Pass It On Project

Have you all heard about the Pass It on Project?

The Pass It On Project is all about spreading joy through handmade items.

The principle is simple.  You receive two handmade items.  One if yours to keep, the other is to pass on to someone who could also use some joy.  Who couldn’t?  You then make two items and then send them along to a blog friend.  Your blog friend then repeats.  It’s one vicious joy cycle.

Guess what? I recently received some handmade joy in my mailbox from the lovely Amy over at Buffalo Roam.  Amy is hilarious. You should 100% read her blog. She just moved into her new home that her family put a lot of love into.  Beings Amy had nothing better to do, she whipped up these beauties.

Aren’t they cute?  Such a simple idea that has big impact.  And who doesn’t love a personalized gift?

Ike loved it.  Really.  He did.  He just hates the camera now.  Silly dog.

The framed letters looked perfect in our mudroom.  Amy’s good!

Thanks so much Amy! I smile every time I look at it.  The frame is a nice reminder of the fabulous people I have encountered through this little blog!  The “Live” frame will soon find a home with one of my good friends.

I’m going to do my joy spreading a little differently.  Because I’m different. 

Who would like to receive some handmade joy from me?  I will send two people some handmade goodness for them and a friend. I already have an idea in mind.  It’s fun.

Leave a comment below if you’re interested in participating in the Pass It on Project.  If there are more than two of you (I’m waiting for crickets on this one), I will use random.org to select two bloggers that I will announce sometime next week.  If you’re not one of those two, I will encourage you all to look through the comments and find others to continue on the spreading of handmade joy.  Deal? Deal.

Granola Bites

Nate and I recently thought we’d try this thing where we eat better. We don’t eat horrible.  We only eat junk food on the week-ends.  We do, however, eat an okay amount of packaged products.  We’re slowly transitioning to a more cleaner way of eating. 

We both like granola bars.  I eat a lot of them.  I decided to be a hippy and research making my own.  By making my own, I am aware of all of the ingredients in them. I like that.

I think I have finally perfected the art of granola bar making.  Well, I make bites. I like bit sized things.  They trick my brain into think I’m eating more.

My food photography still amazes me.

These bites are so good that I will no longer buy granola bars.  I make these at least once a week.  It’s a slight obsession.

Want to make your own delicious from scratch granola bites? I knew you did.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 C. quick oats
• 1/2 C. crisp rice cereal
  • I used Rice Krispies because I need to finish the box.  A less sugary option will be my next purchase.
• 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • You will probably want a little more if you are using a non-sugary rice cereal.
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 C. canola oil
• 1/4-1/2 C. honey
  • This varies every time I make it.
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 C. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, raisins, M&Ms, whatever you like!

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350.  I always forget to preheat my oven. I wish my oven could read my mind.  That would be amazing.

Mix together all ingredients except for the chocolate chips.  You want the mixture to be well mixed.  The oats will start to clump a little.  If your mixture seems to dry, you can add more honey or oil.  I prefer adding more honey. It keeps the bites from being too greasy….like my hair currently.  Mmmm, appetizing.

Once the oats are well mixed.  Add in the tasty stuff.  I’m a fan of Nestle’s Chunks.

Grease a mini-muffin tin.  I use cooking spray. 

Scoop the mixture into the muffin tin.  I usually fill each one to the top using a cookie scoop.

Bake in the oven for 13-14 minutes.  You want the tops to be lightly golden brown.  (If you cook the bites too long, they will be dry.  If you don’t cook them long enough, they will fall apart.  Honestly, they will taste delicious no matter what.)

Seriously.  When is the Food Network going to hire me as their photographer?

Pop out the bites and store in an air tight container.  My bites don’t last long.  These things are so stinking good. 

Any fellow hippies making their own granola out there?  Any other good granola recipes? 

I’m 30 Quilt

So, I’m participating in this Block a Month thing over at In Color Order.  Well, sort of participating.

To quote myself… “Once a month.  That’s pretty low pressure.  Finish a quilt top in a year.  That’s about right on schedule for my normal projects.  Let’s do this!”

Ummm.  Yeah.  I finished January's on time.  I finished February's at the end of March.  Follow through isn’t one of my strong points.

I have now decided that this quilt is going to be named the “I’m 30” quilt.  When I snuggle up with it as a rocking old lady, I will remember that I made it in my 30th year of life.  I’m using this as motivation to actually finish it in my 30th year.  And beings that June is half over and I was only on February, I decided to get to work.

I now present you with March’s block.

And April’s block.

April’s pattern is my favorite so far!

I’d totally be killing this quilting thing….if it was April.  At least I’m not extremely far behind now.

That would totally keep my….arm warm? 

I’ve been eyeing old quilts at antique shops.  Most of them sell for around $80. I can totally see why now.  Quilting is no joke.  My squares aren’t perfect but I can’t wait to have a quilt made by little ol’ me.  I will finish this thing.

Anyone else stink at follow through?  What’s the most recent thing you’ve started and failed to complete?  Anyone else participating in the Block a Month?