Smashed Peas and Carrots Featured in Homespun Magazine!

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I just wanted to share that I was featured in the current May 2013 issue of Homespun Magazine! How neat is that!

They asked to use my Mason Jar Sewing Kit idea and even put it in their table of contents...wowie zowie, pinch me please!!

Here is a look at my feature...a full page spread!!! I can't believe it! I feel very blessed and oh-so-lucky to have been asked and then even more so that they gave my project a WHOLE page!  

If you want to check out a copy of the magazine you can do so here!

Thanks for stopping by today and letting me share!!

XOXO,

Flea Market Finds

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Today I thought I would write up a Flea Market post sharing some of the neat things I see while shopping and some of what I buy as well!  I'm lucky to live in Chicago where there are quite a few great flea markets all less than an hour from where I live. And I count myself very lucky to have a husband who is willing to watch our kids so I can go visit at least one a weekend with my girlfriends.

One of my all-time favorite Flea Markets I seem to hit up every month is the Kane County Flea Market that occurs the first weekend of the month in  St. Charles, IL. I think the only times I've missed picking at this Flea Market was right after I've had a baby, otherwise if it's open, I'm there!

I always hit this one up with friends, it's nice to have a great group of ladies to shop with at the Flea. My momma friends and I get some good girl time in while we look out for each others "wish list" of things to find if we have one although I've gone many times without anything in mind as it's fun just to see what I find. And we help each other barter with the vendors...that is a total learned art and I have been getting better and better at it over the years!

The best part of Flea Market shopping is that there really is something for everyone!  Whenever we go, we spend the better part of the day there just picking through each vendor's goodies...you really never know what you'll find. And many times, it's the vendors that I would normally have just passed by from the first look of their booth that are the ones I tend to find the best deals!

If you are wondering where to find all that pretty vintage pyrex, a flea market is a great place to look.  Seriously...how pretty is this!

 I tend to find all my vintage trims and lace at Flea Markets...I mean really, how can you pass up picking through vintage trims in vintage suitcases!

And tables full of vintage pillowcases, tablecloths, and linens...oh my!

A couple months ago I found these two milk glass pieces, one is a smaller sized candy dish and the other is a large pitcher, all for $2 a piece...what a deal!

Last time I went I found these beautiful vintage fabrics for $1 a piece and they are all about a yard or more in length!  

And many of you saw on my Instagram feed how I bought the buttons and trim for $2 (!!!)  That set of vintage napkins?  Yup, $0.25 for all of them!

I thought I would use these water spigot handles in Oliver's room...if I can get this project done, I'll share it on the blog soon!

And this wee little mushroom?  Well, my friends' Ana and Katie found it for me at a very random seller's booth and I just had to have it.  How cute would it be with a coat of spray paint?

That's the cool thing about Flea Markets, garage sales, and thrift shopping.  You just never know what you'll find.  Keep your mind open too as a change of color or a coat of spray paint or chalk paint can really change a piece of furniture or other flea market find into the perfect decor piece for your home!

Thanks for stopping by today and letting me share!

 XOXO,

RECIPE: Orange Dreamsicle Poke Cake and Pillsbury Giveaway!

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I think it's safe to say that Spring is finally here in Chicago with soccer practice officially happening for our older two children.  Our weekends are being taken over by soccer games!  It's good stuff but unfortunately with the addition of soccer, it seems that our extracurricular activity schedule has become a sort of tetris puzzle that I am having the hardest time beating. Anyone else feel the heat?

Well, even though I'm stressing out a wee bit on getting my calendar organized, I figure why not get the kids (and the hubs and I) excited about the start of a new season (both soccer and Spring!) by making an Orange Dreamsicle Poke Cake.  Really, who doesn't love a celebration!? There is no reason you can't celebrate every day occasions in my opinion! 

Pillsbury even has a new seasonal mix and frosting called "Orangesicle" and I thought it would be the perfect base for this lovely cake. It's part of three new mixes they are bringing out to celebrate Spring! 

And hey! Here are a few of my "Spring-Themed" Tips to help you celebrate more every day occasions:

1. Add fresh fruit to your table. Whether it be an appetizer, side dish, part of your dessert, or even a garnish. Fresh fruit makes a great fresh Spring statement, especially when it is in season!
2. Add fresh flowers to your table. It's amazing what the addition of a few fresh cut flowers can do to spruce up a even the simplest celebration.  It can be as simple as a few flowers in small glasses or a larger bouquet that can put a smile on anyone's face.
3. Use bright colors in your decor.  One of the easiest ways to infuse a bit of happiness in any celebration is to add bright pops of color.  It can be in the decorations, tableware, or even the sprinkles on the cake that can instantly brighten up even the most every day occasion!

Orange Dreamsicle Poke Cake

1 box Pillsbury Orangesicle Premium Cake Mix and ingredients needed on back of box

1 can Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Orangesicle Frosting

1/2 cup orange juice

1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

red food coloring (optional)

yellow food coloring (optional)

Mix together the cake mix and ingredients needed found on the back of the box.  Pour batter into a greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-34 minutes or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out with only a few crumbs.  

While cake is baking mix together the orange juice, sweetened condensed milk, and whipping cream.  You can add 6 drops of yellow food coloring and 4 drops of red food coloring if you would like it to have an orange hue. When the cake is done, let it cool for 5 minutes then poke cake almost to the bottom of the pan with the blunt end of a wooden spoon making small holes all over. Pour the orange juice mixture over the entire cake and let cool for an hour or overnight. 

Once cake is cooled, frost with the Orangesicle frosting.  Enjoy!

Here are two of Pillsbury's newest cake mix and frosting creations just perfect to celebrate Spring!
For this recipe you will need to make the cake mix according to package directions.

While the cake is cooling, you can mix together the orange juice, heavy whipping cream, and sweetened condensed milk.

It will look like this!

If you would like it to have an orange hue you can add in 6 drops of yellow food coloring and 4 drops of red food coloring.

Once the cake is finished, let it cool for 5 minutes.  Using the blunt end of a wooden spoon, poke holes into the cake stopping just short of the bottom of the pan.  Continue to make holes all over the cake.

Pour the orange juice mixture over top, using every last bit!
Let cool for about 1 hour, overnight is best!

Then frost with the new Orangesicle frosting from Pillsbury and garnish with some beautiful fresh orange slices before serving.

Mmm...delish!

Enjoy!!

And to get your seasonal celebration moving in the right direction Pillsbury is offering ONE of my readers a Summer Seasonal Celebration Starter Kit which includes:

•  One box each Summer Seasonal Cake and Cookie Mixes
• Frostings (1 each of Creamy Supreme Key Lime and Creamy Supreme Orangesicle)
• $50 dollar Visa or American Express gift card
• Total estimated giveaway value: $60

You can enter to win the giveaway by Clicking Here or via the Rafflecopter widget below!

Visit the Pillsbury Facebook page here to enter to win an additional giveaway too!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

XOXO,

** I have been compensated for this post. However, all opinions are truthful and my own.  This post contains paid links.