Shana's Music

Quinoa muffins with Sweet Potato or Carrots - Recipe

2012-01-10T19:01:00.002-07:00

These muffins turned out super delish. :)

I found the recipe online somewhere - I wish I could remember the source! - and then I adapted them.

Here's the recipe:

A few notes:

1. If you want muffins that are more muffin and less sweet, you can substitute { 1/4 c sucanat, 1/4 c agave nectar, and 1/2 cup all natural applesauce} for the regular amounts listed of sucanat and agave nectar.

2. You can use any kind of flours you want if you're not familiar with spelt flour - just make sure that the total equals 2 cups.

Sweet Potato Quinoa Muffins

Ingredients

1/2 c sucanat

1/2 c agave nectar

1/2 c coconut oil - melted

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 c white flour

1 c whole wheat flour

1/2 c spelt flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 T wheat germ

1/4 cup uncooked quinoa

1/4 c sunflower seeds

1- 1 1/2 c shredded sweet potato or carrot

Directions:

Combine first 5 ingredients and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients and stir. Combine both bowls of ingredients and mix till just combined.

Spoon into 12 muffin tins lined with cupcake papers or greased well.

Bake at 350 for 22- 25 minutes.

I did it the first time with the sucanat and sugar as listed and used carrots. They were almost candy like. We loved them.

The second time around, I substituted some applesauce for some of the sucanat and agave, and I used sweet potatoes. And they were still good, but they weren't nearly as sweet. But I felt better about using less sugar.

Next time I will try using "flax eggs" instead of regular eggs to make them vegan. I saw the idea on Oh She Glows. It looks like you just soak some flax meal in some water and then use it to replace the eggs. I'll let you know if it turns out.

There you go. :) Have fun.

Sweet Potato Apple Lentil soup recipe

2011-12-28T18:37:00.005-07:00

I got this recipe from allrecipes.com - and then I altered it. :) It was pretty good the first day. And then I had leftovers.

So, the day after, I added some leftover white rice when I reheated it - and it turned into more of a thick stew. The pic is of the soup on the second day. My son says it looks like barf. I kind of have to agree. But it tastes delicious.

Ingredients:
Olive oil
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 large yukon gold (or russet) potato, peeled and cubed
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
1 apple (I used gala), peeled, cored, and cubed
1 onion, diced
1/2 cup lentils
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 pinch cayenne pepper (leave out if you like things less spicy)
1/2 tsp paprika
6 cups water
salt to taste

Directions:
1. Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced sweet potato, potato, carrots, apple, and onion. Sautee for 10 minutes or until the onions are translucent.

2. Add the lentils, ginger, pepper, cumin, cayenne pepper, paprika, and water. Do NOT add the salt yet. It will make your lentils too hard.

3. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium/low. Cover and simmer 30 minutes.

4. Salt to taste and serve with rolls.

For the stew consistency, the next day I simply reheated this on the stovetop and added 3/4 cup cooked white rice.

Bon appetite!

Healthier Milkshake - vegan / vegetarian

2011-12-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's the "healthy" milkshake recipe. may not be perfect, but it's better than ice cream! and I think it tastes better too. :)

2 cups almond milk
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
2 Tbsp peanut butter (I use Adams natural peanut butter)
1 banana
2 cups frozen strawberries
1 cup ice.

Blend. Makes 2 good sized milkshakes.

Quinoa Fruit Salad Recipe

2011-11-14T08:05:00.001-07:00

Quinoa! I LOVE quinoa! Seriously - the wonder food. You can use it in place of rice, oatmeal, couscous or any other small grain, and it's packed with protein. It's the only plant food that I am aware of that is a complete protein - which means that it contains all 8 essential amino acids!

I usually try to put it in everything that I can. I eat it like oatmeal, I put it in my green salads, I use it in place of rice - it's just good stuff.

I find mine in bulk at Winco - it's a lot cheaper that way than in the small boxes you'll find at a regular grocery store.

Anyway, this morning, I was out of things to put in my kids' lunches. They had eaten all the bread and all the veggies in the house while I took my Sunday afternoon nap yesterday. So - I knew I had to send them something that would be nutritional enough to be a main course. Quinoa instantly seemed like the best choice. I rummaged through what else I had on hand. And this is what I came up with.

I've gotta say - it's delicious! I was so glad there was some left over for me to keep here at the house for my lunch! And the kids loved it too. Bonus!

Quinoa Fruit Salad
by Shana Galbraith

1/2 cup quinoa
1 cup water
1 can mandarin oranges
1 can pineapple tidbits (I used 3/4 of a large can)
2 handfuls sliced frozen strawberries - you could use fresh if they're in season
1/4 cup agave nectar
10 to 12 shakes cinnamon

Bring water to a boil. Add quinoa and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, drain the mandarin oranges and pineapple tidbits. Place in a large bowl. Add frozen strawberries, agave nectar, and cinnamon. Don't stir it yet - you don't want to break up the mandarin oranges any more than you have to.

Once quinoa is cooked, place in refrigerator to cool. (I put mine in the freezer for 10 minutes because I was short on time.)

Once quinoa is cooled, add to the salad and mix gently. Either refrigerate until you're ready to serve, or serve immediately.

Bon appetite!

p.s.
To complete their lunches for the day, I included this salad, a baggie of black olives, an apple from grandma's tree, some trail mix, and some apple juice. It's heavy on the fruit for a lunch, but not bad for a pantry raid. :)

Really Great Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

2011-09-27T17:38:00.002-06:00

Okay, guys - as promised - here's my recipe for whole wheat bread. Okay, okay, so it's not my recipe - I got it from my cousin-in-law, Brita. I tell you, she's a veritable treasure trove of great healthy recipes. She's the one who got me hooked on green smoothies, too. But I digress.

Here's the recipe for the most delicious, soft, moist, awesome whole wheat bread ever. - And you only have to let it rise once. Fabulous!

This recipe will make 4 yummy loaves of deliciousness. And I got the cost down to $1.41 per loaf - that's less than you'd spend on cruddy, store bought, processed bread. And there are no artificial fillers, sweeteners, etc. Score!

Mix:
5 1/2 c warm water
1/4 c honey
1/2 c canola oil
1 T sea salt
1/4 tsp citric acid (do not skip this! it's probably the secret ingredient)
3T yeast

Combine in a bowl and let stand until the yeast is dissolved and starting to rise - about 10 minutes.

Then add:
11-12 c whole wheat flour
1 or 2 cups white flour - as needed while you're kneading

Mix until it's formed dough, then knead for 10 minutes.

Shape into 4 loaves and place in pans. Let rise until doubled in size - about 45 minutes to an hour.

Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.

Dump onto cooling racks or towels immediately.

Scarf down. :)

Let me know how yours turns out!

Yet another Green Smoothie Recipe

2011-09-22T20:52:00.002-06:00

So, I've been doing green smoothies for about a month. And I am addicted. Plain and simple. LOVE them.

I've had a lot of people ask me for a recipe. So, I decided to put it here on my blog instead of sending out dozens of emails. Anyway, this is my most favorite, go-to recipe for green smoothies. It's even sweet enough that my kids will drink it - and my neighbor kid asks for it when he comes over. :)

Shana's Go-to Green Smoothie:

Start with:
1 cup water
1 cup 100% apple juice - I've tried prune juice too, and that was pretty good - if you like prune juice. ;)
2 leaves kale or swiss chard (I like kale better)
2 handfuls of spinach leaves
2 stalks celery

Blend all these so you can fit more goodies into your blender.

Add:
1 cup frozen tropical fruit (my mix had mangos, strawberries, and pineapple)
1 banana, sliced and frozen
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 packet Truvia - you can use any brand of stevia sweetener, but I like Truvia because it doesn't have a bitter aftertaste like the others
1 cup crushed ice

Blend. Enjoy!

If you want to find out more, I read the book "The Green Smoothies Diet" by Robyn Openshaw - or you can find her videos here: http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/videos/videos-page-1/

Green Smoothies!!!!!!!!!!

2011-08-26T09:11:00.000-06:00

Okay, guys, I just had my first green smoothie - and YUM!!!!! On a deliciousness scale, it was a 10. :) It's like V8 meets Jamba Juice .....on crack. LOVE!

I was gonna take a picture and show you all - but it wasn't actually green - it actually looked kind of brown - because I added strawberries and blueberries. :) So - it looked kinda gross - and I didn't wanna discourage you from trying it.

So I wanted to share the recipe I used because, um - hello - amazingness in a glass!

This is what I used:

3 big leaves of Kale

2 stalks celery

1 baby cucumber, skin on

1.5 cups apple juice ( no sugar added) - next time I'll just use water

Blend those together.

Then add:

1 cup frozen mangos

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 banana

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1 cup crushed ice.

1 packet Truvia (optional)

Blend and enjoy!

This will make quite a lot! It made 2 ginormous cups - enough to share - or keep it all to yourself, like I did. :)

I was inspired to do this by reading The Green Smoothies Diet by Robyn Openshaw, and The China Study. Both eye opening books. And they go right along with the Word of Wisdom. Thanks, Brita for recommending them to me!

I've had a green smoothie - I'm a convert - and I'm never going back. :)

Here's a rough estimate on nutritional info:

Calories - 572 (but keep in mind, this was 2 ginormous glasses full)

Fat- 2g

Cholesterol -0mg

Sodium -148 mg (10% RDA)

Fiber-17g (67% RDA !!!!!)

Sugar -100g

Vitamin A- 245% daily recommended dose

Vitamin C- 245mg (327% RDA!!!!)

Calcium- 229mg (23% RDA!!!)

Iron- 5.3mg (29% RDA)

Potassium-2163mg (46% RDA)

Now those stats sure beat the heck out of breakfast cereal.

Wordle

2011-07-23T22:09:00.001-06:00

Have you discovered Wordle yet? I made this cool wordle on Work from a talk on lds.org.

You can input any text, or any website and it will make a word cloud for you - you can then customize color and layout. It's pretty fun. Try it. :)

Christmas in July SALE

2011-07-19T22:51:00.001-06:00

I know, Summer's not over yet. It was 90 degrees outside, today!

But - as we all know, the best savings are when you buy things out of season. And hand crocheted and hand knit goodies are sure out of season in sweltering July! :) But they'll sure come in handy when Old Man winter comes a knockin'.

So - For the rest of July, you can save 20% off of my already low summer time prices.

Simply use Code : HOHOHO at checkout. Easy peasy, lemon squeezie, right?

You can see the items in my shop here: www.yarntwisted.etsy.com

Before and After

2011-05-31T22:40:00.002-06:00

Okay, I'm about to share something quite embarrassing with you, my lovely, devoted readers. :) - Me - unfiltered - unedited - and F.A.T. (yuck!)

But who doesn't love a "Before and After", right?

So, I've been working my butt off since January. My goal is to lose 60 lbs by October. And I am halfway there! 30 lbs lost, baby!!!!

Which means
A. I feel great.
B. I look better. :)
C. My husband lost a bet and has to grow facial hair - just for me! ♥

Here's a pic of me at my heaviest. *winces* -I know it's bad! Please be gentle.

And this is me at 30 lbs lighter!!! Woot! I FEEL GREAT! And this is only halfway. I'll post another one in October.

I hate Taxes!

2011-04-15T08:45:00.000-06:00

I hate taxes. Or more specifically - I hate the Tax laws in the US. I mean, come on. The system is totally outdated and ridiculous.

Here's my solution. Charge EVERYONE a flat 10%. Period. No fancy rules, exceptions, loopholes, or caveats. Everyone treated the same- totally fair. You make a lot? You pay a lot. You make nothing? You pay nothing. How simple is that?

Anyway, to make this weekend a little more bearable - I'm offering a great chance to save money in my Etsy shop.

Just use code TAXESSUCK at checkout to get 30% off your entire order. Good until midnight on April 18th.

Smoothie Recipe and New Crochet patterns

2011-03-23T13:19:00.001-06:00

Okay, I've concocted an awesome smoothie. And it has spinach. But you can't taste it. It tastes like a chocolate milkshake!

My kids were even deceived. They loved it. They didn't have a clue that spinach was in it. Score!

So, without further ado - here's the recipe.

The Triple S (Shana's Spinach Smoothie) :)

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk ( or 1 cup skim milk)
1 banana (I slice and freeze mine ahead of time for better smoothie texture)
4 Tbsp chocolate protein powder (I use the Biggest Loser protein powder)
1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 packet Truvia
1 generous handful of spinach leaves
1 cup crushed ice.

Blend and enjoy. Makes 2 servings. Each serving is only 115 calories. And it tastes like a chocolate banana milkshake!!!

In other news, I've added few new crochet patterns to my Etsy store.

Like this one.

And this one.

Or, if you want the finished hat or headband, you can visit my other Etsy store. Thanks for looking!

New Styleboard on Kaboodle

2011-03-16T15:37:00.000-06:00

I created another Styleboard on Kaboodle just in time for Spring. Have I mentioned before how much I love Kaboodle? If you haven't ever tried it out - what are you waiting for? Go on over and give it a whirl.

Spring Fever by yarntwisted

Get 30% off anything at yarntwisted.etsy.com

2011-03-07T14:15:00.000-07:00

If you've ever wanted stuff from my Etsy shop, now is your chance to get a great deal on it.

Because I am offering 30% off your entire order as part of my spring clearance!

Simply use the code SPRING30 at checkout, and you'll get your items for 30% off retail price!
But hurry - this promotion won't last long.

Really Easy Shrimp Tacos

2011-01-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

These are quite possibly my new favorite meal. Yum!

They are healthy, and they taste divine.

Super Easy Shrimp Tacos

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 lbs frozen fully cooked shrimp
1/2 yellow onion
1 red bell pepper
pinch cayenne pepper
1/2 head green cabbage
2 limes
1 Tbsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
Pepper to taste.
Small corn tortillas

Directions:

Dice cabbage. In a bowl, combine cabbage, juice from the two limes, salt, sugar, and pepper. Let sit while you cook the rest.

Preheat olive oil over medium heat. Dice onion and red bell pepper. Add to the pan with the shrimp and cayenne pepper. (You can leave the cayenne pepper out if you want a milder flavor). Sautee until onions and peppers are softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off liquid.

Mix contents of pan and contents of bowl. Serve in tortillas. Yum!

Serving : 2 tortillas - Calories - approx 330.

The most delicious healthy cookies ever - RECIPE :)

2010-09-23T17:56:00.001-06:00

These cookies are the most amazing cookies I've ever had. And they are:

*Gluten free
*Flour free
*Dairy free
*Low sugar

And did I mention they're some of the best cookies I've ever had? (Sorry for those of you with nut allergies - they do contain nuts!)

The original recipe came from a magazine called Clean Eating, but my sister in law has made several adaptations, and wow! Yummy! So, without further ado - here's the recipe.

ALMOND BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

2 cups unsalted almond butter
1 cup Sucanat **
1/2 cup Agave nectar **
2 large eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 oz dark chocolate pieces (70% cocoa or greater)
1/2 cup coconut (organic coconut is best)
1 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl, stir together first 6 ingredients until blended.
Stir in chocolate, coconut, and walnuts.
Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let cool for 15 more minutes.

Makes approx 2 dozen cookies.

** The Agave Nectar can be found at Winco, or at almost any grocery store with a natural/organic foods section. The Sucanat can usually be found at a whole foods/ organic foods market, or online at Amazon.com

Do you know what else I love about this recipe? You don't have to cream butter and sugar! I always hated that part of making cookies. This way, you just use healthy oils in the almond butter instead of the bad saturated fats in regular butter. And the sucanat is a lot better for you than processed sugar.

So, go ahead, make 'em. And I bet they're gone before you can blink.

Yarntwisted on Kaboodle

2010-08-25T19:52:00.000-06:00

So okay, maybe I'm behind the times, but I hadn't heard of Kaboodle.com until last night.
But it's great for promoting your Etsy things! And I must say, I'm addicted! It's all the fun of window shopping, comparing, and accessorizing all in one spot! I LOVE it. Like I need another computer addiction!

Anyway, I made a couple style boards, and they chose one of mine to be featured today on the Community page! (squeal!)

You can find my styleboard here: http://www.kaboodle.com/community. It's the one with the sage green shirt, and my headband from my Etsy shop!

And here's a screen shot - with my styleboard circled. If you haven't tried Kaboodle yet, you should. It's fun!

Crochet Basics #3- The Double Crochet

2010-08-10T16:25:00.000-06:00

This great tutorial comes from Teresa @ The Art of Crochet. I love how her tutorial slows down and works with you right through the stitches. Thanks for the great tutorial, Teresa!

Crochet Basics #2 - Single Crochet

2010-08-09T19:14:00.000-06:00

Here's the second post in a series. If you're ready to move past the chain stitch, here's the single crochet stitch. And once again, I love youtube. :)

The Single Crochet
(Once again by knitwitch. She's got awesome tutes. :D)

Coming Soon: The Double Crochet

Crochet Basics #1 - Chain Stitch

2010-08-09T16:57:00.001-06:00

So I was up camping with the fam over the last week, and I had a chance to sit down with my lovely aunt-in-law (is that even a word???) and teach her some of the basics of the art of crochet. It was fun, and it gave me an idea for a couple of posts here on my blog.

When I was learning to crochet, I learned a bit from my mom, and then I taught myself the rest. Using books, mostly (this was pre-internet). But since that time, the internet has revolutionized things. Can I just say, I LOVE youtube! :)

So, if you've ever wanted to learn to crochet - here's a great beginning for you. :) I'll do a series of posts, compiling the best of what I've found.

Here's a great video on how to do the very most basic stitch -the chain stitch.

The chain stitch.

Coming next: The single crochet

Crochet Flower Headband on Etsy

2010-07-17T17:56:00.000-06:00

Here's my latest creation. The crochet rosette flower headband.
I've been seeing the fabric rosette flowers all over Etsy lately, and heck, I decided to design them in crochet. Piece of chocolate cake! Why chocolate? Well because there just ain't any cake better than chocolate. With vanilla ice cream. :)
Anyway, here are some pics of the color combos I've been playing with. And as always, you can click on the pics to see more in my Etsy shop. :)

The Twilight colored version

Sunny on a cloudy day version

Flowers in rainbow colors. Makes me happy. :)

New in Etsy - land

2010-07-12T16:02:00.000-06:00

My mannequin got a new wig - and it looks fabulous! Here she is with my latest Etsy creation - the 2 strand flowered headband. Fun stuff. I think the black hair will show off my pieces a lot better than the previous wig. Jed even thinks she's hot now. ;) (You can click on the picture to visit my Etsy shop.)

Just add biking

2010-06-23T20:56:00.000-06:00

So, since I ran the 5k I've been a slacker. Yesterday was the first time I've run. I'd say I was busy, but I'd be lying. I was just lazy. :)

Anyway, if I'm ever going to reach my goal of getting to Tennessee within the decade, I figured I'd add biking to rack up the miles just a little bit faster. So, today I biked 4 miles. It was pretty fun. I went on a tour of all our old haunts in Rexburg. And I stopped at Jamba midway. :)

Teton Dam 5k - I did it!

2010-06-12T13:07:00.004-06:00

I did it. I completed the Teton Dam 5k. :)

A couple of things of note:

- No one tells you until you're there that the first 1.5 miles of the course are UPHILL. Whew! That part about killed me!
But - that meant that the second half was all DOWNHILL! :) That was really fun. I've never run hills before, and I gotta say, downhill sure kicks uphill's butt! But - it made my thighs sore.

- People who complete the 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon, and marathon all get the same medal. Made me feel pretty sorry for those who had to run the marathon to get the exact same medal as I did. lol!

- I discovered that it is absolutely critical that I have my tunes while I run. I think I would have stopped at the first hill otherwise. ;)

- I was hesitant to even run today because I haven't done ANY running over the past 2 weeks because we were in the throes of moving. So, I did have to walk most of the first 1.5 miles due to the INSANE hills! But....I improved my overall time....by 4 minutes. Not too shabby.

- I realized that I have absolutely no desire to run a full marathon. Maybe a half marathon. In two years. Maybe.

Anyway, I am glad that I did it. And next year I'm gonna be able to run the whole thing.

As an afterthought, too, since we moved to good old Rexburg, my distance on my Run to Tennessee has changed. It is now 1,857 miles instead of 1,884 miles. (Using the new walking directions feature on Google maps). I guess I'd better go change my sidebar.

And here is my current progress if I am now travelling from Rexburg. I've also been contemplating adding biking into my mileage on the days that I don't run. Then maybe it won't take me a decade to reach my goal. ;)

Featured!

2010-05-24T12:48:00.002-06:00

Just wanna share this vid with y'all. Kendall and Kelsey were kind enough to feature some of my items. They're so sweet. Thanks guys!

Running Progress

2010-04-28T17:06:00.003-06:00

I just had to share a milestone on my run to Tennessee. I am at almost 40 miles...which puts me just past the turnoff to Park City! (and by the way, I've lost a total 2.5 inches from my chest, 1 inch from my waist, and 2 inches from my hips! :D )

For those of you not familiar with Utah, here's a pic of the local terrain. The blue line is my progress.

Wonder what I should do to celebrate? The Tanger Outlets are in Park City. Now since I'm not actually there, I'll have to substitute. Maybe I'll go shopping at the Draper V. F. Outlets to celebrate instead. :) Not nearly as fun, but hey, it'll do.

Finally

2010-04-19T18:21:00.002-06:00

I think I finally stumbled upon something in crochet land.

This is my latest design.

It's awesome, too, because it's made out of a super soft yarn that's so lightweight, it feels like you're not wearing anything. Well, on your head, anyway. ;)

Stuck

2010-04-17T21:56:00.004-06:00

I can't decide what to crochet next. Spring and summer just aren't yarn friendly in my opinion. :)

So I sit and stare at my yarn. Then I pick it up. I try a few stitches. Then rip it out.

This has been going on for a couple of weeks now.

My husband thinks I'm crazy for ripping out all the work I've done.

I just tell him it's hobby insurance.

And at least I'm not working on something as sad as this. (poor meatloaf - I'd be sad too.)

Happy Birthday to me. :)

2010-04-14T17:14:00.004-06:00

Today is my birthday! :)

It's been awesome.

I got this fabulous purse from my mom.

Then, when we went outside, the weather was AWESOME!!!! Spring has finally come to Utah! And my tulips had started to bloom. :)

Then we went here for lunch.

Then here for girl time and shopping.

Then here for dessert.

And tonight, Jedly is taking me here for dinner.

I am one lucky chica.

Scarflace

2010-04-13T22:57:00.003-06:00

Scarf + Necklace = Scarflace. It's what you get when you cross a scarf and a necklace. And I think the result is kinda fabulous. Here is one in green. To see more, visit my Etsy shop.

Summer crocheting

2010-04-08T17:12:00.003-06:00

Ok. We all know that knitting and crocheting are great for the winter months. Hey - we all have to keep stylishly warm, right?

But summer knitting and crocheting gets a little more tricky. Not many people want hats, scarves, and sweaters in July.

So, I tried my hand at some clippies. I think I like how they turned out. But I wanna know what you think. You can see more pics in my Etsy shop here.

Just another recipe

2010-04-07T20:53:00.003-06:00

I really don't plan on turning this into a weight-loss/ recipe blog...but I really liked the soup I concocted tonight, so I thought I'd share the recipe with you. So, without further ado, here's my Chicken Curry Soup Recipe.

Ingredients:

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

3 cooked, diced chicken breasts (or you can use ground chicken)

5 small potatoes, peeled and diced

1 bunch celery, chopped

4 large carrots ( or 1/2 bag baby carrots), chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp salt

2 boxes (I think 32 oz each...maybe 28 oz) chicken stock

1 bay leaf

2 heaping tablespoons yellow curry powder

Directions:

In frying pan, cook chicken. (If you're using precooked chicken, skip this step. ;D )

Meanwhile, in soup pot, heat extra virgin olive oil over med heat. Dice and add: potatoes, celery, carrots, salt, and garlic. Sautee veggies for approx 10 minutes, stirring often.

Add 2 boxes chicken stock, bay leaf, cooked chicken, and curry powder. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Boil for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender.

Voila! Easy peasy, right? If you try it, let me know how yours turned out!

Ever wonder

2010-04-07T14:46:00.002-06:00

Ever wonder why America is fat?

I can't help but think that maybe this has something to do with it.

Dis-gus-ting.

A new goal

2010-04-04T13:24:00.007-06:00

I have a friend that will probably never know how much she inspires me. (Jamee, you're amazing. :D) So I'm gonna take a page out of her book...er...blog.

I've resumed my running (or jogging as die hard runners would probably call it. ;D ) as part of my lifestyle changes to lower my cholesterol. I had to quit when I went full time at Hobby Lobby last year, and I've just been too much of a lazy bum to get back in the habit.

So, as I re-dedicated myself to my running, I wanted to have a quantifiable goal. Jamee set herself a goal that she would ride her stationary bike for enough miles to reach Chicago.

So, I am going to run enough miles to reach somewhere I want to go. I have always wanted to go back and visit the town I grew up in - Morristown, TN. That's 1884 miles from where I currently live.

At my current pace, that should take me 235 days. Or roughly two years, since I only run every other day. I guess I need to pick up my pace, huh? ;)

So, my goal is to jog/run all the way to Morristown, TN in two years. I'm gonna put a gadget in my sidebar to track my progress. By the time I get there, I'm gonna look amazing. Like this:

A girl can dream, right? ;)

EDITED AS OF APRIL 5 2010

Jamee was kind enough to correct my math. Apparently my mad skills do not include calculations. So..... I will finish by the end of March, in 2 years.

Do you like Tuna Fish?

2010-03-31T12:43:00.004-06:00

Do you like tuna fish? I think tuna fish is one of those foods that you either like or hate. I happen to be one who likes it.

But I often like to use it in other ways than just drenched in mayo and slapped on some white bread.

So, here is my recipe for a super healthy, super tasty, super filling salad.

Spinach

Mushrooms

Grape Tomatoes

Tuna fish ( in water )

Kraft Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette dressing

Shana's tuna salad

3 handfuls baby spinach

2 handfuls grape tomatoes

2 button mushrooms, sliced

4 to 6 snap peas diced

1 can tuna in water, drained

3 tbsp Kraft Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette dressing

Voila! Instant lunch nirvana. At least in my book. ;)

Eco Friendly

2010-02-15T23:34:00.002-07:00

When does being Eco Friendly go too far? I don't know. I could probably do more for the planet.

But, what I want is your opinion on these. Reusable tampons.

Would you use them?

Felt Flower Pillows

2010-01-06T18:32:00.002-07:00

If you can be in love with a pillow, I am in love. :) Not so much a fan of the colors, but I LOVE the construction of these pillows.

If you sew, you have to check out the tutorial for these pillows, over at the purl bee.

Note to self......

2009-12-23T16:30:00.003-07:00

No caffeine on picture days.

Caffeine sure does help my migraines, but it makes me shake so bad I can't take a decent picture.

Sick.....

2009-12-19T22:28:00.002-07:00

This story from Fox news just breaks my heart.( Boy found with needles near heart and lungs. )

I have a 3 year old, and imagining anything like this happening to him just makes me cry. I can't believe anyone would intentionally cause this kind of pain to such a cute little guy. If you're religious at all, please pray for this little boy and his mother. If anything, he could use a little comfort. A hospital can be a scary place for kids. And he's been through a lot.

A little Christmas blooper

2009-12-11T21:29:00.003-07:00

Okay. So on Monday night, I told my kids (all under age 7) that Santa wasn't real.

I know. I can hear the collective gasp. But let me explain. ( I promise, you won't be mad at me by the end of the post. )

My hubby and I spent an hour or so on Sunday night discussing the pros and cons of Santa. We both ended up feeling like we were doing them a disservice to keep the Santa tradition going.

I hated lying to my kids. My 7 year old was getting inquisitive, asking how Santa did all the magical stuff he did, and I had a hard time lying to her with a straight face.

Also, my husband and I both felt like Santa took the focus off of Christ during what is supposed to be a celebration of His birth.

And to be fair, the date of Christmas as it is traditionally celebrated was closer to St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6th) and ancient pagan holidays than the birth of Christ, and we felt the symbols of Christmas had taken on way too commercial an aspect.

So, my daughter asked why Santa Claus was called St. Nick.

So, we told her. With the other kids present. We explained that St. Nicholas lived a long time ago, and he was a very good person, and that he would often leave anonymous gifts for people to be kind. And that Santa Claus was our version of St. Nicholas. We told her that the original St. Nicholas died a long time ago and that now different people like moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas have the chance to be St. Nicholas for other people they care about.

Reactions: 7 year old: "huh." "So, that's why I saw a doll on the shelf and then it was out for me from Santa Claus"....( a couple minutes pass, with some questions) and then....... "Oh no, now I'm not going to get an American Girl Doll!" (we had mentioned to her earlier that they were too expensive.)

5 year old: Absolutely nothing. Blank face. I don't know if it even registered.

3 year old: Was more concerned about squirming all over...I don't even

think he was really listening.

So, TUESDAY morning: kids fine. Mom not fine. Dad on the fence.

Had we done the right thing? All of a sudden, the magic of Christmas was gone. I was stressed out. What was I going to do to replace the magic of Santa Claus? All of a sudden, I had to find a bajillion new traditions to replace and fill the void left by Santa Claus.

WEDNESDAY: kids fine. But nothing was said about Christmas. They didn't even argue over whose turn it was to do the advent calendar. (it's usually an issue) Mom worrying. Dad worrying. Mom dreading commercials or Christmas songs that mentioned Santa. (And I LOVE Christmas music.)

THURSDAY: kids bored. Still no mention of Christmas. Mom waaaay beyond stressed. This is not what Christmas is all about. Was Santa really all that bad after all? I mean, what harm could a jolly old man in a red suit do? And the feeling of faith, belief, and hope were gone.

Then, that night, in the car on the way home from a birthday celebration, my 7 year old asks: "Remember that mp3 player you got me?" (she had gotten it from Santa 2 years earlier)

And I still don't know why or how it happened, but I lied. "What mp3 player did I ever get you?"

"The one from Santa, mom."

"I didn't ever buy you an mp3 player."

"Well maybe Santa's real." The hope in her voice almost brought me to tears. "Maybe you were wrong, mom."

1 hour later finds me at Walmart. I found this book: I Believe in Santa Claus. And I knew what I had to do.

FRIDAY morning, This was on our table.

And a closeup of the note Santa left for the kids:

If you can't read it, this is what it says:

Last night you showed that you believed in me ******. (name blurred to protect the innocent. :) ) I will always be real for those who believe in me. Here are some things to help your parents believe in me too. See you on Christmas Eve.

Santa Claus

FRIDAY night: Kids: excited beyond belief for Christmas once again. They still believe in Santa (they held out hope...I LOVE KIDS!) and they think their mom and dad are nuts. (It's okay. I'm sure it's not the first mistake or the last that we'll make.)

Mom: Relieved, happy, and excited for Christmas once again. Feels fine with the fact that Santa Claus is such an integral part of Christmas. Has realized that Santa and Jesus are not mutually exclusive and that faith in Santa can actually foster a faith later in Jesus Christ if done correctly. (The book really is great for making Santa Claus a symbol for Christ.) Feels slightly shamefaced and really dumb, but overwhelmingly happy that she hasn't completely ruined Christmas for her kids.

Dad: Ditto.

To sum up: Christmas saved. Christ still is the center of our Christmas. But Santa is a good reminder of what we should be like to emulate Christ.

Goin' Home!

2009-11-15T21:52:00.003-07:00

(Image from www.theideadoor.com)

For a song to listen to while you read this post, click here. (Music always makes things better. :) )

So, I know I was totally excited to get a job 4 months ago at that fabulous store called Hobby Lobby,

BUT

As I went from part time to full time, I felt the increasing strain on my family life. I felt like I lived more at Hobby Lobby than I did at home. I missed my kids. I missed my darling husband. I felt like I was missing out on the precious little moments that don't seem to matter at the time, yet are some of the fondest things we remember when we look back on things.

And I felt so overwhelmed with all I had to do on top of work, that I wasn't sleeping well, I was stressed out, and things were getting overlooked. I feel like I need to take a moment here to express the respect I have for those awesome parents who have to go it alone. I really am amazed at the strength these people have to do it all and be it all for their families. I know that I personally am not up to the task.

With that being said, I have to announce something else that I am so excited about! My husband's web design business, Provident Web Design, is finally bringing in enough money to support our little family! *dancing for joy*

SO.......I get to go super super part time at Hobby Lobby! YAY!!!!! I'm only going to be going in one day a week for a 6 hour shift. Nice, huh? That way I keep my employee discount (hey, I still need my yarn fix!), and I still get to get out of the house for a bit, and that little bit of extra money will be great to store away in savings for a rainy day.....which I am sure will come faster than I want it to.....

I think this whole experience was a good thing, though. Because

A) It made me appreciate how much I love my family.

B) It made me appreciate the little things, like being able to go to a talent show, being there when they're sick, tucking them in bed at night, and it made me realize just how fast my kiddos are growing up.

C) It made me appreciate all the hard work my husband has done to support our family for the past 9 years. Boy howdy, I come home from work everyday, just beat and ready to go to bed! I feel bad now for all the times I'd get upset with him when he'd come home and drop into a chair and I wanted him to take the kids so I could have a break. And he's so awesome...he doesn't even rub it in.....wow, humble pie isn't very fun to eat.

D) It made me appreciate the value of time. When you don't have a lot, you have to really cram things in there. It will be nice to have some time on my hands to do something enjoyable, and I can now take a week to get my housework done! :)

E) It made me realize that really, money isn't what it's all about. Sure, you need enough to support your family, but a lot of times at work, I found myself feeling like I was doing "empty" work. I wasn't emotionally invested in it. And I knew that the more important work of raising my children was being overlooked. (My hubby was at home with them, but he was working, too....and my kids were kind of running amok....;) ) And I was doing more hours for only $3 an hour more than I was getting part time.....hmmm.

F) Mostly, I realized just how much I enjoy being a stay at home mom. Sure, it's work. And sure, a lot of what you do goes unnoticed. And no, it's not fun to clean up poopy diapers and throw up. But the rewards are better than any benefits you could get at any job. And the love you get from your kids just beats the heck out of everything.

Politics, religion, and an unannounced pregnancy

2009-10-21T21:25:00.005-06:00

I know, I know, these are the three things you're never supposed to discuss in polite, civil conversation. (and no, I'm not announcing a pregnancy! ;) )

But, I feel very strongly that our country is headed for serious trouble. And I want my voice heard. Because, goodness knows, Washington's ignoring it.

Anyway, I saw this video today, and I just had to share it. I know Glenn Beck is a controversial character, but I happen to think that most of his ideas are pretty close to the mark.

This video talks about the Copenhagen Treaty. And it gets a perspective from a non U.S. resident.

It's an alarming thing - and I think the U.S. public in general is not informed about it.

So, without further ado, here's the video. And if you feel the need to take action after viewing it, PLEASE contact your congressmen!

P.S. If you want to read the treaty for yourself, you can find it here: http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/international/press/reports/ngo-copenhagen-treaty-legal.pdf

Spinach Soup Recipe

2009-10-09T23:12:00.002-06:00

Don't let the name scare you. Spinach plays a colorful, but not overpowering role in this yummy soup I made tonight.

I had set out to make chicken noodle soup, but when I opened the fridge, I realized that my family had eaten all my carrots! (I was so psyched that they like veggies, but totally bummed that they ate the ones I needed!)

Anyway, I did some quick thinking, surveyed my pantry and freezer for what I had on hand, and voila! This soup recipe was born. I thought it was pretty yummy, but the real kudos came when my mother in law, (who is by far one of the world's best cooks ) also raved about it. So, encouraged by her response, I thought I'd share my recipe with y'all. Bon Appetit!

Shana's Spinach Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

3 tbsp vegetable oil

4 medium yukon gold potatoes

1 bunch celery

3 cloves garlic

1 medium yellow onion

1 box frozen spinach

2 cups diced cooked chicken breast

2 boxes Wolfgang Puck chicken stock (yes, it has to be Wolfgang puck brand...it's by FAR the best. )

1 bay leaf

Salt

Pepper

Directions:

(If chicken is uncooked, saute in a separate pan.)

In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat.

Peel, dice, and add the potatoes.

Chop and add the whole bunch of celery, including the leafy greens at the top. (yummy)

Dice and add onion.

Mince 3 cloves garlic and add.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir well.

Let veggies saute for 10 minutes, stirring often.

Add chicken, spinach (still frozen, not thawed), chicken stock, and bay leaf.

Bring soup to a boil, and boil for 15 to 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.

Remove the bay leaf, and serve with warm, crusty bread.

I hope you guys like it. Great tasting, budget friendly (I used leftover chicken for my soup), and figure friendly to boot! And don't let the spinach scare you...honestly, it adds a lot of green to your soup, but you might just find that you like spinach. :) If you try it out, let me know how yours turns out!

A little update

2009-09-26T19:50:00.002-06:00

I can't believe what a space cadet I am. I just realized that I haven't posted on this blog that I recently got a job at Hobby Lobby. :) So if you're one of the few stalkers on my blog, now you know why I haven't been posting much lately.

I've been working at Hob Lob since August, and after just one month I'd gotten promoted to full time hours. (and full time wage - yay!) So I live there now, and come home just enough to eat dinner, tuck my kids in bed, and go to bed myself.

It's definitely a love/hate thing for me.

I LOVE that I get to work at such an awesome store.

I HATE that I want to spend my entire paycheck before I come home. :)

I LOVE that I have lost 10 pounds simply from walking the aisles of the gi-normous store.

I HATE that my body aches every day from walking the aisles and lifting boxes.

I LOVE the people I work with...really, they are an awesome bunch.

I HATE that I don't see my kids as much. (at least their Daddy is home with them to give them some quality parent time. :) )

I LOVE the sense of accomplishment that comes from doing a job well.

I HATE the feeling of being a slacker that comes from seeing the laundry pile up since I'm not home to do it anymore. (hubby does do the dishes and clean the rest of the house, though. lucky me. :) )

All in all, it's a pretty sweet deal. I was lucky to have landed this job...now on to the Holiday shopping season....let's see if I can keep my sanity. ;)

What was witnessed in the heavens?

2009-09-21T21:15:00.004-06:00

Okay, if you're singing a hymn now, that means that either

A. you're an incredibly devout Mormon who knows all the hymns by heart, or

B. You love music as much as I do, and you still know too many hymns by heart. (What's even worse is that I know the hymn number and all 3 verses.....yeah, I'm neurotic that way. lol.)

Anyway, we were outside with our kids last Friday and were witnessing some pretty cool weather goin' on in the heavens. There was a wicked storm kicking up, and the light outside looked almost yellow. Then we got these two pics. Both the same sky, just 180 degrees apart.

This was to the west of our house.

And this was to the east of our house. At the same exact time. Can you see the double rainbow? I just wish I had captured how dark the clouds behind the rainbows looked. They were almost pitch black. It was some pretty cool weather.

Ahhhh, the power of dish soap

2009-09-03T23:52:00.004-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, we went to a friend's end-of-summer party. They had a great slip and slide which was totally wicked! :D I haven't had that much fun since I was a kid! But boy, let me tell ya, my body let me know for sure the next day that I wasn't a kid anymore! Anyway, they just used a painter's tarp, and a garden hose and joy dish soap. Yes, that's right, I said dish soap. Next time you try out a slip and slide, add dish soap. I can't tell you how much faster that made us go! And hey, all we had to do to give our kids their Saturday night bath was hose them off... (I hope you know I'm kidding. lol)

Happy Birthday, dear......

2009-08-26T15:01:00.004-06:00

Today is my terrific husband's birthday. Happy Birthday, Jed!

At his request, I'm making him a zucchini coffee cake. Yep, just one more way to use that ubiquitous vegetable. :)

Also, I'm taking a poll....I'm trying to convince him that facial hair looks good on him...what do you think? Pretty hot with hair, huh? right, right...right??? lol (seriously, leave comments!!!!)

Also of note, Jed's website is having it's birthday as well! Provident Money is now launched!!! I am so excited that his website is finally a reality! And he did a lot of the work himself, which I am incredibly impressed by! You can view his site here.

Provident Money is a site where you can find calculators, articles, and (eventually) professionals to help you with major money decisions, like buying a home, buying a car, paying off debt, and saving for the future. It's still in beta mode, but the good news is that it's free! Absolutely no charge to the consumer, and no annoying ads! It's really a great resource for finding information on how to be financially sound.

So, go check it out. And let him know if you have any suggestions for improvement, or heck, just drop him a line telling him if you think it's cool. :D

And for those of you who want that zucchini coffe cake recipe, I'll post it later this week.

Choke-cherry Cowl Pattern

2009-08-17T17:05:00.005-06:00

I love cherry red. And I love cowls. Combine the two, and voila!

This pattern was really fun to write! Perfect for the coming fall and winter seasons.

Within the day, I hope to have the pattern listed in my Etsy shop and my Ravelry shop.

(this is me. don't I look happy? ;) )

Can you plumb your own toilet?

2009-08-05T14:45:00.005-06:00

So, I've been gone for a while. On vacation! Where have I been? I'll show you where I've been:

Right here!

Or.....there abouts. :D We were in the back woods of Wyoming, living in beautiful nature for 8 days. It was amazing! We did fun things like: hike up to see an amazing waterfall, explore old logging trails, bathe in ice cold creeks, sit around the campfire, etc.

We also did some "not so fun" things like: ride a flatbed trailer up a 6 mile old logging road( hello sunburn and bruises!- my body's not as young as it used to be), get eaten by mosquitos, and set up and take down a flushing toilet.

Yes, that's right, we set up our own toilet. It flushed and everything!

My hubby was the genius behind that. He got a trailer toilet, a big water drum, and set the drum up the hill from the toilet so the water would siphon down. Then, he dug a big pit and arranged the potty with a platform over the hole. Voila! Instant flushing potty.

Here are some pics. This was 3 years ago. We've made some minor enhancements since, but this is the basic idea.

Don't worry. We were privacy conscious. We set up black plastic to screen it from view. I don't know about you, but I don't want to see what other people do on the toilet. lol.

Anyway, we got back on Saturday, but I have been doing mountains, (and I mean MOUNTAINS) of laundry that smells like campfire and is crusted in dirt....oh the joys of being the wife who cleans up after the trips....

Ah well, we'll be back to normal soon enough.

Cables Cables Everywhere

2009-07-23T17:53:00.005-06:00

I LOVE cables. When I first learned to knit, I knew I had to learn cables. Immediately. :D

Just a couple of days ago, this inspiration dawned on me...I am so surprised it took me this long.

Without further ado: Baby Cocoon meets Cables!

I LOVE it! You can find the pattern in both my Etsy and Artfire shops.

New Job

2009-07-22T17:32:00.003-06:00

I had to post about this because I just got offered my dream job!

My friend, the owner of Knowonder! asked me to be a contributing editor. How awesome is that??????

If there is anything perfect for me, it is editing....I'm obsessive about details, I love the English language, and I love to read, write, etc. :D

What is Knowonder! ? It's a free children's magazine dedicated to reading and creating with children. You can receive a physical copy, or a digital copy. You can see a sample magazine here. The first issue is slated for September, and you can sign up here.

And if you want to contribute a children's story, click here. (Come on, you know you want to. ;D)

Free Cowl Knitting Pattern

2009-07-22T15:43:00.004-06:00

Okay, I'm doing it. I am officially offering one of my patterns for free. :D

Click here to download the PDF. :D

Move over Twitter

2009-07-22T07:15:00.003-06:00

It took me a while to get used to Twitter....but now I love it....and I think I've found my next new technology obsession....Have you heard about Google Wave? It looks awesome. I can't wait for it to come out!

Nostalgia.....

2009-07-21T22:30:00.002-06:00

Guess what my son found on Hulu today?

Inspector Gadget! Wow, what a trip down memory lane....I loved that show as a kid. It's fun to see my kids enjoying some of the same things. :D

For all of you Gadget fans, here's a link: Go Go Gadget Show!

For all you knitters out there....

2009-07-16T13:05:00.003-06:00

I saw this video on a website and I had to share. Partly because it's kind of cute, partly because I'm baffled. I'm sure there's something I'm missing.....like, why is she knitting in the middle of nowhere on a cliff? And what's up with the ending? (It's mostly the ending I'm baffled by.... if you understand it, explain it to the oblivious, could you? :D)

I must say, though, I wish I could knit as fast as she does. lol!

Let me know what you think.

Artfire Feature

2009-07-15T21:26:00.003-06:00

I had to do a print screen of this, because I think it's pretty awesome.

My Twilight Crocheted Cloche Pattern made it to the front page of Artfire! Oh yeah.

So, here's my screen shot...and in case you can't see my tiny pic, I circled it in red for ya. lol...

Or if you want, you can go check out the artfire homepage and see if I'm still there.

Children's story published!

2009-07-14T19:10:00.002-06:00

I am so excited! I am going to have one of my Children's stories published. :D

One of my friends started a magazine for moms and kids, called Knowonder! You can see a sample online magazine here.

I think the initial issue is slated for September. And I had one of my stories accepted for publication! How cool is that?

Anyway, if you have the urge to write a children's story, you too can submit one. Go to their website, www.knowonder.com and click on submit under stories.

Even better, if your story is chosen as one of the top 3 favorites by readers for the month, you could win cash prizes. Awesome!

So, what are you waiting for? Check it out. http://www.knowonder.com .

3 year old perspective

2009-07-08T14:00:00.003-06:00

This is what I get when I accidentally leave my camera within my 3 year old's reach. This is just one of the videos he shot. We got pictures of everything at a 3 foot eye level throughout our home. Pretty cute, but I'm gonna have to be a lot more careful with what I leave laying about. Who knew he could work a camera?

Calico Bean Soup

2009-07-07T19:32:00.003-06:00

Mmm, mmm, mmmm. I love my mother-in-law's Calico Bean soup.

Lucky for me, she's the type to share her recipes. :D

So I made some for us tonight. It was super easy and super yummy. I thought I'd post the recipe here for those who want to try it. Bon Apetit!

Janeene's Calico Bean Crockpot Soup

1 lb hamburger

1/2 c onions chopped browned with hamburger

Lawry's seasonall to taste

1/2 c catsup

2 tsp dry mustard

1/4 c vinegar

1/4 c brown sugar

1 qt can pork & beans

1 can garbanzo beans

1 can kidney beans

1 can butter beans

Brown hamburger, and add diced onions. Season with Lawry's. Cook for 5 more minutes.

Put all ingredients in crock pot - including the liquid in the cans of beans.

Cook for 4-6 hrs on low setting.

Serve with warm crusty rolls.

William Joseph

2009-07-07T14:01:00.003-06:00

I've probably blogged about this guy before. But if you haven't heard his music, you're missing out!

William Joseph is a phenomenal musician, and he was one of my husband's mission buddies. We got to go see him in concert recently, and it was amazing!

This video is one of his best songs - Piano Fantasy. Hope you love it as much as I do.

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T17:16:00.004-06:00

Happy 4th of July, everyone. I love the summer gathering, the fireworks, the yummy food.

But, last night, an incredible sense of irony hung over me as I watched our town's fireworks display.
I couldn't help but feel that our celebrations were a mockery. Here we were, celebrating freedom, when in reality, our country is headed more toward bondage to tyrannical government than freedom. If Obama's plans succeed, many of our cherished freedoms will be lost. And "the people" voted him in...in effect, voted away our freedoms. I think our founding fathers would be sick if they saw our country as it is today. This is in no way what they envisioned for us when they fought so hard for our freedom from tyrannical England. If they saw conditions this way in their time, they would have revolted. Why don't we? Are we lesser men? Are we weak? Or are we just apathetic? It's time to wake up!
In searching the internet, I came across a video blog from Peter Schiff...he shares many of my beliefs. So, here is his blog about July 4th.
Now, go do something Patriotic.

A little comedy for your Wednesday

2009-07-01T09:30:00.003-06:00

Have you ever heard of Victor Borge? If not, you are missing out!

Here are two of his bits that I really enjoy. Listen closely, he's pretty clever. :D

Cabled Beret Knitting Pattern

2009-06-26T17:43:00.003-06:00

Wahoo! I wrote my first knitted hat pattern. And I luuuuurve it!

Once I had done a few cabled berets, it was easy to see how to shape them, and well, the rest is history.

So, I now have it listed in my Etsy shop. Check it out. Happy Knitting!

The Knit Kit

2009-06-24T16:24:00.004-06:00

I found the most AWESOME knitting gadgetry on the web today...the owner actually followed me on twitter. :D

Anyway, you have to check out this amazing little gadget called the Knit Kit. You can find them (or a listing of LYSs that sell them near you) at www.theknitkit.com.

It has all the tools you need to knit - stitch counter, tape measure, thread cutter, crochet hook, scissors, point protectors, and stitch markers....all in one convenient, easy to carry little gadget. LOVE it! I am gonna have to go to my LYS tomorrow. Happy knitting!

New Hat

2009-06-23T21:15:00.003-06:00

Here's my latest project. I found the pattern through Ravelry, on this blog here. I love how it turned out, though I did have to modify the pattern. I added one more repeat in the ribbing and one more repeat in the cable section to make it more slouchy. But I luurve it! Hopefully soon (once I understand cabled berets enough to write my own pattern), I will have both some finished hats and patterns in my etsy store.

Creative Juices ebbing.......

2009-06-16T17:25:00.001-06:00

Okay, it goes in fits and spurts...sometimes I just can't keep my fingers out of something creative, and other times, it's just hard and I feel no inspiration. It's been one of those times lately. Not many creative juices flowing.

On the other hand, I've been able to spend a lot more time with my kids lately (read they've been sick and needed lots of TLC) ;D and I've gotta say, that strangely enough, that's been just as fulfilling for me as creating usually is.

Hopefully soon I'll get some more blogging, creating, etc done. Until then.......

I need Twitter like I need........

2009-06-09T21:54:00.002-06:00

a hole in the head.

Yeah, like I need another excuse to spend time on my computer...lol.

But I did just sign up for twitter.

Follow me if you want:

http://twitter.com/yarntwisted

Will I win?

2009-06-04T23:07:00.002-06:00

Probably not. I have never really won anything in my life....yeah, nothing comes to mind. :D

But I just saw this giveaway and had to enter.

Christian Personal Finance is giving away a Wii and an Ipod Nano. I have always thought a Wii would be fun to have, but there is no way I could afford one.....

So, here's hoping I win. Click on the link above for your chance to enter too.....the contest ends June 5th.

NEW MOON trailer

2009-06-01T13:05:00.002-06:00

Here's a trailer I found online today for NEW MOON.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=55940

I don't think I'll go see the movie. It looks like it's gonna be as lame as the first...and that's sad, cause I LOVED the books.

SALE!

2009-05-28T12:42:00.002-06:00

Okay, for all those who have been waiting for a sale, here it is!

I am offering 30% off in my Etsy shop on all my finished pieces until June 14th.

Why?

Because I opened a new Etsy store today. (woo hoo! I am so excited! :D)

Anyway, I will be transitioning all my finished pieces over to my new Etsy store, http://www.yarntwisted.etsy.com by June 14th.

I will still offer my patterns in my original store, http://www.yarnlovertn.etsy.com.

Clear as mud?

Also, check out my new blog: http://www.yarntwisted.blogspot.com. I'll be offering sales and promotions there.

Etsy Featured on Good Morning America

2009-05-27T16:27:00.003-06:00

I was so excited to see this! In case you missed it, here's the link on GMA's site.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/MakeMoney/story?id=7650005&page=1

Go watch it. Then check out Etsy if you've never been there. It's phenomenal.

And hey, if you don't know where to start, how about checking out my shop. Wink wink.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

2009-05-26T16:43:00.004-06:00

My daughter loves to spend time with me. (I know, I know, it won't be long before she's a teenager and won't want to be near me. lol)

She also loves to craft. Yep- she's a daughter after my own heart.

Sometimes I think I'm pretty dense...because it was just recently that I realized how alike we are...and she just turned 7! I always thought we were so different....until my dear hubby pointed out the obvious. Let's hope my next eureka moment isn't 7 years in coming!

Anyway, yesterday she asked me to crochet with her. (Yeah!) I had previously taught her to chain and do a single crochet, but the concept was a little hard for her.

So, I finally had the genius idea to teach her how to do granny squares instead. After all, that's what my mom taught me to do...and let me tell ya, I worked for HOURS on my very first and very ginormous granny square....I think my mom still has it....I'll have to do some digging and maybe post pics here of my very first......:D

But, what I do have are pictures of my daughter's first granny square. She was pretty proud of herself. And I was proud of her too. She caught on very quickly.

Good job, hon. I love you. :D

Yarnlovertn on Youtube

2009-05-22T12:23:00.003-06:00

I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but I got the idea to make a video of some of my pieces and put it on Youtube from a friend on Etsy.

It's just a couple of my pieces, but I kinda like how it turned out. :D

I'm so excited....

2009-05-21T13:41:00.003-06:00

And I just can't hide it....I'm about to lose control, and I think I like it.....

Yeah, I pretty much have a song that comes to mind for every occasion....my mind is a trap for all kinds of useless trivia like that. Ask me to remember what's on my calendar this week, though, and I'll pull a blank.

Anyway, the reason I'm excited is because my hubby is working on something amazing. It's really exciting to watch him with this new project of his and see him become animated and enthralled with work. :D

Okay, I'll give you a hint. It's a website. And it's gonna rock. Okay, one more hint...it's in the financial realm...but that's it! No more hints! ;D (I know, it's probably killing me more than you to restrain myself here...lol)

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on progress....we're hoping to have it up and running by the end of June. Wish us luck!

Bouquets of Freshly Sharpened Pencils

2009-05-14T10:50:00.004-06:00

When I was first married, back in our dirt poor college student days, one of my favorite movies to watch was You've Got Mail. We couldn't afford to do much, so I spent a lot of time puttering around the house with You've Got Mail on in the background.

There was one particular line that I loved from it, though. It was in the first part of the movie, and Tom Hanks says in an email "Don't you love New York in the fall? Makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

That stuck out to me because I have always LOVED buying school supplies. The smell of brand new pencils and fresh white lined paper were intoxicating for the possibilities they held...just waiting to be used.

Anyway, in my internet forays today, I found this- a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils! :D

She listed a web address in her listing on Etsy, so I went to check it out. And talk about amazing! Check out her pencil sculptures here. I wanted to post more pics, but apparently I'm not internet savvy enough to do that. lol. So click on her website. Definitely worth it!

Mother's Day

2009-05-09T21:33:00.001-06:00

I had the perfect Mother's Day celebration today.

You know what I did?

We planted a garden! Hooray! I am so excited to have my very own fresh herbs and veggies. Hubby was such a great help! And after all our yardwork was done, he took me and my 3 sweet children out for a wonderful dinner. Thanks Jed. I love you. :D

Alternative Gardening

2009-05-07T12:02:00.002-06:00

I just saw one of the neatest things I've ever seen. (Okay, maybe I don't get out much) lol.

It caught my eye because we wanted to do a garden this year. But our landlord is really hesitant about letting us dig up the yard, so I've been looking for alternative ideas.

I thought about doing container gardening, or maybe just planting some herbs in my flower beds, or maybe digging up the lawn anyway, and asking for forgiveness rather than permission. ;D

Then, I came across this article. A truly unique idea for gardening.

She used RAIN GUTTERS and her siding on her house!

Here's the article if you want more information. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Giveaway Winner

2009-04-30T23:41:00.004-06:00

Wow. I don't think anyone who reads my blogs cooks. So it's official. I'm quitting. As of now, I will join the masses and do no more cooking!

Lol. I am kind of disappointed though, that I only had 3 recommendations for recipe sites or books. I guess I have to keep looking. :D

But on to the best part, ....the winner of this giveaway is MISTY!

Congrats, Misty. I'll get those washcloths to you right away.

What a fabulous day for blogging

2009-04-29T15:59:00.005-06:00

Okay, okay, any day is great for blogging, imho. :D

BUT, today I have two reasons to be excited about blogging.

1) I learned just enough about html to edit my blogger layout....I now have 3 columns on my blog instead of 2. Ta Da! Yeah, I owe the inspiration to Dawn at ShadesJewelry. She pointed me in the right direction. :D Thanks for the help, Dawn.

and 2) I was featured in a Treasury on Etsy! :D This is my second time, and I think it turned out quite lovely. Thank you for including me, monarchdancer! (Those are my facial scrubbies, if you can't make out the teeny tiny picure. ;D)

The Kendra Bag

2009-04-24T17:04:00.005-06:00

I am so excited by how this one turned out, there aren't even words to describe it!

And it kind of came around by accident.

I had started by designing a shawl. But my attention span lapsed by the time I got about 4 motifs done.

So, I started playing with the motifs....and voila! They screamed shoulder bag to me. So, I rearranged, added some things, and I came up with the Kendra Bag.

I was going to list it for sale on Etsy, but I think this one is for me to keep. I'm that in love with it. :D But, if you crochet, I am listing the pattern in my Etsy store. Go ahead. Check it out. You know you want to. ;D

Cooking blahs! (with a giveaway. :D)

2009-04-21T12:14:00.005-06:00

Dear readers, I am stuck.

When it comes to dinner time, I am in a RUT! :D

I feel like I've tried every recipe I know over and over...it's pretty much BORING at dinner time.

I need your help!

So, I thought I'd ask for your suggestions...with an added incentive. :D

I need new recipes.

For every person who leaves me a link to their favorite recipe site, or heck, even leaves me their favorite recipe, I will give you one entry into my latest giveaway:

Crocheted Washcloths - great for cleaning up around the kitchen. :D (Check out my Etsy shop for more info.)

I'm looking forward to hearing what all of you recommend as great recipes!

I'll close this giveaway on Tuesday, April 28th, midnight, MST. Happy posting! :D

4/14

2009-04-14T14:15:00.005-06:00

Yay! Today is my birthday! And it is an awesome one so far!

My hubby has been incredibly thoughtful, and I am loving my new Palm Centro! (thank you Jed!)

I love this model because:

A) It has a QWERTY keyboard....no more punching 7 four times to get an 's' when texting!!!!

B) I can sync it with my computer.

C) It has calendar/scheduling capabilities...so I always have my calendar with me.

D) It has task list capabilities, so I can stop wasting little scraps of paper on last minute grocery lists.

E) It came with Sudoku on it...now I know that is a retarded reason to like a phone, but I LOVE Sudoku. lol!

F) It's not hugely bulky.

Anyway, I just had to get that out of my system. I've really been enjoying playing around with it and figuring out all the little perks and quirks.

Also, I thought I'd add in a trivia section. I did a wikipedia search for April 14th , this is what I turned up for my day in history. (Okay, it is beyond official...I am a total nerd....tech gadgets and history on my birthday...I know, I know.) But on to the trivia:

Happenings (according to Wikipedia):

1828 – Noah Webster copyrights the first edition of his dictionary.

1865 – U.S. President Abraham Lincoln is shot in Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth.

1912 – The British passenger liner RMS Titanic hits an iceberg at 11.35pm in the North Atlantic, and sinks the following morning with the loss of 1,517 lives.

1956 – In Chicago, Illinois, videotape is first demonstrated.

1958 – The Soviet satellite Sputnik 2 falls from orbit after a mission duration of 162 days.

2003 – The Human Genome Project is completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99%.

People I share a birthday with: (Again, according to Wikipedia)

1866 – Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller's teacher (d. 1936)

1941 – Pete Rose, American baseball player

1960 – Brad Garrett, American actor

1977 – Sarah Michelle Gellar, American actress

And, people who have died on my birthday: (Once more, Wikipedia gets the credit) (what's with all the musicians?)

1759 – George Frideric Handel, German composer (b. 1685).

1995 – Burl Ives, American singer and actor (b. 1909).

2007 – Don Ho, American musician (b. 1930).

Now, for my birthday wish...... *blows out candles* I wish that all of you will have as fabulous a day as I am having! Make it good!

Yet another pattern

2009-04-09T12:04:00.004-06:00

I've got another pattern for sale in my Etsy shop.

I had a lot of interest in this hat, so I decided to write out the pattern for it.

Okay, now, get off the internet and go do something crafty. lol. :D

Baby Cocoon Knitting Pattern

2009-04-06T23:18:00.008-06:00

I was recently commissioned by a friend to make a knitted baby cocoon.

I had never made one, yetI figured it wouldn't be that hard to do. So I set out looking for a pattern online.

And I could only find one, for sale, which I didn't even really like.

What I did find, however, was a multitude of forums and boards with people asking if anyone had found the elusive pattern for said baby cocoons.

So, I decided to write one myself.

And I think it turned out pretty well.

If you want one of these patterns for yourself, head on over to my Etsy or my Artfire shop. I've got them listed.

And the winner is.......

2009-03-31T17:07:00.005-06:00

With all the entries and multiple entries (from blogging about my giveaway), we had 47 entries. Thanks to all of you who entered! The feedback you gave me was enormously helpful! :D

I used Random.org to pick a winner... and the lucky winner this go around is:............#46.

Which would be: Christina! (If you're confused as to how Christina is #46, I counted each user who blogged about me twice in succession.)

Thanks for entering, and check back again soon because I'll have another giveaway before you know it. :D

Etsy Inspirations

2009-03-26T22:59:00.004-06:00

I wish I could claim the fame of being the one to think of this idea.

But I can't. The fame belongs to HeathensHearth. :D

She started a line of soaps in her shop inspired by other Etsians. I thought she was pretty clever, so today, I launched my new line of hats inspired by fellow Etsians!

My first hat is actually inspired by Etsy itself. I love Etsy's colors, so I used them in this great hat. :D

If you would like to have your shop immortalized in a hat, convo me on Etsy. I'd love to create something unique for you.

Giveaway!

2009-03-23T14:20:00.006-06:00

Great news...It's time for another giveaway!!! It's a collaborative effort between me and SoapDeli on Etsy!

You could be the lucky one who wins this:

A set of 6 100% cotton facial scrubbies from my shop: Yarnlovertn (click on the links for more info)

and a 4 oz bar of pomegranate soap from Soapdeli !

Many thanks to Soapdeli for contributing this fabulous bar of soap! I almost didn't want to give it away...I think I'm gonna have to go buy another bar for myself! I did keep some of her other soaps I ordered, and they are fabulous!!!

Anyway, there are 2 ways to enter this giveaway:

1. Visit my Etsy shop , then come back here and leave me a comment telling me which item in my shop is your favorite. - 1 entry

2. Link to me on your blog - 1 entry

That's it. Just make sure to leave a way for me to contact you in your comment in case you win!

This giveaway will end on Monday, March 30th at 9:00 MST. And the lucky winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 31st! Good luck!

And go check out SoapDeli's awesome blog

According to Jed

2009-03-19T23:30:00.004-06:00

I've got to say, I'm flabbergasted. My husband has finally joined the blogging world! I never thought I'd see the day.

Anyway, here's a link to his blog, AccordingtoJed. Happy reading!

Economics 101

2009-03-18T21:54:00.003-06:00

If you, like so many Americans, are feeling a little overwhelmed with all the politics surrounding economic policies, the bailouts, inflation/deflation, etc etc etc, watch this video.

Peter Schiff does an amazing job of clarifying what is actually happening in our economy. And here's a hint...the news media, Obama, and Bernanke have it all wrong.

Fabulous find

2009-03-17T23:04:00.005-06:00

I just love this skirt. That's all there is to it. :D

In other news, I'm hosting a giveaway next week. Check back!

Chicken Legs

2009-03-14T18:07:00.002-06:00

I have just got to say, I am thrilled to have found my chicken legs! And I owe it all to my half marathon training. But wait, let's back up a bit. :D

In high school, I used to watch the beautiful girls with just a little bit of envy. You know, the ones with "thunder thighs". :D I never understood just why it was bad to have "thunder thighs". I thought they looked perfectly shapely. For you see, I had chicken legs. Yep. Scrawny little sticks of things that never looked quite fleshed out. I'd see those girls with perfectly curvy legs and the envy would start. :D

Then, when I started having kids, I started putting on a bit of weight...and what did I see? My thighs fleshed out just a bit...my legs looked "normal". lol. It was the only place on my body that I was actually glad to put on weight. :D But after baby #3, I started noticing that there was too much fat on my legs. I didn't like the way things were looking, and for once, I wondered if this was what those girls with the perfect legs felt like.

Anyway, since I've started running, the fat has started to melt away...and the first place it started to leave? My legs!

So, I now proudly sport my recently found chicken legs. I'm actually quite impressed with them, because it's taken a lot of work to reveal them. And this time they're not just skinny, they're muscled. So next time you see me in shorts or a skirt, try not to laugh at my chicken legs. But if you do, that's okay... I'm proud of them, and that's all that matters. :D

Draper Temple Open House

2009-03-12T17:28:00.004-06:00

For those of you who don't know, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (sometimes known as mormons).

Today, I had a rather unique opportunity. I got to help as an usher at the Draper Temple Open House. (to see what a temple is, click here).

Each LDS temple is a house of the Lord that is kept sacred, and access is granted only to those who are faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in good standing. However, before each temple is dedicated, the general public may attend an Open House and tour the inside of the building.

Today I was able to help direct those who came for the tour, and it was such a good experience for me. I loved watching the faces of those who were participating in the tour. And it was soothing to set time aside to serve in God's house. Even though it has not been dedicated, it still is a place of peace for me, a sanctuary where I can set aside the cares of the world and refocus my life on what is truly important.

For more information, see these sites:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Latter-day Saint temples

Spinning yarn

2009-03-09T22:32:00.003-06:00

I am so excited. I recently purchased some wool roving and a drop spindle on Etsy. I am going to learn how to spin yarn!

So, in anticpation of my supplies arriving, I did some youtube searching.

This video is the most user friendly one I've found, and I thought I'd share it with you.

Enjoy!

Self Indulgence

2009-03-06T16:25:00.005-07:00

For the first time in a long time, I had a little bit of extra pocket change.

You know what I did with it?

I bought jewelry. On Etsy. (can't you just hear the excited giggling? ;D)

Here are the pieces I purchased. I LOVE them and can't wait to receive them!

These are from LiciaBeads.

These are from dkjewels

Are you Creative?

2009-03-02T16:30:00.003-07:00

I've always thought of myself as a creative person. I can't really do much of anything practical, lol, but I have always loved to have my hands in something creative.

Anyway, my sister shared the link to this video with me, and I loved it. So, here it is for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.

Facial Scrubbies

2009-02-27T18:11:00.003-07:00

I took a break today from my hat that I'm knitting. (Yes, I'm the world's slowest knitter! Especially on dpns. :D)

I picked up my crochet hook instead. I wanted to make some facial scrubbies.

They're all over Etsy, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

So, I worked some up really quickly. And I LOVE them! It's probably because of the yarn I used....the softest cotton ever! (Hobby Lobby's I Love This Cotton).

Anyway, here's a pic of the ones I did....if I did them again, I'd do them in a different color though. I'm kinda tired of blues and greens. :D

The government's bailout plan.........what a load of crap

2009-02-24T08:14:00.005-07:00

It amazes me how the government just doesn't get it.

Why are they spending money to get our country out of the problems created by........Spending money!? Besides which, they don't have the money to be spending in the first place! Last time I checked, our country was HUGELY in debt!

Shouldn't our government be an example to us of how to manage things, instead of being an example of how NOT to do things?

It's just basic common sense. If you don't have money, don't spend it.

I mean really, it's pretty sad when Saturday Night Live makes more sense than our President and his cohorts.

Knitting project

2009-02-21T22:06:00.004-07:00

I have lately become addicted to my knitting. :D

I mean really addicted. For the past couple of days, I have been engrossed in this pattern:

Cabled Rangoli Hat

I found it on Ravelry, and finally decided to pull it out and work on it. I am working this hat in Cascade 220 paints....I don't remember what the color number was because I lost the tag. oops.

Anyway, I'll post some pics when I get done. Hopefully soon. My children, dishes, and laundry have all been shamefully neglected.

Back From Vacation!

2009-02-15T13:28:00.008-07:00

We're back! :D

And we had such a great time! We stayed in a fabulous condo (which I would highly recommend for anyone going to Moab), did lots of off-roading, playing, eating, and laughing.

The trails we went on:

Gemini Bridges

Bull Canyon

Hell's Revenge

Baby Lion's Back

Fins-n-things

Poison Spider Mesa

We were excited we could do all of those trails without lockers. Jed had some ARBs, but our friends haven't had their Jeep long enough to get lockers on it...but we were able to still do a lot of the trails!

For those of you who have never been Jeeping in Moab, you're missing out!

My favorite trail was Hell's Revenge....until our friend Phillip gave us a scare by almost going off a cliff! We are so glad he's okay...and now we have an awesome story to tell. :D Maybe he'll laugh at it in a couple of years. lol!

My hubby, Jed really enjoyed Poison Spider Mesa...and there is a great spot on that trail to pause and take pics! We got some really cute pics of all of our kids.

And we did a whole new section of Fins-n-things this year that I don't ever remember doing, even though Jed tells me we did about 9 years ago....gosh, what a memory he has. lol!

Here are just a couple pics of our trip. I got a lot of pics of my kids, but I'm hesitant to put them on a public blog. :D So, here are the pics from our trip on Hell's Revenge.

Enjoy.

Jed starting into the hot tub on Hell's Revenge.

Our friend Phillip at the same hot tub.

Kinda fun pic...gets both of our Jeeps.

Vacation

2009-02-09T14:45:00.004-07:00

Woohoo! There's not much better than a vacation in February!

For Christmas, I got my husband a 3 night stay in Moab, where he likes to go Off-roading.

So, we're heading out today. I am so excited! We're going with some awesome friends who have kids the same ages as our kids, and we really enjoy spending time with them.

I'll post pics when I get back. But for now, here are some pics from past trips...and yes, they're all my hubby. :D (oops, except the last one. That's my brother-in-law. And yes, ladies, he's single. lol)