DIY towel bunnies

flopsy, mopsy and cottontail.
admittedly, my first needle and thread of the year.

please don't laugh, my craft skills are a bit wobbly. a few months back i wrote that i will learn to sew and be unafraid of failure in my 2010 resolutions list. am making slow work of getting around to it. however i have new reason to jump off the crafty cliff with needle and thread in hand.

i've been asked to be an Activity Day Leader in my church. i will be churning out crafts left and right. hooray. i get to meet with a handful of girls, ages 9-11, twice a month. we'll do projects, learn fun things, have treats together and hopefully enrich lives with wholesome goodness. am planning on learning just as much as they do and then some. this afternoon i'm hosting a little easter party. the featured activity will be whipping together these sweet bunny rabbits from washcloths via www.pompomemporium.com. which means, i have to know what i'm doing first. so i've been practicing. am thinking a cotton ball stitched to the back would be a quick cottontail. who knew i could be so intimidated by such a venture?! wish me luck. special thanks to my sister for sharing the link with me. am welcoming any other great ideas you think an average nine year old or i could handle.

sights & sounds of a sister trip

a picture show from our weekend in las vegas.

here is the whole troupe. from left to right: amy, me, heidi, gabi and marty the mom. we were cracking ourselves up the entire trip. no alcohol needed for this crazy bunch. i loved that we couldn't fit in any time to see a movie, read a magazine or watch television. just constant catch-up sessions, motherly advice, and wifely wisdom twenty-four seven. i love whispering into the wee hours like we did when we shared bunkbeds. obviously the art of chit chat runs in the family. however, we did manage to fit in a whole weekend of dreamy activities.


we spent a whole day by the pool at the trump hotel. the blue sky was bliss. there was even a dj to keep us entertained. completely fun and, like dan said, completely glamorous.


we splurged on a bit of shopping. i loved this outdoor mall, the town square. i look forward to going back someday, i didn't see much of it. my favorite store, H&M, always seems to suck me in. no complaints here.


i couldn't believe how much las vegas has changed. yes, it's still living up to its name, sin city. however last time we were there none of the new fancy stuff was built. i was picturing the classic casino type vacation. which would be a bit boring for a group of gals who don't gamble. anyway, i was astounded at the ritzy shops, shows, restaurants and eye candy to discover. and still i love the retro hotels along the strip. i hope that creepy circus clown stays forever.


one night we toured the gardens of the bellagio. the whole place was beautiful. i couldn't get over the upside down floral umbrellas which were hung throughout the lobby. the gardens featured a disney type scene; enormous flower pots, butterflies, bees, ladybugs, rows of tulips and huge watering cans that sprinkled water from the ceiling.


the strip at night reminded me of time square in nyc. we strolled through the paris hotel and enjoyed dining at the bistro, mon ami gabi. especially since it means my friend, gabi.


a pretty party of five. it was fun to doll up for a few days. borrowing clothes, hair stuff and makeup is the point of having sisters.


the awesome fountains at the bellagio. the song they featured was celine dion's my heart will go on. it was a fabulous show, as always. the tune took me back to my high school prom, which launched a hilarious tale to tell.


the fashion show mall was dangerously close to our hotel. i loved seeing the kate spade pinwheel promo in real life.


the sister getaway was over in a blink. now we are all back to running our homes and getting caught up in regular life. i admit to looking a lot less glamorous today in my hoodie and yoga pants. still, i am feeling rejuvenated, sunny and glamorous on the insides. to take time out for yourself has a great effect.

it's so good to stop awhile and remember that before i was a mom, before i was a wife, before i was a bride or a college student or a high school grad, i was a baby sister. i became a daughter the minute i was born. i was bundled up and brought home from the hospital to six overjoyed siblings. the essence of me lies within them. it's nice to remember my roots and what i can still learn from my big sisters. they are happy with life and have been there, done that and continue to grow and learn in strength. a bit of girl power rubbed off on me. as you can imagine, just being together was my favorite part of all.

confetti eggs

i found these cute confetti easter eggs last week at the grocery store. little eggs with a party inside; what could be better? since easter is coming faster than i can believe, i put them to work straight away, even before unloading the rest of my groceries. i filled my footed glass trifle bowl with shredded green paper grass and tucked the colorful eggs into place. i set it on top of a spring tablecloth and have been loving their hues each time i arrive home.

vegas tunes

we're back from our little getaway of sunshine and swimsuits and sunglasses. we all made cd mixes for the roadtrip to las vegas. here are the tracks i pulled together. i tried to throw in some random sista surprises. somehow milli vanilli, escape club and wilson phillips did not make the cut.


vegas mix pump up.
You Make My Dreams / Hall & Oates
Party In the U.S.A. / Miley Cyrus
My Life Would Suck Without You / Kelly Clarkson
It Happens / Sugarland
Closer To Fine / Indigo Girls
Hey, Soul Sister / Train
I Gotta Feeling / Black Eyed Peas
Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) / Beyoncé
Escapade / Janet Jackson
Heartbreaker / Mariah Carey Featuring Jay-Z
Human Hands / Sondre Lerche
Harold T. Wilkins, or How to Wait... / Fanfarlo
Hey! Baby / Bruce Channel
Lovers In Japan / Reign of Love / Coldplay
Lazy Eye / Silversun Pickups
We Didn't Start The Fire / Billy Joel
Mr. Jones / Counting Crows
Graceland / Paul Simon
Thank God I'm A Country Boy / John Denver

vegas mix mellow.
Us / Regina Spektor
Heartbreak Warfare / John Mayer
Her Morning Elegance / Oren Lavie
Music for a Found Harmonium / Celtic Fiddle Fest
Falling Slowly / Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Where Are You Tonight? / Tom Johnston
How Deep Is Your Love / The Bird And The Bee
Let the River Run / Carly Simon
Under Pressure / David Bowie
Shed A Little Light / James Taylor
One Of These Things First / Nick Drake
Sunrise / Norah Jones
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing / Sufjan Stevens
Saeglópur / Sigur Rós

thanks to those of you who suggested some favorite tunes (you know who you are). i was delighted with the mix of old and new along the road. uploading photos as we speak. will be back with more weekend details.

packing up my adjectives

to say there has been a flurry of excited emails exchanged recently is putting it mildly. my three sisters, my mom and i are all hanging up our aprons, putting our computers to sleep, stocking up on enough milk and frozen family meals, dumping ice into the cooler, kissing babies buh bye and packing our bags for our girls getaway. thanks to our much-appreciated awesome husbands, we are confident to be leaving everything in the best of hands. remember when we went to new york city circa 08? we saw a show, walked 5th avenue, ate cupcakes and i brought home new maternity clothes which i'd wear all summer long, a season that felt like infinity. dan has graduated from law school, got a job, we moved to idaho, i gave birth, and we became a family of three since then. crazy how life changes in only a blink.

dan has some boy adventure plans in the works while i'm away. likely including an outing with benji to see the cows and their calves. yes, it's calving season again in these parts, which means a weekly drive out to farmland with our camera in hand and clicking out the window. and then the ol' debate about whether or not farm country smells good or not.

anyway, back to the excitement at hand. i am packing up all the goods. i'll be toting along the classic roadtrip must, muddy buddies. isn't anticipation so much fun?! am also bringing a few books to fall in love with. i highly recommend the two business craft books pictured above. already i am underlining them to pieces. and The Help is in constant discussion amongst my friends and sisters. we'll likely have a bit of a bookclub about it while we're together. so i better get on it.

another thing i mentioned in the flurry of emails was a request for everyone to bring their favorite beauty product to plug. am not sure whether or not we'll have the time or extra funds for a day at the spa, so i've been self-appointed as project manager in charge of the Beautification Station in our hotel room. i plan on sharing my new favorite deep conditioning hair masque, an assorted mix of m.a.c. eyeshadows, spring shades of nail polish, foot scrub and then some. do you have a favorite beauty product to plug?

i'm signing off until next week wherein i'll divulge all the details of my secret sister gifts i have wrapped up, our roadtrip mix cd and other new favorites we find. wishing you a happy weekend. xo.

unsure of the origin of the title to this post? then you must get schooled in school house rock. if you must know, i played the role of adjective girl in a play once, so i have the whole song memorized and will sing it for you on demand.

enthusiastic chicken tortilla soup

ever since last spring when i re-discovered my soul mate in cilantro, i've been buying it by the bunch every week. i love to make this soup in the crockpot for dinner and warm it up for lunch the following day. it's so fresh and delicsh. and really so simple. the must-have ingredients are chicken, broth, green chiles, cilantro and lime. everything else is just bonus.


enthusiastic chicken tortilla soup

2-3 cans chicken broth
3-4 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded
1 can (7 oz.) diced green chiles
1 clove garlic, diced
1/2 cup salsa
1 cup corn, rinsed & drained
1 cup black beans, rinsed & drained
1/2 a bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 tomato or 1 tomatillo, diced
1 lime, juiced

toppings:
fresh slices of avocado
a dollop of sour cream
grated cheddar cheese
crushed tortilla chips

combine all the soup ingredients together in a large pot or crockpot. stir occasionally. simmer for a half hour or more. ladle soup into bowls and garnish with favorite toppings. enjoy.

*named after my dad's enthusiastic stew–his famed winter dish–everything he loves goes into it.

hostess with the mostess 15 tips

hello monday + hello everyone. since you've all made it to my new domain, i welcome you with open arms. i'll be blogging some feel good tidbits this week as i prepare for the annual vacay with my sisters this coming weekend. since i'm in the partying mood, lets start with a list of hostessing tips.

amy preps in her kitchen with her daughters, lucy and sophie. the littlest guest wanders the house and makes fast friends with puppy, scout.

last week dan's sister, amy hosted a little impromptu shindig while we were in town. we were delighted to be invited. our lives used to be full of regularly scheduled fanciness, but to be honest, most of our dinner parties these days end up with bite-sized soggy vegetables on the linoleum and a clapping little boy ready to be scrubbed in the tub. eating is messy business. the amounts of general washing and wiping we do as parents is astounding. suffice it to say, it was nice to get out; to mix and to mingle.

i always love watching ladies i admire–sisters, mothers, aunts, grandmothers, friends–host a gathering in their home. (and it helps if your home looks like a magazine, like amy's does.) the experience is like taking a personal behind the scenes peek; giving me hope that i can host a perfect party too someday. the dinner party is a vast subject that cookbooks and websites are devoted to, so i am bound to learn something new every time i'm invited to one. am always taking mental notes. here are some tips i've collected from real life experts.

hostess tips to remember

01. wear an apron and be comfortable in it. untie it when the doorbell rings or keep it on for casual gatherings. this is why everyone needs a functional yet pretty apron on hand.

02. don't worry if the food is not completely ready when the guests arrive. welcome everyone, pass out drinks and introductions and head back into the kitchen to add garnishes and set out serving spoons. do not forget serving utensils; people will stumble at the salad if there are no tongs available.

03. use your favorite plates. pull them out of hiding and unwrap the bubble wrap. use the good stuff. it makes the event that much more special. dinner parties are all about details. when guests can enjoy the moment to sit down and chat, the charming accents cannot be missed.

04. let your guests help you. if someone isn't chatting up a storm and sneaks into the kitchen to help, it is likely where they feel most comfortable. give them a job to do and it'll help them break out of their shell. in fact, i love the chit chat that happens amongst the kitchen staff at a big soirée.

05. have plenty of pitchers of ice water available. everyone will sit around, long after dessert, always pouring more into their glasses.

06. try to keep your dinner party tv-free. teach your children about old-fashioned fun. a checker board or a deck of cards are easy forms of entertainment for any guest that may seem bored early on.

07. have kitchen shears at the ready. sharp scissors are indispensable. perfect for last minute snipping of herbs, shredding cooked chicken, or cutting off the price tag of your new tablecloth. (possibly my favorite trick is cutting up string cheese into bites for benji.)

08. think of your seating arrangements and table setting possibilities before planning the menu. no one wants to be cutting pot roast on flimsy plates on their laps while squished on your sofa. however small pizza slices or deli sandwiches could work well if you're short on table seating.

09. centerpieces do not have to be elaborate or expensive to make an impact. group bright citrus fruits together in your prettiest salad or trifle bowl. gather acorns, pinecones and cranberries for a nod to nature. grow your own herbs in pretty pots for your table. line the table with a simple row of candles.

10. if you're honoring a special guest, display photos of them along with childhood memorabilia (a football for the quarterback, a camera for the shutterbug, etc.) be creative and dig up some fun memories. it will make the guest of honor smile and assist in the re-telling of favorite stories.

11. when hosting a special party, splurge on quality ingredients; real butter, excellent chocolate, awesome cheeses and the best cuts of meats. always bake from scratch when possible.

12. smart shortcuts will help you tackle all the necessary components of a good party. delegate your least favorite details if you're short on time; let the bakery bake your rolls, have your husband iron the linens, tell your little one to check for plenty of soap and toilet paper in the bathrooms, let a guest bring an extra side dish, order a favorite restaurant dessert for pick up, handwrite the place cards and create the pretty centerpiece well ahead of time.

13. always have a back-up option if your guests show up as sudden-vegetarians. grapes and crackers are good for guests on a sugar cleanse too. don't beat yourself up for not stocking soy milk for the lactose intolerant, just be flexible and offer them what you do have. keep in mind, desserts are the best part. don't go light-hearted unless you want to. a dinner party is a fun excuse to cheat with a sinful treat.

14. please don't go on and on about how difficult the meal was to prepare. or how you had to make it twice and send your husband out for more of this or that ingredient. on the other hand, don't mention if it was so easy you could've made it with your eyes closed. or so easy, you let your toddler whip it together. and never tell us that the fondue we're eating is made up of oil and velveeta cheese. or that the towering dessert has cool whip, egg whites, cream cheese, butter and chopped up twinkies in it. no one wants to count calories while they are tasting them.

15. be a present hostess. these are your friends after all. don't get tucked away scrubbing dishes or wiping counters. listen and laugh and enjoy yourself. quickly gather the dinner plates once everyone is done and put them in the sink (your sink should be empty before the party starts) and serve dessert before people can even think about getting up, wandering away or helping you do dishes. keep the party going and invite everyone to adjourn to–as my parents would say–the soft seats.

and a bonus tip for toddlers. when you find yourself with a tiny one in a home full of beautiful breakables and low on captivating toys, keep your toddler entertained with a simple spray bottle of water. benji's sweet cousin sophie offered it to him when he wandered over to the laundry room. he was delighted and entranced with it. and sophie liked playing hair stylist with benji's drenched locks. and dan and i could actually indulge in adult conversation. it was a win win.



fun features.
• vanessa was sweet to interview me for her monday's maven feature. merci!
• coming up tomorrow, my favorite soup recipe to serve a crowd.

same blog. new name.

important announcement. this is my weekend news flash for those m.writes subscribers who never got the news about my name switch. i don't want to leave anyone behind! i've graduated from blogspot to my very own domain. www.martawrites.com. same blog, same marta, now i'm carrying a dot com purse instead of lugging along a blogspot bag.

please come along. you'll have to do a little leg work and update your martawrites feed subscription yourself via your favorite rss reader (click on this link for assistance). or for those of you not into google reader or bloglines, sign up on my sidebar for an email subscription instead.

a big thank you. i appreciate your readership. your support makes my blog go 'round. the dot com launch will be official on monday. join me right here for a bit of a party. please excuse the repeat if you've already updated the rss feed this week. i feel like i've been on the campaign trail, thanks for your patience while i make the big move. merci.

the annual blog hunt

scouting out a parade of blog favorites for your friday.
play along if you please. choose thirty subjects and link it up.
spread the love.

link a blogger who...
makes me smile: cakies
makes me go ooh la la: forty sixth at grace
posts charming photos: petits bonheurs
features pure eye candy: black white yellow
i adore: oh so beautiful paper
has incredible taste: little green notebook
posts fun finds: that's happy
is a new-to-me blog: love & folly
discusses deliciousness: cannelle et vanille
is downright darling: harper's happenings
blogs life beautifully: summer
is completely creative: kelly purkey
is a daily must: a cup of jo
has a new baby: jordan & lucinda
i've bookmarked: inchmark
has an online shop: birdcage cards
takes fantastic photographs: sheye
is a storm of style: darling dexter
blogs 'bout brides: once wed
is oh so unique: caisa k.
is a new favorite: the mother huddle
is an old favorite: design mom
has an eye for design: a merry mishap
features fabulous tips: giver's log
posts prettiness: heart of light
makes me laugh: tiffany
recently subscribed to: m&k
inspires me: ali edwards
features sweet downloads: le blahg
is awesomely artistic: mint design

take a peek at last year's edition too. happy friday. hope your weekend is a good one. if i have any spare time, i'll be catching up on the ever addicting formspring page. oh and take a sec to read the ny times article that my brother emailed me, about mommy bloggers building their brands, it's funny how we're all in this together. or at least we all wannabe.

coming up next week. my favorite soup recipe, a sista mix tape and a few hostess tips for a homemade dinner party.

stay in the loop. i've graduated from blogspot with my own domain! please update your martawrites feed subscription via your favorite reader or sign up on my sidebar for an email subscription. much appreciated.

a whole new world

when dan asked about my switch from blogspot to dot com i couldn't exactly articulate why it was of importance to me. i suppose it's all about making baby steps out into the big wide world. or should i say shaping my own little world. having ownership of a space, putting my stamp on it, making it legit, becoming official. having the confidence to attempt staying power. after all the talking i did during the blog & business workshop, i hope to walk the walk too.

i love this little happy spot that i get to create inside everyday. am realizing as i've been doing some fixer uppers around here what matters about the blog, what doesn't and what really shouldn't matter but seems to (like comments that are currently missing in action). am trying to prioritize, put first things first and to be an overall better person. and in this land, that means, a better blogger. thanks for following me into this newish space. lets go chart the uncharted. join me for a blog hunt tomorrow.

{i've been collecting & sending quotable cards since i was in middle school. i am thrilled when i find one i've never seen before. a great vision for a black & white quote card collage with dozens of these cards has been imagined for years, just have to find the right spot for it.}

stay in the loop. please update your martawrites feed subscription via your favorite reader or sign up on my sidebar for an email subscription. much appreciated.

going green

happy st. patrick's day. am hanging out with my favorite li'l leprechaun, blowing bubbles in the living room and eating cinnamon life cereal from green bowls. any plans for celebrating in green? wishing you a happy day.

the greenie goods, left to right
retro green wall clock.
toddler adidas.
forever 21 plaid wallet.
green striped straws.
fresh avocado.
girl scout thin mints.
fitted striped cardigan.
lambswool pencil scarf.
dr. seuss green eggs and ham.
anthropologie tank.
gap crewneck tee.
froggy ear buds.
big bird onesie.
jcrew swimsuit.

and the winners of workshop week. congrats to ashley maureen, tiffany, ann marie, kristy, marisa and jenn king. you've been randomly chosen, thanks to your comments. each of you will receive either a free workshop workbook download or a spring edition mini diary (mid-april delivery). please contact me directly to pick your preferred prize!

stay in the loop. please update your martawrites feed subscription via your favorite reader or sign up on my sidebar for an email subscription. much appreciated.

spring cleaning the blog

please excuse the dust. am making a spontaneous clean sweep around this place. i've been working with my web guy, aka my awesome brother pete, to spruce martawrites up a bit. if you look real close, you'll notice a few changes popping up very soon. am excited to be officially official with changing this blog's name to a custom domain, www.martawrites.com.

please be sure to update your google reader, bloglines, blogrolls and/or bookmarks with the new website url www.martawrites.com. thank you!! if you'd like to subscribe to this blog via email, please sign up on my sidebar. you may see that the comment totals have been erased for the time being, they will be back soon (i hope). but don't worry, your entries to the current giveaway are safe and sound in my inbox. i'll fish out a winner tonight.

will be back tomorrow with a post dedicated to st. patty's day. benji will be happily surprised by a li'l leprechaun basket including the wal-mart special of the day, curious george goes green. (the local library is the perfect place to review movies before buying them. some children movies that look cute are totally not cute. more like, terribly annoying. however, curious george has won me over.) anyway, those shamrock sugar cookies were just a pipe dream. am savoring thin mints instead. will be posting workshop winners, a blog hunt and other really big news very soon. stay tuned.

happy sticky stripes.

there are endless options for a little roll of tape, no wonder blogland is still buzzing about pretty masking tape. i cannot get enough of the clever japanese masking tape features by luzel over at iDiY blog. be sure to check out part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4 for crafty tape ideas. lets just say, it made a believer outta me. i ordered a new batch of happy tape for my own craft space.

it's hard to know how big the rolls will actually be, here's a bit of a reference for you. i love all the shades available. i ordered the candy stripe 5 pack along with the teal grid for wrapping up spring packages.

hello again.

am feeling happy. and restless. (it's after midnight, according to mister daylight savings.) on a side note, i snapped this shot the other day after discovering benji and i were wearing coordinating outfits. gray is the new hot hue around here. and yes, gabi, the hair is blonder than ever.

we made it home this weekend for a little getaway and now we are back, safe and sound at home. i like having two places to refer to as home. home is a good place to be. home is where the heart is, after all. the boys are asleep and–perhaps because i slept all the way home–i am wide awake and brimming with a hurricane of ideas. i've already listed them out on the official clipboard in hopes to fall asleep, but still, am awake. hyper with possibilities. it seems whenever i go unplugged for awhile, my mind recharges itself. it is really the best thing there is. a bit of fresh air, a bit of new snow, a few favorite faces and a flurry of new ideas. life is good. am gearing up for springtime, some new marketing ideas, thinking of vacations in the near future and feeling the overall sensation of being a lucky duck. i feel abundantly blessed.

as we drove home i thought about all the events we packed into one weekend. no matter how much we try not to overextend ourselves on trips home, we tend to fill up the pockets of time in no time at all.

the big priority was dan's big ski race on saturday, the annual wasatch powder keg. it's the epic athletic event of the year; 3500 ft, 6.6 miles, 4 climbs. a hundred plus backcountry participants pack the essential gear (helmets, beacons, shovels, etc.) on their backs and wear adhesive skins on their telemark skis to aid in climbing up snowy slopes and then removing them in order to ski down. again and again. it's very close to insanity, but these guys love it. despite snowy conditions and a bad cough, dan rocked it. as did his buddies. utah is known for their powdery mountains, these boys are known for their wild man endurance and incredible facial hair. congrats on the big finish.

we filled more pockets of time with nieces and nephews that are growing up so smiley and sweet. saying darling little things that i want to never forget. a pocket of siblings and laughter and red vines and balderdash. a little girl disco skit. surprise girl scout cookies and retro fisher price toys on the shelf. a pocket for long chit chats. teaching a circle of kids how to play down by the banks and telephone. a pocket of one-on-one time with my dad. we watched benji chuckle uncontrollably (with shoulders bouncing) as he tossed items into a pot one-by-one. oh the joy of a little boy.

a new morning of spectacular snowfall bending the branches. a pocket for sorting photos with grandma bernice. fish tacos with friends and discussions of living in Sarajevo. party planning with an almost thirteen year old for her upcoming wonderland theme tea party. (benji happily chased scout's wagging tail all the while.) a pocket for a purple pink dusk fall over downtown. a pocket for milk, jammies and a car ride home.

i felt sad to say goodbye again. we passed the seven eleven and i remembered we'd forgotten to pick up our favorite local chocolate cake donuts this time around. we didn't even get to visit with best friends or cousins or have a lunch date or a shopping trip or a cup of chicken soup at the porcupine pub. never enough pockets for everything home has to offer. but i quickly turned my frown upside down. i am indeed lucky there are so many things to look forward to. am so happy there is always a next time. no complaints here.

on the m.writes list.
first off, do me a solid and go vote for me! just type marta in the comments. pretty please.
tonight, a big giveaway right here for those of you in the utah area.
thank you for all the comments, get well messages and workbook downloads!
random winners from my workshop week will be posted tomorrow night.
am in need of some good clean nonalcoholic las vegas to do's.
shockingly, making shamrock sugar cookies actually sounds fun. for a girl who has no patience for sugar cookie making, baking, frosting and sprinkling, i wonder if this urge will pass. only time will tell.
happy monday.

doctor's orders

benji is on the mend. thank goodness. the doctor told us to sit around and watch cartoons for a couple days. i am taking his orders very seriously. when the annual idaho public television pledge drive comes on and bores us into oblivion, we turn to sesamestreet.org for entertainment. these tunes have us bopping. is there anything better than furry monsters swaying in unison and singing with their mouths wide open?! i think not. posting will be postponed til next week. am putting all my efforts in this cartoon cure-all since there is a weekend roadtrip in the works.

will return with weekend snapshots, a giveaway, a blog hunt and more.

butterscotch blondies and a bit of postscript.

blondies are a favorite around here for a number of reasons. they have a cute name. dan loves 'em. whenever i am making an array of desserts, these are a good go-to for those non-chocolate lovers. they are quick and easy to whip up (no spoonfuls of dough to labor over or wide cookie sheets to scrub), and are a nice variation from the typical (yet ever beloved) chocolate chip cookie. and have you ever smelled butterscotch bits baking!?! mmm. mm.

Hershey's Butterscotch Blondies

3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
11-oz. pkg. Butterscotch Chips
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
2. Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large bowl until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in butterscotch chips and nuts, if desired. Spread out in prepared pan.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until top is golden brown and center is set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. About 36 bars.

a few tips: are you leveling your flour with a chopstick yet? i keep one in my flour container and stir the flour with it (instead of sifting it, like a good girl) and then use it to level off the scoops. genius. for absolutely easy cleanup, press a sheet of tinfoil inside your 9x13 pan and spray with pam. bake as directed. let cool in pan and pull out the bars & tinfoil, setting onto a cutting board and then cut into squares. voila! i have also baked this recipe in two 9" rounds and sliced them into adorable butterscotch pizza bars. enjoy.

p.s. am getting back into the groove of blogging like a regular person now that the workshop is over. after being on cloud nine with a thousand things to blog about and a million new emails to read, i can see i'm risking a bit of workshop postpartum. (and i realize i should've broken this up into two blog posts, but i'd prefer to stick it right here at the end, since it seems a bit like postscript.) thankfully reality has hit me over the head, so i have real life to think about instead.

i've officially added up all of my official tax stuff. the one time of the year that i turn into a left-brained person, which is good for me. running your own business means running your own business, so i am grateful for opportunities to glimpse into the areas where i succeed and where i struggle. and as a side note, i pay very little for advertising, as it turns out. all thanks to blogland. word of mouth is such a beautiful thing. speaking of which, i'll be sending out a paperfree love the earth e-newsletter to announce a few details for the shop, come springtime. contact me directly if you want in on my email list. i have sent the spring collection of mini diaries to the printshop, so it'll be sooner than later. oh and there are a couple more days to enter abby's giveaway. she is kindly featuring goodies from my shop. hooray.

today i am tidying the house and folding mounds of laundry and making spinach strawberry salad for a church party tonight. and most of all, giving a lot of love to my sick little one. yesterday i held benji and laid on the couch with him and watched curious george all day long. i missed his own little monkey ways. so sleepy, so sick. am praying he's back to my bouncing boy today.

sale at cotton idea studio

mindy from cotton idea studio sent me an email (psst.. a great way to get the word out) about their spring farewell sale going on now until the end of march. 50% off everything in their shoppe. happy trails to you!

a launch picture party

my darling photographer friend julia (we knew each other way back in high school and blogland reunited us!) has launched her new website today. woohoo. her pictures are so beautiful; they speak for themselves. a super sweet site.



i was lucky enough to design the new julia wade logo for her new booming business. julia has such pure happy energy and style, it was fun to tap my creative heels together. am thrilled with the way the logo suits her website just so. love to see two and two come together. happy new website and happy birthday to you too, julia.

go check it out, wish her a happy 28 and don't miss her incredible giveaway.

p.s. another happy birthday wish to my big sister heidi. xo.

five favorites

from the oscar 2010 red carpet
vera farmiga. anna kendrick. sandra bullock. mariska hargitay. demi moore.

lovely, lovely.
images via just jared.

the B&b workbook download

i am so happy to let you know that the design and layout of the workshop workbook has been finalized and is now ready for download! i've created this workbook for those of you who have shown interest in keeping a copy of this week's workshop in your personal files. i really hope it will be a wonderful reference guide to keep handy. i printed my own workbook as a two-sided document and three hole punched it for my official Blog & Business binder. having a hard copy means i get to keep the expert panel in my back pocket for anytime i need a jolt of motivation! the pdf. file is 49 pages of workshop goodness. i've included inspirational quotes, a list of more small business advice resources, printable worksheets and a few bonus articles by me. you'll find plenty of white space for jotting your own ideas and business dreams in the margins too.

the B&b workbook download is $15.00 and now available in the shop. the pdf. file will be available to download immediately after purchase. take a peek...





thank you again for all the rockstar support and feedback this week. i appreciate all of you who posted a button, tweet, shout out and/or link to my workshop. i loved seeing so many of you following along and it was lovely to meet some new friends too. i truly appreciate it. your enthusiasm was really awesome and contagious. am basking in the glow of all the workshop buzz. thank you. am catching up on emails and will choose a few random winners next week when my blog goes back to its regularly scheduled programming. recipes, lots of links and oscar dress reviews are on the horizon. i must admit, i bought a people magazine yesterday when i ran into the store for orange juice. after all this business talk, am in need of a break! as soon as i publish this final workshop post, i am kickin' back and enjoying a sunny saturday on the sofa with silly starstruck nonsense. cheers to you.

xo. marta

12 o'clock quote

follow your passion

since today is the final day of the workshop, i thought it might be nice to ask the expert panel their thoughts on following their hearts and venturing out fearlessly. obviously, in doing so, they've been noticed, rewarded and successful. perhaps we could learn a thing or two from their experiences. so i inquired. You understand that starting a small business is a lot of work, but comes with a lot of rewards, what might you say to someone who is afraid of following their passions and getting out there?

Start small. Keep your day job in the beginning. If you find you need more time at home to work on growing the business ask for one extra day off each month or a shorter day each week. Set realistic but inspiring goals for yourself and check in often to see if you are progressing.
- elise blaha | enjoy design


I'd say life is too short not to follow your passion. Start small - start by setting up some time to create your goods or prototypes and take photographs. Then start selling your goods on etsy.com, then go to a regional craft or market tradeshow, then approach some local retailers who might have an interest in carrying your products. Create some space in your schedule to "create" or work on your business. It might be for only an hour a day. But that's better than nothing.
- jenny | LobotoMe.com


starting a business is completely time consuming, but the rewards are fantastic. i never stopped to ponder or question what i was doing, i simply did it. making and selling my work was what i did and it wasn't an option NOT to be doing that! failure was not in my vocabulary. i also worked extremely hard and very long hours. i think when you are truly passionate about something, nothing can stop you from pursuing your goals. but the key is to really love what you do and do what you love. that makes the whole journey a pleasure and not a chore. almost everyday i think to myself how lucky i am to be doing what i love to do. i truly believe that when there is a will, there is a way. but that "will" has to be authentic and you can't be afraid of hard work.
- rae dunn


Love what you do and don’t give up, because it is a lot of work. My favorite quote is “success is the journey, not the destination.”
- karyn | den10studio


I took a real leap of faith in setting up my business recently and I still have concerns, but I believe in myself and I believe in my abilities. I feel I have something to offer that is unique and special and that is what has given me the drive to start my business. Be confident in you are and what you can offer and know in your heart that you can achieve whatever you put your mind to.
- melissa deakin photography


The world needs you and what you have to offer. Where would we be if Martha Stewart, Steve Jobs and countless others hadn't tried something new? You might have many failures first, but keep trying.
- brittany | one charming party


You miss 100% of the shots you never take. That's a quote by Wayne Gretzky, but it's also good advice.
- kal | love life

such wise words. a great big thank you to all the experts who gave their time and thoughtful answers for my little workshop this week. it wouldn't have been the same without you!!

a tour of my home office

welcome to my home! i am excited to show you around my art studio and craft closet. being a work-at-home / stay-at-home mama, i am lucky to claim a corner of our apartment and dub it as my office. since my workspace is out in the open (with no door to shut out the mess, cords and drawers full of supplies) it has been an interesting challenge as my little boy grows more mobile and curious.

i try to keep my computer desk free of clutter, with only the essentials on it. this way i can bring binders or books over and there is actually a spot for them to rest open. i like the good advice i read once about making a habit of clearing your desk off at the end of every work day to prepare for the next morning. more about my favorite desk essentials over on formspring. we got this desk at ikea and i am very happy with its size, sturdiness and overall look. the printer is on a little shelf underneath, which means benji can now work at a printshop, after exploring every nook and cranny. now, into the craft closet...


after reading Organizing For Your Brain Type, i realized (and am embracing the fact) that i am the type of person who loves having everything out in the open. i forget about it if it's tucked in a file or lost inside a deep dark drawer. (i just discovered some really cute christmas cards that i could've used had i remembered i had placed them in a special spot. oh well.)

since i cannot have things literally out in the open since we are in a small space and i live with a tiny blender, i had to reinvent my workspace. i utilized the closet bar by hanging clothing and shoe cubby shelves. they are lightweight and less expensive then fancy scrapbook shelves and the perfect fit for all my odds and ends. the materials i don't need often (bookbinding supplies, files for the archives, tax stuff, etc.) went into labeled boxes on the top shelf. i packed the everyday necessities into the cubicles and clear drawers for easy access. i also love my set of white drawers from ikea. the large drawers are wonderful for 12x12 scrapbook paper, maps and oversized artwork. i love the fact that they are on casters and can roll out easily if i need an extra table top space. i used white round stickers and a sharpie pen to create my labels, i plan on sticking another label over one if i need to revamp a drawer or two. take a look at the contents inside...

i love that every item has its own space. all the effort i put into giving each important item a spot will hopefully help me keep it that way. i've created a mailing center with various shipping boxes, a place for cellophane & glassine bags, a ribbon drawer (which still needs to be tamed), drawers for mini mart products, a cubby for gift tags and notecards, a place for my works in progress (notebooks, journals, albums, photo prints), and drawers devoted to patterned paper, printer paper, envelopes and scraps. pretty paper scraps can rule your life if you let them. am no longer a slave to scraps. i only keep the best scraps in a handy drawer (for re-use) and save the rest in a big box labeled craft box for times when little ones come over to craft.

i have a shelf of A2 and 4 Bar (my favorite sized) envelopes. a box of small gifts (soaps, books, candles, tea towels) sits on a shelf too. i love having a gift shelf inside my craft closet. something about it feels very legit and grown up. it is liberating to give yourself the time to purge your messy space and give it the complete makeover it deserves. my bulletin board is next. i must admit, the march issue of Oprah magazine was a great motivator in my clean-out project.

i also have a craft desk, in the other corner that is perfect for cutting, mailing, crafting, labeling, drawing and writing. it is my go-to space when i am writing a note card, tying ribbons on gifts, filling orders or when i feel like making something with paper.

i made two simple files to hang up. i cut a simple v-shape into large manilla envelopes. one holds my mailing labels and the other is for round sticker labels. i use these items constantly and was tired of opening up my binder to get to them. (yes, indeed you're learning about my lazy ways.) i prefer my craft station ready-to-go, it makes my creative process so much smoother. which means i can have more time to create new ideas and so on. having an organized workspace makes life efficient and enjoyable.

so enjoyable, in fact, others will want in on the fun too. after the episode of spying benji climbing on the table, i called my mom and asked her what happens when little boys turn two? or three? or four? she just laughed.

that about sums up my workspace. thank you for visiting! i've found that making a home office a nice place to be, in whatever way works best for you, will make your job much more pleasant. do you have favorite office supplies or organizing tips? when my studio is tidy, organized and ready, i love it. it's what i call going to my happy place.

see you tomorrow for the final day of our workshop. many of you have come up with great questions, so i'll try to continue our blog & business discussion in the coming weeks. have a great weekend. xo.