a little ART CAN'T HURT

lollies

a perfect rainy day thing to do! the colors make any day better!

 

 

 

how to make LOLLIES
you will need: jolly ranchers, candy sticks, parchment paper, foil & a cookie sheet

1) lay a piece of foil on cookie sheet. cover foil with a piece of parchment paper.
2) unwrap candies and place side by side on parchment paper in your choice of color & flavor combinations. use three candies together for extra large lollies, and only two candies together for regular lollies.
3) heat candies in oven for about 5 minutes at 200 degrees. keep a close eye on the candies and take them out as soon as they've barely melted together. if you leave them in too long they will melt too much and you won't be able to put a stick into the lollie. alter the cook time accordingly.
4) carefully take cookie sheet out of oven. immediately lay candy sticks into place on melted candies. slowly twirl in melted candy to coat the stick and so it will hold in the lollie. they're hot! don't burn yourself but you will have to work fast before the candies harden.
5) let the lollies cool about 30 minutes before eating or wrap up in clear cellophane bags, tie with ribbon and give as gifts or party favors!

 

 

the flying cupcake

Thanks to one of my favorite bloggers, we found out about The Flying Cupcake!

What a treat! Thanks Meg!!!

We chose some yummy ones - they put our selections on a vintage kitchen tray and then boxed them up to go in a pink cotton candy colored box! Perfection!

The Flying Cupcake is SO MUCH MORE than just cupcakes!

The atmosphere is an experience - it's well worth the trip.

My sweet hubby saw how I went gaga for these numbered mugs so he bought me my very own set! 

You know the place is a hit when the whole family enjoys the trip.....

...my husband was a happy cupcake customer!

Take a roadtrip and visit The Flying Cupcake!

sweetness

There are a few things around our house that just scream SUMMER...

and making smores is one of them.

Our littlest chatty-cathy here has got marshmallow roasting SO mastered that she can roast with one hand while she makes a dramatic presentation of why she thinks High School Musical is SOOOOO awesome and then gives me the you-just-don't-get-it-mom look the next second. 

LOVE IT!

There's nothing wrong with the good 'ol fashioned kind but we've also come up with our own incredible concoction. 

Let's go over the list of ingrediants needed:

creamy peanut butter

chocolate bars

chocolate graham crackers

marshmallows

and if you're REALLY wanting to put the yummy-factor over the top, then use THESE...

Are you salivating yet??? Yes, these are marshmallows covered in TOASTED COCONUT!

I'll warn you, they're addicting to munch on plain....but toasted they are unbelievable! 

to. die. for!

The kids usually stick to plain mallows which is fine with me - leaves more of the coconut ones for you-know-who!

You can't see the chocolate bar I'm about to put on this smore, but it's there!

And THIS is the result you can expect...

This is the face of sheer delight!

Try it. You WON'T regret it - although your hips and thighs might after 4 or 5 of these.  :)

Summer is just around the corner and I can't wait!

fun times

A few nights ago we went to see Riverdance with my parents. Not allowed to take photos (which was too bad because the show was INCREDIBLE!) but we documented our pre-show dinner!

Luckily we beat the dinner-rush so we had the second level to ourselves.

The pub lighting leaves A LOT to be desired when taking photos...

We ate at a great local place, Madison Oyster Bar, in South Bend. 

Doug & I have been there many times before, but this was a first for the folks. I thought Mom would enjoy the variety of oysters served there, being from Long Island and seeing how we all love shellfish so much! What I didn't bargain on was how much fun we'd have playing pool!

Doug & Dad (aka Poppie) played first and it was decided I would play the winner.

Mom (aka Nana) was behind the camera and documented the action.

Dad's face in the pic just cracks me up!

Is it that you're trying to see thru your bifocals Dad or are you just feeling 'devilish'? 

I hardly ever get pics taken with Dad & I so this was a treat!

Dad & Doug had some fun though...

(now's when we get to be really proud of our men, Mom!)

I mean, look at these two studs! Well-educated, professional, mature....

Anyway, if you make it to the Madison Oyster Bar, I highly recommend trying the oysters casino and we also all shared and enjoyed the crab cakes! The lake perch is DELISH as is the oyster sandwich Mom enjoyed. 

I'll leave you with this image -

- let's just say that it was 'ladies night' at the pool table & I'll gladly accept my trophy anytime!

Yep! I won!

bubbly machine

Thank you Amy Butler and Moda for the wonderful fabric designs that now adorn my soda machine in the shop.

When inspiration strikes you gotta respond!

Not just any ordinary project will do...no siree!

So if you're in the neighborhood and feel the need to sip on a carbonated beverage...

...we're at your service!

And the labels are in the process of being made -

we've got cherry coke, sprite, root beer, cream soda & orange soda.

**note: hubby did the fantastic spray adheasive job here - isn't it perfect?!**

oh, and I got some fabric on my skirt...

...but I meant to do that - and LOVING that I can wear open toe shoes now!

Aren't these shoes kickin?! I'm a heel-wearer, what can I say.

Can't wait for flip-flop season!

(skirt back panel view)

These fun fabric touches perked up an otherwise-on-its-way-to-Goodwill skirt that I've had for years!

Wonder what all of you have been doing with your stashes of possibility...

good ol' pickins

Breakfast.

Lunch.

And dinner.