No Sunday Supper

I am forgoing the Sunday Supper post today. Mainly because I'm not sure what I will be making or if I will be cooking dinner. We had planned to go the coast today but decided against it until we get some new tires for my car.

Plus I am finishing week 3 of y half marathon training and it ended with a 6 mile run. Well needless to say after not running consistently for 2 years and not running more than 3 miles at a time in 5 years my body is EXHAUSTED!! Also when I started training I made the decision to stop drinking soda and eating fast food. These are things I rarely did before I got pregnant but went a little crazy with after I had the Munchkin. I am proud of myself for running the whole way and making pretty good time considering the above. But really all I want this Sunday is...

Yes I want it that size!

I would eat every last fry.

Now I can actually have this tonight before bed and I will!

HAPPY RELAXING SUNDAY!!

photo credit:
#1, #2, #3

With Envy Wednesday-Inspire Me

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Last month I was siting in a presentation at my job regarding a drug treatment facility that many of our clients go to. Part of the presentation was about the programs philosophy and rules of behavior. Part of their rules were around the women trying to just be better, honest and supportive people and not be guided by the drama. The rules were actually very applicable to normal everyday life and situations. My personal life has had its big ups and downs here late and I have really forced myself to think about whats truly important in my life and where I want to be in the future. I have been making changes and putting the focus into trying to just be a better person and focusing on my goals. In the process I have had to make hard decisions regarding people I do or don't want in my life and just what I want to put my energy into.



This week I am showcase some art prints that really inspire me and make me want to be better at everything. And bonus they are super cute too! Enjoy!



a) Small Voice Print by StephanieFizer


b) There is nothing that cannot happen by thebigharumph



c)This is Happiness by LoveSugar



d)She believed she could so she did Print by valentinadesign



e)Wonderful (yellow) by erinjaneshop



f)Fruitful Life by ParadaCreations

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!!

CUSTOMIZATION!

You all know that all the items in my shop can be personalized or customized in some way, shape or form. I decided on this instead of only allowing one option or just having certain colorways because I have pretty specific taste. I am always that person who is wanting to buy something but never seems to find it in just the right color. I was also always the kid that couldn't find my name on the personalized key chain or mug rack at stores.

Some days I think it would be easier to limit the amount of customization I allow because it's a lot of work making changes and getting proofs just right. But then part of my excitement when I put together orders is seeing the color combos people come up with. I think color says a lot about a person and their personality so it's interesting to me and makes the process more fun!

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Halloween Has Arrived!!

Ok so in real life Halloween is still 2 months away but in retail/shop land its almost here. I created a frightfully cute Halloween party set for Parties With Envy Studios. The set includes a customizable invitation, party circles and rectangle tags.

I love Halloween, its my second favorite holiday next to Christmas! I have started brainstorming Munchkin's Halloween costume. Last year she was an NFL ref...a super cute one (especially when she would yell TOUCH DOWN!)

I plan on making my Halloween illustrations available at Green With Envy Studios as well. They would look equally good on bookplates or notecard sets.

Can be found here

Can be found here

Can be found here

I actually had a lot of fun getting items for this set. I took a trip to Party Depot and since they hadn't started setting up for Halloween, those items were still marked WAY down. I didn't have to get much as my mother-in-law had several cute Halloween items that I borrowed :) My favorite is the spider web I used for the invite. She got it along with some Harry Potter book set. It was perfect. I also LOVE the Halloween stir straws. They were way less than a dollar and I plan on using them for Halloween since there was more than enough in the package.

Well I'm writing this blog late and I still have to do a few more things for the shops before bedtime.

BYE BYE!!

Sunday Supper

So its hot here...very hot! The last place I want to be is in the kitchen cooking over a hot stove. This weeks Sunday meal is perfect for those wanting a nice meal but not wanting to be slaving over a hot stove. Enter my slow cooker :) I love slow cookers and even though I generally only use mine in the winter they are really helpful all year!

Slow-Cooker Chicken Curry, which I got from Kraft Foods website! It's an interesting combo of ingredients but it got good reviews so we'll see.

Check out my versions and review on my FFP.

HAPPY SUNDAY!

Festive Fridays: Cupcake Liners

I think I will try and include this as a new feature for Fridays, which will showcase fun party ideas...from crafts, to food or games etc.

This week I was just fooling around on the computer and came across these neat cupcake liner lights. This sparked my interest regarding what you can do with cupcake liners. ENJOY!!

Simple cupcake liner flower found on Intimate Weddings blog

Cards using cupcake liners found on Urban Comforts blog

Cupcake string lights found on Family Chic

Cupcake wreath found on Friday's Child blog

Cupcake liner tower found on Paper Crave

**Check out my new Facebook "feature". Each Friday I will post a fun fact about me. My way of sharing a little bit of myself with you :) ***

With Envy Wednesday-Back To School

We are continuing with the Back To School vibe. This week I am featuring some super fun and cute Back To School items I found while searching Etsy. I really wish my Munchkin was school age because I would be "forced" to make several Etsy purchases! Enjoy and hopefully some of your little ones will be going back to school with some of these cool finds...

a) Kids Labels by hatchgoods
b) Personalized Water Bottle-The Animal Collection by myduckduckgoose
c) Organic Lunch Tote with Apple by BebelooshMini
d) kawaii koi - a set of 10 washi-coated pencils by maoiliosa
e)Child Owl Backpack by LittleSproutBaby
f) Big Circle Bookplates by greenwithenvy81 (yes I snuck in my own product!)

***Don't forget to get your FREE Back To School Printables***

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!

From Me To You

I feel like every year the summer gets shorter and shorter. Munchkin goes to "school" year around so there really isn't any difference throughout the year. But with my day job the level of cases is greatly effected by whether school is in or out. So summer finally began to slow down mid-July and now school is preparing to get into to full swing again. Oh JOY!

I remember when I was a kid I LOVED the couple of weeks before school started because we would wait anxiously to find out who our teacher was for the next year or what our schedule was. Then once the info came in the mail is was now stop phone calls from friends to see who was in who's class! Oh I miss it!!!

I thought I would kick off the school year with a set of free Back to School party printables. They can make great cupcake toppers or gift tags. They can also be used for drink straw flags, treat labels etc. The file includes 12 party circles (2 versions of each design). I recommend printing on bright white cardstock (I use 80 lb or 110 lb) or white adhesive label stock. You will need a 2 inch circle or scallop craft punch.

Back To School Party Circles*

*When I was testing and viewed the party circles in Google Docs the solid portion of the circles showed weird dots but when I downloaded it, the dots weren't there and it looked normal. Please let me know if that is not case for you and I can email you the file.


HAPPY MONDAY!!!!!!

Sunday Supper

It's fairly overcast today and cool. It was actually raining this morning when I went for my run (I love running in the rain as along as I don't have to be anywhere anytime soon).

So I picked this recipe because it looks easy and seems perfect for a colder day.

Bacon, Cheese and Potato Chower I got this recipe from Kraftfoods. I use to subscribe to their recipe magazine Food & Family. 4 times a year it came to my house filled with fun, interesting and mouth watering recipes and it was free. Now they charge a fee so I stopped getting it( especially since you can see most of the recipes on their website). But I still love the recipes and there are very few things I haven't enjoyed.

You know the drill check out my FFP this evening for my pic and mini-review!

With Envy Wednesday-Run For It!

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Well as you all know I'm training for a half-marathon which alas has inspired this weeks With Envy Wednesday! Here are some running related items from some talented Etsy shops. Enjoy

a)run linocut print by AnnikaLane

b)Run Baby Run Half Marathon Turtle Tee by strangelittleduck

c)Runner Charm Necklace by WinterberryJewelry
d)Keep Calm and Love Running Print archival print by TheLobsterPot

e)I Run...Sterling Silver Hand Stamped Runner's Necklace by GracieandMeDesign

f)Sneakers - 100 Percent Organic Cotton Tshirt by partybots

Need More Time!

photo courtesy of thisisbroken.com

I feel like I have posted my schedule before. Needless to say I really don't have enough time ...and really who does?!?! Now that I am committed to training for the half marathon, on top of my day job and two Etsy shops, I have to go to bed at a more decent hour so it won't be so hard to wake up and workout at 5 am (my only time to workout).

Part of the added problem is I have so many things I want to do with both shops and items to add, blog posts to write, facebook pages to update that my list keeps growing. I am one who needs instant gratification and once I have an idea I am very impatient and want to finish it up so I can get it in the shop or the blog. Well that does not work real well when I have limited time.

See I told myself I would go to bed by 10pm and then I extended it to 10:30 and what did I do at 10:23, I realized I need to do the blog post and it would only take a few minutes. Now it's 10:31 and I still have to potty and put a few things away...so I'm guessing I won't be to bed until 11 (that is better than my current 12 am routine).

Monday Comes Too Fast

This weekend was productive. I am almost finished with updating the photos for GWES and I added some more party items to PWES!

Also had some fun time "relaxing" with the munchkin and hubby. I had Friday off so I spent most of the day cleaning and working on the shops. My hubby and I went out to lunch just the two of us. We haven't done that in almost a year. It was a nice low key lunch but it was nice to have some alone time.

I talk to my mom at least once of week if not more often since she lives 2000 miles away. She called the other day and it was soo funny because munchkin was begging to "talk" to her. She got on the phone and was pretty much carrying on a conversation. It was so cute, she seemed all grown up. I forget sometimes that she isn't even 2 yet. Side note I think I have figured out the "theme" for Munchkin's 2nd birthday party...more on that in a late post, but I'm excited to really start planning :)

Well back to the work week grind. I'm hoping it won't be too bad. I plan to finish up updating my shop pics and working on some party ideas for PWES.

HAPPY MONDAY!!!

Sunday Supper

Ahhh today was a wonderful grocery shopping day! The store wasn't too crowded (well its always crowded so we go at 7 or 7:30am and seriously going just 30 minutes later at 8:00 is hell on earth). So the store wasn't too bad and the lines weren't either. I make a list the night before and I tally it up as I go along. I send to round up because I don't carry a calculator with me. I was so happy today for the second week in a row my trip was less than $40 dollars for three dinners, my lunches (which really is a carrot salad) and a frozen meal for the night I end up not wanting to cook.

Now to be honest I already had left over chicken so I didn't have to buy that but even if I did my bill would have been $40 dollars, so still not bad. By the end of the week we will add a few more dollars because we go through milk like water (my hubby and munchkin). But other than that we shouldn't need to get anything else throughout the week. So happy!!

Anyway on to the show :)

This Sunday we are having Southwestern Rotini. I got this recipe from the same cookbook as the previous Sunday Supper (I really do like the cookbook a lot)

Southwestern Rotini

Ingredients
(12) ounces dried rotini
(1) cup chopped onions (2 medium)
(2) cloves garlic minced
(1) tablespoon butter or margarine
(1) 14.5 ounce can tomatoes, undrained, cut up
(2) medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut up
(1) 4 ounce can diced green chiles, undrained
(1/2) teaspoon salt
(1/2) teaspoon black pepper
(1) cup frozen whole kernel corn
(1/2) cup whipping cream

Directions
1)In a large saucepan cook pasta according to package directions
2)For sauce, in a large skillet cook onions and garlic in hot butter over medium heat for 5 minutes or until tender.
3)Carefully add undrained tomatoes, zucchini, undrained chiles, salt, and pepper.
4)Bring to a boil; reduce heat
5)Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring once or twice
6)Stir in corn and cream, bring to a boil; reduce heat
7)Cook, uncovered for about 3 minutes or until sauce thickens slightly.
8) Drain pasta, toss with sauce.

I plan on serving this with Light Cool'n Easy Pie (mini version) and ciabatta bread.

Check out my Facebook Fanpage for my review last on tonight!