Scroll down for a great giveaway and feature on a fantastic etsy seller!

My newest card listed in my shop .... and one of my all time favorites to make!

I've been so excited to share this with you!!!!

Let me introduce Kristiana of krispy banana kids! (www.krispybanana.etsy.com)

If you have a little one, are expecting or know someone who is, you MUST take a look at this shop!

From bibs to blankets and everything in between, you will find it in her wonderful shop!

I asked Kristiana a few questions to help us get to know her better:

Tell us a little about yourself and your family~

I met my husband my first day at Baylor and we have been best friends ever since. We'll celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary in July. We have one son, Jack-3, and one daughter, Elizabeth-9 months. We live in Waco and love it here.

What are you favorite fabrics or colors to use in your designs?

Do you have a fav. fabric line or designer?

I have such a weakness for fabrics. I keep telling myself I need to use what I have on hand (since I have so much!) but just can't stop buying new fun prints. My favorites are Amy Butler, Denyse Schmidt, Alexander Henry, and Michael Miller, just to name a few.

What made you decide to start selling on Etsy?

I started my business 3 years ago when my son was born and I quit teaching. Friends have pressured me to do Etsy since I launched my website http://www.krispybananakids.com/, and after having babies and being a little too busy, I finally had a little extra time after Christmas to set up shop--and it's been so fun! I love that I can list things I have on hand and have just made-it's so much more current than my website. And I love the friendly and helpful Etsy community!

Any goals for your business or where you would like to see things go business-wise? Or is your shop simply a fun hobby?

It started as fun, and my friends made it into a business by buying from me, and now that I've been out of the full time workforce for 3 years and had 2 children, we actually need the money, so as much as I love it and would like for it to just be a hobby, we actually need the money!

What item in your shop do you have the most fun making?

The fun appliqued bibs! I feel I can get the most creative with those.

Kristiana's shop makes me want to have another baby! Well, maybe just have a friend who is having another baby so I can SHOP!

AND....

She has graciously agreed to give one of her lovely bibs away to one of you!!!!!!

Wouldn't you love to win this gorgeous bib featuring Joel Dewberry fabric!

Visit Krispybananakids

Then come back here and comment about your favorite item in the shop. In your comment, be sure and post a way that I can contact you (email address, etsy shop, etc)!!!!

A winner will be drawn on Wednesday, Feb 11.

Good luck!

And thank so much, Krisitana!

Something FANTASTIC coming tomorrow!!!!!

Check in then....you won't want to miss this!

Hint, Hint:

An introduction to an incredible Etsy seller and another giveaway!!!!

Attention Etsy sellers!!!!

Scroll down 3 posts to find info about the card swap!!!!

Etsy sellers:

Wouldn't you love to have an easier way to see you "hearts" you.

To see how many "hearts" each one of your items has.

To see how many views each item has....

without having to click on each individual item????

Check out this site!!!!

All you have to do is enter your username (etsy shop name) and all your shop stats will be right in front of your eyes!!!

:)

Mmmm! Lasagna and Apple Pie!

Scroll down 2 posts to read about the card swap going on!

I found this recipe online a few years ago and tweaked it to our family's taste.

Well, to my taste.

Lucas and Zachary do not like "basagna" and I think Josh tolerates it.

We had company over for the SuperBowl and I served lasagna and apple pie for dessert. That typically doesn't go together, but this recipe is actually called American Lasagna.

And what's more American than Apple Pie?

So it works! :)

If you are looking for a new lasagna recipe, try this one and see what you think!

~American Lasagna~

1 &1/2 lbs ground beef

1 Tbsp dried onion powder (You know my stance against onions! If you do not have the same opinion, then by all means add some diced onion)

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 Tbsp dried basil

1 tsp dried oregano

1 Tbsp brown sugar

1 & 1/2 tsp salt

30 oz can crushed tomatoes

12 oz can of tomato paste

(If you like a saucy lasagna add a small can of tomato sauce here)

12 large lasagna noodles

2 eggs, beaten

8 oz small curd cottage cheese

1/4 cup finely shredded parmesan

6 oz cream cheese

2 tsp dried parsley flakes

1 tsp salt

2 & 1/2 cups mozerella, divided

Brown beef, onion and garlic and drain. Add basil, oregano, brown sugar, salt, crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste. Simmer 30-45 minutes stirring occasionally. Preheat oven to 375. Boil lasagna noodles and drain. Mix together eggs, cottage cheese, parmesan, parsley, cream cheese, and salt. Layer 1/3 noodles in bottom of 9x13 pan. Cover with 1/2 cottage cheese mixture 1/2 mozerella and 1/3 meat sauce. Repeat. Top with remaining noodles and sauce. Sprinkle with a little additional parmesan. Bake 30 minutes.

You can assemble this ahead of time, refrigerate and then bake within 24 hrs.

This photo was taken before baking. I felt weird photographing the finished lasagna in front of the guests! Just picture the above photo "crispier" :)

Here's the apple pie:

~~~~Scroll down to the next post for card swap info!!!!~~~~~~

This may come as a shock to some of you.....

but I am not good at graphic design.

I know after yesterday's rainbow post you probably thought that I had spent years studying graphic art, but, alas I have not.

I just don't have an eye for it.

So you can bet when I read this, I certainly wanted to take advantage of it.

Angie has been wonderful to work with. I sent several "project" ideas her way since I didn't know what would work for her portfolio. One of the ideas was for her to design a fundraising letter for me to distribute to Zachary's kindergarten class. I am co-room mom and am in charge of collecting gourmet coffee donations for a class auction basket.

Here's what I had been sending out for the last several weeks:

Needless to say the donations weren't "pouring" in (pardon the pun).

Angie's design is far better!

Thanks, Angie, for all your hard work on this.

Pay her a visit in her Etsy shop and check out more of her great designs!

Come join the fun!

Love to make cards?

Love to receive cards?

Then come join the fun at the....

February card swap!!!!

All are welcome to participate. I will be taking "registrations" during the next week. You will receive the name of your card recipient on Feb.9 which should give you plenty of time to make (or buy) the card and get it to the recipient by the end of the month~

Here's all you need to do.....

1. Contact me by clicking the email link on this blog.

2. Please let me know these 3 things when you email me:

*Favorite color

*Choice of holiday or occasion

* Your name, email address and mailing address

3. On Feb 9 I will send you the contact info of the person who you will need to make (buy) a card for, along with their fav. color and choice of holiday/occasion.

4. It is your responsibility to have a card made for the recipient and in the mail to them by the end of the month. Try to fulfill the color/occasion request as best as you can, but this is not mandatory.

5. The card should be handmade and an appropriate envelope should be included with your card. IF YOU CHOOSE TO PURCHASE A CARD INSTEAD OF MAKING ONE, REMEMBER IT MUST BE HANDMADE! (CHECK OUT ETSY.COM, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO MAKE A PURCHASE)

Remember!!! This is a card in new condition that is made to be used by the recipient. This is not a greeting card that YOU will write in!

Happy card making!!!! (and receiving!)