Is it snail mail or...

I got the cutest items in a package yesterday.  I knew they would be cute when I ordered them but...they are just adorable, no?

I found these cuties at studioCee on Etsy.  There are so many more adorable & fun chipboard items at studioCee that it's worth a look.

Mmmm!

The kid & I went to the park today.  While she was playing, I was thinking about Starbucks.  It didn't help that there was a Starbucks across the street from the park, another coffee house caddy corner to the Starbucks & that one of the mom's had a yummy looking frozen drink in the stroller's cup holder.  When we left, the kid dropped the hint, "I'm thinking about Starbucks."  I said, "me, too, but we're not going there today."  I'm trying to be good since it's such an addiction & really seems to add up.  The kid said, "I know, we can have our own coffee house at home."  The kid knows me well.  When we got home, I did some searching on the internet to see if I could find a recipe for a frozen mocha.  I looked at several.  I nixed the ones with ice cream, yogurt and/or whipped cream since we don't have any at the moment.  I found one that looked realistic & sounded yummy so I decided to try it.   Mmm!  It tastes an awful lot like the fancy mocha from the expensive place.  I'm going to share the recipe (since there's no way that I'm sharing the mocha...it's all mine mine mine).  I'll just warn you now, that if you don't wait for the coffee to cool off, it won't get quite as much of the slushy effect.  Ask me how I figured that out :-)  Also, it's pretty big for one so you could share...if you want. 

frozen mocha for one
ingredients
3 ounces double strength coffee
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 Tbl sugar
1 1/2 Tbl chocolate syrup
1 cup ice

directions
1. Make coffee
2. Chill coffee
3. Put all ingredients into blender.  Give it a whirl on high speed until the ice is in teeny tiny pieces.
4. Pour into cup of your choice & enjoy! 

New at The Whimsical Muse

New in the shop, coffee dyed crinkled seam binding! It still has a coffee scent, as well as some lovely spots of darker brown where the coffee pooled a little more which gives it a slightly distressed look. You may find a tiny bit of sparkle here and there in this seam binding. It is wrapped with a bit of hand stamped muslin and an arms length of black and white baker's twine.

Crinkled seam binding is fun for both prim (primitive) & vintage style gift wrapping, crafting and decor. It would be lovely to use in wedding decorations and favors. I'm offering it in 5 yard increments but am happy to discuss custom lengths, as well.  

I have some pretty new crinkled seam binding that I dyed blue with hints of indigo & purple.  I will be listing it soon.

Jewelry mode

I've been in jewelry making mode. It's new for me but I'm really enjoying making pretty necklaces & whatnot. Most recently, I made a bracelet & a necklace. This time, they are for me as it seems that most of what I make goes to someone else. I made them with antiqued copper & Swarovski "Elements" (crystals & pearls).

Can you keep a secret? part 2

Following up on my last post Can you keep a Secret. I gave the boxed & wrapped necklace to my mom, she smiled, shook the box & said, "I think I know what this is..." A lovely "thank you" when she opened the box. She hadn't seen my post about it or the pictures thankfully. Haha! Lesson learned.