Monday, October 29, 2012

Super Easy and Delicious Two Ingredient Cake



I'm a lazy cook.

Well, not always.  I do enjoy making big homemade meals.  My new favorite mac & cheese recipe takes a bit of time to prepare--at least a lot more time and effort than opening up a box of Kraft!  However, I am always on the lookout for super easy and delicious foods.  

Two ingredient recipes take the cake for being both simple and yummy!  Long time readers might remember another two ingredient cake that I made a while back.  Today's cake is another winner.  

Carrot Apple Cake
1 Box of Carrot Cake
1 Can of Apple Pie Filling

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray baking pan.  Mix the two ingredients together.  Bake until toothpick comes out clean, about 25 minutes.  Enjoy!

Christmas is coming!
Shop at Amazon with all the comforts of home.

I love to share at various link parties.  
I party at these places as well as the following:
M.M.M., Mad Skills Party, A Round Tuit, Tutorial Tuesday

For the Love of Fashion Giveaway

StyleLately.com brings you all the latest trends and hottest collection of fashion jewelry and accessories for 40-70% off!

For the Love of Fashion Giveaway hosted by Mom Powered Media

Brought to you today by
The Philosopher's Wife

Special thanks to our lovely co-hosts Military Wives Saving, Zoes Printable Coupons, Swank Savings, Jenny At Dapperhouse, Ranking in the Savings, Barbara's Beat, The Dragyn's Lair, The Fashionistyle and Sweet Pea Savings!

Gift cards are really wonderful because you can get whatever you want!  If you're looking at a more expensive item this can help lower your out of pocket expense.  Treat yourself to something fun like the cute blue and pink polka dot scarf or even save it for Christmas shopping.  (Christmas is less than two months away already!)

Four lucky readers will receive one of the following: 

$50 Nordstrom Gift Card, $50 Old Navy Gift Card, $50 H&M Gift Card and $50 Forever 21 Gift Card!

Giveaway ends November 12th at 11:59pm, open to US residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own.  The Philosopher's Wife is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. 

Want to get started on Christmas shopping?  
Amazon has something for everyone!

Friday, October 26, 2012

7 Quick Takes


ONE
I can't believe its Friday already!  

TWO
I was quite happy to find some deals at Target this morning.  I got some cute tanks for super cheap.  Yes, I'm buying tank tops in time for cold weather.  I love to layer shirts and these actually had a bit of length to them, which is perfect for what I want!  My favorite deal was a set of high-quality scrapbook markers for 75% off!  These are very hard to find discounted. 

THREE
I need to crochet faster.  Have you seen how many projects I have going right now?  Or maybe I just finish a project before starting a new one . . .  Nope, I think I just need to crochet faster!  

FOUR
I'm not sure what this weekend's plans include, but I am hoping to have some craft time.  I received some awesome embossing folders for my new Sizzix machine.  I will share some pictures with you later!  I'll give you a quick teaser though . . . cute Christmas penguins are involved!

FIVE
I have a question for you, dear reader.  If you have little ones do you buy them holiday shirts?  I couldn't resist a Halloween shirt I found for Catherine at the thrift store.  It was really inexpensive but it still seemed a little silly to buy a shirt with such limited use.  (Although, we decided that post-Halloween it can be a pajama shirt.)

SIX
I've been accepted to write my first guest post on another blog!  I find this rather exciting.    

SEVEN
I need to browse Pinterst now so that I can find a recipe for soup.  I've decided to make a butternut squash soup for dinner tonight.  This should be an interesting adventure since I've never cooked butternut in any way before.  (Do you like how I managed to add browsing Pinterst to my To Do List?)

For more Quick Takes visit Jen!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Yummy Earth Giveaway!


Here are some of the goodies that Kara received to review.
My fellow blogger, Kara from Kara's Deals & Steals, had the opportunity to review some great items from Yummy Earth Organics.  The following is an except of her review:

Yummy Earth Organics is such a great company to work with and I am so excited to have had the chance to review some of their holiday candy. If you missed out on my previous review of their company, you can read it here. I very much enjoy their healthier version of yummy candy and the fact that I can hand it out to trick or treaters who pass by this Halloween and know that their parents will be grateful to have one less candy bar in their child's bag at the end of the night. Yummy Earth is the #1 organic candy company in the country and is a proud leader in the organic and all-natural sweets and snacks category. The company's delicious treats are catching the attention of celebrities like Cynthia Nixon, Heidi Klum, Mariska Hargitay, Rachael Ray, and Kate Hudson. You can find their products in stores nationwide, including Target, and Toys 'R Us. 
Read Kara's full review here.

In addition to the retailers Kara mentioned above, you can also purchase many Yummy Earth products from Amazon.  They even offer the Subscribe & Save option for many items, including the 24 pack of gummy bear bags that would be perfect for Halloween!


 One lucky reader will get a chance to try out the Halloween gummy bears and will receive a package just like Kara's! 

This giveaway will end on November 1, 2012. Open to U.S. residents.

Enter on the Rafflecopter below.  (It might need just a minute to load!)


 Disclosure: Kara's Deals and Steals received a free product package from Yummy Earth Organics in exchange for a review. I, Rachel Furlong, was not compensated for this publication. The Philosopher's Wife is not responsible for prize delivery.


Want to get started on Christmas shopping?  
Amazon has something for everyone!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

W(s)IP

I've decided to admit to having quite a few projects going, otherwise known as 
Works In Progress.

My purple and grey chevron blanket.  
I don't know what to say other than it has severely stalled.

My silver capelet.  
This one I at least have a valid excuse for not finishing yet.  I needed to order more yarn.  It should be here any day!


My pink lacy scarf. 
This has been my main focus recently and should be finished soon.  


My Christmas baby afghan. 
Because I needed a project that moved more quickly than the lacy scarf I decided to make a blanket.  (It makes sense to me!)  


My (adult-sized) Elegant Hat.
This one is sized right, as opposed to the one that ended up being for my daughter, and really all that is left are the small finishing touches.  


My Scrambled Egg Scarf.
This ruffled, not quite twirly, scarf's color just reminds me so much of scrambled eggs--in a good way--that I had to rename it.


That's it!  Well, there might be a couple more things in my yarn storage area . . .

Oh, and I have a huge favor to ask you!  I really, really, really like the pink earrings in this picture and today I have the opportunity to win a pair!  (Seriously, I just added this pair to my Etsy favorites this week!) But I need you to like One Artsy Mama's Facebook page and then comment on the picture that I referred you--use my full name Rachel Marie Furlong.  If five people do this then I win!
Pretty, please!  It would make my day!

I love sharing my projects!  Here is where you can find me this week:




Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Memory Wire Bracelets


I've been enjoying making these pretty bracelets the past couple of days.  It was my first time to work with memory wire, and I have to say, it was a pleasure!


Memory wire is a stiff, already coiled, wire that can be used for making necklaces, bracelets, rings, and various other projects depending on the size of the coil.  It makes creating jewelry items a breeze.  


All you have to do is add a loop to one end, string your beads, and add a loop to the other end.


I don't currently own a set of rounded jewelry pliers, so I borrowed my husband's needle-nosed pliers.  They worked, even if they did smell like a tackle box.  I think I might take some of my birthday money and buy myself a set of jewelry pliers.


I really am quite happy with these bracelets, I think that they look very nice and were quite easy and enjoyable to make.  

I really have been in a "bracelet mood" recently, haven't I?  These, the candy cane inspired bracelet, and my crocheted wrap bracelets (which you can purchase on Etsy!) are all fairly recent creations.  

I'm curious, which of these is your favorite?



I love to share my projects at various link parties. 
You can find the buttons of many of these places on my Crafty Links page, or follow these text links:


Friday, October 19, 2012

7 Quick Takes


ONE
Yesterday was my birthday!  

TWO
Here's a picture of me as a baby.  Obviously, not on the day of my birth.  I don't think that I have any of those.  Maybe my wonderful sister will scan one and upload it for me?  


THREE
Here's a cute picture of Catherine and me from our most recent beach trip.


FOUR
Here's a cute picture of Catherine.  

FIVE
One of the fun things that we did for my birthday was check out a local thrift store.  It was lots of fun, and we came away with quite a few goodies.  We left with some yarn, a bag of pot-holder loops (this set!), shirts for Catherine, a toy chest, a game, and box of giant legos.  And we didn't break the bank. 

SIX
We're all pretty excited about the legos.  Catherine received a Cupcake set, which she absolutely loves, for her birthday and I think that this addition will be tons of fun for the whole family.

SEVEN
Do any of my awesome readers live near Mount Rainier, Maryland?  
If so you should put this Craft Fair on your calendar and be sure to stop by my table to say hi!  

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

WIP



Work In Progress

As usual, I have more than one project going, but I am just going to share one with you today.  This has been my main focus the past couple of days.  (Well, besides making a bracelet and almost starting a granny stripe scarf based on this pattern.)


This is going to be a long lightweight scarf.  I am using some of the yarn I purchased off of Ebay--it is really beautiful and super soft!  It is a pink washable bamboo yarn.  While it is a somewhat "free-styled" project, I am heavily basing it on this.





I will be sharing at the following:

Wordless Wednesday

A Park in the Outer Banks



Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Beaded (Christmas?) Bracelet


Last night I mentioned on my Facebook page* that I was working on making a bracelet.  Well, I had enough toddler-free time to actually finish it! (Toddlers and tiny beads do not mix.)


I wanted to make a wrap bracelet, using wire and seed beads, that was a subtle tribute to a candy cane. My goal was that it could be a Christmas bracelet, but that it also could be an anytime bracelet.  

I am pretty happy with how it turned out!  




So, what do you think?  Does this bracelet "scream" Christmas to you?  Or is the candy cane motif subtle enough to work year-round?


*I have a quick note about my Facebook page.  I would love it if you'd click on over and comment, like, and/or share things from my page.  Facebook's new(ish) rules on fan pages severely limit what gets seen in news-feeds.  However, the more people interact with the page the more others will see it.  I have over 3,500 likes, but according to Facebook's page stats, only about 100 people actually see my updates.     

I love to share my projects at various link parties in blogland.
I have a button page of many of the places I party, and here are some links as well:
Made by Me, What We Wore, Read, and Made, Show and Share, What I Whipped Up, Time for a Party, Mine for the Making


Monday, October 15, 2012

Winner of $20 Credit to Sunrise Fiber Co

Congratulations to the lucky winner:

 Melissa Miller Velasco



I have sent you an email.  Please acknowledge that you've received the email and wish to claim the prize.  

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Sunrise Fiber Co. Yarn Review


I love yarn and I love color, so Sunrise Fiber Co. is a perfect match for me!  Wren, the shop owner, dyes all of the yarns in her home studio with hand mixed dyes and she really has an eye for color.  This shop's vibrant colors make it stand out from the competition 

Sunrise Fiber Co. has a long list of repeatable colorways (past and present colors and combinations that can be duplicated)--which is great, because they are all gorgeous!  I also love that Wren lists all of the yarn bases she has available and clearly presents all the information that a knitter or crocheter could want (yardage, gauge, and care).  This is very helpful, and especially so when buying yarn over the internet.

I love the yarn that I received to review.  I told Wren that I'd love something with pink, but to surprise me.  She sent me Neon Flamingo and I couldn't be happier with it!

The dye job is beautiful.  The pink truly is neon and compliments the silver and grey tones nicely.  It is a variegated yarn, and I love how the colors worked out with my fan stitch pattern on my scarf.

The yarn is soft.  The high quality of this yarn is immediately apparent when you touch it.

It crochets very easily.  It was a pleasure to work with.  The yarn slipped easily along my hook.  I never hit snares or any rough patches.

Basic Yarn Information
Yarn Base: Classic Sock
Colorway: Neon Flamingo
Content:  100% Superwash Merino Wool
Weight: Fingering
Yardage: 400
Where you can purchase: Sunrise Fiber Co.

Care: Wash in cool water and lay flat to dry.
Giveaway: {HERE} New ending date, October 14th!


I am very pleased with the scarf that I made using the yarn from Sunrise Fiber Co..  I used a stitch pattern from my favorite crochet book and simply worked through my entire skein of yarn. I shared the humble beginnings of this scarf with you a couple of weeks ago.


I will be sharing this project at various other wonderful blogs, including the following:

Friday, October 5, 2012

7 Quick Takes

ONE
If you're a regular reader you might have noticed that I've been a bit MIA this week--the long and the short of it is that things got busy and I'm at the beach.  (Also, if you aren't a regular reader you should be!  I'd LOVE if you followed me via RSS, email, or even Facebook, or Pinterest.)

TWO
I love that its October and I'm swimming outside.  Catherine and I got sick for the last week of PG Pool's season, so its nice to get a little extra swim time.

THREE
A jogging stroller at the beach is a must.  I love taking long walks along the water's edge and there is simply no way that I'd be able to that without this awesome stroller.  We are able to cover so much distance!

FOUR
Post dinner walks are so peaceful!

FIVE
The clouds at sunset last night were amazing.  This picture really doesn't do it justice.  The colors were much more vibrant--there were deep reds and purples.  It was absolutely one of the most gorgeous things I've seen in my life.     

SIX
The dunes at sunset are so pretty!

SEVEN
For more Quick Takes, visit Jen!