by Alexis -

Brecelets and Necklaces



The sole purpose for me posting these pictures is to show off. 🙂 You know when you make something and are so proud of it you just want others to see and acknowledge the amazing wit you have? No? Oh, well um… me either.

These bracelets and necklaces are all for sale. Each is a one of a kind. So once it’s sold- there are no more. I don’t mass make the same pieces I believe it keeps them unique I think. So some interesting materials were made. The necklace with the green piece? It has amethyst bought in Croatia (amazing and I loved Croatia) and even though the centerpiece was bought in Lyon, France- it was made in Afghanistan. I love it because it reminds me you can be hip and be bohemian at the same time.
The golden bracelet below, is made of Golden shell and authentic Polish amber. (bought by myself in Poland)
I must say that the first 5 pictures are all necklaces and the bottom half are all bracelets.
If you are interested in these or interested in other pieces (earrings, necklaces) please feel free to contact me at alexis@funkyfrosting.com
Happy viewing!

by Alexis -

Me against the grocery store- I will win!

If you were to ask me if I considered myself competitive I would quickly say no. I enjoy the laughs along the way and am happy for whoever wins. Well, I was just thinking about this today and I think my answer might have to change a little.

You see today is grocery shopping day. What does this have to do with competitive-ness? Just keep reading…My husband gets paid every two weeks and I make a meal plan and go to the store for what’s on my list- and nothing extra. Because we are trying to cut back to pay off bills and etc. the grocery list has been reduced to the minimum. $60. Yes that’s right people, $60 for 2 1/2 people for 2 weeks! You have to plan ahead but a lot of it can be fun too. This is the time when you look at what you’ve got in your pantry, look at cool food sites and put your creative hat on. Sometimes I even make dough parties with whoever and we make huge amounts of dough for many recipes. The best part is it’s all hand (heart)-made, healthy and you get to hang with cool people.
OK, so back to the competitive-ness. I was thinking that some of the reason why I love shopping (yes I love grocery shopping-you can pray for me 🙂 ) is because I feel like it is the store against me. And trust me- I will win. I walk in to the store and see all the ways they lure people into spending way to much and on silly things like 5 lbs of peanuts. Who wants 5 lbs of peanuts?! There are huge colorful signs luring me to whatever ‘sales’ they might be having and even sometimes a voice is heard telling the ‘lucky costumers’ about a sale going on in the produce. * roll of my eyes.
OK, you go on a mission and you go. If it helps- don’t go with your kids, I can remember asking (OK I begged and did whatever I had to do) my mom for treats when we went shopping. And I always got one little thing. Good memories. 🙂 I plan it with my hubby and he takes care of our little Emma and I go alone with my hand made grocery bags (so simple!) and i-pod. When I go through those doors I blare whatever music I want and go on my mission. It’s actually enjoyable!

What things do you do that helps you stick to your food budget for the month?

OK, long post. Sorry about this, and many of you know this I’m sure- looking around the blogging world, I’ve found some very smart women. But it’s something I’m passionate about.
Lastly I want to give my 2 week grocery list. Why? I have many women asking me how we eat healthily with the $60. What meals I make and how do I make them stretch. One trick also is that I cook maybe 4 breasts of chicken at a time and keep them in the fridge for the next coming meal. It really cuts on a lot of time.
Here is my list for the 2 weeks:
(I’m starting with tonight’s dinner as the beginning and also, I make Travis’ lunch with a lot of left overs or sandwiches. Personally, I scrounge for whatever I can find during the days that’s light and easy. I mostly plan out the dinners for the 2 weeks)
Friday: Chicken Breast Florentine with Whole Wheat pasta
Saturday: Crepes for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, Tuna Melts, cranberry muffins
Sunday: Chocolate chip Pancakes, Potluck night with our small group- I’m bringing a chicken casserolewith peas.
Monday: Savory Spinach/Parmesan/Chicken stuffed crepes, cranberry muffins, salad
Tuesday: Hamburgers , salad and apples
Wednesday: Chicken Alfredo, green beans, cranberry muffins
Thursday: Meatball melts, salad, fruit salad
Friday: Left over night! Yahoo for me!
Saturday: BBQ kielbasa, baked beans and apples
Sunday: Breakfast for dinner! Omelets, fruit salad, biscuits
Monday: Home-made Hawaiian Pizza
Tuesday: Taco/Burrito night with a cold black bean salad
Wednesday: Chicken Carbonara with Whole Wheat Angel hair past, salad, cranberry muffins
Thursday: Hot sandwiches, applesauce, salad
Friday: Left over night- Yahoo for me!
And the cardinal rule? Never ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER!- go grocery shopping hungry. never.

Hope this was helpful. Off to my sunny day. 🙂

by Alexis -

Girls Lunch

Hurrah! I have a little time while sweet Emma is taking her nap.

Earlier today I was able to go to a nice lunch with some friends. As it was a girls only affair, there was no meat. 🙂 It’s not that we’re against it…it’s just that it takes more time to prepare it and sometimes feels slimy. So anyways, we were able to have a relaxing visit and have a nice ‘cutsie’ meal. There was also a couple of cuddly kitties and a super sweet dog. (and that’s saying something because I’m not a big fan of dogs)
My friend Charis, made the spinach quiches. Apparently they were simple to make and also very tasty! Can you see how they were cooked in cupcake cups?! Genius! Isn’t that amazingly cute AND simple! I’m thinking of getting the recipe and putting them in silver cupcake cups then tieing them with a colorful ribbon. It’s perfect for any holiday, gets the wow factor and is made in no time at all.

I brought rye bread with herb cream cheese and cucumbers. Pepper to make it pretty. They were really good! I liked the sour-ish flavour the rye gives. Another friend made miniature cappuccino chocolate muffins. I apologize that there isn’t a picture of that- the photo was blurry. 🙁
Emma got a hold of one and when I took it away she screamed like I tore her arm off…ah my little diva. 🙂 Well, off to clean a little and plan the rest of our weekend. I’m praying that there will be NO MORE SNOW! I miss jumping in the car and not having to put a jacket on…*sigh. One nice thing is that with this cold weather hanging around, I get a chance to turn the fire on and read a few of the books collecting dust next to my bed. I bought them just for this season (rain season) and instead I’m spending way to much time reading blogs. Oh well, at least I’m reading right?

by Alexis -

Temporary Blog

OK, so this is going to be my temporary blog until Travis can help me with what I want.
I made my list of to-do’s and it’s a full day- hope I can blog again about something of value. 🙂
Until then have a happy Thursday!

by Alexis -

Help!

I need YOUR help! I am obviously in the middle of a spring cleaning of my blog and I am frustrated with the title. Well, not the words but the creative expression. (it’s called a border yes?) I have been to many other blogs and have seen the cool pictures and art that they have- oh so jealous. I am wanting colorful and bright first impression- something that would off-set the cloudy/rainy days we’ve been having here.
Another question: how would I go about taking good pictures for this blog? I am wanting to really give it a face lift and some new pictures would do it for sure. There are some that are…OK but some that are fuzzy and not fun. With all I want to change I get to indulge in my new found love- roaming the blogging world.
Oh and Thank You to all the new readers and visitors that leave comments- comments are really what we all blog for- common you gotta agree with me here. 🙂
by Alexis -

Wait!

Please be patient with me as I am changing my blog again! It doesn’t have the ‘feeling’ I want. (I am such a girl! lol) Emma needs me right now and so I am having to leave this half done…what things do you have that you love on your blog?

oh and I must say that this blog is a favorite so far! You must check it out!

by Alexis -

My Personal Silent Civil War

There are days when you feel like even though you might not have tons planned- the day feels as though it sped by like a whirl wind. Today I volunteered for a couple hours, got home to pay bills, talk with a construction guy because Emma’s ceiling is leaking bad, fold laundry and hurry to go to a meeting. I had to leave early (1 1/2 hr long meeting with Emma….yeah) and we’re having small group here tonight.
That is probably the highlight of my day, although it hasn’t happened yet. I love small groups and even though that may sound cliche I love them. Travis and I are starting our second and it should be great. We already are leading one that meets every other Sunday and this one will be meeting every other Tuesday. There is something about people that I like.
I used to think that I didn’t relate well to people (girls in particular) and I would stray off feeling uncomfortable. That did nothing for my first impressions. Trust me- I have a best friend now that thought I was intimidated for the first 6 months we knew each other. Intimidating! ME! Once you get to know me that’s laughable. * sigh. But I’m going through this class called, “Genesis” and it peels back the emotionalism of life and deals with the why questions. Why did I stray away and feel awkward around people? Well, I have learned a lot and now see myself through a better/healthier lens.
So when we have people over I can be myself and genuinely be interested in their lives instead of fighting my personal silent civil war inside.
On another topic- I am in love with the blogging world. There are so many new and exciting blogs that I can now see how people can get sucked into the realm known as the blogesphere and never return. 🙂 However I have a baby so she makes me deal with the realities of life. I love her. OK, well of to make dinner in 30 min. – Rachele Ray you got nothin‘ over me! 🙂

by Alexis -

Contest

A couple of friends and I are interested in scrap booking and love crafts. I am excited and happy to see that there are openings at Craft Warehouse! It is totally intimidating but I hope they like my designs and I am accepted. I have to make 2 cards, 2 scrapbook pages and also a memory keeper. Yikes the possibilities!!
I am having some problems because I’m feeling rushed and as everyone knows you can’t hurry ‘creativity’.
I’m making a lot of everything and I’ll post pictures tomorrow. Happy Monday!
by Alexis -

Rest

Today Travis and I planned a busy day of nothing. Yesterday was a busier day than we had planned so today’s agenda was really important to us. So far we have slept in, watched the Academy Awards pre-show, ate a huge slow breakfast, redid our blogs, made creative cards and scrapbook projects, played with Emma and munched here and there. Oh and drinking tea- important! 🙂

What do you like to do if you had a day to yourself to veg.?