slmpetersen

On The Road

2012-01-27T08:04:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we were delayed, but got on the road none the less. Today we had planned to be hanging out with family, but we'll be driving instead. After all the craziness of trying to ship our household goods (read more about that here), we found a shipper and got the goods on their way.

We left El Paso around 4pm yesterday and drove as far a Truth or Consequences, NM. I can tell you that the Comfort Inn we stayed in is wonderful, the Denny's next door...not so much. We had bad service, with at best mediocre food. Not to mention they screwed up my order. Nothing like dinner with a side of attitude from your waitress.

After a crappy dinner we enjoyed a long and much needed sit in a fantastic hot tub, along with a dip in the refreshing pool. Follow all of that by a good nights sleep.

The Petersen's are now ready to hit the road and drive on to our destination - Colorado Springs. We have an 8 hour drive ahead of us, but we are finally on the road and ready to relax with family the next couple of weeks. There will be more to come...should be a smother trip now that we are finally on the road.

I will work on getting pictures of our journey as we travel...soon...I promise.

And So Our Story Begins...

2012-01-26T06:50:00.001-07:00

I was told I would have a story, when I told a dear friend about our decisions to move to Alaska. She wasn't kidding! Our story really began yesterday!

We packed our U-box from U-hal on Monday. We were told that we'd be called Tuesday with details of the shipping and if there were any issues. Tuesday, we cleaned and cleaned, hoping to leave here Wednesday mid afternoon and drive as far at Santa Fe, NM.

As Wednesday progressed it became clear that getting out by mid afternoon wasn't going to happen. We had 2 cars to pack and a small U-hal trailer, that needed to go as far as Wyoming. Around Noon I had a bit of a meltdown, tears included. Sometimes a girl just has to cry out her frustrations.

I pulled myself together and we headed to lunch and to drop off the internet box that needed to be returned to the cable company. On our way back from lunch the phone rang, and the story began. It went something like this...

"Mr. Petersen, your U-box is WAY over on weight and we'll not be able to ship it." While this conversation continued I pulled into our vets office, where we needed to pick up the health certificates for the pets. Office closed for training, sorry for the inconvenience.

Back home, to rally the troops...

I found a moving company that could ship our stuff based on weight, rather than get a second or possibly even a third U-box. Got a price quote, that included deliver to our new home in Alaska (that is once we get one of those, more on that later). Now, back to U-hal to collect that damn box.

Hubby went for the box, while I made a few calls to people and chatted back and forth with the new moving company. Upon arriving at U-hal, Hubby learns that they have taken the U-box off the trailer (see pics here in this post), and they won't be able to put it back on a trailer until noon Thursday...SERIOUSLY! Okay, deep breath...

Hubby rents a 14-foot U-hal, calls me and down to U-hal I go to unpack a U-box in to a U-hal. So that we can get out stuff back home, in and ready for the movers to pick it up today. Now, in amongst all this craziness, we have packed and unpacked the small trailer we were taking to Wyoming, as you cannot unhitch it when it's full - that means we have moved a washer and dryer, as well as a small upright freezer twice in one day.

And So Our Story Begins....

U-hal Day #1

2012-01-24T07:27:00.004-07:00

U-hal Container - The beginning of our Texas to Alaska Move

Yesterday was U-hal Day #1 - We packed the container, that U-hal will ship for us. While the container was NOT the size the website stated it was, we got everything in that needed to be shipped.

The boxes, oh the boxes

The dimentions that U-hal gives on the website for their shipping container is for the OUTSIDE of the container, not the Interior. The only thing we had planned on packing into that container that didn't go was the bed. Our full size bed was going to take up to much room, so we are opting to donate it.

Today, we'll clean the remainder of the house, pack up the odds and sods that need to go with us in the vehicles. I'll do one last load of laundry and pack suitcases. The end of the packing is in near and I am ready!

We're starting to flush out details of our itinerary. At the very least we're looking at 25 days without a house. We'll be staying with family some of those days and on a ferry a few of those days and the rest on the road. We're really looking forward to enjoying our tip to our new home. Stick around - these are just the beginning of the photos I will be posting on my blog.

This is the journey of a lifetime for Hubby and I and I hope to post as much as I can, based on available connectivity.

Boxes, Boxes and More Boxes

2012-01-19T06:34:00.000-07:00

Everywhere I look, boxes! We're so close to having it all packed up. This weekend we'll tackle the kitchen. I'm not looking forward to it, but it has to be done. This morning I'll be finishing up a few miscellaneous boxes. I need to vacuum one more room. We need to rent a carpet cleaner next week. The Garage is full of boxes that need to go to Goodwill.

Monday our U-hal container comes. We'll pack it and our household will begin it's month long journey to Alaska. We'll pack our vehicles on Wednesday and drive out of El Paso a Week from today. Where did the time go?

I have to say as far as time this move has been easier than the move her was, when we had to pack and move in under 2 weeks. We learn something every time we move. There is a quirky story that goes with each move and I am sure this one will be no different. After all, a month without a home should prove to be interesting.

We'll be traveling for a month, visiting family, traveling across the lower 48, riding a ferry and driving a portion of the Alcan to our next destination. It's like a move and a vacation all wrapped up in one package.

Once we begin our journey, blogging will become a bit more sporadic, but I have plans of posting more pics. I'll share the photos I take along the way. There will be days where I won't have internet connections, so that makes blog posting impossible...as I will not be posting in advance the way I normally do.

Are you ready to take the journey with us?

Wordless Wednesday - Sunrise

2012-01-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

From the Studio Window - El Paso, TX (18Jan2012)

Random Tuesday - More Moving

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Lots of Random in my life right now:

In about a month and a half I will be figuring out how to organize, yet another kitchen
In a little over a week We will begin our month of travel
We still don't know where we'll be living when we get to Alaska
I am sick of packing boxes
I had forgotten how much work it was to pack up a house
We have had a garage sale, sold furniture, donated 9 boxes of books and we're still weeding things out
Sleeping in the living room is practice for the many hotel rooms we'll be sleeping in
This is the biggest move we have ever made
Our good eating habits go right out the window when it comes to preparing for a move

ARE WE THERE YET?

Monday Morning Musing - Progress

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

We made lots of progress this weekend...of course if you're like us you're still on your weekend. Yep, that's right we got another 3 day weekend. There was some packing done, a garage sale had and some sleeping in the living room...

That's right Sleeping in the living room. The only furniture we have left is a bed, some tv trays, a folding table and our fantastic lounge chairs from the yard. We moved the bed to the living room for a few reasons. One - we have no furniture. Two - it makes cleaning the bedrooms easier, as there is carpet in all of them. Three - because we wanted to! Welcome to Hotel Petersen!

We are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. There will be more packing and donating this week, as we prepare to pack our U-hal Shipping Container, a week from today. Moving day is almost here... We're close to drive out of El Paso, to begin our journey to Alaska.

And if you're wondering how I'm keeping my sanity...Crochet! I have finished 2 scarves in the past week and I am currently working on a third. I have packed a bag of yarn and some patterns for our month long journey...so there will be sneak peeks at projects along the way.

I hope you'll stick around as we make our journey across the US to our new home. I will be taking tons of photos and uploading them to my blog as time allows.

Foodie Friday - Crispy Cheddar Chicken

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe through my pinterst addiction. This is the first recipe I have made from Jamie Cooks It Up!, and I will be checking out the other recipes on this blog. I made Crispy Cheddar Chicken a little over a week ago. I will be adding this recipe to my Tried and True box, with a few alterations. Let's talk about what I did, my results and what I'll be changing the next time I make this recipe.

I followed Jamie's recipe, working with what I had on hand. I didn't use the Ritz crackers, as I already has some crackers ground into crumbs. I used chicken tenders in place of the breast. I also made a smaller version of the recipe, as there are only two in our house. I also used my baking stone rather than a baking dish.

Hubby and I love the recipe, and I'll be making it again. The gravy was delicious, and if you read yesterday's post you'll have insight into the soup I chose to use to make this gravy. I served Crispy Cheddar Chicken with grits and steamed asparagus.

Over All Recipe Review:

After making this dish with something other than Ritz crackers, I strongly recommend using the Ritz crackers. I usually use Ritz crackers for my breding, but had some other cracker crumbs and thought I would use them. The chicken was very tasty, but I think the Ritz crackers impart a butter flavor that can't be created with other cracker crumbs.
The next time I make this dish I will be using an egg wash in place of the milk. I didn't feel the milk was the proper glue needed to keep the chicken and cracker crumbs in tact. Most likely I will do a traditional breading of flour, egg wash, then the cheese and the cracker crumbs.
I feel the chicken should also be seasoned a bit, with a basic salt and pepper.
Loved the simple gravy, can't wait to try making a similar gravy with cream of mushroom soup.

I will be trying other recipes from Jamie Cooks It Up!, as this recipe was so simple and flavorful and lends itself to being reduced or doubles as needed.

Thursday Thoughts - Pacific Natural Foods Condensed Soups

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I tried a new style and brand of condensed soup. On one of our shopping trips to the Commissary, Hubby spotted a condensed soup that came in a box. Me, being me, my interest was peeked. I had to try it. So, I picked up three of these small boxes - two cream of mushroom and one cream of chicken. They were unpacked into my pantry to be used the next time I pulled out one of my recipes that called for the infamous cream of something soup.

That time came the day after New Years. I set out to try a new recipe, more on that tomorrow, that called for cream of chicken soup. Perfect! Now was my chance to try out my little box of Pacific Natural Foods Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup. I was impressed!

Pacific Natural Food Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup:

First and foremost - This soup actually smelled like chicken!
Let me back up a step, the box is easy open, and actually opens they way they tell you it will.
Once opened the first thing I noticed was the rich fragrance of roasted chicken.
Next I saw, yes saw, bits of real chicken in the creamy liquid the box contained
Yes, you read right - liquid, that poured easily out of the 12 ounce box.
Creamy, ivory in color - like what you would expect from a homemade cream of chicken soup
Now for the flavor - tastes like chicken! I used it to make a gravy for a dish we had for dinner and it was creamy and perfect - not salty and gelatinous.
I would also like to point out that I can pronounce EVERY one of the ingredients this little box contains.

My over all review of this product is 5 stars. I will be adding more Pacific Natural Food Soups to my pantry. Move over canned soups - there's a new soup in town. This fits perfectly into our new year goals of eating healthier. If you're in the market for a healthier condensed soup I strongly recommend this product.

** The opinions in this post and are mine and mine alone. I was not compensated in any way by Pacific Foods to write this review.

The Packing Continues and Questions Begin to Fly

2012-01-11T06:24:00.002-07:00

I missed Random Tuesday, which would have been a better fit for this post, but such is life. I am not about to take a photo of the way our house currently looks, to make this a Wordless Wednesday. So, you get Wordy Wednesday instead!

Hubby and I began packing Saturday, and hit it hard on Sunday. As the week progresses we continue to pack, but not quite a furiously. Last night brought a trip to the library to donate 9 boxes of books. Yes. We. Like. Books.

We are slowly selling furniture. People will be combing by the house today to check out what we have and pick up a few pieces. It will feel more like we are moving once furniture begins to disappear.

Along with the moving and packing I have been answering a lot of questions. Things like:

What are you going to do with your dog and two cats? They're our children, we're taking them with us. End of story.
Why that far? Pretty simple here folks - Hubby got a job.
Are you excited? YES! I seriously can't wait to start the journey.
Can we visit? Sure. I know in reality only a few of those who have asked will actually stay in touch and come visit. Most of which are friends we've had for years.
What did you family say? My family is stoked and so is Hubby's. My mom has always wanted to see Alaska, and now she'll get the opportunity.
Will you miss the city? NO. The town we're moving to is 600 people - and I'm stoked! I am not a city girl and I HATE the traffic! The "City" will only be 130 miles from us...I can visit the "City" any time I want.
What kind of job did you get? This move is for Hubby's job. We've only know we were really going for 7 days. I will look for a job once we have moved. I have 3 1/2 weeks to pack a house, looking for a job is not on my list right now. Things always fall into place.
Are you Crazy? This one is my favorite! The answer really must be YES! This will be our THIRD move in 4 years. We've only been married 4 1/2 years...you do the math. Pretty sure that equals CRAZY!

I really could go on and on with all the questions we are being asked, but those are the top ones. The long and the short of it - I love our life, I can't wait to move, and it's always worth it. We have great stories that we tell about each move, this one will be no different. I just hope we can skip revisiting Deliverance (that's a story for another time).

Well, I really must shower and get the packing started again today. Stick around...things are just going to get more interesting as we progress on our new journey.

Monday Morning Musings - The HUGE Announcement!!!!

2012-01-09T07:02:00.002-07:00

Yes, the blog posting is later than usual. Please forgive me, but I didn't have time to write this weekend. We were busy! Let me explain...

A little over 5 days ago our lives began to turn UPSIDE DOWN! Prayers we answered in a HUGE way! We knew that our time in El Paso, TX was short, but we had no idea how short. Hubby's job would be ending the end of March and we were still hoping for a job to come through before we'd have to be unemployed.

Those prayers were answered on Wednesday of last week, but what an answer we got! At first we weren't sure we'd be able to afford this kind of move. The first answer was filled with disappointment, as we really didn't have the money to move everything we own, that far of distance. It took a "thinking outside of the box" approach to find the true answer.

So...where are we going? ALASKA! Still isn't real to me, but I know it will be when we reach the end of this journey. This is the largest journey Hubby and I have ever made, when it comes to moving. We have a full house of furniture to liquidate, a household to pare down, and 3 weeks to do it all int!

From Wyoming to Missouri, from Missouri to Texas and now from Texas to Alaska!

What does this mean for you my readers? Well it means that writing will be sporadic and sparse for the next couple of months. I ask that you please be patient and hang with me. It also means that things will take a few new turns as we settle into our new surroundings.

I am so excited for this adventure and can't wait to begin the journey! Who's with me! I have hopes of posting photos and writing as we travel from here to Washington. In Washington, we'll be boarding a ferry for a three day trip. Then there will be a snow filled drive to the final destination of Delta Junction/Ft. Greely, Alaska. Stick around for the journey!

Foodie Friday - Eggplant Spread

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love the blog Our Best Bites, these two gals have got it going on! While I have only made a few of their recipes, their blog is awesome and loaded with foodie goodness. Today, I'm going to share my experience with one of their recipes - Eggplant Spread.

I bought all the ingredients on our bi-weekly grocery shopping trip last Saturday. Once the groceries were put away I set about chopping veggies to roast. This task actually went pretty quickly, since it was all done in a rough chop.

I skipped the step of using a bowl to coat things, as I am pretty adept at coat things on the sheet pan...less to dirty that way. So, with veggies chopped, coated and seasoned into the oven they went.

Once my roasted veggies came out of the oven I let them cool about 10 minutes before tossing them into the big food processor. Pulsed until I got the consistency I wanted, something similar to hummus. I wasn't sure Hubby would be too keen on it, as he isn't much of a fan of Eggplant. However, he actually enjoys it and said it was a nice change form our hummus. We ate ours with Pita Chips and it was delish!

Over All Recipe Review:

Because my oven is older, it took a little longer to roast my veggies, but no big deal here.
I agree that it should be served warm. I tasted it cold and it really isn't as flavorful when it's cold.
The only change/adjustment I made was that I seasoned the spread once I pureed it and tasted it. This is of course personal preference here.
I used 4 cloves of garlic, but didn't feel that it was enough for our garlic taste buds, so will be using maybe somewhere around 6 next time. Again, another personal preference.

I will be making Eggplant Spread again, and feel that this one is a WIN! Thanks to the gals over at Our Best Bites, this will be tops on our list for the new year and eating healthier.

Thursday Thoughts - My Reviews

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

We're going to try a new theme for Thursdays. I'm going to start doing reviews on Thursdays. These reviews will cover a lot of topics far and wide. I think this is going to be fun for both of us. I'll cover the books I read, the ingredients I use, recipes I try, restaurants we check out, tutorials I try...I could go on here, but I think you get the idea. You'll learn more about what makes me tick and maybe even learn a little something along the way.

I'm open to suggestions as I develop this theme. Do you have something you love and think I should love it too? Tell me, I'll check it out. You can leave a comment here or you can contact me and share your thoughts. My only stipulation is that you keep in mind this is a family friendly blog.

Some weeks there maybe two reviews, with Thursday's Thoughts and Foodie Friday. For instance, tomorrow (Foodie Friday) there is a recipe review. Next week I'll review some soup and a recipe as well...till then Have a beautiful creative day!

Wordless Wednesday - Kitties

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-07:00


Ashes - 1 Jan 2012

Cinders - 1 Jan 2012

Random Tuesday - Managing Recipes

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Some days I feel like I am learning as I go... will ya fall for that one? Okay, well that's what I'm going with. I've spent the last 10 + years collecting recipes and hording cookbooks. Only now have I begun to be so organized.

We all know I have two boxes of recipes and a couple of binders, and that I just bought The Living Cookbook software to put all of these recipes together. I am only putting tried and true recipes into my Living Cookbook, which leaves a lot of recipes still running loose.

I will be keeping my binders when all is said and done, to corral all the magazine clippings and printed emails. As for the many pages I used to print out, well those I am now pinning to My Recipe Board on Pinterest. Once I try the recipe, if we love it, the recipe will go into a cookbook on Living Cookbook. If we don't love it, I will delete it from my pin board and make room for new recipes.

With the plans I have for the direction I want to take SLMPetersen, I am going to need my recipes at my finger tips. Where I can pull what I need when I need it. I have been sorting thought piles of cards and clips for years...know that I had that recipe, but it's always a struggle to put my finger on it when I think of it. That is going to be changing as I implement my new software and recipe catalog.

I have a lot of ideas on how to make this new system work hard for me, rather than me working hard to find my recipes. There will be a number of new things happening as I build my new product line and recipes are going to play a big part in all of this. Stay tuned.

Monday Morning Musing - Crochet Scarf Inspiartion

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

As of late, I am really into crocheting scarves - some for me and a few will be going to others for gifts. So I thought I would share some of the great pattern inspiration I have found this week on Pinterest.

First up is a new fan pattern. I have used a similar pattern to make a skinny scarf, but really love the way this one, from make-handmade.com, works up in several rows. My favorite part is that fact that it's a chart pattern, which are my favorite types of crochet patterns.

Source: make-handmade.com via Stacy on Pinterest

I found great inspiration in this little number done with ric-rack. Did some searching and found some ideas on how to recreate this idea, but never did find anything that really gave me a pattern to work with.

Source: thebluerabbithouse.tumblr.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Last, but surely not the least of the many ideas I have found this week, is this infinity scarf. I love the versatility of this piece, but I am going to have to work myself into this idea. I like creating small projects, and this one is a little bit larger than I usually work with.

Source: naturallycaron.com via Stacy on Pinterest

That's it for this weeks pins. stop by and follow me on pinterest. Feel free to leave your links in the comments so that I can follow your pins as well.

Foodie Friday - Pantry Cleaning

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Couple of weeks ago I spent a Sunday cleaning out and reorganizing our pantry. This was an all day process and I still have a few things left on my to do list, but I thought I would show you some photos of the progress. I wish I had taken before photos of all the cabinets, but I only have one cupboard to show you a before and after of. The other photos are all afters.

My main goal of cleaning out the pantry was to better organize and create more uniform storage solution. It's all about finding what you have. You'll notice that I don't have photos of any of the canned goods, that's because I don't have a system for them yet...not much of a show and tell option there.

Onto the photos...

As you can see I didn't do a lot with the top shelf, well nothing to be exact. I have opted to go with glass jars for a few reasons. Uniform in size - makes organizing so much easier. Easy seal - we have a vac sealer, with both regular and wide mouth attachments to vac seal jars. I only vac seal the jars I don't get in and out of frequently.

The photo on the left is actually in my kitchen, rather than my pantry. These are the items I use frequently, including much of our dried fruits and veggies. The photo on the right is the second upper cupboard in the pantry. I wish there was a before of the right photo, but I can tell you that the jars are awesome compared to all the bags of beans I had before.

Pay no mind to the dirty cupboards. I didn't notice that until I took the photo, they're clean now. I thought I would show you where I store my recipe files and other goodies in my pantry. Left to right - We have the dehydrator, with a couple of things that need to go back out to the smoker. Next is my food scale, bought at a garage sale, still in the box, never used for $2! Then we have my Tried and True Box, there is a second box of the same size that is missing from the photo. The second box is the To Be Tried Box. Next to my box are three binders. The first two are recipe binders, filled with clippings and printouts. The third binder is our self-sufficiency binder (we'll talk about that another day). Then we have stacking baskets that hold ramen, spam and other odd size packages that aren't shelf friendly. Last but not least is my giant chopping board that I talked about here.

I hope this inspires you to clean up your pantry and find a system that works for you. It was a lot of work, but it has definitely made the pantry more user friendly for both me and my husband. If you have questions on where to start or how to build a system...don't hesitate to leave a comment. I would love to help you make your kitchen more user friendly.

Necklaces - Quick and Easy DIY

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

In my pinterest addition I have found a number of wonderful ideas, and I am slowly putting these pins to work. Monday, on my day off, I used a tutorial from Hope Studios.

Here's the photo I had pinned -

Source: hopestudios.blogspot.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Cute right? and EASY! I loved the first one I made with some beads I already had and I used some hemp string. Things I had on hand. These are fast and easy. I plan on using them for necklaces.

What I did:

I cut a piece of hemp string 48-inches long
Follow This Tutorial on Hope Studios

Photos? Of course there's photos! (Taken before the new camera, but photos none the less).

Above the building of the necklace and the finished product. Below you'll see the finished project with a couple of close ups.

I enjoyed this project and will be making a couple more. I have some large oval wood beads and some beautiful ceramic beads I will be creating two more necklaces in similar style. Lovely inexpensive, way to build one's accessories.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

My New Bestie ~ Nikon D3100

Random Tuesday

2011-12-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today I'll give a little Christmas Recap. This year Hubby and I celebrated our 4th Christmas as a married couple, also marking our 4th Christmas with just the two of us. I really wish I had a dime for every time some one said "oh, how sad you won't be with family for the holiday." Seriously? No, really seriously? We love our families, but really do prefer Christmas and New Years alone. We get to spend the time off in our pjs watching movies, eating whatever we choose and enjoying the down time. No stress, no hustle and bustle and no crazy holiday travel.

Okay, now on with the gifts! This year Hubby spoiled me rotten yet again. I got five new books - all of which are fantastic:

Asian Ingredients - In case you didn't already know I love ethnic grocery stores and have been over joyed at the options of 4 Asian markets on our side of town. Now I have a book to help guide me through some of the mysterious ingredients these stores carry.
The Essential Oils Handbook - I have recently taken and interest in essential oils and the great health benefits they can offer. One of which is learning to battle my tension headaches and migraines with oils rather than meds all the time. With this little book I can expand my knowledge and learn more about using oils properly.
Cooking with Food Storage Made Easy - I'm a foodie, what can I say. We have a small and growing pantry and this book has some food storage ideas as well as ideas for using the items have been drying and storing. More about basics, less about boxed meals.
Italian Neighbors: or a Lapsed Anglo-Saxon in Verona - I am in love with Italy. I hope to make the trip someday, but in the mean time I am filling my Italian imagination with great memoirs.
The Summer of My Greek Taverna: a Memoir - Greece in another place my traveling mind likes to visit. Some day in real life...till then books take me there.

After books came things to spoil me with:

New jammies made of bamboo fabric, soft and luxuirous
Rosemary Peppermint Shampoo Bar and Golden Pumpkin Body Scrub from DressGreen, one of my favorite Etsy shops
Jewelry - Girl loves jewelry! a new snake chain, garnet charm and a heart charm
Dragonfly stamp for my rubber stamping hobby from Norajane on Etsy

I know I'm spoiled, but there is just us and for your info I spoil Hubby just as much. We had a wonderful Christmas, blessed and relaxed.

Monday Morning Musings - Studio Ideas

2011-12-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hope Santa was good to everyone over the Christmas Holiday. I know I was spoiled! We'll talk about some of the things I got later this week, but it's Monday and I have some Studio Ideas to share. These are things I would love to add to my studio...

First up - this great little ironing board idea. Easy DIY for small pressing jobs. Needless to say I am not on the hunt for a wooden TV tray in all my favorite secondhand shops. So cute, so simple to create.

Source: texasfreckles.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Next up - ribbon box. This is something I really need to do with all my little bits and pieces. I have small pieces leftover from sewing projects, that I hang on to for scrapbook and card making projects. Problem is they are all stuffed in jars and I have to dump the whole jar to get what I am after.

Source: craftystorage.blogspot.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Finally - Sewing Table for Small Spaces. I saved the best for last! I asked Hubby if this was something he thought we could make. He said yes and I printed the free plans! It will be a while before we create this lovely table, but it will be nice to have a table that stows away, and has storage for my machine.

Source: ana-white.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Hope everyone enjoys this weeks pins. I'm off to enjoy my day off! See you tomorrow!

Foodie Friday - Meal Planners for 2012

2011-12-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last couple of months working on my new product line. I was so excited Wednesday night, when I sat down to print, collate and bind the meal planners I have been designing. I gave lots of hints leading up the unveiling of my new line. Well, here it is, the beginning of the new SLMPetersen line of products...

Ready to be released, in My Etsy Shop, January of 2012. They come in two sizes Large (8 1/2 x 11) and Small (5 1/2 x 8 1/2). They will be fully customizable. Next week I'll be showing more details of these planners, they will be perfect for the New Year's Resolution to eat healthier, cook more and save money.

Till then - May you have a Happy Holiday Season and a Merry Christmas!

New Software!

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's Here! It's Finally HERE! Okay, so I'm a little excited, but with good reason! I got my new recipe software - The Living Cookbook! It's all about getting my act together in the kitchen and this software is going to play a crucial role in this project.

Above is a screen shot of my new program. I will be finishing my recipe cataloging project and then jumping head first into adding my recipes to Living Cookbook. My plan is to add my tried and true recipes, as well as my own recipes that I write when I am cooking on the fly in my kitchen. This will create an easy to access database for my new product lines to come.

This is going to be the perfect project for the current cold weather we are experiencing...not to mention the next two three-day weekends I have a head. With just two for the holidays, we're able to enjoy a quite Christmas with movies and projects like this. Same goes for New Years...I'm looking forward to these weekends.

How about you? Do you have a recipe database? How do you keep track of all those recipes you collect? Do you have plans of getting organized in the new year?

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-21T06:00:00.001-07:00

Missouri Farm - Taken October 2007

Random Thoughts

2011-12-20T06:00:00.001-07:00

Me and my foodieness might drive others to drink, but I'm a happy girl! Hubby is a good man, as he is a foodie, he is willing to humor me on my ventures into ethnic grocery stores. We spent a little time this past weekend venturing into a few of our favorites.

I found a few interesting things in one of the Asian markets we stopped into. Most fascinating to me was a bag of Cactus Honey Power. Similar in texture and taste to turbinado sugar and it smells similar to brown sugar. Cactus Honey Powder is a dried version of Agave nectar. From the little bit of reading I have done, so far, honey powder is popular in Korean culture. I really like the distinct flavor of the granules, richer and less sweet than table sugar. It is available around the net, but it's not a cheep ingredient. I paid $3.39 for a pound of it, but the average price online seems to be $5 to $8 per pound. In spite of the price I am considering using it in some baking just to see how it affects some of my standard baking recipes.

Other things we picked up in our tour of international markets Saturday included Garam Marsala (type of curry powder), Olive Oil, Tahani (sesame paste), Toor Dahl (yellow lentil beans), Red Lentils, Hoisin Sauce, Sweet Potato Powder, Rice Flour, Gyro Meat, Felafel Mix, Ground Cumin, Chicken & Veggie Dumpling (Korean), Ginger Chews (chewy candy) and some pealed garlic (which I might add was cheaper than the heads at the standard grocery store).

I love adding all the ethnic ingredients to my pantry. While I do buy some ingredients because they peek my interest, I usually pick up things I have read about online. I am a curious cook, and will try a lot of things. However, like I said to my husband while wandering the isle of the Asian market, I think I am a pretty brave cook until I see some of ingredients - then I wish I was brave enough to try them. Many things I wouldn't have a clue how to use, but if I keep reading I just might try them some day.

Among all the ethic grocery shopping we also stopped for lunch at Olive Garden. As a rule we don't do a lot of chain restaurant eating, but I was given a gift card. I have to say I wasn't impressed. The food wasn't bad, but it was mediocre at best. We had soup, salad and bread sticks, an appetizer and a tiny dessert. The soup was tasty, bread stick were room temp, salad delish, appetizer disappointing and the dessert was yummy - what there was of it. Not the best Olive Garden experience we have had and we won't be going back.

That wraps up my random for today...hope you're ready for the holidays, there are only a few days left!

Monday Morning Musing - Recipe Inspiration

2011-12-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't noticed, I'm traveling back to my foodie roots and spending more time with recipes and other projects that are foodie friendly. My pinning has taken that turn this past week as well. So let's see what good recipe inspiration I've pinned in My Recipe File.

From Everyday Food, I found a recipe to feed my kale fascination. I have a love of the recipe I found over at shutterbean for kale chips, but I feel I really need to broaden my kale repertoire. Sausage Kale Soup should sound so hearty and delicious.

Source: everydayfoodblog.marthastewart.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Now, for the part of me that is obsessed with making my own mixes - Cream of "Something" Soup Mix. I really need to make this mix, as it would allow me to have better control of what is going into all those tasty casseroles that I love.

Source: 1orangegiraffe.blogspot.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Many of you may know that I am a Mexican Food Lover! I could seriously eat Mexican 4 or 5 days a week, but that just won't fly in my house. However, this recipe for Seven-Layer Tostadas is a must try for vegetarian night. Yes, we eat vegetarian once a week (or at least we try to).

Source: kalynskitchen.com via Stacy on Pinterest

That's this week's pins. Hope you've enjoyed stopping by. Happy Monday!

Foodie Friday - Mexican Biscuit Bake

2011-12-16T06:32:00.000-07:00

Mexican Biscuit Bake is something I made up using leftovers. We all love a recipe that takes leftovers and reinvents them into something new, rather than just reheating the same meal. Right? I know we are more likely to eat the leftover if I can change them up and create a "new" meal.

Mexican Biscuit Bake

1 tube refrigerator biscuits

leftover taco meat

leftover black beans

salad

shredded cheddar cheese

This is supper simple. Take you biscuits and cut each one into four pieces. In a large bowl, toss together taco meat, black beans and salad. Then add biscuit pieces and toss well to coat. Spray a casserole dish with cooking spay, then spread in biscuit mixture. Top with cheese and bake according to biscuit can. Cut in squares and serve warm with taco toppings.

See...super easy! The amount of ingredients really depends on the amount of leftovers you're working with. You might need 2 tubes of biscuts if there is a lot of leftover meat and you are feeding more than four. Enjoy and Happy Firday!

Project Recipe Clean-Up

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

What's happening in the studio these days? Well, I'll tell you - Project Recipe Clean-Up! It's a big project, but essential to my new direction. I am starting by cataloging all my recipes. Now, I know some of you just shuttered at the thought of such a task. Deep breath! Yes, this is a HUGE Project, but there are a couple of reasons for my doing this.

Reason number one - I have so many recipes in my collection, it's hard for me to keep track of what I have. Take a step back with me...I have been collecting recipes for over 10 years. I have family recipes, magazine clippings, recipes from co-workers and all those pages I have printed while reading blogs and visiting websites. We won't even talk about the cookbooks.

Reason number two - I need a database for research. I have people who contact me, looking for a recipe for______ and they're just sure I have it. My current method is digging and flipping, but with my new catalog of recipes I will be able to open my spread sheet and do a "find" search.

So, with all of that in mind this is what my studio currently looks like. My work table is full of binders and my desk has a large file box taking up prime real estate. I have colored pens and notebooks everywhere. Headphones for listening to podcast, when Hubby is home.

You might notice the black binder, marked Meal Planner. This is my latest project, and ties in with the recipe cataloging I am doing. If you read Tuesday's post, I gave some clues as to what my new product line is. While I don't have a prototype ready for photographing I do have a working prototype for my research. The prototype is coming....SOON!

I'm a little of track now, we're talking about recipe cataloging today. I am keeping this project simple, it's an excel spreadsheet. The fields I chose are as follows: Name of Recipe, Location of Recipe, Type of Dish, Tried (I'll explain in a moment), and Notes.

Name of Recipe, is pretty self explanatory. Location of Recipe, since I have 2 boxes and 2 binders I like to make note as to where I can find each recipe, but this also includes the option of a notation of which cookbook and page where I can find a favorite recipe. Type of Dish, again pretty self explanatory. Tried, this one seems a bit odd to some people, but I like to make a check mark if we've tried the recipe or not. Notes, where I put any little notation for a reminder - is it gift friendly, does is go in the slow cooker, should we try it with a different type of meat, etc.

Once the spreadsheet was built, I just jumped right in. I started with my Tried and True box, inputting the specified information. So far I have 630 recipes and I am through 1 1/4 of my 2 boxes. I still have 2 binders to catalog and then I want to start tackling my cookbook collection...all in do time. You can follow my progress on my fan page.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Abandoned in Missouri - Clinton, MO (more about the house here)

Random Tuesday

2011-12-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's Tuesday, and I'm still battling the cold I picked up last Tuesday. I'll spare you the details, but this had been the worst cold I've had in a long time. I actually missed 2 days of work last week. I was a house hostage for 4 days, and am officially ready to be done with the coughing and blowing. Nough said.

In spite of the evil cold I have spent a lot of time on research and development of my new product line. I talked about starting this project a few months back, but life derailed my plan a little. Thankfully this was a project that could be done on my laptop, while I took it easy, kept warm and drank copious amounts of hot liquids, during my extend weekend with this rotten cold.

I am in awe at the many ways people take on the task of meal planning and recipe storage. There really is no wrong way, and no excuse for not using a meal planning system. Options abound in everything from DIY systems with free printables, to services that send you preplanned calendars each week for $5/month. Cooks around the web keep them in binders, personal planners and even Google calendar. Software, paper and sticky notes even play a role in many planners. Really amazing, and inspiring!

Are you picking up on the clues? Do you know what I am working on? Would you be interested in being a product tester? Leave a comment, include a way to contact you and I'll be in touch. I have a couple of testers already, but would like to include a few more. This isn't just for families - couples and singles step forward. Your views are just as important.

Monday Morning Musings - Quotes & Sayings

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have some great Quotes & Sayings to share this week. Somethings I think we all wish someone would say out loud to us when we need it most.

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net via Stacy on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Source: andiwantstotravel.tumblr.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Source: wwjdfy.tumblr.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Foodie Friday - 5 Things

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I saw a really cool post last week about 5 Things over at The Testosterone Three and Me. After reading Vandy's post I really got to thinking about my foodie obsession, or passion as I like to call it. So I thought I would share some of my 5 Things about food...

5 Things That Bug Me:

The words "I hate that" - let me clarify. When you talk food with people and they say "I hate...." and then can't tell you why they don't like it. It's like nails on a chalkboard to me. I find that after questioning the hated food, 9 times out of 10 said person has never even tried the food they "hate." The rule in our house is you have to try it before you dislike it.
Picky Eaters - I'm talking about that eater that really doesn't eat. You know the one who usually just pushes their food around and talks about how gross everything is on their plate. If they are that picky about everything they eat they should never eat at other peoples homes. End of statement.
People who don't share recipes - This drives me nuts! I'm all about sharing my recipes, my knowledge and my love of food. So when I run into one of those "it's a secret" people I get turned off. Let's think about this just a minute - You fix a recipe and I fix the same one, we'll never make it the exact same way, so what's the big fuss about?
People who share recipes and leave out one ingredient - worse than not sharing the recipe. This is one of the cruelest things you can do to a recipe junkie like me. Just don't share if you don't want to give it all.
Potluck Cheaters - This is that person who ops to bring chips to every potluck. I get the fact that not everyone doesn't cook - that's cool, but really can't you think beyond the chip isle?

5 Foods I'm Not Into:

Celery - not a fan. I pick it out of almost everything, don't like the texture and the only way I use it in my cooking is dried. Once celery is dried and then added to something like soup, it cooks away to almost nothing by the end of the cooking process.
Tamales - not a fan. It's a texture thing. It's that simple.
Canned Peas - nope, not for me. As far as I'm concerned they are just one step away from baby food.
Thyme - I think it taste like dirt. Plain and simple - no thyme in my house and I take it out of every recipe.
Sushi - not for me. I've tried it, I'm not a fan. I like my food cooked.

5 Food I LOVE:

Chocolate - seriously? You knew this would be number one if you've follwed my blog for any length of time. I make my own chocolate sauce for crying out loud.
Mexican - more of a food group than just a food. This is my favorite things to eat...just ask Hubby. I could eat Mexican 4 days a week, and never make a peep.
Sea Food - I love it all, in some form or another. Shrimp, lobster, crab, calamari, clams, etc...
Chicken - what can't you do with chicken? This is a go to ingredient in our house. We eat chicken often.
Veggies and Fruit - Hubby finds it weird that I actually crave salads. I guess it's a girl thing, but I love a big salad loaded with all kinds of toppings. Fruit is the same way, I know when I need it, I crave it.

5 Things About My Foodieness:

I'm a huge recipe junkie! - I clip, I print, I collect, I organize, I try, I save...and if it's bad I toss it.
I have a cookbook collection - close to 70 cookbooks and that's not counting all the other books that are just about food. I have a small collection of food memoirs, reference books and eating.
I will read anything about food - I scroll the yahoo home page for food news every morning, reading what I find. Yes that includes diet articles, top 10 lists and the latest in food news.
I follow two Food Podcasts faithfully - Good Food with Evan Kleiman and The Splendid Table with Lynne Rossetto Kasper.
I have bad habit of getting on my foodie soap box - get me to start talking about my foodie passion and you might not get me to shut up.

Well, that's 20 Foodie Things you might not have know about me. Where do you fit into my foodie world?

Snowmen Ornament Tutorial

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Wanna make some REALLY CUTE SNOWMEN?

Christmas is fast approaching, but there is still time to make some really cute little snowmen ornaments for gifts or package toppers. These little guys are my own design. The idea came to me some years ago when I was using up some hand-me-down supplies. I had been given some wooden doll heads and unsure of what to do with them I began playing around with them. After some creative thought, the snowman ornament was born.

Snowmen Ornament Tutorial

A few tips before we get stated:

You will want to purchase and even number of doll heads for this project, as it takes 2 heads to make each snowman.
To make the painting easier you may want to find a wooden skewer or additional paint brush to place the head on while painting it.
You could easily use a glue gun for gluing the body and head together, but I strongly recommend the Tacky Glue for the buttons.

What you will need:

2 1/4" Wooden Doll Heads or Knobs/Pulls (found in the wood section of any craft store)
White Acrylic Paint
Black Acrylic Paint
Orange Acrylic Paint
Paint Brushes
Tacky Glue
Small Eye Screws
Fabric Scraps
Tiny Buttons
Fishing line

Step 1:

Paint all the doll heads white. This is easy enough, but might take two coats depending on how thick the first coat is.

Step 2:

Since it takes 2 heads to create each snowman you will want to pair up the dried balls before painting faces on half of them. Be sure each has a head and a body, so you don't end up with two heads. trust me on this one, I've had to paint over faces because I didn't pair up first.

Step 3:

Paint Faces. I have learned it is easier to paint the face before the head and body are attached.

Step 4:

Once the face is dry you will want to add the eye hook. Depending on how hard the heads are you might want to start the screw hole with a fine drill bit. I have gotten pine heads that were easy to screw into and other wood heads that were not.

Step 5:

Glue together head and body. You will want to put glue on the flat surface of one doll head, then press it together with the flat surface of another. Let dry.

Step 6:

Embellish! This is my favorite part. I love matching the button colors to the fabric scraps. Cut fabric scraps, using pinking sheers, into small strips about 1/2-inch wide by 4-inches long. The fabric creates a scarf, which is tied around around the neck, where the two pieces are joined. Trim scarf as needed, once it is tied. Glue a couple of buttons to the body of my snowman for an added touch.

Step 7:

Add the fishing line. I use a long piece, around 6-inches or so, looping it through the eye hook and then knotting the two loose ends together.

All Finished!

If you make some of these cute little ornaments I would love to see pics! I have made a number of these little guys over the years and love giving them as handmade gifts. If you aren't crafty or don't want to make your own there are a few in My Etsy Shop for sale. Happy Holidays!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Is it fall? Is it Winter? - Snow fell December 5th, then the leaves fell late that night (Photo taken December 6, 2011)

Random Tuesday

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Time just seems to get faster and faster. Remember when we were kids and we thought summers were the longest thing ever? I want that time back! Really it's December? Where has the time gone? To top it off our two years in Texas is fast approaching...wow!

I'm starting a new habit. That sounds funny to say, I know, but habits are developed and I gotta start somewhere. Wanna know what the habit is? Emptying my brain before bed. I have a note pad next to my computer, where I have begun writing notes, thoughts and ideas. Why next to my computer, rather than my bed? Two reasons - #1: I check my email and Facebook every night before I head off to bed. #2: The whole reason behind this is to empty my brain so I'm not taking all these thoughts to bed. That's not to say there isn't a notebook in my bedroom, but that's for the thoughts and things that wake me in the night. I started this process on Sunday night, so we'll see how this helps my sleep cycle. Going to bed with a busy brain makes for a restless night for me.

Let's see what other random do I have to share...

I am done shopping for Christmas with the exception of a few stocking stuffers for Hubby. I am one of those people who avoids the "fun" of Black Friday and does most of their shopping online. I love to shop from the comfort of home in my jammies...just something about it that's enjoyable.

I'm still loving pinterest. Nothing better than a button on my tool bar that I click to mark all the yummy recipes, brilliant crafting ideas and inspiring room decor that I find in my internet travels.

I am loving the freedom I have given myself back. Yep, love being free to create whatever I want when I want for who I want... The extra income is good if it happens, but it wasn't worth killing myself for.

Well that's my random for the week...see you tomorrow for a little peek into my photo album on Wordless Wednesday. Have a beautiful day!

Monday Morning Musing - Scrapbooking Ideas

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's Musings... I've got a few cool ideas for those of you that are Scrapbook Junkies and Paper Crafting Crazies (myself included in both categories, so don't take it personally).

Idea #1 - Stamp Catalog:

Source: sillyleanndesigns.blogspot.com via Stacy on Pinterest

This is BRILLIANT and I don't know why I didn't think of this myself! I started implementing this idea on Saturday. I've been taking photos of my process, going to try for a bit of tutorial. Check out what else SillyLeAnn Designs did to organize her design studio.

Idea #2 - Using my sewing tools for scrapbooking embellishing:

Source: lifelovepaper.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Sewing on scrapbook pages has been cool for a while now, and while I like the look it really isn't my style. However the thought of using one of my many tracing wheels to add texture and the look of sewing never occurred to me. Love the look, going to be trying it out on some card making.

Idea #3 - Thinking outside the box

Source: flickr.com via Stacy on Pinterest

This is what scrapbooking is all about - Thinking Outside The Box. I love the mixed media idea this scrapbook gives. So many ideas and so many possibilities when you look beyond the standard scrapbook.

Foodie Friday - Food Oirgin

2011-12-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I read this article on arsenic in juice. Pretty surprising to me, as well as being scary. Read the article and you too will learn about the high levels of arsenic, as well as lead in some of the leading brands of apple and grape juice.

Every time I read an article, like the one mentioned above, about "bad" food. It brings me to origin. I'm referring to where our food is currently coming from. That juice might be made in the US, but where did the apples come from that are being turned into juice? If the apple came from China, then it really isn't "Made in the US." We need to remember that distribution is different from where the food is produce or originated from.

I don't often get "political" on my blog, in fact I try to avoid it, but today is an exception. I really think we need to examine our current food situation - we're an obese nation, eating too much processed food, depending on other nations to ship food to us. What's wrong with this picture? Really people, you're the only one who can change this. Even the smallest steps can make a difference.

Read the label, educate yourself, take the steps to make the change. It IS NOT easy! We are working on these same challenges in our home. Some days we succeed, other days we slip, but it's a ONE DAY AT A TIME thing.

You have to want to get you hand of the drive-up bag and your head out of the freezer section. You have to want the change. Take out and frozen TV dinners aren't going to do much more than fill a hole and make a turd. I know that's pretty blunt, but it's true. Junk food is junk food and if you eat it everyday for every meal you are killing yourself. You body needs fresh food, food that taste of more than salt and fat.

I really could go on and on, but I won't. I'll get off my soap box and push it back under the kitchen table for now. Look at yourself, if you feel miserable, you're the only one who can change it, but you have to WANT the change. It takes time, but educate yourself, learn about what you're eating and how what's happening in the world of food is or can affect you.

Studio Talk - The End

2011-12-01T06:16:00.001-07:00

I have decided to end the Studio Talk feature on my blog. Since I have stop focusing on building a business and adjusted my focus back on creativity I am a lot happier. I know some of you might find this sad, but seriously sewing in a sweat shop is not my idea of living the dream. I want to be free to create whatever strikes me.

So, with that said the well of writing about building a business had kind of run dry...alas bringing the end to Studio Talk. It was fun while it lasted, but as of late has become a dreaded chore. You can read old entries by simply searching my blog for "Studio Talk."

I am going to be working on some tutorials and doing more photos of what I am working on in my studio. Now that I have a tripod, the ability of shooting step by step tutorials will be easier and more enjoyable.

I have NO plans of closing my shop on Etsy, I WILL continue to add new items and offer great customer service. My website is taking on some changes and there will be a new product launch sometime early next year...still in the testing phases.

This here blog with continue to be written 5 days a week, with a look at my many talents. Food and cooking will be making a stronger comeback, I will be adding Tutorials for some crafting projects as well as organizational projects, and you will begin to see more photography - both in the studio and out.

Wordless Wednesday WIP

2011-11-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

While not my best photo, it is my first attempt at Needle Tatting.

Random Tuesday

2011-11-28T07:47:00.001-07:00

I'm a little behind this morning...sleeping in a bit will do that to a person. Some mornings that bed is just way to warm and comfy to pry myself from...anyway...

Last night I started back into teaching myself to tat. I really didn't get much to show for it other than a stiff finger and some thread clippings. I am playing with two different styles - shuttle (the traditional style) and needle (the not-quite "real" tatting). It's my understanding that the knots for needle tatting aren't the same, but you can achieve a similar look. I will try again tonight...as I am dertermined.

Other things, I spent a little time at the sewing machine yesterday morning making a little something for Hubby. He need a new visor organizer and asked me to make one, over a year ago. I have my reasons, but anyway I made one, now to make a second one for the truck...I think it turned out okay, but the second one should be a little better now that I know what I need to adjust.

I spent some time Sunday cleaning out my closet. We did a little thrift store shopping on Saturday and I made a killing - 3 pull-over sweaters, 1 cardigan, 2 long-sleeve T's, 2 big beautiful scarves and a brand new pair of shoes! With all the new goodies, I had to make room. Once the closet was cleaned I did all the laundry, ironing and mending. I felt well accomplished.

I am currently working on a new scarf pattern. I really like the look of it so far. Sock yarn is wonderful for creating a more delicate, yet still warm scarf. Since I don't do socks, it's also a great way for me to play with all the wonderful yarns out there.

Well that should do it for random this week. How about you? Got some random you need to let out so your brain is free to think clearly?

Monday Morning Musings

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend we had, split up as it may have been. I worked three days, had Thanksgiving off, then worked Friday and had the weekend off. Got to spend some down time with my little addiction to Pinterest and here's what I found this past week...

First, I must talk about this little breakfast find! What a great Recipe! I used my jumbo muffin pan, as my regular pan would have never held all this breakfast goodness.

Source: blogs.babble.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Another great find this weekend was for this carpet cleaner. I put the vinegar, soap and water in a spray bottle and shook well to mix. Then I sprayed the spots in our carpet, scrubbed with a stiff bristled brush. Once dry I vacuumed and it looked perfect...best carpet cleaner I used in a long time.

I am seriously considering this idea for a home filing space, once I find a chest at a thrift store that needs some TLC. I think it's a perfect idea for disguising the necessary filing cabinet.

Source: marthastewart.com via Stacy on Pinterest

And in craftiness I found another scarf pattern I want to try out. I think this would be perfect done in thread rather than in yarn.

Source: crear-con-hilos.blogspot.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Hope you enjoy what you found. If you pin, find me, follow me...let's swap ideas.

Foodie Friday - Turkey Feast

2011-11-25T06:27:00.001-07:00

I skipped posting yesterday so I could help Hubby cook our Turkey Feast. We're thankful for so many things, but good food has to be one of the many gifts.

Hubby smoked his first turkey this year. Might I say he did a fabulous job! Our turkey was smoked to perfection...and I may never let him cook a turkey any other way. In past years we have grilled our turkeys or turkey breast, which were all delicious, but the smoked turkey takes the cake.

Along with the star Turkey, we had many dishes that we view as traditions. Green bean casserole, a must with Thanksgiving dinner. Then there are mashed potatoes and gravy, which would be a sin to go without in our family. Stuffing, but not just the kind from a box, when turkey is made so is homemade stuffing. Rolls, which were a bit of a flow this year. Last, but certainly not the least is pumpkin pie, with homemade whipped cream. Since Hubby's Dad didn't come for the holiday this year we were able to do the pumpkin thing. Had Dad been here we would have done chocolate.

We ate around 3:30pm yesterday, enjoying every morsel of food on our plates. After the eating always comes the cleaning up of the kitchen. Which wasn't bad since I cleaned while I cooked yesterday. After everything was put away and the kitchen cleaned I did a little sewing and we watched a couple of NCIS: LA episodes from Netflix.

Ours was a quite and relaxed Thanksgiving. How about yours?

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Rail Car - Pastura, NM

Random Thoughts

2011-11-22T06:17:00.001-07:00

Today I thought I'd do a post about the Random Things I'm Thankful for. Some things are silly, some thing are serious, but I am thankful none the less. Ready? Okay, here we go...

I'm most thankful for the man I married. Hubby is an amazing man and my best friend. I wouldn't be where I am today without this man. Together we can do any thing, and have for that matter. Moving across the country twice in 4 years of marriage is a pretty amazing experience...that I wouldn't trade for the world.

I'm one of those silly people who is thankful for the internet, in so many ways. Best of all the internet makes keeping in touch with friends and family just that much easier. We have friends around the world and without the technology, keeping in touch would be more complicated and costly.

I am thankful that I know how to make the most out of what I have. This isn't easy for some, but knowing how to make the most of what you have really can make a difference in your views on life. I have skills and I know how to use them. If I don't have the skills, I seek out the knowledge to build those skills.

My creativity keeps me sane, so for that I am truly blessed and thankful. Crafting and cooking has helped get us though so many rough spots in life. Seems silly to some, but my sewing skills have created curtains on tight budgets and my cooking skills help us recreate our favorite meals at home - especially when that loved restaurant is 100's of miles away.

The family I have and the family we have built are great blessings to us. When you get married and combine families it's always a blessing when the siblings of the spouse are receptive and loving to the new comer. I am so lucky that this works both ways in our family. There is also the family that you build along the way. In our travels and moves, Hubby and I have met some wonderful people and made a number of friends, so of which we hold a close as family in our hearts.

I really could go on, because I am so very thankful for so many wonderful blessings, but I'll stop here. What are you thankful for?

Monday Morning Muesings - Christmas

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Let's talk handmade ideas for Christmas... So many of us have a stash of crafting supplies, now is the time to use them. Handmade is always a welcome gift, especially when given for the holidays. Here are a few ideas I came across over the weekend and in the past couple of weeks.

Source: folksy.com via Stacy on Pinterest

This cute little bird is a great way to use up both fabric and felt scraps, as wells as busting some of our button stash. Another cute idea along these lines would be to trace cookie cutters for other shapes and designs.

Source: kbatsel.blogspot.com via Stacy on Pinterest

These spool ornaments combine a number of crating elements from your bead stash to your sewing stash. buttons, trims and beads combine to make a beautiful and unique ornament, perfect for teachers and secret santa.

Source: blog.craftzine.com via Stacy on Pinterest

I really like the simplicity of these dainty crocheted wreaths. Perfect for the tree, or package toppers for each gift. Simple enough to make quickly for gifts.

What's your handmade holiday go to project? Do you make any gifts for loved ones and special people in your life?

Remember you can follow me on pinterest to see what other great ideas I've found.

Foodie Friday - Planning & Organization

2011-11-18T06:20:00.001-07:00

I'd like to start this morning by tell you all how much we enjoyed THIS RECIPE from Our Best Bites. We made those Grilled Greek Tacos last night for dinner and they were delicious! Going to be adding them to our list of favorites.

In other foodie business, I am busy working on a new product line. I had intended for this new line to brake the beginning of November, but life got in the way - in a LOT of places. Work on the new line was postponed. Sometimes life just happens and you have to go with it. I'm still in the testing phase, so a release date is still a little ways off. Now, I have you all wondering don't I? I'm working on an organizing system for Meal Planning/Shopping/Recipe Organization.

I am really excited about this new little line that I am working on, with hopes that it will be customizable to your needs. We're all busy, yet so many of us want to find the time to create a home cooked meal for our families. Sometimes the answer is as simple as meal planning, but finding the right system with the right elements for your lifestyle can be a task all on it's own. I hope to make this task more user friendly and less daunting with this new product line.

Some of your are asking "Why are we talking about this if it's not available yet?" Well, I'll tell you - I'm looking for testers. If you're a meal planner, or wish you were a meal planner I want to hear from you. I want to know how the system needs to be tweaked, what needs to be added and what needs to be changed. If your interested in testing you may leave a comment below or you can Contact Me.

PS - Stop by SLMPetersen.com today and check out the latest Gift Guide.

Snap Shots

2011-11-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's a 10 hour drive for us to go visit Hubby's Sister, but this past weekend it was well worth the trip. Got to see part of the family, had some delicious food and took some great photos there and back. Thought I might show you one of my faves from the trip, as well as 3 altered versions...you tell me which one's your favorite.


Original Photograph (Unedited)

Softened & Vignette Added

Sepia Tones, Softened & Vignette Added

Black & White, Softened & Vignette Added

It's been a long time since I played with photo editing software, so I am starting simple. Just want to get the feel of things again. I have ideas, but don't want to get to crazy right off the bat. Thoughts? To edit or not to edit...are you a photo purest? Or is a little digital editing a good thing?

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-16T06:03:00.001-07:00

Field Stone House - off Highway 3, near Duran, NM

Random Tuesday

2011-11-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

We had a long weekend away, so today's my Monday. We took a little road trip to Colorado Springs to see Hubby's Sister and her Hubby. Dad even flew down to hang out with us. Great to be with family before the crazy holiday season begins. We'll all be going in different directions for Thanksgiving and Christmas so this was our only chance. We had a great time!

I can officially say I have been to IKEA! There is a brand new store on the south end of Denver, only a half hour from my Sister-in-laws house. Saturday us two girls hopped in the car and head out shopping. Had a great time. Could have spent mega bucks, but settled for just a few things. My favorite purchase was the giant chopping board I got for just $9.99! One side for chopping, but the other side is smooth and has a lip that catches on the counter edge for rolling out dough. A great find for me, as the tile counter tops in our current house are not dough friendly!

I also came home with a supper simple Artichoke Dip recipe. We had this one of the nights we were in Colorado Springs, and then ate the leftovers the next day. Sooooo very good and simple to make. When we got home last night I made a batch for dinner. I'll share the recipe soon!

10 hours in a car is a LONG, LONG time for me, but I did well. I have a Hubby who stops frequently for potty breaks and feeds me, so all is good. I even got some photos of so pretty cool abandoned buildings on this tip...might have to put one up tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday.

So, how about all of you? Did you have a great weekend?

Monday Morning Musings

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

We had a busy weekend, so didn't spend as much time playing with my pins, but I have a few things to share none the less.

I found a great Fall/Thanksgiving project. Use up your fall colored fabric scraps and create a wide variety of table decorations.

Source: cathiefilian.blogspot.com via Stacy on Pinterest

I really like this idea for cozy seating in a sunroom, or maybe a lakeside cabin. Also a great way to up-cycle pallets.

Source: emilypaigeoslie.blogspot.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Really Loving this cute cardigan idea for a refashion project. So feminine and girly.

Source: tearosehome.blogspot.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Last, but surely not least is a little foodie idea. I really like this spin on traditional pull-a-part bread. My recipe always had me cutting up the biscuits before creating the bread...this one eliminates that step and I LOVE it!

Source: stamps4fun.blogspot.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Well, that should get you a great start on your week. Do you pin? Are you a junkie like me? Follow me, so I can find you.

Thank You for Our Freedom

2011-11-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Friday, of a three-day weekend, what could be better? Veterans Day is a day to thank all the me and women who have or are serving ourcountry. Without these men and women wewouldn’t be FREE. I read a quoteyesterday about what a Veteran is, the definition is simply this:

Veteran – whether active duty, discharged, retired orreserve – is someone who at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank checkmade payable to “The United States of America,” for an amount of “up to, andincluding his or her life.”

I am thankful for these men and women and am so blessed tobe a military wife. The Marine in myhouse is proud to have served our country. Yesterday was the Marine Corps Birthday, and today we celebrate theservice and sacrifice of everyone who has severed our country, giving usfreedom.

Take the time today and thank a service member – Marine,Army, Navy or Air Force – Family, Friend or Stranger; a simple thank you can goso far in the heart of these men and women.

Happy Veteran’s Day and Thank You to all who haveserved.

Studio Talk - A Studio to Dream About

2011-11-10T06:10:00.003-07:00

I found this on Pinterest the other day and fell in love! All it will take is the right house, money and time. What do ya think?

Source: iheartorganizing.blogspot.com via Stacy on Pinterest

I found this fantastic photo in THIS POST on IHeart Organization's blog, but you can also read all about this and you can read about it on The Ivy Cottage Blog, where Amanda tells here story of this great craft space.

The crafting possibilities in this space are ENDLESS!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-09T06:15:00.000-07:00

Flowering Flamboyant Tree - St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (August 2007)

Random Tuesday

2011-11-08T06:07:00.002-07:00

Good Morning! Okay maybe that's a little peppier than I truly feel, but I am still on my first cup of coffee. So, it's Tuesday of a short week. Yep, that's right there's another banker's holiday this Friday. Veteran's Day is Friday, which is great for a day off, but I'm also married to a retired Marine. Freedom isn't free so take the time to thank the veterans and the currently enlisted for their service to our country.

Onto, the other randomness that is our life...

I have added my number to the job pool. We are still seeking jobs, hoping to beat the deadline of March, when Hubby's current job ends. I'm finding it kind of exciting, as I have been applying for marketing jobs. Something I never thought I would go in search of again. This time is different though, I'm applying for jobs that would put me in a marketing department, not on a sales team. Keep your fingers crossed.

I've gotten back into the crafty grove, but am not currently making anything new for the shop. I'm just enjoying the art of creating again. Working on some gifts for the giving season. Acts of kindness, not expecting anything in return for the random gifting I will be doing this year. I'm just making things for others, people I know could use a little something to make their day brighter. It's so much fun to give what you make.

I have created a project list, a little list of things I want to finish and things I want to make. I'm crossing them off as I go. Life is just to short for me to have a closet full of unfinished projects. By making my list I can keep track of what supplies I have are for which project. Just a little something new I am trying out, but it seems to be helping me get organized. It's not a "to-do" list, it's merely a list of projects I have purchased supplies for, a list to help me keep track.

How about it? What's your random? Let it out so you can free your mind.

Monday Morning Musings - Pinterest Finds

2011-11-07T06:08:00.000-07:00

My weekend mornings were spent with my coffee and pinterest. I found a lot of great ideas to pin to My Boards this weekend and thought I would share a few of my favorite finds.

First up is a Youtube video on bottle cutting. This is easy and much safer than many of the other ways that are out there. I just might think about cutting a few bottle to create some cool gifts in the future.

Another great tutorial I came across is THIS ONE for printing on Fabric, from Modern Day Moms. You don't need any special supplies except for freezer paper. I see endless possibilities for this project...especial for my embroidery patterns.

The best tip I learned all weekend was to slip binder clips to you desk to run your cords through, so you won't loose them every time you unplug a device...See what I mean?

Source: forums.weddingbells.ca via Stacy on Pinterest

And the best space saving tip is this one about the shelf above the door. Where was this idea when we lived in our tiny Missouri house, that lacked in storage space? You have a tiny house? You need storage space? Then this just might be the answer for you!

Source: marthastewart.com via Stacy on Pinterest

So those are my favorite weekend finds. To see more of my idea boards Follow to me on Pinterest. Happy Monday!

Foodie Friday - Slow Cooker

2011-11-04T06:46:00.004-06:00

This week flew by! Don't ya think? Can't get over the fact that we're now in November and the weather is cooling or has cooled off, depending on where you live. I'm enjoying the comforts of cooking comfort food. Last night I made This in the slow cooker. Was delicious! I love when I can put a meal in the slow cooker and come home to a house filled by the rich aroma of dinner, waiting for me to eat.

I'm really surprised at how many working women I know that either don't use their slow cooker or don't have one. GASP! Really? If you you work eight hours a day and toss in a commute, a few kids and homework how can you not use a slow cooker? Seriously? I even used my slow cooker when I was single. Now, that I'm married it's my go to appliance. We use it all year long. How about you?

I make soups, stews and chilies in it, but that's the most common use. We also slow cook ribs and rib tips before we grill them. I make pork chops and stuffing, cook dried beans, bake whole chickens in my slow cooker.

There are only two of us in this house and I own the big 6 quart oval slow cooker...does that tell you anything? What if I tell you this is my second 6 quart oval? I had one before we were married and I wore it out. Love my slow cooker, but I have to admit I wouldn't love it if the crock portion did come out of the cooking base. Had one like that and donated it to a Goodwill, so many years back. If it isn't easy to clean you won't use it. Get yourself one that comes apart, you'll thank yourself.

Tell me are you a slow cooker fan? What dishes do you make the most in your slow cooker?

Studio Talk - Dawn Talks about Summer Market and the like

2011-11-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

I know many of you, maybe even all of you are currently focused on the up coming holiday season, and the thought of summer markets is a far off whisper. However, many of us are focused on our online presence, and I wanted to bring in another perspective for you to consider when building your business - Market Day. This is my second interview with Dawn Horner, from Northern Adornments. Dawn Shares with us her experience of Summer Markets and Craft Shows. Much of what she talks about in this interview can be transferred directly to those holiday market so many of you are or will be involved in. In this feature Dawn not only talks about local market opportunities, she also tells us about her experience teaching classes and donating her work for fundraisers.

Silver Mobius Knot Necklace

Dawn, the whole idea of selling local can be sooverwhelming. Where would you suggestsomeone start, if they are interested in breaking into the local market?

Depending where people live, sometimes there aren't a lot of events to pick from....so they can't afford to be "picky." However, I would say start in an event that allows you time to prepare and maybe in a location that's comfortable for you.

My first public sales were in the lobby of the hospital where I work. We have a nice wooden wagon that serves as a "booth" for local artists for day use to sell their work, and booth rent benefits the hospital auxiliary. I was already aware of what I'd have for my area, where the bathrooms were, and I knew the cafeteria was close to make a dash to. I have also sold over lunch time at my husband's office.

No matter how much preparation you do, a booth display is like being a homeowner. You will always see things that need improving and it will be a work in progress. If this was an easy endeavor, everyone would be doing it! We artists are a unique breed, and the different venues aren't for everyone. The key is to figure out if it's something you will enjoy doing, because nothing is worse than being stuck at an event for hours on end when you hate doing it.

Dawn at the Anchorage Market - May 14, 20011

Share with us what you feel were the pros andcons of the different venues in the local markets you have done.

Craft Shows - Usually well attended and advertised. Craft Shows can be horrible if not well attended and advertised :). The down side, fees can be expensive, especially if the promoter knows they have a proven track record for attendance and a good marketing plan. Though, I know I have a better chance of making my registration fee back if I'm at a convention center as opposed to a community center basement on the edge of town. "Small" events can be good - but know the history of the event before you invest all that work into an event that no one knows about. The first big craft show I did was very expensive, but done by a newer show producer. It was the worst event I've done since! None of the handcrafted vendors made their fees back because the event was run as a trade show. From the Sham Wow guy's loud mic to the lectures on home safety over the loud speaker - the mood was killed before it ever started. The only pro was we were all so bored, I got to meet a lot of other vendors and made some contacts.

Volcanic Wire Wrapped Set

Local Markets - all depends on the focus. Some are mostly focused on food items, some have a carnival atmosphere. If you like to be outside no matter what you're doing, they can be fun. Con - outdoor weather. Your display might need tweaked to allow for spontaneous rain, blowing rain, blowing wind, sudden cold front, direct sunlight on your items, etc. You might also have a longer distance to haul your stuff, if the vendor parking is located "off grounds" from the event.

Juried Shows- Well, unfortunately we only have a few juried shows in my area, and I was already turned down for the first one I applied to. However, in the artist community news travels fast and I was quickly informed by my peers here that everyone is turned down for that show. I have a few more to apply to and I'm not letting it frustrate me. I think it takes more work to put together pictures and the application for a juried show as opposed to a regular one, and I'm curious if the "elite" nature of the show will result in good attendance. This is an area I need to do more research on myself.

Kiosks - Interesting opportunities can be found in hospitals, businesses, even nursing homes. They usually charge a nominal fee to support a philanthropic interest for the business. The Con - they're not usually located in a place where people come expecting to spend money on art items. I keep a very low profile when I sell at my hospital, out of respect for the people that are generally experiencing some level of stress there. In some ways, folks welcome a distraction in the lobby while they're waiting for their test, or finishing visiting a family member; but I definitely use my "inside voice".....ha ha!

Galleries - Pro - someone else is "selling" your items for you while you go on about your life. Con- there's a price...the commission fees.They can range anywhere from 35 - 50% of your price. It's important to pick a place that has good foot traffic, good store layout and good people working there that have their cosigners best interests at heart. I did have one opportunity that fell apart due to difficulty working with the owner in getting set up there. That's not a good way to set the tone for a working relationship.

Are there any other venues you have tried?

Facebook has been an interesting source of sales. Sometimes simply by posting a picture, without really promoting it, I get messages from folks asking how they can purchase the item from me.

Do you have any advice for someone wanting tobreak into any a local selling market?

Viking Knit Bracelet Lampwork Bead

Take a deep breath and just DO IT. Be nice to everyone you meet and keep your eyes and ears open. You'll see quickly which vendors are on fire for what they do, and who the slouchers are that sit and grumble all day. I've always wanted to be with the winners, and I pick their brains any chance I get. Crafters and artists will talk - especially if they're disgruntled, so you can learn quickly which events are good and which to avoid just by talking to others. Start with smaller events that fit your budget and keep an open mind. I was set on using a certain table layout initially. Another vendor advised me to change it. It really wasn't the most comfortable layout for me, and after a few stubborn tries at it, I admitted my ignorance and changed my set up. When in Rome...

Another area that gets questions is donating to localauctions and fundraisers. Do you feelthat donating to local auctions and fundraisers has helped your business and inwhat way?

I have done donations as an attempt to get my name out in the community, but as of yet I have not seen any return from it. I continue to do it only as an outreach to support the cause or the person requesting me to do so. So, I avoid being over-used in this area by filtering the requests.

I know you have taught some classes at the localbead shop, how has this affected your business?

Sterling Silver Wire Ring Hammered

I think teaching benefits me because I have to tweak my skills to a higher level, and it's another source of income to supplement sales. The items I sell are purely self indulgent, where as if I teach, or offer kits, I am securing another income by helping people develop a skill. When one area is affected by the economy, the other area might weather the storm a bit more. Truly, I learn a lot from teaching and seeing what ideas the students have when they change it up their own way.

What suggestions would you share for someonewanting to start local classes?

Start with an original design that you know inside and out. It's one thing to make something, and another to teach someone else to reproduce it. Practice first by writing directions for your design on paper. That forces you to see all the elements you'll need. Are the supplies readily available for students to purchase, or is it better to supply them as part of the class fee? Are the tools accessible for people, or should you provide them? Think about how long it took you to make the piece, and think about how long it would take someone with less skill than you to attempt it. Then talk with local stores that you already have a relationship with to see if they think their customer base would be interested in your project. Shop owners know what has worked and what hasn't. Lastly, find a good friend and let them experiment by allowing you to teach them. You'll discover any areas you didn't even consider in your teaching plan.

You can learn more about Dawn by Checking out the following pages:

Thanks Dawn for taking the time to chat with us today.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

Abandoned - McNary, TX

Random Tuesday

2011-11-01T06:21:00.001-06:00

Tuesday? Wait...What? It's November 1st? Tuesday was sneaky enough, but it had to bring November with it? Okay, well such is life.

With November comes great things, like the start of my Christmas shopping and Thanksgiving. There are 52 days until Christmas and even less till that glorious Turkey Day. This year seems to have just flown by.

Our Holidays will be quite this year. Hubby's Dad usually comes for Thanksgiving, but this year he has decided not to make the trip. We've been alone for Christmas since we got married. So many people think this is sad, but we enjoy the peace and quiet and each other. There is just something wonderful about quiet holidays, spent at home. It really takes the hustle and bustle out of it all.

Yesterday I began making a list, a list of things I WANT to do. I know so many of my handmade artist friends are creating list to keep track of projects to complete. Lists of things they need done for that next holiday show, or custom orders that need finished or for items they want to get into their shops. I on the other hand am working on all the projects that have been forgotten, or shoved aside for those other lists.

Since I have gone back into a hobby state with SLMPetersen, I am beginning to enjoy my crafts all over again. I really haven't found that one true passion, so until I do I will create for the enjoyment and if that brings goods to my shop then so be it. I'm not trying to be everything to everybody, I'm just enjoying the journey and being everything for myself.

Well it's time to get in the shower and get my day started. I have a few phone calls to make and some projects to work on before the day runs away with me.

Monday Morning Musings - Paper, Scrapbooking, etc

2011-10-31T06:54:00.001-06:00

Good Morning! What a great weekend we had. I had some girl time with a friend, we had company for dinner Saturday night and we spent yesterday doing a few things around the house. I am still without camera batteries, as I seem to have a mental block about getting them when we are out. Today I will rectify that when I get off work. Not having a camera is making me crazy! Anyway...

I spent most of my evening last night sorting scrapbook paper. A couple of weeks ago I arranged a scrap swap with a few of my girlfriends. We're scattered all over the US so through the magic of mail 6 of us swapped some of our old supplies. The point of the swap was to give what we were no longer using or interested in. We only paid postage on the package we sent. My swap partner was great. I got lots of goodies (sorry no photo, see above).

So, last night I set about putting my goodies away, which lead to a big clean out of all my paper scraps. I have two 3-drawer units that hold 12 x 12 paper. I use it to sort my paper scraps, the leftovers from making cards and scrapbook pages. Five of those drawers contain paper scraps, that are sorted by color combos with one for patterned papers. Makes it all the more easier to put together cards and other small projects when I only have to sort through a small drawer rather than a big tub of scraps. I also got some new stickers, which I put onto their prospective hook. You can read more about my sticker and die-cut organization here.

Now for the fun part...We stopped at Lowe's on Saturday. So, while hubby wandered around the tools I did some paint chip collecting. I have seen a number of cool paper crafting projects done with paint chips as of late. Decided I could put my own spin on the paint chip phenomenon. There are some really cool paint chips out there these days. There are the usual suspects, but there are also textured ones, shinny ones and all sort of sizes.

With all the other projects I have going, I have plans of working on some cards and some scrapbooks, while winter starts to settle in here. I will get some camera batteries tonight so I can start taking photos of the projects I create. So many irons in the fire again...feels so good to be getting back into the swing of things. Happy Monday!

Foodie Friday

2011-10-28T06:50:00.000-06:00

Fall Temps have finally hit our part of Texas. It's only 40 degrees this morning in my part of the world. To my coworkers it's "freezing," but to me it's just chilly. I've been gone from Wyoming almost 4 years now, but my blood still thinks it's in Wyoming. I'm still running around in shirt sleeves and light sweaters while Texas natives are busting our heavy jackets. I find it all slightly amusing. What does this have to do with food, you ask? Actually, a LOT! It's now cool enough to make some of my favorite comfort foods and I can use my oven to do it!

The part about living here in the hot desert that I am not a fan of is the length of the hot spell. It started this year in late April and lasted into the first part of September! I'm not a fan of HOT, warm is great, but HOT sucks! Anyway...

I did some surfing last night and found a couple of cool new recipes that I'm going to try out. In spite of Hubby's hesitation on the pizza idea. I must try things, at least once. You never know if you don't try!

First up - Cauliflower Pizza Dough. While I don't have a gluten sensitivity, I do have a low tolerance for the traditional bread style carbs. My hypoglycemia converts traditional pizza into sugar way to fast, creating a wild ride for my blood sugar. This recipe however, would be a bit more stable for me and a lot lighter on the carbs as we continue to lower the carb count in our diet. Hubby isn't to sure...he isn't a fan of cauliflower, but I don't think he'll be able to tell. The rule in our house is "You must taste it, then if you don't like it we won't fix it again." With that said this pizza is going on the menu for next week.

The second recipe - Nacho Cheese Chips. I love chips, but I am very limited as to what I can find that doesn't include potato! This leaves me with a lot of corn products that really aren't all the healthy and bore me after a while. There are a few new types of gluten free chips on the market, but they are super hard for me to find in this city. So, when I came across this recipe last night I smiled! Finally something I could make at home and have control over the ingredients. I want to try and make some of these this weekend, if time allows.

Lastly, I have a link to some great tips for cutting out processed food. Changing what and how you eat is such a challenge, especially if you are making the effort to eat healthier options and limit the amount of processed food in your diet. Real Food Tips: 14 Steps to Cut Out Processed Food is a simple list of things you can do to get the junk out of your diet. Don't panic! You don't have to do it at once, you don't even have to do all the steps. Even if you just use a few of these tips your family will be a little healthier than they were before you started. None of these steps are easy, so pick one and stick with it. Once you have one mastered, try another. It's all baby steps.

In our house I am working on controlling my sugar intake and eliminating the hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils from the foods we eat. Not an easy task, but it's step one. Once I feel that we have gotten good at this I will pick another step to try.

Some of them were pretty easy for me, as I didn't do them in the first place - things like week 6: No low-fat, light or non-fat products. First off, I don't buy those things because I don't like the taste of most of them. Second, the sugar content is often higher in these products as they had to replace the fat with something to keep the flavor consistent. Just think about that the next time you think about buying low-fat, non-fat or light products.

Week two: "Real" beverages, was also pretty easy in our house. We don't drink soda, kool-aid,etc. We drink mostly water, with coffee or tea in the morning and an occasional iced tea here and there. I have never been a soda kid and Hubby kicked the soda habit shortly after we were married. I always feel like the sugary drinks make me thirstier, making me crave more of them. If I stick with water, tea and coffee I am more apt to have a quenched thirst and feel more hydrated.

Remember it's all baby steps, but every step you make towards eating healthier with make you body happier and healthier. Might even make your mind clearer and your wallet a little less empty. I know we have learned that by shopping more of the perimeter of the store and less of the isle, not only are we eating better, we are saving money! It costs a lot of money to eat that cheap.

Studio Talk -

2011-10-27T06:27:00.001-06:00

This week really flew by! How did it get to be Thursday already? Originally I planned on posting an interview today, but I still have a little editing to do and need to add the photos...so have to save that for another day. Then came the thought of showing you my embroidery progress on my frog quilt blocks. Alas, there are no batteries in my camera. So... We'll talk about my new found love - Pinterest!

I was slow to get on the wagon of this one, but now that I am on it I couldn't imagine life without it. Digital bulletin boards are perfect for the crafty and handmakers alike. When I come across something I like, while surfing, I pin it! My boards are sorted by categories that fit my needs and I can refer back to them as needed. It's awesome! Recipes, craft projects, yard and garden...it's all there.

The only draw back I see to this great new-found playground is that if the blog or website you found something on is closed, then you lose the link on your board. If there is something I really want to make, then I print the pic and add it to my inspiration journal.

Even with that tiny downside, I can say I am printing less and pining more. Pinetrest is a great business building tool if you ask me. What better way to keep track of all the project inspiration you find.

Another great feature of Pinterest is that you can follow all your friend and see what they're pinning. Have a peek into their imagination and find out what ideas you all have in common. Share and share alike. You can also invite friends that haven't found the wonderful world of Pinterest.

I encourage you to check it out today! Happy Pinning!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T05:44:00.001-06:00

Abandoned Missouri - Off Z Highway Near Clinton, MO

Random Tuesday

2011-10-25T06:31:00.000-06:00

Funny how Tuesday comes right after Monday. This morning I'm full of random. So, here we go...

The Bank I work for does a decorating contest bank wide for Halloween. Each branch decorates with a unique theme, then on Halloween each branch is judged and a winner is picked. Halloween is a big deal here and I am not a Halloween person. Last year I took the day off, but this year it was already spoken for so I get to take part...lucky me. I know there a bunch of you out there wondering what's wrong with me, but I can tell you I'm just not into Halloween. Christmas? That's a whole different ball game.

Mom bought me a coffee press. I'm learning. I can tell you that the coffee is fun to make. Does it taste better? Maybe, but the reason I wanted one was because I like flavored coffee and hubby isn't a big fan. Now I can make my flavored coffee and hubby can have full control of the regular coffee pot.

I keep trying new things in the kitchen. Last night it was zucchini and rutabaga chips. I made them in the oven similar to the turnip chips last week. I sliced the zucchini too thin, but will try them again. The rutabaga, we decided we like the turnips better. It's all a learning process.

I dropped my swap package into the mail yesterday to Vandy over at Testosterone Three & Me. Just a little swap for scrapbooking and paper crafts among a few of us girlfriends. Inspiration in an envelope.

I have started some little ornaments for Christmas, but it's a little early to talk details. I'll save the details and photos for November. I'll give you a clew though...they include felt and beads.

Well that takes care of my random this week...happy Tuesday!

Monday Morning Musings - Cookbooks, Markets & Dishes

2011-10-24T06:44:00.000-06:00

Spent most of the weekend on the go. So much that I don't really feel like I had much of a weekend, but it's Monday and here we are none the less.

We found a great Asian market this weekend. I brought home some new things to work with in my kitchen including mung beans, barley malt powder, two whole tilapia and a few seasoning packets for stir-fries and things. I love a good selection of ethic items to work with. We also made a trip to the local health food store where I picked up some great produce and some bulk goods.

I now have beautiful new dishes, that my mom picked up for us at a garage sale for $3. They are a beautiful stoneware withe a teal finish and brown accents. I love the plates they are a more oblong than round, and after eating dinner on them last night I am in love with them. There are an odd number of dinner plates and bowls, but they came form World Market. So, I think I'll make a little trip over to ours and see if they still carry the same style and color.

I have been working on 2 cookbook projects, as of late. One Mini cookbook that needs finishing and then there is the big project - a cookbook of all the recipes that I have posted on the blog over the last 3 1/2 years. I have hopes of retesting all of the recipes, photographing each dish and then compiling the book. Lots of work, but love doing it.

A good weekend, even though it went so quickly. The coming weekend will be a stay home weekend and I am looking forward to it.

Foodie Friday - Turnip Chips

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000-06:00

This week we gave Turnip Chips a whirl. Per Hubby's suggestion for potato re-placer in our house we bought some turnips last week at the grocery store. My initial intent was just o roast them in chunks and do sort of a rustic veggie roast with them, then the day came that they were on the menu. We were both starving and I wanted to do something that would be a little quicker. So, I decided on Turnip Chips.

I have video to share, that I found on YouTube, but first let me tell you what I did so you can learn from my mistakes. I didn't do any research into this idea, I did what I frequently do - I made it up as I went along. I knew that I baked kale chips at 400 degrees and that I tossed them well with a little olive oil and salt. With this concept in mind I sliced my turnips thin, preheated the oven and tossed the "chips" with oil and garlic salt.

The result - Good? Yes. Could they have been better? Definitely! So after my experiment, I followed my usual pattern and did a little investigating as to how to make them better. I will be trying this out next time we make turnip chips. I will also be using my food processor, with the slicing blade, to get more uniform chips. Here's the video I found. Hope you and your family with try these, they are delicious.

Studio Talk - When Life Takes It's Toll

2011-10-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

I know I am not alone when I say this - Sometimes life takes it's toll on our creativity. How many of you are here with me, or have been in the past? Life's events take twists and turns and sometimes we misplace our creative mojo along the way. Since I happen to be in this very spot in my life I thought I would share some words of wisdom that I am learning along the way...

Let yourself take a break. Sometimes that break is the best thing for your creative mind. I know for me forcing creativity usually ends in wasted time, effort and supplies, followed by frustration from the whole process.

Organize the mess. When we are in flurry of creative activity, there is always a creative aftermath. If you've lost your focus, many times the aftermath remains. Now is the time to sort, donate, reorganize and clean the studio. It can give a fresh prospective to your creative eye.

Find a creative project that is repetitive. Some of you are scratching your heads with this one, I know, but hear me out. When I am stressed I turn to projects like embroidery and crochet. Projects that require more repetition than imagination. This relieves my stress, allows me to be creative, and takes the pressure off of the constant need to create something original. Find the mindless part of your craft and create that way.

Let you mind wander. This is really important to me. My mind needs to take a vacation once in a while, to explore hidden streets and pretty flower gardens. Now, that you're scratching your heads let me explain what I mean. When I am in a creative slump I cruise the internet for ideas, pinning them to my pinterest boards as I go. I also flip through magazines and clips pictures for inspiration later. I go to the library and check out books on crafts that I find interesting. For example I love stained glass, it's not one of my creative hobbies, but love looking at the colors and ideas in books. They spark my creativity in other ways.

Think outside the box. This is big. If you get in a creative rut, sometimes it's best to think outside the box. Just because you have always done it that way, doesn't mean you will always have to do it that way. Approach from a new angle, you just might find a new and better way to create that same old project.

Make something for yourself. If you are spending your creative juice building a business, you are spending most of your time creating for someone else. When was the last time you made something for yourself? Sometimes there is nothing more rewarding than creating a one of a kind piece for you to showcase your work to tell yourself you're worth it.

I hope this helps those of you who are in the same place I am right now. Life gets in the way sometimes, certain events can take their toll on your creative spirit. It's okay. Let it run it's course and you will find your creative north again. I am working on, together we will find our path again.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

Gila River - August 2011

Random Tuesday

2011-10-18T05:55:00.000-06:00

Lost in a sea of craziness! That's where I am. So many ideas, so many thoughts, so many changes. These are trying times for us right now, but we are strong and together we can do anything. At least that is what Hubby and I believe. So, let's random up, shall we?

We now know that there will be no renewal of Hubby's contract in March. That means job apps have been flying out since we received confirmation of the rumors that had been circulating. The current state of things is pointing us back in the direction of our house in MO, that has yet to sell.

Me, well I'm trying to find the right path to travel for a career. I'm 33, and am still at a loss as to what to be when I grow up. Going back to school is staring me straight in the eyes. I am putting a lot of deep thought into this and researching my options.

What about SLMPetersen? Well, at present state, I am liquidating my shop while I build a new product line. I had hopes that I would be able to release a new line in November, but life really has taken me a different direction. At present time I have a lot of personal things on my plate that are taking precedence. So, SLMPetersen will be there when I get things a little more on track.

The blog, I'll just keep writing and hope you all keep following. You will notice that as I seek out comfort, in this time of stress, a number of the posts will revert back to my foodie roots. Why? Cause that's what I do when I'm in an emotional state...I cook, I eat and I think about food. Along with the food you will probably see more photographs as well. My photography is the perfect escape for my creativity. Writing, food and photography are the three things I do best.

So what's your random train of thought this week? What's on your mind?

Monday Morning Musings - Food and Such

2011-10-17T06:46:00.002-06:00

How is it that Monday sneaks up on us so quickly? I had plans of writing some blog posts this weekend, but then I got wrapped up in another project and lost track of time. Anyway...

We spent some time yesterday planning this weeks meals. We are finally back on track with our little fridge calendar, planning so we won't be stuck asking each other that dreaded question "What's for dinner?"

In an attempt to eat better we are trying to eat less red meat, more fish and at least one night of vegetarian. I have begun shopping more of the perimeter of the store, where the fresh ingredients are, and less time in the isle. We are walking out with a lower grocery bill and better food as a result of this one change in our grocery shopping habits.

When I wrote about diet changes on Friday a few of you spoke out about your challenges. It seems eating better is a challenge we are all facing these days. I have taken to reading the labels of every package we buy, in an attempt to eliminate hydrogenated oils of any kind, monitor sugars and seek out whole grains. This sounds easier than it looks. You can't believe the writing on the front of the package when it comes to these things.

Just because it says no trans-fats doesn't make it true. Read the ingredients you might be surprise what you learn. Whole wheat is another victim of mislabeling. The front may say wheat or whole grain, but if the first ingredient is enriched flour you aren't really getting whole wheat nor whole grains. Enriched flour is white flour they add the vitamins and some of the bran back into, but it isn't whole wheat, it's still white flour no matter how you look at it.

I am really trying to educate myself and focus on the can rather than the can't. I have learned that if you focus on what you shouldn't have, what is hard to find, or what is bad you will never see the forest through the trees. Case in point - I shouldn't eat a lot of sugar and I know this. So rather than focus on the longing for all the baked, white flour and sugar laden cakes and pastries I use to love so much; I focus on the things I can have like home baked goods made with whole wheat flours and more natural sugars. When I make things at home I have control over the ingredients and can enjoy a little sweet now an then without the adverse reaction from my blood sugar dropping.

I encourage you to focus on what you can have an not what is off limits. Find alternatives. We're baking more and frying less in an effort to reduce the fat intake in our house. We still eat buffalo wings, but we make them from scratch and bake them rather than fry them. Finding alternatives is key to staying on track.

Foodie Friday - Learning to Eat Again

2011-10-14T07:11:00.002-06:00

So many of us are trying so hard to change our bad habits, we're learning to eat again. Diet is so important to our health and so many of us really don't pay attention to what we're eating, how much we're eating and what's in the foods we're choosing.

Over a year ago I was told that I have hypoglycemia, so I set out to educate myself on such a matter. Now we are being faced with other health issues in our household and I am delving into research again. We're working on diet changes and lifestyle changes.

I find it really fascinating how food choices can affect our health. It all needs to be baby steps, but my goal is to work on getting the packaged, processed foods out of our house. It's all one thing at a time. I'm starting by using up the packaged mixes I have in my pantry for cakes, brownies and muffins. Once these mixes are gone, I will not buy any more of them. I always bake when I have time, so the small amount of extra time that will be involved to make a cake from scratch won't be that much more work.

We're working on getting healthier. We're taking steps to improve our quality of life. This is not to say we'll eliminate everything we enjoy eating. This means that the "junk food" we enjoy will become a treat, rather than a part of our weekly or even daily eating habits.

What about you? Are you working on changing your eating habits, are you working on learning to eat again?

Studio Talk - Linky Love

2011-10-13T07:20:00.001-06:00

These 4-day weeks seem to fly by and drag all at the same time. I have to admit I'm not prepared for Studio Talk this week. We spent the past weekend in Santa Fe, NM, My Mom flew in last night and now it's Thursday...wow! So, anyway I thought I would share some of my favorite business building blogs this morning.

These are just a few of my favorite blogs for business advice and business building. If you only pick one or two of these to follow I strongly suggest Handmadeology and When I Grow Up Coach. These are the two blogs I absolutely love to read everyday. I have learned a lot and have really started to look deeper into my own goals and business destination.

If you have a favorite business building/advice blog feel free to share it with your comments.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

Pics from our trip to Santa Fe, NM this past weekend.

Random Thoughts

2011-10-11T06:16:00.000-06:00

I love three-day weekends. We were out of town yesterday, hence the no blog post. We spent the three-day weekend in Santa Fe, NM. Had a nice weekend, it was great to get away. We met up with Hubby's Sister and her Hubby, as it was halfway between us and them.

The weekend was colder than we had anticipated, but enjoyable none the less. Santa Fe is a busy tourist/college town. Lots of people coming and going for so many reasons. We ate some great meals at some great places, stopped into some beautiful shops and enjoyed being with family.

The 5 hour drive home seemed more like 10 and we were happy to get here. While we love going away, we love coming home just as much.

There is a lot on my plate this week, with it only being 4 days long. My Mom will be flying back in tomorrow and spending some time with us as well as some dear friends in Las Crucues, NM. So going to be a bit crazy around here. I am going to try and spend a little time tonight getting back on my blogging schedule...we'll hope that it all works out.

Tomorrow I'll share some of the great pics I took while we were in Santa Fe. The have some beautiful buildings and some stunning churches.

Have a great Tuesday and a great week!

Friday Fall Photos

2011-10-07T06:57:00.000-06:00

I'm thrilled for it to be Friday! I have a 3-day weekend ahead of me and couldn't be happier. So, there will be no post on Monday, as we will be enjoying the long weekend. Truthfully today isn't much of a post either, as I am just going to share some Fall photos I love, taken when we lived in Missouri. I slept in this morning so am running a little behind. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Enjoy your weekend and if you live in a part of the world where the beautiful colors of fall touch you, take your camera and get some fantastic shots of mother natures new wardrobe.

Studio Talk - Holding Pattern

2011-10-06T06:38:00.000-06:00

In case you all haven't noticed...things are in a kind of holding pattern. I had plans of releasing some new products in November, but life is getting in the way and the best laid plans of mice and men...well any way. I am not going to make excuses, nor am I going to feel remorse for not following through on this. I am, however, still liquidating my current inventory, so now is the time to SHOP!

As for the studio and the Studio Talk Feature...well....hmmm. No, just kidding! The studio is in a full fledged purge and organize mess, I mean mode. It will be a while before anything comes out of it. Studio Talk here on the blog will continue. I have another interview lined up with the fantastic Dawn Horner of Northern Adornments and I am working on a few other feature articles.

While I am not currently creating anything in the studio, I am diligently working on finishing a large embroidery project. One of the UFOs I have in my piles that I want to see finished. So my time is being spent on the Frog Block project, 14 quilt blocks that I am hand embroidering.

As I stated earlier this week, there is a lot of stress and unknown factors in the Petersen House at present time. Since I find my embroidery soothing that is my focus of creativity right now. It relaxes me, it's something I can do that is pretty mindless, it travels well wherever I go and I can do it while watching movies with Hubby.

I'm not going to apologize for the decisions I am currently making. I am seeking out my passion and creative drive. I have learned, over the past year, that my current focus isn't what I want to do, there is not enough creative freedom in my work. Making accessories isn't where I wanted this to go. I love sewing, but following a pattern isn't creative...even when I'm the one who created the pattern in the first place. To me it has all become a bit to much like factory work.

I started this venture because I loved what I did and wanted to share it with the world. Then came that evil word - NICHE. Yes, it requires caps and I am banning it from my vocabulary. To understand this statement you must first know a couple of things - I'm not trying to be everything to everybody. It's all about being everything to me. Take a look around, I have many talents to share. Not everyone will understand this, in fact most of you won't. Many of you might even be asking "Why would she want to try and do it all?" The answer is quite simple - Because it make me HAPPY!

If you choose to leave me in the dust I will understand, but if you choose to stick around you just might learn something. Right now, SLMPetersen is the only part of my life I have complete control of. Things have to change before they can get better. I need to explore new things and find the right destination for my creative life. Take the journey with me, learn as I learn and watch me grow.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-05T06:22:00.000-06:00

Mushrooms - Gila National Forest

Random Thoughts

2011-10-04T06:33:00.000-06:00

Randomness always comes around so fast. This week is no different. Monday flew by and here we are at Tuesday - a day of randomness. Well, this week I have a few things to share, so let's get started.

First, I have to tell you I absolutely love my new make up brushes! A few weeks back I watched a little mini video on buying make-up, what to by where. They talked a lot about what to purchase at drugstores and department stores. Nothing too interesting that I already didn't know, but then she said art supply store and I had to back up the video a few seconds to see that part all over again. That's when I learned that the best place to buy high quality brushes for great price was your local art supply store. I took this advice and visited one of out local craft supply stores and I have to say I spent $12 on 3 brushes and they were worth every penny! These are the best make-up brushes I have ever used. The same quality brush in the cosmetic department would have cost me a little more than double for the same style of brushes. Well worth the trip!

My next favorite find came this week when I found this delicious recipe for breakfast cookies. Since I cut my beloved breakfast bars out of my diet, a little over a year ago, I have been on the hunt for a replacement. While I recently found the Luna Bars to be of eatable quality, they are a bit more like a rice crispy treat rather than a breakfast bar. I loved the soft breakfast bars with the fruit center, but the sugar content wasn't good for my body's needs; so I have to leave them behind. Anyway...back to the recipe I found yesterday. These cookies are the same texture I have been looking for, sugar can be adjusted to my needs and I love all the goodness that one can pack into these delicious breakfast snacks. A perfect side to my yogurt and they are totally portable. If you decided to try out this tasty recipe I suggest you read the reviews, there are a ton of great ideas on how to change up the ingredients in these great snacks.

Thirdly, my interests have been drawn to Pinterest. I was some what reluctant about going, but now that I have joined the masses I am in love! What a great electronic bulletin board! If you're already a member find me and let's follow each other, if you haven't joined I suggest you check it out. Great for sharing ideas with everyone you know!

Okay...well that should take care of my random this morning. Now, go have a good cup of coffee and check out some of the things I talked about today. You'll be glad you did.

UnFinished Objects...

2011-10-03T06:25:00.001-06:00

The weekends seem to go so quickly, even when we stay home. I spent some time cleaning the studio and working on my UFOs. Do you remember the thread project from a few months ago? Well, It's finally done! I didn't take any photos, but that which was marked DMC is now in the proper box and that which I couldn't identify with a color number is in a second box. From the looks of things, if I decide to purchase any more DMC thread I will be needing to purchase another box...as I filled mine last night, every single hole!

I have finished two of the 14 Frog Quilt Blocks I have been working on. A third one is in the hoop and coming along nicely. The photo is block number two before it was finished.

I have turned back to embroidery for a number of reasons. First, because it is so very relaxing for me. I can't explain why, but it definitely soothes my nerves. Second, I am really burned out on all things creative. I told Hubby this weekend I just wanted to pack it all and put it in storage so I didn't have to look at it any time soon.

I think a lot of my current state of mind has a lot to do with our current state of the unknown. I haven't' talked about this on the blog, but in 6 months Hubby's job contract ends and it will not be renewed. So while job apps fly through the computer in a race to find a job before the 28th of March, we are in a holding pattern of sorts. Everything is just so temporary...and I'm just so unmotivated and burned out. Please bear with me... Things are just a bit unstable at this point, but enough about the unstability....

My good friend Dawn, from my blog interview on Business Start-Up last week, has started her own blog! So, once your done reading here, stop over and tell her hi at Northern Adornments! Let Dawn know I sent you! She loves new friends, has some stunning jewelry and shares some beautiful photos of the Alaska wilderness.

Studio Talk - Buiness Start-UP an Interview with Dawn from Northern Adornments

2011-09-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

Dawn and Her Hubby

Good Morning! I am really excited to bring you this interview with Dawn owner and creator of Northern Adornments, Handmade Jewelry that Warms the Soul. I'll give you a little background about how I met Dawn and why I chose to interview her, and then we'll jump into the interview. So get your coffee and settle in.

I met Dawn through The Hive, as social networking place for handmade artist. She saw a post that another friend of mine did about The Charlie Bags I make. Dawn contacted me; she just had to have a custom Charlie Bag. From there our friendship grew through emails, Facebook and the like. I have since designed a second Charlie Bag for her and found her to be a lady on a mission when building her business. Thus, the reason I chose her for a Studio Talk Interview.

While so many of us are focused on our online presence, we don't always talk about what really goes into the behind the scenes of starting a handmade business. Dawn does an awesome job of telling us her story, the blood, sweat and craziness that went into building her dream. So, enough chitchat from me, lets chat with Dawn from Northern Adornments...

Dawn, would you tell us a little about yourself and the how and why of beginning your creative business journey?

I originate from Pennsylvania, born and bred there. My husband and I moved to Alaska after our family had grown up, and the house seemed way too big - which was probably the most exciting and scary thing I ever did!

Initially, I was awe struck by the basic, organic nature of the lifestyle here. Much of our economy revolves around tourism, so the cycle of life is to work ones craft during the winter and sell during the summer. Every town here, no matter how small, has frequent art fairs and markets, enough to keep a craftsperson booked daily.

Dichroic Glass Mint Green Icy Pendant

When some friends and family visited us here, they really took notice of how much I enjoyed showing off our state for them. They were the inspiration for me to find a way to continue to be an ambassador while doing something I loved. The rest of the story has been a roller coaster ride of building my creative and business skills.

We all go through a process when deciding on a name for our businesses. Would you talk about yours and what you went through to name your business?

I think in some ways this was the hardest part of starting my business. Everything hinges on your name! It defines your work, your line, and the emotional response you are trying to create when people see your items. Your name also has to have the ability to grow with you.

When naming Northern Adornments, I kept leaning towards terms that described me instead of what I do. I definitely had to stop and focus on what my "lines" were going to be. I'm really impulsive in creating, so I made some boundaries for what I work on, otherwise I'd be all over the board.

You and I chatted a while back about business start-up and you gave me some insight on how you track your inventory. Would you share your system with us?

My system is a blessing from my husband, who wrote programs for manufacturing companies. Thankfully, he broke it down simply for me.

Each item gets a code based on the month I made it, whether it's a bracelet, ring, etc, and how many I've made that month. That way of thinking really forced me to focus on my styles, since I also code them for chainmaille, Viking knit, wire work or beadwork.

I was all over the board initially, and now I can see which style is more popular, what I might be short on, etc. I put the code on the back of my price tags and write just the code on my receipts when I sell my items. This makes it a lot easier to write up sales quickly, especially when it's a busy day at the market.

After a day at the market, I go through my logbook and draw a single line thru the items I've sold. I can also make a notation if I gift an item for a fundraiser, or if I "pull" it to rework it, etc. My logbook is a record of every item I create, and my receipt book matches it by listing every item that goes out the door. The items not crossed out should be what I have on hand.

Do you track where you sales come from and do you feel this has helped you build your business?

Yes, through my receipt books. I note on each page if I was at the market or if it was a website sale or custom order. I track my sales based on the source or venue.

A majority of my business is local, but there is a difference in what products suit certain venues. What's popular in the tourist market might not draw the same attention when I sell at local businesses (there are many opportunities to sell at local hospitals, nursing homes and businesses- but that could be a completely separate interview).

I've learned, from tracking my sales, to be true to my own style, with modifications to the tastes I see in my audience. It is easy to see other vendors have great success with a particular product, and wonder if you should do what they’re doing. The challenge is to promote and educate on your own craft, but be willing to adapt to different colors or presentations based on the feedback of the shoppers.

Success is more likely when you anticipate the trend, tastes and economy of the next show and your creations meet the needs of the expected customers. For example, right now I'm using a lot of longer chains on necklaces because we're heading into "sweater weather", and people are looking for more opera-length styles.

Now for the big question – Licenses – while each state is different about their requirements, this is a daunting task for many. Talk us through your experience in Alaska, with bout your state business license and you’re “made in Alaska” licensing.

We have some interesting state run programs here that recognize local artists. They are defined by state law, and one must apply to be given a "made in Alaska" certification. Then you are given the right to truly label your items as such. I believe this program greatly protects our visitors, which can be a vulnerable population.

I've seen vendors, which are low on inventory, or just not true to their art, mix their stock with merchandised pieces. We have to respect the time and money people put into their shopping choices, and represent ourselves ethically.

By being a "Made in Alaska" artist, many venues offer us "crafters" booths at a slightly reduced fee. We do a good job of policing ourselves. A vendor who's not abiding by the rules can be asked to leave an event - and find their reputation tarnished.

Prehnite Cabochon Wire Wrapped Pendant

However, in order to qualify for the certification of “made in Alaska," you must first have a business license. I've also found out, at the last minute sometimes, that a new show I'm doing in a different "borough" requires a local license fee from that area. When in doubt, call the local chamber of commerce to make sure you have the right paperwork and are collecting the right taxes.

What are your current marketing strategies? Share what you have tired and why it works or doesn’t work.

I am very blessed that a majority of my business is face to face, but I can't ignore my web or social media presence either. We look at our website stats after each market, and hubby can see from where our "hits" originate. I had a marketing gal help fix up my business facebook page graphics for me, and I am looking at Google advertising and blogging over the winter.

Do you have any tips you’d like to share regarding finances, bookkeeping and the like?

The most important thing I can harp on is - set a fair price for your work. Our egos and sense of self can get caught up in our pricing, and we set a price on what we think of ourselves, instead of what went into making our piece. You must be able to replace your supplies, grow your supplies and pay yourself a fair wage to keep the business from burning out. If it's not going well, you might need to have a talk with yourself about a raise :)

You can find out more about Dawn and Northern Adornments by visiting any of these links:

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Some of my favorite shots form the Zoo this past weekend.

Random Thoughts

2011-09-27T06:37:00.000-06:00

Random Tuesday again. So, what's running in my brain this week? Let's see...

I am in love with Dress Green Products! Lauren is a fantastic person to work with. She is happy to answer any and all your questions and her shipping is fast. In our house we're in love with the shampoo bars she makes and I just got some of the Balance Facial Toner, which is the first toner that didn't feel like it was burning my face. I am in LOVE!!!

I have to say that I am not a fan of the new Facebook layout. I'm totally lost and seem to get what I ACTUALLY enjoy reading, rather than what Facebook THINKS I want to read. Hoping they work out the kinks in the new system, because the last thing I want to do is join an new social media place and have to move all my stuff.

If you follow my updates on my website you saw yesterday that I have gotten back into my embroidery. It really does seem to be the best thing to calm my nerves when I start to stress about things...and trust me right now there is a lot of stress and I don't want to go into all the details here. I am finishing some old projects and pondering new ones.

I'm a little off my blog planner game this week...but that's okay. The only thing that means to you the reader is that my blogs will be posting a little later this week, as I am writing in the mornings this week.

Well I guess that covers my random. Have a beautiful creative day!

Monday - Getting Back on Track

2011-09-26T06:45:00.000-06:00

We had a much needed relaxing weekend. Hubby and I took the weekend to just be together and I feel like we reconnected. Not that Hubby and I are ever disconnected, it's just that sometimes life gets in the way of us being us. So, while we couldn't get out of town we had a stay-cation getaway right here in the city.

Friday night was used for R & R. Watching movies, snuggling and laughing. Saturday morning we got up, enjoyed our coffee, had a simple breakfast and then got ready for our day.

When your on vacation you go and see the sights, but when was the last time you saw the sight in your own town? Well, we did just that. Hubby took me to the Zoo! Some of you may be wondering what a couple with no children are doing going to the Zoo. Well, I'll tell you - when it comes to the Zoo I am the child! I love the Zoo!

We had a great time walking around and checking out all the animals, and seeing the different habitats the zoo has created to make the areas look realistic to the natural habitat of the animals.

I took 84 photos with my digital camera, most of which turned out amazing. I've selected three of my faves for this post. I can't possibly put all 84 in a blog post...you'd be here all day looking at photos.

After the morning at the Zoo we came back home for a nap and then got ready for dinner. Hubby took me to a new Italian place that we had never been too. A little placed tucked away in a small strip mall.

I really can say enough good things about Cafe Italia, a small cafe , with only 12 tables. The menu is one page printed on cardstock. Everything is very simple and very well done.

We enjoyed a caprese salad (sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil drizzled with olive oil), the Smoked pizza which came with bell peppers, fennel sausage, and smoked mozzarella and a loaf of their bread. Everything was simply prepared, but packed with delicious flavor. We'll be going back to this little place again.

We ended our date with a trip to the bookstore and an ice cream on the way home. Once home we relaxed a bit before falling into a much needed restful sleep.

Our stay-cation weekend was much needed and much enjoyed. We're now rested and ready to take on whatever is next...and there is a lot of what's next in the near future. Have you ever done a stay-cation?

PS - There was only 1 entry into the Manic Monday Giveaway from two weeks ago - Making Vandy my winner. I will be shipping you the little cookbooks this week! Have a great Monday!

Blogging Break

2011-09-23T06:00:00.002-06:00

I will be taking a blogging break for a little while...just a week, maybe not even that long, but it's much needed. There are a lot of things going on in our house right now that need my attention. Sorry to disappoint you if you came by today to read about food, as it is Foodie Friday.

There will still be a drawing on Monday and I will announce the winner of the Manic Monday Giveaway. From there it will be a much needed break to attend to all of the other parts of my life that are currently in need of attention. Thanks for your understanding...have a beautiful weekend!

Studio Talk - When I Started Out

2011-09-22T06:00:00.002-06:00

When I started out, blogging and selling handmade, it was more about me than those I would touch. It was about expressing my inner voice somewhere and making a little extra cash for my hobbies.

I never knew I would get so wrapped up in buying handmade and sharing the love of the handmade world. Last week when I read and then borrowed these words on Facebook it really hit me...what this has become and is all about ~

"When you buy from a boutique or a small business, you are not helping a CEO buy a third vacation home. You are helping a Mom put food on the table, a little girl finally getting those dance lessons or helping a student pay for college. Our customers are our shareholders - and they are the ones we strive to make happy. Thank you for supporting boutiques and small businesses!"

I create things and write things to be shared, enjoyed and passed on. I do it all for you ~ The Reader, The Customer. It has really become a way of life for me. I would much rather buy handmade than from the big box store. I enjoy supporting fellow handmade craftsmen.

Spread the word! If you write a blog your reads want to know you appreciate them. If you are a handmade craftsman the bell rings even truer to your customers - the deserve to know you care. Telling is the only way our reads and customers know that we do it all for them. This is how you build a following and bring repeat customers.

On a side note - Don't forget about the giveaway...you could win 4 recipe booklets to get a jump start on your holiday baking. All you have to do is leave a comment on Last Monday's post. I'll be drawing a winner on the 26th of September.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-21T06:00:00.001-06:00

Taken Gila National Forest - Camping Trip, August 2011

Random Thoughts

2011-09-20T06:30:00.000-06:00

I'm a little off my game this week so this post is a little late this morning. Where do I begin with this week's random thoughts... Let's just skip my random thoughts this morning and I'll share a few quotes from some articles I have read this week....

It's not enough to find your passion. You have to follow through and take action.
If you want to live a life of purpose, fulfillment and passion, it's up to you to make it happen.
You can follow your passion if you will only make the decision to take action.
When you stop blaming and making excuses, you reclaim you power.
Suspend your disbelief for just a moment and take a small step toward making your passion a reality.

I hope these quotes can help you find clarity as travel down the path of building your business. Have a great Tuesday.

On a side note - Don't forget about the giveaway...you could win 4 recipe booklets to get a jump start on your holiday baking. All you have to do is leave a comment on Last Monday's post. I'll be drawing a winner on the 26th of September.

Monday...Short and Sweet

2011-09-19T06:00:00.002-06:00

Life is full of challenges and we make a lot of choice about those very challenges. Should I....? or... How did I get here? or... Where am I going? But sometimes we need a little reminder of what it all means and why we started it all.

Last week I posted an article on my fan page titled "You Must Resist the Urge to Quit" from Dumb Little Man. I thought I would share the link here on my blog as well. Maybe it will give you the courage to carry on with your own dreams. While I'm sorting out my own.

Foodie Friday - CHOCOLATE!

2011-09-16T06:00:00.002-06:00

After last week, I feel Chocolate is the perfect topic for today's post. After all it is my go to comfort food. No. Don't preach to me about emotional eating. That's not a topic up for discussion...moving on! Now, where was I? Oh...yes...CHOCOLATE!

I thought I would go back through and pull some of my favorite chocolate recipes. If you've read my Who I am page, you know that I make my own Chocolate Sauce. Yes, yes, I am crazy...but I'll never go back to that brown syrup in a squeezy bottle.

Other Tasty Chocolate Recipes I love are:

Triple Chocolate Cake - Perfect for impressing guest
Chocolate Cream Cheese Layer Dessert - also know as better than sex dessert
Cherry Chocolate Cake - Super Easy & Super Yummy!
Chocolate Pudding - Way better than that stuff from the box
Chocolate Chip Cheese Cake - Really? Do I need to say more?
Disappearing Brownies - No post about chocolate is complete without brownies

Now. GO. Make something Chocolate!

Studio Talk - Taking a Stand

2011-09-15T06:00:00.001-06:00

I talked last week about facing my fears (you can read more about that here). This week I am taking a stand. I need to be the change I want to see... This is hard, but it's my next step. I'm going to be doing some restructuring.

At this time I will no longer be creating custom orders and I will be liquidating My Etsy Shop. I know, some of you may have just fallen out of your chair. Pick yourself up, brush yourself off and keep reading. Maybe you should get another cup of coffee before you continue.

This was a difficult decision for me to make, but I really must follow my heart. While I have enjoyed this leg of my creative journey, it is time for me to travel further down my path. I have sat still here for far to long.

I will be focusing more on my blog and my website, while I develop a new product line to launch at the beginning of November. I will resume taking custom orders in November. At that time also, anything that still remains in My Etsy Shop will be moved to SLMPetersen.com and placed in the clearance section of My Online Store.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-14T06:00:00.003-06:00

In Loving Memory of Our Big Boy - Coop 2000 - 2011

Random Thoughts

2011-09-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

You're just gonna have to indulge me today. Most of what I have to Random about this weekend isn't about shop talk, blog talk, or even much fun.

We had a rough weekend.

What I learned - One, Term Jobs SUCK! We'll talk about that some other day. TWO - putting a beloved fur baby to sleep is one of the hardest things in the world.

So needless to say, we had to put our big Rottie/Lab baby to sleep this weekend and there were lots of tears and sad faces in our house all weekend. We'll Definitely miss our Coop. Big, lovable, goof that he was.

Matilda (Mini Australian Shepherd, Coop's Mini Me) is still a little lost without her big buddy, but I think she knew, maybe even before Mom and Dad did that it was time. She is adjusting, and becoming our shadow.

The Girls (Ashes & Cinders - Cats) didn't like Coop when he moved in, but after six years are just now catching on that the big smelly guy isn't here any more.

The Mommy and The Daddy are faring. He was Hubby's dog, and a part of the package when I married Hubby. Apart of my life for 6 years and part of Hubby's for 11. At the age of 12 we knew that this day could and would come, but you still can't help say "why so soon?"

When the pets in your family are more than "the dog in the backyard," when they become your children because of choices you make, when you fall in love with their big brown eyes and wooo-woo - Letting go is the hardest thing you can ever do.

If you missed Monday's post, go read it now. Not only will it cheer you up, it has a giveaway!

Manic Monday Giveaway!

2011-09-12T06:00:00.002-06:00

In honor of the cooler weather, and being able to do a little baking over the Labor Day Weekend, I thought it was time for another Manic Monday Giveaway!

I've been cleaning out my cookbook stash and letting go of a few that I don't use. Trying to send them to better homes. I know some of you think it's a little early to talk about holiday baking and gift giving, but it's where my train of thought currently is. So, this week's giveaway is a set of 4 recipe booklets - 3 for baking cookies and 1 for making gift jars.

I have copied out the recipes I enjoy and am now setting the little books free! Keep in mind these are previously used, no splatter or sticky pages, but the covers are a bit worn on a couple of them.

To enter is quite simple, leave me a post telling me what your favorite holiday treat is. I'll also give extra entries for share, so if you tweet it, leave it on facebook or blog about the giveaway come back and leave a comment for each time you shared.

Foodie Friday - Real Food

2011-09-09T06:00:00.001-06:00

If you've followed SLMPetersen forever, then you'll be familiar with my interest in Getting the Junk out of our diets... If not you can ready some of my soap box posts here, here and here. This week seems to be about confessions for me, so in sticking with Monday's theme...we'll carry on...

When Hubby and I had a tiny income, while living in Missouri, we ate better. Much better. Now we have a little more comfortable income and we are finding ourselves traveling back down the familiar path of - "let's just go out." I think I'm the worst at suggesting this options, as I hate the heat and our current kitchen. The heat puts a damper on any baking or my want/need to stand over the stove to make any kind of meal. The kitchen is lacking in counter space, is dark and the window doesn't open. Yes, I said window...I digress...

A week ago, maybe it's been two, I stumble up this article on the Yahoo front page - How One Family Broke Its Junk Food Addiction. Being the foodie that I am I couldn't resist the click. I read, pondered and clicked the link for their blog - 100DaysofRealFood.com. Now, here it is a couple of weeks later and I am reading the blog posts as they filter into my Google reader, hooked like the little food junkie that I am!

Truthfully, this article and blog couldn't have come at a better time for me. I am in the thralls of revamping our eating habits, yet again, as fall will HOPEFULLY bring COOLER TEMPS. Yes, those 3 little words need to be in all caps - I am DONE with the heat!!! Moving on...

I became a fan of 100 Days of Real Food on Facebook, am now checking out their Meal Plans and working on making our meals better! While I am still undecided on whether or not our house will be taking the 10 day pledge, I love the wonderful food resource this blog has created for me.

What about you - Would you take the 10 Day Pledge? Or even the 100 Day Pledge? Or are you just to ingrained in your "evil" junk food ways?

PS - Don't forget to check out today's Handmade Holiday Gift Guide over on my website. Each week a different artisan is featured.

Studio Talk - Facing Your Fears

2011-09-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

Wow! That's an intense title, right? Don't run off...It's not going to be that scary. I promise! If you read Monday's Post, then you know this just goes right along with this week's theme of confessions.

How many of you are sitting back waiting for the perfect thing to fall in your lap? Wanting that perfect idea to shake the life into you? Maybe you're doubting your chosen path. I know I'm wander around in this forest of fears...and I can't seem to see the forest through the trees, as they say.

So, after confessing my fears on Monday, I now have to face them. Easier said than done, but off I go. It's time to focus on my true passion and mold my other talents around the passion. Oh, I'm not going to reveal all my secrets just yet, mostly because I don't want to say something I won't be following through on - also part of Monday's Fess Up.

Step 1 - was admitting the problem. Now, on to Step 2 - STOP listening to peer pressure and unsolicited advice. Yikes! That sound big, right? It is, and it's meant to be! We all have, them those outside influences that tell us what they think we should be focusing on, but if those things aren't tied to our passion they become chores. The dreaded project that we think we have to finish in order to create success. However success will NEVER come from something you dread doing.

Step 2 is more about looking inward rather than outward for the answers. Feedback is a great tool to fine tune your skills and your focus, but if you're out there drifting around still seek out your focus feedback can be a bit overwhelming. You need to look inward and ask yourself some pretty intense questions about the direction you want to go in, before you start seeking feedback.

My suggestion - start by writing down those day dreams. Don't laugh, I'm dead serious. Get it down on paper! If you put it in black and white, you'll begin to see what direction you want to travel in and where to begin your research.

Research is another scary word. We automatically have flashbacks to writing term papers, but that's not quite where I'm going just yet. The research I am talking about, and starting with, has also been referred to as soul searching. Start looking at the logistic:

What is your Passion?
What are you current skills?
How do these skills coincide with your passion?
What do you love about your current job/career?
What do you hate about your current job/career?
Do you have what it takes to put your passion where your mouth is?
Do you really want to take your passion and turn it into a business?
Do you believe in yourself?

Those are just a few questions off the top of my head, but it'll get yous tarted on your research. If there are questions you can't answer or don't know how to answer you need to figure out the why. What's behind the missing answers? It is just fear? Then step up and face it! Fear is good, but it shouldn't control your dreams or your life.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-07T06:00:00.001-06:00

This little guy was trying hard to blend in...I think he was camera shy.

Random Thoughts

2011-09-06T06:00:00.004-06:00

Tuesday? Really? Feels more like Monday...and I know there are many more of you just like me with the same feeling. Three day weekends are wonderful, but a Monday on a Tuesday is ICKY! Well anywho...

Lots of things going on. I have some great interviews lining up for Studio Talk...just a few more weeks and you'll hear someone else share thoughts, besides me. This is a bit of a step out of my comfort zone, but I am really enjoying the doors that are opening.

I have to confess that I haven't spent this much time reaching out in years. I am approaching all kinds of people for all kinds of reasons. I haven't been this busy with networking since my old advertising days. I have interviews for the blog, gift guides for the website, and am building new bridges daily.

Interested in this year's gift guide? Then you need to start following the What's Happening page over on my website. Right there at the top of the page is a little link that says " subscribe to posts." Every Friday, through the 16th of December, I will feature a fantastic Handmade Artisan. I really encourage you to buy handmade for your gift giving this holiday season. Handmade is so much more personal, heart felt gift...try it you'll enjoy it and you're recipients will love it!

Eating habits...uggg! No, I'm not talking about dieting. I'm just saying mine suck and have fallen down the rabbit hole. Time to pull them back into reality. I can tell that I haven't been eating very well - mostly in my energy level, my mind clarity and my ability to cope with stupid people in the real world. Got to get this crazy body back on track...If only the weather would break the heat cycle we're in down here!

I'm so SICK and TIRED of the HEAT! Really! Please. Make. It. Stop!!! We're heading towards fall and this darn desert is still in the triple digits! REALLY??? ENOUGH is ENOUGH!! Okay getting off that soap box.

Well, that takes care of the random for this week...onward and upward!