Showing posts with label Lou Lou Girls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lou Lou Girls. Show all posts

Thursday, June 29, 2023

BFF Open House

 


End of JUNE? That's what my calendar is telling me. Does anyone know how that happened? I feel like I was just talking about our challenging May, looking forward to a productive June (it wasn't) and here we are at the end of it already? I think I've come to the realization that Summer is an off-season for me. I'm not motivated to create much. So being on the disabled list plus that...

I was in JoAnn's yesterday and they already have HALLOWEEN stuff! It's very cool and it's 40% off. I was actually in there for something specific and was so unprepared for Halloween I didn't buy anything but I need to go back. Some very cool stuff. 

Speaking of cool stuff, let's take a look at some fun ideas from last week's party! 


Steph Creates shared another of her fantastic Dollar Tree transformations with this House Plaque makeover. 


All the way from the Netherlands from Moiis Van Me (hope I didn't get that too wrong) is this beautiful and colorful Crocheted Basket. Thank you Google Translate!


If you need a last-minute idea for the Fourth of July, this Felt Scrap Wreath from Creatively Beth is perfect! 


Finally, how gorgeous and delicious does this Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream Cake from Lou Lou Girls look?! 

Thanks to everyone who linked up and to those dealing with the fallout from Canadian wildfires or excessive heat watches, be careful, hydrate, stay safe! Wishing everyone a safe Fourth of July! 













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Thursday, January 12, 2023

BFF Open House

 


Happy Friday Eve once again Creative Peeps! Hope you're easing into the New Year OK. The images out of California with the flooding are overwhelming and I hope any of you there are safe and dry. 

I've squeezed in a few cards I haven't bothered to post but that's as creative as I've been so far in the New Year. We keep our decorations up until after Twelfth Night so this week was focused on taking down and putting away and now my house feels so naked! Which works with an unintentional theme for this week's features. 


Penny's Treasures shared her very cute After Christmas Decor. I'm inspired to come up with a plan for next year to tackle the starkness that follows taking down the decorations. Love this! 


Thrifting Wonderland reminded us that thrift stores also hold post-holiday sales in January and what a wonderful time it is to score some finds to add to our collections. 


My Thrift Store Addiction also shared some inspirational post-holiday finds that are perfect for Winter transition. 


Finally, it's still very much hot chocolate season but what about Hot Chocolate Pancakes? Thank Lou Lou Girls for these! 


Thanks to everyone who linked up last week and can't wait to see what you've been up to in the New Year!











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Thursday, December 30, 2021

BFF Open House

 


Happy New Year's Eve Eve everyone! Can you believe we're about to say goodbye to 2021?! Or is it still 2020...some days it's hard to tell. I hope everyone who celebrated Christmas had a wonderful holiday. Santa Hubs was very good to me and I am now the proud owner of a Cricut Maker 3!!! I haven't unboxed it yet because I remain being lazy and enjoying time w/ my son but soon! I cannot wait to play with it. 

NYE has never been a big deal in our house. Aside from the first year we were married, we've never gone out and basically celebrate at midnight East coast time because we're usually asleep by midnight unless we set an alarm. I hope everyone is safe and above all healthy this New Year's Eve. 

Light party last week given the timing, but some great ideas that could be done for tomorrow night! 


I love potatoes. LOVE. When I lived in Denmark, the joke among my fellow students about living with our host families was not IF we were having potatoes but what kind every night for dinner. Fine by me! These Melting Potatoes from The Lou Lou Girls are on my list to make! YUM. 



If you are hosting a NYE or New Year's Day event, a dessert open house is a great idea. This post from Scratch Made Food has some "food for thought". 


Pots and Planes shared this amazing Salted Chocolate Bark which looks amazing! More than enough time to whip up a batch. 


Finally, wrap up the old year and wash things down with a White Chocolate Eggnog Cocktail from Cindy's Online Recipe Box


Well...that's a wrap for 2021 link parties. I'd like to thank you all for spending time here at my place this year and hope to see all of you back in 2022! 








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Thursday, July 8, 2021

BFF Open House

 


Happy Friday Eve all and I hope everyone had a safe and happy Fourth of July. It was a late night for us because the illegal fireworks people were shooting off did not agree with the dog nor she with them so it was a "howler" of a night. Given the high fire danger here in the desert that was also a concern but fortunately, all is well.

I also had a chance this week to create something for my new office and because I've had interest in the coffee filter flowers I used in this Oversized Floral Wreath, I will be doing a future tutorial on how to make them so stay tuned! 

Let's take a look at some of the creative projects shared at last week's party! 


Who grew up with one of these Better Homes and Gardens Cookbooks? I know they've updated but this looks so familiar and everyone I know had one of these in their family kitchen. Lisa, from Fresh Vintage by Lisa S took one and altered it, making it fun while keeping the nostalgic feel. 


If you have a fireplace you don't actively use, Kathleen from Our Hopeful Home has a wonderful way to cover it using a beautiful Botanical Print. 


Artsy Va Va shared yet another STUNNING piece of furniture she made over. Just GORGEOUS!! 


Finally, on a hot Summer day, what's better than lemonade except this delicious looking Frosted Lemonade from the Lou Lou Girls?! 

Thank you to everyone who linked up and let's take a look at what you've been up to this week! 






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Thursday, June 17, 2021

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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Thursday, March 25, 2021

BFF Open House

 


Happy Spring, officially! It's kind of hard to tell here in the desert but I guess it's when it's still below 100! I used to tease my Mom and friends who lived here before us about being cold in temperatures that other parts of the country would consider far from it. Now I'm on the receiving end when I tell our son that "it's cold" as he lives in Chicago and reminds us what cold really is.  Karma!

Easter is early this year and I haven't really done any decorating or new Easter projects. I did a little roundup of different ways to use plastic eggs here.  

But, I did grab this free cut file from Creative Fabrica today that I'm going to play with! If you don't know , they have daily freebies but they are only free for one day. Fonts, graphics, SVGs. It's a great way to build a library. They also have a weekly freebie and periodically offer free bundles. I'm not an affiliate so this is just me sharing. 

OK! Let's take a look at some of the wonderful projects shared at last week's party. 


MaryJo from Masterpieces of My Life shared her gorgeous Easter Tablescape, the centerpiece of which are beautiful Mercury Glass eggs! I love the moss bunnies and accents. 


Penny, from Penny's Vintage shared her festive Spring Kitchen so you have to check out the whole thing but I especially love these fabric carrots! This gives me some ideas how to use up lots of scraps I have from mask making! 


Lisa from Fresh Vintage by Lisa S shared a treasure trove of German Paper Mache Easter Eggs she found while thrifting. What wonderful vintage keepsakes! 


Finally ( and we're all adults here right) I give you these "Better Than Sex" cupcakes shared by the Lou Lou Girls! I think they speak for themselves! 

Alright! Let's see what everyone's been up to this week! Happy Passover to those celebrating!








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Thursday, September 24, 2020

BFF Open House Link Party

 


Happy Friday Eve all ! Welcome back to another party here at The Answer Is Chocolate. Hope everyone's made it through the week uneventfully. Uneventful is my goal these days. I'm not sure if Mr. Chocolate is ready to call for a Halloween intervention yet or not. I haven't started decorating but I have been busy making stuff to decorate with once I start. I'm so happy about how this Witch Hat Wreath turned out! 

 
I think I've solved the issue I was having with last week's embedded link party so we will see! Let's take a look at some of the fabulous ideas from last week's party.  

As my son grew older, my Halloween decor got more gothic, elegant, and darker. Anita from Unique Creations from Anita shared this Halloween Goblet that I adore! It's just perfect! 



I love a good "green craft" that repurposes things that you have on hand. I have a fun one coming up next week! Naush from Doodlebuddies shared one that is easy and fun: DIY Pumpkins using scrap cardboard, twigs, twine and ribbon. I'll bet every one of us has the supplies! 



Priyam from Simple Joys shared this beautiful Fall wreath made from ... Paint Sample Cards! I love how it captures all the stages of leaves that change colors. 


Finally, this week's chocolate feature is from Lou Lou Girls and they are as cute as they look delicious. Who can resist Keebler cookies? I know so many of us bake but sometimes you just need a package of cookies from the store and to use them on top of cupcakes? Perfect! 

Hope you enjoyed these features! Now, let's see what you've been up to this week!













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