today's giveaway is from the folks at shabby apple.
who doesn't need a new dress for the obligatory office christmas party?!
giving :: one pretty party frock (the 90 words per minute dress).
please comment today to enter to win.
tell me your dress-up protocol. (bubble bath? hot rollers? heels?)
thank you to everyone at shabby apple
{don't miss their new line of fitness wear}
p.s. i have a mini announcement to make. so get excited.
i must admit, i am not one of those lucky people who are all done with christmas. where's the fun in that!? i, for one, am still plugging away at my lists. 'tis true, i keep approximately a thousand lists going at once. i have three unsightly post-its barely hanging on my monitor right now. and four haphazard lists pinned to my bulletin board. and surely one is tucked in my purse and one is behaving in my official christmas binder. oh and one is by my bedside table. i find myself re-writing lists to have it all down on one sheet but then i'll be in my car (without my list) and jot something down and need to create a whole new list. it's a bit of a problem, to say the least. but i guess it's my survival mechanism. bear grylls has his knife. i have my lists. i may seem all organized and perfect in blogland (or do i?), but i'm a teensy bit wild when it comes to listing. i counseled with my mom about this dilemma while she was here. she simply commiserated. she does it too. except hers are filed in a color coded system. heaven help us. on with the list...
• buy seasonal stamps
• break out new metallic pens
• address + stuff christmas cards
• finalize selection of holiday tunes for merry mix '09
• make christmasy cd sleeves
• pour the eggnog (thank you, daniel)
• find babysitter for office christmas party
• wear mittens out to the car more often
• start wrapping, or in some cases, rapping
• make list of neighbor gifts, check it twice
• create snowflake snowfall mobile with all that spare time
today's giveaway is a handmade lovely from heart of light.
i've had my eye on this for some time, i absolutely adore it.
giving :: one navy blue rosebud belt.
(super cute for your super cute sister.)
please comment today to enter to win.
tell me your favorite shade of blue.
thank you, rachel and your heart of gold
{don't miss her tried + true holiday tips}
hip hip. you bloggers are comin' out of the woodwork! i absolutely love it. thank you for commenting and making this whole giveaway series that much more fun for me. congratulations to jamie z who said, I love a dark royal blue, not quite navy but with a lot of depth.
more goodies in store tomorrow.
hope you keep up this glee-like energy.
hello december. i really couldn't be happier about your arrival.
ready. set. giveaway.
our first giveaway of the month is from red prairie press.
this would make an adorable gift, one size fits all!
giving :: one sweet scarf, your choice of color.
please comment today to enter to win.
tell me your must-have daily accessory.
thank you, rachel at redprairiepress.com
{don't miss her artistic 2010 calendars}
woohoo. what a great turn out today. merci. congratulations to tracey who said, My must have accessories are my "nie nie" style rosebud earrings. I have them in all different colors! tracey, you're the winner, please email me your info.
g'night.
our little thanksgiving turned out just as laid back and wonderful as i'd hoped it would be. everyone hustling about and tasting and salting and peppering. the day was full of goodness. i hope yours was too. sage was our mascot this thanksgiving, i added it to practically every dish. i cannot get over the scent of fresh sage. like my culinary friend mallory put it, sage is all the rage. for the record, benji loved the olives. and the stuffing too. that's my boy.
the supposed weekend blizzard held off long enough for us to get out and about. we did mighty productive errands and even decorated for christmas on black friday. am looking at my pinecone and hollyberry swag at this very moment and am giddy that it's all said and done. i love appreciating it all december long. thoughts on getting a real tree with a one year old in the house? saturday we went on a short roadtrip to jackson hole, wyoming and did some hiking too. now my parents are visiting for a couple of days. i couldn't have chosen a better pair to share our homemade turkey noodle soup with.
i cannot say that the weekend went without an aching heart and some sadness. my courageous and darling friend here in idaho, hilary, gave birth to a stillborn baby, little michael. her strength and spirit through this entire pregnancy has shown me what love is really all about. i laid awake all night thinking about the gift of life and the gift of family and the pain of loss. i am so grateful to know she will be meeting her babe in heaven someday.
despite hardship, there is much to be thankful for.
the december calendar. print one for you to schedule holiday events and print another for your little one as a daily projects advent to hang on the fridge, at kid level. who doesn't love counting down the days with a big red X in each box? these click + print calendars are always saving my bacon. do tell, would you like me to continue to post them throughout 2010?
now onto blog business. this part is the good news i've been bursting to post about. tomorrow the m.writes holiday giveaway series begins. i've managed to round up 14 fabulous online shops to feature in december. and i've persuaded them to offer free goodies for you. i don't receive any commission for the giveaways on this blog, therefore i get to choose my true favorite artists and crafters whose products fit my taste and expectations for the perfect gift! i hope you'll tune in each day for a chance to win. here are the simple rules: every weekday morning (starting tomorrow thru december 18) i'll feature a holiday giveaway. the catch is, for these daily giveaways, you must comment within daytime hours for a chance to win. i'll close comments down @ bedtime and utilize random.org to pick one of your names. i will then announce the winner on the same giveaway post. the sooner i get in touch with the winner, the sooner the prize will be delivered to your door, the sooner you can enjoy (or gift) your awesome item in time for the holidays, kapish?
let the countdown (and giveaways) begin!
somehow pitted black olives have become my sentimental tie to home.
as i am preparing for tomorrow's feast i am discovering a whole new side of myself. and, in classic marta style, i am justifying my new overzealous self to the nth degree. because when you know your far away familiar favorite faces will not be gathering around your table, suddenly the familiar favorite foods that will be spread out on the table take on a much higher trait of significance. really, truly. i promise i am not typically this spastic. yet i've found myself pushing benji in a shopping cart almost every day this week. buying just the right items. including today. yes, i am one of those people running back to the store for one last thing.
last night as i set the ingredients out in their stations on my counter (i told you, i am full of zealousy), i realized that i'd forgotten the cranberry sauce. you know, the kind that comes in a can with ridges on the sides. dan doesn't really like it, but me, i love it at this time of year. any other day of the week, i would've dismissed it. tossing my hands in the air and thinking, not worth the trip, no way am i going back for cranberry sauce. we have lots of food to make up for it.. but then i laid in bed imagining my little leftover turkey roll sandwiches barren without their splash of saucy red.
so. i went back there with gusto; i was determined not to fill my cart with anything else. nothing more. only cranberry sauce. (and maybe a magazine. the one with taylor swift on the cover. just for perusing while the turkey is cooking.) yep, just the essentials. number one, because i have been to the store way too much this week. and number two, this week has totally ruined my new found goal to live more green and non-consumerish. maybe i should hold out on that goal til 2010? so there i am hunting for cranberry sauce. benji was a sport (and didn't even roll his eyes at me) and received a dum dum for being so awesum. he was over the moon about that dum dum.
so there i am pushing my way through the grocery store, with the rest of the world, and suddenly i see the large display of black olives at the end of the aisle. olives. another item we never buy. mainly because dan has never taken a liking to their squeeky texture. a texture that is a step-brother to mushrooms. which is another story. so there i am in my jeans and hoodie and clogs and benji with his root beer dum dum and a huge emotional tidal wave comes crashing down. suddenly i am nine years old at my grandma june's long thanksgiving table with cousin whitney and brooke by my sides and we are eating rolls and olives and pretzel jello salad. and going back for more. suddenly i love olives. suddenly i shamefully wonder if benji has ever even tasted an olive. i have been unknowingly depriving him of the five finger olive trick.
one can of olives + one can of cranberry sauce.
equals one satisfied and sentimental customer.
more details of my idaho thanksgiving feat to come.
it seams all the prettiest gifts start and end with a needle and thread. am visualizing a must-learn-to-sew new years resolution on my list in the very near future. and after stumbling onto this awesome blog, said must-have sewing skill is singing to me loud and clear. enter more ruffles. be still my heart.
freshly picked is a small business created by susan. she just may be the hippest mama i've ever landed upon in blogland. i mean, she sews skinny jeans for her toddler, not to mention encourages shiny gold leggings. a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e. susan is known for her fabulous handmade goods seen at local craft fairs. if you live in utah, you can stalk her at the upcoming beehive bazaar, the first weekend of december! a few favorites are her ruffly skirts, velcro wallets, wristlets, baby mocs and adorable throw pillows. i cannot help but keep linking, this girl knows style.
lucky for us, susan is kindly offering one of her famous handmade ruffly pillows for one m.writes reader. you know i want in on this one too. simply leave a comment to enter to win. now tell me, who is your style icon? will be shutting down comments tonight @ bedtime so i can tend to my turkey who will be brining in his bath. therefore hurry up and comment and come back tonight to see if you've won. the random winner will be announced on this post.
congratulations to ashley whose style icon (like many of you) is her dear ol' sis!!
thank you to susan at freshly picked. fyi: susan is currently only selling her items at shows and craft fairs, however if we nag her enough, perhaps we'll see a freshly picked shop online in 2010. here's to hoping.
p.s. this weekend is the last opportunity to order your numbered advent stickers in time to get them by december 1st. i absolutely love melissa's idea of wrapping 25 christmas stories for your little ones to unwrap each night. she does it every year and i think i will too. happy thanksgiving!
i am thankful.
am thankful for my family and friends. am thankful for my little benji who is learning more and more everyday. i love his new trick of picking up a storybook, bringing it back to me, turning around and sitting on my lap. everything with such intention. i am grateful for a warm oven that is drying out my rosemary bread crumbs and filling the whole apartment with sweetness. i'm thankful for the kind old lady who lives downstairs, drives a cadillac and winks whenever she sees dear benjamin.
am thankful for the extra change in my car for drive-thru donuts. am thankful for the small luxuries i enjoy every day like fancy shampoo and a closet full of clothes. i am thankful for the modern conveniences of a dishwasher, a clothes washer, a heater and an air conditioner. am thankful for my reliable car and my parents who donated it to us. am thankful for a hardworking husband who consistently makes every day fun. am thankful for friends in this idaho life, ones i prayed for and hoped for. loved ones who are enduring trials with grace. am thankful for opportunities to learn and grow and create. i am thankful that i get to do what i love. and make some money while i'm at it.
i am thankful for my health, for dan's unbelievable support, love and wisdom, for our little life together. am thankful for our parents and the supportive foundation they are to us. am thankful for all of our siblings (the ones that do and even the ones that don't read my blog) and their cute cherub children that share my love of sweets and coloring with crayons and reading stories aloud. each one i could take home and love as my own. am thankful for my beliefs and the blessing to worship as i wish. am thankful to write my thoughts down and know someone out there is reading them. am thankful for the exchange of ideas throughout the internet. and the new people who have befriended me; the nicest people i've never met. am thankful to know that God is real. and is listening.
thank you for writing out your thankfuls here on project :: thankful. i've loved reading your inspiring messages, so simple and heartfelt. happy thanksgiving preparations. tomorrow i'll feature a speedy giveaway and then i'll be back on monday with good news.
featured quotes taken from this article by joseph b. wirthlin.
Choice blessings await those who live in thanksgiving daily. “He who receiveth all things with thankfulness,” the Lord has promised, “shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more” (D&C 78:19).
Don’t wait to start. Open your eyes, open your hearts, and open your arms. I promise that as you do so, you will feel greater joy and happiness. Your life will have a new level of meaning. You will forge relationships that will transcend this life and endure through the eternities.
am loving all of the ideas circling 'round the internet having to do with do-it-yourself wreaths. here are twelve of my favorites (click image for larger view) to inspire you over the long thanksgiving weekend. black friday may as well be known as craft friday in this house.
wreath tutorials: 01. | 02. | 03. | 04. | 05. | 06. | 07. | 08. | 09. | 10. | 11. | 12.
these wreathy wonders might just persuade me to get some crafting done in between helpings of turkey and raspberry pretzel jello salad. yes, pretzels and jello. you have to trust me on this, it's delisch. i have been eating it on every special occasion my entire life. dan insists that this whipped creamy dish can hardly pass as a salad, however my mom always served it as a side dish with a crisp iceberg lettuce leaf underneath every square of jello. wasn't that cute of her? lettuce = salad. and i am determined to keep the tradition alive. (in reality, benji will be getting a jello scoop on his highchair tray and i might get caught eating it straight from the pan.)
and of course, (going back to my childhood family dinners) being raised when watching carbs did not exsist (thank goodness), we'd have a real dessert like mom's famous brownie cake afterwards (sometimes while watching seinfeld together). which just happens to be the exact recipe of pioneer woman's chocolate cake (buttermilk and all). no kidding. no wonder i love ree. however my mom never threw in nuts, she uses a 9x13 pan (not a sheet pan), and she adds a secret ingredient. which makes all the difference. it really does. but lets just keep it between you n' me, my mom's secret ingredient is a spoonful of cinnamon in the cake batter. mmm. mmm.
this post was going to be dedicated to the wonders of the diy wreath. which kinda got away from me. i suppose i have food on my mind. family food. this year dan and i will be celebrating thanksgiving within the walls of our own home, just the three of us. somehow our plans just turned out that way. it'll be a happy holiday with a humble little turkey, my grandmas dishes, a fancy tablecloth and most importantly, realistic expectations. am excited to cook all of our favorites and knock our socks off with an incredible (and edible) feast. i've jotted down my dad's famous turkey tips on a legal pad and will be slipping it into my three ring binder for safekeeping. if all goes well, i may attempt this again. knowing dan we'll probably take a big family walk on thanksgiving day. i really love this tradition. knowing me we'll probably take a big nap afterwards and watch a movie with hoodies and quilts. a movie that will contain a plot. and does not contain any guns or explosions. am crossing my fingers for an explosion free thanksgiving.
p.s. do you have a holiday movie favorite? please don't say gremlins. my eighth grade math teacher let us watch that for our holiday party. i remember thinking more along the lines of it's a wonderful life. but that's just me.
today i can be found over on giver's log in a bit of an interview about my favorite gift ideas. amber always loads her website with pretty packaging, unique gift ideas and endless thoughtful gestures. every time i click over there i am inspired to be more giving. which is always a good thing. thank you for a fun interview, amber.
in other news, we came out of church yesterday with mounds of marshmallow snow on the ground! it officially feels like the holidays. am staying in today filling shop orders, watching miss claire danes on The View, folding clean laundry, and addressing some christmas card envelopes. and breaking out the peppermint hot cocoa. mmm. mm. monday.
i decided to put one of my empty bulletin boards to use. i pinned up holiday ideas i don't want to forget, blank cards and seasonal stamps i can send out on a whim and little white tags for last minute items. am still loving fancy schmancy push pins (you may remember them from benji's pinwheels). am happy to report, they too are available in the shop, a set of 16 for $1.50.
coming up this week, before thanksgiving
project thankful thoughts.
diy wreath round up.
one day wednesday giveaway.
happy sunday.
you're well aware of my current kitchen staff situation.
yes, he's adorable. however his current specialty is creating jackson pollocks with macaroni. this coming holiday, my little man will be banging his wooden spoon on pots scattered all over the floor. always providing the comic relief and the soundtrack to our lives. am delighted since my real assistant at the stove will be dan. he is the cook of the household. and has a real good sense about spices and such. thank goodness for a generation of men who can cook. oh man this guy can stir fry like nobody's business.
still... i've invited someone else to come to my rescue for thanksgiving.
this little lady is finally here and i'm giving her free reign in my kitchen!
my rave review of ree. once this book arrived at my door i saved it until benji's naptime and read it cover to cover. by page ten, i was all choked up. this is the type of cookbook you'll want to read. even the acknowledgement page and all. because you're reading ree's words. and we love ree. it's a big bite of her amazing website; covered and bound and ready for a spot upon your sacred cookbook shelf. she has included a large helping of favorite recipes from her ranch, printed in classic pioneer woman (step-by-step) form. awesome. plus her photography and stories are sprinkled between the pages, which i find fun and refreshing. just like the woman herself. am happy i didn't wait until christmas for this one. she is going to be my pardner throughout my holiday home cookin' adventures.
if you're a fan of ree, and you really should be,
you'll undoubtedly love her cookbook.
divine twine has opened a shop full of twine.
in a rainbow of flavors. oooh la la.
perfect for pretty packaging.
especially at this time of year.
via the blah blah blahg.
i am always one to opt for a crisp cellophane bag for gift giving, but i recently turned to these clear boxes instead. dan took a business trip to denver and he promised to deliver some sweets to my nieces and nephews. i was happy to hear they made it through airport security in carry-on luggage unscathed. triumph for the sweet toothed.
these rectangle clear goodie boxes are now available in my shop, set of 4 boxes for $3.00. i've used them in the past to box up my greeting cards but am even more thrilled to see how nicely they house my candy fetish.
wishing you a happy weekend. i've got a few posts scheduled, hope you'll pop in to say hi. plus, i have some surprises in store for december. will be giving you all the details on november 30th.
p.s. wasn't last night some seriously good television? i came home from yoga and sat in front of the tv all night. (is that better or worse than waiting in line for the premiere of new moon?) first of all it was all about the project runway finale. so much talent. yay for ruffly dresses and funky mohawk hats. yay for carol hannah actually using some color in her collection. and yay for martha stewart on nightline. a true inside look. i'll leave it at that. and then charming nicole kidman on conan. isn't she downright darling?! not to mention anderson cooper. so funny. and so is conan for that matter. good tv is definitely my guilty pleasure.
am a lover of handmade quilts..
this giveaway is one i'm thrilled about.
last weekend i was delighted to have a pile of darling quilts to pass out to my darlings to bundle up for movie night. (i may not have enough room for everyone to get a proper seat, but heavens, they will be swaddled in something pretty!) over the years i've been spoiled with a collection of fine stitchery. all thanks to my cousin abby, the quilting queen and owner of gracie lane. i especially love the fact that her shop has both material and kits for those of you who love to sew and pre-made table runners and quilts for those of us who wish we could. this one is a new favorite and this beauty belongs in a museum somewhere.
even if we weren't blood relatives, i'd still be bias (i cannot sew, but i can make inside jokes like i do) toward her fabulous taste in fabric and awesome attention to detail. today abby is generously offering two prizes for two readers.
prize one All Stars Fat Quarter Bundle by Riley Blake
a set of 7 coordinating fabrics to craft up your own creation
prize two Christmas Star Quilt 32 x 32 (already handmade!)
this quilt is a perfect size for a holiday table top, a wall hanging or a baby's room.
want a chance at one of these prizes? simply leave a comment to enter to win. i usually don't like giveaway gimmicks, but since this is a biggie, am making an exception. as a little bonus, if you blog or tweet a link to gracie lane you can make another comment!! (two comment entries max per person.) be sure to link your blog or leave an email so i can contact you. return to this post saturday night when the random winners will be announced.
congratulations
the winner of the All Stars Fat Quarter Bundle is Micayla
the winner of the Christmas Star Blanket is Cody and Hanna
exclusive discount. when you enter Mwrites in the notes to seller section at checkout, gracie lane will refund the total shipping charges of your order! keep in mind, abby is expecting her second bouncing baby boy in only a few weeks, so order your quilted christmas gifts early.
thank you, abby!
getting published (or is it being published?) is a big thing for a writer. an even bigger thing for a wannabe writer like me. i've been lucky enough to have had a few things published in my lifetime. a real disastrous poem of mine got published in my high school's creative writing magazine. i don't know why my teacher chose that lame haiku over my grand memoirs. i thought i deserved more real estate on those pages, being on the magazine staff and all. oh well. it was in there with my name next to it. all i could do was feel teenage angst while selling copies near the cafeteria doors at lunchtime.
once i got married and quit college for awhile (so dan could finish up his undergrad at BYU) i yearned to be a writer. i was gung-ho and gave myself assignments to make myself feel like the real deal. i missed school that bad. some of my best work came from that time in my life. we went to an art exhibit and i wrote my very best poem yet after seeing a painting by maynard dixon. i wrote up a draft and read it aloud to dan. he gave me suggestions, like any faux creative writing posse would and i went back to the drawing board and made it better. when the time came around for BYU's writer magazine to be published, dan encouraged me to apply (like any faux creative writing editor would). i eventually threw my poem into the ring, and even though i wasn't technically a student, i was published! dan took me out that night to celebrate (like any amazing husband / faux agent would do). i was proud of it, if not a bit bashful for being the lone non-student in a literary magazine. for awhile it was my only claim to fame and the only thing that would register when i googled my name. not that i ever did that or anything.
all this to say, when the kirtsy creators contacted me last year about contributing to their upcoming kirtsy book, i was floored. i felt super excited that they wanted to publish a few of my blog posts. the book has come full circle and is about to be released. (you can pre-order your copy from amazon.) am honored to be among the amazing group of authors. i can hardly wait to get my hands on it, i'll be sure to give my full fledged review at that point in time. for now, here is a sneek peek...
more information about the upcoming book over on design mom's blog.
the creator of the book, laura mayes blogs about the creation of it right here.
doesn't it look lovely? completely lovely and legit. am feeling over the moon.
p.s. wow. thank you for all the kind emails about the new book. i just spotted myself in this little clip and am planning an ice cream date to celebrate.
the art of the mini gift. the best gifts are those that you feel giddy to give. waiting on the doorstep with a surprise (something sweet and yet practical) in your hand when she opens the door is the best of all.
most hostesses don't expect anything (unless you've promised your famed dish of candied yams), so showing up with a little something extra, especially for her, is a lovely way to start the evening with a well earned thank you to the party hosts.
just a few ideas to stock your gift shelf with.
philosophy fresh cream shower gel has just a hint of sweetness. honestly, it's my new favorite thing behind the curtain. it would be cute tied with a mini whisk.
the christmas candle. i like giving the scent of the season. a classic christmas mix cd is a good way to give the sound of the season too.
loan something you love. if the recipient is someone you're close to, give them something they're sure to get back. my sister amy brought this dvd set to me, hoping i'll love it. can't wait to break it out on snowy evenings this winter.
fingerless gloves. perfect for those on your list who work endlessly with flowers, knitting needles or on a keyboard. everyone needs to stay toasty while working into the wee hours.
the ramekin. no hostess should be without a set or two of pretty ramekins. i plan on tying my recipe card for mini molten cakes to this set to complete the package. you could also give them out individually, filled with candies and tied with tags.
a darling new scrubber. what hostess wouldn't want an extra doll on dish duty? a bottle of fancy williams sonoma dish liquid and a homemade coupon to help clean the kitchen after thanksgiving feast is devoured would be a most welcome addition to such a gift.
clementines and cinnamon sticks. a charming old fashioned favorite for your hostess to eat, to display or to slice up and simmer upon the stove in a pot of cider.
this weekend my brother-in-law scott brought along my sis, their three little sweethearts and his amazing camera. benji was happy to be the star of the show for three days in a row. oh who am i kidding!? in this house, he is the star of the show 365 days of the year. thanks to sco for coming for the weekend, thanks for snapping such great candids, thanks for emailing them to me so promptly and thanks for letting me talk yours and amy's ears off at quarter past midnight. i'm really good at that. come back soon.
a happy family is but an earlier heaven.
- george bernard shaw
today i was doing my usual monday morning bustling around, tidying up and discovered my leaves. which left a big smile on my face. as did our cheery faced giggling weekend visitors. together we ate pizza and pasta, devoured the movie up (loved it), splashed in the pool and went on a tour of our town, which included the antique shop with vintage pez machines. we also went on an Eye-Spy a Tractor hunt (which i made up on the fly).
thank you for all the game ideas. am getting apples to apples to set beneath the christmas tree. and kj, mexican train dominoes is definitely worth googling. my aunt marie would teach you how to play if she could.
