neck warmer

i'm so sorry its been a ghost town up in here. i had really grand intentions of blogging through the whole holiday season. i wanted to share so many things, but i just couldn't bring myself to make the time.

i am back however and my future looks as if i will have plenty of time to get back to blogging.

today i tried my hand at a neck warmer. i had been partly dreaming it up in my head and partl collecting ideas from others i had seen.

i started with a black jersey dress i no longer wanted.

i cut one long strip.

i pinned the two ends together with a few pleats as well.

i cut up an old red cotton shirt into three strips.

i arranged them into flower like shapes.

i hand sewed each one onto my neck warmer.

my neck is now ready for the rest of the winter. 

thrift store jewelry

while thrifting with two friends this week, i came across some killer cheap jewelry for projects i had been thinking of. score!

this was the first necklace i found.

it was a little too long and i wanted to remove the yucky gold beads.

this necklace was $3.

not too much needed to be done,

 but it still looks much better.

this necklace was $2.

i wanted to turn these plain wooden beads into....

this necklace from martha stewart.

sadly it broke in the middle of the necklace.

however i fashioned it into this necklace, which i still love.

craft fair bust #2

so you know how i did a craft fair 2 weeks ago and it didn't go so hot? well, i tried again.

so hopefull, i diligently added to my inventory and excitedly prepared for the event.

this time instead of making nothing, i made $17. well then you subtract $10 for the cost of the table, so i officially made $7. oh yes that was over 4 hours.

i know we are not hitting our 'target audience'..... but how can i only sell $17 worth of goods?!?!

so i would like to enlist your help..... is it my table? is it my merchandise? just give it to me straight. my crafting career depends on you!

the beginning of the craft fair, so blindly happy

top tier- gift card holders, second tier- barrets,

third tier- headbands (like the one i am sporting), to the right- a variety of bracelets

gift bags

wine bags

our entire table, abby included

top tres tuesday || sweet potatoes

yes its true. sweet potatoes are my favorite. i really could eat them everyday! plus they are supposedly healthy then their cousin, the white potato. here are my {top tres} ways to enjoy sweet potatoes.


~numero uno: sweet potato fries

of all the ways to make them, this simple recipe is best. i could eat these EVERY day, not joking.

thinly slice sweet potatoes. sprinkle with olive oil, salt and garlic. cook for 40 minutes at 375 or till desired. *try with hiney mustard dipping sauce

~numero dos: apple, sweet potato and turkey sausage bake

this was a recipe i found at a blog i follow, thy hand hath provided. this basic recipe is so yummy and perfect for this holiday time.

1 lb turkey sausage
4 sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
4 apples, thinly sliced
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 c water
*i added a dash of garlic powder and rosemary to turkey sausage

brown the sausage. line sweet potatoes then apples in a greased baking dish. layer browned sausage on top. mix flour, cinnamon, salt and water, pour over sausage. cover with foil and cook for 1 hour at about 350.

~numero tres- sweet potato and black bean burrito

i had these for the first time about a year ago. i was honestly skeptic because it just doesn't sound all that appetizing. i was wrong wrong wrong. they were so yummy and incredibly filling. i made them for our dear friend laura. you may remember her from my posts at work. she is a vegetarian, so this seemed like a good dish.

1 tbsp olive oil
1 chopped onion
4 minced cloves garlic
1 1/2 cans of black beans, drained
1/4 c water
1 tbsp chili powder
1 pinch salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 tbsp soy sauce
3 cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
10 flour tortillas (approximately)
2 c shredded Cheddar cheese

heat oil in pan, add onions and garlic. cook until soft. add black beans and mash. add water, chili powder, salt, pepper and soy sauce. divide bean mixture, sweet potatoes and cheese over tortillas, wrap like a burrito. place on greased baking sheet. bake for 12 minutes at 375.