2011 Resolutions and Revelations...Happy New Year and Cheers to YOU!

If you're like me you might still be trying to think of something for your 2011 New Year's resolution or maybe you've already got it covered and your ready to roll on into the new year.  Up until a short time ago I was still looking and started doing a little surfing on the Internet thinking the whole time maybe my resolution should be to try and not surf so much (which isn't going to happen).  But, in all of my searching I did come across a couple really great ideas (that I have now decided will work for me) for my 2011 resolutions and they just might result in a revelation as well!  I liked the ideas that these two simple and most manageable resolutions put out there that I wanted to share them with you!  So if you're still looking for the perfect way to ring in the New Year with a resolution that you just might be able to keep maybe these are perfect for you too!

Resolve to make at least one person happy every day, and then in ten years you may have made three thousand, six hundred and fifty persons happy, or brightened a small town by your contribution to the fund of general enjoyment.

Sydney Smith

Every new year people make resolutions to change aspects of themselves they believe are negative. A majority of people revert back to how they were before and feel like failures. This year I challenge you to a new resolution. I challenge you to just be yourself.

Aisha Elderwyn

Wishing you a most amazing and awesome 2011 that's filled with happiness, hope, love, inspiration and creative fun like you have never experienced before! 

Happy New Year . . . CHEERS!

Facebook Friday Follows in The Hive...Come Join The Fun!

So what's a Facebook Friday Follow in The Hive?  Well it's a great way to find some amazing new and talented friends on Facebook, buzz by their pages every Friday to check out what's new and grow your own Facebook Friend or Business too. 

How does it work?

Leave your link below here or on the blog post  in The Hive and then follow, link up and buzz by all of the links of others that have joined in the fun. 

Plus as an added bonus I will select one lucky Friday Follower to win a scentsational goodie box with something from my Primitive Cottage Collections Candle Shoppe...just for joining in the fun! 

And if you are not already familiar with The Hive well you really must buzz by and take a look at this community of creative bloggers.   In fact, if you're not already a member it really should be one of your New Year's resolutions! 

So what are you waiting for...let the Facebook Friday Follow bee-gin!

Happy New Year #twitterbees!

DIY New Year's Party Hats . . . Ring In The New Year "Mad-Hatter" Style!

My niece Ashlee models her New Year's "mad-hatter" style!

Grab some construction paper, glitter paint markers, curling ribbon, a dab of glue and anyone that wants to have fun making party hats that will surely stand out in a crowd.   This is one DIY project that has New Year's style and fun all over it and they're "easy-peasy" too! 

Here's a quick step by step on how to create your very own cone shaped New Year's Hat!
Mix it up, add  your own touches and just go crazy...Party On!

Emily and Taylir concentrate on adding just the right "glittery" touches!

And the finished hats...decorated and styled just waiting for the party!

And here's my nephew, Evan modeling his favorite "mad-hatter" style!

Happy New Year . . . let the party begin!

"Scent-sational" Savings in my "Prim" Candle Shoppe!

Now through December 31, 2010 Shop and Save in my

Primitive Cottage Collections Candle Shoppe!

The perfect way to ring in the new year with 10% Off Storewide!  Stock Up and Save!

Prim Pillars, Tapers, Votives, Scented Fixins',  Seasonal Decor and more!

Sugar Cookie and Cinnamon Primitive Taper Candles - Set/12

Reg. $7.95 - NOW $7.19

Cinnamon Scented Glitter Heart Bowl Fillers - Set/6

Reg. $4.95 - Now $4.45 set/6

Heartfelt and Handmade!

It's a California "Mudslide" That's Delightfully Delicious!

MUDSLIDE "CROCK POT" TACO DIP

We've been having alot of rain here in California lately and yes, that means mudslides, but we've decided to make our own version of a mudslide that's TOTALLY TERRIFIC instead of totally terrible! A "muddy" delightful dip that can simmer slowing for all day dipping (if it lasts that long...hehehe)

Recipe for a Mudslide

2lbs. Ground Beef - Brown in skillet

Add the following to the beef...

1 Can Hormel Chili - No Beans

1 Can Refried Beans

1 Pkg Taco Seasoning

32 oz. pkg. Velveeta

24 oz. Salsa (mild to hot depending on taste)

Mix it all together and toss in the the Crock Pot...simmer on warm

Grab a bowl or bag of chips and let the "mudslide" dipping begin!

This is just one of our Christmas Day treats...which is full of fun eats!

Wishing you a delightful and tasty Christmas!

(A special thanks to my Sister, Shari for mixing up this mudslide like a pro!)

It's Confirmed Santa Has Officially Taken Off From North Pole! Track His Travels!

It's Christmas Eve around the world and that means it's time for Santa and his reindeer to make their journey from the North Pole delivering goodies to fill all of the stockings of good boys and girls! You can keep track of his travels with the help of NORAD as they track Santa and even share his whereabouts via google maps!  Are you ready at your house?  Better make sure the cookies are prepped because the latest update at the time of this post shows NORAD has confirmed that Santa and his fully-loaded, reindeer-powered sleigh took off from the North Pole and soared into the arctic sky at 6:00 a.m. EST (5:00 a.m. CST, 4:00 a.m. MST, 3:00 a.m. PST). NORAD radar is tracking Rudolph’s bright red nose, and satellite imagery is providing minute-by-minute coverage of Santa’s location.

More fun via NORAD Facebook  and Twitter Too! 

The Wizard Of OZ . . . Oh, no! Dorothy And Her Friends Have Been FRAMED!

No worries...they've been framed in a good witch kind of way! hehehe!

I've been following the yellow brick road with my latest Pop Art Minis illustrations inspired by the timeless and classic story the Wizard of Oz!  So far I have completed Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Glinda the Good Witch and now they have all been FRAMED!  Up the staircase and with a little story board "of sorts" added to the wall the art-venture continues to unfold!  With the help of some fun stick on letters (that I found at the Dollar Store) and a few wooden frames that set off the bold dark outlines of the illustrations here are the results of my Oz journey so far! 

More to come...as that green and wickedly wonderful Witch from the North will make her debut...a munchkin or two...and the man behind the curtain will appear in all his Wizardly glory! 

In the meantime wishing you a magical journey somewhere over the rainbow or right in your own backyard . . . because there really is

"No Place Like Home"  or with family especially for the holidays!

"Are You A Good Witch Or A Bad Witch?" Glinda, the Good Witch

"Are You A Good Witch or A Bad Witch?"  One of the famous quotes and questions that the beautiful, Glinda - The GOOD Witch from the south, asked Dorothy upon her arrival or should I say crash landing in the Wonderful Land Of OZ. 

So what are you, are you a "Good Witch" fan or a "Wickedly Bad Witch" fan? 

When I took the poll on the Pop Art Minis Facebook page the Good Witch won out over the bad, but you know the notoriously green Wicked Witch will be making her appearance soon...the Oz collection wouldn't be complete without her!

Check out the Wizard of Oz collection in my Pop Art Minis Zazzle Store!

Wishing you a most magical and "good" day!

Not A Creature Was Stirring...Well, Maybe A Mouse... a Merry christ-mouse!

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care

The presents are wrapped and ready to share

Not a creature is stirring . . . well, maybe a christ-mouse

With a holly jolly greeting from my little house

Snowman sugar cookies and candy cane treats

Delightful fun and oh, so sweet

Green boughs of holly and twinkling lights

Merry christ-mouse to all and may your holidays be bright!

Wishing you an amazing and blessed holiday! 

Once In A Blue Moon...the Winter Solstice and a Total Lunar Eclipse On The Same Day!

Pop Art Mini - "Linked"

Tuesday, December 21, 2010 will go down in the history books as a day that a rare transition will take place with the arrival of the Winter Solstice and a Total Lunar Eclipse occurring on the same day!  This rarity has only been seen maybe one time in the past 2000 years! How crazy amazing it that! And although we will probably not be able to see this transition here in Southern California due to the torrential downpour of rain it will most definitely occur as the celestial calendar is nearly 100% on schedule and if not...well, let's not go there! 

The last time the two celestial events occurred within the same calendar day was in 1638!   Although it does not appear to have any cosmic significance you can't help but wonder what fantastical affect this rare occurance may have on the cosmic forces that be! And it will not happen again until 2094. 

Pop Art Mini - "Starring Mr. Moony"

The absolute midpoint of the eclipse will be at 3:17 est Tuesday morning according to scientific research.  The moon then continues moving through the Earth's shadow, emerging completely shortly after 5 a.m. The winter solstice, which occurs shortly afterward, is the time when the sun reaches its lowest point in the northern sky. That is the moment that many people consider to be the start of the winter season...although I do believe winter-like weather may have decided to start a little earlier this year...maybe in an attempt to get us in the Christmas spirit a bit earlier than usual.  hehehe!

Wishing you an eclipsical celestial solstice!


Luna eclipse photos courtesy of Nasa

A total lunar eclipse begins as the full moon is shadowed by the Earth on the arrival of the winter solstice, Tuesday, December 21, 2010 in Arlington, VA. From beginning to end, the eclipse will last about three hours and twenty-eight minutes. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)




A total lunar eclipse is seen as the full moon is shadowed by the Earth on the arrival of the winter solstice, Tuesday, December 21, 2010 in Arlington, VA. From beginning to end, the eclipse will last about three hours and twenty-eight minutes. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Washington Monument is seen as the full moon is shadowed by the Earth during a total lunar eclipse on the arrival of the winter solstice, Tuesday, December 21, 2010 in Washington. From beginning to end, the eclipse lasted about three hours and twenty-eight minutes. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Run, Run As Fast As You Can...We're Gonna Bake A Gingerbread Man...and Snowman...and Candy Cane...Cookies!

My daughter decided that today was going to be Gingerbread Cookie Baking Day! So who was I to say no...it's raining, cold and just plain yucky outside so it really was a perfect day to bake up some delightful cookie treats.  We mixed up a batch of gingerbread (as she read the recipe from her iphone...gotta love technology) and placed it in the fridge for a couple hours to set up just right!

While we were waiting we made a batch of Thumbprint cookies to fill the time...colorful, bright and tasted just right! We made lots of buttercream frosting to use on the Thumbprint cookies and the Gingerbreads!

By the time the thumbprint cookies were baked, frosted, tasted, and saved for sharing it was time to start the Gingerbread making . . .

Roll It!

Cut It!

Cut some More!

Cutting the tiny heart details!

Cool IT!

Decorate It!

Frosting in a small plastic bag worked great for a DIY frosting bag...be sure to only cut a teeny tiny hole or else you'll end up with a big "blob" of frosting...and yes it happened to us...once! LOL

The finished works of Gingerbread Art! :)

We definitely had a lot of creative fun, but these gingerbread cookies better run...run...run! Or they will most definitely be a sweet treat that someones gonna eat!  hehehe!

Wishing you a Sweet Week!