happy 30th jeff; handmade pac-man birthday card

Jeff's birthday is this week and I am having fun preparing to celebrate his 30th with him. I usually make cards for him because he goes crazy over them, and I love that! This birthday I am doing a 80's theme for him, and he's a video game nut, so a Pac-Man card is perfect! 

I used my ipad that Jeff gave me for my 30th, to remember what the Pac-Man board looked like. I painted the 4th board of the game:)

I used watercolors to paint the card.

Front of the card.

Inside of the card. Yes, I am a cheeseball! :)

I will share more details of Jeff's 30th in upcoming posts! Stay tuned... xo Lizzie

Fun Facts

- Pac-Man was first released May 22,1980

- Pac-Man is 1 of only 3 video games on display at the Smithsonian.

- Ms. Pac-Man was an unauthorized sequel released in 1981

- The game was originally called Puck-Man until manufacturer Midway changed the game's name to Pac-Man.

jersey love: jersey tomatoes & a twist on a classic cocktail

I Heart New Jersey!

It's Jersey tomato time! We have lot of them, fresh from the garden over here at our house!

Yum!

BLT made with Jersey tomatoes for lunch. And tonight we will enjoy the tomatoes with fresh mozzarella!

And now to make my "New Jersey Iced Tea"...

It's the Long Island's sweeter, cooler cousin!

Make your basic Long Island Iced Tea, without ice and then top it off with Lemon Italian Ice!

I painted NJ and the Italian flag with water colors and stuck them into the Italian Ice. The ice floats so they make a nice finishing touch.

I'm sipping and fist pumping... Cheers to New Jersey! xo Lizzie

superheavy releases their first music video

Since hearing that two of my music favorites (Joss Stone & Mick Jagger) were forming a new music group, Superheavy, I have been anxiously waiting to hear what kind of music this talented hybrid would produce. Well my wait has ended! I am happy to share with you the new music video, from Superheavy, "Miracle Worker".

click here to see "Miracle Worker" by Superheavy!

photo by Frank W. Ockenfels 3

take a moment tuesday; gelato & a small bouquet

Ciao Bella!

I am a fan of Ciao Bella gelato. They have great flavors, perfect chewy, creamy texture and colorful fun pints. My favorite flavor of their's is malted milk ball. They just came out with a line of gelato sandwiches so of course I had to try them and they didn't disappoint! 

It was good! 

Tiny vintage Bromo-Seltzer bottle that I purchased at a flea market this weekend- cost me almost nothing.

Lilies I cut this morning.

Colorful ribbon.

"I hate flowers. I only paint them because they're cheaper than models and they don't move.” - georgia o'keefe

"The earth laughs in flowers." - e.e. cummings

liquid sunshine; pineapple mango coconut smoothies

I love making smoothies, it's kinda "my thing". In the words of  Will Smith's character in Enemy of the State, "Some people meditate, some people get massages, I blend."

I don't measure ingredients when I make smoothies I just add flavors that I think would complement each other and taste it throughout the process.

There are a few tips I can give. I do not like using too much ice, so I freeze my fruit ahead of time and it makes for a thicker icy smoothie. Add a little of the liquid at a time because its easier to add liquid than it is to remove it. And instead of water try using something that will add another layer of flavor (juice, almond milk, coconut water).

Ingredients

Mango

Pineapple

Coconut Water (can use coconut milk if you want more coconut flavor & sweetness)

Coconut (to toast for garnish)

Allspice (just a dash)

Ice

I am soaking up the sun and this beautiful Saturday! Enjoy yours! xo Lizzie

maybelline celebrates 40th anniversary of great lash mascara

This past Monday, Maybelline announced that great lash has partnered with fashion designers to create limited edition tubes of their Great Lash Mascara in honor of the product's 40th anniversary. The tube was originally designed by then up and coming designer Lilly Pulitzer back in 1971.


Enlisted designers Tracy Reese, Max Azria and Viviene Tam (she collaborated with HP back in 2008 on a mini laptop) revamped the tubes with their own designs;  a graphic floral print, a black lace design and the Chinese symbol for "lash", respectively.


The tubes will be sold exclusively at Target for $6.99 starting in September.

photo courtesy of Maybelline New York

take a moment tuesday; diy creamsicle bath salts

Business is really picking up for me, which is awesome! I am bending wire for hangers as fast as my little fingers can. It's making my muscles sore from  having to muscle & manipulate the wire into place! Nothing a little break and a hot bath with homemade bath salt can't cure! 

Ingredients:

4 cups Epsom salt 

(you could substitute a cup and a half of another salt but Epsom salt is great for sore muscles and is my favorite. If you want to put another salt in yours I recommend Himalaya Pink Sea Salt its really pretty or use another sea salt)

1/2 tsp liquid glycerine (this is at most pharmacys, if they do not have it then try a supermarket or baking supply store.)

Essential oils or extract of your choice (I used Vanilla and Orange extract)

After I mixed the glycerine and the salt together I divided the mixture into 2 bowls.I put the orange extract in one bowl and added a tiny bit of orange food coloring (don't add too much!). And in the second bowl I added the vanilla extract. So I have a bowl of cream and a bowl of orange!

I use canning jars to hold the finished bath salt. Makes a for nice presentation if you use them as favors or gifts and they come in different sizes.

Alternate the two colors when filling the jars, so it has a swirl effect.

I used water colors, heavy card stock paper and a Popsicle stick to make a creamsicle tag. I made a basic plaid pattern to cut out for the lids of the jars.

Creamsicle Bath Soak

These make great gifts and inexpensive party favors for bridal & baby showers. They smell awesome and it's great to actually know what exactly is in the bath salt in your bath water!

Take a few minutes for yourself today! Soak it up! xo Lizzie