And so it comes to an end...

Over the past few months, I have decided to shut down my business and blog.  It has been a fun run, but it is time for me to move on :).  I have thoroughly enjoyed creating handcrafted tutu's for the cutest little princesses around and I want to thank everyone for their support! 

I am starting a new blog called Additive Free Foodie and it centers around one of my passions, eating as all natural as possible.  Please stop by and say hi when you can!

Warmest Regards,

Melanie H.

Tutu Clearance!

I have 10 tutu's that I am clearancing out...Each tutu is $15 shipped or $10 cash (regular price is $28.75 shipped or $23.50 cash).  If interested, please email me at az_melanie@yahoo.com. 

12-18 mos Washington Redskins/USC/KS Chiefs (Red/Gold)

12-18 mos FL Gators (navy/orange)

12-18 mos Phx Suns (orange/purple)

2T Michigan (navy/yellow)

2T Texas Longhorns (burnt orange/white)

2T Arizona State (Burgundy/Gold)

















3/4T Chicago Cubs/Giants

It's MY SITS Day!!!

After 47 years,  about 1 year of waiting, it is FINALLY my SITS day!  I honestly was shocked when I got the email last month that my blog would finally be featured.  I am very excited and honored to be featured on SITS, which stands for The Secret in the Sauce.  It's an amazing community of fellow bloggers who support eachother through comments.  Its a simple and ingenious way to meet other bloggers! 

A little bit about me...I am currently a stay at home mom to two elementary aged boys.  I decided back in 2009 that it'd be fun to open up my own little boutique style store and I started selling tutu's!  Yeah, I live with a bunch of boys, but make tutu's - kind of ironic, isn't it?!  It's definitely been a journey and for those of you who own your own small, online business, you can attest to the fact that it takes a lot of hard work, time and marketing of your product....

Anyway, I am just so happy that you have stopped by my blog!  Besides writing about my tutu's, I also talk about food (who doesn't love a peanut butter bon bon?!), books, crafts and other bloggers to keep things interesting!  My posts are usually pretty short, as my attention span is not at all long these days.  I totally blame that on parenting two rowdy kids!  So, in my promise to keep things short, I will sign off for now....thanks for visiting and come back soon!!

Melanie

Spring is HERE! Well, almost...

Here are some fun springtime tutu's....

Lollipop

Blue Raspberry

Lemon Burst                                                                                                                                            

Pink Bubblegum                                                                                                                                       

Watermelon                                                                                                                                             

Valentine's Day and the Matching Tutu

OK, so I have to confess, I am not a big fan of Valentine's Day.  It's weird because I grew up in a home where I got Valentine candies and gifts from my parents and grandparents.  We'd do the red foods and heart shaped meatloaf (which is about the only Valentine tradition I do) and all that jazz.  Once I got married though, I just figured I was done with Valentine's Day.  Here's the biggest reason.   DH's birthday is in November, Christmas is in December and our anniversary is in January.  By February, if he doesn't know he's loved, he needs to open his eyes and unplug his ears :).  As for our kids, we still say Happy Valentine's and do the heart shaped meatloaf but w aren't big candy eaters, so all the chocolates and sweet goodies are out (hence the meatloaf).  I try to keep it simple and most importantly, show my boys that they are loved every day of the year.  Please don't think I am anti-Valentine's day, I'm really not, it's just that, we keep our little traditions low key and minimal when it comes to this day!

Now if I had a daughter and could get her all dressed up in something super cute, I might change my tune :).  I made this Sweetheart tutu, for those that like to go all out for Valentine's Day and want to dress up that little Valentine in their life!  It's made with shimmery pink, red and white tulle, with a white satin ribbon covered in hearts.   Too cute!

Tutu-rific!

I have a friend who creates the most adorable crocheted hats .  She did a photo shoot with Sunflowers Photography and I was able to squeeze some tutu's onto one of the model's she had.  Here's a picture of this cutie patootie wearing some of tutu bug's tutu's!

Bumble Bee

 Razmataz

There are a few more shots, but I need to get them resized.  I will add them later :)!

Peanut Butter Bon Bons

I meant to post up this Peanut Butter Bon Bon recipe in December, but just didn't get around to it, but hey, better late than never!  This is one of our favorite Christmas treats and peanut butter has lots of protein, so they must be good for you!  I originally got this recipe from a coworker of my DH several years ago.  It's been a holiday staple since.  I have simplified the recipe as well (who had a double boiler these days?!), so keep this in mind when you're hankering for a great mix of peanut butter and choclolate when nothing but homemade will do :)!

Peanut Butter Bon Bons

1-7 oz. Chocolate (this is the giant sized bar.  You can substitute milk chocoloate chips if needed)
8 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/8 stick parafin wax (found in baking aisle)
1-18 oz jar peanut butter
1 stick butter
1 lb box powdered sugar (I use a  little less than the whole box)
3 c. rice crispies cereal

In microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate bar (broken into pieces), chocolate chips and wax.  Be sure to shave the wax into the chocolate otherwise it will never melt.  Heat on high for 30 seconds.  Stir.  Keep heating and stirring in 30 second increments  until chocolate and was are melted.

In large bowl, combing peanut butter, stick butter and powdered sugar.  Mix together then add rice crispies (can use a little less if mix gets too dry).  Roll into balls and dip into melted chocolate.  Place on cookie sheet lined with wax paper and place in fridge till firm.

These are delicious, enjoy!!!!

Ohio State University Tutu

I had a client email me asking for an Ohio State University tutu for her 9 mo.  It's made of shimmery red and grey tulle, with a 5/8" white bow.  Here's a photo of it - it turned out so cute!!!

What the heck is a cornbag?!?!

Yeah I get that question a lot.  I sell cornbags at boutiques as well as my tutu's.  They seem to be very popular sellers, I have a lot of repeat buyers and people who purchase them for stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, etc.  Anyway, a corn bag is pretty much just that -a bag filled with corn.  It's a little fancier than that, I actually sew fabric (flannel or cotton) and fill with a special non-popping corn (no that isn't a dumb question, people ask it all the time).  The cornbag is used as an all natural hot pack or cold compress and is great for sore backs, cramps, achy muscles, headaches, etc, etc.  My favorite use for the cornbags is during the winter.  I heat it up and throw it under the covers at the foot of the bed.  I then put my cold toesies on the cornbag instead of my husband.  I think it actually saved our marriage.  Anyway, they are great little inventions and super affordable too. 

We store ours in the freezer so you always have an ice pack available and then take out and microwave as needed.  I currently have 4 in the freezer and am thinking of making a few more.  My kids love them and sleep with them year round.  The kids love them for some reason, two of my friends who bought them told me that their kiddos sleep with them as well.  Anyway, I know I had mentioned in a previous post about these and I wanted to finally explain them :).

Happy New Year!

Hope you had an exciting new year.  We were invited to a family s'mores party, wich was very fun and then we came home to blow up stuff light off fireworks with the neighbor kids.  It was fun times for all, although FREEZING.  I got my ski coat out for the first time since 1996 - and it still fit - yeehaw!   Anyway, I digress...I was asleep well before midnight - I choose sleep over fun, as I knew the kids would be up plenty early and they didn't disappoint!