Extended Vacation

Sorry for being away so long, but like most of us life has gotten in the way again. We are on an extended vacation and my crocheting has taken a back seat to watching fireflies, roasting marshmallows and watching the boys grow like weeds. Although we are still on vacation I am going to buckle down and get some crocheting done. Fall is almost here and school will be starting and that means Halloween is not far behind. I need to get some fun hats done to be ready. I have a couple shows that I do in the fall and then just HOOK away to get ready for Christmas. I do have a couple back to school specials going on right now. https://www.facebook.com/GrammasGifts/app_135607783795 check out the  MP3 player hat, a great hat for guys or girls on the go.  The beard hat is also a special, it can be done in team or school colors with your choice of beard color , also a fun owl hat with matching fingerless mitts. Mat ch these to you school, favorite jacket or just about anything. I also have a couple new newborn hat sets coming along, a few final touches and I can get pictures up for everyone to see.

Well I am off to shake the sand off of everything and watch the rain , we really need it. Crochet hook in hand I WILL get something done today!

Spring Forward

Spring Forward, that is this Sunday. Set your clocks ahead and get ready for added daylight and bright sunny spring. That is also my new life plan  Spring Forward. Don't look back. Make steps in the right direction.
I have started doing just that. How can you get anywhere unless you have a plan and set a goal.

My spring goal is to learn to shop more wisely, use coupons and save money. All this sounds like a good idea but I plan on stepping things up because I have a HUGE goal. For some time now I have wanted to go to Ireland. This always seemed like something other people do. Then, I checked some prices and looked in to travel and I think with some good planning, setting money aside and putting me on my list of priorities this can be accomplished. The plan is doable so to make it just a little grander I looked farther and would love to be able to trace my family tree back through Ireland to Paisley Scotland. More research, some emails and this is not such a far retched plan.
                                                               Now, to put it to work.
First, a big cost in our house are groceries. For that I am going to need some help. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Operation-40K  I found just what I need . Someone who made a plan, followed through and got more than she had hoped for. Groceries and the everyday shopping needed to run a home, smarter, cheaper and learn to also help out the local food bank at the same time! Amazing yet very doable!  Family, step back and watch me shop!

Next the electric usage and utilities bills are going to reexamined and changes made. Gas usuage for the car is also on my list of things needing to go on a diet!
All those need cutting but on the flip side to revamp and build up the Etsy shop to help it feed the Ireland Pot of Gold. My shop has come a long way and I am just now opening new avenues of sales for my newborn hats and some of the bath items. Much work to be done , but I enjoy the crocheting and learning from other shop owners some of the ins and outs to get noticed.
All this is made possible with the help of my little guys who every other week keep me on my toes and a constant reminder of what is really important.
Then, I do have to stop and say, It is MY TURN......I want this trip and I will make it happen!
Join me on this adventure and follow along as I learn more about coupons and saving money and share themlinks and info. Some good recipes, shopping and laughs along the way.

Approaching Valentine's Day

It is cold, very cold and the snow has finally come to our corner of Wisconsin.  As I look around Etsy and other blogs I see alot of preparation for Valentine's Day. I miss the kids having to write out Valentines and me needing to bake five batches of cupcakes for their classes. Yet, there is alot for me to do, I have added a few new hats to the Etsy shop and some listing for the photographers who take those adorable newborn photo shoots. I am always amazed at the imagination behind those photos.  Photographers purchasing hats from me has opened a whole new market. Now , these are not just cold weather hats for the family but can be used for the photo shoots year round and all over the country. Here are a few of the listings I have put out there.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/90843050/newborn-phot-props-diaper-cover-or-cape

newborn phot props Diaper cover or cape and hat sets / custom /Photographers Props / Special Five

Perfect for newborn photo props/ Five newborn Diaper cover or cape and hat newborn sets of your choice. Valentines Day Sale Custom colors. Dress that new baby up and show him or her off. A great selection and you can choose animals and colors .

Photographers Prop Special/ with free shipping

Ten count them TEN baby hats of your choice at a wonderful price! Choose any of the animals from my shop cow, pig, giraffe, sock monkey, mickey mouse, frog, hippo, skunk, ANY of the animals/ in newborn sizes
other sizes available please convo for price

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88514592/photographers-prop-special-with-free

A fun way to build up the business and many of the photographers will share a photo which makes the shop look so nice! 

In searching around I came across a great blog that had a recipe for Calazone Hearts and since pizza in any form is a big hit in our house I thought it would be great fun for the two little guys to try. We do make homemade pizza every couple weeks always on Friday our PIZZA night. here is the link and you may want to check out all the other fun Valentine ideas they have . http://sixinthesuburbsblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/calzone-hearts.html 

Well, I am off to finish two more Valentine puppy hats and get some hats packaged for a post office run.

Valentine Puppy Earflap Hat 

This perky pup is ready for Valentines Day gift giving! 

The Holidays Are Over

              Yes, I must say I did do the happy dance this morning as the kids returned to school.  The two little giuys are back with their Mom for her week and there was silence! It has been a hectic couple of weeks.
         Let me explain. On December 13th my Mother flew in from Florida to stay a week and be at our home for a Holiday gathering. For the first time in 6 years since my Gram passed we were all going to try and get together. This is a big undertaking since I am in Wisconsin, many relatives are in the Chicago area, I have a brother in Indiana , a sister in Ohio a couple in Tulsa etc.   I had done my prep work so the food was  a breeze, shopped early had a to do list and help from those in the house. I even fit in lunch with my good friend Jean from the Teapot Quilt Cottage in Montello.   The big day came, Saturday December 17th, ( for my Mom, there was a light dusting of snow ) my husband drove down to Watertown to pick up my Uncle and kids started to arrive. My daughter Diane and her 5 kids came the night before from Chicago to not need to leave to early or rush. You never know what the weather might bring up here. Not only all those relatives we knew and missed but after more than 35 years to be reunited with my Moms sister, who had been adopted. What a nice Christmas gift.

Mom (Dorothy)  Aunt Charlotte Mom ( Lillian ) Aunt Barb and in the front everyones favorite Uncle Eddie
My Grandfathers 5 children together in one photo.
Now, I have to say I was awful at taking photos and hope someone shares theirs with me. I was busy warming pierogi and making sure everyone was finding everything and lacked the camera on hand.

Her are two of my daughters helping with the food. The nesco behind them contains a favorite party recipe . We call it Italian Beef coming from Chicago. Something not easily found up here.  Pioneer Woman calls it drip beef and here is her link. 

Try it, it is amazing http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/02/drip-beef-two-ways/

This is Becky who is 5 and has just had her one year anniversary being diabetic. I did not bake cookies and had to make many calls to her Mom, Diane to see just what she could eat. 

This is our baby Isabella, who just turned one and is the quickest little person I know!

Here are my two favorite little men. JJ and Carsen

Elizabeth who is off on her own with boyfriend Dakota and in nursing school in Fond Lac

Mike, always ready to pose

Rosie, a big help to her Mom

Chrissy, one of the in house teens 

Sergio, who we call Jr.

Uncle Eddie admiring Beckys red bird hat

Aunt Barb

cousin Natalie

daughter Diane with Bella

Tommy the quiet funny guy

cousins, husband, boyfriends and kids. It was wonderful to catch up! This was the best gift of the year!

Our 5 generation photo

back row: my daughter Patrice, me, Big Joe my grandson who is holding little Joe and I have Carsen

Everyone had a good time and it just did not seem long enough to chat. Hopefully we can do this again next year and with more notice those relatives who could not make it can find their way here! 

So, with all that behind us and some quiet I did get a little work done and added a few new items to the Etsy shop, here is a preview

they can all be found at 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/GrammasGifts?ref=si_shop

A Huge Thank You

In the past I have explained how I am just awful at tooting my own horn as they say. To boast of brag as my Gram would call it just isn't in me. Yes I have made alot of really cute items but I would leave it at that. Then today I received an email thanking me for a sock monkey set I had made especially for a photo shoot.  Now most of my customers write to say thanks it turned out cute but this email made my day.

Just wanted to tell you how awesome you are !

Momma LOVED the monkey set.....baby looked ADORABLE in it! *wink*

 

Thank you so much for always doing such a great job for me! :)

--
Heather Burchinal
HB Photography 

http://www.heatherbphotography.com/

http://heather-2008.blogspot.com/

Yes, the set turned out cute, but I think the photographer had alot to do with it. I went and visited her blog and sight and was amazed at a set of photos with a field of sunflowers. What imagination !

Now I have been using my two little guys at home for models and thought I did really well until I saw these shots. If you need work done and live anywhere near Heather I would highly recommend her. The work is amazing!

these hats and much more can be found at http://www.etsy.com/shop/grammasgifts

If You Could See Me Now

What a sight , sipping coffee and doing the HAPPY dance. The two teens are at school.  Quiet at last. I am hoping to soak up all this calm and quiet. Maybe even get some work done. I have decided to schedule my time, between unpacking boxes, crocheting and the Internet. In hopes of getting so much more done now without interruption.
I just received another order for a turkey hat, last weeks hat was in school colors and turned out so cute. In checking the shop I found a photo of turkey hats sent out last fall for adults, take a look!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61539242/turkey-hat-teenadult

As the temperatures drop people begin thinking fall and Halloween so I have received a couple monster hat orders a pair of adult skunk hat orders for a photo shoot and a frog hat and sweater set.  Much to do but glad to see the orders arrive.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80702670/monster-hat

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80397643/fox-hat

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80843594/skunk-hat

Also to celebrate I am baking this afternoon, I looked all over yesterday for an apple cake recipe and this is the one I am going with...

My first stop in looking for a recipe is Pioneer Woman Cooks and then off to Tasty Kitchen, so far they have never let me down.

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/fall-spiced-apple-cake/

Fall Spiced Apple Cake 

Ingredients

• FOR THE CAKE:
• 1 cup Vegetable Oil (or Oil Of Choice)
• 1-½ cup Sugar
• ½ cups Brown Sugar
• 3 whole Eggs
• ¼ cups Milk
• 2-½ cups Self-Rising Flour
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoons Nutmeg
• 2 cups Peeled And Chopped Apples (3-4 Apples)
• 1 cup Chopped Pecans
• _____
• FOR THE GLAZE:
• ½ cups Brown Sugar
• ½ sticks Butter
• ½ cups Milk

• Preparation Instructions

  Preheat oven to 350F.
  Using an electric mixer on low speed, combine oil, sugar, brown sugar, eggs and milk. Sift together flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Gradually blend creamy mixture with dry mixture. Add chopped apples and pecans.
  Grease and lightly flour a Bundt pan. Pour batter into pan and bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of cake comes out clean. Cool.
  In saucepan, combine all ingredients for glaze. Cook over low-medium heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is smooth (it will be liquidy). Drizzle over cooled cake (or warm if you can’t wait that long).