Tasty Tuesday! Strawberry and Creme Cupcakes!

Here's a recipe from my sister Bethany! I have it cross-posted to Scarlet Threads blog today too, so feel free to peek there if you wish! Also, we have some darling new aprons in the apron shop...have you seen them yet?? I'm loving the ruffles on Priscilla so much. Remember, if you purchase anything from Scarlet Threads, use the code lex25 at checkout for a 25% discount! We're trying to get to all 50 states this year, so please share with your friends! Any friends in Alaska? That's my goal...send an apron to Alaska  :)


Anyway! Cupcakes! My sister loves to bake, and they always look delicious, and these cupcakes were too good not to share! Of course, I just wish I lived close enough to try one...DC and MA are just too far apart! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Normally I like to bake from scratch, but I always keep a few boxes of brownie and cake mix in the cupboard for those "emergency moments." My husband and brother in law spent the day ripping up the carpet on the stairs in our new house and putting in new hardwood stairs- yay, they look so pretty!  I was in the mood to bake, which isn't anything new, and felt the boys deserved a treat after their hard work.

Luckily, I had all the ingredients necessary for a cupcake recipe I'd been wanting to try!

I didn't have as much time as I hoped, as I had plans for the evening and it was already 4pm, so I pulled out a box of chocolate cake mix, heavy whipping cream, and fresh strawberries.

Make the cake mix as directed on the box, and fill cute cupcake tins about three quarters full.  For maximum moistness, bake for a few minutes less than directed on the box.

While cupcakes are cooking, wash and dry strawberries.  Cut into thin slices and set aside.

Wile cupcakes are cooling, whip heavy cream with hand mixer until fluffy.

Carefully cut off tops of cupcakes.

Spread a layer of whipped cream onto each cupcake, cover with a strawberry or two, and replace cupcake top.  I also put a dollop of whipped cream on the top so it would stick to the strawberries!  Add another dollop of whipped cream to the cupcake top and cover with one more strawberry.

Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve and store extras in fridge as well.

This is a delicious, easy summery recipe that got thumbs up from all!

What's baking in your kitchen this week??


Eeeek! Just realized this was my 700th post!!! Should I do something to celebrate? A fun giveaway? What do you think??? A Scarlet Threads apron?   :)

stationary giveaway with English Tea Paperie and Scarlet Threads!

 

This was posted to Scarlet Threads blog this week, but wanted to share it here too, as I know many of you love stationary and all things monogrammed- we're having a giveaway featuring Chloe of English Tea Paperie, and she does the most gorgeous designs. Please have a look!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

Several years ago, I discovered the most delightful company and today I am sharing it with you! Chloe of English Tea Paperie is such a doll to work with. Chloe, her husband Joe, and their darling daughter Emma live nearby Richmond, VA, though Chloe is originally from England! That is actually how her company began!

In her own words, from her website-

English Tea Paperie is run by me, Chloe  - a modern day mommy entrepreneur with a love of paper products and all things pretty. Living the ultimate American dream, I moved to the US from England in 2006, having just married my wonderful husband Joe. Waiting for my green card to arrive in the mail, I sat at home with a million ideas and a pot of color pencils. 2 years of sketching, creating and planning and English Tea Paperie was born! I am a Christian and believe in spreading the positive message of God's word in a modern, chic and pretty way. 10% of my business income will go to my local church in Midlothian, VA.

I just love this story, don't you?  Women creating their own business is just the sort of thing Scarlet Threads loves so much, and supporting small business owners is such an important part of our mission. Chloe has the most adorable designs you've ever seen.

Just look at some of my favorites from her site-

Luke 2:11 Christmas Tree cards

Teacups (I have these, and adore them!)

Whales! 

Pineapples (I have these too!)



Sand Dollars

Don't you just love them? I know I do. Also, Chloe will do customized designs for you, and you can also suggest designs for her site! If you decide on a design from her site, you can customize it to your liking. You can use your full name, your initial, your full monogram or whatever you like best. You can also choose the colors for the printing as well. Chloe is so much fun to work with!

Chloe can be found online, on facebook and on twitter. 

Along with being fun to work with, Chloe is extraordinarily generous. She sent me a set of note cards to share with one of our readers! Yes, a little giveaway!

This set of notecards has a lovely scripture-

The Lord bless you and keep you

The Lord make His face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn His face toward you

and give you peace

-Numbers 6:24-26

Seriously, Chloe is the sweetest, eh? Each package is wrapped up like this, with a bow. Bows make everything better, don't they? 

Please see below, to enter the giveaway. We'd love you to leave a comment on this post with your favorite item from Chloe's shop. Also, a tweet would be terrific. Use both handles @ScarletThreadFT and @ETPaperie in your tweet! 

If you enter, go HERE to leave a comment and enter please!

In addition to this, Chloe is offering you all a discount at her site! Use the code STBLOG15 for 15% off your order. Also, there is free shipping the entire month of December, and the code will work on top of that! If you order by December 17 (next Monday!), you will have your order in time for Christmas!

The winner will be announced next week!

A big, big thank you to Chloe for her kindness and generosity in sending along these marvelous notecards to share with one of you.

event- Scarlet Threads in Old Town, Alexandria, VA!

DC area friends! All friends with friends in DC  :) 

 

I posted this to Scarlet Threads blog last week, but wanted to share the news here too.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good morning friends! I am SO thrilled to share this news with you, and I hope that you will be as excited as I am about this! Scarlet Threads will be taking part in a Holiday Benefit Shopping Night at the Ten Thousand Villages store in Alexandria, VA (Old Town, for those of you familiar with the area) next Sunday, December 16!

I'm sure you're familiar with Ten Thousand Villages, but in brief, from their site- 

With 60 years of experience, Ten Thousand Villages is a global network of social entrepreneurs working to empower and provide economic opportunities to artisans in developing countries. A founding member of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), Ten Thousand Villages sees fair trade as an alternative approach to conventional international trade.

Ten Thousand Villages is now a global network of more than 130 artisan groups in 37 countries and sells products in more than 150 retail outlets throughout the United States.

Ten Thousand Villages always has the most unique gifts, and is definitely one of my go-to places to find things for certain people. I love that when you shop there, not only are you empowering a family elsewhere, you can read their story. Each item comes with the story behind the person that made it, and these artisan stories really help you learn more about the community that you are now supporting. When buying something in the store, you can take the story with you, and the stories are also available on the website too. This is just the sort of thing that Scarlet Threads loves so much; really knowing where your money is going, so that you can see the positive changes that are taking place. 

I did most of my Christmas shopping here a few years ago, and I know I'll be doing some here this year as well!

Here are a few items I'm eyeing- 

Peacock Tea Light Lantern, from Bali

I've been a bit obsessed with peacocks recently, and I think this would be so much fun. If my sister is reading this, it's on my Christmas list  ;) 

Sheep Wall Art - made in Haiti 

I love this! It would be cute in a kitchen, I think. 

Children of Hope coin purse, from Guatemala 

I think this might be cute to send to Majlinda, the little girl I sponsor in Albania with World Vision! 

Om bracelet from Tibet.

LOVE this. 

Bountiful Grove bamboo bowl from Vietnam

Maybe for salads? Or fruit? Or pinecones? I love having a big bowl like this on the kitchen table, as a catch-all sort of thing, you know? 

 Sturdy stripes shoulder bag from India.

Cute for weekends! 

Floral Jute shopping bag from Bangladesh

This would be perfect for those weekend trips to the farmers market! 

So! As you can see, Ten Thousand Villages has some really lovely gift ideas. Next weekend, I will be there in the store with some Scarlet Threads items for you to see in person! It will be an open house of sorts. I'll be there at 6pm. We will have some fair trade wine to try, some snacks, perhaps some fair trade chocolate as well. You can do some holiday shopping for your loved ones. I'll have lots of information about Scarlet Threads to share with you. Also, Scarlet Threads will receive a percentage of anything purchased from Ten Thousand Villages that night as well! 

I, of course, will be sporting one of our aprons....just need to decide which one!  

Details:

Ten Thousand Villages, Old Town Alexandria 

915 King Street

Alexandria, VA

(703) 684-1435

Sunday, December 16

6-8pm 

We're so honored that Ten Thousand Villages is hosting us, and are thrilled for this opportunity to share our mission with their supporters as well. 

I realize that many of you are not in the Washington, DC area, but please share this with your friends and family, and ask them to do the same! We'd love a big turnout of support, and we need your help to make this happen! 

Scarlet Threads apron blitz!



 

 

We posted this to Scarlet Threads last week, but I wanted to share it here too, since there is just one more day to grab this amazing deal!

 

Perhaps you are like me, and have not started any of your Christmas shopping yet? Perhaps there is a domestic goddess or two on your list? Perhaps you need a hostess gift?

 



Introducing the Apron Blitz from Scarlet Threads! Until Thursday (tomorrow!), we are offering a set of FIVE (yes, FIVE!) of our aprons for $55. The retail price of the set is $118, so you are getting a steal of a deal!

 

That is $11 per apron, each of which retails for more than $20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ava ($22), Mommy & Me Betsy Combination ($24 + $26), Daphne ($22),

and Xiao Talia ($24)

 

 

Scarlet Threads also now accepts paypal, and you can be invoiced if you wish!

 

 

Find here in the shop!

 

 

Also, use the code lex10 - since I am sending you along  ;)

 

 

 

 



hand-stamped, monogrammed jewelry!

 

 

I posted this to Scarlet Threads blog this morning, but wanted to share this with you all as well! With the holidays coming, perhaps you are already thinking about holiday gifts, and this hand-stamped jewelry is customized, and would be a lovely choice!

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Today's Monday Montage is a lovely shop called The Rusted Chain. Beki, the owner and designer, began making custom jewelry in 2003, and has also been featured in several magazines! She is also a photographer and writer. She does speaking engagements, and in addition to this, she and her family coordinate the Kansas Barn Sale each year, which is a craft and antique festival - the first of its kind in the state! She's been featured on several tv shoes, including The Pioneer Woman! Whew!


Beki has a blog, she's on facebook, she tweets, and she's on pinterest! Most of all though, please look at these amazing pieces in her shop.

You can choose from necklaces, cuff bracelets, earrings, and other fun items. Everything can be customized to your liking, you can have your monogram, your childrens names, a quote, and more! I have a hard time not wanting everything....

 

 

Here are a few of my favorites:

 

My Chains are Gone necklace

For This Child I Prayed necklace

Save the Spot bookmark

Heart of the Family necklace

 



Family Monogram necklace

My most favorite! I just need to find a few perfect words to use for this---

 



 

LONG message cuff bracelet

 

 

 

A few words, in their own words, about The Rusted Chain:


We are about simply inspiring jewelry.
We are about supporting local businesses.
We are about honoring God.
We are about living simply and sweet tea.
We are about fresh cut flowers.
We are about thrift stores, yard sales, and antiques.
We are about bare toes in green grass.
We are about big red barns and mason jars.
We are about savoring small moments in life.
We are about daisies, peonies and fields of sunflowers.
We are about supporting an underdog and giving to charities.
We are about friends, family and fun.

*******


To me, this is perfect.

Just perfect.


Beki is so incredibly generous, and has offered our readers a discount for use in her shop. Use the code SCARLET20 for 20% off your purchase.


Go have a look at her products, I know you'll love them as much as I do!
 



Scarlet Threads Song!

This is one of the newest aprons from Scarlet Threads, called Song! Don't you just love her? She's so whimsical and lovely, and the colors are just wonderful.

Would you like one for your apron collection? We're giving one away! Yes! Scarlet Threads is hosting a giveaway and you could win a Song of your very own!

Go here to the blog, and see how to enter, and who knows, the Song could be yours!

Also, if something else catches your eye in the shop, use "Lex10" at checkout for 10% off!

Thrifty Thursday with Scarlet Threads!

Scarlet Threads has recently introduced a new feature called Thrifty Thursday! Each week, a different item will be on crazy sale! This week, the deal du jour for you is the Summer Joy- the "big sister" of the lovely Poppy! Just $9.00 for this week - that's the best deal yet!

The Poppy dress, for infants was on sale last week, so we thought Summer Joy would be a great deal to follow.  The Summer Joy has two designs! One is the paisley (and I'm a sucker for anything paisley!), and then the floral design, like the Poppy. The darker colors in the paisley are a great ease into fall...add some leggings and a turtleneck, and your little doll will be the best dressed in class!

Need an inspiration? Check out these photos of Boikokobetso, the little darling I sponsor in South Africa with World Vision! I've posted the photos before, but here's a refresher-

Isn't Boikokobetso fashionable?! Straps up or straps down! Pink pants and shoes to match! For a bit of reference, I sent her a small/3T, and she just turned five this month. I don't have any children of my own yet, so I had to guess, and I think I did okay. Having room to grow is a good thing, eh?

So! This week, grab a Summer Joy for just $9! Best deal! Hurry and grab one today!

Go here to buy a dress, and use the code lex10 when you order  :)



new apron at Scarlet Threads!

There are new aprons at Scarlet Threads, but they don't have names yet! Want to help? We are having a naming contest, and if your suggestion is chosen, you will receive 50% off your next purchase! Doesn't everyone on your Christmas list need a lovely new apron this year?

I'm loving this new beauty!

What would you call her?

Go HERE and leave us a suggestion!

Tasty Tuesday! Cheesey chicken lasagna roll-ups!

Hello friends, and a very happy Tuesday to you! There are some exciting things going on here at Scarlet Threads, and to start with, here's a great recipe for you to try! I don't know about you, but I am SO thrilled that the weather has finally cooled off. I am not a warm weather girl, and DC was just unbearable this summer. Today was about 50*! BLISS! I'm excited for cold weather recipes, like stews and roasts!

For now, try this! Cheesey chicken lasagna roll-ups!

Fun fact: when I was in elementary school, I had an imaginary friend that I called Cheesey. Yeah, I don't know either :)

I found the recipe on pinterest, my new favorite site ever. I sort-of followed the recipe, but mostly made it up as I went along, as usual for me!

Here's me and Lucy, preparing our chicken.

Side note: do you have a Lucy in your collection? She's an oldie, but isn't she cute? I've heard rumors that Delicate Fortress has just a very few left, so if you love the looks of this sunshiny girl, head over to Delicate Fortress and snap one up!

Cheesey chicken lasagna roll-ups

ingredients:

three large chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
one-two jars of spagetti sauce, depending on how much sauce you like
ten pieces of lasagna
one package feta cheese
one package parmesan cheese
one container ricotta cheese
whatever spices you like the best

directions:

1- boil water and cook lasagna

2- cook chicken, adding whatever spices you like (I used LOTS of basil, onion flavor (I hate the actual onions, but like the flavor!) salt, pepper and garlic)

3- once chicken is cooked through, put in bowl and add cheeses (I am very generous with the cheese!)

note- the original recipe called for 1/2 cup milk, but I forgot that I had run out that morning, so didn't add any, and it was okay

4- mix chicken and cheeses together, add more spices if you wish!

5- pour half a jar of sauce into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish

6- take a piece of cooked lasagna, and place a spoonful of chicken mix, and roll up. place seam-side down in baking dish full of sauce. repeat until you use each piece of lasagna (you could obviously use less than ten pieces!)

7- once all rolls are in dish, pour more sauce over it all, and add more sprinkled parmesan cheese (we like a lot of cheese!)

8- bake at 375* for about 30 minutes until bubbly and delicious smelling!

Then, enjoy

(it may not be super pretty, but it was super good!)

I totally love my babushka baking mitt :)
I have a matching tea towel and mug!

Another side note- see these placemats? They were my mother's, and she had them FOREVER. When I was a wee young thing, I thought they were the most beautiful placemats ever. There are matching napkins too! A few years ago, she wrapped them up for me one Christmas, and I was thrilled! Yes, I think they are nearly 30 years old :)

What are you cooking this week? Send us the recipe, we'd love to feature you and your favorite Scarlet Threads apron!

(this was cross-posted to Scarlet Threads blog, but I wanted to share it here too!)

Tasty Tuesday on Wednesday!

I posted this yesterday in Scarlet Threads blog and wanted to share it here too! We post a weekly recipe for the Tasty Tuesday feature, and I'd love to share one of your favorite recipes! Please let me know if you'd like to contribute something to us!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Tuesday, and you know what that means....another Tasty Tuesday recipe for you! This one was sent to me from my friend Hillary...my oldest friend in the world! Our parents lived across the street from one another, so we've been friends since the day she was born- I was born in January, she was born in February!

Here's a photo of us in July 1980...I'm on the right, she's on the left...aren't we cute? I love how she's trying to hold my little hand! :)

So cute, hehe!

So, without further ado!

Carrot Raisin Buckwheat Muffins

If you are a buckwheat lover then you will to enjoy these gluten-free muffins. Try adding more carrots, raisins, some shredded apple, or any chopped nut for a denser, more nutritious treat. These muffins work great as a quick breakfast, simply serve with a green smoothie for a balanced and energizing meal. I grind my own buckwheat flour from raw buckwheat groats. I find the flavor and texture of this fresh flour superior to that of the packaged roasted, ground buckwheat flour. You can use a Vita-Mix to grind the flour or a small electric grinder such as a coffee grinder.

2 ½ cups buckwheat flour
½ cup tapioca flour
½ cup organic brown sugar, Sucanat, or maple sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger powder
2 cups applesauce
¼ cup melted virgin coconut oil or grapeseed oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup grated carrots
½ to 1 cup raisins, soaked for 10 minutes in ¼ cup water (then drain)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil muffin tins or line with paper muffin cups.

In a large bowl combine the buckwheat flour, tapioca flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, sea salt, and spices. Mix well.

Place apple sauce into a separate bowl and add the melted coconut oil, vanilla, carrots, and raisins; whisk together. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and gently mix together being careful not to over mix.

Spoon batter into oiled muffin tins. Fill each muffin cup to the top. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 25 minutes. Loosen sides with a knife and gently take out of tins and place onto a wire rack to cool.

Then, enjoy!

Source.

What's baking in your kitchen this week??

Scarlet Threads cookbook swap!

I know you've seen this photo before, because I've posted it, but it's a picture of just some of my many, many cookbooks!

(pre-move, by the way- this is no longer my kitchen!)

I posted it yesterday in Scarlet Threads blog, as we are hosting a cookbook swap!

This photo doesn't even show all of my cookbooks! There are a lot more that you can't see, off to the left on other shelves and such! They range from all sorts of types, from international to baking to southern cooking. I love having them, but I will admit that I don't use them all as often as I should. There are some I use regularly, but there are others that I've never used. Awful, so awful, I know! I'm sure though, that I'm not the only one who doesn't always use all of her cookbooks, right?

This is where I thought of hosting a cookbook swap! We can trade a few cookbooks that we don't use, and then get a few in return that we will! Here's the idea. Leave us a comment and say that you'd like to participate. In a week or so, depending on the number of comments, we will end sign-ups and then partner people up. We will email you your partner's information and then then the two of you can discuss what you like, what you don't, etc and exchange addresses. Each pair will swap a cookbook, more if you'd like, but one minimum. Please don't go out and buy anything, take something from your shelf that hasn't had much use by you, but that your partner will love and use!

How does this sound? Make sense? Ask any questions, of course, and we will answer them as best we can! Also, please share this post on your own blog/twitter/facebook, etc! We'd love to have lots of people participating, as more people makes it more fun!

Want to join the fun? Go HERE and sign up!

thrifty thursday, via Scarlet Threads!

Clearly you know of my great love and new involvement (which I still need to tell you about!) with Scarlet Threads, right?

Well, do have a look at this, via Eileen, one of the amazing women behind it all!

Is anyone out there familiar with Extreme Couponing on TLC? I am completely enamored with the thriftiness of these folks, but I am completely incapable of duplicating their efforts in my own world. In the spirit of couponing, however, we at Scarlet Threads decided to create a deal for you!

One Thursday per month we will have a special one-day sale where the discount is entirely based on how many new facebook followers we received since the preceding Thursday. We will announce the date of the one day sale on the Thursday before to allow you the opportunity to spread the word about Scarlet Threads to all of your Facebook friends
We shall call this "Thrifty Thursday!" In order to increase the discount, use the "suggest to friends" button to introduce your social network to Scarlet Threads. At a future date, we may choose to do a Thrifty Thursday based on Twitter or Blog Followers. We are not super stealthy, so we will let you know which social media we are selecting for the one day sale, how many current followers we have, and how we will calculate the discount.
I wouldn't let you down, would I? Now that you've read about the concept, we are announcing that NEXT THURSDAY will be our first Scarlet Threads Thrifty Thursday.

Current Facebook Fan Count: 3200

For every new fan from now until I check the account on the morning of Thursday next, the one-day sale will increase by 1% (up to 50%). For example, if we receive 27 new fans the sale discount will be 27% and if we receive 52 fans the discount will be capped at 50%. See? Isn't that fun? You can command your own destiny and demand your own price.

Ready? Set. Suggest a Friend!

HERE is their facebook site. Go like them. You know I do!