Guest Post Palooza: Family Ever After

Today we have Rach H from Family Ever After! Show her some Guest Post Palooza Love! :)
Also, this is the second to last day of Guest Post Palooza! Thank you to all who participated! I'm a married woman and can't wait to be back to blogging in 2 days!
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 Hello friends of It's Just Called Spicy! I'm really excited that Jenna asked me to guest post while she's off getting married!!! I LOVE weddings, and wish you the best, most glorious day Jenna!

I'm Rach H, blogging over at Family Ever After. Here's a little more about me and my blog...

I'm just a girl from South Dakota who likes to take pictures, clog dance, run, cook, design, sew, and craft, especially with my 3 kids! Here are a couple things I've recently blogged about.

Speaking of weddings, I just celebrated my anniversary last week!

when i should be cleaning my kitchen... sometimes i get carried away

I made this advent calendar in time for Christmas this year.

We like to part, ugly sweater style!

i really never thought i'd be like my mom and make my own wreaths...

but here i am! ha!

hello bonjour, who isn't obsessed with frenchy things these days? 

i lived in paris during a semester of college. here's my little shrine. c'etait la vie...

I designed this Corpse Bride costume for my daughter this Halloween.

i majored in home ec during college. yup.
i made this little baby graduation cap and gown in between class periods while i was a middle school sewing teacher!

you know you're crazy when you bring your sewing machine to a hotel and make dresses for your children the night before your hubbie's graduation!

Sometimes I have embarrassing ideas, and live to blog about them.

i like to decorate on the cheap.

I recently made this for my favorite season.

i don't come up with many of my own recipes, but there are a handful of keepers. 

my healthy waffles are pretty tasty!

sometimes i just throw things together and call it "good enough." 

as long as they taste good, that's what counts!

i'm a novice gardener, learning as i go. we had a crazy crop of tomatoes this summer, which gave me lots of room for experimenting in the kitchen.

did i mention i really love crafting with my kids?

here are a few of my favorite things...

clogging! (click to see a video)

sunflowers! especially from a field in south dakota!

pretending i know how to take pictures!

being silly with my family!

Basically, my blog is a big mishmash of my favorite things, mostly crafts, and I try to keep it lighthearted and fun. I love to post tips and tutorials and recipes and crafts.

Feel free to stop by anytime- I love new followers and blogging buds!!!

One more thing, I am starting up a sewing competition in February, based on the show Survivor. I'm lining up some awesome judges and prizes at the moment... more details to come. If you like to sew, make sure you enter!!!

Thanks for reading!

The end.

Guest Post Palooza: The Letter 4

Hey Everyone! Today we have Janae from the  THE LETTER 4! Her & her sister blog at the Letter 4 and  there blog is so cute & awesome!

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Hey there! I'm Janae and I blog over at

THE LETTER 4

My 4 sisters and I love to blog about crafts, recipes, printables, you name it! We probably blog about it. I love to share hair tutorials on our blog so today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite

I've had short hair for most of my life. This is the longest it's been in a loooong time. I have those short hairs at the bottom of my head that always fall out of my ponytail still! So to keep them up, we decided to do the TRISERABRAID. Cool name, right? haha I usually have it tighter to keep my hair up but it also looks really cool when it's loose.

It might be a little difficult at first, but once you get it down, it'll be an easy way to spice up the everyday ponytail.

This was a quick one, but some like it tight, some like it a little more laid back. Practice and it'll come to you fast!

Stop by our blog and say hi!

Thanks for having us today at your cute blog, Jenna!!!

Guest Post Palooza: Captivated By Grace

Yup Yup! My special treat of a Guest Palooza is still going strong! 

And today I have Erin from Captivated by Grace! Show her some love!

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Hello It's Just Called Spicy readers!

I feel so honored to be guest posting over here for Jenna today.

If you don't know already...Jenna is getting married!

I am so excited for her and thrilled to be filling in for the bride today!

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Welp...it's that time of year again. 

Time for the ball to drop, the champagne bottles to pop, and the resolutions to be made. 

     If you have been following along with me on my blog, you know that I am going through a lot of change right now. My relationship of the past four and a half years came to an end just two weeks before Christmas. To be completely honest with all of you...I am a little freaked by 2012. I am scared of the unknown. Afraid that my comfort zone has been pulled out from under me. Terrified at moving forward with no more plans for the future. I had plans, I had love, and I was ready for anything. Well...God sure had other plans in mind.

    I know that God is working in this situation for my good. I may not understand why this had to happen, or what the purpose is for it all...but I know that one day I will. God will begin to reveal the reason and purpose behind this. He will make sense of it for me. With that, I can find some peace in the moment. 

     Perhaps you are facing a challenging situation as 2012 begins. If you are, I encourage you to talk to God. Ask Him to give you the comfort and strength needed to endure the pain, put one foot in front of the other, and find joy and happiness in the present and the future. I know that God is directing me in the way I should go. I am trusting in His guidance and allowing Him to navigate me through this life. He loves me and wants the best for me. There is happiness in my future! 

I am going to share some of the encouraging bible verses that fellow bloggers shared with me over the past couple of weeks. If you are facing something difficult, I hope they help bring you some hope and peace today. 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
-John 14:27

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways submit to Him,
and He will make your paths straight.
-Proverbs 3:5-6

The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you;
He will never leave you nor forsake you,
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
-Deuteronomy 31:8

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He,
I am He who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
-Isaiah 46:4

He tends His flock like a shepherd.
He gathers the lambs in His arms
and carries them close to His heart.
-Isaiah 40:10

Trust your life with God.
He will never steer you wrong.
He always works on your behalf.
With this knowledge, we can smile into 2012!

Happy New Year!

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 If you would like to talk about something you are going through...please feel free to email me at captivatedbythebeautyofgrace@gmail.com 

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Congratulations Jenna!
Thanks for having me!

Guest Post Palooza: A Geek In Glasses

Today, we have Steph from A Geek in A Geek In Glasses. She's got a yummy treat to share: Rot your teeth Fudge! Check it out and go check out her blog too! 

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I'm very excited to be guest blogging for Jenna! I wish her all the best!! Can't wait to see the pictures! My name is Steph and I'm guest blogging from A Geek In Glasses. I'm sharing my recipe for

Rot Your Teeth Fudge

I am by no means a health nut - or fruit- or bar for that matter.  The most exercise I get is chasing the dog who has just stolen the package of cookies. As much as I want to be a granola lovin' momma, I'm not. I love the sweets, the candy and cookies. I love this time of year, it starts with Halloween with all those goodies, then onto Thanksgiving with a gluttonous day of pies and breads. Then comes an entire month of celebration with Christmas cookies, cakes, pies and drinks. Party after party, taking us right into the New Year.  - LOVE IT!

I want to share with you my Rot Your Teeth Chocolate Fudge. It's a way to bring all your candy shop favorites into one yummy bite.

First figure out which candies you want in your fudge. The base of my candy is Heath Bars. I love the toffee. I'm also adding chopped up Rolos, Kit Kat, Whoppers and 3 Musketeers with pretzels for a topping.

You need :

1 can of Condensed Milk (14 oz.)

1 Bag of Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

1 Cup of Candy for inside

1/2 Cup of Toppings

My first attempt at this was a disaster....

--- BACKSTORY ----

I was melting the semi sweet chips in the condensed milk over low heat. While that was melting I was breaking up the candy bars. I had a whole bag of mini Heath Bars and was using a hammer to bust them up. It was taking forever and I was moving back and forth from the stove to the counter. Stirring and busting, stirring and busting. The mixture was ready for the candy and without any hesitation I dumped the busted candy bits in, stirred again and quickly dumped the fudge into the parchment lined pan.  I was trying to scrap the bowl with the spatula and something was terribly wrong. I pulled out the spatula and the rubber scrapper part was gone, melted into the fudge!!! Are you kidding me? All I could say was, "OH FUUUDGE!" if you know what I mean. The whole batch of rubber infused candy, the spatula, pot and anything else in a two step radius was tossed into the rubbish in anger.  SO, the moral of the story is:  Even if the most complex thing ever made in the kitchen is a box of Mac-n-Cheese make sure you have good kitchen utensils, spatulas that don't melt and good bamboo spoons.

Now back to this tasty goodness.

After this tragedy I also recommend busting up any candy bars prior to placing anything on the heat. That way your full attention will be with the melting.

Start by gathering your candy. Chop or bust up enough for 1 Cup. Then chose topping, I used more toffee chips and pretzels.

This would be a good place for M&M's, so the color does not melt off in the heat. Measure 1/2 Cup of toppings. Line an 8 x 8 pan with parchment  paper, making sure to have overhang.

Then dump the 1/2 Cup of toppings in the pan and cover the bottom.

In a pan melt the condensed milk and chocolate chips together on low heat.

Stir them gently until smooth.

Quickly add in the 1 Cup of candy bits and stir well, making sure the pieces are coated.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread it to the edges.

Refrigerate for an hour. When set, flip the pan over on to a cutting board. Remove parchment to reveal the wonderful candy topped fudge. Cut as desired and store.

Don't forget to brush your teeth after this one - it's a shoe in for causing cavities with all it's sugary goodness. Hope you enjoy the fudge!

Steph is blogging at A Geek In Glasses. She is a multi-talented wife and mother, living vintage on a tiny farm in Central Pa. Visit her and her family's adventures as retro pirate farmers - photographing and crafting while dancing an Irish Jig.

her wedding day is here.

Hi, all Spicy readers! It's Victoria from Marie Tea and just in case you didn't know, today is Jenna's wedding day! The day she's been planning for and dreaming of is finally here! I'm so honored to stand by her side as she says her vows and gives Noland her hand, while entrusting her heart to the care and protection of his, forever. Marrying the man of your dreams is a pretty amazing way to end one year and ring in the next {no pun intended}. Well, as one of Jenna's bestest friends, I have temporarily hijacked It's just called Spicy {with her permission, of course} to gush on the beautiful bride on the day she walks down the aisle.

Princess Jenna, it's YOUR day!

Sometime last month, during one of our usual weekly conversations, Jenna shared that with her wedding day quickly approaching, she found herself thinking back, flipping through the precious memories, filled with family and friends, that have helped lead her here. As a married lady, having worn those sentimental wedding preparation shoes before, I totally acknowledged that reflections of both the heart and mind are not only healthy and normal, pre-wedding, but they're just as necessary as they are precious, especially since the key to fully appreciating where you're going, is by first cherishing where you've been. And I cannot stress enough, how blessed and privileged I am to share our friendship and be one of the active observers that have helped you beautifully dance your way here.

While digging through old pictures, I was reminded of all our crazy shenanigans. I thought of how we used to drive all around college town, dressed really ridiculously, singing our favorite songs, feeling on top of the world. I remembered all of our midnight dance parties, all our silly-face photo booth sessions, all our movie nights accompanied by chocolate chip cookies, all our mornings when I'd wake you up for school by bribing you with chocolate chip pancakes, and all our countless moments of being there for the other, whether to mend a broken heart or simply cut the other's bangs.

Friendship is one of life's greatest, greatest blessings. Friends build us up when we're feeling down, give us a shoulder to cry on, show us a mirror to see ourselves through better light, and teach us how life and love is better when shared with another.

Last night at Jenna and Noland's rehearsal dinner, we watched a slideshow of pictures of the two lovebirds that captured the years before they found each other, along with snapshots of all the times since. As a fairly new mama, I thought I would instantly cry as soon as baby Jenna lit up the projection screen, but surprisingly enough, the tears began to flow at the first picture of the happy couple. It was then when it hit me, wow, this beautiful friend who has blessed me with her laughter, her smile, her secrets, and her love is getting married. The lifetime of joy she has dreamt of and talked about with all of her closest friends, is about to begin...and not only am I blessed to share in her happiness, but I am beyond excited to watch her marry her bestest friend of all.

Jenna and I have a friendship theme song...cheezy? Maybe. But it's Taylor Swift's, "I'm only me when I'm with you,"and as she walks down the aisle today, I know deep in my heart that Noland will take care of her, honor her, and bring out the best in her. Jenna, I hope you enjoy some of these silly snapshots of our crazy beautiful friendship, but know it's Noland's love that truly lights up your life.

All my love, Victoria