Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Fabulous Friday Linky Party 20

2012-02-23T21:06:00.000-08:00

Welcome to

Fabulous Friday!

I'm excited to see what you've been up to,

so please join in on the linky party.

Feel free to link something

you've created or written

{but not stuff that's for sale}.

Make sure to link to the specific post

{rather than your generic blog address}.

I'll be picking & highlighting

a few of my favorites next Friday.

{By linking up, I'll assume you are
giving me permission to feature you.}

Please use the button below

OR a text link back to Pixie Dust.

Doing the "Better After" Dance

2012-02-23T10:33:00.003-08:00

Today I'm doing the "Happy Dance"

because the darling Lindsey featured my

Kitchen Transformation post

on her awesome blog

Better After.

Click here to go & visit her.

You'll love all the amazing features!

And thank you Lindsey.

Sometimes White is Right - Main Floor Bathroom {Part 2}

2012-02-20T15:16:00.002-08:00

Ever since we bought our home,

I've been trying to get rid of the

"contractor" standard stuff &

bring in some character with lighting, doorknobs, etc.

In my last post, I talked about the

cabinet in my half bathroom

that just had to go!

Here it is in the photo above.

It made an already tiny room look even smaller.

It also blocked light from the fixture alongside it.

Hubby removed it &

then came the hard part - choosing paint.

I've been so captivated lately by

beautiful white rooms.

Like these . . . {both from Country Living Magazine}

I love the simplicity of the white walls with the dark woods.

{Country LIving Magazine}

It's difficult to tell from my "before" photo,

but the walls had a faux texture finish

that I painted a few years ago.

{Here's the wall with the cabinet off.}

By the way, no matter what anyone tells you,

if you paint a small space a dark color - it WILL close

the walls in & make the room feel more cramped.

I decided to try {& I know this isn't very creative}

WHITE!

{It's actually not as yellow as it looks in the photos,

but it is a creamy hue to match
the sink & toilet which are not a true white.}

I really like the dark accessories with the white walls.

Creamy-white towels were influenced by the

white linens in the inspiration room.

By the way, wondering how to paint behind a toilet?

These tiny rollers fit behind the tank &

have a long handle to reach all along the wall.

Also, on my to-do list:

re-staining the cabinet a darker color

& adding some fun hardware.

I don't have a "before" photo, but the last time

I worked on this bathroom we put in the
mirror {from Pottery Barn}
light fixture, towel rack, & toilet paper holder.

We also installed this beautiful door knob
{made by Emtek}. Love it!

There are a few more changes planned!

I'll tell you about them soon.

Linking up to these Fabulous Parties . . .
Show Me What Ya Got at Not Just a Housewife
Tutorials & Tips at Home Stories A 2 Z

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table & Dreaming

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative

A New Project & Getting Rid of Something that BUGS Me - WAHOO!

2012-02-18T14:45:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of projects I'd like to do,

but where does the time go?

Never mind the time, where does the $ go?!

Well, I've decided to make some changes

in my main floor half bathroom anyway.

I already tackled this room a couple of years ago,

but didn't finish everything I had in mind.

One thing that's been bugging me . . .

this oak cabinet over the toilet :( .

We don't really need the storage.

And the cabinet darkens the room by blocking the light

coming from the fixture alongside it.

It also makes the room feel even smaller than it really is.

Getting it down involved

solving a mystery.

We {in other words, Hubby} took all the screws out,

but that sucker was still

hanging on to the wall for dear life!

It turned out to be little bits of paint along the

seams between the wall & the cabinet - acting as a kind of glue.

After some pretty rigorous wiggling,

it came loose.

It immediately opened up the room!

Here's Hunny patching some screw holes left behind.

Now on to the paint!

I'll show you that in the next post.

Fabulous Friday Favorites 19

2012-02-17T19:42:00.000-08:00

Many thanks for all the wonderful entries

in last week's Fabulous Friday Linky party.

I loved them all,

but here a a few favorites.

If you "Pin" them,

please click on the source first

{so the creator gets the credit}. Thanks!

In the mood for a laugh?

Pop on over to read my blog friend Kerry's story

at House TalkN. If you've ever had modesty

issues in a locker room, you'll love it!

The lovely Kristie designed a beautiful

little girl's room using furnishings from Ikea.

See it at her blog, The Decorologist.

Looking for inspiration about a craft to make?

How about this lovely necklace made with

Mod Podge, book pages, & maps!

Check it out at Creative Passage.

Finally, I just couldn't resist this

refreshing-looking yummy-ness.

You can find the recipe at Alderberry Hill.

Please come back again next Friday.

And if you were featured,

please feel free to take a button!

A Change of Heart for Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T12:01:00.000-08:00

Source

Have you ever noticed that

~~Stupid Cupid~~

Valentine's Day

is one of those occasions that seems to push people's buttons?

I used to have so many expectations about

THE Perfect Romantic Day

filled with ~~diamonds~~ gifts & a quiet dinner for two

{cooked by someone ELSE besides me}.

Then . . . in between all the jewelry commercials I had a

CHANGE OF HEART.

What if I use this day to show as much love as

I can to as many people as possible?
COOL!

Here are ways I've had fun
celebrating the day of hearts.

Cook a Romantic Dinner . . . FOR FIVE! - When the kids were little, we ALL sat down to a special dinner {complete with balloons, decorations & lots of pink food} together - much better than competing with all the other couples for a table at a restaurant.
Play Secret Admirer - It's fun to anonymously surprise people with an unexpected gift {especially if they don't have a Sweetie of their own}.
Visit Someone Who Needs You - This year, my friend & I are taking a special dinner to a friend who is ill. What's worse than being sick? Being sick on Valentine's Day!
Send a Sweet Text - I received a "Happy Valentine's Day - thinking of you" text today & it brought a smile to my face.
Pay It Forward - I believe one of the best ways to return God's love is to go out into the world with an open heart & "FEED HIS SHEEP". If you encounter a rude driver, immediately forgive ~~him~~ them {they're probably distracted because they just found out they have cancer}, if an elderly lady is struggling to get her groceries in her car, stop to help & then return her cart for her, etc, etc, etc!

In summary, I found out it's

way more fun to think about other people

than myself!

Do you have unconventional ways of celebrating

the day of hearts?

Linking up here . . .

Dear Lillie Valentine's Link Party
Tutorials & Tips at Home Stories A to Z
Talent Tuesday at Vintage Wanna Bee

Blogging 101 - Kicking it Up a Notch

2012-02-12T09:20:00.000-08:00

I'm learning more about blogging almost every day.

And it's fun to share

little bits of bloggy wisdom along the way.

{If you missed my first two articles,

CLICK HERE for some general tips &

CLICK HERE for a post about

how to keep visitors for longer.}

Today's Blogging Tips

Pinterest & a "Pin-it" Button - As you know, just about everyone with a computer is crazy about this on-line bulletin board. If one of your photos is posted there, it can bring a boatload of traffic to your blog! Make it easier by adding a "Pin it" button at the end of each post. Readers simply click the button to post a picture on Pinterest. There is a wonderful tutorial on Kevin & Amanda on how to do it. {And their blog has lots of other fab stuff too-you'll love it!}

Check Your Stats - How do I know that I get a ton of "hits" from Pinterest? This & lots of other good information shows in my Stats. {I'm embarrassed to say that I blogged for a year before I knew about this.} If you use Blogger, click on the "Design" tab in the upper right-hand corner of your home page. Then click on the "Stats" tab - again in the upper right-hand corner. You'll learn a lot of things from this. {For instance, it will be obvious if another blog has featured you - some "big blogs don't let you know!}

Another site that can give you valuable information is Alexa. Ever wondered how long visitors stay on your blog or who is in your demographic? You can find out & it's free! Pretty interesting stuff.

Music - Is it drawing readers in or chasing them away? Many thanks to my reader {who goes by Dragonfly4} for bringing this to my attention. She left a comment on another blogging tips post stating, "Often I will have many links open in my browser, & once in a while one will have a personal play list. I like to have my own music playing when I'm browsing, or maybe I'm browsing while my family watches a tv show together. It's really a huge pain to find which window that playlist is in so I can close it down. There are many great blogs that I just will not read because I'm forced to listen to music I don't want to hear while browsing." I guess the moral of the story is that music is a fun way to bring atmosphere to a blog, but not everyone appreciates it.
Copyright Your Work - Is there such a thing as an "original idea"? I'm not sure & I actually love to share {that's why I started a blog in the first place}. But just in case I do come up with something brilliant some day, I'd like to at least be given a little credit for it. A site called My Free Copyright makes it easy to protect your work and it costs nada.

Hope these tips help!

Fabulous Friday Linky Party 19

2012-02-09T21:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to

Fabulous Friday!

I'm excited to see what you've been up to,

so please join in on the linky party.

Feel free to link something

you've created or written

{but not stuff that's for sale}.

Make sure to link to the specific post

{rather than your generic blog address}.

I'll be picking & highlighting

a few of my favorites next Friday.

{By linking up, I'll assume you are
giving me permission to feature you.}

Please use the button below

OR a text link back to Pixie Dust.

Chocolate Appreciation Night & A Yummy Chocolate Bar Recipe

2012-02-09T16:26:00.000-08:00

How lucky can a girl get?

Last night I got to go to a

CHOCOLATE APPRECIATION

Girl's Night Out at church.

We played games & ate all manner of delicious creations.

I've been requested to share the recipe for the

chocolate bars I brought, so here 'ya go . . .

Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars

from Better Homes & Gardens

2 1/3 cup flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter
1 egg
2 cups (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 3/4 cups (10 oz.) SKOR English Toffee Bits, divided

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 pan. Stir together flour &amp brown sugar. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg; mix well. Stir in 1 1/2 cup chocolate chips & the nuts. Reserve 1 1/2 cups mixture. Press remaining crumb mixture into bottom of the 9x13 pan. Bake 10 minutes. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over hot crust; top with 1 1/2 cups toffee bits. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture & remaining 1/2 cup chips over top. Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup toffee bits. Cool & cut into bars.

SOOOO Yummy!

Raspberry Bread Pudding Deliciousness

2012-02-07T07:18:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite restaurants

serves a delectable

Raspberry Bread Pudding.

I Googled it & found a recipe on recipe4living.com.

I've made a few small changes

to their original recipe,

but no matter how you slice it, this is such a yummy dish!

{I'm using my version of the recipe. I'll list it all at once at the bottom of the post.}

1. Start by cutting a loaf of bread into squares.

2. Spread it on a cookie tray & dry it out overnight.

3. Combine 3 cups of heavy cream, 2 1/4 cups of sugar, 1 egg, & 3 tsp. vanilla in a large bowl.

4. Add dried-out bread squares & gently fold until bread is well-coated.

5. In a separate bowl, combine 12 oz. frozen raspberries, 1 cup sugar, & 1/2 cup apple juice.

6. Place bread mixture in a 11x15 baking dish.

7. Top with raspberry, apple juice, & sugar mixture.

8. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. After baking, broil {watching closely} on high for a few minutes to brown the top.

9. While baking, make vanilla sauce: melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a saucepan. Add 2 Tbsp. flour & cook, stirring - for a few minutes. Slowly add 1 1/2 cups heavy cream. Stir in 4 tsp. vanilla & 1/2 cup sugar. Cook & thicken over medium heat.

10. Serve warm topped with vanilla sauce.

{I'm still working on perfecting the vanilla sauce - it's not as good as the restaurant - but still pretty awesome!}

Kneaders Raspberry Pudding

{Original recipe from recipe4living.com}

1 loaf sandwich bread
3 cups heavy cream
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 egg
3 tsp. vanilla extract

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

12 oz. frozen raspberries
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup apple juice

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

2 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. flour
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar

1. Start by cutting a loaf of bread into squares.
2. Spread it on a cookie tray & dry it out overnight.
3. Combine 3 cups of heavy cream, 2 1/4 cups of sugar, 1 egg, & 3 tsp. vanilla in a large bowl.
4. Add dried-out bread squares & gently fold until bread is well-coated.
5. In a separate bowl, combine 12 oz. frozen raspberries, 1 cup sugar, & 1/2 cup apple juice.
6. Place bread mixture in a 11x15 baking dish.

7. Top with raspberry, apple juice, & sugar mixture.

8. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. After baking, broil {watching closely} on high for a few minutes to brown the top.

10. Serve warm topped with vanilla sauce.

Fabulous Friday Favorites . . . on Sunday!

2012-02-05T15:43:00.000-08:00

I'm late, I'm late

for a very important date!

I've had so much fun with

my darling niece & nephew

who've been staying at our house.

So please forgive this late post.

Here are some favorites from

Last Friday's Linky Party.

If you're pinning them,

please click on the link to the source first
so the original blogger gets the credit. :D

I have a need to sew some window treatments

for my own home, so I really enjoyed these

two curtain tutorials:

Jennifer from Laughter and Grace

made hers from sheets & tablecloths!

I also love Kari's curtains.

See them at A Grace Full Life.

At Alderberry Hill,

you can find the links to download these

darling Valentine's day fonts . . .

And finally, you all know how much I love to eat!

I would love to try Jennifer's

Crockpot Black-eyed Peas.

Thank you to everyone who linked up!
I hope you come back again this Friday.
If you were featured please feel free to take a button . . .

Little Ways to Make Your Guests Comfortable

2012-02-01T13:49:00.000-08:00

Hello Blog Friends,

I do have some projects in the works

& hope to be blogging about them soon.

In the meantime . . .

I have company coming this weekend, so

I thought I'd share my tips for

making guests

feel welcome & comfortable.

{Most of these ideas are based on my own "isms"
when I am away from home -
fear of starving to death, worries about getting cold,
devastation about forgetting my toothbrush, etc. Ha ha.}

Treats & drinks. I put a few granola bars {or fruit} & some water in the guest room closet for easy access in case guests get hungry in between meals.
Provide a mirror/vanity area. In case guests are sharing a bathroom, I like to have another area where they can put on make-up, etc. I removed a hanger pole to make this area with a mirror & a shelf. {See the end of this article for a before pic of the closet.}
Books & reading material. For this purpose, I recommend the kind of books you can open & read a little snippet without having to get immersed in a plot.

A clean robe. They take so much room in a suitcase, that I seldom pack one myself. I love it when there's one available for me to use.
Extra blankets & pillows. If you don't have space for them in the room, make sure the guests know where they are.

Linen spray. My favorite is Caldrea's Lavendar Pine scent. I love to spritz the sheets & towels with it.

Guest drawer. Keep a drawer stocked with sample sized extras of the little things that are essential, but easily left behind. Ours has a note letting our visitors know that they are welcome to anything they need.
Clean out the closet. Since guest rooms are not often in use, it's easy to "throw" extra belongings into the closets. Try to avoid this tendency & keep the closet clutter free so visitors will have somewhere to put their belongings. Here's what our closet looked like before I cleaned it out . . .

If I've missed any tips about what you

like to do to make your guests feel welcome,

please fill me in by leaving a comment about it!

SUNDAY FUNNIES - A Sissy Girl's Guide to Enjoying Sporting Events

2012-01-29T17:02:00.000-08:00

I wrote the following {tongue-in-cheek} tips

just in case there are any other "Sissy Girls"

out there . . . hope it helps!

Source

· TeamColors - FIRST AND FOREMOST – Forheaven’s sake, if you’re looking for somebody to root for, pick a team withpretty colors. You will probably have to wear some sort of clothing to blend inwith the other “fans”. Use the utmost caution! Some of those hideous team colorswere obviously chosen by colorblind men! If you’re going to be attending games,you might as well look good, right? Choose a team with snappy hues that look nice on you.

Source

· Mascots! I love these guys. Now that’sathleticism. They’re always doing something entertaining. Don’tmiss it by paying too much attention to the game. And bring your camera. They look socute in pictures.

Source

· Suites! Make friends with people who have boxseats. Cozy suites provide non-gameactivities to make the time go faster – like watching television. Score!

· Howto cheer without any pom-poms. Ifyou do get roped into watching a game & you want to make a good impression,just watch the other fans. Copy their responses. You don’t want to say, “Yeah,ba-by!” if everyone else around you seems sad. It also helps to know which wayon the field, court, etc. your team is supposed to be taking the ball. DON’T ASK ANYONE – just notice which way thelittle guys down there seem to be running most of the time. CAUTION – theychange directions in the middle of the game just to make it confusing!Duh!

· Beprepared to talk about sports. Ifasked a question about sports or the game, the best way to avoid getting introuble is to keep your responses general. Something like, “Well, they justgotta get out there & play the game” usually gets you off the hook. I mean,who could disagree with that?

· FOOD makes everything better. When watching agame at home, make sure to plan some fun little football desserts or get somefestive napkins & plates. If you’re attending a sports event & you getbored, just take a walk to get some tasty treats. This can kill a lot of time!However, take note of the next point.

Source

· Half-timeshows! They’re usually way moreentertaining that the actual sports event. Make sure to take your potty break beforethey begin. I’ve seen some fun magic tricks, cute little kids, etc. TIP: be prepared with a deep question to askyour guy in case you need to divert his attention away from those cute dancingcheerleaders. (Sometimes they are allowed to perform if any magic trick guysaren’t available.)

Copy-written by Michelle Lunt {michellelunt.blogspot.com}

Linking up to these FABULOUS PARTIES:Flaunt-it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring

Made by You Monday at Skip to My LouTutorials & Tips at Home Stories A 2 Z

Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo ToesJust Something I Whipped Up at The Girl CreativeSunday Showcase at Under the Table & DreamingStrut Your Stuff Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff Talent Tuesday at Vintage Wanna Bee

Fabulous Friday Linky Party 18

2012-01-26T20:27:00.000-08:00

Welcome to

Fabulous Friday!

I'm excited to see what you've been up to,

so please join in on the linky party.

Feel free to link something

you've created or written

{but not stuff that's for sale}.

Make sure to link to the specific post

{rather than your generic blog address}.

I'll be picking & highlighting

a few of my favorites next Friday.

Please use the button below

OR a link back to Pixie Dust.

From Outdated to Updated - An Amazing Kitchen Transformation

2012-01-23T15:07:00.000-08:00

I was recently involved in helping to design a

kitchen remodel

& I'm excited to share the amazing transformation with you.

A lot of the houses

in my area were built in the 1970's &

are really heavy on oak cabinetry.

When Mike & Becky called me,

their kitchen looked like this . . .

{NOTE: Luckily, they have a kitchen in their basement & they were able to live downstairs during the remodel.

This is the ONLY way I can recommend living in your while re-doing your kitchen!}

Mike & Becky had a good idea of what they wanted,

& made a lot of good design choices on their own.

I helped with colors, some layout, finishes, etc.

I'm super pleased with the outcome & so are they.

BRACE YOURSELF!

You're not going to believe this is the same room . . .

The whole room was gutted & not one thing was re-used.

As you can see, the bulkhead was removed, ceiling raised, recessed & pendant lighting installed, bar removed &

island installed, beautiful new cabinetry installed,

subway tile backsplash added, granite countertops installed, hardwood floors added, & high-end appliances installed.

By the way, you may notice all the stainless steel in the photos
below. I asked Becky how it was going keeping her appliances free of fingerprints. She said it was not much of a problem thanks to her secret weapon {you're not going to believe this}
Pledge furniture polish!

I love the bright airy feel of simple elegance in the new design.

There are some well-thought-out features

that don't show in the photos too -

such as touch faucets & a wonderful sound system

in the ceiling for listening to media.

The bow-front design on the range hood {above}

is also copied in other features such as the main sink.

These homeowners plan to keep their house for a very long time.

{Which I recommend if you are going to do a high-end remodel like this. Kitchens are a great place to put $ for

resale, but use a tighter budget if you are planning on putting the home on the market right away.}

And they are enjoying their dream kitchen.

Thank you, Mike & Becky,

for allowing me to be a part of it!

I'm linking up to these FABULOUS parties:
Tutorials & Tips at Home Stories A to Z
Kiss & Tell at I Gotta Create
Nifty Thrift Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things
Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo Toes
Made By You Monday at Skip to My Lou
Show Me What 'Ya Got at Not Just a Housewife
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Flaunt-it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring
The Weekly Story at Colours Dekor

We Have a Winner!

2012-01-21T18:09:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who entered to win

a beautiful timepiece from

For All Time Clocks.

The winner is . . .

The darling Crystal from Happy Home & Heart.

Crystal said, "Those clocks are so beautiful.
I think I would make a clock for my daughter after she gets married.
I think, but I would really love to keep it for myself."

She's gonna love her new clock!

I'm very grateful to For All Time

for making this giveaway possible.

Fabulous Friday Favorites

2012-01-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

Wow.

That's my word for the week.

I wish you all could see me TRYING to pick

my Fab Friday Favorites.

You're all so creative & it makes my job

VERY HARD!

Here they are in no particular order.

First up,

comfort food anyone?

How about some delicious

Golden Potato Bread?

Find the recipe at

Country Momma Cooks.

I'm crazy about these clever
Baby Washcloth Cupcakes.
Find out how to make them at
Be Sweetly Inspired.

Under the "some people are so brilliant" category,
I can't believe Myric made this beautiful
lantern from DRYER SHEETS!?!
Click here to see how.

I'm so inspired by this beautiful
White Coastal Table Decor
found at Desire Empire.

And finally,
I loved this humerous post by my blog friend, Kerry,
at HouseTalkN about
Turning Forty.

Thanks so much to everyone who linked a project.
If you were featured,
please feel free to grab a button!

Hand-Painted Wall Art - The Easy Way

2012-01-19T08:56:00.000-08:00

Today is your last chance to win a
FABULOUS CLOCK
{CLICK HERE to enter!}.
The drawing is Saturday!

I shared this last year through a blog swap,

but in case you missed it, here's an

easy & inexpensive way to create wall art.
This was a project I did for a little girl's room.

STEP 1:
Find a simple picture you'd like to copy.
STEP 2:
Copy the picture onto transparency film.
This only works on a lazer printer!
If you only need a few sheets, you can buy them
very inexpensively at the copy shop.

STEP 3:
Borrow an overhead projector from your local
school or church & project the image onto the wall.
{TIP: This works best on a white wall. Or if you do it
on a colored wall, use white paint for the artwork.}
STEP 4:
Lightly draw around the image with a pencil.
You don't have to use every detail - just the parts you want.
STEP 5:
Color in with paint, making sure to cover the pencil lines.
{The green paint color on these branches is represented
on other walls in the room.}

STEP 6:
Enjoy!

COST:
$1 for the transparency sheets
{We already had the paint.}

Shared at:

Kiss & Tell Craft Craze at I Gotta Create
Feature You Friday at Newlyweds on a Budget

Sunday Funnies - Letters to God

2012-01-15T08:03:00.000-08:00

These darling letters to God made my day.

Hope you enjoy them too.

{One of my leaders gave me the source:
Children's letters to God
compiled by Stuart Hample and Eric Marshall}

Dear Neil, Congrats on coming up with a question that
would even make God chuckle.
Love, Michelle

Dear Nan, Some days I know just how 'ya feel!
Love, Michelle

Dear Ginny, Find out if you have any Irish in your

genealogy - it makes St. Patty's Day much more fun!

Love, Michelle

Dear Larry, I know, right? It helped with our boys too!

Love, Michelle

Dear Robert, Me too! Love, Michelle

Dear Donna, BRILLIANT! I can tell you're going to go far!

Love, Michelle

Dear Ruth, Sorry, I like the post-it note more.

Love, Michelle

Dear Joyce, Give it some time. I think I know which will end up being your favorite later.

Love, Michelle

Dear Elliott, I think you may be onto something there!
Love, Michelle

Making a Bulletin Board

2012-01-14T14:45:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already entered,

there's still time to win a

BEAUTIFUL CLOCK!

CLICK HERE to enter!

Don't you just love those
oversized bulletin boards
in the Ballard Designs catalog?

So beautiful, but a bit pricey at $100 - $300.

Source - Ballard Designs

My friend, Mary, needed a large bulletin board

& I decided to try to make one for her.

I was moderately successful &

I wanted to share what I've learned

{& tell you what I'd do differently next time}.

The project starts with this thrift store frame

from Nellie's birthday party . . .
{Mary owns a brightly-colored store, so it was just right.}

Right off the bat, I hit a SNAG.
The frame was wider than all cork rolls available locally.
Ugh.
Since time was an issue,
I bought what I could get from my local craft store
{home improvement stores don't carry it}
& ended up piecing it.
I regret this & next time I'll order a wider cork
on-line at a place like this.

At Home Depot, they custom cut a piece of
"hardboard" or "masonite" for the back of the
bulletin board.

I used a spray adhesive & hot glue {around the edges only}
to adhere the cork to the hardboard.

To hide the ~~kindergarten~~ tacky look of the pieced cork,
I covered it with a piece of fabric.

I also gave my friend a calendar & some cute tacks.

COST BREAKDOWN:

Frame - $5 from the thrift store
Paint for frame - free, I already had it
Hardboard for backing - $2 - $8 for a huge sheet {lots left over for future projects} I only used about 1/4 of it
Fabric - $8
Cork roll - $15 with coupon

******************************************************

Total - $30 {I figure I could make a nice Ballard-style board for around $60 - theirs is $200!}

WHAT I'D DO DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME:

Splurge for the wider cork {or make a smaller bulletin board} so it looks more like the one in the Ballard catalog
Put a layer of cardboard between the cork & the hard back board OR use a double layer of cork - the cork I used was too thin & the tack hits the back board before it feels "deep enough"

Fabulous Friday Linky Party 17

2012-01-12T14:39:00.001-08:00

Source: digdropdone.com

By the way, it's not too late to win a
BEAUTIFUL CLOCK!

CLICK HERE to enter!

Welcome to

Fabulous Friday!

I'm excited to see what you've been up to,

so please join in on the linky party.

Feel free to link something

you've created or written

{but not stuff that's for sale}.

Make sure to link to the specific post

{rather than your generic blog address}.

I'll be picking & highlighting

a few of my favorites next Friday.

Please use the button below

OR a link back to Pixie Dust.

A Smidgen of Valentine's Day Decor

2012-01-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

Do you have a favorite place

in your home to decorate for holidays?

Mine is my entry way.

It's a small space & easy to doll up.

The vinyl on the mirror is from Hobby Lobby.

{I'm the only one who doesn't have a Cricut!}

I've used the tree branch for other projects -

like this one at Christmas.

The heart ornaments are from WalMart.

I also like to add some seasonal flavor to the front porch.

This black & white pillow is another item that gets re-used a lot.

It's easy to change the ribbons on this topiary

for most any holiday.

I love this saying,

"I love you a bushel & a peck!".

Do you decorate for Valentines' Day?

Shared at:
Dear Lillie Valentine's Party
Valentine's Link Party at Home Stories A 2 Z

Totally Tutorial at My World Made by Hand
Saturday Link & Greet at Country Mama Cooks
Kiss & Tell Craft Craze at I Gotta Create

A Fabulous Giveaway - A Great Way to Mark Time in the New Year!

2012-01-07T18:44:00.000-08:00

I'm so thrilled to share

one of my favorite products with you!
How about a beautiful way to keep
track of time in the new year?

I just love

For All Time Clocks.

I have given them as gifts &

each time my loved one was so thrilled

with such a personal one-of-a-kind timepiece.

This is the For All Time clock I gave to my darling nephew

& his beautiful wife right after their wedding.

{*See the end of the post for some photo tips.}

The company gave me this clock & now

YOU CAN WIN ONE TOO!

The prize is a 12" Custom Clock!

TO ENTER:

This giveaway is open to Pixie Dust Followers {you can follow now, if you don't already}.
1st Entry - visit the For All Time Clocks web site, then come back & leave a comment letting me know which kind of clock you would choose if you won.
For a 2nd Entry - "Like" For All Time Clocks on Facebook & leave a comment letting me know that you did.

I'll do the drawing on Saturday, January 21st.

For All Time Clocks is also offering a

25% DISCOUNT if you'd like to place an order.

Just use the promo code LUNT25 at checkout.

I know you'll love their product!

*I quickly snapped this photo at the wedding myself.

Using Picnik {in the "Effects" section} I converted the

picture to sepia, then used the "tint" tool {"Effects" again}

to add the red back in the flowers. This is done by

clicking on the paintbrush, then checking the

"Reverse Effect" box. Use the paint brush to add the

colors you want into the photo.

Fabulous Friday Favorites

2012-01-05T21:32:00.000-08:00

I've had a lot of fun

perusing the posts from the last

Fabulous Friday Linky Party.

You are all so talented.

Here are some favorites.

Sarah at Alderberry Hill

shared some recipes for yummy

non-alcoholic drinks to make

at your next celebration.

I'm not sure which I love more - the quilt

{which only took Christie a week & a half to make}

or her adorable puppy who kept laying on it

every time she spred it out.

See both here!

Karen from Homemade Glamour

linked two projects & I love them both.

First, she shared her recipe for her own

Homemade Lotion

{Some people are so brilliant!}

AND, finally, you all know how I love

PIXIE DUST!

Karen used glitter to

Bling -ify her phone.

{Click here to learn how.}

Many thanks to everyone who linked up.

Please come back again next Friday.

And to those of you who were featured,

please feel free to grab a button . . .

Quotation of the Month - January

2012-01-02T20:40:00.000-08:00

My dog winks at me sometimes

and

I always wink back -

just in case it's

some kind of code!

Greatest Hits of 2011

2012-01-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

It's been a great year -

both writing my own blog

& reading/visiting yours!

Here are some

favorite projects & activities

of 2012.

The most popular Pixie Dust

post of the year was my

Pantry Palooza.

It wasn't as popular, but I also organized my

Spice Cabinet & I've enjoyed it too . . .

The second most viewed post of the year
{and the project I had the most fun with}
was my Chalkboard Art Wall.

The project that I put the most love into was
Nellie's Tea Party
{keep in mind, I had all sons!}.

I had fun rescuing this
Turquoise Table from the garbage . . .

but I almost pulled my hair out over
my first upholstery project . . .

Want a fun & easy craft project?
How about these Book Bags?

Or you can make your own
Statement Necklace.

I was involved with two awesome activities
with the kids from church this year.

One was making Toilet Paper Dresses . . .

The other was playing
Where's Maldo?

And there were other fun times
like my "TAYLOR-MADE LOVE" post about
when my son & his friends
Photoshopped themselves into
pictures with Taylor Swift . . .

I'm excited about a new year
with new projects & bloggy friendships!

Happy New Year!

I'm linking up to these FABULOUS parties:

Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo Toes

Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things

Sundae Scoop at I Heart Naptime

Fabulous Friday Linky Party 16

2011-12-30T07:55:00.000-08:00

Welcome to

Fabulous Friday!

I'm excited to see what you've been up to since Christmas,

so please join in on the linky party.

Feel free to link something

you've created or written,

OR your goals for the new year, etc.,

{but not stuff that's for sale}.

Make sure to link to the specific post

{rather than your generic blog address}.

I'll be picking & highlighting

a few of my favorites next Friday.

Please use the button below

OR a link back to Pixie Dust.

500 Followers Celebration

2011-12-28T07:41:00.000-08:00

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR . . .

Pixie Dust now has

Wa-hoo!

To celebrate, I recently performed a

in your honor.
{My gift to you is in the background of this photo. . .}

A few weeks ago,

I began collecting gently-used coats

from my own home & people in my neighborhood.

When I say "gently-used", I really mean

"gently-used". I was so amazed by the

generosity of those who donated.

So many of the coats were new or of such nice quality . . .

Then I took the coats
{I think about 40}
to The Road Home shelter.

I am so impressed with this wonderful place
which provides temporary shelter to families
& helps them

"step out of homelessness & back into the community".
The director I spoke to was so thrilled to
receive the coats, saying that their need is great
at this time.

On the day that I was there,
approximately 60 children were
staying at The Road Home with their families.
{100 people staying in 31 rooms/average stay 30 nights}

I saw other people who were helping out too.
For instance, this 7th grader, "Sammy",
collected funds to buy Christmas presents
for the children staying at the shelter.

Wow.
{*Lump in throat*}

MANY THANKS to you wonderful readers
who gave me something happy to celebrate.

My heart has grown three sizes!

Please click here to read about other RAOK celebrations
or
click the button below to link your

own festivities . . .

Linked up to:

The BFF Open House at The Answer is Chocolate

A Very Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T18:36:00.000-08:00

Thinking of you today,

Blog Friends.

Hope you've had a wonderful Christmas!

You've made my year better -

just by being you.

Have you seen this cute video?

Create Your Own Ugly Christmas Sweater

2011-12-23T21:19:00.000-08:00

Assuming you are all too busy

with Christmas preparations to

share a project today,

the Fabulous Friday Linky Party

will resume next week.

We recently had an

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

at work.

Guess what?

It's so hard to find an ugly sweater!

{I've heard they are snatched up

& sold on E-bay for huge amounts of $.}

ANYWHO,

I decided to create my own

gaudy Christmas sweater.

My adventure started with a trip to the thrift store where

I scored this awesome bright green hoody.

Then, I raced home & performed surgery

on a ~~tacky~~ festive stocking - cutting off all the

snowmen, pom-poms, & trim.

I also used this green tree tinsel trim from Walmart.

Everything is adhered with hot glue.

It's way more hideous in person,

yet FILLED with Christmas spirit.

We've got {Christmas} spirit, yes we do . . .

We've got spirit, how 'bout you?!?

I'm Linking up to These Great Parties:

Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things

Santa's Favorite Cookies

2011-12-20T21:15:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Blog Friends.

I've been baking the most

delicious chocolate chip cookies!

Come on in & I'll share the recipe with you.

This deliciousness is from my dear friend
{and domestic goddess} *Melanie*
who gave me permission to share it with you. Thanks Mel!

The recipe calls for chocolate chips, but I use these

chocolate "disk-thingys" from my local baking store.

{I think they are meant for candy-making. When I bought them,

the staff at the store said they wouldn't work for cookies.
Guess what? THEY DO!}

Let that be a lesson to us -
don't let people stomp on your dreams!

Chocolate Chip {or chunk} Cookies

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup butter-flavored shortening
2 Tbsp. vanilla
4 eggs
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp baking soda
5 1/2 cups flour
chocolate chips or disks

Cream sugars with butter & shortening. Add eggs, vanilla, salt, & baking soda. Mix well. Add flour a cup at a time. The dough will be very soft. Hand mix in the chocolate chips or disks last. {I use a lot - there are about 3 disks in every cookie.} Bake at 375 degrees for 10 - 11 minutes. TIP: THE HARDEST PART IS NOT OVERCOOKING THEM. When it is time to take them out, they don't look brown or done. But the cookies will continue to cook after they are removed from the oven. They are best when they are soft & gooey.

I don't have a picture of the finished product,

because they don't last long enough to photograph them.

If you like a crunchy cookie with oatmeal in the recipe,

click here for my other chocolate chip recipe!

I'm linking up to these FABULOUS parties:

Show Me What Ya Got at Not Just A Housewife

Talent Tuesday at Vintage Wanna Bee

Cinnamon Red-Hot Candy Jello - A Family Tradition

2011-12-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

One Christmas tradition

we can't live without at our house is

Red-Hot Candy Jello!

If I don't make it for our Christmas dinner

{and thanksgiving!}, disappointment abounds.

It probably sounds like a strange recipe

if you've never heard of it before,

but - trust me - it's so delish.

Here's the drill . . .

Cinnamon Red-Hot Candy Jello

1 - 5 oz pkg. cherry Jello
1/2 cup cinnamon Red-Hot candy
1 - 20 oz. can crushed pineapple
2 cups apples peeled & chopped

In a small saucepan, heat red-hot candy in a 1/2 cup of water. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, dissolve Jello in 1 1/2 cups hot water.

Using a strainer, pour water with dissolved red-hot candy into the pan with dissolved Jello. {TIP: the red-hot candy will not dissolve entirely. You just want the outer-candy flavoring to melt off. That's why you strain the liquid.}

After straining the liquid out, wipe the remaining candy {while it is still warm} out of the saucepan with a paper towel & throw away.

This is much easier than cleaning it up after it hardens again!

In a 9x13 pan, add the Jello mixture to the chopped apples & the can of crushed pineapple. {Drain some of the liquid off the pineapple before adding it in.} TIP: only canned pineapple will work - Jello will not set up if you use fresh.

Refrigerate & serve with fresh whipped cream.

I'm linking up to these FABULOUS parties:

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table & Dreaming

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative

Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo Toes

The Sundae Scoop at I Heart Naptime

Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things

A GRAND Anniversary

2011-12-17T15:11:00.000-08:00

So, since Hunny & I were married

so close to Christmas, & since December

is such an expensive & busy month,

we seldom really celebrate the way we should.

But 28 years IS a big deal,

so we headed down town to the

Grand America Hotel.

We pretty much felt like we had died

& gone to heaven. And we

~~didn't want to come home~~

enjoyed our weekend VERY much.

The hotel was decorated beautifully

for the holidays . . .

Our suite was so beautiful.

It was nice to be pampered . . .

- Turn down service with chocolates, slippers {in bags} & weather report for the next day -

Thanks to our friend, who is in the choir,

we also enjoyed this . . .
{thanks for the tickets, Trisha, we loved it!}

Source - ABC 4

on the walk back from the spectacular concert,

we savored the sight of this . . .

Source - About.com

After the chilly hike back to the hotel {28 degrees outside}

we warmed up by sipping hot cocoa here . . .

Wow, it will be rough going back to every day tasks like

cleaning the toilets & figuring out what to cook for dinner!

Happy Anniversary Hunny!

Are there any other December anniversaries out there?

Fabulous Friday Favorites 14

2011-12-16T07:37:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a fun linky party we had last Friday.

It's so hard to pick favorites!

But . . . here's my

FAB FIVE

{in no particular order}.

- Number 1 -

Get ready to be wowed by this

beautiful Christmas mantle at

4 the Love of Wood.

- Number 2 -

Looking for a great gift idea?

Rachel can hook you up with these beautiful

Monogramed Coasters at

Accessorize and Organize.

- Number 3 -

My children are grown,

but I'm enjoying the adventures other families are

having with "Elf on a Shelf".

Jessica at My World Made By Hand

shared some of the fun.

- Number 4 -

I couldn't resist this beautiful & elegant looking

project made by Sarah at Alderberry Hill.

{PS - you won't believe what it's made out of!}

- Number 5 -

Want your home to smell fabulous for the

holidays? Gaby shares her recipe for a

simmering potpourri at The Gab Housewife.

Many thanks to everyone who linked up

a project or recipe last week.

Please come back next Friday!

To those who were featured,

please feel free to take a button . . .

Tips to Make Your Gifts Look Fabulous & a Television Appearance

2011-12-15T12:25:00.001-08:00

Today I had a TV appearance on FRESH LIVING

about how to make your

gifts look fabulous.

Here I am with the darling Debbie Worthen at Channel 2 - she also does the weather!

Here are my tips for a

great-looking gift :

Pull your paper really tight & crease the corners. This is just one of those things that will make your gift look like it was professionally wrapped. In the photo above, I am creasing the corners by running my fingers along the edges by pinching as I go.

Choose a simple color scheme & stick to it. I love the traditional red & green, but it's also fun to do something unexpected. White gift wrap looks sensational with a bright color of ribbon, for instance.
Think outside the box when choosing your gift wrap. It doesn't have to come from the Christmas section & have candy canes all over it. I often feel the plainer the better {solid colors for instance}. One of my favorite sections to find gift wrap is with the wedding supplies.

Try a different kind of bow. There's nothing wrong with this kind of bow . . .

but, you can do better. Try using ribbon instead.

Start by cutting a generous piece {long enough to wrap around

your gift 3 times}. Find the center point & put it in the front of

the gift.

Take the ribbon around to the back & twist it. Then back around

to the front & put the ends under the first piece.

Then, just tie the ends like you tie a shoe. This is a great time

to add an ornament or embellishment.

If you'd like to see the TV segment,

just click here & search

"The Perfect Wrap Job".

There's No People Like SNOW People!

2011-12-14T19:44:00.000-08:00

For other posts about SNOW FUN,
click here or here.

Lately, I've been collecting photos

of fun things to do with

snow & snowmen.

What is it about these little fellas
that always makes us smile?

Source: morganton.com

Source: smoosh.com
Don't have real snow?
Well, there are ways to fake it.
How cute is this "snowman" in the tub?

Source: All Things Heart and Home
Or a snowman made of wreaths . . .

Sorry, I don't have the original source for this photo -
it's obviously from a magazine. Let me know if you have the info!
If you don't have any real snow
to play with,
this stuff is pretty fun . . .

you just add water to it &
it makes a similar substance.
It comes with a little shovel too.

Christmas Decor - The Entry Way

2011-12-10T12:14:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post,

Christmas decorating at my house is

moving at a glacial pace!

Is anyone else jealous of those people

in the TV commercial who keep saying, "DONE!"?

Pretty soon,

now matter where I am,

I'm going to call it "good".

I changed up my entry decor this year.

It included one of my favorite santas

& a winter branch that I flocked myself.

The branch is from a tree in the back yard -

with flocking spray & *glitter* on it.

These glitter letters on the "Noel" sign

are the same kind that I bought

at Walmart {Christmas section for 97 cents each!}

to make my Thanksgiving banner.

These colorful ornaments are antiques -

purchased at a yard sale.

They look pretty in a silver bowl.

Entry . . . DONE! Ha!

I'm linking up to these FABULOUS parties:

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Weekend Craft Soiree at Homemaker in Heels
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle

Linky Party - Fabulous Friday 15

2011-12-09T08:17:00.000-08:00

Source: Zsa Zsa Bellagio

Welcome to

Fabulous Friday!

I'm excited to see what you've been doing,

so please join in on the linky party.

Feel free to link something

you've created or written

{but not stuff that's for sale}.

Make sure to link to the specific post

{rather than your generic blog address}.

I'll be picking & highlighting

a few of my favorites next Friday.

Please use the button below

OR a link back to Pixie Dust.

My Dressy Christmas Tree

2011-12-06T21:15:00.000-08:00

For many years,

we have decorated two trees

in our home at Christmastime.

One tree is dressy

& the other has our

mix-matched sentimental ornaments.

When I was young & stupid,

the dressy tree was my favorite -

now I ADORE the kid's tree.

But, the dressy tree does turn out

better in pictures!

I've used the same decorations for

A LONG TIME!

I wanted to change it up a little this year

by using brighter reds than I have in the past.

Since I had a puny budget for these changes,

I headed to . . . {you know what's coming, right}

Walmart!

They have some really cute Christmas

for next to nothing.

The red branches & bulbs are from Wally-world.

I already had this stunning ribbon.

TIP: If you're short on ribbon, it doesn't have to

wrap all the way around the tree. Just cut it into

three pieces & place it on the top, middle, &

bottom sections of the tree.

I also love my little pillow,

which sums up what Christmas

really means to me . . .

It's taking me FOREVER to

get my decorations up this year!

How are you doing?

Quotation of the Month - December

2011-12-04T20:52:00.000-08:00

"Kissing the Face of God" by Morgan Weistling

"When it's Christmas,

man is bigger & better in his part,

he is keener for the service that is

prompted by the heart.

All the petty thoughts seem to

vanish for a while

and the true reward he's seeking

is the glory of a smile.

Then for others he is

toiling & somehow, it seems to me,

that at Christmas he is almost

what God wanted him to be."

- Edgar A. Guest

Fab Friday Favorites 14

2011-12-02T21:10:00.000-08:00

Here are my favorites

from last week's

Fabulous Friday Linky Party . . .

I just love this pretty organization idea

by Tales of a Trophy Wife.

{You'll enjoy her other ideas too!}

And check out this fun chair redo

from Art is Beauty.

She makes it so easy.

In the mood for some comfort food?

I have two yummy offerings for you.

First, can you say,

"Sweet Potato Pie"? HEL-LO!

Natasha is hooking us up with a yummy recipe

at 5 Minutes Just For Me.

{What a cute blog name too.}

And, if you like

authentic Mexican food,

you must check out

Gaby from The Gab Housewife Chronicles.

She teaches how to make this

Roasted Pork & Black Bean Sandwich.

Thanks so much to everyone who

linked a project or recipe.

And congratulations to those who were featured.

Feel free to take a button . . .

Julianne's Christmas Decor

2011-12-01T06:51:00.000-08:00

My beautiful friend

just bought a new home.

I was thrilled when she asked me

to help her "deck the halls".

Julianne already had some white ornaments &
she wanted to add to them.
I recommended we add copper & blue
ornaments & ribbon.
The paint & carpet colors are all neutral & warm,
so I felt the copper would be a nice transition color.

We purchased the new components
from Taipan Imports.

While *shopping* we found these elegant

stockings from Crate & Barrel -

perfect for the cast stone fireplace . . .

The pretty matching pillow is also from Crate & Barrel . . .

Julianne has a really impressive stair railing
& it looks so lovely with her new garland.
{PS - This is one of two stairways leading
to the second floor.}

And here's a close up of the railing decor.

Thank you, Julianne, for letting me be a part
of your first Christmas in your new home.

Now to get my own house decorated!

I'm Linking up to these FABULOUS parties . . .
Weekend Craft Soiree at Homemaker in Heels
Christmas with My World Made by Hand
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday at The Picket Fence
Talent Tuesday at Vintage Wanna Bee
Tutorials & Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z
Show Your Glow at Unskinny Boppy
We Did it Wednesday at Sew Much Ado
Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge

'Twas the Night Before Christmastime - Having Fun with Your Christmas Cards

2011-11-28T21:11:00.000-08:00

Last night,

when there wasn't a creature stirring,

my tummy shook like a

bowl full of jelly from snickering.

What was I doing that inspired

such frivolity?

Well, I sat in my 'kerchief &

created our Christmas cards on

Shutterfly & Picnik.

Here's the front of the card . . .

That's my cutie-pie "Sam"

in the {real} snow last winter.

If you don't have snow, you can create some

{more about that later}.

Picnik has these adorable Santa hats

that you can add to your photos!

TIP: Go first to "Edit" then the "Seasonal" tab.

The snickering really started when I

began putting my boys in their Christmas "costumes".

Here's the "Before" shot . . .

And with a little help from Picnik . . .

It's hard to get all my boys together for a picture

& even harder to get them to wear silly stuff like this!

Maybe that's why it was such devilish fun editing

the pictures with care in hopes that my

Christmas cards soon will be there.

And I didn't want my little

granddaughter to miss out on the

Christmas jollification {real word, BTW} . . .

On the back of the card,

I wanted a photo of our home

with our return address.

The only photo I had handy wasn't very "Christmasy" . . .

that's OK!

Queue the new fallen snow & the holly frame . . .

Merry Christmas to all,

and to all a good night!

I'm linking up to these Fabulous parties:
Christmas with My World Made by Hand
Tutorials & Tips at Home Stories A to Z

Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Made by You Monday at Skip to My Lou
Talent Tuesday at Vintage Wanna Bee
Trash to Treasure Tuesday at Sassy Sites

Fabulous Friday Linky Party 14

2011-11-25T19:25:00.000-08:00

Source

Hello Blog Friends,

it's Fabulous BLACK Friday Time.

I'm excited to see what you've been doing,
or what you got on sale today,

so please join in on the linky party.

Feel free to link something

you've created or written

{but not stuff that's for sale}.

Make sure to link to the specific post

{rather than your generic blog address}.

I'll be picking & highlighting

a few of my favorites next Friday.

Please use the button below

OR a link back to Pixie Dust.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T16:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday

with those you love.

Our dinner was delish.

And since the boys mostly just care about the

turkey & mashed potatoes,

I kept the table pretty simple.

{Not a lot of girls to impress this year!}

The napkins were some I sewed a few

Thanksgivings back.

{Click here to learn how to make your own napkins.}

One thing I'm really thankful for . . .

blogging!

That's right, I really enjoy writing my blog

& reading yours--as well as getting to know

the Pixie Dust readers.

Other little things I'm grateful for . . .

chocolate

my dog, Sam

crushed ice

clean sheets

& prayer.

What are you grateful for?

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner . . . I Mean Shabby Apple Dress!

2011-11-22T12:08:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who

entered to win a beautiful Shabby Apple dress.

{If you'd like to visit their on-line store,

click the button on my sidebar.}

The winner is . . .

"Anna" from Ask Anna.

{I love to read her brilliant ideas on her blog, BTW.}

She's going to look so lovely in this . . .

Congratulations Anna!

A Fun Way to Count Your Blessings This Thanksgiving

2011-11-20T14:49:00.000-08:00

We enjoy various ways of

showing our gratitude

at this special time of the year.

The Thanksgiving Tree is one of our favorites . . .

We keep blank leaves, tape, & a pen in the

envelope . . .

Friends & family members

write something they are grateful for

on the leaves & attach them to the tree.

Sometimes we write about the little

things like "crushed ice" or "chocolate".

And there are always notes about

appreciation of family.

How do you count your blessings?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm rocking out at these FABULOUS PARTIES:
Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things
Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo Toes

Fab Friday Favorites

2011-11-18T22:11:00.000-08:00

Click here if you'd like to enter to
win a beautiful new dress!

I really enjoyed last week's linky party

& it was tough picking my favs!

I love a good home tour,

don't you? *Sigh*

Jenny decorated her small condo

on a small budget, but you'd never know it!

Here's a teaser, but check out the rest
of her breathtaking home at

A Little Knick Knack.

And I was "sew" inspired by Michele's

Color-blocked T.

She refashioned it herself at Sew Inspirations . . .

Jules is always coming up with something

awesome & lately she's been making cool things

with paint sample cards.

Check it out at Bles-id.

And how about a fun printable for

thanksgiving?

Get yours at Freakingcraft.

Thanks so much to everyone who linked

to the party.

Please come again next Friday.

And congrats to those who were featured.

Please feel free to take a button . . .

The Cutest Thank You Note I've Ever Received

2011-11-17T18:04:00.000-08:00

BTW, it's not to late to

win a beautiful new Shabby Apple dress
in my giveaway!
Not that many people have entered,
so your odds are excellent.

Click here to enter.

I just received the

cutest thank you note

& I wanted to share it with you . . .

I love the gracious tradition of sending
a heart-felt note to acknowledge the receipt of a gift.

And this darling couple had the

most fun wedding photography I've ever seen.

I wish I had access to more pictures
so that I could show you!

Congrats Melanie & Dustin
on starting your life together.
And your thank you note made me smile.

Win a Beautiful Dress for the Holidays!

2011-11-15T20:54:00.000-08:00

It's giveaway time . . .

WAHOO!

Who wouldn't want a pretty

new dress for the holidays?

Shabby Apple {www.shabbyapple.com},
an online boutique of women's dresses,
is sponsoring a giveaway for their beautiful
"Bacciami" dress {pictured above}
an $88 value!

I am an affiliate of Shabby Apple
because I love their delightful & modest designs.

IT'S EASY TO ENTER:

1 - The contest is open to Pixie Dust followers.
If you were already a follower, thank you!

2- {REQUIRED} "Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook . . .
Click here for the Facebook link!

3- Leave a comment letting me know you're a follower & that
you "liked" Shabby Apple on Facebook.

I will select the winner using
Random.org on November 22nd.

Good luck!

Corn Treats - Beware They're Addictive!

2011-11-14T07:16:00.000-08:00

Today I'm sharing a

favorite recipe.

But, beware . . . this stuff is

really ~~evil~~ addictive!

The recipe is from my friend &

*Domestic Goddess* Cathy.

These are the ingredients you'll need . . .

Yummy Corn Treats

1 large bag of plain corn pops {one brand is Clover Club -Macy's grocery store carries these}
1 lb. butter {oh yeah that's what I said - 2 cups!}
1 cup slivered almonds
2 cups sugar
3 Tbsp. light corn syrup
5 Tbsp. water

Melt butter, then add sugar, corn syrup & water. Stir on medium heat until boiling well. Turn heat up to high. Cook, stirring constantly for about 3-5 minutes {at my altitude with my stove it was more like 6 minutes}. You'll know it's done when the color turns slightly brown or becomes tan instead of yellow. Put half the bag of corn pops & half the almonds in a large bowl. Pour half the sugar mixture over & stir. Spread out onto a buttered cookie sheet. Repeat for the other half of the ingredients.

Enjoy!

I'm linking up to these FABULOUS Parties:
Linky Party at Spunky Junky
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Made by You Monday at Skip to My Lou
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle

My Thanksgiving Table Last Year

2011-11-12T21:15:00.000-08:00

I'm still trying to decide

how to set my Thanksgiving table

this year.

But I thought I'd share

what I did last year.

I couldn't find any new napkins & table runners

that I liked, so I made my own.

{Click here to learn how.}

Each place setting had of these little

monogram pumpkins

instead of a place card.

{Click here to see more about that!}

How about you?

Are you cooking this year?

Fabulous Friday 13

2011-11-10T18:01:00.000-08:00

Hello Blog Friends,

the above is my first attempt at a printable.

If you want to use it,

be my guest!

{If you do, please let me know how it works

so I can learn from the experience.}

ALSO, it's Fabulous Friday Time.

I'm excited to see what you've been doing,

so please join in on the linky party.

Feel free to link something

you've created or written

{but not stuff that's for sale}.

Make sure to link to the specific post

{rather than your generic blog address}.

I'll be picking & highlighting

a few of my favorites next Friday.

Please use the button below

OR a link back to Pixie Dust.

Thanksgiving Porch Decor

2011-11-09T17:49:00.000-08:00

If my home had a favorite season,

it would be Autumn.

The Fall colors look so pretty

with the neutral hues

in my rock & stucco.

Even my doorbell looks kinda "fall-y".

I love all these "fake pumpkins".

This is a wreath purchased from WalMart.

Click here to see how I embellished it a little last year.

Well, those are the final touches for Fall.

If you'd like to see my Fall mantle decor, click here.

Or click here for my Autumn entry way.

Soon I'll share my favorite yam recipe!

Warmly, Michelle

Shared at the following FABULOUS PARTIES:
Abundant Thanks Linky Party at I Gotta Create