Scarlet Threads

May Sale: 5 more days!

2012-05-26T16:29:00.001-05:00

ST Community!

I have been neglectful of the blog recently, and I completely forgot to post about our Mother's May Sale. Everything will continue to be 25% off in our shop, including our new jewelry from Uganda when you use the code "mothersmay".

(A word to the wise, when you purchase jewelry make sure that you select jewelry as your method of shipment. I know it's a bit kludgy but it was the easiest way for us to create a lower cost shipping scheme for the smaller items.)

If you have had your eye on Tallulah, you better make your move! We are down to less than a handful. The same can be said for our pretty little Cocoa handbag. And, of course, many of our jewelry offerings are one of a kind!

We would be ever so grateful if you shared the code with your friends and family or on your own blog. We aren't an exclusive crowd over here at ST! In fact, send me an email (eileen@scarletthreads.org) with a link to your blog post or Facebook share and we will send you a special coupon code just for you... intrigued? Me too.

Finally, we are continuing to brainstorm ideas to boost sales (retail and wholesale), so if you have an idea of what we should be doing or who we should be contacting, please let us know either in Carrie's brainstorming post, this post, on the facebook page.

ST Sports Team?

2012-05-24T09:23:00.000-05:00

If you've been following the twitter feed, you will know that at least one member of the Scarlet Threads staff is obsessed with Triathlon. It is true. My two great loves are ST and Triathlon. When Carrie asked for our ideas in her post on Monday, that was my opportunity to put my two great loves together.

Idea: I think we should create an ST Sports Team.

I can't be the only one in the ST Community addicted to Triathlon, or can I? Our team doesn't need to be triathletes! We must have gym enthusiasts, runners or cyclists or cross fit or Jiu-Jitsu artists or ... you get the picture. The point is, with the amount of time that I spend "training" during triathlon season, I could be reaching out to my community pointing them towards the great work at Scarlet Threads.

Problem. I am out of breath. I am by no means an exceptional athlete, so I can't talk and run or talk and cycle (the sheer mechanics of swimming make it impossible to talk and remain alive). I got to thinking, maybe I should wear one of our ST aprons during my "races" (read races as completion of and/or participation in official triathlon event)... that would get people talking. I nixed that idea as too dangerous (especially with long streaming waist ties getting caught in a bicycle chain or wheel, I'm sensing this could end badly).

Or, how about letting my shirt do the talking?

And maybe, just maybe, other members of our community might want to show their support for ST during their respective work out routines? It could be a sort of accountability group, you write in what your shirt was able to accomplish that week, share your health tips or your recipes for Tasty Tuesday.

So, what do you think? ST Atheletic Club? ST Accountability Squad? Fitness Junkies for Fair Trade?

Brainstorming Session

2012-05-21T21:06:00.001-05:00

I'm sorry to say, but I've been so very neglectful of Scarlet Threads this last year. If it weren't for Eileen, Lexi, Tisha, Jenny and all of you faithful supporters, it would have just shriveled up and died. That's just the honest truth. I'm so thankful for people with a vision for what our fledgling little company is all about! People who carried the vision even when I set it aside for a while.

It has been a crazy year! (Two years really?) In addition to becoming a mama for the first time, Jacob and I moved "home" to the USA from China, where we lived the last four years and where we started Scarlet Threads. The two transitions at once - motherhood and repatriation - were a bit more than I could handle, and honestly for most of the time, I've been in a bit of a blur.

I pretty much sat Scarlet Threads on the back burner. I had a newborn to attend and a new life to figure out. And I don't think I could have done it any differently... but thankfully while I let it simmer in the background of my life, Eileen and the others picked up the slack and kept moving forward. And suddenly we have 3,700+ facebook fans, our products in several retailers across the country, and a steady stream of retail customers. (Seriously! Three cheers for the rest of the ST team! I know for a fact that Tisha and Eileen both got to deal with "the emotional roller coaster that was Carrie's life" a few times too many these last several months, and yet they've stuck around!)

So it isn't that I really think Scarlet Threads *needs* me more than it does anyone else - clearly the last 18+ months has shown that it does not - but I just want to publicly say that I'm back. I still don't know how to "work" while tending a very busy toddler who likes to "help" me on the computer. Like most everyone else on the planet, I still don't know how to fit everything I want to do into the day. So this might seem like a haphazard start at times. But I just want to say I'm so excited to get going again. And I hope that since most of the other gals involved in ST either have "real" full-time jobs or more kiddos to tend than me, that I can really help ramp stuff up again.

So what's new?

Well I just finished working with Hannah, our new partner in China, to design and produce a whole buncha new aprons. They'll be here in just a few weeks! And I'm starting to brainstorm ways to expand our sales. My heart has always been for the women we work with in China. We could easily find more seamstresses to join our team - if we had the work to support them - but we need to sell more product to generate more work. And we have some exciting partnerships brewing with an organization working in Uganda to do vocational sewing school with some ladies. And, on the far out horizon, we might have some possibilities sprouting in Indonesia. Empowering women to provide for their families has always and will always remain my motivation... and to do that, we gotta sell more products.

So if anyone is reading this blog, I'd love to hear your ideas for getting our fantastic products into more shops. (That's my focus right now.) Who knows, you might have an idea that we haven't yet considered!! Maybe you have the next great idea that will take us to the next level and enable us to empower more women through employment.

And if you have any tips on how to work at home with a toddler's "help," I'm taking those too. :)

Love,
Carrie

(semi) Wordless Wednesday: canning!

2012-04-18T08:52:00.000-05:00

Last Friday, I ordered this book. To my surprise, it arrived with Monday's mail! I've been wanting to try canning, and this book seems terrific. I opened it, and the first recipe I saw was for strawberry and lavender jam. LOVE. I love lavender. I love strawberry. LOVE.

My mother used to make jam and applesauce, and I think this will be a really fun project. I'll report back on what I make, and of course, I'll be sporting a Scarlet Threads apron :)

Have you tried canning? What are your favorite recipes?

Tasty Tuesday: Mexican stuffed shells

2012-03-27T08:19:00.001-05:00

I saw this recipe on pinterest a few weeks ago and knew that Steve would love it. Mexican stuffed shells! Anything with cheese, and he's a happy man.

I would have made it sooner, but discovered that jumbo pasta shells are not too common at grocery stores in DC! I looked at half a dozen, I think, and never saw them, until this past weekend. Oddly enough, I was at a store that I rarely go to, because I find it so disorganized, yet they had the jumbo shells I needed! So, win!

Here is the original recipe, found at a blog called The Way to His Heart. Cute name, eh?

Mexican Stuffed Shells

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

1 package low-sodium taco seasoning (or better yet use this Taco Seasoning!)

4 oz. cream cheese

14-16 jumbo pasta shells

1.5 cup salsa

1 cup taco sauce (This is a smooth, tomato based sauce found in the Mexican section)

1 cup cheddar cheese

1 cup monterey jack cheese

3 green onions

Sour cream

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a frying pan cook ground beef; add taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions. Add cream cheese, cover and simmer until cheese is melted. Blend well. Set aside and cool completely. While ground beef is cooking, cook the pasta shells according to directions; drain. Set shells out individually on cutting board/baking sheet so that they don’t stick together.

Pour salsa on bottom of 9×13 baking dish. Stuff each shell with the meat mixture. Place shells in 9×13 pan open side up. Cover shells with taco sauce. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, add shredded cheese and bake for 10-15 more minutes, with the foil removed. Top with any condiments you’d like (green onions, black olives, etc.) Serve with sour cream and/or more salsa.

My edits:

First, I used ground turkey instead of beef.

I used the entire block of cream cheese, so 8 oz, instead of half of it. It made it super creamy!

I forgot to buy the green onions.

You can see from my photo that I baked them in a round dish, I think it's nine inches. It's Boleslawiec, a Polish pottery that I collect. It has handles!

I also didn't pour the taco sauce over them before baking- I just used salsa in the dish, and placed the stuffed shells over the salsa. I baked them for about 20 min, then took the foil off, and sprinkled the cheese over them, baking for another five or eight minutes.

They were delicious, Steve was a big fan!

Hmmm, it doesn't look as pretty in the pictures, but I feel like most pasta/cheesey dishes don't photograph well! I guess I should work on my food photography skills, eh?

What's cooking in your kitchen this week? Want to share a recipe with us?

Tasty Tuesday: Butternut Squash Curry Chili

2012-03-13T07:51:00.002-05:00

I've been looking for some new recipes to try and our friend Fay graciously obliged by sending me some new food for thought! :) It might get added to the short list of dishes that we make regularly, too!

-- From Fay --

Here's a recipe I've adapted slightly from PaleOMG. My husband and I make this meal every other week because we enjoy it so much!!

Butternut Squash Curry Chili

Ingredients
- 2 lbs Ground Beef
- 2 lg butternut squash, cubed
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (14) oz can tomatoes, diced
- 1 (14) oz can tomato sauce
- 1 c. chicken or beef stock
- 1/2 c. canned coconut milk
- Spices -
- 2 tbsp curry powder
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tbsp cumin
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp cocoa powder
- 4 tsp gram masala
- Salt and Pepper to Taste

Instructions

1. Heat up a large pot over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of some kind of fat (olive oil, coconut oil, etc). Add the beef and brown
2. While the meet is cooking, chop all of your veggies and squash.
3. Once the meat is cooked, remove with a slotted spoon and set aside in a bowl.
4. Cook chopped veggies and squash (about 10-15 minutes)
5. Add chicken stock, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and coconut milk to the pot. Mix together. Cover and cook until the butternut squash is tender.
6. Add spices and beef back to the pot. Stir to combine.
7. Decrease heat and left simmer to let all the flavors combine.
8. Then consume.

-- --
No pictures this time. You will just have to use your imagination, which isn't very hard for this recipe. :) It sounds absolutely delicious and I can't wait to get home this afternoon. I will let you know how my rendition turns out!

E

Wordless Wednesday: ST Jewelry

2012-03-07T07:51:00.003-06:00

What? ST launched a jewelry line? This is Wordless Wednesday, you will have to wait until Thankful Thursday to get the rest of the story.

Swirled Horn Earrings - $12.

Tasty Tuesday: Red Velvet Cheeseball!

2012-02-21T10:40:00.004-06:00

This past weekend, I attended a baby shower for a good friend. She's expecting her first baby, a boy, in April. Her mother is over the moon about becoming a grandmother for the first time, and is doubly excited, because not only is my friend having a baby in April, her younger sister recently announced that she's expecting a baby too, in August! So exciting.

As always when going to an event, I asked if I could bring anything and when told yes, I found this recipe (pinterest...natch!) for a red velvet cheeseball and it seemed to be just perfect. Who doesn't like red velvet? Not this girl!

This is an easy thing to whip up and trust me, your friends will be beyond impressed. I loosely followed this recipe.

Red velvet cheeseball

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups red velvet cake mix, dry
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add in the red velvet cake mix, the brown sugar and the powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and combined.

Turn the mixture out onto a piece of plastic wrap.

Wrap up into a ball and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Put the chocolate chips on a plate or in a shallow dish. Remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator and unwrap. Roll in the chocolate chips. (This might get messy!)

Place on a serving plate and serve with cookies or graham crackers.

My notes-

Believe it or not, but I don't own a stand mixer, so I used a hand mixer. Also, I didn't read the directions well apparently, because I added the entire package of red velvet cake mix before realizing I was only supposed to use about half of it! It was VERY dry, and I managed to break my hand mixer. Yes, you read that correctly. Something in the moter snapped. Whooops.

I added a bit of vanilla in order to make it easier to blend! I do love vanilla anyway, and was rather generous there, adding several tablespoons! Also, I left in in the fridge overnight, and it was rock solid when I took it out the next morning, but an hour or so on the counter softened it up for the rolling in the chocolate chips.

I served it with vanilla wafers and graham crackers and it was well loved by everyone there! This is definitely something that I will make again and again!

What is your go-to dish to bring to a shower?

Ravioli with Vodka Cream Sauce

2012-02-14T05:57:00.000-06:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Holly of One Spicy Dish is sharing this fabulous recipe with us. Aren't we lucky?? She has guest blogged before on Tasty Tuesday and when she does, we are assured of a dish packed with flavor! This is no exception.

Doesn't this picture look so professional? I feel somewhat ashamed of my own presentation, when I see the way foodies like Holly serve their friends and family!

Ingredients!

1 package won ton wrappers

Filling:
Small carton ricotta cheese
sprinkle of garlic and onion powder
finely grated mozzarella cheese
finely grated Parmesan cheese
roasted onion **
1 package frozen spinach-thawed and squeezed
salt and pepper
2 separately beated eggs (one for filling, one for ravioli egg wash..aka..glue)

Sauce:
3 Tbs EVOO
minced garlic to taste
crushed red pepper
salt
2 8 oz cans of tomato sauce
2 tbs vodka
1/4 cup heavy cream
Torn basil leaves

So that I don't steal too much of Holly's thunder, I'm going to direct you straight to her blog post to see the step by step. You really can see the step by step because she includes plenty of pictures along the way!

Tasty Tuesday: Gnocchi and Sweet Potatoes

2012-02-07T06:09:00.000-06:00

In the midst of this recession, we are making a monumental effort to eat in more! I think that the Scarlet Threads online community is probably the biggest beneficiary of this new year resolution. So far, we are doing quite a bit better than last year.

After our 5 mile run today, we were looking for dinner options in the fridge and I remembered this fabulous recipe that I saw in my triathlon magazine. Unfortunately, I lost my magazine and I was forced to resort to finding a somewhat similar recipe online and then filling in the gaps based on what I think I remember.

Well here goes our experimental recipe, which we think turned out pretty well!

Ingredients:

2 tbsp butter
2 sweet potatoes (1/2 in pieces)
1/2 onion (roughly chopped)

1 tbsp sage
3 tbsp chopped garlic
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp salt

1 1/4 cup chicken stock

1 bunch of kale (roughly chopped)
16 oz (or more!) gnocchi
1 cup of grated parmesan

Directions:

Melt 1 tbsp of butter in a oven-safe pan. Add sweet potatoes and onion. Cook over medium heat 8 minutes. Add sage, garlic, pepper flakes, and salt. Cook 3 minutes so the flavors meld.

Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Drop in the kale and stir until just wilted.

Now it is time to add my favorite part, the gnocchi!! Cover and cook 5 min. Stir in 1/4 cup of parmesan and drizzle the remainder on top.

Place under the broiler for 5 min until bubbly and browned.

Enjoy!

Tasty Tuesday: Lasagna "Cupcakes"

2012-01-17T09:46:00.001-06:00

Here comes another recipe, first found on pinterest, of course! I saw someone's pin and thought it sounded like something fun, and a little different. I love lasagna, but it's just so filling, so these bite-ish sized pieces seemed perfect! I thought they'd be a hit with the boyfriend too.

This is the original recipe that I followed, for the most part.

Lasagna Cupcakes

One cup of your favorite pasta sauce

1 lb hamburger meat

18 wonton wrappers

(note- I couldn't find wonton wrappers. I bought rice paper wrappers.

They DID NOT work. In the end, I used tortillas that I ripped into pieces).

8 ounces mozzarella cheese , grated

(note- I bought a tub of mozz balls and used one in each cupcake!)

3 ounces parmesan cheese , grated

4 ounces ricotta cheese

Preheat oven to 375* and spray 6 serving muffin tin with Pam (I did all 12, haha)

Cook hamburger meat, season to taste, drain.

Assemble the lasagnas by lining the muffin tins with pieces of torn tortilla. I started with a dab of ricotta first, and then a mozzarella cheese ball and then a scoop of meat and spoonful of sauce. Then, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top of it all. I didn't follow this rule each time...I got a little wild and mixed up the order of some of the layers each time ;)

Bake until the lasagnas are nicely browned, about 20 minutes.

Let cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and remove from pan.

Ready to bake!

Baked!!!

READY!!!

All in all, these were really delicious, and easy to make. You could certainly add other things if you wanted, like peppers or black olives or something else. Next time I make them, I may use a bit more sauce, as I like my pasta extra saucy. Also, maybe other kinds of cheese? More spices? Who knows! The possibilities are endless!

What's cooking in your kitchen this week???

Coupon for Last Minute Gifts!

2011-12-20T09:10:00.003-06:00

You've lost track of time and here it is the 20th of December. You can't believe it, you're aghast. The malls are completely packed and you aren't the type of person who can just buy a random present anyway. Am I right?

I may just be projecting my own feelings. At this point, I've shopped for one person in my family. One. That leaves four more without gifts on Christmas morning. Don't worry I have thoughts for meaningful things under the tree!

For those of you in my same predicament, you can use the code "lastminute" in our shop for 35% off! :) It's my way of easing the burden and sending a not so subtle reminder that Christmas is coming!!!!

In truth, presents are fun at Christmas. But a gift from Scarlet Threads provides pathway out of poverty for a woman a world away and forges a permanent connection between the recipient, the giver, and the artisan producer. Wow.

Another quick way to give and save this Christmas! Have you seen our posts about Wendy? We are seeking to raise $5,000 to cover her medical expenses at New Day Foster Home. At five years old, the poor darling was abandoned a few weeks ago, with a heart problem requiring immediate attention. Two shops (Delicate Fortress Creations and Seven Hopes United) joined with us to provide $30.00 in gift coupons ($10 to each shop) to each donor who contributes $25.00 or more. We also received generous offers from three sponsors to match the funds we raise! So, when we raise $5,000, we will receive $10,000 in matching funds and a total of $15,000 will be sent to New Day!

Have a joyous Christmas season! Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your lives this year. We are so lucky to have the ST community who can share in our passion for women in need of work and special needs orphans in rural China. We are grateful for your continued support and understanding!

Blessings.

A Joyful Gift: Wendy's Story

2011-12-16T14:52:00.001-06:00

Last night was a big night for sweet little Wendy.

She had a very risky heart surgery... and she survived. Which is a miracle in and of itself. The surgeons gave many warnings as they began the operation:

1. Wendy was just abandoned in August 2011 at four years old. The surgeons told NDFH the optimum time to have done her surgery was when she was 3 or 4 months old.
2. 30% of children with this condition die following surgery.
3. They will try to complete the repair in one surgery.
4. Without surgery she had NO chance of survival. Even with surgery the chance of survival is small.
5. Post surgery she will need to be on medication to try and reduce the hypertension. This medication is quite expensive and she will need to be on it at least a year.
6. She will need frequent checkups and close monitoring to monitor the hypertension.
7. She will be on limited activity. She might have no symptoms, but even slight activity could cause her heart to fail.

We're all so thankful she survived the surgery, but now she's begun another journey, just as dangerous... a journey of recovery. We're still working to raise the funds to cover the cost of Wendy's medical treatment, and we ask that each of you will consider giving to help NDFH as they work to save Wendy's life. But even more than that, we ask that you will keep sweet Wendy in your thoughts and prayers. She needs us now more than ever. Of course, the funds are needed to pay for her surgery. But more importantly, Wendy needs our love and care and prayers and encouragement.

She has such a sad story. We may never know the real reason behind her abandonment, but generally it seems that when a child is abandoned with a serious medical problem at a late age, it is because the family knows medical care is needed that they cannot provide. It is a bit like putting Moses in the basket... you know you can't give what is needed to save her life, so you pray someone else might.

Her basket led her, thankfully, to New Day Foster Home. A place just as concerned with her emotional health as they are with repairing her broken heart. But can you imagine a little four year old experiencing abandonment, an orphanage, a new home, and a major surgery all in the course of four months? And experiencing the surgery without her mama and daddy by her side? She has experienced much trauma and sadness these last few months... we can be a small part of changing her story to one of hope and love. Just think, when she's ten and her adoptive family tells her that her life-saving surgery was provided by a group of strangers who gave for the pure joy of sharing life and love with a little girl they'll never know...

That, my friends, is the power of redemption... turning pain and brokenness and tragedy - something this world is far too full of - to hope and new life and restoration. We can be a part of this redemption. Won't you join us?

-----------

And remember, in this holiday gift-giving season when if you're like me, you are scrambling for last-minute gifts, a $25 contribution to the Joyful Gift fundraising drive gets you three $10-off coupons valid with Delicate Fortress, 7 Hopes United, and Scarlet Threads. That's $30 worth of coupons for a $25 donation! Need last-minute gift ideas? All of these retailers offer great gifts that give back to the artisans who created them. Just e-mail carrie@scarletthreads.org for your coupon codes after you make your $25 or more donation! (All donations go directly to NDFH, a registered 501c3 nonprofit, are matched by a fund established by NDFH-adoptive families, and are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law!)

Announcement! Rewarding Joyful Gifts

2011-12-09T16:03:00.005-06:00

Friends!

Please don't forget our Joyful Gift matching funds drive going on, now! We are seeking to sponsor two special needs orphans' surgeries at New Day Foster Home in our village in rural China. Please click here for more details! To date, we've already raised $960 - I am totally impressed and awestruck by the generosity of our ST community. Thank you!

News!
I am excited to announce that two of our very dear friends (and retailers) who share our heart for the forgotten ones, are joining us to raise $5,000 for Wendy's heart surgery.

Seven Hopes United
and
Delicate Fortress Creations

When you contribute $25.00 (or more!) via the chip-in at the top right, you will be eligible for a $10.00 gift card in our Scarlet Threads shop. Here's the fun part, Seven Hopes will match that $10.00 gift card with another gift card for use in their shop! AND, Delicate Fortress will match it AGAIN with a $10.00 gift card in their shop!

(Donors: please send an email to Carrie@ScarletThreads.org to receive the gift certificate codes.)

That is $30.00 in gift cards for a $25.00 donation. Can it get any better? Oh yes, yes it can!

This is Wendy!

One other huge blessing is that two very generous anonymous sponsors have pledged matching funds up to $2,500! That means when we reach our $5,000 goal, we will have raised $10,000 total for Wendy's life-saving heart surgery. Carrie will be putting up a profile on this sweet little one who is in desperate need in coming days. We will also be sponsoring Asa's surgery - look for her profile coming soon!

In the mean time, please visit New Day Foster Home to find out more about their worthy mission to care for special needs orphans in China.

This just in, we have another very generous anonymous sponsor who has pledged additional matching funds up to $5,000! That means it isn't $10,000, but $15,000 total that will be raised for Wendy's heart surgery!

If you are a retailer interested in matching the $10.00 gift card offer, please contact Carrie@ScarletThreads.org!

New Day Foster Home is a non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday: A Joyful Gift

2011-12-07T13:59:00.000-06:00

The Joyful Gift fund will be paying for Wendy's much-needed heart surgery when we reach our goal.

A Joyful Gift

2011-12-05T15:56:00.002-06:00

We had our first snow today. And I sat outside with my daughter, watching her experience for the first time the way snowflakes feel when they catch on your eyelashes. The snow took me back to the last time I felt the crunch of winter's whiteness under my feet...

I was walking to one of my last days of work at New Day Foster Home, a few days before we were to move back to the USA. Nearly four years had passed since we had moved to a little village outside of Beijing, and our lives had changed so much in China. We came a family of two, and we were leaving a family of three - four if you counted the dog! (Which I do.) And in those four years, we saw so much pain and brokenness... sick babies, abandoned little ones, broken hearts. But what stands out the most is the LIFE... children coming into the foster home who were barely surviving, leaving a few short months later with their adoptive families, so full of life!

Scarlet Threads was birthed in this same village... the same village where we loved on those little orphans and prayed them back to health. The same village where we learned that so many families are fractured and splintered because of simple economics. There is no money, so mama must move to another place to find work. There is no money for a baby's life-saving surgery, so the tiny one is left in a hospital's back hallway with the hope that someone can give what they cannot. Scarlet Threads was born out of a desire to provide economic development opportunities for women so that they could preserve their families and protect their children.

But there are still orphans. And thankfully, there are organizations like NDFH providing hope and a future for them. This Christmas season, Scarlet Threads is partnering with NDFH and some generous donors to sponsor a matching-fund drive. Two anonymous donor families have each offered $2,500 to be matched. That means if we're able to raise $5,000 in the next month, NDFH will receive $10,000. Ten thousand dollars goes a long ways in that little Chinese village... it can provide a heart surgery!

So here's what we're doing. We want to raise $5,000 in the next month. If we reach the goal, it will be matched to $10,000. You can make a contribution using the ChipIn box at the top right of this blog. All funds go directly to NDFH, which is a 501c3 non-profit, so your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

And to make it a little sweeter, for every $25 contribution you make, you will receive a coupon worth $10 off in the Scarlet Threads shop. If you would like to be issued a coupon, please e-mail carrie@scarletthreads.org with your name, email address, and the amount you contributed. We will not be sending all donors a coupon - only those who request one - so be sure to let us know if it is something you want to receive!

It is a busy time of year - with many things pulling for our resources and our attention. But when we spend a morning playing in the snow with our little ones, remembering just how richly we have been blessed, we will find that giving life and hope and love to others is really the most joyful gift of all.

Tasty Tuesday: a fun appetizer

2011-11-29T08:52:00.004-06:00

Several weeks ago, I was home in NH for the weekend. My best friend had a baby in July, and I hadn't met him yet (gasp!). She and her husband planned his baptism for a Sunday, and I wasn't going to be home for Thanksgiving, so it seemed like a good reason to go. Plus, it was Veterans Day weekend, and she and her husband are both Vets, and I had Friday off. Also, their older son is my godson Jackson. Winning all around!

My family is big on cocktail hour. We have cocktails and snacks, and have for as long as I can remember. I do think that this is a big reason why I like cheese and crackers so much! My grandmother drinks a Manhattan, my mother, vodka on the rocks and my father, likely Scotch. Me? I don't seem to have a signature cocktail these days. Should I? Do you?

Anyway, I digress.

Are you familiar with the food company called Schwanns? It is an online food and grocery delivery service, mostly frozen foods, and my parents have used them for a long time. They have some great products and all sorts of fun things. With each delivery, they leave a catalogue and a date they will return, a couple of weeks later. I was flipping through the catalogue and saw a recipe that I thought looked fun. My grandmother was coming over for dinner that night, and I thought this would be a great snack to make, and I thought she'd get a kick out of it. It was Schwanns Meatball Roll-up with Queso Dip!

Meatball Roll-Up with Queso Dip

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Number of Servings: 14-16

Ingredients-

1 Starter Crust, slightly thawed
1 cup roasted peppers, drained and chopped
16 Italian Style Meatballs, frozen
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp
seasoning (coarse salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, chives)
1 tray Roasted Pepper Queso Dip, prepared

Steps-

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.

2. Cut crust into 16 slices starting from the center and leaving edges uncut.

3. Drizzle peppers over raw crust.

4. Place meatballs in center of cut crust and roll to outer edges. Push down slightly to secure.

5. Brush olive oil over crust and sprinkle with seasoning.

6. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

7. Pour prepared queso into a round serving dish and place in center for dipping sauce.

My notes-

We didn't used the red peppers.

I forgot the drizzle olive oil and sprinkle with seasonings until about halfway through.

It was still delicious!

We used marinara sauce for dipping too!

Before...

After!

I will say that the pieces are a bit clumsy, as the part with the meatball tends to break off the crust part, since it's heavier, but it really is a two or three bite snack anyway!

Snacks!

This was definitely a fun thing to make, and my grandmother loved it. It would be a great snack for one of your holiday parties!

What is your favorite appetizer?

cyber Monday with Scarlet Threads!

2011-11-28T08:33:00.003-06:00

Happy Monday all, and happy Cyber Monday to you! We hope that you had a most wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by those you love and plenty of pumpkin pie. Were you wearing one of our aprons while you cooked? We'd love to see a photo, so please send one along!

We're pleased to announce that we are participating in Cyber Monday this year with a really terrific sale! Due to great responses on facebook and twitter, we are offering a 50% discount today!!! This sale will be good through tomorrow morning, Tuesday, at 8am!

50% off!

That means that this gorgeous Noelle tree skirt could be yours for just $22.50! I know she'll look lovely under your tree this year. I bought Noelle last year, and will be decorating my tree this coming weekend...can't wait to get her out of her summer hibernation!

Also, have you seen our hand-sewn tiger hats? Aren't they just darling? I think that I will be buying one for my four-year old godson Jackson this Christmas. It seems like something that every little boy (or girl!) needs, right? At $34, they are a steal at just $17 today!

It is because of you, dear readers, that we are doing this sale. We are so thankful for your unwavering support this past year and we look forward to the future. Please use the code cybermondayblog when checking out for 50% off your purchase. Share with your family and friends via email, twitter, facebook and your blog, if you wish! New supporters are always welcome, and we are most grateful for all you do to help our mission.

We have a lot of fun plans in store for you over the next few weeks, so please come back and see us, and come back often! We love your comments and ideas you might share!

Naming Contest Winners!

2011-11-26T11:26:00.005-06:00

Carrie and I selected the winners of the naming contests on Thanksgiving morning! There were many wonderful selections and it was so difficult to pick.

In the end, we were left with Betsy, Tallulah, and Talia.

Congratulations to

Introducing Talia - Many thanks to Erika for the name!

Introducing Tallulah - Many thanks to Emily!

And finally, Betsy - Many thanks to Sarah!

Everyone who submitted a name or made a comment can use "wintersuggestion" for 20% off in our shop. Winners can contact me (eileen@scarletthreads.org) for their 50% off code. Both discounts are good for your entire purchase! Yay!

Black Friday Sale

2011-11-24T10:39:00.004-06:00

Dear Friends and Loyal Customers!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! Today, we are thankful to our whole Scarlet Threads online community of 128 blog followers, 3,555 facebook fans, and 640 Tweeps. We know that our successes are entirely due to your prayers and support over the last two years. It is overwhelming that so many people share our passion for providing a pathway out of poverty to women in rural China.

Thank you.

And, now... I have a very exciting announcement. We are going to have a Black Friday sale starting tonight at midnight. We are offering 50% off your entire purchase in our shop, with free shipping on orders over $100 (which means free shipping on your $50 order after the discount)!

Coupon Code: blackfridayblog

As you'll notice we have finally put up the Christmas tree skirts and lovely new aprons.

Important Quantity Announcements! If you want one of these styles, act fast!

Aubergine (quantity 2)
Noelle Tree Skirt (quantity 2)
Genevieve Tree Skirt (quantity 2)
Tiger Hats (quantity 3)

Please share our mission to change one village with your friends and family this holiday season! Especially their opportunity to make a difference at a 50% discount tomorrow on Black Friday...

Many Blessings - today and every day.

Carrie, Eileen, Tisha, Jenny, and Lexi

Naming Contest: Flirty Floral

2011-11-22T13:55:00.005-06:00

Here is our final naming contest of the year! I just love this one, especially the pink polka dot trim. That is my favorite part!

And the pocket! Why do I love pockets? I wanted a pocket in my wedding dress. Alas, I chose not to cut the gorgeous lace to create one. My one regret, it needed a pocket. Perhaps it was for the best. If I had added pockets, there is a good chance that the wedding rings would have been hidden from all photos - my hands being thrust in my pockets.

What is her name to be? Something to match her vibrant personality, I'm sure.

Like with all the others, please leave a comment here or on or facebook page with your suggestion! Entries are accepted until Thursday (Thanksgiving!!) and the winner will receive 50% off an item in our shop!

Good Luck!

Naming Contest 2: Bright and Bubbly

2011-11-18T11:59:00.003-06:00

We continue the unveiling of new products! This number was especially popular at the St Andrew's Bazaar last weekend. People really seemed to like the bright fabric and its contrast with the brown trim!

What shall we name her!? Again suggestions are accepted in comments here or on our facebook page until November 24th. The person who submits the winning name will receive 50% off an item in our shop! :)

Naming Contests: Blue Winter Wonderland

2011-11-17T09:17:00.007-06:00

Here is our first apron style for Winter 2011! Isn't she lovely? She reminds me of our Caroline apron from 2009. But, if possible I like this fabric combination even more!

You know there is a funny story here. We asked Christina of Christina Shippey Photography to come over to shoot our new products. And, what do you guess happened? I grabbed the child's size apron as I ran out the door. Well, it turned out OK because as you can see, it fits! We will be taking an adult size this weekend for the official collages - never fear.

Now comes the point! We need your help to name her. This is our favorite contest, where you submit your name suggestions in the comments of this post or on the facebook post! :)

Suggestions accepted through November 24th (Happy Thanksgiving!). Winner will receive a 50 percent off coupon good for one item in our shop!

Wordless Wednesday : Blessings

2011-11-09T09:56:00.000-06:00

(via pinterest)

Tasty Tuesday: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

2011-11-01T09:04:00.003-05:00

As some of you may have seen on facebook, I made a soup in honor of Fall last weekend. It was an experiment in pre-preparing specific staples that can be used to make a variety of meals. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of this technique, but is that really terribly surprising??

I adapted a recipe from Whole Living magazine (I started receiving it after my first triathlon - gee I hope they aren't charging my credit card!). And, I combined that with another recipe that I had seen a couple of years ago because I had a couple of additional ingredients that I wanted to use out of the fridge. Here is the original recipe from WL - it is way healthier than the one to follow.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. roasted butternut squash (ahead of time)
1 c. blanched cauliflower (ahead of time)
2 apples (cored and thickly sliced)
1 14 oz can of low sodium chiken broth
1 c. heavy whipping cream
3 tbsp carmelized onion jam
2 c. shredded sharp cheddar
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
2 oz bacon (cooked ahead of time)
1/2 tsp sage

In a wide sauce pan, melt butter and add apples. Cook down 5 min.
Add flour and coat apples. Cook 2 min.
Add roasted butternut squash, blanched cauliflower, and carmelized onion jam. Cook 2 min.
Add chicken broth. Stir and simmer 5 minutes.
Add heavy cream. Stir and simmer.
Melt in the shredded cheddar.
Season with sage.

In batches, blend soup in a blender until smooth.

I served this soup with a take and bake multigrain bread and it was wonderful! We had enough left over for another meal later in the week! :)