7.25.2010

Back to School Shopping Memories - Worth $250 Bucks

Every year in August growing up in Chicagoland, the countdown would begin.

When were we going Back to School shopping?

My mom would announce the day in July and in true DeAnna fashion, I couldn't sleep the night before.  We would head out to Aurora, Illinois to Fox Valley Mall and I was given $250 cash for clothes, and shoes and it had to last at least through spring.  We'd grab lunch at Arby's and then after the mall we always ended up at a place called "Designer Depot" and "Fashionation".  God, I miss those stores.

Although I played it safe with fashion trends, I did fall into a few traps - MC Hammer pants which were tie dyed.  Mustard and brown colored dress shoes.  Yellow Reebok high tops.  I could go on and on.

I am thrilled I have two daughters to share the same experience with. 

Now with the birth of online shopping, the thrill of the mall is somewhat obsolete.  Especially in Charleston.  The closest mall is terrible.  No Gap, horrible anchor stores and an occasional shooting at Footlocker.

So in light of the new age of internet shopping, I'd like to introduce you to a few hot spots to click on to help your back to school shopping needs:

1)  Next Direct.  Have you been to their site yet?  Oh, a must.
2)  Zulily.  My favorite "Bargain a day" site.
3)  Ginger Pinks.  Affordable, trendy jewelry for pre teens and moms.
4)  Splash of Pink.  Great. sales. always.  Preppy resort wear for woman and girls.
5)  Thred Up.  Online kids resale shop.  Swap clothes and only pay shipping.

6)  Mamabargains and Baby Steals for daily bargains.
7)  Ideeli and Rent the Runway - more awesomeness for mom
8)  Handmade clothing that LASTS and WASHES GREAT at Sew Posh Baby and my friend Grace's store Finley and Oliver for great girls and BOYS items including mustache themed clothing.
9)  For your fur baby Woof Woof and Sew On
10) Of course, my staples:  Crazy 8, Gymboree, Carters and Janie and Jack.  Love them.

Maybe my list introduced you to a few new shops/favorites of mine. I'd love to hear yours!  Hope you get through back to school shopping for you or your kids painless and if you can, buy local as well!

Happy spending and saving!
DeAnna

7.20.2010

Project: What the heck have I been up to?

You don't want to know.....

My house looks like an episode of Hoarders.  After 6 months of once per month (maybe twice per month) travel, we had stuff ALL over the place.  My workroom still is not organized.  I am trying to make an effort to post to Etsy twice per day (new bows posted yesterday: at demidesigns). So I will be working a lot!  I just need a clean space to let my creative juices flow.

Here is the big project I have been working on:  Outdoor slipcovers:




I got the foam at an Alabama foam company.  It was SO reasonable, and it is very firm.  I filled the back 20 inch pillows with poly-fil.  Living so close to the beach, my cushions tend to mold and mildew, so I try not to invest in too expensive of a fabric.

I am also going to try to make some girls headbands populate this week.  I made a "rosette" and will make a brown band to go with it:


I tend to make things based on fabrics I like, not on what my kids actually own.  I am not sure what this will coordinate with, so it may be on Etsy soon enough!

To the workroom I go!

7.09.2010

I Got 99 Veggies but the Corn Ain't One.

Oh, the joy of comparing veggies to hip hop.  Where there is a will, there is a way.

My family and I spent Independence Day weekend on the family farm.  My Mother-in-law and her husband own a cattle farm.  Grass fed, organic cattle with a load of vegetables.  Every year we leave with an assortment.  This year was no different.

Literally - 45 pounds of vegetables.  4 giant zucchini's, yellow squash, onions, and.......what else......oh, tomatoes.  About 345 tomatoes.  I immediately brought some to the neighbors and started cleaning and pruning....

Here is proof:



Reject box, some things did not travel well and I pruned and cleaned:



So, what's a girl to do?  I have a family of four and only one of us eats vegetables (me, thank you).  Gigi will eat things mixed with veggies. but Jack nor my husband really cares for them.  I am going to scour the Earth for veggie friendly recipes.

Coincidentally last week I was watching Rachel Ray and she made Farmers Market Soup.  It had a minestrone base.  Pretty good with some crusty tuscan bread.

Here is a picture pre-broth:



I found a recipe for Summer Squash with Rice and wow, what a great recipe.  Gigi LOVED it.  It had a risotto flavor (buttery).  Thad loved it, Jack picked out everything but the rice and carrots (success).  I served it with chicken coated with paprika, garlic powder and a little flour cooked in a bit of canola.  I was thinking curry, but summer squash made me think paprika.....it complimented ok.

So, I have gone through the bushel and have a lot left.  I may make some zucchini bread, etc.  I will keep you posted and pass on those great veggie recipes.

You may think I am crazy, but I am going to the Farmers Market tomorrow.  I need some fill in's.  I can't eat tomatoes for every meal!

Have a great weekend.  I will be in the craft room next week!

7.06.2010

Recipe: Grandma Vonnies Sloppy Joe's (AKA - No Manwich)

There are MANY different varieties of Campbell Soup.  I think it's over 32 varieties.  Some of them seem so bizarre to me:  Bean with Bacon, Scotch Broth and Pepper Pot -  just to name a few.

There are old "trusty's" as well.  My cousin Arlene not only taught me the joy that Imitation Vanilla can bring to life (she used to do shots of it), but she introduced me to Vegetarian Vegetable soup.  She swears by it. Throw some Ritz on top - yum.  It since has become one of my favorites as well.

But the one can of soup that I seek out from time to time is good old Chicken Gumbo. 

My Grandma Lavaughn (aka Vonnie) made a sloppy joe that completely ruined the Manwich empire for me.  It is a dish I serve monthly and has a bonus feature as well.  Perfect for Saturday night dinner - intrigued?  Read on....

Grandma Vonnie's Sloppy Joes

1 pound of ground beef
1 Tbsp of dried minced onion
1/4 cup of Mustard
4 tbsp of Ketchup
1 - 2 Cans of Campbells Chicken Gumbo drained (I add 2, my mom adds one)
salt and pepper to taste

1. Brown the ground beef and minced onion in a skillet or large saucepan.  Drain fat.
2. Add mustard and ketchup
3. Add soup - I use 2 drained.  Campbells changed the soup consistency and has more broth since the 1970's.  I prefer more "girth".
4. Season w/ salt and pepper
5. Heat through and serve on Hamburger buns.

We serve it with chips and Auntie Rhonda's Onion Dip (recipe to look out for), green beans and a pickle.

Here is the Sloppy Joe Bonus:  Save the leftover and mix it with your eggs on Sunday morning with a dash of hot sauce.  Melt a slice of American Cheese on top and that my friends is Norm's Heart Attack Breakfast.  A favorite of my friends who have fond memories of Sunday morning's at the Riha's.  

Let me know if you try it!

7.01.2010

Fourth of July Memories - Read in the form of Bullets - (snaps...)

  • Backyard parties with foldable lawn chairs
  • Hot and sweaty by 2pm
  • Stuffing my face with burgers and fruit salad served in a carved out watermelon
  • My Aunt Flo singing "Proud to be an American" - have it on video!
  • Eventually hosting 4th of July in our backyard -  my parents set up tents to shelter the elders
  • Horseshoes in the way back of our yard
  • Annual bottle rocket fight which ended up in kids crying because they were scared
  • Pretending to like sparklers
  • Going to Mountain Home, Arkansas up until age 14, going on the lake all day and then hiding in the conversion van when it was time for fireworks
  • Black snakes and Snaps
  • Downers Grove, IL parade when my brother walked with the boy scouts
  • Rushing down to the local strip mall to set up a blanket in the parking lot to watch the fireworks
  • Watching my scared dog, Heidi, shiver in bed with me because she hated the fireworks
  • My dad teaching us flag etiquette
  • The 5th of July when the remnants of the prior day lingered
You know what, not much has changed.  Now we celebrate with the kids at my inlaws.  We have pineapple fruit salad, hot dogs and I am still afraid of fireworks and fake that I like sparklers.  I am the girl that gets hit with the ball at a sporting event when there are 100 other people there.  This leads me to believe I will be the one who gets a bottle rocket in the eye. 

Have a great 4th of July everyone!  I leave you with this:  Why did anyone invent "Punks"?  Discuss.....