Kitschy Cuteness

Can you think of anything cuter than this little blue bird?

How about two little birds?

I found these irresistible little salt and pepper shakers over the weekend.

And while I have you drooling over kitschy cuteness.  How about this mug?

They really mean half a cup!

Winter Storm Nemo

New Jersey fared better with winter storm

 "Nemo" than we did with hurricane Sandy.  

After a full day and night of snow,  the sun came out 

and the roads were able to dry out for the most part.  

Perfect for a cozy few days indoors.  

I think the honeybees would agree.....

Creative Quick Fix

Everything I ever plan to do gets put on my "to do" list.

The bad news, I have a long list.

The good news, "make necklaces" is right up 

there next to "call insurance on surgery bill".  

Sometimes crossing something off my list

 involves a little guilt free fun.

I've been collecting vintage clip earrings with the hopes of making necklaces.

 I finally found the perfect chains.

A quiet hour in my day and a little creative energy

 was all the motivation I needed.

Cross that item off my to do list!

One Cute Couple~The Levins

My friend helps organize a local concert series done
 in a coffee house setting (but with wine of course!).
I have been meaning to go for over a year now.
Saturday night I was introduced to this
adorable couple and their upbeat music.

Their music "combines harmony-driven acoustic 

folk rock with wistful overtones of the 1930's."

They were so engaging, as much fun to watch as to listen to.

Each song was a surprise with cleverly written lyrics.  

My favorite, this one about a "special relationship"

 you can't live without...

The Levins

Loose Change

The next time I am in the checkout line at the thrift shop and the line is not moving because a woman has dumped her purse out on the counter to hunt for loose change, I will wait patiently with a smile on my face.  The other day, that woman was me. 

Two weeks into my New Year's resolution to only visit the cash machine once a week, I made the mistake of going into the thrift shop with no money.  As luck would have it, I spotted these Westmoreland milk glass candlesticks.  Could you find $2 worth of loose change in the bottom of your purse if you were in a bind?

And then, could you find another couple of bucks worth of change between the seats in your car so you could run back in and get this beautiful Hemingray insulator?  Please remind me next year to think twice before making such a bold New Year's resolution! 

Linking with:

Apron Thrift Girl

Just a Little Taste

My husband's birthday is the first week in January.  

We are usually feeling a little "full" food-wise this time of year.  

We have spent the last few weeks finishing off holiday leftovers

 and eating every last cookie, piece of peppermint bark and bag of 

candy that found their way into our house over the holidays. 

 And now-it's time for cake!  

I thought the traditional log version of an

  old-fashioned ice box cake would be the perfect solution.

It's fun for the kids to make, super tasty, and small enough that there 

wouldn't be any left to tempt us to continue eating the next day.

Ingredients:

• 1 package Nabisco chocolate wafers
• 1 pint heavy whipping crew
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2-3 tbsp. powdered sugar

Whip together the heavy cream, vanilla and powdered sugar 

with an electric mixer to make a heavy whipped cream.  

Cover the top of each chocolate wafer with the 

whipped cream and then stack sideways to form a log.  

Cover the whole log with the remaining whipped cream

 and refrigerate overnight (or at least 5-6 hours).

Some Christmas Crafting Eye Candy

Each year, I make a few wreaths to be sold at a local fundraiser.  

My friends Karen and Liz started a performing arts program for kids

 with special needs and the "Festival of Wreaths" is their main fundraiser.  

It's a wonderful organization and a fun event.  

Plus, how can I resist an excuse to run to the craft store, heat up

 my glue gun and put off addressing Christmas cards for one more day? 

 I love how this lollipop and gumdrops wreath turned out.  

A lady bought it for her kitchen.  

The anal retentive crafter at work...

I'm not good at casually throwing something together and making it look fabulous.  

A woman did fall in love with this one and is mailing it to relatives in Alaska.

My favorite.  

Some cookie cutters, felt blanket stitched cookie ornaments and polka dots. 

 I make this one every year and it is a crowd pleaser.

Linking with:

Debbiedoo's