BFF Open House #214

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend! We'll jump right into this week's features! 

The "force" was definitely with this feature.  Here at casa Chocolate, we just finished watching the original Star Wars Trilogy because we nerd hard.  I am going to hear about why I didn't make a cake like this. Check out Lou Lou Girls blog for the how to. It's out of this world! (Couldn't help myself!)

Rustic signs are very on trend right now but they can also be pricey. Brenda from Much More Creative shows you how to make your own for less. 

The Pin Junkie shared one of my favorite combinations: pretty and practical. Love this easy cord keeper using clothespins and washi tape. 

This week's chocolate feature will "bust" your bubble. Check out this Buster Bar Dessert from Grandparent's Plus. YUM! 

Now for this week's party !

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party #195

Happy February everyone. 2015 is clearly going to move at a rapid pace! Valentine's Day is just about a week away. It seems like it was just Christmas doesn't it? Let's see some LOVEly ideas fom last week's party! 

Julia from Always Ruetten shared her adorable lovebird wreath. So cute!

I know I said this when I featured Artsy VaVa's last iteration of the evolving chair ( and maybe even the iteration before that) but everytime I think she's done, NOPE! Look at the Valentine's version!!! 

I also love the simplicity of this felt garland from The Gracious Wife . I think the berry beads between each heart really make it pop! 

Finally, these peanut butter chocolate heart cookies from The Pin Junkie  would be a perfect addition to your Valentine's treats!

Now let's see what you've been up to this week! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party #194

Happy Friday eve and welcome to the last BFF Open House of January. I'm hardly what you would call a football fan, but hometown pride is contagious so I'm excited to watch the Seahawks in the SB ( sorry Pats fans...gotta root for the hometown team). 

Valentine's Day will be here imminently so this week's features have a theme. Let's start with these gorgeous treat bags from Bonnie at The Pin Junkie:

Sarah from Ruffles and Rainboots shared how to make a Celtic knot using paracord, something that has so many possibilities from using it in a jewelry piece, or as an embellishment on a pillow or as she did in a garland. 

I recently saw a big glass growler and resisted it because I wasn't sure what I'd do with it ( not a beer drinker !) but Heather from Woods of Bell Trees has solved that. See her take on a Ballard Designs inspired project: 

And how could I not feature these brownies which are perfect for this weekend? From Simple Recipes Club:  Victory Brownies ! Whichever team wins, these will be a hit. 

Now onto this week's party !

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party #188

Hi all, welcome to another party here at The Answer Is Chocolate. The countdown to Hanukkah and Christmas continues . Hope those of you dealing with Northeast storms are holding up. We here in the PNW are bracing for a doozy of a windstorm tonight so hoping the power stays on! 

Here are some features from last week's party! 

I love paper. I love roses. I love paper roses...you get the picture. So does Kelly at The Moon and Me who made these gorgeous rolled paper rose trees. So pretty. 

These vintagely delicious Altered Readers Digest Books from Artsy VaVa would go perfectly with Kelly's trees. 

The always genius Mich in LA has a fantastic idea using vintage brooches. You'll have to visit her blog for the secret ingredient she used for the background of these fun ornaments. 

This week's chocolate feature looks good enough to eat but is not edible...Chocolate candles! How cute are these? Cost is even better. Head over to The Pin Junkie to find out more. 

Now on to this week's party! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party #186

Welcome to the post turkey naptime edition of the BFF Open House. Hoping everyone had a fabulous feast, and those of you braving the crowds tomorrow are well rested and fortified. 

We are in full on December holiday mode now. Here are some features from last week's party. 

I want this chair that Artsy Va Va made over. I wanted the chair it was before she made it into a Christmas chair. I love everything from the ornaments to the shabby chic goodness of the legs and arms! 

Loving this woodland wreath from Made In A Day using embroidery hoops. 

For a new twist on snowglobes made from jars, put a car in it. Visit 24 Cottonwood Lane for the details. 

Gather miscellaneous votives or jars and tie them together with gold leaf to make a festive display perfect for Christmas or Hanukkah. See the guys at Crafty Lumberjacks to learn how. 

This week's chocolate feature is courtesy of  The Pin Junkie: 

You're welcome !

Now on to this week's party : 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party #185: Thanksgiving Crunch Time!

ONE week! This time next week, most of  the US will be taking a collective tryptophan induced nap so party hearty this week while you're still awake.  Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just one week away. Here are some great ideas you still have time to incorporate into your holiday planning. 

Whether you set a formal table or go more casual, The Pin Junkie has some great ideas for place cards that add that extra touch. 

Everyone has their favorite Thanksgiving side dish but if you're looking for some new veggie options, check out Upstate Ramblings for some great options. 

Whether you think of them as such or not, you probably have some Thanksgiving Family Traditions. If you're looking for some additional ideas, Lou Lou Girls has you covered. Some really lovely ones! 

OK. If I have one gripe about Thanksgiving ( I know...not really the time to have any gripes) it's the lack of chocolate! So I'm always on the lookout for something I can add to the dessert options like these Chocolate Wacky Cupcakes With Vanilla Buttercream Frosting yes please and thank you from SimpleReipesClub. 

Now onto this week's party!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party #183

Happy Friday Eve once again! Can you believe Halloween was already a week ago? I can't. Before you know it Thanksgiving will be here. Time is not slowing down. 

Here are some ideas from last week's party perfect for entertaining, decorating and gift giving. 

Do you love strolling through Restoration Hardware or flipping through their catalog? Do you find yourself oohing and ahhhing and saying "no way" at the prices? Rachel from Holy Craft did and knocked off a $550 piece from RH for next to nothing. 

Seeing "caramel apple" and "nachos" in the same sentence is not something I would expect to see. But Bonnie from The Pin Junkie managed to combine them into this dessert that is a must try! Plus there is just no easy way to eat a whole caramel apple is there? 

Teri from A Creative Princess has a simple but perfect idea for fall decorating using clay pots. You could do smaller versions for a centerpiece or make a few of these as gifts. 

I'm going to let Sharon from Her Organized Chaos explain this week's chocolate feature in her own words: Must I really explain this cheesecake? You can just imagine the taste with the name.Oh Sharon, yes I can...yes I can!

Now on to this week's party! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party #180

Welcome back to another party here at The Answer Is Chocolate! TWO WEEKS! Halloween is two weeks from tomorrow people! Whether you're already set or just getting started, there's still time to whip up some things. Here are a few ideas.

Rachel from Holy Craft has devoted an entire week to Halloween projects and I love each and every one of them, a couple of which easily carry forward through Thanksgiving. 

Dana over at This Silly Girls Life shared some fantastic Halloween makeup ideas. 

I love the simplicity but high impact of these scrap wood ghosts from The Pin Junkie.

This week's chocolate feature is another that would be great for a Halloween dessert table. Mini Oreo Cheesecake from TitiCrafty:

Now on to this week's party! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party #164

Happy Friday Eve everyone. Can you believe it's the last weekend in June already? Even scarier, as of yesterday it's six months until Christmas! You know before we blink we'll be seeing Fall and Halloween supplies in the stores if they're not there already. 

But, it's still very much Summer and here are some ideas from last week's party to celebrate this fun season. 

How cute is this SUMMER painted block set from Home.Made.Interest complete with flip flops for the "U"? Think of all the color combinations. 

Complete a fun Summer outfit with this ombre striped clay pendant from The Crafty Scientist. Make one, give one. 

Summer is prime garage sale and flea market shopping season. While you're out and about, look for the components to make this fun suitcase table bar. I have seen suitcase end tables for around $1,200 which is way far away from the price Kim from Made In A Day paid for her table top. 

This week's chocolate feature: Chocolate Banana Muffins from The Pin Junkie. Great way to have your chocolate with some extra fiber and potassium and use up those inevitable extra ripe bananas. 

Let's see what you've been up to this week! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party #151

Friday Eve...best day of the week! Hope none of you endured any awful April Fool's day pranks. Not a fan of that day. 

Here are some inspiring ( inspire Spring?) ideas from last week's party: 

My readers know I love making cards. This one from It's Always Ruetten is a must make idea. Perfect for so many occasions. 

Spring and birds go together don't they? I really like this layered stencil bird project from Laura at Pet Scribbles. 

Doreen over at Altered Artworks took her love of altering things to a bigger level. Ab fab makeover of this flea market found metal file cabinet to some new Industrial Chic storage for her workroom. 

I couldn't believe that this gorgeous cake was Diane's first attempt at cake decorating. Visit An Extraordinary Day for the details. I can assure you , my first attempt looked nothing like this. I'm not even sure it looked like cake! Easter, Mother's Day, showers ...

Finally this week's chocolate feature. Simple, classic, delicious and never tire of this combination. Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars from The Pin Junkie. 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up