Bag Winner

I was really excited to see all the interesting accomplishments that you all wrote about. It was interesting to see that knitting is a common accomplishment for many. I am at the point in knitting myself that I'm trying to move away from straight and onto using a pattern. I know that if I can figure it out, I will consider that a great accomplishment as well!

Raising polite children was another popular accompishment. As a teacher, I believe that is a GREAT accomplishment!

I have little by little been visiting all of your blogs and having fun doing it! I love to find great new places to spend my time.

I used a random integer called Joan (my mother-in-law) and asked her to pick a number between 1 and 81. She picked the number 7, which, adding in the extra entries for those who blogged about the giveaway was:

Jaclyn!

(Hee hee hee.....I'll bring the bag to church tomorrow! She really did pick that number!)

Thanks for celebrating with me!

Happy Blogiversary!

Today is my blogiversary! One year ago, I started this blog as a New Year's resolution. I can honestly say that I have been very blessed by this blog. I have made lots of new friends and gleaned lots of inspiration from others. I've learned a lot about myself, my tendancies, and what I want to do in the future. It has been fun to meet other people from around the globe who have similar interests.


Here's my first post: January 17, 2008

Favorite post(s) : Content - This is Punishment
Pictures - The Craft Room





In honor of the blessings many of you have given me, I'm having a giveaway of one of my bags. It is made from Anna Maria Horner fabric with a *very* large floral print.

There are polka dots on the inside with one interior pocket.
The bag could be a large purse or a small tote.

I wanted to make something cheerful, since the weather here in New England is so dreary and cold right now. Brrrrrrr!

SO! Leave a comment about something you've done that you consider an accomplishment (doesn't have to be your greatest, just an accomplishment!). If you want to get three extra entries, write about this giveaway on YOUR blog. Then make sure you let me know that you did so. I will pick a winner on Friday, January 23rd by random.

Thanks for reading!

Sweet Giveaways

I think the creative world has recovered from Christmas and is now ready for the new year! There are lots of great blog giveaways going right now.

Lanie Jane has a fat quarter bundle and pendant giveaway right now from the Andalucia line by Patty Young. Check out Jane's blog. It is so cute!

Hillary at The Gleam of Rose Tea has a flower belt giveaway going as well. I had planned on spotlighting Hillary's new etsy store anyway. Check out all the glamorous vintage clothing and shoes she has, as well as her own handmade belts, jewelry, and hair pieces. Her items are so classic and current at the same time! Then check out Hillary's flickr and realize that you need to do more shopping!

Etsy shop: The Gleam of Rose Tea

Blog with giveaway: The Gleam of Rose Tea

Hannah at Honey and Jam is giving away her totally cool cup covers. Check out Hannah's blog for her amazing and enlightening photography.

Etsy shop: Honey and Jam

Blog with giveaway: Honey and Jam

Completely unrelated, but I'm having my own giveaway for my first blogiversary which is on Saturday. Come back and take a peek!

Supper

My idea of supper is one that is cooked for me when I get home. Teaching is one tiring profession and making supper at the end of a long day is not my idea of relaxing. Thus, my new favorite friend is the slow cooker. Tonight's supper is roast with carrots and potatoes and some bread on the side. Don't you want to just swan dive into that loaf of bread? It's from a local bakery and the first day you get the bread, the outside is crunchy crunchy and the inside is soooooooft. (Seize the moment, because it levels off quickly!)

Here is the roast recipe:

*3-4 lb beef chuck roast

*4 potatoes (we use 6-8 small red bliss and quarter them)

*carrots (we use baby carrots for convenience)

*1 medium onion sliced into wedges

*1/2 cup of plum jam or preserves

*1/3 cup of marsala cooking wine

*1/2 cup of water

* 2tsp. basil

*1 tsp. garlic salt

*1/2 tsp. black pepper

The recipe calls for parsnip too, but I don't remember how much. Parsnip is not on my list of things I'd like to eat in a roast.

Cut the potatoes, carrots and onion and place them in the bottom of the slow cooker.

Mix the plum jam, cooking wine, water, basil, garlic, and black pepper together.

Place roast on top of the vegetables and pour the mixture over the roast.

Cook for 11-12 hours on low or 5-6 hours on high.

When it is finished, mix 3 TBsp of water and 3 TBsp of corn starch together in a pan. Skim the fat off the juices in the slow cooker and pour the juices into the pan. Heat several minutes until the gravy is thickened.

Enjoy!

Happy New Year, Happy Camera!

Happy 2009!

(I don't actually like years that end in odd numbers. I know I'm quirky. The only thing worse than an odd numbered year is a prime numbered year. Shudder! I think it's the teacher in me that likes numbers that can be evenly shared.....)

I digress.....

Happy 2009!

From my parents, Josh and I received a small digital camera. I've wanted a small digital camera for a while so it can go with me easily and I can take pictures spontaneously.

Small digital cameras in big bags need cases though. Some Internet research helped me to find the CUTEST CAMERA CASES EVER! Camera cases that look like cameras!

Here's my attempt at one:

The felt LCD screen is really a little pocket for the SD card.

Not as cute as the originals, but I like it!

My next news is that I have committed to take a picture a day this year. I've wanted to try it for a while now, but have always had a LARGE camera. This is the year!

The link is: Quaint and Quirky Photographs

I'm going to try to post every day.... we will see how that works! Stop by every now and then to check out my photos!