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!!

Happy New Year!!!

I just wanted to Thank each and everyone of YOU for all your encouragement and support during 2011!! Please know that you are all very much appreciated!!!

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

I hope 2012 is exciting, healthy and super fun-filled for all!! See you in the New Year!!!
Much love and gratitude,

Words Today....

Photo Credit: Unknown

Merry, Happy Christmas!!!!

I truly hope your Christmas is everything you had hoped it would be and more!!

Hugs and Love,

Wordly Wednesday.....

WOW! WOW! WOW....Where has all the time gone??? The season is almost done...gone...over...how sad is that? Hate...that....Hate Shopping too...but that's a lot of what I've been doing...and trying to shop on a tight budget....grrr...hate that too!! Is anyone else struggling this Holiday season? It doesn't help that my Mum is not here and this is the first Christmas without her...so my emotions are up and down and....up and down!! Just keeping it real.

I'm trying to remember these words....because they are sooooo true!

Photo Credit Unknown


Hope to be crafting full time again...starting next week. One of my goals for 2012 is to be more consistent, something I definitely need to work on. The shop is closed until the new year with hopes of having some fun new stuff in there then!!

Hope your Holiday season is going great!!
Hugs!

Wednesdays Words.....

Happy, Happy Wednesday!!!


Photo via Studio Mela

Hope your week is going great!!