:: armelle blog ::

love day sale ...

2012-01-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

just in time to get your loved ones a little something for valentine's day!

get 15% off your entire purchase in the armelle jewelry shop, now until feb 4th, just enter VALENTINE15 at checkout!

happy shopping!!

castelvetrano olives ...

2012-01-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

castelvetrano olives have quickly become a favorite of mine!

their mild and buttery flavor is amazing, and since they are not cured but rather brined in salt water, they are so fresh and delicious!

i love to eat them plain, or toss them with extra virgin olive oil (just to coat), a sprinkle of coarse sea salt, red pepper flakes, and chopped dried or fresh oregano. The combination is outta this world!

so, do you love castelvetrano olives? have you tried them?

learn more about them over on my zupas post today. click here.

{photo by me}

mediterranean couscous salad ...

2012-01-12T19:23:00.000-07:00

so, how are your new years resolutions to eat better coming along?

i am always trying to improve the way i eat. some days are better than others, but i do know that when i make an effort to eat well, my body is much happier!

here is a great recipe that you could make ahead, and have on hand for a healthy lunch!

i just love pearl couscous! if you haven't tried it, you really should give it a try.

click over to my zupas post today to learn more about pearl couscous! click here.

{Mediterranean Pearl Couscous Salad}

Serves 6

salad

1 1/2 cup pearl couscous (uncooked)
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup chickpeas, drained
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 cup cucumber, diced
1/4 cup red onion, diced
1/4 cup parsley, minced
1/2 cup kalamata olives, sliced in half
1/2 cup roasted red peppers, diced
1 cup artichoke hearts from a can, drained, chopped

greek vinaigrette

1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 shallot, minced
1 tbs fresh basil, minced
1 tsp fresh oregano, minced
2 tbs fresh lemon juice
1 tbs agave nectar
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
3/4 cup olive oil

whisk together all ingredients except for olive oil.

slowly whisk in 3/4 cup olive oil a little at a time.

In a medium saucepan, bring chicken broth to a boil. Add couscous, and stir. Lower heat to a simmer, cover and cook for another 10-15 minutes until couscous is tender. Remove from heat and spread couscous in a 9×13 inch pan to cool.

In a large bowl combine couscous and remaining ingredients with just enough vinaigrette to coat the couscous and vegetables.

Serve.

Enjoy!

looking back ...

2012-01-10T17:20:00.001-07:00

i like to look back at the last year, and do a little review of some fun posts i shared on this blog. i was surprised with a few things that i saw, because i feel like i hardly post anymore on this little old blog (having my third child last year made it hard to find free time!)

so here it is, a look back at 2011's best posts on the armelle blog!

i made a fun valentine's love banner!

i made a fun be mine box out of a cheerio box.

i attended alt summit 2011, and had a grand ol' time! (can't wait for alt 2012 next week, eek!)

i listed some fun new acorn charm necklaces in the shop.

i made a fun felt heart "love" door hanger to get myself in the valentine's day spirit.

my little ezra and i made some fun bubble valentine's for his pre-school class. (there is a free download for this, here)

we made some tasty valentine s'more pops for our friends and cousins.

we packaged up some more treats for friends, and made a free made with love tag download.

i made some tasty homemade granola.

i made plans for our dining room nook (still in the works!, but so close to being done! it's been a busy year)

we painted ezra's big boy bed gray! (see the before and after ikea malm bed, it's something!)

we painted two ikea rast small dressers, and added knobs for our nightstands. (instructions/DIY here)

we also put up a gallery wall of photos in our home. (can you tell i was nesting big time? my poor husband)

i recycled an old calendar, and made a new mini calendar for my desk.

i made a fun felt bunting gift bag.

and, probably the best thing to happen to us in 2011, was the arrival of kiddo number three, little thomas ralph!

i figured out that to make microwave popcorn, all you really need is a brown paper sack and popcorn kernels.

i discovered my favorite banana bread recipe!

i finally finished up some fun blankets for my little tommy. (ah, look how little he was?!)

i made some fun airplane "boarding pass" invitations for ezra's fourth birthday.

i put together some fun airplane party favors, complete with candy airplanes.

and, of course the actual airplane party! (it helped that my map obsessed self had so many maps to use for the party!)

we made all natural homemade popsicles.

i made a fun new wreath for the front door.

i made invitations for norah's red, white, and two birthday party!

i put together some red, white, and blue party favors.

and, of course we celebrated norah's second birthday, with a red, white and two party!

i made a blueberry peach crisp!

i put together a fun thanksgiving table for the lifestyle crafts be stuffed release.

i hosted my book club, and made a fun spread, complete with an italian soda bar.

we dressed up like pirates for halloween.

my addiction to green smoothies went on strong.

i made my favorite brussels sprout recipe.

i added some much needed new items to the shop, and had a huge black friday sale.

i organized my closets in my studio, and hung up some hooks for wrapping paper.

i was published in a cookbook for zupas!

and, we had sent out some christmas cards to help spread some holiday cheer!

all in all it was an amazing year!

i was worried that i wouldn't have anything to share in this round up of 2011. having three kids has really spread my time thin, and blogging has definitely been but on the back burner. but, looking back, i am glad i was able to share a few things with you last year!

i hope i will always have something fun to share with you on this blog of mine! i love to have a creative outlet, and mostly i love all the relationships i have made with all of you!

thanks for reading!! here's to another great year!

green beans ...

2012-01-05T19:33:00.003-07:00

i was lucky enough to grow up with a mother that cooked homemade meals everyday, and helped me to learn to eat healthy from a young age.

now, that i am a mom of three, i am trying to do the same with my children. and, well some days are better than others, but we do try. somewhere along the way, i have become my mother and i find myself being the one asking everyone to make sure they eat their vegetables at dinner time.

a current favorite vegetable at our house is green beans.

today, i am sharing a favorite recipe for green beans with toasted garlic, and pine nuts over on the zupas blog.

check it out here.

happy new year ...

2011-12-31T13:09:00.000-07:00

happy new years eve!!

i usually like to do a round-up of the best posts from this blog over the past year, but i haven't had the chance. hopefully, i'll get some time next week!

the holidays seemed to fly by this year, i spent most of my time earlier in the month working to get orders filled for the shop, and later in the month my husbands sweet grandma had an unexpected fall. we spend a lot of time at the hospital saying our goodbyes, and finally laid her to rest yesterday.

i anticipate our new year being filled with lots of family time, and greater appreciation for the great gift of life we all have been given!

happy new year to you all!

today, i am sharing a simple way to make sparking orange juice over on the zupas blog! a great new years eve drink, and also a fun way to add a little sparkle to your new year's brunch! click here to see how to make it!

{photo by me}

merry christmas ...

2011-12-23T19:56:00.000-07:00

a very merry christmas to you all from my family to yours!!!

this year i ordered our christmas cards through paper coterie! the quality was great, and i loved the scalloped detail on the edges!

here is the back.

i love this time of year! it is so fun to check your mail and find christmas cards from loved ones filled with holiday cheer!

have a merry christmas!

{family photos by the talented jessica kettle}

dark chocolate bark with hazelnuts and grey sea salt and a winner...

2011-12-22T19:28:00.001-07:00

i was in search of a quick and easy last minute treat, when i came across an interesting combination of a nut, sea salt and dark chocolate by my friend jane.

i decided to try mine with dark chocolate, hazelnuts, and grey sea salt. i had all of the ingredients on hand and it came together quick and easy!

a perfect last minute holiday treat with only three ingredients, and it literally takes minutes to prepare!

check out the instructions on how to make this yummy treat over on my zupas post today!

click here.

also, i drew a name for the winner of the zupas cookbook giveaway!!

it was comment #9 congrats to erica!

please email me your mailing address and i will get that sent off asap!! carolinearmelle@gmail.com

{photos by me}

free upgrade to priority shipping ...

2011-12-19T16:16:00.001-07:00

for the procrastinators...

happy (last minute) shopping!

*you must order by tuesday december 20th, by 5 pm mountain time to ensure delivery by december 24th!

click here to shop!

armelle jewelry ...

2011-12-16T18:59:00.001-07:00

just wanted to give you a heads up on holiday orders!

if you are planning on purchasing some armelle jewelry for someone for christmas, be sure to get your order in now to ensure delivery by christmas!

also, good news!

if you spend more than $30 in the shop, i will automatically upgrade your shipping to priority mail*! which should only take 2-3 days (within the united states between now and dec 23rd)

so, there is still time to snag a christmas gift for someone! and, good news! some items that have been sold out in the shop for a while are now back in stock! go check them out here!

happy shopping!

italian sausage, wild rice, and vegetable soup ...

2011-12-15T17:14:00.006-07:00

some great soups have come about in my kitchen simply by throwing a bit of everything i have on hand into the pot.

that is exactly what i did this week to create this amazing soup! i love it when it works out and i have a new go to soup to throw into the rotation. because we like soup at our house!

be sure to check out the recipe over on my zupas post today. click here.

{photo by me}

cafe zupas bloggers cookbook + giveaway ...

2011-12-14T17:25:00.000-07:00

things have been so busy around here, that i almost forgot to share with you some exciting news!

i have been published in a cookbook!

being a "foodie," and loving all things food, this has been a dream of mine, so it is very exciting!

if you have read my blog for a while now, you are well aware that i have been a contributor to the cafe zupas blog for the past three years or so, posting many recipes, and fun foodie facts!

the cafe zupas blogger's cookbook is a highlight of zupas favorite recipes from the blog by the contributors -- me, deborah, jen, and stephanie! with a forward written by kelsey nixon of the cooking channel!

there are about 54 recipes in the book, with about 20 of my recipes including my families amazing ham and gruyere dinner crepes that we have every christmas! many of the recipes are near and dear to my heart, recipes that my family cooks and eats together often, so this was very special for me to see my recipes and photos in such a nice high quality book!

if you are interested in ordering your copy for only $12.99, click here to order today! this would make a great gift for your fellow foodie! check out a little sneak peek into the book below.

Bloggers' Annual Cookbook from Cafe Zupas on Vimeo.

and, to one of my lucky readers, i am having a ....

cafe zupas blogger's cookbook giveaway!

to enter, leave a comment on this post by wednesday december 21st at midnight! (usa residents only please)

for extra entries, do one or all of the following: (be sure to comment for each additional entry)
1) follow/subscribe this blog.
2) click here, and like armelle jewelry on Facebook.
3) blog about this giveaway, and put the link in the comment.
4) post the link to this giveaway on your Facebook.

i will draw a name thursday december 22nd!

good luck!!!

enjoy!

lately ...

2011-12-09T18:11:00.002-07:00

wow! it is already almost mid-december, and soon it will be christmas!

it tends to be a busy work time for me, but we are trying to make the most of the holiday season!

this is what we've been up to lately...

1. having lots of fun with the newest addition to the family ... mac!
2. getting gussied up for church.
3. bowling at my nephews birthday party!
4. playing lots of blocks.
5. trimming the tree.
6. having a (non-alcoholic) girls night!
7. keeping fed ex and ups busy with online christmas shopping.
8. keeping up and packaging up orders for the shop.
9. playing games of paper plate and balloon ping pong.
10. packaging up handmade goodies to swap.

happy weekend!
what have you been up to lately?
any fun holiday plans?

persimmons ...

2011-12-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

i recently got a whole bunch of persimmons in my CSA basket.
i have seen this bright orange fruit around, but i had never tried one.

so, i did a little research, and found some fun recipes to try using persimmons. they are tasty plain, and amazing on your morning oatmeal!

read all about persimmons on my zupas post today. click here.

so, what about you? do you like persimmons? or are you like me and never tried them?

{photo by me}

my studio closet ...

2011-12-02T18:39:00.001-07:00

i have been trying to get organized in my little studio/office.

when we finished the room, we built lots of shelves in the closet to store all my junk. and, trust me, i have a lot of junk (there is a reason i'm only showing half of the closet, ha!)

i like the idea of putting things in clear labeled bins, so that i could see what i needed faster.

i love to use the inside of doors for organization whenever i can. so, i was thrilled to find this wrapping paper holder idea from bri of the collected blog.

i bought the wooden dowels from lowes, and had them cut them to the size i needed in the store.
the metal hooks are from lowes too. it took me forever to find them, like 4 trips to lowes.
there are in the hardware isle and are 3 1/2" metal hooks made by stanley national.

i just had the dowels cut to the width of the door, and then i screwed in the metal hooks about two inches in, so the dowels wouldn't slip off.

i love being able to hand my go to wrapping paper from it, i also hung my freezer paper, and i used hooks from ikea on the lower one to hang my rulers.
i added a magnetic strip from ikea to hold all my scissors and cutters. (high from my children's reach)
the wooden thread holder is from joanns. it has been nice to have all my thread in one place so that i don't always keep buying the same color because i can't find it.

the other closet door, i hung a hook set from ikea to keep my broom and my favorite go to brown kraft paper bags.

it feels good to get a few things organized around the studio. now, i just need to keep it clean... ya wish me luck with that.

{photos by me, caroline armelle drake}

last day for 20% off in the shop ...

2011-12-02T17:46:00.001-07:00

you have a few more hours to take advantage of 20% off your entire purchase in my shop!

happy shopping! knock someone off your list! click here to shop!

*be sure to enter BLACKFRIDAY in the coupon section at checkout! expires dec 2, 2011.

chili ...

2011-12-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

the weather outside is frightful, and i need something to warm my bones.

i love comfort foods, and chili is one of them! it is a welcomed meal on a cold winter night!

my friend danyelle of dandee shared a great recipe for chili with me! I played around with it a bit and i tweaked it to my taste, as i often do, and now i think i have finally found my go-to chili recipe! this has been on my to do list for years, so I'm glad I finally have a keeper!

i am sharing the recipe over on my zupas post today! click here.

{photo by me}

black friday sale in the shop ...

2011-11-25T09:19:00.000-07:00

i hope your thanksgiving went well!

as promised, here is a great black friday sale for all my readers!!

head on over to my armelle jewelry shop, and take 20% off your entire order now through friday december 2nd. be sure to enter code 'BLACKFRIDAY' at checkout!

this would be a great time to tackle your christmas list!

*also, be sure to 'like' armelle jewelry on facebook for the latest news on sales and new items!

happy thanksgiving ...

2011-11-24T11:41:00.002-07:00

i hope you are having a great thanksgiving with your loved ones.

i really have so much to be grateful for, and i am so thankful to celebrate this holiday. it is always good to take time out of our busy schedules to sit and remember how we really do have so much to be thankful for.

have a great one!

also, be sure to check out a few things, perhaps when you're in your turkey comas..

my girl susan is having an amazing black friday sale in her shop until november 30!!
she is offering 25% off everything in her freshly picked shop! i think it's time to stock up on the darling leather moccasins for the kiddos! (be sure to enter TURKEY at checkout)

danyelle is having a black friday sale in her shop dandee designs until Nov 30th. 20% off your order! (be sure to enter BLACKFRIDAY AT CHECKOUT)

and, here are a few other great sales from some great shops!
elsa bags save 20% through cyber monday. no code necessary.
annilygreen save 20% through dec. 4th. use code "BLACKFRIDAY20"

lifestyle crafts is offering 50% off of their popular nesting dies. if you were ever to buy die cuts, trust me, these are the ones you want. they are definitely the ones i use the most, and you can do a million different things with them! (be sure to enter ARMELLE at checkout!) the sale runs nov 25th-nov 28th!

also, be sure to check back here tomorrow, for a little black friday goodness from me!!

{top photo by me, see more here}

new pretties in the shop ...

2011-11-24T00:10:00.000-07:00

hello lovelies!

i am starting to add items i made for the bijou market to the armelle shop, so please be patient with me. i added a few of my necklaces for you tonight, and only hope to add more!

be sure to check back, there just might be a nice little sale in the works.

here's a few you can find in the armelle shop now!

find them all here!

egg nog french toast ...

2011-11-23T23:56:00.000-07:00

are you ready for thanksgiving?

i sure am ready for some of my favorite holiday foods!

i enjoy a little egg nog during the holidays, and now that we can officially start to welcome them in, i celebrated by making egg nog french toast. it was so yummy.

so, if you need a little something to get you out the door on black friday, well here it is.

check out my recipe on my zupas post this week. click here.

{photo by me}

green smoothie crazy ...

2011-11-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

i definitely have the green smoothie bug.

i am always thinking of new things to put in my smoothies. usually, it's just throw in whatever we have on hand. and, hope for the best...ha!

check out my favorite green smoothie right now, over on my zupas post this week.

click here.

{photo by me}

p.s. have you checked out the bijou market yet? great stuff, huh?!!

bijou market is this weekend ...

2011-11-17T23:13:00.000-07:00

are you going to be at the bijou market this weekend?

i'm really excited to check out all the amazing handmade goodness!!

be sure to stop by armelle jewelry, and check out all my latest stuff! (a little preview above)

be sure to bring your christmas lists, there will be some great handmade gifts!

let the christmas shopping begin!!

bijou market provo
friday and saturday, november 18th & 19th, 2011 friday 10am-8pm and saturday 10am - 6pm
historic southworth hall
116 west center street
provo, utah 84606

see you there!! be sure to say hi!

welcome sponsor: paper coterie ...

2011-11-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

i am excited to introduce to you, armelle blog's latest sponsor: paper coterie!

paper coterie is a circle of friends who are passionate about documenting the beauty of life well lived. whether it's in a photo book, journal, calendar, holiday card or one of our custom memory boxes, they help you capture the memories you want to save and share.

paper coterie helps document your favorite moments and enjoy them in new and meaningful ways, by preserving memories and turning unique experiences into one-of-a-kind mementos for you, your friends, and family.

a few of my favorites are:

the book of abc's. where you can add your own photos of things that correspond to a letter in the alphabet. that would be such a fun gift for my kids!

the scalloped christmas cards.

customized calendars that come in a box.

and, my favorite coiled recipe books. you can add all your families favorite recipes into a professional looking book. that would make such a special gift!

with the upcoming holidays, these personal memories would make great gifts! i know i am going to be doing some christmas shopping!

and, exciting news for my readers!

paper coterie is offering you $30 off your purchase, with no minimum order! just enter the code FREETHIRTY at checkout!

hello christmas cards, and christmas gifts!!

just click here to get your holiday shopping done!

* this is a sponsored post. all thoughts and opinions are my own. if you are interested in becoming a sponsor on the armelle blog, please email me for current rates. carolinearmelle@gmail.com

brussels sprouts ...

2011-11-10T10:46:00.001-07:00

i never thought i'd do a post on brussels sprouts, ha!
but, seriously.. are you a fan? and, don't say you aren't if you haven't tried them since you were a wee-one.

they are seriously good. but, you have to prepare them right. i am a huge fan of the brussel sprouts at eva's in downtown slc. so, i set to recreate the dish at home, only i added a little parmigiano reggiano cheese. perfection i tell ya.

so, if you need a great side dish for thanksgiving, or just want to give brussels sprouts another go, check out this amazing recipe for brussels sprouts with roasted hazelnuts, cider vinegar, and parmigiano reggiano over on my zupas post today.

click here.

{photo by me}