BFF Open House

 

Achoo! I mean Happy Friday Eve. Just a little allergy humor. While a lot of the country has been under snow and ice, allergens are kicking my behind here in the desert. So this week the most creative thing I've done this week is figure out which combination of allergy and sinus meds to take. I hope everyone else is having a good week! 

As always, lots of wonderfully creative ideas shared at last week's party so let's take a look at a few! 

Need some last minute Valentine's inspiration? Check out this beautiful Box of Roses idea from Studio 27 by Jennifer Adams! Beautiful. 

Another great and easy way to decorate comes from Fresh Vintage by Lisa S with these Coffee Filter Hearts strung on a branch to make a Valentine's tree. 

I've been wanting to get back into crocheting and this Baby Blanket with Pom Poms from Howling Liz is just perfect! 

And finally, this Orange Ginger Vinaigrette from Homemade on a Weeknight looks and sounds so delicious! 

Thanks to everyone who linked up. Now let's see what you've all been up to this week! 

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BFF Open House

Happy Friday Eve once again and welcome back to another fun party here at The Answer Is Chocolate. I hope everyone's had a great week and survived the changing of the clocks.  We don't change here in AZ but we do get confused about what time it is everywhere else. 

We are already almost mid November with American Thanksgiving (I had Canadian colleagues who trained me well) two weeks from today! My mom will be spending the holidays back east with her sister and while we'll miss her, I think this is a fabulous opportunity to do something she hasn't done in forever. 

I had a ton of fun with girlfriends at a "Candle Bar" last weekend. Check out the details here: Light and Bark Candle Company and got my Thanksgiving cards done which you can see here

Lots of festive Fall goodness shared at last week's party. Let's take a look at a few ideas! 

Can you tell I'm in love with yarn based pumpkins? I just think they look so cozy. This herringboned patterned one is from Howling Liz. 

This DIY Long Box from Thrifting Wonderland is one of those pieces that can stay out all year round and be updated seasonally. PERFECT for the holiday season and I'm picturing it filled with everything from mini gourds to bottlebrush trees, ornaments and greenery, paperwhites, amaryllis...you get the idea!  

Speaking of bottlebrush trees, check out this ingenuity from Junk Journal who used vintage doorknobs as their base! 

Finally, if you're looking for a star addition to your Thanksgiving dessert table, look no further than this pretty Pumpkin Caramel Trifle from The Kitchen Is My Playground! She just keeps coming up with amazing desserts! 

Thank you as always to all who linked up and can't wait to see what you've been up to this week!

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BFF Open House

 

Happy Friday Eve all! This week's been a blur since I had a couple of procedures this week and glad they're OVER! Hoping that's it for me and Mayo clinic this year. We're in the final countdown to Halloween and then it always seems like the rest of the year goes by in a flash. Let's take a look at some of the great Halloween themed ideas from last week's party. 

I'm envious of this fabulous find and transformation shared by Penny's Vintage Home. If you're ever lucky enough to find an "old rusty 5 gallon gas can" look at the gorgeousness you can create with it like this Jack O'Lantern transformation! So cute! I also love the vintage Halloween dolls. Did I mention there's a festive fall cocktail recipe in the same post? 

 While not Halloween per se, I could not get over these incredible Crocheted Lampshades from Howling Liz. Crocheted! Aren't they amazing?! I could not believe they were crocheted. Still can't!

If you need a costume idea for yourself or a little one, it doesn't get any easier than this no sew Woodland Deer Felt Mask from Creatively Beth. Adorable! 

Finally, if you are a Candy Corn lover then you want to check out this post from The Kitchen Is My Playground because Tracey has the details on how to make your own! No need to wait for it to be in season anymore, and since it's made in your own kitchen, you can make it any color combo you want for any season! 

Once again, thanks to all who linked up and can't wait to see what you've all been up to this week! 

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BFF Open House

 

Happy SEPTEMBER everyone! Can you believe it? I can't. Three weeks post surgery today and not gonna lie...taking longer than I hoped to get back to full speed. I have to remember that while I'm young at heart, that heart is in a body a little bit older than it was when I last had surgery. Thankfully pain is pretty much gone but I get tired easily and fall asleep like a narcoleptic! Tired by restless is a weird combination. 

Best possible medicine was a visit from PhD man last week who cooked and tutored Mr. Chocolate in cooking and we managed to get out of the house a couple of times although still being cautious because of Delta. 

So for now, still not really spending any time creating but itching too, especially with Halloween next month! In the meantime, let's take a look at some of the great ideas shared at last week's party! 

Fall through Christmas crafting season is my favorite time of the year. What better way to welcome September and Fall than this beautiful Wheat and Grass Wreath from Howling Liz?

Also perfect for Fall is this beautiful Beaded Fall Garland from Artsy Va Va! Beaded garlands are very popular right now. 

"Love me" some Dollar Store finds. And these reversible Fall and Halloween Pumpkins from Life as  A LEO Wife are GENIUS!! 

Finally, I have been a cheeseburger fiend since childhood and my number one favorite as a kid was going to White Castle. There was just something abut the size that made them special. Now, sliders are everywhere and The Kitchen Is My Playground has a great way to make them at home. 

Thanks to everyone who linked up and let's see what everyone's been up to this week! 

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BFF Open House: Keeping It Real Edition

 

Happy Friday Eve Creative Peeps...this time from home vs this time last week in the hospital. Thank you for your kind words of support. Got sprung last Friday and on my journey of recovery. Normally I keep the intro to my party related to creative things or seasonal discussions but this one I'm going to "keep real" so if you want to skip straight to the party, scroll on down. 

What landed me in the ER last Monday was having dealt with of all things, constipation, for the two weeks prior. After my Mom's fall and her own hospitalization in March, recovery and follow up tests and appointments plus dealing with insurance stuff in April, making the decision in May to move closer to her, and then prepping to move, it wasn't that surprising since I had been doing a lot of on the go eating etc. 

Welp! That wasn't the culprit. But I'm glad I listened to my body and part of the reason I'm sharing this is to encourage everyone to LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! After blood tests and a CT scan in the ER, turned out I had a Tubal Ovarian Abscess as well as Colitis. The question became a chicken and egg one of which came first. Especially since I'd had a hysterectomy at 35 and there was no logical pathway to the Fallopian Tube and/or Ovary. The conclusion by the time I was discharged was, "doesn't matter". The treatment would have been the same. I had a white blood count double the top of the normal range which was "no bueno". Really really bad. So days of IV fluids and antibiotics ensued, including being discharged on the maximum dose of antibiotics for two more weeks. I also came home with a friend called a Pigtail Drain which is a tube that had to be put in my abdomen by a specialist called an Interventional Radiologist. Are we having fun yet? Nope! We are not. 

Most ( not all ) of my readers are women so I'm directing this to you. We tend to put ourselves last. As mothers, daughters, wives, sisters...we're the caregivers. PLEASE friends...listen to your bodies. Know when not to ignore that something's off. Don't feel like you have to power through everything. I'm a good one to talk because that's what I've done my entire life. My dad, may he RIP, set the minimum expectation at 110%. That was baseline. And I internalized it my whole life and as such, have sometimes ignored things I shouldn't. Likewise, we're bombarded with messages to push ourselves and accept no limits. Appropriate when contextualized perhaps, but it can be equally dangerous. So I implore all of you, don't think you have to be Wonder Woman. I love her but ... she's a fictional character. 

A big shoutout to Mr. Chocolate who has been there for me 100% and the burden of this move has fallen on his strong shoulders but he too is only human as I keep reminding him. Thankful that PhD Man is coming to help us finish up. 

Alright let's take a look at some of the creative ideas shared at last week's party. It's going to be a minute before I get back to creating. Have some follow-up appointments next week and a surgery in my future to remove these lady parts that tried to kill me. Also...moving. Never let it be said that I do things halfway!

Howling Liz shared some adorable and fun Summer Necklaces. 

LOVE these bright and fun Owl and Bird Painted Rocks from Simple Joys! There was a trend a couple of years ago of leaving painted rocks in random places. How fun would it be to randomly find ones this cute? I still have one I found at our Community Garden. 

This rescued makeover from French Creek Farmhouse is not only a beautifully refinished piece, but Kristi gives you some FABULOUS tips of things to look for in rescued / thrifted pieces and how to rehab them. Beautiful piece! 

Finally,  you know things must have been serious with me because I haven't even thought about chocolate for a couple of weeks. Seriously. I can't believe it either. This Chocolate Poke Cake from The Lou Lou Girls is definitely being saved for when that time comes!

OK let's see what you've all been up to this week and I would be remiss in not giving a HUGE shoutout to NURSES! I know I do not nor did I ever have it in me to answer this vocational calling. I truly believe it is a calling and the Nurses who cared for me were my angels. 

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BFF Open House

 

Happy June Creative Peeps although JUNE?! Yikes. Moving is underway and making is on pause. Is it just me or do others see things they're moving and decide "hey I need to make this over right after I'm settled". I bet it's not just me. June! Father's Day, PRIDE, lots of graduations, weddings etc. at least traditionally. Graduations seem to be split between May and June these days and with so many still being virtual it's hard to keep track. 

I had a wonderful surprise this week. You may remember that I made some cards and tags for an organization called Box of Balloons that works to ensure every child has a birthday memory. I got the nicest email from them yesterday that just made my heart soar.

"I've been putting a card and gift tag in each birthday box I've been creating and it adds such a personal touch to each box. Thank you so much for donating these as I'm sure they took a lot of time and energy to create. They're so beautiful and made so well and I'm just blown away and grateful :) "

I let the coordinator know that as soon as I'm settled I'll make some more. It's such a great feeling to know that you can bring a little more light into the world doing what you love. 

Let's take a look at some ideas from last week's party!

To my point about making over some things on hand, take a look at these gorgeous pots Howling Liz updated. These look so current and I love the glossy black she used. Gorgeous! 

Think this is an old wooden box  Artsy VaVa tranformed into gorgeousness? Nope. It's a brick mold! And being a Southwest dweller, I love the succulents which aren't painted but rub-ons. 

I've had a lifelong fascination with globes. I'd look at them to see where characters I was reading about lived, or of course for schoolwork, or to look at places people came from or I wanted to go. Jennifer from Studio 27 had another creative idea to use one to show where her blog traffic comes from! So many possibilities! 

Genius! If you've made Hot Cocoa Bombs, you've already got the molds you need to make these perfect for Summer Ice Cream Bombs! This genius idea comes from 3 Winks Design. What fun treats for the hotter months!

Thank you as always to everyone who linked up. I love seeing what everyone's up to. Now let's take a look at who's done what this week! 

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BFF Open House

Happy Friday Eve all! Hope those of you who have been dealing with frigid to sub-zero weather are keeping warm. Valentine's weekend is here and 2021 is moving quickly. Hard to believe it's been a year that we've been dealing with COVID isn't it? But Creatives that we are, we've been able to fill that time haven't we? Let's take a look at some of the ideas from last week's party! 

The Little Yellow Corner Store shared this Warm and Cozy Valentine's Tablescape that truly lives up to its name! 

Howling Liz is showing some love for our feathered friends with this pretty and practical Birdseed Heart. We have tons of quail around us who aren't exactly airborne but I love to watch them as they have their morning and evening conclaves. 

 Another beautiful tablescape, this time with Chocolate Truffles and Peonies, was shared by My Thrift Store Addiction. I love pulling together different pieces we have on hand and using them in creative ways. 

Finally, Valentine's Day doesn't have to only be about chocolate ( Gasp! Can you believe I just said that?... Me?!) I am intrigued by this Garlic Lovers Jelly from Homemade on a Weeknight. I started using a Honey and Fig jam I picked up on burgers, grilled cheese, etc. and it was a game changer. I think this Garlic Lover's Jelly is one as well! 

 

Thanks to all who linked up and let's see what you've all been up to this week! 

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