Rachael Ray move over ~ Chef Noli is in the house!

I almost dropped my teeth when I walked into my kitchen not long ago and saw this!

Needless to say, I thought "OMG, what are you letting her do??" (directed toward my daughter who, of course, was standing near my five-year-old granddaughter's precious fingers). "Don't worry," says my daughter, "We do this all the time."

ALL THE TIME?? I'm used to her cutting things with a butter knife, but that's a sharp steak knife for crying out loud! Well, to the steak knife's credit, it's not really all that sharp!

My second thought was "BLOG!" and ran to grab my trusty camera...

One of the funniest things that Noli does is to yell "Wait for me! I want to help!" and runs off to grab her trusty stool and runs back in, plops it down, and jumps up on it ready to "do it myself"!! She's like a whirlwind. Like the Roadrunner zooming away from Wile E. Coyote in the cartoons.

Photo from http://www.looney-tunes.cartoonspot.net/

So, after I calmed down a bit, I stood back and watched. And she did a great job of chopping and cooking veggies for our spaghetti dinner!

Now, if I could only get her to clean up.....

Mystic Wynd ~ Featured EtsyBlogger for March!

Karen of Mystic Wynd is this month's featured EtsyBlogger! If you haven't visited her shop, you really must! It's chock-full of lovely jewelry -- some elegant, some feminine, some exotic.

These just jumped right out as I was looking through her shop, intent on deciding which beauties to share with you. Enjoy!

I love this glass heart with its rings, much like a tree's rings growing ever outward. Perfectly named "Love Grows." I can just picture this worn with a sweet sun dress made of lacy cotton, very girly but with an old-time feel. Aqua and White Glass Heart Necklace.

This turquoise pendant reminds me of a ring that was my mother's, and that I have passed down to my daughter. I do so like the copper swirls over the top! They bring to mind the piece's name, "Winds of Change." Turquoise Pendant with Copper Swirls.

And, oh my! -- this dramatic piece! I'd wear it with a simple black V-necked top and gorgeous pants! Set off with a cuff of red leather and strappy heels with a pop of red! This one is named "Scarlet Blade" and I think that fits it perfectly. Murano Style Red and Black Glass Necklace.

These are only a few of the beauties you'll find in her shop -- go visit and see what jumps out at you!!
Oh, and visit her blog too!

Hooray for Chips and Dips! ~ Wednesday Wanderings and the Shops Found Along the Way

Today is National Chip and Dip Day!! Can you believe it?! I know I am on pins and needles until it gets here every year on March 23! National Potato Chip Day is March 14, but this holiday is better 'cause you get DIP! And not just potato chips, but ANY chip!! My personal fave: Kettle Chips! And Corn Chips with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and milk! (I know, that's weird.)

So today I'm hunting down the chips and dips and finding the yummiest, cutest and best smelling!!

Ruffles have ridges! But these chips are soap! And a sour cream dip! (Really a vegan soap!) This shop is a must-see, but be prepared to get the munchies after you look! Potato Chips and Dip Fun Food Soap by AJ Sweet Soap.

Like Mexican food? You can always count on this appetizer when you're eating out! Tortilla chips and salsa, or the best, guacamole. Forget the tacos, just give me chips and guac!  Felt Corn Chips and Dips by LisaJHoney Sweet Things.

Cheetos!! Oh the yellowy goodness all over your hands! No way you can sneak these chips -- everybody will know what you've been doing! And you know you secretly love Chester Cheetah, 'cause "It ain't easy bein' cheesy" ; )   Shout out your cheeto love with this Cuff from Repurposed Cheetos Bags by Squigglechick Designs.

Bring on the Fritos! (Don't forget the pb&j and milk!) Maybe I could keep my secret stash of Fritos in this cute wallet! Do you remember making those gum wrapper chains and seeing who could make the longest one? That looks like the technique used for this wallet! Too cute! Frito Wallet/Coin Purse by Sweet Candy Purses.

How about a little spicy dip for those chips? This one sounds good! And if you've just gotta have veggies, it's great for that too : ) Kick Me Later Medium Salsa Seasoning by Jamn Salsa.

Well, you've gotta have a bowl to put all those chips and dips in, don't you? How about this vintage set -- maybe it will keep the chips where they're supposed to be, and not on the couch! Vintage Chip and Dip Bowl by Domus Modern.

Want a little snacky dessert after all those chips? Try this 'cause tomorrow is National Chocolate-Covered Raisins Day! I kid you not! Mark your calendars - it's on March 24th every year!! Paca Beans Chocolate Covered Raisins by Well Criated.

After all those chips I need a big glass of Sprite with lots of ice!!

Eye Spy...Something Red! A Look Back...

I just found a fun link party to join! Creative Friday Features is hosted by Little Andalucia and each week she will post a new theme. Then, you can join the party with a post you have written that fits with the theme. Fortunately, you can use an old post if you'd like! Yahoo! I'm saved!

Here's what she says about her linky party: "I like the idea of us supporting one another and the bigger the playground for creative entrepreneurs and bloggers the better it is in my opinion."  I totally agree!

This week's theme is "red" and my choice is a post I did back in August of 2009:  Eye Spy...Something Red!
It will be my entry on the link party, with an updated edit.


Here's how to get to the party:

Have fun reading the various blogs!
And you're welcome to join the party anytime!

Disturbing Oliver

Oliver is a very laid-back cat. Likes to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it. He is very solemn -- even when he's playing he seems pensive. His expression is always so serious!

So it's really fun to sneak up on him and catch him in the act of being oh-so-Oliver...

Asleep in one of his favorite spots. Happily snoozing away. Snoring.

Until my camera catches him.

"Oh why won't you let me sleep. I was having the nicest dream."

"I'll just glare at you until you go away."

He only moves his tail and eyes! He looks skinny here but he's really a butterball and sinking down in the chair pillow.

"OK, I'm going back to sleep. But I'm keeping my eye on you..."

Funny how they can sleep with their eyes a tiny bit open. Eerie.

=^.^=  ♥  =^.^=  ♥  =^.^= 

Do you like "catching" your cat?

=^.^=   

Spring is in the Air!

Thank goodness for the Bradford Pear! This small tree with its sweet white flowers is one of the first things to bloom in my part of Texas. It greens up, the tiny clusters of flowers bloom.....and then the flowers go away. The tree stays green but I miss the profusion of white.

I had a Bradford Pear in my side yard, but unfortunately it met its match in some evil bug that spun big pouch-like webs over the limbs. These bugs were all over the place -- few varieties of trees were immune (fortunately our oaks were!) You could see the webs on trees all over town. We tried to save our Bradford, but nothing helped and we eventually had to have it removed. It saddens me every time I look at where it was; it was such a pretty little tree.

But, the Bradford Pear is blooming everywhere right now and it does my heart good to see them! They are like dots of clean, white glory where there has only been the gnarly, witchy looking bare branches of trees during the winter.

And the pansies and petunias and such! They are starting to appear in street medians and entrances to subdivisions. I love all the colors!

Spring is almost here! The weather keeps changing from week to week but the days are getting warmer and the flowers are starting to bloom!

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I have recently joined the EtsyBloggers team and one of the fun things to do is to participate in a bi-weekly Blog Carnival. The current topic is titled "A Touch of Spring Fever" and I chose to write about the first signs of spring that tell me that winter is finally over. Everyone posts the links to their blog in the comments section of the Blog Carnival post -- so you are welcome to click on them and enjoy the posts! And be sure to leave comments on each if the spirit moves you! 

Happy Spring!!!

 

Luck O' the Irish - Wednesday Wanderings and the Shops Found Along the Way

St. Patrick's Day is upon us and I always think of clovers. Four leaf clovers for luck. Shamrocks.

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Why should you never iron a four-leaf clover?  You don't want to press your luck!

Clovers from my yard!

When I was just a wee lass, I used to sit with my friends in huge clover patches and make clover necklaces from the small white flowers. Most people mowed the clovers down, but there was a house at the end of my block (which was good because I wasn't allowed to cross the street!) that had the biggest clover patches ever! Sometimes I'd find a four-leaf clover and that was, indeed, very special!

This is a four-leafed clover that you can keep year-round for all the luck you need! Vintage Quilt Heart Shamrock by The Career Scraper.

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I have a bit o' the Irish in me and a very Irish last name. But I still wear the green on St. Pat's Day, and feel funny if I don't, for I do not relish getting pinched!

 Here's a very clever wearin' o' the green! A handpainted cuff bracelet made from a vinyl record! How totally cool is that! Irish Shamrock Cuff Bracelet by Designs by Devonee.

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What is St. Patrick's Day without it's resident leprechaun? After all, somebody's got to guard that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! And maybe have directions to get there : ) 

This little guy is a real Irish cutie! And he's a pattern so you could crochet your own wee leprechaun -- maybe he'll lead you to his pot of gold! Pudgy Leprechaun Crochet Pattern by BVOE's Shop.

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For sure, every St. Pat's party has green beer and probably a leprechaun or two changing all the beer to green!

These two mugs are perfect for your beer, green or otherwise! St. Patrick's Day Beer Steins by Etched in Time, LLC.

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There's always a St. Pat's Parade winding through downtown USA and everybody in it is Irish! At least Irish for the day! It's a good time to take your Irish pup for a wee walk...  

When you and your sweetie pup lass are in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, she'll be so darlin' in this cute dress!   
St. Patrick's Day Dress by Cody and Company Pet Products
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After the parade, you'd better be giving your pup a few treats. After all, she was so good! 

As this seller says, "Your pup found the pot of gold!" Don't these treats look yummy? Maybe they could be a people treat too?!! Leprechauns Gold Dog Treat Box by Po's Bag of Bones Bakery. 

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May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

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As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

What's in a Name? ~ Wednesday Wanderings and the Shops Found Along the Way

Today is "Learn What Your Name Means Wednesday" -- really! It's part of "Celebrate Your Name Week."  Google your name -- find out what it means! Mine means "Princess"!!

And to get you started, here are some little known, fun name facts! (You knew it was coming, didn't you?!!)

♥ M&Ms are named for the candy’s creators Mr. Mars and Mr. Merrie. Very creative of them, don't you think?  Ha! :D

Peanut M&Ms are one of my three favorite candies. If I have a bag of them, I just can't stop popping those peanuts! The whole bag. No matter the size. Just don't get me started on the great big bag... Cute M&Ms headbands for your little candy lover! M and M Peanut Candy Wrapper Headband by Presents From Alex.

♥ Donald Duck's middle name is Fauntleroy. Poor guy. No wonder he was so crazy!

Donald is my absolute favorite of the original Disney characters. He's hysterical when he gets so mad! He has nephews but we know little about their ancestry and Daisy has been his girlfriend forever but he just will not step up to the plate and marry her. Even though her shoes are so in vogue and her bow so perky...
Vintage Donald Duck Figurine by Circle the Square.

♥ Jake the Jailbird is the guy in jail on a Monopoly board. The police officer in the corner is Officer Edgar Mallory and Scotty is the scotty dog playing piece. (Another 'creative' name, huh!)

Boy do I remember playing Monopoly, both as a child and with my children! I don't know what the playing pieces are made of now, but ours were metal. And as a kid, I would more often play with the playing pieces and the (wood) houses than play the game itself. Life's Little Games by CocoPunkz Handpainted Shoes.

♥ Gidget is the Taco Bell dog. Somehow I always thought of (her) as a (he)!! The original dog actor was named Dinky, but was replaced by Gidget. (Maybe Dinky didn't like tacos?) Then there was Taco who was a stand-in for Gidget.

I miss the Taco Bell dog, no matter his name. (or gender). His commercials were funny and he was a cutie! This handpainted canvas for needlepoint really looks just like him! Ahh Chihuahua by Glitzy Mitzi.

♥ Did you know that Barbie's rightful name is Barbie Millicent Roberts? Millicent? Really? And her sidekick, Ken's last name is Carson.

Did Barbie write her name with Ken's like we all did in Junior High? Barbie Carson. Barbie M. Carson. Or, because she was so progressive, Barbie Carson-Roberts.

Here she is in her bridal gown -- she keeps it in her closet because she just knows Ken will pop the question one of these days. Sleeveless Barbie Wedding Dress with Veil by OnHoliday.

Thanks for strolling around Etsy with me today, and playing the name game!

Treasuries!!

Great discovery on Craft Cult! They have a widget that makes it so easy to post treasuries on your blog! I wanted to try it out and decided that I would the next time one of my shop items was featured in a treasury. Soooo, today's the day!

And I was thrilled to find that I'm in two treasuries!

The first is called Spring Green with Blossoms and it's made by Splendid Little Stars. She used lovely creations from members of the Etsy Blog Team. I'm thrilled that my Key Lime Pie Washcloths are included!



The second treasury, made by Into the Light, is called And on the Lighter Side... and features beautiful creations by members of My Texas Friends -- a team made up of Etsy crafters who reside in, or used to reside in, Texas. My Bridal Keepsake Pouch proudly sits side by side with wonderful Texas-made treasures!



Well, that was pretty easy! I'm glad I found out about this widget! Another cool aspect is that the item photos in the treasuries are clickable!! Brings you right to the shop!

To do it yourself, go to Craft Cult and click on Widgets at the top and then Treasury. Enter your Etsy username and choose the treasuries you've made, or those you're featured in. Choose your treasury from the drop-down and copy the code that comes up. Paste the code into your blog post using "Edit HTML."

The best way to do it (after a bit of trial and error on my part) is to type all your post and THEN paste the code where you want it. It doesn't show up on your "Compose" page so it's hard to tell where to put it. It will show on your "Preview" page, however.

I hope that was at least as clear as mud!  As Mikey's pals used to say:  Try it, you'll like it!!

Oh, and be sure to go visit the shops of the lovely friends who made the treasuries, as well as the featured items themselves!

The Official Party ~ My Little Pony Style!

Yesterday was Noli's birthday party!  It was at a local park and was a beautiful day, a little chilly if you were in the shade, but perfect out in the sun. I can't believe she's already five! The time seems to have passed so quickly but then, looking back, it's hard to imagine a moment when she was not in my life. She's getting so big and grown up -- even though we still do a lot of cuddling, I wish I could turn back the calendar and replay those sweet, sweet baby days!

You couldn't miss the location -- you were greeted by this sign made by Daddy (Noli helped by putting on the stickers).

And this very cool Pony balloon. Noli loves, loves, loves My Little Pony! And of course, the ponies were very visable at her party!

Her cake was pony inspired -- made by a baker friend of a friend of Daddy. Or something like that. Anyway, it was a cute cake with a chocolate and strawberry surprise inside! Yum! Noli placed the star candles just where she wanted them to go. And loved the fact that she got another pony!

Mommy's cake that she makes for Noli each year (a yummy apple one), so it's become a tradition, didn't turn out so well this time. Mommy said she would bake another one, so I said we would have another, special, celebration. Besides, she has to use the sweet silver Winnie the Pooh candle holders that she got when Noli was just born and has used on the apple cake each year.

Aren't traditions wonderful?

The kids all had a great time -- a park is a perfect place for a birthday party! When my kids were little, we had many a party at the park! Easy clean-up and the kids make their own games -- what could be better?!!

They climbed.

They rock climbed.

Oops, I'm stuck!!

They rode bikes.

Noli got a new one, all pink and glittery, and I think there's a pony on it somewhere. She also got a new Razor bike from her cousin so they'll have the same thing. It's kind of an updated Big Wheel look. Good grief, the kid now has a bike, the Razor, a skateboard, a scooter. There's even a trike out on my patio that she won't let me get rid of! She is wheel city!! But I think the glittery bike with horn, bell, cool pouch, foot brakes AND hand brakes as she's so quick to point out, and of course, handlebar fringe, is her favorite!

They ate cake.

And they opened presents.

All in all, it was a fun time!