THE WE ARE NOT MARTHA GIRLS AND A GIVEAWAY!

I recently had the pleasure of meeting the adorable We are not Martha girls. The lovely Chelsee and Susie hosted a Stella & Dot trunk show this past weekend and let me tell you, these girls have got everything going for them! First off, they are absolutely adorable (as you can see!), they write a great blog featuring some amazing recipes (you MUST check it out) and they are such a joy to work with: organized, friendly and the best part - it's super simple to get in touch with them because they are always together!

So head on over to the We are not Martha blog to hear all about our fun day.

And be sure to check out their great giveaway of the Petra Bracelet (pictured above) just in time for the holidays!

HALLOWEEN TREAT: CHOCOLATE OREO MUMMIES!

It's Peanut's turn to bring "special snack" to preschool tomorrow and we wanted to do something really fun. I saw these chocolate covered oreos somewhere (if you know, please tell me so I can reference them. I've searched and searched to no avail) and decided they were just perfect. Since Peanut is the third child, I have a "been there, done that" reaction to a lot of the usual treats and to be honest, I feel a bit of pressure to bring in something new as the teachers always seem to be anticipating what I'll do next.

I blocked off a good chunk of time to make these creations thinking that they may be a bit involved. Add the fact that I had the eager help of a 4 year old and I thought these may be an all-day affair. Surprisingly, the process went very quickly and with minimal mishaps. When does that ever happen?!

Here is a very loose step-by-step of the process. Please excuse the fact that I have not beautifully captured each step in photos. I'm more of the let's get this project done type rather than a let's capture every step to create a lovely tutorial type - but you already knew that!

On to the steps!

Step one: Melt the chocolate in a container deep enough to dunk an oreo.

Step two: Take the tops off of all the oreos. I was worried that it would be difficult to keep all the cookie tops intact while separating, but they came apart really easily. We used Halloween Oreos, if that makes any difference at all.

Step Three: Dip the end of a lollipop stick in the melted chocolate and then press into the cream of the oreo to secure the stick. Then add the top back on the oreo. Dipping the stick in melted chocolate first is critical in getting the stick to stay secure inside the oreo.

Step Four: Once all the sticks are added to the cookies and the tops are back on, dip each cookie into the melted chocolate being sure to coat the entire cookie. Use a small spoon to be sure to cover the area around the stick. Shake the cookie to allow the excess chocolate to drip off.

Step Five: Place the coated cookie on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Step Six: Once all cookies are coated in chocolate and while the chocolate is still wet, place M&M eyes on each cookie. If the chocolate has already set, use the end of an extra lollipop stick to dab two spots of chocolate to secure the eyes.

Step Seven: Once the chocolate has set, reheat the melted chocolate and spoon into a sandwhich bag. Cut off the bottom corner of the bag to use as the tip of a pastry bag.

Step Eight: Use the bag to stripe the top of the cookie to create a mummy effect. Be sure to partially cover the eyes with the stripes to give the appearance of eyes peeking out from behind.

Step Nine: Let the chocolate set and you're done!


I used food-safe cellophane bags and some inexpensive Halloween ribbon to package them up for ease of distributing, but I think a bunch of them together popping out of a bucket would be super cute as well.

KEEP CALM? IT'S HALLOWEEN! (FREE DOWNLOAD ALERT)

The busier life gets, the more...well, subtle...my holiday decor has become. But I am discovering that I enjoy the more subtle little touches to my holiday decorating. It is fun to watch someone do a double take and discover a little detail that they passed by twenty times before without noticing.

One of my current favorites is the little edit I made to the Keep Calm screenprint in my dining room. Yes the print is now passe, but I make no excuses for it. I love the vibrant color and it is a much needed pause in my family's hectic life (and let's face it, sometimes - OK, daily - we need that reminder). But keep calm on Halloween? I don't think so!

Want to update your Keep Calm print for Halloween? (come on, you know you have one!). Simply download my PANIC sign here and print, cut and hang. Then wait and see how long it takes someone to notice.


Panic

GRAPHIC DESIGN GEEK ALERT (A FRIDAY FUNNY)

Still laughing, had to post.

Story goes :

Shannon (the secretary) has lost her cat and has asked David (the graphic designer) to help with a lost poster. This is their email correspondence...
Read from top to bottom….

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.15am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Poster

Hi
I opened the screen door yesterday and my cat got out and has been missing since then so I was wondering if you are not to busy you could make a poster for me. It has to be A4 and I will photocopy it and put it around my suburb this afternoon.

This is the only photo of her I have she answers to the name Missy and is black and white and about 8 months old. missing on Harper street and my phone number.
Thanks Shan.
From:David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.26am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
That is shocking news. Luckily I was sitting down when I read your email and not half way up a ladder or tree. How are you holding up? I am surprised you managed to attend work at all what with thinking about Missy out there cold, frightened and alone... possibly lying on the side of the road, her back legs squashed by a vehicle, calling out "Shannon, where are you?"

Although I have two clients expecting completed work this afternoon, I will, of course, drop everything and do whatever it takes to facilitate the speedy return of Missy.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.37am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Poster

yeah ok thanks. I know you dont like cats but I am really worried about mine. I have to leave at 1pm today.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.17am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
I never said I don't like cats. Once, having been invited to a party, I went clothes shopping beforehand and bought a pair of expensive G-Star boots. They were two sizes too small but I wanted them so badly I figured I could just wear them without socks and cut my toenails very short. As the party was only a few blocks from my place, I decided to walk. After the first block, I lost all feeling in my feet. Arriving at the party, I stumbled into a guy named Steven, spilling Malibu & coke onto his white Wham 'Choose Life' t-shirt, and he punched me. An hour or so after the incident, Steven sat down in a chair already occupied by a cat. The surprised cat clawed and snarled causing Steven to leap out of the chair, slip on a rug and strike his forehead onto the corner of a speaker; resulting in a two inch open gash. In its shock, the cat also defecated, leaving Steven with a wet brown stain down the back of his beige cargo pants. I liked that cat.Attached poster as requested.
Regards, David.


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.24am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah thats not what I was looking for at all. it looks like a movie and how come the photo of Missy is so small?

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.28am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
It's a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.33am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Thats just stupid. Can you do it properly please? I am extremely emotional over this and was up all night in tears. you seem to think it is funny. Can you make the photo bigger please and fix the text and do it in colour please. Thanks.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.46am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
Having worked with designers for a few years now, I would have assumed you understood, despite our vague suggestions otherwise, we do not welcome constructive criticism. I don't come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log onto Facebook and look out of the window. I am willing to overlook this faux pas due to you no doubt being preoccupied with thoughts of Missy attempting to make her way home across busy intersections or being trapped in a drain as it slowly fills with water. I spent three days down a well once but that was just for fun. I have amended and attached the poster as per your instructions.
Regards, David.


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.59am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

This is worse than the other one. can you make it so it shows the whole photo of Missy and delete the stupid text that says missing missy off it? I just want it to say Lost.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.14am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.21am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah can you do the poster or not? I just want a photo and the word lost and the telephone number and when and where she was lost and her name. Not like a movie poster or anything stupid. I have to leave early today. If it was your cat I would help you. Thanks.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.32am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Awww

Dear Shannon,
I don't have a cat. I once agreed to look after a friend's cat for a week but after he dropped it off at my apartment and explained the concept of kitty litter, I kept the cat in a closed cardboard box in the shed and forgot about it. If I wanted to feed something and clean faeces, I wouldn't have put my mother in that home after her stroke. A week later, when my friend came to collect his cat, I pretended that I was not home and mailed the box to him. Apparently I failed to put enough stamps on the package and he had to collect it from the post office and pay eighteen dollars. He still goes on about that sometimes, people need to learn to let go. I have attached the amended version of your poster as per your detailed instructions.
Regards, David.


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.47am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Awww

Thats not my cat. where did you get that picture from? That cat is orange. I gave you a photo of my cat.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.58am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Awww

I know, but that one is cute. As Missy has quite possibly met any one of several violent ends, it is possible you might get a better cat out of this. If anybody calls and says "I haven't seen your orange cat but I did find a black and white one with its hind legs run over by a car, do you want it?" you can politely decline and save yourself a costly veterinarian bill.

I knew someone who had a basset hound that had its hind legs removed after an accident and it had to walk around with one of those little buggies with wheels. If it had been my dog I would have asked for all its legs to be removed and replaced with wheels and had a remote control installed. I could charge neighbourhood kids for rides and enter it in races. If I did the same with a horse I could drive it to work. I would call it Steven.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.07pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Please just use the photo I gave you.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.22pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.34pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

I didnt say there was a reward. I dont have $2000 dollars. What did you even put that there for? Apart from that it is perfect can you please remove the reward bit. Thanks Shan.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.42pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Can you just please take the reward bit off altogether? I have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to make photocopies of it.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.56pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 1.03pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Fine. That will have to do.