A Pledge and Some Sunshine

A pledge:

I promise not to purchase any more paper or fabric until I use what I have, which is plenty.  Plenty.  I need to become inspired and productive with what I have.*

*exceptions: blank note cards, envelopes, plain backing fabric such as terry cloth, or anything to do with a large custom order


Some sunshine:

On our latest trek to Lowe's, it was pouring.  And then it wasn't.  And then this happened:

Totally awesome!  It was probably the largest, clearest, brightest rainbow we've ever seen (so we agreed), and Gus got to see it, which made it even better.

And did you enter the giveaway yet??  An awesome print is just waiting for you!

Happy Friday!

Pinterest: I Tried It (Car Garbage)

 

Welcome Pinners and friends!  If you've tried something from one of your pinboards this week and blogged about it, you can link up your post at the bottom of this one.  I really love to see what you come up with and how you interpret your pins.

Ok, so you probably saw the title of this one and was like, "What??" but I can explain.  I thought I'd take a break from doing sewing things since I have been on that track for weeks and thought you might like to see something else.  I wasn't quite in the mood or prepared to do any new cooking, so I hit up my generic Things To Try board, which houses all the stuff I think is a great idea but don't have a specific board for it.  Case in point:

Car garbage

The description said, "Cereal dispenser trash can. Such a good idea."  And it is!  Let me explain further: my husband's job has him in the car a lot.  Said job also required collecting business cards, sticky name tags, and, apparently, colds from people he meets and places he goes, so he often has things like Kleenex to throw away, and because he is a man and therefore handbag-less, he has no place to stash such things.  Now, he could just put a trash bag on the floor in the car, but that's just as sloppy looking, and hanging one over the seat is a good idea, except it's always behind you.  Not good.  This one (from Better Homes and Gardens, how can you go wrong?) suggests using one of those plastic cereal keepers lined with a small bag to use to hold garbage, and they put it on the floor under the passenger-side dash.  We had one of those cereal holders in our pantry closet doing nothing, so I thought it was about time to put it to use, since I pinned the idea months ago.

It works great! We've had it in there for just under a week.  It's kind of wedged up under the dash, so it doesn't tip over, and the flap opening is just large enough for most on-the-go trash, but keeps it closed and secure.  A very easy solution to a silly problem.

So how about you?  How were your pinning experiments this week?  Link up below or leave a comment!  And remember- same time next week!  I had a lot of fun trying this one out and may stick to the sewing board for a little while.

Feel free to grab a botton to add to your post to share this link-up with your readers!

<div align="center"><a href="http://bythebookpaper.blogspot.com/2011/09/pinterest-i-tried-it-car-garbage.html" title="life by the book"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yVPMPnmpk0w/ToNwCG7fkII/AAAAAAAAA9Q/SvdbXxbAFvk/s1600/Pinterest+Button.jpg" alt="life by the book" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Macaroni and Cheese, Please!

There is no more perfect meal than macaroni and cheese.  And I don't mean from out of the box (although Annie's isn't too bad).  Thick, rich, and cheesy, I think this is one of the best cold-weather foods around.  My favorite, found by my mom while watching the Food Network back in 2001 (the date is on the Internet printout), is still found online (here):

Chat n' Chew Macaroni and Cheese

1/2 pound butter, plus extra for the baking dish

1 1/4 pounds elbow macaroni

2 cups heavy cream

2 cups whole milk

1 small (1/4 to 1/3 pound) onion, diced small (about 1/2 cup)

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup flour

5 cups (1 1/4 pounds) shredded sharp cheddar

8 slices American cheese, broken into small pieces

2 cups (1/2 pound) grated Parmesan

3 tablespoons green hot chile sauce1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Kosher salt

Freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter a 9 by 13 by 4-inch baking dish.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat and cook the macaroni until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain.

In a small bowl, combine the cream and milk. (I just pour them in the same measuring cup.)

In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the 1/2 pound of butter and cook the onion and garlic until the onion is translucent, about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the flour, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Add the cream mixture in a steady stream and whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes.

Stir in 4 cups of the cheddar, the American cheese, 1 cup of the grated Parmesan, the hot pepper sauce, and cumin. Stir until all the cheese has melted; the sauce will be very thick and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.

Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the pasta. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining Cheddar, then the Parmesan, and finally the bread crumbs.

Bake uncovered on the middle shelf for about 20 minutes, until bubbling and brown on top.


Now let me tell you, friends, this makes a ginormous amount of macaroni and cheese.  Enough for a large family party.  I am the only person in my house that likes mac and cheese at the moment (nope, not even Gus), so when I want it, I make an 1/8 recipe (halved, then halved again, then halved again).


My copy, with the Post-It divided measurements

As you can see, I don't stick to the recipe.  I don't usually have cream so I use half and half, skim milk, onion powder, and cheaters garlic.  FYI- if you can, use really good cheddar.  It comes out less oily.  This one was NOT really good.

The finished product- 1/8 of the recipe in an 8-inch "round" pan.

And I have lots of leftovers!

Kitchen Gadgets

I am not huge on kitchen gadgets.  And by gadgets I mean all those things that are supposed to make whatever task it is handier and easier, but never really do.  You've seen them- the various holders/slicers/arrangers in all those fancy kitchen shops.  I always wonder who buys them and if they actually get used.  However, I have come across a few that are so wonderful and useful that I just had to share.

1. Olive oil mister (Crate and Barrel)

I would never have bought this, especially from Crate and Barrel at whatever ridiculous price it was, but I had a gift certificate.  And thank goodness.  This handy bugger is like all-natural olive oil Pam.  It is amazing to spray pans with, and even better when it says, "Brush said piece of chicken with olive oil...." Nope! Just pump this up and spray a nice even coat.  Amazing I tell you.

2. Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker (Bed, Bath, and Beyond; other big box stores)

I swear I have used this every other day this summer.  You put the water in like a coffee maker, tea bags in the blue "filter", turn it on and viola!  Fresh brewed iced tea in minutes.  Fill the pitcher with ice first, and it's cold and ready to drink as soon as it's done.  I add a little sugar to the basket before brewing and give it a quick stir when it's finished.  Perfection.

3. Divided loaf pan (Bed, Bath, and Beyond)

This was a wedding shower gift I was so thrilled to receive.  I made a lot of quick breads (banana, blueberry, cinnamon swirl), especially around the holidays.  But sometimes you don't want/need/have the ingredients for a whole bread.  And you can't just make half a bread in a full loaf pan.  This solves the whole problem.  Divide a full recipe into four and give the breads as gifts, or make a half recipe and divide into two of the pans for mini loaves for yourself.

Are you a kitchen gadget master? Do you have one you just love?  Do you have some you never do anything with?

Fall Shop Spotlight and Giveaway: Bates Mercantile Co.

I know you are all excited to find out who won the gift certificate to fAveritte creations.  And so, the winner is comment #18, Sarah, who said, "Favorited the shop! Not hard to do!" I agree!  Congratulations, Sarah!!

Today's feature shop is owned by one creative lady (Pam) whose blog I have recently found and love.  Her Etsy shop, Bates Mercantile Co. is full of vintage treasures and handmade graphic designs.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I have had my own advertising/pr/marketing business for 17+ years. I wear many, many hats and work with other small business owners. I’m happiest when I’m creating. Sometimes by the time I get to the end of a design project it’s not the direction I would have chosen, because I am designing according to my customer’s wishes.  So, when I found Etsy, I knew I’d found a new creative outlet, one where I could create for creating’s sake.  I have always loved vintage, perhaps because my parents have always had an appreciation for antiques. I think it rubbed off on me. I also really love the history behind things and the stories they have to tell.  I have been married to Garrett for 23 years, because generally speaking, there’s no one else we’d rather spend time with anymore than each other. He’s from Dublin. It’s just the two of us and the dog.

Bits and pieces:
I am a serious M*A*S*H aficionado.
I love John Wayne and Cary Grant.
I love Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire tap dancing together.
I love all sorts of music and our collection includes everyone from Generation X to Luciano Pavarotti.
I love to cook and am good at it. Baking I’m still working on. I don’t particularly care for the ‘exactness’ you have to have when baking.
I’ve always had a dog and love animals.  Lucan (luke-in….named after a town in Dublin) currently rules the roost and also gives me at least one laugh a day.
My friend Tina and I have been best friends for 38 years. Did I just say that?
I am having lots of fun meeting new friends, like Kristen, on Etsy.
I went to college and met Garrett in the Bronx. We try to get to NYC as often as possible.
My designs are now in homes and offices in Australia, Scotland, California, New Jersey, Ohio, England, Canada and everywhere in between. I think that is so cool and it makes me happy.

How did you decide what to name your shop?

Well, first the obvious. Bates is our last name. I wanted something with a general store type of feel so that I could offer a wide range of things including my own designs and vintage.  Garrett and I brainstormed and I just couldn’t put my finger on the word I wanted (which is pretty funny since my 3D business’ name is Speakeasy) and he plucked it right out of the air.... mercantile. Thus, Bates Mercantile Co.

What is your favorite fall tradition?

Every fall, Garrett and I go to AppleCrest Farm. It’s a must. I’ve been going there as long as I can remember. They have the best apple cider donuts and cider. When you open the door, the smell is heavenly. And, when you take a bite of one of the doughnuts with a sip of cider, you know why it’s a fall tradition. I also love Halloween. It’s too much fun seeing all the kids dressed up.

Read any good books lately?

I have been stuck on one book for awhile. Maeve Binchy’s Tara Road. I am bound and determined to finish it. Problem is, I don’t particularly care for either of the two main characters, both of whom are women. What I’d really like to do is slap both of them silly and say, "Snap out of it!". Usually, finishing a book is not a problem for me.

What's your ideal vacation, if you ever get one?

Going back to Rome. It’s our mission.  If we win the lottery, we’re flying out tomorrow. Then again, if we win the lottery, we’re also going to visit the Amalfi coast and my great grandfather’s hometown,Panni. Then we’ll hop on over the Cyprus to visit Garrett’s sister and family. Of course, we’ll be making a stop in Dublin on the way back and we’ll finish off in NYC.

Pam is offering the winner of this giveaway any one of her amazing printables (that one down there was on the front page)!  You just need to make sure you have a valid e-mail address and Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to print the file.  There are so many to choose from- these are just a small sampling!

In order to enter you must be a follower of this blog, and do one or more of the following (leave a comment for each one, please!):

1. Visit Bates Mercantile Co. and tell me which printable you think you would choose.

2. Favorite the Bates Mercantile Co. shop on Etsy.

3. Like Bates Mercantile Co. on Facebook.

4. Follow Pam's blog, Bates Mercantile Co.

5. Follow me on Twitter.

6. Tweet or blog about this giveway and leave me a link.

*Giveaway open to anyone with a valid e-mail and will close on Sunday, October 2 at midnight Eastern time. Winner will be announced on Monday, October 3 here on this blog.  Please check back to see if you've won!

All Things Pumpkin

Even though we've hit a little bit of a humid warm-up here (happens every year) my mind has been on fall food.  My husband says there is no difference between warm-weather and cold-weather food, but I totally disagree.  Who wants a big pot of hot stew in July??  (Well, my husband does, but that doesn't count.)  In my opinion, there are some key ingredients to fall food; pumpkin and apple are two of them.  Mainly in the form of hot drinks and desserts.  Some things I have my eye on to make:

Apple Fritters

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Danish

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies with Cranberries

And this month Martha has a suggestion to steep tea in hot apple cider.  I'm drooling already.

Do you have any go-to fall foods?  Recipes you're gearing up to try?  Do share!

Happy Friday!

Pinterest: I Tried It (Burp Cloths)

Welcome Pinners! (And faithful readers, of course!) If you've tried something from one of your pinboards this week and blogged about it, you can link up your post at the bottom of this one.  I really love to see what you come up with and how you interpret your pins.

Once again I hit up my sewing board for this week's project.  I guess I am just in a sewing mood, and I have to tell you that I am feeling more in control of the sewing machine than I have before.  I can actually step on the pedal now without it taking off on me like it's trying to take flight.  Anyway, I was in Joann's looking for fabric for Gus's Halloween costume (more on that to come), and they are having Coupon Commotion this week, so of course I found myself wandering, and of course I found something I wanted to play with.  Luckily I had already scouted this tutorial beforehand:

Burp cloths tutorial

Pretty, aren't they?  I was pretty sure that I would be able to pull these off, and so off I went with some different backing fabrics so I could see what I liked best.  I ended up making three sets of three!

Cotton backed with flannel



Flannel backed with terry cloth

  

Cotton backed with cuddle plush minky

I wanted to do something gender neutral and, for the most part, stylish enough for moms and dads.  I found the terry cloth to be the easiest to work with because it didn't pull at all, but I loved the cuddle plush minky the best.  If you don't have kids and or haven't wandered through Joann's in awhile and don't know what that is, it's the softest, most luxurient piece of material you'll ever touch.  They make blankets out of it (we have one!) but I can't remember what it might be called at the store.  Joann's calls it cuddle plush.  I just want to wrap up in it completely.  I thought it would be nice for the burp cloths to lay the plush side up and lay baby's face on it.  It would be so comforting and soothing.

Anyhoo, this was a nice tutorial, easy to follow, and I had fun being able to play around with whatever kinds of fabrics I wanted.  And three sets of burp cloths later, I decided to list them.  In my shop.  Even though it's all paper.  I'm really not ready to have a second shop, nor do I have the inventory for such and endeavor.  So for now, it's going to be a mix of fabric and paper.  I have several of those diaper straps (almost!) ready to go.  Hopefully if you check in with my shop tomorrow, my banner will have been changed to say "by the book" instead of "by the book paper" to account for this change.  (Oh, and as I write this, that first set with the owls is already sold!)



So how about you?  How were your pinning experiments this week?  Link up below or leave a comment!  And remember- same time next week!  I had a lot of fun trying this one out and may stick to the sewing board for a little while.

Feel free to grab a botton to add to your post to share this link-up with your readers!

<div align="center"><a href="http://bythebookpaper.blogspot.com/2011/09/pinterest-i-tried-it-burp-cloths.html" title="life by the book"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M7og7vB2a9s/TnpxRbsBAyI/AAAAAAAAA70/Gzvft4Al8KI/s1600/Pinterest+Button.jpg" alt="life by the book" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

About Me, A to Z

I am totally stealing this one from Janet at the Lazy Owl Boutique, but she admitted to stealing it from someone else, so I guess that's okay.  I thought it would be a fun little exercise, and since I don't have an About Me page, this might start me on my way.  I changed B and U, though, because I don't think we need to talk about my bed or my underwear.

A. Age: 31

B. Best Friend: The hubs, of course.
C. Chore that you hate: Vacuuming.

D. Dogs: Casey the poodle, who is 3 this month.

E. Essential start to your day: Tea

F. Favorite Color: Pretty much any blue

G. Gold or Silver: I like both, but I tend to gravitate more toward gold.

H. Height: 5'4''

I. Instruments you play: Clarinet, though it's been awhile.

J. Job Title: Stay-at-home mom.

K. Kids: Our active toddler, Gus.

L. Live: CT

M. Mother’s Name: Noreen

N. Nicknames: Kris, KT

O. Overnight hospital stays: Just with Gus

P. Pet peeve: All forms of terrible driving (I just get a little road rage) and bad grammar.

Q. Quote from a movie: "You used all the glue on purpose!" -the dad from A Christmas Story.  I just think it's funny that that's his argument when she breaks the lamp.

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: Just me

T. Time you wake up: Generally 7-8am, depending on the day and the activities 

U. Ultimate vacation: Turks and Caicos, where we spent our honeymoon.  We'd love to go back.  Anytime.  Like now.

V. Vegetable you hate: I don't like mushrooms at all.  Does that count as a vegetable?

W. What makes you run late: Gus, not thinking about how long it will actually take to get somewhere

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Uh, none, I don't think.

Y. Yummy food that you make: Oh, there are a lot (or so my husband says).  I love to cook.

Z. Zoo Animal: Giraffes

Feel free to steal this from me, and I promise I'll come by and read it!

More Printables

I really can be the ultimate list maker.  Especially if there is a big project ahead.  I like to have everything laid out in front of me, and I get total satisfaction from crossing or checking something off that's on the list.  So in an effort to add a few more printables to my page, I tried to think of some big projects that required long lists.


Both moving and packing for me have been a big deal and I need to be totally organized or I will forget the ten million things I need to do.  Given the fact that I have to pack not just for me, but for Gus and Casey the poodle too, complicates things.  Thank goodness the hubs is a packing master and doesn't require a list.  And moving.  What a chore!  The ultimate do-not-forgot-to-pack-this! project.  I hope they help.

(And if you do happen to print these and use them, or have printed the others and used them, let me know how they work for you. I have been too busy to print them for myself!!)

One for the Team

If you are on Etsy, then you are likely to be a member of at least one of the teams.  Teams usually have some kind of common theme, and anyone who meets the membership criteria can join.  They are a great means for promotion and interaction with other Etsy members, and are a good place to get advice and seek camaraderie.

So imagine my happiness when a new Pinterest team was started!  You all know how much I love my Pinterest boards and am thoroughly enjoying my Pinterest Thursday projects, so of course I jumped at the chance to join!  And crazy enough, once it got rolling and more members started applying, the captain needed some help, and now I'm a team leader.  Holy moly, I am in a position of power.

If any of you Pinterest faithful would like to come and join, anyone with a valid Pinterest account is welcome.  Find some new people to follow, get some new followers, participate in some fun pinning activities (like my linky party!), or get one of your items pinned by other members.  It's all in good fun!

Happy Friday!

Pinterest: I Tried It (Divided Clutch)

Welcome Pinners! (And faithful readers, of course!) If you've tried something from one of your pinboards this week and blogged about it, you can link up your post at the bottom of this one.  I really love to see what you come up with and how you interpret your pins.

It was back to sewing for me this week.  I have to tell you, I was so excited by my tea wallet, that I actually made this divided clutch that I chose as my next project last Friday- I just couldn't wait:

This required a little bit of effort at Joann's (drat) where I found two very cool coordinating fabrics, and I figured out what interfacing is (it's like a giant sheet of iron-on webbing that strengthens thinner material).  So, made a clutch- check!  Learned something new in the process- check!  I was really quite proud of myself.  Then I made the clutch and I was so totally proud of myself.

It turned out so well, I am amazed with myself.  My mother would actually like one in a slightly smaller size.  I admit that I did stray from the tutorial right at the end, where it says, "And now make a button hole and sew a button on," like creating your own button hole is standard practice.  Yeah.  I made my way back to Joann's and got some sew-on snaps, which I actually like better for a closure.  I was toying with the idea of sewing a button on the front for decoration, but the pattern is so busy I don't think it needs it.  I love the size; you could use it tucked into a larger handbag for coupons, or even a diaper and a wipes pack, or just use it as a fun going-out handbag on its own.  I seriously think I am going to list this in my shop, that's how awesome I think it is.

This line of thinking got me ahead of myself, though, and I actually tried another pin thinking I could make a neat-o set:

Wallet tutorial

It was very similar in construction to the tea wallet, just a different size.  I don't know what happened.

Not exactly the sewing maven I had convinced myself I had become.  It was a total disappointment.  At some point I will probably seam-rip it and try it again, but for now the wallet and I are spending some time apart.

So how about you?  How were your pinning experiments this week?  Link up below or leave a comment!  And remember- same time next week!  I had a lot of fun trying this one out and may stick to the sewing board for a little while.

Feel free to grab a botton to add to your post to share this link-up with your readers!

<div align="center"><a href="http://bythebookpaper.blogspot.com/2011/09/pinterest-i-tried-it-divided-clutch.html" title="life by the book"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vn_Txs2GxwM/Tm_vevW2obI/AAAAAAAAA6E/W7E48hS9xvU/s1600/Pinterest+Button.jpg" alt="life by the book" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Rut

Do you ever find yourself in a creative rut?  Or, really, any kind of rut for that matter?

Last night on Twitter I was chatting with my pals Heidi of Rowhouse14 and Rachel of RWKrafts and what started out as a chat on the ridiculousness of the commotion over the Missoni collection for Target turned into a discovery that all three of us felt that we were in a rut or starting to get in one as far as our Etsy shops go.  The reasons are varied: work demands, family demands, low views, low sales, and so on.  And I know for me, it just kind of happens suddenly.  I'll be really productive and make new stuff, get really excited about it, list it, and then....blah.  Don't feel like doing anything anymore.  This particular rut-realization started yesterday when I noticed that a handful of my listings had expired and I didn't even know it was going to happen.  What have I been doing??  Oh yea....

via Pinterest 



So I was just wondering what puts you into a rut and how do you pull out of it?  Do you get a sudden inspiration to get you going again?  Do you need to have some free time by yourself to sit and work?  Do you plow through and keep making stuff even if you don't feel like it?  Do you just decide to give up for awhile until inspiration strikes?

Printables!

I am really excited to show off something that I have been working on- just for you!  Up there in my menu bar is a new page- printables!  I have been wanting to try and make some free printables for quite awhile, and upon the question/suggestion from Julia over at Goat Notes whether I had ever thought about doing printables, I decided that it was time to go ahead and get moving.  So far there are four different ones (actually, one is a duplicate in a different font- I just couldn't choose) that are free for you to download and use.  They are all designed for 8.5 x 11 paper, so they are basic printer-compatible and are easy to hole-punch and put in a binder.  I think my favorite is the Oh-So-Busy List because I need a list with this many categories:

I have some other ideas of files I'd like to create, but if anyone has any suggestions, or something they could totally use, please let me know.  I love suggestions.

Happy printing!

Fall Shop Spotlight and Giveaway: Luci Rae

And so begins my fall shop spotlight series!  I am so excited to introduce you to some very interesting and diverse Etsy shop owners and bloggers, and each one has a great giveaway for you to win!

We're going to start with Traci, shop owner of Luci Rae and blogger on the site All Things Luci Rae.  Her shop is an eclectic mix of vintage finds and handmade, upcycled wares, and her blog is a fun mix of her life and creations.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi, My name is Traci. I live with my amazing husband Kyle, a very sweet, very fuzzy (the dog not the husband) shepherd mix named Skylar, and of course the newest and brightest addition to our clan, Luci Rae. She was born October 12, 2010 and has stolen my heart, my time, and some of my mind! I am kind of a jack of all trades. Currently I work in the insurance industry but I have dabbled in everything from baking in a coffee shop to working in a children's hospital. Basically, I like change! One of my greatest passions is finding other people's "junk" and turning it into something beautiful. I have turned it into a lifestyle in my home and am now bringing it to you all here.


Vintage tin pitcher

I work three days a week as an insurance agent... this is just to pay the bills.  My true passions are my God, my family, and being creative.  I love spray paint and would paint everything in my house if my husband would let me... and yes, this includes the kitchen sink.  The rest of my time is spent with my beautiful daughter Luci Rae and working on my shop and my blog.  Oh, and I forgot to mention that we fix and flip homes as well.  About every two years or so my husband and I buy a slightly "unloved" home and put our Remley touch on it.  Some people call this flipping... we call it fun!  We live in the houses while we "flip" them and put our heart and soul into making them beautiful again.  "Upcycling" isn't just a hobby to me anymore but rather a way of life.

Pair of miniature vintage decanters

How did you decide what to name your Etsy shop?

The name of my shop is after my daughter and my inspiration.  I wanted to work part time so that I could spend more time with her.  In order to do this I decided to start a shop so that I would have a side income.  Luci Rae was created so that I could spend more time with Luci Rae!

Hand Stamped Clothes Pins


What is your favorite fall activity?

Fall is my favorite season so I have to say I love all of the traditions, but my favorite is going to the pumpkin patch in Buena Vista, CO.  Although we live in Littleton now, I spent the last 3 years in a tiny Colorado mountain town called Buena Vista.  There is this adorable little farm that has fun events throughout the year.  In the summers they have a HUGE wild flower field and for just $5 you can go pick 20 stems.  You really can't beat that.  But anyway... every weekend in October they hold an event called the Pumpkin Patch.  You get to run through a hay bale maze, ride ponies, buy fresh produce, get your face painted and then at the end of it the real fun starts.  You get on a horse-drawn hay ride out to this beautiful golden field.  They place huge, amazing pumpkins all over the place and all of the kids... ok and me too:)... go out and pick their pumpkins.  It is a tradition we still go back for every year.

Traci's nephew!

Read any good books lately?

Oh reading... man, I miss you.  Ever since Luci Rae was born my usual novels have been replaced by baby how to's and mommy tips.  I used to love to sit and read for hours; now I am lucky to get through one blog.  This is going to sound so funny but while I was pregnant I read Jenny McCarthy's Belly Laughs and just about died laughing.  It was one of those books that a friend gave me and I thought... Jenny McCarthy, this is going to be cr**.  But it was probably one of the funniest books I have ever read.  Anyway, the book that is sitting next to my bed right now is actually What to Expect: The First Year.  I figure I will get back into some "real" books once Luci is a little older... ok, probably when she goes to college.

What is your ideal vacation, if you ever get one?

Vacation, vacation, vacation.  I love traveling.  I have been to so many amazing places: the Philippines, Costa Rica, England, Ireland, Texas.   Most recently we took a trip to a tiny fishing village in Nicaragua. We surfed, snorkeled, fished, ate, ate, and ate!  It was fantastic!  I would say that is my ideal vacation.  I live in the mountains so when I go on vacation I prefer tropical.  We are planning a vacation to Hope Town in the Bahamas this January. It is a tiny island (I love to be secluded... heck, maybe I will even get to read a book!).  There are no cars on the island just golf carts and bikes.  I can't wait!!!  I plan on spending as much time as possible in the water and on the beach.

Traci has so much going on!!  But doesn't everyone?  How would you like a little bit of helping keeping things straight?  Traci is offering one of her handmade dry erase chore charts to one of you lucky readers!  Just use a dry erase marker to fill in the task and the date (and maybe another family member's name to tackle each one!).

In order to enter you must be a follower of this blog, and do one or more of the following (leave a comment for each one, please!):

1. Visit Luci Rae and tell me what your favorite item is.

2. Favorite the Luci Rae shop on Etsy.

3. Become a follower of Traci's blog.

4. Follow me on Twitter.

5. Tweet or blog about this giveway and leave me a link.

*Giveaway open to U.S.  and Canada residents only and will close on Sunday, September 18th at midnight Eastern time. Winner will be announced on Monday, September 19th here on this blog.  Please check back to see if you've won!