Branding

It's something that I've known I need to do for a while, just hadn't quite decided what look I wanted to go for.  I was getting a little tired of the hot pink and black, so I began searching for someone on Etsy who I thought could create the look that I was going for.  That's when I came across Heather from The Buzz.  She listened to exactly what I had in mind and created a new banner and avatar for my Etsy shop.  Click here to check it out!  If you have a shop, you really should stop in and browse The Buzz and all the business tools she offers.

Next up, I needed some new fabric labels for my clothing items to stay consistent with my new design.  I was so happy when I found Lisa from MommieMadeIt!  Her fabric labels are awesome and she had the perfect thing to coordinate with the new look for my shop.

She has the cutest packaging!
Here is what I found when I opened my package....

I am in love with the image of that little girl! 

 And guess what????

She's a paper doll! 

( I'll have to put this away for a few years until Elizabeth is a little older.  I loved paper dolls when I was young, and I just know she will, too!)

I will definitely be a return customer!

I had just finished up a custom order this morning when I received my labels in the mail.  I immediately got to work and just love how it looks on this pillowcase dress!

If you're new to Etsy, be sure and check it out.  If you can imagine it, it's out there.  A huge number of stay-at-home mommies are making a living by selling their items here.  

Go out and support one!  And while you're at it, buy something cute!

New Items in Shop and an Opportunity for YOU!

Looking for a versatile piece for you daughter's wardrobe?  

Check out my new Elizabeth Pillowcase Dress!  

This can be made in dress or tunic length.  

Embellish it with an applique..........

OR for a classic look, go without an applique.

These are even more adorable when paired with the Ella Ruffle Pant.

Want to purchase one of these for a good cause?

Murray and Jaime Sanderson (and Faith and Eli), a wonderful family at our church,  are in the process of adopting a precious 3 year old little girl, named Dinkenesh,  from Ethiopia.  There will be a Dinner Party and Silent Auction benefiting their adoption and I will be donating one of these sets along with a matching pair of American Girl ruffle pants.

Want to know more about their journey to adoption?  Check out their blog here.

You can also go here to see what other "fun"draising opportunities there are to help.

I am also donating 25% of any sales made in my Etsy Shop in the month of February to their adoption fund.

  

From now until February, I am working, working, working to stock my store for this giving opportunity.  

Please pray about what you can you can do to join me in supporting the Sanderson family!

Beans, Cornbread, & Snowcream

Nashville has enjoyed a few days of snow, but it sure has been cold!  

Here's a recipe to warm you up!

What do I do when I need some advice on how to cook something?  Call Mom.  When I asked her about making beans, she laughed and said that it took her 50 years to figure how to make a good pot of beans. 

 Here's how she does it.....(and my first attempt).

White Beans
1 bag of white beans
1 ham bone (I had one in the freezer leftover from Christmas dinner)
1 large carrot, shredded
1 onion, diced
salt and pepper to taste
water (I also used about two cups of chicken broth that I had leftover in the refrigerator that I used)
1 T bacon grease

Rinse beans and soak in water overnight.

Melt bacon grease over medium heat in a large pot or dutch oven.  Saute carrot and onion until tender.  Once tender, add chicken broth, beans, salt and pepper and ham bone.  Add enough water to just cover the ham bone.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and cover.  Let simmer about 8 hours.  When it is ready, the meat should just fall off the ham bone.  Remove the ham bone and any fatty pieces.

Here's what it looks like when it's ready......

Cornbread

No secret.... I use the recipe off of the bag of Martha White Self Rising Cornbread Mix.  On the back of the package, there is two recipes.  I've tried both, but have decided we like the Country Cornbread recipe best.  

Snowcream

8 cups of snow

1 14 oz can of Eagle Brand (I used fat free)

1 t vanilla

Put above ingredients in a large bowl and mix with a hand mixer until creamy.

( I had to add about a cup of milk to get it creamy.)

YUMMY!!!  Elizabeth especially enjoyed this part of the meal!

Daniel and I were talking about how this meal made us feel like we should have been in a cabin in the woods somewhere.  Even though we were in this our little cottage in the city, it's ok to just imagine!

Stay warm!

My New Best Friend

I had always thought that a rotary cutter and self healing mat were only for quilters....which I am not.  I didn't see the need of one for my self until I started cutting out lots of straight lined pieces for ruffle pants and apron dresses.  I thought, there's got to be a better way!  So, I put a rotary cutter and mat on my Christmas List.  

Daniel's parents were so kind to get me both as part of my Christmas!

I decided to give them a try yesterday.  WOW!  These sure do make life easier!  I cut out several straight pieces for ruffle pants then decided to see how they would work on curves.  WOW again!  I just laid my pattern piece out.... no need to pin..... hold down in place with one hand and "trace" the pattern with the rotary cutter with the other hand.  

I'm sure gonna love having these!

Thanks Mark and Betty for my gift!

Blog Worthy Savings

Would you believe me if I told you 

that I got all of this makeup for $4?  

 Here's proof!

CVS has LOTS of their Loreal cosmetics marked 75% off.  Pair this with this past Sundays coupons for $5 off ANY 2 Loreal cosmetics, and another coupon for $2 off any Loreal cosmetics.  If you have duplicates, even better!  

All of the items that I bought were regularly priced between $11-14.... on sale they were $2-3, with my coupons, my total was $4.43.

If you are in need of new make up like I was, head over there now.  Let me know what you find!

I have one more $2 coupon that I plan to use tomorrow!

A Recent Custom Order

I wanted to share a recent custom order that I had right before Christmas.  A family friend, Celene, contacted me and asked if I could do outfits for her granddaughters and something matching for their American Girl dolls.  I had not made doll clothes before, but am always up for a challenge.  After discussing it, she decided to go with appliqued shirts with their first initial along with ruffle pants for the girls, and matching ruffle pants for the dolls.

Here are some pictures.....

I LOVE how they were turned out and was elated when Celene emailed me multiple times to tell me how happy she was with them!

I loved them so much, I added them to my Etsy Shop!  Soon I will be adding more.

A New Year & A Recipe

Well, it's already a few days into the new year.  I've spent the first days of the new year catching up on some things that I've put off during the holidays, enjoying some family time with just the three of us before Daniel went back to work, and doing some relaxing.  

The new year is a good time to look back at the year before and make plans for the year ahead.  I cringe at the word "resolutions" because I've resolved so many times, to lose weight, read my Bible daily, save more money, manage time better, and on and on and on.  

This year, instead of making resolutions, I'm going to practice goal setting.  I've always done better when I have goals. So, here are my goals for this year.....

1) Eat healthier- eat as "clean" as possible, lean meat, no "white stuff", drink more water

2) Personal Bible study - at least 3 times a week.  This doesn't include "couple study" time.

3) Blog at least 3 times a week.

4) Expand Etsy shop.

These are my personal goals for this year. Daniel and I also have some couple and family goals that we will be working towards.  I have more specific steps written out in a journal that I'm keeping.  I'll keep you all updated on how I'm doing.

What are your GOALS or resolutions for this year?

Ok.... now for the recipe!

We ate this for Breakfast on New Years Day.  (Before I technically started my "healthier eating" goal! :))

Overnight Caramel French Toast 

{Yummy!}

from Beth at Eat.Drink.Smile

originally from Cooking Light Magazine

photo borrowed from Beth at Eat.Drink.Smile

Ingredients:

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup light-colored corn syrup

1/4 cup butter

Cooking spray

10 (1-oz) slices French bread (soft bread such as Pepperidge Farm)

2 1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk

1 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

2 large eggs

2 Tbsp granulated sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

Combine first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until mixture is bubbly, stirring constantly. Pour mixture evenly into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.

Arrange bread slices in a single layer over syrup in dish.

Combine milk and next 4 ingredients (through eggs) in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Pour egg mixture over bread slices. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine granulated sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over bread.

Bake at 350° for 50 minutes or until golden. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

I recently came across Beth about a month or so ago when she was hosting a giveaway on her site.  She was giving away a City Saver (formerly City Pass) coupon book.   I WON!!!   We rarely eat out without a coupon, and always buy this book, so it was so exciting to win.  Thanks again Beth!   Be sure to head over to her blog for lots of yummy recipes and restaurant reviews.  She's local (Nashville) but reviews restaurants in other cities as she travels.