A Giveaway…

In a shameless display of self promotion, a few of my blogging friends have generously offered to host a giveaway of my Magillie jewelry.  I would love if you would if you would stop by their blogs and enter for a chance to win.  Come on.  A new bobble to wear!!   Or a great gift (if I do say so myself-heh heh heh) for you to give this up coming holiday season.  It is a win win situation. 

Elizabeth runs a very funny blog : http://halfbaked-twiceasgood.com/  You will quickly fall in love with her snark – cleverly wrapped up with some sweet, southern charm.  Don’t get me wrong though…girl can still curse like a sailor!  Which admittedly, I love since I am stuck in the land of “Oh Pickles”.

Jennifer runs the blog: http://boogaboojones.typepad.com/signposts/ This former editor now passes the time chasing after two little ones and personifying signs gone awry.  You will laugh yourself to tears with the mistakes on signage found all around the U.S.  She could probably keep herself busy with my blog too!  Seriously!

But all that aside check out these two blogs, they are great!  And enter the giveaways!  Come on—whatcha waiting for?

Candy Buttons

 

Fall…at last.  I love the crisp, clean feel of the weather outside.  I love the colors and the changing leaves but mostly I love the impending holiday of HALLOWEEN!  Decorations are starting to come out in our house and Jake and I are planning how we can  make it spooky.  The other day Lillie Magillie and I made homemade candy buttons!  Rachael Ray had some great, easy candy recipes.  Hope we can try out a few more but these were so simple.  Fun for little hands to mix the colors and to make the circle shape on paper.  Try it out!  It is such a cinch.  The recipe from the October magazine is here but I will list ingredients and steps  as well.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 egg white
• 3 drops yellow food coloring
• 3 drops blue food coloring

Beat with an electric mixer for a few minutes.  Separate into two bowls and let little hands add and stir in the color.  This is Lil’s favorite part.  She loves counting out the drops of food color as they land in the bowl.  Using a small zip lock bag add contents and twist up to look like a pastry bag and snip the tip off—you are ready to make buttons.  Squeeze out in small circle shapes on long strips of paper and  allow to stand and harden overnight. You will have pretty homemade candy the next day—for breakfast if you wish.  Just kidding. 

I think this would be great at Valentine’s Day gift for a class of kids.  Cut pretty heart themed paper into long strips and make all shades of white, reds and pinks.  Plus you could even shape the dots like hearts!  Roll up and tie with “thread” of licorice lace and slide a short twizzler through as the “needle”.  Valentine cards could say corny things like… “I love you sew” or “ You have me in stitches”.  Plus the little bit of paper that comes off with this candy when eating counts as fiber and therefore makes them nutritious. 

del.icio.us Tags: Candy buttons,homemade candy,Rachael Ray,Halloween,fall,gift,Valentine's Day,diy,Magillie

Candy Corn Wreath

It can’t be said that I keep a clean house…or even a neat one for that matter. I wish I had the trait of being neat or organized-both would be a dream. My sister says her house is only “surface clean” but is always looks great to me. I would love “surface clean” any day of the week. I do however love projects- crafting in particular. So my house may have items scattered hither ,thither and yonder but I craft. Right before Caleb’s baptism I felt the strange and almost compulsive need to make this wreath. I saw it on the the cover of Women’s Day at my mother-in law’s house. So the night before the big event we watched a movie. I completed the entire thing in that time—plus a little bit of news. This was so simple and pleasing and great to get into a rhythm of gluing all of the candy corn down.

If you want to make this project on your own you will need:

• A styrofoam ring
• glue gun and glue sticks
• black tape
• candy corn (I had 3 bags since a lot in the bags were broken or otherwise imperfect)

Wrap the ring neatly with the black tape, heat up the glue gun and get your piles of good candy corn ready to go. You can lay out ahead and I did but I really think you can just go for the gusto and start gluing. Glue candy corn facing one direction and then the next row face the opposite way. Continue until front and sides are covered. I hung the wreath up with black grosgrain ribbon and voila. It looks great, if I do say so myself. It is perfect for the season. My mom had to be Debbie Downer and tell me how I couldn’t save it due to bugs and mice…still debating if I will keep it or not. I might try out this product, Krylon’s Preserve It!

del.icio.us Tags: candy corn,candy corn wreath,holiday decorations,fall,halloween,autumn,Women's Day,Krylon,trick-or-treat,decorations,diy,Debbie Downer,clean,clean house

Jumping the Shark

I just jumped the shark… into a big ole mess of cuteness! I purchased this hat, from this shop, for my little fella this winter.  I love!  I will post pictures later!  Now-must find something for Lillie.  This shop looks promising -just by name alone!  Ha! :)

del.icio.us Tags: shark,knit hat,jump-the-shark,baby,Dear Lillie,NYrika

A Baptism

Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.  Luke 12:7

Sermon link soon to follow.

Only at our house…

My sister got these two books some time ago for Lillie.  In one, it mentions apple bobbing.  I don’t mind apple bobbing per se—I mind sharing a barrel, bin or bucket with others whom are also…apple bobbing.  By noon one day, Jake had been given the beat d0wn for the umpteenth time and he decided to put Lillie’s queries to rest.  We apple bobbed at lunch.  It was quite fun and a good couple hours of entertainment for the goose.  Perfect.

   Lillie taking her first shot at apple bobbing.

Jake showing her how it is done.  Dang--he looks good even when he is soaked and is hanging onto a big ole apple!

Lillie deciding she just has to be more prepared in order to get out the apples.  Does she get swimming goggles?  Nope.  Those are the goggles from her work bench area-which in all honesty have been with the bath toys for months.  You never know when you are gonna need to protect your eyes.

del.icio.us Tags: Poor Puppy,Bad Kitty,Nick Bruel,apple bobbing,fall,autumn

Hydrangea Experiment

Another project for the goose.  I thought we could do a little science and see if the colored water could change the basic Hydrangea.  A little capillary action if you will.  This was quick down and dirty I–gotta-plan–something–or-this–kid–will–go –nuts-  AND use what we had on hand.  If I had it to do it again I  would use celery or carnations and I would get a little book from the library to go with the theme.  Nothing changed on our Hydrangeas…bummer.  But the little white flowers we stuck in there last minute changed to the color of the water around the edge—thrillsville for the Lil.  *Sigh*  It is the little things in life.