Damask

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Cyber Monday at LuAdopts!


My college friend Lauren, mentioned in a previous post, is hosting a raffle to raise funds for the adoption of her third child.

You can check out pictures of the items being raffled at this Facebook photo album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=562685&id=842010400&l=b81545c08e. Or, you can check out the rules and enter the raffle at her blog: http://www.luadopts.blogspot.com/.

I am so excited that CuteBabyGifts will be featured as one of the raffle entries! We are raffling off a CarSeat Blanket, and the link is shown here: http://luadopts.blogspot.com/2010/11/sneak-peek-7-pink-and-brown-carseat.html

I, personally, will be eyeing and bidding on a few adorable items! Those are: Sneak Peek #18, the photo session (for myself, for a newborn photo shoot in April!), Sneak Peek #6 Gift Cards (for myself to help out with Christmas shopping, and some to give away as stocking stuffers), and Sneak Peek #28 Jamba Juice gift basket for my boss!

What a great way to do Christmas shopping AND support a good cause!


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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The Windy City

This past weekend I visited my little sister (who is not so little anymore) and her boyfriend, who are living in Wheaton, IL while she finishes her undergrad degree at Wheaton College. We spent the weekend snuggled in her adorable college apartment (man I miss those days), walking around a surprisingly warm Chicago, going to the Shedd aquarium, and carving pumpkins. It was a great bonding time....check out some pictures below!


(aquarium, not halloween)




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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Happy Fall!

(flowers my wonderful husband got me to match my fall decorations!)

I decided to skip Treasury Tuesday today, and instead went to the fabric store (aka *heaven*) with my friend to pick out fabrics for her nursery set that she has commissioned me to make for her. I'm trying my hand at a bumper (using THIS pattern), crib skirt, and blanket (based on THIS Etsy seller's design that my friend loved). Don't worry, I will post pictures!

On Sunday, I decided to decorate our house in fall decor and try a recipe I had been drooling over. They are called "Candy Corn Cupcakes," and although they don't taste like candy corn, they are definitely drool-worthy! Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
-1 box plain white cake mix
-1 c. regular sour cream
-1/3 c. vegetable oil
-1/2 c. milk
-2 eggs
-Yellow and Orange (or red to make orange) food coloring
-Whipped topping
-Candy Corn

Directions:
Combine cake mix, sour cream, vegetable oil, milk, and eggs in a large bowl. Mix according to package directions. Divide batter evenly into 2 separate bowls. Color half of the batter with a few drops of orange food coloring (or mix 1 drop of red per 2 drops of yellow). Color the other half with a few drops of yellow food coloring. Place cupcake liners into cupcake tins. Fill each cupcake liner with 1/4 c. of the yellow batter then top with the orange batter so cupcake liner is 1/2 full. Bake according to package instructions. Cool cupcakes completely. Just before serving, top each cupcake with a dollop of whipped topping and a piece of candy corn.

PICTURE:


Since I'm not a huge fan of whipped topping, I actually ended up making my Mom's homemade vanilla frosting and just frosting them, and it is quite tasty! In fact, I think I will eat one right now :)
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Sunday, October 17, 2010

Happy 1st Birthday Josh!

My sweet little nephew just turned one this past week! For his birthday, I made him a "Quiet Book," a craft I had never heard of until my sister-in-law sent me Shelley Wallace's Etsy site, which sells the patterns and kits. You can buy the kit and pattern separately, if you want to find your own materials, but considering all the little pieces of flannel and fabric, I figured it would be more economical (both financially and to save time) to purchase the kit as well, and I think it was the wise choice. The good news is, I now have the pattern permanently on my desktop, so I can make it again without having to purchase the pattern!

I chose the "Forest Friends" pattern and kit, and here is a little peek:









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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Treasury Tuesday

"Now you're in New York
these streets will make you feel brand new
these lights will inspire you
New York, New York, New York" -Jay Z and Alicia Keyes

I could not stop singing that song in my head this past weekend when I went to Manhattan and Brooklyn with my boss for the National Eating Disorder Awareness (NEDA) Conference. She took me with her to learn how to do the marketing of our company, in hopes that I could take it over. She also told me she took me because (in her words) "I've seen the Real Housewives of NJ, I need you as a bodyguard. You're from there, you can defend me." In all reality, my California born-and-raised boss DID need me to figure out taxis, subways, crosswalks, city streets, and how to handle aggressive New Yorkers. We spent 2 days site seeing and 2 days working. It was a lot of fun, but I have to say I am glad to be back *home.* CA feels like home, now. It's quieter, warmer, sunnier, and the people are kinder. I think I like it here. I think I will stay.

Happy Tuesday!
Rachel

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Monday, October 4, 2010

Long time, no blog

I've been slacking on the blog, and on Etsy stuff, for the past two weeks. I just can't get into it right now. I've heard from other Etsy sellers that sometimes a break is ok, while the urge to create rejuvenates itself. There's a small part of me that's debating slowly closing my shop. Selling the things left, and then letting it close. My profit margin is so small, that it doesn't feel worth it some days. In order to make more money, I will have to increase my prices, but I dont think many people will want to purchase anything if prices go much higher. Any advice from other sellers out there?

Instead, I am enjoying sewing my nephew's first birthday gift (pictures to come after he opens it), and spending time with my family, who was visiting from the East Coast.

My parents stopped in CA for 2 days on their way to Hawaii for my Mom's birthday. My brother drove down from college (about 45 min. north) and the 5 of us spent the day on Saturday renting a duffy boat in Newport harbor, putzing around and eating food. The sun was shining, the breeze was flowing, and so was the laughter.






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Friday, September 24, 2010

Featured Seller Friday


Another Friday - another weekend to look forward too! At least the weeks go fast these days :)

Meet April, the creator behind the Etsy shop MaggieandBeatrice, which has the most adorable items! She also has a great blog, where she often posts tutorials of the items she makes. I most definitely will try my hand at the handmade flower on the onesie :) Now I just need a niece.....

What is your life story?
My story is a simple one, certainly not original, but I am fond of it. High School sweethearts fall crazy in love, get married, and penny pinch their way through college. After school they move back home to start their family. The Lord blesses them with 2 blue-eyed boys and one brown-eyed girl. They raise their children in the country surrounded by Grandparents to love on them, Aunts and Uncles to spoil them, and lots of cousins to run wild with. Ten years later they are still crazy in love.
Where does your inspiration come from?
The inspiration for my MaggieandBeatrice shop comes primarily from my daughter. I didn't think I wanted a daughter (I know that sounds awful!) but I had my two boys who I adored and when I found out I was pregnant for the third time I thought "Great! Another blue-eyed boy to chase after." Naturally, I was surprised when the doctor announced I was expecting a girl. Needless to say she has rocked my world. The mom who thought she didn't want a daughter is completely and utterly smitten! I started sewing and making hair clips for her and discovered how much I loved creating all these pretty, girlie things.

How did you hear about Etsy?
A friend told me about Etsy and I was blown away at all the amazing things people were creating all around the world. Since I am a stay-at-home mom with young children, Etsy seemed like a good fit. I opened my store in February of this year.

How would you explain your style?
My style is hopelessly and unashamedly old-fashioned (with a touch of whimsy).

What is your favorite book?
Wow, that's tough. That's like asking which one of my children I like best. For the sake of the interview I will choose; "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte. Although, "Persuasion" by Jane Austin, and "A Room with a View" by E.M Forester would be very close 2nd and 3rd.
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