I am very excited to give this a try! I've always wanted to do it, and now I am going to! And I will take photos and blog about the whole experience. I subscribe to Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine. I have made several of her recipes and they have all been great. I just received the March issue last week and I really liked all the recipes that were listed in the weekly menu planner. So I am going to tear out the shopping list and buy everything I need for it this weekend and start the first meal on Sunday. Here is the list of meals I will make:
Sunday- baked buffalo chicken with blue cheese salad
Monday- chicken and orzo soup
Tuesday- beef and mushroom tacos with avocado salad
Wednesday- stewed white beans with spinach and bacon
Thursday- orzo risotto with spring greens
Friday- tilapia with bell peppers and parsley-spiked couscous
Saturday- peppers 'n' potatoes beef skillet supper
Yummy!! I will blog about each meal I make with photos included, and of course the recipe and our reviews of it.
Just as a disclaimer: I am not receiving any compensation from Everyday with Racheal Ray for doing this, I just simply wanted to do it for myself and share it with you all. :)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
We have a winner!!!!
The winner is Jamie Noiles! Who said: My summer color usually ends up being plums.Last year thats all I had really.This year I am going to try yellow.
Congratulations Jamie!! Send me an email with your mailing address. idaandmae@gmail.com
Congratulations Jamie!! Send me an email with your mailing address. idaandmae@gmail.com
Thursday, February 3, 2011
We reached 100 fans on FB! {Time for a giveaway!}
It was hard for me to decide which piece to giveaway. I usually do rings or earrings, but this time I decided to splurge a bit and giveaway a vintage recycled necklace! Yes, I am! This necklace is more of a choker length, it is 13 inches at the shortest setting, and 16 inches as the longest setting. The necklace is vintage costume jewelry and I added a rosette to it.
So here is how you can enter to win it! First, you MUST be a Facebook fan of Ida & Mae, so if you aren't yet, go ahead and "like" my page! Then come on back and enter to win. :)
Now that you are a Facebook fan, all you have to do is leave a comment answering this question: what color do you have the most of in your summer wardrobe?
One entry per person. I will draw a winner on Monday, February 7th. Have fun!
Me wearing the necklace at The Strawberry Patch fall barn sale.
So here is how you can enter to win it! First, you MUST be a Facebook fan of Ida & Mae, so if you aren't yet, go ahead and "like" my page! Then come on back and enter to win. :)
Now that you are a Facebook fan, all you have to do is leave a comment answering this question: what color do you have the most of in your summer wardrobe?
One entry per person. I will draw a winner on Monday, February 7th. Have fun!
Me wearing the necklace at The Strawberry Patch fall barn sale.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Come check out Frostings blog! {I'm doing a featured giveaway!}
If you like hand stamped jewelry, you will love Natasha's work! I've seen her at a couple craft shows here in Tennessee. I picked up her business card and found her blog and Facebook page. And today I am featured on her blog along with a giveaway! So come on over and check it out and be sure to enter to win!
One of Natasha's beautiful pieces.
One of Natasha's beautiful pieces.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Networking with the bloggers at Blissdom
Some of you are probably asking, what exactly is Blissdom? It is a conference just for bloggers! And it happens to take place at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, which is just a 30 minute drive from my house. I knew I would not be able to actually attend the conference this year, but I thought that if I could just go down there during the lunch break, I would have an opportunity to meet and network with some of the ladies whose blogs I follow. So my sweet friend Melissa offered to come with me to help with the kids so I could go. Thank you again Melissa, it meant a lot to me! :)
I was able to see all the women who I knew would be there, and then I met some new bloggers too! It was so much fun, I wish I could've hung out all afternoon and met more!
Lisa Leonard is on the left. I have been following her blog for a long time. She makes beautiful, one of a kind, hand stamped jewelry. She has a very successful business and blog, I always look forward to reading her new posts and seeing photos of her new jewelry pieces. I was super excited to meet her in person!
Maggie Whitley (aka Gussy) is on the right. This super sweet gal sews the most beautiful bags, totes, clutches, purses, etc. The ruffle is her trademark and it makes her stuff just super cute and so trendy! Her business grew so well, and so quickly, that she quit her full time job last year in order to do her online sewing business full time! That is awesome! She is such an inspiration, I always learn so much from her. I have emailed back and forth with her over the last year, so I was really excited to actually meet her in person. Not to mention the fact that we are both originally from West Michigan, so we have that in common as well. :)
Running into Donielle from Naturally Knocked Up was just a bonus! I didn't even know she was going to be there, I just recognized her face and stopped her immediately! What a treat to meet her in person. She is a Master Herbalist student and a natural mama, which is right up my alley. So I have enjoyed following her blog and learning a lot of great info. And while talking to her, I learned that she is also from West Michigan. Yeah for more Michiganders! :)
As we were on our way out of the hotel, we just happened to walk past Laurie from Tip Junkie. I was like "hey, I follow your blog!" LOL! I knew she was going to be there, I just wasn't sure if I would run into her. But sure enough, I did. What a blast! Her blog shares ALL kinds of tips. Everything from party ideas, craft ideas, holiday tips, DIY, decorating, etc.
A couple other gals I met that I do not have photos of but I need to mention are Allison from No Time For Flash Cards. She has great resources for teaching your preschool aged children, which I have, so I was excited to meet her!
I also met Ruth from Living Well Spending Less. I had to talk to her because she is as tall as me, and I just don't see many women who are that tall! :) So we chatted for a few minutes and exchanged business cards. A very sweet gal with a great blog about how to find style and luxury on a budget.
Please click on the links I've shared with you and come learn more about these neat ladies and their wonderful blogs and businesses! You will be glad you did! And maybe if everything works out I can attend Blissdom next January. I will see where the Lord leads me and my business in this next year.
I was able to see all the women who I knew would be there, and then I met some new bloggers too! It was so much fun, I wish I could've hung out all afternoon and met more!
Lisa Leonard is on the left. I have been following her blog for a long time. She makes beautiful, one of a kind, hand stamped jewelry. She has a very successful business and blog, I always look forward to reading her new posts and seeing photos of her new jewelry pieces. I was super excited to meet her in person!
Maggie Whitley (aka Gussy) is on the right. This super sweet gal sews the most beautiful bags, totes, clutches, purses, etc. The ruffle is her trademark and it makes her stuff just super cute and so trendy! Her business grew so well, and so quickly, that she quit her full time job last year in order to do her online sewing business full time! That is awesome! She is such an inspiration, I always learn so much from her. I have emailed back and forth with her over the last year, so I was really excited to actually meet her in person. Not to mention the fact that we are both originally from West Michigan, so we have that in common as well. :)
Running into Donielle from Naturally Knocked Up was just a bonus! I didn't even know she was going to be there, I just recognized her face and stopped her immediately! What a treat to meet her in person. She is a Master Herbalist student and a natural mama, which is right up my alley. So I have enjoyed following her blog and learning a lot of great info. And while talking to her, I learned that she is also from West Michigan. Yeah for more Michiganders! :)
As we were on our way out of the hotel, we just happened to walk past Laurie from Tip Junkie. I was like "hey, I follow your blog!" LOL! I knew she was going to be there, I just wasn't sure if I would run into her. But sure enough, I did. What a blast! Her blog shares ALL kinds of tips. Everything from party ideas, craft ideas, holiday tips, DIY, decorating, etc.
A couple other gals I met that I do not have photos of but I need to mention are Allison from No Time For Flash Cards. She has great resources for teaching your preschool aged children, which I have, so I was excited to meet her!
I also met Ruth from Living Well Spending Less. I had to talk to her because she is as tall as me, and I just don't see many women who are that tall! :) So we chatted for a few minutes and exchanged business cards. A very sweet gal with a great blog about how to find style and luxury on a budget.
Please click on the links I've shared with you and come learn more about these neat ladies and their wonderful blogs and businesses! You will be glad you did! And maybe if everything works out I can attend Blissdom next January. I will see where the Lord leads me and my business in this next year.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Christmas in January
When I went up to Michigan a few weeks ago for my grandma's funeral, my mom still had her Christmas decorations out. She goes all out when it comes to decorating the house for Christmas! It dawned on me that the last time we had been up there during the winter was 2002, so it was fun to see her Christmas decorations, and all the snow again! I took some photos of both her decorations and the snow, so I wanted to share them with you. I realize we are almost to Valentine's Day now, but its always fun to see how others decorate, it can give you some new ideas and inspiration. I hope you enjoy it!
The main Christmas tree in the living room.
I made the bell ornament when I was a kid. I loved looking at all her old ornaments! Some were vintage ones my grandma Ida had.
On top of the hutch in the dining room. She likes snowmen. So do I. :)
The front of the vintage photo holder from the photo of my mom with Santa when she was little.
Her snowman tree in the dining room.
A craft she made way back in the 1980's, I remember it!
Cute idea for the centerpiece on the table.
Cute jars of goodies on the kitchen island.
One of the little vintage elves who hangs out in a room of the house. My brother and I used to fight over who got to put which elf where. LOL!
Lake effect snow in Michigan! Just beautiful to watch it fall.
The window box on the garage.
Wreath on the window. It looks so pretty with the icicles and falling snow!
Frozen on the rose bush.
So pretty!!
Just to show how deep it got even on the tree branches.
Also on the dining room hutch.
Her kitchen sink.
The downstairs half bath.
The rustic, outdoor sportsman tree in the family room.
Handmade stockings my mom's friend Linda made.
And of course more snowmen!
The main Christmas tree in the living room.
I made the bell ornament when I was a kid. I loved looking at all her old ornaments! Some were vintage ones my grandma Ida had.
On top of the hutch in the dining room. She likes snowmen. So do I. :)
The front of the vintage photo holder from the photo of my mom with Santa when she was little.
Her snowman tree in the dining room.
A craft she made way back in the 1980's, I remember it!
Cute idea for the centerpiece on the table.
Cute jars of goodies on the kitchen island.
One of the little vintage elves who hangs out in a room of the house. My brother and I used to fight over who got to put which elf where. LOL!
Lake effect snow in Michigan! Just beautiful to watch it fall.
The window box on the garage.
Wreath on the window. It looks so pretty with the icicles and falling snow!
Frozen on the rose bush.
So pretty!!
Just to show how deep it got even on the tree branches.
Also on the dining room hutch.
Her kitchen sink.
The downstairs half bath.
The rustic, outdoor sportsman tree in the family room.
Handmade stockings my mom's friend Linda made.
And of course more snowmen!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Grandma and the boys
I love this old photo! I had never seen it before until my dad emailed it to me last Fall. That is my grandma Evelyn Mae, and the boys from left to right are: my dad, my uncle Wayne, and my uncle Den. My two aunts weren't even born yet. No one knew where this was taken, but I think its just the sweetest picture. I love seeing the shed, fence, and trailer in the background, the patio furniture, and I love the boys shoes! I wonder who or what they are looking at? I wonder what they were just doing, or about to do? It is so fun to look back at the old black and white photos that give us a small glimpse into another era of days gone by.
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