I thrift for treasures.

Okay, so maybe they are not real treasure, but you never really know when you may find one!  I love thrifting.  You can find the most adorable, affordable and great finds for only a few bucks.  I wanted to share some of my favorite finds.  There are so many more, but these were near me.  ( I am not a junk collector)  there is a HUGE difference!  Check out these adorable genuine leather bags I found recently.  The cross body fossil purse is brand new with tags.  I payed $8 and found it on zappos for $128.

This Lane wicker love seat I picked up for $25 it was tan with floral cushions.  I spray painted it, and made slip covers for the cushions, I just love how modern it is.  I picked up the striped fabric at Walmart for $5 per yard.  The total cost of sofa, paint, and fabric was $65. 

Just today I went to the salvation army in Fridley and found this 1967 model Polaroid 250 land camera, complete with bulbs for flash, and film.  I payed $19.99.  It is in mint condition and as a photographer it is so fun for me to play around with a piece of history.  I mean, who's was this, where did they live, and what kind of amazing moments were captured by this beauty?  Those questions seriously go through my head!  It is 100% manual, you tear the film out, and let it sit,  after a few minutes you peel it apart and have a beautiful image!  You would be surprised the quality these old camera have.  I have an old Polaroid 600se that is my favorite instant, and also my new Hasselblad 501c, which I have yet to get my film scans back.  Both of which I found on craigslist and ebay.

And of course one of my favorite thrift store finds is old frames.  This one had a awful painting in it, but I saw the beauty, brought it home, and put a coat of gold spray paint on and it is now my favorite thing in our home!  Photos are by the lovely Gina Zeidler.  They are printed by Artifact Uprising.  

There are so many great reasons to buy used, and recycle and re love vintage things.  I will always love the thrill of finding treasures.  Our family is heading to Naples in a few weeks for vacation, and I am really looking forward to checking out the thrift stores there!  YAY.

double delicious chocolate cake

If you are anything like me, you will drool just by looking at this chocolatey goodness!  Apparently when I was a baby, I refused my baby food, so my mom gave in and fed me pudding.  Thanks mom, I will forever be grateful!  Sometimes on cold days, I walk into the kitchen and throw a cake together.  You almost always have the ingredients, sugar + cocoa = chocolate incase you are ever in a pinch, and a few other ingredients of course!  Here is a recipe I have had trials and errors with, and now it is perfection.  Enjoy

cake: 1 3/4 cups flour
          2 cups sugar
          3/4 cup cocoa powder
          2 tsp baking soda
          1 tsp baking powder
          1 tsp salt
          1 cup sour cream or greek yogurt 
          1/2 cup vegetable oil or applesauce
          2 large eggs
          1 tsp vanilla extract
          1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
preheat oven to 350, line two 8 inch round cake pans with parchment paper, and butter them, also dust with flour.  Mix dry ingredients together in one bowl, and wet in the other, mix both well, then mix together.  Add hot fresh brewed coffee, mix until fully incorporated.  Split batter into pans, and bake for 35 minutes. Let cakes cool for 30 minutes in the pan.  
frosting:  2 blocks of cream cheese (softened)
                1 stick of butter (softened, not melted)
                1/4 cup cocoa powder 
                1/2 cup melted semi sweet chocolate chips
                2 cups powder sugar
                1 tsp vanilla extract
Whip these ingredients together with a mixer, and set aside.
When the cake is fully cooled, tip out of pan, peel of parchment paper, and frost, add 2nd layer, frost full cake, sprinkle and enjoy!

Food photo tip- stick your lens in manual focus, and have fun.  I love the bokeh that the sprinkles created in these images!  

WINNER

Well, 4 entered so the odds were pretty good.  Random.org drew #3 Melanie Egge.  Melanie, enjoy your new bottle of Lavender oil!  xo, Crystal

A cowboy Steak dinner with tomato relish!

Do you want to make your significant other fall in love with you all over again?  Make this!  You will not be disappointed.  (and if you are, you are not my kind of person) kidding!  There is zero chance of disappointment! 

Recipe for two:
1 large new york strip steak, or 2 small.
cherry tomatoes
jalapeño pepper
purple onion
balsamic vinegar
ground coffee
ground coriander seed
cilantro
lime
*side dish 
I chose to use up some pesto on noodles.  They were delish.

Directions

Tomato relish:

Wash and dice up a small container of tomatoes, chop your jalapeño, deseeding for less heat, chop 1/2 purple onion, chop a 1/4 cup cilantro.  Throw all ingredients into medium bowl with about 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1 Tbls olive oil, a squeeze of lime juice, and salt & pepper to taste.  Let this sit and get happy while you cook the steaks.

cowboy steak:

In a small bowl, mix 1/8 cup ground coffee, 2 Tbls ground coriander, 1 Tbls corse pepper and a dash of sea salt.  Rub this into both sides of your steak.  Make sure to massage it into it pretty well. Preheat your oven to 375.  Heat up your  ovenproof skillet on high with a few Tbls of oil, then sear the steak on both sides to lock in the juicyness and flavor.  ( about 30 sec on each side)  Now put your steak and ovenproof pan in the oven for about 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the steak.  We eat ours medium rare.     Slice up your steak and scoop your tomato relish on top.  Add a pesto noodle side dish and there you have it, my favorite dinner!  The first time my husband made it for me, I told him I want this to be my birthday dinner for the rest of my life!  It was love at first taste.  (note- I made a lot of tomato relish for this photo, because I ate half of it waiting for the steak)  

Fun and affordable finds.

I love finding inspiring finds on the internet that don't break the bank, and make you feel great! These scripture cards from http://laracaseyshop.com are the perfect little things to have on your desk or give to friends!  I just ordered myself a set, and can't wait to get them! I met Lara at Pursuit 31 last fall and heard her speak, she is so inspiring and really does make things happen!  She also has some beautiful free phone/computer wallpaper downloads available. http://laracaseyshop.com.  I chose the anchor one, shown here.

I also adore these super huge balloons from https://www.shopsweetlulu.com they are perfect for photo shoots or fun for any occasion.  I have ordered the 36" circle ones before and had pictures with my sons taken at our local county fair.  Photo credit: Nicole Lasse, Special Focus Photography.  These cost only $6 each.  (beware, find an affordable place to get them filled with helium, as some charge and arm and leg)

Next is this beautiful wood calendar from Artifact Uprising.  They cost $28.99 and are simply lovely.  http://www.artifactuprising.com  I am due for a new one!

I hope you enjoy these things as much as I do.  The three shops listed above are all amazing businesses,  with great people behind the products!

A delicious 20 minute meal.

 Glazed carrots: 1 tbls coconut oil in sauce pan, 2 tbls pure maple syrup, 5 large carrots sliced.  Sautee on medium to low heat for 20 minutes.  

Cheese & thyme Rice:  white or brown instant rice.  I cooked 2 cups.  Once cooked add 2 tbls butter, 1 cup grated parmesan cheese and 1 tsp dried or fresh thyme.  (salt to taste)

Ham:  I bought a small spiral cut ham, tossed some in a frying pan with 2 tbls pure maple syrup and 1 tbls olive oil.  

I will warn you, this rice is heavenly!  Enjoy.

Crochet & a cute Lil man's baptism outfit

When I was 12 my mom taught me how to crochet.  My dads mom taught her how many years before that.  I would usually try to make my cat a blanket, and it almost always turned into a small triangle, or a cat scarf.  Since practicing for a long time now, I recently have been making cute hats and scarves, but secretly wished I could do more.  My nephew is getting baptized in a week and I had a vision of making him an adorable outfit.  I stopped grabbed 4 skeins white yarn and a J hook.  I came home inspired and without a pattern or my sisters permission I made a little baptism outfit, fit for the cutest 11 month old I know!  

Sweet little Austy came over today to try it on, and it fit like a glove.  ( I can't even crochet gloves, and paid someone to knit me some this winter)  I love when something that I desire to make turns out well.   There are so many times, I whip something out and it is just not what I imagined it would be, but even worse, it feels like wasted time.  I guess it's only wasted time if you look at it like that, lets choose to say it was practice time, because when your next project turns out, you can credit the practice projects for that!

I am not a perfectionist, not even a little bit, so patterns wouldn't go well with me.  If anyone wants to learn to crochet, I would love to teach you!  Since having three boys and running a house, I have learned that making things really has turned into therapy.  The other day my friend posted a quote on my facebook timeline, is went something like this, "I like to make things, I will make things until my fingers fall off, and when they do, I will grab my hot glue gun and put them suckers back on, then keep making things."  I laughed because it is a little bit true, hot glue burns, neck cramps, and needle pricks are all things you just get to deal with when crafting!

Essential oils & a giveaway!

Nature in a bottle.  If you want to get rid of toxic sprays and perfumes in your life, and feel the healing properties of essential oils, give them a try!  I switched over two years ago, and haven't looked back.  My favorite oil to use is lavender.  I am sure this is the most popular with most people.  Lavender oil helps me fall asleep every night.  According to http://www.webmd.com  lavender oil is used for insomnia, restlessness, nervousness, and depression.  So pretty much it relaxes you.  Coming from someone who doesn't know how to relax, I go through a LOT of lavender oil, and love how it has helped me.  It can also be great for babies and children, just check with your Pediatrician first.  

Mixing oils can be fun, and makes a great personalized perfume.  I want my perfume to smell great and be a mood enhancer.  I chose to user Patchoili, Lemon, Grapefruit, Bergamont and Ylang Ylang oils.  I used a about 6 drops of each for my test, some more some less.  You should use a carrier oil such as, jojoba, grapeseed or avocado oil to dilute your mixture.  Try adding about 20 drops carrier oil to you mixture.  You will end up with a small amount to test, if you love the scent of it, add more oils and more carrier oil to complete your spray.  No I know there is probably an exact formula for this kind of thing, but I am not that type of girl.  There is a guide to follow on what oils mix well together,

* floral blends with spicy, citrus, and woodsy

*woodsy blends with all 

*spicy and oriental blend with floral and citrus

*minty blends with citrus, woodsy and earthy

(Having oils around your home for personal care is my favorite, but I do not limit them to that use, they are great in homemade cleaners, and to add to your laundry.)

My spray bottle is 2 oz.  that is too large, try to find a bottle that is more like .5 oz. then your mixture will fill it up and last a few months.  ( I spray mine on my neck and wrists).  Another great way to use your mixture is to keep it in a dropper bottle, add a few drops to your lotion after you shower.  I do it all the time, and people ask if I am using Aveda products.  I haven't mentioned how great pure Jasmine oil is...I use it as a perfume straight out of the bottle, it is such a great floral smell and really relaxes you.  It is harder to find, but I found a great deal, but 3 get 1 free on amazon.com natures note organics.  Purchasing your oils online tends to be a lot more affordable.  The information on essential oils can go on forever, I hope you can find out for yourself how great they are!  For more information check out http://aromaweb.com.  

I want others to see how great oils really are and a great first oil is lavender.  I would love to give away one bottle Aura Cacia 100% pure Lavender oil.  So comment below with your name and email and I will put the names on random.org on January 15th and draw a WINNER!  

Citrus makes everything better

There is nothing better than a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice.  Although it takes a good 4 large oranges to produce a glass full, it is well worth it.  I use a power juicer, and choose to use organic oranges.  When I am taking the time to juice, I really want the purest juice I can get.  It sure is a welcome treat when we haven't seen the sun for weeks here in Minnesota.  I can imagine it looks something like these bright, and beautiful oranges.  Brighten up your day, and enjoy!

It's also January 1st!  I am so grateful for another fresh start!  I know everyone has plans, and goals they hope to stick with, but something we can all do is really stop, slow down, and listen to what our bodies and minds need.  I know something that I really need for my body is less processed foods, and more fresh, whole foods.  They are beautiful to have around, and do amazing things for our bodies.  I will try to post one easy healthy recipe per week to help us all work this in lives more.  I hope you enjoy them, I will mostly post dinner recipes, as I think we can all use some great ideas in that department.  (Disclosure- my husband is an amazing chef, and inspires everything I make, you WILL notice when I post his recipes and not mine, his have less nutritional value, and a heck of a lot more goodness.)