Catching Up

Things around here are about to get verrrry exciting!
But first, a look at last week- we had a dusting of snow here in Ohio. I know, I know, old news to those of you who have been snowed in! Our forecast last week was for 4-6", but we really only got wet flurries that melted by the afternoon. Still, a great reason to bundle up and take a walk!

Munchkin, like most 2-year-olds, gets ridiculously excited about a few flakes. Excited isn't even the word- shrill hysterical shrieking is more like it! She knows she only gets to wear her new princess boots in the snow, so it's extra special.

Watching her discover her own footprints in the snow for the first time, and getting hit with the most pathetic little snowball in the world- Moments like that are so sweet but also a little sad because they only happen once. The next time it snows, footprints will be old news and her snowball-making skills will be honed to a deadly force I'm sure.

BUT I do have a little something to look forward to, a very teensy tinesy little newborn something! No, not mine! Gosh!
My brother's wife is due any moment now with their first baby, a little boy! Eeeeeek! And I have the privilege of keeping him two days a week! Eeeeeeek!

AND it gets better- We'll be moving into a new apartment the first of February!
We're still in the application process currently, but if everything works out we'll only be in this sardine tin a few more weeks! The new place isn't really that much bigger, but it's well-maintained and doesn't seem to be the hive of criminal activity that our current shack is. And the part I'm most excited about is the extra bedroom that will be ALL MINE! Mwahahahahaha! Now I will cut and stitch and craft my way to global domination! Mwahahahahaha!
Ahem.

I will be a little sad though because we're leaving Waynesville.
And this:

Although Springboro, our new little town, has a Taco Bell! I am so giddy about this I can't even describe it.

So this will probably be a pretty unproductive month for my shop, since I'll be spending most of it picking ground-in PlayDo out of the carpet in hopes of getting our deposit back!
Anyway I can't wait to show y'all pictures of our new place and probably all the craft supplies I found packed away from the last time we moved!

My First Giveaway!

Hi everyone, Melissa's blog here. Now that 100 fabulous readers have publicly confessed their affection by becoming followers, it's time to celebrate! And what better way to say thanks for reading me than with a giveaway?
Last week Melissa posted the choices for a prize, and the winner (by a mile) is...
The coffee cup cozy!

Melissa's super excited about this. I know because she checked the votes and comments about every 10 minutes!

Now I know she's going to want you to comment on something about HER, but don't forget about ME! I want to know how to keep you readers happy. What do you want to hear about? Recipes? Tutorials? Etsy interviews?

So here are the entry options:

1. Take a look at Melissa's sold items and comment on which piece(s) you think she should make again.
2. Comment on your favorite kinds of blog posts to read, or even what you don't like to read.
3. Follow or subscribe to me, the blog!
4. Follow Melissa on twitter
5. Become a Facebook fan

Each comment is one entry, so please leave them separately. Also please include your email address so you can be contacted if you are the winner!

Contest ends January 17th!

Love,
Melissa's Blog

Grandparents, Sheesh!

My little girl has a thing for airplanes, helicopters, trains, and trucks. She loves to "fix" things with a screwdriver, be it real or imaginary. She likes little girl things too, like dolls and tea sets. But the masculine toys are, of course, what her Pappy encourages her to play with. I tried to negotiate a compromise by emailing him a link to the new pink Barbie jet. But alas, he showed up for his daily visit yesterday with a pack of Matchbox airplanes and helicopters. Not that I don't appreciate this grandparent-ish spoiling, I just like pink. (Also I secretly want to play with it myself.) And after all, I'm the one who's going to be tripping over them in the middle of the floor, right?

Munchkin was so thrilled, she screeched at the top of her lungs for a good 10 seconds!

"Come play wif me Pappy! On da fwoor! On da fwoor!"


Then they had to call G.G. (Great Grandma) to tell her all about the new toys.


"Let's play wif mah beeeeads Pappy!"

When Pappy spends all this time with Munchkin, I should be using the free time to do something productive. But I just can't stop watching them play- Pappy (and G.G.) can make her laugh like no one else!

I'm baffled by the amount of patience he has with her. I do try to play with her, but the truth is I can only make a plastic beaded necklace so many times. And I spend forever styling the My Little Ponies' hair into perfection for Munchkin to just come along and mess them all up! Also, everytime we color together she draws all over my page!
Dad says it's different being a grandparent, that over the years you learn to slow down and enjoy things more. But my dad has always been like this. When I was little, I tackled him as soon as he walked in the door from work, begging to go to the park or to help me learn to ride my bike. And he always did. Looking back, I'm amazed at the self-sacrificing attitude my dad showed to us, I mean he must have been exhausted!
Fortunately, Munchkin's step-daddy is madly in love with her and doesn't at all mind being a horsey, or a gorilla, or whatever else she dreams up. That leaves me to be the official snuggler. I can definitely handle cuddling in bed with lots of fluffy pillows and a few books! And boy does she look forward to it. Mention the word "snuggle" around her and she lets out that 10-second shriek, then goes running for her books.

But I guess I'd better grow some patience, since we plan to homeschool Munchkin. Really I feel like I should be starting something like that now, at least getting her used to sitting quietly for a period of time every day. As long as it doesn't include plastic beads!!!

Off The Beaten Path

Today I want to show you one of the reasons I started an etsy shop. Well mainly the reason I found out about etsy in the first place!
My talented friend Jess is the beauty behind Off The Beaten Path, and she makes the most adorable tote bags and pins- check 'em out!

Chit Chat Birds Tote Bag

Lil Fawn Pin

Fish To Go- Reusable Lunch Sack

Mustache Mania Canvas Tote Bag

Retro-Spective Trailer Pin

Thanks Jess!

In Celebration...

...Of nearly 100 followers!
I've been wanting to try a giveaway for awhile now, and I think reaching 100 blog followers would be a great opportunity for my first one. I've debated in the past whether or not to do a giveaway because I was kind of afraid nobody would enter, and it would be really embarrassing and I would feel so dejected and then I'd lose all hope of ever running a successful business as a stay-at-home mom and then and then and then.... *deep breath*
It's just a giveaway. All the big-girl blogs do it. It'll be ok.
That being said, I figured it would help a little if I knew just which items y'all would be interested in winning. So here are a few offerings:











Which item would you like to see as a giveaway?
Please vote here:

Thanks everyone!

Favorites Friday: Make A Statement

I love statement necklaces, specifically the ones made out of fabric roses, beads, and vintage bling. As you can see from my own fabric rose hair clip, my rose-making skills need a little help. It's been driving me nuts all week and when I took a nap this afternoon I even had a dream that I started a second etsy shop selling fabric rose jewelry. I woke up really excited, itching to get out my whole quirky fabric stash and get to work. And then I remembered I already have one shop I'm struggling to stock and a boutique I've been promising items to for months.
Nevertheless, I couldn't resist taking a look around to see what everyone else is doing with their fabric roses and see if maybe my crazy dream-induced idea could add something to the market. I think my idea is good, but my skill level is something entirely different. I'm willing to learn, though, and soon we'll be moving to an apartment with [hopefully] my own craft room, so at least I'll have the space to try something new. We'll see.

In the meantime, join me in longingly admiring these jaw-dropping works of wearable art from some very talented ladies!

Pink Vintage Silk Bib Necklace by FloraBond

If it's possible to have just one most-favorite shop of all of etsy, this might be it! What is it about these pieces that really stand out to me? The roses are completely perfect, probably due to the careful "needle sculpting" that goes into each one. Nicole, the designer, is completely sweet and I just adore her style!

Snow White's Rose Garden by LaViejaTunTun

This shop has unique-shaped roses, and I love the big beads and bits of lace. Fabulous color combinations too!

A Bouquet of White Roses Statement Necklace by BejewelledBespoke

"Inspired by romanticism and elegance, Bejewelled Bespoke pieces are bold and lavish. Expect original and unique designs, that are both timeless and wearable at very reasonable prices." -Trish, the designer of these ultra-glamorous pieces. Her shop is full of stylish statement accessories, including lace jewelry! Eeek!

Adorable Daisy Statement Necklace by hairbowswonderworld

I love this shop's unique color combinations and all the different kinds of fabric used. And the bridal bouquets- sooo cute! They even offer a fabric rose tutorial for sale that I definitely plan on investing in.

Rosette Aubergine by cocoboudior

To me, Coco Boudoir is the ultimate in demure femininity- lots of pearls, pretty colors, and dainty blossoms. I love the round shape of the headbands, too. They remind me of those tiny old-fashioned hats that were worn off to the side. Erin, the designer, sounds like a lovely person and was even featured on Martha Stewart! Wow!
Oh, and be sure to check her shop for THE most adorable embellished shoes!

Oreo Truffles

My friend Talaya gave me this recipe a few years ago, and it's probably the one I use the most for parties and stuff. It's really easy and everyone loves them! After making them for several years I've adjusted the recipe a little, and fortunately you can't really mess it up!

*Recently I saw the movie Julie and Julia, and I loved it so much I plan to watch it over and over! So as you're reading this, picture me in heels, pearls, and a really silly voice ok?

Ingredients:
1 Package Oreo cookies, crushed
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 Package chocolate candy coating

Mix the crushed oreos, powdered sugar, and softened cream cheese in a large bowl. (I use a stand mixer- you can try getting away with a hand-held mixer, but I'm not sure if it will work stirring it manually.)

Scoop out balls of the Oreo mixture and arrange on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper. Refrigerate while you get the chocolate dip ready.

Heat the chocolate in a double boiler. When completely melted and smooth, dip the Oreo balls in and let them dry on the wax paper.

That's pretty much it, unless you want to jazz them up with the white chocolate drizzle:

I melt a bar of white chocolate in the microwave and pour it in a ziploc bag. Then cut off a teeny tiny corner and drizzle across the truffles.

One of the changes I recently tried was to add some chips of white chocolate in with the Oreo mixture. I think it adds some texture and does a lot for the Oreo theme. I put pieces of white chocolate into a food chopper and let it turn to crumbles. Everyone loved it!

Also, I prefer the taste of baking chocolate to the cheap candy coating. If you want to splurge, substitute about 3 boxes of semi-sweet and dark baking chocolate for the candy coating.

Another great thing about this recipe is the flexibility. I haven't seen them around for awhile, but once I used mint oreos and tinted the white chocolate a little green. That was pretty cool. In fact it would probably work with grasshopper cookies instead of Oreos maybe.
Oh and once I used peanut butter oreos and a spoonful of chunky peanut butter. Pretty yummy!

So you get the idea, basically mix just about anything with cream cheese and dip it in chocolate and voila- truffles!

What do you guys like to put in your truffles? Share!