How cute is this...

Mini Mrs. Claus!

Merry Christmas!

We would like to wish you a Merry Christmas from Our Family to yours!

Frances & Julie
Mindy and Lola

Candy cane cookies…

Store bought sugar cookie mix + a couple drops of peppermint essence + red food coloring = a great time and maybe a new tradition!

Indie Craft Bazaar

Come join us at Cinema Paradiso on December 13, 2009 from 1-6 PM for an Indie Craft Bazaar, chock full of handmade, vintage, repurposed, recycled and vegan goods!

There will be all sorts of cute, unique and quirky goods including jewelry, hand-sewn, crocheted and knitted items, original art, vintage clothing and items, baked goods and other yummy things for non-vegans and vegans alike, paper goods and more!

Music, arts and crafts, food, beer and prizes! What more could you ask for?!

$3 Admission - Includes ticket for an Apple iPod raffle + other great prizes! FREE PARKING!!

FIRST 100 GUESTS RECEIVE FREE SWAG BAG FULL OF GOODIES!

Just in time for holiday shopping! Stop by and say hi!

http://www.getupandcraft.com for more info + sign up for our newsletter and receive an EXTRA ticket into the raffles!

This weekend...

SHOP LOCAL

Those of you in near broward dont forget Green Saturday is today..... Good music, food, & crafty goodness for your shoping pleasure!


... and for those who want something fun to do with the kiddies check out the Miami Lakes United Methodist Church. Theres gonna be snow, santa photos, games, rock climbing, caroling & a craft b

Chocolate Almond Biscotti

This another one of those recipes for the cookie swap… yummy! Click here for the complete resipe.

Chocolate Almond Biscotti

Ingredients:

3/4 cup (110 grams) blanched whole almonds, toasted and chopped coarsely

2/3 cup (135 grams) granulated white sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 3/4 cups (225 grams) all-purpose flour

4 ounces (110 grams) semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped in 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) pieces (can use chocolate chips)

Chocolate Almond Biscotti: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Toast almonds for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop coarsely. Set aside.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

In bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the sugar and eggs on high speed until thick, pale, and fluffy (about 5 minutes). (When you slowly raise the beaters the batter will fall back into the bowl in slow ribbons.) At this point beat in the vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the egg mixture and beat until combined. Fold in the chopped almonds and chocolate.

Transfer the dough to your parchment lined baking sheet and form into a log, about 12 inches (30 cm) long and 3 1/2 inches (9 cm) wide. You may have to dampen your hands to form the log as the dough is quite sticky. Bake for 25 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Transfer the log to a cutting board and cut into 3/4 inch (2 cm) slices, on the diagonal. Place the biscotti, cut side down, on the baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes, turn slices over, and bake for another 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

Makes about 16 biscotti.

Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread

I was looking for a few new cookie recipes for a cookie swap and decided to share some with you… This is the first one that really caught my eye. I love pistachios, so these are the first I'm going to try. I let you know how they turn out. Below is the recipe and the directions or you can go here and print it. Happy baking!

Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread

Ingredients:

2 1/3 cups (300 grams) all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup (2 sticks) (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

2/3 cup (135 grams) granulated white sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup (130 grams) unsalted pistachios, coarsely chopped

1 cup (150 grams) dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

Directions:

In a large bowl whisk the flour with the salt.

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), cream the butter until smooth (about 1 - 2 minutes). Add the sugar and beat until smooth and creamy (about 3 minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract. Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated. Fold in the chopped pistachios and dried cranberries. (Make sure that the nuts and cranberries are evenly distributed throughout the dough.)

Divide the dough in half. Place each half of dough on the center of a 14 inch (35 cm) length of parchment or wax paper. Smooth and shape the dough into an evenly shaped rectangle that is about 10 inches (25 cm) long and 2 inches (5 cm) wide. Then thoroughly wrap the shaped logs in the parchment or wax paper, twists the ends of the paper to seal the logs, and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least two hours, or up to three days. (The logs can also be frozen for about two months. If freezing, it is best to defrost the logs in the refrigerator overnight before slicing and baking.)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) with the rack in the center of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Using a thin bladed knife, slice the logs into 1/4 to 1/2 inch (.5 to 1 cm) thick cookies. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Bake for about 15 - 20 minutes, or until the cookies are just beginning to brown around the edges. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

Makes about 48 shortbread cookies.

New ...

These are some of the new stuffies we have been working on. What do you think?

***HOLIDAY BAZAAR***

The Miami Lakes Holiday Bazaar is tomorrow from 11am to 2pm., @15151 montrose rd (82 ave) @ the comunity center west. The entrance is free and so is the parking, Proceeds benefit the Miami Lakes Adopt-a-Family Thanksgiving feast. Come on out and support your local artitst!!!!!!!!!!

See you there!

Mindyandlola

Is it to early to think turkey?

This is a cute idea from CraftJr. Its a link for printable Thanksgiving place card holders. There really cute, and you can get some of the older kids involved in planning and setting up for Thanksgiving. They have all kinds of cute crafty ideas for the little ones check them out....
Frances ;o)

MIami Lakes Holiday Bazaar

We hope to see you at the Miami lakes Holiday Bazaar, there will be plants, vintage Jewry, bake goods, home goods etc... Its from 11:00 am until 2:00pm. Get an early start on your holiday shopping... and help out a great cause. A portion of the profits will go to the Miami Lakes adopt a family Thanksgiving feast.
See you there,
Frances & Julie ;o)

Let's Sew

Does your little one drive you bananas, wanting to use all of your sewing stuff? Do they want to be just like you … try this? These sewing cards are tailor-made for your toddler. Here is the link… and the instructions…


What you need:
• washable markers or jumbo crayons • paper plates • shoestring or yarn • scissors (adult) What to do:

1. Invite your toddler to use the markers or crayons to decorate the paper plates. She may need you to provide gentle guidance in holding the marker and using it to make marks.

2. Once your child has decorated the plates, use scissors to make holes approximately the size of quarters in the plate.

3. Show your toddler how to lace a shoestring or a piece of yarn (with the ends taped to prevent fraying and provide a grip for your child) through the holes in the plate. As she works, describe what she is doing — the colors of the yarn and the colors on the plate, as well as how the string goes IN and OUT of the holes.


thanks,
Frances ;o)

Like mother, Like daughter...

Here we are in all our scarry glory!

Birthday...

Happy birthday to us.... We celebrated our birthday this weekend. We had a great show on Saturday, at the Miami Shores Presbyterian Church Harvest festival. Our booth neighbors were these two lovely ladies who were an older more distinguished versions of our selves, they were even sisters. They were so cute. Thank you all for coming out just to see us!

...

SOME OF THE STUFF WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON...

I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS CUPCAKE...

We are getting ready just a few days until Stitch Rock. We had a great time last year, the music, the cupcakes, and all the great stuff. This is an awsome show!

New items!

Hi Guys what do you think... We've been busy bee's making all kinds of stuff... You should check out our new line of hair accessories in our Miadu Store! And you can get this one right here...

What do you think? You can get yours here: Miadu.etsy.com

Oooh! and a big hug to my model Evangeli!

Baby Girl thank you!!

Julie

Free Printables!!!!!!!!!!

Need something for the little ones to do … fast! Here click on the link and go to the nick jr website and print all kinds of things like these Dora & Diego Seaside Postcards, you can find Puzzles, charts, book mark , posters, calendars, All with their favorite characters.

thanks,
frances :o)

New Items!

Hi Guys!

Come and check out the new earrings we've made!

100% sterling silver and semi precious stones!

You can get yours here: miadu.etsy.com

Enchilada Casserole

I love mexican food... this is great!

Prep Time: 5 min Total Time: 30 min Makes: 4 servings

What You Need:
· 1 lb. ground beef
· 1/4 cup chopped onions
· 1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
· 1/2 cup water
· 2 tsp. chili powder
· 4 corn tortillas
· 1 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
· 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
· 1/4 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream

Make It:

MICROWAVE meat and onions in 2-qt. microwaveable dish on HIGH 4 to 6 min. or until meat is no longer pink, stirring every 2 min.; drain.
STIR in tomato sauce, water and chili powder. Microwave 5 to 9 min. or until slightly thickened, stirring every 4 min. Transfer to bowl.
PLACE 1 tortilla in same microwaveable dish; top with layers of 1/4 each meat sauce and cheese. Repeat layers 3 times. Microwave 2 to 5 min. or until heated through. Let stand 5 min. Top with tomatoes and sour cream.

Kraft Kitchens Tips
Healthy Living

Save 90 calories, 12 grams of fat and 6 grams of saturated fat per serving by preparing with extra lean ground beef, KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese and BREAKSTONE'S Reduced Fat or KNUDSEN Light Sour Cream.
Variation Beef and Bean
Reduce amount of meat to 1/2 lb.; Stir in 1 can (16 oz.) fat free refried beans with the tomato sauce.
Skillet Preparation
Cook meat and onions in large skillet on medium-high heat 3 to 5 min. or until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in tomato sauce, water and chili powder; cook until heated through. Transfer to bowl. Assemble in skillet as directed. Cover; heat 2 min. or until cheese is melted. Top with sour cream and tomatoes.

thanks ,

frances ;o)

We made a new treasury!

Thanks Frankcreations for including Melinda the Zombie Princess in your treasury! You can see the treasury here you can visit Francreations store here!

And you can buy Melinda at our Miadu Designs store here!

Thanks!

Julie ;0)

Home-Made Binoculars Craft

How about this really cute idea… making binoculars out of Toilet Paper Rolls. . Here is the link… and the instructions…


Follow these directions and find out how to make pretend binoculars using bathroom tissue rolls.
Materials Needed:
· 2 Cardboard Toilet Paper Rolls
· Small Piece of Lightweight Cardboard (From a Cereal Box, Etc.)
· Paint
· School Glue
· Scissors
· Instructions:Paint both cardboard toilet paper rolls. Set them aside to dry.
· Cut a piece of lightweight cardboard2" x 6". Paint it and set it aside to dry.
· Once all of the paint is dry, place a line of glue down both long ends of the 2" x 6" piece of cardboard. Set the toilet paper rolls down on the glue, let the glue dry.
· Technically now, your binoculars are done. If you like, you can add some embellishments to your binoculars such as beads, feathers, or sequins. Another item you can add if you like is a strap. Simply tape of glue a piece of yarn or string onto your binoculars so you can wear them around your neck.

thanks,
Frances ;o)

Pizza Calzones

Who doesn't love pizza? This is a great recipe is great for picky eaters!

Prep Time: 10 min Total Time: 22 min Makes: 4 servings, one calzone each

What You Need
· 1 can (8 oz.) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
· 1 cup KRAFT Shredded Italian* Mozzarella-Parmesan Cheese Blend
· 1/3 cup marinara sauce
· 16 slices OSCAR MAYER Pepperoni
· 2 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

Make It
PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Unroll crescent dough. Separate into four rectangles; press perforations together to seal. Place rectangles on lightly floured surface; roll each to 7x5-inch rectangle.
MIX mozzarella cheese blend and sauce; set aside. Place 4 of the pepperoni slices on one of the short sides of each dough rectangle, 1 inch from edge of dough. Spread sauce mixture evenly over pepperoni. Fold dough rectangles crosswise in half; press edges together with fork to seal. Transfer to baking sheet. Sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese.
BAKE 12 min. or until golden brown. Cool 5 min. before serving.
TACO BELL® and HOME ORIGINALS® are trademarks owned and licensed by Taco Bell Corp. * Made with quality cheeses crafted in the USA.

Kraft Kitchens Tips
Serving Suggestion
Serve this entrée with a mixed green salad.
Variations
Prepare as directed, using one of the following flavor options: Tex-Mex: Omit Parmesan cheese. Substitute 8 slices OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Shaved Smoked Turkey Breast for the pepperoni, KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese for the mozzarella cheese blend and TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa for the marinara sauce. Ham-and-Cheddar: Omit marinara sauce. Substitute 8 slices OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Shaved Smoked Ham for the pepperoni and KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese for the mozzarella cheese blend. Veggie Lover's: Substitute 1 cup mixed sliced green bell peppers and red onions for the pepperoni.

thanks,

frances ;o)

Ball Catchers

What a great way to recycle milk jug or detergent bottles. You can turn them into ball catcher for young kids just learning how to catch. . Here is the link… and the instructions…

What you'll need:
· 2 plastic milk cartons or laundry detergent bottles
· Sharp scissors
· Colored electrical tape or "Painters" paint markers
· Ball to play with

How to make it:
1. Wash and let dry the milk cartons well before starting. Note: It may be easier to cut the bottom off of the containers first.
2. Use the sharp scissors to cut the milk carton or detergent bottle. First cut off the bottom, then cut a U shape under the handle. Make sure you don't cut into the handle so you can hold on the ball catch. (see photo)
3. Use the colored electrical tape or "Painters" paint markers to decorate the milk cartons.
4. Have fun playing catch and toss with these fun toys.

thanks,
Frances ;o)

Toaster Waffle Sandwich

Another super yummy treat... Breakfeast for dinner anyone?

Prep Time: 5 min Total Time: 5 min Makes: 1 serving

What You Need

2 frozen waffles
2 frozen BOCA Meatless Breakfast Links
1 KRAFT 2% Milk Sharp Cheddar Singles
1/4 of a medium apple, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp. cinnamon sugar
1 cup 1% milk
Make It
TOAST waffles as directed on package. Meanwhile, microwave breakfast links as directed on package.
PLACE 2% Milk Singles on 1 of the waffles. Cover with apple, cinnamon sugar and breakfast links; top with remaining waffle. Cut in half.
SERVE with milk.

thanks,

frances ;o)

Rain Sticks that really do sound like rain.

Looking for a great idea to keep the kids busy… how about these Rain Sticks? I came across this cute craft looking for something to do with my daughter. She had a blast. Here is the link... and the instructions…

Materials: long tubes from gift wrap or paper towel, strips of cardboard, paper, tape, seeds or rice

• Cut out two 4 inch circles out of the paper (trace a cereal bowl for the shape). Put one over the end of the tube, and fold the sides down, and tape around the tube. Make sure it is well taped on and use sturdy paper so that your Rain Stick won't leak!
• 
  Cut cardboard strips are narrower than the tube (about 1 inch wide should work). Fold them back and forth like a fan. Put the strips into the tube.

• The first one should fall to the bottom of the tube. Keep adding strips until they reach the top of the tube.
• 
  Pour in 1/4 cup of rice and 2 tbsp of seeds (dried peas, popcorn, or lentils) into the tube.
• 
  Tape the other circle over the open end of the tube and tape in place.
• 
  Decorate the tube with markers, paints or by gluing on paper or ribbon.

Decorating the sticks can be the most fun. The kids can decorate the sticks before or after they have filled them. Just remember that paper circles will be taped part way down the sides if the kids want to do the decorating first.

thanks,

Frances ;o)

Kids Can Cook: Cookies & Creme Pudding Pops

These inexpensive treats make for big smiles. Your kids will love the step-by-step directions, perfect for little hands. YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!


What You Need:
1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) Jell-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
2 cups cold milk
6 Oreo Cookies
1⁄2 cup thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping
Make It
1. BEAT pudding mix and milk in large bowl with whisk 2 min.
2. PLACE cookies in resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Use rolling pin to crush cookies.
3. ADD cookies and Cool Whip to pudding; stir just until blended.
4. SPOON into 9 small paper or plastic cups.
5. INSERT wooden pop stick or plastic spoon into each for handle. Freeze 5 hours or until firm.
PREP: 10 min. plus freezing

thanks,

frances ;o)

Etsy shop love...

How is this for a whole lotta fun! A perfect gift for the steam punk lover in your life, young or just young at heart; Gun is plastic painted, aged, and treated with a glossy sealant for your destroying pleasure. Delight in seeing the faces of your foes go pale with fear and the knowledge of their certain doom when you whip out The Demoralizer. Small enough to stash away if the need arises yet powerful enough to take down an entire fleet of airship pirates...well...maybe a couple airship pirates. Also check out the Sassafrass 3000! Set your sights on your enemies and then disintegrate them to a fine dust with the Sassy's precision laser system. A converted water gun made of plastic. It has been painted, aged, and sealed with a gloss. The gun cannot be used as a water gun. The trigger has been treated so that it cannot be pulled as this could expose the original plastic on the trigger.
Click here for more info RiverWraith.

Bread!!!!!!!!!

I love bread… So I tried a crazy recipe yesterday for a no knead recipe. Well it didn’t quite come out the way I wanted. So today I am trying something else a new recipe from Tyler Florence from the Food Network. The recipe is below; I will let you know how it turns out. Cross your fingers!!!!!!!
Frances ;o)


Wonderful White Bread
Ingredients
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter
1 package (1 tablespoon) rapid-rising dry yeast
2 tablespoons sugar or honey
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 egg whites, divided and slightly beaten
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions
In a small saucepan, heat the milk with butter over low heat just until the butter melts. Remove from heat and add to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook. Proof the yeast by adding it to the warm milk and butter. Add the sugar and stir gently to dissolve. Let stand 3 minutes until foam appears. This indicates the yeast is active. Turn mixer on low and gradually add the flour. When the dough starts to come together, increase the speed to medium and add the salt and 1 egg white. Stop the machine periodically to scrape the dough off the hook. Mix until the dough is no longer sticky, about 10 minutes.

Turn the dough onto the work surface and knead for a minute or so by hand. Knead by folding the dough over itself and pushing out with the heel of your hands, not down. Rotate the dough and repeat. The dough is properly kneaded when you can pull it and it stretches without breaking. Form the dough into a round and place in an oiled bowl, turn to coat the entire ball with oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let rise over a gas pilot light on the stovetop or in another warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Test the dough by pressing 2 fingers into it. If indents remain, the dough is adequately risen.

Once the dough is doubled and domed, turn it out onto the counter. The act of turning out the dough naturally deflates the gas, so there is no need to aggressively punch it down. Handle the dough gently, overworking the gluten at this point will produce a dense loaf that is difficult to shape. *To form a loaf, pat the dough into a rectangle, fold the long sides to the middle then fold under the ends. Pinch the seams closed and place in a greased 9 by 5-inch loaf pan, seam side down. Make sure the dough touches all sides of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise a second time for 20 minutes or until the top of the dough is nearly level with the top of the loaf pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, place a large pan on the bottom rack of the oven. Bring 3 cups water to a boil on the stove. Pour the hot water into the preheated pan to create a steam bath for the bread. This will make a crisp crust.

Slash dough down the middle of the loaf with a sharp knife to allow the steam to escape during baking. Brush the top with remaining beaten egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake the bread for 30 to 40 minutes until crust is golden and internal temperature reads 195 degrees F when checked with an instant read thermometer. The bottom of the loaf should sound hollow when tapped. Immediately remove the bread from the pan and cool completely on a rack.
* Variation: To make Cinnamon-Raisin Swirl Bread: after the first rise, press the dough out to a rectangle, sprinkle surface with cinnamon and raisins to cover. Roll up like a jellyroll, pinch the seams closed and continue as directed in the recipe.

...

We had a great time at FSC. Julie was a little shooked at all of the costumes, but it was fun. Pictures will be up soon. We are working on some new items that will also be up on the shop soon.
Frances ;o)

Florida Supercon Don't Miss out!

MindyandLola will be at Florida Supercon this weekend. Come by and say hi!


SOUTH FLORIDA'S COMIC BOOK, ANIME, ANIMATION, COSPLAY, FANTASY& VIDEO GAME FESTIVAL
WHEN : JUNE 5, 6 & 7 2009
WHERE: THE DOUBLETREE MIAMI MARTAIRPORT CONVENTION CENTER
711 NW 72ND AVE., MIAMI, FL. 33126

FRI, JUNE 5TH FROM 3:30PM - 2:00AM
SAT, JUNE 6TH FROM 11:00AM - 3:00AM
SUN, JUNE 7TH FROM 1 1:00AM - 6:00PM

Custom WOW characters...

Julie says:

Hey you WOW players out there... send me a photo of your character and maybe I will make you a custom doll!!! email photos to mindyandlola@yahoo.com

Julie ;0)

Etsy shop Love...

YAVA Glass specializes in taking recycled beverage bottles with screen-printed labels and converting them into decorative glassware. They make great gifts for Father’s Day, for groom’s men or any special occasion. Check them out here!

Etsy shop love...

Sweet Stella is a delightfully fun birdie who would love to perch around your neck. Shaped out of clay and painted with bright, beautiful colors, with silver legs and a branch to perch on. The pendant is just right at 1-1/4" tall. The silver background is about 3/4" wide, but Stella is 1-1/8" from beak to tail. She swings on a sterling 16" triple-rope chain. To view more of Stella’s friends click here…

Frances ;o)

GREEK PASTA SALAD WITH FETA AND CHICKEN

Try this refreshing salad any night of the week, and the leftovers make a great lunch!

Ingredients

12 ounces ditalini or other pasta
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and ground black pepper
2 cups cooked cubed chicken (about 1 pound)
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions
Cook pasta according to package directions.
In a small bowl, whisk together broth, oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, thyme, salt and pepper to taste. Add diced chicken, green pepper, and mint.
Drain pasta and add to bowl with dressing and chicken. Toss to combine. Cover with plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve. Top with feta cheese just before serving.

For this and other Robin Miller recipes visit Food Network.

Frances ;o)

Etsy shop love...

Lemon Tree Studio, is the perfect place to find all sorts of tags stickers and tags that will add whimsy to all your gift packages. You can go to her shop here or check out her blog its full of great stuff http://mylilyeden.blogspot.com/.

Frances ;o)

Try these great drinks at you next party!

Strawberry White Wine Sangria

You can prepare this drink the night before a big party or special occasion so the flavors have plenty of time to marry. After you've poured the last drop of sangria, reserve the wine-soaked strawberries and serve them with fresh whipped cream for dessert. Two treats from one recipe! Serving: 8

Ingredients:
2 pints fresh strawberries, washed and stemmed

2 750 ml. bottles dry white wine, chilled

1/2 cup sugar

3 cups soda water, chilled

Directions

Combine strawberries, wine and sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Refrigerate mixture overnight. When ready to serve, add soda water to strawberry mixture and pour into ice-filled glasses.

Frozen Cherry Tomato Bloody Mary’s

This ice-cold cocktail is always a winner -- until the ice melts and dilutes the drink. You can solve the problem by freezing cherry tomatoes and using them instead of ice cubes. The drink stays chilled, and the tomatoes intensify the zesty flavor. Serving: 4 to 6

Ingredients

· 3 pints cherry tomatoes
· 2 cups tomato juice
· 3 tablespoons prepared horseradish
· 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
· 1 teaspoon celery seed
· 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (1 large lime)
· 2 tablespoons pickled jalapenos
· 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
· 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
· 1 cup chilled vodka (optional)

Garnish options

· 6 baby carrots, cleaned and trimmed
· 6 radishes, trimmed, with leafy parts intact
· 6 cherry tomatoes
· 6 celery stalks
· 6 asparagus stalks, blanched for 2 minutes
· 6 jumbo shrimp, boiled and peeled
· 6 lime wedges

Directions:

Stem the cherry tomatoes, rinse in cold water and return to the rigid plastic container or net sack they came in (if purchased from a market). Freeze for at least 3 hours and up to 4 days.

In a large container, combine 2 pints of the frozen tomatoes with the tomato juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, celery seed, lime juice, jalapenos, salt and pepper. In several batches, pulse in a blender, just until chunky. Divide the remaining frozen tomatoes among glass tumblers, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of vodka to each, if desired, and fill each with 1 cup of the Bloody Mary mixture; garnish with any of the assorted garnishes.

Frances ;o)

Rainy-day ideas...

Family Fun . com has some great rainy ideas check them out... For lots of fun filled hours with these rainy-day activities. Whether your kids are outside puddle-hopping or inside keeping warm and cozy, you'll find craft ideas they're sure to love.

Bean Mosaics

Chopstick Hair Ornaments

Custom Stickers

Dangly Doorway Decor

Funny Faces

Puddle Boat

Rain Painting

Stencil a Spring Umbrella

Water Painting

Frances ;0)

Etsy shop love...

Magpiedesignz makes great mommy jewelry, inspirational necklaces that you can stamp with your favorite phrase or word. There jewelry is custom and personalized to fit any style! They individually hand stamp each letter, which makes each piece unique and give the pieces distinction and charm. If you want a complete custom, unique and personal gift for yourself or anyone else, this is the jewelry for you. To check out more click here and go to magpiedesignz’s shop.

Frances ;o)

Come visit us at the Florida Super Con

June 5-7

The Doubletree Miami Mart Airport Convention Center

For more info click here

M&L

PASTA WITH TOMATO AND PEAS

Supper yummy Pasta w/ Tomato and Peas

This would make a great fast & light Dinner any night of the week. click here to go to Food network and get more recipes from Giada De Laurentiis.

Ingredients
1 pound linguine
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 shallots, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 carrot, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
5 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup grated Romano

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving 2 cups of the pasta water.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add the shallots, garlic, carrots, salt, and pepper. Cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the tomato paste and 1/2 cup of the hot pasta water. Stir to melt the tomato paste and create a sauce, adding more pasta water if necessary. Stir in the oregano, thyme, and parsley. Gently fold in the cooked pasta, peas, and the cheeses, adding more reserved pasta water if necessary. Transfer to a platter and serve immediately.



Frances ;o)

Etsy shop love...

Send your Mom (or Dad) some handmade love. Glademade’s card has an adorable baby octopus is loving it's mother(or father) in the bright water, and says "I love U" inside on a white thought bubble. The cut paper design was stitched on red cardstock. Its supper cute! To check it out or more like it you can go here to her shop.

Frances ;o)

Mothers Day tips and Ideas...

Make Mom feel special on Mother's Day; show her you think she's the best! For some great recipes and crafts you can do with the kiddies go here to family fun.com. they even have some printable cards!

You can get Mother's Day Brunches ideas fit for a Queen like:

Cinnamon-Apple Pancake

Deviled Egg Boats

Egg in a Nest

Egg Pinwheels

French Toast Waffles

Royal Ham and Eggs

Frances ;o)

SUPER NACHOS

Celebrate Cinco de mayo by making theses yummy Nachos!

Here is the entire recipe or you can visit food network and get the recipe from Rachel Ray and check out more Cinco de Mayo Favorites!

Ingredients

2 bags of corn tortilla chips in 2 colors or different flavors, such as blue corn, red corn, yellow corn, lime flavored, chili flavored or black bean chips -- pick 2 favorites

Pico de Gallo Salsa:

4 vine ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped, for medium to hot heat level
1 small white onion, chopped
1/4 cup, 2 handfuls, cilantro leaves, finely chopped -- substitute parsley if cilantro is not to your liking
Salt

Beef and Beans Topping:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound ground sirloin
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dark chili powder
1 1/2 ground cumin, half a palmful
2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper sauce, giving you medium to hot heat level
1 can black beans, 15 ounces, drained

Cheese Sauce:

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
3/4 pound pepper jack cheese, shredded, about 2 1/2 cups

Additional toppings to choose from, optional:

Sour cream
Chopped scallions
Chopped black olives
Diced pimento
Sliced avocado, dressed with lemon juice
Hot pepper sauces

Directions

Arrange a mixture of 2 varieties of corn chips on a very large platter or use your broiler pan as a platter.
Combine salsa ingredients in a bowl and set aside for flavors to marry. Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add oil, garlic, onion and peppers to the pan and saute 2 minutes, then add meat and crumble with wooden spoon. Season meat with salt, chili powder, cumin and cayenne pepper sauce. Cook meat 5 minutes, then stir in beans and reduce heat to low. In a medium sauce pot, melt butter and add flour to it. Cook flour and butter 1 to 2 minutes over moderate heat, then whisk in milk. When milk comes to a bubble, stir in cheese with a wooden spoon. Remove cheese sauce from the heat.
Pour cheese sauce evenly over the massive spread of chips and top evenly with beef and beans and the pico de gallo. SUPER NACHOS! Serve immediately as is or, garnish with your choice of extra toppings from the toppings list.


Frances ;o)

Happy 5 de Mayo!!!

Rember to drink responsibly!

M&L ;o)

Etsy shop love...

DebbyAremDesigns's

DebbieAremDesigns makes these a very cool and funky pencil box made recycled circuit boards these pencil boxes are her newest product just released in the fall of 2008!
Also, beginning in March 2009, several of her green office products are on permanent exhibit at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry as part of their Smart Home 2009 Exhibit! On the desk in the "Home Office" room is one of her pencil boxes, a circuit board clock, a mouse pad and several clipboards - all made from recycled circuit boards. Click here to view more. Frances ;o)

Its Petunia...

Hi guys! Let me introduce you to Petunia!

She is a special little girl that dreams of being a ballerina! But that will never be, you see one of her legs and feet is so much bigger than the other that she is not as graceful as she wishes she was. She would make someone a great friend because she is GREAT at keeping secretes!

She is 8" tall, hand sculpted and one of a kind! She is made of polymer clay, with chenille hair, and pretty cotton dress.

Available now in our Miadu store, only $15.00 just click here

M&L

YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!! Mexican Lasagna

Supper yummy and super easy!
I don’t have a specific recipe but this one is pretty close to what I use. The great thing about this lasagna is that it is so versatile you can change it around and it will still be great. You can add all of your family’s favorites and really make it your own. I hope you guys try it out and let me know how you like it!

My Tips: I use a bag of tortillas (flour or corn) hard or soft whatever is on sale, I prefer ground turkey but you can use beef (use what you have around), I also use the Tostitos brand Queso and a bag of frozen green, yellow, red pepper stir fry mix. Since most of the ingredients are already cooked all you need is to leave it in the oven 20 minutes or so to melt the cheese. You can make extra ground turkey on the weekend, and make the lasagna during the week.

Mexican Lasagna:
· 3-4 flour tortillas
· Salsa
· Cheddar cheese, grated
· Refried beans
· Black beans
· Frozen sweet corn, thawed
· Tomatoes, diced
· Black olives, sliced
· Green onions, sliced
· Fresh cilantro, chopped
· Guacamole
Turkey Filling:
· 1 lb lean ground turkey
· 1 tsp olive oil
· 1 small sweet yellow onion, diced
· 3 cloves of garlic, minced
· 1 tsp paprika
· 1 tsp chili powder
· 1 tsp dried oregano
· 1 tsp ground cumin
· 1 tsp garlic powder
· Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
For step by step directions you can go here. This blog has great pictures for every step.

Frances ;o)

How cool is this idea? I ran across this on the crookedbarins.net website! It looks so beautiful and cool! I think I want to make one for my patio! I have some broken umbrellas hanging around! This is a prefect Super Green DIY project! Here's the link

Julie :)

Spring is here, what do you do with your old coat?

DIY: Recycle Your Winter Wear - Turn Your Coat into Diaper Covers

How awsome is this! Here’s what you can do with your outgrown, or worn out, winter coats… turn them into diaper covers! For all the intructions and details go here!

Frances ;o)

DIY: Belt to Bondage Anklets

Ok, I'm really in love... DIY and Shoes enough said! Check out how you can make your own at clutch 22

Julie :)

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