Thursday, January 27, 2011

Blog Feature Friday: The Life of Me

Whew! TGIF and you know what that means... it’s time for BFF: Blog Feature Friday !


BFF Button

This week I’d like to introduce you to a blog called:
and the blogger behind it, Sasha. Sasha is a busy young woman ( I could be her….older sister let’s say!) who not only has a fun blog, but a custom scrapbook business, is an independent Memory Works consultant, and she’s an avid photographer and a participant in  “365 Days: My Life Through Photographs”.

In addition to all of this, Sasha hosts a weekly link party on Mondays called:
where you can link up for anything DIY: Photography, Recipes, Sewing Projects, Crafts, Scrapbooking, Cards, Paper Crafts, etc., as well as:
where Sasha is paying it forward in the blogosphere by highlighting a blog each week that inspires her. Whew! Busy young lady!

If all of this isn’t ambitious enough , she’s also set a goal for herself to accomplish 101 things in 1001 days!
She’s got it organized in specific categories and is updating her list on her blog as she goes. I think this is a bold thing to do…putting it out there for all the world to see so good for you Sasha!

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for joining me for another BFF!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

If I Get Tempted, You Get Tempted

So I was scrolling through my blog reader and what to my wandering eyes should appear? This:
Uh-huh. I suffer, you suffer. Jocelyn from Inside BruCrew Life shared these today on her blog. Sorry, I ate all the samples! 

Caramel Caffe' Mocha Cupcakes


One Buck Luck!

If you’re a wine drinker, you might be familiar with “Two Buck Chuck” which is a wine from Trader Joe’s. I’m not much of a wine drinker, but I love a good bargain. I love Dollar Tree, and the dollar section at Target, but my favorite of favorites is the dollar aisle at Michaels.  I epecially love it when they have things like “Moonlight Madness” coupons where you get 25% off EVERYTHING ( except clearance) so instead of $1 it’s $.75. Can’t beat that.

Here are some recent finds I haven’t yet made anything with but had to have since I can’t resist anything black and white:

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Monogramed Packing Tape…cards, collage, who knows?! They have a whole new monogram collection but I was good and just bought the tape. So far!

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This is “flocking powder” which I haven’t played with before but for $.75…

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Rub ons! I love rub-ons , you can put them on everything. So of course I bought a bunch.

And look what I found at Dollar Tree:

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It’s an extendable mini tripod. Hopefully perfect for taking better blog pictures!

Monday, January 24, 2011

January Open House Wrap Up and 500 Follower Giveaway Winner

Thanks to everyone who linked up and made the first Open House of 2011 so much fun! Everything linked up was wonderful so here are just a few highlights from the party and I would definitely check out ALL of the projects! Since next month's party will be after Valentine's Day I'm going to feature some Valentine's related items to inspire you :)

From Carolyn over at her blog homework, this adorable ribbon wreath:
From Christine, at Christine &Co, a great way to count down the days until Valentine's Day:
From Kayla who has a new blog called Breaking Free From Old Ways, look at what she did with a takeout container!
And what would Valentine's Day be without some chocolate goodness? From Jenn at Rook 17, check out these delicious peanut butter pretzel truffles on a stick: 
And last but definitely not least, from Stephanie at Still Waters, these mouth watering Mint Truffle Cupcakes! Oh my, does this just scream "I love you" or what!
Please pick up a featured button from my buttons page if you'd like!

But wait...there's more! I also celebrated reaching 500 Followers with a giveaway. You had to leave a comment to be eligible, and random.org chose #10 :
And that's Bev from Flamingo Toes! Congrats Bev, I'll contact you for your mailing info. 
Thanks again to everyone and hope to see you at next month's Open House on February 18 !

Sunday, January 23, 2011

No Longer In Control

No, not of my mental faculties ( some would argue that point!). My “baby” turned 18 yesterday. Still in denial that this is possible. I certainly gave no consent for this to happen! But happen it did.

Those of you with younger kids, savor the days when you’re totally in control of the party plans and can actually plan a party! Those of you with adult children, I’m sure you’ll tell me that there will again be a time when you can plan. In the meantime….I’ve learned as the teen years have progressed that the friends take over the planning of the social events like birthdays. Not complaining, he has a fantastic group of friends.

Son actually didn’t want to do too much to celebrate this milestone birthday. He and all his friends are exhausted from doing college apps and getting through first semester finals which will be over next week. Teenagers (most) are also notoriously laid back and last minute about planning social things. But finally,late last week, I got a text from one of his closest friends that there were “plans” . She had arranged for a surprise dinner and coordinated all the details. What a sweetheart! I asked if there were after dinner plans and there weren’t so I offered to host a dessert gathering which was a win win, but it just left me yesterday to get things done while trying to keep this a surprise. So, I  whipped up  a birthday banner…that wasn’t something likely to cause suspicion.

 

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Cut out the letters w/ my Cricut using balloon patterned paper and punched some stars out.

Big surprise that Son is a chocoholic like his parents. As soon as he left the house, baked a cake thanks to Bakerella. A chocolate cake with Reeses peanut butter cups in the cake and on top. YUM!

 

 

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Bakerella’s cake had the sides covered w/ chopped peanut butter cups too but the top is enough let me tell you!

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I also did a “build your own sundae” bar with ice cream, hot fudge, and assorted toppings. Since this all came together last minute, I used whatever I had on hand to decorate. I made a table runner out of brown kraft paper, and cut out HAPPY BIRTHDAY and the number 18 out of some more of the same paper I’d used for the banner.

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You can put colored pencils and people can scribble birthday messages. I of course forgot to do that!

 

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Sundae toppings: strawberries, almonds, mini chocolate chips, coconut , Reeses pieces, chopped peanut butter cups. Black and white votives to make it a little more “mature”.

The surprise went off without a hitch and we survived 10 teens loaded up on sugar. Still haven’t come to grips with having an 18 year old!

All You Need Is Love Printable

I found the cutest free  font  over at Two Peas In a Bucket (if you aren’t familiar with this site, it’s an amazing place filled with all kinds of wonderful scrapbooking , card making, digital and paper crafting yumminess). The font is called “2 Peas Hearts Delight” and it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day projects.
I couldn’t resist making another printable, this one inspired by the “Fab 4” aka The Beatles:
All You Need Is Natural
All You Need Is Turq
All You Need Is Gray
All You Need Is Pink
They’re .jpg files so right click to save, to your computer import into editing program size to your choice. I just ask that if you download, you also follow my blog.
Love is all you need!

Linking Up At: 



Friday, January 21, 2011

January Open House Link Party!

Welcome to the first monthly Open House link party of the New Year here at The Answer Is Chocolate! I’ve seen some awesome projects around the blogosphere since the New Year began…lots of fresh ideas in home dec and DIY and tons of super cute ideas for Valentine’s Day ( THE chocolate holiday of the year!)

Nothing’s changed since last year. Link up whatever you’ve been working on…jewelry, apparel, papercrafts, cards, DIY, organization ideas, you name it. Please link to your specific post and not your main blog and please, no Etsy stores or businesses. That’s it!
I’m also very excited and honored to be celebrating reaching 500 Followers! That’s just a mind boggling number to me. Since I’m still working on getting into the sponsor thing, I’ll celebrate with a giveaway of something from me to you. I had so many nice comments on my “Upcycled Heart” that brought back my mojo for 2011, that I’ve made one to give away, and I'm also including a Parisian themed altered candle that says "Merci" to show my thanks:
To be eligible, you have to be a follower and leave a comment, whether you link something up or not. I'll use random.org to choose the winner on Monday !

OK time to link up!