Shopping with Trades of Hope: Your Purchases Can Empower

I have started a tradition with Blue, or as much tradition as one can have with a 16 month old. I keep a stash of dollars in my purse and whenever we meet a Salvation Army bell ringer at the entrance of a store, I hand him the dollar and he squeezes it into the bucket. It's a game to him, but maybe someday it will translate to generous charitable giving (admittedly, $1 may not seem "generous" but you would not believe how many times we end up going to the grocery store every week). When Blue is an adult and my accomplishments as a mother can be fully recognized, I will only feel successful if he is kind, loving, generous, useful, respectful and charitable. But that all starts with me and how I nurture those traits in him on a daily basis. And nurturing them in him on a daily basis means finding ways to nurture them within myself. How can I help? What one thing can I do everyday to make the world a better place? I look people in the eye when we are speaking. I say please and thank you and try to smile often. I look for opportunities to put our money when our values are. And that brings us to Trades of Hope.

A few weeks ago, Traci (of Arkansas but we aren't going to hold that against her, are we? Razorbacks who?) emailed me to say she was hosting an online shopping party to benefit Trades of Hope. She explained that the organization purchases products from women artisans all over the world who are simply trying to improve their circumstances. They are from Uganda and Guatemala and Nepal and Cambodia. But they are also in Costa Rica, Philippines, Peru, and even the U.S. They are women just like me, but without the opportunities and good fortune I've been blessed with my entire life. Trades of Hope has a website and founders and a mission statement, but perhaps this says it best:

We work with the artisans themselves and organizations that are helping women in difficult circumstances. Some women have been rescued from sex slavery. Others are raising handicapped children alone. Some are in war torn countries and others have aids and leprosy. These women have never had the chances we've had, yet they are just like us in so many ways. They love their families and hope and dream of a better life for them.

We are helping by marketing their products through the home party model, so they can put food on their table, a roof over their head, get medical care and an education for their children. We want to tell their stories to the world! We have a heart for ministry and business, and through this we have started separate successful non-profit organizations and businesses. Together, we have a combined 30 years of experience. This has given us the tools and drive we need to help women and make an impact on the world! As moms, we also wanted to partner with our daughters, Chelsie and Elisabeth, and teach them that women at any age can make a difference and be world changers!

I asked Traci this morning to tell us how she found Trades of Hope and what it means to her.

"I found Trades of Hope through my writer cousin's blog. I love Addie's new series, 'One Small Change' because it is filled with ideas from her readers on little ways we can make the world better. I desire to make a difference, but I am also easily overwhelmed. I have great intentions, but somehow in the chaos of daily life, I lose my way. However, I CAN do the small things...at least 1 or 2 of them. The day this blog post came out, I ordered the Deep Aqua Layered Necklace. It is a beautiful piece (which is commonly heard from Trades of Hope shoppers) and to know that I was able to make a small difference to someone else makes it an even more precious part of my jewelry collection. For me, I have been able to witness first-hand some of the poverty of other countries through mission trips to Mexico and Nicaragua and if something as simple as buying from an organization like Trades of Hope can make life better for another mother, family, or child, why wouldn't we ALL do that? We are buying gifts anyway!"

I also asked Traci what percentage the women artisans receive from each purchase, since Trades of Hope is essentially the middle women.

When Trades of Hope works with an artisan group, that group is able to earn 3-6 times more than what their local economy could (or would) pay them. Trades of Hope places the order and then pays 50% up front so they are paid while they work. They pay the remainder upon delivery of the products. The artisan group sets the price at a fair wage, meaning they are able to provide more for their family, including food, shelter, medical care, and education. It is not a set percentage, as prices vary widely all over the world. When Trades of Hope offers a sale, it is Trades of Hope taking a hit...NOT the artisan group. The faster Trades of Hope sells their products, the faster they can return and re-order. Trades of Hope also has a program called Gifts of Hope, which you can read about here. 

So now that you have a little more info and maybe a bit more fire to make a difference, too, let me get you shopping. Traci's current party is open until Sunday, December 15 (so...yeah...in 2 days) for orders that need to arrive by Christmas. She is keeping the party open for post-Christmas orders until January 1. However, orders are shipped as they are filled, not when the party closes. If you are unable to shop Traci's party in the next few weeks, there are ample opportunities to host your own online or in-home party or order from the website 24/7.

Personally, I am buying THIS:

via Trades of Hope

It's called the Journey Bracelet and I love everything about it. It measures 9" and "not for petite wrists" but, y'know...Mama doesn't have to worry about that. The scarves, jewelry, handbags, home decor, and stationary are beautiful and reasonably priced. This bracelet is $24 and having worked extensively with seed beads, I can tell you that's a steal.

Many of you have finished your Christmas shopping but if you are wrapping it up this weekend, let me send you in the direction of Trades of Hope. If not for them, then perhaps for you. Santa did say you've been awfully good this year. 

Small Business Saturday: My Etsy Crushes

It's 10:40 PM on Black Friday so, technically, you still have plenty of time to read this and cash on the excellent advice during Small Business Saturday. And if you have crushes to add, please do so in the comments. Most of my Etsy shopping is for supplies so I know I'm just barely putting a scratch in the scratch of the surface of Etsy (or otherwise local) artist awesome.

OK...let's do this!

First up is Twisted Metals shop on Etsy. Based in Charlotte, NC, Twisted Metals is the home of The Original Spoon Fish Windchimes. At this point, you may be (understandably) asking yourself...what the hell is a spoon fish windchime? Let me give you a visual.

The fish are made from antique silverware, dating back to 1786! However, the entire piece is created using upcycled materials. The wooden boat is actually natural driftwood from the depths of Tennessee's lake Watauga. I purchased these singing, playful fish for Neal in celebration of our 7th wedding anniversary this year. The 7th anniversary, which is copper (although I tried like the devil to convince him it was diamonds), is a tough one for gift-giving. After sifting through dozens of customized wallet cards and men's jewelry, I decided this was the ideal gift for us. On a breezy day, the chimes are nothing short of enchanting to Blue and they add the perfect amount of whimsy to our tiny backyard oasis. Purchasing from Nevastarr was flawless and within a week, I had our very own set of original spoon fish windchimes. I think they are on to something.

Next is CanCraftsHeaven on Etsy. To understand how I discovered this amazing talent down in Puerto Rico, you first have to know that Neal's former commander in Iraq is also a director at Coca-Cola in Atlanta. In September, she retired from the Army and we were fortunate enough to be in town for her retirement ceremony. I picked this up as an add-on to her gift because she loves Coca-Cola. No, I mean she loves it . She won't eat at a restaurant that serves Pepsi products. If we are entertaining her, we call ahead to make sure they serve Coca-Cola only. And every time I stumble upon a Coca-Cola machine with the woodgrain front and the credit-card sized push buttons lined up across the top, I email her a picture. When Blue was born, she brought over a gift basket of Coca-Cola items. And it was no ordinary gift basket.

That bear is still bigger than him. So what do you get the woman who buys your newborn a bucket, a bear, a bottle, and a boatload of clothes bearing the Coca-Cola logo on them?

A Coca-Cola Army jeep ornament, of course! Yvonne took great care of me as I had this little brainstorm about a week before her ceremony. I contacted Yvonne and she promised I would have it in time. About 4 days later, I was holding this hot little beauty in my hand! Yvonne only uses recycled cans for her crafts so there may be a scratch here or a dent there, but I prefer that in my upcycled purchases. Imperfection is not the gold standard. Yvonne's prices are absolutely reasonable and she has so many designs from which to choose. And don't tell Neal's commander, but she uses Pepsi cans, too. Ssshhhhh!! She's an equal opportunity upcycler.

Our next Etsy artist helped me create the most adorable sippy cups for my favorite twins living outside of The Windy City. She specializes in Mickey Mouse designs with Disney writing. And to be very honest, she nails it. GavinandEmma on Etsy only offers 3 items: Mickey/Minnie Mouse sippy cups, Mr. and Mrs. wine glasses, and a set of shabby chic hair clips, but what she does, she does well. This is an example of the sippy cups:

I know...I just die. And, per your request, she will add a bow on Minnie's head, free of charge. The cups come in a variety of colors and you have several color choices for the name, as well. The shopowner says they are dishwasher safe, but me and my OCD tendencies would probably still hand-wash it. But not everyone is as ridiculous as I am. And here's a tiny hint: sippy cups come into play sometime around the 1st birthday, just in case you have someone on your Christmas list who fits that description.

BellaTara on Etsy is next up and they offer customized printed burlap that arrives ready to frame. I realize that Pinterest is brimming over with how-to-print-on-burlap pins, but honestly, it's worth it to me to pay the $18 and receive this in the mail a week later:

This is just one of the many designs she can print using your last name, address, wedding anniversary, or favorite phrase. I purchased this print as a housewarming gift for a dear friend. Heads up though, this print is intended for a 8 x 10 frame and trying to ship an 8 x 10 frame safely is an enormous pain in the hippocaboose. It's worth it to throw in a $10 Michael's gift card so they can buy the frame once the print arrives.

Perhaps one of my favorite Etsy artists to work with has been Cheralyn at CheralynsWoodworks out of Virginia. Last Christmas, I started craving tiny tokens to represent each duty station. We had been collecting linen dish towels with the maps of each state embroidered across the front, but I needed something for the Christmas tree. Enter Cheralyn and her woodworking studio where she made this:

 and this...

 and this...

Representing our 3 duty stations so far: Georgia, Virginia and Kentucky, with a tiny heart carved in the geographical location where we lived, I simply adore these bird's eye maple ornaments. If we hadn't returned "home" for 3 years, I would order another one this Christmas. But one Kentucky is more than enough on the Miller tree. Cheralyn is so easy to work with and is extremely accommodating. If you want to show some hometown pride this Christmas, I suggest you look her up.

There is something heartwarming about receiving a thank you card in the mail. Just a note of appreciation and perhaps a mention of how they are liking the gift I sent...that's all I ask for in this world. Likewise, it makes me a bit bananas when people (especially adults) just blow them off. Emily Post says Get thee to a stationary store and purchase some thank you cards. But stop texting, emailing or ignoring your thank yous. And perhaps you've never noticed, but people will like you more if you send thank you cards. You get invited to more things and you generally receive more stuff. Like at Christmas. Oh, speaking of which, how adorable are these thank you cards from Owlalwaysloveuprints? (She started out on Etsy but it looks like she has moved onto her own website. Way to go! Woot!)

We had 3 owls instead of 4 and I requested a mama, a daddy, and one baby. These were such a hit last year that I'm tempted to use them again this year. The file is purchased and emailed to you in a PDF format. It is then ready for you to print at your local office supply store or on your own color printer. They are postcard size but can be written on both sides. Now that is something to be thankful for!

Lastly, Kelsey at Antsy Pants on Etsy took great care of me last year as I scurried about searching for a holiday outfit for Blue. I discovered her shop and the most adorable onesie ever. This is the precious babe featured on her listing:

and this is how Blue rocked it last New Year's Eve:

(We have a rule in our house that pants are optional after 4 PM.) I crushed on this outfit so hard and for so long last December, that I'm tempted to purchase the 2T t-shirt size for this year. Not that I dress Blue to get attention from the ladies (because, let's face it, sometimes he goes out with Daddy and we don't need too much ogling of the Miller boys going on), but he got tons of compliments on these duds.

I could go on, but then everyone would know what they are getting for Christmas this year. So I'll have to feature those stores next year. I hope that your Black Friday was productive, but I hope Small Business Saturday receives the lion's share of your shopping this year. There are so many talented craftspeople and artisans out there....and not a single one of them sells their goods through Walmart.

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend, gobblers! I've eaten almost an entire pecan pie in the past 3 days. But my Fitbit says I've earned my helicopter badge, so maybe it will all even out in the end.

Mid-Week Wisdom

For most of us, it's a short week. Unless you work in retail...or food service...or anywhere else that puts a higher priority on profits than personal time with family. To everyone that must work on Thanksgiving Day or at 1:01 AM on Friday morning, I'm really very sorry. I did it once, when I was in college and working at Blockbuster. (Hey kids, Blockbuster was this place where we rented actual movies in actual cases and were sometimes fined for failing to rewind. Ask your mommies and daddies about it.) There's no shortcut around it...working on a holiday that is nationally recognized sucks. But I will be doing all of my shopping on Friday online so maybe don't blame me.

Anyway, it's a short week but Neal has been tasked with extra duty this week so it still feels like a regular old Wednesday to us. Here's what I have to share this week. It's not much and it's not all that enlightening, but I'm putting together an all-star list of small businesses for Friday's post so that you can blow Small Business Saturday out of the water this year. I'll even have pictures. Who doesn't love pictures?

Moving on...

It's nearly impossible to buzzcut a toddler's hair while he's awake...even when you let him sit on his new potty chair while you work...even when you let him hold the toothpaste...even when you hand him your iPhone which is playing Curious George on a continuous loop. I don't know what they do at those little kiddie haircut places, but apparently it's worth our hard-earned money.

The only thing to be done when it's your move and these are your letters is to sing Old MacDonald. (OH! Speaking of which...Geico has a new commercial out (or, more likely, new to us) with Old MacDonald spelling "cow" and I thought Neal and I were going to pee ourselves. Yay for parenthood.)

This is a book at our library...in the children's section. I mean that special room in the back where the preschoolers have craft time and the toddlers can find a decent selection of board books and puzzles. I was trying to keep Blue from dumping my purse on the floor so I didn't have a chance to look through it but I can't imagine a family-friendly way of explaining the horror of this epidemic.

Out of curiosity one night, I began Googling our names to see what they mean. Blue's meant brave in the face of danger and Neal's meant virile and wise (or some such ego-boosting thing that I plan on never telling him) and this is what mine means. It must be legitimate...it's on Urban Dictionary! And isn't that where selfie started? (which, by the way, has just made it into the United Kingdom dictionary, according to the BBC this week.) So, yes...I am such an Allyson.

Lastly, the Christmas orders have started rolling in so that means a lot of working in the kitchen while Ken Burns' Civil War loops in the background. There are 8 episodes at about an hour each and I've seen this particular series 3 times...always while whipping out Christmas orders. And every time I think, "Why does every documentary filmmaker believe that Frederick Douglas' voice must have sounded like Morgan Freeman's? I personally think Frederick Douglas was more badass than that and if he could find a good medium, he would tell us to start using Samuel L. Jackson or Jamie Foxx." 

Stay safe and dry and Happy Thanksgiving Eve Eve. May your turkey be juicy, your pie be fresh, and the family time involve a fair amount of alcohol and at least one game of Pictionary. See you on Friday!

Turkeys Welcome Here

Amendment to last post: Beth is now offering penguins, too! Yay! This just keeps getting better. 

I do not like turkey, Sam I am.

I do not like it Thanksgiving Day
I do not like it one day in May

I do not like it with a duck inside
I do not like it deep deep fried

I do not like it cooked any way
I do not like it in 4 days

I do not like turkey, Sam I am.

But I will eat the hell out of some green eggs and ham. Perhaps one day things will change. Maybe in 7 years, my affinity for the typically dried out, sleep-inducing bird will spin 180 degrees and I will begin hoarding frozen turkeys from Kroger in our deep freeze. But not today.

Today, I'm offering 3 recipes that have nothing to do with turkey but are fabulous autumn/winter recipes I discovered in my crockpot cookbook/doorstop/murder weapon of choice. They elevate the apple to an orgasmic level of deliciousness, leaving one to sympathize a bit more with poor ole hungry, horny Adam. And they all call for a crockpot, which gets used more than the central heat around here. Please let me know if you try one and what you think. And if you have one to share, please put it in the comments. I am in couples therapy with a spaghetti squash after a tofu dish disaster, but I'm open to loving other ignored winter vegetables.

"Baked" Acorn Squash (a really delicious side dish)

1 acorn squash (when cut in half, they will fit nicely in a 6 qt crock)
2/3 c cracker crumbs (I used Ritz, but I think graham crackers would be heavenly)
1/2 c coarsely chopped pecans (I ground them practically into dust in the food processor because I'm scared to death Blue is going to choke on a nut and I'm going to have to give baby Heimlich)
1/3 c butter, melted
4 Tb brown sugar (don't leave this out. Seriously.)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 Tb orange juice (the second time I made this, I didn't have orange so I used apple. To that, I say...meh...)

Ridiculously easy directions:
1. Cut stem end off of squash and then cut in half.
2. Remove seeds.
3. Combine remaining ingredients and spoon into squash halves. Place in slow cooker and cook on low for 5-6 hours, or until squash is tender.
(I usually leave it in for 8 because I forget about it and it is totally fine and totally delicious.)
Serve with entree or top with marshmallows and shovel it down your gullet while watching Polar Express.
 *I just realized there are no apples in this recipe. I'm about to make up for that.

2. Cran-Apple Chicken (pairs well with baked acorn squash and Castle)

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (I used some pre-seasoned chicken but I'm sure plain would be lovely)
1 bag of fresh cranberries (or 1 cup of frozen but if you love yourself, get the fresh)
1 green apple, peeled, cored, and sliced (take the 30 seconds to peel it. Trust me.)
1 Tb brown sugar
1 cup unsweetened apple juice or cider (Redd's or Woodchuck doesn't count)

Ridiculously easy directions:
1. Place chicken in slow cooker (mine was frozen rock hard and did great on low for 8 hours)
2. Sprinkle with cranberries and apples.
3. Mix brown sugar and apple juice. Pour over chicken and fruit.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Serve over rice and pair it with some of that fancy pants bread from Panera.

And what is Thanksgiving dinner without dessert? I love the pumpkin/pecan/apple pie trinity just as much as the next girl, but this is easier and gooier. When in doubt, always go for gooier.

Apple Caramel Dessert (you're going to need some ice cream for this. Or maybe some not-yet-frosted cupcakes. But definitely not the angel food cake it calls for. Angel food cake is for nursing homes and marathoners. And this is Thanksgiving, dammit. Get the Ben & Jerry's.)

2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and cut into wedges (I mixed it up with some red and some green because we swing to the tarty side, but go with what you love.)
1/2 cup apple juice (leftover from above recipe. Yay! Waste not, want not.)
7 oz caramel candy (I just used the whole bag...well...the whole bag after I had it in the house for about 2 days, so minus...maybe...15 pieces? Also, I used the caramel squares but I guess Werther's has come out with baking caramel now. And to that I say, "What took you so long?")
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp cardamom (and now I have a whole bottle of cardamom that expires next year. If anyone would like to offer up some recipes using that, I would be ever so grateful)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter (I used almond butter because Neal has a self-diagnosed peanut allergy, but it turned out absolutely fine and delicious)
7 slices angel food cake (bleh. Clean up, aisle 5)
1 qt vanilla ice cream (now we're talkin'...)

Ridiculously easy directions:
1. Combine apple juice, caramel candies (after unwrapping them during episode of Scandal), vanilla, and spices. Place in slow cooker.
2. Drop peanut butter, 1 tsp at a time, into slow cooker. Stir.
3. Add apple wedges.
4. Cover. Cook on low 5 hours.
5. Stir well.
6. Cover. Then cook 1 more hour on low.
7. Serve 1/3 cup warm mixture over ice cream/gelato/Kroger brownie bites/top-less muffins...whatever.

I hope this reaches you before your Thanksgiving grocery-gettin trek to the supermarket, but if not, there's always next weekend!

Champagne Friday: A Toast to Small Business (featuring Beth's Wild Side)

Cheers! It's Champagne Friday and less than a week until Thanksgiving! Grab a glass of grog, a turkey leg, and your Monsters of Rock CD. Or...perhaps, if you're us, your flannel pjs, a mug of kahlua hot cocoa, and the last season of West Wing. Regardless...

It's Friiiiiiiiiiiiday!

So, in honor of that, let's talk shop...or, really, shopping. I've decided to feature a small business near and dear to me every Friday until Christmas. I don't want to send anyone into cardiovascular distress...but that's only 33 days away. I'm sorry...BREATHE! I won't judge you for not having started your Christmas shopping yet if you don't judge me for putting up my Christmas tree last weekend (I had a valid reason...our Big Lots pre-lit tree was no longer pre-lit so I had to de-light a 6' pre-strung tree. De-light is nothing like delight.) 

First up (because each ornament is handmade and thus she needs time to work) is Beth. Full disclosure: I've known Beth for a really long time. Like youth group lock-in long time. Like I was in the band long time. Like my parents still lunch with her parents every Sunday long time. But the reason I've known her for so long is because she is a genuine soul with a generous heart and several crafty bones. Last Christmas, she began offering knitted animals through Facebook. Being the creepy giraffe lover that I am, I ordered this guy immediately for my Blue's tree:

And, in all honesty, pictures do not do this little guy justice. 

For gifts, I also ordered a pig...

a cow...

and a badger (which I gifted as a "honey badger" because who really knows the difference anyway?)

If you need just a moment to recover from the cuteness, I will completely understand. These little darlings make perfect ornaments or toys and come with either plastic eyes (ages 3+) or embroidered eyes (for the Blue age group...the ones who see a cigarette butt in a parking lot and decide that is worth a lick). Since I don't generally let Blue play with any of the ornaments on his tree, we go with the googly eyes, but both types are cute as pig's tails. (Related: I'm very much looking forward to a less orally fixated Blue.)

For Blue's tree this year, I'm torn between all of these guys...

 

the horse (after his first trip to Keeneland this year)...

the zebra (one of our favorites at the Louisville Zoo)...

the lion (considering Blue is a Leo)...

and all of these guys, but leaning heavily toward the sheep and the moose...

If you would like to cast a vote in the comments section, I could certainly use the help in choosing!

Beth uses patterns from Jellybum on Etsy, but she has made some changes on a few of the designs to add detail. She also accepts custom orders for an additional $2.00 per ornament. The animals available in her shop currently include:

dog                hedgehog         hippo             crocodile
cat                 sheep                rhino              otter
rabbit            pig                    zebra              meerkat
badger           cow                  kangaroo
fox                horse                elephant
bear               goat                  tiger
wolf              donkey              lion
squirrel         moose               giraffe
raccoon         camel                monkey

Beth is also currently working up a prototype for a sewn bear that she plans to launch after Thanksgiving. And, for the Not a Knitter folks in the crowd (like this girl here), she is available to make your Pinterest Pin Now, Learn How to Knit/Crochet Later board a reality. You give her the pattern and the colors you want to use, she whipstitches it right up. (It's not whipstitch for knitting is it? I am totally sticking to jewelry terms in the future). Your cost would be for the yarn and her time. Not bad as far as turning dreams into reality goes. 

As for the the little guys listed above, they are $18 a piece and will be completed on a first come, first served basis. She can get orders submitted today and within the next couple of days completed by Christmas. 

And now for the important part...how to reach her. To place all orders, email Beth at bsb529@twc.com and she will get right back to you. 

Easy peasy. Handmade Christmas is the best Christmas! 

I hope y'all have a lovely weekend and best of luck at the grocery. Our Kroger was out of fresh cranberries, light brown sugar and cinnamon. And these are things I use in everyday cooking. It's a caffeine-soaked madhouse at there. I'll see you on the flip side!   

Some Mid-Week Wisdom

You do not need a camel to tell you it's Wednesday, but I may be able to impart some other lessons learned the hard way during the week so far...

• When you are overcome by the idea that your night guard has not been properly sanitized since the day your dentist made it (5 years ago) and you deem it high time to throw it in a pot of boiling water for 5 minutes, be aware that it will cause it to shrink. To the point that you are never going to fit your chiclet teeth in it again. This is at least a $500 lesson learned, with zero percent covered by dental insurance. (Although I would argue that because my bite guard has cracked in 4 different places, it is actually medically necessary for me to have one to keep all of my teeth from disintegrating into dust and scar tissue.) 
• Anything that is used daily will eventually break, fall apart, or...crack...as the crockpot did on Sunday night. This was an enormous blow as I use it every single day. But, like any good slow cooker, I had an extra until I could pick up a new one yesterday. That is a $35 lesson learned but priceless when it comes to group morale.
• 16 month old babies are too young for handprint turkeys. It looks so easy on someone else's blog, but when the rubber meets the road and the paint is in the hair, mouth, diaper, and seeping into the kitchen tile grout, it becomes overwhelmingly clear. But next year we're gonna nail it! Not sure on the dollar amount on this one. We'll find out at the end of our lease, I suppose.
• Lastly, to all of the landlords out there: the appropriate question when screening applicants is not, "Do you have a cat/dog/parakeet/sloth?" but "Do you have any children?" I mean, if you would like your rental returned in exactly the same condition, this should be your stipulation. Somewhat related: Crayola makes a box of crayons that can grow legs and leap from whatever insanely high spot you've placed them onto the floor and into the hands of a toddler who sees the world as his blank sheet of paper. I wish I could quit buying this type of crayon but they seem to have flooded the market. (This truly is the only explanation because I count those sonsofbi...silly little things to make sure they are all accounted for before putting them up...way up...like on top of a refrigerator up. And yet...) We aren't even speculating on the price of this lesson. We just keep setting aside money each month and hope we don't have to sell a kidney or a cat when the final bill is tallied. 

This is all I have, but I feel like that's quite a bit since it's only Wednesday. Also, I've decided to start highlighting some of the small businesses I've been using lately on Fridays. I think they deserve a toast and they are mostly online so that means you can shop and sip champagne. It's a win all the way around! 

Nothing Says Thanksgiving Like Cricut Crafts

In all of my nappinning time (yes, napping while pinning...I'm totally going to trademark it), I discovered a cute Thanksgiving craft. It's a rare event that I already own all of the pieces and parts that a Pinterest craft requires. But in this case, all I needed was a couple sheets of scrapbook paper, which just happened to be on sale a few weeks ago. It was a sign (specifically, a sign that read 40% off. I believe that God speaks to me through sales and clearance tags). So I gobbed up a couple sheets of autumn plaid and some matching mustardy colors and went at it. The first chore was to dust off the ole Cricut, plug her in and make sure she still knew how to slice, dice, and spit it back out.

And that went fairly well.

So next I needed to print the letters THANKS twice...one in about 2 3/4" size on the plaid and again in 3" on the mustard paper. Lastly, I adhered them to the galvanized buckets I purchased from IKEA last year for my nautical-themed baby shower. These things are found in the "gardening" section, are ridiculously cheap, and can be used all throughout the year for a variety of decorating needs. Worth every deutschmark.

And this is the finished product:

The buckets are filled with fabric leaves repurposed from that one time I was supposed to get married in October. It just so happens that "MERRY" has one less letter (meaning it will fit in the space better) so as soon as we kick the in-laws to the curb and box up the leftovers, I'm changing it out.

I hope everyone had a more relaxing, less secretion-filled weekend than we did. Blue threw up his entire breakfast both mornings (we now suspect either the yogurt or the banana is to blame) and then learned how to stand in the bathtub and pee at will. Consequently, he also learned that, sometimes, with a little #1, comes some #2. Never. A. Dull. Moment. And we stayed entirely too sober through the entire thing. Next weekend...more champagne, less fluids.

And what did YOU do this weekend? Put up a tree? Play in the rain? Run from tornadoes?