Wordless Wednesday

©Amy Dutsch 2011

Deal of the Week

It's Cyber Monday! It was the biggest shopping weekend of the year this past weekend. I hope you all found good deals without getting maced.

Now you can sit and relax in your jammies! Shop online in peace!
Use the code "blackfriday2011" for FREE WORLDWIDE shipping at Badge Reels. I have badge reels great for ID holders, scissors fobs, keychains, and more! They're not just for scrubs!
I have a TON of reels available and many more coming over the next month!

Also, over at MicroMops, the ENTIRE shop is 20% off!! Let's get clean for the holidays! Good through Christmas!

Reusable Swiffer Pads, Cloth Wipes, Beau Beau Bags, Clothespin Magnets, Laundry helpers and more!

This is a big sale!! Also, use the code "Freeship" in MicroMops for Free US Shipping!! Can be combined with sale!

So brew your coffee, cuddle in your jammies and shop away! :)
Thank you for supporting Handmade!!
~~Amy

just because....

Good song lyrics....they make life easier.

What I Made...

Fall Placemats turned pillows! Yet another, "Inspired by Pinterest, Made by Me" item. Grab the leaf placemats from Walmart from Better Homes and Garden. Open up the seam, stuff with fiberfill, sew up the hole and viola...pillows!!

They are kid approved....

Another fun and easy fall decor idea is pinecones and faux pumpkins (also from Better Homes and Gardens available at Evil Empire Walmart.) inside a cheapy glass jar. Naturally it sits atop my crochet granny circle :)

I crocheted another granny circle to sit under my "Give Thanks" Luminary.

So I've got a few more items to put out for tomorrow and we're ready to Turkey Day away! :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone!! May you find it filled with friends, family, food, football and fun! Give your thanks to God for the awesome things in your life and enjoy the day!!

~~amy

And the Winner is......

My lovely plurk buddy Debbi!! :) You are lucky number 7. Well, actually you are the second lucky winner because the first time, random.org picked, it was MY comment!! (Libby was sleeping so I let the computer pick...)

LOL :) So congrats and drop me a line via plurk, facebook or good ol' fashioned email about your color choices, etc!! :)

Yeah for you! Please check out Debbi's gorgeous work at CharmsNThings! 

Thanks to all who entered, I like a lot of the same fall/winter things you all do! :) Now for it to GET cold and STAY cold here!
~~Amy

Wordless Wednesday

©Amy Dutsch 2011

Tasty Tuesday: Thanksgiving Ideas!

It's almost turkey day!!! Can you feel it? Can you SMELL IT!? I'm so ready! My turkey is thawing in the fridge, I purchased my gluten free pie crust, I'm ready to start a-cooking!
I'll share a few of my Gluten Free alterations to our Thanksgiving dinner.

Pie:
Really only my father-in-law and I really like pie, so I don't bother making a crust. I purchased a GF crust from Whole Foods (their brand). Use your canned pumpkin as directed to make your pie.

Stuffing/Dressing:
I found a recipe once upon a time for a dressing made in a baking dish in the oven. Again, trusty 'ol Whole Foods helps, I buy their brand of GF Stuffing Cubes....viola...use in whatever stuffing recipe you have.

Everything else on Thanksgiving is generally Gluten Free. I do make crescent rolls for the rest of the family, but other than that, most turkey day fare, is easily modified to GF....turkey, cranberry, veggies, etc. All, easily made GF.

So, I hope you have a great Thanksgiving and I'll see you, full and fat on Friday! :)

~~Amy

Deal of the Week

It's Thanksgiving Week!!! :) That means it's getting into the rush of shopping season! Stay home this week, in your jammies and shop in peace with me!! :)

Use the code "blog20" for 20% off every item at Mama's Little Monkeys! :) When you shop handmade, you are making a difference to a small business owner and helping a real family--MINE!

Here's a little of what I've made with my two own hands!
Hair accessories,

Business Card?Credit Card Wallets

Baby Leg Warmers (profits donated to a handmade friend of mine who has two children with a rare cancer.)

Teacher Gifts! (Clothespin Magnets)

Mario Bros. Hats for fans big and little!

Gifts for your little princess....

Even something for your inner nerd...

If I don't make it, I bet I can find someone who DOES!! :)

Please stop by and feel free to message me via the Artfire shop with any questions!

Don't forget, coupon code "blog20" AT CHECKOUT! for 20% off all order!

~~Amy

What I Made.....

Lately...
I've been obsessed with the crochet and knitting as of late. It's going far faster, skill wise, than my sewing ever did. I'm still such a newbie, but I love it!

I've been busy making scarves for gifts (hope none of the recipients read this...if so, well, here ya go! LOL) for my boys teachers. I really like scarves. Simple, repetitive, rows. I do like hooking in the round (hee hee), but that requires a little more concentration than scarves. I can do a scarf and watch tv...awesomeness.

I also put together this little pillow for my newly acquired rocking chair :)

Have you created anything lately? Are you making handmade gifts this year?? Feel free to share!~~
Amy

Wordless Wednesday

©Amy Dutsch 2011

Tasty Tuesday: Snickers Salad

Yeah, I know. Snickers Salad. Ok, so it's not a SALAD, but, it is freaking fantabulous.

Of course it was found on Pinterest and originally from this super cute blog. Anyways, it makes me feel better to call is salad because "Snickers Apple Cool Whip Smush" doesn't have the same ring to it, know what I mean?

Personally, I think it's heaven in a bowl.
And easier than pie to make.

Ingredients:
*Tart, Juicy Apple (I used one) Chopped and diced. Leave the skin on...it counteracts the unhealthiness of the snickers.

*Snickers. You can use one bar, or you can go in your huge stash of discounted Halloween candy as I did and use the mini's. I also snuck in a few Snickers Peanut Butter Squared, because really, peanut butter can only make it better. Stick 'em in the fridge, makes it easier to cut and stir.

*Thawed container of cool whip.

Chop your apple, chop your snickers. Take gratutious food photography shots. Stir in cool whip. Slap in a retro pyrex container and eat until you are physically ill or a button pops off your pants, whatever happens first. If any leftovers survive, stick in fridge.

Enjoy!

Deal of the Week

Baby, it's cold outside! Well, it's cold for Louisiana anyway as I type this...of course when it goes to publish it could be 80 outside...

Anyhoo, I digress...How's about a freebie for the deal of the week???
Since it's so cold most places, and I am loving learning how to crochet, how about a nifty handmade scarf made by yours truly?

It will be made to order and I will give you some color choices (pretty much everything, because I apparently already hoard yarn as I do fabric...) Now, keep in mind, I'm still learning so I basically know two scarf patterns: a ruffle scarf for the ladies, or a traditional long scarf for anyone :)

But if I can say so myself, I think I'm learning quite well and fast and hey, can you beat a free scarf?? (That's a rhetorical question, please don't literally abuse handmade scarves...that's just mean, yarn never hurt anyone..)

Soooo, enter your comment here with a WAY TO CONTACT YOU! (email, facebook, etsy, something! I can't send you a scarf if you disappear into comment land!)

You have one week to get your comments in and then I'll randomly pick a winner by who my dog sniffs on the screen, or something more professional....

Answer me this in your comment:
What is your FAVORITE thing about fall/winter??

~~Enjoy!~~Amy

Adding some pics of my handiwork, lest you not trust me to make a purdy scarf...

What I Made...

I am in love with this fabric...finally a fun, manly print!

Check out Captain America and his world saving friends at Badge Reels :)
~~Amy

Hanging with PawPaw

We love to go hang with PawPaw at his house in the country, where I grew up. Here's some pics from our last trip :)

Tasty Tuesday: Chicken Broccolli Casserole

Well gang, I made this dish. It wasn't my favorite ever, but it was pretty good. I made a few alternations.

The Recipe is HERE: http://fortheloveofcooking-recipes.blogspot.com/2008/11/chicken-mushroom-broccoli-and-rice.html

I omitted:
the celery and the water chesnuts.

I used regular rice and a store bought chicken. I also accidentally bought Cream of Mushroom soup instead of Cream of celery soup...but it worked fine.
If you are Gluten Free, you'll need to look harder for soups without wheat but they are available, usually in the specialty section of your grocery.

I also added a layer of cheese on top prior to baking, because really, is there ever a bad time for cheese?
Overall, I liked it, husband ate it without complaint. Kids didn't eat it, but that is no judgement of good food.

 Enjoy!

Photo Credit

Deal of the Week

Get ready for the holiday cleaning!

Buy One Set of Swiffer Pads get One Set FREE! ONLY in MicroMops! MUST Mention in notes to seller "blogfreeset".
Good on November 7th--November 11th purchases ONLY!