Oh Snow and an Ice Storm!

Brrrrrrrrr!

Baby it's cold outside!

This is how our day has been going!  Lots of freezing rain, some snow and slush, which began over night and has been steady for most of today.  We are under a state of emergency here again, but better prepared this time around, unlike the big snow surprise from two weeks ago!    We have been watching the news and are informed that there are massive power outages throughout our state and also connecting states.  We have a gas fireplace which we'll use for back-up heat if the power goes out!  We are well prepared with lots of food, water, blankets, candles, full batteries on our cell phones and computers.  I pray this doesn't turn into a worsened situation here for us and those that are also experiencing this severe winter storm.

Staying warm and braving the storm for now!...

My Heart On Display

I love hearts!  The symbol of love.  The heart is my favorite of all the shapes.  I enjoy this time of year with hearts being front and center everywhere.  Lots of Valentine's Day themed items, messages and "I love you's" which offer so many great ideas for decorating and for giving to those we love.  We should of course show and celebrate our love for one another each and every day, not just on Valentine's Day, but it is nice to have one day that is all about that!


I haven't done much in the past in the way of decorating my home for Valentine's Day.  I've had a heart wreath or two for my door(s), and I've set up a pretty Valentine's Day tablescape for a romantic dinner at home.  I do however have some hearts throughout my home.  As I said, the heart is my favorite.  I wanted to do something as a display for February, and most especially Valentine's Day.  I didn't however want to go out and buy, buy, buy for this though.  I found just a few inexpensive items from the craft store, some things that I already had, and just used a little crafty imagination.

...__________________...

I made a heart shape using a clothes hanger, covered it with red crepe ribbon, added a pretty red sparkly bow, and a few red felt hearts on a golden sparkle ribbon.  It was simple, easy-peasy and oh so cute, but what really made this simple heart special...

 ...was placing it on a pretty plate to display it.  

...__________________...

Ta-da!

I placed the heart on a plate, and liked the look as a result.  So simple, and yet it made it look better.

...__________________...

Also...

I then placed the heart on one of my gold leafed charger plates and I thought it looked even better.  Wow'd by my great idea, this was my favorite display idea for it.  Once again, it was so simple too...and so me!

I'll share more on my February/Valentine's Day decorations soon...

Nutella Brownie Bites - Three Ingredients

I have a true love for Nutella!  You may already know that about me, but if not let me tell you, I do love the stuff.  Love it!  So how happy was I when I came upon a recipe for Nutella Brownies using only three ingredients even?  Happy-Happy that's for sure, and a little skeptical as well.  But I had to get right on my investigation and see, uh taste for myself.  

Wow!  Nutella-icious is the best way to describe them!  Oh and easy too.  I made some that were plain, and some with chopped walnuts on top.  But the best for me was adding a little something extra special to the tops...more Nutella!  Oh yes!  What's better than a Nutella Brownie Bite?  A Nutella Brownie Bite topped with Nutella!  They're absolutely drool worthy!

Nutella Brownie Bites

Ingredients:

For Brownie Bites-

1 cup Nutella

2  Eggs

10 Tbsp Flour

For Optional Toppings-

Chopped Nuts

Nutella

Mini-Chocolate Chips*

Directions:

Mix together 1 cup Nutella, 2 eggs and 10 Tbsp of flour in mixing bowl.  Using a mini muffin pan and mini-cupcake liners fill each muffin 3/4 full.  Add nuts to the tops.(Optional)  Bake at 350 for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool.  Spread Nutella on tops before serving.(Optional)  Or melt chocolate chips and spread on tops.(Optional)
*Add mini-chocolate chips to the batter before baking.(Optional)  

Recipe adapted from Instructables

Conversation Hearts

HUG ME   BE MINE   FOR EVER   LUV YA

On a recent trip to the craft store, I grabbed up a half priced bargain of a package of these Valentine Foam Candy Heart Stickers.  How cute are they?  They remind me of those sweet candy conversation hearts!  I knew I'd find a use for them.  With it being February now and Valentine's Day is just a short time away, also my love of all things heart, well, let's say they spoke to me!{giggles}

<3 <3 <3 <3   <3 <3 <3 <3   <3 <3 <3 <3  <3 <3 <3 <3  <3 <3 <3 <3  <3 <3 <3 <3

 I already had a pink foam heart in my craft supplies and so I simply used it for the base, then I layered on the foam candy heart stickers.  

I think it's very cute, and sweet too!

HUG ME   BE MINE   FOR EVER   LUV YA...

~ February ~

Ah yes it's February already!  The most romantic month of the year in which we celebrate love, and being in love.  Flooding us with hearts and love.

    You never know where or when cupid will strike.  Open your heart for love, 'cause love is in the air.

Share your love with those you love, each and every day...

Snow-time-fun

We don't see snow here in this area very often, and I am OK with that.  I'll admit, it is a pretty site to look at though.  Our pup Aeon had never seen snow before so we had a few minutes of fun with him out in it as it was coming down.  

Aeon having a fun time in his first snow!

Aeon likes this fun, cold, wet stuff coming down everywhere!  

"Snow" is a new word to remember as something fun!

It's fun to play in, and also to eat it too!

Snow scene out back just before sundown. 

Morning sunshine brightens up the view, and it will be melting the snow soon!
See those paw prints made by a happy dog running through the snow?  He definitely had a blast playing in the snow.

A Big Snow Surprise!

Well, here we are in January and no surprise it snowed!  It was only a couple of inches.  The big surprise is most of us were thinking it wouldn't be bad yesterday!  I usually say that our winter here in Georgia is January to March, and if we are going to get really extreme cold or snow weather it's then.  We quickly became under a state of emergency!  Snow and ice paralyzed the city in a short period of time!

There are some that laugh at the fact that this place [the South] becomes a crazy panic stricken area when we get a little snow here.  Well I grew-up for the most part in Indiana and I've seen my share of extreme cold and snow.  But what happens here is, it snows and the snow isn't sticking right away to the streets, it melts, then it freezes into black ice.  That ice gets covered by more snow and that then becomes the most dangerous part about it.  Along with the fact that we are not fully and adequately prepared with all the necessary trucks, salt, sand and equipment to help in making our roads a safer place during those critical times.  There are also many who may never have seen, let alone driven on snow or ice before, nor are snow tires common place here.  Even northerners have a difficult time driving on ice, if at all!  Throw in a mid-morning "Oh this really is going to get bad, send everyone home from school and work", and then total gridlocks ensues for many that then find themselves stuck in it.  There is a blame game going on now as to who is at fault for not alerting early enough that it would be worse then had originally been forecast.

I'm glad the Hubby came home early from work shortly after my recommending (insisting) he do so, and my sharing stories of the bad weather and snow coming in fast since our daughter had already sent photos of where she lives, about an hour from us.  She had called me around 11 a.m. and said that they were all sent home from her work with an almost white-out of snow there, I told her I hadn't even seen one snow flake yet!  It surely began snowing shortly thereafter at our place.

The stories soon started appearing on the news of hazardous roads and traffic situations.  I read many stories throughout the day of friends on social media that were stuck for hours!  One person we know, it took her eleven and half hours to drive 15 miles!  She left her work around 11:30 a.m. and got home at 11 p.m.!  She actually made it less than a mile from her home and was fortunate enough to have a person on a four wheeler take her to her house, although she ended up having to leave her car because her car slide off the road and then got stuck.(She and her car were unharmed)  Another person stopped to get gas, the police were there telling them they could not go back out on the roads, that they had to stay there and off the roads!  I was hoping as I said prayers for those who were out and a part of this, that they would make it safely home.  I felt relieved that my loved ones that were also experiencing this winter surprise were safe and sound, warm and comfy in their homes!

There was vast news footage today of the many cars and stories of people stranded from throughout the day and over night.  Folks sleeping at schools, stores or restaurants that were taking them in.  There was a delivery of a baby born in a car that was stuck it traffic.  Another person we know told of his leaving the airport at 7 p.m. and he didn't get home until 8 a.m. this morning!  I'm sure there will be more stories to come, and many will remember the day!

Weather!...

Monday Message

~ My Monday Message ~

~ Tammy ~

A Beautiful Color

Pantone Color of the Year for 2014:

PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid

You may have noticed this beautiful color popping up everywhere.  If you keep up with any of the design and printing industry you also may already know the color of the year for 2014 is Radiant Orchid.

*Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, is the global color authority and provider of professional color standards for the design industries.

"Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health"

“While the 2013 color of the year, PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald, served as a symbol of growth, renewal and prosperity, Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society."  

"An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”
source

You can read more about Pantone here ~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantone

This beautiful color is already a favorite for me.  It truly is captivating, I'll say.  I have long had a passion for purples!  I've noticed that the Internet and Pinterest have many ideas and inspirations blooming in Radiant Orchid already.  Perhaps Radiant Orchid will have an influence on you and your design or decorating too?  We will see what comes of it!  It is a very beautiful color!

source

A beautiful orchid color on these beads, and they sparkle!

I look forward to discovering new beads and other items to craft in this beautiful color!...