ZEN-ful World

I love the idea behind this shop and I had to share! ZEN-ful World shop on Etsy focuses on high quality natural home, bath, body and spa products. These products include cold processed soaps, aromatherapy candles, bath bombs, room linen and body sprays, lotions and lip balms.
Shelley is the artist and creator behind ZEN-ful World. She shares with shop visitors that she is passionate about creating all natural chemical free products.

My favorite product is the bath bomb fresh brewed coffee. Not only is it beautiful in appearance but there are no harsh chemicals and the product is safe for kids! The best part of this product is it is topped with fresh ground coffee. How cool is that?!

Shelley has also created the sinus aromatherapy bath bomb! She informs shoppers that the peppermint oil in this bath bomb provides a cooling anesthetic quality because of its high menthol content.
Be sure to check out Shelley's shop for relaxing products for yourself or reasonably priced housewarming gifts for others! ZEN-ful World

Eco Friendly Bridal- MilliesCorner

I stumbled upon this gem of a shop on Etsy last week and I had to share! Millies Corner is full of beautiful Upcycled and Eco- friendly bridal accessories! Millicent is the artist and owner of Millies Corner.  Millicent finds inspiration from thrift stores, antique shops and estate sales. Her Eco- Friendly burlap wedding bag is by far my favorite item! What bride doesn't need a feminine bag to hold her bobby pins, lipstick, personals, etc.!?
Millicent's bridal bags also double as adorable flower girl bags. Fill with rose petals and voila!
I've added pictures of my favorite items but check out her store and favorite some yourself! If you or a friend are planning a wedding definitely check out Millies Corner! MilliesCorner

What The Heck Is Upcycled?!

When I first started my shop on Etsy this is exactly the question I asked! "What the heck is this upcycled business". To me it sounded like a take on recycling. So I did what any other curious mind would do, I Googled it! 
Google informed me upcycling is the process of taking wasteful or useless products and converting them into new materials or products for better environmental value. 
To me this sounded like an awesome idea! Up until this point I had been purchasing all my materials at the local bead store and crafting new product. But why would I buy beads when I can use good product beads that are no longer being in use?! 
I began to look through my own as well as my friends' and families jewelry to find items that are no long used.  I found so many fun and awesome upcycled beads and pendants to get my business started! And from here grew my upcycled and repurposed section of my shop! 
I hope I can keep my upcycled section growing and produce beautiful high quality products. So far upcycling has tested my artistic side at a new level! 

                                                  Upcycled Turquoise and Gold Bracelet

                                             Upcycled Gold Pendant and Pearl Necklace

                                          Upcycled Pearl and Gray Rose Bracelet

Olive Oil for Your Hair? What?!

So Seriously, my hair has been so dry lately. I don't know if it is the weather or the fact that I had a baby 4 months ago. Nevertheless I feel like I'm wearing string on my head. Ick!
So Monday night I'm cooking dinner. I pour a little olive oil over my chicken for moisture and flavor. Before I set down the bottle I begin to examine it. Like REALLY examine it.
If you haven't actually read the ingredients on the bottle you will learn that, well, there isn't much to read. All it tells me is that it is made from olives and contains A LOT of fat (according to some it is good fat in moderation).
I grab my bottle thinking "well if it gives my chicken moisture why not my hair?". Into the bathroom I walk with my trusty bottle of olive oil. I start with my roots thinking that is where the problem begins. But I got rather carried away and slopped it on my entire head. Oh well. After pulling my hair into a loose bun I look at my reflection. My hair looks greasy like I haven't showered in a month and my forehead has a little olive oil residue. My boyfriend gets home from work and asks what the heck is on my hair. I simply smile and shrug. How ridiculous do I look?!
After about 4 hours I shampoo'ed the olive oil out of my hair. I had to use a ton of shampoo. I haven't noticed a difference yet. I plan to repeat this process only next time wrapping my head in saran wrap to lock in the moisture. Ridiculous right?!
If anyone has any moisturizing tips, tricks, good vibes please send them my way! I'm lost in a maze of frizzy dry hair. Ugh!
Gracias!

Garden Soup

I made this soup for dinner tonight and it was so easy and delicious I had to share! This is one of those meals you can count on when the kids are crying and the house is a mess. There is little prep and you don't need to sit and watch the meat cook (I ran to the pet store while my chicken cooked)! 
Add your frozen chicken breasts with 2 cans chicken broth to the crock pot. Cook on low for about 90 minutes or until chicken is easy to cut. Cut chicken into small pieces, season and return to your pot! Add your uncooked noodles, frozen peas, frozen green beans and bell peppers. Really you can add any veggies in your fridge. Zucchini, onion, corn, etc. 
This soup is a clean your fridge out kinda soup! 
Once your noodles are soft, add seasonings and voila! Your soup is deliciously hot and ready for dinner. 
Healthy tips: Use whole wheat noodles and low sodium chicken broth. 

Garden Soup 

Prep Time: 10 Minutes 

Cook Time: 4 Hours on low in crock pot 

Ingredients: 

2 frozen chicken breasts

2 cans chicken broth

1 cup uncooked noodles

1/2 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup frozen green beans 

1 sliced bell pepper

Seasonings of your choice 

Budget Friendly Bridal

Planning a wedding?! We all know how expensive weddings are now a days and the expectations set forth of brides to follow 'wedding expectations'.  One expectation of buying your bridal party jewelry for the big day can definitely add up. These adorable resin rose stud earrings are so budget friendly any bride can afford to adorn their best ladies with these flowers! 

A single pair is only $5.20 but working with a bridal party will give the budget conscious bride a group discount! I will work with brides directly on group discounts, color, sizes and packaging.  

Not the traditional bride? No problem! Check out these funky colors! 

Feel free to message me as wedding planning season has begun! www.etsy.com/shop/EmeraldCityStones

Tequila and Garlic Shrimp Tacos

I was craving something light and "Summery" in the midst of the Seattle gloom today. Shrimp tacos did just the trick (however, I forgot lime). Darn! 
I marinated my raw shrimp in tequila and fresh garlic for about 2 hours before throwing these bad boys together! These tacos were perfect topped with raw radishes, cilantro, avocado, and sour cream. 
Make these over the weekend and get your own little glimpse of summer! Enjoy! 

Prep Time: 2 hours including marinating 
Cook Time: 10 Minutes 

Ingredients: 
Half Pound Raw Shrimp 
About 4 shots tequila
Chopped Fresh Garlic 
Cilantro 
Raw Radishes 
Avocado 
Corn Tortillas 

Seriously Simple Tortilla Soup. Yum!

Simple, easy and healthy (but don't tell your significant other)!  This is one of my go to weeknight recipes! 
I seriously hope you have a crock pot, if not no worries a large pot will do the trick. All you need for this soup is four ingredients. Seriously? Yes, seriously! 
I combine frozen chicken, chicken broth, diced tomatoes with green chili and bell pepper. I allow the first 3 ingredients to simmer on high for 2 hours before adding the peppers and shredding the chicken. At that point I also add seasonings such as salt, red pepper, and pepper. Adding the bell pepper too early will take the crunch away. And no one wants that! This is by far one of my favorite weeknight recipes. Enjoy! 

                                                                 Easy Tortilla Soup
Prep Time: 5-10 Minutes
Cook Time: 3-4 Hours on High 

Ingredients: 
2 Frozen Chicken Breasts
1 Can Chicken Broth 
2 Cans Diced Tomato with Green Chili 
Bell Peppers (any color!) 

Combine the first 3 ingredients for 2 hours on high. Take out the chicken to shred and season. Add sliced bell peppers. Top with cheese, sour cream, cilantro, tortilla chips. Yum! 

Russian Tea Cookies

Last night I had a craving for cookies. I went to the kitchen to get my ingredients ready for good old chocolate chip cookies (you know, the way your mother made them and you can never get it just right like hers?). Browsing my ingredients I realize I am completely out of brown sugar and eggs. Drat! 
That is when I stumbled upon this recipe. Never had I made Russian tea cookies or tasted them. Well let's give it a whirl! 6 ingredients and 30 minutes later I was biting into these delightful airy treats! 
One secret I must admit is they are not as sweet as I had hoped. They are more of a coffee or tea (hence the name) cookie. Delicious and hopefully you get the chance to make them! 

Russian Tea Cookies

Prep Time: 10 Minutes 

Cook Time: 12-15 Minutes 

Ingredients: 

1 cup soft butter

1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar 

1tsp vanilla

Stir and Sift in: 

2 1/4 cup sifted flour

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup chopped nuts (I used my magic bullet! Awesome) 

Chill dough. Roll into balls. Roll in sugar. Bake 10-15 minutes. Mine took about 15. Makes about 4 dozen. 

The Green Haven- Eco Friendly Shop

I stumbled upon The Green Haven last week and I had to browse around. This shop is delightful and completely original. Who knew (well I didn't) that you could create such cute Eco friendly items. 
Megan informs shoppers that she opened her store in 2009 with the desire to create Eco Friendly items. Megan creates lunch "buddies" as she calls them (sandwich bags and snack bags) using nylon interiors. This material is food safe as well as easy to clean. It is also stain resistant and waterproof. Yipee! Seriously, what hasn't Megan thought of?! 
The best part of Megan's shop is that it is inexpensive. Buying her Eco Friendly and Reusable items will save you a heck of a lot more than disposable sandwich bags, papertowels, makeup removers, and coffee cozy's. 
Here are some of my favorite items. Check out her shop, you will be so glad you stopped by! 
The Green Haven

                                                         Reusable make up remover wipes

                                                               Reusable Sandwich bag

                                                                 Reusable Snack Bag

Pesto Green Bean Dinner (Healthy and All in One)

Pesto Green Bean Dinner 

This dinner is so quick and easy, not to mention delicious! I love it! First off, do you have a crock pot? If not you seriously need one. I bought my first last year and I use it at least 4 nights a week. 

Start off by adding all ingredients except chicken and cheese to the crock pot. Frozen green beans, kidney beans, uncooked brown rice, pesto and chicken broth. Leave ingredients in the crock pot on low for 4-5 hours, checking and stirring towards the end. Once the rice is soft and tender add your shredded cheese and pre- cooked chicken. Yes it really is that easy! 

See the recipe below for details! 

Recipe 

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook Time: Crock Pot 4-5 hours on low (I wouldn't recommend on high) 

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 cans chicken broth

1 1/2 cups frozen green beans

1 cup kidney beans

3/4 cup uncooked brown rice 

1 package pesto

2 chicken breast

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 

Cool Down

I have been honored to have my turquoise stone earrings featured in Sarah from Blue Button Baubles treasury! Let me first start by saying I LOVE greens and blues. This treasury features an array of these beautiful colors found in items such as; necklaces, earrings, scarves, art and even champagne flutes. Yes, champagne flutes! 
Sarah from Blue Button Baubles http://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueButtonBaubles lends her hand in this beautiful and original Etsy Treasury. 
Click, comment and send this treasury out on your social media! Or better yet, pick out something special for yourself or your valentine! Who says it has to be pink! 
Cool Down Treasury

Giveaway Winner!

The winner of a free pair of earrings +shipping is +Jo Ferguson! 
Thanks to +Melanie Cardwell +Sharif Jhurry +Heidi Smith Gilmore and +Raymond Guest for participating! If you find anything you enjoy you enjoy in my shop please use coupon code  THANKS20 for 20% Off! 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/EmeraldCityStones

Easiest Enchiladas (And Healthy....Shhhh)

This recipe is so tasty and easy, it is one of my go- to weeknight recipes. I tweaked my mother's recipe to make it a tad bit more healthy and my style. One of the first secrets to this recipe is I throw the chicken in the crock pot for a few hours while I go about my daily chores. After a few hours my chicken is prepped and ready for the enchiladas. Score! So here are the ingredients you need. 

I choose to boil my own black beans. I freeze them and use them when needed. I find them fresher, tastier and less preservatives than canned. But that is up to you! 

Preparation of these enchiladas is simple. Throw it all in the tortilla! But make sure your corn tortillas are warmed up, otherwise they will break when rolled (lesson learned)! 

Place your rolled tortillas in a casserole dish. Top with enchilada sauce, olives and cheese. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Just long enough to make sure you enchilada insides are warm. Yum! 

Top with sour cream, cilantro, salsa, avocado, etc. Seriously this recipe is so easy and delicious! We always finish the dish! 

Easy Enchilada Recipe

Prep Time: 15 Minutes 

Bake Time: 25-30 Minutes

Ingredients: 

2 whole chicken breasts- shredded & Seasoned

1 Can Olives

1 Can Enchilada Sauce (red or green) 

1 cup black beans

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

8 corn tortillas 

My Gothic Valentine

This time of year traditionally screams red and pink. However,  Holly from The Rotten Rooster (an adorable shop on Etsy, come check her out http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheRottenRooster )has chosen a different route. A route she likes to call "My Gothic Valentine".  If your love life screams punk or edgy this is the Treasury for you. Simply Brilliant! 
Each item featured in her treasury is a handmade by other Etsy Artists and screams the best of the best! Nail polish, body butter, jewelry, and even photography. Whatever your Gothic heart desires Holly has compiled in this lovely and edgy treasury. 

Holly was kind enough to feature an item from my shop! The item she features is shown above and happens to be my American Red Cross donation bracelet. What this means is that 50% of the proceeds from this purchase will be donated to American Red Cross to assist in the effort of Hurricane Sandy.  So if  roses and mush aren't your style for this Valentine season check out Holly's treasury! 
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/OTkwNTkwMXwyNzIxMjQ5NTA1/my-gothic-valentine?index=1&ref=pr_favetreasuries

My First Blog.... EVER!

And so it begins.....! 
After thinking long and hard about the prospect of BLOGGING I have succumb to an act several artists have urged me to attempt. Not only do I fear no one will read my blog (except a handful of family members with too much time on their hands) I am also consumed with worry that my posts will lack intrigue and depth. 
One of my biggest passions in life is healthy homemade cooking for my family. I hope to incorporate useful recipes for other stay at home mom's who like myself need quick go- to weeknight meals. 
Of course my blog will feature items from my own Etsy shop but I also hope to inspire myself as well as others by featuring other shops on my blog. There is so much beauty on Etsy waiting to be discovered. I hope I can shed just a tiny amount of light on the unknown beauty. 
So enough of the yada yada, to honor my first blog EVER I am giving away a free pair of earrings! Check out my Google + Post to partake. Below is the photo of the free earrings (yes this includes shipping)! They are stunningly red just in time for your VDay Date!