whatever

Blog

November Craft Weekend Sponsors

December 2, 2015

title

Our Craft Weekend Sponsors are always the best!
They send their creative, beautiful products for our guests to enjoy!
i think you should click into all their shops and do some shopping for special people in your life.
because these peeps are AWESOME!

whimsy FullSizeRender 43 QUICK!! Lori is closing her shop on Friday December 4 for the month!
Go straight to her shop and fill your cart. 🙂
definitely check out her giant pencils for teacher gifts!!
Use the code WHATEVER for 15% off your order (good through january)

shop – blog – instagram

.
red FullSizeRender-92

Red Letter Words is a shop filled with faith inspired art.
she has a fun new collection of quotes from famous literature!
the candles in her shop would be lovely gifts to give or receive.

🙂
Use the code Meg25 for 25% off your order.

shop – instagram

katy FullSizeRender 46 katy’s shop has SUPER cute christmas card designs!
and pretty christmas prints too!
Use the code whatever15 for 15% off your order.

shop – blog – instagram

ike FullSizeRender 44 So many pretty things in Angie’s shop!
She makes gift giving easy.

Use the code MEG25 for 25% off your order.

shop – instagram

.

jen FullSizeRender 45

Jennifer has FUN & pretty jewelry in her shop!
she also has these very fun handmade ornaments!
they are so pretty!

Use the Craft30 for 30% off your order!

shop – Jennifer Dahl Designs

allen FullSizeRender-61 Allen Designs is one my favorite shops!
i love her new journals.
i use the shopper bags practically everyday!
every single thing at Allen Designs would make good gifts for christmas… no doubt.

shop – blog – instagram

ben

oh how i love to craft with Benzie felt!!
and this isn’t even all their colors?!
it is truly DREAMY.
they have everything… even felt pom poms!

Use the code WHATEVER10 for 10% off your order.

shop – instagram

day 20131008_AMillionLittleWays_EmilyPFreeman

Dayspring has great gifts, home decor, holiday goodies and more.
right now they are having a $5 stocking stuffer sale!

shop – Dayspring

cuff FullSizeRender 41 i just love traci’s shop!
these would be beautiful & meaningful on your own wrist and would also make THE BEST gifts!
just looking through her shop i saw lots of choices i was in love with right away!
(that yellow cross!!! swoon!)
Use the code WHATEVER for 10% off your order – expires Dec. 9th

shop – instagram

thank you SO MUCH to our generous, creative, awesome sponsors!!!

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

November Craft Weekend

November 29, 2015

it seems like a long time ago but just two weeks ago we had our last craft weekend of 2015.
it was a wonderful end to the year.
FullSizeRender 27
the names of 15 beautiful women i got to meet!
IMG_7817-2 FullSizeRender 38
FullSizeRender 30
the house was all prepped and ready.
kimberlee had delicious food baking all day on friday. FullSizeRender 29
the fall weather was putting on a show in kansas that week.

we love our wonderful sponsors!
I will share the details on their wonderful products very soon!

kimberlee made a wonderful dinner and i passed out the margaritas as soon as our guests arrived.

we eat together and then as soon as we’re done we dive right into crafting!
because it’s CRAFT weekend!

we always have ladies who sew for their very first time at CW.
it’s pretty special to get to be a par too that.
sewing is one of my favorite ways to create!

i love to see the combinations at every single weekend.
I’ve never seen a duplicate after all these years!
they are each unique and sooooo pretty!
FullSizeRender 36
another yummy meal with Kimberlee before we headed out to antique the day away.

this mug came home with me but the chicken statue did not.
the statue looks huge but it’s actually just a little bigger than an actual chicken.
i thought about it for quite awhile but then decided that in reality my chickens would just climb onto it and poop all over it.
and there is enough poop already.
no need to call more attention to it with a big statue.

and HOW is this beeeeeautiful cabinet still there?!
it is literally giving me PAIN to see it there and not be able to bring to my house.
i love that thing.

hmmm…. this was… interesting?

chris and i found our christmas sweaters!!!
can you even believe i found a rainbow sequined christmas sweater?!

those three ladies met on the internet!!
i love that.

i love those cute scarves!!

i’m not sure what to say about this… ha ha ha!
i guess you really can find anything you might need at The Mill.
Mary works at Bearly Makin’ It – my favorite antique shop.
she is a funny lady and everyone loves to hear her stories.
FullSizeRender 32 FullSizeRender 33
we made super cute felt pillow covers with felt from Benzie Designs.
the pillow tutorial was from A Beautiful Mess. i love their awesome ideas!

saturday night is my favorite of CW because everyone is over their nervousness of getting there… they’ve made new friends and they are in their creative groove. Everyone is so happy to sit and create for hours. THE BEST!!

Julie taught us the cheater way to make hand lettered signs.
BRILLIANT!
FullSizeRender 37

SO MANY GREAT LADIES in one spot!!
it’s always too short.
we get to know each other and just like that we have to say goodbye.
🙁
faces
thanks girls for coming to The Craft House!
thanks for all the fun times and for being awesome women!
we love our job and that you make it possible.

julie and jessica – THANK YOU for all the hard work it was to get to CW and during!
dishes and food prep and craft prep and more dishes!
you girls are rockstars!

Craft Weekend 2015 complete!
it was a great year!

show hide 8 comments

add a comment

Lacy - Hey Meg! Are you doing any Craft Weekends anymore? Just curious as I’ve loved following along. Seems like a really cool business you spun up to teach women things you love.

stephanie #duh Ackerman - Um..I LOVE that Oggie and Dennis have a website!

meg duerksen - i got it at Limited last year. 🙂

genie - It’s always so much fun to read about each group and all you do.
Thank you for sharing the girlfriend good times.

emily - what a wonderful, amazing weekend indeed! thank you!!!

Jen - Meg-would you be willing to share where you got your adorable polka dot sweater? I have seen several ladies wearing it on the internet and I cannot seem to track it down!

Looks like a lovely time-as always!

Kimberlee Jost - What a great group of women!

sharon / tpt - someday …
2016 – luck be a lady!

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

a fall walk

November 9, 2015

kansas has such a beautiful fall season with the best temperatures.
but we know how soon it will change from the colorful leaves to everything dead and brown.
so we got outside this past weekend and we brought the dogs.

you’d have thought those dogs had NEVER been outside before?!
they were so happy!

of all the leaves, my favorite trees are always the red ones.

show hide 12 comments

add a comment

Andrea - GORGEOUS!!!!

Amy - Gorgeous colors!! Thanks for sharing!

Mindy - Stunning photos of the fall leaves and such cute kids and dogs : )

Kendra - Such gorgeous photos!!

library momma - What camera did you shoot with? Nice!

Lynne - Hi,

Your dogs got a very special treat this weekend. Is one of your dogs a labordoodle? We have a labordoodle and Sadie would be so happy to have gotten that great walk you had. I was also happy to see you with your children as well!!!!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - ohhhh mother nature! you win, again!!

Julie - Such stunnig leaf colours, especially against that blue sky!!

Jennifer - I love your photos and was wondering what camera you use?

Becky Fouts - your photos are stunning!! I can’t quit looking at them, thank you!

Carrie - So pretty! I always love all your posts, but I especially love photo-heavy ones!

Stephanie - What a beautiful post! I miss fall….

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

cookbooks for #cookallthethings

November 6, 2015

TWO food posts in one week?!
who am i?
i had better get some crafts going over here so i don’t confuse myself!

I’ve been cooking… and thinking about food… and wishing for new cookbooks to inspire me even more to keep this streak going!
i am pretty sure an evening at Barnes & Noble is in my future to check these out in person.
what if i even got to go on a date???
i know… don’t get crazy Meg.

dinnertime1
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime
i mean… how beautiful is that cover?!
she’s amazing.
and all her dishes on the counter and in the background… all strategically placed… she’s an empire.
total rockstar.
remember her waaaay back in the beginning of blogs?
and now this.
dude… what she’s done is amazing.

7120022819_bbeac91ac1
The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook
i have only heard wonderful things about this girl.
so i am guessing this cookbook could be great… or maybe too hard foe me? i don’t know!
it feels fancy for sure.

DinnerPlaybook-COVER-714x1024
Dinner: The Playbook: A 30-Day Plan for Mastering the Art of the Family Meal
ummm…. HOW DID SHE KNOW i needed a plan?!
this looks like it could save my dinner time issues.
and i have seen her previous book called Dinner: A Love Story: It all begins at the family table and love it.

DinnerLoveStory_finalfinal
i mean what a GREAT title right?
it’s true.
i want my family to know i love them and care.

k2-_ef8f0038-1c16-4581-9d7b-e22b4635ca53.v1.jpg-b910fcc442d7612759f8782e6f05dc118974fd63-optim-450x450
i am pretty sure that One-Dish Wonders is the kind of cookbook i would USE.
like not just look through and comment on how pretty it all is.
this looks like real meals for a large family with a narrow view of “good food”.
casseroles forever!

51j0jISrgiL-1._SX398_BO1,204,203,200_
Juli Bauer’s Paleo Cookbook

and then to swing ALLLLLL the way to the opposite of casseroles… Paleo.
i like her blog for paleo recipes so why wouldn’t i love her cookbook to have on my shelf?
these recipes i would assume would be mostly for the grown ups but maybe i could find some meals for everyone?

danielle-walkers-against-all-grain-meals-made-9781628600421_hr
Against All Grain: Meals Made Simple
i am so curious about this.
the no grain eating… could i do it?
what about cake? or cinnamon rolls?
i guess it’s a moderation thing just like it would be no matter if you ate no grains or not.
i know that many people have allergies and that is why a lot of people eat grain free… but not every one.
so that is what i am curious about.
i bet her recipes are yummy and would make it less painful to transition to.

100DaysOfRealFoof_book_cover_NYT_best_seller_number_1_521x590
100 Days of Real Food: How We Did It, What We Learned, and 100 Easy, Wholesome Recipes Your Family Will Love
i wonder about this one?
this is what i wish i could say about my family’s eating.
“we eat real food. everyday.”
hashtag food goalzzzz.

2014-09-27-Soup-a-Day-1
Soup of the Day sounds like one i would enjoy.
i reeeally like soup.
but doesn’t everyone? or are there people out there that can’t handle the texture of soup?
you know… there are people who hate smoothies because they are thick and cold… i bet there are people that feel similar things about soup.
i am NOT one of those people.
i have a memory of my parents getting together with their good friends on a saturday night and a few of them brought soup. the others brought bread or salad. and everyone brought wine. 🙂

coverimage1
Food52 Baking
annie has really become a baking enthusiast and i want to encourage that every chance i get.
this book would probably make her very happy.

🙂

gallery-1429042548-sega-cookie-love
Cookie Love: More Than 60 Recipes for Turning the Ordinary into the Extraordinary

whatever that cookie is… I WANT IT!!!
this is probably going in the cart for someone for christmas.
not me… but someone who may make those cookies for me.

05b6e4e2cac055bdd8c941cacfa97594
Hand Made Baking: Recipes to Warm the Heart
annie can’t get enough chocolate.
ever.
this book would win at our house.

so how was that for the most random list of cookbooks i am thinking about today?!
but that is how my brain works.
i want healthy real food.
i want cake.
i want an easy meal.
i want gourmet.
i want to be Ree Drummond.
i want Annie to do all the work.

of all the cookbooks we have… my favorite is probably the first PW cookbook The Pioneer Woman Cooks
thepioneerwomancooks5001
what is your most favorite cookbook you own?
i need to know.
thanks in advance.

show hide 29 comments

add a comment

Andrea - Seriously the book I cook the MOST from regularly is Bread & Wine by Shauna Niquist! Weird, I know, because it’s only kind of a cook book!! BUT…most of it’s yummy AND easy! We have the “Sweet Potato fries with Sriracha sauce” probably weekly!! P.S. And I LOVE the turkey burgers! (but DO NOT MAKE THEM INTO MEATBALLS…epic fail!!!!)

Lillian - The original PW cookbook and Whitney Ingram’s The Family Flavor are the only two cookbooks I actually use. I have a whole shelf of them that has been slowly whittled down, but they’ve mostly become pipe dreams of Hingis I wish I’d actually make and my family would actually eat! Everything is online;)

Crissy - These are great! I have the Against All Grain cookbook and I like the recipes. If you don’t have a pantry stocked w/ a lot of the ingredients, it can feel like an investment. But, not having the same bloated feeling after a meal (like when we eat gluten) is nice. We aren’t gluten free… we’re w/ you on the moderation.

I love the Real Simple cookbook called Easy, Delicious Meals and Gwyneth Paltrow’s It’s All Good cookbook. I have a young kid so the Weelicious books are fun too. 🙂

Myra - I really like Danielle Walkers Meal Made Simple because of the ease of use. She has organized shopping lists ready for every week. I would just take that list and go to the store with out planning any meals out for the week. Whatever I couldn’t find at my store I would order from Amazon. It’s so simple!

Laura in Sacto - Pioneer Woman, A Year of Holidays. LOVE IT!

Marcia at Organising Queen - My favourite cookbook is Pinterest 🙂

Sandra K, - Hi Meg, My absolute favorite is Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa on Food Network. I love all her cookbooks but Barefoot Contessa ‘Family Style’ is my top pick. I also have learned so much from watching her show over the years.

I’ll also second the vote for the Our Best Bites blog and cookbooks. They are two moms who share fabulous recipes your family will eat. They’re delightful.

Thanks for the fun food posts – love your blog. 😊

Kerrin - I love the Looney Spoons Collection by Janet and Greta Podleski It is actually three cookbooks in one. So many yummy recipes from soup to pasta to roasts to desserts. All of them are easy and most are quick.

KWolff - My favorite cookbook is one that my mother in law put together for me the first year I was part of the family. She did one for each of her three kids & their spouses. I pull that thing out on a regular basis for reminders on how to make old favorites. My second favorite is my Gooseberry Patch holiday book. I love to read the stories in there and many of the recipes are ones that I use each Christmas.

Jessica Strait - Oh you’ve gotta know about Seriously Delish: for People who totally love food.
From Jessica Merchant. She’s amazing/awesome

link love: http://www.amazon.com/Seriously-Delish-Recipes-People-Totally/dp/0544176499

and her blog (always fun and totally honest) http://www.howsweeteats.com

her blog and your blog are my two go websites!

Kimberlee Jost - I love this post. Like really LOVE.

Deb Meyers - Jim Lahey’s pizza crust from “Dinner: A Love Story” has become the bridge I crossed to meet and love on my kid’s college friends. IT IS FAIL PROOF.

(And I would tell you to make Jenny’s Arugula/Ricotta pizza NOW, only I’m afraid you will post it on your blog and then all the world will realize I am not a culinary genius but only a truly enthusiastic copycat 🙂

Lee Ann - Is it sad that I rarely buy cookbooks anymore? I just use the world wide web 🙂 BUT….I do miss flipping through the pages. Maybe for Christmas I’ll have to get a new one. Who doesn’t love the Pioneer Woman? And “100 days of real food”? Good stuff. Against all grain – Makes me feel so good (I have Celiac so I can eat everything!).

And….I pulled up your blog because December is coming. I’ve really been laying off the sugar, but I’m so ready to have your mint brownies (gluten-free style). They will probably taste sooo sweet after not much sugar. Anyway – You have to re-read that post. So sweet. Annie said, “what dat mell?” 🙂

Traci - You have highlighted all of my favorite cookbooks above, plus some that I want to check out! Smitten Kitchen is not too fancy, and I mean that in the best possible way. Hers is probably my favorite. You should start with her website, there are new recipes there all the time. Happy cooking! :]

Jill - Well…. I have to say that I LOVE my copy of the Betty Crocker Cookbook…. you know… the old one with the red and white checked cover. It’s my grandma’s copy and there are notes in her handwriting next to the recipes I remember eating when growing up. But, I do love The Pioneer Woman too. Question…. I am wondering if you cook with gas…. waffling on what kind of stove to get. If you do…. is it stainless under the burner grates? If so… is it hard to clean? HELP!!!

Jackie O M - Forty some years and hundreds on cookbooks on my shelves? Just can’t pick one! Depends on the subject? Southern? John Martin Taylor’s Low Country Cooking. Chinese ~ Ruth Law’s Dim Sum ~ totally falling apart. Mexican? Diane Kennedy The Tortilla Book. Vegetables? Marian Morash The Victory Garden Cookbook. Life Changers at the Sidewalk House? Martha Stewart Entertaining and The Silver Palate Cookbook. On and on. Sarah Foster, Joanne Weir, Ina Garten, and Jacques Pepin’s Fast Cooking my Way are currently day to day resources. I am an addict. A user ~ of cookbooks!

Emily - I have the Meals Made Simple book because my husband and I did a grain free nutrition challenge with some others at our gym. Everything we have made from it is delicious!! And really they are simple. Our favorite is the creamy dill salmon. My husband is not a fish eater but asks for this once a week!

Lori - I love The Smitten Kitchen cookbook!

Jenn - I have three PW cookbooks, they are definitely favs of mine. However, I also love The Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten). Her recipes are so delicious and generally pretty easy.

Lisa - I love Ree too, and Giada de Laurentis, all her recipes are amazing. I also love Smitten Kitchen, all of her recipes from her book that I have tried have been fantastic too, you should follow her Instagram, she posts yummy recipes everyday.

Stephanie - I love my PW cookbooks–I have three. She just seems so real. Rich, but real. Lol.
My favorite cookbook of all time is Nourishing Traditions. It’s all about traditional food.

Kimberly - The smitten kitchen chocolate pudding pie is my go-to. Delish! Bet Annie could make it no problem! 😉 I don’t make the crust though– I do the Pillsbury crust.

Janna - You need “oh My Goodness Cookbook” by Ellen Halberg on amazon. It MIGHT only be available thru today as they plan to put them in bazaars and local stores here in WA state starting tonight; )

Janel - A Forest Feast is an awesome, real food, simple ingridients cookbook. Erin’s blog is wonderful! One of my go to cookbooks.

I also love William Sonoma cookbooks. I have one from 5-6 yrs ago that gets used all fall/winter long…they have great recipes in general.

I definitely love all the paleo cookbooks…you can’t go wrong there at all..

Virginia - The America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Kitchen-Cookbook-Heavy-Duty-Revised/dp/193361501X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1446855925&sr=8-2&keywords=america%27s+test+kitchen+cookbook+family

Jill Hinson - Anything by Ina Garten, she seems fancy but I like that most of her recipes are less than 10 ingredients.

xo~jill

Lindsey Barlow - Have you ever heard of “our best bites?” They have a blog, it their cookbooks are great, I use their recipes a lot around our house.

Christie - LOVE LOVE LOVE 100 days of real food cookbook – it won’t disappoint and so much easy to read and understand information about our food at the beginning of the book.

Michele - I love Pioneer Woman and have them all, I’m like you the first one is my favorite although the latest is very good I just haven’t got to look through all of it. I make her Cinnamon rolls with my daughter at Christmas for our neighbors and now after 3 years they look forward to them and are tickled when we show up with them.

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

i’ve been cooking!

November 4, 2015

in the last two weeks… i have been cooking!
i don’t know where it’s coming from???
i just keep doing it.
it’s so unlike me!
and i think my family is enjoying it.
if they aren’t liking what i made it’s because i knew they wouldn’t eat it anyway… more for me!
IMG_1187edit
Lasagna Soup
this was SO GOOD!
i used ground beef instead of sausage so it wouldn’t be as spicy and so it would taste more like the actual lasagna i make.
and i used regular tomatoes not fire roasted.
my kids still said it was spicy!
so maybe no pepper next time? it was good enough that it’s worth trying again to see.

12115724_1651163441802965_6518393382908720770_n
Mozzarella Stuffed Slow Cooker Meatballs
(it’s short FB video)
this was a huge hit at our house!
And i didn’t make in the slow cooker because i didn’t plan ahead.
i followed all the instructions and then put it in a 9×13 and cooked it for 35 minutes in the oven!
totally delicious!

Thai-Curry-Butternut-Squash-Soup-5
Thai Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup

this was for me.
and i loved it!
i will be able to eat it all week.
🙂

FullSizeRender-222-1000x750(pp_w775_h581)
Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili

this is so easy.
and craig loves it as much as i do.
the others… meh.
they aren’t big fans.
those weirdos pick out the sweet potatoes????
again… more for me & craig!
“go make a pb&j kids!”

12138356_1652971144955528_3972068803574087346_o
Sausage & Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash
i have made this TWICE in two weeks!
i love the little video… it’s quick and easy to follow.
i kinda wish all recipes were in short little 1 minute clips.
seriously…. i would maybe cook a lot more often!
i have the ingredients to make this AGAIN today.
because if i make it… i have 5-6 meals for me completely done!

6a00d8341c469c53ef010536bedb95970c-640wi
Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup

this is my favorite soup!
i make it probably every two weeks from sept – april.
my kids usually eat it that night but don’t want it again for left overs.
YAY!
more leftovers for me!

12039094_1664150287170947_8228874176178734449_o
Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

this is on the menu for this week.
i got all the ingredients and i’m all ready to give it a shot.
have you ever used ground chicken???
i am feeling nervous.
but I’m guessing it will be a winner.
now go forth and cook dinner with ease!
i have given you lots of ideas.
🙂

.
what about you? are you cooking more or less than you used to?
anything you think i should try?
i’d love to hear your ideas.

show hide 15 comments

add a comment

Mindy - Lasagna soup and butternut squash soup – yes please!

kristin - The chicken parm meatballs were perfection. I made them a bit easier… just used Ital seasoning and dried onion/garlic, s/p for seasoning. Seriously so good – like little chicken hushpuppies. Yum.

Lynn - Have you made the chicken parm meatballs yet? Ground chicken is so great – we like it much more than ground turkey. Here’s a link to a delicious chicken parm meatloaf I just discovered. We liked it better than the real deal 🙂
http://www.prouditaliancook.com/2012/10/chicken-parmesan-meatloaf.html
BTW, I so enjoy reading and seeing what you’re up to. Glad you shared your cooking binge – I’m on one too. Bet it’s the change in season!

Emily T - I love this post Meg! Well, I love all your posts 🙂
I go in cooking spurts too! I find that cooking can be just as satisfying a creative outlet as crafting, decorating, etc. When I plan ahead and try new recipes fairly often my cooking mojo stays fresh. I recently did a Whole30 and it changed my idea of good food! If you like paleo and are interested in Against All Grain cookbook, look in to doing a Whole30…the food is so satisfying. Some of my favorites are homemade paleo ranch (my kids love this for dipping) and mayo (there are tons of recipes out there), NomNom Paleo’s sweet potato hash browns (you will LOVE these if you love sweet potes). I make a huge batch and freeze individual servings in baggies to pop out and defrost as needed. Have you tried Adielle’s Chicken Apple Sausage? You can get a giant pack at Costco. Grill them on your BBQ, add grilled fajita veggies, sweet potato hash browns, avocado, and possibly an egg and you have a protien-packed meal that keeps you satisfied for hours and feeling great. Cilantro Lime cauliflower “rice” is also really good and makes you think you’re eating rice! I recently got an electric pressure cooker and it’s taking everything to a new level! It’s like having food that’s been in the slow cooker all day but it’s ready in like 45 minutes!!! I could go on and on but I’ll stop! Email me if you want more info on what I liked from my first Whole30. I know you’ve done the 21 day sugar fix…if you can do that you can TOTALLY do the W30.

Stephanie - These look truly delicious. I bought two acorn squash because I saw that recipe on Pinterest! I hope it’s good. Love acorn squash.
I cook just about everyday of the month, every meal. I always have and make probably 70% from scratch. It’s how I was raised and I literally have no idea how to do it any other way. My downfalls are not in cooking, but in many other ways in my life. Lol! I wish I were as crafty as you are! I would be my kids’ favorite person!

Stacey - Those meatballs look awesome! What temp did you cook them at?

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - your pictures are doing Nothing for my pre-Holidays diet! Ha! A couple seem calories harmless though…that is if I go the one-serving route!!

Catherine - How do you end up with leftovers?? I have teenagers and never have leftovers! Sometimes I double what I think will be enough to have leftovers, but the more I make the more they eat!

arigsbee - We love Pioneer Woman’s Rootbeer BBQ recipe but we’ve adjusted it and use a crockpot. there usually aren’t any leftovers 🙂
I think the tai soup and chili would be big hits here. Isn’t soup season wonderful?

Heather - For a quick dinner on nights we have practices, meetings, etc, as love Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad and BBQ chicken french bread pizza! I made a pot of slow cooker potato soup last week and it was delicious! And rotisserie chicken from the local deli are life savers!! I am going to try the lasagna soup and the meatballs soon!

Ruth B. - Thanks Meg! I honestly love it when you share recipes, we have 4 children, tiny to mid-teens, sooo I trust your judgement. Plus that butternut squash Thai, and also sweet potato chile both sound like they were written for me! XOXO

Heather S. - I generally cook about three nights a week. Then there are a couple nights of leftovers, one night out usually, and the cereal night we inevitably have when everyone is “Sort of” hungry, but not really, and well, a bowl of cereal will always work!
I am all about the soups this time of year, and the more I can use my crockpot and have dinner compiled by 10:00 am the better!

Maggie - I made the sausage and apple stuffed acorn squash last week too. It was delicious!

Erin - I always use ground chicken as I don’t eat beef 🙂 Skinnytaste has a recipe for chicken cordon blue meatballs that are delicious! All your recipes look wonderful.

Kathie - We use lots of ground Chicken and Turkey…they are lots softer and easier. My husband has issues with his esophagus and chokes on things so these two meats offer him a fix for still getting to enjoy meals he really loves. I love ground turkey more than chicken but both are great. I would suggest making sure you have them thawed out before you use them and don’t try de-thawing them in the microwave at all. They get too mushy that way. Also, if you get just ground chicken vs ground chicken breast, same with turkey, they are different in the way they hold shape. Overall though it is also a great way to avoid the fat that ground beef has.

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

October Craft Weekend Sponsors

November 1, 2015

title each Craft Weekend we have super rad sponsors who send us beautiful product to give to our guests.
it is SO MUCH FUN to give it and to receive it as well!
I am so grateful to all of our sponsors.
they are each so generous!
i LOVE supporting all these shops powered by inspiring, creative business women!

–

this was what each of our guests received from our sponsors.
it’s like christmas morning… except with all GREAT stuff that only girls like!
.

FullSizeRender 8 Little Branches

Use the code CRAFTYLADY for $5 a $20+ purchase!

shop // instagram

–

TTT FullSizeRender 11 The Turquoise Tomato

Use the code WHATEVERCRAFTWEEKEND for 15% off your order!

shop /// instagram

–

RRR FullSizeRender 3 Raising Up Rubies

Use the code WHATEVERCRAFTWEEKEND for 15% off your order (thru 11-8)

shop // blog // instagram

–

FullSizeRender 7 GraceLaced

Use the code GRACELACED15 for 15% your order (good thru 11-15)

shop // blog // instagram

–

RLW FullSizeRender 9 Red Letter Words

Use the code CW30 for 30% off entire purchase!

shop // instagram

–
Dayspring

right now Dayspring is having a Clearance Sale and the Christmas sale is coming soon!

i love this book so much! If you haven’t read it yet… what are you waiting for?! 🙂

–

Jenn FullSizeRender 10
Jenntage

Use the code WHATEVER for 20% off your order!

shop // instagram

–

KGD FullSizeRender 4 KatyGirl Designs

Use code whatever15 for 15% off your order!

shop // instagram

–

ADS FullSizeRender 6 Allen Designs Studio

Use code whatever15 for 15% off your order (thru 11-15)

shop // blog // instagram

TLW FullSizeRender 5
The Lovely Words

Use the code CRAFTY25 to save 25% your order (thru 11-14)

shop // instagram

–

Now go visit all these shops and even get some christmas shopping done!

🙂

THANK YOU SPONSORS!!!

show hide 1 comment

add a comment

jill - Hi, Is the Holley Gerth book aimed at women or would it make a good gift for a man as well? Thanks!

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

october’s craft weekend

October 30, 2015

we had not had a Craft Weekend since May!
it was fun to get back in to the groove and bring new friends into the house to get crafty.
🙂
we felt a little rusty on the thursday preparing but we quickly remembered what we do.

these ladies were so friendly and happy to be together!
faces2
the kitchen at the Craft House is so bright.
i love that and it’s what i miss the most about living there… THE LIGHT!

Processed with VSCOcam with hb1 preset
these oklahoma girls were taking a selfie when they got to the Craft House and i photo bombed them 🙂

we made our ruffle aprons on friday night like we always do.
these girls were great learners and great with color!
i think that Craft Weekend makes sewing less scary to learn.
i love to teach newbies how to work their machines and beat the ruffles!
🙂

Katie was the first one done on friday night!

we shopped for antiques and junk all afternoon on saturday… my favorite thing to do if i’m not crafting.
bmi
i wanted this big white cabinet REALLY bad.
but i have no place for it right now so it had to stay.
#sadface
FullSizeRender 15

Katy and Kim came from California to be our CW helpers!
we loved having them at the Craft House.
they helped serve our guests so well!

all the pretty aprons in the morning light!
aprons
our saturday night craft projects were:
– stamped metal cuff bracelets
– painted wood block hearts
– fabric wrapped embroidery hoop “frame”
– scrappy bunting

these girls rocked every single project!
20151017_205522

the rainbow stairs!!!
it makes me so happy that they make everyone else happy!

we were dying laughing at our Jimmy & Justin version of Kim’s Inception headshot.
ha ha haaaa

this was Kim’s view! HA!!!

Kimberlee fed us the Bundt of Sin, cinnamon rolls and Carmel Bread Pudding all in 48 hours!!
it’s heaven getting to eat at Craft Weekend!

Lesley & Lisa hanging out on the porch.
FullSizeRender 10
putting your name on the map is a must!
(becky i am sorry i forgot to make more pins on saturday night! i promise to add you on there!)
FullSizeRender 3

Processed with VSCOcam with hb2 preset

i love the relaxed smiles from everyone as they head out for their homes on sunday morning.
everyone is refreshed and happy!

aren’t we so funny?
ha!

thanks for a WONDERFUL weekend everyone!
we loved having you!
FullSizeRender 2

show hide 9 comments

add a comment

Stephanie L. Robertson - I totally want to make those bunting/banners!

Lisa B - Looks like you have ZERO flags in Oregon>>>> I need to change that!!

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - OH my goodness! What a fun group! Katy and Kim?! Yes.

Sandra - Enjoyed this post so much…my daughter-in-law and 2 close friends were at this retreat and had a wonderful time. Love their aprons! 🙂

talia - Adorable! Everyone always looks like they are having the most amazing time.

Lisa - These craft weekend posts are always so fun to read!

andrea - Wah! It already seems like a 100 years ago! Such a wonderful thing!! I look at my treasures made, purchased and gifted and smile! So glad I got to do this! Blessings to you and Kimberlee (the bomb-diggity cook) as life keeps rolling on! Xoxo

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - i mean. i can’t even, –the things Kimberlee makes! invite me and i will do all the dishes and floor scubbing .. a ‘will work for food’ kinda girl! *** all the t-shirts i’m seeing, slay me! *** and last but not least ‘words mean things’ ??!!! coined phrase around my house! heart crushin on it hard!!

sooo fun to read these craft house posts.

Cornelia - Love your blog! Where did you find all those cowboy boots?

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

« Newer Posts
1
…
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
…
298
Older Posts

search

Search for:
Instagram
Categories

Categories
Archives
Archives

search

Instagram

Categories

Archives