Open for Business!

So, today is the day! I've been working my pink and green behind off to get my website ready for a "soft launch" and today is the day! I'm so excited that I will now be able to accept wholesale orders for many of my products, and will be adding to that weekly. I am overflowing with ideas and there are so many things I want to do and products I want to make, but I'm going to take it slowly as I'm still trying to figure this all out as I go.

So, to kick off my website launch and wholesale opportunities, from now through May 31st I'm offering BUY 1 GET 1 on all my tee's. Absolutely PERFECT for family reunions, beach trips, teachers gifts, or coaches gifts. To take advantage of the BOGO offer, purchase 1 tee at checkout, then specify in "seller instructions" the size and details for your 2nd, FREE tee! Please note that the 2nd tee must be of equal or lesser value, and will get shipped right to your door via USPS!

Click here to check out all the new products and graphics
from Southern Wears & Gifts!

Cheese Straws

Today starts the kick-off to mini #1's First Communion weekend. We are all very excited and as you can imagine, I have a big reception planned following the ceremony. 17 family members are flying or driving in town (beginning today!) so I've pretty much been a crazy person this week preparing for it all. Naturally, that includes food, and what proper Southern event is complete without cheese straws???

Here's my recipe that is very simple. They turn out light and flaky without that spicy bite that a lot of other cheese straw recipe's have. Feel free to add more cayenne to spice it up if you prefer, but I that's just not how I prefer mine. *note: this recipe yields about 4 dozen

Ingredients
-2 cups all-purpose flour
-2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
-3/4 cup margarine (I use it room temp)
-1 tsp baking powder
-1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 cup water

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. I always put down wax paper or parchment paper on my baking sheets.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, cayenne pepper, salt, grated cheese and margarine in a bowl and mix until well combined. Then add a little water at a time to make a stiff dough. I like to work it better w/ my hands at this point.
3. On a floured surface, roll out dough pieces into desired thickness. Then using a paring knife, cut sticks into lengths (my sizes vary from 4"-10"). Use a spatula and arrange on baking sheet.
4. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes until browned (this is more like 7 minutes in my oven).
   

Rainy Days & Thursdays

It's Spring Break over here at Casa Monogram we've been raisin' the roof and gettin' wild and crazy with laundry, baseball practice, play dates, and trying on last summers clothes. I know. Try to contain your excitement. It's enough to make me want to run out and have matching air brushed t-shirts made for each of us that read SPRING BREAK '10!

And while I'd planned to hit the tennis courts this morning, the thunderstorms have put a damper on my plans so that leaves me to plan B: find a dress for mini #1's First Communion for once and for all. Truth be told I've bought probably 4 dresses and consequently taken them all back because I've not liked them once I've gotten them home. Because as it turns out? Your ass really is as big at home as it is in the department store dressing room. Who knew?

So I haven't found a dress yet, but I did just stumble upon these little gems at L.L. Bean. Lovely, just lovely. And with a Free Shipping coupon code 3018863, my rainy day just got a little bit sunnier.

Coastal Rain Skimmers

Bright Navy

Cake Wrecks

To give credit where credit is due, sister #1 posted this on Facebook yesterday and it was so hysterical that it was worth sharing. We've all seen them... The sweet little creatures the local bakery has decimated with their piping bags and decorative tips. But now someone has dedicated a blog to them, and it's right on par with People of Walmart, People of the Park, and Awkward Family Photo's. All I know is if Martha saw these cakes it would surely send her to an early grave!

Cake Wrecks
When Professional Cakes go Horribly, Hilariously Wrong

source & photo: Cake Wrecks

NESTing Bowls

I love catching a tweet with a "must-do" craft project, and this one looks so easy and fun that I quickly tagged it a "favorite." It would have been perfect for the nesting baby shower I hosted last year for bff, Ashley, but it's also absolutely perfect for Easter decorations and Spring decor in general. Think what cute candy bowls this craft would make!

You Will Need
-4 sheets of fuchsia heavy-weight paper, 12" (30.5cm) square, such as card stock
-2 sheets of orange heavy-weight paper, 12" (30.5cm) square, such as card stock
-3 sheets of red heavy-weight paper, 12" (30.5cm) square, such as card stock
-Paper shredder or scissors
-Glue
-Water
-3 nesting bowls
-Brush
-Cling wrap, enough to cover the outer area of the 3 bowls

Instructions

1. Shred the fuchsia paper using an office crosscut paper shredder. If using a regular paper shredder, cut the strips into lengths of about 11/2" (3.8cm). If no paper shredder is available, use scissors to cut strips of paper that are 1/8" x 1/2" (3mm x 3.8cm).

2. Prepare a solution of glue and water that is 2 parts of glue per 1 part water. Don’t add too much water, or the paper will not hold together. Each bowl will require at least 1/2 cup (118ml) of the drippy glue solution.

3. Wrap the large bowl with cling wrap, and place it upside down on a surface covered with plastic.

4. Place the fuchsia shredded paper into another bowl, and sprinkle with some water (no more than 1 tablespoon [15ml]) to dampen the card stock.

5. Start by brushing the bottom of the cling-wrapped bowl with some of the glue solution. Add a small clump of paper (about 4–6 strips) in random fashion, and brush or dab more glue solution over them until they are damp enough that they lay flat and adhere to the bowl.

Instead of using colored card stock, this is the perfect opportunity to make something out of shredded office paper. The bowls will end up looking more rustic with the different colors of paper and typographic elements on them.

6. Continue adding clumps of paper strips, brushing the area they will cover with the glue solution and then brushing the glue solution over them. Cover the bowl until you’re about 2" (5cm) from the top edge of the bowl or the work surface. The bowl should be covered by at least 3 levels of paper to ensure stability. The edge of the bowl needs to be generally even, but keep it ragged by making some of the strips on the final row point downward, perpendicular to the work surface.

Tip: It’s important that the glue stay w enough to firmly hold the bowl together. The consistency of the 2 parts glue to 1 part water should resemble liquid soap. As you apply the glue solution, keep in mind that the more layers of paper are added the stronger the bowls will be. Allow drying time between layers. Note: Don’t worry about covering the surface completely. Part of the charm of the bowls is to leave some small spaces, no larger than 1/8" (6mm), between some of the strips.

7. Place the bowl in a dry and well-ventilated area, and let the surface dry completely. This process may take a day or two. If you’d like to speed it, place the bowl close to a Instead of using colored card stock, this is the perfect opportunity to make something out of shredded office paper. The bowls will end up looking more rustic with the different colors of paper and typographic elements on them. fan. Once the surface appears dry to the touch, carefully remove the bowl from the cling wrap and let it air dry face up until the inside of the bowl is completely dry as well.

8. Repeat the same process (steps 1-7) for the medium bowl using red paper and the smallest bowl using orange paper.

source & photo's: Woman's Day