Sharing my last custom...

This one is almost done, then I can focus on creating! Customs always slow me down because I feel I need to finish them before getting on to my own ideas. I'm not going to take anymore customs for a long time as I need to create and not worry so much about whether the customer will like it or not. This one caused me lots of worry as this family lost their daddy to cancer way too soon. He is now a guardian Angel in Heaven looking over them. I so hope they like it!!!

Green Smoothies are Good...REALLY!

I keep trying to tell my girls this, but they are not buying it. Just look at their faces when I showed them my newest concoction!

I usually add frozen cherries or blueberries which make it purple instead of green, but this time I wanted it GREEN! In this one I put a handful of romaine leaves, a few sprigs of parsley, an apple with it's skin, a handful of green grapes, two frozen cubes of wheat grass, and 1/2 a frozen banana. It was wonderful! I keep reading how important it is to eat greens...our bodies need the nutrition. Blending them makes them even better as our body can absorb the nutrients and enzymes easier. They taste great so you are more likely to get those important greens. AND - I haven't been craving any sugar or junk...and have lost 3 pounds in the last week without even trying! Nice. Do a google/bing search for "green smoothies" and you will find loads of info!

Throw a little spinach in it!

I keep reading about green smoothies and all the health benenfits they provide. I've read before that adding spinach (or kale or parsley or romaine lettuce) is not too noticeable in a smoothie and adds lots of vitamins and fiber. So I tried it - and I liked it! I don't like green veggies...at all. But I know my body needs them, so I do try to force them down. But now it will be a little easier. I used frozen cherries, frozen peaches, an apple with it's peel on, grapes, cooled green tea as the liquid and two handfuls of organic baby spinach. There are some great blogs and websites out there with info and recipes on green smoothies and other healthful info. Here is a great one!... Happy Foody

Still working on some new paintings and dolls and will have a little shop update very soon!

My little shop is bare...

...but don't despair, new things are in the air! OK...lame little rhyme, but I have several things in the works that I hope to have listed very soon. Just looking for my mojo which I think was reduced by an immense blast of sugar from sneaking too many mini-candy bars from the girl's Halloween stash! But I'll leave you with something to giggle at...me on Halloween Eve!

Princesses and Pumpkins

Just finished a simple fairy princess painting and she is available in my shop!

Princesses always make me think of pumpkins as well...the carriage kind. But my favorite, of course, is the eating kind. I have made 6 pumpkin pies in the last 3 weeks because someone in this house has a thing for pumpkin pies. Here is the recipe I've been using. That same someone doesn't like crust and I am happy to omit it...too many calories! I simply spray the pan to prevent sticking.

Crustless Pumpkin Pie

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
2 eggs
1 can pumpkin
1 can evaporated milk
2 tsp. vanilla

Mix dry ingredients. Beat the eggs then mix in all the wet ingredients. Then mix everything together. Pour in prepared pan. Bake about 55 minutes at 350 degrees. It might be poofy when you take it out, but it will flatten as it cools. Refrigerate it when it's completely cooled.

Want to know my super secret special way to serve pumpkin pie? With a scoop of vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup! YUMMERS!

One down...

...one to go! Just finished this custom, then have one more to finish and I'm caught up.

My plan...which often changes...is to take a break from customs and focus on creating new things for the shop. Custom work really stresses me out. From worrying about the customer liking what I've created to worrying about getting everything finished in a timely manner, I simply worry too much when doing customs. And the last custom I have to complete has me REALLY worried! But it's for a lovely customer who is a gem to work with, so the only worry I have is that I can do it justice.

I also just realized my estimated taxes are due in three days, so I have to sit down and go through receipts and figure it out. Organized, I am not! Any tips or advice from other work at home moms out there?

Pumpkin...

I love pumpkin. Lately there is always a pie or cake or something pumpkin sitting on my counter. We've been making Trader Joe's pumpkin pancakes every morning for two weeks now. I even have pumpkin coffee! (Green Mountain brand...my fave!). Yesterday I made this cake and it is so good...and healthy! If you like pumpkin too, you'll like this cake!

Pumpkin Cake

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1.5 cups white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup applesauce
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose white whole wheat flour (or 1 cup white/1 cup wheat)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
In a mixing bowl, beat pumpkin, sugar, vanilla, oil, and applesauce. Add eggs, and mix well.

In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Add these dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture, and beat until well blended.

Pour batter into a greased 9x13 inch baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cake tests done. Cool.

You can make a cream cheese icing to put on top, but don't use too much or it won't be all that healthy anymore!

I'd take a picture of the cake, but it's already almost gone!

Birthdays, Alarms, and Doll Woes, Oh My!

We had a lovely weekend celebrating my little one's 9th birthday. She was invited along by a neighbor to join the festivities at the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday supporting the Mattel Children's Hospital. Mattel. So she came home with tons of Barbies and Hot Wheels and Polly Pockets and more! She also got to meet the stars of The Wizards of Waverly Place and get their autographs...we love that show! She met other celebs and got to go on as many rides as she wanted for free. I decided to stay home to bake her cake. That was silly! Who knew it would be so much fun!

The alarm system in our building is failing. It goes off every now and then in the middle of the night and most of the residents come down to the lobby in their jammies and bedheads and visit. Last night the alarm went off...and they couldn't turn it off! It went for about an hour until they finally decided to turn the whole system off. Yikes. Most of the residents don't even come out of their apartments now as it's always a false alarm. I wonder what will happen when it's a real emergency? I hope we don't ever find out!

So, I love eBay. But I'm starting to resent the fact that eBayers go scoop up everything so it's sold out and then resell at ridiculous prices. To be specific...American Girl Kirsten's trunk. We have been collecting Kirsten and her items for years. I have always intended to buy the trunk one day to store our collection and save it for our grandchildren. We are Norwegian, so her Swedish clothing and rosemaled trunk are very similar to items we have from our heritage. Well, she's being discontinued and her trunk is sold out everywhere. BUT...for an extra $100 or so plus shipping, you can buy it on eBay. I understand folks looking to make a buck, but goodness. Guess I'd better save my pennies! (Or if anyone has one to sell...give me a shout!)

I'll end my whine on a happy note. Finished this custom yesterday. Two little fairy sisters...