Favorite Etsy Shop - DogBoneArt

I love cute, kooky stuff...and the shop of DogBoneArt is no exception...I mean, pirate cupcakes? what is better then that??

here are a few of my favorite items from their shop :)

pirate cupcake apron...for when you bake pirate cupcakes, of course :)




















Joe Penguin Plushie...it's a penguin, so of course I want one :)















Vampire Baker t-shirt...no cakes made of garlic here ;)

Saturday's photo

Jack...aka the homework helper

Friday Finds on Etsy!

New York, New York...da da da da dat, da da da da dat...

NYC Subway Token Necklace by qacreate















Manhattan Vinyl Skyline by Simple Shapes





















New York Subway Print One by Bella0429

movie review...UP!

one of the cutest movies I've seen...it's got flying houses, it has talking dogs, it is funny, smart and well just all around cute :) it makes me want to get into computer animation and create movies for Pixar...you will definitely find yourself routing for these characters...and if you don't get a little teary in the end...well that is just your problem ;)




it also makes me wonder just how many balloons it might take to pick our townhouse up from our *lovely* street, and land it somewhere nice, peaceful, and clean :)

Monday's Item of the Week!

Happy Monday...once again :)

this week's item of the week...drumroll please......

Jersey City Earrings in silver shade!



















for the Etsy listing...click HERE!

***if you purchase the item of the week...you get free shipping for your entire purchase!***

Favorite Etsy Shop - Pink Quartz Minerals

I'll admit it, I'm an eye-shadow junkie. I love the colors, the shades, the sparkle! A dreary day could be made better by just a swipe of a brush, and suddenly your face looks brighter, and you feel better! The best eye-shadow enhances the natural beauty of your eyes, and when those eye-shadows are made of natural materials themselves, you have my attention!















All the products in Pink Quartz Mineral's shop are made to order, and are 100% vegan - down to the brushes and applicators.

The best part, is that they don't irritate, for people with sensitive eyes!! (that would be me...) You can join the eye-shadow of the month club, or just pick out a color shot sample pack to try a few colors at a time.















If you're really daring...order the "one of everything," and you'll have the color and sparkle for every occasion!

my happiest place on earth

that's right, the Gem & Jewelry show came around again this weekend...and you'd all be proud of me...I didn't load up on tons of gemstones (of which I am way overstocked...) I just went in for chain and necklaces, and I picked up a few new and interesting pieces...like...

these awesome jade beads- they look like jelly beans!















cute little flower pendants















more gold and silver dipped leaves















and of course, loads and loads of chain :) from a vendor who is located in Old Bridge, NJ!















now time to be productive...spring craft show applications are being completed as we speak!

Saturday's photo

near the clubhouse at Belfair

Friday Finds on Etsy!

Super Cute Hats...

This is something I might have to indulge in before winter is over...I always feel like I look a little goofy in hats, but I think I might be able to rock this one...what do you think??

Celebrity Style Beret by BtrFlyMom



















Red Scarf with Hood by Home Lab
okay, not exactly a hat...but what a cool idea? a scarf/hat/with pockets?!



















Adult Visor Buckle Beanie by Two Seaside Babes

Thursday's Shoe Story

so they aren't technically shoes...but from the moment I get home, until I leave the house again, I live in my fuzzy black slippers...I've probably had a version of these slippers for the past ten years- probably since I left for college...and while I couldn't tell you what number pair I'm on- Mom, any guesses?- I probably will always own slippers like these...















maybe I should have foreseen cute, furry black cats in my future :)

What I'm Working on...Wednesday

can I just say everything?? I have finals due today...but I'm also trying to organize my jewelry, to start purchasing new items for my spring craft shows, but more importantly, to remember what it is I already have in my inventory...from all the schlepping that went on at the holiday craft shows, I ended up with stuff...EVERYWHERE...

here are some of the things I hope to be purchasing for this season's designs...some new charms, lucite flower beads and of course more of that yummy pineapple quartz!





I'm also working up some ideas for a series of note cards...that I'll feature in my other Etsy shop...that has yet to have a single item posted...so much to do!..all I will say about them, is they have a big polka-dot influence...stay tuned :)

warm soup for cold nights

I love to cook, and I love to cook soups when it is cold and snowy outside...which this winter has been a LOT!

One of my new favorites- that is also really really easy to make (bonus!) is Italian Wedding Soup...I had it for the first time a few Christmas's ago, when Brett and I were at his mom's house in Florida...and I've been hooked ever since! You can make this yummy soup in just about 30 minutes!














the recipe I use is based on Giada De Laurentiis' (yay food network) recipe
photo from http://recipetips.com

Ingredients:

Meatballs:
1 pound of ground meat (I usually use beef, but chicken, turkey or pork would work- whatever you use for your own meatballs)
1 egg
1 small onion, grated
*I use garlic salt to season, but her recipe calls for both garlic and salt
1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese
breadcrumbs- I never actually measure, but I think I use about a cup...

Soup:
12 cups of chicken stock
1/2 box, thawed frozen spinach **the recipe calls for endive, which I never have on hand...I love frozen spinach, and always have that!
2 eggs
shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Combine the meatball ingredients in a bowl, mix and form meatballs. I make mine as small as possible, but you can make yours any size you desire :)

Bring the broth to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and spinach and simmer- about 8-10 minutes. Whisk the eggs and cheese in a bowl. Stir the soup in a circular motion. Gradually drizzle the egg mixture into the moving broth, stirring gently with a fork to form thin stands of egg, about 1 minute. Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper.

I love to serve the soup with some crusty bread, and of course a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top :)

Monday's Item of the Week!

Getting back into the swing of things, after the craziness of the holidays, and more specifically, the holiday craft shows...I am determined to update my Etsy shop ASAP...

in the mean time, back to the routine...my Item of the WEEK!

The Trio Necklace- featuring Amethyst, Pink Amethyst and Pink Quartz briolette gemstones














for the Etsy listing...click HERE!

***if you purchase the item of the week...you get free shipping for your entire purchase!***

seriously...not kidding...it's snowing...AGAIN!

I love snow...have I mentioned that before? I really do...but living in a city has made me see snow in a whole new light...not only does it turn greyish/blackish/gross almost instantly...but there is just no where to put it!







































it even snowed Friday night down in SC, and my parents sent me photos of the house, with snow...thought they moved south to escape the snow of winter ;)















and yup, snowing again right now...so far just a light dusting on the places that have been cleared of snow...and just adding to the piles that we'll have...until April...just my prediction...

skiing on a sunday :)

what a nice* way to spend the day :)




























*when I wasn't falling down, careening down the mountain out of control or screaming at the top of my lungs...I think I'm improving though :)















this is a photo of our future 'ski' house...it has purple shutters people...perfect!

Happy Valentine's Day :)

Jar of Love No 37 by Gollybard

Saturday's photo

it's a two-fer! this is the pile of snow we've created outside our house from shoveling...and of course the kitties spent the day watching us shovel :)

Friday Finds on Etsy!

so I would be remiss if I didn't take the opportunity to let my Friday Finds be influenced by the weather outside...so I bring you...SNOW DAY!

Hydrangea, Snoweressness print by Raceytay

White Curly Mulberry long scarf by Ayea

Lavender Mint Hot Cocoa by Flying Bird Botanicals

Hand Engraved Glass Mug by Day Dreem Designs

Winter Olympics!

Google had a really fun banner today- in honor of the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics...my good friend Liza (and her super cool blog) are currently located in Vancouver, and she'll be keeping us up to date on all the happenings!






GOOOOOOO USA!

Pink VT?

I love Tech...VA that is...and they keep coming out with cute stuff on Victoria's Secret PINK college collection...which you can buy (for me??) here


















why don't I have tons of $??

A Shrubbery?

haha...ahh Monty Python...pretty much a requirement if you are part of my family :) and I could not resist posting this little Etsy listing, for at least my family to see :)

We Want a Shrubbery! by glamasaurus



















"it's just a flesh wound!"

only 11 months until my birthday :p

haha, okay, most people don't look forward to their birthday's that much...and especially not when they'll be turning (29-eek!) but the reason for the 11 months to go/1 month after, is that I usually can milk my birthday for about a month...I leave my cards up, I use the "but it's my birthday" as an excuse...but as of today, that ship has sailed...
















so I just wanted to post a little thank you for all my birthday cards, and to everyone who helped celebrate with me this year :)

Thursday's Shoe Story

about two years ago we got, well what we then thought was a ton of snow...and after the big snow had cleared, I purchased a pair of Columbia Snow Boots...I was going to be prepared for the next round!...well the next round never came, and my boots sat in the box they came in for over a year...and I thought I had purchased impulsively...well skip to last weekend, 30+ inches of snow, followed by another 12ish...and what do you know...pretty much the only shoe I've worn for over a week :)

so boots, I salute you...warm, slip proof, not to mention cute :) and the cats like them too!

I am Smitten (Kitchen)

I have to thank my friend Danielle for bringing to my attention one of the cutest little cooking blogs ever! Smitten Kitchen is run by Deb, out of good old NYC (where they probably have the best food, hands down...sorry Baltimore)...but she's not promoting all the fab restaurants or zillions of take-out empires the city has, no no...she's cooking up a storm!

her blog goes back about four years, and in my snow-induced lock down, I've been going through just about all of it...my "recipes" bookmark in Firefox is jam packed of new things to try...once I can hit the store for ingredients :)

the initial recipe that caught my eye, was one for mini soft pretzels...













how cute are these?? here is the direct link...but trust me, you're going to want to bookmark, and read through her entire blog (which is also broken down into categories if you're impatient :) -or not snowed in)

I could easily pick 98057084260707 other recipes to feature as well...so you're just going to have to go read, and see what I mean :)