Please Note

Weekly Wrap-Up

2012-03-02T06:29:00.000-08:00

Recipe here.

It's finally Friday, and considering that this week consisted of nothing but work and jury duty, I'm pretty happy about that. I have a fun DIY planned for this weekend that I'll be sharing next week as well as a new recipe. For now, I'll leave you with a list of my favorite things from the past week...

This country style eggs benedict recipe from Spoon Fork Bacon.

This sneak peek from Design Sponge. I love everything about this home.

Arrested Development Week on 365 Lucky Days. This girl is incapable of making anything I don't love.

This zip-tie lamp shade... such a simple and awesome DIY.

These brownie squares from Cupcakes and Cashmere. I might have to give them a try in my mini loaf pan.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Free March Desktop!

2012-03-01T06:28:00.001-08:00

It's that time again! February is gone and so is my February desktop. So what does a cuckoo clock have to do with March, you ask? Well, nothing. I thought about designing a St. Patrick's Day themed desktop but wasn't really feeling it so I decided to do something completely random. Why not, right?

1600x1200 // 2048x1536

The Best of February

2012-02-29T20:49:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is the first day of March! Can you believe it? February was definitely a fun month here on the blog so I figured it was only fitting to say goodbye to February with a look back at a few of my favorites (in no particular order)...

Christmas in February

Sun Dried Tomato and Spinach Pizza with Artichoke Hearts

DIY: Mounted Toy Animal Heads

DIY: Valentine Dioramas

What's In My Bag?

Homemade Chocolate Brownies

DIY: Faux Terrariums (featured on Skunkboy Creatures)

DIY: Toy Animal Valentines

Free Printable Valentine (although this could be used to show some love anytime)

DIY: Army Men Frame

Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes

DIY: Moss Toadstool Wreath

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for a free March desktop!

DIY: Moss Toadstool Wreath

2012-02-29T07:59:00.001-08:00

After making my mini terrariums for the DIY on Skunkboy Creatures last week, I had quite a bit of leftover preserved sheet moss. So, I decided to make a wreath!

What you'll need:

preserved sheet moss
wreath (straw or styrofoam)
styrofoam balls (different sizes)
red fabric
hot glue
white cardstock
white fabric paint
ribbon for hanging the wreath

Hot glue the sheet moss to the wreath.

Cut the styrofoam balls in half. Now cut your red fabric into circles big enough to wrap around the styrofoam balls. Use hot glue to secure the fabric.

Paint white dots on to the fabric using fabric paint.

Cut strips of white cardstock and roll them up. Use hot glue to secure the rolled paper and then glue them to the bottoms of the styrofoam balls.

Make little holes in the moss to place your mushrooms. Put a little hot glue on the bottom of the mushrooms before placing them into the moss to make sure they are secure.

Hang and enjoy!

Tip: since this is made using paper and fabric, it's probably best for indoor use.

Wall Hangings

2012-02-28T05:12:00.001-08:00

Do you like how I titled this post 'wall hangings' and then shot the photos on my lawn? Well, I have my reasons. I'm in the process of moving... if you consider bringing empty boxes home from work and then just looking at them 'in the process'. Anyway, I wanted to share a few of my recent purchases with you. When I was a kid, I always thought that my taste would mature with age. I figured I wouldn't be so attracted to brightly colored, cartoon-style things. Clearly, I was wrong... and that kind of makes me happy. Who wants to be mature anyway, right?

I bought the colorful Homco wall hanging from Kitsch Village just a few days ago. I've seen these pieces around and have always wanted one. I just love all of the colors. It's pretty ridiculous how much awesome and affordable stuff Rebecca (Kitsch Village owner) has up for sale right now. Go take a look!

The owl clock was a purchase I made a few months ago when I went to visit my cousin and aunt in Vancouver, Washington. I found it in an adorable little shop called Most Everything. It was one of those, 'if I leave the store without this, I'm going to regret it' purchases. I can't wait to hang it in the new apartment.

So, since I've recently been doing some Etsy perusing for items of this sort, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites...

owl and squirrel set. bluebird chalkware plaque.

refashioned chalkware mushroom set. Homco raccoon.

Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes

2012-02-27T06:28:00.000-08:00

Remember last week when I admitted that I had never made brownies from scratch? Well, I have another confession... I've also never made pancakes from scratch... until today! When I saw this recipe, I just had to give it a try, and you should too. These are delicious!

Ingredients (makes 12 large pancakes):

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup sugar
pinch of salt
1/3 cup poppy seeds
zest of 4 lemons
2 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Combine the buttermilk, eggs, butter, lemon zest, and poppy seeds.

Now combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Add the wet to the dry and stir until combined. Melt a little butter in a skillet and cook the pancakes until golden brown.

I topped my pancakes with fresh strawberries mixed with a little sugar. Enjoy!

Weekly Wrap-Up

2012-02-24T06:22:00.000-08:00

I've barely had any time to cook lately but I've sure been dreaming about a few old recipes. This weekend is going to be really busy but hopefully I'll have some time to make at least one of these. I'm thinking pickled eggs.

Recipes, clockwise: no-knead bread. pickled eggs. grit cakes. pasta salad.

This was an eventful week, to say the least. To begin, I FINALLY updated the vintage shop!

On Tuesday, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to share my faux terrarium DIY on Skunkboy Creatures. Click here to take a look.

My Mom's birthday was yesterday and one of the gifts I gave her was the Design Sponge book. It's been hiding in my closet for about a month. We looked through it a little bit last night and were overwhelmed with all of the wonderful ideas. I can't wait to take a more thorough look at it.

The biggest event of the week? My good friend, Amy, and I found an apartment! I'm EXTREMELY excited about this. There is so much decorating to do... curtains to make, photos to hang, furniture to paint. That empty apartment is our new blank canvas. I can't wait to share the details here on the blog.

I'll leave you all on that note, but before I sign off for the week, I have to choose the Giveable Greetings giveaway winner!

Congratulations Jess! We'll be emailing you shortly.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

DIY: Army Men Frame

2012-02-23T06:20:00.000-08:00

Well, I went on yet another shopping spree at the dollar store last weekend. I purchased a bag of army men and a cheap frame and made this! A $2 craft?! It doesn't get much better than that!

What you'll need:

hot glue
plastic army men
picture frame
primer
spray paint (whatever color you choose)

Remove the glass and backing and glue the army men to the frame.

Spray the frame with primer.

Now spray the frame with whatever color you choose. I'll admit, I painted it hot pink first. Then I decided I hated it and tried metallic silver. I love the silver!

Once the frame is dry, add a photo, replace the glass and backing, and you're all set! This would look great in a boy's room. Don't you think?

Psst... I'm picking the winner of the Giveable Greeting giveaway tomorrow! Have you entered?!

Sponsor Spotlight: The Life of a Cupcake

2012-02-22T06:29:00.000-08:00

It's that time again! I would like to introduce you to the lovely Jules of The Life of a Cupcake! Jules has an adorable blog and runs her own custom made cupcake business, but I'll let her tell you more about that...

my name is jules and i am from toronto! i am a creative and fun loving girl and i do my best to live my life in a very positive & happy way! i am a lover of all things cute, a cupcake baker, little miss christmas, arts & crafts lover, hugest beatles fan ever, i love party planning/hosting!, i love travelling and going on adventures!, wearing cute dresses and red lipstick and spending time with all the amazing people in my life :) my little blog "the life of a cupcake" is my place to post things that make me smile and hopefully brighten someone's day!

How cute are her cupcakes? I love the colors!

Learn more about Jules...

BLOG / TWITTER / FACEBOOK / PINTEREST

DIY: Faux Terrariums

2012-02-21T15:58:00.000-08:00

Psst... I have a DIY featured on Skunkboy Creatures today! Go take a look!

Homemade Chocolate Brownies

2012-02-21T06:27:00.001-08:00

I have a confession to make... I've NEVER made brownies from scratch... until today! The ones from the box are just so good. Especially the Ghirardelli ones. Anyway, I found this recipe and knew I had to give it a try. I'm pleased to tell you that these brownies are absolutely delicious!

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
2 1/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9"x13" baking dish. In a saucepan, melt the butter and then add the sugar. Cook for 2 minutes stirring constantly. Do not let the mixture boil.

Place the butter mixture, cocoa powder, eggs, salt, baking powder, and vanilla into a large bowl. Mix until combined.

Stir in the flour and chocolate chips.

Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.

These babies are rich! So I'll leave you with a Steel Magnolias quote...

Vintage Shop Update

2012-02-20T09:31:00.000-08:00

Since I don't get around to updating the vintage shop very much these days, I'm really excited that I actually added some new items over the weekend! Here's a glimpse of what's new...

yellow iron trivet (complete with the best motto ever)

purple striped thermos

orange egg beater

set of 3 Pyrex dishes

1980's Denver, Colorado salt and pepper shakers

floral fiberglass serving bowl

Coming up this week... a new DIY that I'm really in love with and a deeeeelicious chocolatey recipe!

Happy Monday!

Sponsor Please Note in March!

2012-02-19T22:28:00.000-08:00

Interested in sponsoring Please Note in March? Let me start by saying... THANK YOU! I'd love to spend the month with you!

Please Note's pageviews have recently been averaging between 1,000 and 3,000 per day! Ad rates are VERY reasonable and all ads come complete with either a solo or group feature. For more information, check out the sponsor info page here or click "sponsor info" to your right.

Weekly Wrap-Up

2012-02-17T06:29:00.001-08:00

Happy Friday, friends! My three day weekend starts tomorrow and I couldn't be happier. I'm planning on restocking the vintage shop, washing my car, doing a little much needed clothes shopping, and most importantly, not setting my alarm! But enough about me, it's Friday so I've composed my list of favorites from the past week. Enjoy!

First of all, Lucky of Lucky Jackson and 365 Lucky Days recently posted this and I freaked out juuuust a little. Also, speaking of Ron Swanson, if any of you are fellow fans of his, I urge you to listen to this podcast (you can also get it through iTunes). I listen to podcasts at work all the time and Comedy Bang Bang is one of my favorites. It's especially goofy humor. Anyway, Nick Offerman was the special guest on the January 16th episode and I was pleased to find out that he is pretty much just like Ron Swanson in real life. He even owns a woodshop! Ok, I'm done, I swear.

In other news, these three cake batter milkshake recipes had me drooling. I, being the major chocoholic that I am, can't wait to try the devils food recipe.

This post from Decor8 has me completely rethinking my feelings about wallpaper. See the entire collection here. My favorite is the very first one (the blue paper with the awesome floral design in the center).

I'm loving these vlogs from Chantilly of My Girl Thursday and Elycia of Love Elycia... they're so informative! See the first one here.

These homemade cheez-its from Robin of A Chow Life are calling my name. The post is beautiful too.

Last but not least, these dresser makeovers from Erin and Stefanie of Oh So Lovely Vintage are so cute I can't get over it. Those two are so inspiring!

That's it for this week, everybody. Enjoy your weekend!

DIY: Mounted Toy Animal Heads

2012-02-16T06:29:00.000-08:00

After my Toy Animal Valentine DIY, I had a few leftover animals and didn't know what to do with them. My friend Jess suggested that I made tiny wall mounted animal heads, so I did! The elephant was simple but the unicorn took a little more work. It was well worth the effort if you ask me because, well, unicorns are awesome.

What you'll need:

toy animals (found in the dollar section of Target)
wooden plaques (found at Joann's... the tiny ones are cheap)
hot glue
spray paint
a saw
sandpaper
paint pens (if you choose to make a unicorn)
a pointy wooden dowel (also if you choose to make a unicorn)

The first thing you're going to need to do, and there's no nice way of saying this, is cut their heads off. I know, this photo looks a little gruesome. Sand the cut edges of the heads until they're smooth.

Next, spray paint your wooden plaques whatever color you like. I chose a natural brown color for the elephant and bright purple for the unicorn. I also added tiny silver specks to the purple plaque by spraying metallic paint just next to it and letting the wind carry some of the paint over.

If you're making a unicorn, spray paint the horse head white. Once it's dry, use paint pens to paint the mane like a rainbow. For the horn, I used the pointy wooden dowel that comes inside bags of Poly-Fil. I sawed off the pointy part, spray painted it hot pink, and hot glued it to the horse's head.

Finally, once everything is dry, line the back of the heads with hot glue and attach them to the plaques.

Glue or nail a tiny hook to the back and hang them up!

Sponsor Spotlight: Giveable Greetings (and a Giveaway!)

2012-02-15T06:28:00.001-08:00

I'm pleased to introduce you all to the lovely and charismatic Steph of Giveable Greetings. Hailing from Vancouver, BC, this fellow paper goods maker comes up with some seriously awesome designs. Click here to check out her shop and read on to learn a bit more about her!

Hullo, I'm Steph - a stationery-obsessed graphic designer with an inexplicable need to illustrate puns and put them to paper. Though originally studying to be a forensic psychologist, I decided one day to apply to animation school and got in. So I did that instead. I did a 2 year program in 2d animation (you know, the hand-drawn kind), and was employed in the industry for a few years before realizing that I preferred to work with images that didn't move.

I now attempt to bring home some bacon as a freelance web / graphic designer, caricature artist, children’s book illustrator, branding & marketing designer, packaging designer, and in my free time (what?) I own and operate my greeting card shop: Giveable Greetings - a side project for my more quirky, vintage- and retro-inspired art. Also, I’m attempting to teach myself the fine art of photography (using my collection of vintage 35mm, medium format and Polaroid cameras from the 1940s to the 1970s), as well as the ukulele. And that, in a nutshell, is me.

Learn more about Steph...

SHOP / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / TUMBLR

GIVEAWAY!

Steph is is giving away a multipack of goodies! This pack includes cards for pretty much every occasion of the year...

It doesn't get much better than that!

How to enter:

Visit the Giveable Greetings shop and leave a comment telling me what your favorite item is! Remember to leave your email address as well.

Additional entries (leave a seperate comment for each entry):

-follow Giveable Greetings on Twitter

-follow Please Note on Twitter

-follow Giveable Greetings on Facebook

-follow Please Note on Facebook

So there you have it! 5 ways to enter!

I'll be picking the winner on Friday, February 24th.

Good luck, friends!

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
Thank you to everyone who entered!

The 14th of February

2012-02-14T06:30:00.000-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

I've put together a little DIY round-up and a list of lovely Valentine's Day posts from a few of my favorite blogs. Enjoy!

Did you forget to make or buy a card? Not to worry! Click here to download this free printable valentine!

These toy animal valentines are cheap, simple to make, and pretty darn cute.

Take a trip back to elementary school with these handmade valentine dioramas.

Need to make some quick decorations? This no-sew garland DIY is easier than you think!

The lovely list...

This DIY heart sweater from A Beautiful Mess is perfect for Valentine's Day but really, it would be cute anytime.

Katie of Skunkboy Creatures wore this outfit back in January but it would be absolutely adorable today too!

Erin and Stephanie of Oh So Lovely Vintage recently posted this cute heart garland DIY... and it looks nice and simple!

This homemade Valentine's Day stationery from Cupcakes and Cashmere is just my style. I love the glittered handwriting.

Last but definitely not least is this sparkly 'I Love Your Guts' banner from My Girl Thursday. I'm going to have to say that this is my favorite Valentine's Day DIY yet.

That's all for today, friends. Now go eat some candy hearts!

Lucy photo found here.

Sun Dried Tomato & Spinach Pizza with Artichoke Hearts

2012-02-13T06:26:00.001-08:00

On Saturday I had a hankering for pizza, but not just any ordinary pizza... something a little more gourmet. I found this homemade alfredo sauce recipe and went from there. The results were deeeeeeelicious!

Sauce Ingredients:
(note: this recipe makes a decent amount of sauce... I had a lot leftover so I made pasta with it the next day)

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 package cream cheese, softened and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup milk
3 oz. parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
a pinch of salt

Melt the butter over medium heat and add the garlic. Simmer for about 2 minutes. Add the cream cheese and whisk until smooth. Add the milk, a little at a time, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the parmesan, pepper, and salt. Remove from heat when sauce reaches desired thickness.

Toppings:

small jar of sun dried tomatoes in olive oil
fresh spinach
small jar of artichoke hearts
mozzarella cheese

Roll out your dough (yes, I used store bought... I'm lazy) and add a little bit of the sauce. Add your toppings and and drizzle a little more sauce on top.

Bake until the crust starts to brown (about 15 minutes).

Enjoy! We sure did...

Weekly Wrap-Up

2012-02-10T06:19:00.000-08:00

I plan on staying in this weekend and doing a lot of baking. That cheesecake in the top left corner is first on my to do list. It's my absolute favorite recipe. I mean, the crust isn't even crust, it's a thin layer of spongecake... and it's SO GOOD.

Recipes, clockwise: cheesecake. chocolate cookies. muffins. chocolate chip cookies.

Since it's Friday, I'll leave you with a few of my favorites from this week...

These polka dot shorts from Delightfully Tacky are adorable. I'll definitely be adding some polka dots to a plain article of clothing soon.

Kate of Longest Acres continues to inspire me with each photo she takes. These are just beautiful.

I've never even considered buying a juicer until I saw this post on A Beautiful Mess. Blood orange, grapefruit, and tangerine juice? Yes, please.

This week, Katie from Skunkboy Creatures wrote this 'Stepping Out Of Your Box' post and I really enjoyed it... especially considering I've been stuck in a jeans and t-shirt rut for about, oh, 25 years.

The recipe I'm currently drooling over is this one from Leah of Freutcake. I've never attempted to make whoopie pies but I think I might have to now!

I saw this punch box valentine on Design Sponge and was instantly smitten. Does anyone remember the Punch-A-Bunch game from the Price is Right? Maybe they still have it, I don't know. Anyway, this valentine reminds me of that game so much and I think that's why I love it. That was definitely one of my favorites. That and Plinko, and Cliff Hangers. Man, I really loved the Price is Right as a kid.

That's it for this week, friends. Have a great weekend!

DIY: Valentine Dioramas

2012-02-09T06:25:00.000-08:00

What's better than a handmade valentine? A handmade valentine diorama! As I was making these, I got a little nostalgic. I don't think I've actually made a diorama since about 4th grade. Well, I'm pleased to tell you, that just like riding a bike, you never forget how to make one of these little guys!

What you'll need:

an empty box (a shoebox might be a bit large, I used the little boxes that my printer ink comes in)
wrapping paper (I found mine in the dollar section at Target)
construction paper
ribbon or rickrack (felt rickrack also found at Target)
little hearts, stickers, confetti, etc. (I found the red hearts on sticks at the dollar store)
a cute photo printed and cut out (a personal photo, a vintage Valentine, Lucy and Ricky... you get the drift)
hot glue

Making the diorama is pretty self explanatory, and like I said, it will really bring back some memories! The only tip I have that I wish I'd discovered in 4th grade, is to use one long piece of construction paper glued to each side for the background. A single piece of paper makes a nice seamless backdrop!

What's In My Bag?

2012-02-08T06:29:00.000-08:00

Every time I see a What's In My Bag post on a blog, I'm immediately intrigued. I don't know why. I guess I'm just nosy. So, I decided to do one myself! Here's what we have going on today...

Contents:

recycled juice label make-up bag - Barnes & Noble
iPod
Mac Studio Fix
Tootsie pop (a tiny portion of the candy selection I seem to always carry with me)
colorful food wallet - from a local shop
Guadalupe card holder - a gift
toothbrush and toothpaste (so I can brush my teeth after lunch at work)
camera - an old, beat-up Canon Powershot (I try to always have a camera with me)
journal - Target

Be sure and stop by tomorrow for a new DIY!

Free Printable Valentine

2012-02-07T06:24:00.001-08:00

I love when I come across free printable cards, gift tags, calendars, etc. So, I decided to make my own to share with all of you! This little Valentine's Day card measures 5" x 3 1/2" when folded.

Click here to download. Print the image (including blank space and instructions) so that it fits on to a regular sized piece of paper (cardstock is best).

I hope that works!

Christmas in February

2012-02-06T06:24:00.000-08:00

This weekend I took the train down to San Diego to visit some family. It was actually the first time I'd seen them since before Christmas so we finally got to exchange presents! My Aunt Lynnea and cousin Amy (both of whom have recipes I've shared on the blog - here and here) gave me a few awesome books. Cookbooks and a Lucille Ball tribute book? They know me too well. Anyway, I had a little time to go through them on the train ride home and I love them so much that I thought I'd share them with you today!

I read about the first 40 pages of Lucille Ball Treasures and fell in love. Cindy De La Hoz documents the first years of Lucy's life in great detail and I'm a little embarrassed to say (as a huge Lucy fan) that there was a lot I didn't know! Along with the in depth writing, this book has a lot of excellent photos and interesting little extras, including replicas of ads, movie posters, and tickets to shows Lucy starred in (pictured below).

The first of my two new cookbooks is Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It: And Other Cooking Projects. I'm a huge fan of pickled eggs but I've never actually made pickles. This book has definitely inspired me to give them a try. Another recipe I found in here that I can't wait to try: chocolate marshmallows!

Last but definitely not least is an all sugar cookbook by the name of Sugar Baby. Although the recipes in this book look absolutely delicious, the thing I love the most about it is the graphics and how it's organized. Check out the table of contents (pictured below)... the recipes are organized by temperature and sugar concentration, how cool is that?

You'll definitely be seeing a few of these recipes on the blog soon!

Weekly Wrap-Up

2012-02-03T06:27:00.001-08:00

Now that the blog is over a year old, I find myself curious to see what I was posting about exactly a year ago. Turns out, on February 3rd, 2011, I took a few photos of my very first terrarium. Well, technically I made my first terrarium in elementary school (with a lot of help from my Dad)... I really wish I had photos of that one. Anyway, I tend to look back at old photos and find something I don't like about them, but I always kind of liked these. There's nothing quite like that soft morning sunlight. It almost makes me want to wake up early on the weekends and go exploring with my camera... almost.

Since it's Friday, I'll leave you with a few of my favorites from this week...

I'm in love with this elbow patch DIY from Honestly WTF.

A matching doll outfit? It doesn't get much cuter than that.

I really enjoyed this Sneak Peek from Design Sponge. My favorite part is the retro sign letter.

Last but definitely not least, it's time to announce the winner of the Art By Emi giveaway!

Congratulations KAT! I'll send your email address to Emily and she'll be getting in touch with you!

Have a great weekend, friends!

DIY: Toy Animal Valentines

2012-02-02T06:26:00.000-08:00

Looking to make some out of the ordinary valentines this year? These toy animal valentines are not only cheap, they're extremely simple!

What you'll need:

toy animals (I found these in the dollar section at Target)
paint (red or pink)
a saw
paper (to make your valentine)
glue or tape

Use a saw to make a small cut in the animal's mouth. I know, I know... it looks a little brutal.

Add a few hearts using paint or a paint pen. Glittery hearts would be even better!

Make a few valentines with corny sayings, such as...

cow - I hope you're in the mooood to be my valentine.

lion - I'm wild about you.

monkey - I go bananas for you.

giraffe - Giraffe to believe me when I say I love you.

bear - Be my valentine... I couldn't bear it if you said no!

I think you get the idea. If your valentine doesn't fit snugly in the animal's mouth, use a dab of glue or some tape. That's it! Now give it to your valentine for them to display proudly!

P.S. I'm picking the winner of the Art By Emi giveaway tomorrow! Have you entered?!

Free February Desktop!

2012-02-01T06:27:00.000-08:00

It's that time again! I created a new desktop for February! I'm trying out a few different sizes this month including an iPhone version. Hopefully it works!

1600x1200 // 2048x1536 // iPhone

The Best of January + A Birthday

2012-01-31T06:18:00.000-08:00

source

Guess who's turning 1 today? The blog! I can't believe it's been a year! I'm so happy with how much my little blog has grown. I've learned a lot in the past year and I'm excited for what's in store!

In other news, I've decided to start doing a little round-up at the end of each month highlighting my favorite posts. January was a big month for me! Here goes...

I started my blog planner this month and I absolutely love it. I feel so much more organized. This photo is from my very first post where I featured a photo an hour.

My Aunt Lynnea sent me another delicious cookie recipe! I featured her first recipe, chocolate brownie cookies, almost a year ago. Both recipes are excellent.

This simple pin cushion DIY was one of my favorites this month, and it's so useful!

I did a little experimenting with my camera and got some really cool shots of my Christmas lights at the beginning of the month.

I discovered an extremely simple appetizer recipe just in time for the Super Bowl!

Valentine's Day made an appearance in January with this no-sew felt garland. It's never too early to start decorating!

My Aunt Jen sent me her spicy bloody mary recipe and I shared it over on My Girl Thursday!

Last but definitely not least, I created my first e-book this month! It covers the basics of creating a simple sidebar ad.

So there you have it... my little January round-up. Bring on the month of love!

100,000 Pageview Giveaway Winner!

2012-01-30T20:11:00.000-08:00

Drumroll please! The winner is...

HEATHER BELLE

Congratulations, Heather! I'll be contacting you shortly.

Flourless Dark Chocolate Cookies

2012-01-30T06:22:00.000-08:00

I made these cookies yesterday and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. If you're as big of a chocoholic as I am, you'll definitely want to give these a try. Original recipe found here.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
3 large egg whites, room temperature
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Melt 1 cup of the chocolate chips and set aside to cool slightly.

Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add in 1 cup of the powdered sugar. Continue beating until the mixture resembles soft marshmallow creme.

Combine 1 cup of the powdered sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt.

On low speed, beat the dry ingredients into the meringue. Stir in lukewarm chocolate and the remaining chocolate chips. The dough will be very stiff.

Roll the dough into balls about the size of a tablespoon. Roll the balls in the remaining powdered sugar until thickly coated. Space about 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet.

Bake until the tops crack (about 10 minutes). Do not over bake! I made this mistake and burned the bottoms of my first batch. They should be soft and gooey inside (even gooier than the top photo).

You're going to need a big glass of milk for these bad boys!

Psst... I'm picking the 100,000 pageview giveaway winner tonight at 8PM PST!

Weekly Wrap-Up

2012-01-27T06:26:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy week!

I shared my Aunt Jen's spicy bloody mary recipe (pictured above) over on My Girl Thursday yesterday! Be sure and check it out if you're as big of a fan of bloody marys as I am.

I have a little interview up over on Allison Lehman's blog, Show & Tell, as well as a giveaway... and it ends today!

Speaking of giveaways, I'm picking the winner of the 100,000 pageview giveaway (pictured below) on MONDAY! Click here to enter!

Happy Friday, friends!

DIY: No-Sew Felt Heart Garland

2012-01-26T06:24:00.001-08:00

Let the Valentine's Day DIYs begin! I ran across these heart garland tutorials by Betz White and was inspired to make my own. I knew I wanted to use felt. I also knew I didn't feel like dragging out my sewing machine... and so, the no-sew felt heart garland was born!

What you'll need:

felt (I used wool felt)
hot glue
scissors

First, cut two strips of felt. The width will determine how large your hearts are (I cut my felt to be about 5 inches wide). The length will determine how many hearts you will make (the longer the strip of fabric, the more hearts you will be able to cut).

Using a thin strip of hot glue, glue the pieces together along the longest edge.

Now glue the two open edges together so that the felt forms a heart (not an oval).

Cut 1 inch strips to create the hearts.

Hot glue the hearts together and you're done!

As you can see, since my hearts are large, they stretch out when hung. If you don't want yours to stretch this much, I recommend cutting your original felt strips (the two pieces you cut before you start gluing) to be a little thinner.

Sponsor Spotlight: Art by Emi (and a Giveaway!)

2012-01-25T06:20:00.001-08:00

Today I'm pleased to introduce you to Emily Cobett, the mastermind behind Art By Emi. Emily and I have actually been friends since elementary school and even as a kid, she was a terrific artist. I'm so glad that she has continued to draw and paint because she really does incredible work.

As a native Southern Californian, I gain my inspiration from the wide array of local cities and beaches, and their cultures that flourish around me. Ever since I was old enough to hold a crayon, I've had a drive to create images with bright, bold colors, on everything I can get my hands on. I guess you could say I see the world through rose colored glasses; and turquoise.. and chartreuse... and BRIGHT yellow.. and magenta...and.... you get the idea.

My belief is that art can be everywhere, and should be accessible by anyone. I work with multiple mediums on an endless variety of surfaces, in an effort to bring art to those who crave the less mundane. Recent work has included: Surfboards, Bicycles, Musical Instruments, Motorcycle Helmets, Clothing and Accessories for adults/babies, and a lot more. I'm grateful for each unique request I receive, and it warms my heart to connect with others who embrace having art as a prominent part of their day to day life.

Learn more about Emily...

WEBSITE / ETSY SHOP

GIVEAWAY!

Emily is giving away this awesome Sea Biscuit print from her Etsy shop!

To enter, simply leave a comment below. One comment per reader please.

Don't forget to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win!

I'll be choosing a winner on Friday, February 3rd!

Bloomin' Onion Bread

2012-01-24T06:14:00.001-08:00

The second I saw this recipe for Bloomin' Onion Bread, I knew I had to give it a try. Well, I did... and it's delicious! It's bread and butter and cheese, how could it not be?

Ingredients:

1 loaf of sourdough bread, unsliced
1 package (12-16 oz.) monterey jack cheese
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
2 teaspoons poppy seeds

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Slice your bread lengthwise and widthwise to create a grid without cutting through the bottom.

Slice the cheese and stuff the slices into the bread between the cuts.

Chop the onion.

Combine the onions and butter. Place the bread on a foil lined baking sheet and drizzle with the butter/onion mixture. Sprinkle with poppy seeds.

Cover the bread with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 15 minutes or until the cheese has completely melted (gently pull the bread apart to check the cheese inside too). That's it!

We had about 1/2 of the loaf leftover the next day so I reheated it and dipped the bread pieces in marinara. I highly recommend that too!

A Photo an Hour

2012-01-23T06:23:00.001-08:00

I stayed in this weekend because my sinuses have been acting up and I needed the rest. So... on Saturday I decided to try my hand at taking a photo an hour. Here goes...

9AM

10AM

11AM

12PM

1PM

2PM

3PM

4PM

5PM

The rest of the night pretty much consisted of sitting in front of the computer... nothing interesting to photograph there. I'm going to have to try this more often... especially on a day when I leave the house!

Weekly Wrap-Up

2012-01-20T06:19:00.001-08:00

This week I started my blog planning notebook, inspired by this post by Elsie of A Beautiful Mess. I already feel 100% more organized. I drew some monthly calendars inside to keep track of what posts go up on what days. It's a great feeling seeing the entire month planned out on one page. Suddenly blogging every day while working doesn't seem quite so overwhelming. I found that notebook at Target and added a few little personal touches with some felt and hot glue.

In other news...

I just discovered Spoon Fork Bacon and I'm completely smitten with every recipe Teri and Jenny post, and those photos! SO pretty.

The lovely ladies over at Oh So Lovely Vintage put up a post earlier this week about the House of the Future and I can't get enough of it.

This flannel scarf DIY makes me wish I'd never thrown out those old pajamas. I should be able to scrounge something up though. I really want to give it a try.

Another DIY I want to try is this Valentine's Day snow globe. Now I want to make a snow globe for every holiday (or at least all the winter ones).

In keeping with the Valentine's Day theme, and since I shared some adorable cards last Friday, I'll share some more today. I discovered these Crankbunny Tattoo Cards thanks to Design*Sponge and I absolutely love them...

Alright, friends. I'll be back next week with a new recipe and a DIY! In the meantime, have you entered the 100,000 Pageview Giveaway?

Have a great weekend!

Somewhere in Dreamland

2012-01-19T06:17:00.000-08:00

As a kid, I had a VHS tape with a few old cartoons on it that I would watch constantly. My favorite cartoon was Somewhere in Dreamland, a 1936 short produced by Max Fleischer.

A brother and sister walk through town collecting wood and return home to their mother who unfortunately can't afford to give them a nice dinner.

The children fall asleep that night and dream of a land filled with new clothes, candy, ice cream, popcorn, and toys.

They wake up in the morning to find a huge feast has been prepared for them by the merchants in town who had seen them collecting wood the day before.

I loved this cartoon so much when I was a kid that I used to construct my own miniature "candy dreamland" out of construction paper and milk cartons. I looked everywhere for that old VHS tape and couldn't find it so I was pretty excited when I found it on YouTube and I knew I just had to share this little gem with all of you. Enjoy!

Sponsor Spotlight: MarMarVintage

2012-01-18T06:22:00.001-08:00

It's that time again! I would like to introduce you to the lovely Maria of MarMarVintage! Maria has a fantastic Etsy shop filled with tons of cute items, but I'll let her tell you more about that...

MarMarVintage started up as a dream from a little girl who used to go shopping with her mom at thrift stores. I learned to become a picker by diving into piles of vintage clothing and selecting the best quality garments.

After moving to Los Angeles, I went back to my vintage clothing dream. I began doing research and working with amazing vintage vendors. The name MarMarVintage came from my nickname by my Sweetheat girls. I have hand-selected these vintage garments for the latest fashion trends. I wanted to bring affordable vintage clothing to every stylish girl. Every woman should be unique and bring a little " MarMar" into their wardrobe.

Use discount code PLEASENOTEPAPER25 to receive 25% off of any MarMarVintage item!

BLOG / SHOP / TWITTER

Sponsor Please Note in February!

2012-01-17T09:17:00.000-08:00

I'm currently accepting February sponsors!

Thank you!

Dark Chocolate Bark

2012-01-17T08:25:00.000-08:00

I've never made chocolate bark before and I don't really know why. It's so easy! I recently decided to make three different types.

Ingredients:

dark chocolate chips (or milk chocolate, depending on your preference)
pretzels
Heath bar
marshmallows

Of course there are many options for toppings but these three sounded good to me. You could also use nuts, dried fruit, sunflower seeds, cereal, BACON! Anyway, it was easy to break the pretzels up into smaller pieces... the Heath bars were a different story. I put a few Heath bars into a plastic sandwich bag and took a hammer to them. That did the trick.

Next, I melted the chocolate chips, spread the chocolate over a wax paper lined baking sheet, and added the toppings.

It only takes about 15 minutes in the freezer for the chocolate to harden. I cut the chocolate into pieces with a knife but you could just break it too. That's it!

The 100,000 Pageview Giveaway!

2012-01-16T08:18:00.000-08:00

I'm THRILLED to finally be posting this giveaway! My little blog recently reached 100,000 total pageviews so I wanted to do something as a way to say thank you to my readers. I've gathered a few items from some of my favorite shops and one person will win it all! Here's a closer look at each item...

Mushroom Lane - Toadstool Mushroom Pillow by Norajane

Retro Bingo Coasters (Set of Four) by Cheltenham Road

Upcycled Notebook with Maps of Canada by Rescued Paper

Yellow Fawn Ring found at a local store.

Pink Rose Earrings by Ilaments

So there you have it! One reader will win all five items! I want everyone to have plenty of chances to win so there are many ways to enter! Here's how...

-Become a member of Please Note by clicking the Join this site button on the right

-Like Please Note on Facebook

-Follow Please Note on Twitter

-Tweet about the giveaway

-Follow Please Note on Bloglovin'

Be sure and leave a separate comment for each entry!

I'll be picking a winner at random on Monday, January 30th!

An Update...

2012-01-15T14:08:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a lazy weekend is necessary. At least that's what I'm telling myself. Although I've spent way too much time watching TV this weekend, I did manage to drag myself to the store today and then do a little experimenting in the kitchen. Anyway, my reason for stopping in today is to announce the winner of the giveaway sponsored by Lauren of A Wild Tonic Vintage!

Congratulations Natasha! I've forwarded your email address to Lauren!

Weekly Wrap-Up

2012-01-13T06:24:00.000-08:00

Oh Friday, my favorite day of the week, besides Saturday... and Sunday. I've decided to start dedicating Friday's post to highlights from the past week. Meaning... interesting posts from my favorite blogs, news or updates that I might have to share, recipes I've discovered and can't wait to try, etc. So, let's get to it...

First and foremost, I finally have everything together for the 100,000 pageview giveaway and it's going up MONDAY! I'm seriously excited about this. I've collected items from a few of my favorite Etsy shops as well as a few local shops and one reader will win everything. You won't want to miss this!

Speaking of giveaways, I made sure to enter this one and you should too!

Valentine's day will be here before we know it and these cards, found via Design Sponge, are calling my name...

I saw this outfit post of Lauren's over on A Wild Tonic Vintage and was instantly inspired. The amount of t-shirts I own is ridiculous, and what do I pair them with? Jeans. Boring. I love the striped skirt she chose.

Lastly, I suppose I should mention this because in a few hours I'll hopefully be getting my hands on a ticket and then it will pretty much be all I can think about for the next three months.

Have a great weekend, friends. I'll be back on Monday with the giveaway!

Blog Love: Heart of Light

2012-01-12T06:21:00.001-08:00

Heart of Light has been one of my favorite blogs since the day I discovered this wonderful world of blogging. As I've said in the past, my absolute favorite blogs are those with drool-worthy photography and this one definitely fits the profile. I could drone on about how Rachel (the mastermind behind Heart of Light) has a keen eye for natural light and makes every recipe she makes and DIY she creates look like something out of a magazine, but I'll just let you see for yourself...

See what I mean? Rachel has been a HUGE inspiration for me. The more I started reading Heart of Light, the more I started turning off my kitchen lights and photographing my recipes strictly during the day. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention her wedding. Aaaaadorable.

Maria's Chocolate Apricot Cookies

2012-01-11T06:28:00.001-08:00

You might recall a recipe I posted almost a year ago for my Aunt Lynnea's Brownie Cookies. I've made those chocolatey little treats on multiple occasions and they're always a hit. Well, she's done it again! My Aunt Lynnea emailed me before Christmas with some news that this old family recipe had won 2nd place in the Bella Vida Orchards recipe contest. When I heard this, I knew I just had to give these cookies a try, and of course, share the recipe with all of you!

To begin, you can either prepare pie crust dough for 2 double crust pies or use the pre-made dough from the store. I took the easy way out and bought my dough, although I'm sure these would be even more delicious if you were to make your own.

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. dried apricots, chopped medium fine
6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped medium fine (I left these out because I'm not a huge fan of walnuts)
3 tablespoons apricot jam
rum

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Chop the apricots and melt the chocolate chips.

Mix the apricots, chocolate, and jam. Add enough rum to thin moderately... about 2 tablespoons.

Cut the dough into 3" circles. I just used the top of a cup to cut them out.

Place 1 rounded teaspoon of filling onto each circle and fold to form a crescent. I'm pretty sure I used way too much filling and didn't seal the dough enough because most of my cookies burst open when baked but who cares? They still tasted delicious!

Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes.

Bake until lightly browned. Watch carefully to make sure the bottoms don't burn.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar or go ahead and roll the cookies in it!

These cookies are delicious cooled but excellent warm. Enjoy!

Sponsor Spotlight: Secondhand Sundays

2012-01-10T06:26:00.000-08:00

Today I'm pleased to introduce you to the lovely Bekuh of Secondhand Sundays. This girl's blog is seriously adorable. Not only are her DIYs awesome, but her recipes look delicious!

Hello lovelies! My name is Bekuh and I’m the hair brained mastermind behind Secondhand Sundays, my personal blog. I currently live in a wonderful city nestled between the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia with my brand-spanking-new husband, Ryan. You’ll see him a lot around my blog.

Secondhand Sundays is a fairly new venture for me, started last January, and I’m happily watching my little blog buddy blossom into a treasure trove of food inspiration, vintage, daily fashion, and crafty handmade goods that you can make and share. Starting in March my blog will expand to include a vintage clothing shop on Etsy with my good friend Katie. The shop will be called the Button Factory and I can’t wait to share the progress with my readers.

I’m so honored to be a part of the sponsor highlight this month and hope you’ll check Secondhand Sundays out for yourself!

BLOG / FACEBOOK / PINTEREST

DIY: Mason Jar Pin Cushion

2012-01-09T06:23:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I spent a little time organizing my workspace and I kept finding random pins from the last time I was in a sewing frenzy. Clearly I'm not organized enough to keep my pins in their designated box so I figured, why not make a pin cushion to keep on my desk?

What you'll need:

mason jar
scissors
hot glue
small piece of fabric
a little Polyfill

Trim the fabric to be about an inch larger than the lid. Hot glue the fabric to the lid leaving a small opening. Add the Polyfill and seal it up. Line the inside of the outer part of the lid with glue and secure the cushion inside. That's it!

An Update...

2012-01-06T06:24:00.001-08:00

I have a few things to tell you all that I'm very excited about! On Wednesday the blog reached 100,000 pageviews! It seems like just yesterday I was celebrating 10,000. As a thank you to my readers, I'm currently planning a giveaway... and it's going to be a good one! I'm hoping to have it up within a week so stay tuned! Also... I know I'm a little late on this but I finally put together my 2012 "To Do" list.

Since it's the end of the week, I've also put together a little list of Friday Favorites...

I just started reading Delightfully Tacky and I'm so in love. Elizabeth's wedding was absolutely gorgeous and so was her dress!

Jenn of Clever Girl made this Swanson Plush and I won't lie... I freaked out a little when I saw him.

Leah of Sookie Says shared this photo and I think it's just adorable. What a cute way to break the news!

As if this mint colored mixer wasn't cool enough... this handmade vinyl decal makes it absolutely perfect!

Last but not least, I wanted to share my newest obsession, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. I've been watching it every night before bed. I can't get enough of Gracie, she's just too cute...

Alright friends, I'll leave you on that note. Oh! One more thing. I try my best to respond to comments, especially if the comment includes a question. Recently, I've been receiving comments that I can't read because well, they're not in English... and Google Translate doesn't seem to be helping. So, please excuse me if I don't respond. I'm absolutely not trying to be rude, I just don't know how!

Have a great weekend everyone!

A Little Photo Experiment

2012-01-05T06:20:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, I decided to experiment with my camera a bit. I've seen this method referred to as bokeh, but I've also read some quite extensive threads as to why it shouldn't be called bokeh. So, for the time being, I'm going to call it experimenting with my camera... because who really cares? All that matters is that you're being creative!

I was going to make another (prettier) lens cover to show you all because at first I thought this one was a bit ridiculous. Then I realized, this is exactly what I want to show you. This taped up disaster proves that the creative process can be a bit messy and frustrating at times but it's always worth the trouble.

I used thick cardstock to form a tube and made sure that it fit snugly around the lens. I then cut a heart shape out of a circular piece of cardstock and taped it to the front. The first heart I cut was way too big. As you can see, I fixed that problem by cutting another circular piece with a much smaller heart. This small heart worked much better. I tested my lens cover on some Christmas lights. I set my focus to manual and made sure it was nice and blurry. I then played around with the aperture a bit and held the shutter open for a good amount of time to let a lot of light in. Here's what I captured...

The Christmas lights on my house are pretty simple, so the hearts came out nice and clean...

My neighbors have a much bigger display. Their lights are also a bit more fluorescent...

My other neighbors have the single colored strand/icicle light combo. At first I thought this looked too messy but it kind of grew on me...

Last but not least, I had to test it out on my pink tree!

I'll definitely be working with this technique more in the future.

Blog Ad Design

2012-01-04T06:23:00.000-08:00

Drumroll please... I would like to introduce you all to... MY VERY FIRST E-BOOK! I realized recently that I take for granted the fact that Photoshop is a huge part of my life these days. Many of the seemingly simple techniques that come easy to me now were at one time ridiculously frustrating.

Anyway, about a week ago my good friend Heather, of A Thousand Hellos, recommended that I create a tutorial about designing a blog ad button, so I did! This e-book covers the basics of creating a simple sidebar ad. If you read through my little book and have further questions, don't hesitate to contact me. I would love to help! So, without further ado, my e-book...

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BLOG AD DESIGN

No-Bake Chocolate Crunch Cookies

2012-01-03T06:16:00.001-08:00

I found this recipe via Savory Sweet Life. Not only is there no baking involved, but these cookies only call for three ingredients. It doesn't get much easier than that.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
3 cups corn flakes cereal

As usual, I doubled the recipe.

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave. Add the peanut butter. Mix until well combined.

Fold in the corn flakes until evenly coated.

Using a tablespoon, drop the mixture on to wax paper or parchment lined cookie sheets.

Allow these to cool in the fridge or the freezer until hard. Enjoy with a huge glass of milk!

Sponsor Spotlight: Oh So Lovely Vintage

2012-01-02T09:14:00.000-08:00

I'm extremely happy to be featuring the beautiful ladies of Oh So Lovely Vintage today. Stefanie and Erin are just about the cutest pair since Lucy and Ethel. The second I discovered the Oh So Lovely blog, I was instantly hooked. These two have exquisite taste. I think you'll agree...

Hello lovelies! We are Stefanie & Erin of the blog Oh So Lovely Vintage! We are also the proud owners of a mobile vintage shop in a 1956 camper trailer where we sell ladies clothing, accessories, and housewares from the 50's and 60's. We also just opened a local brick-and-mortar vintage boutique here in Winnipeg! If you are as obsessed with vintage as we are, be sure to take a peek at our blog! xo

Learn more about Stefanie and Erin...

BLOG / SHOPS / TWITTER / FACEBOOK

The Best of 2011

2011-12-31T10:08:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I started this little blog... but that celebration is for next month. Right now, we're focusing on 2011. Today we're going to take a look at the top 5 Please Note recipes and the top 5 Please Note DIYs of 2011. We'll start with the recipes. Surprisingly, savory completely overshadowed the sweets this year...

Lasagna (this was not only the most popular recipe but the most popular POST)

No-Knead Bread

Mini Pepperoni Pizza Loaves

Breakfast in a Muffin

Easy Pizza Casserole

For all of the Please Note recipes, check out the recipe index.

And now, for the DIYs...

Pom Pom Garland

Felt Flower Bouquet

Black Apple Dolls (made using the Black Apple template)

Felt Flowers

Terrarium Mania

A few more DIY favorites:

Wedding Snow Globe

Map Bunting

No-Sew Cocktail Ornaments

Glittery Halloween Wreath

Storybook Paper Tree

Simple Ornament Twig Wreath

Yarn Wreaths: one. two. three. four.

I almost forgot...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Free January Desktop!

2011-12-30T06:14:00.001-08:00

Last month was my first attempt at creating a free desktop and now I'm hooked! I decided to add a calendar to this month's desktop. I'm also offering a few different colors for you to choose from! Happy New Year!

Download the full sizes here:

BLUE / BROWN(ish) / PINK

DIY: Recycled New Year's Garland

2011-12-29T06:10:00.001-08:00

Turn your old Christmas gift bags into a New Year's garland!

Gather a few different colored bags. I used metallic gold and silver. Used wrapping paper is a good option as well.

Using a circle punch, punch as many circles as you can get out of each bag.

Use tape or glue to sandwich the thread between two circles and alternate the colors. That's it!

Guest Post: A Gift Guide from Drunk Literature!

2011-12-27T22:01:00.000-08:00

Before the whirlwind that was Christmas, I ran across a few Gift Guides composed by the lovely Rebecca of Drunk Literature. I was so in love with them that I asked Rebecca to put together a New Year's Gift Guide to share with my readers and she was nice enough to do so! If you're attending a party this weekend and don't want to go empty handed, Rebecca has a few ideas that are sure to impress any hostess!

1. Swanson Vineyards Customizable Modern House Wines - $25

2. Jonathan Adler Capuchine Decanter - $168

3. A unique flower bouquet by Poppies and Posies - prices vary

4. Coconut Madeleine Mix and Pan by Barefoot Contessa - $19.95

5. 2012 Calendar by Jack and Lulu - $49

6. Haute Hibiscus Apron - $39.99

7. Champagne Truffles by Charbonnel et Walker - $24

8. Jumbo Party Bobbies by Ban.do - $15

9. Books to indulge the constant comedienne:

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?: And Other Concerns by Mindy Kaling - $14.93

for the eternal classic:

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald with cover design by Coralie Bickford-Smith - $23.46

for the decor diva:

Design Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney - $17.50

Sponsor Spotlight: A Wild Tonic Vintage (and a GIVEAWAY!)

2011-12-27T20:25:00.000-08:00

It's time for another Sponsor Spotlight post! Lauren of A Wild Tonic Vintage has a fantastic blog as well as an adorable Etsy shop filled with vintage goods!

My name is Lauren, I live in New Jersey, and I sell vintage on Etsy as awildtonic! I also spend lots of time cleaning and organizing around my house, going on adventures with my wonderful boyfriend, Frank, and playing outside with my dogs, Freckles and Jack. I started my Etsy shop when I was still at my last job because I had a surplus of vintage jewelry that I no longer wore. Since then it's blossomed into a slightly bigger venture, especially since I lost my job a few months ago. I started my blog a few years ago with my younger sister as more of a artsy-craftsy kind of thing, but once I began selling on Etsy, I switched the tone from DIY to vintage. I love blogging so much! It's such a fun way to share things that inspire me, or behind the scenes photos, things that make me laugh or shops that I love.

Here are a few of my favorites from Lauren's shop...

To receive 15% off your order with A Wild Tonic Vintage simply enter the code PLEASENOTE at checkout! Learn more about Lauren here...

SHOP / BLOG / TUMBLR / FACEBOOK / TWITTER

GIVEAWAY!

Lauren also sells adorable upcycled map prints (like the one pictured above) and she's giving away a print of choice to one lucky Please Note reader!

To enter the giveaway, simply visit Lauren's shop and pick the print you love the most. Leave a comment below telling me which print is your favorite as well as a way to contact you.

I'll be choosing a winner on Sunday, January 15th!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!

New Year's Eve Outfits for Under $100!

2011-12-27T06:16:00.001-08:00

Whether you're stepping out for a night on the town or staying in with friends and family this New Year's Eve, I've got the outfit for you... for under $100!

silver swoon dress. stone knuckle ring. ruffle open toe stiletto. glittered clutch.

day moon dress. silky rosette headband. pearlescent trimmed bangle set. black flats.

Sponsor Spotlight: Miss Teacups

2011-12-26T14:53:00.000-08:00

It's that time again! I would like to introduce you to the lovely Carly of Miss Teacups!

hi i'm carly from miss teacups, the blog formerly known as teacups & bubble baths. i'm a 25 year old gal living in a small'ish city in ontario with my boyfriend of 4 years & our kitty cat miss andy electric. my blog is mainly about fashion (if i were asked to narrow it down) i mostly post the clothes i'm wearing in outfit posts, favourite thrifty or etsy finds, blog crushes, and a feature called 'around the blogosphere' which brings together all the neat stuff i've seen around the internet recently. i also love hosting giveaways and so i make those happen as often as possible! stop by and say hello, leave me a link to your blog & i'll do the same :)

Stop by Miss Teacups to see more of Carly's cute outfit posts, thrifty finds, and more!

BLOG / TWITTER

Christmas

2011-12-25T16:26:00.000-08:00

Do you like my new gnome nesting dolls?! And how about that LP She Devil soundtrack? Sometimes I think I'm hard to buy for but who am I kidding? A new set of nesting dolls and anything involving Roseanne and I'm giddy for months.

Wishing You A Very Lucy Christmas!

2011-12-23T06:22:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen the long lost I Love Lucy Christmas episode?! If not, you're in for a treat!

I found the photos here AND I found a colorized version of the show on YouTube to share with you!

PART 1

PART 2

Alright friends, I'm taking the weekend off to celebrate the holiday and relax.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

DIY: No-Sew Cocktail Ornaments

2011-12-22T06:12:00.001-08:00

Make a friend their favorite drink... to have year round! These no-sew felt cocktail ornaments are the perfect gift because not only are they cute on a tree, they'll look great displayed all year.

What you'll need:

felt (I try to use wool felt as much as possible but that tends to get expensive)
thin cardboard (I always keep cardboard scraps when I come across them for projects like this)
hot glue
paper or cardstock for the template
rick rack or ribbon

Create a template for the drink of your choice. If you don't want to freehand it, find a photo online and print it out.
Cut out your felt pieces as well as a cardboard piece for the inside (make this smaller).
Glue your cardboad piece to your "glass".
Add the ribbon or rick rack.
Now glue a piece of black felt to the back. Your cardboard and your ribbon should be sandwiched between the gray and the black at this point.
Trim the black felt so it's just slightly larger than the gray.
Glue the "ingredients" of your drink to the front and you're all set!

Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes

2011-12-21T06:13:00.001-08:00

I made these mini cheesecakes over the weekend and they're delicious. These are the perfect size for a Christmas party!

Ingredients:

24 oreo cookies
6 tablespoons melted butter
16 oz. softened cream cheese
4 oz. melted semi sweet chocolate
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
24 candy cane Hershey kisses

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Lightly spray cupcake tins with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. Grind the oreo cookies in a food processor.

Add the melted butter and process again until combined.

Spoon 1 tablespoon of the cookie mixture into each cupcake cup. Press down. Set aside.

Melt the chocolate.

Whip the cream cheese in a mixer.

Add the melted chocolate until combined. Mix in the eggs. With the mixer on low, stir in the sugar. Combine until there are no lumps. Remember to scrape the sides while you do all of this.

Spoon this mixture over the oreo crusts and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the cheesecakes do not jiggle when you shake the pan.

Cool to room temperature before removing from the pans. I found the easiest way to remove them was to run a knife around the edge of each one and then use it to pop them out.

Be sure to refrigerate these. Add the candy cane kisses to the top before serving. Warning: these are addicting!

Original recipe found here.

Sponsor Please Note in January!

2011-12-20T19:02:00.000-08:00

Start off the new year with new readers and/or traffic to your shop!

Please Note's pageviews are currently averaging between 500 and 1,000 per day. Ad rates are VERY reasonable and all ads come complete with either a solo or group feature. For more information, check out the sponsor info page here or click "sponsor info" to your right.

DIY: Simple Ornament Twig Wreath

2011-12-19T20:04:00.000-08:00

I wanted to make a wreath this year but I've definitely been pressed for time. If you're in the same boat, this is the wreath for you! It took me about 20 minutes.

What you'll need:

grapevine wreath (I bought mine at Joann's for about $4)
ornaments in a variety of sizes (I found these at Target)
hot glue
a ribbon

I didn't even bother to take step-by-step photos because it's so simple. I basically just covered the tops of the ornaments with hot glue (A LOT of hot glue) and placed them where I thought they looked best. I glued the large ornaments first and then filled in the holes with the small ones. Attach a ribbon and you're all set!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

2011-12-18T21:57:00.000-08:00

I baked about 3 dozen of these cookies on Saturday and they're already gone! If you're a fan of peanut butter cups, I highly recommend these!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
2 cups coarsely chopped peanut butter cups

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a few baking sheets with parchment paper. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl.

In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed until fluffy.

Add the egg, vanilla, and milk. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients.

Chop the peanut butter cups and set about 1/4 of them aside.

Gently fold in the peanut butter cups. Divide the dough into balls (about the size of 3 tablespoons). Place them on the prepared baking sheets leaving 2 inches between them. Gently press them down a bit to flatten them. Press a few of the reserved peanut butter cup pieces into the top of each cookie.

Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are set (the tops can be soft, so that the inside is a bit chewy when cooled).

Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. These are delicious with a big glass of milk!

Original recipe found here.

Sponsor Spotlight: Ghost and Lamb

2011-12-18T20:49:00.000-08:00

This week's Sponsor Spotlight is dedicated to the lovely Lauren of Ghost and Lamb!

Hi there! My name is Lauren and I am an aspiring art teacher (currently a high school substitute teacher), artist, crafter, fashionista, and blogger. I run an Etsy shop called Ghost & Lamb. My shop features whimsical jewelry, felted critter sculptures, and other cute handmade creations! I enjoy teaching arts and crafts, crafting in my studio, photography, baking fun treats, going to see movies, and experimenting with dressing up in cute, quirky outfits!

Use discount code PLEASENOTE to receive 15% off any purchase in Lauren's shop!

BLOG / SHOP / FACEBOOK

The Weekend Before Christmas

2011-12-18T08:18:00.000-08:00

The weekend so far has consisted of baking, shopping, wrapping, and tamale eating. I've been really, really busy but I can't complain. This is by far my favorite time of the year. Next week will be loaded with DIYs and recipes! Stay tuned!

Easy Everyday Pesto

2011-12-15T22:36:00.000-08:00

If you're looking to make a simple batch of pesto to have on hand for sandwiches or snacks, this is the perfect recipe for you!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup pine nuts
4 cloves garlic
1/2 cup olive oil
pinch of ground nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste

Bake the pine nuts at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes or until browned. Blend everything together until well combined but still a little chunky.

I added this pesto to a salami and mozzarella sandwich and it was delicious. It's also great as a snack with a baguette.

Snag That Style: Home Alone

2011-12-14T22:11:00.000-08:00

It's time for another holiday edition of Snag That Style... this week we're taking a look at Home Alone! I went a little crazy with this one. I can't believe how many items came to mind.

I tried to find a replica of John Candy's 'Kenosha Kickers' jacket but couldn't. How cool would that be? Anyway, here's what I came up with...

1. ornaments (that Marv steps on) 2. snow shovel 3. iron 4. Kevin's BB gun

5. the lawn jockey that the pizza man knocks over 6. aftershave 7. Kevin's frozen dinner

8. zip line kit 9. toboggan 10. 'Kenosha Kickers' clarinet

11. the tic tacs Santa gives Kevin 12. Michael Jordan cardboard cutout 13. Kevin's hat

Movie stills found here.

Holiday Baking: Cookie Round-Up

2011-12-14T08:12:00.000-08:00

Planning on doing some holiday baking this weekend?
Here are a few of my favorite cookie recipes to inspire you!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oatmeal & Dried Cherry Cookies

Brownie Cookies (I'm making these for sure!)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sponsor Spotlight: Three Ponds Vintage & Design

2011-12-14T06:17:00.000-08:00

It's time for another Sponsor Spotlight post! Elisha of Three Ponds Vintage & Design is one talented lady with an adorable Etsy shop filled with a mixture of handmade and vintage goods.

Hello! My name is Elisha and I run an Etsy shop called Three Ponds Vintage & Design which is inspired by my grandmother. Three Ponds Vintage & Design, based in South Florida, is a perfect source for handmade accessories, vintage housewares, home decor and more! I enjoy cooking, teaching, watching Mad Men, crafting, going to see movies with friends, decorating with mermaids, spending time with my sister and my boyfriend, listening to music, and learning new hobbies.

Pictured above are some of the handmade items you can find in Elisha's shop. She specializes in handmade brooches and headbands. Below are a few of my favorite vintage items that she currently has up for sale...

Learn more about Elisha...

SHOP / BLOG / TWITTER / FACEBOOK

Use discount code PLEASENOTE to receive 15% off any purchase in Elisha's shop now until the end of December!

Free Holiday Desktop!

2011-12-13T06:20:00.000-08:00

I've been spotting adorable December desktops everywhere lately so I decided make one myself.

Click here to download the full size! Happy Holidays!

DIY: Yarn Letter Wreath

2011-12-12T06:22:00.000-08:00

There's something about this mustard colored Vanna's Choice yarn that I can't get enough of. I've made a total of four yarn wreaths now and I've used this yarn for three of them. I swear, my next one will be a different color... maybe. Here's a look at my first three...

I'm visiting a friend next weekend so I decided to make her one as a Christmas gift. This time, I tried my hand at a letter instead of a heart. The trickiest part was getting the yarn to stay in place around the sharp corners. I just used a lot of hot glue. And of course, no yarn wreath is complete without a few felt accessories...

Want to make your own? Check out my all time favorite yarn wreath tutorial here.

December Giveaway Winner!

2011-12-10T16:37:00.000-08:00

Congrats KATE!

I'll be emailing you shortly!

Please Note IN PRINT!

2011-12-09T06:18:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled to tell you that Please Note was featured in Aftenposten Magazine this week! Aftenposten is a Norwegian newspaper so I was unable to read the article but my boss was nice enough to translate for me! I'm so excited about this!

That's my paper tree in the top left corner!

This made my week! Happy Friday, friends!

P.S. Have you entered the holiday giveaway yet?! I'm picking a winner tomorrow!

Snag That Style: Christmas Vacation

2011-12-08T06:19:00.000-08:00

It's time for another Christmas edition of Snag That Style! Today we'll be taking a look at one of my all time favorites... Christmas Vacation!

Join the Griswolds for a good old fashioned family Christmas with these great finds!

1. moose mug punch bowl set 2. Aunt Bethany's Jell-o mold

3. Clark's glasses 4. Christmas carousel 5. Cousin Eddie's hat

6. advent calendar 7. Santa with reindeer outdoor display 8. snow saucer