NEW BLOG

I have decided to combine both areas of my life into one blog. So Bodacious Bits, the new blog, is up and running. Go check it out here. Or type www.bodaciousbits.blogspot.com in your browser!!

Ghostly Gronola

Landon was star student of the week last week and every day we had an "assignment" Friday's was to bring a snack to share. So in honor of halloween, I decided to make Ghostly Gronola aka puppy chow aka muddy munchies. It was super easy, pretty cute and very yummy. First, you'll need a few things.

To make the "gronola". Take 1 cup of chocolate chips, 1/2 cup peanut butter, and 1/4 cup butter and microwave until melted (about 1 minute)




Add 1 tsp of vanilla and stir until well blended. Next take 9 cups of chex mix cereal and pour into a large bowl. Pour the chocolate mixture over cereal and toss until evenly covered.




Finally, take 1 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and put in a large ziplock bag, add the cereal mixure and shake until covered. YUM!!!! ( FYI, I am pretty sure this recipe is also on the back of the chex mix box)

(Landon shaking)

Now your ready to make your ghosts. You will need this:




Take you googly eyes and hot glue the eyes directly on the bottom of your cellaphane bag.




Add 1 cup of your "gronola" Tie with a ribbon and your done!







...quick and easy Ghostly Gronola! Click here and check out my sister's blog for another cute ghostly idea!!

A Bit Batty

We are in full force halloween mode now. I have bought all the costumes, bought or made halloween clothes, and have the house decorated as much as I can. I am still just trying to get our home put together and decorated for the every day so I can't say I have gone all out inside. But I did put some thought and effort into the outdoor decorations. A couple of weeks ago, I saw this in Country Living.




I decided I wanted my door to look similiar. So, I bought some orange mums for $12.00 at Lowes and stuck them in a pot that I discovered while moving. And, I bought an orange "Spooky" pick at Hobby Lobby for half off.





I bought a "Boo" door hanger at Hobby Lobby for half off of $8.00!

I made the bats out of black felt from this template here.

We grabbed some duck tape and started hanging while Lucy watched from the inside.

And voila...



Our house is now batty!!!! (yes, pun intended)

Spider Tee

So, I have been scouring every childrens boutique and consignment store for a halloween outfit for Lucy. No, I don't like all black on my baby. No, I don't like orange either! No, I don't care for rhinestones! I cannot find anything really cute for her that is halloweenish. So, I decided I would make something myself. Did you know that I design children's clothing? If not, you do now. And thats exactly how it got started, except at the time, I wanted cute clothes for my little man, Landon (now 6). Anyhow, back on point. My very first season I designed a spider tee and it was my top seller by far. I recently just sold the last of the spider design through my liquidating companies. And, am now kicking myself for not keeping one for Lucy. But then again, I did come up with the design. So, I made a spider tee for Lucy this weekend. Its easy, inexpensive and the cutest Halloween design out there...trust me I have looked! :)

First you will need these items.

A tee, fabric stiffener, ribbon, wooden dowel, and fabric of your choice.

Next, you will make the corker ribbon. I know they sell corker ribbon already made, but I have yet to find it so heres how you make it yourself. Cut the dowel down to about 10 inches. And next, and this is VERY important, soak the dowel in water for about 30 minutes. This will prevent the dowel from burning and your ribbon from cooking to the dowel.

Next, dip your ribbon in the fabric stiffener...

wipe off any excess, and wrap around the dowel.

Bake in your oven for about 20 minutes on 200 degrees.

While your ribbon is cooking, cut your fabric into the shape of a spider like this. (I also used stablizer on the back of the fabric... its not required, but it does help while sewing.)





Once the ribbbon is done unwind from the dowel and cut into (8) 4 inch peices (for your spider legs) Take 4 legs each and sew them together like this.




Next, arrange your fabric body on your tee and put one set of legs underneath and start sewing around the edge. I used a zig zag stitch on my machines slowest and tightest stitch setting. When you get half way around, slip the other set of legs underneath the fabric and continue sewing until you have gone all the way around your spider.

Cut any excess fabric from the edges and cut your legs down to your preference.


Next take a fabric marker and make your eyes and a mouth.

Pair your new tee with some leggings and...


...Ta Da! The cutest halloween outfit!

That's even cuter on!

Quick Update

I have had 4 people ask why I am not posting and to be perfectly honest I didn't know 4 people read this blog! :) Anyhow, I have been without my camera since this weekend, but now I have it back and will get to work tomorrow taking pictures and uploading. I have had a lot of fun with the house this week and can't wait to show some of it off!! It is finally starting to come together. I am hosting a trunk show on Monday so maybe I will pull a "Holley" and it will all get done by then. By the way, Holley is my sister who throws parties so that her house will get decorated and will go from contruction(literally) to done, decorated, accessorized and ready for guests in 24 hours. And, I am being dead serious! Anyhow, stay posted for more! But, in the meantime, I will share a recipe that is super easy and delicous and sorry - no pics.

Chicken Spaghetti Bake
1 can cream of muchroom
1 can cream of chicken
1 can canned chicken (all white)
1 tub sour creme
1 box spaghetti - cooked
1 bag chredded cheddar cheese
1 jar chopped peppers

Cook spaghetti noodles, mix with other ingredients, and bake 350 for 30 minutes. I loved it, Ash loved and both kids (even Lucy) loved it. I doubled the recipe and froze the other half. Awesome easy weeknight dinner!

Busy Making Other Plans

My anniversary is on Monday which makes for a long weekend with Monday being Labor Day. So, about a month ago, I started making plans for Ashley and I to take a weekend trip to Charleston. Neither of us has been before and its on both of our lists. So, I arranged for my parents to take the kids for the weekend, I had Ashleys secretary block the day for appointments and I started making reservations. I had planned on surprising Ashley today and off we would go. Well, this was all before the TV drama. Our living room/great room has no walls and the only solution is to put a flat screen tv above the fireplace. (Ashley loves that this is the only solution) Well, we found an awesome deal on the TV. Little did I know that the wall mount would be nearly the amount of the television and the installation was more than the price of both. So, when the TV price more than trippled, it was either the trip or the TV. And, I picked the flat screen. I have to say though, I am very excited to not only be getting the tv/surround sound hooked up, but I am really excited to have a long weekend to tackle a bunch of projects. So, heres my list. It probably won't make a lot of sense right now, but I am hoping it will hold me accountable to get them done this weekend with lots of pictures to prove it.

1. Paint mirror silver
2. Spray paint patio furniture black
3. Hang drapery rods in great room & master
4. Make lined drapes for the great room
5. Install shades in bay window
6. paint basement coffee table
7. find lampshade
8. find plants for mirrored planters (this is going to look SO good)


Thats the list. I will post as I get things crossed off. Perhaps Charleston would be a good New Years trip!!?? Have a great weekend!

Its Been a While

Hey friends! So, I knew I had taken the month of August off, but didn't realize that my last post was the beginning of July...its been longer than I thought. And there is so much to catch up on. I am not sure where to even start, but I think I will start with the house. We moved in the new house the end of July and are settling in slowly but surely.

I have been working very hard on getting the house deocrated and can't wait to show you before and after pics very soon. Here's a sneak peak at one. The fireplace before and after. This was done the day we closed. Immediatly after the closing, I went to Benjamin Moore for the paint and slapped some on before Ash could say "no". :)

Before...

After...

After moving in July, school started right after in early August. Landon started 1st grade at his new school and was a pro about it. He is already adjusted and we are loving his new teacher!

The tooth fairy has had her work cut out at our house. While Landon has been loosing teeth, (hilarious story that I will share later) Lucy has been getting them. She got 5 teeth at once and you would have never known. She never fussed or cried, there was no fever or ear aches, nothing!

And as if there wasn't enough going on, I got my fall shipment in for Mary Michael Children's Apparel. I have been working none stop getting the merchandise sized and priced, photographed, working on the website and selling like crazy. I am finally offering online sales through the website so go check it out at http://www.marymichael.net/ There are some CUTE things at awesome prices. Here's a little peak at what we have to offer...

Its good to be back and blogging! I have missed yall!