Scratch & Create Beautiful Works of Art

Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


When I was a kid, I would get excited over those junk mailers that had "scratch here and win a prize" on them. They were covered in those lottery type scratch off foil circles that I thought were so fun to remove. Of course, everyone won the same time share or dollars amount off a new vehicle scammy type prizes, but it didn't matter to me since I wasn't going to be cashing in on those "wins". While I don't play with scratch off lottery tickets often, maybe one or two a year, I think half the fun is taking a coin and rubbing off the foil. There's something addicting about watching the surface flake away to reveal something wonderful underneath. As fun as it is, most of the time there isn't any payoff for wasting your $1 on such a cheap thrill. Thankfully, for those of us who take pleasure in scratching off those foil covered game cards, there's an alternative for us to get our thrills and ending up with a beautiful payoff once the dust has been brushed away. 

If you joined in on the adult coloring craze, you aren't going to want to miss this new artsy craze- Scratch & Create! With Scratch & Create books, you'll use a specially designed stylus etch and scratch your way through unique, colorful illustrations, giving amateur artists like myself a whole new collection of projects to reach. 

In Scratch & Create Hand-Lettered Life, you get 16 colorful scratch boards and 4 alphabet and ornament stencils that will have you creating beautiful quotes and works of art quite easily. Simply remove the stencil page along the perforated lines in the book, center it wherever you like on your scratch board, then get to work scratching away until your masterpiece is complete. 

The stencils make it easy for people like me who don't have an artistic bone in their body to still be able to make pretty pieces while having fun. You certainly don't have to use the stencils and can freehand your own drawings if you like too! 

Hand-letting is fun, but since I am a more whimsical girl, I claimed Scratch & Create Enchanted Forest for myself. 

This book's size is about 1/2 of Hand-Lettered Life, but you do get 20 postcards, 3 lettering sets, and a set of ornaments to help you scratch your way to beautiful, personalized artwork. Both books come with an easy to use stylus so you don't have to worry about hunting down special tools to scratch away the metallic foil. 

I think Scratch & Create books are going to be the hot commodity this holiday season, just like the adult coloring books were last year. If you can't wait to jump on the craze, you can find both of these books, plus several other Scratch & Create titles at Quarto Knows. 

Do you know someone who would love to receive a Scratch & Create book this holiday season?

                                                            
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You Color My World ♥ Summer Coloring Fun Days Ahead!

Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my policy tab for more information.


The countdown is on. The girls will be celebrating another school year down in just two short weeks and we couldn't be more ready! If you are like us, your year has been packed full of activities and the promise of summer break with no school commitments has you giddy with excitement. Now, as excited as I am about the idea of sleeping in late, no homework, and no early morning lunches to pack, the one thing I am not looking forward to is, "I'm Bored!" I think that's the universal phrase that grates most parents nerves during summer break. Thankfully, I've got a secret weapon stashed away to help blast away summer boredom blues.... New activity books that the girls and I can do together!

If you've been here a while, you know that we love to get our craft on, especially during the summer months. One crafty activity that we all love here are adult coloring pages. So, when I heard about Stick it To 'Em: Playful Stickers To Color & Create, a sassy book with over 275 stickers to create, color, and share, I knew I had to have it in my crafting arsenal to break out when the girls start getting stir crazy in the summer. 

Stick it To 'Em offers guided instructions for easy drawing and lettering techniques, as well as step-by-step tutorials all designed to get your creative juices flowing. There are over 35 pages of stickers, some ready to pop off the page so you can immediately stick them wherever your heart desires, some black and white stickers ready for you to color in, and some blank sticker pages so you can design your own one-of-a-kind sticker creations.

There are multiples of each sticker, so each of us can take turns putting our own unique spin on the designs. Allison was itching to start using the book as soon as it arrived, so I gave her a little sneak peek so she'll have something to look forward to during the slow days of summer.

She then claimed a few of the sweet treat stickers to pass out to a few of her friends at school so they'll have something to remember her by over break.

Allison loves this book so much, if we happen to do a holiday gift guide this year, this book is definitely going to be included in it. 

The other book I have stashed away is Mom & Me: An Art Journal to Share. 

 
I don't think this book would be great for older teens, but for the 6-14 age set, I think it's perfect. This book is a full color art journal that mom and child work on together. Side by side pages are almost identical, one for the child to work on and one for mom to work on. Mom and child can write each other letters, share the things they are thankful for, write out their emotions, and share their future adventures, hopes and dreams. 

Each page is beautifully illustrated with blank spaces ready for mom and child to add the finishing touches to the page. This book is an awesome way to open up the lines of communication between mother and child through art and creativity. There are 127 pages in the Mom & Me Art Journal, so you'll have plenty prompts and activities to keep you busy all summer long.

Each book is available in major book retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, and Booktopia across the US, UK, and AU. Be sure to order your copies before your kids are out of school for the summer and "I'm Bored" becomes the phrase of the day.


                                                              

What activities do you have planned to keep the kids busy this summer?

Mason Jar Salads and More + Strawberry Walnut Breakfast Smoothie Recipe

I mentioned earlier that my husband has been on a weight loss/healthy body mission. Going to the gym every day at lunch has helped him lose close to 30 pounds this year. Something new that he is doing is packing his lunch to take in every day also. I've had to get creative with dinners lately, learning how to make extra for left overs for him to take in the next day. Some days that just doesn't pan out, and he is left packing a boring sandwich to take in.

Most of you know that I am a cook book junkie, and when I was offered a copy of Mason Jar Salads and More: 50 Layered Lunches to Grab and Go, I knew this was a perfect solution for those days when my husband needs a tasty lunch when left overs aren't an option.

Imagine leaving the house each morning for work with a healthy and delicious lunch in tow—no morning prep required!

Introducing “Mason Jar Salads and More,” a new cookbook that will show you how to create fun and easy layered lunches, snacks and more. This book will inspire endless on-the-go meal possibilities with its 50 recipes and gorgeous full-color photos.

Thanks to the glorious Mason jar and smart layering techniques (dressing on the bottom!), you can make delicious dishes ahead of time and spend no more than 30 seconds grabbing them from the fridge on your way out the door.

Sip on a Mango Smoothie for breakfast, be the envy of your coworkers with Asparagus Risotto for lunch, and enjoy Spicy Hummus and veggies for an afternoon snack… You’ll never be disappointed with your weekday meals again!

My husband never thinks of a salad as filling, but looking over the recipes, I knew putting a few of them together for him to try would make him change his mind in a hurry! The Mixed Greens with White Beans sounded like a great way for him to add protein after his workouts. The BLT Panzanella looked like a great combination of flavors he loves. And the Guacamole salad was one I knew he would like because he really enjoys snacking on avocados.

There is a section in the front of the book that explains how to properly layer the salads to keep the ingredients tasting their best while they are being stored. Also, there are great tips on how to reheat your food in the jars. Even better, the book is filled with beautiful color photos of the salads.

Jason has also been waking up early to eat breakfast before leaving for work. Sometimes I don't wake up early enough to make him a hot meal, but there was a breakfast section in the book that gave me some great ideas for breakfast smoothies that he can make the night before, then grab on his way out the door in the morning. This basic oats and fruit almond milk smoothie was a great base for one of my new favorite breakfast smoothies. It combines 1 cup of rolled oats, 1 1/2 cups plain almond milk, honey, and berry or nuts for topping.

I have taken this recipe a step further and combined frozen strawberries and a handful of walnuts into the mix for a hearty breakfast smoothie to eat on the go.

Strawberry Walnut Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats

1 1/2 cup of plain almond milk (or any milk of your choosing)

2 tbsp honey

1/2 cup frozen strawberries

1/4 cup walnuts.

Directions:

Combine the rolled oats and milk into a mason jar. Seal, then refrigerate over night.

In the morning, pour contents of the mason jar into a blender. Add in the honey, berries and walnuts. Blend until combined.

Serve immediately.

Mason Jar Salads and More not only has some fabulous recipes to spice up lunch time, but it provides inspiration to create even more salads your family will enjoy!

More about the book:

Author- Julie Mirabella

144 pages

ISBN Number-  978-1-61243-289-2

Published by Ulysses Press, May 2014

Mason Jar Salads and More can be purchased at Amazon, as well as most major book sellers nationwide.

*Disclosure- I received the above mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was provided. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items. 

The Fault In Our Stars (Craft)

I can't ever remember reading a young adult book when I was a kid. I pretty much skipped over that whole genre and went straight into adult novels. Harry Potter was actually the first YA books I read, and I was surprised that I liked them. My niece has introduced me to a few more that I love since then, so I guess I am more open to the young adult genre than I thought I would be.

My teen daughter has been obsessed with the book The Fault In Our Stars for the past year.

Around Christmas I decided to look up some quotes from the book for some personalized gifts I was making her. Some seemed a bit weird. "My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations." I sat there thinking "What the hell does that even mean? If the book is full of shit like that, it's probably stupid!" But, then I came across more that resonated with me- "That's the thing about pain, it demands to be felt." And "I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once." Awe.

I made these The Fault In Our Stars friendship necklaces out of polymer clay for my daughter's stocking at Christmas. She loved them!

The movie version will be released in theaters soon. Last month my daughter, who thinks she is going to DIE if she misses a day of school, asked if she could go to the midnight showing on opening day, then skip school the next day. I figured if a book was good enough to actually have her make that kind of request, I should give it a shot.

It was a quick read. A little sad, but predictable. Where the vocabulary of teens today is all about "yolo" and "swag", I didn't find a lot of the dialogue between the teenagers believable, but the book is filled with some pretty great and memorable quotes. By the end of the book I did finally get the whole "thoughts/stars/constellations bit. It did read a lot like a Nicholas Sparks novel, but overall, I enjoyed the book. And yes, I will be letting her go to the midnight showing when it comes to the theaters.


Have you read The Fault In Our Stars yet?

Sweet Cravings Review & Giveaway!

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my policy tab for more information.

It’s no secret that I love sweets! I spend a lot of time in time in the kitchen pouring over recipes and making delicious treats. When I find one that is pure perfection, I love to share the goodies with everyone! However, in recent years I have had to start finding healthier options when it comes to the shareable desserts. Several of my family and friends have Celiac disease, so serving anything with gluten is a no go. It took me a while to wrap my head around the idea of living a gluten free life. While I haven’t completely made the switch yet, I have drastically cut down on the amount that I do consume, and I have definitely felt the health benefits from what I have done so far! Before we got a Whole Foods a few months back, finding gluten free products was a challenge. For those of you who don’t have a specialty store like Whole Foods, there is good news! There is a new cookbook available that is chock full of delicious, gluten free recipes!

Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle, by Kyra Bussanich, offers 50 seductive desserts right at your fingertips. In Sweet Cravings, Kyra Bussanich, the first gluten-free baker to win the Food Network's Cupcake Wars, shares her indulgent recipes for cakes, muffins, scones, cookies, brownies, cobblers, buckles, tarts, and more. With delicious flavor combinations and unique recipes like Cherry White Chocolate Scones, Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes, and Mexican Chocolate Baked Alaska, this collection of 50 foolproof recipes invites home cooks to whip up sweet treats that everyone at the birthday party, brunch, or potluck can enjoy.

Kyra Bussanich was diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder when she was 20 years old. Part of staying healthy meant switching to a gluten-free diet. After being disappointed in the gluten-free products that were available on the market, she thought she’d have to live without birthday cakes and scones and doughnuts. So she attended the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu patisserie program and acquired a solid foundation of knowledge in classical French baking techniques. She then dedicated herself to baking gluten-free, opening up Kyra’s Bake Shop (originally Crave Bake Shop), in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

By craving, and by necessity, Kyra began experimenting with alternative flours and developed a set of cake recipes that taste as good, if not better, than traditional wheat-filled cakes. Her culinary creations know only the bounds of her own imagination and the desires of the people who ask her to develop something new, special and unique.

I recently received the book for review. As I flipped through the pages, I was delighted at the colorful food photos, the easy to read recipes, and the variety of treats that looked simple enough to make. When I got to these Peanut Butter Truffle Crispy Rice Bars, I knew this was the first recipe I was going to try. It looked easy and delicious, and I knew it was a dessert my whole family was going to enjoy.

 

Ingredients:

Crispy Rice Layer-

1/4 cup butter

1 10 oz bag jumbo marshmallows

2 tsp vanilla extract

8 cups gluten-free crispy rice cereal (such as Erewhon)

Peanut Butter Layer-

2 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

Chocolate Layer-

2 cups dark chocolate

1/4 cup butter

Directions:

Spray an 8 x 11 inch baking pan with gluten-free cooking spray and set aside.

To make the crispy rice layer, melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter browns, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the marshmallows and vanilla. Stir continuously until the marshmallows are melted. Remove from heat and stir in the cereal. Pour entire contents into the baking pan. Wet or grease your hands and pat down the cereal so it is level and compact. Freeze for 15 minutes to cool and set.

Using a stand mixer with paddle attachment, combine all the ingredients for the peanut butter layer and blend on low speed. **(Note, while the recipe did not call for it, I added 2 tbs milk to smooth it to a creamier frosting.) Remove the crispy rice layer from the freezer and spread the peanut butter filling evenly over it. Freeze until firm, 30 to 60 minutes.

In microwave safe bowl, or over a double broiler, melt the chocolate and butter for the chocolate layer and stir together until smooth. If using the microwave, heat at 30 second intervals, stirring well in between each interval. Working quickly, spread the chocolate evenly over the peanut butter layer. If the peanut butter is cold, the chocolate will set quickly.

Freeze the pan again, 15 to 30 minutes, as it will be much easier to cut if the peanut butter layer is firm. Cut into bars and serve cold or at room temperature.

These were seriously the best crispy rice bars I have ever made! The 3 layers all combined were pure bliss! And while I talked about loving to share, I was a little miffed when my husband decided he was taking in some of the bars to his co-workers. I wanted to be selfish this one time and eat them all myself! These will definitely be a staple treat in our home from now on.

There are so many other yummy, gluten-free recipes included in the book. You’ll find classics like warm apple crisp, or even recipes for dinner sides like Yam Biscuits. 

  

More about the book:

List $12.98 Hardcover $9.99 Kindle

144 pages color smooth glossy paper

Ten Speed Press

First Edition September 10, 2013

ISBN-10: 1607743604 ISBN-13: 978-1607743606

Sweet Cravings, by Kyra Bussanich can be purchased today at Amazon.com and all major book stores.

Win It!

One lucky Theresa’s Mixed Nuts reader is going to win their own copy of Sweet Cravings, by Kyra Bussanich! The giveaway is open to residents of the US, 18+. No PO Boxes will be accepted. The giveaway will run through 10/18. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, or a new winner will be selected. Please enter on the Rafflecopter form below. 

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