Friday Blog Feature

Today's blog feature goes to Annies Cupboard blog, by Sherry Marrero. This is quite a talented lady. She's a wife and stay at home mom who homeschools 2 boys and creates all kinds of things.

She's just plan amazing and such an inspiration to me because she is always creating new things. She is famous for her Primitive Raggedy Ann dolls but the talent doesn't stop there. She makes unique items out of vintage bed sheets. Her newest project is bunting, which is like banners or streamers out of bed sheets of course. She makes skirts, blouses, pin cushions all out of sheets too. Painting little wooden Retro cottages too is another of her side lines. Everytime I read her blog she has created something new and different. Way to go girl!


Raggdy Ann patterns and dolls


Wrap skirt from a vintage bedsheet



Retro cottage with people and furnture



Handmade recyled vintage pictures into wall art

Check out this blog: http://anniescupboard.blogspot.com/
And her shop: http://anniescupboard.etsy.com

Mediterranean Beef Pot Roast & Vegetables Recipe

Crockpot Servings: 6-8

Cook Time:10 hours

Ingredients
•1 boneless beef bottom round rump or chuck shoulder roast (approx. 3 to 3 1/4 lbs.)
•8 new red pototes (approx. 1 lb.), 2 to 2 1/2 inch diamter
•1/2 lb. packaged peeled baby carrots
•4 whole cloves garlic, peeled
•1 tsp. dried rosemary leaves, crushed
•1 tsp. salt
•1/2 tsp. pepper
•1/4 cup water
•1/4 cup dry red wine
•2 Tbsp. cornstarch dissolved in 2 Tbsp. water
•chopped parsley

Instructions
Placed potatoes, carrots and garlic in bottom of slow cooker. Rub beef with rosemary, salt and pepper; place on top of vegetables. Add water and wine. Cover and cook on LOW 10-11 hours, or until beef and vegetables are tender.

Remove pot roast; trim fat, if necessary. Arrange pot roast and vegetables on serving platter; cover and keep warm. Just before serving, carve roast across the grain into thin slices.

For gravy, strain cooking liquid; skim off fat. In small saucepan, combine 2 cups liquid from cooking and cornstarch mixture until blended. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 1 minute or until thickened.

Garnish beef and vegetables with parsley; serve with gravy.

I omitted the salt and did not thicken the broth with cornstarch, just left it thin. I also used 1/2 cup of red wine instead of 1/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of wine. I plan to use the left over beef for quesdadillas.

Recipe #252118 from http://www.recipezaar.com/

Top 5 Treasures

Today's Top 5 treasures found are listed below. If you would like to have your shop featured here on my blog you will need to pick your favorite and list it in the comments along with your shop address. The next 5 items and shops will be picked randomly from the "Raffle King." Next posting of Top 5 will be next Tuesday!


Winner # 1 Primitive Raggedy Ann "Emily" from Annie's Cupboards!
Shop: http://www.anniescupboards.etsy.com/



Winner # 2: Nature Inspired Bottle Cap Magnets from Beans Things!
Shop: http://www.Beansthings.artfire.com/


Winner # 3: Scrolling Chopper Barrette from MDN Crafts.
Shop: http://mdncrafts.etsy.com




Winner #4: Cutest Little Backpack from The Crazy Old Bag Lady.
Shop: http://TheCrazyOldBagLady.etsy.com


Winner # 5: Wild 70s Vintage Top from Nelda's Vintage Clothing.
Shop: http://neldasvintageclothingcom.storesecured.com/

I Won!

Look what I won a from a drawing that JMBridal Jewerly was having. Aren't these just beautiful blue pearl earrings? It's really worth it to sign up for drawings because you just might win like I did.



JM BridalJewelry is a great place to shop for wedding jewelry. The address is JMBridaljewelry.etsy.com

Friday's Blog Feature!

This week's featured blog goes to Fray Baby Bibs & More! Fray Baby's creator is Liz Davis. This is a great blog for new moms or moms of young children. It's full of fun craft ideas and great parenting tips. Her blog also has tasty recipes, organic finds and thrift store finds.

Liz is a mother of 2 and a military spouse supporting her Aviation husband who is serving in the Army. She's a stay at home mom who sews, scrapbooks, bakes and cooks.

Liz is the creator of many great baby items including bibs, burp cloths, mini blankets and more. There are also some non-baby items too, tote bags and address books and mini pouches. Liz has a good variety of items for everyone.

Here's a few of my favorites:




"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" apple & pear bib.



Keep your sandwich fresh and safe with a secure Badge reusable sandwich bag!



A heart bag full of love IKEA tote bag!

Fray Baby's blog: http://fraybabybibsandmore.com

FRAY BABY'S IS HAVING A GREAT LABOR DAY WEEKEND SALE!

~~**~~LABOR DAY SALE~~**~~
Friday, September 4th through Monday, September 8th
There's BOGO sales, free shipping and 15% off sales.

For more details, Check out Fray Baby's Shop: http://fraybabybibsandmore.etsy.com

ASIAN BEEF AND VEGETABLE PASTA RECIPE

6 servings
1/8 teaspoon red peper flakes
3 large cloves of garlic
1 1/2 pounds steak, cut into thin strips
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon vegetable oil (you can use cooking spray instead)
1 large onion, sliced
4 large stalks celery, chopped
1 small head green cabbage, chopped
12 ounces wheat spaghetti cooked, drained
1/2 cup low salt soy sauce

Spray a large, deep skillet with cooking spray. Over medium heat, cook pepper flakes and garlic for one minute.

Sprinkle steak with pepper. Add to skillet. Cook steak until no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from skillet with a slotted spoon.

Add a small amount of oil to skillet or respray with cooking spray. Cook onion and celery until tender, about 10 minutes. Add cabbage, cook stirring until crisp-tender, about 10 minutes.

Add steak, spaghetti and soy sauce to skillet. Cook stirring until heated through. Serve hot.

This recipe is from the Eating for Life Cookbook by Bill Philips