Get 25% off CraftyHope Jewelry

If you've been hesitant for some reason about purchasing one of my jewelry pieces, now might be just the right time. I'm having 25% off sales in both my booth at Southern Antiques and Accents in Fairhope AND in the CraftyHope Etsy shop. Here's a look at some of the pieces you'll find in either of those two places. 

In the Booth:

Boho Fringe Necklace

Wrapped Rainbow Earrings

Fairy Bubbles Necklace

Button Love Earrings

And, there's SO MUCH MORE. 

Likewise, here are a few new items in the Etsy Shop.

Tin Mushroom Necklace

Live in the Moment Bracelet

Lovestruck Romeo Necklace

Hands of Time Earrings

Like the booth, that's just a taste of what's available. Head over to the CraftyHope Etsy shop to see more.  No matter where you choose to shop, everything in both locations is 25% off! 

Please note that the sale in the booth runs through June 2nd and the sale in the Etsy shop runs through June 3rd. 

Happy shopping!

Monday's Usual: Menu, Recipe Review, and Shop News

I'm so proud of myself for making just about everything on last week's menu! I will admit that breakfasts hardly ever seems to come together for me. Mornings and I don't get along and my stomach takes way more time to wake up than the rest of my body. It's usually just about lunchtime before I'm hungry. As such, I often leave the hubby to fend for himself in the morning. It's a dang shame. I'm working on it though. This week's menu gave me fits over what to plan for lunch. I've had the same several items on the lunch plan for a while now. I'm just having a hard time finding vegetarian or low meat lunch items that we'll BOTH eat and that are pretty easy to throw together. If you've got any suggestions, please PLEASE let me know! And, please don't say salad. Moving on, here's the plan for this week.

Breakfasts: Oatmeal/Cheese grits, Juice, Raspberry Blueberry Banana muffins, Cereal w/fruit, Homemade egg and cheese breakfast 'McMuffin'

Raspberry Blueberry Banana Muffins from Finding Joy in My Kitchen

Lunches: Tuna noodles, Soup w/grilled cheese, Chicken salad roll-up, English muffin pizzas, PB&J, Leftovers, Cheese quesidillas w/salsa

Dinners: 

Spicy Peanut Butter Tofu from Kalyn's Kitchen

Spicy peanut butter tofu w/sugar snap peas & rice

Pasta and white beans with garlic rosemary oil (half recipe) & salad

Easy Chili (made with soy crumbles) w/rice

Fajitas & Margaritas (homemade)

Skinny baked broccoli mac and cheese

Pan seared shrimp w/Honey Balsamic carrots & red potatoes

Pasta and white beans with garlic rosemary oil from Smitten Kitchen

 I'll be linking up my menu at I'm an Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday.

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Recipe Review

Simple sesame noodles: Yeah, as expected these were super yummy and super simple to make. The hardest part was chopping the garlic. Actually, the hardest part was trying to STOP eating them. I will absolutely be making this recipe again!

Broccoli quiche: Pat had me put this menu item off and off. He said he wasn't a big fan of quiche. However, when I was finally able to sneak this in on the night in question, he ate it up and reported that it was better than the other quiches I had made. Basically, he liked it. WIN! I'll probably make this again.

Baked ravioli: I halved the recipe since it was just the two of us and it was plenty with leftovers to spare. This was super easy to make and was pretty tasty. I will likely make it again.

Coffee cake muffins: As mentioned above, I'm not a morning person, so getting up to bake from scratch isn't always do-able. However, these came together so very quickly. I used wheat flour (since the recipe didn't specify what kind of flour) and I used coconut oil (since it didn't specify a type of oil either) and both of those seemed like healthier options. We really liked these. I could have even done without the chocolate chips. I did end up with an excess of the sugar topping and am thinking that I might sprinkle a little on the bottom of the cup next time as well. This made 8 cupcakes for me. I will most likely make these again.

Pork chops with creamy mushrooms and dill: I've made this many times in the past and really love this recipe. It was tasty as always, and I will definitely be making it again.

Lemony green beans: I was skeptical about this recipe. There was something about boiling (and not steaming or roasting) the green beans that threw me off. However, these beans turned out tender and delicious. It was a really simple recipe too. I will for sure make them again.

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Shop News

On sale!

Fabric Bead Earrings - 30% off

Button Fringe Necklace - 15% off

Now, I'm serious about those lunch suggestions. If you've got any ideas, I'm still looking for some. Thanks!

Monday Meal Plan and Recipe Review

It's been so rainy and dreary here the past two days that I feel absolutely waterlogged. As well, overcast skies don't make me very productive either. Sigh.

My darkened view for the past few days.

At least I think it's finally starting to clear up some and I've got a yummy menu to look forward to (don't you like the way I transitioned there?)

Breakfasts: Oatmeal/Cheese grits, Juice, Crustless quiche in a cup, PB&J croissants, Breakfast burritos

Crustless Quiche

Lunches: PB&J, Hummus pitas, Grilled cheese w/soup, Mexican pizza, Tuna salad sandwiches, Pita pizza, Snack lunch, or Leftovers

Dinners:

Corn and white bean soup

Sweet & Spicy shrimp with rice noodles

Lemon basil pasta w/broccoli

Grilled chicken w/roasted green beans and potatoes

Enchilada stuffed mushrooms w/black beans and corn

There's more Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

I've decided to add my review of the 'new' recipes I try each week. Remember last week's menu? Here are my thoughts on the recipes I actually made.
Hashbrown baskets: I've made these several times in the past, but this time I omitted meat entirely and used 1/2 regular eggs and 1/2 egg whites (oh, as a deviation from the recipe instructions I usually just mix up a batch of scrambled eggs and pour those into the muffin cups since we're not big on non-scrambled eggs.) The half egg white mix worked wonderfully. Will definitely make again.

Creamy curried cauliflower soup: It was pretty good but a bit chunkier than I had hoped. I think the use of an immersion blender instead of my regular blender would help the texture. Might make again.

Chipotle Bean Burritos: These were fine, a lot like the bean burritos we make with regular cans of refried beans. However, the chipotle really did give the beans a yummy kick. Not sure if I'll make again, maybe.

Lazy Girl Quiche: This was easier than I thought, but I do have quite a few comments on it. The recipe called for 2 cups of squash AND 2 cups of zucchini but this was WAY more vegetables than could fit in my pie crust. I would definitely half that. As well, I'm not personally a fan of mushy squash/zucchini and this recipe made it much more soft than we like. I'm just going to use a different vegetable next time (maybe broccoli). Lastly, I recommend putting a cookie sheet under your pie pan before filling it so that transferring it into the oven is easier. On my first try of getting it into the oven, the egg/milk mixture sloshed over into the hot oven (THAT was fun!) I'll admit that I am a klutz and if you are too, use a cookie sheet. Otherwise, the quiche was really yummy and filling. I will most likely make it again (with different vegetables.)

Pasta with roasted tomatoes, white beans, and herbs: I changed the recipe slightly as I didn't get any fresh rosemary so I just used some dried. It worked fine. As well, the hubs isn't fond of chunks of tomatoes so I blended them before adding them to the pot. It was a really yummy meal. I will be making this again.

And for my final trick. . .ha, just kidding. I actually just wanted to let you know that a few items got marked down in the Etsy shop if you'd like to take a look.

Amber Waves Necklace

Cootie Earrings

Easy Peasy Earrings

That's all I've got for now and I think that was plenty. I hope the sun is shining where ever you are!

Giveaway Winner and a Little Link-a-palooza

Do you ever have those days where you're absolutely distract-able? When everything going on around you or just the thoughts in your head have you turning away from what you should be doing. . .I'm totally feeling that today. My to do list is just not holding my attention and the busyness of the upcoming weekend has me skittish.

As such, I'm going to keep this post short and sweet. I'll start with the announcement of who won the giveaway of my old magazines.

Shirley Moore . . .come on down!!
Actually, Shirley I don't have your e-mail so can you please e-mail me with your information (address). My e-mail is CraftyHope at gmail dot com.

Since it is Friday, I don't feel like I could get away without posting a few links for

• First is Fat Mum Slim's recommendations on How to Get the People to Your Blog. I just love the way she writes. It's humorous and straightforward.
• Over at the Ice Queen E-zine is a video of Jen Crossley sharing her favorite tools and showing off how to use some of them as well. It's a shame Christmas has passed because I think I might have found some tools I could have asked Santa for.

 I can't leave without mentioning that a few items in the Etsy shop just got marked down and are now in the Sale section.  There are deals from 15 to 30% off!!

Now before I get distracted again let me wish you a fabulous weekend.

Menu Plan Monday

If you haven't heard, Alabama won on Saturday night. The Georgia Bulldogs put up a heck of a fight, but it's the Crimson Tide that will be heading to Miami in January for the Championship game against Notre Dame. It's another exciting year in Alabama College football!! I love it.

I hope I didn't bore you with that re-cap, I'm just a happy girl about it.
Anyway.
It's another Monday and that means another meal plan from me.

Breakfasts: Cereal, Juice, Yogurt w/fruit & granola, Cheese omelets w/toast & fruit, Blueberry muffins

Lunches: Leftovers, Juice, Hummus pitas, Soup w/grilled cheese, Cheese & veggie pita pizzas (other options: tuna noodles, cheese quesidillas)

Dinners:

Jalapeno popper chicken w/corn & black beans

Meatless spaghetti w/salad

Creamy mushroom soup (without the cream)

Beef with snow peas over rice

Tofu with black beans and garlic w/brown rice & salad

There's more Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

I hope your weekend was fun-filled also. Now I've got a lot of catching up to do. . .decorating, gift shopping, cleaning house, and jewelry-making.

Let me get to it and leave you with a few sale items in the shop.

Fly High Necklace - 25% off

Sweetly Peach Bracelet - 30% off

Happy Monday y'all!!

Labor Day Sale Items

With all the Labor Day Sales going on right now, I figured I'd throw my shop into the hat. Four new items were placed on sale (15-25% off) this morning. Check out what's in the ON SALE section of the CraftyHope shop.

Sweet Flower Necklace

Fabric Bead Earrings

Bubbles Ascending Necklace

DooDad Earrings

Though it's labor day here (essentially a day off to celebrate working), I'm personally hoping to get to work on my menu at some point. When that happens I may be back with that list for you. Of course, I'm still  not steady on the whole new diet thing so it may take me a while. We'll see.
For now, I do hope you enjoy YOUR Labor Day!

Riverside Macro

Toward the beginning of the summer, we took an excursion to one of the local rivers with some friends. There was cooking out, lounging on the bank, and Frisbee-tossing in the shallow water. I always like to keep my eye out for interesting textures and items.

This tree root amazes me since it looks so much like some sort of lizard skin. Doesn't it?

We found this OLD beer can. I adore the patina on it and the pull tab opening.

Am I the only one whose always got her eyes peeled for a neat photo?

Pshaw. . .I know that's not true. You should check out the whole list of people who have captured and shared some awesome Macro shots over at Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro Sunday.

While I'm here, let me go ahead and let you know that two items in the shop just got marked down by 15%. Yup, they're on sale!!

Live What You Love Necklace

Wet Grass Bracelet

It's well past time for me to figure out our adventure(s) for the day, so I best be getting off the computer. How's your weekend going?

A Little Link-a-palooza and a Laugh (at myself)

It's really a shame how much the weather affects my mood and motivation. It's overcast and dreary here today and I'm really having to push myself to get anything done. Sigh. Am I the only one with this malady? What affects your motivation?

I really want to mention the great laugh I had Wednesday evening. Here in the states, the Fourth of July is our Independence Day. It's a day of bar-b-ques, watermelon, and fireworks.

Tons of people flock to their favorite firework-watching spot over the course of the day. Once the show is over, they all trudge back to their vehicles and homes.

This was the middle of the road. . .there was a car to my right stuck following the people walking.

As we joined the masses in this trek, I couldn't help but imagine that this is similar to what it would look like in apocalyptic scenarios, or that it's what a zombie hoard would look like. It really tickled and frightened me at the same time (I kinda like to be scared.)

It just goes to show you what an overactive imagination I can have and how easily amused I am.

Anyway. . .since my motivation is running low, it seems like the perfect time for

**Cindy at Sweet Bead Studio offered up this pretty sweet spiral wire clasp tutorial a few months back. I'm finally getting around to sharing the link. Maybe someday I'll get around to actually trying it out!

Cindy's Spiral Clasp Tutorial

** Handmadeology gathered up a pretty neat list of 25 Things to Do on Your Lunchbreak to Further your Handmade Business. Whether you have a lunchbreak or not, I think this list is a really great example of some tasks you can do pretty quickly to get inspired, manage your business, and think outside the box.

**Mary & Patch has a tutorial on altering plain metal bangles with macrame. I really love all the color it adds.

I've a PILE of videos to watch saved up. See. . . .I've got no speakers and heaphones don't seem to work on this desktop. As such, I really need to sit down with the iPad and the Apple TV and get to watching. Maybe soon I'll have a list of those for you.

For now, I'll leave you with the three items I put on sale today. The first two are from the Suor Angelica collection. Please note that although I've marked those items down, Melanie will still receive the 50% of the ORIGINAL price, not the reduced price.

Cross My Heart Necklace

Music Dreams Necklace

Bright Blossom Necklace

The bottom has finally dropped out of the clouds. Maybe once the rain passes I'll get my sunshine. Wishful thinking?

Monday's Meal Plan, now with NEW recipes!

This weekend I got to help a friend move. I know that always sounds like some kind of punishment, but I was so excited about having her move back 'home' that I didn't even care. Now I'm sore as all get out and swear that moving someone should be part of a fitness routine. But, it was totally worth it. Besides, I got to count it as my exercise for the weekend!

I ended up so sore yesterday that we barely left the house. Instead, I organized my saved recipes from blogs and Pintrest to try to give us some variety in the menu. I know. . .living life to the fullest huh? Anyway, here's what I came up with for this week.

Breakfasts: Cereal/oatmeal, bagels, overnight quichiladaes, oatmeal wheat pancakes, muffins, eggs w/bacon & toast

Lunches: Chicken & cheddar paninis, curried chicken salad, bean burritos, tuna noodles, soup w/grilled cheese, leftovers, sliced chicken sandwiches

Dinners: 

Chicken & veggie stir fry/fried rice

Salisbury steak w/mashed potatoes & peas

Dijon chicken linguini (wheat pasta) w/salad

Baked jalapeno fish and potatoes w/green beans

Scalloped ham and cauliflower w/salad

I mentioned the other week that I would share the link to my Foreman grill panini tutorial on Snapguide. Clicking that link will take you to it.

As well, I got the scalloped ham and cauliflower recipe from a friend. I don't think she'll mind if I share it here. I might be halving this one. . maybe.

Scalloped Ham and Cauliflower (low-carb)
2 lb bags of cauliflower, drained thawed and chopped
8 oz grated cheddar cheese
1 cup heavy cream
2 eggs, beaten
1 pound of ham cubes
salt and pepper to taste
Beat eggs and add to cream. Mix in cheese and cauliflower, add ham cubes and bake at 375 degrees for 45 mins.

Sounds easy and yummy!!

There's more Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Before I head out, there's new necklace in the shop.

Bright Flora Necklace

As well, there's even a few MORE sale items!!

I appreciate you taking the time to pop in. Have a happy day!!

Finally Friday and Some Links

I awoke this morning with a rather bland outlook on the day. It's supposed to rain for the next week and the sun is being rather modest as it hides behind the clouds. Lack of sunshine always puts me in a subdued mood. Nevertheless, I pushed forward with my morning. Not long after logging into the computer did I remember that Shannon at For My Sweet Daughter had offered up a beautiful palette for Finally Friday. Her palettes come from Design Seeds and are full of all kinds of eye-opening and kick-you-in-the-pants inspiration.

Just take a look at this week's palette!

It's called Beaded Brights and can be found at Design Seeds.

Sure enough, one look at this palette and I was waking up to these brights. The hardest part for me was that pinky, peachy, coraly color below the blue. I had NO beads in that shade. I did find some buttons that came close though.

This was the closest I could get to the colors in the palette.

As I looked at my collection of beads and buttons in the above teacup, they seemed so very sweet, not to mention how tiny the beads were. So I knew I wanted to make just a sweet little bracelet.

I used gold-tone wire to give it that classic look.

Shannon's palette prompt was a great motivator for me this morning. Thank you Shannon!!


While I'm here, I finally decided on a name for my Link dump posts. Introducing. . . .

Yup! Link-a-palooza.

I'm still working on my goal to get in a publication and found that I saved a bunch of helpful links on the subject.

• Lorelei offered up a few tips as well as links to popular beading magazines' submission guidelines.
• Heather at Humblebeads wrote a similar blog post with tips and links. She also has a link to Lorelei's post and one from the illustrious Lori Anderson of Pretty Things.
• Lastly, Cyndi at Beading Arts offered up her own (longer) list of links to magazine submission guidelines.

Now I just need to eke out some time to click through all those helpful links!

Since those links are all business and no fun, let me add a tutorial to this list.

•  Malin at Beading by Malin de Koning posted a great tutorial on how to make a paper box. I've made similar ones but they're always been too tall and not wide enough. This short, wide one is perfect. Thanks Malin!!

Lastly, here's a new and a sale item in the shop.

Blue Penny Bracelet

Garden Enchantment Necklace - SALE

So that's all the news for this Friday. Now I'm off to see what other trouble I can get myself into! What are your plans for the weekend?