Winter Lovelies

I'm on a jewelry kick again. I go from one medium to the other pretty frequently when it comes to jewelry and journals, but when I go, I go all or nothing! So I have a few new lovelies in shades of whites, silvers, and light blues inspired by Winter, that I'm going to be adding to my shop sporadically over the next few days. And hopefully with a little luck and a little motivation I'll get some new journals cranked out as well ♥

One Pretty Thing

Awhile ago I came across the most amazing website ever and of course thought that I would share.

One Pretty Thing is a collection of little ideas, tutorials, and all around crafty goodness from people all around the net. It's a fabulous website chocked full of ideas and daily handmade inspiration and has recently made it to my daily Internet rotation of awesome websites that I frequent.

You should visit it too ♥

One Pretty Thing

The Most Scrumptious Cupcakes in the World

I'm pretty sure I've gained 10 pounds in the past few days strictly because of these cupcakes - but they are so darn good that I just can't help myself!!

Banana Maple Cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 14oz pkg of Pillsbury Banana Bread Mix
1 cup of Buttermilk
1/4 cup of Vegetable Oil
1/4 cup Maple Syrup
1 tsp Vanilla
2 Eggs

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line muffin pan with cups (I used paper cups, but I'm sure silicone ones would work fine too)
  
• In a large bowl combine all of the ingredients and mix until combined. (I took the lazy way out and used my Kitchen Aid stand mixer, although the actual recipe calls to just stir 75 strokes with a spoon)
  
• Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups until they are about 3/4 full.
  
• Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean.
  
• Let cool in the muffin pan for about 5 minutes before removing them and then allow to finish cooling.
  
• Now frost em!! I cheated and used a can of Duncan Hines Whipped Cream Cheese frosting (Duncan Hines is the best, but make sure you get the Whipped kind!!) and if you're feeling frisky add some sprinkles or chopped walnuts on the top - I sprinkled a bit of Sugar in the Raw on a few of them
  
• And dig in!!

Yields 12 cupcakes (depending on how full you fill the cups - I went a bit overboard)

A Mid-Winters Freak Out

In the quest of this blog post I found myself on the heels of a major panic attack.

The other day while I was outside waiting for Brayden's bus to come and drop him off from school I took my fancy-schmancy $300 Kodak camera outside to snap a few pictures. When I spied the bus, without thinking obviously, I jammed the camera into my pocket to go and meet Brayden at the end of our driveway where the bus drops him off. We got inside, got settled, went through his school work for the day, ate lunch, did homework, all part of our normal routine. About 3 hours later I decided to go for my camera to upload the pictures, and imagine my surprise when it wasn't in my pocket. I scoured the house top to bottom, up and down, back and forth - all the while freaking out. I looked outside twice, panicing because there is about a foot of snow on the ground. I called Mike at work and asked him not to pull in the driveway and see if he could find it outside when he came home, which he did not. He tore the house apart again for me and again came up empty. Finally, he went outside, the 4th time either one of us were out there looking for the darned thing, only this time he found it!! So my camera, which is pretty much an extension of my arm normally because I take so many pictures, was outside buried under around 12 inches of snow for 5 freezing hours.

Somehow, by the grace of God, it still works perfectly.

Panic attack averted!

So... Check out the amazing icicles that we have hanging off of the back of our house.

(The reason I was snapping pictures in the first place.)

And you must meet Brayden's new 5'7" buddy, Frosty.

And yes, that is a mountain pie maker he has for arms/hands.

So Much to Do - So Little Time

Things you've already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band
4. visited hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to disneyland/world
8. climbed a mountain

9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. walked to the top of the statue of liberty (alas - I only made it to the pedastool)
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the mona lisa in france
20. slept on an overnight train

21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch hiked
23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden a gondola in venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or sunset
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise
33. seen niagara falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an amish community (We go to Lancaster every year!)
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen michelangelo's david in person
41. sung karaoke
42. seen old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. visited africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. had your portrait painted
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the sistene chapel in person
50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkelling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theatre
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of china
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies. (But I certainly LOVE eating them!)
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason
64. donated blood
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a check
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in times square
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guard in london
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book (I've had poetry published in a few books - I suppose that counts)
81. visited the vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the white house (the outside it of at least)
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating (Ummm eww, no!)
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone’s life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby (Twice!)
95. seen the alamo in person
96. swum in the great salt lake
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee

Up In Stitches

I've been sewing! I do believe that I posted somewhere before about the totally awesome vintage sewing machine my mother in law passed along to me when she got a new one - but I'm far far too lazy to dig through my blog labels to find the post. But anyways, I've been having a lot of fun teaching myself how to sew with my newly acquired treasure. Oh, and I've also been having a lot of fun hording pretty fabrics now as well. (As if paper and bead hording weren't enough... but I'm sure that's a rant better suited for my husband to share :-P)

When it comes to sewing I keep it pretty basic. Mostly because I really have no idea what I'm doing and have never really been taught outside of a home ec class in the 6th grade. Heck, I didn't even know how to thread the thing or wind a bobbin when I first got it. Luckily Mike did though from watching his mom for so many years. Yes... you read that right - my husband taught me how to thread my sewing machine and how to wind a bobbin. But anyways in my journey to learn how to sew I've pretty much kept it basic... and square.

Pillows - No Problem!

Table Runners - Easy Peasy!

Awesome Patchwork Scarf - Simple!

Little Zippy Pouch - well kinda hard, sewing in a zipper is frustrating!

... yeah, that about rounds up what I've made so far. But the other night I was feeling frisky and wanted to make something and play with my new toy and all of the fabulous fabric that has been sitting in stacks on my desk for awhile now collecting dust. So I ventured into purse making.

Its still pretty basic and simple (and square!) But this time I voyaged into interfacing it and lining it (Woot!) - and if I don't say so myself, its pretty freaking awesome!

(Disclaimer: It may actually NOT be "pretty freaking awesome" but I'm so excited that I made something actually usable that I'm waaaaay to proud to admit any and all flaws that this bag may or may not have... although I have yet to find any!)

Inspire.

A bit of daily inspiration courtesy of the Flickr Mosiac Maker
♥

1. Early pink dogwood flower heads, 2. Yummy!!, 3. cupcakes, 4. Yummmmmmmmy,5 KEEP CALM AND HAVE A CUPCAKE, 6. Gingerbread Biscuit Bunny in blue tea cup, 7. Sweet Lil' Dollhouse, 8. a sweet thank-you to all..., 9. Pink Sweet Hearts

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Psssst!! :: The winner of last weeks giveaway (since I totally forgot to announce it on Saturday - whoops!) is Miss Kristi whose earrings will be going out in tomorrow's mail!

Big HUGE Thanks to everyone who commented and entered!

Etsy in Real Life - Elegant Snobbery

I have and continue to buy oodles of stuff off of etsy. Why? Because its super awesome and I'd much rather give my moolah to independent artisans than to my local mass merchandiser. So I thought that it would really fun to showcase a few of my past etsy purchases and highlight some of my favorite shops in the process! I'm thinking that maybe this will be a weekly feature - Etsy is Real Life!

Of course when I though of this little bloggy thing of mine I knew exactly where to start. With one of my best etsy friends with a shop that I pretty much stalk on a daily basis, a super cool chick, and an AMAZING artist - Marisa of Elegant Snobbery!

Gage, who is 2, has two of Marisa's Silly Sock Monkey prints hanging up on the wall of his room, right above his bead (but high up enough that little hands don't pull them down).

I put them in plain wooden frames because the furniture in Gage's room, with the exception of the toddler bed, is all vintage that we picked up from an estate sale, striped down and whitewashed. I think the wood frames stand out - and the prints from Elegant Snobbery are so incredible that that is how they should be displayed - made to stand out! I broke out my trusty staple gun and finished them off with ribbons to hang them by for a bit of pizazz!

And Ta-Da! Two Sock Monkey masterpieces that are right at home.


And of course, be sure to check out some of the other spectacular items from Elegant Snobbery! I promise you, you will not be disappointed!

Snow Day

Over the past week I've been reminded that it really and truly is Winter. Between the bitter cold, and the ice, and now the snow. Heaps and heaps of white, fluffy snow. I've turned into a bit of a Winter scrooge. I like warmth and sun - the snow can suck it!

Its easy to forget how much I used to love the snow when I was a little girl. Sled riding, snowball fights, snow angels, all of that fun stuff has gotten pushed to the very back corner of my mind. When you're young those are all of the fun things that the snow brings, but when you get to be an adult all it means is tracking snow all through the house, wearing unflattering bulky sweaters to try and stay warm, snow induced traffic jams and horrific driving conditions. You get the idea.

Today, in the wake of another 4 inches of snow on top of the 4 we already had, we all woke up bright and early to find that school had been canceled. Yeah, that's right - we had a snow day!

Now granted, I haven't been in school in quite awhile, but even as an adult and more importantly a mom, there is something so magical about a snow day, a break from the normal confines of everyday life with a little help from mother nature herself. I certainly can't be disenchanted with that! So of course what better way to spend the free day then outside in the snow, followed by spending the day inside in our jammies and sipping hot cocoa.

Ok Ok, I officially concede. The snow isn't all bad.

Sick.

So after about 2 weeks of being horribly sick with what I thought was just a cold I finally went to the doctor (well, Mike more or less insisted on it, I'm pretty sure he was getting tired of my sickly behind moping all over the house)

As of today I have:

A major upper respiratory infection (which was left untreated thanks to my tenacity and led to the following::)

A sinus infection

An inner ear infection

An outer ear infection
And a fever of 101.2

Oh, and also about $100.00 worth of prescriptions, and that's WITH our medical insurance.

Moral of the story... when you're sick, GO TO THE DOCTOR! Ugh.

Reason #43084584 why I hate winter. (Yes, I'm blaming my illness on winter... and snow, because snow is EVIL!)

Making Lists - Five Things

Five Things I Will NOT Do in 2009

I'm not going to worry about where I want to be one, five, or ten years down the road, both personally and professionally. Instead I'm going to think about what is it I want to do and the current path that I am on. I figure that if I'm happy then I'll end up where I want to be. And hey, I may as well enjoy the journey.

I'm done sweating the small stuff. There's really no point in fretting over things that are beyond my power to change. I don't need the added stress that I'm putting on myself, so hey, why not cut out the middle man. Live, Learn, and Move On.

I'm going to stop saving things for special occasions. This year I intend to break out my good jewelry, the expensive perfume that I only wear a handful of times a year, the good china and linens, that hot little dress in the back of my closet with the tags still on it. Everyday is a special occasion, and its time to start living like it. And hey, if an otherwise ordinary day becomes more special as a result, well that's just fine by me too.

I'm not going to rely on the Internet for all of my correspondence anymore. I'm going to send more mail this year, more cards, letters, and personalized things that require a pen, an envelope, and a stamp. And while I'm at it, I think I'll make sure that I only send handmade items as well, and have fun scouring etsy for awesome cards and stationary.

I am officially finished with over-extending myself. Between being a wife and a mom of a toddler and a school age child with a zillion extra curricular activities I often forget how to just stop and breathe every once in awhile. This year if I have to let things pile up in order to preserve my sanity then I'm going to do it. I mean really, whats the worst that will happen if the laundry doesn't get done on time? Either A we all stink for a day, or B we get to wear the ridiculously
out of fashion/doesn't even come close to fitting clothes from the back of our closets. Either way, when mom is happy and stress-free it makes for a much more pleasant day around the homefront.

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Five Things I WILL Do in 2009

I will stay 100% true to who I am and what I love in regards to what it is I create, sell and blog about.

I will make an honest attempt to look at the glass as half full.

I will spend more days without an agenda and just curl up in bed in the middle of the afternoon with my only plan for the day being to bury my nose is a good book.

I will break out my scrapbook more and preserve all of the memories I felt the need to take 10,000 pictures of.

I will laugh each and every single day and only surround myself with people who will have a positive impact on who I am.

2009 Giveaway

Its your lucky day friends! I want to start off 2009 with a bang (even if I am 10 days late!). So to celebrate here in blogland I'm going to host a little giveaway! Why, because I can! I haven't done one in awhile and thought that it would be fun!

So heres your chance to win a pair of Sweet Night Earrings!

These earrings are a Hoot!

Both whimsical and dainty, these sweet little czech glass owls in an antiqued black and white color, pair beautifully with captivating blue glass rounds. They finish in a lovely wire wrapped swirl for an added touch of charm.

Made with handcrafted, hammered silver, rounded french earwires measuring 15mm x 20mm.
Earring drop measures 1 1/4" from the bottom of the earwire

How to enter:: Head on over to my etsy shop - OhMandie and find a piece that you love and post it here - hey, everyone needs a little self-gratification from time to time!

Want and extra entry into this giveaway, then just follow my blog!

Standard Rules apply ---> You must leave a way for me to contact you in case you win! On Saturday 01/17/09 I'll announce the winner!

Ice Ice Baby

Over the course of yesterday evening and last night the little town where I live has been struck with a massive ice storm, covering everything outside in an 1/2 inch of ice. Let me tell you, all of this crazy ice makes for a lot of fun walking to the end of my driveway to the mailbox or taking Brayden outside to the bus stop (that was sarcasm at its finest in case you couldn't tell). But despite all of that, I did find this pretty. Even the grass is frozen solid, each individual blade covered in ice.

One Busy Bee

A Sneek Peek ♥

Beginnings ♥

Its a new year! Hooray! And with the new year, after my much needed mini-hiatus I'm hoping comes a bit of new energy! I've been busy spending the last few days working on making new journals to list and some new jewelry designs as well. So be on the lookout for a shop update soon!

2008 was kind of a landmark year for me in a lot of ways, not all of it pleasant, but certainly not all unpleasant either. The economy sucked (and still sucks) and of course as a result that hit home in my shop. But in mid-August when I took a giant flying leap off of a cliff and combined my two etsy shops into one I never in a million years would have imagined that in only 4 and 1/2 months I would have 96 sales - particularly seeing as I had to entirely rebuild my customer base from scratch all over again. Sometimes you just have to take a risk and jump in order to fly. ♥

So where does that leave all of my goals, plans, and focuses for 2009? I want my shop to thrive, that much is true for any seller. More importantly, however, I want to continue to love what I do. I am going to be incorporating more vintage findings and components into my jewelry designs and I'm going to soften my color palette and patterns on my journals a bit as well. It is my resolution to stay true to myself and stop creating what I think will sell. I think that if I'm happy and satisfied in what I do then that will reflect in my work, ultimately resulting in success.

So here's to a new year! beginnings