Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Guest Posting

Today I am guest posting over at Life As Twiggy. Come visit!

DIY weddings gifts



Subscribe to my blog and/or follow me on Facebook for a 10% discount on anything in my Etsy store! (Coupon code will be emailed to you)

Thanks for Stopping by

Brittney

Monday, February 27, 2012

Recovery

From Friday to Sunday I worked 36 hours. 6pm - 6am 3 days in a row. I am sure anyone is the medical field can empathize how physically and mentally draining that can be. When I rolled out of bed this morning at 8:30 am after an hour and a half of sleep......well lets just say that I didn't want to roll out of bed this morning. Duty calls when you have an 8 month old that wants to wake up though.
I dragged my son and myself downstairs and got to making a few things that always make the day better.




Green Smoothie Recipe:
2 cups organic spinach
1 Stonyfield organic yogurt (I used french vanilla flavor)
3/4 cup blueberries
1 banana
1 1/2 cups organic soymilk or almond milk
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (optional)
10 ice cubes
blend and enjoy!






3-4 Tablespoons of your favorite coffee
16 ounces of boiling water
Stevia or sweetener of choice
whipped cream and cinnamon for the top

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Gift Ideas Under $20

Need a gift idea for an upcoming birthday party or bridal shower maybe a hostess gift or just a simple thank you? Head on over to Etsy.com and check out all of the handcrafted goods. Here are just a few fun ones to get you thinking. The best part is they are all under $25.00.


Etsy

Etsy.com

Etsy

Etsy


Etsy

Etsy


Etsy




Etsy





Friday, February 24, 2012

Meet Celeste From Life As Twiggy!

Hi there readers! I'm Celeste from Life as Twiggy blog. Today I'm super excited to share a few photos I took while I was shopping for an order's supplies. The other day I received a few custom orders of baby shower invitations off my Etsy shop, Ruby Key. Here are a few photos of things that inspire me to continue to do what I love.
FABRIC// I love the different patterns & colors that each fabric has.
BUTTONS//  I have a small collection of different buttons because I love how tiny & cute they are. A baby shower invitation wouldn't be as cute without a button, right?!
PAPER// last but not least... colored paper! There's something about buying paper in bulk that I love. The thought of having different colors and sizes to work with inspires me so much.
You can find my baby shower invitations here. In the past I have also used pink & blue polka dotted fabric. Thanks so much for having me!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Things I Love This Thursday

Anything to make daily life sail just a little smoother. Here are a few DIY ways to get your goodies off of the floor, get them out of plain view and just to make life a little more simple. Who couldn't use that, right?


Chalkboard paint on pantry door. When you empty something, write it on the grocery list on one side and make a menu/dinner requests on the other
Via Salt Water Wishes

Baby food jars or mason jars are a great way to store all of those little nails, screws and tidbits you have laying around


Store books with out taking up space with a whole bookshelf.
Via Pennycarnival.typepad.com

Don't have an attic? Make one! Store your large totes overhead in your garage or basement with a few pieces of wood and plastic totes.



Via camillestyles.com


Via Grossgrain
Via Denise In Bloom



Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Meet Amanda from Little Tranquility!

Reading a good book is more than just something to do. It is soothing to the soul. Reading can expand your vocabulary and create a complex imagination.

Meet Amanda from Little Tranquility

My 5 favorite authors

1. Sylvia Plath
I've had an obsession with Sylvia Plath since I was about 14. I remember reading her poem, "Mirror" in English class and falling in love with her immediately. Sylvia was everything I strive to be as a writer, and more. The way she worded things, and formed sentences and had line breaks at just the right times was so powerful, and I never knew anyone could express themselves so honestly and with so much heart. I could relate to her on a personal level, too, which always helps. Her journals are my favorite. She was a beautiful person, regardless of how crazy some people make her out to be. I love her. I even have a Plath tattoo! I have "i am." tattooed on the inside of my left wrist. I dedicated a post to her over on my blog, so if you're interested, please check it out! :)
"I write only because there this a voice within me that will not be still."

2. Maya Angelou
Oh, Maya. What a beautiful human being. Is there anyone greater than her? I just don't think there is. Her life was filled with hardship, beauty, heartache, triumph, and everything in between. "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" is my favorite book of hers, and I even have that poem tattooed on my back. :) (Obviously I just love tattooing my favorite authors to my body, haha!) Her poems are incredible and her gift of storytelling is unbeatable. If I had the choice to meet anyone famous, I would definitely want to meet her, no questions asked. <3 <3 <3

3. Jonathan Safran Foer
I love this man. I always joke about how he's my husband, and a few years ago, my friend Shaun met him after he spoke at Google, and told Jonathan that I was his future wife. He apparently chuckled. Shaun got a book signed for me and I just about peed my pants when I received it in the mail! His writing is amazing and his books are so much fun to read. He has a true gift, and if you haven't read anything by him yet, I highly suggest doing so immediately! Two of his books have been turned into movies, starring Elijah Wood and Tom Hanks, so I think that proves just how talented he really is! I saw "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" at the theatre on Valentines Day and loved it. Finally, a movie that actually does the book justice! It's one of my all-time favorite books, so I was happy to walk out and not be disappointed. There's a possibility that I'll be meeting him in March, and I almost don't want to because I know I'll just clam up and blush to death or something and make a complete fool of myself, haha. We'll see!

4. Augusten Burroughs 
I first read "Running With Scissors" while I was working at Cold Stone Creamery when I was 15. Someone left their copy in the back room, and at slow times, I'd sit back there and read it. I loved days when I had the store to myself and it was too cold outside for customers. I'd read and read and occasionally eat a bowl of ice cream at the same time. Yeah, I pretty much had the greatest job ever, haha. Augusten's writing is brutal and honest and I love him for that. I once got into a mad debate over the internet with some woman who was cutting him down for being so vulgar all the time. Nobody was forcing her to read his books and I just didn't see why it bothered her so much. Wonder what her thoughts were on Bukowski? Anyway, I guess he isn't for everyone, but if you're okay with vulgarity and reading books that aren't squeaky clean, then I think he'll be your cup of tea. I'd start with one of his short stories books like "Possible Side Effects" and then move on to one of his novels like "Running With Scissors" once you get a feel for his writing. He's going on a book tour in May! I will for sure be bringing my whole stack of his books to get signed if he plans on coming to DC. Yep, I'm one of THOSE people...

5. Ann Packer
I just love this woman. I've read all of her books and have never been disappointed. "The Dive From Clausen's Pier" has been one of my favorite books since I first read it when I was 14. I picked it up by chance at a thrift store in Kenosha, WI.  I remember having one of those moments where I needed a book, any book. This was the one I happened to grab, and I'm so glad I did!  It's a very simple story, which is one of the many things I love about it, but it's also a story of growth, change, forgiveness, love, loss and all the good & bad in between. I can't even count how many times I've read it. My copy is all broken and worn and all of the pages are highlighted and underlined and circled. Ann Packer writes with such feeling, and can describe things so perfectly and flawlessly. It's almost like watching a movie. The main character reminded me so much of myself, and continues to do so to this day.  I still have moments where I think of Carrie, and imagine I'm doing something similar to what she would have done in the book. This novel means so much to me, and I don't know any other book that I've feel such a connection with, for so long. It's not only because I was so young when I first read it, but it's also because I've grown with it, and I think it takes a special kind of book to be able to make you feel like you can return to it at any given time and still feel like you're living it, and learning from it, regardless of how old you are. That's the beautiful thing about books. No matter how much you change as a person, those pages never do, and they're always there for you when you need them most.
Follow Amanda: Little Tranquility :::: Pinterest :::: Etsy

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Fun Ways To Use Mason Jars

Mason jars originally had one sole purpose which was canning fresh produce. This day in age mason jars are used for everything from soap pumps and center pieces to snow globes and "redneck wine glasses." You can buy mason jars for about one dollar a piece new and if you go to yard sales then you can find them used for super cheap. Here are a few of the most popular and fun ways to use these versatile jars.

Via Iloveswmag.com

Via lizmarieblog.com

Via tipjunkie.com

Via Etsy

Via About.com

Via Heather Bullard


Via Creative Mama

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Homemade Chocolate Cake With Espresso Chocolate Buttercream



When a girl loves chocolate and a girl loves espresso what is a girl to do? Make a chocolate espresso cake of course!
I found a basic recipe in my Betty Crocker cookbook and added some ingredients and took away some ingredients. This is what I was left with.

For The Cake:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbs baking powder
1 Tbs baking soda
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups of chocolate soy milk
1/2 cups cocoa powder
1/4 cup of Trader Joe's Organic Midnight Moo Chocolate Syrup

For The Icing:
3-4 cups of powered sugar
2 sticks of softened butter, not quite room temp
1/4 cup chocolate soy milk
1 packet instant coffee
Trader Joe's sugar, espresso bean and chocolate grinder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
oil and flour 2- 9" round cake pans
  1. Mix all dry ingredients
  2. Add all wet ingredients excluding eggs and beat for 1 minute on medium
  3. Add eggs and beat an additional 2 minutes
  4. Divide batter into both pans (batter will be thick)
  5. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean
  6. Let cool completely
In the meantime for the icing:
  1. Heat 1/8 cup of soy milk and disolve instant coffee packet. Let it cool completely
  2. Cream the butter
  3. Slowly add powdered sugar one cup at a time
  4. Add all soymilk as needed for buttercream consistency
Preparing the cake:
  1. Place first cake layer on dish of choice and frost with about 1 cup of frosting
  2. Poke holes in cake with a fork about 20 times all over
  3. Give a very generous squeeze of the Trader Joe's chocolate syrup
  4. Add top layer of cake and frost the entire cake
  5. Use the Trader Joe's grinder on whole top of cake
Enjoy!











Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentines Day to all you lovely readers out there. Bake some pretty pink cupcakes or buy yourself a box of chocolates. Give someone you love a hug or a great big kiss.







Feel like writing a love note today? Stop by the Amazon Kindle store for a free download of the world's most romantic love quotes and sayings. Good until February 14, 2012 at midnight.