Weekend in Houston

We had a wonderful time celebrating Kory and Amanda's wedding shower (and Amanda's bday) with them in Houston this weekend! Here are some pics from the weekend...

DISCLAIMER: Houston is humid. The End.

The girls celebrating Amanda's 24th bday!

The boys happy to be back together!

Amanda and I at the wedding shower.

LOVE!

There is only one time in life that kitchen items are this exciting! And it is such a fun time!

Me with my love! 

Loving the bride koozie! 

We also had a chance to get brunch and do some antique shopping on Saturday morning. I did not find any antiques, but I did find a really cute shirt at Buffalo Exchange (a resale shop)...can't wait for some warm weather to return so I can wear it!

We can't wait for all of the fun wedding festivities to continue until the wedding on May 28th! 

Also, don't forget Spring Fling is still going on. Check out some great giveaways here....

Ashley Creation

Girl Boy Girl Inspired

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

And the winner is...

Thank you to everyone who left a comment for the Spring Fling giveaway. The winner of the Bloom Necklace in Ivory is DESIWELCH. I used random.org and her 74th entry won!

Please email me at TheSimpleSussie@gmail.com to get information for shipping. The winner has until Monday at midnight to claim their prize or another entry will be chosen.

Also, since there was such a great turnout, I am offering 10% until Monday at midnight. Enter the code SPRING 10 and recieve 10% your Simple Sussie purchase!

**Thank you Desiree for getting in contact with me!!

Weekend Wrap Up for Spring Fling

First of all, thank you for all of the wonderful support and sweet comments for The Simple Sussie giveaway that started yesterday. If you have not had a chance to enter, click here! The giveaway will close Saturday at midnight. I will announce the winner on Sunday afternoon. 

As for this weekend, James and I are headed to Houston for our wonderful friends (Kory and Amanda's) wedding shower! We can't wait to see our friends and celebrate this soon to be marriage! I wanted to go ahead and give you the giveaways for Friday and Saturday. Check out the giveaways below and go support these wonderful ladies. 

A cleaning apron from Nat Mac

A wonderful rosette headband from Luxe Boulevard

A handmade purse from Sweet Bee Buzzings

A vintage assortment basket from Lucky 7 

I am so sorry I do not have pictures. For some odd reason it is not letting me load them today. Check out their blogs and they will have pics of everything they are giving away! 

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Spring Fling Giveaway: The Simple Sussie

Today is the day for The Simple Sussie giveaway for Spring Fling!

As many of you know I am participating in the Spring Fling Giveaway with Wildflowers and Whimsy. I have been introduced to some wonderfully talented bloggers, artists, and fellow crafters! It has been so fun to see the way each of these women shows their own style of creativity. The way Spring Fling works is each of us has a day (shared with another fun shop/blog) to feature a giveaway of our own. 

I am SO excited to do a giveaway on The Simple Sussie for my Bloom Necklace in Ivory. 

The giveaway opens today and closes on Saturday at midnight. The winner will be announced on Sunday.

Here is a pic of the lovely necklace....

Here is how you enter:

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. 

Required to enter (worth 1 entry each)

1. Become a follower of The Simple Sussie

2. Go to The Simple Sussie Shop and tell me about your favorite item in the shop.

Optional extra entries:

1. Become a follower of Wildflowers and Whimsy (the host of the Spring Fling giveaways)(1 entry)

2. Follow To Sew with Love (another wonderful blog in today's giveaway)(1entry)

3. Follow Sweet Nothings (another precious blog in today's giveaway)(1 entry)

4. Blog about this giveaway on your own blog! (worth 2 entries)

Also, check out some other wonderful giveaways for Spring Fling...

Sweet Nothings is giving away a precious yellow rose pin...

To Sew with Love is giving away a diaper case with plush owl...

A cute headband at Momma's Kinda Crafty...

Or some bright spring flowers at My Mommy Can...

Hope you win any of these wonderful giveaways! Happy Thursday! 

-Lauren 

a simple favorite: avocado grilled cheese

James and I have an absolute favorite go to (super cheap, yummy and easy) recipe that we probably make entirely too much. It seems to be our go to after church lunch. Since we have always just gone to the grocery store (and always have avocados) we love to make these yummy sandwiches. 

I thought I would share the idea and would love to hear about any simple favorite you have!

Avocado Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

1 large avocado

3 thin slices of creamy havarti cheese

Your choice of bread

Mash the avocado with a little salsa and put on bread. Then add your havarti cheese. Put on the George Forman (or panini maker if you are fancy) and press. 

*We also love to add turkey or chicken if we make these for dinner. 

Serve with chips and your favorite salsa! 

Like I said it is a super cheap, easy, and yummy lunch! And since I could probably add avocado to everything, I love it! 

Also, don't forget that Spring Fling is going on over at Wildflowers and Whimsy. Today you can enter to win a wonderful necklace from Ask Anna or cute little apron from While He Was Napping. Go check out their blogs, follow, and enter their lovely giveaway. 

-Lauren 

Spring Fling Giveaway

Hey Everyone!

So I am participating in a wonderful giveaway party called Spring Fling over at Wildflowers and Whimsy! You should go check out the giveaways for today. 

First, they are showing a shop called Time Well Spent. She features fun and unique tutu's and bows. Great for little girls and gifts!

Next, they are featuring A Very Dandoislion Life. This shop is so fun and has some great items with a touch of vintage. The winner gets a list of wonderful items from her shop. I am loving the rosette headband with the vintage embellishment! So fun, and a great addition to a simple piece! 

I will be doing a giveaway for the ivory rosette necklace on Thursday, March 24th right here on The Simple Sussie! Follow this blog and head over to Wildflowers and Whimsy so you can enter in all of the fun giveaways!

Also, there are 2 giveaways from yesterday that I completely forgot to post about!

Check out Increasingly Domestic for some great ideas and a fun and functional giveaway!

Last, check out A Crafty Southern Chick for some really fun some great upcycled jewelry items! 

I know, tons of giveaways, but so fun! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday and getting back into the swing after Spring Break! 

travel roll up case

I made this travel roll up case last weekend and can't wait to use it! I love how it can be very custom to what you like to carry. I am working on making one for my little sister to carry all of her make-up brushes in. Here is the final product for the one I made for myself...

Here is an up close of the pockets...

 The whole roll-up with attached ribbons on the side. 

Note: Please excuse the unedited photo. When I edit this photo it turns it to the side for some odd reason. I will have to figure that one out later. The colors from above are MUCH more accurate. But, here it is all rolled up! 

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. Hard to believe Spring Break is almost over. It has been so nice to work on crafty projects and get some things done! 

Also, I am linking up with these other blogs (that also have wonderful craft ideas!)

theshabbynest.blogspot.com

tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com

bubblynaturecreations.com

Happy Saturday!

-Lauren 

What I Love Wednesday: Having a Dog

Ok I know this is probably totally lame to those of you who are not smitten with your pup (and let me just say I never thought it would be me), but this Wednesday I just love Jaxon!

When I left this morning this is what was staring at me...

So to keep this What I Love Wednesday simple...I love our little pup!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Spring Break (if you get one!)

-Lauren 

Shop Update

I have been working on some wonderful items for the shop! Here are a few pics below...go ahead and click on The Simple Sussie Shop on the left sidebar to check out the shop and see everything or click here! 

wreaths

clips

bloom necklaces

I am still working on several items to add to the shop....Here is a sneak peek...

As I said you can always view the shop by clicking on the left sidebar or visit thesimplesussie.bigcartel.com!

Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather! 

-Lauren 

Yellow Rosette Elastic Headband Tutorial

Hey everyone! I wanted to share a fun tutorial with you for how I make rosettes and a fun headband to make for spring/summer! I made this one a little bigger than I usually do. Here goes...

1. You will need:

tacky glue

one elastic headband

hot glue

a small piece of felt

your choice of fabric 

2. Start out and tie a knot at the end of your fabric and begin to twist your fabric and roll around the knot. 

3. This is a side view of how to roll your fabric and this is what your rosette should look like in the beginning. 

4. Once your rosette is the size you want then glue the last part of the fabric to the back of your rosette and glue a felt circle on the back to secure. 

5. Now you have your final rosette!

6. Now it is time to hot glue your elastic headband to the back of your rosette. 

7. Glue one last felt circle on the back of everything for extra security!

8. Now go have your own simple sussie! Keep it for yourself or give to a friend!

Any fun projects you have been working on for spring or summer? I would love to see them!

I am linking up with these blogs...

Also, I will be doing a giveaway for Spring Fling on March 24th! 

Go check out Wildflowers and Whimsy to see all of the wonderful featured artists! You can also click on the button on my blog to take you straight to the giveaway page! Make sure you follow the blog so you can enter the giveaway! 

-Lauren

What I Love Wednesday: Necklaces

Tomorrow is the beginning of Spring Break and I could not be more happy! I am so excited for bright colors, dresses, skirts, and sunny weather! One thing I have been loving lately is finding cute necklaces to go with simple outfits. I am loving the following....

1. Hope is the thing necklace from Lisa Leonard

Lisa Leonard has so many wonderful and unique necklaces, but this is one I really love! 

 

2. Sonya Renee's Gold Plated Disc Initial Necklace

I got this as a wedding/graduation gift and wear it almost everyday! I love it! 

3. The Bloom Necklace in Ivory from The Simple Sussie Shop....trust me it's cute!

4. This chunky red beaded necklace from Target. I think it would go great with a simple white tee and linen pants!

These are just a few things I am loving right now. What do you have your eye on? Any great handmade jewelry shops or a simple target necklace. 

Also, I am linking up with What I Love Wednesday at Lollipops blog!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday! Don't forget to follow the blog! I will be doing a giveaway over Spring Break! 

chocolate molten cakes and a sweet reminder

Chocolate Molten Cakes just might be one of my favorite desserts! As many of you know I would take dessert over a normal meal almost any day! Well, tonight is the last night I get dessert for a while. During my Bible study with the other Young Life leaders one of the girls encouraged us to think about giving something up during the season of Lent. Even though this is not something that Watermark really does, the whole purpose is wonderful. For our group of girls we are giving up something as a constant reminder of the greatest gift that was given up for us to have life, and that is Jesus. I really went back and forth on whether this is something to share because typically when you give something up it is not because you want others to recognize you for it or anything. But I hope this does exactly opposite. I hope it encourages you to think about something that you could give up. Something you will have to stop and think about giving up several times a day. In return I hope that each time you think about how you gave that up, that you are reminded of the beautiful gift of Jesus. 

So tonight for our date night James is making chocolate molten cakes (and a yummy shrimp pasta with tomato basil sauce). I thought this would be a great time to share this AMAZING recipe that you have to try! I found it on Pioneer Woman (surprise!) and she actually found it through tasty kitchen (her blog where people can share recipes). So please make it, don't cook it too long so it has beautiful melted chocolate, and enjoy with a scoop of ice cream!

(photo credit)

Click here to get the recipe! 

-Lauren 

lovely saturday and a peek at the shop

Last night Caden (our nephew) spent the night. We filled our time with going to the park, baking cookies, going to the Disney store, and eating some yummy meals together! We always love getting time with our niece and nephew! Now I am filling the afternoon with working on The Simple Sussie Shop. You can click on the sidebar or here and go check out have up. I will be adding products gradually, but there is some great stuff to start out! 

Also, you can grab my new button and add it to your blog! Good thing I have my smart husband to help me with making that thing! 

Hope everyone is having a lovely Saturday!! 

-Lauren 

What I Love Wednesday

I am linking up with lollipops for "What I Love Wednesday." Here are some of my loves this week...

1. I am so in love. Justin's maple almond butter with my apple for lunch is my new favorite thing!

2. Pioneer Woman's Bean and Beef Burritos. I made these on Super Bowl Sunday (I was trying to think of a manly meal for James) and I ended up loving them. I am a little ashamed, but they were so delicious!

(photo courtesy of Pioneer Woman)

3. Our sweet little Jaxon. I am loving taking him to the White Rock dog park with James on all of these beautiful days we have been having. 

4. Surprises! James brought me a Chai Tea Latte during school yesterday and it was such a sweet surprise! Plus, it was from White Rock Coffee....the best chai ever!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday! Hop on over to lollipops to check out some other great links!

-Lauren