WIP Wednesday

What's a WIP? Why, it's a Work In Progress!

This weeks work in progress...

This my friends is the start of a beautiful handspun. It's a delicious Merino/Silk blend from Dicentra Designs. I love her glorious and deep jewel tones. And this fiber is amazing. I bought it earlier this year at the Madrona Fiber Arts Festival. Yes, it's been a long time since I bought it but I'm a process spinner and needed to spin up some other stuff first.
I'm really pleased with this fiber and plan on buying a lot more in the future!

Trader Joes Tuesday

As some of you may or may not know my dh is a manager at Trader Joes. It's really a great job. I just wish his store was closer! I love TJ's like nothing else and I especially love all the yummy things I can get just by making a simple phone call to my husband while he's at work!

This week I bring to your table a quick, easy and best of all Gluten and Dairy free dinner. My 10 month old especially loves it. All of these ingredients you can find at your local Trader Joes.

Fried Polenta w/ Marinara Sauce

Start with your basic marinara sauce...

Simmer it on your stove. Add whatever goodness you like to it (it's really delicious as it comes though).

Next slice up your polenta in half inch slices and fry (don't forget to spray your pan) over medium heat until it's nice and golden on both sides.

Place the fried polenta on your plate and top with the marinara.

Serve with some Sugar Peas and Roasted Garlic Hummus

And enjoy!

Are you a Momprenuer? Let's have a link party!

I dabble in business. I find it interesting and you can frequently see me reading a vast array of business related articles and books. And everyonce in a while I actually make some money. Either through Floral Design or on my Etsy shop. My business partner Shannon and I even have a great idea for a business but have yet to fully follow through on it.

Some of you may be a Momprenuer like myself. Some of you may be wondering what the heck a Mompreneur is. Well, a Momprenuer is a new term for women who have a business at home while also caring full time for their children. Some Momprenuers do it for the extra cash. I do it for the creative outlet and the aquiring of business knowledge. (Because Knowledge TRULY is Power!).

I don't have a lot of readers yet as this blog is still in it's infancy but I would love to know what other Momprenuers out there do. Are you an ebay seller? Maybe you came up with an invetion. Or you have a small baby boutique. Let's have a link party! Link me to your online shop or website so I can check you out!

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One Grecian Urn



One Grecian Urn!



Red, White and Blue!





Doing what we do best... eavesdropping!

Oh the gym outfits!

So The Music Man is over and done with. It was so fun and awesome. I had the best time. Even while juggling my three kids around. There were many times I was wondering why the heck I was putting myself through that aggravation. And you know if I hadn't had done it I would have missed out on so much.

I made the most amazing friends. These women. We are funny, silly, beautiful, amazing, talented, heartfelt, wonderful and truly inspiring. I love each of these ladies with all my heart and am so glad to count them amongst my friends.



The Ladies



Gabe was also in the MM. He was in the boys band. For weeks he said he didn't want to go but as soon as he got there he was just fine. In fact, other than a small mishap involving having to play the flute instead of the trumpet he was having a total blast. And driving everyone crazy in the process I am sure.



There were so many people involved in making this happen. Thank you to anyone who had a hand putting this on. It was truly spectacular.

Curtain Call

Boys Band!

Iowa Stubborn

We've drank the kool-aid.

A few weeks ago my husband informed me how much he thinks he'll have made at the end of the year.



My jaw dropped.


And then I started crying because all we have to show for it is a bunch of receipts for rent, STUDENT LOANS, old credit cards and doctor and dental bills. Oh and food. WAY too much money spent on food. And possibly craft supplies. Ok, most definately the craft supplies. I decided then and there that we make enough money that we shouldn't feel so strapped for cash. And we are. We totally live paycheck to paycheck. No emergency fund. My small inky dinky credit card is almost maxed out. I am done with that! I want money in our savings account and I definately want to be debt free.

Enter this book...

Now, a lot of things in there I know and are pretty common sense. Our church teaches about debt snowballing, etc. But for some reason that didn't click until now. This book is great. It has all his steps laid out for you. And really awesome stories of real people who have done this. Got out of debt. Have money in an emergency fund. Are investing in their retirement/kids college accounts and other things. Have paid for cars and houses. IN CASH.

I now try to catch his radio show everyday. My husband is on board, but I think he's a tad bummed that there will be a significant reduction in his fast food diet. Don't worry. I'm sure he'll be just fine.

Presto Change-o!

I love the Fall. It's when the really good decorations get to come out and play. I had this super sweet wreath on my door for the summer (got it at 75% off... nice!). It's done it's duty. Time to move on!

The new wreath is a dollar store craft! I got an amazing grapevine wreath and all the floral there. Then I raided the ribbon stash. The ribbon stash is getting quite large because every time I go to costco I pick up a roll or two. Good thing I don't go to Costco that often.

A closeup shows the beautiful textured ribbon. I love it so much. Too bad 95% of it will be used this weekend for a wedding. But it will be so pretty!

A sneak peak!

Well, the dress is getting closer and closer to being done. Just the zipper left. Of course it's been just the zipper for a full two days now but hey... who's counting. Being only my second BIG sewing project I feel like it's come together fairly well. I do have to redo the bottom hem of the overjacket. And I pretty much have to cram myself into it. I will definately have to add something to the neckline as it's a little too revealing. Especially for a church play.

It's almost done and I am so excited!