Lady Bug Pretzel Bites....and Some Fun News

 I have some fun news...more on that in a minute, first....about the bugs.  I've seen this post a bazillion and 4 times over the last few months on various sites, but I don't know where the original post came from?  Does it count if I just say it's not 'me?'  I put it on the back burner of crafts I want to try someday, but it got bumped up to my list today because I have a pop up project I need to get done for something fun....
I will say these bugs have a bigger purpose I'll be posting about in a few weeks, and hopefully their home will be a cute one.  These bugs are so easy to make.  Pretzels, red, and milk chocolate...(and white chocolate if you want to add eyes, which is not necessary). 

 Melt the chocolate (I just place this in the microwave for 30 second intervals between stirring, and it is usually melted within a minute.  The white (or red) chocolate takes less time-45 seconds or so). 

 Dip the bottom of the pretzel into the milk chocolate.  Tap off the excess.

 Let these dry on wax paper.  I usually toss them in the fridge to speed up the process. 

 Melt the red chocolate, and dip the double looped half, the 'wings' if you will....and if you won't.....why?  Ignore me, it's almost 3 am.  I'm delirious...and I've been around glue all day.  Granted, it's only Elmer's, but still...I'm coated in the stuf. 

 Repeat the drying process. 

 I then shoveled my left over milk chocolate into a ziplock bag, and I reheated this for a few seconds (just long enough to get hot).  I made a TINY slit in one corner, and piped on my dots.  (You could also add dark sprinkles while the red chocolate is still soft if you don't want to play with piping dots.)  I repeated the process with white chocolate to make two eyes. 
*One thing I've learned (and maybe I'm the last one on earth), but I put any left over chocolate in a ziplock bag, or a blob on wax paper.  Once it dries, I dump it back into the bag to reheat for another project. 
OK....and before I get to my news....when I got home today.....my chihuahua, Peanut, had found a pack of matches I had next to a candle and chewed them up.  They were all over the carpet, and near his favorite spot to bury things....couch cushions.  He's still alive to tell the story, but I am disturbed that my dog is playing with matches now, he's only two after all....lesson learned. 

....and last.  I got a call from a producer of Good Morning, Texas who found a post about pinatas I popped up on the blog last May for my Week of Cinco de Mayo projects.  I'm heading in Tuesday morning to do a segment on 'how to make a pinata' live, sometime between 9-10 am (pending interruptions by national news stations, I'm sure).  I'm trying not to think about everything that goes with that, but I'm really excited to have this opportunity.  I've been paper maching for two day's straight now to get all my pieces together.  The ladybugs (I know...this is a stretch) are my back up if I need to fill any time, it'll make sense when I post the rest of this project....if all goes well, I'll post about the experience, and maybe even link up to a clip.  If things fall apart, I'll be deleting this portion of the post and pretending like I never said this....ever.  ;o) 

Linking To:  Sundae Scoop Under the Table and Dreaming Saturday Shindig Sunday Showcase Nifty Thrifty Lines Across My Face Savvy Homemade Messy Help a Mama Out Blue Cricket Creative Spark Trendy Treehouse Night Owl 7-33 Free Things For You Tea Rose House