Visit to the Summertime Market

A stop at a road-side market,..certainly brightened my day!  I brought home a small bunch of my favorites...sunflowers, zinnias, and gladiolas! 

The process of bead-making...

Soooo,...it all begins with a bunch of coated mandrels...and,....

lots of beautifully-colored glass rods! 

These glass rods are melted by a torch and fired to become unique, one-of-a-kind beads!

As they "bake", I anticipate the final product, and I'm always anxious to pull them out of the kiln! I love having something to look forward to!

The tough part comes when they're sitting on the table. Black and white and sunny yellow beads; great combo!  So,...what shall I create with them? 

Summer Sounds...

Searching for great summer tunes this evening.  Just took a long walk with Charlie, and I'm beat! I realized that I need to download some summer tunes on my mp3.  I'm certain a new playlist would motivate me to walk longer,  maybe even a jog...yup...MAYBE! 

What a beast that dog is...all ninety pounds of him pulling me this way and that!  Oh well, at least I made it outside for some exercise on a beautiful summer evening.  So, I'm goin' create a super-hot summer playlist for my walks and visits to the beach.

This song, by Keith Urban, ranks up there as a favorite.  "Here's to a better life!"  Even if you're not a country fan, this one is upbeat and makes one feel optimistic! Keith Urban's not bad lookin either. :-)  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buRnPSlWQHk&feature=player_embedded

The first ten choices for my summer listening pleasure...
1.  Better Life - Keith Urban
2.  New Shoes - Paolo Nutini
3.  It's a Beautiful World, We're all Here - Jim Brickman
4.  Where you Lead - Carol King
5.  You Give me Something - James Morrison
6.  For the Love of You - Isley Brothers
7.  Is This Love - Bob Marley
8.  How Deep is Your Love -  The Bird and the Bee (or the Retro Version - Bee Gees...the BEST!)
9.  Sand in My Shoes - Dido
10. Sail Away - David Gray

My puppy is the smartest animal in the entire world!

So, the other day I was makin' peanut butter blossoms for my wonderful neighbors (delish) http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=5191, when this pathetic but awfully cute creature gave me a look that I couldn't resist.  While I'm cooking, HIS typical routine not only includes a sad stare, but a walk around the kitchen island a million times with his nose scanning the edge of the counter.  He's into scents,...big time!  Just like me I guess. I'm all about things that smell wonderful!

Well, I had to give him a cookie,...but only if he earned it!  Isn't this the greatest trick?  He's the smartest puppy ever!  He'll wait until you give him the command, "okay, Charlie." before he gobbles it up.  He just sits there patiently with a treat (of any kind...he's not picky) on the bridge of his nose until we release him to enjoy.  No worries, we didn't give him the chocolate kiss (it's bad for animals), just the cookie part...and, we did give him a big smooch on that big nose for how smart he is!  Good Boy, Charlie!

...Everybody say,...."Awwwww!"

Tick Tock..."Time" will Tell...

Don't you enjoy when a package arrives in the mail, one you've been waiting for, and anticipating it's arrival? I love to come home from work and find a package that I know will make me smile!  It's certainly better than opening those envelopes I unfortunately recognize from the credit card company!

Well, my first Allen Design purchase arrived! Isn't it adorable?!  Check out Michelle Allen's blog and her shop! http://allendesigns.typepad.com/blog/

She's become a favorite designer of mine! I've been admiring her talents for quite some time AND her endless ambition!  I finally ordered one of her unique clock creations, and I couldn't be more satisfied!  She's a cheery cupcake lady painted in some of my favorite colors; pInk, TuRqUoise, REd, blAcK! She made me smile as soon as I pulled her out of the box.

She's found her perfect place...in my laundry room to cheer me when I head in there to conquer the dirties! 

She also serves as a reminder to keep creatively dreamin' of that charming cupcake shoppe I would love to open! I envision looking at her hanging in a quaint, downtown bakery as I'm preparing delightfully-colorful little cakes!  I dream of not counting the minutes to "get out" of where I am!  She's a cheery reminder that time passes by very quickly,...so, try to find that which you love doing! She looks pretty cute in there, don't ya think?

 

Revision...a dream is a wish your heart makes....

Well, I had to revise my wish list.  I simply had to...I turn 45 next month, and there are far too many wonderful things on that list that I wish to still do!  So, it's now become the "45 things I wish to do before I turn 46" list. Now, I have a complete year to ease into the many, many things on that special list...and this way, I'll be able to share all the joy I experience from my accomplishments with you.  I knew, when I created the list a month or so ago, I was being a bit TOO optimistic. I did, however, cross off one more item yesterday. I randomly visited my sister at her office with a bouquet of red tulips. She's been having a difficult time...life sometimes gives us a lot to handle.  So, feeling helpless that I couldn't change what was happening around her, I could at least bring a smile to her day!       
http://penelopesbeadboutique.blogspot.com/2010/01/so-i-turn-45-this-april-first-step-is.html

Coffee "Chat"

Stopped by my favorite coffee place (Biggby) for a cup of joe on a cold, winter morning. As I waited in the drive-thru for my usual,... tall, skinny, decaf, vanilla bean latte, I was pleasantly greeted by a friendly, miniature snowman.  As much as he made me smile, bringing me out of my morning coma,...I have to say I was even happier to see the sun shining this afternoon. I'm quite certain that friendly guy didn't make it through the day considering his petite nature but he was a nice start to my day.  I hope you're fortunate enough to have a Biggby in your town, but if you don't, be sure to visit one. http://www.biggby.com/

Butter Me Up, Sweetie!

Cinnamon Honey Butter

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons Ground Cinnamon
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Cup Honey
2 Sticks of Butter - Room Temperature

Whip the butter (make sure it's soft and room temp first)
I added it to the powdered sugar, then the honey, then the cinammon. Whip it good! Scrape the sides. Whip it good...again!  

I spooned the mixture into mason jars, threw some fabric to decorate, a tag,...and voila, a simple but great gift for the sweeties in your life! The measurements above only make about 3-4 jars depending on how "full" you wish them to be...so double the recipe for extra amounts of sweetness! 

It's the BEST!  Spread the mixture on warm homemade bread, a piece of toast, a cookie...simply delish!

Totally putting this one on the favorite "comfort" foods' list! 

-

Made all kinds of yummies over the Valentine's weekend. So bad, but so delightfully good! That's what Valentine's is for, right?,... Indulging! These cupcakes were a hit too!

 

And, again, here is my loyal helper...could you please help with the dishes, Charlie?

Drum Roll Please....

Okay, so it's a small step, but at least it's a step of some-kind! I've finally launched my Etsy page! WoooWhoo! If you're not familiar with Etsy, (where have you been?)it's a wonderful site to buy & sell handmade! 

I've listed a few bracelets, need to work on an advertising banner too, but hopefully there will be much more to come!  These elastic bracelets are becoming so much fun to make, and I LOVE the materials,...lampwork, furnace glass, ceramic beads, felt flowers & beads, silver accents...strung together to make a playful, artistic bracelet! I need to get back downstairs to fire up the torch to make more lampwork beads to incorporate. I have so many color combos swirling in my head...I must find some "creation time"!

So, check out my store by clickin' below...and stay tuned for much much more!

Fashion & Style

Isn't this great?  What a group of beautiful and talented women!    

Can you imagine what it would be like to live a day in their shoes? And, what great shoes they wore too! Amazing! They had such grace, and oh my,...their style!  I would love to have inherited their wardrobes...especially Doris Day's...one of all-time favorites! She was bubbly and adorable. Her personality added to that unforgettable style!   

Reminicising about these women makes me want to revamp my personal style (or should I say introduce some fashion "style" into my life). These women inspire me. They always looked classy but so feminine. 

I'm ready to travel outside of my current repertoire of my basic jeans and a sweater or tee!  Sure, I've thrown on a artsy tie-dye here and there and really got jazzy (smile)...but I'm talkin' about that fashionable or trendy jacket or even an adorable dress and some great high heels!  Bright colors instead of basic black! I can't tell you the last time I put a pair of killer heels on.  And, "NO"...I'm not too old to do so! I still have my coordination...(smile). 

Blissful Chocolate Fix...

This have proven to be my evening "bliss" before I hit the sack!  I've always loved cookies and milk before bed...and, I've noticed my oldest seems to be adopting this routine as well.  It's those small indulgences that can mean so much and seem to relax a tired soul like mine. Savoring a cup of hot chocolate with a delightful chocolate cookie ends the day just right!...well, I have to say that enjoying a cold beer or glass of wine can be enjoying too! Depends on the mood, right?

I've been enjoying these delightful oreo cookies with peppermint candies crushed into the creamy center! Sweetness!

When I was a kid, and of course before double-stuff oreos, I would take off the chocolate tops and mesh them together to make a giant oreo cookie! The creamy center was the very best part to me, so you can imagine my delight when I found oreos with peppermint candies inside.  Total bliss on a cold winter evening! Nite, Nite!