Meal Planning - week two

So, I ended up planning meals again for the week and went to the grocery store last night and farmer's market today. I got all kinds of goodies - like a beautiful whole chicken and bosc pears and some HUGE sweet yellow onions. I also got some heirloom tomatoes and an avocado for sandwiches along with this oatmeal bread that I really love.

So... This week I've planned 4 meals again - mostly based around a roasted chicken. I'm thinking about maybe doing some homemade pizza on Saturday night if I'm around.

Tuesday (tonight) - Roasted salmon with a maple glaze served over garlicy grains and rice along with broccoli with olive oil and lemon zest.

Wednesday - Roasted chicken with fresh herbs (rosemary and thyme) and roasted bosc pears and shallots served with a spinach/arugula/radicchio, apple, and goat cheese salad and a honey balsamic vinaigrette.

Thursday - Open-faced roasted chicken, apple, and provolone sandwiches on oatmeal bread along with spinach, heirloom tomato, and cucumber salad with apricot/honey white wine vinaigrette.

Friday - Roasted chicken, fresh strawberry, goat cheese, and spinach salad with honey and shallot balsamic vinaigrette.

Yup, I really love making salad dressings from scratch. I mostly end up making a vinaigrette of some sort, but usually go with a balsamic vinaigrette that I love. When I was at the store I almost got a blackberry ginger balsamic vinegar for dressings and noticed an apple balsamic as well... Maybe next time. They both sounded really good.

Hugs,
Cait

Double Feature!

This week has been pretty good so far. I've been featured in two different blogs and the week is only starting! I've been spending a decent amount of time in the Etsy Forums and trying to post items regularly (recently it's been renewing an already posted item - I need to get more photographs of a bunch of things) but it's great to feel like the hard work has been "paying off". It hasn't resulted in a bunch of sales, but it has resulted in blog features, being in two treasuries, and tons of item and shop hearts (which I hope will translate into sales closer to Christmas time).

Anyway, the two blogs that featured my jewelry are pretty cool - so go and check them out!

The first is "Good Times as a Young Adult". Two of my sterling silver rings are featured in the jewelry post.



The second feature is on "Fallen Peach". The feature has a bunch of the writer's favorite items and the colors in the chosen items happen to match the color scheme of the blog! Fun, right? Oh, and it's the first time that the "Etsy Tuesday" was done on the blog, so I feel extra honored. : )
Hugs,
Cait

Planning and Ideas

So, I was "good" this morning and decided to actually PLAN meals for the week. Sometimes my meals are planned, but it's usually a last minute - oh I need to run to the store to get _______ to make whatever it is for dinner. I guess I got a little inspired and decided to plan meals for most of the week. I only planned until Wednesday figuring there would be leftovers.

So...

Sunday night - Shrimp and corn chowder served with corn bread along with a spinach/arugula/radicchio salad with apple, goat cheese, and a balsamic fig vinaigrette.

Monday night - Meatloaf served with baked macaroni and cheese and sauteed green beans.

Tuesday night - Pear, sharp cheddar, and ham panini on fresh baked country bread along with a baby romaine and roasted beet salad with a balsamic honey vinaigrette.

Wednesday night - Old school chicken cacciatore served over creamy polenta.

So far, there isn't anything left over - the shrimp and corn chowder went over super well and the pot was scraped clean!


On another note I've been toying with the idea of starting an Etsy Team. There isn't one for Bucks County - which includes a bunch of arty kinds of towns along with other surrounding counties that aren't far away. I don't want to have to go into the city to enjoy time with local Etsy goers. I read in the forums that a few people were also looking for a group in the area ... So I'm working on ideas for it - Like a group name and all of that. For right now I think the group would be blog and Flickr based - with blog voting for how often we should actually meet up. Once a month or every two months would be fun. We could get together to go to things like First Friday in New Hope or local galleries shows. Support group members in their gallery shows and maybe even sign up as a group for some local art/craft fairs.

Hugs,
Cait

Been Featured - Studio Haus Blog

I got an e-mail on Etsy today from StudioHaus saying that I was featured in their blog! Exciting, right? A pair of my earrings was put into a collage for a favorite items contest. The theme is woodland and my Dashes and Eights Earrings are the featured item. It's Number 6 if you want to stop on over at Studio Haus to vote in the blog entry comments...

Thanks Studio Haus!

Hugs,
Cait

P.S. PLEASE GO VOTE FOR ME! <3

EDIT~ Just so you know, voting has ended. Thanks to everyone who went and voted for me.

Inspiring

The "Quit Your Day Job" articles on The Storque are always inspiring - but the new one featuring a husband and wife team - littlesaplingtoys - is extra inspirational (at least in my eyes). From what I've read in the articles it's usually one person living on their own - or a wife/husband that quits their day job but they have a spouse that is working. This couple both quit their day jobs to work at home AND they have two kids! It's great that they can work from home and spend time with their kids. I think they'll end up with a super close knit family.

Both my parents worked when I was growing up - so I spent a lot of time before school with a babysitter, and after school with a babysitter or afterschool program (when I was older I was alone). So, I'm a bit jealous. I'd have loved to go on bike rides in the morning with my parents.

Go check out the artile on The Storque!

Hugs,
Cait

To the Edge of the Universe - Treasury

So, I've been on a bit of a treasury making kick lately. I made a few before and enjoyed finding items to feature and all that, but I never made this many in a row! Once you get the knack of getting a treasury spot (using Craftopolis's Treasury Clock) it's easy, unless they are at funny hours - staying up insanely late or setting an alarm. This new treasury is the "sister" treasury of the Earthbound treasury I made a few days ago. The Earthbound one was focused on what's here on our planet, this new treasury is focused on what's out THERE... Out in space, in other galaxies, at the edge of the known universe.

To the Edge of the Universe is filled with wonderful pieces, including photographs of actual astrological goodness! The fourth column is lighter than the others because it's the "alternates" column and is usually hidden.

Please go and check the treasury out before it's gone - they don't hang around forever (this one has till Sunday morning)! Leave comments and all that...

Here are the items featured in the screen shot of the treasury from left to right!

1. Great Orion Nebula - by celestialwonders
2. Double Constellation- Digital Collage Print - by JenMcCleary
3. orbit. fw pearls, hand forged rings and oxidized sterling silver pendant necklace - by organikx
4.1 inch Martingale dog collar--ORBITS-PURPLE - by TrendyHound
5.Reading the Stars - by MiniatureRhino
6.Celeste Earrings - by AntiGenre
7.Fire in the Sky - 8x10 Original Fine Art Photo - by bomobob
8.Orion Necklace - Handmade Lampwork Bead with Long Oxidized Sterling Silver Chain - by PoleStar
9. Andromeda Galaxy Necklace - by metalology
10. Dandelion Print- 8x10 - by JoannasPhotography
11. Satellite Drop Earring - by daniellejewelry
12. Galaxies- Carborundum Vessel Pendant - by thesocialcellar
13. Caught in Stardust and Wonderlust - by ImagineStudio
14. Aurora...AAA Moonstone and Blue fire labradorite necklace - by loriyab
15. Wedding Constellation Study I - by beckytomato
16. Perelandra - 8x12 Pearlescent Metallic Fine Art Photographic Print - by if1hadwords

I hope you enjoy the items as much as I do. I really love them and think they are great and inspiring!

Hugs,
Cait