Valentine's Day Wreath

Here is my front door decor for the month.

It was so easy to make, I want to do one for every holiday/month!  Husband might disagree, but our door MUST be festive all year round!

I'm linking up to these awesome ladies!

Get your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog

Banana Recipes

Surfing Pinterest for some inspiration for my son's Sock Monkey themed 1st Birthday, I came across all these banana recipes.  I'm thinking I'm going to use some of these to do an all banana desert table.

Click on the link to see the recipes from some UBER talented people!

This baby is my favorite!  This is a MUST do.  Instead of a pie I'm going to do these mini parfait style.  I think the layers are going to look fabulous in clear cups.

Banana Cream Pie with Chocolate Ganache and Salted Caramel Sauce

Banana Cookies

Banana Truffles

Banana Split Cupcakes

Banana Split Minis

Circus Party

I have a friend from high school {Melissa} who contacted me last month to make a shirt for her son's first birthday party.  He was having a circus themed party and she wanted an elephant onesie.  She directed me to her Pinterest Board so I could see the color pallet.

Here is the shirt that I made for Grayson the sweet little birthday boy!

After the party she posted the pictures on facebook.  She did such an AMAZING job putting everything together I asked to share all the details on my blog.  Happily she said "Yes"...so I get to share this talented mommy's first circus party!

I think it's appropriate to start with the invitation.  It was designed by Melissa's best friend Tyler Wheeler.  You can find her FACEBOOK HERE.  I believe she will be taking orders for these and maybe some other designs.  Message her if you are interested!

Melissa and her husband Kevin cut the pennant flags out of a paper pack called Animal Crackers by Imaginisce.  She used a handy tool called a Sew Ribbon Cutter.  It is a paper cutter that allows you to make the perfect cuts to thread ribbon in paper.  I really want one! 

For favors she sent family and friends home with animal crackers and cracker jacks.  When guests came in she had them sign a Dumbo Golden Book.  Very cute guest book idea that he will have forever!

They made the cake banner themselves.  She also hung ribbon behind his highchair for a great pop of color.  The banner was also made by the party parents.  She used the Sew-Ribbon tool again and she cut the letters out with her Cricut on the Winnie the Pooh cartridge.

The cupcakes were made by Sassy Sweets Cakes and Treats from Troy, MO.  I love the blue icing.  The toppers were cut out from Melissa's Cricut and the elephant is a Martha Stewart punch.

I LOVE how his little ear pops out!

This is the party hat that Melissa and Kevin made for Grayson.  She used THIS template from Oh Happy Day.  I've already gone and printed it out to use for my son's party!

And because Grayson is too cute not to show off...here are some pictures of the Birthday Boy.

 These were taken by the super talented photographer Stephanie Geisler.  

I hope you enjoyed the party...I know I did.  GREAT job Melissa and Kevin...and congrats on being parents for a whole year now!

I'm linking this party up to these gracious hostesses.
Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Designs
We Did It Wednesday @ Sew Much Ado
Inspiring Creativity @ Twin Dragonfly Designs
What Are Little Boys Made Of @ 733

Salted Caramel Brownie Bites

I made these recently for a work function.  I used THIS recipe that I found on pinterest.

Salted Caramel Brownie Bites with Salted Caramel Buttercream

Everyone LOVED them.

My favorite part was the frosting!  I would have eaten the whole bowl if I didn't need to serve it to people.

I couldn't find pre made salted caramels...only ones that we covered in chocolate.  So I used regular caramels and added pink Himalayan coarse salt.

For the buttercream I melted down the regular caramels and added the salt after I had mixed all the ingredients together.

The only thing I didn't like about them was that the center caramel turned out a little chewier than I wanted.  But you could easily change up the recipe so that it was FILLED with salted caramel sauce rather than have a caramel in the center.  If I make them again they will be filled with THIS recipe I also found on pinterest.

Run Like Nobody is Watching

*This was supposed to be posted yesterday...but I couldn't log on to my google account.  I thought it was just a glitch.  It turns out someone logged in my account from ARGENTINA.  Soooo....hopefully nothing is missing or changed...SIGH*

source

I LOVE this because it perfectly sums me up!

I have been doing Weight Watchers for a couple months and have seen some really good results.  It has really "reprogramed" the way I look at food.  By knowing which foods are lower in points value and which foods are high, I am able to make better choices.  I haven't lost TONS of weight but I have lost enough to see major changes and others notice it too!

Right now I am the smallest I have been since my freshman year in college.  The only down size (other than my waist) is that none of my work clothes fit so I had to go out and buy new clothes! Oh RATS! :)

During the month of December I have plateaued.   I haven't gained and I haven't really lost either.  I think that in order for my weight loss journey to continue I really need to be more active.

Enter running.  I am signed up for a 5K in April.  I have 12 weeks to learn to run.  And to learn to run without stopping or passing out.

I'm following the Couch to 5K program.

Week 1:  Brisk 5 minute walk.  Run 30 seconds.  Brisk walk 90 seconds.  Repeat for 20 minutes. 5 minute cool down.

CHECK.

I feel good and I'm ready for week two!

I'm going to be covering some running topics once a week.  Next week I'm going to do a post covering one of my biggest motivators.  Also look forward to posts about running technology, running music, and endurance building.

Hiatus OVER...therefore be it resolved:

I'm BACK!

I took a much needed winter break hiatus.  I didn't make an announcement because it has been a VERY stressful December.  Without going into too much detail...Mr. Husband got laid off, I got laid off, I got a new job, I got a terrible virus that is essentially like 3 months long chicken pox only NOT contagious and add that to Christmas debauchery...blogging was too much.



Enough excuses.  I'm ready to being TWENTY-TWELVE with a BANG!  I'm starting with my blogging resolutions.

1.  I really want to start with regularly scheduled content.  I'm going to be using a editorial calendar this year to help stay on schedule and keep ideas flowing.

SNAP! does a great job of explaining the purpose of a calendar.

2. I'm running a 5k in April so there will be a running segment coming soon.  I really just began my new skinnier life back in September.  Loosing weight hasn't been easy, but when I add in the running and exercise I know I'm going to be a much healthier mommy.  Get ready.

3.  More of my projects are going to be coming.  I haven't posted enough of my own projects over the past couple of months.  I'm tentatively saying that I'm going to be posting at LEAST one of my own projects every week and I'm going to do at LEAST two tutorials a month.

4.  I'm going to be branching out.  Watch out internet world, Lotte Lu and Brother Too is going to be coming at you from every angle.  More blog hopping, more guest posting, *hopefully* more features and more connecting with people in my niche of the blogosphere.

There you have it!  4 things to look forward to this year from me.  I can't wait to show you some of the things I did over my little break!

HERE. WE. GO. 2012!