Friday, March 30, 2012

An Egg Hunt and #EasterSmiles

We love a good egg hunt at our house.
Long after Easter has come and gone...
the eggs are still here...and I mean long after...
as in we are still hiding and finding eggs in August.
And, I am OK with that. 

When it comes time for the egg hunt, the Easter Bunny and Santa are in cahoots! They leave my kids a treasure map and send them on a journey to find trinkets and books, and of course eggs and other goodies. One thing my kids expect to find is a toothbrush...yeah, seriously, each of them get a toothbrush for these special occasions.


Thursday, March 29, 2012

Tickled Pink No. 92 (yeah, yeah...same old story)


Happy Weekend!
Guess what? It was a crazy week...
and I did not have time to finish the features...again...
Please don't banish me from blogland.

But do any of you remember that commercial from the 80's with the egg?
"this is your brain"
they crack it
"this is your brain on drugs."
!!!!Well, I am not on anything!!!!
But that is what my head feels like.
AND
it was a rough mommy week...
so I turned the computer off to spend some much needed tine with my kiddos.
I love those turkeys!

So I owe ya 2 sets of features this weekend.
I did feature some awesome projects on facebook
and I am working on a BIG HUGE POST with features!
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Be sure to enter my giveaway for a Daisy Decal!
It is SUPER SIMPLE to enter. 
One little comment -  that's it!

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ALSO, I am seriously considering removing the GFC Gadget from my sidebar.
I need to find that joy and fun in blogging again 
(because I do love it)
and I hate looking at those numbers...
not having them stare me in the face would be a good thing.
So, please consider
Subscribing to my RSS feed by clicking HERE or on the icon up top
OR subscribing my email, by clicking on the envelope up at the top
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Also, leave me your link in the comments
and let's follow each other and be inspired.



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FEATURES!
I apologize...AGAIN!!!
Features are coming.
_____________________________________________________________
I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone
who links up, reads, and visits. I truly appreciate it.

Feel free to share the link on my Facebook Wall.
If I feature you on Facebook or twitter, be sure to grab a button HERE too!

Have a GREAT weekend!
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NOW FOR TICKLED PINK!
A craft...a recipe...a tip...a party...a short story...a  poem...
a  fashion find...a  favorite product...your favorite  post...
whatever makes  your blog  fabulous!
That is what Tickled Pink is all about!
{and it does NOT have to be PINK}



Grab a button HERE!
or here!
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PRACTICE PINK KINDNESS
1. Link  up...whatever makes  your blog  fabulous. Family Friendly please. Guess what? Your post does not have to be PINK!!  I reserve the right to remove posts that are offensive or do not  adhere  to the rules, without any discussion, at my discretion.
2. PLEASE LINK TO A POST URL, ****NOT YOUR MAIN URL****
3. Pretty please...add the Tickled Pink button or TEXT link back to the post* {people need  to know what the heck they are doing!}. 
4. Please visit a couple other links!
TICKLED PINK Now Has Categories
I won't banish you if you mess up, but try to link appropriately, pretty please!
By linking up...you grant me permission to use a photo if you are featured. Proper credit will be given.

Craft, DIY, Decorate
crafting, diy, decor type links



Cook, Bake, Eat
stuff to eat, cook, drink, and bake




Read, Write, Share
posts you love, stories, favorite things, ideas to share





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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Playing with Decals! Daisy Decals - Giveaway CLOSED

***Giveaway CLOSED***
I just love cool things
(who doesn't right?)
and when they have a fun retro vibe..
even better for me!

Well, recently I was sent some Daisy Decals.
I totally fell in love with their retro flair and style.
I was so excited to get some of my own.
My daughter did try to "borrow" them...but I won!

I created a jewelry organizer using this 
 Vintage Girl decal that my daughter loved!
She makes jewelry all day...
now she has a special place to hang her latest creations.
CUTE! I want one too now.


These decals are fun and easy to apply and
a great way to dress up your computer...
Did I mention I love my new computer!?
New computer + retro phone decal + mochas = happy!


Why the phone on the computer you may ask?
Because email has virtually replaced all the time I spend on the phone!

Although I am kind of thinking I need the Typewriter.
I think that would be some good inspiration!
photo source daisy decals

My old school and very sad looking address book
is in desperate need of a makeover...
so it will be getting one with this
Retro Phone in turquoise!
LOVE!

Next up..my parents must have the VW Bus!
photo source daisy decals

So, what do you think...which one is your favorite?

Here is your chance to win one!
Open to US residents from 3/27/12 through 4/2/12 at midnight PST


***Giveaway CLOSED***
ONE Mandatory ENTRY:
Just visit Daisy Decals and come back and
tell me what your favorite decal is
(one entry, leave one comment)
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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Raggedy Fabric Bunnies

I love little bunnies.
(in theory anyway)
It is the ears that get me...
big ole floppy ears...too sweet!
And of course their healthy eating habits...
carrot anyone?



I really do not do a lot of holiday crafts,
but one or two per holiday and I am happy.
They are usually pretty simple too...like this one.


I tend to over-complicate matters...
but tried to keep this SIMPLE...
and seeing as how my 4 year old can almost make one on her one...
I think this qualifies as SIMPLE.
Washcloth turned bunny

My mom made these little bunnies (or something very similar)
out of baby wash cloths for my nieces baby shower 13+ years ago
and they were called boo-boo bunnies
(I think you wet them and freeze them and pull them out when there is a boo-boo)...
so that is my inspiration.
(NOTE: my bunnies are NOT meant to be boo-boo bunnies.
Someone asked...so I am throwing that out there.)

There are so many ways to make this little bunny your own...
so go with it and be creative.
Most importantly...you can ever use what you have!
Simple supplies
Supplies
  • Cut/ripped piece of drop cloth (what I used) or burlap or your favorite fabric...or a wash cloth (Target washcloths)
  • Rubber bands - I bought a big bag of assorted rubber bands...the thicker ones that you can wrap a few times work best.
  • For the Face, I used Elmer's Painters in black and pink. These were so easy to use for this!
    • NOTE: You could use regular paint, or embroidery with a few french knots or buttons - your pick.
  • Ribbon/trim
  • Optional: blush and cotton swab



DIY IT!
1. Cut/rip fabric into a 12" x 12" square



2. Roll diagonally from one corner
3. Fold in half


4. Flip so it looks like a U and fold back all the way.

5. Pinch closed. Place rubber band about 1" back from this new fold and wrap rubber band a few times.


5. Make a face, I did 2 simple dots for eyes in black and one in pink for the nose.

6. A smidge of blush on the ears and maybe the cheeks
Yes, my bunnies wear Benefit cosmetics!


Voila!
Kissing bunnies

In about 5 minute you have a bunny!
Or lots of bunnies!

Each bunny has a different face!


So, are you up for an easy craft?
Try this one!

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Monday, March 26, 2012

Butternut Squash Soup

I love soup pretty much all the time.
Perhaps it is because it is always cold here,
but I really do like to think it is because it
just makes me feel warm and satisfied.

My friend brought this soup over to my house one day...
and I LOVED it.
I have since modified it and
you can too based on what is already in your kitchen.

And I will apologize in advance for the photos in this post.
I had no idea they were so bad...but the soup is G-O-N-E!

Ingredients
1 Butternut Squash
1 Red Pepper
1-2 Pears
1 Red Onion
1-2 Cups of Vegetable Stock
Olive oil (1-2 T)
2-3 Cloves garlic (or even more)
Sea Salt and Ground Pepper to taste
EDIT: 1 can of stewed tomatoes or 3-4 tomatoes sliced and oven roasted

NOTE 1: If you do not like too much red pepper taste, try adding only 1/2 the pepper. NOTE 2: The pear adds sweetness, so you may want to play with that quantity as well.
NOTE 3: You can also add a leek.
EDIT - NOTE 4: Roasted tomatoes or a can of stewed tomatoes also compliment the flavors nicely, but are not necessary

COOK IT!
  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • Cut squash in half and place it in a 9 x 13 glass dish filled with about 1"of water.
  • Place in oven and bake for approximately 1 hour. A fork should easily go into the squash when it is done. If not done, check back every 10 minutes or so for doneness.


  • Cut pear (and peel it), cut red pepper and onion into medium size pieces. EDUT and tomatoes into slices
  • Crush 2-3 cloves of garlic.
  • Place pear, pepper, onion, tomatoes (stewed tomatoes need not be roasted, but can be throw in here too) and garlic into another 9 x 13 glass dish. Drizzle with olive oil; sprinkle with salt and ground black pepper (to your liking).
  • Place in oven and cook for approximately 30 minutes. Check for tenderness, add time in increments of 10 minutes until done to your liking.


  • Once squash and veggie/fruit mixture is finished, let cool a bit.
  • Remove seed from the squash.
  • Scoop out the meat of the squash and place in a food processor.
  • Process squash, adding vegetable stock (1/2 cup at a time)  and/or water  to make the squash smoother.
  • Begin adding the veggie/fruit mixture and more veggie stock until the smoothness is desired. NOTE: Add stewed (canned) tomatoes during this step as well.I like a thicker, chunkier soup, so I used about 1 cup of stock. Using more stock just makes is smoother/thinner.


Guess what...?
You are done and ready to enjoy!

I like my soup as is with a crusty piece of sourdough bread. 
You can add goat cheese, feta cheese or sour cream...
or whatever you want!
How do you like your soup?

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