Throw Out 100 "Things" Challenge

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's a new year and time to start the things I've been wanting to do for a very long time!  First up is a Throw Out 100 "Things" Challenge.  This is where I am going to Donate, Pass On, Recycle or TOSS OUT!  I've always known to have 3-4 boxes or bags and label them - Donate - Recycle - Garbage, I'm adding an extra one for Pass On.  I may find something that someone else could use and will "pass it on".

I am a "hoarder".  I hate to throw anything away that I might "need or use" some day.  This is a new year and I am not going to be that person any more! Yea, right!  So, today starts the "new" me!  I have new toys (Silhouette Cameo) I want to play with and I need space in my craft room.  So, the purging begins!

1. Box of craft books.  I'm counting this as one item.  I'm going to combine like items together...I'll get rid of more!  DONATE
2. Backpack from Skechers - must have gotten with a pair of shoes?  DONATE
3. Small plastic photo album.  Not sure why I even bought it!  DONATE
4. Christmas ornaments - been in my closet for 4 years...not sure why.  DONATE
5. Old eyeglasses - DONATE to the Lions Club
6. Candles - DONATE
7. CD's - Software, etc. - TOSS
8. Weight Watchers binder from 1994!  Really? - TOSS
9. Shopping Bags - TOSS
10. Land Line Phone - who uses these anymore? - DONATE
11. Frames - DONATE

That's a good start.  One box and two shopping bags going to the Outreach Center.  One bag of trash.  Didn't get as much done today as I wanted, but maybe I will get back to it later on tonight.

My desk and sewing area are still a mess...but I'll tackle that later.

I challenge all of you to Throw Out 100 "things" in your home.  Leave comments below!  Good Luck!

Blogging -

Boy, it's been awhile since I posted anything!  That's pretty sad.  I need to get back into blogging.  I've been all over Pinterest pinning all sorts of blog training information.  Boy, there sure is a lot out there.  Trying to find the time to read it all is extremely challenging.  This is what I've gained so far

1. Blog on a regular basis
2. Schedule your blogs, so you're not overwhelmed daily.
3. Make sure you have great photography.  (I have a daughter that is a photographer...I'll have to make sure I use her for any pictures!)
4. Offer Giveaways...great way to gain more followers.
5. Be original, don't copy.  Ask permission of other bloggers to post about their blog and if you can link to their blog.  Only put brief information regarding their blog.  Don't copy it word for word and then do a link.
6. Have a Guest Blog on your site.

I'm not going to re invent the wheel.  Just go out to Pinterest and search on Blogging and you'll find all sorts of training.  Blogging can be quite time consuming and yes, people do make a living doing it!  Before blogging do some research.  I didn't and wish I had.  But, I'm trying to make up for it.  I've downloaded some planners...just need to figure which one will suit me the best!

If you are going to blog...have fun with it.  Offer something fun and have fun!

2015 Planner Giveaway!

Check out this cute planner for 2015.  I can't believe we are already starting to plan for 2015!  Where has 2014 gone?  What are your plans for 2015?  I do need to start planning better.  Maybe, I'll be the lucky one and win this pretty little planner!

Coffee Lovers!

I do love my morning coffee.  I love crafted coffees at the coffee houses, however, they get to be expensive and I'm not always near one. I am also diabetic, so I need to be careful on my sugar.Soooooo......

I've created my own!  I love my Keurig and use it every day I'm home.  I do a lot of travel with my job and have even figured a way to get my mocha coffee at the hotels!  I'll go into that a bit later.

Here's what you need:  Your favorite regular or decaf coffee, sugar substitute (I used Splenda here), cocoa mix and sugar free creamer.

                          

Add 1 heaping teaspoon of cocoa and 1 teaspoon of the sugar substitute.  Brew your coffee in your Keurig or if you don't have a Keuring, brew your coffee in your coffee maker and add to your cup.  Mix it all together and then add your creamer.  Add some whip cream on top and you have it made!

                          

Now, sit back and enjoy your cup of coffee!  Watch TV, Sew, Knit, Crochet, read a book, check out Pinterest...what ever you enjoy doing!  I have 2 -4 of these while working in the morning.  You can also turn this into an Iced Coffee...tastes just as good!

Bridesmaid Keepsake

I have been commissioned to take a bridesmaid dress and make it into a keepsake for the Bride and Groom.  I've had the dress for a while now and just couldn't cut into it!  I also wasn't sure on what to create out of this dress.  The fabric is two layers.  The under layer, is a very stretchy light weight knit and the top is a beautiful lace.

I've decided on a pillow.  I embroidered the bride and groom names and the date of the wedding on the knit fabric. Since it is so stretchy, I added an iron on stabilizer (Inspira Fashion Fuse) to keep it from stretching and used a cut away stabilizer (Inspira Stitch Point Cutaway) for additional stability.  I also used a water soluble topper (Inspira Dissolve A Way) to ensure a nice stitch out.  I used Robison Anton 40 wt Rayon thread.

For the back, I used the back of the dress and kept the zipper in tact.  Stitched it all together and inserted a 14" x 14" pillow form and it's ready to send off!

 Here's the final project.  I hope the Bride and Groom love it!

Front of Pillow

Back of Pillow

I have some left over fabric and think I will make some ornaments for the Bride and Groom and their parents to remember their special day during the holidays!

Popcorn

Do you love popcorn?  How about some gourmet popcorn?  While moving my mom the last couple of days, we visited the downtown area of Port Washington, WI.  While walking the streets, we visited a few small shops. One of them was Broadway Popcorn.  

Awesome popcorn!  They had a sampling area of all the flavors they make. We tried several of them.  Let me tell you, it was tough to decide which ones to buy.

My hubby likes Caramel Popcorn, so I knew I needed to go home with some of that.  He wasn't with me, so I didn't know what else he might like.  Some of the flavors I enjoyed during my sampling were:

Gourmet Pickle Pop

If you love dill pickles or dill flavored potato chips, then you'll love our Pickle Pop! Light and fresh with a slightly tangy dill pickle flavor.  I'm not a huge fan of pickles, but I had to try it!  It was good!  I definitely will buy some of this in the future!

Gourmet Caramel Cashew Popcorn

A tasty blend of our rich signature caramel popcorn blended with cashews. A guilty pleasure you won’t be able to resist!  I enjoyed this one!  Another one on my list!

Chocolate Caramel Popcorn (Seasonal item)

Our Chocolate Caramel gourmet popcorn is a truly decadent blend - clusters drizzled with fine dark chocolate over creamy caramel popcorn. Destined to satisfy any chocolate craving.  Love this one.  It is a seasonal one, so we were lucky they had this one.  Hopefully...it'll be there again during the holidays!

New! Parmesan Garlic Popcorn

The perfect blend of parmesan and garlic flavors. Your taste buds will agree: this is cheesy comfort food.  This was a good one for the future as well!

If you are ever in the Port Washington, WI area...stop in and check out Broadway Popcorn or visit their website at www.broadwaypopcorn.com and order some...you won't be disappointed!  They also have a shop in Sheboygan Falls, WI.

Fresh Grilled Vegetables

Memorial Day is typically the day Wisconsinites start planting gardens.  We live in a condo, so a garden is out of the question.  I did purchase a table top tomato plant and planted a small herb garden.

It is July and my tomato plant is sprouting all kinds of tiny yellow tomato's.  They are so tasty!  Definitely going to do this again next year!

  

I purchased some other fresh vegetables in the produce section...zucchinis, green onions, mini sweet peppers,

I cut them all up and put into a bowl.  Added some EVOO and Italian Seasonings and tossed them all together.

Now the fun part!  I put them on my Wolfgang Puck Tri Grill.  I LOVE this grill!  I can do so much with it!  I can grill, make pannini's, make bacon, pancakes...it does it all!

  

I preheated the grill to 350...I wasn't sure what to set it at, so used that to start.  It was the perfect setting!  I set the timer for 10 minutes, which also was a perfect setting.  The vegetables were cooked with just the right amount of "crunch".

 

 I have plenty of vegetables to do this again tomorrow evening!