12 Crafty Projects for 2012

I've been thinking about what I want to attempt in 2012.  With a baby on the way and gall bladder surgery 6 weeks later, I'm just not sure I'll have the time or energy to tackle anything huge this year (you know, like painting rooms, removing the popcorn from our ceilings, refinishing our back deck, etc.) But I know me...I won't be happy if I don't have some sort of creative endeavor going!  Here's my list of 12 Crafty Projects for 2012.  {None of these photos are mine...they're all here for inspiration as I begin my own projects.  Please check out the source links for more info!}

1. Make a set of finger puppets for Miss A and New Baby (still trying to think of a nickname for her!)

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2. Organize my craft supplies into a neat, tidy and inspiring space.  DONE!!!

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3. Help Sweet Hubby design and build a sensory table for our girls.

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4. Finish Miss A's Little Birdy themed big girl room.  (Almost there...I promise!!)

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5. Make some alphabet magnets for the refrigerator...so much cuter than the plastic ones!

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6. Make some pennant banners out of lovely fabrics.

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7. Make lined canvas bins for storing various things throughout our house.  (We already have lots of diaper boxes...might as well put them to use!)

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8. Make an upholstered headboard (or makeover an existing headboard?) for our master bedroom.

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9.  Make a button monogram for our living room (and maybe one for each of the girls' rooms?)

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10.  Finish the alphabet sampler I started for Miss A.

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11.  Make some pretty pillows for our master bedroom and the living room.

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12. Make a paper/cardboard Christmas village.

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That should keep me busy this year, don't you think?  Next January I'll have to see how many of them I actually got done!  :)  What's on YOUR to-craft list this year?

Giveaway Day: Good and Easy Eats

If you missed it, yesterday I posted a review of the new ebook by Kim Wilson, Good and Easy Eats.  You can read my in-depth thoughts on the book by clicking that link, but I will tell you now that I think the book is fantastic!  You don't have to be vegan, vegetarian or have dietary restrictions to benefit from the recipes and tips she offers. 

So, who wants to win a FREE copy of the ebook?  You have FIVE chances to win!  And if you don't win, you can purchase the ebook starting tomorrow (Dec. 10) for only $4.99 at Good and Easy Eats.  (Look for my affiliate link in the sidebar to the right beginning late Friday night.)

6 Ways to Enter:

1. One entry: Leave a comment telling me why you want to win a copy.  Are you vegan or vegetarian?  Do you need recipes that are gluten, egg, dairy, soy, yeast and wheat-free?  Are you interested in incorporating more whole foods into your standard diet, but aren't sure how to start?  
2. One entry: Sign up to receive Kim's FREE newsletter by clicking here.  Come back and leave a separate comment telling me you did so.
3. One entry: "Like" Good and Easy Eats on Facebook and leave a separate comment telling me you did so.
4. Two Possible Entries: Post the link to this Giveaway Post on Facebook and/or Twitter so we can spread the word.  Leave a separate comment for each post you do.
5. One entry: Blog about the giveaway and leave a comment with the permalink to your post.

If you are having trouble leaving comments (a common problem for Blogger...so sorry!) try hitting the Preview button.  You'll have to wait for the Preview to load, then hit Post. 

A winner will be randomly selected from the comments on Friday, December 9 at 9pm CST.  Best wishes!

Book Review: Good And Easy Eats

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this new e-book by Kim Wilson, Good and Easy Eats, in exchange for a review and hosting a giveaway on Natural Nester. The opinions in this review are 100% mine.  The photos in this post are from Kim's website, Good and Easy Eats.  I'll be hosting a giveaway for a free copy of of this book on Friday, December 9! Check back to enter for your chance to win!

The Claims: 

Kim promises that the recipes in her cookbook will be:

Exceptionally Nutritious

Affordable

Tasty and

Staple Recipes. 

She says that the book is a good fit for vegans, vegetarians and those with food allergies, that it is beneficial to those eating a fairly standard diet (that's me!) who want to begin cooking more naturally. 

I've had an interest in real/whole foods eating for the last year or so, but it seemed like every blog or cookbook I found that promised to make it "easy and accessible" to normal, busy Moms never lived up to the hype.  I had three main questions:

1. Were the ingredients easily accessible and affordable?  I need to be able to do my shopping at local stores and not have to drive 60+ miles to big (and expensive) health food stores for the ingredients.  And I also didn't want to have to spend way more than my existing food budget.
2. Were there simple and straightforward prep instructions?  Could I work them into my normal routine?  With a toddler and another baby on the way, I don't have hours (or energy!) to spend in the kitchen every day.
3. Were the resulting meals something my family would actually eat?  Keep in mind that I cook not just for my husband, toddler and I, but I also cook for my extended family at least once or twice a week (including grandparents eating a 100% standard American diet.)

My Reaction:

With the exception of three items (flax oil, tahini and agave syrup), I generally keep (and use!) every one of the ingredients listed in Kim's "Stocking a Basic Pantry" section.  They are items I'm familiar with, so I know I won't be too intimidated to use them and they aren't too expensive since I buy them already!  Downside:  There are other ingredients listed in the actual recipes that I will have to locate (sorghum flour?) if I am going to follow the gluten-free recommendations in the book; luckily, she gives instructions if you don't have to/want to be GF.

I love seeing that she included recipes for making Nut Milk (I've had to go dairy-free recently and buying Almond Milk can get expensive!) and the recipe for Blender Pancakes and Waffles (that you can freeze) is perfect for our small family since we can never eat a whole batch at a time.  Kim also includes a huge list of snack ideas, something that I'll definitely put to use.

I have plans to make at least two of the recipes listed next week and review them here on the blog. I'll let you know which ones I select when I post next week's Menu Monday.

If you are interested in this ebook, come back Friday, December 9 to enter for your chance to win a free copy!  And if you don't win, the book will be available beginning Saturday, December 10 for only $4.99!!  That's a GREAT deal and well worth the price, I believe!

Autumnal Blessings



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Happy Fall Day to you!  The weather here has been just gorgeous this week...did you know Autumn is my all-time favorite season?  It actually makes me giddy with excitement to think of cooler weather, sweaters, going to the pumpkin patch, baking, big pots of bubbling soup...oh, I feel a smile coming on all ready! 

Today I'm sharing some eye candy...the projects and recipes I've been seeing that have me completely inspired for this season!  If you have things to share, feel free to do so in the comments...I'd love to hear what you have planned for this Autumn!

Fall Display

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Book Page Treat Bags

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Candy Corn Colored Pretzels...cute gift idea for your little goblins!

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Chocolate & Orange Layer Cake with Chocolate Ganache...click over to see the entire cake...it's breathtaking!

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Cute outfit for fall...you would not believe how hard I've looked for maternity inspiration!  Suggestions?

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Book Page Pumpkin

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Well, I guess that's enough eye candy for now...but don't think I won't have more to share as the season goes on.  Hope you're enjoying cooler weather!

Did you hear that?

I mean, that loud yeehaw coming from Oklahoma?  Yep, that was me.  And why am I giving such a hardy yell so early in the morning?  Because I woke up to this email from Amy at Positively Splendid.

Hi there! I wanted to let you know you were selected the winner of the No Biggie chalkboard speech bubble giveaway on my blog!

So, not only did I get an email from one of my favorite bloggers, but I won the coolest thing since sliced bread!  Kami over at No Biggie makes these amazing chalkboard speech bubbles...and I won 4 different shapes. See how she's used them?  Soooo cute!  I can imagine them being used for all sorts of things.  I had already thought about having a photo booth at Miss A's next birthday party and these will definitely be included!

If you haven't visited Positively Splendid or No Biggie, you need to!  Those ladies are so creative and funny and their blogs are beautiful, too!  Amy just finished up a Summer Survival Guide and if you have older kids, I'm certain it will be indispensable.  Kami posted a recipe for Super Sliders that I plan to make (maybe this week!) for Sweet Hubby.  He loves roast beef and these sound phenom!

Thanks Amy and Kami for having the giveaway!  I promise I'll use those speech bubbles until they wear out! : )

O.M.G.

What a nice surprise I got this morning!  One of my all-time favorite blogs Ladybird Lane featured my kite wreath!  Do you remember that project?  Well, you can find it here.  Head on over and check out Carlee's blog...you won't be sorry!  It's chock-full of inspiration, pretty bits, free printables and some great recipes!  (This is on my menu for next week...using Carlee's spaghetti sauce recipe!)

Thank you Carlee!  You made my day!  :)