My Latest Etsy Shop Infatuation

There’s a super lady who featured me in her blog recently whom I adore. On etsy she has two shops – one of them is brand new dsignsbymelissa and the other is her supply and destash shop melp1979. I really have to talk about her because she has always been so super sweet to me AND she has the cutest little creations!! Look at this super cute button bracelet of hers:

I am going to HAVE to get one of those bracelets really soon – they are toooo cute not to own!! I should definitely put that on my “things I want for Anniversary/Birthday/Christmas list”!!

I have bought several things from her supply shop back before she had her jewelry shop. Some were supplies – mosaics and gems. BUT, my favorite purchase? A super sweet button ring that I love! It’s so cute and so eyecatching. It never fails that I get compliments on it when I wear it. Here’s a photo of it:

I hope you get a chance to shop in one of her lovely shops. Not only are her pieces remarkable, she is also a wonderfully sweet and fun person….not to mention interesting!! This super talented young lady is also starting her own interior design business. How cool is that???

My Maria…

I met my best friend, Maria, at the very beginning of High School and she had just moved to Tennessee from Illinois. We immediately hit it off and have been BFA’s ever since! We were with each other so much that everyone thought we were sisters! There are so many stories to tell involving my sweet and dear friend that it’s hard to choose one for this post, but I think this one is soooo cute! She and I were big fans of Kirk Cameron AKA Mike Seaver on the sitcom “Growing Pains”. When the show would come on, we would be on the phone with each other and not speak until a commercial came on. Funny, huh?? Well, we were teenagers in High School, so it was all in giggly girlie fun!

Since that time, she and I have both gotten married. She has 3 boys now and they are all super nice boys with the best manners I have seen in a really long time. Shortly after she got married, she moved back to Illinois, though. She was hoping to be able to move back to Tennessee this year and be nearer her super sweet and lovely Mom.

I bring my BFA up for a few reasons. First, I wanted to tell all of you a little about her. Second, because I just found out she reads my blog. Third, because I’m soooo sad to hear that she’s staying in Illinois a little longer – maybe another year. I miss her and thought she was coming back to live in Tennessee. But, alas, no. I have to keep talking to her via email and telephone and an occasional Maria sighting during one of her brief visits to Tennessee.

Here we are in our high school days – obviously it was the 80s with my big hair, her flybacks and our heavy makeup…ahhhh…those were the days!! (Click on the picture to get the full effect – LOL!)

I can’t wait til she’s back!! I love you my Maria!

A Few New Sweet Listings

I worked hard yesterday and actually listed a few new things in my shop. Here’s one of the cuties:

and another one:

 

There’s a few new things I have that I cannot wait to use during my next creative time. Maybe tomorrow?

Streusel Coffee Cake & An Update

I baked in my new oven for the first time today!! Charles loves Coffee Cake – the really simple and delicious Betty Crocker Streusel Coffee Cake:

Cinnamon Streusel
1/3	cup Original Bisquick® mix (I use 2/3 cup)
1/3	cup packed brown sugar (I use 2/3 cup)
1/2	teaspoon ground cinnamon (I use 1 tsp of cinnamon)
2	tablespoons firm butter or margarine
Coffee Cake
2	cups Original Bisquick® mix
2/3	cup milk or water
2	tablespoons sugar (I use 3 tablespoons)
1	egg

1.	Heat oven to 375°F. Grease 9-inch round pan. In small bowl, stir streusel ingredients until crumbly; set aside.
2.	In medium bowl, mix coffee cake ingredients until blended. Spread in pan. Sprinkle with streusel.
3.	Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Heat oven to 425°F. Use 9-inch square pan. Stir 2 tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour into the 2 cups Bisquick® mix. Increase milk to 3/4 cup. Bake 15 to 20 minutes.

Since I had an older recipe that I copied from the Bisquick box a long time ago, I had a few changes in mine which I won’t alter. It’s just too good the way I’ve always done it and Charles is way too fond of it as it is! Here is a piece of the cake in all it’s glory:

As for the kitchen remodel, here’s a photo I took yesterday and you can probably see some changes:

I’m not quite sure why the lighting appears different every time, but everything in the room is white not the cream color it appears. It’s super bright and clean – I LOVE it!!

Just a Quick Hello

We made lots of things happen this weekend in the kitchen and it’s coming along wonderfully. I’ll be back tomorrow with a picture (maybe more) of the progress.

I did want to congratulate my sweet friend mel who won my recent little offering of the sweet red dish towel holder and a surprise from me. She is such a sweetheart and I am thrilled that she will be getting this little cutie!

Hope everyone had a most wonderful weekend!