You + Me = Forever

I hope you all had a nice valentine's weekend. We are pretty low key around here. Like last year, we ordered some yummy takeout food. This year we ordered from Beer Engine. It was really, really good. I really love my guy, but I'm not so sure how I feel about Valentine's Day. What is it about that holiday that annoys me?


The La La Love You print above is framed in a $6.99 Room Essentials frame from Target. It does need to be trimmed down just a bit to fit in an 8x10 frame. If framed in a larger frame w/ an 8x10 mat, no trimming of the print would be required.

Happy Birthday Lover Boy!

No matter how much I worry or stress it all comes down to this...Everything will always be alright in the end because we've got you in our lives. Happy Birthday, Dylan! You know we love you like crazy.

Flag Garlands

I added some new flag garlands to the shop today. I've been feeling a big more bright & playful with these lately. More geared towards birthday parties & rockin' playrooms. Check the out here.

From The Archives: Sugar Cookies

I had a reader request my sugar cookie recipe so I'm posting it again this year. I am a bit of a sugar cookie snob & it's all my mom's fault because she made these incredible ones. I signed up to bring cookies to Sadie's school party so it looks like I'll be making these tomorrow night!


Now it just wouldn't be Valentine's Day without some of these.

Sugar Cookies

1-1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 c. butter
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
2-1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tarter

Mix powdered sugar, butter, egg, vanilla & almond extract. Mix in flour, baking soda and cream of tarter. Cover & refrigerate at east 2 hours. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Divide dough into halves. Roll each half 3/16 inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake until edges are light brown 7 to 8 minutes. Makes about 5 dozen 2 inch cookies.

Buttercream Icing

1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
4 c. powdered sugar
2 tbsp. milk

Cream butter & shortening. Add vinalla. Add sugar one cup at a time. Add milk.

Rice Pillows

I just had to make some rice pillows last week & I blame it all on these girls. But I am so happy to be clued into the wonderfulness of rice bags! I followed the tutorial over at Wisecraft. A couple minutes in the microwave & you have a nice warm pillow to set on your lap or wrap around your feet or shoulders. Sadie was really cute when I first gave one to her. She is our kid that likes to sit right in front of the heater vent. So a nice warm pillow to carry around put a huge smile on her face.

Collate

Last week I received my journal from Jessie's Collate project and it is so cool! I was happy to see my contribution (a yellow floral wallpaper) mixed in with all the other cool vintage paper.

Such a clever idea, Jessie. Thanks for all your hard work & attention to detail. The book covers, mailing labels & wrapping (tied up w/ red string & a pencil) made for some seriously happy mail!

Super Easy Removable Pillow Cover Tutorial

I love to make my pillows like this because they are quick & easy. Also the removable cover makes washing a breeze. It's nice to simply be able to slip the cover off & replace it with another when you're ready for a new look.

To make the pillow you will need a pillow form (these go on sale 50% off quite often at Joanns) and fabric for both the front & back of the pillow.

Cut your front fabric to the exact measurement of the pillow form. For this tutorial I covered a 14 x 14 inch pillow form, so I cut my patterned fabric to 14" x 14". This makes for a nice plump pillow in the end. Cut two pieces from your backing fabric that are the same length of the pillow, but 4 inches shorter on the width. My pieces were 14" x 10". (If you are using a larger pillow form, you'll want to come in more than 4 inches. Just eyeball it so that once you finish the hems, the back pillow pieces overlap by at least 2 inches. See below.)

On one of the long sides of the backing pieces create a hem by folding the fabric over towards the back 1/2 inch & iron.

Then fold over another half inch, iron & pin. Sew along the fold with a straight stitch. Repeat on the other backing piece.

The photo below shows how this will look on the back side of the fabric (piece at the top of the photo) and on the front side (piece at the bottom of the photo).

Next, lay your front fabric piece face up. Lay one of the backing pieces on top, facing down, so right sides are together. Position the raw edge of the backing piece on the left edge of the front piece. The hemmed edge will be in the middle. Pin in place.

Lay the other backing piece on top with the raw edge aligned with the right edge of the front fabric piece. The hemmed sides will overlap in the middle. Pin in place.

Sew around all four edges using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Remove your pins & trim the corners.

Turn the pillow case right side out. Using the eraser end of a pencil, push your corners out. The pillow case is done! Put your pillow form into the case.

The back pieces will overlap nicely in the back.

And you've got a snazzy new pillow! It's really that easy.


So go on and add some new life to every sofa, chair & bed in your house!

500 Is Good & Introducing Tuff

Around our house this week, we were really excited to see the Sparkle Power esty shop hit 500 sales. I remember starting out on etsy, I'd watch the shops of other stay at home moms like Kelly & Jennifer. I really admired their sales totals. 350 & 500 sales seemed incredible to me & I never though I'd reach those marks. And I really thought that 500 would take me a while to get to, that's why I put it on my bucket list. Feels good today to know that I should have set that mark a bit higher.

I really couldn't have reached this point without Dylan's wonderful posters. Getting here has really been a team effort. Go Team Sparkle Power!

Now Dylan's got his very own etsy shop called Tuff Industries. He's listed some new posters which are a little more "him" & not so sparkle powerish. Just like Dylan himself, these designs are a bit silly & goofy & a little irreverent, but very cool & sure to make you laugh. Here are a few of my favorites:

Longing For Warmer Days

February is here & I am itching for spring to come. Something inside me has changed I've decided that I can't take winter any longer. It's not fun anymore. Yet we still have a long time before it warms up & we can spend more time outside in the sunshine. It probably doesn't help that both my girls have been sick.


I'm trying to fight off these February blues though. I started by pulling out some strawberry freezer jam that I made over the summer with those berries we picked ourselves. That was definitely a good pick me up. And I found myself smiling today as I stood in the kitchen making potato soup for the little sick people around me. I love the steamed up windows in the kitchen during the winter. They make me feel like a good momma. Cooking for my family always makes me feel like a good momma.

You must try this potato soup recipe that I got from Andrea. It's really, really good & it's what caused the steamy kitchen windows tonight. A few notes on this recipe: I don't think it really makes 6 servings. Our small family never has leftovers, so if you have a larger family I would for sure double this. Also, I use half the cheese & most of the time I leave out the bacon & croutons & it's still delicious.

Vermont Potato Soup

1 cup onions, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
3 T butter
4 cups chicken broth
4 lg potatoes, cubed
2 T fresh parsley, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups Cheddar cheese, grated
Garnish: 4 bacon slices, crisply cooked and
crumbled and 3/4 cups croutons, crushed

Combine onions, garlic and butter in a Dutch oven and cook for 5 minutes. Blend in chicken broth, potatoes, parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Simmer, covered for 20 minutes then remove from heat. Spoon mixture in a food processor (or blender) and puree small amounts at a time. Place soup back in Dutch oven and stir in cheddar cheese; heat through. Combine bacon and croutons; sprinkle over soup before serving. Makes 6 servings.

Giveaway Winner & 15% Off Code

Congratulations, Cherine!!

By the way, it just so happens to be Cherine's birthday today. What are the odds? She has Random.org to thank for choosing her number. Happy Birthday to you, Cherine!

Thanks so much for playing along and thank you for your suggestions. I have some great new ideas for blog content. :)

If you didn't win & have your heart set on something in the shop, don't be discouraged. From now until February 7th, ff you enter the code SUPER SECRET CODE in the "notes to seller" section & then wait to pay, I'll send you a revised invoice for 15% off your order.

Egg Carton Counting Game

To make this preschooler counting activity, you simply cut out little pieces of paper (I used a 1/2 inch circle punch) and number them 1-12. Then glue them into the bottom of an empty egg carton. I didn't have any elmer's glue on hand so I tried taping these with scotch tape & they didn't stick at all. Then you use dry beans & have the child place as many beans in each cup as the number says.


Simple, easy, & free. Just how I like it! My 4 year old was really excited to have something new to keep her busy. This game could also be changed up with letters instead of numbers. Label each cup with a letter. Place one dry bean inside & close the lid. Give the egg carton a good shake & open in up to see what letter the bean landed on. Then give the child a category like animals, foods, etc. & they must come up with something in that category that starts with the letter that the bean landed on.

What fun stuff do you do with your empty egg cartons? Please do share!

Craft, Inc.

I first read Craft, Inc. back in June and loved it. It's packed full of information & I'm imagining that it's the most enjoyable 'business' book there is for crafters & creative thinkers. I asked Dylan to pick it up at the library for me again because I've been doing a lot of thinking about my little crafty business & how I'd like to make it better. I definitely recommend this book for any of you looking to or already selling your handmade goods. Check it out sometime.

1828

Have you been following the photo project that I'm working on with my sister Heather? If not, I hope you'll check it out.


We are almost finished with the first month. There are days when it's a bit challenging, but here are the things I'm loving about it:

* I am taking way more photos than I normally would
* Heather is so talented & she challenges me to take better shots since my photos are paired with her awesome photos
* I get to be a part of my sister's day...each & every day & vice versa
* The pairings are always a surprise & I still never fail to be delighted with each new combo
* I love knowing that I have a growing collection of photos featuring little tidbits of my daily life
* It's just fun


I also have a flickr set with my own photos & I've been adding them to the awesome group 365 : For the domestic types.

Giveaway Time!

Yes, yes!! Time for a giveaway. You have until midnight on Sunday, February 1st to enter this giveaway for one of our La La Love You Prints in the new light turquoise color & a set of my Vintage Map wooden blocks. More information on both items can be found on their listings in my shop.

To be entered into the drawing, please leave a comment just saying hello or letting me know what you'd like to see more of on my blog. Be sure to leave your name & e-mail address so that I can get in contact with the winner.

To earn an extra entry into the drawing. Post about this giveaway on your blog & include a link back to my blog. This will earn you one more entry into the drawing. If you do this step, be sure to leave one more comment letting me know that you did it.

Thanks so much & good luck!!

Vegetarian Chili

With a focus on eating more healthy, I am trying to eat less meat & more vegetables. On our menu this week was Vegetarian Chili & cornbread. Soups are always an easy way to get a lot of veggies in & chili is so hearty & filling. With all the strong seasonings, you really don't miss the meat. You're not really tasting it to begin with. Here's what I threw together. My family really liked it.

Vegetarian Chili

1 diced green bell pepper
1 diced onion
1 carrot, peeled & diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can diced green chilies
1 can kidney beans
1 can chili beans
1 can whole kernel corn
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin

I put all the ingredients in a crock pot on high for about 6 hours. Could also go in a pot on the stove & simmer until all the vegetables are tender. Serve with grated cheese & sour cream.

What I Love About This Day & This Man

I just wanted to share a few of my thoughts on this super, awesome day. Obama has impressed me from the beginning because with him I felt like my voice mattered. That what I am doing in my little corner of the world matters. I was shocked with his campaign that he would ask anybody & everybody to join in & become a part of something. To start caring about politics & America again. He didn't require any criteria except that you were an American. He accepted small donations to fund his campaign. Small donations which together became something huge. I'm also happy with the way he's lead his transition time. Still calling upon us to be a part of this movement. Reminding us that small efforts make a difference & together we can change the world we live in.

I hope you will take the time to look at USAservice.org. Under "other service opportunities" there is a listing of many organizations that you can get in touch with to help better our communities. I also hope that you will continue to make efforts along with me to live a more "green" lifestyle. Again, every little bit helps & adds up to a huge difference.

I hope you are enjoying this most special day. I took Sadie to school late because I didn't want to miss anything. Oh, we are excited!

Still Going On About Curtains

Yes. More curtains. In the process of making this set of curtains for the living room, I thought for sure I was going to hate them. Turns out that I'm quite fond of them now that they're all hung up.

These windows are the worst. We've now got them equipped with draft snakes, plastic, blinds & now these nice heavy curtains. We could tell a difference in the warmth of that room with the addition of the curtains. Now we're just keeping our fingers crossed that our next heating bill won't be so hard on the pocketbook.

I think I'm taking a break from curtains for just a little bit, but when I come back to them, the girls' room windows are next.

Stay Out Nasty Cold

We don't like you & we don't want you in here anymore. Also, we really hate what you do to our heating bill.


I am on a serious mission to get all the windows in this house covered. It is consuming me & it's pretty much all I talk about. Right, Dylan? Anyway, I can check off the dining room windows & tonight it's on to the front bay windows. That is the coldest spot in our house. It's also right where our sofa sits. Makes for a not so cozy living room.


I'm confident that these window coverings will help a great deal with keeping our house nice & warm & keeping our heating bill down. Maria & I hit up the sale at Joann's & found some nice heavyweight home decor fabric in the clearance section marked down an additional 50% off. Can't beat it.

New Vintage Goodies

I just completed a vintage shop update of some really great finds from a shopping trip earlier this week. Looks like the color for the day was green. :) There are some super cool pieces. I hope you'll check it out.

And a little frugal tip: Be sure to visit Suave today & get a coupon for a free bottle of Suave shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, styling aid, body wash, or body lotion (good up to $3.00). Yippee!

Just In Time For Valentine's Day

We are happy to now be offering the La La Love You design in a 8.5 by 11 inch print! We've added a few new fun colors as well. Check them all out in the shop.

I have a really great vintage update planned for the shop tomorrow. So be sure to come back for that. :)

2009 Focus

(Sewing machine cover. Available in the shop.)

Specific goals have not been set this year. I have been doing some reflecting just like everybody else...but I've decided that my focus for 2009 will just be being better. I want to be a better person, better in all my roles...

I want to be a better wife & mother, a better sister & sister-in-law, daughter & daughter-in-law. I want to be a better friend, Christian, crafter, seamstress, etsian, blogger & member of society. I'm remembering also that being better for everyone else means I need to be better to myself and so thoughts of physical improvements & overall wellness have entered my mind as well.

I have high hopes for 2009. :)

New Stuff In The Shop

It's a new year & I'm full of new year energy! I've got big dreams for the shop & with school starting back up again tomorrow, I should be able to find even more time to work. Dylan has designed a new poster called Dream Big. It's available in 4 different colors.


I tried out a new garland idea. You can see it pictured in the photos above & below. These are double sided leaf shapes cut free form & sewn together with a strong, invisible, nylon thread. I hung the finished garland up in the girl's room & just loved it.


With the organizing mindset that comes with the new year, I decided to make a batch of grocery bag dispensers as well. These will be added to the shop over the next few days.


It's good to feel this surge of energy & excitement. What are you focusing on now that the holidays are over?

365

My oldest sister Heather and I have started a new photo a day project for 2009. Each of us, living in different parts of the country, will take a photo a day & post them together. Our goal is to do this every day of 2009. Heather's photos are on the left & mine on the right. Because we don't talk at all about the photos we'll take, everyday is a nice surprise. You can follow along with us here.

Handmade Holidays Received

Not only do I love giving handmade, but I love receiving handmade. Take a look at the handmade gifts that we received this year from family.

My Dad got me this scrabble pendant necklace set from my sister. I love it & how cute is the painted game piece holder! Amber & Jen sell their creations at Just Be Jewelry.


My sister-in-law Lilia really spoiled our girls this year. She made Sadie some adorable clothes for her barbies.


She even made a Princess Leia dress & buns! Perfect gift for the Leia obsessed girl.


Lilia also made Claire two sweet little dresses & She made Sadie a polka dot one to match the Barbie outfit she made. I just can't seem to find it. I assume it's in the laundry because Sadie has been wearing that dress all the time! Lilia also keeps a really fun etsy shop.


My mother-in-law made these great hooded towels for the girls. The kids love having their own distinguishable towel. I love how nicely they hang behind their bedroom door. Sadie even wants to play dress up with hers sometimes. :)


We are so lucky. Thanks all for the wonderful gifts. Handmade means so much to me because I know the time that was put into these gifts. Your busy little hands have made us feel loved.

2008 Sewing

2008 was a really great year of sewing for me. I tried a lot of new things like making clothing for Sadie & myself, machine quilting & double fold bindings. I learned just how much I could produce if I set my mind to it thanks to my involvement in the summer market. I reached over 400 sales in my etsy shop. Not all sales being items that I've sewn (posters, vintage), but acceptance by the etsy community this year has been such a confidence booster for me. I'm ready to keep going in 2009!

I want to wish you all a happy new year! Thanks so much for stopping by & leaving your sweet comments. I'm hoping for the best for all of us in the year to come.