~Couture Unraveled~

Welcome Baby

2011-10-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

Please Welcome

Charlotte Rose

Born 8/22/2011

Yes she is almost 2 months old now...and I have been enjoying every minute of her!

;)

Picture taken by About Heart Photography

a local photographer, she does an AMAZING job!! ;)

Here's what I've been doing:

Aside from the fact that I am now a Mother of 6 (wow) I have still been crocheting, cooking, and well...not so much crafting. You see, right now we are living with my parents in their 800 square foot house, it's small, cramped, and a little hot, but it's better than our travel trailer! ;)

Tomorrow we are heading out on a trip to Rapid City, South Dakota!! YAY!

Going to meet some family there, have some fun in a motel, and the hubby thinks he wants to move their, so I guess we will be looking into that too...

So...that's what I've been up to...

Hopefully I will be able to get back to Blogging more than once every 4 months! HA!

p.s.

Here's what Charlotte looks like now

(as you can see, I am no photographer)

but I can make cute babies!LOL!

OMGosh Where has the time gone??

2011-06-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

WOW! I haven't been on my blog in like FOREVER!!! Life has just been so busy...let me explain...

First my Husband lost his job in Feb., so we decided to move out of our rental in fear of not being able to make the rent...so we moved into our travel trailer....YIKES! 5 kids and a big ol' pregnant lady living in a TRAVEL TRAILER!! YA...it was NOT fun....so my parents "hired" my hubby and BIL to add a small edition onto the back of their 650 sq.ft. house...We have since "moved" into this small edition(which is a master bedroom with walk-in closet and a small bathroom) although it's by FAR better than living in the travel trailer, which might I add, I now have NO interest in going camping this summer...AT ALL! I still look EVERYDAY for a cheaper rental...(where we live the price of rentals is RIDICULOUS)

and......

My husband, after losing his job, has started his own business with our BIL doing all things construction...

no really...

they got a general contractors license!

It's been a lot tougher than we thought it would be getting it off the ground, and we haven't exactly been able to count on some of the people we thought we would be able to...but GOD is GOOD and FAITHFUL and has sent others in their place!!! I would like to request prayers at this time, for the success of my Husbands business and for our family, that we will be able to get our OWN place to live BEFORE BABY ARRIVES!!!(THANK YOU)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We found out...

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!

and here she is!!

LOVE technology these days!!!!

This ultrasound picture was taken at a high tech ultrasound Doctor appointment, the first ultrasound showed that my baby's umbilical cord was attached in the "wrong" spot on the placenta...known as Battledore Placenta...there are a few different scenarios that can happen...you will have to google it if you want to know the different "types" of Battledore, here is what we found with mine,

the umbilical cord is usually attached at the center of the placenta, it's the "meaty" part of the placenta and gives the baby the best nutrition, mine is attached more toward the outer edge, which is not as meaty. What does this mean?! It means that my baby may or may not get very big in the womb. As of right now, baby is exactly the size she is suppose to be for how far along I am!Yay!!!

So, as long as she keeps growing(and I keep growing, ugh) all is OK..I think!!! Praise The Lord!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

and now...

What's up with ~Couture Unraveled~?!

I have put my Etsy on "vacation" possibly for good!

I am wanting to do more pre-makes instead of custom made crochet because it's less stressful and more cost efficient for me!!I am also now selling in a local boutique store!!

I still have my Facebook page and you can see any NEW items I have created lately from there!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SO...THAT is what I have been up to in the last few months!!! I will try and check in a little more frequently! LOL!!!

SO how many of you have officially started SUMMER BREAK?!

We start next Friday and we also leave for my hometown of Watertown, South Dakota, for a mini vacation!!!! YAY!!! Super Excited about that!

What do YOU have planned for this summer?

any

Projects? Vacations? at home FUN?

Tell me about them...maybe it'll give others(or me)something to do or try!!

Have a Blessed Day!

~Couture Unraveled~

WINNER!!!

2011-02-18T09:33:00.000-08:00

Sorry this is late!! I have been a little under the weather lately!! First pregnancy symptoms and NOW the nasty sickness my kids all had! Good Grief! I need to feel well again!!!

OK..done complaining...

The winner of the $25 CSN GC is..................

Shel

Congratulations to her!!!!!

(She has been notified and has 48hrs to reply or we will choose a new winner)

Thanks to ALL who entered!!

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!!!!

;)

CSN Giveaway

2011-02-08T10:28:00.000-08:00

HERE IT IS!!!!!

(sorry I didn't get this up yesterday like I was suppose to...sick kids and Doctor visit kept me BUSY all day!)

CSN contacted me awhile back and asked if I would be interested in doing ANOTHER giveaway for a $25.00 GC from them...without hesitation I simply replied YES!!

I jump on the chance to give stuff away to my readers!!

So let's get started!!

First let me tell you a bit about this online store...

CSN is comprised of more than 200 different shopping sites under the overall csnstores.com umbrella.

You can purchase almost ANYTHING from Baby cribs and Bedding to a light fixture for your bathroom!!

With 5 kids you can bet my bar stools get a beating!!!! So I am needing to replace them every few years...I saw these modern bar stools on their site and LOVED them!!!!

This Bar stool looks AMAZING!!! I just LOVE the texture in the steel back!!!

Wouldn't this one be fun in your Kitchen!! I am REALLY loving the stainless steel!!

Now this one SCREAMS STYLE!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE the intricate design in the backing!!

The camel colored seat is sure to match any color scheme!!

Want something a little more basic...here ya go!!

This simple bar stool is perfect for just about ANY kitchen!!

So now that you've seen some of the bar stools I am ~~drooling~~ dreaming about!!

Let's get to the giveaway!!

Go check out the modern bar stools and see which one you like the best!

Come back and tell me in a comment and THAT is how you will enter this giveaway for a

$25.00 CSN GC!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want MORE chances to win? Try doing some of these for extra entries!!

{1 entry} Become a blog follower of ~Couture Unraveled~

{1 entry} Become a fan of ~Couture Unraveled~ on facebook

(type ~Couture Unraveled~ into the search box)

{3 entries(3 separate comments)} Blog, Facebook or Tweet about this giveaway

comment with the link.

PLEASE LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENTS!

Since I was a bit late getting this party started...I will add an 8th day to this giveaway!!

Ends on February 16th @ 11:59 PM (pacific time)

GOOD LUCK!!!!

CSN Giveaway coming soon...

2011-01-31T10:58:00.000-08:00

First off! Let me explain why my Blog has had literally NO ACTION for almost a month...

you see...I'm pregnant and I feel like doo doo! I have absolutely no drive to do anything and quite frankly...I'm ~~lazy~~ tired!

I'm 8 weeks and 3 days today...YUP I have ~~FOREVER~~ a LONG time to go!!

anyway...awhile ago I did a giveaway for CSN and they have contacted me AGAIN! YIPPEE!!

So, In 1 WEEK(Feb. 7th) I will be posting ANOTHER giveaway for a $25.00 online GC!!!

I CAN'T WAIT!!!

SPREAD THE WORD and LINK your friends back here!!

SEE YOU IN A WEEK!!

FEBRUARY 1ST...SAVE THE DATE!!!

In the meantime....I am participating in the Handmade with Love event Feb.2nd-6th through

Family and Life in Las Vegas

and I just SO HAPPEN to be giving away a $30.00 GC!!

You better go check it all out and get in on all the action!!!

Victoria W.

~Couture Unraveled~

Sleepy Owl Hat

2011-01-05T08:34:00.000-08:00

WOW!

Have I been busy!

Thanksgiving, 5 kids and 1 Mom getting sick (no fun at all), Christmas(fun), 5 kids home ALL DAY EVERYDAY(a little fun and no fun all at once!)

AHHHH

However...In all my ~~sane~~ quiet moments

I did manage to make a couple new items for a friend that was due to have a baby around Christmas time!

~Couture Unraveled~

Sleepy Owl Hat

~I have seen these Owl Hats all over ~~everywhere~~ Etsy. I FINALLY got a chance to sit down and make one...and this is how it turned out! I LOVE it...seriously!!

but no hat is complete without a pair of booties...so I made these..

and since her Baby was due right around Christmas time I also made her a "sparkly" pair for coming home in...

Both items are now available in my Etsy

BUT

If you would like to make this hat yourself....

here is the link that I found for the owl hat...

(i did change my hat up a bit from this pattern...but this is the basic pattern for it)

the bootie pattern was purchased from Mon Petit Violin)

on Etsy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SO...

I have a question...when you go onto Etsy to purchase something...would you prefer:

1.buy it pre-made in whatever color/size it comes in

(making it available for shipping right away)

2. have it custom made at time of order in color/size you need/want?

(having to wait longer for your purchase, but it is made to order)

{I am trying to see if I should start offering pre-made items in my Etsy}

right now it is ALL custom made to order!

Thanks!

Feedback would be much appreciated!!!

~Victoria W~

~Couture Unraveled~

New Life to Old Furniture

2010-11-29T10:21:00.000-08:00

With 5 kiddos...

you better BELIEVE I am constantly needing to bring LIFE back into my OLD furniture! Sometimes however...I need a little help!

This guest post

By Caroline Smith

will give you some FABULOUS ideas and a great website to check out to do just that!

Money is tight this time of year...but you shouldn't have to sacrifice style in your home because of it...THIS is a great post you REALLY should to read!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Easy Tips to Bring New Life to Old Furniture

When old furniture begins to look so unattractive that the thought of having visitors causes hives, it is time for action. Although your budget may be strained, a lot of older furniture can be updated without massive expenditure on new items.

The first step in giving old furniture a new lease on life is to do a survey of your home to see what is still useable. It is often surprising what is stashed away in basements, attics, or garages that can be redone. Then, it may be a good idea to look for additional furnishings on free sites like FreeCycle or Craigslist, or to purchase pieces inexpensively at yard sales. The following are ideas which may prove to be inspiring:

INEXPENSIVE UPDATING

Sometimes simple changes can give a whole new look to home décor, and they stretch a dollar just about as far as it can go. For a noticeable difference in your home, try these projects:

• Take any bureau or vanity and remove the hardware; sand down the surface and paint. Use painters tape to mark off special areas and use two or three different colors for a more striking effect. If painting straight lines seems difficult, just dip a sponge into a complimentary color of paint and sponge on the second coat.

• Buy inexpensive fabric remnants to recover throw cushions.

• If the fabric on chairs or couches is old and frayed, the look can easily be modernized by using slipcovers rather than spending a small fortune on reupholstery. Modern slipcovers for sofas are so easy to put on and can be tossed into the washing machine whenever they need cleaning. If the cushions have low areas, fill them in with old towels before slipping the covers into place.

• Spray paint the bases of lamps for a completely new look, and watch for new lamp shades at thrift stores.

FURNITURE RECYCLING

You do not have to send an old piece of furniture to the landfill if you recycle it at home. Check out these ideas for reusing household items:

• Turn an old bookcase horizontally so that it lies on its side and attach castors to the bottom. Cover a piece of foam, measured to fit the top, with a colorful tablecloth or pretty sheet and attach to the top. This creates new bench seating and extra storage at once and is great in a child’s room for putting away toys.

• Make an old couch or chair look completely new by painting the wooden arms and legs.

• Use stencils to create whimsical artwork on cabinet doors.

• Turn over an old crate or wooden box and attach a cushion for a new foot stool.

Imagination is important when working on old furniture. Let yours run wild, and you will get some extremely exciting results and save yourself several dollars in the process.

By Caroline Smith

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Caroline is always looking for imaginative ways to reuse old furniture and save money. On her website you can find a variety of slipcovers for loveseats that can be used to prolong the life of beat up old furniture.

Blessings!

Victoria W.

~Couture Unraveled~

Hostess with the mostest

2010-11-23T10:14:00.000-08:00

I will be Hosting Thanksgiving again this year with my small family!

(my Dad,Mom,Sister her Husband and 2 kids)

I say small because it is...

compared to my Hubby's family of 12 kids!

I'm Serious!

Although my Mom came from a large 12 kid family and I LOVED getting together during the Holidays! A memory I am Thankful for!

I get so excited this time of year!

Thanksgiving is the start of the Holiday season!

I hope you ALL get to spend the Holidays surrounded by Loved ones!

and good food! ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a different note...I wanted to share with you all my

wreath

I have had the stuff to make my own wreath for quite awhile now...

well...

I FINALLY broke out the materials and MADE it...

WOOP! WOOP!

"jump around, jump around,jump up,jump up and get down"

(yes, that's a song!)

OK..Here it is....

OK! So it's not the "grandest" wreath...but it looks alright

Doesn't it?!

Doesn't IT?!

These darned rosettes used up ALL my hot glue sticks...and took me a LONG time to make!LOL!

but they sure look pretty!

;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

alright...

I gotta get BAKING now!

I'm the

HOSTESS with the MOSTEST!!

~~~~~~

Wishing EVERYONE a HaPPy Thanksgiving!

Who's going shopping this FRIDAY?!

CSN ~WINNER~

2010-11-19T09:12:00.000-08:00

*WINNER*

I am SO excited to be able to announce the winner of the $35 CSN GC giveaway!!!

This is the 1st giveaway I have done!!

(besides my ~Couture Unraveled~ but that can't count!LOL)

I sure hope I can bring more Giveaways to you in the future!! If YOU have a product you'd like me to do a Giveaway for...Please click the PR Friendly tab above!! Thank You!!!

and now.......

The winner is........

comment number 162 picked by Random Generator at Random.org

~TDEAN30~
"I don't see anyone stealing your luggage with this one - Britto Collection By Heys USA Britto 30" Butterfly Spinner Case http://www.luggage.com/B700-30-BUTTERFLY-BBH1008.html"

CONGRATULATIONS
TDEAN30!!

An Email has been sent out!! You have 24hrs. to claim your wins!!

Thank YOU to all who entered and to all my *NEW* friends!!!

Have a great Friday!!

Turkey meatballs and gravy

2010-11-17T13:33:00.000-08:00

I LOVE me a good Turkey Dinner...and I LOVE me some meatballs!!

So anytime you can make a meatball that tastes like a Turkey dinner in a ball

I'm game!

~~~~~~~~~

Here's how it all began...

Once upon a time....

Just Kidding!

Seriously now...

My sister was on the Weight Watchers plan and one of the meats that is low in fat and calories is ground Turkey...so she experimented and made Turkey meatballs in a muffin tin...

although they were still good...they were a little dry.

So I took what she did and changed it up a bit

(I'm not on the Weight Watchers plan...so this recipe is a little less...OK...ALOT less"healthy" than hers was!) To make it more healthy...omit the frying part and JUST bake them...also omit the cream gravy part!)

Ingredients:

2~1.25lb packages ground turkey

1 box stuffing mix (we use stove top)

4T. mayonnaise (I actually did like 2 heaping T.'s)

2 eggs

salt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients except stuffing mix into the bowl and mix it up a bit

(I used my hands and they FROZE! a spoon works OK too)

add the box of stuffing mix

(if you are halving this recipe...only use 1/2 the package or less)

and dare to get dirty!! Your hands!

Dig in and mix it all together...Yes!

ewww...

how could something that looks THIS gross turn into something so YUMMY?!

LOL!

Put enough oil to cover the bottom of your skillet and turn the burner onto medium to medium high heat.

Let it warm up a bit before adding any meatballs.

OK...now start making your meatballs...the size is totally up to you...I made mine by putting a glob into the palm of my curved hand! A cookie scoop would probably work good too!!

Now add them to the heated oil

let them cook for about 5 min. or so...on the one side than flip them over and let them brown on the other side

they should look something like this.

Keep flipping until pretty much all the sides are browned.

(they do not get cooked through at this point...we are just trying to brown them.)

Once you are done with the browning..put them into a baking dish *they don't have to be a single layer*

*IMPORTANT*

If you plan to make the gravy...do NOT scrape out the skillet...and just set it off to the side...mine had no "oil" left behind...if yours has quite a bit of oil left behind...go ahead and drain that...just don't scrape the pan all out or rinse it out..very bad...very very bad!hehe!

So...are you starting to drool yet?!

I know I am!

OK....next

add water to the bottom of the baking dish...about 1 inch of water

*Don't skip this part...we will be using the water later...and it adds steam while baking so it helps prevent drying out!*

cover the pan with tinfoil and place it into a preheated oven set at 350*

this will bake for 45 min.- 1 hour! Depends on how soon you ~~need~~ want to eat!

Once the meatballs have cooked for the about 40 min. - 50 min. start the gravy....

I like to make a cream gravy for this...but If you by chance have some turkey gravy that you love....you can definitely use that and skip this part!

Grab the skillet you fried the meatballs in....you know...the one I told you to put aside and NOT scrape out!!

Yep...that one!

Put it back on the burner cuz we're gonna make a roux!!YAHOO!

add about 4 T. of butter or margarine into the skillet and add 1/4C. flour to it melt them together over a medium heat...I so forgot to take a pic of this...sorry!

It should be a semi thick paste.

Next add some milk...my rule of thumb is this...you just dump milk into the skillet till you have your desired amount of "gravy"

Cook the milk and the roux together over a medium high heat until it starts to boil. At this point it will start to thicken. then turn the heat down to a medium heat.

add some salt and pepper and all the chicken bouillon cubes. Cook until bouillon cubes dissolve.

Now take out the meatballs and fold back one corner of the tinfoil and dump(or you can use a turkey baster)the juice into the gravy...THIS is most of your flavor! Uncover the meatballs turn your oven off and put your meatballs BACK into the oven...this gets rid of any "juice" left behind and keeps the meatballs warm while you finish up the gravy!

Now just mix it up! The rest is a matter of taste and add...

taste it...does it need anything?!

salt? pepper?

I have a couple gravy tricks to share with you:

1. if you "accidentally" over salt your gravy...add a little sugar...it counteracts the salt...

tried,tested & proven to be true! ;)

2. If you "accidentally" burn the gravy a little...add a teaspoon(at a time)of peanut butter until you no longer have the "burnt" taste!!

tried,tested & proven to be true

by yours truly!!LOL!

Now...serve yourself up a plate of Deliciousness....

Oh! MAN!!! YUM!!! YUM!!! YUM!!!!

and did I mention

YUM!!!!

I do hope you enjoy this meal! and if you EVER try it...PLEASE come back and tell me what you think of it!!

I will leave you all with a picture of My husbands plate:

(He made me do it!hehe)

First...I must tell you...the night I made these turkey balls...my Husband and my Dad were cooking up the pheasant my Husband hunted...My Mom and I are just.Not.That. Into pheasant...so WE ate the turkey balls...OK..here's the pic:

If anyone is interested in a Recipe post for the pheasant..let me know!

Have a wonderful "hump" day and rest of the week!!

Don't forget to Enter my Giveaway!!!

Blessings

Victoria W.

~Couture Unraveled~

FABULOUS Twin Bed Idea

2010-11-15T15:17:00.000-08:00

~FABULOUS TWIN BED IDEA~

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I recently separated my 2 girls(9 and 4 yrs old)into 2 different rooms....yeah...I had to give up my computer/toy/craft/storage/~~"where do I put that...oh! this room works"~~ room to do it...so now all that stuff sits in our ~~never used~~ living room or is it family room?!

whichever it is!

(that always confuses me!LOL)

My oldest has decided to take that room even though it's a bit smaller than the one they were sharing, she likes it because it's a bit closer to her Mama and Daddy's room! and the living room where she can hear the t.v. on so she can feel secure knowing that her Mom and Dad are still awake watching T.V.!

Yeah...I was TOTALLY the same way as a kid!! Anyone else out there ~~a freak~~ like me and my daughter?!

OK...on with the post...a LONG time ago I found this REALLY AWESOME site called Under the Sycamore by Ashley Anne Photography

Seriously!!...this girl IS TALENTED!! Not only can she take FABULOUS Photos...she's Crafty too!!

*Warning*

DO NOT click on the link above unless you have ~~HOURS~~ time to kill!!

For REAL!

SO anyway...I saw this bed that she had done...granted hers is for a reading area and I want it for an ACTUAL bed...I think it serves both purposes well!

Here's the pic:

Is this not ADORABLE?!

It looks so fabulous for a kid or tween or "thinks she's a tween" bed!! It has this cottage/chic collide with fun colors look!!HA!

We have carpet...but I think I'm going to add the wheels anyway...plus I think the slats in the Pallets look like good book shelves...hey?!

So tell me what you think...would this be a cute Bed for a 9 year old girl?

FYI~The Hubs has officially been put on a "track me down some pallets" mission!!

I will update as I can!!LOL

Have a FABULOUS WEEK!

and

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE CSN GIVEAWAY

ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT TO ENTER!

Better late then NEVER

2010-11-12T11:29:00.000-08:00

I NOW have a Twitter account!!

OH YAH!

Still have A TON to learn about it...but it would be really cool if you became my follower!!

Thanks!

you can find me by searching:

cunraveled

It wouldn't let me do my WHOLE name! ugh!

also...don't forget to enter my giveaway!!

Have a WONDERFUL Friday!!!

CSN GIVEAWAY

2010-11-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

*GIVEAWAY CLOSED*
I was recently contacted by a CSN Representative and asked if I would be interested in doing either a Review or a giveaway...I thought...GIVEAWAY!

What a GREAT way to say Thank YOU to all my readers!!

So...

THANK YOU!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Holidays are coming and it is the BUSIEST time of the year for travel!!

If your anything like me, not saying you are, but if you were...

your luggage maybe looks something like this...

YIKES! I'd say It's time to update the luggage!!!

and YEP...with 5 kids and a shoe fetish I need LOTS of IT!

This suitcase is EXACTLY what I need!

It Expands! 1 1/4 inches of Extra "stuff" space!

How Cool is THAT?! Actually I don't need just 1! I need like 3!!

This set is just perfect for a family vacation!!

The Quattro Euro 4-Piece Luggage

Isn't it beautiful?! It comes in 5 different colors or patterns!!

This set is ideal for any traveler whether they are going away for the weekend or a few weeks!

if you just plain need like 1 WHOLE suitcase for SHOES!!

mmmmHmmm!

OK..let's not forget about the Men in you life...

check out these wallets! A GREAT Christmas gift!

and

How classy is this Laptop Briefcase?!

Whoot Whew!

Let's not stop there though....CHECK these out Backpacks?!

1 word

ADORABLE!

These are from the Zoo Pack line!!

HELLO!

Perfect Christmas gift for the Pre-Schooler or Kindergartner!!

or use it just for a "day trip" bag!!

I LOVE IT!!!

I'm getting excited...let's do the GIVEAWAY!

How would one of you like to WIN a $35.00 GC which can be used at ANY CSN online store?!

CSN sell items ranging from Kitchen utensils to furniture! From Baby and kids items to Home Improvement! Pretty much EVERYTHING!!

CSN is comprised of more than 200 different shopping sites under the overall csnstores.com umbrella.

THAT IS HUGE!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OK...To enter this giveaway you can:

{1 entry} Go check out the suitcase section and come back and tell me what's your favorite

{1 entry} Become a blog follower of ~Couture Unraveled~

{1 entry} Become a fan of ~Couture Unraveled~ on facebook

(type ~Couture Unraveled~ into the search box)

{3 entries(3 separate comments)} Blog, Facebook or Tweet about this giveaway

comment with the link.

PLEASE LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENTS!

Good Luck!

Giveaway will end Nov. 18Th

@ midnight pacific time

READY.SET.GO!

Kid APPROVED Chilli recipe with Pics

2010-11-09T11:25:00.000-08:00

~Couture Unraveled~

Kid approved Chili Recipe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't usually share recipes on my Blog...well...I actually have NEVER shared a recipe on my Blog...quite frankly because it has nothing to do with crafting or crocheting, BUT it totally does fall under the CREATING category which is what my blog says it's about...right?! YES!

I also must share the fact that I have a rather "boring" palette...sorry...I use to be one of those "picky" eaters...I maybe sorta kinda still am...just NOT as bad!!LOL

As I have mentioned before I am a mother of 5...you can bet your booty I got myself a "picky" eater!

(1 out of 5 isn't too bad though..hey?!)

So I thought I would share with you my...yes...MY chili recipe...with the cool fall weather and soon to be cold winter weather...moving in

unless you are one of those that chose to live in the "summer" all year round ;)......

I figured chili is a good recipe to share!

Now my family and I think this Chili is "the bomb"! I don't claim it to win any "chili" contests in any sort of way...heck...with my palette... I probably wouldn't even TRY most of those chilli's!LOL!

Let's get started....Apron ON!

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground beef

(you could also add 1/2 lb. ground pork to this...would be yummy!)

1 onion

2 15.5oz. cans chili beans

1 15.25oz. can kidney beans

2 14.5 oz. can(or 1 LARGE can) Diced tomatoes

Ketchup

Mustard

garlic

(powder works fine too)

salt and pepper

chili powder

1 packet chili mix

(sold in hot and mild..that's your call!)

(sold by the taco seasoning and gravy packets)

bay leaf

optional toppings:

cheddar or mozzarella cheese

crackers, corn chips, tortilla chips

sour cream

and last BUT certainly not least...a tradition for us and maybe for many...

CINNAMON ROLLS

where we grew up...they just simply went together...you didn't have chili...unless you had Cinnamon rolls to go with it..it's bordering on "sin"! ;)

see...not THAT much to it!

Let's cook...

first...saute your onion in a little(1 T.) butter or margarine

I use about 1/2 of a small to medium onion

then go ahead and toss in your beef(and ground pork if adding)

fry it up...

make sure it is COMPLETELY cooked through!

and add some garlic...I buy a big bottle of chopped garlic..but i use to use garlic powder...

there is no science here...add as much or as little as you want!

(OK..I'll give an approximate amt.~ 1 T. chopped or use the amount it says makes 1 whole garlic on the bottle of garlic powder...that should work!)

Add your salt, pepper, and about 1 T. chili powder to your meat.

add about 1 C. Ketchup

and about 1/2 C. mustard to your meat

mix it...baby...mix it

it should look like a REAL thick sloppy Joe mix!

NOW we add ALL the canned goodness!

to me...this Chili left like this is TOO thick! We like ours more soupy!

I add water till it fills the pan FULL! ;)

(sorry...this pic got a little blurred..you get the idea though...right?!)

if you like it thicker, add less water...but do add just enough water to cover the "chili"

Back to the STOVE!

Where we add MORE FIRE!!! or Chili powder!

I add another 2-4 T. of chili powder...depending on how spicy I want it!

and sometimes i need to add more salt and pepper...taste it to see if you feel it needs more of these things!

add your bay leaf...

and let simmer with the lid on for as long as you like!!

I would say a minimum of at least 1/2 hour though!

add WHATEVER yummy toppings you like...Don't forget the CINNAMON ROLLS and ENJOY!!

I have a slight confession to make...I DID NOT have Cinnamon rolls on this day..I KNOW! I'm SORRY!

BUT...I had a loaf of french bread that I SLATHERED in butter then added some cinnamon sugar to and baked...it was my CINNAMON ROLL substitute...it wasn't the same...but it was still YUMMY!

Thanks for visiting ~Couture Unraveled~

and if you try this recipe...I would LOVE to hear your thoughts...good or bad...well...be gentle!

;)

Have a WONDERFUL DAY!!

Victoria W.

~Couture Unraveled~

~Couture Unraveled~ PR friendly?!

2010-11-08T13:07:00.000-08:00

YUP!

~Couture Unraveled~ is going to start doing Reviews and Giveaways!!

WOOP!WOOP!
(isn't that what PR friendly is?! stop laughing!)

I have done a couple giveaways in the past for some of my own items...I have even had my stuff reviewed and be given away on other blogs...but HOW FUN it would be to be able to do giveaways of some of YOUR stuff from MY blog??!!!

~~~~~~~~~

I am going to do my very FIRST giveaway coming up REAL soon!! I will keep it a secret as to WHO and WHAT the giveaway will be from and for!!

Just know that you WILL want to keep watch!!

~OO~
>
()

In the meantime...if you are AT ALL interested in having me review one of your products...
did I mention I am a Mother of 5 KIDS?!
(Don't believe me...look at my side bar..there they are lookin so snazzy for the pic! ;)
you can contact me @

coutureunraveled@live.com

I look forward to bringing this NEW section to my Blog!! I hope you will like it TOO!!!

Blessings!

Victoria W.

~Couture Unraveled~

P.S.

If you live in the Tri-Cities Wa. area and want a chance to win a Christmas Photo shoot from

About Heart Photography

click on the link and go to her facebook page to see how!!

(there may be a little somethin in there from ~Couture Unraveled~ too...shhhh!)

;)

Kids Craft and are you still here?

2010-11-04T13:08:00.000-07:00

YES! I'm still HERE!
Life right now...

has been

BUSY!!

You guys must have thought i seriously dropped off the face of the earth...right?!

Well...let me fill you in a little as to why I have been gone for SO LONG!!!
(Craft is posted after ALL my blah blah blahing!)

First off...this Mama had to go in and have a D and C done little over a month ago...then 3 weeks ago my POOR POOR baby went in and had his tonsils and adenoids taken out!! I KNOW! POOR THING! right?!

He got released that day because he was doing SOOO good!!! That was until his drugs wore off at home...so yeah...we ended up in the ER the next night with an IV and a different pain medicine prescription!!

He is pretty much FULLY healed..and although I HATED every SECOND of him being in pain...oh...and the SMELLY SMELLY Smelly breath he had!!!WHEW!!!

He sleeps so quietly...no more snoring or sleep apnea...

YAY!!

and

Life is finally getting back to normal...if my life is ANYTHING normal?! Well..whatever it is...it's coming BACK!hehe!

and...

as IF my Life isn't already busy...i have decided i would like to do crafts with OTHER ladies!! Coffee, Laughter, Crafting...what could be more FUN than THAT?!

So I am starting a Ladies Craft Day once a month!! I will have my camera in tow...and will post some pics of us in action...crafting and drinking coffee!!

Can't WAIT!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is a craft me and my 3 1/2 year old did...did I mention I LOVE spending time with him alone while the other kids are at school?! It's so sweet!

OK...back to work..the craft...

first of all...

I got this craft from the Family Fun magazine...if you have that magazine...isn't it AWESOME?! If you don't have it...get IT! ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

You will need:

~1 C. sand

(if you live by the beach..you got it made...if not...i got mine from Dollar tree but I have seen it at Walmart! woop!)

~1/2 C. cornstarch

~1 t. Alum (sold by the spices)

~Saucepan

(stainless steel or OLD one you don't care about)

~wooden spoon

(I've never been good at following rules..i used a rubber spatula...it worked fine for me?!)
~3/4 C. water
~embellishments
(I seriously used WHATEVER I could find!)

Directions:

~add the sand,cornstarch, and alum to a saucepan and use a wooden(hehe) spoon to combine them completely.

~add the water and stir the mixture until it is smooth and the cornstarch is dissolved.

(My little "shirtless" boy wanted to help do some stirring...stir away "shirtless" boy...stir away...)

looks like milk! I assure you it is NOT milk! ;)

~cook the clay over medium-low heat , stirring occasionally.

the clay should start to thicken within a minute or two. stir more vigorously, being sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the pan.

~after about 3 minutes of cooking,the clay will have thickened to the consistency of play dough. remove the clay from the pan. once it 's COOLED enough to touch, you can start sculpting.

(for best results use the clay within a day or two of mixing it)

~~~~~~~~

"Shirtless" learned how to make balls out of clay...

he did pretty good!

I think I will put him to work next time I make sugar cookies!!

One thing I really like about this project was that it really wasn't that messy!!

"shirtless" is almost done with his "snow~people"

OK...so there not "quite" balls...but hey! he's only 3..and he had SOOOO much FUN!!! ;)

now THIS is where you get craft-ay! grab your embellishments...you have to use your imagination here...i had these little sequence beads on hand...there pretty cheap if you want to buy them!

I used them for buttons,eyes,and the nose!!

(I couldn't find ANYTHING that was shaped like a "carrot" nose!!)

I went outside and found some small twigs...

VOILA!

This little guy has arms now!!!

I had NO idea what I was gonna use for a top hat..so i went into our ~~dump~~ garage and thumbed through the Hubby's work bench...and found these screws that have the shape of a top hat at the top!! I was SOOO EXCITED! I quickly sprayed a little bit of black spray paint on it...let it dry a few minutes..then stuck it in!! I would have gotten pictures...but...um...i was too excited about my ~~brilliant~~ good idea! sorry!

for the rest of my snow~family I had to get creative!

I wanted something "different" for the arms on the snow~couple...

I found some small screw hooks..(.is that correct terminology?!)..oh well...

They made cute little arms...don't you think?! ;)

and the snow~lady is wearing a bling ring turned hat!

(In other words it was a left over birthday party ring with the "ring" part cut off!!LOL!)

~The clay should dry completely within a week...if any pieces

~~are taken off by kids that can't leave them alone~~

fall off after clay dries...

you can reattach it with tacky glue! So...maybe this is a little early...I don't care...I only had white sand and i couldn't think of anything else to make with white sand...plus...winter IS coming!! ;)

Have FUN!!

and NOW...

I would like to introduce to you the Snow~Family!!

;)

For more FUN FAMILY crafts...go get yourself a subscription of Disney Family Fun magazine!!!!

and

1 more thing...I want to share with you a couple projects my husband has done and is doing...

This is the shed my Husband built (with a little help) at my Parents new house!!

YUP! That's HIM in the doorway!! woot whew!! ;)

and right next to it he is building a play house for my kids(we rent so we built it over there)

I will post pictures as it comes along! My kids are VERY excited to get to play in it!!

Victoria W.

~Couture Unraveled~

Stitches From the Heart

2010-10-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

Stitches From the Heart

is a non profit organization that donates handmade items

to Hospitals all across the nation!!

You can go to

Stitches From the Heart

to see what they are all about and how they help infants and families across the nation!

~Couture Unraveled~
wants to help too!!
SO
From OCTOBER 1st-OCTOBER 31st
EVERY hat purchased from my Etsy
or my Facebook page using the "shop now" tab
I will DONATE 1 hat to the Stitches from the Heart organization!!
To KICK it of:
~Couture Unraveled~
will be donating 10 hats!
5 girl and 5 boy!!

Winter is FAST approaching...
(although the weather here is not showing that...been in the 80's ALL week!)
It is VITAL that newborns keep their body heat for survival and believe it or not ALOT of families can't afford blankets or cute little hats for their little one's...
YOU
can help me change that...
1 hat at a time!!!

Thank You!
Victoria W.
~Couture Unraveled~

1 more thing...a few posts ago I mentioned that we were expecting number 6...well...I had a feeling that the pregnancy was NOT right...you see...I didn't feel pregnant AT ALL...I've had 5...I knew how I should feel...right?!
Well..I finally made a Dr.'s appointment to get checked...and my intuitions were correct...I was suppose to be 8 weeks pregnant at the time the ultrasound showed a 5 week sac...needless to say...Yesterday I went in to have a D and C done!
I was a bit nervous...not necessarily of the procedure...you see...I had NEVER been put out for ANY reason EVER!!! Crazy! I know!I'm 31!!
Well...let me tell you what...it was the coolest/craziest thing ever to experience!!~being put out that is..LOL
I woke up from surgery feeling fine...today I feel good!!
I'm so glad I opted to go that route
(I had the choice of letting my body do it by itself, but it had already been over a month since baby died and my body wasn't doing a THING!)
So...no more baby coming from here...but
HEY
we can help the one's that are already here!!
Victoria W.

Halloween/Fall Flower clips

2010-09-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

I Love FALL!!

The colors, pumpkins, candles burning, cooler evenings...etc!

I was very excited when I was asked awhile back if I would like to offer a couple of my Crochet flower clips as a giveaway prize for a Halloween Blog Bash put on by,

The Life of a Sippy Cup Mom

and

Family and Life in Las Vegas

(September 26th-October 10th)

there will be...

giveaway's~recipes~tutorials~crafts

How FUN does that sound?!

*************

I LOVE giving my stuff away as prizes!!

I love to be able to put smiles on other peoples faces...

a satisfaction like no other!

So...since this was a Halloween/Fall Blog Bash...I made these 2 flower clips for the theme...

the

Pumpkin Patch Party clip!!

(say that 3 times fast!LOL)

I LOVE this one!!!

I envision it clipped onto a black headband or a black hat!!!

and the...

Triple Petal Scarecrow Clip

Who doesn't love a scarecrow?!

It's like one of the ultimate fall characters!!

I Love this clip too! I think the scarecrow is too darn cute!!

Oh!

WAIT!

I guess it's suppose to be ScaRy!!

ooooohhh!!

I don't thinks it's succeeding...I mean look at that stitched smile! I can't help but smile looking at it!!LOL!

I am entertaining the thought of putting these on my Etsy for the Fall season!

What do you think..

are these clips

"Etsy" worthy?!

These would make great Teacher gifts...Teachers always dress the season!!

I LOVE that about Teachers!!!

*********

I hope everyone is having a great week!! Friday is just around the corner!! Woop! Woop!!

I am really Excited for Friday...I am heading out to Spokane with a couple friends to go to the

Women of Faith concert!!

This will be my 3rd time!!!

It's a weekend filled with uplifting inspirations, music, good friends...

and of course we will sneak in some shopping too!!

Can't WAIT!!!

(except now I have to go finish my laundry...blah!)

EEEEEK! Super Stoked...

2010-09-13T13:41:00.000-07:00

Take it from me

is doing a feature and giveaway for

~Couture Unraveled~ Etsy!

Go there to enter for your chance to win a Custom hat and flower clip!!

I am so EXCITED!

You HAVE to go see what she sais about

~Couture Unraveled~

(I am still blushing...seriously!)

********

Also soon I will be participating in a Halloween event put on by Family and Life in LV (and i think a few other blogs) where you can find some recipes, crafts,giveaways, and tutorials!! It will be SO FUN!!

I will let you ALL know when I know more...but I will tell you this...it runs from Sept.26th-Oct.10th and I will be doing a...GIVEAWAY for some Halloween FUN!!!

Stay tuned for THAT!!!

Bling Bling it's a girl thing....

2010-09-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

A long time ago...

I found this blog post on Brassy Apple on how to make a chandelier for a girls room using some wire hanging baskets from the Dollar store and some beaded necklaces from there and a few embelishments from a craft store or maybe you have a craft stash??l!!

Click the link above for the full "items needed" list and also the tutorial. Be aware...once you go to Brassy Apple...you may be there for hours looking at all the fun stuff you WILL want to do!!

Don't say I didn't warn ya!!

anyway...

I wanted to show you my finished project...after months and months of already having the items needed to create this fabulously girly project...

here it is...

Please excuse the photo quality...I snapped SEVERAL pics of this darn thing and It was hard to get a REALLY good one...maybe it's just one of those things that in order to see the true beauty of it...

you have to see it in person...

or...

maybe I'm just not that good of a photographer?!

One may never know!!

Imagine laying on your bed staring up at all the girly sparkle...I bet my girls really feel like royalty now!!! and If they don't...they SHOULD!!LOL

What more could a girl ask for?! A decor adorned in diamonds and pearls!!

Well...

not really...

but...

it looks like it anyway!!!

So does anyone have any projects at home that they have all or most of the stuff to do...but just haven't gotten around to doing it yet?! or maybe that is just plain the "life of a crafter"?!

Have a GREAT week everyone!!!!

Victoria W.

~Couture Unraveled~

Avoni's Boutique GIVEAWAY

2010-09-08T09:13:00.000-07:00

IT'S A GIRL

Avoni's Boutique
is having a SWEET GIVEAWAY to celebrate finding out baby #3 is a GIRL!!!
so...guess what...

You could win this felt rose cluster clip in your choice of up to 3 colors and it comes WITH the headband!!(sweet!!)

3 ways to enter!! LOW entry's!!

Don't forget to snoop around at ALL the goodies at

Avoni's Boutique

You will not be sorry!!

GOOD LUCK ALL!!!

Infant ~Couture Unraveled~ photo props

2010-09-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

~Couture Unraveled~

It's BEST!

I have been wanting to make some infant photo props for a very LONG time! Unfortunately...I am not a photographer and I have NO infant!!

(read announcement below)

That was

UNTIL.......

I had the privelege of running into a new local Photographer

Jessica from

About Heart Photography

She is just getting started in Photography and I was trying to figure out how to make my infant photo props desires become a reality! So we have teamed up of sorts...I make her photo props...she uses them...I get to use the photo's for my advertising!!! and she gets happy customers when they see their little peanuts in photo's like these...

pictured above: Miss Kayli wearing a Fuzzy trimmed Aerro Hat

pictured above:

Miss Kayli wearing a pom pom stocking hat with a garden party flower clip

pictured above: Miss Kayli in a Kangaroo Pouch wearing a matching Avoni hat and a Red Rose flower clip

pictured above: Miss Kayli wrapped in a super soft pom pom mini blanket

all photo props are handmade by:

~Couture Unraveled~

ooooh....awwww....I know...right!!!!

This little peanut is baby Kayli and I believe she is maybe 1 week old...

there is NOTHING sweeter on this Earth than a tiny little newborn...so innocent...so peaceful...so helpless!

I had so much fun making these props...I am working on more props(my head is spinning with ideas)!!

I am hoping to get them listed in my Etsy shop SOON!!!!

*Also* Look for Holiday Photo Props coming soon too!!!

aaaaand...

I do have a little personal announcement to make as well...

It seems we will be having our very own Baby ~Couture Unraveled~ in just under 8 months!!!!

WOOP WOOP! Baby #6 is ON ITS WAY!!!

You know this baby will be completely ADORNED in Crochet goodies...I can't WAIT!!!

Have a FABULOUS weekend all you Unraveling people!!

Eden's Bouquet Giveaway

2010-09-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

Eden's Bouquet is VERY generously offering 1 Extremely LUCKY person a $300.00 Gift Certificate to her online store!

Jen~creator and founder of Eden's Bouquet uses

ONLY

the finest quality material for her intricately designed Children's Clothing!!

You DO NOT want to pass up this opportunity!!

Go HERE to enter!!!

Pumpkin Head!

2010-08-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

I CANNOT believe Fall is coming!!!

That means lots of Oranges, Brown, Greens, and Reds are going to be coming out!!! YAY!!

I LOVE FALL!! Candles burning, Stews Cooking, Deserts Baking,

and PUMPKINS!!!

So in HONOR of Fall I made this...

It's a newborn Pumpkin beanie!!!! I LOVE IT!!

It will have a matching cocoon and it's for an infant photography prop...but it TOTALLY got me thinking about Fall and ALL the things I LOVE about that season!!!!

The first sign of Fall for me is....

KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL!!!

and THAT is EXACTLY what mine did TODAY!!

3 out of the 4 that started school today...the 4th is in p.m. Kindergarten and it's morning here...I will post her later!!!!

so...

What is YOUR favorite season?! and Why?!

Everyone have a GREAT WEEK!!!!

FREE Photo Book

2010-08-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

RIGHT NOW

Picaboo is Letting

ALL NEW

Customers get an 8 x 11 photo book in classic, classic custom and EVEN classic leather!!

You pay the cost of shipping...which is $8.99!!(enter code FREEBK at checkout)

(book value is $39.99)

Holy Smokes!!! Great Deal!!

I just created mine...IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!!

BUT...

YOU BETTER HURRY

THIS OFFER EXPIRES 8/31!!

I have seen these books...and they are so awesome!!! What a GREAT way to keep all your photos! Especially of a special occasion...like...a wedding, anniversary, birthday, vacation, fun day at the park or even your child's FIRST YEAR OF KINDERGARTEN or THE LAST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL~what a great way for a Senior to capture all the great times with friends at school!!!

This would also make a GREAT gift for Grandparents or Parents!!! The possibilities are ENDLESS!!! I wish I could have ALL my photo's arranged and put in these books!!!

Now THAT would be COOL!!!

SO...Hop on over to Picaboo and whip yourself up one or two or three of these babies!!!

WHAT are you going to put in your book?! Do you have a theme idea?!