JEN, THIS ONE'S FOR YOU!

Before I put this into the mail, I just wanted to show everyone what Jen (who has waited ever so patiently) won in my First Annual Halloween Contest/Giveaway. Jen, this was made with love and I hope it was worth the wait! Enjoy!

S.W.A.K.

P.S. - For anyone else interested, I have several more of these bead-knitted purses made and they're just waiting to go into their frames (in a variety of different colors) - they are even more beautiful in person and make lovely gifts - oh, so feminine, not to mention, one-of-a-kind, and I would doubt that anyone else already has one. I'll be posting them soon - just so you know! E-mail me at CuteStuffInside@hotmail.com if you'd like one created in a specific color - the price will vary depending on the frame.

AND THE WINNER IS...

Hey, before I get to the winner, I just want to thank everyone who entered the "I Want Candy!" giveaway. I hope you will all come back again and again to visit. Heads up - there'll be another giveaway before Thanksgiving, so be on the lookout! And now, without further ado... drumroll please...

Ratatat-ratatat-ratatat-rat...

And the winner is... Miniature Quilter!

Let's give it up for Miniature Quilter... clap, clap, clap, clap... hip-hip-hooray!

S.W.A.K.

WE INTERRUPT...

...this regularly scheduled blog update for an important... cupcake break?

Mmmmmmmm... slurp, slurp... Mmmmmmmm...

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.

S.W.A.K.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE IN IT TO WIN IT!

Mmmmmmmmore CHOCOLATE!

Mmmmmmm

So you love chocolate, do you? Well, here's a great, EASY, recipe for some yummy, moist, melt-in-your-mouth watering, saliva drooling, chocolate chip muffins. You will need:

2 Cups Flour (all-purpose - and don't bother to sift it)
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
2 Eggs (I use large)
4 Tablespoons Butter (melted - I use salted - use what you like)
3/4 Cup Milk
1/4 Cup Oil (I use canola)
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Cup Chocolate Chips (I like Nestle's Mmmmmmini Chips - use what you like - save a few to sprinkle on top)
Large Bowl and a Fork

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put first four ingredients in bowl and mix together with fork. Make well in center. Add eggs, milk, butter, oil and stir together. Mix in vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips (reserving a small amount to sprinkle on top). This batter usually makes 12 regular-sized muffins, so divide your batter evenly (I use an ice cream scoop and paper liners, but whatever works for you) and sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top of each. Bake for 25-30 minutes (mine usually take 25 - you know, insert pick and if it comes out clean it's ready). Now wait until they've cooled, if you can (at least give them a few minutes so you don't burn your tongue!). Enjoy! You can make Texas-sized if you want or the minis, but you'll have to adjust the baking time accordingly.

Here's what they look like going into the oven.

S.W.A.K.

GET YOUR CHOCOLATE FIX HERE!

WITCH WITH ATTITUDE!

Look at those shoes. Aren't they sassy! They must belong to some hip witch. How about that touch of glitter, not to mention those bows!

I had requests to make five more pumpkins, so here they are, only this time I added some witch legs to the brew (I mean crew). :) You've got to admit that those pumpkins look real. You have to lift one up to discover the difference. You can get the pattern for the shoes here. Only thing I did different from the actual pattern was to paint the entire design instead of carving the yellow stripes and then I added a yellow/orange glitter for some sparkle.

S.W.A.K.

Chocolate!... Chocolate Here!... Get Your Chocolate!