happy halloween!

a recipe for you: taco soup.

if you're like me...cold, hungry & broke, this recipe is for you.

its my ma's taco soup recipe. a bit like chili but soupier.

the recipe makes a big pot full that will last awhile in your fridge.

**to make it vegetarian and even cheaper, leave out the meat**

ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef (optional)

1 small chopped onion

1 green bell pepper

1 can rotel tomatoes

1 large can diced (or crushed) tomatoes

1 can cream style corn

1 can pinto beans

1 pkg. dry taco seasoning

2 cups of water

chopped garlic

1. saute garlic, ground beef, onion & bell pepper in olive oil until meat is brown and onion is translucent.

2. add all ingredients in soup pot and let simmer. that's it.

3. top with shredded cheese and fresh cilantro. yummmm.

while you're in the cookin' mood, go to hungrynation.tv ..it's this fabulous site where you can watch webisodes on good simple cooking.

my favorite segment is 'working class foodies'

..two siblings in new york show you tasty, healthy ways to eat on a budget.

jack.o.love.

hands down, my favorite october tradition is carvin' up some punkins.

last year was mustache themed, this year buttons! keepin' it crafty.

i even added some yarn to make the design come across.

here are some wonderful pumpkin ideas from the threadheads @ threadbanger...

introducing.

little cottage key hooks!

inspired by my most recent viewing of 'edward scissorhands' these little guys want to hold your belongings.

perfect for the entrance of your cottage and soon to be available in my etsy shop.

colorful and warm.

if you find yourself in enid, oklahoma stop by the felt bird and check out my latest and brightest scarfettes!

vintage goodness.

take a looksie at these amazing collections of vintage dresses...

timelessvixenvintage.etsy.com

smallearthvintage.etsy.com

simply lovely, yes.

want to waste a few hours? check out myvintagevogue. loads of vintage goodness.

au revoir.

just sold my minty 'stache brothers plaques to a lovely lady in sarasota.

: )

goodbye my minty friends.

...

october: orange leaves. grey skies. scarves & cupcakes.

a how to for you: clipboard calendar.

this tutorial is crazy easy. anybody can do it. plus its cheap.

what you'll need:

clipboard

string/yarn/ribbon

pen/pencil

tape

scrap paper (i used paint chips)

calendar pages

1. print off some calendar pages. i used lisa rupp's, available here. she uploads a new one at the first of every month. or you could make your own.

2. using paint chips, cut out a little tag to put the year on. just tape or glue onto the clip part of the clipboard. i heart paint chips. they are free and you can find them in any color.

3. tie string, yarn, or ribbon to the top of the clipboard and to the top of a pen...leaving enough slack so that it is usable.

easy-peezy.

it's perfect for keeping near your workspace to stay organized.

x's & o's, kg.

handwritten fonts.

the site fontcapture is so great. you can make fonts out of your handwriting and the handwriting of others. its really easy, all you need is a printer and a scanner.

i used to love my grandmothers penmanship. i remember being little and thinking it was so unique and lovely. i wish i could've preserved it.

here is a bit of my own handwriting.

you could preserve your parents handwriting. or your children, since it will inevitably change. you could create your own weird language.

the possibilities are endless.

a recipe for you: quiche cupcakes.

while watching 'no reservations' i was inspired to cook up something tasty for lunch.

my impromptu meal led me to the eggs.

i've never made a quiche before, but i figured it couldn't be too difficult.

and it wasn't.

**makes 8 quichecakes**

..get creative with this recipe, add ham instead of sausage...rosemary instead of parsley...whatever sounds good to you...

ingredients:

6 eggs

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

olive oil

chopped green pepper

chopped small onion

hot sauce

chopped garlic

1 lb. sausage

fresh parsley

splash milk

1. preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. saute sausage, garlic, onion, and green pepper together in olive oil until the sausage is golden brown.

3. once the sausage is nice and cooked, drain off the excess oils.

4. mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl, leaving some cheese to sprinkle on top.

5. ration out the mixture into baking cups and sprinkle cheese on top of each cup.

6. bake at 425, for 15 minutes.

7. eat and enjoy! goes great with hot coffee and an episode of 'no reservations' :)

ya!

a how to for you: display frame.

this project was inspired by my friend sara.

she created a great display frame to show off her polaroid collection.

i use mine to show off inspirational sayings, photos, artwork, etc.

what you'll need:

frame

small nails

small binder clips

craft wire (use a heavy gauge)

ruler

hammer

paint

photos and pretty little things

1. i purchased my frame at a thrift store for only $4. i disposed of the glass and pulled out the staples around the frame for a a fresh piece. it was rather plain, so i painted it a nice green color.

2. starting 2 inches down, drive a nail into the back of the frame...making sure it will stay flush with the wall once you hang it. continue adding nails down the frame. i added a total of 4 on each side, 5 inches apart.

3. take your craft wire and wrap around one nail about 8 times. pull taut and wrap around the nail directly across the frame about 8 times. cut excess wire with wire cutters.

4. once you've done this to all the nails, it will look something like this...(its kind of hard to see, but there are four rows of wire going across).

5. finally, hang the frame and add binder clips to the wire. now you can display whatever inspires you and keeps you organized. hooray!