CupcakeDD

♥

2011-12-24T08:44:00.000-08:00

I’m always emotional this time of year, more than any other time. Maybe it’s because I miss being with my folks and extended family. Maybe it’s the joy of seeing Christmas through my boys. Maybe it’s the magnitude of what Christmas really means. The fact that God loved us so much that He would send His son here to Earth as a baby. That God would pick a young woman to be a mom to His son. That she would watch him grow, knowing that one day she would lose him. That her son would be the Savior of the world. Love, real, unconditional, undeserved, supernatural, love. ♥

Yup, that’s why I get so emotional.

Wishing you the warmth of His LOVE this Christmas!

♥ Julie

2011-12-18T08:08:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from the Weller Family!

♥♥♥♥

Christmas Stocking Swap

2011-12-10T09:53:00.000-08:00

It seems like lately, I just don’t have time for my “creative” side. That’s why I was so happy when my sweet friend, Sherry Bamsey, invited me to join her
Christmas Stocking Swap!

My partner was Denise Hahn. I love Denise!
She’s one of my cupcake girls! I had a great time
putting a stocking together for her!
Here it is:

“Snow Bunny Stocking”

Stocking Detail

Some of the goodies in her stocking

I received a stocking from our hostess, Sherry!
I was so excited!

Here’s how it looked when I opened the box:

You can bet that I couldn’t wait to dig in there are
see all of my treasures!

My precious stocking.

My haul

Lots of ephemera and beautiful trim

♥ A GNOME! ♥

A Sweet Cone

Candy Cane Apron and Santa Picks

♥ Bling ♥

Love, love, loved everything!
Sherry, thank you so much and thank you for hosting this wonderful swap! Can’t wait till next year! ♥

Dress Form Giveaway! ♥

2011-12-05T12:34:00.000-08:00

The Polka Dot Closet: Dress Form Giveaway! ♥

Stop by for a chance to win your very own dress form to transform!

Tell 'em CupcakeDD sent ya! ♥

♥ Happy Thanksgiving from the Weller Family ♥

2011-11-24T07:22:00.000-08:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Arizona, Here I Come...

2011-10-02T21:18:00.000-07:00

Last month, I met my friends Ellyn and Suzie at our condo in Arizona for our 2nd Annual Girlfriends Get-Away. We had all been looking forward to a much needed retreat. Here's where the adventure began (you might want to grab a cup of coffee or something, it's a LONG story)...

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

I dropped the boys off at school, ran some errands, and happily took my husband's car to the car wash for a much needed cleaning. With the car shiny and clean (and smelling of pina colada), I drove over to my mechanic's to have him check all of the fluids and tires.

"It all looks good," he said, "but one of the tires might have a little crack, so don't go faster than 90 miles and hour."
"No problem," I laughed.

I then went home and started packing, loading up the car, and some last minute house cleaning. In the middle of what is sometimes known as "Hurricane Julie", I received a text from my friend Melynda who had thoughtfully gone over to the condo to turn the A/C on for us. When she got there, the water AND power had been turned off!

Now, let me back-track for a minute. Some months back, we had gotten a letter from the HOA letting us know that our balcony was in disrepair and that our water heater had been leaking. Our co-owner was in charge of taking care of that issue. There was also a leak in one of the bathrooms, so I had called a plumber on Wednesday to go check it. Back to the story...

...NO WATER! NO POWER! I immediately called my husband who was just as shocked as I was. Melynda said there had been a note taped to our water shut-off valve that read, "DO NOT TURN ON - WATER HEATER LEAK". I had her turn it back on. Then Melynda's husband went looking for a neighbor to check on the power situation. He ran into our crazy, old-man neighbor downstairs. Apparently, he had turned off the power because of the water heater leaking into his unit. He wanted Johnny to come in and see the damage (he was also muttering tales of Bob Dylan at the same time - sorry Johnny). Melynda and Johnny got Crazy to stumble back into his unit and leave them alone. They turned the power back on, checked the leaky toilet, and turned on the A/C. I then called the plumber and asked about the toilet. I also explained the crazy neighbor ordeal and asked him to check the water heater (that happens to be located off of the dilapidated balcony). He agreed to call me back with his findings. Slightly flustered, I then began loading up the car, afraid of what I would find when I arrived in Mesa.

When the car was loaded, I was ready to hit the road. Plug in cell phone - check. Plug in GPS - check. MP3 player and charger for later - check. Start the car - chargers not working! I decided that the fastest solution would be to stop at the Auto Zone and try the helpless girl routine ("I think it's a fuse..."). Nope, it wasn't the fuse. I then decided to drive back to my mechanic and have him check it (he's in the opposite direction of where I needed to go). Now more than slightly flustered, I arrived at the mechanic's for the second time.

He fixed a loose wire and then discovered that the GPS charger was missing a piece. REALLY??!! What else??!! Luckily, I dug through the center console and found the missing parts. We put it all back together and I was FINALLY ready to hit the road - only an hour late.

Ten minutes down the road, I got a call from the plumber in Arizona. He couldn't find a leak in the bathroom - probably because the water had been turned off for who knows how long. Yes, the water heater had been leaking and was shot. He'd be back the next day to replace it, but we'd be without hot water until then. I called my husband and told him the news. I was in tears from the stress of the morning and the thought of the expense of the new water heater. I regained my composure and continued on my way.

Traffic was almost non-existent and I was making pretty good time. The car was shaking pretty bad - that was nothing new except that it seemed to be getting worse. I stopped at a rest stop, did my business, looked over the car, and got back on the road. Everything seemed fine.

Now, about 2 1/2 - 3 hours into the trip, while cruising at 80 mph in the fast lane, something flew up under the front of the car. I figured it was maybe tire tread from one the the trucks in front of me. I drove a bit longer and then decided to pull over and check things out. YIKES! The front, driver's side was a bit of a mess. Nothing I could do about it right there. I glanced at the tire, not flat, so I started driving again.

The headlight was actually pushed in and we had to pull it out!

I drove for another 5 miles or so, and noticed that the car had stopped shaking. Something didn't feel right. I was 60 miles away from Blythe, but I decided to pull off at the next exit. That exit happened to be in the middle of nowhere and dumped me off into a dirt lot. I got out of the car and took a better look at the damage. It was then that I realized that it wasn't a truck's tire tread that I had hit, IT WAS MY TIRE TREAD!!

I immediately called AAA (thanks to my in-laws). Thank God for GSP, because I would have had NO idea where I was. They said it was going to take at least an hour before someone could help me. Damn. I got back out of the car in the 95 degree desert heat to take out the teeny, tiny, donut of a spare tire. I also decided to pop open the hood just in case someone driving by might see me and stop. I then called my husband, hysterical, and told him what had happened. I was worried about what this was going to cost, he was worried about me. Fifteen minutes later, a guy on a motorcycle pulled up. He said that he wasn't sure why he stopped, but that he would help change the tire. The spare needed air, so he used a can of flat-fix to put a little more air in. He then followed me to what the GSP said would be the next gas station (9 miles away). There we were, a motorcycle and a Malibu, hazard lights flashing going 45 mph down HWY 10.

Meanwhile, I had my husband call ahead to Blythe to find a place that would still be open and could replace my tire. He found a place, told them I was about an hour away, and they said they'd wait for me. Motorcycle guy and I pulled off where the gas station was supposed to be, only to find that it had been closed for what appeared to be decades. Luckily, there was a roadside assistance truck there helping a truck driver with his tires. He put air in my tire and let the air out of my bad tire so it wouldn't explode in the back of my car. YIKES! I bid farewell to my helpers and headed to Blythe.

It was nearly dark by the time I found the seemingly deserted tire shop on the outskirts of town. Not a comfortable situation for a girl traveling alone. Two rather large gentlemen came out, checked my tire, found a new one across town, and got my headlight working again. I thanked them and quickly made my way to my awaiting tire.

Now completely dark, I came to yet another seemingly deserted tire shop. A rather rough looking, tattooed gentleman came out and told me to pull the car into the shop. Another uncomfortable situation.

"That'll be $97," he grumbled.
"That's fine," I said with a nervous smile.

Mr. Tattoo changed the tire, and I decided to put the trunk back in order. Suddenly, I felt something spraying all over me. I had punctured a can of energy drink that had been left in the trunk. It was now all over me and the back of the car! SERIOUSLY??!! Ridiculous!! I grabbed a blanket out of the backseat and tried to dry my face. The tire was on and Tattoo came around for his pay. It was then that I spotted the sign, "NO CREDIT CARDS - CASH ONLY". Crap! I only had $55 cash with me. So, off I went, still covered in energy drink, to the nearest Albertsons to use the ATM. When I returned to the tire shop, all of the lights were off and Mr. Tattoo was waiting outside - yikes. I quickly handed him his cash and drove away. I made a quick stop at a Starbucks to clean up and a beverage and then continued on to Mesa.

The rest of the drive was rather uneventful, other than the post-traumatic stress from the events of the day. I made it in time to go to the condo, unload the car, and get to the airport to pick up the girls. I planned on having several margaritas over the next few days as a reward for my ordeal.

So, that's the story of the day I drove by myself to Arizona and lost my tread.

PS. When I returned home, it ended up costing $400 just to make the car drivable again. That didn't cover some of the cosmetic damage. We'll address that later. Sheesh!

CupcakeDD Explores her World!

2011-09-27T19:10:00.000-07:00

I've decided to take off my apron, step out of my little cupcake kitchen from time to time, and explore the world around me. Shopping, eating, sight-seeing, you name it - I wanna do it! I'll come back here and share what I find. Hope you'll enjoy my "adventures". If you've got a place you think I should visit, let me know!

See ya soon!

Julie ♥

PFATT Fall Blog Giveaway

2011-09-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

Fun fall giveaway!! Go enter now!!

Bad Blogger!!

2011-06-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

I know! I know! I've been a BAD BLOGGER!!!

When did life get so hectic?! Well, I guess it has always been that way - sometimes we just have to shuffle the things we give our attention and energy to (sorry blog-land).

Anyway, Summer is here and we're looking forward to a little relaxation in between basketball practices and games and summer school and DIY-home improvement projects and cupcake baking and puppy dogs and... and... and...! Hopefully I'll get some creating and some blogging done in there too!

(Started my summer with a "Color My World" Workshop taught by Lisa Kaus. Here's my piece!)

Hope you all have a wonderful summer! ♥

Moulin Rouge

2011-03-10T18:22:00.000-08:00

I've been SOOOOO busy getting ready for Artistic Affaire Moulin Rouge! I am beyond excited about spending a weekend with my sweet "crafty girls" - creating, laughing, sharing....

Look at all of the pretties that were are going to be making:

...and that's not all!!
There will be costumes and cocktails, shopping and swapping!!
It really will be, "SPECTACULAR, SPECTACULAR"!!

Here's a peek at some of the things I made for swaps:

Vintage Bling Charm Swap

Fete Du Printemps Paper Doll Swap

Le Bijoux Box Swap

I'm in a few other swaps, but you'll just have to wait for those!
Can't wait for the party to begin!!
See you soon!!

xoxo,

Julie ♥

The Chubby Cupcake!

2011-01-17T08:32:00.000-08:00

The Chubby Cupcake is back in action!!

♥ Happy 2011! ♥

2011-01-01T20:26:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, Sweeties!

I figured that January 1st, 2011, would be a good day for a blog post. Over the past few months, I've been thinking about how to "better" myself. Of course, I've come up with the usual, "lose weight". I'm pretty tired of living LARGE. More than my appearance though, I want to work on what's inside.

Be a more thoughtful person.
Smile more.
Think before I speak.
Pray.
Tell the people I care about how much I love and appreciate them (on a regular basis).
Don't take anything for granted.
Complain less.
Communicate.
Define boundaries.
Create.
Give.

I have high hopes for 2011. Hopes for peace, love and happiness.

I wish the same for each and every one of you.

Cupcake wishes and Buttercream dreams!

Love,

Julie ♥

MeRrY ChRiStMaS!

2010-12-23T03:17:00.000-08:00

Wishing you ALL a very
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Cupcake Wishes and
Buttercream Dreams!
Julie ♥

Halloween Fun!

2010-11-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

Things got a little CRAZY at the Weller house this year...

No pictures of Brendan because we ate him!!
hee, hee, hee...

♥ Happy Birthday, JM!! ♥

2010-10-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my "boyfriend",

♥John Mayer♥!

Heartbreak Warfare Cupcakes

(Red Wine & Ambien Cupcakes)

cabernet sauvignon cupcake with a hint of cocoa
and nutmeg topped with vanilla bean-cream cheese frosting
with a splash of cabernet

GLITTERFEST!!!

2010-09-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Join me this Saturday at Glitterfest!

I'll be selling my cupcakes:

Glitterfest - Death By Chocolate
triple-chocolate cupcake with a white chocolate candy center, topped with white chocolate-almond buttercream, edible glitter and a silver amorini heart

Seaside Delight

sea salt caramel cupcake filled with caramel, topped with sea salt caramel buttercream, sea salt and candy seaglass

Dia de los Muertos

margarita cupcake topped with tequila-lime buttercream, sugar, rim-salt and a sugar skull

Hope to see you there!!! ♥

♥ Happy Anniversary! ♥

2010-08-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary to my Mom & Dad!!Sometimes they made marriage look easy and other times they showed that it takes work, but it's worth the struggle. I am so thankful for the examples of real love that they've been to me. Thanks for showing us how it's done, Mom & Dad!

Love you!! ♥

2010-07-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

This guy looks like I feel...

HaPpY InDePeNdEnCe DaY!

2010-07-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

♥ God Bless the U.S.A!! ♥

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

2010-05-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

And the winner is...

Sherry from Blessings From Our Nest!!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to enter
AND for all of the birthday wishes.
Hope you'll come again real soon!

Grins & giggles,
Julie xoxo

BiRtHdAy GiVeAwAy!

2010-05-16T09:13:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the Twice Remembered Cottage's blogwide, 4th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway AND my soon approaching 39th birthday May 21st), I'm giving away this

Birthday Cupcake Kit!

Contents:

1 small polka-dot mixing bowl

1 mini-wooden rolling pin

50 pink polka-dot cupcake liners

6 vintage inspired clown cupcake picks

6 vintage "Happy Birthday" cupcake picks

1 bag of jewel-tone jimmies/sprinkles

Pink tissue streamers
BONUS:

1 Raspberry scented Cupcake Sleep Mask

for sweet birthday dreams!

There are a few ways to enter:

#1. Simply leave a comment. Make sure to leave your blog address or email address.

#2. Follow my blog.

#3. Visit my other blog, Hey Cupcake!, then come back here and let me know your favorite cupcake flavor I've listed so far.

#4. Become a follower of Hey Cupcake!.

* Please make sure to make a separate post for each entry.*
**Due to shipping costs, this giveaway is only open to those living within the continental United States.**

Giveaway ends May 29th!
Don't forget to stop by and check out all of the other fantastic giveaways !

xoxo,
Julie

GIVEAWAY!!

2010-05-08T12:21:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the Twice Remembered Cottage's blogwide, 4th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway ANDmy soon approaching 39th birthday... I will be posting mygiveaway later next week. Come back by and check it out!

xoxo,
Julie

Coo Coo for Coconut

2010-05-07T12:43:00.001-07:00

I've been baking cupcakes like crazy!!

Happily, the orders keep coming in!

I call these cupcakes, "Coo Coo for Coconut".

They're chocolate almond cupcakes with a mini Mounds bar inside, topped with coconut buttercream and toasted coconut.

Mmmmmmm.....

Wanna see more? Go to: Hey Cupcake!

xoxo,

Julie

Our DC Trip

2010-04-17T06:39:00.001-07:00

Heights Christian Junior High 8th grade at the White House

It's hard to believe that a month ago today, we were on the last leg of our AMAZING 12-day Washington DC/East Coast trip! We started in Virginia and went to places like Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg. Then, we went to Washington DC and if you've never been there, I suggest you go! Pictures just don't do justice to the majesty of the place!

Me and Matthew @ the World War II Memorial in DC

We saw pretty much everything we could see in DC (even went over to Annapolis in Maryland). After that, we stopped at Gettysburg and then Philadelphia. You can really appreciate this country and all that was done to make it what it is today when you visit all of these places.

Me, Matthew & the boys atop the Empire State Building.

We ended the trip in New York City - Lion King, Ground Zero, pizza, shopping @ Times Square, the Empire State Building, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Awesome!

Thanks to everyone for their prayers and support. I will cherish EVERY memory of the trip - especially because I got to share it with Matthew and some other really special kids!

xoxo,
Julie

Happy Easter!!

2010-04-04T06:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter Everyone!

May you be blessed and all of your

chocolately bunny dreams come true!

xoxo,

Julie

Our BIG Trip

2010-02-15T05:37:00.001-08:00

Matthew and I are getting ready for the

BIG 8th grade Washington DC Trip.

We leave on March 9th and will be gone until March 21st.

We will be going to places like Jamestown, Williamsburg and Monticello, Arlington Cemetery, Washington Monument, the Pentagon, Gettysburg, Amish Country, and NYC! It's a LONG, FULL trip, but we are all looking forward to it!

While we are preparing (and while we're gone), there are a few things that we could use prayer/happy thoughts for:

safe/smooth travel (especially in the air)
good health for us AND our entire group (151 people)
perfect weather (NO rain)
that we are chosen to tour the White House
perfect-little 8th grade angles
happy parents
wisdom for our leaders/directors
I would be a great chaperone for Matthew and the other two boys in our room
everything would go smoothly back home while we're gone
strong friendships and bonds would be formed
God would richly bless the students on this trip

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!
Can't wait to share stories and pictures from our trip!

xoxo,
Julie

Cupcakes, Cupcakes, Cupcakes!!

2010-02-13T07:48:00.000-08:00

I've been bakin' up a storm in my little

Valentine-Cupcake kitchen!!!

This one is a chocolate-cherry cupcake with

cherry-almond buttercream covered in

chocolate and a cherry on top!

Check out my other cupcakes on my new blog:

Hey Cupcake

Happy Valentine's Day!!

xoxo,

Julie

Lost in the Quake

2010-01-17T16:58:00.001-08:00

On January 8th, there was a 6.5 earthquake in Eureka, California. My parents, my brother and his family, as well as several friends were effected by the quake. We are so thankful that the damage was nowhere near the devastation suffered in Haiti, however, my parents still suffered loss and damage.

The house is still in shambles. A broken toilet in the upstairs bathroom caused major water damage. Now they only have one toilet (downstairs) and very noisy dehumidifiers and fans going 24 hours a day in both bathrooms to dry things out. There are also holes in the ceiling in the dining room because of the damage. They also had broken windows, cracks in the walls and the house shifted from it's foundation. They are getting estimates from 2 or 3 contractors to put things back together, but the repairs will not be quick. Mom said, "Oh the joys of living in a 105 year old house!!!"

The pantry and cupboards in the kitchen emptied in the quake. Among the broken dishes, smashed into a million pieces, was mom's set of Colonial Homestead china. My grandma had given them to her and she had just recently gotten rid of her everyday dishes and decided to start using this set.

Mom has been able to replace a few pieces via ebay. I think the search has kept her mind off of everything else. I'll be keeping an eye out for more at flea markets, yard sales and antique malls. I would LOVE to replace and add to her set. So all of my thrifty-shopper friends, while you're out and about, you keep an eye out too. Let me know if y'all find any.

xoxo,

Julie

First Cupcake of 2010

2010-01-17T16:42:00.000-08:00

There's Chocolate in My Peanut Butter!

Triple Chocolate Surprise Cupcake
(the surprise is a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup)
with Fluffernutter Buttercream and chocolate drizzle

You're gonna need a tall, ice cold glass of milk too!

YUMMO!!

xoxo,
Julie

"Be Mine" Valentine Swap

2010-01-11T13:02:00.000-08:00

Happy 2010 y'all!!

I just wanted to let you know about my first swap of the new year...

Be Mine VE Swap

Sign-up Deadline: January 14, 2010

Send Deadline: February 5, 2010

Let's spread the LOVE!

We're swappin' at least:

ONE handmade item

THREE Valentine inspired/thrifted items

ONE embellished candy box (any size) filled with ephemera

and maybe a little something sweet

Come on by and sign up!

xoxo,

Julie

scrappyjessi's cookie exchange

2009-12-06T06:02:00.000-08:00

I found the recipe for theese YUMMY little gems on FoodNetwork.com! ENJOY!!!

Swedish Christmas Cookies

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup unsalted butter, (2 sticks), at room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Colored sanding sugars or chopped toasted pecans

Directions:
Whisk the flour, cardamom, and salt in a bowl.
Put the butter and confectioners' sugar in a food processor, and process until smooth. Pulse in the egg, vanilla, and lemon zest until combined. Add the flour mixture and process to make a soft buttery dough. Divide dough in half onto 2 (12-inch long) sheets of plastic wrap, using the plastic, shape into rough logs. Refrigerate the dough logs for 30 minutes until just firm enough to shape into uniform logs, 8-inches long by 2-inches in diameter. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Scatter either the sanding sugars or toasted nuts on a work surface and roll the logs until completely coated. Cut into 1/4-inch thick cookies and space about 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until golden around the edges, about 20 to 25 minutes. Cool cookies on the pan on wire racks. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Yield: about 3 1/2 dozen cookies

Stop by scrappyjessi's and see all of the other yummy cookies!

Happy Holidays!

xoxo,

Julie

Cookie Swap

2009-12-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

I haven't had a chance to post my recipe yet!
Stay tuned....

xoxo,

Julie

Spooks, treats and holiday cheer!

2009-11-04T10:17:00.001-08:00

So, that's me on Halloween!! I went as a brunette Sookie Stackhouse from "True Blood". We stuffed ourselves with Mexican food and then took the kids trick-or-treating. Then we came home and made ourselves sick on candy, cupcakes and caramel apples! Fun times!!

My Zomieland Pistachio Cupcakes with Almond Buttercream

True Blood Red Velvet Cupcakes with "Spiked" Buttercream

I also wanted to let you all know about a swap that I'm hosting on Flickr.

It's our second annual
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS SWAP!!

We're swappin' at least:
ONE handmade Ornament or Decor item

THREE Christmas/Holiday inspired items

AND lots of vintage ephemera!

Come on over and sign up!

Hope to see you there!

xoxo,

Julie

2009-10-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

Linda at A Swap for All Seasons nominated me for this

"Over The Top" award. Thanks Linda!!
One of the requirements of winning is that I have to take the quiz below...

hope I don't bore you!!

And here are the rules for this award:
1.) Thank and post URL to the blog that gave the award.
2.) Pass the award along to 6 brilliantly over the top blogs (blogs you love!) Alert them so they know to receive the award.
3.) Copy and paste this quiz... Change the answers, ONE word only...feel free to fudge here!
4.) Have Fun

So, here goes...

Where is your cell phone? next to me
Your hair? brown/reddish
Your mother? WONDER WOMAN
Your father? Mr. Fix-It
Your favorite food? Mexican/Italian
Your favorite drink? love a good margarita
Your dream last night? Don't remember
Your dream/goal? Healthy, happy family
What room are you in? dinning room/computer corner
Your hobby? Anything that gets me out of doing housework
Your fear? Flying
Where do you want to be in 6 years? would LOVE to have my own bakery
Where were you last night? DC Trip meeting at the Jr. High
Something that you aren't? Cindy Crawford
Muffin? Starbucks Lemon Zucchini
Wish list item? Wishblade
Where did you grow up? All over
Last thing you did? made a sign for our Harvest Festival booth
What are you wearing? jeans & a tank top
Your TV? which one?
Your pets? Sophie (beagle), Fire & Lucy (beta fish)
Friends? love em
Your life? blessed
Your mood? pretty good
Missing someone? family
Vehicle? Kia Sedona
Something you aren't wearing? socks
Your favorite store? not sure
Favorite color? pink
When was the last time you laughed? today, my friend Sam makes me laugh pretty much every day!
Last time you cried? not sure
Your best friend? my hubby
One place you go to over and over? Starbucks
One person who emails you regularly? does Hungry Girl count?
Favorite place to eat? anywhere

Now, here are 6 blogs I love to visit:

The Vintage Rabbit
GypsyMermaidLife
ScrappyJessi
Glamarella Junk
Sandys Creations
Domestic Transformations

xoxo,
Julie

Happy Birthday, JM!!

2009-10-16T05:59:00.000-07:00

hAppY BiTHhdAy tO My

FaVorItE CuPcaKe,

JOhn MaYeR!!!!

Tall, Dark & Dreamy Chocolate Malt Cupcakes

YUMM-O!!!

xoxo,

Julie

Cupcake LOVE!!

2009-10-12T05:26:00.000-07:00

Realizing that I haven't posted any cupcakes in awhile,

so I thought I'd better get to it!

Here are the cuppies I made for Brendan's birthday party

inspired by "Hello, Cupcake" and "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs".

Of course we had to stop at Wonderland Bakery

on our way home from the beach... YUM!

Made these cuppies for Brendan's teacher's birthday.

Well, thanks for checking out some long overdue
CUPCAKE LOVE!!

xoxo,
Julie

M.I.A.

2009-10-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all!! I know that I've been missing in action lately.
I guess that you could say that I have too much on my plate.

Just wanted to stop in and let ya know that I'm still around.

I'll be back soon!!

xoxo,

Julie

Vintage Circus Swap

2009-08-11T22:17:00.001-07:00

Step right up and experience the magical sights and sounds of the CIRCUS...

We're swappin' at least:

ONE handmade Circus inspired item

THREE Circus/Carnival/Freak Show inspired items

AND lots of ephemera of course!

Click HERE to join the fun!!

xoxo,
Julie

Aprons, Aprons, Aprons

2009-08-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

The Apronista is hosting a big ol' apron giveaway!
Pop over and check it out!

xoxo,
Julie

Now Appearing!

2009-07-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

Now appearing at
The Cupcake Cupboard...

Marie Antoinette!
Stop by and check her out!!

xoxo,
Julie

GIVEAWAY!!

2009-07-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

I'm having a giveaway over at
The Chubby Cupcake.
Hop on over and check it out!

xoxo,
Julie

Yumminess!!

2009-07-07T14:55:00.000-07:00

John Mayer yumminess for your listening and viewing pleasure!
xoxo,
Julie

Celebrate & Remember!

2009-07-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!!!

Have fun & be safe!!
xoxo,
Julie

Lollishop Sale!

2009-06-30T14:00:00.001-07:00

Check it out at The Cupcake Cupboard .

PUPPY HELP!

2009-06-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

Hey all you puppy-lovin' dog owners!! I'm looking for some
advice. In August, we're heading to Eureka, CA (12 hr. drive)
for my 20th reunion and a family camping trip and we're taking
our little Sophie with us (she'll be 4 months old by then).
I was wondering if you all had any travel tips for us.

We are crate training her now.
We'll be traveling in my Kia Sedona (van).
At camp, we'll be sleeping in a tent.

I'm really not sure where to begin, so I'd appreciate
any advice, tips or suggestions!

Thanks!
xoxo,
Julie

Miss. Sophie

2009-06-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to introduce the newest member
of our family, Sophie. She's the sweetest little
beagle pup! Born April 6, 2009.

2009-06-10T05:58:00.000-07:00

(aka. "Summer Lovin' " Swap)

I know that there are LOTS of summer swaps going on right now but...
come on in gals, the water's fine!!

We're swappin' at least:

ONE handmade item
THREE Beach/Summer inspired items
AND some ephemera of course!

Sign-up date: NOW OPEN
Sign-up deadline: June 20, 2009
Send deadline: July 15, 2009

Click HERE to join!!!

xoxo,
Julie

I picked a WINNER!!!

2009-05-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

Congrats debsea!! You're the winner of my Cottage Charm Giveaway!! Please email me your address and I'll send your goodies to ya ASAP!!

Thank you ALL for stopping by!!
Wish I could give ya all a prize!

xoxo,
Julie

The BIG 3-8!!

2009-05-21T07:25:00.001-07:00

Today is the day... my birthday!!

I hope you'll all put on your party hats and celebrate with me!

There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get

un-birthday presents ... and only one for birthday presents, you know.

~ Lewis Carroll

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip.

~ Author Unknown

I still have a full deck; I just shuffle slower now. ~Author Unknown

The secret of staying young is to live honestly,

eat slowly, and lie about your age.

~Lucille Ball

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count.

It's the life in your years.

~Abraham Lincoln

Thanks for joinin' the party!!

xoxo,
Julie

PS. Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY !!

GIVEAWAY!!

2009-05-13T21:35:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again!! Time for the 3rd Annual Cottage Charm BLOG-WIDE Giveaway! That means that all month long you can enter to win tons of great giveaway prizes (all drawings will be held on the same day - May 30th) and it's also a great way to discover new cottage, romantic,and vintage oriented blogs, as well as vendors and talented artists.

Here's what I'm giving away:

To enter:

Post a comment here (between now and May 29th). Leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!
Follow my blog for an extra chance to win!
Stop by my Lollishop, The Cupcake Cupboard for another chance to win! Come back here and let me know what your favorite item in MY shop is.
Check out all of the other giveaways being offered!

Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo,
Julie

mAd hAtTeR's tEa pArtY sWAp

2009-05-03T06:19:00.000-07:00

I am hosting a mAd hAtTeR's tEa pArtY sWAp
over at my Vintage Ephemera Group on flickr.

wHo dOeSN't nEeD a liTTle tRip tHroUGh tHe loOkiNg glaSs eVErY nOw anD tHen...?

We're swappin' at least:
ONE handmade item
THREE Mad Hatter/Alice/Tea Party inspired items
AND some vintage ephemera of course!

Sign-ups Open: NOW
Sign-up Deadline: May 10, 2009
Send Deadline : June 5, 2009

Key words for this swap: VINTAGE, Mad Hatter, Alice in Wonderland, tea party, vintage ephemera...

hOpE yOU'll jOiN uS in wOnDErLaNd!

xoxo,
Julie

Some Sweet Swappin'

2009-04-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

My AWESOME Marie Antoinette Collage Canvas
from Sandy arrived today! LOVE IT!!!

This is a sneak peek of the collage that I sent her.

Here's a sneak peek of another swap I sent for
GypsyMermaid's Pink & Green Swap

Can't wait til my partners get their swaps!!
Hope they love em!!

I'll let ya know!!

xoxo,

Julie

Chubby Cupcake Update

2009-04-27T06:32:00.000-07:00

Follow my weight loss journey HERE!

A New Journey

2009-04-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

I'm SO tired of being FAT!!
I've decided to start a weight loss journal on my

new blog The Chubby Cupcake .
If anything, maybe I can shame myself into
sticking to my diet!

Wish me luck!

xoxo,
Julie

Happy Easter!

2009-04-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

Wishing you ALL Easter blessings!!

xoxo,

Julie

Lovely Lady Vintage Swap

2009-04-05T09:35:00.000-07:00

I have new swap for all you lovely vintage ladies!

In honor of Mother's Day
(May also happens to be my birthday month!!),
we'll be pampering our partners with vintage goodies.

Include at least:
ONE handmade item
THREE vintage dressing table finds
(a pair of gloves, hankie, doily, tin, perfume bottle, etc.)
AND some ephemera of course.

Sign-ups Open: NOW!!!
Sign-up Deadline: April 15, 2009
Send Deadline : May 5, 2009

Click here to sign up now!

xoxo,
Julie

Have a GREAT week!

2009-03-29T19:06:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I haven't had much time to blog lately,

so I thought I'd stop by and check in.

Thanks to Cheryl , Jessi and Natalie for letting me tag
along with them last Sunday!

I had a WONDERFUL time at The Barn and met more wonderfully talented women! Missed ya Kim!

The highlight of the day was definitely "Barbie Time" at Cheryl's house! Cheryl took pictures but I'm guessing that she's holding them for blackmailing.

I've been working on a few Spring swaps this week -
pictures coming soon.
Brendan and I are leaving on Wednesday to go to Sacramento and San Francisco with the whole Fourth Grade -
we'll have LOTS of pictures to post when we get back!

Well, one last thing to end the weekend on a high note...

My boyfriend and favorite cupcake, John Mayer set off on the open sea this weekend on his Mayercraft Cruise.
I REALLY love those shorts!!

Have a GREAT week!
xoxo,
Julie

Happy Spring!

2009-03-24T19:04:00.000-07:00

Once Upon a Swap

2009-03-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

My Vintage Ephemera Group recently had fairytale
swap called "Once Upon a Swap" swap.
We were to make one item based on our partner's favorite fairytale and them include at least 5 other fairytale items.
I had two partners.

My first partner was jillzwhimzy and one of her
favorite fairytales is Thumbelina.
I decided to make her a Thumbelina Cupcake Box.

My other partner was ShabbyJules in Australia.
She loves Alice in Wonderland,
so I made her an Alice Cupcake Box.

I also included lots of other goodies in the swap:

Snow White and Her Peeps

Gummi Pigs and Goldilock's Treats

Little Bear/Baby Bear's Porridge Spoon

Magic Wands

Vintage Puzzles

Vintage Snow White & Little Red Riding Hood

I had SO MUCH fun putting these swaps together!
I think that my partners were happy with them.
Can't wait to see what they've sent me!!
I'll share with you when they arrive!

xoxo,
Julie

Spring Fling Swap

2009-03-05T05:57:00.001-08:00

I've got another swap going on over at my

Vintage Ephemera Group on flickr.

Stop by and check it out!

xoxo,

Julie

All Dolled Up WINNER!!

2009-02-19T08:21:00.000-08:00

You're the winner Melanie !!!
Your goodies will be on their way soon!
Thanks to everyone for stopping by!

xoxo,
Julie

Gotta Have 'Em!!

2009-02-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

My newest obsession - Vintage Head Vases!!!
I seriously L-O-V-E them!!!
The hair, the eye lashes... TO DIE FOR!!!

The is my first one - just got her last week!!
I'm hoping that she'll be joined by lots of sisters and
girlfriends in the near furture. A girl can dream!!

Have a WONDERFUL week!!

xoxo,

Julie

PS. There's still time to join the party !

All Dolled Up Blog Party

2009-02-13T20:55:00.000-08:00

It's The Cupcake Cupboard's
Valentine's Day party!

We're gettin' ready for something sweet...
... help yourself!
Hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day!

If you found the hidden Lollishop item,
leave the comment "I found it" to win a Door Prize!
If your comment is chosen, you will be asked to name the item you found to win.

The party will be up until the 18th when I will announce the winner...
please tell all your friends about the party.
the more the merrier!

If you purchase something at the Cupcake Cupboard
between now and the 18th, you'll be entered into another drawing for a jammed-packed goodie bag!

Don't forget to check out itty bitty birdy
to visit all the other party blogs!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

xoxo,

Julie

And the winner is.....

2009-02-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

Kid's Napping? I'm Scrapping!

You've won my Lollishops Valentine Giveaway!!

CONGRATS and thanks to EVERYONE who stopped by and entered!

I'd also like to send congrats to my boyfriend and favorite cupcake, John Mayer
for taking home a pair of Grammys on Sunday!

Congrats to my girl Adele for her double Grammy win!

You ALL ROCK!!!!

xoxo,
Julie

Sweet Silhouettes

2009-02-07T11:14:00.000-08:00

I'm working on some new items for my Etsy Shop .

These are my Sweet Framed Silhouettes.

4"x6" Sweetie Silhouette Print

5"x7" Sweetie Silhouette Print

4"x6" Eat Cake Silhouette Print

5"x7" Eat Cake Silhouette Print

I'm loving these frames! Can't wait to find more!

xoxo,
Julie
GIVEAWAY!!!

Baby It's Cold Outside?

2009-02-04T17:27:00.000-08:00

Even though Mr. Winter has decided to ignore Southern California as of late (it was 80 degrees today), I have been craving cold-weather comfort food. With my oven on the fritz, I'm a bit limited to what I can do - so I decided to make some warm and creamy rice pudding
(it helped that I had rice left over from last night's dinner).

Warm & Creamy Rice Pudding

1 1/2 - 2 cups cooked white rice
2 cups milk, divided
1/3 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup golden raisins
1 - 2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
ground cinnamon, to taste

In a saucepan, combine cooked rice, 1 1/2 cups milk, sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat until thick and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup milk, beaten egg and raisins. Cook 2 minutes more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in butter, vanilla and cinnamon.
Serve warm.

Serves 4.

My guys don't like raisins in their rice pudding, so I left them
out. We like to top ours with a dollop of whipped cream
or pour of bit of heavy cream over the top.

Enjoy!!
xoxo,
Julie

PS. Don't forget about my Giveaway !

Yummy Cupcakes!!

2009-02-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

I've ordered cupcakes in a jar from Bangerang Bake Shop
several times - YUMMY!! I LOVE to send them
as gifts. If you haven't tried them, you should!
They're having a giveaway right now!
Check it out!!

AND DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY TOO!!

xoxo,
Julie

Lollishops Valentine Giveaway - Redux!

2009-01-31T11:25:00.000-08:00

Since the Lollishops Valentine Giveaway got scrapped
(beyond my control), I've decided to have a re-do and post my
giveaway again. So here goes...

February 1st - 10th, I'll be hosting a giveaway
for my Lollishop, The Cupcake Cupboard .
You could win this Lemon-Yellow Sweet Shoppe Pincushion!

Here's how to enter:
1. Go to The Cupcake Cupboard and check it out.
Then leave a comment here letting me know what your favorite item is. Also let me know if you were to order a
custom made item from me, what would that be.

2. For another chance to win, become a follower to my blog.

3. For yet another chance to win, post my giveaway
badge on your blog.

4. And for yet another chance to win, blog about my
Lollishop and/or giveaway.

Make sure to leave contact info.
I'll pick the winner on February 11th!

Thanks for stopping by! Good luck!!

xoxo,
Julie

I'm in LOVE!!!

2009-01-26T12:42:00.000-08:00

OK, so back before Christmas I ordered this adorable little Snow Pixie from Jenny at The Polka Dot Pixie . I loved it - it was so sweet and tiny and delicate!

Last week, I couldn't resist ordering this adorable little
Valentine Snow Pixie!

The picture doesn't even do her justice!!
You've got to stop by Jenny's Lollishop and check out
more of her cuties!! Oh, those cheeks!!

Oh, and look at the gorgeous necklace I won from the
lovely Jamie over at Simply Me Art !

Again, the picture doesn't even come close to doing it justice!!
Thank you SO MUCH, Jamie!

Well, that's all for now! Have a super week!

PS. If you LOVE give aways like I do, stop by Mammalicious Finds to win
these yummy lights from Jorabeels

xoxo,
Julie

Lollishops Valentine Giveaways! - ON HOLD!

2009-01-19T10:27:00.000-08:00

Apparently, there is a problem with the giveaway site.

Hang in there! If it's not fixed, then I'll restart the giveaway here on my blog. Thanks for your patience!

Who doesn't love giveaways??!!

January 19th - February 6th, at least 12 Lollishop vendors are offering special Valentine's Day giveaways. Head on over to Lollishops Blog Giveaways and check out all of the goodies!

I'm offering a Lemon-Yellow Soda Shoppe Pincushion.

There are lots of other great things offered too!
Stop on by!!

xoxo,
Julie

Memories of Marie...

2009-01-18T07:11:00.001-08:00

Now that my head has stopped spinning, I'm finally able to post some pictures of the Marie Antoinette Workshop & Soiree (pictures that I've "borrowed" from the other gals!)

These are our LOVELY hostesses Kim & Candice!

They thought of EVERYTHING! I can't remember the last time

I felt so pampered! Thank you ladies!!

This is our classroom! So much pink yumminess!

Our box full of luscious supplies!

The talented and HILARIOUS Maija & yours truly.

Page one of the "journal" we worked on.

Our Royal Tea Luncheon

Two amazing ladies, Jessi & Christine Rose.

Sweets! Almost too pretty to eat! (I said "almost"!)

We ended the day with pink champagne & delicious eats and swaps.

My "Wand Fit for a Queen" swap partner, Kelly & well, me.

It was an amazing day!! I tried to take in and absorb all that I could!
So many beautiful, sweet & talented women in one room!!

Kim, thank you SO MUCH for letting me be a part of this

WONDERFUL and special weekend!!

xoxo,

Julie

Elegance and Whimsy

2009-01-14T18:27:00.000-08:00

My head is still spinning from the WONDERFULLY

pink & frilly Marie Antoinette weekend!

I was too overwhelmed to take pictures myself,

but I'll be borrowing some from the other gals to
share with you in a few days.

Just wanted to let you know about a BEAUTIFUL

new shop called Elegance and Whimsy .
The intro page alone is simply divine!

This is one of my favorite "Marie" items...

Make sure to stop by and see for yourself!

xoxo,
Julie

Sneak Peek Fit for a Queen!

2009-01-08T17:49:00.000-08:00

Here's a peek at my wand for the "A Wand Fit for a Queen" swap hosted by the lovely Scrappy Jessi for the Marie Antoinette Soiree this weekend!

Hope my partner, KellyB, likes it!!
I'll let ya know on Monday!

xoxo,
Julie

Swap Alert!!!

2009-01-06T16:41:00.000-08:00

Hey y'all!! I'm hosting a SWAP over at my

Vintage Ephemera Group on Flickr!

Check it out - everyone's welcome!!

Last day to sign up is this SATURDAY!
Hope to see ya there!!

xoxo,
Julie

Cuteness!!!

2009-01-04T12:48:00.000-08:00

Just had to share the cuteness that is my nephew, Titus John!

Don'tcha just wanna pinch those cheeks??!!

Here he is hiding from me!

I'll be checking in again soon! I'm getting ready for the

Marie Antoinette Workshop & Soiree this coming weekend!

I'm so excited!!!

xoxo,

Julie

Happy New Year!!

2008-12-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

xoxoxo,

Julie

Merry Christmas!!

2008-12-24T22:56:00.000-08:00

xoxoxo,

Julie

Let them eat cake!

2008-12-22T07:09:00.000-08:00

I am counting the days til the

Marie Antoinette Workshop and Soiree !

I'm a bit of a Marie newbie, but I though I'd try to put

a little somthing together to celebrate the event.

Here's what I came up with...

Marie Button

Marie Jersey T

Marie Ringer T

These an other items are available at CupcakeDD's Goodies .

Hope ya like 'em!

xoxo,
Julie

♥ Christmas Came Early!!♥

2008-12-07T11:31:00.000-08:00

I spent a wonderful evening with my boyfriend and
favorite cupcake, John Mayer , last night!
Adele opened for him and she was GREAT!
If you haven't heard her yet, definitely check her out!
♥ JM was amazing as usual!! ♥

It was really great to hear some of the "old stuff".
Once again, I was sad to see the night end!

And as if I needed another reason to L♥VE him, check it out...

Artist: John M. Name: "Frosty At Dusk With Pipe"
Medium: Devils food cake, icing, marshmallow, fondant, confectioners sugar

...♥he likes to bake♥ !!

Grins & Giggles!
xoxo,
Julie

scrappyjessi's cookie exchange

2008-12-05T06:05:00.000-08:00

The beautiful scrappyjessi is hosting a cookie swap. After you check out one of my favorite cookie recipes, go over to her place and check out what ALL of the other gals are cookin' up!

Spritz Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups sifted flour
Sprinkles for garnish

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a mixer with a paddle attachment, add the sugar and the butter. Mix until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla and almond extracts and mix to incorporate. Sift together the baking powder and the flour. Add the flour mixture. Mix until combined. Using a cookie press, press cookies onto ungreased cookie sheets. Top with the sprinkles of your choice. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes, or until firm, but not yet browning.

Enjoy!!

xoxo,

Julie

Arizona, Shopping, Fever, Turkey & Lollishops

2008-11-30T06:33:00.000-08:00

A belated Happy Thanksgiving to all!

We headed to Mesa, Arizona for our holiday week, just the four of us. Matthew came down with a cold the day we left.

We had a couple of good days of relaxing, shopping and eating at our favorite restaurants (RigaTony's & Blue Adobe topping the list).

I was able to sneak away on Sunday and hit the Antique Plaza on Main Street. I was on a mission to find some vintage Christmas - didn't have much luck but I did find a few things.

By Tuesday, I was sure that I had gotten Matthew's cold!
We had decided to have Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday so we could have leftovers on Thursday before heading home on Friday. By Wednesday, I was one sick turkey! The cold turned out to be the flu! Fever and all, I made dinner with all the fixin's. Too bad I was too pooped to eat it!
Thanksgiving day, Brendan woke up with the sniffles and Dave had the chills. We pretty much spent the entire day under blankets surrounded by cold medicine and klennex!

We managed to pull ourselves together and headed home on Friday.
I never even got out of my pj's on Saturday.
I did get to work on my Lollishop though!! Woo-hoo!!
The Cupcake Cupboard is now open for business!!

I'll be hosting a give-away to celebrate our opening, so stay tuned!

xoxo,
Julie

Happy Halloween!!

2008-10-31T05:47:00.000-07:00

I think that one of my favorite things about

Halloween was going to the store to pick out

a costume. I LOVED all of those masks peeking out

of the windows of the cardboard boxes and the

plastic smell of the costume!!

At 4, most little girls want to be a princess

or a ballerina - NOT ME!!!

A costume fitting for a "little monster"!

At least mom made sure that my hair bows

matched the costume!!

Have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone!! Be safe!!

xoxoxo,
Julie

Woo-hoo!!!!

2008-10-29T10:12:00.001-07:00

Got my tickets!!
xoxoxoxo

4 times in 19 months - not bad baby!!

Random Bits

2008-10-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

Made some stuff, got some stuff... thought I'd share!

Skeleton Rose Half-Pint Pincushion
Wanted to make something that would appeal to you
hardcore rockstar crafters!

Vintage-inspired Paper House Ornament

This is just a prototype!

Pink Christmas!

Workin' on some Christmas ornaments using vintage
aluminum Christmas light reflectors and tinsel!

Home for the Holidays Swap
Look at all of the Christmas goodness that artbyheather

sent me!! Tons of treasures!!!

Lil' Old Me
My Dad sent me a cd of old family photos that he had scanned.
It had old, old, old photos of great-grandparents, old,
old photos of grandma as a little girl,
old photos of dad as a baby, and not so old photos of ME as a tot!
I posted more of them on flickr.

That's all for now!! Have a GREAT weekend!!!

Grins & Giggles,

Julie xoxoxo

Happy Birthday!!!!

2008-10-16T05:37:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday.... to you.

Happy Birthday.... my favorite cupcake,

cutie boyfriend, John Mayer!

Happy Birthday.... to you!

Hottie Cupcake made just for you!

ENJOY!!! xoxoxoxo

Road-Trip Flashbacks

2008-10-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

In honor of John Mayer's birthday this week, I decided to post some of my favorite pictures from our road-trip this summer. Enjoy!!

And the winner is.....

2008-10-13T05:56:00.000-07:00

Carol at Sassafrass & Lulu!!!

Congratulations Carol!!

Thank you to everyone else for playing!

Come again, I'll be having another giveaway soon!!

Grins & Giggles,

Julie xoxoxo

Autumn Giveaway

2008-10-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

Inspired by all of those wonderful blog-giveaways
(that I never win!),

I decided to put together one of my own!!

Here's what you'll win:

- "Style at Home" a great home decor book!
- Vintage Doll
- Pumpkin Spice "Stash" Tea
- Pumpkin Spice Candle
- HaLLowEeN CuPcAKe ALteRed ArT CoLlaGe
(by me!)

All ya gotta do is post a comment by October 12th.
If you subscribe to my blog, you'll get a second entry!
I'll pick a winner on the 13th!
Make sure you include a link to your blog
or your email address so I can notify you if you win!

Thanks for stoppin' by!!!

Julie xoxo

PS. Creative Flutter is havin' a giveaway too!!

Half-Pint

2008-10-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

So, I've been workin' on a few things for my Lollishop.
I've made these pincushions using half-pint jars.

Inside the jar, I stuffed in a sewing kit and extra buttons.
I'm kinda addicted to 'em now! Hope y'all like 'em
(and buy 'em) or my house will end up being FULL of 'em!!

Holiday Swap

2008-10-02T06:32:00.000-07:00

Only a few more days left to sign up for this one...

Come and join the fun!!

Checkin' In!

2008-09-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

I thought maybe it's time I check in and update my blog.
I know it's been a while and thank you to the handful of you who do actually read my blog.

Here it is in a nutshell:

I went on my road trip with my pal Ellyn and we took along my favorite cupcake, John Mayer.

Anytime anyone would ask about John,

we'd take thier picture with him.

All but two of the pictures actually came out!

Then I got home and started crafting again
(mostly Halloween stuff).

Then school FINALLY started!
Brendan is in Fourth Grade now and
Matthew is a big-shot Junior Higher in 7th grade!

Now, I'm back to crafting again.
Hopefully, I can come up with some good stuff for my Lollishops shop.
I'll let ya know!

Thanks for stoppin' by!!
Julie xoxo

Put On Your Party Hat!

2008-08-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Hey Gals! Still siftin' through all of my roadtrip pictures. Meanwhile, I'm trying to finish up all of the swaps I have due next week AND get a few things done for my Etsy shop.

Here's my latest creation:

The Queen of Halloween Cupcake

I'm also hosting ANOTHER swap.

Put On Your Party Hat Swap

Sign-up deadline: August 30th
Send deadline: September 30th
Use your vintage ephemera to make a party hat for your partner.
Then include more VE so they can keep the party going!
Once the swap is over, we can have a flickr party and post pictures of ourselves wearing our hats!

Come on over and join the fun!!!

I'm Home!!

2008-08-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my roadtrip and boy am I tired!! We saw lots of corn fields and sunflower fields, averaged 10 -11 hours a day in the car and hit 10 states in 5 days (some more than once!)! I'll post pictures and stories soon. We also had a special guest join us for the trip (hint: my favorite cupcake). More to come....

Four Corners

Check it out!! My big butt can touch four states at one time!!
Time to start that diet!! :)

On The Road Again!

2008-08-03T16:44:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, I'm flyin' to Chicago to meet my bestest friend Ellyn for a roadtrip. She's movin back to California, so we decided to make it a bit of a Thelma & Louise trip.

Here's where we're headed:

View Larger Map

We won't have much time for "shopping" since we're making the trip in 5 days, but if anyone knows of any good spots or roadside attractions along our route, PLEASE let me know!

My Night with JM!

2008-07-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

Well, my favorite cupcake did NOT disappoint!
Even with his new buzz haircut,
he still delivered on an amazing two hour concert!
I was sad to see it end!!

He even sang a new song that he had previewed
a little snip of a few months ago!
It was awesome to hear it in it's entirety! Take a listen!

Countdown!

2008-07-26T20:05:00.000-07:00

I'm counting down the hours to my date with John Mayer!

It's been over 7 months since I last saw him

(he was minus that Aniston chick then)!

Anyway, I'm looking forward to a GREAT evening with

good friends and my favorite cupcake, JM!

Circus Dayz

2008-07-25T06:17:00.000-07:00

Sheeze! I feel like I'n not getting ANYTHING done this summer!!
If I didn't have swap deadlines, I probably wouldn't finish anything!
Here are some ATC's I did for a swap called "Under the Big Top":

On to other things!
A total sweetie pie, Nancy , gave me this Brillante Weblog award! Thanks Nancy!!!

Now, I can really only think of one blog to pass this award on to (everyone else has already gotten one!). And the winner is....

Heather aka Merry Moon !

Here's some rules:

- Put the logo on your blog
- Add a link to the person who awarded you
- Nominate at least 1 other blog
- Add links to the blog(s) on yours
- Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

Enjoy, Heather!! You deserve it!!!!!

NEW SWAP

2008-07-18T06:55:00.000-07:00

I'm hosting a new swap for my Vintage Ephemera Swap Group -
it's a Fall Tussie Mussie Swap

Here are the details:

Fall will be here soon! Let's welcome it in by making a tussie mussie (embellished paper cone). Use your vintage ephemera to make a Fall-inspired tussie mussie (back-to-school, Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving...) and fill it full of more vintage ephemera and treasures.
Template available at: Crafty Secrets

Sign-up deadline: July 30th
Send deadline: August 30th

So, if you're interested, head on over and sign up!

Stick a PIN in me!

2008-07-14T19:44:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to work on some new pincushions for a while now. I'd bought some vintage egg cups from ebay and had big plans for them. Here's what I've some up with so far...

Juicy Fruit Pincuhion

Summer Picnic Pincushion

Cupcake Pincushions

I also found another little birdie candleholder, so I turned her into a pincushion too!

Glam Girl Pincushion

All of these babies are available at my etsy shop!

Somethin's going on at Whimsey Wishes!

2008-07-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

To find out what, head on over and check it out at

Whimsey Wishes . Tell her CupcakeDD sent ya!