how-to make quick & easy homemade breakfasts

HOW-TO MAKE QUICK & EASY HOMEMADE BREAKFASTS
by Melanie of Mel & Boys

I am probably a bit old fashioned in that I love to feed my family homemade breakfasts. It makes me feel happy to provide them with home cooked goodness before I send them off into the world. I hope that starting their day this way helps them feel loved and cherished. That is my goal, but with 5 boys and busy schedules mornings are hectic and finding time for a good breakfast can be tricky.

Over the years, I have found "shortcuts" and "do aheads" so I can still provide a nutritious and delicious meal every morning without too much work or mess on our early and busy week day mornings. Here are some of our favorites:



• Hearty Oatmeal Pancake Mix: Using this homemade mix, I can have warm and healthy pancakes in minutes. You simply mix one cup of mix, with one cup of milk and an egg. By the time the pan or griddle is hot the batter is ready.

• Fabulous Granola
I have two recipes that I love to make and keep on hand for my family. Both granolas are great with milk, sprinkled on yogurt, or even scooped into a baggie for those mornings that you got up late and need to take something on the run. Favorite Granola / Coconut & Cashew Granola

• Freezer Biscuits
I like to keep a gallon size freezer bag full of these frozen biscuits. They go from the freezer straight into the oven. So you can have fresh, warm biscuits in minutes. I like to serve them with butter and jam or make a breakfast sandwich with eggs and bacon. ( FYI you can get the precooked bacon strips that just require a few seconds of heating in the microwave.)

• Wholegrain Muffins
Most muffins freeze beautifully and can be thawed at room temperature overnight or quickly reheated in the morning using your microwave. Here are a couple of our favorites:
Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins / Sweet Potato (or Pumpkin) Muffins

I have found that the secret to a homemade breakfast on crazy weekday mornings is planning ahead. I hope these ideas work for you as well as they have for us. I want you to know, that although my goal is homemade, my boys get (and enjoy) plenty of bowls filled with plain old cold cereal too! What really matters is the love that it is served with! Here is to a happy new school year with stress free and yummy mornings!

Thanks Marta for having me over on your delightful blog!

the how-to series is here to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills you have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

postage parade: comic strip stamps

am very much enamored with these sunday funnies postage stamps. they remind me of my childhood and were the perfect thing to affix to benji's birthday thank you notes.

p.s. speaking of mail, the cutest thing arrived today. a two dollar bill in honor of mr. two year old himself. thanks for being so thoughtful, ellen p. really, it brightened our day. can't wait to pass on such a clever gift idea.

how-to make piano lessons successful with children

HOW-TO MAKE PIANO LESSONS SUCCESSFUL WITH CHILDREN
by Lesa from Notes About Music Notes

The piano has been a part of my life for over 35 years. As a teacher, I am consistent and try to make it fun. When I taught lessons, I learned a lot about kids (and their parents). Here are my best kept piano secrets...



1. The best age to start a child, in my book, is age 7-8. They are learning to read, they still think learning is fun, and they still think piano teachers are cool. They have a capable attention span and they love piano keys.

2. As a parent, be involved.

3. As a parent, be involved.

4. As a parent, be involved.

5. My best advice to a parent is to "house" the piano in the room closest to where the Mom is. Kids want to be by the mom. If she is in the kitchen and the piano is close by, kids will practice more.

6. Learn with them. What a great chance to get a two-for-one. Go to the lesson with your child. Don't let the teacher catch you watching and learning. Then when your child goes home to practice, practice the same things after them. What a great chance for an adult to learn if they have never had piano lessons.

7. Sit with them while they practice. It is hard to do but it will increase the chances of your child loving the piano.

8. Award them. Even if the piano teacher has some kind of of reward system in place, make up your own reward system at home. Then award them and let your other children see the award system in place.

9. Go to as many lessons as you are able to if it works into your schedule.

10. Talk to them about piano things. If you see someone playing the piano in church or at a concert -- talk to your child about the person playing the piano. Dialogue: "Look at that child playing the piano!" "I bet they practice everyday!" Something like that. In other words, point out piano players.

11. Take your child with you to the music store when you buy piano music. Have them see you talk to the employee at the music store. Communicate to the employee what your piano book needs are. Don't just walk into the music store and try to figure out your piano book needs on your own.

12. When you go to the music store, be prepared to spend money. Don't show your concern about the cost of piano books to your child. They will pick up on it, and it will affect their desire to play the piano. (Side note: I have found some of my favorite, best piano books at the Deseret Industries and most of them were only $1.00!)

13. Even if your piano teacher holds a recital, have a home recital. Make it a big deal. Plan in advance, a home recital. Make an invitation and invite Grandpa and Grandma. Have the student dress up. Set up chairs around the piano. Have treats after.

14. Before your home recital or regular piano recital - have your child practice introducing their piano songs. Dialogue: "Hi my name is Stephanie and I'll be playing Come, Come Ye Saints and Mozart 13th symphony. Then when they go to their real piano recital (and if the teacher has them announce) they won't be thrown off by announcing themselves.

15. If you don't have your child take lessons because you don't have a piano, check with music stores. Some of them have great rental plans to rent a piano monthly.

16. If you are playing the tug-a-war game with your child about practicing, tell them that if they will practice then you will do something that you don't like doing. Dialogue: "If you practice the piano, I will clean out the hall closet that I've been meaning to do for 3 months." They won't really get much benefit from the hall closet being cleaned, but they will learn that parents have to do things they don't want to do either. Then when the practicing is done and your hall closet is clean, go out for a DQ ice cream dilly bar.

Do you have any good tips on teaching your children to play a musical instrument?

image via flickr.

the how-to series was created to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills we each have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

stream of consciousness + the smoky eye.

this is me and my version of the sunday smoky eye. i know, it doesn't look all that smoldering, but i'm a laid back kind of girl and rarely like my lower lash line lined, even though my mom always says i look ravishing with it. but moms are supposed to say that. anyway, it is a little like red lipstick. good for once in awhile but not really me. anonymous asked me a formspring question about my favorite makeup shades, please head over there for answers or to ask me something new.

so the day is done. i would bottle this moment up if i could. it's sunday evening and september feels like it is sweeping august under the rug with a light breeze through my windows. the house is clean (yay), the light is fading, the lamps are lit and the dishes are done (thank heavens). the boy is bathed and tucked in and chatting to his stuffed animals. i savor the nighttime. i have a bit of time to relax and read and catch up and plan and conquer.

i'm not always so serene or steady. the other day i emailed my penpal, practically in a frenzy, telling her that i was on the edge of feeling overwhelmed. i can deal with a lot on my plate, but when i get feeling bogged down, i blame it entirely on the state of my house. which is why, saturday afternoon when there was a burst of rain and lightening and plans to go to the splashy park were down the drain, i started moving furniture and rearranging my entire front room. which is the bulk of our living space. it became one of those projects that mid-way through you wonder if you'll survive it. but we did and i'm seriously all the happier about it. i credit the new martha stewart living issue for my motivation. i revamped the living space (still need something smashing for the walls) and consolidated my office and craft space (still need to update my bulletin board, i still have 2009 resolutions pinned up). only the art supply necessities are out for show and everything else is tucked into my craft closet. it feels ready for back-to-school. am ready to launch into the new season. hope you are too.

how-to put a little country in your life

HOW-TO PUT A LITTLE COUNTRY IN YOUR LIFE
by Eileen of Engineering Eileen

Hello, Marta & friends! I am very excited to have this opportunity to guest post here in Marta’s blog home, which has long been a favorite of mine. Thank you, Marta, for this chance to put my words into the world. I love many things about Marta’s blog, including the details she shares about the adventures she takes with her family into the lands of Idaho. It is great to live vicariously through her adventures, especially since I am living city life these days. This has inspired my post, where I will share a few ways to infuse the country lifestyle spirit into your own world.

I both grew up in the country, complete with a cornfield behind my backyard. It was quiet around my house; summer nights meant dots of fireflies and a symphony of crickets. My husband also grew up in a small, fairly rural town. Now, though, we both live in a big city. Instead of crickets, nights are punctuated with car horns and sirens. While we love Chicago, city life can be grating when immersed on a daily basis. Here's a list of ways to bring a little bit of country livin' into your daily world, even if your home is a condo amidst the city high rises.



• Slow down. I find it easy to get caught up in the city pace, making my way as quickly as possible through the streets and getting annoyed if a group of slow tourists gets in my way. However, the slow pace of country life is much more peaceful than constant frantic rushing. Allow yourself some extra time and mosey along the streets, taking in the sights.

• Seek the road less traveled. If throngs of tourists are still hampering your mood, try another route. I have found that sometimes taking a street just one block over from a crowded area can mean many fewer people ~ which makes it more enjoyable to mosey along at a country pace.

• Be active. Especially outdoors. Chicago is a great city filled with parks. Running and biking along the lake help me feel balanced; sometimes I even forget that the city is looming behind me.

• Grow things. We have an herb garden that can sit on a windowsill in our condo. Smaller than the cornfield of my childhood, but it is so nice to pick off fresh herbs to cook with ~ saves money and adds some green to our days.

• Go to the library. I love escaping into books, and I always have something to read during my daily commute. Recent reads include The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty, set in rural Kansas, and The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch, set in small town of Washington state. I found myself immersed back into country life while reading these books.

• Find the farmers. Farmers markets are popular these days, and an easy to inject a dose of good ol' country life smack in the middle of the city. There is one weekly market outside the modern art museum near my workplace. Stands of fresh produce, ripe for the picking (well, purchasing), right there on the sidewalk!

• Eat country-style. Out of doors is optimal; my husband and I are known for grilling and eating dinner on our tiny deck, though we never see our neighbors doing this. I say, they are missing out. Nothing like grilling out and enjoying dinner with a fresh breeze to take us back to our roots. If you don't have a balcony or deck to do this, you could find a restaurant with outdoor seating ~ rooftop ones are nice because you are removed from the traffic below. Or, if in a pinch, make some sm'ores by (carefully) roasting marshmallows over the stove top! Delicious nostalgia of simpler times.

• Plan an escape. For the ultimate way to restore country living to your city lifestyle, pack your bags and head out of the city for a weekend. We bought ourselves a tent for our anniversary. After a bit of research, we were surprised to find that quiet campsites exist just a few hours’ drive out of the city. We just took our first weekend adventure, driving through cornfields to a state park where we hiked and camped out, lulled to sleep by the sweet
chirping of crickets.

idaho country image via marta.

the how-to series is here to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills you have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

how-to decorate on a budget

HOW-TO DECORATE ON A BUDGET
by Faith Towers from Design Fixation



1. Paint is your best friend. Do you have an outdated piece of furniture with an ugly finish? Paint it! Are boring clear vases cluttering your cupboards? Paint the insides for a look similar to enamel. Need a colorful centerpiece? Buy a package of walnuts in their shells and paint them a bright color… put them in a pretty bowl, and voila – an imaginative centerpiece for your coffee table.

2. Shop in the patio department. Outdoor furniture is often less expensive than regular living room furniture – and also more durable. Coffee tables, end tables and even rugs can be good items to find in the patio section. See the photo of my living room for a couple of examples.

3. Visit discount stores. The key to visiting a discount store is patience. No, you won’t find exactly what you’re looking for immediately, but with a bit of persistence you’re bound to find something that fits the bill eventually. Can’t bear to go discount shopping? Try looking for coupons online before you go shopping. You’d be surprised at how many coupons are available! Check out the image of my kitchen to see a great light fixture I got from a discount store.

4. Use wallpaper, fabric and carpet remnants. Paste the end of a roll of wallpaper to the back of an open cabinet for some added interest. Make a throw pillow from a piece of leftover fabric. Use a small piece of carpeting as a front door mat. And don’t forget about tip #1; you could even try painting a pattern on it if it’s a low pile carpet!

5. Use things for unexpected purposes. Use a couple of wine crates to form a small shelving unit. Use a rock as a doorstop. Re-purpose a coffee can into a utensil holder. Put extra toilet paper rolls into a tall vase. Use a flower frog to display a couple of vintage photos. Pieces of driftwood assembled in a clear vase make an appealing centerpiece.

6. Tap your own creative resources. You don’t have to be an artist for this one; if you can get your hands on a Polaroid camera, create a photo wall using a collection of Polaroid images. Create abstract art using a worn piece of wood – try splattering the wood with a couple of different paint colors, or overlap straight brush strokes of varying shades of one color. Use decoupage to spruce up a dull serving piece or vase. Or try your hand at paper folding; make a wreath out of paper flowers.

7. Add some life to the room. Cut flowers or branches from your yard for an inexpensive decorative element. Find a friend who has houseplants and ask if you can take a cutting; put it in water until if forms roots, then plant it in a pot from the discount store you visited!




images via Faith Towers

the how-to series is here to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills you have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

how-to make vintage post earrings

HOW-TO MAKE VINTAGE POST EARRINGS
by kristi of a life through the lens

A friend of mine introduced me to the most adorable pair of vintage earrings that are so very easy and inexpensive to make. I'll show you how...



You'll need:
• Rose or decorative buttons with hooks on the back (about $1 at the craft store)
• Button shank/hook remover (about $5 at the craft store)
• Glue gun
• Earring posts and back (about $1 for a pack of 16 at the craft store)
• Spray paint or acrylic paint if you want to change the color of your buttons

Here is what the buttons look like with the hooks...


Get your button hook remover as close to the base of the hook as possible for a flatter surface.


This is what the buttons will look like with the hooks removed...


Use your glue gun to glue the post to the back of the earrings. 
The buttons with the earring posts glued on...


The final result...beautiful, vintage, simple and classic all in one,


I think these would make fabulous gifts...don't you?

the how-to series was created to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills we each have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

how-to be a tourist in your own town

HOW-TO BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN
by elise joy blaha 

I've noticed that when I visit a new city I look at it differently - through my view finder. For some reason while on vacation I have no problem holding my camera unabashedly and wandering aimlessly. I also have no problem stopping to take the same photo with a film camera and my polaroid in addition to the shot I just captured with my digital point and shoot.

As a result, I have a great collection of photos, textures, signs, people and places from around the country and globe.

However, what I think is just as important, if not more, is capturing the here and now. Where I live. What my town and location looks like. Right now the "what you do" and "where you are" seems obvious and unimportant. But someday all those details will be easy to forget.



Celebrate your city. Below are my tips for becoming a tourist in your own town.

01. Pick a day (or an hour) to wander your city, neighborhood or town on foot. The slower you go, the more you'll see.

02. Carry your camera. Not in your purse or backpack, but in your hand. If it's out, you'll use it.

03. Get over the embarrassment that the mailman or someone you know will see you taking photos. They probably will. Just smile and keep going.

04. Look up. Look down. So often in our own cities we are focused on looking straight in front of us. At the road, at the mailbox, at the front door. Take time to see more.

05. Look up your own city (or zip code) online with yelp! or google maps and get suggestions for a new ice cream shop or place to grab a coffee.

06. Think about where you would take out of town guests. Into the downtown area? On a hike? To a park? Consider visiting those places on your own.

07. If you can find them, grab a postcard or two. Mail them to family and friends who live out of state (or next door).

My husband and I recently moved to a new town and have been taking lots of tourist walks in our new location. I'm taking my camera out of the house as often as possible and have been compiling a little photo diary of where we live. We're military so many, many moves are in our future. I'm happy we'll have a "tourist's view" of the places we've lived.

Have fun! Enjoy your adventures.

the how-to series was created to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills we each have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

cookies for a good cause & then some.

• first and foremost, my darling friend, kimberly is volunteering for a wonderful cause. if you're an idaho local, be sure to head over to the bake sale this weekend.  it amazes me that 100% of your donation goes straight to pediatric cancer. (plus, you'll have a chance to purchase my mint layer brownies!!)

Cookies For Kids a fundraiser for children with cancer
at the Ammon Farmers Market
Saturday, August 28th
10 until 2 o'clock

not from around here? feel free to donate online or organize a bake sale in your own neighborhood. find more details here, Cookies for Kids.

• thank you for all the happy birthday wishes for benji. we had a wonderful day together. i'll share a few photos from his little party on the playground in a few weeks. you'll never guess what the kids' favorite activity was, besides the mini bubble machine which was on clearance at target. i love a successful and cheap impulse buy! details to come.

• there are a few more very creative, crafty and perfect back-to-school how-to's in the works to wrap up the month of august. you'll love the one about preparing homemade hot breakfasts for your kids (or husbands or selves) before school every morning.

• i only have a handful of mini diaries left in the shop. snatch one up if you've been procrastinating. thank you for supporting the handmade movement, i continue to enjoy packaging them up and sending them off. i love seeing where in the world you are. most recent orders: oklahoma, massachusetts, ireland, georgia, united kingdom, california, estonia, montana and utah. woohoo.

• another fun thing. i was happy to lend a favorite piece of mama advice to dee dee. check out her one question interviews right here.

happy thursday + happy project runway night.

today you are two.

hello birthday boy,
today you turn two and we are celebrating.

the days have tumbled together and suddenly you are two years old. i saw it coming, but i can barely believe it. i am gladder than glad i've been jotting details down as we have gotten to know each other. for it was two years ago today that the love affair officially began. love at first sight.

twenty-four months does not seem like enough time for a tiny newborn bundle to learn to know his mother's voice, to stretch his toes and fists while yawning and learn to sleep and eat and walk and talk. oh the places you'll go. to go from snoozing on my chest to riding on papa's back like a cowboy. the same blanket that swaddled you like a burrito is now a cape or a hiding spot for a wild game of peekaboo. you know actions to itsy bitsy spider and how to all fall down and how to jump and somersault and open closet doors to get out your own shoes and socks. (i hope i never tire of matching socks with tiny helicopters on them.) as a mama, i marvel at the little lessons a baby learns, stacking knowledge like blocks. until one day your baby has outgrown being a baby. just typing that last sentence, a lump is swelling in my throat.

i want to remember the way you are as this little person in my life. the way you hug real tight. how you blow kisses from your crib. the way you lie down on your stomach to see the wheels go round and round while pushing your cars on the carpet. how you jump on my bed and take the batteries out of my alarm clock. and then you hand the parts to me because you know i don't want them to get lost or go in your mouth. and then i rhyme. can you say clock? and you attempt the word. can you knock knock on the clock? which you do. and where is your sock? and you point to your toes. i want to remember how you help me with daily chores. how fast your hair grows. how you like to go two-fisted, grasping a car in each hand and then trying to turn pages or do other daily functions with these cars attached to the palms of your hands. i want to remember how you love sitting on the bathroom counter while i get ready for the day. the way you pop a cookie into your mouth. the way you pick out all the marshmallows of your lucky charms. i love when you woosh down the slide at the park and then brush your hands together to clean them off. how you turn away, suddenly bashful when strangers smile, and coyly stare back at them from the corner of your eye. i love that you sleep with an entourage each night.

you are getting so big. however i refuse to be sad about letting you grow up. you were meant to grow and more importantly, i am grateful you are growing. i do not want to take for granted your good health and happiness and general sunshiney-ness. we are blessed by your presence day in and day out. i have plans to cherish each day of you so i never have to wistfully wish for you to be a baby again. i love you. grow, my little one, big and tall and strong.

happy birthday, benji.

thank you, a winner & a favorite recipe

• thank you for the wonderful feedback and good advice about my blog. you are such cheerleaders, i love it. you make me feel like my writing is worth reading, which is exactly the motivation i need to head back to the books. merci. i will be putting the pen to the page (or more likely, fingers on the keyboard) more often for the stream of consciousness form of expression i love most. so glad you guys like it too. i'm saving your ideas for days of writer's block, so keep them coming.

• the random winners have been selected. congratulations to krissa, katie and caitlin. please email me your shipping address for a goodie package from my craft closet.

• today i am excited to share one of my favorite newlywed recipes over on giverslog.com. amber was sweet enough to inquire about a dish i made when i was fresh out of the nest. this beloved recipe came to mind because it tastes good, it is simple and inexpensive to make, my husband still loves it and it can be easily dolled up with lemony asparagus, homemade biscuits and garlic mashed potatoes for a supper party.

photograph spring of 2001.
me and dan hiking in park city, utah.

how-to write courageously

HOW-TO WRITE COURAGEOUSLY
by Marisa from All Things New

Writing is my favorite method of self-discovery.
Here are a few thoughts to help you find your way.



Write for yourself first.
Are you self-conscious? I am. About a lot of things (among them: my post-pregnancy body, my high-pitched voice, my penchant for really unnecessary hip-hop music). I used to think that a bit of self-consciousness was fairly harmless, but now I realize – it’s a dangerous, paralyzing form of narcissism. It causes us to look with disdain on our flawed humanity and chase after an idealized image of perfection.

Self-consciousness impedes our ability to write boldly. We fear that we’ll be judged, mocked, or questioned, that we won’t say the “right” thing or that no one will understand.

Spend some time writing in a journal, or anywhere where no one will read what you write. Practice finding what satisfies you as a writer so that when you do write for the world, their feedback will merely be a validation of what you already know.

You have to respect your own thoughts and expressions before anyone ever will.

Stop reading other people’s writing.
Take a break from blogs and books.

Most of the writers I know are also voracious readers. It’s so important to be inspired by those who have gone before. But there is a point where you need to stop consuming in order to begin creating. The infinite swirl of words around you will simply overwhelm, not motivate.
How can you write in your own unique voice if you have to strain to hear it?

Expect it to be hard.
You know the stereotypical image of the tormented novelist, bleary-eyed and disheveled, alone at his typewriter, with a mountain of crumpled pieces of paper at his feet?

Good news! It probably won’t be exactly like that… no one uses a typewriter anymore.

To write courageously, you need to be bold yet vulnerable, liberated but intensely aware. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that that kind of writing probably won’t happen during the commercials breaks of The Bachelorette (trust me, I’ve tried).

Resist the urge to skim the surface of your life. Search for substance, even if it only results in a paragraph or a few sentences.

Aim for the shape of things.
My dad is a gifted artist who can convey moods and feelings with simple brushstrokes. Here’s an important thing I learned from his art:

It doesn’t have to be literal in order to be true.

Sometimes we think that writing courageously means we have to let it all hang out, exposing every flaw and wrinkle in graphic detail. Not so. There are things that should be shrouded, and they are better that way.

When I began writing my son’s birth story, the first draft was four pages long and brimming with every detail I could muster. But it didn’t feel right, and when I stepped back from it, I realized that while I had literally told a story, I hadn’t actually said much at all.

Remember that your life is more than a series of actions and motions. Blur the edges. Sketch the mood. Use emotion instead of fact.

Aim for the shape of things, and you may end up with something more true than you originally imagined.

Remember: You are not unique.
I can share openly because I know you can relate. You’ve been there – the fights and disappointments, the proud moments and overwhelming joys.

The beauty of writing is that it makes it easier to find like-minded souls and kindred spirits. Have you ever had the experience of reading a line in a book and then smiling because the author articulated something that you’ve always felt but never knew how to say? It’s a comforting feeling to know that you are not alone.

Except, you really are.
If everyone’s souls were made of the exact same stuff, then humans would have run out of things to say ages ago.

Live authentically. Value sincerity. Believe that you have something wholly new to offer to the world.

These are small acts of great courage. Focus on these things first, and the courageous writing will take care of itself.

image via sadie harris.

the how-to series is here to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills you have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

martawrites is the name of the game.

a few readers have kindly mentioned that they have been missing my real voice. as if i've been shoved under the paperwork here on martawrites. perhaps you too have wondered where my brave and gutsy writing has gone. remember my write club workshop wherein i was full of inspiring ideas? where did that girl go? truth be told, the how-to series was my clever way of enjoying a bit of a summer break while still maintaining an active blog. merci, guest bloggers!

in september i plan to get back to my roots of creative writing. taking this blog back to school, back to the dear diary stories. i'll be celebrating four years of blogging afterall. (have i earned my pink caddilac with vanity plates yet?) i appreciate (and still can't believe) there is an audience reading my thoughts each day. no matter how big or small, an audience is a writer's dream come true. therefore, i'd love to have your input on what i should blog about. i need a jumping off point. i'm coming to you for a push in the right direction, to get me back into writing again. listed below are a few ideas rattling around. and as always, i'm open to new suggestions. let the voting begin. please do tell, what would you like to see here on martawrites?

my so-called life: memories from my growing years with a side of vintage 80s photographs.
dear diary: the recent and on-going goings-on of my every day musings.
lessons learned: wherein i tell you what high school, college, marriage and more has taught me.
research analyst: posts about all the cool crap i find online (yet rarely purchase in real life).
stream of consciousness: a random sampler of thoughts spilling freely.
tutorials, designs, printables & giveaways: more posts featuring freebies for you.
reviews & favorites: reviews about stuff i really use and really like.
workshop: another workshop full of daily prompts, classes & more. topic ideas?

p.s. speaking of writing from the heart, tune in tomorrow for a perfect how-to about writing courageously. i'll be taking notes.

image via fffound.com

a very happy balloon wreath.

this is the cutest birthday wreath i've ever seen.
i just love the idea of pulling it out for special occasions.
do tell, what is your favorite family tradition on birthdays?

image and tutorial via howdoesshe.com 

an update of my life, lately. hope you're having a lovely weekend. we have in-laws in town for the big bike race today. which means i have a stocked fridge and the fluffy guest towels are out. we're baking a birthday cake (chocolate sour cream cake to be precise) and generally enjoying the sounds of summer. with all the pencils and crayons out on display, i am getting excited for the back-to-school season. tune in monday, i need your advice on how to amp up my writing skills.

how-to make really good curry

HOW-TO MAKE REALLY GOOD CURRY
by chloe from chloe colette

After many years of watching my Great Aunt, Ya-Ya (nanny), and Mother cook Asian food, I knew that one I day I would have to step up to the plate. (No pun intended). Coming from an interesting heritage of Chinese, Filipino, Spanish and Portuguese decent the foods at my home were really diverse and exciting. There are many who might think that Asian cooking is a mysterious and difficult thing to decipher, but with time and patience you can do it! Thankfully, I married a man who adores Chinese food almost as much as I do (maybe even a tad bit more). His favorite easy Asian dish I make is curry. This is my all-time favorite curry adapted from a Williams-Sonoma recipe; no this wasn't a recipe that was handed down through generations, but I served this to my family and they loved it. Easy, fast, and tasty; three things that make a recipe a keeper!



CHLOE'S CHICKEN CURRY
This is my all-time favorite curry adapted from a Williams-Sonoma recipe. This is what people ask me to make for them when they come over to my place for dinner. From my kitchen to yours, enjoy! (Serves 4)

Ingredients
2 limes
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1.5 lb total weight)
salt and pepper freshly ground
peanut or canola oil
mixed vegetables (1/4 lb frozen or raw) – my favorite is sliced zucchini squash or green beans
1 1/2 Tbsp. Thai red curry paste
2 cups (16 fl oz) unsweetened coconut milk (Chaokoh is the best brand in my opinion and I like my curry soupy so if you want less curry sauce add only 1 cup coconut milk)
2/3 cup chicken broth
1 Tbsp. fish sauce
6 sliced Green (spring) onions
1/4 slivered Fresh basil (makes this dish even more sublime)

Steamed white rice (accompaniment to the curry)
*This curry is also delicious with flat bread or Chinese pancakes

Directions
1. Grate 1 teaspoon zest from the limes and squeeze 1/4 cup juice. Set aside. Cut the chicken into thin strips and season with salt and pepper. In a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add the chicken and cook, turning occasionally until golden, 4-5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon transfer to a plate. *If using raw veggies, add to the hot pan and cook stirring frequently just until tender crisp (depending on which veggies you are using)-about 2-3 minutes. Transfer to the plate with the chicken.

2. Prepare the amazing coconut sauce- stir the curry paste into the pan over medium-high heat. Stir in the coconut milk, broth, and fish sauce. Bring to a simmer and stir, scraping up the browned bits (adds great flavor) on the pan bottom. Stir in the reserved lime zest and juice.

3. Return the chicken and veggies to the pan (*if using frozen, add veggies now) and stir to combine with the sauce. Simmer until the chicken is opaque throughout and (if frozen) the veggies are cooked, 3-4 minutes. Stir in the green onions and basil. Spoon rice into bowls, top with curry, and serve. Eat!

Cookbooks I recommend for beginning Chinese cooking...

• Chinese Cuisine (Wei-Chuan's Cookbook)- my mom's go-to cookbook for Chinese foodie goodness
• Key to Chinese Cooking by Irene Kuo- the Chinese version of the Julia Child cookbook
• Ken Hom's Foolproof Chinese Cooking- Super easy recipes that are practical and tasty


the how-to series was created to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills we each have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

how-to get out of a rut

HOW-TO GET OUT OF A RUT
by Tori Rosin Szekeres from visforvictory.wordpress.com

Ruts are the ninjas of human experience. You’re living out your day-to-day duties when suddenly, you feel like you’re performing them while walking through quicksand. Life becomes boring. You feel like you’re sinking slowly into an abyss where you don’t exist anymore. I’ve been there before. Most likely, so have you. Here are a few tips I’ve used to get out of ruts in the past.



1. Do Not Panic: Chances are, this is not the first rut you’ve experienced. Just because you feel like you’re in a bad way right now doesn’t mean that it will be this way for the rest of your natural life. When I believed that I couldn’t change my life, I fell into a depression. If you think a rut is hard to escape from, try recovering from the blues. Depression is a much more vicious beast.

2. Trust Your Gut: Ask yourself how you could improve your life. Once you have the answer, what’s the next action you need to take? Maybe you’re working too many hours and need to cut back. Maybe a key relationship in your life is suffering and the two of you need to seek counseling. Maybe it’s a matter of getting more sleep. Maybe you need to remember your creative spirit. The possibilities are endless. Only you know what you can do to make your life better.

3. Say Yes: Opportunities to go beyond your comfort zone are all around you. All you have to do is say yes to them. For example: when I say yes to party invitations, which put this introvert on high alert, I never regret attending the event.

So if you don’t normally sing karaoke, ride roller coasters, play golf or accept dinner invitations, why don’t you start doing so? Sure, there’s an amount of risk involved with many activities, but there’s an equal amount of reward found within them.

4. Reach Out: To paraphrase English poet John Donne, no one is an island. Everyone needs assistance, be it a listening ear, a hand to hold or some work done around the house.

If you’re in a rut, you need to help others. Reach out to friends and family and listen to how they’re doing. Volunteer through your church, a social services agency or an organization tied to one of your interests. You’ll go to sleep at the end of the day knowing you helped someone else improve their life or feel secure in knowing you have advanced your knowledge in learning how to improve your own.

5. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others: Doing this in the past has poisoned my soul. It’s beyond easy to compare yourself to nearly anyone and fall short. When you’re in the process of getting out of a rut, examine everything so that you get the full picture. Sure, you may admire a certain blogger or author, but keep in mind the thousands of hours they put into their work to achieve their level of success.

Remember your strengths during this process; you have many of them! Keep in mind that you bring a lot to the world, and that while you may not be expert at Skill A, you can help someone with that skill with your knowledge in Skill C. Be kind to yourself and others and you’ll find that you’ll be much more productive.

6. The Only Way Out is Through: Ruts are unique to the people inside of them. I can’t promise that these tips are a cure-all for every rut. You have to actively work to make your life better and only you know what needs help. If you are working hard to help yourself and still feel like you’re stuck in the mud, your rut may be a case of depression. If you feel that you’re depressed, please go to your doctor or a therapist for further assistance. See you on the other side!

image via katie oak

the how-to series was created to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills we each have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

how-to make fruit leather roll-ups

HOW-TO MAKE FRUIT LEATHER IN PHOTOGRAPHS

by Sheena from In The Little Red House

Apricot Fruit Leather

4 cups of apricots, washed, pitted and sliced (you can use any fruit)
Squeeze of lemon juice
2-3 Tablespoons agave nectar (optional)

• Wash fruit. Pit, and quarter.
• Add apricots and lemon juice to pan.
• Cook on medium low until the juices start to come out, about 15-20 minutes.
• Puree in food processor or blender. Pour onto a parchment lined pan.
• Place in 150° oven for....all day. (I started in the afternoon and literally forgot about it...I woke up in the middle of the night in a panic, and when I checked them, they were perfect!)
• Slice and roll. Enjoy!

the how-to series was created to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills we each have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden 

how-to keep your roses blooming

HOW-TO KEEP YOUR ROSES BLOOMING
by Nikkala from thecraftingchicks.com

Towards the end of summer flowers start looking a little sad. Some simple deadheading can revive a tired planter and bring color back to a rose bush. The sole purpose of a plant is to produce seeds, so plants naturally pump all their energy into the flower, which will produce the seeds. By removing spent (dead) flowers, you signal to the plant that that flower is gone and it needs to send up a new one in order to produce seeds. Frequent dead heading will keep your flowers in constant bloom. A little snip will keep you smelling roses until snowfall!



To deadhead a rose:
Step 1: Find a spent flower to remove.
Step 2: Follow the stem from the flower down until you locate the leaf with 5 leaflets.
Step 3: Position clippers, near the area of this leaf, at a 45 degree angle.
Step 4: Clip!

rose garden image via parachutgirl

the how-to series was created to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills we each have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

tying up loose ends.

just wanted to check in to say i'm checking out for awhile. the planner is crammed full. like yours, i'm sure. squeezed tight with tiny writing of fun outings mingled with responsibilities; design deadlines, party plans, out of town visitors, a big bike race, a mini jaunt to the lake and then some. i'm excited to have a few arts + crafts projects under my belt. am wrapping up my latest project (i promise i'll do a big unveil in september) and am shipping off mini diaries left and right. thank you for your ongoing awesomeness + support.

the good news is, you won't even know i'm gone. i'll still be here in spirit, as the guest post how-to series will keep martawrites afloat. and please tune in next monday, i'll need your vote + ideas about something.

p.s. yes, i'm still interested in your how-to submissions. come autumn, i'll feature a guest post once a week, for as long as the creative ideas keep coming in. please email me your fall, winter and holiday how-to's. spots are filling fast.

p.p.s. off the topic, has anyone seen eat, pray, love yet? and what about inception? i'm dying to see a good flick in the theater and wonder which one we should splurge on.

hunting for huckleberries.

some friends invited us into the woods for huckleberry picking, a first for all of us. it is bound to become a new tradition. it was excellent company and a lot of fun, despite the downpour. we plan to crank out some ice cream with the berries that were not devoured on location. this week was busy and involved crossing plenty of summer to-do's off the list.

am making progress
fly kites in the field.
toss water balloons.
go to the zoo with buddies.
see a lightening storm.
take numerous trips to the post office.
bake whole wheat buttermilk bread.
share a coconut strawberry sno-cone.
deliver birthday party invitations.
photograph clouds out the window.
make grandma's caramel brownies.
find an awesome pair of earrings.
play at every park in the city.
see a drive-in movie.
plan one last campout.
eat tinfoil dinners.
go boating.
sit around campfire eating s'mores.
go huckleberry picking.
make huckleberry ice cream.

how-to thrift shop

HOW-TO THRIFT SHOP

by abby of talesandtrials.com  

Last year out of the blue I started shopping at thrift stores.  At first I felt a little out of place but soon I got over that and started to have some fun.  Often I come up empty handed but it's all worth it for that occasional trip when I come home with some amazing finds.  I love the thrill of thrift store shopping and also the fact that I often save our family some serious money too.  For example I have started finding some great name brand clothing for the boys in excellent condition at our local thrift stores for less than two or three dollars per item.  You can't beat that!

I am by no means a thrifting expert but I have learned a few things over time {often the hard way}. These tips can also come in handy for shopping at yard sales and antique stores too!!

::If you are looking for a particular item be patient.  I am the world's worst at being patient so I have to really try hard to enforce this one for myself.  Sometimes there is something particular I am searching for at thrift stores or yard sales. This past year I really wvanted a new lamp for our bedroom and a globe for the boys room.   I took me a while to find both but I did eventually find them. Several times I almost bought a lamp I kind of liked but I held out though and eventually found a lamp that I REALLY loved.  I brought it home and gave it a new look with some silver leaf.    

If you are looking for a specific piece of furniture for a space in your house it might be wise to know the exact dimensions of the piece you want.  You can measure it {if you keep a trusty tape measure in your purse or car} and know right then and there if it will work in your house before you load it up and take it home. 

::If you have extra storage space you might consider buying items you don't necessarily need now but will use down the line.  Sometimes I come across something at a thrift store that I don't need right at that exact moment but know that I could use in the near future{within a year or less}.  If the item is a good deal, on the small side, and easy for me to store then I will usually go ahead and buy it. 

A while back I found a set of four plate hangers for $1.51.  If you have ever bought these at your local craft store then you know that just one of these alone would cost more than what I paid for all four.  I would like to hang some plates and platters on one of our walls someday soon so I bought these plate hangers to save for that particular decorating project.

::Use your imagination!!  As you can probably imagine, you are going to run across a lot of outdated and ugly stuff at thrift stores.  Most of the time you may find something you like but maybe it's not the right color or finish.  Now everyone repeat after me, "Spray paint can transform ANYTHING!! "

When I first started thrifting it was hard to look beyond the ugliness and old school factor of everything in the store.  Then being inspired by thrift store makeovers on other blogs I slowly was able to use my imagination more and more to see the potential in thrift store "treasures".

::Don't buy an item just because it's inexpensive.  There have been many times that I kind of liked something at the thrift store so I went ahead and bought it because it didn't cost very much.  Most of the items that I did this with are now sitting in my closet untouched.  Make sure the items you buy are things you really like or that you can makeover easily.

::If you love something you come across and it won't break your budget then by all means buy it all ready!!  If you spot an item from an aisle away and your heart starts going pitter patter from the excitement of finding something amazing then snatch that item up and run directly to the cash register. 

This past spring I purchased two white milk glass planters.  I loved both of them right away but I sat there and debated about getting them because I wasn't sure they would go with my existing home decor.  Then I decided it was silly I was hemming and hawing over something that cost a dollar and that I really liked!  In the end I was able to find a spot for them in my kitchen and whenever I see them they make me smile.  I am so glad I didn't pass them up!

:: Ask for a discount and pay attention to the specials that your thrift stores have.  Our local Goodwill has a deal every week where a certain colored tag is 50% off all week long.  Of course every item I want has the wrong colored tag.  Another local thrift store always has yellow tags at 70% off, green tags at 50% off, c.  Also, don't be afraid to ask the cashier for a discount, especially if an item is slightly damaged. It never hurts to ask! {Definitely ALWAYS ask for a discount at antique stores!! They will usually give you one.}

Well there you have it.  Some simple things to remember and think about the next time you go thrifting or find yourself at a yard sale!  These tips weren't meant to overwhelm you so keep them in mind but don't stress over them.  Just have fun and of course enjoy the thrill the of the hunt!!

how-to buy or sell a home

HOW-TO BUY OR SELL A HOME
by susan of  persimmonandpink.com



I'm only a second time home buyer and at the moment quite content with our current property. However, I have a love of following the housing market as well as watching shows regarding selling and buying homes. Nerd that I am, I find the thrill of the sell and the hunt exciting! (Tell me I'm not alone?)

Here are a few tips I've taken while watching many episodes of house hunting and selling shows. They've helped change my perspective on updates and remodels we do on our own home, as well as looking at potential homes from a different perspective. Here they are:

BUYING & SELLING
• Buy the worst house on the best street to stretch your dollar and get into an area you desire.
• Make sure your renovations are new and fresh before putting your home on the market.
• Treat each house as an investment property and you as the tenant to look after it.
• Your investment property might not always be in the place you want to live forever.
• Buy close to a city center or close to where people work—there will always be a demand for housing.
• You must invest in renovations.
• Buy near an area you desire. Demand for that area will drive up prices in outlying neighborhoods.
• When selling your home know your competition. Follow the market in your area and know what similar houses are selling for. Be realistic when setting the price of your home. Better to attract many buyers with a competitive price and sell quickly than lose potential buyers and later have to lower the listing price anyway.
• Think 3-5 years ahead. Thats how long it takes for suburbs and trends to change.
• Shop in areas with potential, even if they are not already established.
• When buying a home, be prepared with a list of what you will and will not compromise on. Sometimes location will have to give, other times its house size/quality. Its almost impossible to get perfect location and the perfect house for your budget so know which one you are willing to compromise on.
• Take emotion out of it.

Aren't you fired up to sell and/or buy a house now?! Do you have any good tips to add?


the how-to series was created to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills we each have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me marta{at}martawrites{dot}com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden