I Am Thankful

 Sunset on Lake Michigan credit

Black Friday Sales

Shop local from the comforts of home this weekend. HandmadeMN is the local Etsy Street Team in Minnesota. Lots of great Holiday sales this weekend!  Shaggy Baggy is 30% off with free shipping.  Enter code: MNsale

Check out the HandmadeMN blog for more great LOCAL Sales!

Holiday Sale

The Holiday Sale has begun.  30% off everything in my ETSY Shop  FREE Shipping too!

A Tote, A Tuesday

Adding a few new items to the shop this week.  My last boutique of the season was my most successful which has me sketching and planning for some new designs in January.

Menu Monday

Thanksgiving dinner is my big menu plan for the week. This recipe is a favorite with my family. A super creamy take on the traditional pumpkin pie! (you don't get a picture, because I have never actually made this pie myself -- thanks mom!)

Double Layer Pumpkin Pie

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 T. milk or half and half
1 T. sugar
1 1/2 cups Cool Whip
One 6 oz. graham cracker pie crust
2 packages (4 serving size) vanilla flavor instant pudding and pie filling
1 can (16 oz.) pumpkin
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. ground cloves

Mix cream cheese, milk and sugar in large bowl until smooth. Gently stir in whipped topping. Spread on crust.
Pour 1 cup milk into bowl. Add pudding mix and whisk until well blended. Stir in pumpkin and spices. Spread over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate at least 3 hours. Garnish with additional whipped topping.

Onto the week . . .

 This soup was so quick to prepare and very good! I will serve with cheese bread one night and mid-week with salad.

Check back next Monday for a few different leftover recipes! Linking up today with The Organizing Junkie This is a great site with lots of recipe sharing!

THE Sale

Thanks to all who came by the sale last night. It continues today.

Sugarsalt is handcrafted jewelry made in Minnesota. Great selection available today. Personalized items can be viewed here.

My kitchen smells like a spa - thanks to Julie from Olfactory Scents. Scrubs, lotions, soaps and lip balm all being restocked today! YUM! and perfect for the upcoming Minnesota winter.

Mary Foster Creative

Set up is in full swing today. The SALE starts tonight.

I am thrilled to have Mary Foster Creative participating this year. Her beautiful photography, cards and crochet are all inspired by her gardens! Thank you Mary!

Cards from photography of Mary's garden

I love that her crochet inspiration comes from her garden as well!



Book marks - the perfect teacher gift!



DIY -- Scrap Valance

I made this valance for the window in my sewing room this week. Lots of scraps, torn, and tied. That's it. Super easy.

Most of these strips are one inch wide.
Lengths range from 9 inches to 29 inches. You could trim them to hang the same length after you attach to the rod, but I did not. I also didn't worry about the wrong side of the fabric showing, or the color scheme. That's what makes this a "scrappy" project!

I ripped instead of cut - for a frayed/stringy look.
I mixed all the different patterns and colors. This would also look cool with all the strips from same fabric or various fabrics and patterns but all in a similar color scheme.
I folded my strips in half and looped over the rod.

Pulled tight and that was it. Over and over until I had enough strips to fit across the window.

Linking up with Sew Woodsy

A Tote, A Tuesday

New buckets are in the shop this week. Fill these with a pound of coffee beans, a bottle of wine, some homemade goodies and chocolates and you have the perfect gift basket or hostess gift! Follow me on Facebook I will be having a giveaway over the Thanksgiving weekend!

Menu Monday

I got a jump on food prep. for the week on Sunday by cooking chicken and wild rice for soup and salad later in the week. Busy week as I get set for my final local holiday boutique. If you are local, email me or check facebook for updates on this fun event!

Here are 3 easy meals to get me through the week.

Wild Rice Chicken Salad
Mexi Night (tacos or enchilladas)
Wild Rice Soup (Made this Sunday and served with this salad and will have leftovers later in the week)

Byerly's Wild Rice Soup

6 Tablespoons butter
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 cup flour
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups cooked wild rice
1 cup half & half
1/2 cup minced ham
1/3 cup finely shredded carrots
3 Tablespoons chopped slivered almonds
2 Tablespoons dry sherry

Melt butter in a large pot and saute onions. Blend in flour, gradually add broth. Cook, stirring constantly to boil. Boil and stir for one more minute. Stir in rice, ham, carrot, almonds, simmer 10 minutes. Blend in half & half and sherry. heat to serving temp.

I am linking up with I AM AN ORGANIZING JUNKIE Check out this site for more great recipes.

Jewelry Storage Solution

Our weekend project is finally complete.  I gathered a few items from around the house that I could use to display earrings.

And the winner is . . . . . .

This has been sitting in the corner of a shelf for years - finally glad to put it to good use!

A Tote, A Tuesday

I am very busy sewing and getting ready for the Holiday Season!

Thursday, November 10 I will be at Dellwood Hills Country Club Ladies Night Out from 6-9.

Saturday, November 12  Rachel's Holiday Boutique from 10-4

Menu Monday

We have a busy week again with sports and theatre. Actually every week has been busy with sports and theatre and will continue until Chrismas break in December. Easy meals that make good leftovers are always on the menu and this week is no different.

Chili (made last night so we'll have leftovers for the week)
Pulled pork sandwhiches
Chicken salad (can be served a couple different ways during the week - sandwiches, salad, pita)
Pasta Night
Southwestern Layer Salad (I will make this salad Monday and it can be eaten with any of the above meals!)

Chicken Salad

2 cooked chicken breasts, diced
diced onion
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup (I use less) Mayo
1 teaspoon mustard
1/2 cup dried cranberries (or other dried fruit)

Layered on a tortilla with spinach and sunflower nuts makes a great sandwich.

DIY -- Jewelry Storage

Linking up for Made by you Monday at Skip to My Lou.

It took more time for me to untangle my necklaces than it took for Steve to install this floating shelf in the corner of our walk-in closet. Here is what we did.

We purchased a floating shelf kit and 8 cup hooks at Mendards.

I figured out where I wanted the hooks while he mounted the bracket on our closet wall.

He pre-drilled and screwed in the cup hooks, attached the shelf to the bracket and we were done. I'd like to find a clever way to store earrings and bracelets on the shelf  - if you have a fun idea - email me at sharon@shaggybaggy.com. In the meantime I am on the search to find something already in this house to use!

Saturday Sale . . . .

November 5, 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Valley Crossing Community School in Woodbury, MN

More info here

Girls Rule!

Love this post from SellabitMum. I have decorated and re-decorated a few girls rooms in the past 18 years. Here are a few things I have learned:

1. Great to know how to sew, but when you add in the time for construction with cost of materials - I usually have better luck finding affordable bedding on the clearance rack at JCPenney, TJMaxx, Marshalls, or online at Overstock.com, or Lands End.  This is especially true if you are only buying for one bed and don't need to have 2 sets that match. Of course, I don't think they do have to match - just fit into the same color scheme - which can often support the idea that you can have your own space and still share a room. If it means a lot to have something handmade - pillows and throw blankets are an affordable option (and a great project to do with your kids). Fleece is a great material here.

2. Use the walls - our kids rooms are small - look up for storage and shelving.  We also have all our girls beds on "lifts" so we can have extra storage under the beds. This simple do it yourself system in my daughters room is her desk with extra shelving!

 All my girls have their own magnectic boards (from IKEA) they can personalize themselves.

3. Simple storage - baskets, bins, buckets, get creative (decorate a shoe box). Multi purpose is ideal - a night stand with shelves and drawers or a bench with storage under the seat. A million affordable ideas out there - here are a few we use throughout our house:

IKEA Kitchen Storage in our bathroom

Shelves from the clearance shelf at Target

4. Don't overdo it. Keep it simple. Chances are they will want to change things in a few years (and you'll want to accommodate) try to keep a few neutrals (either walls, bedding or furniture)  in the room to make this easier. With that said - we have a room with bright orange (previously pink) walls and a room with brown and blue (previously purple) walls.

5. Poster up and get over it. This is Lisa's room and everyone who walks in knows it! Let them personalize the space if that is what they want. You can always set a few ground rules (no nudity or profanity) or guide them in a specific direction (providing paint or fabric swatches, but let them make the final choice).  The idea of how much tape is on this wall bugged me for years. In one year she will be away at college - I am over the tape.

We have had many, many room changes over the years. At one point we had all 3 kids in the lower level of our first home - 3 beds on one side of the room and a table and play area on the other side. Our oldest has had her own room for many years - call it what you will - seniority, the pecking order, unfair - all part of life at our house. The other two have had the option to split but choose to stay together. Don't hesitate to try something new -sometimes just re-arranging furniture can make a smaller room seem larger.

Another use for scraps . . .

I had the opportunity to attend a class this week. The gals from City Chic Country Mouse hosted an event at Design Vertigo. We learned some fun new ways to adorn gifts with tissue paper flowers and buntings (or garlands) made from fabric scraps. I opted to add my creation to our kitchen window this morning. Always nice to add a splash of color with the dreary winter ahead!

Buntings have been all the rage lately - lots of tutorials and handmade versions for sale! Here are some of my favorites from pinterest.

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A Tote, A Tuesday

Many new buckets being added to the shop this week.  Buckets are also sold locally at Darn Knit Anyway in Downtown Stillwater.

Shaggy Baggy is also part of a holiday boutique this Saturday, November 5, 2011. 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Valley Crossing Community School in Woodbury. Get more info here