MERRY Little Christmas Treats

Hey there....

'tis the Season to be MERRY

and make MERRY treats;)

I'm talking fun, festive, easy, yummy kid-friendly treats!

I looked at my secret and not so secret (Pinterest) places

 and here are a few I want to pass on.......including links when available.

let's get started.......

First up we have "Grinch Kabobs".

 I told you easy, right?

a toothpick, grape, strawberry, banana slice

 and a mini marshmallow is all you need!  Yummmmm.

Rice Krispie Treats.......

Y'all know the recipe is on the box, right?

Just add green food coloring and build a Christmas Tree 

like Cookies and Cups!

 Red Velvet Santa's Hat Brownies.....

Hmmmm.  What does one say about these except double YUM!!!!!

 (source...Cookies and Cups again:)

Pretzel Presents.......

these are new to me this year.  

Nothing fancy.......just square pretzels, melted chocolate and m & m's.

or how about a Grape Christmas Tree?

Styrofoam cone, toothpicks, grapes and You're done!

 One of my favorites are Powdered Sugar Donut Snowmen,

made with mini donuts.

Soooooo cute and easy!

These are from A Little Tipsy.

In keeping with the donut theme,

mini chocolate donuts, pretzels and red m & m's = Rudolph!!!

source: puertabella

Check this out.........

Strawberries and Bananas!

What a cute after school snack:)

 Last but not least, one of our all time favorites.....Santa Hats!!

We first saw this on a Disney Video and have made them every year since.

Simply use a vanilla wafer as the base and use a dab of whipped cream or frosting to stick the strawberry to it. Decorate your "hat" with frosting or whipped cream again.

Well, there you go!  I DID say easy:)

XOXOXOXO

Suzanne

HEY YA'LL...You're invited to a FALL open house with the Shabby Chicks

okay now,

don't say you weren't invited because here is your

official invitation ;)

no RSVP necessary...

just pop on over whenever you get a few minutes.

FYI...throughout the week i might even have a few little giveaways...

check back every day because you never know if it will be the day...

and i'll make sure to give you a peek at what's up for grabs.

so pull on your boots, 

get your favorite blue jeans on...

and come on by for some COUNTRY, SOUTHERN, FALL fun!

(cowboy hats optional:)

YEE HAW!

Cowgirls, Country and Caramel Corn...

so it's FRIDAY...

and we need to have some fun around here!

TRUST ME when i say...we need fun and happy this weekend.

but before i get started, thank you for the care and concern

and many prayers for my dad...

who is still fighting it out in the hospital.

3 weeks now and counting.

he has a long road and we are confident he will make it...

but keep praying, please!

one other thing...

i recently found out i had comments that i was not aware of.

they are not coming to my email for some reason

so i have to work that out.

i know i'm not always the best at this but i truly 

didn't mean to ignore everyone!!!

and i put on comment moderation hoping that helps.

okay...on to some fun stuff.

COWGIRL...

 growing up, i always went through "phases".

thankfully, i STILL go through them...

and now my girls do too.

makes life interesting, you know!

this summer was our COWGIRL/COUNTRY/CARAMEL CORN phase.

let me explain...

we've always had a fascination with the 

cowgirl/west/country girl thing.

but this summer, we REALLY got into it...

and we're having so much fun!

did you know there's a whole culture out there for this?

everything from mild to down home rodeo stuff.

the Picker Sisters have a cowgirl/antique feel to their show.

two of my current favorite online stores

are Junk Gypsy

 (where else can you get a funky shower cap and a crown shower curtain:)

 and i wanted these mugs so bad but they sold out.

 ...hopefully they'll be back

and Island Cowgirl...

  their jewelry pretty much makes up our wish list these days!

we have hats but are really wanting some cool BOOTS.

i think our next summer vacation will be to a dude ranch (cool, huh?)

and on my 50 things before i'm 50 list i'm making,

it includes a visit to the Roundtop Texas Marburger Farms antique fair

 ...and a stay at Rachel Ashwell's Prarie B&B and

horseback riding on the beach.

 three of our favorite shows recently are/have been

Sweet Home Alabama

Hart of Dixie

and Donna Decorates Dallas.

and of course, don't forget Cowgirl Cookies...

 check out Bakerella for the recipe:)

yep, we're having fun with this lil ol "phase" of ours.

Pssst...i don't think it's just a phase but we'll see.

now on to COUNTRY...

i wish i could get back the days my dad drove me to piano lessons

in his brown pick-up truck, playing country music.

 (okay...not his truck but it's pretty, huh?)

anyway, i made SUCH a big deal of it...

how uncool it was...

but NO MORE!!!

we've always liked the occasional country song...

but now we are full-fledged country fans.

shoot...a few of our favorite songs are 

Big Green Tractor and

Hillbilly Bones!

 hahahaha...don't knock it till you've tried it:)

AND the music playing on my blog...

(scroll down to turn off if you don't like it, okay...although
it's playing God Gave Me You...great song:))

but i'll tell you how this really got going.

i got TOTALLY fed up with "pop" (stupid name for it) music today.

i mean, the stuff they "sing" about...if you call it that...is gross and indecent half the time.

and the language...half the song gets bleeped out.

and i don't mind saying i listened to the songs that were

"popular" before my girls to check them out...
UGGGHH!!!

it breaks my heart to be out and hear little girls repeating lyrics innocently to

Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and pretty much

all rap.  and this isn't the whole list.

anyway, we went off the radio cold-turkey...

and fell in love with the music of Nashville!

i know...not always perfect.

but it most often is catchy and tells a story...that makes some sort of sense.

like "Just Fishin"...about enjoying those special times with your kids.

in case you're wondering, my girls don't feel forced into this...

they LOVE it.
we had a BLAST at the Rascall Flatts concert

it's so nice to not have to switch the channel all the time

because a song is "inappropriate".

Here are some of our favorites...

 yep...we're COUNTRY!!!

(and yes, even my husband is walking around singing 

Hillbilly Bones and Crazy Town:)

CARAMEL CORN...

well, this is the reason half my clothes don't fit, i swear!

we managed to find a reason to celebrate with homemade

caramel corn all summer.

oh my gosh...we pass around that bowl

 and practically lick it when we're done...

it's that good!

but our version is a quickie, 2 step recipe...

so if anyone out there has a real, true recipe that doesn't have to be eaten immediately,

i'd love to get it. 

not for us but to give away...of course:)

I see some online but just want to know it's good before making it.

we tried some that was...ummm... downright yucky! 

we can't have peanuts in it due to an allergy,

but anything else goes.

okay...that's where i'm at these days.

trying to enjoy little things, have fun...

and work off this caramel corn:)

Happy Friday!!!
Suzanne

Shabby Chicks Online Christmas Party...Calling all Sellers!

Christmas Countdowns at WiddlyTinks.com

hahaha...

NO, i'm NOT kidding!

i'm talking real, honest to goodness, Christmas shopping.

i mean, have you noticed the survey

at the top right corner of my blog?????

okay...IF you're still with me,

here's the deal.....

this is september.....

and before you know it, december will be here.

this time of year gets crazy for so many of us.

the older i get, the more i hate that.

i don't LIKE that we get lost in only the FUN stuff of the Holidays

and lose sight of the REAL reason for the season.
(but i DO believe it's okay to be real AND have fun:)

this season is also NUTCRACKER season around our house

so it adds one more twist on this time...

and i end up wishing i had started earlier.

besides, you'll have more time to decorate like THIS.....

i KNOW it isn't the gifts that matter,

but since we DO exchange presents, i really like to put a bit of

thought behind this...but then i end up grabbing

SOMETHING just to be done.....
just to lose the crowds.

(bah humbug:)

so why not start early this year and even better,

why not support the WONDERFUL

friends we have all made who sell online?

it could be through a company website that has your name on it,

an etsy store, your own website, blog.....

wherever you sell your pretties and what nots:!
 and the beauty of it is, you can get involved
in as many of these parties as you like...
even more business, right?

PLUS, we all know that when you sell your own creations,
you still have a life.....
and the SOONER you get orders done,
the MERRIER your own HOLIDAYS will be.

so even though it's early,
i wanted to give you a head's up about our first annual
SHABBY CHICKS online Christmas shopping party.

 i'm starting it OCTOBER 1st.
that gives me time to make a link to the party for you to tell ALL
your readers where to shop,
time to make a shopping section on my blog...
good stuff like that.
it might start small at first but as we get rolling and gather more links...
it WILL be awesome, i promise you that!

so don't miss out!
all i need is this.....
send me the link to your site,
along with a brief line or two about what you sell,
 if you offer any early shopping specials, order deadlines, free shipping.....
any info you would like shoppers to know about.

what i will do for YOU is this....
each week i will PROMOTE at least one shop,
i will visit every possible place on the web and tell everyone i know
about our little party to bring in shoppers,
tweet often...HECK......
i'll even re-activate my facebook
to tell the snoops sweet people of this world all about it!
HEEHEEHEE!

and did i mention a few GIVEAWAYS???????
(that always gets everyone's attention:)

like i said...i still have work to do but i am DETERMINED
to make this work.
last year i did a bit of my shopping online and guess what?????
those ended up being my most creative, unique, clever gifts.
so let's DO this!

no matter what you sell.....
(except NOTHING inappropriate, of course)
from tupperware to tutus......
join in.
it's free advertising!!!

so take my shopping survey, send me your info,
start gathering your supplies,
make some RED VELVET hot cocoa
and
LET"S SHOP!

HO,HO,HO

Suzanne

RED VELVET HOT COCOA

• 4 cups Whole Milk
• 1 dash Water
• ¾ cups Premium Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1 teaspoon Red Food Coloring Paste
• 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1 Tablespoon Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Whipped Cream Cheese 

In a medium mixing bowl or a stand-up mixer, pour in heavy whipping cream and sugar. Whip on medium with the whisk attachment for 2-3 minutes. Just before it peaks, add the teaspoon of whipped cream cheese and whisk for another 2 minutes. Taste the whipped cream and add more cream cheese to taste. If you like it more tart (i don't) ,  add another 1/2 teaspoon.  just be careful to not over-whip or you’ll have butter on your hands in no time.

In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat. Add a splash of water and the chocolate chips, constantly stirring gently. When almost melted, add the red food coloring paste and stir some more. The color should be a deep red, similar to the picture above. When the chocolate chips are all melted, pour the hot chocolate in four mugs and top with the whipped cream.

Fantabulous Friday Favorites...

don't you just love that word...

FANTABULOUS?

what's not to love about a word that has

fantastic and fabulous all rolled up in one great word!

no mindless rambling today...

(not yet anyway)

let's just get right to the favorites!

favorite BALLERINA Taylor...

 is auditioning tomorrow for her part(s) in the Nutcracker

with Naples Ballet.

i'm proud and she hasn't even taken the stage!

that's because when she dances, she SHINES!

the flier for Nutcracker 20011...

my little girl.

(yes you are Taylor and always will be so deal with it;)

xoxoxoxo

favorite FUN LOVING girl Jordan...

 was interviewed this week by the Naples Daily News and will be featured

this weekend in a story about her swim for MS...

which she has raised over $1500 for with more donations coming in.

 she had a photo shoot last week, so that was COOL 

I'd say she did something pretty

AWESOME with her summer!
xoxoxox

my favorite DAD in the whole world...

 and his golf buddies.

(he's the one in the hat!)

reminds me of the saying 

"you don't stop playing because you get old...

you get old because you stop playing".

and somebody should add......you also get old when you don't LAUGH every day...

because ya gotta laugh sometimes.

these guys knew that!

 (haha)

one of my favorite blogs is Brayton Homestead Interiors.

Karen is the amazing decorator who had the idea for our

BARN CHICKS PARTIES.

 that was when i REALLY fell in love with old barns!

anyway, she has a new website so i'm spreading the word for the 

sweet and very talented Karen.

you can click on either link to pay her a visit:)

yes girls, we have the barn chicks to blame for me DESPERATELY

wanting one of you to get married in a barn.

don't hate me......it'll be SPECTACULAR!

a few favorite images from PINTEREST...

a pretty hydrangea wreath on a chippy frame......love CHIPPY anything!

frozen cookies and cream hot cocoa...

these ADORABLE silhouette tags.

 you will not BELIEVE how many free printables you'll find on this site...

everything etsy.

it's no secret what i think about facebook...even if i end up back there for

reasons out of my control...i still think THIS...

 hahahahahahaha...come on!  

you KNOW it's true!!!:)

somebody pinned this quote and i was so HAPPY to see it...

 yes virginia...there ARE still a few nice girls in the world.

my last favorite is of a beautiful photo that i "picnik'd"

with one of my favorite quotes.

 hope you like it too!

XOXOXOXO
Suzanne