

Who gets MS?

~~~Approximately 400,000 individuals have MS in the United States,

and over 2 million worldwide.

~~~Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 50,

although there have been reports as young as 2 and as old as 75.

~~~There are 8-10,000 children under age 18 who have been diagnosed with MS.

~~~The average age of diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis is 37 years of age

~~~Women are more likely than men to develop relapsing-remitting MS

~~~Within the United States, your risk of developing MS roughly doubles if you

spend your childhood – up to the age of 15 – in northern states vs. southern states.

~~~Caucasians have a higher incidence of MS than those of African heritage

~~~A Vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of MS

~~~There is no confirmed cause of MS, but these are just a few factors.

~~~There are many more theories online if you are interested.

How can YOU help?

1. well, the rest of this month, wear something orange and talk about it.

support the Walks/Runs for MS or whatever fundraisers you come across.

every tiny bit helps.

or contact the MSAA or National MS Association. . .

but more than anything,

knowing exactly what it is will you better understand

someone afflicted with MS, or any of the "hidden" diseases,

like Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia, to name just a few.

2. listen. . . .and don't judge or hand out free advice.

I haven't had too many problems with this,

but I know of some who have had to deal with this quite often.

Even if we assume people mean well, it can be frustrating.

Probably the most important thing to know is that even experts say that

EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT.

for example, my symptoms may be similar yet very different from your friend with MS,

so please don't assume I should be able to do what she does.

Know what i mean?

we know we're getting older.

we know we will have other diseases to deal with as we age,

we truly realize there are others much worse than ourselves,

and maybe one of the reasons this is such an "invisible" disease is that

we are a tough group who try not to dwell on our MS,

who keep moving forward and living life the best we can

considering our individual circumstances.

reaching out is a wonderful thing to do.

and sometimes we all need a swift kick in the behind. . . .

but asking how a person is doing and then proceeding to know what

they are going through and giving free advice is counterproductive.

i believe that when most people are given a diagnosis of a disease,

they try to educate themselves the best they can.

that doesn't mean that new suggestions aren't welcome, because they are.

my sister first got me thinking about the whole vitamin D thing,

so you never know.

probably the one thing that is hardest to convey

is the extreme and sometimes debilitating fatigue.

oh gosh, i get tired.

and there are two kinds of tired.

the "exhausted, can i go back to bed tired" or the

"my legs feel so heavy, i have no strength in my arms"

kind of tired.

and we get both.

in spades.

everyone gets tired and some diseases cause much worse sounding symptoms.

but when you suddenly get so tired that you actually think about

closing your eyes briefly at a red light

(yes, i felt that. . . .didn't do it, thank goodness)

or you are almost home from running errands and you just want more than anything

to pull in a parking lot and doze for 10 minutes,

well, then you know you're tired.

i used to love taking naps but now i hate them.

because i know i have to take at least one per day and there are so many

other things to do.

and the memory problems.

that's a real bummer.

pre-menopause doesn't help!

Okay, i'm almost done.

there is a really great explanation/demonstration of what it's like to have

a disease like this called the

Spoon Theory, by Christine Miserandino.

Christine has Lupus but it still applies.

She was trying to explain to a friend who asked her what it's like,

and came up with the spoon theory.

I would really suggest you go to her website and read the whole version.

When I try to edit it shorter, it just isn't as good.

Christine Miserandino,

But basically, you start the day with 12 spoons.

every single thing you do takes a spoon away and when you run out,

you're done for the day.

meaning energy and any feel good feeling is gone.

see. . . .it's really better to read her version because this probably made no sense:)

well my friends, i'm really, truly done.

i doubt you'll see me mention MS, certainly at this length, for a very long time.

not that i shouldn't, it just isn't my main focus.

i am really doing pretty good.

and i want to stay that way.

and part of what makes me feel better is to try every day to find things to

be happy about. things to laugh at.

which explains my simple, shallow blog.

it doesn't always work. . . . but i try.

(plus, if i stop to worry about what the future might hold. . . .well, that's a drag:)

please know i did not write any of this to get you to feel sorry for me

or anyone else.

or to convince you that having MS is the worst thing in the world, because it isn't.

i just wanted to raise your awareness and get a little support during this

month of March and beyond.

and to help you understand someone in your life who may suffer with something

like this.

for me, i want people to know that if i was disorganized before,

i'm drowning in chaos now:)

i won't be offended if you remind me, repeatedly, of something

i said, did, or said i would do.

(i need it:)

if i have the energy to do something fun, which i still do,

i simply ask that if i say i've had enough, or i'm tired,

that you'll understand.

that's it.

to my girls. . . . .

i would be lost without you!

you show your support every day and i love you!!!

i hope i've made things a bit clearer today.

please stop what you're doing and look around.

is there anything in sight that might make you smile?

i bet there is:)

Happy ORANGE Wednesday!

xoxoxoxo

Suzanne