etsyRAIN Spring Craft Show

We have been organizing etsyRAIN's first craft show of the year and it's approaching quickly. Next weekend (the day before Mother's Day) we will be featuring 64 etsyRAIN artists at the Intiman Theater (same location as our holiday show). This time we have chosen to support LifeLong Aids Alliance, so we are asking for a suggested donation of $1 at the door or a non-perishable food item.

Today I have to figure out what inventory I'll be taking (I'll be showcasing both my World of Whimm shop and NueToMe). It's been a while since I've gone through the inventory, so I have a big project ahead of me... and I suspect that I'll be doing some sewing this weekend as well. I've been working on a new design for World of Whimm and I'm hoping to show it next weekend. I'll post pictures once it gets out of the prototype stage.

The kids and I will be solo this weekend as my husband travels. I'm hoping to have a crafty weekend, we'll see if I can pull it off!

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Framing Masterpieces

I've had this idea for a long time... just no time to execute it. My daughter loves to pull out her felt pieces and make pictures. Previously, she had been using a huge cork board that I had covered in fabric that I was going to mount in my sons room (so many unfinished projects). Since there is no longer room on my son's walls for the board, it's just been hanging around without a home.

So I found a large, old frame at Goodwill. It was perfect (aside from being about a half inch too long - which I found out later). My husband spray painted it black for me (we also learned that we should have sanded off the varnish as the paint did bubble - kids aren't going to care). Then I cut the board down to fit the frame, covered it in fleece (flannel can also be used... I just didn't have a large enough piece in a color I wanted to see on my walls), and stapled the whole thing into the frame.

It now hangs in our upstairs hallway. My husband mounted it on the wall at a height where my daughter could reach it. It makes me smile now every time I round the corner from my room and see her latest artwork. I might have to make her a special one for her room.

With my current issues, this project took about three months :) but could easily be done in a day.

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Muffin Tin Monday

I finally did a Muffin Tin on Muffin Tin Monday. It helps that there wasn't a theme this week. And I really did it because it was the easiest lunch I could make (yep, I'm still sick).

Contents: cheese (daughter calls it flat cheese), canadian bacon (these are great pizza sized ones that the kids love), almonds, gorgonzola crackers, carrots and banana chips.

Nothing exciting for the eye - but my daughter was happy with it. Just a few almonds, one banana chip and one carrot left. Not bad considering the girl is getting pickier and pickier. I'm ready for the phase to be over. The other night she had her brother checking all her grapes and only giving her the ones that weren't "open" (ripped at the top). Just her latest food rule. No open grapes will pass her lips. This joins no gooey cheese off the size of pizza or a quesadilla, no chicken pieces that are torn rather than cut, nothing that has specks of green (seasoning included)... the list goes on and on. It would be easier if she just refused to eat certain foods... but that's not her problem. They have to be presented correctly. Oh the joys of this age! Thankfully my son doesn't have any of these problems and more often than not, cleans his plate.

Be sure to stop over at Muffin Tin Mom's blog to check out other Muffin Tins. It's a great source for food ideas for kids. Sorry, to tired to post the link here, but it's on my right column ------>

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Muffin Tin Monday

I've been absent... mainly because I've been sick. I'm also lacking my normal creative juices and motivation. But I'm starting to feel like I might be on the upswing. So I thought I'd quickly share the Muffin Tin that my husband made for me last week. I've never had a muffin tin made for me... I'm always the one making them. So it was a nice surprise... and it was the perfect thing to cheer me up that day.

Contents: Taquitos (from Trader Joes), bean dip (from Costco), tortilla chips, salsa (from Costco), sour cream and more Taquitos. Yum! Yum!

I haven't done a muffin tin for my daughter in a while. But this weeks theme is left overs. I might be able to handle that one... so stay tuned, I might be back with another tin. Until then, Happy Monday!

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I have the best friends EVER!

I'm always talking about things that my friends give me... and it's not because I always have birthdays :) It's just because they are awesome and they think of me. I heart them! Last night I received one of the best gifts ever (it's definitely in the top of my favorite gifts EVER)... one friend brought me a bag and a jar full of miscellaneous buttons that she found during her many trips to the thrift stores. I love to get buttons... any type of button really. I don't discriminate. I don't know if I've ever mentioned it here... but I have a thing for buttons.

But the gift I was referring to at the beginning of this post is also a gift of buttons... but the most beautiful, unique, handmade buttons. Yep -handmade! My friend Meghan (Made at Home) asked her mom if she could make me some buttons - isn't that awesome! And her mom is an awesome potter (I'm not just saying that... check out her work - love this!)... so she made me these beautiful buttons. I'm the luckiest girl in the world!

I've looked at these for hours now... and I still can't pick a favorite. I love them ALL! They are so perfect. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them (other than admire them)... but I'll share once I figure it out.

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Changing my strategy

Have you seen Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution? I'm hooked and I've been looking forward to it all week. Watching the first couple of episodes was not only sad, but it was inspiring. Setting a good example and offering my kids healthy food options has always been important to me. Granted we often fall off the boat when life gets hectic or I get sick. But for the most part, we do pretty well.

But I think we could do better. My kids will eat healthy foods... but I want them to crave those healthier options. I've never been one to "hide" the vegetables in their foods because I want them to know they are eating them. One of the areas that we could improve is veggies. We often stick to our peppers in burgers and meatballs, corn, carrots, broccoli and the occasional green bean. So last night, I did one of my mom's old tricks. Okay, I don't know if it was a trick, but I have fond memories of having "chef salads" when I was a kid. We had the chance to put whatever we wanted on our salad. Yum!

So, I made sweet potato soup (turned out yummy!) and presented them with lettuce and a bunch of different salad topping choices. We had cheese, mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers, carrots, almonds, bacon pieces, sliced turkey, imitation crab, edamame, and croutons.

My husband and I ate like we were starving... funny how having all that colorful food in front of you makes you want to eat, eat, eat! And, I'm happy to report, that it worked on the kids. My daughter actually tried a few new things... and my son actually made a salad (he doesn't normally eat salads). The big highlight of the evening was that my son said he liked mushrooms now. I'm not sure it will last, but I savored it for the one night.

We will try to put this meal into our normal rotation of meals. We aren't hung up on them eating everything - but we do like to expose them to new foods and have them try them.

Now the food they serve in the schools is a whole other issue... but for now, I'll work on what we are giving them. I mean really, can you imagine... pizza for breakfast? Ugh... what are they thinking?

** Note the new soup bowls we have. My son actually calls them "bups" as they are part bowl, part cup. They were made by Laura of LAS Designs... and they are AWESOME!

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