Chocolate Cupcake, Blog Hop, and Fabulous Blog Hop Candy

Wow, what a great Monday morning! 

First - it is the monthly BBTB2 Design Team Blog Hop!  That means you probably arrived here from BBTB2.  The featured cut this week is one of the cupcakes from the Celebrations cartridge.  I cut my cupcake in chocolate brown paper with pink frosting and gem flower sprinkles.  I then added a birthday hat, a scalloped card front and a Happy Birthday tag made with Stampin' Up stamps and Spellbinders oval nesties to create this girly birthday card.  I topped the birthday hat off with a lovely prima flower and a larger gem flower and trimmed both the hat and the cupcake wrapper with Making Memories ribbon

In addition to the blog hop, we have a lot going on at BBTB2.  BBTB2 has a blog hop give away which is being sponsored by Everyday Cricut (formerly known as Holiday with the Cricut).  You can win the Sweethearts cartridge and package of SEI (Happy Day) scrap paper.  All you have to do to be eligible to win is leave a comment on BBTB2 blog AND sign up to follow the BBTB2 blog.  How easy is that?

I too have a fabulous blog hop give away/blog candy.  Custom Crops is sponsoring me this week with a $25.00 gift voucher for their store.  Just leave a comment below and I will select a winner for the gift voucher on Thursday, March 4th.  Thank you so much Custom Crops for sponsoring my prize this month!

After you leave your comment below you (because YOU KNOW you want the $25.00 gift voucher) you will continue on the BBTB2 design team blog hop.  Your next stop is at Lori's blog.  Lori is a very talented designer and I know you are going to love what she has made to share.  Happy Hopping!!

Hop for Joy! A new Magnolia-licious DT sketch challenge

Good morning and happy March 1st....the month that has the first day of spring! YAY! LOL! We have a new DT sketch challenge for you from Magnolia-licious. This month, it's Jacque's turn to choose the challenge and she provided us with an awesome sketch! I wanted to use this adorable Tilda in a bunny suit that I got from Magnolia-licious. And true to my record, I have used yet another stamp that is not in stock in the store. UGH! I'm so sorry. But if you're interested, please be sure and email Diana. I also used #427 flowers from Lazy Summer Days collection. Both are colored with Copic markers and Tilda is cut out and popped up for dimension.

The fun and punny sentiment is from a set of Easter Greetings at The Cutting Cafe' called Happy Easter Inside and Out Greetings. The butterflies are cut using my Cricut, and I added a Prima rose I got from Stamp and Create and some cherry blossoms I got from Wild Orchid Crafts. Please be sure and visit Magnolia-licious Highlites to see the gorgeous cards the rest of my design team sisters have created. They are all so fabulously talented. And we're excited that we've got two new guest designers joining us as well! So a huge welcome to Mindy and Angela!

That's it for today! Thanks so much for stopping by to see me today, and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!!

Card recipe:

images - Magnolia from Magnolia-licious, sentiment from The Cutting Cafe'

Paper: DP - Basic Grey Two Scoops; cardstock - Bazzill; stamped images on cryogen white

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Sketch markers

Tools: Cricut with Tear Drop cart for butterlfies, MS frond and branch punches, Round and scalloped round Nestabilities

Misc: ribbon from Stamp and Create, Kaiser half backed pearls, dimensional tape, stickles

Jenn and Clay...... Say What?!

A lovely note and a fun card from my friends Jenn and Clay.

We have the most thoughtful clients!

Flavor-of-the-Month . . . Chocolate Raspberry Truffles

Until I was in my 20's, I'd never eaten a truffle. Sure, I'd had chocolate from the box of Russell Stover's, but truffles, no.


Enter my brilliant Aunt Janice who treated me to my first truffle, a Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, at Godiva on a visit to New York City. It was pure heaven...the crisp outer shell, the dark, rich center, the slight tang of raspberry. I believe there were angels singing.

Since I had this raspberry sauce on hand, I decided to try making them myself. You know what? They are pretty delicious.



Chocolate Raspberry Truffles

8 oz. bittersweet chocolate
1/2 c. heavy cream
2 TBSP raspberry sauce
1 bag dark chocolate candy melts
sanding sugar (optional)


Chop the chocolate and place in a bowl. Bring the cream to a simmer on the stove and pour over the chocolate.



Let sit 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Stir in the raspberry sauce.

Let this mixture sit at room temperature for an hour or more until set. (I poured it into a shallow baking dish to help cool it down faster.)


Scoop into balls using a melon baller or a spoon and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. (I watched Ina do this on TV and get perfectly round ball....that didn't happen for me. I got this: )

{not pretty.}

If that happens to you, pop them in the fridge, then remove after 15 minutes and shape into balls. (I had better luck pressing them together, rather than rolling them.)

{much better. }

Refrigerate the truffles until ready to coat.

(You can skip the next step entirely and roll the truffles in cocoa powder, or...)

In the microwave, melt the candy melts with 1 tsp shortening. Melt in 30 second intervals on 50% power, stirring after every cycle until melted.

Dip the truffles into the candy melts and place on the wax paper lined sheet. While the candy melts are still wet, sprinkle with sanding sugar.




Now, I know it is like a sacrilege to use candy melts to coat real chocolate, but I wanted that hard outer shell and haven't been brave enough to try my hand at tempering chocolate. Anyone tried it?



Do you have a chocolate post to link up? I can't wait to see! Link up a the the bottom of the post. Please remember to link to your POST, not the main page of you blog.

Thanks so much for playing along with Flavor-of-the-Month. I've heard from several of you that FOTM sneaks up on you and sends you into a mad panic at the end of each month. You know what, it does to me too, most months. I always meant it to be *fun* not stressful, SOOOOO...this is the last Flavor-of-the-Month. (I think chocolate is a good way to go out, don't you?)

It will be replaced with impromptu linky parties now and again. I might say..."What's the best thing you've baked this month?" and ask you link up. I'll be sure to announce those on twitter, too, so if you're not there, come join the fun!

Alright, ladies & gents....link away!!! {Linky will be open through March 2nd.}

♥ (HELP) which one a better foundation? ♥

I almost ran out of make up foundation & getting a new one soon.
but I wanna try something new~~ but still not sure what brand should I get?
I have been using Liquid MAC Mineralize Satinfinish Foundation foreveeer now.
I like them especially the yellow undertone color on me but I'm still not 100% perfectly satisfied with the results. :(

I have tried Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation.
But I HATE the color on me. It makes my face looks a bit pale & the pinkish undertone is deff not my favorite. :(
I got them in Medium Ivory, it was probably either too fair or too dark for me.

I have also try CLINIQUE Perfectly Real Makeup in True Beige but I also hate the color on me.
It was again, either too fair or too dark for me. :(

I'm looking for my holy grail foundation. 
I have a very dry skin, I don't have many acnes so I don't really need a full coverage but I do have a bit pores & bit of imperfection this and there so I still want the medium coverage with a natural look.
I'd love to get the luminous dewy flawless kind of result. 
It's one of the most important standard for my HG foundation other than finding the perfect color.
I also need to find a perfect color foundation, so far NC35 is the colosest to perfect I've ever got.
I don't like the pinkish color undertone, I like yellow undertone better. But of course not too yellow.

soooo please, anybody, help me to find my HG foundation??


I've been thinking of getting any of this..

Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturizing Foundation

I'm interested because the foundation supposedly gives a luminous glowing result & moisturize my skin in the same time. It also have the anti-aging formula. The color result suppose to look very natural or sheer coverage that won't makes my face looks 'cakey'.

Should I get this??

 

Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation

the 'holy grail' foundation for many people. but is it really worth it? 

It's really expensive though, almost double price more than MAC! :(

but if its really that good, I would buy them for the quality.

this foundation promise to gives a 'dewy' result, that's why I'm interested in it.

Should I get this??

Make Up For Ever HD Foundation

one the most popular foundation out there.

should I get this??

or if you have a more better suggestion. I'd love to know.

thankssss~~ ^^

love.love ♥♥

Out of Order for the Week

I needed a big sign hanging on over my shoulders this week which read: "OUT OF ORDER".  No that is not a Robert's Rules of Order reference, but rather the state of my existance.  I had a rather unpleasant stomach virus.  I finally turned the corner yesterday and was feeling better, that is until dinner tonight.  I think I over estimated my ability to handle "real food". 

I was on the BRAT diet for a few days, but last night I decided I could have a light meal.  The light meal went so well that I over reached tonight.  Now my stomach is not happy with me, nor I with it!

I really am sharing so that you might understand where I have been this week.  I will return early, early Monday morning with my BBTB2 project, AND the blog hop, AND a nice sponsored prize.  So visit me again on Monday and in the meantime, try to avoid the germs that are floating about this winter!

Not wanting to post an "empty" entry, I am sharing photographs of Sheldon Church Ruins (originally named "Church of Prince William's Parish"), a magical place in the southern part of the state, near the ocean.  The church was burned down twice and was not rebuilt the last time.  The first time it was burned by the British in the Revolutionary War; the second time it was burned by Gen. Sherman's forces as they marched though during the Civil War.  Such a beautiful place to have such a sad history.

April Showers bring May Flowers. Peggy Loves Vintage with The Cutting Cafe'

Happy Saturday everyone! Hope you're having a wonderful weekend. We had a rainy day today, which is wonderful. I love rainy days. Now please understand that I also live Reno, which is high altitude desert. So we just don't get rainy days. We get good snowy days, but rain storms are far and few between. So when we get one, I love it. Ok, enough about the weather! :) Let's move on to this adorable duck and baby from Peggy Loves Vintage! This image is actually from the New Baby Volume 2 cd. Be sure and really look at the images on Peggy's CDs with an open mind. They can be used for so many different things. I cut the image from the front of a baby shower card, because I thought they'd make the most adorable card to celebrate Spring.

I printed out two of the images because I wanted to pop up Mama Duck, baby duck, and the top part of the umbrella. I just used some dimensional tape to pop them up. Hopefully you can see the dimension a little better in the picture below. Please visit Peggy's blog too. She's got a couple great images she's giving away right now. Please be sure and leave her some love and let her know which image you like best. She'd also love it if you'd link up your project you made.

I mounted this adorable duck and baby on a FABULOUS scalloped square from The Cutting Cafe'! I don't know if you've seen the new large scalloped square from Spellbinders, and I also know I don't have to tell you how spendy they are. You can get the Assorted Scalloped Set 1 file from The Cutting Cafe', which has quite a few different type of scallops on it, for a grand total of $5.99, and you can make it any size you want with the click of your mouse!!! Easy peasy! You can either use the wpc file to cut it out with a cutting machine, or you can use the pdf file and your scissors. I truly LOVE this file of scallops! I cut mine out with my Pazzle Inspiration which I got from Hallmark Scrapbook! Hallmark is one of my favorite stores to shop at on line. Jody and Brad are the most wonderful people! They have the best prices and service ever! I also used the Rain, Rain, Go Away file for the sentiment. Regina has been releasing lots of new files, so please be sure and check them out over at The Cutting Cafe'!!

Thanks so much for stopping to see me today, and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!

Card Recipe:

Image - Peggy Loves Vintage New Baby Volume 2 cd; Sentiment and scalloped frame - The Cutting Cafe'

DP - DCWV Whimsy stack; cardstock - Bazzill

Tools - Pazzle Inspiration, EK Success flower punch, Circle Nesatabilites for sentiment

Misc: buttons - stash, silk ribbon, Kaiser half backed pearls, dimensional tape

Inspiration from Emily + Juaquin

I love how Emily had her bridesmaids wear the same dress but in three different colors, very fun! They had a beautiful August wedding, and the pictures to prove it....

Bertoia, oh Bertoia...

The Bertoia Side Chair has been on my mind a lot lately; my friend and client has been enamored with this chair for a while, and as we have been planning for new chairs in her kitchen, naturally, we keep coming back to the Bertoia. I love the chair too for its modern classic appeal and chameleon-like ability to suit any environment where it is placed.

Domino


L: Canadian House & Home. R: Domino


Style at Home
I know this image has been all around the blogosphere as of late, but obviously with just cause; I can't begin to tell you how head-over-heels I am for this space!


Domino


Coastal Living via In(side) the Loop

Meyer Davis Studio

I'm not sure how it is already Friday again, and while my weekend will involve some work, I am hoping to find some time to unwind and I plan to enjoy the last few days of the Olympics too! Whatever you are up to this weekend, I hope you have a great one!

A Moment with Melissa

One of the opening lines of the movie "Goodfellas" is "As far back as I can remember, I've always wanted to be a gangster". Replace gangster with photographer and you have me! As far back as I can remember I've always loved taking pictures.

I thought I'd take this opportunity to show you some old photos that in a way shaped who I am today. They are all old and scanned into the computer so please excuse the quality.

The first camera I got was a Kodak Disc Film Camera. I saved up my money to get it in 1983. I started taking still life of my toys. Here is one of my 1000 piece E.T. puzzle and one of my Garfield, Annie and unicorn stuffed animal...

A photographer is born!

After that I know you're all thinking "I need to hire Melissa to do my wedding!" BUT WAIT! There's more...

I started getting creative with the kids in the neighborhood. I was trying to take wacky photos and play tricks on the eyes. Like this one for example! Who is upside down and who is right side up? I was a thinking man's photographer...

This one really makes me laugh! I mean these girls must have thought I was nuts! I told them to tilt their heads but then I tilted the camera so in the actual picture the heads are straight! Brilliant, right!? This will have to be "my move" next wedding season... Just kidding!

Around freshman year of high school I discovered black and white film! The picture below is not a good picture, but at the time it was a huge turning point in my life. Written next to this photo in my album is "Photography begins". Something clicked when I took it. I started to think maybe photography could be an art for me instead of something silly.

I decided to approach the yearbook advisor about becoming the student photographer. She was hesitant because I was young and usually they didn't have student photogs. She gave me one roll of film and sent me to a football game.

Here was my favorite picture of the day. Again it's really not that good, but I loved it! I thought she looked so happy and natural.

When the film came back I went to see the advisor. She said "Looks like we have ourselves a budding photographer." Can't tell you how proud I was! Here I am sorting through photos at 14! You know you love my hair!

Here is a photo of my parents. It's one of those photos that will always be special to me. I think a lot of the photos I've taken over the years have meant a lot to my family. I took this with my first "real camera". My dad bought it for me from a classified ad in the newspaper. Thanks, Dad!

Here's another day or roll of film that will always mean a lot to me. My friends and I skipped school one day in senior year. I took so many great pictures of my friends that day. Here is one. It was the 90's and we were SO "alternative"

When I got the photos back from this day my friends went crazy for them! I had to make copies for everyone. To this day they all remember these pictures and this day. One of the biggest reasons that I love photography is it gives me the chance to give people beautiful memories. That plays into my personal and professional life now. I do it when I take a picture of my daughter and when I go to shoot a wedding. It's an amazing feeling and one of the many reasons I love my job!!