Flash Sale!!

I know, I know, I've been MIA.  

My clutches are selling like hotcakes at my Etsy shop, I've been a crazy sewing woman!!

I wanted to do something a little different so I made these fun, hand painted earrings!!

 

And...later this afternoon, I'm going to have a flash sale on them!!

Go to my Facebook page, "LIKE" and register where is says "Shop Here"

Quantities are limited $10 includes shipping and handling!! 

See ya in a couple of hours!!

Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

I love coming up with new ways to

make your everyday cake mix different.

I'm not sure where I came up with this idea (maybe Pinterest), but I thought I'd give it a shot.

It's super simple!

All you need is what you see above!!

Cake Mix - I like the Pillsbury cake mixes for cupcakes.  They are thicker so you don't get the batter all over the pan.  I use a very small ice cream scoop for the batter. 

Oil - the amount called for on the box.

Eggs - Once again, the amount called for on the box.

Guinness Beer  - Now here's where I changed it up.  Use the beer to replace the water in the mix.  For the Pillsbury brand, add maybe an extra 1/4 cup.  The chocolate is super thick!

Then follow the directions on the box.  I usually make the mini cupcakes and bake them for about 11 minutes.  Oven temperatures vary, but that is what works in mine.

Here's my finished cupcakes.

I frosted them with my normal salted butter cream recipe minus the salt.

Salted Butter Cream

1 cup room temperature Butter

Vanilla (I just pour in a bit)

4-5 cups Powdered Sugar

Half and Half (because that's what I use in my coffee)

Sea Salt (to taste)

Beat the butter and vanilla till soft and smooth, add in the powdered sugar.  I usually add a cup or two at a time.  I also wrap a towel around my mixture so I don't have powdered sugar dust all over my kitchen.

Beat that bad boy till it's well mixed. Add the half and half a bit at a time until it reaches the correct consistency.  I then beat it for a few more minutes that fluffs it up a bit and makes it really smooth!

I used a 1A round frosting tip and white dragees.

I made these along with Lavender cupcakes for my daughter to take to school (cosmetology school, not high school) for her Birthday.  They devoured these and left quite a few lavender ones.  She graduated this past week so I made more...they disappeared too!!

Even if you don't like beer (ME!!) these are so good!!

They'd be great for St. Patrick's Day!!

Let me know what you think!!

I have not been compensated for mentioning brands in this blog.  These are all my opinions!!

Snow?

So, I've lived in Tempe, Arizona most of my life (we won't mention how many years that actually is). Tempe is a suburb of Phoenix.  We boast of 120 degree summer days and we quite often we say that we live here for the winters.  While the rest of the country is shoveling snow, we're shoveling sunshine.

Yesterday was a day like non-other.  In the past, I've seen small flakes of snow hit my windshield and immediately melt but yesterday , well, yesterday was a day that will be talked about for years to come.

THE GREAT PHOENIX BLIZZARD OF 2013

 Yes I said blizzard. Ok so maybe not a blizzard but snowy hail that sticks around for a while.

Yep, for us Phoenix folks, yesterday was a crazy
weather day!

Thanks for humoring me:)

Coming up next week...a NEW cupcake recipe!!
 

What Do You See?

This week has been quite stressful for me. Things have not gone like I planned. I've had to change product deliveries a couple of times, missed taking my daughter to lunch for her 20th Birthday all due to circumstances beyond my control. Fortunately everyone was very gracious and understanding.

Today, after I finished my "real" job, I needed to make one of those deliveries. It's about 15 miles from where I work, so I stopped at that coffee place, you know the one with the siren, to get some ice tea. I know it's February, but I live in Phoenix, I wanted ice tea. I pulled into the parking space and saw a homeless young man walking behind my vehicle. He asked if I had some change so he could get a donut or something to eat. I dug to the bottom of my purse where my change likes to gather, pulled out a handful and gave it to him. He of course thanked me and told me "God bless", and went on his way.

After I bought my $3.00, ok almost $4.00, I got back in my truck and drove off. As I got to thinking, I wish I would have told him "sure I'd be happy to give you some change, but what I'd love to do is buy you a sandwich". I wish I would have walked in proudly with him, bought him some lunch, set and talked to him for a few minutes. I know it would have made my day, but it may have made his week, month, even his year. Not because it was me, but because someone took the time to look beyond his dirty clothes and hands and spend time just talking to him as a fellow human being.

These past months, God has been softening my heart to see beyond the way homeless people look and to see that they are people. Someone's son or daughter, brother or sister, maybe even husband, wife, father or mother whose life choices or circumstances have put them in that situation.

I'm challenging myself and I'd like to challenge to you too, to take a closer look, to see the heart of others in every situation, homeless or not.

I'm not going to apologize for not talking about pretty things but in reality, what could be more beautiful than taking a few moments to show love to someone that may not be lovely in our eyes.

Matthew 10:42 "And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded."

Matthew 25:40 "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"

I'm Still Here!! Valentine's Day Giveaway

It's been a long time since I've blogged.

I guess I haven't had much to say.  My husband would beg to differ on that, I'm sure!!

Life just gets so busy and the things that are important to you are not always at the top of the priority list.

So what has been at the top??

God

Husband

Kids

Work

House

Church

My Business

and everything that those things entail.

Since I was last here, I've been to San Fransisco twice.

The first time with our family this past summer.

 Haight and Ashbury

Then this January with my hubby!!

I was able to get my new clutches in a second store in Scottsdale.

Jam 

Got a new puppy and a great niece!

Plus so much more!!

Ok, so I'll try to do better with my blogging :)  I do have a couple of yummy new cupcake recipes to share!

But for now, how about a Valentine's Day Giveaway?? 

So here's what you will win!!

 ~~This fun blinged out "love" necklace!! The chain adjusts to 18 inches the "love" is approximately 2.5 inches by 1.5 inches.

~~ This pretty rhinestone heart bracelet.

and

~~ A pink sparkly heart ring. Approximately 1.5 by1.5 inches.  The band is adjustable.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner will have 24 hours from the time I notify you to respond.  This giveaway ends Thursday, February 7th at Midnight Arizona time!!  I want to be sure to have plenty of time to get it to you!!

Creativity

So, I've been on a creativity streak lately. Not so much with words but with what I love best doing...making beautiful things. 

 Yesterday applications become available for a large holiday boutique in my area. I've had the privilege of participating the past two years with my jewelry and a few hair pretties. Although it's been successful for me, I feel like I get lost in a sea of jewelry. I was wanting something different, something that I personally haven't seen a lot of. I was somewhat stumped, so I did what I should always be doing, I prayed, had a group of my friends pray for me and did what a good friend of mine says "work what you've got". Here are a few of the things I've made I the past week.

 Oh, did I mention, this is a juried boutique, I need to be able to show them what I'm doing 5 months out. 

So what do you think??

Have a great weekend, it's going to be HOT here!

Renée

 

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is in less than 2 weeks!!

Here are a few ideas for the special Mom in your life from my Etsy Shop.

For the Trendy Mom:

THIS ONE SOLD!  Click HERE  to see more!

 Girly Girl Hat

For the Elegant, Understated Mom:

Mother Love Necklace 

The Mother-To-Be:

 Baby Wipes Case

Here are a few of my favorite skin care items from my friend's amazing skin care line 
Lily & Co.

 Luxe Minerals

 Mommy's Little Helper

 

Lily & Co. is committed to keeping harmful ingredients out of their formulas. All products are paraben free, no drugs, no propylene glycol or petrolatum products.

Lily & Co. gives a portion of all sales to help ladies get off the streets.

Now through Mother's Day, a portion of my sales will go to help those same ladies.

Renée

Mother's Day Gifts

I've been busy getting some special pieces ready for Mother's Day.  It's coming soon guys, May 13th to be exact!!

Here are a few of the items I've been working on just for your Mother!

Also available in antiqued gold.

Also available in antiqued gold.

These first three pieces are available at my

Etsy shop and also at Green Table Gifts in Chandler Arizona.

This piece is only available at Green Table Gifts plus lots more!

Happy shopping!!

Renée

Missing In Action - Spring Break

It seems like forever since we chatted.  Bad me!!

So many things have been going on.  With two businesses, three teenagers, one husband and many church activities life gets a little hectic!!

 

Spring Break 2012!

 

My Daughter volunteered my cupcake baking abilities for her friend's birthday.  Pink Champagne with green frosting.  They turned out so pretty, I had to share! 

Hubby and I worked through Thursday morning, then we loaded into the Beemer with Dré and Domi and headed off to...da, da, da, DAAAA...

Santa Fe, New Mexico!!

(Coco is in cosmetology school and couldn't go :(  )

 

First stop...Albuquerque for the night.  As we were driving to our yucky motel, Domi  saw a sign for the zoo.  I'm not a big zoo fan but if you're ever in Albuquerque, you HAVE to go!!  Cheap, lots of great animals, up close and out!!  Not like my local zoo.  

 

Then off to lunch.  We really didn't know where to go (don't care for the usual fast food).  We ended up in downtown, saw a pizza place, parked so we could go there. As we were walking, we walked by a noodle bar and had a change of taste!!

Not exactly Dré's favorite meal (too many veggies!)

Then off to the great outdoors, Tent Rock National Monument
and a "little" hiking.

We were shot after this adventure!! Lots of dust, Juniper Trees blooming, major allergy issues.

Off to Santa Fe and our beautiful resort!!  Needless to say, we didn't do anything that night but order pizza and watch TV.

Saturday we were off to visit the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.  It was great to learn more about her as a person and see the range of her art.

Then we went exploring.  I love architecture and even though I live in the South West, it is so different than my area of the world.

Well I guess these aren't such good examples of the architecture :)

 

Sunday we headed home...not realizing that we were going to be in the worst snowstorm of the year in Arizona.  It started with blowing sand through New Mexico (Bad enough that Hubby needs a new windshield and the front end of his car repainted).  And turned into rain, sleet and snow, lots of snow.  To let you in on a little secret, I've never been in a snow storm, yes it's true! I've lived in the Phoenix area since first grade!!  Sorry, it does snow on rare occasions and you're lucky if you can see it before it melts on your windshield!

We ended up having to spend the night in Showlow.  We made the best of it, stayed warm and made it home so we could work Monday afternoon.

Whew...I'm tired all over again!

Have a blessed Easter!

Renée

Banana, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Cookies

Yes in another Pinterest moment, I found the recipe for these fabulous cookies!!

I don't know about you, but I have more and more friends that have gluten issues.  I even find that my body does better when I cut out the gluten.  Fortunately it's not a major health issue with me so my kitchen is not gluten free but I do like to find good gluten free recipes to enjoy.

So here you go....

Original recipe from Babble - The Family Kitchen

Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you want these gluten-free, ensure you use gluten-free oats.
3 large, very ripe bananas
1/2 cup peanut butter, preferably all-natural (just peanuts), or almond butter
1/4 cup canola or olive oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups old-fashioned (large flake) or quick oats
1/3 cup shredded coconut (optional)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 – 1 cup chopped dark chocolate or chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350˚F.

 In a large bowl mash the bananas with the peanut butter, oil and vanilla. In another bowl stir together the oats, coconut, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients along with the chocolate and stir until combined.
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet, or one that is sprayed with nonstick spray, and bake for 12-14 minutes, until just set. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

I didn't have coconut so I added extra oats, I also don't care for cinnamon in certain things so I skipped that too.

I then put them in a sealed plastic container and froze them.  I'd pop one or too out to soften up when I wanted a little sweet!

Super yummy, much healthier than regular chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.  My picky 17 year old son even liked them!!

Enjoy!!

Renée

Obsessive Monday

Have you seen all the creative things people are doing with Peeps??  I am truly amazed!!

Travel through "Peepland" with me!!

Source: blogs.browardpalmbeach.com via Shawn on Pinterest

Source: blogs.babble.com via sarah burt on Pinterest

Source: lovefromtheoven.com via Jill on Pinterest

Source: havestampswillcraft.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

Source: thesavvymomsguide.blogspot.com via Angie on Pinterest

Source: marshmallowpeeps.com via Abby on Pinterest

 

Source: gerberadesigns.com via Cassandra on Pinterest

 Could it get any cuter??? I think not!! 

Happy week!!

Renée

Photo Shoot

I know I've been talking quite a bit about Green Table Gifts, it's just that I'm so excited to be a part of it!

 

 

Before they officially opened, the artists had an opportunity to have a mini photo session with Carlee from Oh Snap Photograpy.  She took product and head shots of us for the use of both Green Table Gifts and our own business use.  I had briefly meet Carlee at the Believe Boutique in Chandler as she would go from vendor to vendor "snapping" photos of all the lovely things we had for sale!  She was so much fun to work with and has a great eye!!

Here's what she came up with for me :)

 (As you can see, these were taken at the same time I did my Pink Champagne Cupcake post.)

I'm so thrilled with how they turned out...

Here are a couple of shot she took of my things at the Believe Boutique

this past November.

Thank you Carlee!!  You're a doll!

Renée