Trio of Treats.....

I went into my studio and played around this past weekend...I forgot how happy that is....and Halloween is such a good reason to create, not that you need a reason! Since I already know I'm truly addicted to sugar, candy and sweets...Halloween treat making is right up my alley! However, we've already gone thru buckets of sweets around here and Im having to work harder at the gym, I've noticed!

I know I've been absent around here for some time now...I find balancing craftying time a little hard since I started working, full time. I often find myself thinking of things to create during my days and realize that having the time to actual do them, a bit difficult. There are always chores to do, that before, I had all day to work on, not so much anymore. I intend to work a little harder to get in here more. I've decided creating its definately a deep rooted need. I now realize why my Mum painted and crafted, till all hours of the night...

Lately, I seem to create a lot of things with these little brown bags....they make so many adorable projects....if you're not already working with them...start...they make it so easy to create an adorable treat or gift. I use them for most of my Gift Card giving already, but do love to stuff them full of small items too!! On this bag I used a big chipboard star that I painted and glittered....I found them at a local craft store. They came in sets of three called Snippets...Oh, Im in love....and they were only a dollar! They have hearts and other shapes too! Yeah...you know I bought a bunch...how easy!! Love them!!

What crafty things have you been creating? Are you making Halloween costumes? Classroom treats? I need to start both of those REAL soon....I see some late nights in my near future!! Cooking? Baking? I made my first fall soup last week, potato, chedder and bacon, it was delightful...then the weather decided to be in the 90s again....Where is fall? Oh, how I miss you!

I hope your October is full of all the beautiful fall colors, warm lattes, crisp air, and sweet treats....

Until next time....

Hello!!!!!!

How have you been? Wow it's been so long since I've been here!! I've been so busy! The summer came and there were baseball games and county fairs. CornFests and $1.00 movie tuesdays. Weddings and interviews.

Friends in town and a 50th birthday. Cooling off in the pool and working up a sweat at the gym. Concerts and crafting. Sleep overs and staying up late.

There were BBQs and summer foods too. Many lazy mornings, wearing pjs all day and shopping trips. I think we managed to get quite a lot in even if we didnt travel out of the area this year.

In addition to the fun we've been having around here, (which has definately impacted how much I've been crafting lately).... I also got a full time job!! I can see how full time work may impact how much time I spend in my studio!! Oh, I havent stopped crafting...I'm just even slower at getting my projects done than I was before!!

I have a really fun mini album that I've been working on for weeks a little here and a little there. I really like it...some of the pages are so fun!!! Creams, whites, teals and pinks...yum! I hope to have it finished in the next week or so. Hopefully I'll manage to get a few in the shop too!!

I still want to show you the message board I was working on. We sanded it down and repainted it again. A leaf fell on it and stuck. We sanded it down again and repainted. It has turned out super pretty....I just need to finish it (story of my life!) and hang it before I show you! It is also that time of year to start finding some fun treats for the Girls...the new school year is coming up fast....Hard to believe how much my babies are growing up!!! One of them is even off to High School in a few short weeks!!

So I just wanted to pop in and say Hello...to tell you...I'll be back with some cute things soon.....and that I hope you're enjoying your summer and the weather and all that is good and right.
XOXO,

Happy Summer!!

It officially the first day of Summer!! Unfortunately, I already feel its going to be a super long summer indeed! The Kids have been out of school since last week and so far I've heard..."I'm Bored" 4018 times. "There is nothing to do!", 2947 times. "What are we going to do?" 1567 times and a whole lot of other "Boring" things!! I wonder when it suddenly became MY job to entertain the cackle of my children? The funny thing about all this is that they've been to a graduation party, two pool parties, the movies, swimming almost daily, the mall, had two sleep overs....really?! You're bored??? Clean your room, do your chores, read a book.....because if all those things before are boring, it surely will be a super long summer indeed!!!

I myself have been enjoying the begining of the warmer weather and bright sunshine! Yes, indeed....sleeping in, not getting dressed until noon, going to the pool for the first time this season! Watermellon, corn on the cob, a cold, cold beer on a hot afternoon.....oh yes....I do like the summertime!!! I even started working in the office....I think my creative juices are flowing again with bright bold summer colors. I've spent the last couple of days spray painting cute little picture frames in happy vibrant colors....I was trying to go slow and make them perfect.....but today when I went to spray paint the back sides...I got a little carried away...I sprayed too much, too fast, too thick....now I have to wait until they completely dry and sand them down and do it again!! Its sad, really. Its because I rushed. I wanted to decorate them. I went to fast....I forgot...Its summertime and everything should be, a little slower....



So, I'll be sanding down the picture frames and then re-painting them. Which I can't wait to show you! I'll do a few chores, go to the grocery store and run a few errands and then I'll hit the gym and shuttle the Kids to their "boring" activities and that will be what I do today on this sunny first day of summer! What will you do today? Will you work and come home and put your feet up? Will you craft the day away? Will you lay out and soak up some sun rays? What will you do on this beautiful first day of summer!!??

Only One S'more Day!!

There is only one s'more day to go till its officially summer around here!!

Hard to believe but Ms. M is officially leaving Jr. High for High School and Ms. H will be heading into 7th grade!! WOW! Just Crazy!!

I thought the Kids needed a little treat today when they came home from school. Looking around the web for something...I found Golden Graham S'mores...yum...easy, with chocolate and marshmellows....my kind of snack!!



I wrapped them up all cute so that I could give them to their Friends that ride in the carpool!! Did you know that you cant put tape on parchment paper? I tried...I was going to put some cute tape on them....but it wouldnt stick! Bakers Twine to the rescue!!



I used this recipe from this adorable blog, Cookies and Cups, which has some super yummy things on it that I'll be trying this summer!!!

Speaking of Summer....What are your summer plans? Do you have anything special to do this summer? I'm not sure what we will be up too but I hope it will be fun!!

Thanks for swinging by!

Giving Gift Cards!

I often give gift cards out as gifts. I love gift cards myself. Its like having a little something in your wallet that says...Hey...lets go shopping, even when you can't afford to go!! I don't however like just giving a gift card in an envelope. I have put GCs in tins, in boxes...reusable bottles, ect. and ever since the little brown bag craze started...I have been giving GCs in them....simple, easy, pretty and makes the GC seem much more personal!! Love that!!

Several weekends ago my Daughters both had Birthday parties to go to and I scrambled to make bags perfect for the GCs. I realized then, I should, probablly, have a stash ready made...it would be so much easier! So thats what I did....I made some for me and a couple to put in the shop!!

They are so fun to make...I made them all day!!

I made some for every occasion, that way, I'd have some ready when I needed them!!

Then I made some for Boys too....because I never seem to make things for Boys!!

Then I remembered Father's Day was coming....so I made some for that too...

Then I realized I probably had made enough for right now and stopped.....but now I want to make some more, because they are fun to make....so I stamped some more bags......I think Im addicted to the little brown bags!

What is your favorite way to give a GC?? Do you wrap it up? Put it in a box? Or do you love the ease of an envelope?

Little Shop Update!!

Well I finally added a couple of new things to the etsy shop...something I hope to do more of in the near future! My favorite is this red and teal kit....using some of the stuff included in it...you can make this happy little gift bag.....

What an easy way to make any gift look pretty!! Heres a peek at the Kit...

I also finally took out my button maker that I'm pretty sure I've had sitting in the cupboard for 2 or 3 years now and have never used and finally made some! I made flatback buttons of the days of the week...they turned out so cute....easy to put into your project life or mini album or onto scrapbook pages...

I hope to start adding several things each week from now on....need to start working harder instead of hardly working =;o)
Thanks for popping in....Hope you have a GREAT weekend!!!

Wednesday...Words....

Wow...Hard to believe its been over a whole month on here without me! I've been chugging along. Doing what I need to do and sometimes that leaves no energy or creativity for crafting and Im trying to juggle it and find a happy balance!!

What I have been doing....trying to get my life and house in better order including doing Weight Watchers and cooking better for the family..{trust me...I still like and crave all the bad stuff!}. I also go to the gym pretty much 6 days a week.....I never thought I'd be a gym person....but turns out I like it! Yay!! Losing weight is the hardest thing I think I've ever done...specially since I am an emotional eater but I've lost 40lbs now and that feels pretty happy! Still have more to lose but I can honestly say...I'm working on that!
I have also been working on a few fun things to put into the shop later on this week...been working with things red and teal! I love that color combination! Don't you? Here is a sneak peek I posted on Facebook last week....

I hope you've been having a great month!! Be back soon!!!

The Luck of the Green!!!

St. Patrick's Day is this weekend!!! A day of feasting and drinking large amounts of green beer!! While I probably wont be drinking any green beer, I might drink one out of a green bottle....Stella....{I know...not Irish!} For dinner we will be having the customary Corned Beef and Cabbage...which I love but don't eat that often..{very fatty and very salty!!}...

I decided to make some chocolate covered brownie bites to give as little treats, took the easy way too and used a mix which my Darling Daughter happily made...once they were decorated with a little shamrock love and gold sanding sugar they were so perfect...tasty, easy and fun!! Great for a little lucky gift too....

I used a fabric sewn shipping tag and some handmade yo-yos to decorate the tag and simply popped in on the filled bag.....

Fun!!
What are your plans for the weekend? Have anything green going on??

I will leave you with one of my favorite songs as a kid....The Unicorn Song by the Irish Rovers...sure to please!! Haha!!


May all your days be lucky,

Happy 108th Birthday!!!

It's Dr. Seuss's Birthday!!! Were he still alive, he would be 108 today!! We started celebrating his birthday when the Girls were in preschool and I guess since I love his work so much....I just can't stop....for breakfast we had the typical...Green Eggs and Ham....

I made them their lunches....silly lunches.....which they partly think they are too "old" for {humph} and part of them still love!! I hope the "love" part always wins out and they never tire of my goofy things!! I'm sure I enjoy it far more than they do but I can't stop.....my Husband will be getting a "fish" sandwich in his lunch too!!

{Speaking of "fish" shaped sandwiches....I searched ALL of the area looking for that Pepperidge Farms Goldfish Bread...went to 4 different grocery stores...until one store manager said....Oh, they only have that on the East Coast!!! What???? How can that be??? I mean, I know the East Coast rocks and Dr. Seuss was born in Massachusetts so the need for fish bread must be pretty high out there....but there are some pretty cool fish out here on the West Coast as well...some that would really like to sink their teeth into some of that bread...Just Saying!!}
Back to Dr. Seuss.....I will be making these Truffula Trees for an after school treat!! When I saw these online...I just loved them, seriously a lot!! I'll post pictures when they are done!!

In the mean time.....enjoy this movie trailer for The Lorax.....it comes out today and I actually want to go see it!!!

Have a Great Day.....and remember...
“If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good” Dr. Seuss

Crazy!

Seriously....my world seems so chaotic right now....with worry and fret, bills to pay, things to do....and a lack of motivation on my part has me wanting to crawl back in bed and pull the covers over my head....Does that sometimes happen to you? Where all you think about is How are we gonna do that? and how are we gonna manage this?...and what are we gonna do about that?

I keep starting fun projects....and I don't finish them, I have a dozen, in various stages of finished, sitting all over my studio....then I do make something happy and send it on its merry way...only realizing later....I have forgotten to take photographs....I don't know how Crafters blog every/every other day! They must have little elves?? I waste too much time too....the Internet is a magical time suck...one minute you are on Facebook....four hours later you are on Pinterest and your like...WhAt?? What just happened to my morning???? So I guess I need a schedule. I guess I work better when I have a due date. I guess I just need to get my arsh in gear and get motivated.....

Until then....just call me crazy!!

Happy, Happy {Heart} Day!!!

Just poppin' in to say:

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Photo Source: The Wedding Chicks

Hope your day is filled with Love and Happiness!!
XOXO,

Six More Weeks of Winter?!!!

While the Winter doesn't really affect us up here in Northern California where we have mostly sunny days....a lot of my Friends and Family are on the East Coast and six more weeks of winter doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun even though this year it seems like its been pretty light on the snow. In honor of Groundhog Day and hoping the little rodent wouldn't see his shadow....we had a silly morning with "Groundhog" pancakes!! I had seen these somewhere and knew it would be fun to make...My Kiddos had a good laugh!!

Did you know that there are about 23 or so Groundhogs around the US and Canada that are used on February 2 to predict whether or not there will be more six more weeks of winter?! Only three of them Punxsutawney Phil {Philadelphia}, Malverne Mel, {New York} and Balzac Bill, {Alberta} say six more weeks....all the rest like Staten Island Chuck, {New York}, Shubenacadie Sam, {Nova Scotia} and Wiarton Willie, {Ontario} all say Early Spring!!! That's quite a difference in favor of an Early Spring!! What do you think will really happen?

Tonight's Valentine Countdown prompt is to watch a "Love Movie", fittingly enough we will be watching Groundhog Day will Bill Murray....Groundhog Day with Bill Murray.....Groundhog Day with Bill Murray...haha...{If you've seen that movie...you got that....if not...you should really watch it...its quite funny!!} I have a little groundhog pudding cup dessert planned for them too for after dinner!! and just so you know....I totally don't care if they think I'm crazy!! {Which I'm quite certain they do!}

Happy Groundhog Day!!

Some Words....

This is how I feel most of the time.....


Poster Source: Here

Hope your having a super week so far!
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A Sweet Surprise!!

My Oldest and his beautiful Girlfriend called today to say they were on their way over because they had something for me! I laughed and said well...I'm still in my pj's...{it was WAY past the getting dressed time!!} He said they would be here in a minute...Fun!! When they arrived they handed me a little pink box of goodness...seriously...

Macarons from La Boulange Bakery in San Francisco! Oh my! Look at these little beauties...so pretty and its a no wonder they are used in so many desert tables!!

According to Wikipedia...A macaron (French pronunciation: [makaˈʁɔ̃])[1][2] is a sweet meringue-based confectionery made with egg whites, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond powder or ground almond, and food coloring. The macaron is commonly filled with buttercream or jam filling sandwiched between two cookies.

I can't wait to try them, the last time they were over we had been talking about them and how I wanted to try them!! I am going to save them for after my workout...{Yes, I am rewarding myself with a little happy Macaron for working out....LOL...as counter productive as that May sound...I can't wait!!}

What a nice and sweet surprise!! Thank You!!

Hope your day has been as sweet!

Valentine Treats!!

Hello!!! How are you??!! Are you getting ready for Valentines Day? Is your home getting little bits of red, pink, and teal accents around? Valentines is such a silly fun holiday!!

The best part of Valentines....is making yummy treats and sharing them with people you heart...I know it makes me feel happy!! The packaging makes it super cute for giving too and makes whatever is inside the bag, tastier too, I'm quite certain of that!!!

The Treats: I made the standard recipe for rice krispy treats....let them stand for a bit and then poured the melted caramel all over the top of the cooled rice krispy treats! {I scrapped the bowl and ate that spoonful bit of leftover goodness too!} I then cut them apart and dipped them in melted chocolate and added some sprinkles...you know you have to have some sprinkles. Easy and YUMMY...did I say Yummy and easy!!??!!

The packaging was easy....Scrapbook paper and bits of this and that...easy and fast! That cute red button says in French...."I am Loved"....its from Helzberg Jewelry stores. They have them in all different languages....If someone buys you jewelry...well, you are loved...The same thing happens if someone gives you Chocolate Covered Caramel Rice Crispy Treats...You Are Totally Loved!

Hey, have you "Liked" my HappyLittleArt Facebook page yet? Its an easy way to know when there is a new post here on the blog!! You can Like it HERE!

Hope you are having a great week!!

Valentine's Countdown Calendar Sneak Peek!

It's Friday the 13th!! Are you superstitious? I was reading an old article about Friday the 13th being unlucky on The National Geographic News and in one part of the article it said:

"According to Fernsler, numerologists consider 12 a "complete" number. There are 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, and 12 apostles of Jesus.
In exceeding 12 by 1, Fernsler said 13's association with bad luck "has to do with just being a little beyond completeness. The number becomes restless or squirmy.

This fear of 13 is strong in today's world. According to Dossey, more than 80 percent of high-rises lack a 13th floor. Many airports skip the 13th gate. Hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13.

On streets in Florence, Italy, the house between number 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half.

In France socialites known as the quatorziens (fourteeners) once made themselves available as 14th guests to keep a dinner party from an unlucky fate."

Interesting indeed, I say....and its a good thing I'm working with the Number 14 today!!

Since I never got around to finishing my Christmas advent calendar....I had good intentions but it just never happened and I really wanted the Kids to have the fun of the countdown....so...I'm making up for it with a Valentine Countdown Calendar...a countdown to Love Day!! Here are some of the boxes I have done so far...

The little Martha Stewart boxes I found on sale are perfect. I tucked 5 little candies into each box and added a little tag inside that has an activity typed on it. I used the numbers I had printed out at Christmas time {free, Thank You!} from Just Something I Made and decorated each box!! I can't wait till the Kids get to open one each day!

The activities in these 5 boxes are:
1. Bake and Decorate Cookies and Share with Neighbors
2. Watch a "Love" Movie with Popcorn
3. Play a Game of "Scrabble"
4. Go Out to Eat - Must Wear Something Red
5. Make Homemade Valentines

I Still need to find about 5 more activities (inexpensive and fun)and buy a bag of mixed candy to finish the rest of the boxes but I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at my Work in Progress!

Hope you are having a great day and don't go under any ladders, cross a black cat or step on a crack!!!

Can Cookies Ever Be Bad??!!!

I have lots of New Year Resolutions. I make them every year and try hard to continue them for longer than the first three weeks of the year. This year is essentially no different except that this year, I've already jumped started a few of my resolutions and I'm not taking my failures too hard. When you're too hard on yourself for the small failures you set yourself up for quitting. We don't want to quit we just want to chug along and do better!! With each new day I get up, I have a new chance at succeeding and reaching my goals for 2012...Isn't that great?! You bet it is!!

As with most people, one of my goals is to lose weight and get healthier...I've been on Weight Watchers and working out seriously, for about 2 1/2 months now. I've lost countless inches and almost 25lbs. I've got a ways to go...but I feel healthy and good. Better, in fact, than I have in years!! I am consistently trying new things to stay in my point range for the day all the while adding good sctuff to nosh on...Today I had the brilliant idea that I would make this recipe. Healthy Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies with no sugar....only 3 WW points and hell...a cookie with no sugar can't be bad for breakfast can it?? No it can't...of course not....and definitely not when its packed with yummy good things perfect for your insides and out.....so I set about making these delicious sounding treats.

I was out of Almond meal...That sounded funny...like I often use Almond Meal...not..never before, so I substituted Ground Flax Seeds and swapped applesauce for the oil. Please don't ever do that.....Oil is good. I WILL remember that for next time!! {Next Time??! The Kids just screamed!!!}

After following her directions....I baked these beauties and boy did they smell good. They really did. Like banana bread, which is what I probably should have made instead. The timer went off...and I waited till they cooled and told everyone to try these...YAY...healthy cookies....everyone said okay...yum....and then...and then....I saw one Kid feeding it to the dog...who then promptly spit it out all over the floor...what? What? The oldest said "Wow, these taste really Healthy, Mom!"

What was going on in here? They are delicious cookies.....baked to perfection with dried raisins and cherries in them....how could they not be AwEsOmE?? I would have to risk eating the 3 points now instead of after my workout like I wanted.....I went to the kitchen and tried one....hmmmmmmmm.....they lacked something....they were chewy and full of stuff....and good for you....but dang it....they were NOT the awesomeness I had expected, they were not sweet and ooweey ...they were....HEALTHY and they tasted like it! Could I salvage the cookies so they would at least get eaten and not ALL by me? I did what only I could do....I tossed a bunch of icing on them and sprinkled them with pink sanding sugar....Nothing tastes bad with icing and Pink sanding sugar!!

I had told my Workout Bestie that I would bring her a couple to enjoy after our workout and for tomorrow morning....I'm a little hesitant but I thought...If I packaged it up all cute...it will taste better too...Right?? Of course!! So I quickly packaged a few up to share with her...with silly little fun proverb tags that say things like.....: Don't Bite off more than you can Chew!! Too funny!!!! At least we'll have a laugh!!

I'm quite certain there will be way more kitchen failures...and I'm sure lots of people have made these cookies and thought they were the best thing since...well since cookies....but for me....I'll skip making Healthy Cookies for now and eat the bad ones in moderation!!!
Have a Great Day!!