If only I knew what I was signing up for. Did anyone warn me that I would have a little Houdini can take off any item of clothing in two seconds flat? Click on this picture to supersize it and then look carefully under the zipper. I had to add hook and eyes to all of her pajamas to keep her in them. She still figured out a way to shimmy her little arm out! Can you believe the mischievous look on her face? One of many things I was unprepared for. If only I had read this first. (I know it is long, but indulge me, it is well worth the laughs I promise you will have.)

In general I am pretty boring and predictable wardrobe wise. Most days I can be found in dark Curvy Jeans with button back pockets from The Gap, two ribbed tank tops (I call them something else, but it is hardly politically correct) a cardigan or zipped hoodie and flip flops. I hardly stray from the formula. If I do it might involve a skirt with the same tank tops & jean jacket or a dress and jean jacket. I rarely wear prints, pretty much 90% of my wardrobe is black or chocolate and if I do wear something funky it is a necklace, headband, or shoes. That all came to change when The Cheetah came to live with us from a thrift shop in Canada. Many a day I throw it over my same simple jeans, flats and black long sleeve t-shirt and suddenly I am a sassy new person. I see people react differently to me and I feel generally different. It makes me wonder what the original owner was like of this 50 plus year old coat. Was it an everyday wardrobe staple? Or did she pull The Cheetah out when she was feeling a bit more spunky? What is the one thing in your wardrobe that is so completely opposite of you that it actually is 100% you? I just know that this was one of the best things I have ever spent $10 on.

Hi Joy’s Hope-ians it’s Mique from 30days. I have a little craft blog where I share ideas and anything creative- feel free to stop by and say hi. I get the honor of filling in for Julie today as she tries hard to remain calm while her internet is down (the horror!) as she moves. I’m a tad nervous- she has big shoes to fill. So I thought….why even try? Instead I want to share a little story. Follow me:
Once there was a girl (fyi, that's me)
who got an email from a fabulous blog friend(that's Julie :).
The fabulous blog friend had a friend in real life that was wearing a ridiculously cute necklace. That blog friend,, contacted the girl , to say that she knew where it came from and loved it. She loved it so much she stole it from her friend in real life.(that's the blog friend wearing the stolen necklace and doesn't she look great wearing it?) The girl connected the shop owner(who the girl knows rather well) with her blog friend.
And what does this all add up to? A giveaway!

But before I get to announce the details, let me introduce you to that shop owner:
{So, what do you do when you have 2 babies (Owen - 2 - the cutest little tasmanian devil/curly-haired tornado/ball of energy you'll ever meet, and Henry- 7 months- the smiliest/squishiest/yummiest/kissable-est baby on the planet), live in a new town, and have a husband (crazy cute and wicked smart - chemical engineering, hello!!) back in school full time? Well, start a business of course!! It definitely was not ever in my plans to start up this little shop of mine - and certainly not in one of the busiest, craziest times of my life. But, that is right where I found myself this past summer. Searching for a way to provide a few more pennies toward the starving student fund, I decided, on a whim really, to go for it. And Allora Handmade was born. Just a few months after Henry. I'm Jessica and I'm the creator and owner of Allora Handmade. I am so excited and honored to be here on Joy's Hope and hope you enjoy my shop!}

Dear Hershey,

What did I ever do to you? Why must you treat me with such disrespect and hatred. First you go and take away my most favorite candy in the world. Without so much as a warning, leaving me with it's evil stepsister Good & Plenty. (I would rather eat black widow spiders.) I wrote you, I called you, I emailed you, I signed petitions. After years of giving up all hope to see it again, even the chance stumbling upon an old, expired, dusty box in a super shady 7-11, you tease me with this neon box of the same name. My heart nearly stopped when I walked down the wrong row and accidently spied the boxes today at the drugstore. Could it be? Do I really need new glasses that bad? I think I know how to read... the box said Good & Fruity and the candies were the same shape, although that "natural" looking blue one is a bit questionable. I was even sad that I can't send picture texts because I wanted to surprise my husband with the good news during his staff meeting. I couldn't run fast enough to the check stand to buy my newfound dream come true. I hid the treasure in my purse and waited until the girls were sleeping to enter candy paradise. The anticipation, the glee, the joy, like a soap opera character raising from the dead, my beloved licorice and candy shell was back in my life. Just when I most needed it. But no, this story does not have a happy ending. I am renaming your fraudulent candy this:
They are nothing more than super chemically altered Starburst Jelly beans. Sour, acidic, pointless. None of the previous magic, none of the flavor. Goodbye licorice, goodbye shell. Goodbye Good & Fruity forever. I want my $1.29 back. I want my old candy back. Away with this sad, pathetic imitation. Away with my dreams of being reunited with my youthful love. I am going to a corner to wail and mourn. How could you do this to me? I was so faithful. I never gave up faith that I would see it again. Shame on you Hershey, shame on you.

So there it is... six random things about me. Thanks for being my first tagger Allikaye's Mama!

I found this recipe card download a few weeks ago and fell in love. I saved it to my computer with hopes that someday I would learn how to put words on pictures. Along came Picnik and cute fonts (this one is Joyful Juliana) ensued! This literally took two minutes to whip up. I could print it out at home (even though my printer is evil and wastes ink) or where I get my pics normally printed. How fun would a set of your family's favorite foods be on these beauties. Oh, the above dip is from my friend Richelle and it is sure to be the hit of your next gathering. Look for more of these to come. As I compile my favorites I will post them. Enjoy!