Did you know October 15 is National Cheese Curd Day! Come and celebrate at Culver's, where you will always find the cheesiest most delicious cheese curds around! If there is one thing I know, thanks to living in Wisconsin throughout my high school and college years, it's a good cheese curd. I feel like it's a Wisconsin rite of passage to visit a cheese factory at some … [Read more...]
Top 10 of 2015
Ahhh, it's so good to be back after a nice little break, isn't it! I hope your new year started off well :-) We stayed busy with a long weekend at a water park and then ended our winter break by taking the kids ice skating! It will be sad to have the kids back in school but sooo nice to be back on a schedule. I have let some things slide over the past two weeks (my house … [Read more...]
How to Grocery Shop with a Toddler
Now that my 3 oldest are in school full time much of my day is spent with my littlest guy. He's my little errand running buddy, my sidekick. I love having this special one on one time with him as I really get to see his personality shine through. The way he sees the world and how much he knows through the big words he can say. It always amazes me the conversations we … [Read more...]
A Few Fun Facts About Easter
With Easter coming up next month, I thought this fun infographic from World Market was pretty cool. Man, I am such a nerd for random facts! Who knew about all these fun facts about Easter eggs, candies, and unique basket fillers? Did you? What do you think? … [Read more...]
My Life in Instagram Pics
I know some of you follow me on Instagram (and if you don't, you can follow me here: @smashedpeasandcarrots) but for those of you who do not I thought I would share some of the pictures I have shared over there since the IG format seems to make it is so much easier to share "Day in the Life" type pics then it is in the blog format. I know, I know, how many social media … [Read more...]
Craft Room Feature in Quilts from Precut Fabrics Magazine!
I forgot to share with y'all that my sewing studio/craft room was featured in a magazine (!!!) The wonderful people from Quilter's Companion did a spread on sewing spaces a few months ago and contacted me to see if they could feature MY space, how crazy is that? You can see it in their magazine, Quilts from Precut Fabrics No. 3. … [Read more...]
Come Join Me for a Pinterest Party at Michaels Stores!
** Please note update! Location change below!! ! I wanted to let you know that Michaels Stores are launching a brand new in-store event in November to encourage crafters to "Don't just pin it. Make it on you own." They asked me to be part of an exclusive group of bloggers who will co-host these events in their stores throughout the country! You can check out all the … [Read more...]
Michaels’ "Unplugged Summer Pact"
Back in May, I was asked to be a part of the Summer Adventure Mom Blog Challenge sponsored by Michaels. As I read through the challenge, I thought that this was such perfect timing. This would be the perfect way to help me entertain my 4 littles this summer engaging them in more crafts and creative activities and less 'let's just watch Netflix kids all morning', you know? … [Read more...]
Pick Your Plum Daily Deal: WASHI TAPE!!!
Just wanted to give y'all a heads up that Pick Your Plum's Daily Deal for Today is WASHI TAPE!!! If y'all follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you know I LOVE me a good deal on washi tape...I just can't help myself when the price is this good!! Click here to buy...it's coming in at $1.50 a roll, a total steal for these pretty Spring colors!!! Click here to see a my … [Read more...]
Random Acts of Kindness Week: Feb 11-17 2013
Did y'all know that this week is officially known as "Random Acts of Kindness Week"? Yup, starting today, the next 6 days are meant to spread kindness to others, one random act at a time :-) If you follow me on Instagram and Facebook you know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE spreading acts of kindness! I am very service-oriented and bit by bit I am trying to teach my children … [Read more...]
Sew Fab ePattern Sale Starts Today for This Week Only!!!
It's here! Today is the day the Sew Fab e-Pattern Sale starts, yippee! You are seriously going to love this bundle of PDF patterns that Jenny from The Southern Institute put together, pinky swear. All the designers are amazingly talented women and their patterns are top notch! So without further ado, let me share with you the awesomeness that is the Sew Fab e-Pattern … [Read more...]
Sew Fab Sale…Coming Soon!
Hey friends! Just wanted to really quickly let you know about this e-pattern sale that will be on the blog next week! Coming next week! From February 4th- February 11th... the first ever For one week only, ten pattern designers will be joining together to combine 18 of their best PDF sewing patterns (valued together at over $139.00) and selling them to you for the … [Read more...]
Jo-Ann ‘Simply For Baby’ Pinterest Video Contest
Hey all! Real quick I just wanted to mention a super cool contest that Jo-Ann is hosting until the end of June. It's their first-ever Pinterest sharing contest! Have you joined in all the crazy fun over there yet? If you want to follow me and my boards click here! This contest is a video contest, so it's super easy to enter. All you do is videotape a quick tour of … [Read more...]
Naptime Rainbows and Some Babble
During Eloise's nap time yesterday Noah decided to build a rocket ship while Penelope decided we'd play nail salon. She came up with this: Rainbow nails! Or as she likes to call them her "Jellybean toes". Just perfect for our Spring weather and the fact that all last week they were learning about rainbows in preschool. She was over the moon crazy excited that she got … [Read more...]
The Big Project of 2012
And one that just seems to keep getting bigger and bigger each week is this one... Surprise!!! I'm pregnant!!! We are just super excited over here and I have been just dying to tell you all, hooray for fun news to share! If any of you were wondering just what happened to all the craftiness on this blog over the past few months, well, it was getting flushed down the … [Read more...]
The Best Coffee You’ll Ever Have and How to Use a Coffee Toddy
I'm totally serious too. The only way I like to make coffee in my house is by using a Coffee Toddy. It is a really easy cold brew method for making coffee...the best coffee ever, mind you! This is how my dad's family made their coffee when he was younger and this is how I drank it when I was growing up too (when I was in high school of course). The cold brew … [Read more...]
Buttons…of the Blog Variety.
So today I wanted to share that I finally took the dive and started a Flickr group. Mmmm hmm, that's right. You know, for all the creations that you have made or were inspired to make from Smashed Peas and Carrots tutorials or blog posts...Woo Hoo! Who's excited with me? So now if you look over at my right side bar you will see this funky little icon: That, … [Read more...]
Pork Be Inspired with Richard Blais
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being a part of the 'Pork Be Inspired' campaign that America's pork producers launched recently. I was one of the lucky ones that had been asked to interview Top Chef All Stars winner, Richard Blais, during the one day only Pork Inspiration Cafe that was held in New York City. If you are familiar with Richard then you know he is known … [Read more...]
Very Cool. And Thank You Very Much.
Hey all, I've got some great news to share with you! Smashed Peas and Carrots was chosen as one of Babble.com's Top 50 Craft Mom Blogs of 2011...holy freakin' cool! I was floored to get the email from the Babble editors and then when I saw the list of blogs who made the Top 50...well, holy WOW!! I couldn't believe I was ranked next to such awesome women and their … [Read more...]
Proud Owner Of…
So, I received this in the mail a while back and realized I've never shared it with you...maybe because I'm not totally sure it's a good thing :-) Yup, another pretty white envelope...not from the President this time... But from Starbucks. Wanna see what they sent me? Okay, here goes nothing... Hmmm...a congratulations card? For having a baby? Nope. For … [Read more...]
The Social Network
Hey all! Okay, so I just wanted to let you all know that I finally took the plunge and started up a Smashed Peas and Carrots Facebook page! I really love the idea of getting to know all of you on a more personal level there and since I am on Facebook so much more than my blog I will be able to chit chat a lot more with you there :) To 'like' my page all you have to do … [Read more...]
Something for the Babe
We, or should I say Eloise, received a little something fun in the mail not too long ago that I have been meaning to tell you about! … [Read more...]
Apple Slices To-Go (The Pretty, Non-Brown Way)
With it being September and apple picking season, we have lots of apples in our house these days. And thinking that you may be eating lots of apples too, I thought I'd quickly share with you how we like to pack our apples for our little outings we have at the park for picnics and playtime. Noah and Penny love to bite into their apples like most of us do but I find that … [Read more...]
Tank Tops + $2 = DEAL!
I'm realizing I should have posted this yesterday but the day just got away from me. Today, Old Navy is having a sale on their ribbed tank tops...$2 a piece with a limit of 5 per customer. They opened at 7 this morning...although I was not there that early I was there early for me. They also have $2 flip flops and $3 water bottles a la the Sigg type too. If you're … [Read more...]
A Secret to Share
Oh boy, Oh boy! I am so happy to finally be able to share a little secret I have been hiding from you (and no, I have no clue if we are actually having a boy or not!) I wanted to tell you that all last week I have been hard at work cleaning up my blog! Who's excited with/for me!?! Annnd let me tell you that, Yippee Skippy, I am finally done!! Aren't you just so … [Read more...]
I Don’t Belieeeeve It!!
Ok, so I just wanted to let you all know that I was at none other than Joann's the other day and guess what I found? Chalkcloth!!! As Noah would tell me, 'I don't belieeeeve it!' Yup, yup, it's true!! I know many of you have commented or emailed me regarding where I bought my chalkcloth and I told you to head to Vogue Fabrics and the Oil Cloth Addict on Etsy but now … [Read more...]
Two Things…
So two things real quick I just wanted to share... First, today we had a fun little visit from the UPS man! My momma sent a box full of treats and other goodies to us...yay! I love getting packages in the mail!! I love my momma :) She always sends us goods in the mail just because...so sweet! This one was filled with all things Valentine's. Yes, a little late but … [Read more...]
Love.ly
Happy Valentine's Day!!! I just wanted to say I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with lots of LOVE! And, I also wanted to share with you a few things that I find love.ly! First off, I have a new blog button, yay! Yep, yep it's true! Many of you had emailed me about this and I was finally able to get around to having one made. Mission accomplished, woo-hoo! … [Read more...]
One Small Change
So, a reader of the bloggity blog, Carrie of the Tao of Craft (cool blog, check her out!) introduced me to another cool blog, Hip Mountain Mama and their One Small Change Challenge recently. So cool! It is such a neat idea. You blog at the first of every month about one small change you are going to make to help the environment or reduce your carbon footprint, a small … [Read more...]
The Canvas People are Good People!!
So, I'm browsing around the internet today while Penelope is having her morning nap and Noah is playing trains and I came across this awesome offer from the Canvas People: They are giving away one free 8x10 canvas picture to every home. I am not sure how long this offer lasts but it's a pretty good one so you may want to hurry over there and check it out! You do have to … [Read more...]
Help for the Housewife/Wife!
Whoa, two posts in two days...CRAZY! I am realizing that I feel my best in the morning so you may be seeing in the next few days me actually posting more!!! If the kidlets cooperate and life works in my favor that is! ;) So, in keeping with the New Year, New Goals idea I wanted to share with you a website/blog that I really like and I think you might too! It's called … [Read more...]
One Gift Bought…Check!
So, I realized that I never posted about one of my most favorite gifts that I bought for Penelope for her first birthday this summer! Which is ok, I guess, cause I can tell you all about it now since I bought her another one for Christmas. So what is this mysterious gift, you ask? It's the sweetest rag doll made by the coolest Etsy shop called Project Grab Bag. You … [Read more...]
Being One with the Trees
Lately, we have been loving our local library card. And not just for the loads of books we check out every week, the free Wii games we rent for our family or the free storytime hours we meet friends at and get some well needed time out of the house. Our library, and many throughout Illinois, is currently offering the Museum Adventure Pass. It's a new program that … [Read more...]
My Day…How Was Yours?
Humm...so what have I been up to today... Well, I'll spare you the drama (well, most of it anyways) and give you the abridged version...my day went a little something like this: 1. Early morning playdate with friends...always crazy with the kidlets but always lots of fun! 2. Spent the rest of the morning and afternoon with a very cranky 15-month old whom I finally … [Read more...]
Time to Get My Vote On…Again!
Hey, so have you guys been over to So You Think You're Crafty? yet? OMGosh!!!! I just L-O-V-E going over there every Monday morning to see who the past week's winner was and what the current week's challenge is! It is almost too exciting for me for a Monday morning!! If you don't know about SYTYC, let me explain. It is this craft challenge contest (for lack of … [Read more...]
I &hearts Rice
So, the hubs and I switched cell phone carriers a little while back and ended up getting the iphone. Do you have one of these? This thing has been the best invention in technology to date...I think. I absolutely love it! Aside from cringing at paying waaaay too much for a cell phone, it has been lots of fun to have around. Not only can I check my email and facebook … [Read more...]
As is!
...as in the "As Is" room at Ikea. I love this room! It is where all the returned or slightly damaged items from Ikea go to be re-sold at a much reduced price. I really love this room because they have bins and bins and bins of fabric to sort through at ridiculously cheap prices. The fabric may be opened drapery that was returned or remnant cuts of fabric from their … [Read more...]
Piles for Miles
So, I'm taking a break from my sewing but only because I have to...laundry, you see, seems to pile up like nobody's business around here. I do not mind doing laundry, in my world it's actually kind of fun! I really don't know what's wrong with my head, I think I get a kick out of making it vanish...seeing piles of it in every room of the house, scooping it all up and … [Read more...]
Martha’s Done it Again!
Have you seen the October issue of Martha Stewart Living? I am in love with the pumpkin and squash mushrooms on the cover!!! Aren't they just the coolest looking things? I think I need to have these all over my front porch and path what do you think? Martha and her team sure know how to decorate for every holiday known to mankind just right, don't they? I would so … [Read more...]
The Deal of All Deals
Sometimes, and only sometimes, when I check my email I buzz through it really quickly, especially if most of it is junk email and I am on a delete-ing spree...ever been on one of those? Apparently, this has been the case lately. I'll tell you what I mean. I get Joann's emails pretty regularly if you sign up for them in store and usually I read them scouring them for … [Read more...]
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