Wordless Wednesday

Dear Kid Saturday - Christmas Recap

Alright, let's just be honest - I wrote nothing down this week for our letter. There were festivities to attend, grocery runs to be completed and last-minute gifts to be coordinated, and it just didn't happen. From Ms. Thing's perspective, probably, aside from the Christmas festivities, it was a pretty uneventful week. So this week's letter will be devoted to our yuletide activities. Don't forget to stop by the Cutest Kid Ever blog for this week's "Dear Kid" and say hi as well.

Dear Queen Quarian,

Isn't that a great name you thought of? I love all the stuff you make up when we play pretend. This morning you've been making crafts and jewelry with your "family," the stuffed animals you keep with you in your tent all the time. Just recently you decided to switch it up a bit and change everyone's names, which I thought was a fantastic idea. You told me your whale's new name is "Gum," your puppy's name is "Kerf," and Elmo's new name is "Coldknit." Very cool. Shortly after the naming ceremony, however, you dismissed me so you could have a family meeting. Maybe someday Daddy and I will get to attend one of those...

Christmas this year started on the Saturday before, since your cousin Twinkle and her mom and dad were heading out of town to see Twinkle's other cousins. We stayed up past your bedtime Friday making the baked French toast and got up early to make the ambrosia. I love it when you help in the kitchen! You were a little disappointed when we told you that Santa wasn't going to come until Thursday, since you were REALLY hoping to have a bath with Swim To Me Puppy. But I explained that Santa only comes on Christmas Eve, and you got much happier when your grandma and grandpa arrived with the presents.

You were such a grown-up during present time. You helped pass out the gifts and you were so excited to see what everybody got. The picture frames you made were a big hit, and you were very proud. You were patient while little Twinkle opened her gifts and even helped her get the wrapping paper off. You got some pretty great stuff this year - the Littlest Pet Shop Wii game, a super cool wooden dress-up doll set from Grandma Kaylan, some new clothes for your stuffed animal family, and your very first dollhouse from Grandma Tiny.

You get kind of quiet and serious about toys you really like. While the rest of us were having brunch (since you're not a real fan of sauces, mixed-up foods, spicy things and.... well, anything other than yogurt in the morning), you went to work putting special outfits on your new dress-up girls until you had them just right, accessories and all. Although the set has lots of really fun sports outfits and costumes, I wasn't surprised at all that you'd dressed up all three girls as identical princesses. Later, you spent an hour playing quietly with your dollhouse til bedtime. The little girl who lives inside has a fairy princess outfit just like yours, and you showed her how to fly around the house and peek into the windows while all her friends were tucked into bed.

On Wednesday, we went to see Santa at the mall. You wanted to make sure he knew about Swim To Me Puppy even though you'd already written a letter. We met your friend L and her mommy, and the two of you had a ball. I was amazed at how brave you were - last year you were terrified of Santa, but this year you said you weren't scared one bit. You walked right up, climbed up on his lap, and told him what you wanted for Christmas. You told me later you said it really loud because he was "old like Great Grandpa John." Good thinking.

We had a few last-minute errands to run after the mall, but you were really tired and had a pretty big meltdown in the store. It surprised me a little - you haven't done that in a long time. But I know you are struggling right now with doing things by yourself, and get frustrated sometimes when you don't have control. I explained that your behavior wasn't ok and that, as a consequence, we wouldn't be able to make cookies for Santa together when we got home. You were upset, but eventually understood that your choices have consequences, and that, while it's ok to feel frustrated, it's not ok to stop listening to Mommy and throw a fit. I promised that we would write a note to Santa so he'd know why there were no cookies, and that you weren't usually naughty.

After your nap, Grandma and Grandpa came over for a Christmas Eve pizza party, something your Daddy's family used to do every year. We put you in charge of the cooking and you were awesome! You brushed the crusts with oil, did the sauce all by yourself and added all the toppings with almost no help. Know what? You make pretty great pizza! Before bed, we wrote a note and put a glass of milk out for Santa. You left a glass of juice right next to it for yourself, because you were pretty sure that you'd be there to greet him when he got to our house.

In the morning, you found the milk glass empty, a full stocking, and (surprise!) SWIM TO ME PUPPY under the tree. As you dug through your stocking, you were a little confused when you saw the little toys from Target and the stickers from Hobby Lobby (even though Santa had taken the price tags off and used special wrapping paper). You said, "Mom, these must be from you!" You're a pretty smart cookie and it sure is hard to get anything by you. The look on your face spoke volumes, even though you played along when I tried to explain that Santa must have known how much you like the stickers at Hobby Lobby. Later, you told your Aunt K on on the phone that it was a "Christmas miracle" to find Swim To Me Puppy under the tree, but I'm pretty sure you've decided this Santa Claus thing is for babies. Oh well - sure was fun for Daddy and me while it lasted.

After you helped with a special Christmas breakfast, the three of us spent the entire day together, doing little crafts and puzzles, and playing with your new toys. I know you loved having both of us as playmates all day. We barely even touched our computers. That was a real Christmas miracle! Naturally, you had a nice long bath with Swim To Me Puppy and we all breathed a sigh of relief when he actually swam around the tub. After a nice long nap in the afternoon, we took Mags (or "Maggie Mae the Black Lab," as you've taken to very formally calling her) with us for a trip to the Frisco town square for their awesome "dancing lights." You got glow bracelets in your stocking, and you wanted us all to wear some, so we were looking quite festive, even Dad. You were all smiles and super sleepy by the end of the day. When I put you to bed, we read one of your new books together and you told me I'm your very best friend. Aw, sweet pea, you sure know how to make your mama smile.

I love you so much, sweet girl. You make every day special.

Sincerely,
Mommy

Macaroni and Glue on MomFuse

Macaroni and Glue is today's "Meet the Maker" feature on MomFuse! Thanks to fellow Mompreneur, Nicole of Dusty Designs for the "in." Read the whole article here.

Boxing Day Sale!

Wordless Wednesday - Early Christmas Gift, Handmade by Grandma

Happy Holidays!

Dear Kid Saturday

Welcome to this week's installment of "Dear Kid Saturday." As always, full credit to Cutest Kid Ever for the fabulous idea. This week, TJ's mommy writes about his holiday singalong at school. Very sweet and poignant, as usual.

I'm not going to consider this post late because a) it's still the weekend, and b) we had our official extended family Christmas celebration yesterday. Everything went swimmingly, by the way, and I'm sure I'll have lots of pics to post later in the week. And without further ado, here's this week's letter:

Dear Princess Mermaid,

Our week got off to a pretty slow start. You woke up with a cough Monday morning. We'd kept you out late all weekend - we went to a party Saturday night, and you went to see Christmas lights with Grandma and Grandpa Sunday night. You had a little bit of a fever and were really sleepy, so I canceled our Monday playdate and made you a little bed on the couch. You only wanted to watch "Charlie Brown Christmas" and have a little yogurt for breakfast. I had to make a run to the craft store and the post office, so when your cousin (Twinkle) came over, we headed out. You guys were really great at the store, but you were so quiet, I could tell you just wanted to be at home. You were very sweet to your cousin in the car, but you told me you wanted to take your nap early after lunch. Sometimes you're such a grown-up. We kept it low-key for the rest of the day, and you got lots and lots of sleep Monday night.

On Tuesday, you were still not feeling good, so we stayed in all day. We had lots of Christmas stuff to do anyway, so after we played with Barbies and My Little Ponies, you helped me wrap presents. You did an awesome job of reading the names on the tags and you were very excited to see that some were for you. At the end of the day, you took a nice long bubble bath and, just because you didn't think I would do it, I jumped right in there with you with all my clothes on. Ha! That surprised you, didn't it? I made quite a mess, but it was worth it to see the look on your face. We sure had a ton of bubbles in there. I could barely find you to wash your hair. Afterward, you wanted to have a tea party instead of dinner, so we made some peanut butter "finger sandwiches" and had raspberry tea. Mmmmm...

Wednesday was a busy day and it was cold and wet outside! Little Miss Twinkle came over and we headed out to the store get some Christmas surprises for your friends and their mommies. You guys crack me up together in the race car shopping cart. You've taught Twinkle how to "drive" and even though it seems to me that you're in the same car, you guys have some pretty crazy "races" every time we go to the grocery store. Twinkle was a little grumpy in the car, so you asked for some music. We played the Ralph's World CD you used to love when you were Twinkle's age. We sang SUPER loud and she laughed and laughed. I have to admit it that I got a little teary thinking about the fun things we used to do when you were really little like that. It seems like just yesterday that you were a baby. You're growing up so fast! Pretty soon I'll be saying that it seems like just yesterday that you were three, and that makes me a little sad. Gosh, I sure am sappy since you were born, huh? Sheesh!

Back at home, you were a little sulky, which seems to be a bit of a trend this week. Worried about too many cuddles for Twinkle? Still not feeling good? Lately, you've been pretending to be sad sometimes, even when it seems like there's nothing to be sad about. You like to tell me you're sad because you "miss your family" - your Grandma in Seattle, Great Grandpa John, and even your little cousin (we see her almost every day, silly!). Daddy and I miss people when they're not here too and it's very sweet of you to be thinking about the people who love you so much. Sometimes I get worried when you pretend to be sad or mad, but I think that it's just a way of playing "dress up" with certain moods. I suppose you wouldn't be my little girl if you weren't a bit dramatic, right?

Thursday night, Daddy was running a little late and you and I decided to play "campfire." We made a fire in the fireplace, turned out all the lights, made your dinner by flashlight and then snuggled up on the floor with blankets, pillows, and a nice warm dog. I love that you come up with such creative ideas and it's so much fun for me to share in your pretending. You made a pretty big announcement, too. You told me that, for this week, you weren't going to be a princess anymore, you were going to be a mommy like me. And you put a "mommy ring" on your left hand just like mine. I am VERY flattered.

On Friday, we had lots and lots to do to get ready for our big early Christmas celebration on Saturday morning. You have been so incredibly helpful this year. I was so proud of you for making your very own gifts for all of our family members - they're going to love them! Because I had so much to get finished, your Grandpa took you to your gymnastics class and then out for a special lunch. You were soooo excited to show him how much better you're getting at the balance beam and your tumbling. You guys took advantage of the super warm weather and went to the park for a looooooooong time. I'll bet he was pretty surprised to see that you don't need to be pushed on the swings anymore. Another thing you can do all by yourself - there's something new every day!

I love you, sweet girl.

Sincerely,
Mommy

Apparently No Longer Out-of-Character Food-Related Post

Alright, I can no longer act like it's weird for me to post a recipe here now and then. I admit it - I cook. And it's actually kind of fun to share a favorite recipe via the ol' blog, don't you think?

So, this week's EtsyBloggers blog carnival theme is holiday traditions. Over the last few years, our family has been developing a Christmas brunch tradition (as opposed to a Christmas dinner tradition). The logic is pretty simple. First thing, Christmas morning when you've got eight adults trying to wrangle kids, coordinate the present-opening, keep track of the stockings, keep the baby out of the tree and the dog out of the kitchen, and keep your own eyes open after staying up WAY too late playing wrapping gifts and playing Wii (just sayin'...), the last thing you want to do is start the preparations for a big giant Christmas dinner that will take all day to prepare. Right?

Enter the make-ahead brunch. All of these dishes feed a ton of people and can be made the night before (quickly, I might add, so you can get right back to the wine and Wii), popped in the fridge, left overnight, and then baked in the morning. So the order of business Christmas morning is:

1. Wake up
2. Get the coffee on
3. Preheat the oven
4. Start opening gifts
5. Pop the brunch stuff in the oven
6. Finish opening gifts
7. Take the brunch stuff out of the oven
8. Enjoy a delicious family brunch
9. Relax and play with all the new toys for the rest of the day!

Doesn't that sound lovely? You might even squeeze in a nap.

This year, due to travel schedules and such, we're having our big family brunch today. I can say with confidence that each and every one of these recipes are fantastic, having tried various versions of each over the years and settled on what you see here. NOTE: Should you try these recipes, your brunch will look absolutely nothing like the photo at the top of this post. The photo has been provided solely for illustrative purposes - you know, to illustrate the general fabulousness of brunch. Casseroles, while equally fabulous and delicious, are not equally photogenic. Take a look at what's on our menu this morning:

Baked French Toast

5 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup milk (for a more traditional "French toast" consistency - for more of a bread pudding effect, double the milk)
1 cup half and half
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 loaf French bread, cut in 1 inch slices

1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoon maple syrup

The night before:
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, half and half and vanilla. Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture and place into a lightly greased baking pan (9 x 13 or larger). Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning:
Preheat oven to 350. Combine butter, sugar and syrup and spoon/drizzle mixture over the bread.
Bake for 40 minutes or until golden.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sausage and Egg Casserole

3/4 pound ground sausage (any kind)
1 tablespoon butter
4 green onions, chopped
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
10 eggs, beaten
1 (16 ounce) container low-fat cottage cheese
1 pound Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
2 (4 ounce) cans diced green chile peppers, drained

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter, melted

The night before:
Cook sausage and set aside. Melt butter in skillet and sautee onions and mushrooms until tender. In a large bowl, mix the eggs, cottage cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and chiles. Stir in the sausage, green onions, and mushrooms. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning:
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Blend in the melted butter. Stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake 40 to 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hash Brown Casserole

1 (2 lb) package frozen hash browns, thawed
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 (10.75 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

The night before:
Combine hash browns, butter, salt, pepper, onion, soup and cheese in a large bowl. Pour into lightly greased 9 x 13 baking pan. Cover and refrigerate.

In the morning:
Preheat oven to 350. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ambrosia Fruit Salad (my version)

1/2 container frozen whipped topping, thawed
8 oz. sour cream
1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks, drained
1 (11 oz) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 lb. strawberries, sliced
blueberries (optional)
3 cups mini marshmallows

The night before:
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix together well, cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning:
Serve and enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There you have it! And with that, I'm off for my final pre-brunch preparations. Merry early Christmas!

EtsyGreetings December Design Challenge

Since I'm always up for a contest, I was more than happy to participate in the EtsyGreetings December Design Challenge. This month's theme is "snow," and the challenge was to design a card, holiday-related or otherwise, around the designated theme. You can check out all the great entries and vote for your favorite here. My "Wonderful Time" card is #5. You can vote for as many cards as you like and one lucky voter will receive the winning submission. As of this writing, this adorable (moving!) snow angel card by CornerstoneLAE is in the lead:


Too cute, right?!

If you're new the the EtsyGreetings blog and you're the stationery-loving type, be sure to check back often for lots of awesome giveaways, tutorials, eye candy and great team promotions. In fact, join us in January for our "thank you" card promotion. Sneak peek here.

Wordless Wednesday - "I Can Do It All By Myself" Volume II

Hello, ArtFire!

As you will undoubtedly hear all about in the coming weeks, part of my grand plan for 2009 is to diversify - to start trying new venues and new marketing strategies, and to ultimately choose the right solutions for my handmade business rather than assuming there's only one solution for my handmade business.



I'd heard quite a bit of buzz about ArtFire since its launch earlier this year. But it was this article by Always Amy that really convinced me to check it out. I mean, for $7 a month, how can you go wrong, right? A few of the major selling points include

1. Super fast, super easy listing process
2. Stats, stats, and more stats
3. Aggressive marketing plans, and
4. (Did I already mention this?) VERY low operating costs.

Here's a peak at what the storefront ("studio") looks like:


Cute, right? As of this writing (just an hour or so after adding my first products), I've seen 40-ish visits to my studio and over 50 individual product views.

Care to be one of my first customers? Be one of my first three ArtFire customers and receive a second boxed notecard or thank you card set of your choice ABSOLUTELY FREE.

Ready to set up shop yourself?

Register on ArtFire.com

Stay tuned for updates on traffic and shop performance. Also coming soon - my report on yet another new-ish handmade venue, 1000 Markets.

Dear Kid Saturday

It's Saturday and whaddayaknow?! I'm here with this week's installment of "Dear Kid Saturday." Once again, full credit to Cutest Kid Ever for the idea and opportunity to participate in what is quickly becoming my favorite blogging exercise.

Without further ado, here's this week's letter:

Dear Cinderella Sleeping Jasmine,

We had a really great week, don't you think? It was your last week of preschool before the holiday break, and you are getting seriously pumped for Christmas!

First thing Monday morning, you were on fire, as we like to say around here. While we were waiting for your baby cousin (henceforward to be known as "Twinkle") to arrive, you were making up "candy inventions." You invented "mock-to-mocks," which are "Mike & Ikes, but like Nerds, but very complicated Nerds with sticks like suckers." Sounds great! You just might have a hit on your hands! Monday night was a little scary. There was a thunderstorm and then suddenly the tornado sirens were going off. We had to get you out of bed and all huddle together in the downstairs coat closet. At first, you were nervous, but pretty soon you'd calmed down. In fact, you thought it was pretty funny that we were all (including the dog) in there together. You told us you thought the tornado sirens were just Daddy and I having a "party downstairs."

Tuesday was your preschool day and, whew! You were pooped afterwards. You took a big long nap, and when you woke up, we curled up together to watch "Charlie Brown Christmas." You loved it, but were surprised that the kids on the show called each other things like "stupid" and "blockhead." You didn't think that was very nice and I agreed. We talked about how it's not ok to do or say everything we see on TV.

Wednesday was a lot of "the usual" around here. Once Ms. Twinkle showed up, we headed out for a very important trip to Target. When we realized we couldn't fit both you and Twinkle in the "big girl cart," you were very upset and cried a lot. I was very sorry to have disappointed you, but had to let you know that it's never ok to throw a tantrum. And actually, you calmed down really quickly when you saw that your crying was upsetting the baby. I'm proud of you for being so sensitive to her feelings. Later on, you had a super crazy bath. We used your new Barbie soap to make LOTS of watermelon-scented bubbles. We just kept refilling the tub and you stayed in there for an hour and a half (!), laughing the whole time.

Thursday was your last day of preschool and the theme was... Christmas! You wore the pink hat that Grandma made you all day, even inside, and I have to admit - you looked so beautiful, I wanted to cover with kisses. Over lunch, we watched "Jack Frost" and you asked a lot of questions about snow and ice. I hope you get to see some snow this winter - this would be a great year to make your very first snowman. Right before bed, you told me you wanted to write your letter to Santa. I was sooooo proud to watch you write almost all the letters in "Dear Santa" all by yourself! You even figured out how to spell "Santa" by sounding it out. I'm sure Santa will get crackin' on that Swim To Me Puppy you asked for, especially since you said "please."

On Friday morning, we had a little disagreement over your clothes for gymnastics class. You really really really want to do things by yourself right now, and sometimes it's hard for me to be patient. But, you know what? This time we both stayed calm and talked it out, and you got dressed just fine without my help. You had a serious case of the sillies at gymnastics, which always makes me laugh. We saw Santa Claus driving a minivan on our way home, and you wanted me to chase him! You wondered what he was doing in a car, but decided it must be a faster way of carrying around all those toys. You were also really glad to see him in our town, which you think is a pretty good indicator that you're definitely getting the Swim To Me Puppy.

I love you so much and am looking forward to another fun-filled week. Christmas is almost here!

Sincerely,
Mommy

Stuff I Love -- Mommies Edition

This week those Fabulous Artistic Moms of the FAM Etsy team have been at it again with the FAM-Made for the Holidays promo. Check out the "12 Days of FAM-Made" gift guide on the FAM Blog and take advantage of one more day of great handmade gift ideas and special promotions in participating FAM shops.

In honor of the promotion, I thought I'd share some of my current fave FAM creations. All handcrafted with love by a fellow work-at-home mom, which makes them even sweeter to bring home.

Gorgeous silver leaf hoops by sarawestermark:


Adorable red dress by laurieaa:


Propolis and honey handmade soap by aromaticbodyoils:


Vintage typewriter key ring by luv4sams:


Retro pillow cover by lindylou2:



Check out the FAM blog for more info on today's promotion and then head over to Etsy to get your Friday shopping fix! Search tags for "fam team" to find all of our great handmade goodies.

Happy Friday!

Wordless Wednesday - Very First Family Portrait

Better Late Than Never - Dear Kid Saturday

Yeah, I know it's Tuesday. As usual, I'm running a bit behind on my blogging. Obviously, I was supposed to (or had planned to at least) do this on Saturday, and henceforward, I promise to do my level best to get this posted WEEKLY and ON TIME.

I've been in love with this "dear kid" concept ever since I first discovered Cutest Kid Ever. The first post I read was a week-end roundup and I hope to follow that format here. Of course, that will require me to a) exercise my ever-deteriorating memory and b) write things down all week, so I can't make you any promises, but here's what I've got for this week. I don't think it's too shabby.


Dear Princess Ariel (Or is it Tinkerbell today? Sorry - you know I do my best to keep up...),

First and foremost, allow me to say what a super cool kid you are and how proud I am of you each and every day. You're going through what boring adults like me might call a "rapid development" phase, which means that you're learning lots and lots of new stuff really quickly. You forever amaze me and Daddy with your observations about the world around you and your awesome sense of humor.

On Monday, you and I got to hang out with your baby cousin all day. I know, I know - she's not much of a baby anymore, and you're starting to get a little concerned that she might steal all the attention and toys around here. Don't worry - you're still my best girl and I appreciate your help with the little one so very much. She absolutely adores you and wants to be just like you, and soon you'll be very good friends. (We need to come up with a pretend name for her too, actually. You'll have to help me with that one...)

Tuesday was preschool day and, as usual, you let me know in no uncertain terms that I'm not allowed to know what happens when I'm not with you. You silly thing. But you did let it slip that you chased your "boyfriend" on the playground and that he is "feeling better," which I'm very glad to hear since I know you were worried about his recent hospital stay... or did you make that up?

On Wednesday, we were babysitters again and we kept it super low-key. The babykins was sort of grumpy and missed her mommy, so you made up a funny game and the two of you chased the dog in circles for what seemed like hours. You had lots of things you wanted to talk about and lots of questions that day. I was distracted by the baby's crying and feeling impatient, and I snapped at you. You informed me that I was being "rude." You know what? You were right. Mommy's not perfect and I appreciate it when you tell me how you feel about the things I do and say. I hope we can always admit to each other when we're wrong and learn together from our mistakes.

Thursday you had school in the morning and your cousin was soooo happy to see you when we came to pick you up! Once again, your lips were sealed, but I did happen to notice that you came skipping out the door holding hands with a new friend. When we went to the indoor playground, you took such great care of the baby, rolling a ball back and forth with her and making sure the bigger kids didn't run her over. I loved the way you introduced yourself to the boys there - with your first, middle and last name, and your age - very thorough. You also did an awesome job of putting together a game of hide-and-seek and counting all the way to 100 before you went to find the other kids. Maybe next time, if you only count to 10 or so, the other kids will still be hiding when you're ready to start looking. We can always count to 100 later.

Friday was "Girls' Day" and we had a blast. At gymnastics class, you did a somersault and straddle roll all by yourself for the very first time! Back at home, we had a tea party, and this time you made the peanut butter "finger sandwiches" with only a teensy bit of assistance. Mmmmmm... raspberry tea. We discovered the "Tinkerbell" movie and you're officially hooked. Later, you and I went for a virtual run with your very favorite thing, the Wii Fit. I love watching you run around like crazy, laughing like a loon 'cause your character runs faster than mine. You tried some yoga too, but we collapsed in a fit of giggles after every pose made you toot. Tooting is apparently the most hilarious thing in the world right now.

You got to spend Friday evening with Grandma, you lucky girl. When she came to pick you up, you were still napping. She found you sleeping in your tent with your fairy wings on, your tiara, your high-heeled princess shoes, and your purse on your arm. You just like to be ready, right?

Know what? You rock. And I love you. Can't wait to see what adventures you have in store for us this week.

Sincerely,
Mommy

Join me in Wonderland at noon EST today!

Yep, just two hours from now! Join me today at noon in the Wonderland Holiday Boutique for some awesome savings on just a few of my most popular notecard sets - perfect for teacher gifts, secret Santa gift exchanges, the office white elephant exchange or as stocking stuffers. All are gift-wrapped and ready to give at no additional cost. Only one set of each design is available at this price, so be there at noon or you'll miss out! Plus, enter to win these pretty handstamped hang tags.


If you haven't been to Wonderland yet this season, you're in for a treat. This great community of work-at-home moms offer a wide variety of unique handmade gift options for your eco-friendly family.

Wordless Wednesday - "I Can Do It All By Myself"

Skwigga-zine Blog Ring -- Blog of the Week

As usual, I'm behind schedule on this one. Once again, I present LAST week's blog of the week. Just pretend you didn't notice, ok?

This week's featured blogger is Corinne of Daydream Art Studio. Artist, teacher, and curator of The Grid, Corinne describes her work as follows:

I paint my life, working mainly in bright, vivid colors. I adore experimenting and playing in mixed media, working from my daydreams and memories. I get my inspiration from the everyday beauty around me rather than trying hard to be "clever." I also love vases and sculpture, using things like found materials, glass, and polymer clay. I dance while I work, and hope the fun I have creating my art is contagious.

As for the nitty-gritty, I primarily paint in oil on canvas. Using a pre-gessoed canvas in easily framed sizes, I start with an underpainting in one color. I slowly build up layer after layer of glazing to create a luminosity that plays with lighting. I use vivid, pure colors, mixing as little as possible to avoid a dirty look. I use black as little as possible- instead I try to put detail in and focus on the many colors that lie in shadows.

A selection of Corinne's work is available in her Etsy shop. The Daydream Art Studios blog offers a peek into Corinne's creative process and includes lovely insights into her family and personal life. Please take a moment to check out both and leave a little love!

Black Friday Specials -- Today's Super Saver Events

It's the most wonderful time of the year and the best day of the year to save on our holiday cards as well as our boxed blank note sets - perfect stocking stuffers or teacher gifts! Here's where to find the best deals on Macaroni and Glue paper goods today.


All weekend: Macaroni and Glue on Etsy -- Take $2 off any boxed holiday card set and get FREE shipping when you add any blank note set to your holiday card order


Today at noon EST: Wonderland Congo - Limited-edition items and some HUGE savings on Macaroni and Glue favorites to the first few customers. Be on time or you'll miss out!




Today only: Artiste Congo - Only one set left of these super cute Santa mini cards/gift enclosures with handmade envelopes!



Today only: 1000 Markets - First three holiday card customers get a second set FREE!


Happy shopping everyone!

November Featured EtsyBlogger -- Storybeader

Congrats to Deb of Storybeader and Stroll Through Storyland - she has the distinct honor of being this month's featured EtsyBlogger! A museum curator by day, Deb finds time to create lovely beaded jewelry and gifts that perfectly capture the tradition and spirit of Southwestern Oklahoma. In her own words:

I love words and colors, reading and making unique jewelry. I write a haiki poem for each necklace that I make - usually something I'm thinking about as I'm creating the piece.

Deb's blog is an eclectic blend of artisan profiles, family stories, works in progress, and even book reviews. Congrats, Deb, and enjoy your month of EtsyBloggers fame!

EtsyBloggers Black Friday Sale!

Skip the mall this Friday and go handmade! The EtsyBloggers team is having a Black Friday sale with over 50 participating Etsy shops. From (ahem) holiday cards to unique and special handmade gifts, you'll find everything you need from the comfort of your own living room, and at amazing prices!

Macaroni and Glue is thrilled to be participating in this supersized event. Between 11/28 and 12/1, take $2 off any boxed holiday card set, and get free shipping when you add any blank note set to your holiday card order. Please include "Black Friday" in Notes to Seller at checkout. See my shop announcement for more details.

Happy Thanksgiving and happy post-Thanksgiving shopping!

Skwiggazine!

Is that not the very best name for an ezine ever?

By now you've probably noticed that I post a weekly profile entitled "Skwiggazine Blog Ring - Blog of the Week" and perhaps the thought "Whaaaaaaaa?" has crossed your mind. This week's Skwiggazine Blog of the Week is Skwiggazine itself (say that three times fast).

My intro to Skwiggazine was a Macaroni and Glue feature by fellow Etsyian and Fabulous Artistic Moms member, Corinne of Daydream Art Studio. An interactive zine and online community for the Indie set, Skwiggazine's mission is to inspire & promote each other. To do so, "we build, imagine, dream & we deliver a magnificent online zine." After poking around a bit, I decided to stay. Not only is the community welcoming and diverse, the magazine really does offer a bit of something for everyone Indie. Weekly features include:

♥ Everyday: In the Spotlight
This Month : Jewelry Artists
♥ Mondays: Poetry by Flory
♥ Tuesdays: Q & A by Annette Piper
♥ Wednesdays: Getting Ourselves Out There by Michelle Harvey
♥ Thursday: Peace Art by Hillbilly Artist
♥ Friday: Go Green by Lily Wrey
♥ Saturday: Interview Me
♥ Sunday: Sunday's Featured Seller by Ruthie

Is it for you? Just might be. Check it out and see what you think. We'd love for you to stay!

Another Totally Out of Character Food-Related Post

I know, I know. If I keep doing this, I can't keep calling it "out of character."

This week's Etsy Bloggers Blog Carnival topic is Thanksgiving, specifically our favorite Thanksgiving traditions. Since, for most of the last 10ish years, our extended family has been scattered about the United States and we never know where or with whom we'll be spending our Thanksgiving, I'll have to confess that we have.... well, zilch in the way of traditions. So I thought instead I'd share with you one of my mom's recipes - a simple, sweet and tangy fruit salad - that is one of my favorite parts of ANY family holiday.

Supremely retro, this particular frozen fruit salad has been a staple at holiday meals since I was a kid. Since there's nothing complicated involved, and I have a three-year-old who adores a) dumping things in a bowl and stirring, and b) marshmallows, we usually prepare this dish at our house for any family gathering. And if we can do it, you most certainly can too.


Beat the cream cheese til fluffy. Blend in sour cream, salt and sugar. Fold in (drained) fruit and marshmallows. Pour into freezer-appropriate pan and freeze overnight. Voila!

Quaint? Certainly. Yummy? You betcha. Tradition? For us, anyway.

And The Winner Is...

Thanks to everyone who came by the blog to enter this week's giveaway! The winner, chosen by the random number generator at Mrs. Glosser's Math Goodies (yes, I'm a nerd) is...

Jenny of The Bloggess

Congratulations! To those "also rans" among you, don't forget to check in at the EtsyGreetings blog to see if you won one of the other great team giveaways.

It's a Giveaway!

Macaroni and Glue is happy to be participating in this week's ginormous EtsyGreetings Blog Carnival giveaway. The idea is simple: to allow you to win some great paper goodies from the EtsyGreetings Team in time for the holidays. Not only can you enter to win my boxed "With a Flourish" set (as pictured), once you've left your comment here, head back over to the EtsyGreetings site to find a list of fellow papercrafters offering free goodies!



Trendy and gorgeous, these simple notecards feature a minty-blue flourish and a simple message. A perfect way to add some elegance to your everyday correspondence. This boxed set includes eight 5.5" x 4.25" blank notes printed on luxe textured cardstock, and lovingly cut and scored by hand in my studio. Matching bright white envelopes are included.

To enter to win this giftworthy boxed set, please leave a comment below. Be sure to either include your email address or, for Etsy sellers, a link to your shop. You may earn up to two additional entries by a) following this blog, and/or b) signing up for our newsletter. Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Entries will be accepted through midnight EST, Thursday, November 20th. The winner will be announced here and on the EtsyGreetings blog.

Good luck!

Skwigga-zine Blog Ring -- Blog of the Week

This week's featured blogger is Annette of Under the Loupe and AnnettePiper.com. A jewelery artist in rural NSW, Australia, Annette says about herself:

I love gemstones - I love the delight I feel when I gaze into their depths and I love how the tiniest inclusion can give clues to the history of the stone. I love the amazing patterns and am in awe of what mother nature has provided for our use and definitely for our pleasure!

Qualifying as a gemmologist way back in 1986(!), I worked in the jewellery trade, and found myself specialising in opals. I left the world of sparkling, gleaming gems and jewellery to follow my husband around Australia and eventually to settle down on our farm in the Central Tablelands district of New South Wales.

When my youngest (the twins) were toddling around, I felt my creativity bursting forth and the natural outlet for me was to return to gems. This time, making my own creations and designing how I saw jewellery could be - elegant, simple and timeless. I also wanted to highlight the beauty of the natural stone and share their mesmerising qualities with the rest of the world!

Constantly searching for the new, the unusual and the different, from all over the world, I endeavour to create jewellery that will be unique yet still very affordable.

I now work from my home studio where there are magnificent views over the surrounding countryside and of the wide blue Australian sky.

As a mother to three very active children and wife to an aviator/farmer, I also share my surroundings with two lazy cats, two working dogs and a few hundred cows.

Annette's web site offers a wide array of beautiful and unique handcrafted occasion jewelry as well as lovely everyday pieces. Annette's blog is an eclectic blend of insights into her creative process and scenes of rural life. Please take a moment to check out both and leave a little love!

Macaroni and Glue Giveaway at The Gift Closet

A big giant thank you to Heather at The Gift Closet for featuring Macaroni and Glue as this week's "Win-It-Wednesday" vendor! Be sure to check it out and enter to win a set of my super fun and vintage-y "Call Me" notecards.


You have until Tuesday the 18th to enter. Don't forget to tell Heather I sent ya!

November Sale at The Pear Project

Hear ye, hear ye! The November sale is now underway at The Pear Project. Shop now for the holidays and take advantage of these amazing savings on artisan goods.


Want to help spread the word? Check out this link. Happy shopping!

Oh Boy Oh Boy! Somebody Thinks I'm Kreativ!

Ok, I'll admit it - I was pretty psyched when my good old "Macaroni and Glue" Google Alert returned this post by Carole at Hippos Toes. As blogger awards go, the Kreativ Blogger award surely is cute. I've seen these buttons floating around on all the "cool" WAHMs' blogs and am so honored to be tagged for my very own.

The rules for acceptance of this distinguished award are that I must first tell you six things that make me happy (good thing I'm not feeling particularly snarky this morning or this part could get dicey), and then pass the love on to six Kreativ blogging friends. So here's what makes me happy:

1. My sweet girl (when she's sweet, of course)

2. My hilarious and perfectly imperfect husband/best friend

3. "WTF" moments (and also, just "WTF" in general - socially acceptable cursing is awesome)

4. Misnomers, malapropisms, and really good metaphors

5. Finally being mature enough to admit and embrace my flaws

6. Ummmmm.... (drumming fingers on keyboard)... roller coasters

There ya have it! And now, my nominees for the Kreativ Blogger award:

1. Jen of Cheaper Than Therapy

2. Felecia of Fluffy Flowers

3. Marisa of Elegant Bloggery

4. Andrea of This Mom's Life

5. Lilly of Lilly's Life

6. Corina of Down-to-Earth Mama

Thanks, Carole, and congrats to all my deserving nominees. Now, hopefully, I'll remember to tell them...

Skwigga-zine Blog Ring -- Blog of the Week

I confess - this was actually last week's blog of the week. Yeah, yeah. So I got a little busy and let the old blog slide. So sue me. You didn't really even notice, did you? Anywho.... moving on.


This week's featured blogger is (drumroll, please) Michelle of Michabella Creations. Michabella is the collaborative effort of Michelle and her friend Cindy. In their own words:

We are two friends who share a love for beading & creating our own jewelry. As a stay-at-home mom, Michelle found that making jewelry gave her a way to express her creativity. Cindy, who works a full-time job as well, started out making cancer bracelets for the Relay for Life. We began showing our designs to family and friends, and from there, started receivng orders. Now it has grown into a business for us! We are excited to be sharing our handcrafted creations with everyone. We are also very involved with our community. By selling our cancer awareness items, we have been able to donate to charities such as the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, the American Cancer Society, and the SPCA. We hope you love our designs as much as we do!

Michabella offers gorgeous handcrafted jewelry at amazing prices. The Michabella Creations blog is filled with stunning jewelry features and little tidbits from Michelle's family life. Please take a moment to check out both and leave a little love!

Bird On A Wire Christmas Catalog Is Here

Macaroni and Glue is thrilled to be a part of this year's Bird On A Wire "Favorite Things" Christmas catalog. At over SEVENTY (yes, that's seven-zero) pages in length, the catalog is truly a ginormous compilation of unique and wonderful ways to show someone you love how special they are this Christmas. Take a look - it's positively brimming with eye candy. Thanks to Deb of Bird On A Wire for the opportunity to be involved!

This Kid is Kuh-Razy

I confess - I've been having a lot of fun with Twitter. Not only is it a great way to discover fellow WAHMs, trade business tips and tricks, and find loads of amazing products/blogs/sites, it's also occasionally... well... hilarious. I suppose when you get 700 rather outgoing people in a room together, somebody's going to say something funny now and then, right? The 140-character format is just perfect for those "OMG this hysterical thing just happened" moments, and I love posting weird and wacky little things that happen between me and my daughter throughout the day.

This morning I realized I could search my twitter history and started reading back over some of my recent "tweets" about Ms. Thing (generally referred to as the "girlie"). Because I don't share much about my family here, and, frankly, I'm drawing a bit of a blank when it comes to blogging today, I've decided to share with you some of my faves:

Me: "Sure you don't have to potty before naptime?" The girlie: "Don't worry, mom - if I have to go poopoo, I'll call you on your cell."

Me: "Better wear your coat, sweetie - don't want to freeze your tush off." Girlie: "I won't, Mom, I promise. It's strong stuck on!"

Me: "Night night, sweet girl. My lips are ready for a kiss." Girlie: "That's weird. My lips are ready for a nice big glass of milk."

Me: "You know what, sweets? I was just thinking how much I love you." Girlie: "Aw. I was just thinking how much I love your necklace."

Me: "Aren't you about ready for some breakfast?" Girlie: "Sure. I think I'll have some nice hot morning Nerds."

Girlie: "Maybe when I grow up I can be a chair. A strong strong chair... Can I have a vitamin?"

I have been informed that the little girlie's dinner "tastes like pantry." What do you think that means?

My daughter has just knighted me with her magic wand. I've been dubbed "King Princess of the Mom."

That kid's nuts I tell ya. Want to follow the adventures of King Princess of the Mom as they occur? Tweet me here.

Now Available at The Pear Project

Macaroni and Glue is thrilled to announce that our stationery line is now available at The Pear Project. Lovingly curated by fellow artisan, Brooke Fuller, The Pear Project is a small business run out of a studio in Coastal North Carolina that specializes in artisan goods for everyday life.

We search the globe for well made innovative products that make life sweeter. We offer products from well known artists as well as a taste of something new. Take a look at our products and enjoy. Our team is passionate about finding the perfect products for the site to create a quick and easy shopping experience for our customers.

The shop offers an exquisite selection of hand-picked bags, jewelry, household items, paper goods, and fine art. From wall decals to letterpress coasters to adorable little clutches, The Pear Project is a treasure trove of unique and lovely gift ideas and special ways to treat yourself.

We're so honored to be a part of this exciting collection of artists and designers. Visit the shop here or check out The Pear Project blog for shop news and musings on the role of artisan goods in our everyday lives.

Stuff I Love - Twitter Edition

Lately I find myself spending quite a bit of time "hearting" things on Etsy. There are so many talented artists and designers out there and adding their treasures to my favorites list is my way of gathering them all up and carefully tucking them away in a special little box under my bed. My little collection of lovelies often serves as my inspiration, helps me break through a creative block, or challenges me to up my game.

This morning I thought I'd share some of my most recent obsessions, all discovered via Twitter.

Felted wool river rocks by lil fish studios:


Merrie print by The Dreamy Giraffe:


Nunavut necklace by Bijoux Bead:


The Fisher necklace by Brooke of The Pear Project:


Vintage reader from Salvage Nation:


Floral script woodburned box by Sixth and Elm:


Aunt Martha earrings by Simply Shell:


Gorgeous, right? I dare you not to shop now. Look for more "stuff I love" every Monday right here. Wanna join the Twitter fun? Follow me! Fair warning - I'm a mom. There may be potty and/or booger talk. I'd hate to offend.