Weekly Update

Hello fellow bloggies! Sorry for my absence - things have been a little crazy this past week. On top of being sick for a few days, one of my dear friends is moving across the country, and I am looking into daycare for our son, which I didn't think would be so difficult, but it has been emotional. In fact, I have been overly emotional about the whole thing, and after looking intensely for places in our area for a few hours, I had a breakdown on the phone with hubby, which caused him to be overly concerned about me the rest of the day. Let me tell you, not fun. I ended up looking at a place that seems like a good option so we shall see what unfolds. We have great options right now, but we would really like him to be interacting more with kids his age. It would also be ideal to find a place that has a daycare, and preschool. That way we could keep him there until he is ready to go to kindergarten. But not only is it hard to find a place like this, it is even harder to trust a place to watch your precious baby, especially when you worked at a daycare center for several years. There are great places, and some not so great places. It can also depend on each individual person, but I need a place that has consistancy and where I know everyone and they know me. Many commercial daycare centers do not offer that - not that I have been to EVERY one, but I am looking for something a little more personal. I know it will all work out. Please pray, cross your fingers, send good thoughts into the air. We always appreciate it! :)

Needless to say I have not been that creative this week, but it has been busy so here are some highlights:

• Hubby has replaced the large mirror in our master bath with two individual mirrors. He also hung a few paintings above our bed - now we need a headboard! Pictures soon!
• Made homemade banana chips, which turned out a lot better than homemade apple chips that I burned cause I forgot the timer went off...opps. I will definately try BOTH these recipes again. BTW A Beautiful Mess is one of my favorite blogs - YOU should check it out).
• Discovered a yummy white chicken chili recipe (my mom also makes a killer white chili).
• Received my cards from the Bazzill Basics Paper card swap and I am super excited for the holiday swap. The cards I got are so cute. Such talented ladies!

And here are a few things that have caught my eye (some have been catching my eye for weeks!):

This makes me laugh every time I see it! Arcadiagraphic on Etsy

I am so excited for Christmas. West Elm holiday ornaments on Simplified Bee

Craftberry Bush is another favorite blog. Lucy knows how to put beautiful things together and photograph them well.

This is just too cool!

My Sister's Suitcase printables + Poppy Seed Projects frames = genius!

 

What is catching your eye this week? Hope you are having a nice week. <3 p="p">

Paper Pinwheel fun!

Hello bloggies - hope you are having a nice day! This week I decided to try my hand at a popular trend right now: paper pinwheels. There are many tutorials and ideas floating around on the internet. I found this video from Two Peas in a Bucket's Adventures of Glitter Girl very inspiring (if you haven't seen these videos you should check them out). I also found this cute card from liveteachcreate, which is so adorable! I will post a how-to later on this week, but here is the card I created. Hope you enjoy!

For more pinwheel inspiration check out my pinterest board here. Thanks for stopping by!

Try It Tuesday: Zucchini bread

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups shredded zucchini

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nugmeg

 

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F 

2. Combine eggs, sugar, and vanilla until well mixed. Fold in zucchini.

3. Sift together dry ingredients in separate bowl.

4. Pour dry ingredients into wet until mixed.

5. Fill greased pan (loaf, muffin, square) 2/3.

6. Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean.

 

This recipe can be made into loaves or muffins.

You can also substitute whole wheat flour for the all-purpose.



Motivational Monday

 

“Nothing is predestined: The obstacles of your past can become

the gateways that lead to new beginnings.”

- Ralph Blum

Try It Tuesday: tomato tart

Hello bloggies! A simple recipe that my mom always used to make is Tomato Tart, and decided to try making it myself. Great way to use all the tomatoes you may have laying around...YUM!

 

Tomato Tart*



4-5 large ripe tomatoes

1 cup shredded cheese (combo of Parmesan, mozzarella, and Swiss)

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup chopped basil

salt & pepper

ready-made or homemade pie crust

 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Par bake pie crust if needed.

2. Mix together mayonnaise, basil, and sour cream.

3. Layer cheese, tomato, s&p, and wet mixture in pie crust (in that order) until you have 3-4 layers. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

4. Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until bubbly.

 

*Please note that these are only approximate measurements. My mom said she usually guesses on the amounts for each ingredient. You could also try different cheeses, or substituting yogurt or ricotta for the sour cream.

Motivational Monday

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly

trying to make you something else

 is the greatest accomplishment."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Preview Friday

Hello friends - be sure to check back next week, because I will share a new favorite crisp recipe, Halloween cards I am working on, and how to make a jewelry holder from an old corkboard. Have a wonderful weekend!

2 posts in one!

Hey friends - this is a 2-for-1 blog post. First one of my favorite shops on Etsy: Dancing Mooney. Janell not only has beautiful jewelry, but she also makes the most amazing soap. I love this vintage necklace above. I hope you find her art inspiring!

 

"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance."

~Aristotle

 

Confession...

Ok I will admit it. I do have a need to keep things...people have called me an hoarder in jest. I am guilty of keeping bills and receipts years after the purchase (one of my current "projects" is cleaning out the file cabinet). Although the shows about hoarding do facinate me, the thought of stuffing our house full of stuff stresses me out to the point that I after watching just a few minutes of these shows, I immediately start giving away things I would never have wanted to before. The disease facinates and frightens me all at once!

Anyway...I have been trying to organize my craft room, which has turned into the guest/workout/office/misc room. I do not mind since my hubby has been so great about letting me do what I want with the room, even if I change the room right after he spent hours helping me rearrange it. The hardest part is getting a room just right (is it ever truly right?), and I have been guilty in the past of taking everything in my room, putting it in the center of the room, and then totally rearranging it. At least it keeps me busy...for now. But the hardest thing for me is that I have a lot of stuff, but I need to have it organized otherwise I get totally overwelmed and cannot focus on anything but the piles of stuff.

There are many great organizing ideas all over the internet, and here are a few of my favorites that I have already incorporated or would like to:

using a binder to store clear stamps - I do this now and it is handy (I cut out the paper telling me the manufactutor and tape it to the back of the stamp set)

ribbon storage - I kinda do this, but it is not color coordinated...

recycled storage containers

 

using pegboard

 

You can find more ideas here at the Better Homes and Gardens website.

 

Speaking of getting organized, I have decided to have a focus each day on this blog. I am hoping this will help me when I am having a hard time finding something to write about or need inspiration. Here is the following schedule:

MONDAY: Adventure of the week (something new I have either done or plan on doing relating to crafting)

TUESDAY: Crafty inspiration (either my work or others)

WEDNESDAY: A few of my favorite things.

THURSDAY: Inspirational (quote and photo)

FRIDAY: Week wrap-up and fun weekend ideas.

 

I also think it would be fun to incorporate something like this for my family relating to chores, meals, etc. I have something in mind and will share it soon.

 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful night :)

Fall is here!

Hello bloggies! Hope this holiday weekend treated you well. For most of us, school starts tomorrow (can you believe it?). Summer may be over, and although fall does not officially start until September 22nd, I cannot wait for one of my favorite seasons. Here are a few things I am looking forward to this fall:

 

Pumpkin Patches

Owl Prowls (they start nesting and are most vocal - I heard one a few weeks ago!)

the beach! my fave time to go actually - not as many people

 

Our anniversary - it will be 5 years already

Hanging out with family, and checking out the beautiful sunsets

 

 

FOOTBALL! My husband paid me to write that...just kidding. ;)

 

Just a few of the things I am looking forward to this fall. What are you looking forward to this fall? Have a favorite time of year?