Clean Desk and the Leftover Hoard

I looked down at my craft desk this morning to see this awesomeness, I mean mess, BIG OLE MESS!

It was terrifying, and intimidating and something needed to be done.

I started with what was right in front of me, my little bench block and a bit of extra wire. So, I cleared the wire away by going ahead and just making some wire clasps.

As I unearthed the layers and layers of debris and supplies from my desk, I found even more leftover wire and bits of cord.

I can't bear to throw away these plentiful lengths of workable material. So, what do I do?

I stuff it in a jelly jar.
Yup. . .I'm a hoarder. Big time.

At some point I will sit down and make something from this treasure. I've even got a few ideas. Until then, I guess I'll keep it squirreled away.

But look. . . my desk is clean.

What do you do with those extra bits of wire and cord when a project is complete? Do you seriously toss them or are you skilled at only cutting off what you need? Do you save it like me? I'd love to know.

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Before you leave, check out what's new in the shop:

Wabi Sabi Earrings

Re-listed: Sweet Flower Necklace

Thanks!

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!

Focus on Life Week 31: Hues of Blue

Blue is my favorite color so when I received Sally's prompt for this week. I was excited. However, this week ended up all kinds of wonky for me and almost nothing got accomplished.

At long last this morning, I got on the challenge while making breakfast. My dishes are Fiestaware. . . all in shades of blue.

I love my Fiesta sets. They make me happy.

I took both those pictures on my phone and added to them with the A Beautiful Mess app (that I just downloaded this morning and needed to play with some).

While playing around in my phone I also discovered a photo collage saved on there that fit this prompt perfectly.

I think the above collage was created as part of another photo challenge last year when the prompt was something like "your favorite color".

To see more blue head over to Sally's blog, The Studio Sublime.

Menu Plan and Recipe Review

I've never been much on tardiness, but yet here I am again late to the party. Actually, I was feeling pretty crummy yesterday. I think it's just one of those summer colds. (Yeah, yeah...excuses!) But I want to make sure I share my menu for the week. Some of these are repeats as the nieces stayed with us over the weekend so the menu was altered to their benefit.

Breakfasts: Oatmeal/Cheese grits, Juice, Eggs w/bacon & toast, Pancakes, Coffee cake muffins

Lunches: Simple sesame noodles w/carrot sticks, Bean burritos, Soup w/grilled cheese, PB&J, Tuna noodles, Cheese quesidillas, Leftovers

Dinners:

Baked ravioli from Amy Lynn on Tasty Kitchen

Grilled Chicken w/boiled red potatoes & grilled con on the cob

Broccoli Quiche w/salad

Soup (from the freezer)

Baked ravioli w/salad

Pork chops with creamy mushrooms and dill w/roasted cauliflower and lemony green beans

Pork Chops with creamy mushrooms and dill from Pink of Perfection

Though it's no longer Monday, I'm still linking up with Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

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Recipe Review

(of the meals we actually ate last week)

Slow cooker sticky wings: These were pretty good. I cooked them on low for about 8 hours instead of high for 4. I never quite got the sauce to thicken up though. Hubs had two helpings, but there were still plenty of leftovers. Unless I can find some skinless chicken wings I probably won't make them again.

Hashbrown casserole: This was super tasty. It smelled good before I even got it in the oven. It never quite browned on top but still tasted just fine. I added some granulated garlic and onion powder to it. I will probably make this again.

Spaghetti with zucchini, walnuts, and herbs: This was better than I expected. There wasn't a whole lot of seasoning to it. Per me, I added some granulated garlic but very little. It was tasty and fresh. I will possibly make this again.

Beer Bread

Beer bread: We had this with the cheddar soup (below) and I'm afraid it may have been the star of the show. We both really love bread and this was so very yummy. I was happy to have found a loaf bread that came together so quickly with no rising and waiting to bake it. I will definitely be making this again.

English country cheddar soup: I'll admit that I was a little worried about how rich and over-powering a cheddar soup would be. In the end though, it wasn't bad at all. In fact, we really enjoyed it. The only complaint either of us had was the length of the julianned carrots. I had a problem with them slapping me on the chin and making a mess. Pat said he felt like it should have been cheese strings (being cheddar soup and all) and was a little weirded out when it was carrots instead. I just need to slice those smaller next time. I will most likely make this again.

That's all from me for today. I've got to get back on the ball in some other areas too. Here's hoping this week is treating you well.

Focus on Life Week 30: Capture the Sun

I have a bit of an addiction to taking pictures of the sun. Whether it's the sun and clouds in the sky, the sun glinting off the water, the sun peeking through branches of a tree, sunrises, sunsets, or any of the other beauty that comes with sunlight I'm all over it.

After getting Sally's prompt for this week, I only had to flip through my phone to find some perfect examples for this week. Oh, and all these were also taken while on/near bodies of water (which I also have an addiction to.)

Spanish Fort, AL Causeway

Fish River, AL

Orange Beach, AL

Yeah, I've got a problem. . .

Oh, and this prompt had me singing this song most of the week also.
Check in over at Sally's blog, the Studio Sublime for more sunshine.

Happy Mail

Today was one of those days when I was happy to check the mailbox. I found it loaded with three packages all addressed to me! I just wanted to show off the awesomeness.

Two of the packages were my winnings from the CBC 2000 giveaways.

First were these beautiful lentil beads from Kimberly Rogers of Numinosity!

As well, there was the kit for me to make the hydrangea patten from Sherri Stokely at Knot Just Macrame.

In addition, I received a larger package from Cindy Cima Edwards.

I had purchased some items from a de-stash sale she was having.

As well, she and I had decided to have a bit of a swap. She sent me a bundle of goodies.

She included some ICE Resin and some ICED Enamels with some Medium for it.

As if that wasn't enough, she included all these other goodies.

 

Yummy, right!?

Oh, and do you see the awesome resin-ed heart that I'm sure Cindy made.

It looks like some of the amazing work that can be found in her Zimaj etsy shop.

I can't wait to play with each and every bit that was contained in these packages. I do love me some happy mail. Have you received anything awesome in the post lately?

Menu, Recipe Review, and Shop News

I feel like I accomplished so much yesterday (and even already today) that I didn't even stop. Somehow I completely forgot to take the time to mention what's on my menu this week. So here goes:

Breakfasts: Oatmeal/Cheese grits, Juice, Wheat pancakes, Eggs w/bacon & toast, Coffee cake muffins

Coffee Cake Muffins from Keeping Life Creative

Lunches: PB&J, Bean burritos, Soup w/grilled cheese, Chicken salad roll-up, Simple sesame noodles w/baby carrots, Pizza quesidillas, Leftovers

Simple Sesame Noodles from The Pioneer Woman

Dinners:

English Country Cheddar Soup from Serious Eats

Slow cooker sticky chicken wings w/hashbrown casserole & green beans (carried over from last week)

Spaghetti with zucchini, walnuts, and herbs w/salad

English country cheddar soup w/Beer bread

Broccoli quiche w/salad

Grilled chicken w/grilled corn on the cob & boiled red potatoes

Zucchini with Spaghetti, Walnuts, and Herbs from Pink of Perfection

I'm looking forward to each of these meals and am linking up my menu at I'm an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

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Recipe review

Let me review the new recipes we tried out last week.
1. Mushroom Lasagna: I failed to read the directions or the comments before I made this dish so I was unaware of how long it would take and how many dishes it would dirty. In the end (finally), it was really tasty and mine looked just like the picture. However, because of the time and mess it made I'm not positive I'll make it again. . .I may though as it's a great vegetarian option.

2. The Best Broccoli: I'll admit that this wasn't the first time I've ever made this broccoli but it deserves a review. It is SO SO SO GOOD!! I will be making this version of roasted broccoli for may years to come!

3. Pioneer Woman's Perfect Potato Soup: This soup was quite tasty. Though, I kinda hated having to blend it in the blender (I WILL have an immersion blender one day!) I did save the leftovers in the freezer for eating later, but I probably won't make this version of potato soup again. I actually have another one that we prefer. This was worth the effort, but just not as great.

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Shop news

Newly listed

Renewal Necklace

Re-listed

Doo-Dad Earrings

On sale

Pretty Pink Princess Necklace - 30% off

That's all the news that's new today. Now it's back to the grind for me. I hope your week is going swimmingly as well!

Bead Hoarders Bog Hop Reveal

The anticipation is over, it's time for the Bead Hoarders Blog Hop hosted by Lori Anderson of the Pretty Things blog.

I think bead hoarding is a malady which all jewelry artists suffer. The genius Lori decided to try to push us all to use some of that hoard with this hop. The beads I tend to hoard most often are art beads. Whether I've bought them from the designer themselves or won them in a giveaway, I usually just can't seem to bring myself to actually WORK with the beauties. I think I fear my inability to meet up with their awesomeness. For this challenge, I started by pulling out some of my stash from which to select.

As time wore on, I narrowed it down to the beads below.

1. from Melinda Orr 2. From Tree Wings Studio 3. from Gaea 4. from More Skye Jewels

I ended up only using three of those four selections, but I'm so pleased with what I was able to create that I'm hoping it keeps me on a roll to design with some of my other stashed away beads.

My mom and grandmother watched me pull this one together as I visited with them. They oohhhed and aahhed all over it. I'd say that's one of the best votes of confidence I could get.

I really liked the idea of this charm/pendant used in a bracelet as a play on a watch. It makes me smile.

 

This design is my favorite of the bunch. I wish I could capture the beauty of this pair better. Trust me, they're gorgeous! I may end up hoarding them this way now Ha!

I'm so glad I jumped on board with this hop. While I waited until the last minute to get anything made, I am quite pleased with my results. It's time to see what everyone else has been hoarding and what they've created. Make sure to hop over to Lori's Pretty Things Blog and see what magic she's worked. (Also, don't forget to wish her well as she's just come out of the hospital. . .She's just amazing isn't she!?)

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
4.  Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
5.  Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
6.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
7.  Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
8.  Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board 

  10.  Erin Guest, Renlish

11.  Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
13.  Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
14.  Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
15.  Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments
16.  Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
17.  Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers
18.  Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
19.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
20.  Lori Schneider, Bead Addict

21.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
23.  Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
24.  Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
25.  Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
26.  Heather Powers, Humblebeads
27.  Sarah Goode, Pookledo
28.  Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
29.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
30.  Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri

31.  Robyn, Museiddity
32.  Catherine King, Catherine's Musings
33.  Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
34.  Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
36.  Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
37.  Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
38.  Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
39.  Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
40.  Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads

41.  Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
42.  Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
43.  Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
44.  Valerie Norton, Hot Art
45.  Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
46.  Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
47.  Terry Carter,  Tapping Flamingo
48.  Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations
49.  Nan Smith, Wired Nan
50.  Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts

51.  Marie Covert, Creating Interest
52.  D'Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
53.  Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
54.  Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
55.  Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
56.  Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
57.  Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
58.  Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
59.  Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
60.  Nat, Grubbi Ceramics

61.  Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
62.  Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
63.  Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
64.  Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
65.  Tracie Dean, Dean Designs
66.  JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
67.  Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
68.  Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
69.  Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
70.  Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes

71.  Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
72.  Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
73.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
74.  Ile Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded Jewelry
76.  Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 
77.  Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
78.  Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
79.  Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
80.  Miri Agassi, Beadwork


You're Here --> 81.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
82.  Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
83.  Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
84.  Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
85.  Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry
86.  Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
87.  Lori Lochner, Bloghner
88.  Gerda Jurimae, Gerda's Crafts Blog
89.  Susan, Mistheword
90.  MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou's time2cre8

91.  Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
92.  Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
93.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
94.  Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
95.  Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
96.  Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads
97.  Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
98.  Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
99.  Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations
100.  Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives

101.  Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
102.  Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
103.  Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
104.  Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
105.  Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
106.  Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
107.  Lennis Carter, windbent
108.  Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
109.  Audrey Belanger,  Dreams of an Absolution
110.  Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa

111.  Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
112.  Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
113.  Kathy Engstrom, Catherine's Dreams
114.  Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
115.  Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
116.  Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
117.  Kim, Cianci Blue
118.  Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
119.  Karen, Spokalulu
120.  Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry

121.  Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
122.  Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
123.  Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
124.  Amy Bright, LABweorc
125.  Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
126.  Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
127.  Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
128.  Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
129.  Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
130.  Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy

131.  LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
132.  Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
133.  Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
134.  Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
135.  Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
136.  Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
137.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
138.  Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
139.  Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
140.  Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

141.  B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
142.  Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
143.  Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
144.  Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
145.  Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146.  Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales
147.  Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148.  Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149.  Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150.  Sarah Small, By Salla

151.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152.  Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153.  Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154.  Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155.  Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe
156.  Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
157.  Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
158.  Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159.  Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160.  Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted

161.  Kris Lanae Binsfield,  Cherish Designs
162.  Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
163.  Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
164.  Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
165.  Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
166.  Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
167.  Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog

 What are you waiting for!? Get to hoppin'!

Industrial Chic Goodies

Several weeks or maybe even months ago (I don't even know anymore, time is just slipping by me so quickly) I received a package from the Susan Lenart Kazmer, LLC Industrial Chic line of products. The products are available at Michael's Arts and Crafts stores nationwide. I've purchased from this line before and really love the mixed media, eclectic-ness of it. Here's the awesomeness I received.

A selection of charms, chain, and ribbon/rhinestone chain

Some cool Industrial Chic pendants

I love that this was another challenge to use products I may not have selected for myself initially. Those kind of challenges really get my muse a-working!

I grouped the fun glitter-filled bottles together for this triple-layered necklace. First though, I altered the labels on the bottles with some alcohol inks and sandpaper to give them more of an aged look. There's something very Halloween-y about this necklace. I think it looks like a witch's secret stash of ingredients/potions.

With the gray faceted charms, I used some gray agate beads from ZnetShows to make these simple, neutral earrings.

I was so intrigued by the black rhinestone ribbon that I just knew I had to use it for something. A little embroidery thread and some bright e-beads turned it into this lightweight bracelet.

A necklace was for sure in order with the pendants. I altered the way the flat wires were attached at the top and bottom of the pendant and made a bit of fringe with some of the chain and ribbon from the stash I received. A large, brass ball pin chain completes the necklace.

I actually have another necklace made, but I'm considering submitting it to a magazine. As such, I don't feel comfortable sharing it here at the moment. Let me just say. . .it's awesome!

If you haven't seen the Industrial Chic line at Michael's you are missing out. There are some really great components available. Have you created with this line before? Isn't it great!?