Sweet Life

I met  April while in Utah.  We were actually sitting next to each other for awhile.  I like her.  (yes, I liked them all……but that’s not always the case) 

Her blog Simply the Sweet Life is like flipping through a Martha Stewart or Real Simple magazine.  I just keep scrolling and scrolling looking at her gorgeous photos.  Maybe because she has a wonderful online mag called CraziBeautiful.  It’s full of some great stuff………you’ll enjoy it.  I promise……..pinky promise.

Lots and lots of recipes……….

Pico de gallo – Yum…….nothing like fresh pico on a warm summer evening.  My brother inlaw makes some pretty good pico.

On her CraziBeautiful site……you’ll find a ton of topics.  Including a cooking section.  She got a few contributors who help fill her site with TO DIY FOR treats and meals.  Like this Raspberry Pound Ice Cream cake……..Need a fancy cake, but you don’t have a lot of time?  This is your recipe.Since Raspberries are in season……..you may as well make some raspberry lemonade.    It always looks so nice.My sis makes this dessert!  I’m thinking this dessert is a signature dish like funeral potatoes for these Utah families.  They do love their jello.  Yum!  I love this.  The crust is crushed pretzels!  Also found on her CraziBeautiful Magazine…….RootBeer Float CupCakes!   (you know you can find cute cupcake liners at Skip To My Lou’s new bake shop – SWEET!)OK, so if you’re not eating carbs like me……you can still enjoy yourself by looking at all the other fun categories she has. 

This contributor below was a past feature!  Yes she was.And this clip board would be darling just hanging on the wall.  She’s got a full tutorial on her mag site.If you haven’t clicked over to find that clipboard and you’re still with me……..you may also enjoy April’s holiday garland she made for the Fourth….of course it can be adapted for other holidays.  We can always use a garland for something, right?What if you don’t how to make one?  No worries, she’s got a tutorial.

You guys have been so good at leaving comments for the featured bloggers!  Thank you!  I love how they are SO surprised to be the featured blogger! 

     Every comment is entered for my monthly Lisa Leonard drawing.  Click on “Creative People Say” and comment away.

Raising Kids on Real Food!

Yep, I met Vanessa in Utah! 

Vanessa from I Never Grew Up.

Sadly she had to leave early, so I didn’t get a chance to talk her ear off.  Boy I tell ya…..YOU LDS WOMAN make the rest of us look really bad.  I know I’ve said it before, but dang….y’all are good at being creative, domestic and just down right cute.  My sis says I pass for one…..in I could have my coffee and occasional margarita.  She’s right…..except I need more practice at being crafty and domestic.

 

I would have LOVED to have gotten to know Vanessa better.  Now that I’ve spent the last 2 hours skimming her blog, she is fascinating!   She is my kind of gal…..or at least who I want to be when I grow up. 

She has a fabulous segment called “Raising Kids on Real Food”!  As I pull a Totino’s frozen pizza out of the oven, I am feeling extremely guilty looking at all this wonderfully healthy food she makes for her children…..and before you feel too sorry for my son, he rarely gets too much junk….but today….is one of those days.  She shows you the full recipe with a tutorial and makes everything look so simple and pure……as it should be.The night I met her at The Blue Lemon, I was eating one of these…  So good.  I bet your kids will eat this if presented the right way……I am so fortunate to have an adventurous eater….it makes things a little easier.I know that the Fourth of July is over…..but you could make this on any day really…….I mean, she probably made it on the 3rd of July……..since the state of Utah celebrated the 4th on the 3rd……..who’s on 2nd? Never mind…….just eat.  She’ll also take the time to make some of life’s simple pleasures……….like homemade lemonade.Besides schelping good food, she’s looking for simple ways to keep her kiddo’s engaged and happy.  I LOVE this craft!  Kids love it.  It doesn’t take a lot of your help for them to create a master piece they feel proud of.  If you’ve got paper, some water paints…….a straw and a child……you’re good to go. This one may require some of your help, but you’ll be so happy you did.  What a great idea!  Add some leather string or yarn and the kids have some new bling to sport around.  Also a new use for your stamps. Being the purest that she is……not really sure if she is or not………but she makes her own sidewalk chalk…..Kinda cool……I wonder if she knows you can pick it up at The Dollar Store?  :)          But I do like the idea of making it myself……she gets the kids involved, so I guess that counts. Pinwheels!  Make your own pinwheels!  I used to love these when I was a kid….way back when.  And if it means I can run outside in my skivvies, I’m gonna start making some RIGHT NOW!  Another fasinating thing about her, is she’s married to a dog trainer…..a celebrity dog trainer.  Her man is a dog trainer…….which means they are dog people……so tell me this……..why didn’t she offer to take care of my Maybelline while we were in Moab?  She’s got some esplanin’ to do……They would have LOVED her and she would have LOVED playing with that pup.  (she was happy where she was…..lucky me)

I’ll forgive her……

Since summer is in full swing, I think you’ll enjoy her summer recipes and kid crafts!  Go tell her how you found her…..surprise her.  Her site has a lot of other information too……

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Thank you for all the wonderful comments!  I really enjoy them!  All comments are entered to win a Lisa Leonard Creation!

I know this is silly……but I’m in a little competition with someone…..a friendly competition….Can you pleases join my feed burner please……pretty please with sugar on top?

Little Birdie Says….

  Maybe it’s the insane calorie reduction in my diet, but this dessert looks like the best thing EVER!  And she was nice enough to covert the measurements for us measurement challenged Americans.  (She lives in France)

Bird Crafts……and boy does she ever.

Fresh cherries……nommm nommmm And this……see, I told you.  Isn’t that yummy looking?  I love warmed baked anything with cherries in it…….heck….who am I kidding……I love anything if it’s warm baked. Bird has several party ideas.  She has them all easily listed on the side. Oh I love it when a blogger does these cute photo collages.  Saves me SO much time.  Another great party.

Besides being crafty in the kitchen, she’s pretty crafty with other stuff too. And thrifty.  She recently saw a cute craft tool holder from Pottery Barn.  But like me, she’s not going to pay those prices.  She spray painted a few cans, attached them to a lazy susan for WAY less expensive.  Looks good too.She just got done re-decorating her kitchen.  I love her vision for using an upside down shade for her light fixture.  Gotta think outside the box from time to time. You all know I love kitchen towels.  She found these cute cherry ones…….I see a theme here……and added some cute fabric to enhance the cuteness.  Vision……it saves you money.

  Off you go……

Remember to leave me a comment if you want to be in the drawing for a Lisa Leonard Necklace.  All comments left for the month are included.  The more you comment, the better your chances.

Also, join up with us as we chat it up over on my Blog Frog Community.

Summer Salads

I am dying for some GOOD FOOD!  I eat a very low carb / high protein diet and let me tell you….it gets BORING!    I was looking at their site and was drooling!  They make everything look SO good. 

The Sisters Cafe

These 5 sisters have a great blog FULL of recipes with photos.  All recipes should have a photo, don’t you think? 

How about some Thai Lettuce wraps?  I have heard so much about these, but have never tried them.  These I could eat.  NOW! Summer Tortellini Salad- Oh how I’d LOVE to eat this one.  You had me at Tortellini.   Just kill me now.  I love anything pasta.  You can find the recipe on their site.

BBQ Chicken Salad -  OK, I want this one instead….this look Yummy with a capital Y!   Can you imagine having them as your neighbor?  I bet they would make you dinner when you’re sick.  I bet they would have made me soup last week when I was so sick……..My poor neighbors here just stayed their distance.  I made my own soup. :)

Fiesta Chicken Pasta Salad-  I’d take this one too….but without the corn.  I don’t do corn unless it’s alone.  But I’d take a bite just for them. 

Chicken Poppy Seed Salad- YUM YUM YUM!I’m cheating….that bread looks way too good.  I mean if you go through the trouble to make your very own baguette, then you should really be able to eat it.  Mmmm, with good butta….like Irish butta…….Can you tell I’m hungry.  Hungry for BREAD!  And while I’m throwing caution to the wind, I’m gonna have some cake too.  Someone pass the ice cream. So if you’re a normal ordinary wife and mother, this site will give you so many great ideas for meals to serve your little darlings.  Or your big darling.  I still think they should live next door and make every dinner for me…..yea….that would be perfect!

If you want to carry our conversation on over to my Blog Frog Community forum, let’s go!  You can join me here.

Creatively Wise

Katie is who I wish I was when I was 20. 

Creole Wisdom

I’ve enjoyed her blog for a couple of years.  I like her candid writing about growing up, going to college, having boyfriends…….I find myself wishing I could be that girl again with as much poise and grace as she has at such vulnerable age for all of us.  The age where we are truly becoming adults.  Katie is a smart girl.  She’s got the confidence that we hope all young girls grow up with.  

Her blog is really about simple living.  Being creative in all aspect and corners of her life.  She is a published photographer…….and excited to build her photography business.  Its not enough for Katie to give her clients their Cd in any ordinary fashion…….she created her own envelope……. You’ll get the message that she doesn’t do anything without style and grace.I think this is one my favorite photos.  I love the large tree and the people mingling.  This was a family event…..For me she captured the “family tree”.  (is that a labradoodle in the lower left corner?) I think I first found Katie a couple of years ago through scrapbooking.  Remember when I used to scrapbook?  She had also lived in Portland at one point, so I instantly felt a connection to her blog. 

I love that a single woman feels the need to scrapbook this time in her life.  So many women think life starts once your married.  Don’t get me wrong….she wants to get married someday and will make an incredible wife and mother, but she’s living in the moment, relishing her journey.  There will be no settling for this young lady.  And if you’re lucky enough to be a friend…..then I’m sure she’ll keep you for life.Katie loves creating an environment that is orderly, creative and inviting.  She’s got some mad organizing skillz.  And she truly enjoys it.  I love how she’s done her college years albums.  Once again…..style and grace.  I was such a goof in college……..I have very few photos….but in my defense, that was back in the day of film…..and all the steps that go with that.  The storage of photos was such a pain…..keeping track of all those little negative.  I’m breaking out in hives just thinking about it.    

Katie adores all things paper crafting……She’s the kind of girl that plans out her Christmas gift wrap…….I’m sure she already has next years planned.  :)

If Katie could hang out with Martha Stewart for the day, I’m sure Martha would be asking her for ideas and advice by the end of the day.  Katie adores all things domestic…….she loves to cook, bake, entertain.  I really don’t think there is a moment when this girl isn’t planning something that will nourish her soul…….or someone else’s. If you want to meet a girl who is taking full responsibility of her life and her direction…….taking life by the horns……then head over to her blog.  She’s a wise wise woman.

Thanks to all who linked up for Get Your Craft On!  I’m trying to get through the list.  Come back tomorrow for another great feature.