Happy Birthday to the other LB :)

 Lauren B & Lauren B...happy birthday little one!  :)  love you!

What I'm Working on - the fiction project, continued

you know when you start something, and it seems like you'll have forever to finish it, leisurely and without having to rush through it...well now I'm feeling the pressure...I have 24 days to finish the Fiction Project! 

I have all my "Happy Thoughts" picked out...so now it's simply a matter of writing and illustrating my pages...no big deal, right?? 

so if you talk to me in the next three weeks, ask me how it's going...and make sure I'm making progress!  my little book is about to tour the country!

I heart Iced Coffee

how cool is this!? 

I've been experimenting with making iced coffee for a few months now...for convenience and of course for the $$ savings...but this coffee press from Crate & Barrel makes iced coffee!

Item of the Week! 04.04.11

this week's item is....these stunning and brighter than bright hot pink chalcedony earrings!  I just love this gemstone- so pretty!  They are a nice size- not overpowering, but they pack a punch of color!

 

 any order placed that contains this necklace until Sunday, April 3rd will receive free shipping*!

*shipping cost will be refunded after the purchase :)

Favorite Etsy Shop - The Littlest Bean

for this week's favorite shop, I am bringing the love right back home to The Littlest Bean, run by Jen Menkhaus, BEST leader extraordinaire!  she truly does everything, and does it well...keeps our group running and still manages to create beautiful designs in felt- and she's always coming up with something new!

most likely you'll be drawn to her shop or booth by all the bright pops of color...like what you see in her felt circle rings

or maybe you need a pretty flower headband?  who doesn't!?!

and another new design that I just love...the bubble necklace!

check out The Littlest Bean on Etsy, for all your colorful, felt needs...you know you have them!!  and the best part about all of Jen's work...is that most things can be custom ordered- in any color you want!!  felt galore!!

Saturday's Photo

back in January when I made a trip home to NJ...I stopped and visited with my Uncle and cousins :)

and to my surprise and delight...Uncle Denis pulled out this penguin poster that I had made him for Christmas...oh probably about 20+ years ago!  back when we made all our gifts...my neighbor/honorary sister Dana and I would start in August, and work tirelessly until we had handmade a gift for everyone in our family...not always the most practical or the best quality...but obviously full of sentiment, if they're still around all these years later :)

summertime - treasury

another beautiful treasury featuring JerseyGirlDesign, and some of the other BEST talent!!

Friday Finds - for the love of pickles

without a doubt, one of my favorite things to eat in the whole world, are pickles...I have a few favorite brands, and they each have their own specific meals...it might seem weird, but after searching on Etsy for items about pickles, I found I was not alone...

so I bring you, Friday Finds...PICKLES!

how much cooler would any purchase be, in a pickle bag?? from Dime Store Buddy 

who thought you'd have your choice of pickle slice earrings??  what about these cute ones from by Angel Cake 

or these ones by Hand and Nom Jewelry

and this print by Ecceprints says it all!

and if you need more pickle themed art...how about this original painting "pickle and pickle spear" by Mattson Studios

and who doesn't need a pirate pickle?  everyone needs a pirate pickle.  like this one by Missy and Me

and finally, pickle stickers.  awesome pickle stickers by Chewy Tulip

Glitter Giveaway with Ms Charm's Chic!

I am super excited to be doing my very first giveaway of JerseyGirlDesign jewelry with an awesome blogger and fashionista, Paulette of Ms Charm's Chic!  Besides being super sweet, she runs a blog that helps promote local designers!

 

So whether you live locally or not, go check out her blog for instructions on how to enter the drawing to win this sparkly, purple goodness!

You only have until April 6th- so hurry up!!  Go enter to win!

6 foods I'd take to a desert island

1. pickles- but not just any...Heinz Hamburger Dill Sliced pickles...very important detail

2. pizza - again, very specifically, from Alfonsos in Hillsborough, NJ :)  runner up is Harbor East Pizza in Fells Point...a pretty good substitute

3. lasagna...I make a pretty good one, that is our annual family Christmas Eve dinner #funfact

4. Dr Pepper- favorite soda...and I can't have pizza without it...so naturally it makes the list

5. black cherry ice cream - Wegmans has an awesome low-fat ice cream...with little chocolate chips it's the perfect dessert..and on a desert island I'd need something cool


...I really do like healthy foods too...but these are my favorite favorite things to eat...not all in one day, thank goodness

oh and soup...#6 would be Lipton noodle soup!  one of my favorite stories from when I was little, as told by my Mom :), was that I used to go to friends houses to play, and when I'd come home, I'd ask for lunch, even if we'd already had lunch...and my reply was always, "but we didn't have soup."  so another food I clearly could not live without.

What I'm Working on - polymer clay!

so I've been working a bit on my polymer clay skills, and here are some photos of my first round of ideas...of course, they involve glitter, because, well that's how people know me now ;) 

they aren't quite done...need some finishing touches...but I am toying around with what colors to offer in the spring season...

recipe box favorites: PF Changs Dan Dan Noodles!

In the spirit of eating healthier, and spending less money on restaurants and take out (minus pizza...pizza will always be in the diet and budget) I thought it would be fun to try and make some of our favorite recipes at home...test 1, PF Changs Dan Dan Noodles...B's favorite, and I always end up trying to steal a bite or two of his...

I found a recipe after searching on line for a while, and I am pretty impressed with it and myself!  here was the finished product...and it even got a thumbs up from the "food critic"

you can find the recipe here

but in case your lazy...it's also here :)


Just like "PF Changs" Dan-Dan Noodles

2 skinless, boneless chicken breast fillets, cooked and minced (about 2 cups)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for cooking chicken
1 6-ounce package chow mein noodles
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped green onions
6 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon chile-garlic sauce
4 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup julienned English cucumber
1/2 cup bean sprouts


Saute chicken fillets in oil for 10-12 minutes in a skillet. Mince cooked
chicken into very small pieces.

Prepare the noodles following the directions on the package.

Make sauce by heating oil over medium heat in a saucepan or wok. Add garlic
and green onion and saute for just a few seconds, being careful not to burn
the garlic. Add soy sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar and chile-garlic
sauce.

Combine the cornstarch with 1/2 cup water and stir it into the sauce. Simmer
sauce for about 2 minutes or until it thickens.

Add the chicken to the thicken sauce and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.

Place cooked noodles onto a serving plate. Spoon chicken and sauce over the top of the noodles, then garnish with julienned cucumber on one side, bean sprouts on the other.

Shop Etsy & support the MD SPCA!

like to shop AND want to help the animals??  just click on this link and you can do both!!  some of the members of BEST have been kind enough to offer some of the items in their shop, as donations to the MD SPCA's March for the Animals happening on April 17th! 

You might even find some awesome items by JerseyGirlDesign that will donate 50% of their sale price to the charity!!

maybe they are listed below ;)

Item of the Week! 03.28.11

this week's item...the Cherry Necklace!  available in gold or silver...super cute, simple, fun and oh so summery- get ready for warmer weather with the perfect accessory!

any order placed that contains this necklace until Sunday, April 3rd will receive free shipping*!

*shipping cost will be refunded after the purchase :)

my best selling item

without a doubt, my best selling item on Etsy is the Pineapple Quartz necklace- I sold two today, to be exact!  It always seems to sell in pairs, sometimes even in threes!  this necklace is so beautiful and bold, while being light and understated at the same time...if that makes any sense :)

the color is so fresh, and it is one of my favorite items as well! 

Favorite Etsy Shop - Bella Puzzles

you might remember this seller from my Friday Finds this week...but there were so many amazing puzzles in this shop, I wanted to share some more!

working at an Elementary School, I've sort of reconnected with puzzles, and these are just so beautiful, I'd want to finish them, and frame them for my wall!

this first puzzle is made of art by Stephen Moore, and the puzzle is hand cut...150 pieces, and some of them are cut into fun shapes like animals!

or this image of Wtich on her Broomstick, with cats and pumpkins as puzzle pieces!

you can even have your own photographs turned into puzzles!  and in each box you'll find at least one monkey puzzle piece...the signature style!  what fun!

Saturday's Photo

last weekend we had our first BEST meeting of the year at the main building on MICA's campus...the building was so amazing inside...here's a photo of me, hamming it up on the stairs inside :)

Friday Finds - puzzling

I recently got a custom order request for puzzle piece pendants, and instead of using found charms, I'm going to be making them myself!  That inspired me for this week's Friday Finds...Puzzles!


this puzzle of a globe full of animals is just beautiful!  the colors and images are just wonderful, and it is handmade in Oregon by Bella Puzzles- one of my new favorite shops!!

you can't not smile while putting together this cute dog puzzle by Puzzimals

or you can ditch that dusty old guest book, and do something different...what about a hand cut guest book puzzle by Double Trouble Puzzles!

let's go...skiing!

so it might seem like the winter season is over...but we have our annual Vermont family ski trip planned and I am getting really excited!  I love the freshness in the air, the beautiful scenery and the laid back atmosphere of the little mountain town around Sugarbush Ski Resort!

here are some of the things I would take with me on this trip...

I found these on Uncommon Goods, and they just made me laugh- I'm not usually one who checks my bag- I pack strategically, and usually don't need more then a small suitcase and my carry-on bag, but if I was going to...these would lighten my mood about the situation

I would also need to have some pretty warm socks....my feet are usually the only part of me that gets cold, as well as the fact that ski boots hurt my legs- no matter the size - so extra padding can only help!  these cute snowflake leg warmers should keep the snow out of my boots, and keep my legs warm and dry! 

and no day on the slopes would be complete, without a before dinner snack of delicious Vermont cheese and some cocktails!  which would look lovely on this fused glass dish by Sweety Bull Glass!

and I know this isn't something I need to bring with me...but how cute are sledding penguins??

What I'm Working on - my tumblr site!

so I think I may have mentioned a while back that I was working on a 365 sketchbook project...and I chose one of my favorite subjects, penguins, as the main inspiration. 

I know it's mid-March by now, but I have been sketching away, and just being too lazy to scan or post...but I'm trying to catch myself up this week...and in the spirit of sharing, here is my first week's worth of posts: http://penguinaday.tumblr.com/

eventually I want to try and color these digitally, but for now they are just plain old pencil, pen and ink!