Wordless Wednesday

What is that big white thing???

I actually have been tagged by Mandy of Adventures of a Millennium Mom. My task was to select the 4th folder of my saved pictures and pick the 4th picture. We have thousands of pictures and just a handful of my husband's pictures, so this is why it is ironic. Hubby has a car collection and this is his 1995 Full Size Bronco and guess what it is for SALE! It really is very nice and is in excellent condition we just have too many cars and need some space!!! I find this funny since I keep asking him when it is going to be sold!!!

I now have the pleasure of tagging 4 bloggers if you chose to select the challenge it is easy!

Firefly
Angie of My Pretty Purse
Stacy's Random Thoughts
Tena of Punky Monkey's


P.S. Seriously if you know of someone who would like a 1995 Ford Bronco please email me klacustomcreations@comcast.net

Featured Reader: Let me introduce you to......

Happy Monday friends! I hope everyone had a great holiday! We had a great holiday. I was (am) sick and now Will is sick, but besides that we all enjoyed spending time with family. Will loved every single one of his presents! It is nice to slow down a bit and just do a bit of nothing. We all deserve to relax a bit.

I am excited to introduce you to Toni of A Daily Dose of Toni. Toni and I have so much in common! Toni loves shoes, loves to shop and loves to blog. The perfect trio shoes, shopping and blogging! Toni has a lot to offer at her blog: cool product reviews, giveaways and a daily dose of funny. Toni is very funny and you are sure to just love her blog. Grab a cup of joe and get to know my friend Toni.


Name:

My name is Toni and my main blog name is A Daily Dose of Toni Yeah I didn't venture out in the originality department but I think it's catchy. I also have another blog that is all about my children, 2 Boys 1 Princess

Family:

I am happily married and a mom to 3 lovely children. Gabriel (9), Aidan (5), and Bella (3)




How did you start blogging?

I actually just started blogging to have a place to go and ramble, it started more about my kids and their going ons than anything then it turned into a place about everything. Well my mom wasn't too interested in the giveaways, ramblings and reviews so that is when 2 boys 1 princess was born that way she didn't have to wade through all the posts to find one about her grandchildren LOL.

If you are a parent do you have a parenting philosophy?

To raise your children to respect you and others, teach them they should treat others how they want to be treated. Always do your best and then you know you have given it your all. Be an example for them to follow in everything you do.

You will never find me without......

My iPhone or MomAgenda

Day job:

I am a SAHM I clean messes, cook lunches, play games and comfort my kids. I am a nurse, chef, housekeeper, finance manager, nanny all rolled into one.

Favorite Stuff:

Music: I love all the old time 50's music, I love worship music and even pop and rap. Pretty much anything that has a beat I love.

Food: Sushi hands down is my favorite thing to eat, followed closely with my grandmothers homemade italian cookies

Tv/ Movies: Oh gosh this would be a never ending list if I told you all of them but to name a few t.v. shows I love all reality shows, Law and Order, private Practice, True Blood, Desperate Housewives oh but there are plenty more. As for movies Dirty Dancing and Center Stage are my top picks!

Reading: The Shopaholic Series, Twilight Series are top on my list.

If you had to wear a T-shirt with your favorite saying on it what would it be?

" People who don't support peace are usually the cause of drama" or "Dance like there is no one watching, be free to be you"

Favorite stores to shop at:

Charlotte Rousse, Dillards, Mason's (a local boutique), anywhere really that has awesome purses and shoes

Other Good stuff from Toni:

I just want to say I think blogging is such a fun way to get to know others. It is a way to let other people in and get to know you. Be true to who you are and that is what will win out in the end, no matter how tough times may get trust yourself and know when you are doing the right thing, things will always work out.

A special thank you to Toni for allowing us to get to know her. Be sure to give Toni some comment love!

If you would like to be featured at my site please send me an email at klacustomcreations@comcast.net

Happy Monday!

Feel Good Sunday: Love, Love, Love my boys!

Product Junkie Approved: Sheer, Shimmer.....

I never leave home with out my Aveda Lip Tint in Peony! What I love about this product is that it is like a chap stick but has a bit of shimmer. I always like to have a bit of color on my lips and sometimes it just isn't practical to pull out a tube of lip stick when you are out and about. I also sometimes use this as a base under my lip stick or lip gloss. I love that I can apply it with out a mirror and it still looks fabulous. It is available in many shades, has sunscreen and is loaded with fabulous ingredients.

Do you have a favorite lip product that the Product Junkie should check out?

Fashion Friday: Cocktail anyone?

You are invited! by klacustomcreations


I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas! Every year it always amazes me how it is all over in a day, so much build up and then it is over! Will loved his presents and was so excited today to wake up and play with them. If you would like to read the rest of my article on cocktail attire please visit Beautiful Fabulous. I will share some family holiday pics soon!

A Very Merry Christmas!!!!!

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas!!!!

Stick a fork in it.....

I am done w/ orders! I had a few last minute orders for local customers and several pieces of jewelry I was making for gifts. I am pleased to say I am done, hooray! I am looking forward to some time to relax and some extra snuggles with my little guy, but he was kind enough to give me a snuggle in this picture! Hubby was off on Monday and did the grocery shopping for me. He tried picking up our ham at Dearborn Sausage Company, but the police were directing traffic so he decided to pick it up at the grocery store, and he picked up the ingredients for our favorite Christmas Day breakfast. I hope you enjoy the recipe, it is from Martha Stewart from a few years ago, she made it w/ Roger Bart from Desperate Housewives (the crazy doctor that had a thing for Bree. Enjoy!

Cheese Strata With Roger Bart

Serves 6

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more softened, for baking dish

8 slices Pain De Siegle or sourdough bread

1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

1 1/2 cups swiss cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

4 large eggs

2 cups milk

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon coarse salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1. Butter an 8-inch square baking dish; line bottom w/ 4 slices bread. Sprinkle with half of each cheese. Top w/ chives. Layer with remaining bread and cheese.

2. Whisk together eggs, milk, melted butter, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Pour mixture into baking dish. Cover; refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.

3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake strata until puffed golden, one hour, to one hour and 15 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Featured Reader: Let me introduce you to...

Happy Monday friends! We are just days away from Christmas and today is the first day of Hanukkah. Happy Hanukkah to my friends kicking off their celebration!

I am excited to introduce you to Jill of Scary Mommy. I met Jill at a social network (I know aren't I social but it is where I meet so many fabulous friends) but also have to admit her cool blog buttons that she designs grabbed me; the blogaholic one is so me. Jill is a busy mom of 3 young kids and has such hilarious posts about the every day things we all experience as parents. I know when I visit her site I will surely receive a laugh but also something heartfelt.

Grab your beverage of choice, relax and get to know my friend Jill. If you would like to be a featured reader please email me at klacustomcreations@comcast.net, don't forget you have a chance to win a free piece of jewelry. Renee from Cutie Booty Cakes will soon be sporting her very own custom piece.


Name: Jill, aka Scary Mommy






Your family:

I've been married to my husband, Jeff for 8 years. We are parents to Lily, 4.5, Ben, 2.5 and Evan, 1.

How did you start blogging?

A friend of mine had a blog and I thought it would be cool to have a sort of virtual baby book for my kids. I never imagined how much I would enjoy writing or all the great friends I would make.

If you are a parent do you have a parenting philosophy?

Not to take it too seriously and to enjoy every moment. It all goes by way too fast and I don't ever want to feel like I missed out on a thing.

You will never find me without...... My iPhone, a Diet Snapple and my eleven month old.

Day job:

Running around after my children, cooking, cleaning, blogging, and working harder than I ever did outside of the house. (Jill also makes really cool blog buttons like the below blogaholic one that I snagged, you can pick one up at Scary Mom Creations for FREE!!!

Favorite Stuff:

Music: Anything from the 80s. Especially the really cheesy stuff.

Food: Thai. I could eat it for every meal and never tire of it.

TV: How I Met Your Mother, Top Chef, The Comeback

Movies: Defending Your Life, Chances Are, Flirting with Disaster

Reading: Who has time to read? I blog.8.

If you had to wear a T-shirt with your favorite saying on it what would it be? Scary Mommy, of course!

Favorite stores to shop at:

These days, Target. I am trying to make an effort to support small business owners, but I do love the Dollar Tree!

Please be sure to visit both of Jill's sites, Scary Mommy and Scary Mommy Creations
and be sure to leave Jill some comment love, oh heck leave me comment love too!

Feel Good Sunday: Let it snow!!

We had about 8 inches of snow and boy did Will have a blast helping his Dad clean it all up.

Let it snow (as long as I don't have to drive in it!)

Product Junkie Approved: The Perfect Pink!

Now that the holiday's are fast approaching it is time to get our nails looking pretty! I tend to always prefer neutral shades for my fingernails and I usually go for a neutral pink. I have tried my share of different pinks. I find I always come back to my favorite, the Essie Mademoiselle Nail Polish. The Essie Mademoiselle is a sheer pink, that is very neutral and and very flattering. The Mademoiselle also looks fabulous with a French Manicure.

Do you have a favorite nail polish color or favorite brand?

Photo courtesy of Beautysak.com.

Fashion Friday: BeDazzle your jeans!!!

Glam up your jeans! by klacustomcreations

I had you for a minute didn't I? Well what I really meant to say is glam up your jeans. With the holiday's here we need to put together our perfect outfit. I love to dress up my favorite jeans with a few accessories. All you need to do is add a fabulous blazer, some hot boots, a great necklace (a necklace from Kristen's Custom Creations could rock this outfit) and a great clutch and you are ready to rock your holiday out! If you would like to read the entire article please visit Beautiful! Fabulous! where my fashion articles are featured weekly.

Thousand Words Thursday: A boy and his nutcrackers

Well actually they are my nutcrackers! At last count I have 17 nutcrackers on my mantel. I collect nutcrackers, I guess you figured that out. I performed in the Nutcracker from childhood and well into being an adult. I was just about every character. I never understood why a child would receive a gift of a nutcracker but Will is obsessed with my nutcrackers. He will play with them on and off all day and has given them names, and BUTTCRACKER is one of them. At least Will can rhyme! He did ask me why the ballerina one has her nutcracker on her boobs and isn't like the other ones. Will is giving the nutcrackers a big hug in the above picture, I can't believe I let him play with them. Jenni over at Jiggety Jigg doesn't like nutcrackers, you can find out why here.

What would Christmas be with out a Lighting McQueen ornament?

What do you collect and why?

Wordless Wednesday: One of Santa's Reindeers

Good thing he really isn't one of Santa's reindeer's, Kane is one of the laziest dogs on the planet!

Featured Reader Winner!!!!

For anyone that is new to my site, each week I feature one of my fabulous readers. My featured readers have a chance to win one of my hand stamped necklaces by participating and doing a few fun things! A winner is drawn every four features. I am very excited to announce that the winner for this round is:

Renee from Cutie Booty Cakes! Congratulations Renee, please email me and let me know which necklace you would like. I think you posted that this is the one you like:

If you would like to be featured please email me at klacustomcreations@comcast.net, I am lining up my Featured Reader's for January 2009!

A date with my guy....

The last few weeks have been so crazy busy filling customers orders and trying to occupy Will while doing it. I have to say what kept me going was my coffee date with my little guy. Every other day we made a run to Starbucks (the chocolate milk store as Will calls it) We both have our favorite drinks, mine is the Peppermint Mocha Twist and Will's usual is the Horizon Chocolate milk. Thank you to Starbucks for making such yummy drinks and for allowing for some fabulous people watching.

I have a few items still available in my shop that are ready to ship. One of the Hot sellers was the "Dad" keychain. I made a few extras for last minute shoppers so if you would like to purchase one you can pick it up here.

What is your favorite place to visit when you need a quick break or a recharge? Or tell me your favorite Starbuck's drink, I told you mine!

P.S. I am sorry I haven't visited as much as usual, but after this week things should slow down and I will be albe to visit all of my bloggy friends!

P.S.S. I am announcing the winner of the Featured Reader contest later today, be sure to check back. I am also looking for new Featured Readers for 2009.

Featured Reader: Let me introduce you to....

Happy Monday friends! This past weekend was all work and no play making more jewelry than you can imagine! A special thank you to my blog friends who have made holiday purchases, your orders are being shipped today!!! (My little elf's helped too... Hubby kept Will very busy this weekend)

If you would like to be a Featured Reader please send me a message at klacustomcreations@comcast.net

On to the favorite part of my week, I have the pleasure of introducing you to my crafty blog friend Mary Lea of Pink and Green Mama. MaryLea is so darn crafty, you have to check out all of the cool things she does with her kiddos. Mary Lea's girls must have so much fun, as a kid I loved doing crafts more than anything. Grab a beverage of choice, sit back and get to know Pink and Green Mama.

Name:

MaryLea a.k.a. Pink and Green Mama

Family:

Fantastic Best Friend of a Husband, we’ve been together for 13 years, married for 10. He’s a cancer survivor (brain tumor) of 13 years. Beautiful and Hilarious little girls, The Frog Princess age 5 1/2 and Mini-Saurus 20 months old.

How did you start blogging?

I started this September on my oldest daughter’s first day of Kindergarten. I thought we could start a new adventure together.

If you are a parent do you have a parenting philosophy?

My parenting philosophy is... Do what works for your family. Be in the moment. Tune into your children, love them unconditionally, admit to your mistakes, do the best that you can. Make art every day. Have kid zones where your kids can get into everything and explore without getting into trouble (but also leave some areas of your home “grown up” it doesn’t have to look like a day care center.) Laugh every day. Enjoy the little things and don’t sweat the big stuff.

You will never find me without......

My wedding rings...they won’t go past my knuckle so I guess they’ll have to be cut off someday.
Other parts of my daily life: Fall-Winter jeans, layers, pony tail holder (if my hair’s not already in a pony tail I need to have the option to pull it back) chapstick or lipstick. Summer: tank tops, capris or tennis skirts, sun glasses as a headband, flip flops.

Day job:

Stay at home mom, Artist, Wife, Housekeeper, Waste Manager, Cook, Chauffeur, Family Paramedic, Environmentalist, Zoo Keeper, Free-Cycler, Blogger of Pink and Green Mama, Scrapbooker, Creative Memories consultant my site , Classroom Helper, Art in the Schools Docent. I also sell some of my work at my Pink and Green Mama Shop

Favorite Stuff:

Music:


Everything! Black Eyed Peas, Cold Play, The Police, Dave Matthews, Alanis Morisette, OK Go, Jack Johnson, Keane, Fall Out Boy, Depeche Mode, Weird Al Yankovic, Maroon 5, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Sheryl Crow.

Food:

Salad. Chocolate Chip Cookies. Apples. Mexican and Italian food.

Tv/ Movies:

I keep my TiVo happy: Project Runway, Oprah, The Shield, Rescue Me, 30 Rock, Grey’s Anatomy, Jon and Kate plus 8, The Office. Favorite movies include The Shawshank Redemption, Training Day, Steel Magnolias, anything with Mark Wahlberg (my back-up husband)

Reading:

Favorite book: The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.. Also love Jodie Piccoult (all of them), The Twilight Series, Catherine Newman’s Waiting for Birdy and a healthy but ridiculous Magazine addiction.

If you had to wear a T-shirt with your favorite saying on it what would it be?

I own and wear my 4 favorite shirts regularly: “Obama 2008”, “Green Is Groovy”, “Mom Juice” pink with a wine glass, and “Carpool Fuel” chocolate brown with a small coffee cup.

Favorite stores to shop at:

Michaels, Target, Thrift Shop, Whole Foods, H&M, World Market.

Other Good Stuff from Pink and Green Mama:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. My family supports a single mother and her son through a non-profit charity called the Box Project. We send a box every month and exchange letters and photos. I highly recommend it as a way to make a difference in the world and personally help someone in need. Please visit The Box Project

A special thank you to MaryLea, please be sure to visit Pink and Green Mama's site.

Please be sure to come back in the coming weeks to meet:

Jill of Scary Mommy

Toni of a Daily Dose of Toni

Feel Good Sunday: Life is a gift!

There is no gift greater than the gift of life! We all need to be reminded of this from time to time. The hand stamped "Life is a gift" necklace is available and ready to ship for holiday gift giving. Click here to purchase.

Product Junkie Approved: Simply Smashing

Have you tried Smashbox Lip glosses? I am a sucker for kits and usually only like one item out of a set. I must say, I am never disappointed with a set of Smashbox lip glosses. This set is only $29 and you get 6 lip glosses and I have to say I love every color. You can pick up your own set here .

Do you have a favorite lip product that the Product Junkie should know about?

Who Me? A Top Blogger You Should Know!

Visit Mom Bloggers Club


One of my favorite social networks to hang out at is Mom Bloggers Club. I have met some of my best bloggy friends at this fab site. I was so excited to discover that I am listed as one of the Top 10 Mom Bloggers Club Members You Should Know and this is out of almost 2500 members!

Mom Bloggers Club is a fabulous site that supports Mom Blogger's across the blogosphere, there are many groups to join and always great forum topics. Jennifer James who runs the site is very friendly and involved on regular basis, which I think is one of the aspects that makes the site so wonderful.

You can check out the other Top Bloggers HERE!

Fashion Friday: Fab Cashmere Finds!

The Allure of Cashmere by klacustomcreations

Did you know that Cashmere comes from the under-belly of a goat? Did you also know that you no longer need to spend your child's college fund to be able to afford a beautiful cashmere sweater! Would you like to learn more about how to pick high quality cashmere? Please read my article featured at Beautiful! Fabulous!

Go Elf Yourself! How Fun is this???

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Thousand Words Thursday

We took Will to the movie theater for the first time, and to make it even better his first expereince was at a IMAX theater. We saw Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa, and he did really good. An hour into the movie he asked when it was going to be over. The IMAX is connected to The Henry Ford, which is a fabulous museum, it was all decked out for the holidays, we even got our picture taken for free, too bad we weren't dressed for he occasion. Will didn't want to see Santa, he said Santa is just too scary, maybe next year!

Would you like to participate in Thousand Words Thursday head on over to:

Ready To Ship Items In My Shop....

Need some stocking stuffers? These are just a few necklaces that are ready to ship and are available in my shop, Kristen's Custom Creations. A special thank you to my customers, I am very busy filling orders and custom orders will only be available for a few more days. If you would like a custom order please contact me ASAP, klacustomcreations@comcast.net

Wordless Wednesday

A Bit of This and That....

We have been busy working on some holiday shopping, so far we did pick up some dog bones for Kane. Check out Will's cart, he kept finding fab items for Kane.

I had the pleasure of spending 2 hours yesterday on the phone with Comcast, since I discovered that about half of my customers haven't been receiving my emails and I haven't been receiving theirs. My tech support guy kept saying, "This is strange" that isn't what you want to hear! It does seem to be fixed now, so Matt from Comcast is my hero.

I have also been very busy filling customers holiday orders. If you would still like to pick up a piece for a gift please place your order ASAP to ensure you receive it in time. I wanted to share the "Forever In My Heart" piece that I created for a special customer. I just put the piece in my shop if you would like one!