Valentine Cuties

I could not resisit sinking these adorable retro Valentines in clear glycerin soap. I hope you enjoy them!

SPRING scent preview

Look what's in store for SPRING! The Polly Wog patch is unveiling your favorite spring scents with a few new ones we know you won't be able to resisit.

♥Wild Lilac is an old fashioned, nostalgia floral.

♥Limeade is a cool and refreshing scent, sweet and tart just like the slushie!

♥ Mango Sorbet is sweet & juicy, ripe mango, kissed by fresh raspberry & zesty lemon.

♥ Pink Champagne is flirty w/red berries, sparkling cider, white florals & sexy musk.

♥ Banana Coconut is a blend of sweet yellow banana and tropical coconut like a day at the beach.

♥ Sweetest Vanilla A blend of rich buttery vanilla kissed with sugar and a dash of sexy musk!

♥ Garden Mint smells like fresh mint with hints of lettuce and cucumber still moist from a spring rain shower!

♥ Raspberry Lemonade is just the right amount of tart and sweet.

♥ Orange Vanilla is just like your favorite dreamsicle ice cream from childhood.

♥ Cucumber Melon is a classic fresh garden blend.

♥ Seaspray is a sparkling clean blend of ozone, rain and a hint of mint.

♥ Laundry Day is clean fresh bland of big open skies, marine notes & fresh peony blooms

A Recipe for New Year's Eve

Champagne Hair Rinse

This is an old French secret for making hair shiny, silky, and healthy. If you have light-colored hair, it brings out the golden lights in it.

1/2 C champagne
1/2 C hot water

1) Shampoo

2) Cream rinse if desired (not needed)

3) Rinse hair w/ champagne/hot water mixture

4) Leave champagne rinse on hair.

The hair is left looking vital and lustrous, with pale champagne highlights.

My FAV thing: ipod covers

I ordered a Jonas Brother custom ipod cover as a Christmas gift for my 10 y/o. I think she is going to LOVE it! The photo is of Joe, we got a Nick. You can visit malena here:

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=12604257

A Recipe: Pumpkin Pancakes

In honor of our weekend getaway to Austin TX (City of a million pancakes), my 7 y/o son made there: PUMPKIN PANCAKES. We had pumpkin pancakes as well as GINGERBREAD PANCAKES while in Austin! YUM!

Combine in mixing bowl:

3/4 cup sifted flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. sugar

1/2 cup pumpkin

1/4 cup melted margarine

1 beaten egg

1/2 tsp. pumpkin spice

3/4 cup milk

Directions:

Mix well and pour into greased griddle. Brown both sides of cakes, turning only once, cooking over medium heat. Serve with maple syrup. Makes 12 medium pancakes.

A Recipe: Pineapple Black Bean Enchilladas

I do not generaly post "food" recipes, but this is my FAVORITE & I wanted to share.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

1 medium red bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)

1 (20 ounce) can pineapple tidbits, drained 1/3 cup pineapple juice, reserved

1 (15 ounce) can progresso black beans, drained, rinsed

1 (4 1/2 ounce) can old el paso chopped green chilies

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

3 cups shredded low-fat cheddar cheese (12 oz)

1 (10 ounce) can Old El Paso mild enchilada sauce (red or green)

8 whole corn tortillas (8 or 9 inch)

1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper; cook 4 to 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in pineapple, beans, green chiles and salt. Cook and stir until thoroughly heated. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in 1/2 cup cilantro and 2 cups of the cheese. Spoon and spread 1 tablespoon enchilada sauce onto each tortilla. Spoon about 3/4 cup vegetable mixture over sauce on each. Roll up tortillas; place seam side down in baking dish. In small bowl, mix reserved 1/3 cup pineapple juice and remaining enchilada sauce; pour over entire surface of enchiladas in dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Spray sheet of foil large enough to cover baking dish with cooking spray; place sprayed side down over baking dish and seal tightly. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, removing foil during last 5 to 10 minutes of baking, until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly. Top each baked enchilada with 1 tablespoon sour cream and 1 teaspoon cilantro. High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 40-45 minutes, removing foil during last 5 - 10 minutes of baking. Submitted by: Mary Iovinelli Buescher. Bake-Off is a registered trademark of General Mills ©2006.

1 of my FAV things: Custom BabyBop Capes

My 6 y/o son designed his own super hero cape and within days it arrived from Baby Bop's ETSY shop. He LOVES it! It was under 420.00 with shipping.

Her capes are designed and made special for your child, based on their favorite colors, and their initial to make them a REAL Superhero or Princess. 22” long from center back neck to bottom of cape. Recommend ages 2-7.

Visit Baby Bop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=36674

The HUANTED Gingerbread Mansion!

My 6 y/o son has been wanting to make a gingerbread house, so we did! You can pickup kits at your local grocers, add frosting and candy & voila!

Fluid, Splashy, Watercolors: One of my Fav Things!

I spend hours each week sifting through thousands of handmade websites and shops featuring various artists and crafters. Here is a jewel I just recently found and would like to share: Hammelman Art.

Hammelman Art is an online gallery featuring the original works of Linda Hammelman.

Linda's watercolors are fluid, colorful, splashy and energetic. Her favorite subjects reflect her interest in boating, flowers, people and places. She has received numerous awards and is a signature member of the Saint Louis Watercolor Society.

Linda is a native Missourian who has lived in Texas, Iowa, and Virginia and is now at home again in St. Louis. She holds the position of Director and Treasurer of the Saint Louis Watercolor Society.

Classic Movie Monster Bubbly

This is what the kids & I did to entertain ourselves last night.

Aren't they fun? We used images of The Wolf Man, Dracula, The Mummy, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Phantom of the Opera & more! They are scented Witches Brew and Margaritta Madness.