While Wearing Heels Etsy Update

The While Wearing Heels Etsy shop, admittedly, had been ignored the past few months.  The virtual shelves grew dusty and were sadly empty. 

The woodaholic (Mr. While Wearing Heels) decided to do something about it.  To the shed he escaped where he raided our seemingly endless supply of barn wood.

Barn wood trees began sprouting up...

some covered with a dusting of snow.

Barn wood frames were made...

 

and I was left to paper piece a Union Jack flag to fill it.

Architectural pieces...

 and propellers were mounted for display.

The While Wearing Heels Etsy shop no longer looks like it has been abandoned.  The shelves are stocked and dusted. 

Now the only thing that needs dusting, is the car. 

No telling what the woodaholic will be up to next.

Pinterest Pays Off

Do you ever resort to stealthily searching friend's or family's pinterest's boards for gift ideas?  Or maybe just out of curiosity?  I do!  And, my mom, to my advantage, apparently does as well.

It's paid off to have a pinterest board titled Quilts and Crafts for Mom because on her last visit, she arrived with a homemade gift for Grace...

a beautifully crocheted hat.

Made using the softest of yarn.

Thanks Mom, pinterest and Crocheting and Knitting the Day Away for turning this pinned hat into a reality.

If anyone wants to stealthily look through my pinterest boards, for gift ideas or out of curiosity, I encourage you :)

*Crochet hat pattern can be found at Crocheting and Knitting the Day Away.

Belly Warming Beef Soup Recipe

Fall is in the air.  The days are getting colder.  Comfort food that warms the belly is the perfect ending to any brisk fall day.

Soup is one of my mom's specialties.  My mom, the queen of quilts, is an avid crafter.  Growing up, dinner would be ready when whatever craft she was working on was done.  Sometimes that meant we ate a burnt lasagna.  Soup, though, was something that could be left unattended, and regardless of when she completed her project of the day, was still delicious.

This belly warming beef soup is one of my mom's specialties, always cooked with love and never burnt.

Ingredients:
1 box of beef stock and 2 cubes of beef bouillon
2 large onions - diced
1 bag of shredded carrots
1 stalk of celery - diced
3 red potatoes - diced
1/2 a bag of shredded cole slaw
1 stick of butter
1 cup of flour
salt and pepper, garlic powder and thyme to taste
1 1/2 lbs of beef - chopped or diced (stew beef, chuck, round or sirloin)
1 cup of crushed tomatoes

Yields approximately 2 quarts.

Directions:

Melt butter into a soup pot.  Add beef and onions to the pot.  Cook until the beef is cooked through and the onions get tender.  Add in the bag of shredded carrots, 1/2 a bag of shredded cole slaw, the diced potatoes and diced celery.  Stir well and cook for an additional 10 minutes.  Add a cup of flour, stir well.  Add 2 beef bouillon cubes, stir well.  Add a box of beef broth, stir well.  Add a cup of crushed tomatoes, stir really well.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add a dash of thyme and garlic powder.  Simmer for at least an hour.

I like to make this soup a day in advance.  The flavors of this belly warming soup grow more pronounced the longer it sits.  I will simmer for at least an hour and then refrigerate over night.  The next day, I will let it simmer for at least an hour or two before serving it for a delicious dinner.

Serve with warm rolls and enjoy.

Bon appetit. 

Guest Posting at Our Pinteresting Family

Today, I have the pleasure of guest posting at Our Pinteresting Family. 

Why?  Well, because the amazing blogger behind Our Pinteresting Family, Megan, just had twin boys.  Her family of 3 is now a family of 5.

They've arrived.

While Megan is busy holding babies and watching her adorable daughter, Wynn, take on the role of big sister, I happily agreed to share a guest post...though, I'd rather be cuddling one of those precious babies.

So, in honor of big sister Wynn, I created some Monsters, Inc finger puppets.

And, if you have a Monsters, Inc. fan in your family, make sure to check out Megan's Monsters, Inc. party that she is planning.

Goodwill Hunting Roundup

It's that time of month where I show off my most recent thrifted finds.

So, without further ado...

While looking through the children's clothes, I saw someone pick up this heart embellished long sleeve tee.  I held my breath, hoping they would decide against it.  And, when they did, indeed decide against it, I swooped in.  This Mini Boden tee shirt was only $2.99.

Though a bit big, this sweet Gap Kids dress was only $2.99.  My motto, when you find a good deal buy it.  I will buy up to 2-3 sizes bigger than Grace's current size, if I think it's a style that isn't too trendy risking going out of style before she is able to fit into it.

Next up, a raincoat, lined with fleece.  Cute strawberry embellishments can be found on the lining of the coat, the lapel and are the pockets.  For $3.99, we can splish and splash in puddles on they way to and from school all through fall and spring.

Have you heard of Buddha Boards?  They are really cool.  You just draw on the surface with water. The water evaporates, within a few minutes (about 5-10 depending on how much water you use), leaving you with a clean slate, ready to create all over again.  The concept is to encourage you to create without worrying about it being perfect since it isn't permanent.

I found a large Buddha Board Laptop for $2.99 with the original bamboo brush included.  These surprisingly retail for between $30-$40.  I'm not sure who is enjoying this more, me or Grace.

Recently, my Goodwill has added a 4 items for $1 section.  This section is typically stocked with the dollar items you find at Target.  These are fun and frugal finds for stocking stuffers or to add to a basket for a teacher's gift.

And, speaking of baskets..,

I love looking through the baskets at Goodwill.  They typically range from .99 cents to $3.99.  This particular trip, I bought 2 for $3 total.  I filled one with gourds and gave it to a a mom that had invited Grace and I over for a play date. 

The brown basket, I filled and gave to Grace's teacher just before Halloween.

My favorite basket find from last year, my get cozy basket...

Today, we got our first snow...tis the season for getting cozy.

Thank goodness for frugal thrift store finds.

Celebration Flag Tutorial

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of guest posting at Sew a Fine Seam, where I shared a quick and easy sewing project perfect for any party, wedding or celebration.

Celebration flags!

To make some of your own celebration flags, you'll need to gather the following supplies:

Begin by folding your fabric in half.  The fold will act as the back of your pennant.

Using your pinking shears or cutter, cut out a pennant (or a skinny triangle) shape.  The point of your triangle should be on the opposite side of the fold.   

Open up the doubled over pennant shape you cut.  Center the dowel rod in the middle of the pennant.  Fold the pennant over, lining it back up.  With your nail, press down on the inside edge of the dowel rod to create a crease.  This will help guide you when sewing the pennant.

Head to your sewing machine.

Sew starting from the folded over edge at the top of the pennant, down to the tip.  Turn your pennant, at the tip, and continue sewing the bottom of the pennant stopping at the crease mark you made.  Turn and continue sewing following the line of the crease mark back up to the top of the pennant, creating a pocket for the dowel rod.

Insert dowel rod into the pocket you created.

 Optional:  add a ribbon bow.

What is not optional, waving.

These festive flags can be used instead of rice or bubbles for a wedding procession.

Or simply as fun party props.

These make me feel like celebrating.  I just folded laundry...seems like a good enough reason for me to celebrate!

Watercolor Leaves

One of the most memorizing aspects of fall are the beautiful colors nature creates.  It's amazing to see how once alive, green leaves, in autumn, will change to the most spectacular colors as they die and fall to the ground.  

Those beautiful fall leaves are what inspired a DIY version in watercolor form.  You could even say, they are a nature knockoff. 

To make some of your own watercolor leaves, start by cutting leaves out of cardstock.  Our leaves were cut out of white, yellow and pink cardstock, yellow being my favorite.

For each leaf, you'll want to start by painting it with water...yes water.  Paint the entire leaf with a coat of water.

Then, slowly begin to add some watercolor paint to your wet leaf.  

As the wet watercolor hits the wet leaf, the paint will spread and swirl and take on a life of its own.  Continue adding color until you achieve the look you want.  If you find your leaf is too wet, simply dab it with a paper towel.  

 Set your finished painted leaves to the side and allow time for them to dry. 

These nature inspired watercolor leaves look great simply as they are...

Or, like we are doing, you could use them to display the things you are grateful for. 

Play dates, family and bedtime stories...those are a few of the things are are thankful for.