#happyhandmade week 93: my favorites

Every Wednesday on the Daft Crafts blog, there is a #happyhandmade link up where handmade shop owners can share up to three product links and are asked to share at least three of the other products on social media with the hashtag "#happyhandmade."

In no particular order, here are my favorites from this week:

This adorable, geeky gamer onesie from Evangelina's Closet. There's even a coupon code featured in her shop for 10% off purchases!

This You Are My Sunshine chalkboard art from Life's Gems.

I really, really like this music note ornament from AngelCraftsShop.

And this Batman themed plush dragon from Plum Papaya would make my "Bamban" loving 2 ¹/₂ year old son ecstatic.

As for myself, I linked up the kitschy cat themed set from my shop. The set of four coasters and two trivets makes a great housewarming or bridal shower gift for the crazy cat lady in your life. 

Be sure to head over to the link up and check out all the handmade goodness that shop owners from all over have contributed to. Click on your favorites, make wishlists or even order from these small businesses and support handmade.

Recipe Wednesday: Burrito Bowls

Burrito bowls are a favorite in our house. They're quick, relatively inexpensive, have lots of variation and just plain yummy! We most often eat it with seasoned ground beef, but I've done diced chicken before as well. Vegetarian or pork are other options that would work well. Use what your tastebuds prefer. 

BURRITO BOWLS

Ingredients

Prepared cilantro rice

Approximately ¹/₂ lb ground beef

Taco seasoning

Salsa

Black beans

Sweet corn

Mexican cheese blend

Sour cream
Any other burrito toppings that you desire

Directions

1. Follow the directions for preparing rice, but add dried cilantro with the water and butter. (I use chicken stock in place of the water and no butter for burritos.) If you prefer fresh cilantro, then cook the rice first and mix in cilantro after cooking.

2. While the rice is cooking, brown and season, to your liking, the ground beef. Heat up your black beans and corn as well.

3.Put desired amount of rice in your bowl, top with beef, beans and corn (and any other toppings you desire). Sprinkle cheese over top.

4. Add salsa and sour cream, if desired. Enjoy!

Cilantro rice (don't mind the diaper box on my counter)

Meat, beans and corn added

Cheese and salsa added to all, sour cream added to my hubby's

#happyhandmade week 90: my favorites

Every Wednesday on the Daft Crafts blog, there is a #happyhandmade link up where handmade shop owners can share up to three product links and are asked to share at least three of the other products on social media with the hashtag "#happyhandmade."

In no particular order, here are my favorites as of this afternoon (11/19/2014):

This adorable wee amigurumi knit gingerbread man from Crafteroni & Cheese. I mean, c'mon, how cute is this tiny, little guy?! And a bonus, Crafteroni & Cheese is one of the shops participating in the big #StorenvyFlash30 event!

This stuffed monster from Lu & Ed is also pretty cute and would make a great Christmas gift for a kid on your list. Mara isn't available yet, but she will be on November 30th in time for the #StorenvyFlash30 event on Storenvy. The awesome WAHM behind Lu & Ed is the organizer of the event. Her monsters and mon-stors are insanely popular and sell out super quickly. So if you're a fan of something she has teased for her next stocking, you need to be there as soon as it's live many times!

I am in need of a new wallet and this pretty purple one from BirdsandBagz in the link up caught my eye. I think it's a very real possibility for my new wallet! Not only is it pretty, it's super affordable!

**If I get the chance, I will come back and update this post with more of my favorites and the date they are added.**

#StorenvyFlash30: Mystigail Hand Stamped Jewelry - Updated

One of the shops that I am looking forward to purchasing from is Mystigail Hand Stamped Jewelry. I would really like to be able to purchase two of the New Baby Ornaments - one for each of my boys. I have even included the ornament in my #StorenvyFlash30 collection on SE!

There are so many wonderful hand stamped items in this shop. It ranges from ornaments to jewelry to wine charms to bookmarks. Here are a few of my favorite items available in the Mystigail shop:

First up is the Heartbeat bracelet. It's listed as wonderful for medical personnel, but even though I'm not in the medical field, I really love it.

Find it here

Next is the New Baby ornament that I want two of. This is the perfect keepsake ornament for Baby's First Christmas. They're personalized with Baby's birth stats and name, and you can choose blue, pink or white ribbon for the ornament.

I love this Santa's Key. It's perfect for families without a fireplace, but kids still young enough to believe in the magic of Santa. Or families like ours that have a fireplace that is locked up tight to keep curious little ones out of it, so Santa can't use our fireplace anyway. lol

Find it here

I am one of those breastfeeding, semi-natural minded mommas, and I have many friends that breastfeed (or breastfed) their babies. So this last one is perfect for the momma friends in my life.

Find it here

Please note: all photos are the property of Susan Hellison and are used with permission.

Update, 02/09/2015:
I did purchase two of the New Baby ornaments and was so happy with the quality of them! Due to unfortunate circumstances beyond her control, Susan was not able to complete and ship the ornaments to me as quickly as she would have liked, so she very generously included a cuff bracelet as a consolation. So I also one of those awesome heartbeat bracelets! Not only did she do a great job on what I ordered, she went above and beyond to keep me happy as a customer. It was greatly appreciated! I definitely recommend checking out her shop and buying from her for your hand stamped needs.

#StorenvyFlash30

Big news from our shop! On December 01, 2014, otherwise known as Cyber Monday, Stitches by Ashley Nicole will be part of a huge flash sale on Storenvy. Cody, the WAHM behind Lu & Ed has organized a Cyber Monday sale that runs from 12:00 am PST until 12:00 pm PST and every store participating is offering 30% off of everything in the store! Just use coupon code: StorenvyFlash30 at checkout to receive the discount.

If you head on over to bit.ly/storenvyflash30, you can view the complete list of participating shops. There are 50+ shops participating this year! And while on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and other social media, just search the hashtag #StorenvyFlash30 to see what others are sharing.

Check back often over the next couple of weeks to see some of my favorite items from the other shops participating. And to see all of my favorite items from the shops, check out the collection that I made on Storenvy: bit.ly/StitchesCollection.

Recipe Wednesday: Applesauce Oat Muffins

I originally found this recipe on Pinterest forever ago, and I tailored it to fit our needs and tastes. I made it a dairy free recipe because we needed a dairy free snack. Then I realized that I didn't need to cut out dairy anymore and I still make it the dairy free way because it tastes good and I don't want to mess with it.

APPLESAUCE OAT MUFFINS

Ingredients for a half batch, ready to go

Ingredients

2 cups old-fashioned oats

2 cups unsweetened applesauce

1 cup almond milk

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

¹/₂ cup coconut oil, melted
²/₃ cup sugar
1 ¹/₂ cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
¹/₂ teaspoon salt
Freeze dried apples, crushed
A generous heap of dried cranberries or raisins, optional

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375° F
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the oatmeal, applesauce, freeze dried apples, almond milk, egg, vanilla, coconut oil, and sugar. Set aside.

Wet ingredients

3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and cranberries or raisins. Make a well in the center and pour in the applesauce mixture. Stir until just combined (don't overmix or the muffins will be dense and dry).

Dry ingredients with well

4. Fill muffin cups approximately 2/3 full.

5. Bake for 15-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Don't overbake or the muffins will be dry.

6. Let cool and enjoy!

7. [Optional] Freeze for easy breakfast throughout the week. Just pull out a muffin or two and microwave for 30-60 seconds and enjoy!

Ready for my freezer

I always freeze the muffins in a labeled Ziploc bag. I can tell when I didn't let them cool long enough before freezing because the muffins get a little frost on them. While it's not pretty to look at then, it doesn't affect the taste once heated up.

Second Birthday Celebration!

It has been two years since I started Stitches by Ashley Nicole, formerly Onesie o'Clock on the Dot, and we're celebrating with a giveaway and a sale!

Thank you to all of the fans and supporters of Stitches by Ashley Nicole! Your support means a lot to me and I greatly appreciate it. 

If you head over to the shop by clicking on the Storenvy "Visit my Store" badge on the right hand side of the blog, you can take advantage of the birthday sale by using coupon code 2ndBday when checking out for a 22% discount. Mobile readers, you can click here to visit the shop. And don't forget to check back in the shop each day over the weekend because the plan is to add new items each day.

Use the widget below to enter the giveaway for a chance to win $5, $10 or $15 in store credit!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Recipe Wednesday: Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken with Rice

We recently had to switch to a dairy free diet in our house because the newest member of our family appears to have a sensitivity to it.  Really, I am the only one who can no longer eat any dairy because of breastfedding; PGS and my husband still can eat dairy. So a lot of times, I make the meal dairy free and take out my portion and add the cheese when it's a recipe that calls for cheese. Changing our menu plans to dairy free has required some creativity and forced trying out some new recipes. This slow cooker recipe is a recipe that I found a while ago and we've had a couple of times before. The last time that I made pineapple chicken, I added broccoli to the Crock-Pot and hoped for the best. Spoiler alert: it was a good decision. 

SLOW COOKER PINEAPPLE CHICKEN with RICE

Ingredients

2-3 chicken breasts

1 can of pineapple in juice (I used tidbits)

diced onion (approximately 1 medium)

¹/₂ cup chicken stock (chicken broth works, too)

2 Tbs soy sauce

¹/₂ cup uncooked rice

1 cup water

Directions

1. Layer onion (and any other veggies you add), chicken breast and pineapple. Make sure to add all the pineapple juice!

2. Add 2 Tbs of soy sauce and ¹/₂ cup chicken stock.

3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or HIGH for 4-5 hours. Internal temperature of chicken should be at least 165°F.

4. About 30 minutes before the chicken is done, cook your rice.

5. [Optional] Shred the chicken and mix up.

6. Serve over the rice.

When I make this, I use frozen onion, frozen broccoli, and boneless, skinless chicken breasts. If I have fresh chicken breasts, then I use those, but I normally have frozen chicken breasts. I don't thaw the chicken and I cook it on low for 8 hours. Possibly too long, but with all the liquid in the recipe, the chicken has never been dry when cooked this way.

Both my husband and I like this meal, but I'm not sure about my two year old. He has refused to try it each time that I've made it. If he liked chicken or pineapple normally, then I would require that he at least try one bite, but he's never liked chicken and hasn't tried pineapple before.

I forgot to snap a picture of the plated meal before the Mr. took a couple
of bites. lol

Feature Friday: Hailstorm Creations

Happy Friday to all of you lovely readers! It's time for another installment of Feature Friday here on the Stitches by Ashley Nicole blog and the featured shop this week is Hailstorm Creations and the WAHM behind it, Haleigh. Hailstorm Creations is a fun and funky jewelry shop with lots of unique and bright pieces to appeal to many ages.

"Handmade Jewelry and Gifts"

Let's get to know more about Haleigh and Hailstorm Creations:

Haleigh is a stay at home mom (SAHM) who decided she wasn't going to let life pass her by, and thus Hailstorm Creations was born! What makes Hailstorm Creations unique is that she buys all of the jewelry supplies (chains, rhinestones, wire, etc.) from other Etsy sellers. Supporting other small businesses is very important to her.

"I love being at home with my daughter, and I think being able to make jewelry and sell it to the world from home is the perfect job! I never thought about making or selling jewelry until my best friend suggested it. I had made her a Leather Bow bracelet for her birthday, and she was in love! I have always been told I'm a creative person, and that I have a unique style in accessories so when she suggested I open an Etsy shop, I was sold on the idea. I have a passion for my creations, and I strive to express that in every piece of jewelry I make."

Haleigh has generously offered a coupon code for readers of today's post. Follow the link below to get to the Hailstorm Creations Etsy shop and use the coupon code: thanks2014 for 20% off any purchase of $12 or more!

Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/shop/hailstormcreations

Storenvy - http://hailstormcreations.storenvy.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hailstormcreations

Feature Friday: Moose Country Crafts

Since last weekend was a holiday, there was no Feature Friday post. Here's the first Feature of the month and today it's Moose Country Crafts ("For the love of rustic, Americana, and home.") and the talented work at home mom (WAHM) behind it, Jamie. Her shop is full of great items and she's an amazing person, too.

Here's a bit about Jamie and her shop in her own words:

Welcome! I'm a stay at home mom (for now) with two kids (4 and 20 months, two dogs, just one husband :). I love all things country and homey!

A little bit about me...I was an environmental planner who was laid off about three years ago, worked some contract work in between and then became pregnant again in January of 2012. I found out in July of 2012 that I had breast cancer. So after coming out of that with a beautiful baby girl, as she and my son have become a bit older and more independent, I decided to get back into doing something a bit creative. Re-started my Etsy and facebook page in May and have just been plugging away at marketing ever since :) I'm slowly adding items all the time!

I try to use mostly upcycled or recycled items just because I feel like reused items can tell a story. Many of the items I'm using right now, frames and such, came from my grandparents house that I have been cleaning out for the past two years. And many that my grandfather made himself. I love burlap because it just exudes country, old and rustic.

How cool is it that she gets to repurpose frames that her grandfather made? I really like that aspect of her creations. Giving new life to items is always a great creative adventure!

Make sure to follow the link below to the Moose Country Crafts Etsy storefront and use coupon code FEATUREFRIDAY for 25% off of your purchase!

Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/shop/MooseCountryCrafts

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/moosecountrycrafts

Instagram - http://instagram.com/moosecountrycrafts

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MooseCntryCrfts

#100itemcraftstashchallenge: Project 49

My nephew recently had his second birthday, so as part of his gift, I made him a crayon roll. PGS helped pick out the fabric used for the crayon roll. I used a fun blue shark print and white elastic to secure the crayon roll.

All rolled up

The front view, unrolled

The back view, unrolled

We also included a pad of multicolored construction paper to color on, a box of the large washable Crayola crayons and a Sesame Street board book in his gift. My husband's sister said that he liked his gift and the book wasn't one that they already had. Yay!

Feature Friday: Blue Umbrella Designs

It's the last Friday in June and the featured shop this weekend is Blue Umbrella Designs. I first learned about this shop in a group on facebook for people who love to craft. I think many of her items are great and hope that when my sons are old enough to use them properly, that she'll still be in business.

The work at home mom (WAHM) behind Blue Umbrella Designs is Amanda. Let's get to know Amanda and Blue Umbrella Designs, and then enter the giveaway for a felt weather chart valued at $13 (shipping not included, winner agrees to pay for shipping).

Please be sure to check out the links at the end of the post to interact with Blue Umbrella Designs! Also, each photo has a direct link to its Etsy listing, should you want to purchase the featured items.

This cute hair clip can be found here

Let's learn a little more about Amanda and her shop in her own words:

I am a WAHM of two young boys. I offer a variety of machine embroidered accessories and toys for children and every now and then I throw in something for the grown-ups. I also offer a variety of wholesale felties that are perfect for scarpbooking and bow makers. I love what I do and customer service is my number one priority!

This can be found here

My two year old son, PGS is currently obsessed with the moon and stars. His love of the moon and stars is why we painted his bedroom the way we did. It's also why I'm considering purchasing the glow in the dark phases of the moon learning tool. I know he's still too young to really understand it, but it would help him learn what the moon looks like before we go outside and look for it. Now, for those of your with older kids with a passion for the night sky, it's a great learning tool!

This can be found here

Another item in the Blue Umbrella Designs shop that I like is the emotions chart that is offered. To me, it seems like the perfect way to help your child tell you how he or she is feeling. I know that PGS can point to faces and say that he feels a certain way, but can't always tell us how he is feeling with words.

Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueUmbrellaDesigns

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/blueumbrelladesigns

Instagram - http://instagram.com/BlueUmbrellaDesigns

Twitter - https://twitter.com/BlueUmbrellaEmb

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Feature Friday: Bows Sew Beautiful

This weekend's Feature Friday post is an exciting one! We're featuring the talented bow maker, Samantha and her shop Bows Sew Beautiful. Samantha has been kind enough to offer up a $10 store credit in a giveaway, too. Be sure to check out the links at the end of the post and to enter the giveaway.

Until Samantha submitted a Feature Friday application, I'd never heard of Bows Sew Beautiful. That's not to say anything negative about her shop at all, I have a two year old son and a second boy on the way, those beautiful, fancy hairbows just aren't on my radar. Naturally, I checked out her Etsy shop and facebook page before responding to her application. I was impressed. The bows look great and bonus: she sells clip-on bow ties for little boys! A pretty bow shop that is not just for the little girls! I'm a fan of that aspect.

"There is nothing better than a hot glue gun!!!"

Samantha opened up Bows Sew Beautiful on January 3, 2014 and is based out of her home in Dayton, Ohio. Not only is she an artisan, she is a mother to three children and wife of four years.

Bows Sew Special offers a variety of hair bow styles and infinity scarves; and is currently working on providing more boy themed items. If you don't see something you are looking for, don't be afraid to send a message for a custom order!

In addition to Bows Sew Beautiful, Samantha is also a part of the group The Bow Diva's. There are multiple vendors that come together as a group and do features, giveaways, games, auctions and more!

Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/shop/bowssewbeautiful

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bowsswbtful

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bowmakindiva

Instagram - http://instagram.com/bowssewbeautiful

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Recipe Wednesday: Apple Peanut Butter muffins

We've made this muffin recipe before and it was a huge hit, so thought I'd make them again and this time share them on the blog.

APPLE PEANUT BUTTER MUFFINS

All the ingredients and the recipe in the background

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup sugar, divided

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 ¹/₂ teaspoons cinnamon, divided

¹/₂ teaspoon salt

1 ¹/₂ cups shredded apples (about 2 medium)

1 cup lowfat buttermilk

¹/₂ cup creamy peanut butter

¹/₄ cup coconut or canola oil

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

I promise, our floor was clean and he
didn't put any of the cups on the floor

1. Preheat oven to 400°F and line a 12 cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and salt.

3. In another bowl, stir together the shredded apples, buttermilk, peanut butter, oil, egg, and vanilla.

4. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry, stirring until just mixed, being careful to not over mix.

5. Spoon the batter into the muffin tins. Combine the remaining sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the muffin tops.

6. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool on a wire rack.

Fresh outta the oven!

As you can see from the photo of the just baked muffins, we made 20 and the recipe says 12 muffins. I made smaller muffins that were the perfect size for two year old PGS. The original recipe says that you can shred the apples peel and all, but it was easier to peel the apple and shred it that way.