Chic Gems

I would like to introduce the hand behind this creative fashion jewelry. My friend Jan Peterson of Chic Gems is an amazing woman who designs her own high quality and just GORGEOUS fashion accessories.
Here is a sample of one of her creations. I got this set of necklaces when she held a special event/generous donation to our church Copper Mountain Assembly of God here in Tucson. It was a fund raising to benefit the ministries our church is supporting. The price asked was from the heart. All the proceeds went to the ministries.

She gave me a lessons on how start a jewelry business. She taught me lot but the most important lesson I learned was to put the Lord's kingdom all business and never count it as loss and the He will bless you and your business.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Prov. 16:3

Peppermint Mallow Cream and Dresslily Giveaway!!!

....meanwhile at the Christmas clearance section at the grocery store, I found peppermint flavored marshmallows. Suddenly I remembered a recipe from one of the ladies at our church consists of jello, cream and marshmallows.

 I am not a marshmallow type of person. However, I like perppermint! It's a shame I was too busy shopping for Christmas stuff and never noticed that there is such as peppermint marshmallows. Oh well.

This recipe for the cream is very easy. Put peppermint marshmallow (amount of your choice) into a cup of whipping cream. Let it sit for a minute or two and whip it at speed two with a stand mixer. If you like chunks of marshmallows, put the marshmallows at you whip the cream. 

I sprinkled crushed peppermint candy to add a little crunch to the dessert.

Just a reminder. The DressLily giveaway is still on going.

Dresslily has a vast collection of amazing high quality fashion products!

They have dresses, shoes, accessories,bags, jewelry, lingerie and watches

 for very reasonable prices!

Do not let this one get away! You could win and choose any from these great fashion prizes! The giveaway is also open outside U.S! 

Read all about the giveaway here

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Pick Your Price. Win Dresslily Fashion Giveaway!!!!

Caution: Extra Hot News!

I'm just gonna to cut to the chase because I am super hyper excited to tell you about my news.

I am very thrilled to be chosen by a great sponsor to host a fashion giveaway for Petites Passions followers!

Dresslily has a vast collection of amazing high quality fashion products!

They have dresses, shoes, accessories,bags, jewelry, lingerie and watches

 for very reasonable prices! I... personally couldn't stop browsing their collections and I couldn't find anything I didn't like! Dress lily is a one-stop shopping for every style that suits any personality, weather you are:

Lady of Elegance 

Vintage chic

Contemporary Chic

simply wild 

Sweet charmer

ETC!

Visit Dresslily.com for more fashion inspiration and for some shopping!

 Okay! Enough teasing! Now... for some pleasing! 

You could win any from these prizes!

See here for a closer look of the prizes:

1. Fashion Candy Color Wave Veins Embellished Small Bag For Women

2. Relaxed Sawtooth Pattern Batwing Sleeve Plus Size Women's White Blouse

3. Pair Of Artificial Hair Design Knitted Long Winter Gloves With Exposed Fingers For Women 

4. Sparking Waterdrop Rhinestoned Pendant Women's Necklace

5. Morden Style Stripe Splicing Lapel Double Breasted Embellished Women's Long Hoodie

6. Sweet Colorful Rhinestone And Bowknot Embellished Women's Drop Earrings

7. Cosmetic Large Plum Foldable Bag For Women

8. Fashion Square Pendant Pylon Shape Earrings For Women

Here's how to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 I will announce the winner in a month, then the winner must email me the price of choosing (including size and color), and a mailing address.

Happy Winning!

Inspiration On How To Wear Faux Fur Vest

Did you ever had I-forgot-I-have-it moment while browsing in your closet? I bet you did!

I got this faux fur black vest as Christmas present from my mumsy a few years ago. She had so much hope in me that I could pull through a wardrobe like this. I don't want to appear too flashy. I have tried the mix and match game with it but to no avail, I wasn't very successful. I found it again sadly hanging in the closet waiting to be worn. I wanted to figure out how to wear it with a little subtlety

I browsed the trusty Google engine and found this photo for inspiration. Casual but sophisticated get-up with a touch of brown leather bag and flats.

...still playing with it and trying on some more ideas.

Christmas Birdhouse Project

It's not to be up decorating and crafting again. It is one of my relaxing moments on my days off from a tiring work at the restaurant.

I am doing a few sorts of new decor lately. It's funny how my taste in decoration differ from the last year. Although, I have been recycling and re-using some stuff that I had last year to make new ones.

I had this wooden bird house since last year. I got it from Goodwill for a $1 or less. This is going to be my blank canvas for this project. One of my problems is I over think things too much. I was too excited to do something with it a while a ago but I just ended up not doing anything with it so it just sat around, collecting dust at the storage room, until one night while watching TV with hubby, I jumped right off the couch like a spaz chihuahua and gathered...

 a piece of scrapbook I got as a present from my Aunt Carol 2 years ago, some transparent glitters, modge podge, geeso paint and artificial snow grains that bought last year at the end of year Christmas clearance.

Covering the bird house's front was quite tricky. After I managed to finally do it, I had to paint some blue parts of the house with white Gesso. Embellished it with glitters for frost effect and artificial snow for snow effect

You could either hang it...

or display as it is.

I hope you like my little project! Have a wonderful day!

Time to Sparkle Link Party

French Yule Log

Getting tired of fruitcake for dessert on Christmas? How about try a classic French yule log or " Buche de Noel". Of course you can be all Pinterest- y with your dessert such as crafting an intricate cute snowman melts and reindeer cupcakes if you have all the time in the world. However, I find this recipe as easy as making snowball cake.

As promised, I am sharing this recipe I got from an old book entitled Southern Heritage Cakes Cookbook.

What you need

4 eggs
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 tbsp powdered sugar
2 cups of sweetened whipped cream
1 tbsp of instant coffee granules
3 (1 ounces) of unsweetened chocolate
1/4 cup butter or margarine
dash of salt
About 2 1/2 cups  sifted  powdered sugar
Candied cherries

Instructions:

Grease 15x10 x 1 inch jellyroll pan: line with wax paper and grease lightly.

Combine first three ingredients; beat at medium speed of electric mixer. Gradually add 3/4 cup sugar, beating until thick and light colored. Fold in flour, cocoa and vanilla.

Spread mixture evenly into prepared pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 13 minutes or until surface springs back when gently pressed.

Sift 2 to 3  tablespoons powdered sugar in 15 x 10 inch rectangle linen towel. Turn cake out onto sugar; remove wax paper from the cake. Trim crisp edges if necessary. Starting with the short end, carefully roll cake and towel, jellyroll fashion. Cool thoroughly  on wire rack. Unroll and remove the towel; spread with whipped cream, re-roll and chill.

Dissolve coffee granules in boiling water; stir well and set aside.

Melt chocolate in top of a double broiler; add butter, coffee mixture and salt, stirring until smooth. Cool to lukewarm. Stir in about 2 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar to make a spreading consistency.

Spread frosting  evenly over cake. Mark with spatula to resemble a bark of a tree. Garnish with candied cherries. Refrigerate until serving time. Yields 8 to 10 servings.

Thank you for your time! All the blessing to you and remember... never stop creating!

Cakes for a Cause

I was given the privilege to contribute 2 cakes at the bake sale/cake auction  to raise fund for Speed the Light ministry, an event hosted by CM Journey Youth Ministry. Without any hesitation, I took the chance to make two cakes of my choice.

I wanted to be timely. I saw Martha Stewart's Caramelized Apple spiced cake in Brown Sugar Swiss Meringue Butter cream, decorated with Gold Marzipan Pumpkins, Leaves and Acorns and took courage to give it  a try.

Of course, I am no Martha Stewart so my cake didn't turn out as gorgeous as hers. This cake is great for Thanksgiving holiday. But beware, this is a very rich and heavy cake. A sliver would be good with a cup of apple cinnamon tea!

The second cake I made was Buche de Noel. The recipe came from an old recipe book I bought from a thrift store for half off! I will be sharing this recipe. I have to day the Oldies are goodies!

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