Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate > Fabulous Rebel Housewife Bridal Shower

Our Rebel Housewives Bridal Shower turned out great, and we've finally recovered enough to share the goods with all of you!  

We stayed true to our "Rebel to a Housewife" theme from the shower invitation, and incorporated it into our decor. Angela's house was all decked out with vintage, retro, and graphic pop art touches. It was pretty and funky all at the same time, kinda like our cute bride to be!  


In fact, we had so many fabulous pictures from the Rebel Housewives Bridal Shower that I don't know where to start - so I'm going to start at the front door!  

We greeted our guests with this welcome sign.  We used a vintage dress form that came from my Mama.  I covered the form up with some kids t-shirts and then dressed it up and gave it some bling using some dollar store flowers, jewelry, a belt from Mr. 2Wicked and a adorable vintage apron that Miss Angela later gifted to the bride-to-be.

Check out the details.  The bodice was made using three different kinds of flowers:  daisies, small red button flowers for the daisy center, and hydrangea petals around the top of the bodice.  The top was crowned, literally, on top of a giant black daisy. (Who knew you could find black silk flowers?)  The vintage apron had red birds appliqued on it, the perfect apron for the Future Mrs. 2Wicked.

After the guests had arrived we put the crown and apron on our future bride for the shower festivities.  

We continued the vintage apron theme on the gift table.  We used three vintage aprons across the front of the gift table.  I'm partial to that poodle apron and am keeping it because it is tooooo cute.  I had one of the pictures from the shower invitation made into poster size and framed.

That's as far as I can take you today, but stay tuned for the tablescapes, favors, menu and games.  


~ Laurie

Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate > The Birthday Party We Aren't Having

Happy Birthday Scott!  Usually I would be cooking fish tacos and strawberry pizza today for Scott's birthday but he's not in town so instead I'm recovering from too much good food and candy from yesterday's Easter celebration.  


This is one of my favorite pictures of him out on the river in his Garfield life jacket.  

This is another of my favorite pics.  Even as a little kid he loved to fish.  And I also love his little pocket sticking out because I know that he would always come home from fishing with his Dad and dig something he found out of his pocket to show me.

Happy Birthday Scott!

~ Laurie

Frock Me Friday > Easter Frocks

Is anyone else starting to freak over Easter Sunday's attire?

Let me just preface this post by saying that my family and I completely understand and celebrate the true reason Easter. But if you really know my family, as some of you are getting to do through this blog, then you know that we can't just simply get together and quietly acknowledge a holiday.  Unfortunately, we just don't possess the restraint - it's just not in our DNA. Our family, for unknown and insane reasons, have to turn everything into a celebration of feasts and feats, with some healthy competition thrown into the mix.

That's just how we roll, and Easter and the celebration of Jesus's resurrection, is not safe either.

Easter Sunday for us means church, brunch, and Easter outfits, and we have volumes and volumes of photo albums (honestly!)documenting our Easter finery over the years. It has now somehow morphed into a crazy, yearly, competition of who will have the best Easter outfit. For realz.

Don't you love a dress with a peplum?

Over the years we have rocked scarves, bow ties, suspenders, clip on ties, Thai silk ties, custom cuff links, white gloves, shrugs, vests, a variety of hats, corsages, headbands, and whole lot of patent leather.

I think my brothers and I take it the most serious, so imagine my distress that it is now the Friday before Easter, and I have no idea what I'm wearing. My baby brother just told me to not even worry about being the best Easter frocked, because he is wearing a custom made suit he had made while he was in Thailand for vacation! Seriously?! The craziness has even spread to my littlest. He came up to me last night and told me that his "fancy vest" is a little tight, and that he needs a new one before Easter.

Aaah!

At the end of the day we all know that no one cares what we wear on Easter Sunday as long was we are celebrating something amazing together. But it would be nice for me to have something other than yoga pants to wear, so here are a few options in case anyone else in in the same boat as me.

These are all under $60, because I have to go and buy some midget sized "fancy vests" too:

Simply Vera Wang Dress, Kohls $39

These next dresses are all from my new favorite store, Dorothy Perkins. They've been fabulous in the UK for years and now have a US shop. Yay! You can find all these great dresses for under $60 here.

Pumps by Miu Miu
Clutches by DKNY

Platforms at shopbop.com
Satchels by Rebecca Minkoff

Pumps by J.Crew
Clutches by New York & Co.

Platforms by Dereon
Clutches at farfetch.com

If all else fails you can WWJD...

My brother won that year, in case you were wondering.

Happy Easter!

~Angela 

Feast Your Eyes > Easter Quiche

Is everyone ready for Easter - just in case you want to panic - it is this Sunday!  


Mr. Glossy Flossy and I are dashing around trying to get our yard pulled together for the Easter Egg hunt, and get the pool open and warmed up for the "Kids gotta swim, even if it's cold and rainy!" Easter swim.  It was 37 degrees yesterday when I got up and it rained and the wind blew . . . but, we're opening our pool.  Crazy, I know but blame this on my sister-in-law who owned this house and lovely pool before us.  She would open the pool up for an Easter swim and my oldest son said that when he was a kid that was the best part of Easter because he would go back to school and tell everyone that he swam on Easter!  So, we continue this crazy tradition!


By the time Sunday morning comes I will be ready for my breakfast Mimosa, fruit and Quiche.  This is the easiest Quiche ever and goes together quickly and effortlessly (which is about all the energy I have left by Easter morning.)  I prepared this recipe for the Rebel Housewife Bridal Shower - I know you're still waiting for the post.  You'll have to wait a little longer as it will be posted next week.  

QUICHE

1 T olive oil                               4 eggs, large

1 large sweet onion, diced           ¾ c. half and half

¾ tsp. kosher salt                      8 oz. Gruyere, grated

½ tsp. black pepper                   1/8 tsp. nutmeg

½ c. fresh parsley, chopped        Pie crust

 

Heat oven to 375^O.

Sauté diced onions, ½ tsp. of salt, and ¼ tsp. of pepper in olive oil until onions are softened.  Add parsley the last couple of minutes of cooking.

Whisk together eggs and half and half.  Stir in Gruyere, nutmeg, remaining salt, remaining pepper and the sautéed onions.

Place pie crust in pie plate and crimp edges.  Pour egg mixture into pie crust.

Bake about 40 minutes, until filling is set and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

Let rest for 5 minutes.  Cut into wedges.

Note:  Staying true to my belief that recipes are an outline of how and what to put in a recipe not a strict guideline - I don't always put in the parsley and contain your excitement - it will turn out great.  Also, I put in close to 8oz of Gruyere, not exactly 8oz.  I also usually put chopped ham in it (don't tell anyone but I use ham lunch meat and chop it up.)  I add my ham to my sauteing onions about the last couple of minutes.  I've added mushrooms, asparagus, broccoli, feel free to add any vegie that floats your boat!  I don't think you can mess up this recipe.  At the shower, this quiche was cooked at 350 degrees because I forgot the recipe and couldn't remember what to cook it on and it turned out great and was delicious.

~ Laurie

Manic Monday > Lately, Every Day Has Been Manic

Everyone is going to have to wait a couple more days for pics of the fabulous Rebel Housewife Bridal Shower cause we're busy putting our kitchens and houses back together after Sunday's soiree and getting ready to color six dozens eggs for Easter!

Don't judge me - but I am just now washing all of the goblets and other special dishes that need to be hand washed.  I was just to exhausted,  tired, lazy to do it yesterday after the shower!

To continue my laziness I am going to post an email that I sent out to my friends last year.  I can share this with you too, because you are all my friends - aren't you?  This email was about my dieting.  I want you to know I have since adopted a new plan.  I'm not actively trying to lose weight, I am just trying not to put on 10 lbs more this year.  That's why my elliptical and I have become very close.  

I'm sure this girl also has her own plan about dieting.

Source:  nikkicrumpet.blogspot.com

I know how this happened to her.  First my pants became shorter. Then my fat pants became my skinny pants. Then my fat pants became not this week pants, then distant memory pants, then not in this lifetime pants.  Apparently when this happened to her she thought "What the heck!  I don't need pants, why not something fringed to show off my asssss - ets. "  Well, I know how it happened up to the fringed part but  after I reached the not in this lifetime pants I thought, "What the heck!  Now I get to diet back down to at least the not this week pants."  I guess we all have different responses.  I'm pretty sure she's a much more fun girl than I am.

Happy April Everyone!

~  Laurie

Frock Me Friday > Edgy Wedgy

Spring is finally here my little bunnies, and everyone knows that summer can't be too far behind when you start to see perky and vibrant sandals popping up in the stores. Do you know what's even better than the Spring parade of open toed glamour? The arrival of this year's wedges!

Sandals by Unlisted
Platforms by Dolce Vita

I love, love, love, wedges. They are like the tougher, more rebel, version of the sandal. They make you look taller, your legs longer, and you can cover more ground when running after your crazy kids or chasing down a crazy mugger good sale. Most importantly they give you the height and look of a heel, without aerating the lawn every time you walk through the grass. Not these babies. If you think about it, they're kind of like the "all terrain" version of open toe heels!

Sandals by Xhilaration
Platforms by Bebe

Oh, and they look fabulous too!

Spring into Summer Wedges by glossyflossy featuring wedge shoes

Get 'em before they are gone!

~Angela
(And as always, click on the pics for shopping info.)

Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate > We're Having A Party!

We're so excited - we're having a party!  There's nothing we like better than parties.  There's party food, party drinks, party decorations, party favors, and party clothes and party shoooooes.  We like all parts of the party.  Ultimately the party starts with the invite, (well, technically it starts with the reason for the party)  and that's what this post is all about - the invite.


You know that we are having a wedding in our family.  Mr. 2Wicked will soon have a wife!    The Future Mrs. 2Wicked (FM2W) is having a bridal shower, actually she is having two showers!  What a lucky girl! You might not know this about the Glossy Flossy's but we have a large family made up of Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles and cousins, so we like to have a family bridal shower (that way we don't overwhelm the bride's friends with our large, loud, and unruly clan.)  The other reason we like to have family bridal and baby showers is so the two families can get to know each other a little bit more (and the other family can see first hand what their loved one is getting into.)  We also like to include close family friends cause we all know some of our friends are like family!


Okay, enough  about that and back to the invite.  We like to design and personalize our party and our invite around the person that we're having it for.  Miss Angela came up with the concept of "Rebel Housewife" - you know how I loooovvee the Housewives of Beverly Hills - and we were off to party land.


Take note everyone with Facebook accounts:  I started by taking three pictures of FM2W off her Facebook page.  I knew she liked these pictures because she put them on her page.  I made it into a large invite so it would fit into a legal size envelope and use a regular stamp to mail because we're cheap frugal like that. 


The invite looked okay but the photos needed a little pizazz because we're not about "okay", we're about "fantastic."  Miss Angela found this great site called BeFunky.com.  She took the photos and gave them some pop art pizazz.  If you haven't seen this site, be sure to check it out.  It is very easy to use and FREE!


Okay, drum roll please.  This is how what the photos looked like:

Just kidding!  Were you scared?  Okay for real this time - this is what the front of the invite looked like:

The back had all the details and we used a little bling with some self stick gems in the middle of all the stars.

Watch for the photos and details from the bridal shower.

~Laurie

Manic Monday >

Happy Monday ladies (and maybe some gents)! Hope you all are having a great one.

The sun a was out this weekend over here in Chaos and Gloss land, and we didn't waste a single ray of it! To the delight of my hubby and kids we spring cleaned like crazy. Actually, it was more of a, "OMG! I'm having 30 women over for a bridal shower in one week, and my house looks like a crime scene and the police have dusted for fingerprints all over my walls, and I have dust bunnies that have been on the run since 2011!",
Freak. Out. Moment.
But to the rest of my family it was advertised as "Spring Cleaning"

Actually, I'm a lucky gal and I have a super helpful hubby and kids who minimally complain when having to go above and beyond their normal chores. Oh, and maybe I bribed them with dinner out...After all, it not only takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to clean a house! Get the pets in on the action, its not like they are doing anything else anyway:

I found this great schedule from Martha Stewart that easily breaks down the dreaded Spring Clean, unless you are one of those freaks who love to clean, if so, I want to be you please.

Check out the link to view or print

There's was also this great pin on Pinterest from LetsLassoTheMoon.com about challenging yourself to throw away, donate, or resell, 100 things. Think of all the extra room and extra minutes that can free up by getting rid of some stuff! 

Source: letslassothemoon.com via Nita on Pinterest

I also spent a disgusting amount of time surfing the highly addictive site called Foodgawker.com. It's basically food porn for your inner Racheal Ray! They have thousands of glorious pictures of delicious recipes - almost like a Pinterest solely for food! Their slogan is "Feed Your Eyes", but after becoming ravenous after looking at all the photos, I've come to the conclusion that it should be, "Feed Your Thighs." They also have sites called Weddinggawker, Craftgawker, and Dwellinggawker; but they looked way to dangerous to my Spring cleaning schedule, so maybe I check them out some other time when I'm free - sometime in 2015.

Have a great Manic Monday!

~Angela

Frock Me Friday > The Sun Has Come Back!

In between the wind, rain, and snow (true story) coming down around here, I caught a (gasp!) glimpse of the sun. Me, with my winter pale skin and sensitive eyes, squinted up at those joyous rays of light like one of those cave creatures who had never seen the sun before. Then I ran inside before the sun disappeared again, to grab my favorite pair of sunglasses. A chorus of angels sang (well, maybe that was just me)as the sun had liberated them from the dark drawer, I had thrown them in months ago...

The sun is back everyone, and while this may not be as dramatic to you as it was to moi; it does mean that it's time to break out those fabulous sunglasses you've been dying to wear!

 Cheap Well priced sunglasses are one of my very favorite accessories. I think I inherited this obsession from my Dad. He's never met a pair of gas station sunglasses he didn't love. Some people collect magnets from places they've been, my Dad collects sunglasses. I'm also the worst at remembering where I've left my sunglasses and I have three boys and two dogs that love to destroy things; so I often buy sunglasses in multiples to avoid the inevitable melt down when I find my favorite pair stuck in the toilet. It's happened before...  

So today I've rounded up a few chic and well priced sunglasses with this season's trends - just in case you can't find yours or they are in a toilet somewhere.

Under $15 from Shopsuey:

Under $25 from Asos:

Under $25 (click for stores):

Sunglasses by Aldo
Sunglasses by Arden B

Welcome back sun! Oh how I've missed ya.

~Angela

Dress This Mess > A Lamp With Some Substance!

Have you ever had one of those Oprah "Aaha" moments where you think: "If only we could..." And then you do, and life changes forever as, you and Oprah, soar up over a rainbow in a hot air balloon called success?

No?

Well something a little bit like that happened with this vase
- but without the fabulous Ms. "O":

My wonderful Auntie enlisted me, and my somewhat creative brain (more like I begged her to let me help...) in redecorating her great room; which includes her living room, dining room, and entryway.

Two of most important things that she wanted in her redesigned space was, more of a contemporary feel and color. Words I love to hear!  She picked out a beautiful palette of peacock blue, apple green, creamy ivory, black, and bronze-y brown. 

The first space we worked on was the entryway. She had found a gorgeous granite topped console table, which we wasted no time accessorizing with some great finds from Pier One and TJ Maxx (aka - my second home). But then came the dilemma. It had no wow factor.  

While the entryway area was looking very chic and sophisticated, it was also looking very beige. Don't get me wrong, I love me a little beige, especially framed with a crisp white. But too much of it and your eyes start to lose interest, kinda like a pretty face with no personality. This console needed some vibrancy, a little something that would have you coming back for a second glance. Unfortunately, the piece that had the pop of color we needed was a ceramic vase, that crowded the whole table when added in with the other pieces.  Boo Hoo.

Then came the "Aaha" moment (bet you were wondering where that was coming in...) I complained that what the table really needed was a lamp, only in the same color as the vase. Then Auntie brilliantly asked, "Couldn't we turn the vase into a lamp?"

**BING!**

Why couldn't we turn the vase into a fabulous lamp, and why does she need my help, when clearly there are a bunch of amazing ideas floating around in that cute head of hers?! And that's what we did. (the DIY'ing of the lamp. Not the getting rid of me part.)

Using a old lamp kit she had laying around in the garage, a carbide drill bit to drill a hole in the back for the cord, and her hubby's skillz, we made this:

into this!

And then Oprah ran through the front door, and gave both of us free cars!! Oookay - she didn't, but we were giving each other Oprah sized high -fives, over our new custom made lamp.

Isn't it just fabulous? Pretty, but with substance. Just what Auntie's entryway needed!

Look around your garage. You never know, you just might find a great potential lamp in all that mess!

~Angela

P.S. No one tell Oprah I used her catch phrase!

Manic Monday > Makes Me Want to Shop and Dance!

Welcome to another Monday at Chaos and Gloss. Hope you all had a great Saint Patrick's Day!

Things I'm loving this week:

Commericals that make me want to dance AND shop. Best of both worlds, right?  I am in love with this one from Target, and not just because my Grandma used to always sing "Allouette" to me as a little girl. Don't you just love Target's bright new home decor line?

Here is some of my favorite picks from this line:

Then there's this fun commerical from one of my favorite stores: White House /  Black Market:

She makes tap dancing look so cool! Here are some fabulous pieces from their new line to put some "Spring" into your step:

I'm also loving Potholes & Pantyhose's tutorial on making your own eye makeup remover! Fun and witty blogger Rebekah, says that it's just as effective as the pricier versions she's tried. She also has a recipe for gentle face wash. Check them out here:



I've also been pinning like crazy, DIY projects that involve wood pallets; which my friend and I are eyeballing to incorporate into her living room redo. Check out these fabulous pins:

Source: dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.com via GlossyFlossy on Pinterest

Here's to an inspired Monday!

~Angela

Frock Me Friday > I Need Some Green

Yep, it's true I need some green and I don't mean the kind you spend. Well...I need some of that too, but right now I'm speaking of the kind of green that's for the "Wear'n of the GREEN!"  (Saint Patrick's Day is tomorrow, if you've forgotten...)  

I've picked out a St. Paddy's day outfit that will make it impossible for Mr. Glossy Flossy to take me anywhere but the finest of restaurants.  That's right, no brew pub for me in this outfit!  

Sometimes a girl has to splurge, and not only have I splurged, but (I know this goes against my "add to my existing wardrobe" philosophy) everything here is new to my "Wardrobe":       
  

Dressy Green Outfit by laurieglossyflossy featuring Diane von Furstenberg shoes

I do love those green shoes.

Okay, now back to my "build on my wardrobe" philosophy.  I have one green sweater in my "Chaos and Gloss Wardrobe" so I am going to build a fabulous green outfit using that.  Oh, and I guess I could go to a pub in this outfit:
I added this cute, striped, strapless dress, to my "Wardrobe"; and the sweater, flats and earrings, are from my "Chaos and Gloss Wardrobe."  The handbag is also new to the wardrobe - because you can never have too many handbags.  I'm also going to use this handbag when I go to the beach, pool, park, etc.  You see, I really need this bag -- it would just be wrong to pass up such a multi-purpose handbag!


Okay, I'm over the green now but I am into everything spring, like flowers, bunnies, puppies, warm weather, and sunshine.  This is the outfit I need to make me feel springlike but still be warm, because it was only 37 degrees when I got up this morning.

Spring Dress with Red Leather Jacket by laurieglossyflossy featuring a RED Valentino multi colored dress

How cute is that dress!  Shoes, purse, and red leather jacket all from my fall/winter wardrobe!

Start shopping or planning what you're wearing for Saint Patrick's Day tomorrow- so you don't get pinched, orrrrr just forget about the green and go "Spring."

~Laurie

Feast Your Eyes > Sweet Treats From Salty Snacks

I admit it - I love chips, crackers, etc. To tell the truth I love sweets too, and mashed potatoes annnnd fried chicken, annnd cheesy bread. . .  Okay, back to my post.  


Do you love chips and crackers like I do?  Did you know that you can make some fantastic sweet treats from Saltines, pretzels, and potato chips?  What could be better than a salty sweet treat that is easy to make and delicious.  Believe me they are all delicious and the bonus is that they freeze or refrigerate well; so you can make a bunch of each and serve them later.  I'm making and freezing these for Easter, which isn't all that far away...

First up - Saltines.  Great for settling tummies but even better for making the best, melt-in-your-mouth toffee!  Tastes wonderful but is very budget friendly.

Chocolate Toffee

40 Saltine crackers, approximately
1 c. butter
1 c. light brown sugar
1 bag semi sweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate (I sometimes mix some of each)


Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Line a large jellyroll pan (cookie sheet with sides) with aluminum foil.


Arrange saltines side by side in jellyroll pan, salted side up.


In a saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar together and bring to a boil.  Boil for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and pour over the crackers evenly.  Put the jellyroll pan into the oven and bake for about 5 minutes until bubbly.  Remove from oven.


Sprinkle chips over crackers.  When the chips have melted, spread them over crackers.  If you want Almond Toffee, sprinkle chopped almonds (or any nut) over chocolate before it cools. 


Let pan cool a bit and then put pan in freezer for 15 or 20 minutes. When cool, break into pieces and store in airtight container. 

Next up is potato chips.  What's better than a Peanut Cluster?  Making Peanut Clusters does not get any easier than this.  Make the whole thing in the microwave annnnd your done!  This recipe is from Taste of Home.

Peanut Clusters

2 c. peanut butter chips
1 c. milk chocolate chips
1 1/2 c. dry roasted peanuts
1 c. crushed ridged potato chips


Mix peanut butter chips and milk chocolate chips together.  Melt in microwave.  Follow the directions on the chip package for melting in microwave  - chips are incredibly easy to burn in the microwave. That's the voice of "I can burn anything" speaking.  


Stir chips until smooth.  Stir in peanuts and potato chips.  Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper.  Refrigerate until firm.  


Tips:  I sometimes use semi-sweet chips or a mix of both semi-sweet and milk chocolate.  I always double this recipe because one batch is never enough!

Last but not least - Pretzels.  This took a little more time because I have short, stubby fingers and am a little uncoordinated.  This isn't difficult, it just has a few more steps to make because you have to unwrap all those caramels and snack size chocolate and try not to eat them before you use them in the recipe!  Anything that you make with caramels and Hershey's bars is truly delicious!  This recipe is all over the internet using Rolos, which sounds delicious, but I didn't have Rolos - I had caramels and Hershey's snack bars.  (I might not need my elliptical if I didn't have caramels and candy bars in my house.)

Pretzel Snap Turtles

Caramels 
Hershey's snack size chocolate bars
Pretzel Butter Snaps


Preheat oven to 200 degrees.  Unwrap caramels and cut in half.  Unwrap Hershey's snack size chocolate bars and break apart the four sections.


Place pretzel snaps on cookie sheet.  Place 1/2 caramel on top of each pretzel snap.  Bake for 10 minutes.


Remove from oven and place one square of Hershey's on top of caramel and squish down a little.  Place back in oven for 2 minutes.


Remove from oven and place pecan on top.  I didn't use a whole pecan, just a half or so.


Let pan cool a bit and then put pan in freezer for 15 or 20 minutes.


There you have it - salty snacks and sweet treats in one nice easy to make package!


~Laurie