It's Time for a Giveaway!

   Yes, my wonderful friends, it is time again for a GIVEAWAY!  I am celebrating the opening of my new ETSY shop "Too Silly Sisters"!  It's named after my two sweet girls who are often a bit TOO silly!:-)  But that's what makes life fun at our house, you know.

I am going to have TWO winners this time and I will be giving each winner a pair of earrings!  I plan on adding all these pictured earrings (unless you WIN them!) to my shop but I would like to get your feedback before I do.  To be entered in my giveaway, please leave a comment and tell me which pair of these 4 earring styles you like the best.  AND, if you post about my giveaway on your blog, you will get 4 additional entries in the giveaway!  This means you will have 5 entries instead of 1!  Just make sure and tell me that you posted about it so you get the credit.:-)

   Good Luck to all of you!  I will be drawing TWO lucky names on Thursday, the 10th at 6:30 PM.

Memories and Custom Orders

   I just finished a custom order for one of my bloggy friends, Heather.
Her daughter is having a Flower/Pool party.  Such fun!  It made me think of Mandy's 3rd birthday party.  It was a Butterfly/Flower party and we got so many cute ideas from Family Fun magazine.  We made the sunflower cake (pictured) and also some cute little bees and ladybug cupcakes (wish I could find the pictures of those!).  The children all made wings (out of posterboard, glitter, stickers, etc.) and we tied them on with ribbon.  We didn't make the flower fruit, but I thought it looked yummy!

The bracelet I made for Heather's daughter has flower cat's eye beads, Swarovski crystals and the sweetest little girl with a flower in her hair.:-)  I love the dangling birthday present!  It was so fun designing this with you, Heather!

If you'd like a custom made bracelet, necklace or earrings please contact me.  I can help you design a one of a kind treasure!  toosillysisters@cox.net  

Balloon Fun

   It's amazing how much joy balloons can bring a child.  No wonder they are a necessity at parties!  These balloons were meant for the flip flops I was making, but Katie was so happy blowing them up and bouncing and catching them that I had to go and get my camera.:-)  

I Love a Holiday

   Today started off with everyone having a project.  Mandy was working on embroidering an apron for Katie, Katie was working on a necklace for her Kid's Swap partner, Isabella, I was making flip flops (I got this idea from Lanny!) for another Kid's Swap partner, Paige, and Jeff was making homemade ice cream.  Katie was anxious to help, as you can see by the pictures!  Don't you love holidays?  Great family time to do anything you please with the ones you love the most.  Hope you are having a fabulous day!  

   The girls can't wait to do fireworks tonight.  I, on the other hand, am a weenie, as I worry someone is going to lose an eye or set something on fire.  Jeff told me that in his family they used to throw firecrackers at each other (all in fun, of course?) on the 4th.  Boy, they sure would have called me a party pooper!  I plan on sitting on the porch tonight and praying for the best.  It's only one day out of the year, so what's the worst that can happen?  Right??

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!  Just thought I would post a few pictures of our garden.  I just love this part of summer- as long as the Japanese Beetles don't destroy it all...  See the little pumpkin below?  It shows me that Fall is not too far away.  I ADORE Fall!  Pumpkins, fall leaves, cooler temperatures, craft fairs... aahhh....  Hope you all have a fabulous holiday!:-)

Raspberry Banana Yogurt Pops

   Katie and I made this yummy recipe from Southern Living magazine tonight.  We can't wait to eat them (they take 6 hours to freeze) tomorrow! Perhaps you would like to try them, too!  The colors are perfect for the 4th of July.:-)

Yogurt Freezer Pops

Process 1 cup low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt and 1 banana in a blender for 30 seconds or until smooth.  Bring 3 cups fresh or frozen raspberries and/or blueberries and 1/2 cup honey to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low, and simmer 5 minutes.  You may strain out seeds and pulp if you like, but we skipped this part.  Cover and chill berry mixture 30 min.  Pour yogurt mixture into pop molds.  Top with berry mixture and swirl, if desired.  Top with lid of mold.  Freeze 6 hours.

Let me know if you try these!:-)

Japanese Beetles

   They have landed.  The dreaded Japanese Beetles.  Have they come to visit your garden too?  Hate them.  They eat and eat and eat until there is nothing left!  What can you do??  Forget about those lovely yellow beetle catcher things that your neighbor has in their front yard.  They only attract more.  The only solution- and it is only temporary- is to recruit your children.  Give them an empty water bottle and let em' go!  My girls look forward to catching these suckers every year.  It's war!  Yes, I have been seen sneaking around the yard with an empty water bottle, too.  I know the neighbors think I'm crazy, but I can always blame it on the heat.  We also have beetles that are TWICE the size of these guys that started attending our "bed and breakfast" last year!!  Someone told me they are June bugs??  They are SSSSSSSOOOO  disgusting!  I hope you are lucky enough to avoid these "buffet breeders", but just in case they stop by for a snack, get a hold of your kids.  It will get them out of the house.