Local and Handmade

I love handmade - and when I can buy local and handmade - I am happy! And repurposed handmade . . . . even better.

I picked up these sweet gems for Easter gifts for my teens this year - inital necklaces from vintage typewriter keys - Fabulous. As is everything found in this ETSY shop! Denise from SugarSalt was great to work with and was able to find "keys" for all 3 of my girls. Thanks Denise. SugarSalt - made in St. Paul, MN.

Amazing Giveaway

Thrilled to be part of this fantastic Mothers Day giveaway.

http://laurawinslowphotography.com/blog/2011/04/28/laura-winslow-photography-presents-mamas-rock-giveaway-2011-over-6500-to-one-winner/


Lots of gifts to be won. Lots of amazing, unique items. Lots of beautiful photography.

Finding Time

http://ht.ly/4H2n3

This is a great post on managing time. Something I struggle with everyday. I have a lot of time. I am up early and get my teens off to school at 7.  The end of the school year is fast approaching - and we can't wait. We love the slower moving mornings in the summer. I have a big calendar that hangs on our back door - it will fill in quickly with work schedules, sports, appointments and other activities. I have declared this summer "the summer of time management".

We are all going to gain a better understanding of how much time we have in one day and everything we can get done. Don't worry - we all love our down time and we will have some of that as well!

My goal is to get something done in each of these categories every day  (in no particular order). I am determined to find a balance -- even as this list evolves and changes.

exercise
clean
sewing/blog/biz
family
read
cook/bake
prayer/meditation/quiet

Whats on your "must do" list?

A Tote, A Tuesday

I made this small purse for my mom for Mother's day. I like the blue on the burlap.

A Tote, A Tuesday

Finished up this last large tote yesterday. I love the coordinating print and stripes. This tote and many more will be available this week at The Carlson Center Spring Boutique.

Wednesday April 20 and Thursday April 21, 2011

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Carlson Towers of 394/494 in Minnetonka

10% of all sales will be donated to Childrens Cancer Research

Menu Monday

Yes, It is Tuesday. I was able to go through my local adds on Sunday and get a meal idea from each of my 3 teens. I try to include them - when they were younger they had more interest in eating the meals they chose for the week. Now they are helping - or making the entire meal! I hope to try cooking for an entire week with them sometime this summer. I made spinach lasagna last night and spinach and turkey wraps on Sunday. We have a short week of school this week and I am busy a couple evenings so we'll be having simple quick meals all week.

Turkey Wraps

large tortillas (I like to use spinach tortillas)
mayo
baby spinach leaves
turkey deli slices
cooked slice of bacon
dried cranberries
Layer, wrap, repeat,  yum - served with fruit

I have an experimental batch of ganola in the oven right now. Will post on those results soon.

I am also looking for easy, healthy meals - if you have one to share please contact me! Or if you know of a great website - post it in the comments! Thanks.

IndieBiz3

IndieBiz3 is the online course I just completed last week. Lots of great info from lots of amazing women owned, successful businesses. We decided to get together and share the love. Here are some links to various blogs, shops, new products and giveaways -- all hosted by participants from IndieBiz3. I plan to highlight as many individual shops and business owners as I can over the next few months - stay tuned and get inspired.
http://11thmonkey.blogspot.com/2011/04/launch-day-happenings.html

A Tote, A Tuesday

Great mid-size everyday tote. Cotton, jute and recycled coffee bean burlap.

Menu Monday

We have a quiet couple days after a busy weekend. I am planning a quick 3 day menu to start the week.  As a member of "the committee to feed the cast and crew" during opening week at highschool last week we had lots of sandwiches and pizza so I need to balance that out somehow this week (i.e. more fruit and veggies). I also am working from the pantry and freezer this week because gas prices are ridiculously high (and climbing) and I don't want to drive to the grocery store. I need to try to find a balance this week.  Tonight we are having chicken tacos.  This filling will be a great flatbread pizza or quesadilla leftover later in the week.

Chicken Tacos

Dice 2 chicken breasts
season with taco seasoning (or seasoning of your choice)
cook in a fry pan until juices run clear
add 1 cup frozen corn
add 1 can black beans
cook until heated through
serve in taco shells or tortillas with lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, etc.

Weekly Wrap-up

And what a week it has been. Our first week back to school after spring break has flown by. I am glad its Friday. I have been waiting for THIS Friday for several weeks. ShaggyBaggy is featured on LaunchHER today. I have been adding many new items to my etsy shop in preparation for this launch.

On the homefront - in an attempt to eat less processed food I made my own alfredo sauce last night. We had it over pasta and broccoli (NO pic because I am new to blogging!!) But it was good and I will make it again. We have a busy busy weekend as the highschool play opens tonight and runs this weekend and next. We are all involved to some degree - 2 working backstage and the rest of us are covering a few shifts at the concession stand.

What do you have planned for the weekend?

Coming along . . .

I made some progress on my entry wagon. I love this wagon. My entry sat empty for many months after we moved in 8 years ago. I didn't want the traditional entry table - but I wanted a display area I could change up for the seasons, holidays and special events. This bargain has served me well and its just a bonus that it came on wheels for easy cleaning!

A Tote, A Tuesday

I sew totes.
I sell them on etsy
I have a blog
I am on facebook
I am on twitter
Every Tuesday I will show you something new I have created
Let me know what you think

Spring is coming

Spring is slow to come to Minnesota this year. We had a few flurries eary this morning, but it is SUNNY now!

 I have many totes to finish this week, but I also want to bring a bit of spring to my wagon that sits in my entryway. How do you change your decor for the seasons?

April Fools

I just had to share what my 3 teens did to their dad on April 1. A proud, proud day!

By the time they were done the entire interior of his car was covered in post-its!

I love a bargain

I am NOT an extreme couponer. I like to save money. I love a good deal - topped with a coupon - or money back. This is what I did last week.

Walgreens - one thing I have learned - never buy anything here unless it is on sale or with a coupon - both is ideal. Walgreens has a great program called register rewards. Every week they list a few items in the Sunday ad - you buy a certain combo of items for a set price and receive a printed coupon that is good for a specified dollar amount off your next purchase at Walgreens (these expire - so you must keep track!)

This was the deal I got last week:

2 tubes of colgate for $6 and I got $4 in register rewards
I had manufacturers coupons for both tubes - so I spent $1.75 per tube

I also purchased 2 cans of shaving gel for 2 for $4 and got $2 in register rewards
I also had coupons for both cans and ended up paying 1.50 per can

OK deals - the great part is now for this week I have $6 in register rewards to spend. I will check my Sunday paper for more specials that pay back in register rewards. Then I can pay with last week's earned money and spend $0.00 out of pocket. Would love to stay on this roll and see how often I can continue to pick up some great items we use everyday for my minimal investment of $6.50 (I spent an average of $1.62 on each item last week).

If you live in Minnesota check out this site: http://www.pocketyourdollars.com/
This site breaks down all the local deals on a weekly basis - Carrie does all the work - just clip the coupons and SAVE!

Welcome!

OK,  today is the first day of "My simply great life".  This is what I live - a simply great life. I have been married for 22 years and have three teens. I can't believe we will be empty nesters in 2-3 short years. This is part of the reason for this blog - a crossroads in my life is quickly approaching. I have devoted 17 years to being home with my kids. I hope they are ready for college. I hope they go to college. What will I do when they are gone? Find a way to help them pay for college. I am moving forward with my small handmade business and continue to live frugally. Hopefully a combination of these two things will teach my kids to work hard, prioritize whats important and save for a rainy day!