Heather Ann Melzer

La Petite Taffy Apples

Tom and I saw Iron Chef: Battle Apple a few weeks ago and have been dying to try this treat ever since.  We used a melon baller to carve round apple pieces from a peeled apple and then stuck a cut skewer in the top.  Then we dipped them in melted caramel and chocolate and sprinkled some with peanuts.  The caramel was unheated in these pics, so it didn't turn out as well as the second batch did. 

For the chocolate, I melted a half a bag of Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips in a bowl for 30 seconds, stirred, then melted for another 30 seconds and stirred again.  Make sure you dip the apples with freshly melted chocolate or it will get lumpy and hard.  Tom even dipped in some in caramel and chocolate - yum!

The idea was perfect for the Happily N'ever After 2 movie night we had planned for the kids, but our DVD was scratched, so we had to make them again Sunday night after I got a new copy of the movie.

The kids really liked the ones without nuts - and preferred the chocolate ones.  The ones with nuts are so pretty, though, aren't they?  I think I might have to make these on Halloween, too.

 

The Happily N'ever After movie's are interesting, to say the least.  They're updated fairytales that are a little *too* updated for my taste.  Still, it kept the kids entertained - and that's what it's all about, isn't it?

Hit the spot

Ahhh. 

You know that feeling you get when you're so super crazy thirsty and you take a giant swig of something cold and feel SO much better?  That's how it felt to scrap these fun pics.  A super happy kit, a great easy template to work with and new pics that make me smile - the perfect combo for some much needed scrap therapy.

Yes, I heard the devastating news as Tom and I were racing around collecting documents for our trip to the post office to expedite our passport renewal forms.  I logged on to check the post office hours and saw the top Yahoo headline and my heart sank.  I was glued to the headlines all weekend long and it's looking more and more severe each day.  At first I was hoping that Cancun might still be safe and that we'd just have to work on changing our flights (that inevitably stopover in Mexico City), but it appears that Mexico in general will be out of the question.  Of course we opted against travel insurance and booked through Travelocity, who I hear has the worst reputation when it comes to altering reservations, so I'm not sure where that leaves us now.  Mexicana airlines is offering to change reservations without fees, but that's only through May 6th right now.  It looks like a wait-and-see game.

I'm still sundress shopping and sticking to my low-cal diet.  I haven't had chocolate in a week and I'm doing ok.  I usually can't go 2 hours without it, but my Starbucks runs are helping curb that a little.  I can't give up everything now!  I've lost 2 lbs. so far, so we'll see how it goes.  I can't seem to get in a workout groove - need to work on that.  It seems like I still haven't adjusted to daily savings time this year - still exhausted in the mornings.  Plus, Tom and I are watching rented DVD's of Supernatural and I'm totally into it now - staying up way too late watching it.  I do not watch horror movies, but this is a nice toned down version show for TV, so it's perfect for me.  Not too scary.  It's like a scary soap opera, actually.  We laugh at some of the dialogue that goes on between the brothers, but it's a good show.

We also watched Yes Man the other night (been DYING to see it) and it totally lived up to my expectations.  Jim Carrey is hysterical and I love his love interest - Zooey Deschanel.  She's the cute gal in Elf, with the super cool voice.  Remember this...?

And how fitting that song is with the temps back in the 50's after a weekend of being in the 80's.  I almost turned the air on on Saturday it was so hot and humid.  I bought the kids new crocs, but they're too big, so I need a few days to get those returned anyway.

Tomorrow I'll share a fun new treat we had for 2 different movie nights this past weekend - fun stuff!

2x2x2

The kids had such a great time together this weekend.  They only see each other once a year, so it's great to see them pick up where they left off so quickly.  What a fun bunch they are. 

We lined all of the kids up in birth order and I learned that all of the boys are older than the girls.  Each set is just a few months apart in age.  We also realized that even though the boys are older, the girls are taller (how 'bout that!).  We also had fun comparing the kids at different stages.  Maeve is a month younger than Jack and she is talking up a storm.  She seems so much older than our baby Jack.  Tina, Tom's sister, pointed out that she remembered Kenzie talking up a storm when Nevin and she were that age, too. 

Poor Jack had a terrible reaction to the sunscreen he had on at the zoo on Friday and needed a couple of doses of Benadryl to ease the swelling in his face.  He's a stout kid, but his face is abnormally puffy in that pic - lol.

It rained on and off on Saturday, so the kids played inside most of the day.  Here are some pics of Kenzie torturing her cousins with kisses...

And sitting on their laps...

And just being their silly selves...

A few more of Nevin, Addison, and Maeve...

I was lucky enough to get an assignment for BHG's April issue and my inspiration piece was perfect for a layout about their visit last April.  Here's the layout... they've all grown so much.

Pouting

Tom's sister and her family came in last night and the kids are having such a blast together.  They're off having fun at the zoo right now, so I'm pouting just a little for having to work today (and this weekend).  There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though.  I've had vacation planning on my mind for the last month or so, and even though I really wanted to take a family vacation, a 10 year anniversary trip was higher on our list (since I could count the number of dates we've had on my hands and toes and kid-free trips with one pinky finger).  Our anniversary isn't until October, but I think I'd burst if I waited that long, so after a week of researching packages, we booked 6 kid-free days at an adult-only resort last night.  I feel like a 4 yr old that just found out she's going to Disneyland.  It's a good thing I started dieting/working out this week.  Not sure how much of an impact it will make in a month, but I'll feel better for trying.  Especially since I'll probably gain it all back during that week :)  We're planning to do a whole lot of nothing on the trip, although we've always wanted to visit the ruins.  Any advice on where to go would be appreciated.

Allright, it's high-ho, high-ho back to work I go (while I daydream with my new screensaver).  Have a great weekend!

Cool web finds

Annemadeart has the most adorable paper dolls - just print, color, and cut out.  I have to get these for the girls.

Mamamade sells the cutest reusable sandwich bags - what a fun, green alternative to ziplocs!  Her site was featured yesterday, so she's feverishly trying to post more of these cuties.  Love this guitar one.

Cupcake Social - this shop has TONS of adorable accessories for your yummy cupcakes.  I love these tulip liners, and these sugary bulldogs would be perfect for Kenzie's t-ball team (Go Bulldogs!)

Pat & Cake has some really adorable little pouches/bags.  This scalloped one makes me smile, and this one is super sweet, too.  Yum.

Fancy Flours blew me away with their promotional email today.  Cupcakes with picket fence liners and adorable birds on top?!!  Irresistible.

 

And while we're talking birds, Joom has the coolest bird pillows ever.  Such fun colors and the bold white graphics scream modern fun.  Love them all!

Cuz it's my blog and I must feed the bird obsession regularly...  JinxMurphyDesigns makes awesome wood cutouts, like these perched beauties.  Would be so cute on my brown wall (sigh).

I found this site through Julie's blog and thought these waterproof water bottle labels were too cute!  What a great idea for baseball teams or hot summer parties.  They also have great prices on layout printing.

Enjoy!

Emma Nicole

I just finished editing the pics from my niece's photo shoot and thought I'd share some more of them.  It's been so long since I had pretty pictures like this to work with - what a nice change of pace from the flash-filled everyday pics I've been taking for months.  I set my white paper backdrop up in front of our living room windows and shot with natural light.  I have a basket of pears on top of our TV cabinet and Emma really liked them.  It was the only way to keep her from crying, and it matched her outfit, so it was a nice unexpected prop. 

I'm still swamped with work.  My company is in the process of acquiring a few thousand people, so it's been pretty hectic.  I know what it's like to be acquired, so I'm doing my best to make sure my group of employees have an easy transition - as easy as is possible, that is.  I'm also busy editing pics for Mother's Day orders.  I can't believe it's only 2.5 weeks away!  I made our Mother's Day reservations, so I'm feeling good about that.  I'm also sewing like a mad woman.  I have more issues with cutting things properly than I do sewing at the moment.  It's amazing how much better I do once the kids are in bed - I just can't think (or cut) straight when they're running around the house screaming.  Go figure! ;)

Bedtime Stories

Last Friday night we had an impromptu movie night with Bedtime Stories.  Very cute movie - great family flick.  The only thing I remembered from the preview was that it rained gumballs, so I plated some cotton candy and gumballs and voila - we had a treat!  Something we do alot during our movie nights is pause the movie during the scene that relates to the treat and then we go get it and bring it up.  The kids really like that.  I think Jack was pleading with me for more cotton candy in that one pic - ha.

Tom's sister and family are coming out for their annual spring visit this weekend and we're hoping to have a movie night for all of the kids.  Trouble is, I think we've seen every new release that's come out.  I'll have to do some more digging and find something good.  The kids are SO excited to see their cousins.  I think Jack is going to be devastated when they leave, though.  He loves having little boys to play with, so he'll be in heaven with his 2 boy cousins here.  It's supposed to be 82 on Friday, so that should be fun.  I'm so unbelievably slammed with work that I might be locked in my office all day - hoping I can escape for part of the day to enjoy it.

I was able to add a few items to my shop this week - new Dreamy bracelets, Eternal Sunshine bracelets, and Oval Photo Pendants that I can make in a week or less - so, there's still time for custom Mother's day gifts!

Weekend photo-a-days

Is everyone keeping up with their photo-a-days?  I was really struggling to keep up earlier this month, but now I'm back on track - whew.  I'm good about taking at least one pic/day, but getting them edited and uploaded is really tough to keep up with. 

Saturday's pick was an easy one.  My sister asked me to take my niece's 1 yr portraits, so I picked my favorite from that bunch.  Her little swimsuit/hat combo is just too cute (Gymboree).  After a half a box of Lucky Charms, we were able to get a few hard-worked smiles from her.  Such a cutie that Emma is.  We also had t-ball practice for Kenzie, our friend, Jen's, annual lung party (she was a transplant recipient 7 yrs ago), and Tom did a ton of yard work - planting grass seed along the patio, for one.

On Sunday we planned to go to our new IHOP for breakfast, but the parking lot was stuffed, so we had donuts and Starbucks at our local grocery store.  This is one of the kids' favorite family outings - and it beats IHOP in time and $, so not bad. 

Then Tom cleaned up the basement a bit while I worked on laundry and sewed Katie's nap pillow for school - my first project on my new machine :)  Santa brought her the pillow last xmas and I promised to make her a case for it.  She picked the fabric out herself from HL a few weeks ago and I finally found some time to sit down and work on it.  Pillowcases have to be the easiest thing on the planet to sew, but of course it still took me a couple of hours.  I had to cut the pieces to get as many princesses to show as I could and I did an overlapping back, so that took a little thought.  The fabric jammed into the machine once and then my bobbin thread went crazy and it took me an hour to fix that, but then it was smooth sailing. The machine is so quiet and I don't know how I ever lived without the thread cutter on the side of the machine.  I can't wait to get started on their skirts now!  I found the fabric at Joann's - it's Sweet Tweets by Janet Gossard.

Life is good (again)

Some reasons why...

  Tons of SUN today and a WARM day tomorrow :)

  Blooms on my Magnolia tree

  Not having to wear socks

  FUN new fabric to play with

  This song

  This one, too

  Figuring out how to order my perfect cappuccino: Venti Wet Vanilla Cappuccino

  News of ET's coverage of the New Moon Set, starting next Thursday

  It's FRIDAY!!  Happy weekend!

Mother's Day gift ideas

My shop is freshly stocked with custom photo gift ideas - great for Mother's/Father's Day! 

All photos are sealed with clear casting epoxy resin to a hard cure with a beautiful dome finish.  Please allow 2 weeks to process orders for these items due to the sealing and curing involved.  Orders purchased this week will ship out by May 1st, in plenty of time for Mother's Day (which is May 10th).  Is time flying or what?

I'm off to pick up my nephew from school, but I'll leave you with a cute video of my laundry monster from last night.  Enjoy!