FREEBIE Friday

If it's "Free", I'm all over it, baby! I can always use something free. Cuz I loooove me some free stuff!

I stumbled upon a good freebie resource for digital scrapbookers. The SCRAP GIRLS offer some really nice free stuff to help you along.

Enjoy!

My Peanut Butter Nutter Butter Truffles

I promised some gals I would post a photo of my nutter butter truffles I made last week so here it is.

They were easy to make but I gotta tell you....they are messy! If there is a way to roll the center into a more user-friendly chocolate or peanut butter coating, I'd be willing to learn!

I used Peanut Butter chips in a double boiler, melted to coat the oreo truffles. And for the Nutter Butter mixture, I dipped those babies in chocolate.

After I rolled them, I placed them in the freezer for about 10 minutes to firm them up and then I rolled them into the coating.

I placed some extras in the freezer for my husband's enjoyment!
Hope you like em!

A Stroll through NEWTOWN, PA

One of the huge advantages of living where I do, is that I am only a few miles from some many historic and quaint areas of Bucks County.

I spent the day strolling through historic NEWTOWN, PA - a mere 11 minutes from my house.

Newtown is considered one of the oldest small town in America with homes dating back to the pre-revolutionary war days.

How would you like to live in an apartment dating back to 1743?

I asked my Godmother, Aunt Anna, to join me as it was her birthday!

Happy Birthday, Aunt Anna!

Our first stop was The Zebra Striped Whale, a local confectionery and ice cream parlor.


Talk about EYE CANDY!!!!


I decided to order a very healthy breakfast...- NOT! I went for the
ELVIS CREPE: Ready? It's a sweet homemade crepe made right there on the spot filled with sweet cream ice cream, caramelized bananas, peanut butter, rolled in whipped cream and sprinkled with Butterfingers on top. Oh Yeah Kashi, step aside!

Someone Pinch Me!

Do Not Disturb. I am having a moment with my crepe!
Can't. Speak. I'm in Heaven!

BEFORE
Where have you been all my life, you sexy crepe?

Still. Eating. Savoring this magic moment.

AFTER
ahhhh, thank ya...thank ya very much, Elvis!
Elvis Crepe has left the plate...and is in my belly.

This is what we saw as we exited the building. Stop Taunting us!!!




Our Next Stop as we digested paradise, was a little shop owned by two sisters called THE NEST

Colorful Autumn Displays

Whole store smelled wonderful with a myriad of candle scents

We spent a really nice 2 hours strolling the streets and window shopping. My favorite window was this one, from Zebra Striped Whale.
Love the colors!

Thanks for stopping bye!
xoxox

BIRDS. NESTS. I love it.

To me, there is something so fresh and new about birds and nests.
I love the symbolisms that surround the images: Spring, Renewal, Home, Comfort, New Beginnings, etc.

So when I saw this stamp set at Barnes and Noble (I had been eyeing it for a while), I caved and bought it.

It was more than I wanted to spend on a stamp kit but I couldn't find any local stores that carried it other than B&N.

I can't wait to make tags, cards and other little paper treats with it! Can you think of any other great ideas to use these sweet stamps on? I'd love to hear your ideas!
I especially thought this would be great for the upcoming winter months. Gives me something to do and look forward to for Spring!
Thanks for stopping bye!
xoxo

THREE WORD CHALLENGE

Sometimes, all it takes is Three Words to get the message across. Melissa's Blog had a great one word challenge that I thought I would post but I decided to tweak it and make it 3 Words.

If you want to do one, simply copy and paste and credit where you saw it from in your own blog!

Have fun!

~~~~~~~~
Use one - three words to describe or name the answer:

1. Where is your cell phone? Hidden in Handbag
2. Your significant other? Taurus Moody Charming
3. Your hair? Curly needs Cutting
4. Your mother? Caregiver for Grandmom
5. Your father? Supportive and Kind
6. Your favorite thing? Laughter. Creativity. Animals
7. Your dream last night? Co-workers on Boat
8. Your favorite drink? Water. Juice. Milk
9. Your dream/goal? No more Anxiety
10. What room you are in? Messy unorganized Office
11. Your hobby? Blogging, Crafting, Reading
12. Your fear? Almost Everything Anymore
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Financially comfortable. Peaceful
14. Where were you last night? home watching Olympics
15. Something that you aren't? Aggressive, Bully, Patient
16. Muffins? Warm. Homemade. Buttery
17. Wish list item? Backyard Privacy Screen
18. Where you grew up? Northeast Philadelphia, Rowhome
19. Last thing you did? Washed face. Breakfast
20. What are you wearing? Shorts and Tank
21. Your secret wish? Lottery. Donate Charity
22. Your pets? Finnegan and Husband
23. Your life? Getting organized. Learning
24. Your current mood? Grouchy, Sad, Anxious
25. Missing? Cape May. Grandpop
26. Your car? Buick, Needs Cleaning
27. Something you don't like wearing? bras, pantyhose, trends
28. Your favorite activities? cleaning, organizing, crafting
29. Your favorite colors? Blue, Green, Yellow
30. When is the last time you laughed? Last week sometime
31. Last time you cried? yesterday watching movie

JANNY is GENIUS!

Thank you Jannypie for putting together a great, convenient blog of Martha Stewart's daily organizing and craft tips!

The blog, MarthaDaily, makes it much more convenient for me to find simple solutions to organizing and crafts.

Janny, you're my Hero, girl!
xoxo

Merciful Heavens! NUTTER BUTTER TRUFFLES!

Many thanks to Nestie, Mrs.HVK for bringing to my attention this adorable blog of a site, Bakerella.

I am anticipating with delight the Nutter Butter Truffles I will be making for an upcoming party this weekend.

Photos and licked fingers to follow!
Here's the Recipe:
Nutter Butter Balls

1 pkg. Nutter Butter cookies (broken… use cookie with the cream center)
1 8oz. package cream cheese (softened)
chocolate bark

1. Finely crush all but 5 cookies in a food processor or place them in a ziploc bag and crush into a fine consistency.
2. Combine with cream cheese. Use the back of a large spoon to help mash the two together.
3. Roll the mixture into 1" balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet.
4. Melt chocolate as directed on the package and then dip balls into chocolate, tap off extra and set aside on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry.
5. Once dry, refrigerate and enjoy!

Thanks for stopping bye!
xoxo

At Last I can Shop without GUILT!

It took one commercial to make me socially conscious of Animal Rights and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Thanks to Sarah McLaughlin's "In the Arms of an Angel" commercial (see bottom of blog), I was determined to be more mindful of what products I purchase and how that money will not go into corporations that perpetuate and support testing on innocent animals.

Yeah, I've become one of "those people".

I used to think they were radical and didn't make sense. I am now happy and proud to say that I am more aware of the products I bring into my home and the responsibility as a consumer that I have to choose fair items free from any kind of animal testing.

Recently, I came across this site, LEAPING BUNNY, which educates people on the types of cruelty-free products that are available on the market.

How many times I go shopping and I wish I knew what items are "guilt-free". Now I have the power to make that informed decision thanks to this site! Click here for a downloadable shopping guide as to what beauty products are free of animal testing!

Please educate and understand that there are many things we buy for our vanity/beauty that do not have to be tested on these creatures. Buy pure, buy simply.

Thanks for stopping bye!

Better Late Than Never - Lawn Furniture Redo

Last year while perusing the many chippy happy Country Living and Romantic Cottage magazines for Spring, I was determined to find a sweet old vintage lawn chair set.

You know, the kind that has a bowl of summer berries on it, little gingham tablecloth and a few pitchers of pink lemonade.

My favorite local shop, Vintage Funk, just had such a set dropped off. 4 chairs and a collapsible table for $19.00.

It was cheap because it was in poor condition. Rusty nails and hinges, peeling paint and a wobbly table made it a steal. So I snatched it up and brought it home. Never to work on it.

Fast forward to this summer. It has been sitting outside for an entire year and has gotten worse.

I told my husband we should just throw it out but he claims it can still be salvaged for even decoration. (The thought of throwing anything out makes my husband CRINGE).

So today....on one of the last waning days of summer....I got the motivation to work on it. Just in time to put it away for Fall!

A light sanding, a coat of spray paint primer, a few coats of white spray paint. It's not in any better condition except for cosmetic. I just don't have the patience to redo it all. But for 19 bucks, hey!

Better late than never.

Before

After

Stay tuned for next summer when hopefully, it will have a vase of flowers on it and perhaps that pitcher of lemonade afterall!

Thanks for stopping bye! xoxo

Sunday Drive out in the COUNTRY!

OUT FOR A SUNDAY DRIVE!

Summer Sunday Morning. Warm, Not Humid, Sunny, Slight Breeze, Blue Sky and a few puffy clouds.

"Let's go for a drive" says my husband.
"Let's". I agree.

some scenery of our drive here

Living in Bucks County certainly has it's advantages. Since we are both big history buffs, we love being within an hour drive to any of the many historical landmarks that created our country.
Me acting like Pocahontas during our hike at Ringing Rocks
Oh yes, I am atop an 8 foot lofty rock about 30 feet from the bottom of the bank. Me thinks I see Civilization out yonder!

Mark says "how did you get up there?" Then says "how the heck are you going to get down from there?"

Bucks County has plenty of them. So after mass, we hopped into the car and went for a drive that lasted about 7 hours (with pit stops at anything that looked pristine and photogenic).
Noxamixon State Park where Hubby goes Kayaking

here's me!
Point Pleasant State Park...Lots of tubing down the river here! We stopped at this old red barn and played on the swings. Yeah, we never grow up.

Cutie Husband meandering through the park looking for gophers.

VIDEO of what happens when you go for a walk along the lake during Olympic Season

Thanks for stopping bye! xoxo