Mega Giveaway on Daddy Likey!

The Daddy Likey Blog Giveaway has soo many runners-up and soo many cool prizes. The Grand Prize winner of the Mega Exciting Giveaway Bonanza will receive...

A Butter by Nadia Signature Wrap Dressand a signed copy of the blogger's recently published book! Check out Daddy Likey for all the runner up prizes! I personally love the second runner up prize, a hydrangea headband from Bella Fiore:

Sugar plum fairy images...

It's been a super busy week, but I wanted to share one of my most favorite Christmas songs!

Sharon Teague in the role of Sugar Plum Fairy from Houston Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.
Shannon Roberts in Tomasson's Nutcracker (© Erik Tomasson) at the San Francisco Ballet.

Sarah Van Patten as the Snow Queen at the San Francisco Ballet 2007.



light leaks by Gingerlilytea

Pictures for Allison of my sissies

Janie
Katie
Me
We nearly look like triplets...
How I feel about my sisters

Janie and me
Katie and me
Janie and me again

Moses supposes his toes are roses...

Yves Piaget sculpted rose-petal bouquet, $275 by Ovando.

Read more: New York Wedding Guide - These Roses are Anything but Cliché http://nymag.com/weddings/slideshow/ww10/roses/index8.html#ixzz0ZmkInTK6

[First saw these beautiful roses at http://weddingsfresh.blogspot.com/2009/12/reinventing-rose.html]

Moo

Moo
Originally uploaded by ColorMeKatie

This kitty is almost as *cute as* mine and maybe even more photographed! Check out the cute blog, "Color Me Katie"! There's even an adorable video of Moo, the cat playing hide and seek with Katie!

Moo from katie sokoler on Vimeo.

Tomorrow's Monday

lovetrail
Originally uploaded by MeLa de Gypsie

Just when you're used to sleeping in and relaxing, it's Sunday night... Fortunately, I'm really looking forward to next week. Monday is the office holiday party, Tuesday-Thursday will be hectic with a monitor reviewing all my data but Friday will come around faster. Saturday will be awesome with TWO Christmas parties!

Hope to see whales in Maui!!!

breaching whale 4
Originally uploaded by Dale Bubba

After reading Fluke by Christopher Moore a few years ago, I've been really curious about seeing Humpback whales in Maui. I'm looking forward to staying near Lahaina where the whales presumably stay during the winter too! [According to www.whalewatchmaui.com, the Humpbacks come to Maui because of the warmer water temperatures, the more shallow and protected waters, and the lack of predators. These are ideal conditions to have calves in.]

Maui Ocean Center Fish

Maui Ocean Center
Originally uploaded by pete4ducks

It's beginning to look a lot like.....Maui!!! In two and a half weeks, we're going on vacation to Maui! I'm so excited to snorkel and eat amazing seafood and drink lava flows!!!

Does anyone have suggestions for New Years in Maui?

Cherry-Filled Almond Cupcakes by Love and Olive Oil

The adorable and delicious looking blog, "Love and Olive Oil", was introduced to me through "Cupcakes Take the Cake". There is currently an amazing recipe for Cherry-Filled Almond Cupcakes showcased with cute photos that I just HAD to share!

Lindsay and Taylor of "Love and Olive Oil" write on their blog: "Close your eyes. Picture a cupcake. The cutest cupcake you can think of. What does it look like? Slightly domed on top, with a huge swirl of buttercream frosting. And a cherry on top. Right? It’s like a cupcake cliche, or something… with a cherry on top. Because when do you ever see a REAL cupcake with a cherry on top? Like, never? I secretly think someone got confused between a cupcake and an ice cream sundae. Because those have cherries."

Please check out their blog for more delicious photos and the recipe! There are also several other great cupcake recipes like the Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Maple Spice Buttercream and the to-die-for-looking Dark Chocolate Creme de Menthe Cupcakes!

I'm also very curious about the Tequila Sunrise cupcakes! I wish Love and Olive Oil had a bakery in Seattle!!

Have a wonderful Saturday night!

Children scare me...

I first saw this on "No One Puts Cupcake in a Corner" and I concur, this is exactly why I'm not having children.

Loveliness....and TGIF

[Image from Kind Over Matter, originally uploaded by frenchie-jane.]
"But above all, watch, with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places" -- Roald Dahl

TGIF!!!!!!
There's a fun giveaway at the Design Girl Blog! She's giving away a great Gussy purse by Maggie Whitley!

Maggie at Gussy has an adorable Flickr account, showcasing all her Etsy products! This image is titled, "lovely lovelies"!

Tartelette's Candy Cane Macarons!

Wow, check out these amazing looking Candy Cane Macarons on the Tartelette blog! A "Pastry Chef by trade I started getting passionate about photography when I started my blog and felt that my pictures needed to be as delicious as the dessert they portrayed. I also enjoy picking the camera and going around the neighborhood or the house." Tartelette's Etsy shop is filled with beautiful food photography too! I'm drooling just looking at the photos.

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas....

I love White Christmas and Holiday Inn. [Images via MoviePoster.com] I've just added them to my Netflix queue, in anticipation of a Christmas movie marathon. Here's the trailer for Holiday Inn from 1942:


What are your favorite Christmas movies? My husband's a huge fan of Bad Santa....which I will watch but it's not my favorite. I am excited to see Four Christmases this year too!

Here's a great Christmas movie montage from YouTube:


Do you recognize all the clips? I loved the scenes from the Family Stone and Love Actually! I think I'll have to add them to my queue too!

DIY Cork Board with Wine Corks ideas

[Via the Cheap Diva]

Does anyone have suggestions on how to make a wine cork board? I've been googling and saving wine corks for several months now.
[From e-How]
Thus, I'd like to pull out my hot glue gun later this month, if that's the best way to make a cork board.

Here are a few ideas that I've researched: http://jennannej.blogspot.com/2009/01/craftiness.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2177260_wine-corkboard.html

Please let me know if you have any other ideas!!

The Beatles Rockband = Awesome!

We love playing the Beatles Rockband. Tonight we had a grand old time with a bottle of Camaraderie Merlot and my husband's godfather. The Beatles brought us all together!

Sweet Saturday night memories...

Saturday night, a year, four months, and 3 days ago...I love these photos taken by our photographer, Erin Schedler and I can't help sharing them over and over! (She's a brilliant candid photographer, check out her website erinschedlerphoto.com!)

We got married by the beach in Ballard!
We had the most adorable flower girls!

We had several flavors of cupcakes from Cupcake Royale.
Our cake toppers are now on our Christmas tree.
I adore our wedding favors, especially the Victor Hugo quote. "Life is the flower for which love is the honey."

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Limited Edition Flavor and Giveaway!

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream - Hannah Teter's Maple Blondie
It's a "new limited batch flavor is inspired by Hannah Teter, her Olympic Gold Medal & her mission to make a difference! It's Maple Ice Cream with Blonde Brownie Chunks & a Maple Caramel Swirl. It's available in scoop shops & starting in December, it'll be in grocery stores near you.

We're giving away a Vermont Snowboard Getaway in honor of our newest flavor. Enter for a chance to win"

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Eco friendly felt Christmas stockings on the Rikrak studio

::: rikrak ::: modern & sustainable patchwork

:::home of handmade one-of-a-kind and limited edition upcycled vintage fabric creations, & fabulous goodies made from new recycled felt! :::

* rikrak felt stockings are made of strong, new, durable *ecospun* felt and wonderful little, decorative additions! this one features fun rikrak baubles in turquoise / aqua blue and white on a gorgeous white stocking.

* ecospun felt is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. what a great way to start your sustainable Holidays!

* stocking is approx. 11" tall and 5" wide thru the main body.

You even get to pick the style and color of the stocking! Here are some of the options:

THE STYLE - one flower - one star or - rikrak stripes AND THE COLORS: - turquoise blue - red - green - white - grey - yellow - goldenrod - pink - dark blue - orange - charcoal gray

There are also adorable sweetiepie tiny little stockings too, if you prefer!

* measuring approx. 4" long thru the body and 2" wide at the top of the body, this cute little teeny tiny stocking is perfect for so many wonderful things:

♥ to hang as a lovely handmade decoration on your lovely tree,

♥ to use as a card/gift certificate holder

♥ to use to house a little love note, a little gift of money or a little I.O.U message!

♥ the loveliest of wrappings for teeny tiny lovely gifts for all of your friends!

*like all rikrak stockings, the sweetiepies are made of strong, durable, bright ecospun (recycled) felt. intended to hold only lighter objects.

Check out the rikrak studio's blog too! They have an awesome *let's celebrate* MEGA handmade giveaway featured! I'd really really like to win it because :::::: the prize pack is valued at OVER $450.00 USD :::::

Awesome giveaway

Happy December!

Check out http://etsyitup.blogspot.com/2009/12/stephiemc-designs-giveaway.html for the jewelry giveaway from StephieMc Designs! Stephanie is giving 1 lucky winner a $50 gift certificate to her shop!

Here are some of my favorite jewelry pieces from StephieMc Designs:

Summer Fun!
How sweet is this Sister charm?

I love the classic simplicity of this charm necklace too: