Tag Archives: leonie marie

The Stockpile

24 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by in Dear Bundle

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Dear Bundle,

Now it is a well-known fact far and wide across the contiguous land and sea that your father is a Costco addict… I am letting you know this now because just as routine as milk is in the morning, every Sunday after church, like it or not, we must test our inner-peace by making a family outing to the nearest Costco, where your dad will be blessed with the joy of toting us through each and every aisle to make sure nothing has dropped in price since the last time we stepped across their sacred threshold.

Now for a current household of only 2 and soon to be 3, it may seem that weekly visits to a large discount warehouse would be overkill. However the critical point of clarity here is that your dad is a willing victim and follower of Costco’s well-devised and diabolical coupon sales schedule. This means that even though we may be running on week 3 of no paper towels in the house, we may need to wait another 2 weeks before Costco will run their $2.00 off ad in the monthly mailer before we can purchase them again in good conscience.

But rest assured, each excursion to Costco proves to be exciting and worthwhile none-the-less. For example, yesterday we got to buy another year’s worth of 9-volt batteries and also exchange all of last year’s light bulbs for the new more efficient ones that have just come into stock! Score!

Diaper Stack 1

In addition to that, we have started your stockpile of diapers. Your dad has been busy carefully scoping out all the competitive rates, sales and rewards plans, and he has determined that if we can catch all of Costco’s diaper sale waves over the next 28 – 34 months, at $5 off each box, times the 2 box limit, subtract manufacturer’s discount, multiplied by 2 separate member transactions, on 3-4 occasions bi-monthly, credit annual rewards points, divided by the circumference of the moon and rounded to the nearest half penny to account for cosmic tilt…. we will be able to diaper the WORLD for just under $364.92!

I think we may need to build you a bigger closet…

 

Your First Pictures

11 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by in Dear Bundle

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Dear Bundle,

Today we had our 16-Week Appointment. To date, we’ve been to 3 official prenatal doctor appointments, had 3 blood tests, and 2 ultrasounds. We count our blessings every time we get affirmation that you are healthy and progressing normally.

At the very first visit, you had been in my belly for 8 weeks. Your dad and I got to hear your heart beat for the very first time.  It was so cool! And this is the very first picture of you ever taken.  You were the size of a raspberry.

01.17.14 Ultrasound

A few weeks ago, we got to see even more pictures of you, and it’s amazing how much you’ve already grown and developed. This is you at 13 weeks, the size of a tangerine!

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Today the doctor let us listen to your heartbeat again. It kinda sounds like a galloping horse, rapid and strong. When we came home, your dad put his head on my belly and cuddled with you for a long time… He already loves holding you.

 

.

 

 

15 Week Bump

06 Thursday Mar 2014

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Dear Bundle,

I think it’s safe to say you and I are both growing. I definitely have a “bump” that was not there before. Here’s a picture of me today, about 15 weeks along.

03.06.14 Bump

It feels funny having a rounding belly. My normal clothes are starting to wear kinda tight, so I’ve been soliciting around for maternity clothes. So far my friends have been great and I’ve even acquired some used items from some local moms here in Poolesville.

Goodbye waistline… I hope to see you again…

Dear Bundle

28 Friday Feb 2014

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Dear Bundle,

The secret is out. Just a couple short weeks ago, your father and I shared this picture with friends and family to announce the most wonderful news.

Look what's cooking

You are due to come into our world August 20th 2014 and we are all so very excited to meet you. I am now in my second trimester, and I’ve decided to create this journal so I can write to you about all the things that are happening during this special time as we prepare for your arrival.

We have a little catching up to do.  This journey started for me exactly one week before Christmas, when I found out I was pregnant. But I kept it a secret from your dad until Christmas Day. Christmas this year wasn’t suppose to be anything particularly special or extraordinary. In fact, with our families back in Albuquerque, and no funds for travel this year, we had planned on a pretty lonely holiday. But you changed all that…

I spent that week making an ornament and camo baby booties (you know that whatever gender you end up being, your dad will have you in camo booties!). I also ordered a T-shirt that said it all.

When your unsuspecting father opened his gift, he was immediately overcome with joy. I don’t think the tears or smiles ever really stopped that day. That was the happiest Christmas we’ve ever had.

We look forward to spending next Christmas with you, and so many more to follow.

Love Always,

Mom

Spring Featured Items

28 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by in Tile Coasters

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I’ve updated my Etsy store with new designs for Spring! Here are a few of my latest inspirations.

Visit my store to see more: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LeonieMarieCrafts

Homemade Marshmallows!

06 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by in Recipe Box Featured Blogs

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Did you know you can make marshmallows right from your own kitchen?? Well, if you’re like me, the thought of making your own marshmallows has probably never even crossed your mind. That is until I attended my friend Sara’s wedding back in 2009. Among her many beautiful DIY wedding crafts that day, was a fun and creative Smore Bar featuring her homemade marshmallows, fully equipped with a quaint campfire for roasting and all of the fixings!

Upon a recent visit to her house, Sara showed me how these delicious homemade sticky treats were done.  But be prepared… these homemade marshmallows taste infinitely better than any store-bought marshmallows you will ever eat. I can only describe them as pure, soft, fresh, gooey morsels of goodness!

Here’s the recipe we followed (Thank you Martha Stewart!):

Ingredients

  • Vegetable Oil
  • 4 envelopes unflavored gelatin (3 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons)
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups light corn syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

DIRECTIONS

  1. STEP 1

    Brush a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with oil. Line with parchment, allowing a 2-inch overhang on the long sides. Brush parchment with oil; set aside. A1

  2. STEP 2

    Put granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 3/4 cup water into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cook, without stirring, until mixture registers 238 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 9 minutes.A2

  3. STEP 3

    Meanwhile, put 3/4 cup cold water into the bowl of an electric mixer; sprinkle with gelatin. Let soften 5 minutes.

  4. STEP 4

    Attach bowl with gelatin to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. With mixer on low speed, beat hot syrup into gelatin mixture. Gradually raise speed to high; beat until mixture is very stiff, about 12 minutes. Beat in vanilla.A3

  5. STEP 5

    Pour into prepared dish, and smooth with an offset spatula. Set aside, uncovered, until firm, about 3 hours.A4

  6. STEP 6

    Sift confections sugar on top of marshmallow in dish. Then sift 1 cup confectioners’ sugar onto a work surface and unmold marshmallow from the parchment onto it. Lightly brush a sharp knife with oil, then cut marshmallow into 2-inch squares. Sift remaining 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar into a small bowl, and roll each marshmallow in the sugar to coat. Marshmallows can be stored in an airtight container up to 3 days.

Of course, after we finished making our marshmallows, we invited our good friends, Honey Maid and Hershey’s to the party. We lit up a small campfire in the backyard grill, and made the best smores in Leonie Marie’s smore making history. Thank you, Sara, for the experience!

And as a side bar, because there were plenty of leftover marshmallows from our smore-making party, I naturally had to use them to make my next favorite thing with marshmallows… “(Honey Nut) Cheerios Crispy Treats!” WAY more yummy than the Rice Krispy version, in my opinion, with the same 3 simple steps. In case you don’t have them memorized by now, here you go: http://www.food.com/recipe/cheerio-squares-360558.

Stay Sweet!

Leonie Marie

_tha Stewart Recipes

Your Christmas Wreath, Your Christmas Style.

17 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by in Christmas, Seasonal

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The Holiday Season is the pinnacle of traditions, relics and symbols. Everywhere you look you will find messages of peace, love and human compassion. We express them through our gifts, through our homes and through our communities. And as crafters, we tend to take our creative side to new heights, with inspirations to capture the holiday spirit through our own unique styles.

So how do you personify your Christmas style? Truly, the Christmas tree is more than likely the star of this show. In all it’s glory and extravagance, gleaming as the centerpiece of your decorated holiday home. However, it is the commission of another ornamental expression that may provide the first glimpse into capturing your holiday theme. The Christmas wreath, traditionally displayed prominently and proudly on your front door, can say a lot about your style.

My Wreath

In many cultures, Christmas wreaths are used in ceremonial events and carry with them much history and symbolism. They are typically made from evergreen branches which represent strength and wisdom, sustainable throughout the harsh winter months. And the circle shape, having no beginning and no end, denotes everlasting and spiritual life. Throughout the centuries, the Christmas wreath has been a prevalent  household adoration, and we have come to enjoy customizing it to our own unique holiday themes and personas.

This year, I had the pleasure of making my very own traditional Christmas wreath under the guidance of a well-known community florist, Stephanie Egly. Owner of Stephanie’s Secret Garden in Poolesville, MD (www.stephaniessecretgarden.com), Stephanie is a premier floral resource for weddings and events, known throughout the MD, VA and DC area for her beautiful one-of-a-kind specialty arrangements. She also attracts an abundance of DIY crafters to attend her fun-filled wreath-making and floral design workshops. Thank you, Stephanie, for your hands-on tutorial and for helping us to add some holiday cheer to our homes this season!

MAKING OUR CHRISTMAS WREATHS

Supplies:

1. Evergreen Branches. Use an assortment of evergreens with a variety of textures, colors and scents for added beauty to your wreath. Some that we used were: Spruce, White Pine, Cedar, Boxwood, Berried Juniper and Douglas Fir.

2. Circular Wire Wreath Form

3. Floral Wire (22 – 24 gauge)

4. Floral Shears or Pruners

5. Floral Craft Glue

6. Decorative Ribbon / Pine Cones / Embellishments

STEP ONE

Using your floral shears, snip a variety of evergreen branches and arrange them to your liking into a handheld bunch.

photo 1

STEP TWO 

Tie your bunch together by wrapping a strand of floral wire around the base of the branches several times until secure. Repeat steps One and Two until you have enough bunches to go completely around your wire wreath form (usually about 9 – 12).

photo 3

STEP THREE

Place one bunch onto your wire wreath form at an angle so that the branches point slightly outward. With the floral wire, weave the base of the bunch snuggly onto the wire form. Using this same technique, wire the next bunches on one at a time, layering them so that each bunch overlaps and hides the base and the wiring of the previous one.

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STEP FOUR

Once you have covered your entire wire form with branches, your wreath should have a nice full shape without any bare spots. Fill in bare spots accordingly with additional branches.

STEP FIVE

Personalize your wreath! Add personal touches such as ribbon, pine cones and embellishments using a strong floral glue.

Your Christmas wreath is complete! Here are a few of the masterpieces and their artisans from the workshop:

I wasted no time getting mine home and on my front door…

My Wreath

STORAGE

If you can’t hang your masterpiece right away, keep it in a paper bag and store in a cool dry place.

Enjoy your hand-made Christmas creation and may it bring joy and character to your home and family this holiday season!

Happy Holidays and Happy Crafting,

Leonie Marie

For more information on Stephanie’s floral services and upcoming workshops , you can follow her on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanies-Secret-Garden-Flower-Shop/175280946422?ref=stream&viewer_id=1106730968

Have you checked out the Craft Section at your Walmart lately??

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by in Tips, Finds & Resources

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On a recent road trip with my husband, we made a pit-stop at a Walmart Superstore in the tiny town of Cranberry, PA. While he darted off to collect exactly what he had come for in his typical efficient manner, I naturally wandered off aimlessly to see what I might find that’s interesting. And what I found had me floored…

This Walmart had a stunning Craft Section! Spanning no less then 4 aisles, they had shelves packed floor to ceiling with arts and crafts supplies and tools from A-Z. I was so impressed, I took a few shots to show you just what they’re up to.

Of course they could never stack up to the same size, scope and selection standard I would hold craft-centric stores such as Michael’s, AC Moore, Hobby Lobby and Joanne’s. However, I am glad for the discovery and a serious new alternate vendor for my craft gear.

Is this just news to me? Have you noticed this in the Walmart (Superstore) in your town? If not, you might just want to stop in and see what’s popped up!

~Leonie Marie

Handmade coasters that match your dinnerware? … Brilliant!!

22 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by in Tile Coasters

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This was exactly what my dear friend, Ilaria, had in mind when she came to me with a brilliant idea! She wanted me to help her with a unique gift. The person she had in mind for this gift owns this beautiful set of plates:

Ilaria thought it would be a fun idea if I could make her a set of coasters to match! So she sent me the photographs above and I cropped out several 4″ x 4″ square designs. With Ilaria’s consultation, we picked the 8 best images and I put them into production!  Here are the results:

Ilaria's Finished Products

What a fantastic idea! Thank you, Ilaria, for the custom order and I hope your friend enjoys these new creative additions to her dinnerware set!

My Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LeonieMarieCrafts

Thanksgiving Dish Practice Run

21 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by in Recipe Box Featured Blogs

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I like to cook with wine. Sometimes I even use it in the food…

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My expeditions in the kitchen are coming around. You might have figured out by now that my creative talents, (although diverse!) have traditionally never ventured 2 steps past the kitchen foyer. This is mainly thanks to my husband, who owns the chef’s hat in our house, and his uncanny knack to create delicious food for every meal (which I love about him of course!). But going hand in hand with this, is his heightened sense of anxiety every time I attempt to poke around in his domain…

So as you can imagine, my roles for Thanksgiving consist usually of things like the guest coordination and the “ambiance,” (you know- the cleaning, the linens, the centerpieces, the place settings, etc… these I can do!). And these roles are followed closely by the equally important role of actively trying to stay out of my husband’s hair in the kitchen (not so good at this!).

But thankful as I am for being married to such wonderful cook, I decided that for Thanksgiving this year I’m going to contribute something that people can actually chew…

So, I am pleased to introduce my all-time favorite item on the Thanksgiving plate… sweet potatoes! Hands down- favorite! This recipe was given to me for a sweet potato dish that I’ve tasted before and LOVED, but never made myself. And it’s clear that this dish has been catching on over the years… That’s right, move over Marshmallow Yams- Savory Sweet Potato Crumble is here to stay!

Here is the recipe: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/281543700511884/

20131120_205747

This picture is a “casserole for two” version. Knowing me, I knew a practice run was in order, so I made just enough for dinner for two this evening. It came out delicious!! Even my husband was impressed that I didn’t burn it… or burn down the house…

The one thing I am changing about it for the main event is less orange juice (substitute with equal parts cream or milk). SO happy I did a practice run. The great part about this dish also is that I can make the big pieces in advance and save them for baking next week. So I’ll be freezing the potato mixture, and my crumble mixture is ready whenever I am to finish it off. All the less stress for me in the kitchen, the less I’ll be in Tony’s way, and the more fun I’ll be having with my table decor and wine! 

Keep the recipes coming: https://livelovecraft.org/recipe-box/

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Kitchen Crafting! 

Leonie Marie