Homefront: Living Room Split in Two

Well, we have been here a few months now and I have not actually shown a photo of this whole space aside from small glimpses here or there. Our one living area downstairs is both long and narrow, and we needed to create a few functional spaces here, a play area/computer area and tv area, so I split the room in half. My sis took these photos while she was visiting for Thanksgiving (hence the pumpkin decor), but as of a few days ago, I have already changed a lot of this around and put up our Christmas decor.

I still have some painting of furniture to do, lots of things to put up on walls and those two recliners fabric are in pretty bad shape, so that will need to be dealt with eventually, but so far it is a charming little home that works for us and is ever changing. I have restyled it now into three areas instead of the two shown here, so that will be fun to photograph and post about, but I can enjoy the metamorphosis through these images.

Baby Bit's Impromtu Photo Shoot

Miss 'Liss wore her first spot of lipstick today, at just a few days shy of 7 months old. So, this is what happens, when mommy is a hairstylist, a clown, has been surrounded by 6 little boys for the past several years, and is playing with her early Christmas present... 

 

Then, once I turn around, she introduces herself, to well... herself. She has always loved getting dolled up and smiling at herself in the mirror! Ignoring my messy room would be so kind, I'm a mom, not a maid.

 Yes, she has her first black eye... from trying to stand up and bonking her face on her crib.

 Poor baby! Elisabeth kisses are the very best kisses.

May we all be just as happy when we look at ourselves in the mirror. I hope she never loses that.

New Custom Initial and Charm Necklaces in the Shop

Today is going to be filled with hot chocolate, decorating to Christmas music and baby giggles, and uploading new jewelry goodies to my Jeweled Ambrosia etsy shop!! My new favorite... super SWEET and AFFORDABLE Custom Initial Necklaces... perfect for stocking stuffers and major customizable with tons of bead options. Need an extra initial? Letter add ons are in my shop as well!  I'm wearing my kiddo's initials now and it feels so 'maternal' to have their letters so close to my heart.

I'm loving how they look with a Swarovski crystal heart!

I'm all about lots and lots of choices and customizing lately. Like these super cute and affordable Design Your Own Charm Necklaces below! You pick one charm and any two beads, fun stuff!

I don't know what my deal was today with coral, salmon pink, aqua, turquoise and robin's egg blues, but it seems that those shades kept popping up in lots of my designs. Lots of arrows, antlers, cameos, rhinestones and all sorts of glitz will be featured... Stay tuned, these and many more are being added to the shop as you read this post.

 

And don't forget, Twilight and Breaking Dawn inspired jewelry is on mega sale too, HERE!

Sweet Treats: Perfect and Easy Pumpkin, Chocolate Chip and Blackberry Muffins Recipe

 

The pumpkin muffin bandwagon is hopping this time o' year. So, I made this recipe with my own spin.

The EASIEST method is to mix 1 can of pumpkin with 1 box of spice cake mix and THAT IS IT!!!

If you only have yellow cake mix, (like I did), just spice it up. A mix of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and/or pumpkin pie spice will do the trick and THAT IS IT!!!!

If you want to up the yumminess factor, than go cray-cray with some add ins. My weapons of choice: Chocolate chips and blackberries. (Cranberries, walnuts, raisins, strawberries, mint or white chocolate chips, anything would be good). I mix in about 3 cups of chips, then after the mix is in the muffin tins, I cut the blackberries in half and dot them on the tops of the muffins. Then, bake at 350 degrees till toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and the muffins pull away from the sides. Easy, peasy and soOooOOoooOoooo delicious.

Homefront: Thanksgiving 2012

I do hope that everyone had a fantabulous Thanksgiving! My sister and her family came down and what adventures we had! Six days wasn't enough :) My sis and mom got massages, we went to Bass Pro Shops, ate a lot of food, stayed up till 5am talking, dressed Lil' Bit like a diva princess, watched Walking Dead, Once Upon a Time, Brave, Spiderman and tons of YouTube, celebrated our freedoms...

 We found this working air hockey table on the side of the road. Score!

 Blocking the driveway so they could ride around.

 Hubster prying the kids away from electronics with an impromptu shooter game.

Addicted to MINECRAFT!!!

 Her first time feeding herself in a booster seat~  mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. Yumm!!

 The clan... we always get lots of looks when going out with all "the boys"!

 

 Her first Santa experience. My usually happy baby, well... she cried. he boys were so impressed.

These creepy little elves were everywhere. I totally want one.. or three.

 

 She kept staring at the reindeer, so I had to flip her around to get a good shot... until the elf came 'round and told us to move b/c we were in the Santa shots... ooopps!!

 He's doing Mr. Gold/ Rumpelstiltskin from Once Upon a Time here...

Her daddy does a great job dressing her!

Bit Bit's excited face.

 Spontaneous zombie action.

 Yes, they are a family of clowns.

Let the Madness of the last of the holidays... begin!