Happy Halloween Treat- Recipe

Happy Halloween to everyone!

For Halloween I wanted to include a treat for all of my readers! I haven't figured out whether it's really a tutorial or a recipe, but since it's edible, I'm going with recipe.

Spooky Jello Worm Cups

4 small boxes of green gelatin
3 small boxes of gelatin of your choice- I recommend a light color like orange
12 cups of water, divided
gummi worms
clear plastic party cups

Boil 4 cups of water. Stir in all of green gelatin until completely dissolved. Add 3 cups cold water. Stir to combine. Ladle into cups and refrigerate until set. After green gelatin has set, boil 3 cups of water. Add remaining gelatin to hot water and stir until completely dissolved. Add 2 cups of very cold water. Remove cups from refrigerator and place gummi worms on top, reserving 1 per cup for topping. If you have smaller ones like we did they will be covered by your second layer, if they are large, you can dangle them over the edge of your cup etc. for a different look if you choose. Ladle second flavor of gelatin over worms. Refrigerate until firm. Top with worms just before serving. Keep leftovers refrigerated.

JenolaStyle Etsy Shop Review

<div style="text-align: center;">I was hoping to get a shop reviewed every week, but have kind of fallen behind on this. I'm starting out with shops from which I have actually purchased things.. since I feel most qualified to give an opinion about the quality of work and service. This long overdue review is of an Etsy shop I love and which belongs to a dear CEM team member friend of mine. Sorry it took so long Jen! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5449208"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 465px; height: 61px;" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/iusb_760x100.5643917.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5449208">Jenola Style</a> is an Etsy gem! I bought a wonderful bag form this store, and couldn't be happier. It is made with excellent craftsmanship, fits all of my purse essentials, is as beautiful and one-of-a-kind as I imagine myself being, and possibly best of all, it features my "I (Heart) Etsy" button perfectly!! Every time I walk out the door carrying it, I'm hoping someone will compliment me on it so that I can tell them where I got it!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSZTQZ0tKAbdRxqZ9drSdWGaM8ZJkbMeo-uf1C1o2T9RS1Trb42KntutFwlp4iPasFRrjQHwJqAY4C9zVu6TZEaau-153ztmz-XUryqLiRlMeii_MPvEeLxWYPu9HNBtMfJAhImgizPON/s1600-h/036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSZTQZ0tKAbdRxqZ9drSdWGaM8ZJkbMeo-uf1C1o2T9RS1Trb42KntutFwlp4iPasFRrjQHwJqAY4C9zVu6TZEaau-153ztmz-XUryqLiRlMeii_MPvEeLxWYPu9HNBtMfJAhImgizPON/s320/036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262836784681236866" border="0" /></a>JenolaStyle offers a wide range of beautifully hand and machine sewn items including embroidered onesies, appliqued onesies and sets, children's aprons, and of course bags! Everything she offers is beautiful and unique. If you order a laptop bag from her you know no one will ever mistake it for theirs beautuse of how unique every item is. Not only do you get great color comos, and cute prints chose with Jen's impecable taste, you also get a quality made product with exemplary workmaship that you know is going to last! </div>

I was hoping to get a shop reviewed every week, but have kind of fallen behind on this. I'm starting out with shops from which I have actually purchased things.. since I feel most qualified to give an opinion about the quality of work and service. This long overdue review is of an Etsy shop I love and which belongs to a dear CEM team member friend of mine.

Sorry it took so long Jen!

Jenola Style is an Etsy gem! I bought a wonderful bag form this store, and couldn't be happier. It is made with excellent craftsmanship, fits all of my purse essentials, is as beautiful and one-of-a-kind as I imagine myself being, and possibly best of all, it features my "I (Heart) Etsy" button perfectly!! Every time I walk out the door carrying it, I'm hoping someone will compliment me on it so that I can tell them where I got it!JenolaStyle offers a wide range of beautifully hand and machine sewn items including embroidered onesies, appliqued onesies and sets, children's aprons, and of course bags! Everything she offers is beautiful and unique. If you order a laptop bag from her you know no one will ever mistake it for theirs because of how unique every item is. Not only do you get great color combos, and cute prints chose with Jen's impeccable taste, you also get a quality made product with exemplary workmanship that you know is going to last!

Build Your Own Custom Rosettes!!!

The SMOX store is excited to announce our newest item; Build Your Own Custom Rosettes!!!
The only ones offered at this time are snowflake rosettes. Buyers have the choice of 11 snowflake ribbons, 11 grosgrain ribbons in solid colors, glitter, and of course their choice of clip or headband.

Hard plastic headbands have a $2 shipping surcharge because of the larger size box needed for shipping them. If a hard plastic headband is chosen it can be ribbon wrapped to match your rosette for an additional $2.

One of the wonderful things about these rosettes is that they are being sold individually! Now you can order just one clip for a half back hair style, or order a headband for a baby. Or if you'd like more than one, convo me, and I can change the sale. Buying 2 also gets you a discount! Get a pair for pigtails! Or matching headbands for twins! Even create your own sister set with a headband for baby and clip for big sister! There are so many possibilities, make sure you come take a look and design your daughter's newest hair bow yourself!

Etsy Blogger of the Month: Mama's Magic

I recently was approved for the Etsy Bloggers street team! I am so excited to be a part of the group, and am thrilled to be able to participate in their monthly blogger feature! Every month the group features one of their members, and each member writes about that Etsyian. This month's is Mama's Magic!! What better way to start off being a part of this than with such a wonderful Etsy seller and blogger.

Reading Mama's Magic give you a window in to Jen's life, not only as a crafter and artisan, but as a mother and person. She has a great sense of humor, and an equal sense of style. With two fourishing Etsy stores, you might expect her blog to be chock full of crafting and Etsy store news, but hers is a much more personal blog that includes Etsy promotions and news here and there, and a weekly Friday feature. If you're ever looking for a fun read, hers is a blog you should surely consider.

Jen's stores showcase her sense of simple elegant style in a ultilitarian way. Baby Friendly Beads offers an entire like of jewelry for nursing mothers including breast feeding reminder bracelets, and nursing necklaces. But BFBeads aren't just for nursing monthers, JEn herself will tell you they are "sturdy and stylish... (and) are perfect for anybody who spends time with kids." With the holiday season fast approcahing, think about picking so up for yourself and your friends. Her work would be perfect for nanny or your favorite day care worker as well as your friend or family member with a new baby.
Her second store, Mama's Magic Studio, features light hearted fraternal earrings, and skillfully beaded bugs. She has some expecially cute ones for that special knitter you know!

Tagged!! A Few Smox Facts

I've been tagged by the wonderfully talented Tulip's Treasure Box! She had such beautiful, yet stunningly simple jewelry!

Now the tagging game rules: Share 7 things your readers may not know about you and tag 7 others to do the same thing, then include a link in your blog back to the person who tagged you.

1. I've been a crafter my entire life, and started with hand embroidering at the age of 3

2. My store name is actually a product name! Smox (patenet pending) will be available in my store very soon, so keep an eye out!

3. I participated in the Invention Convention as a child, and had an entry that was unawarded because it was too good. I was told that a child my age could not possible have thought of it without help.

4. I have pursued many various crafts over the year including such things as jewelry making, soap and candle making, wood burning, latch hooking, knitting and quilting. I just LOVE crafting.

5. I may love crafting, but I love baking even more!!! I would love to be able to attend a patisserie program at a culinary school some day, but for now just enjoy aking for my family.

6. I juggle crafting with being a stay at home mom, and home schooling my preschooler!

7. Althought I love doing arts and crafts I'm not always great at it. lol In hich school I gtook drawing to fulfill my arts requirement, and got a C in Drawing 1. Ugh. lol

Tag:
Cozy Cabin Creations
Growing Up Maya
Heather's Custom Sewing
Pumpkinhaus
Angie's Crafts
Rosa Dolce Designs
Childish Thoughts

Holidays, Friends, & Fabulous Food

As we near the holidays, it's getting to be the time for holiday crafting, holiday shopping, and holiday baking too! The holidays especially are a time for friends, and coming together of delicious food! Through Etsy I have made some wonderful friends. Some of my Etsy friends have Celiac, some have grain allergies, and some have a gluten-free diet by choice. I have also made some wonderful Etsy friends who are lactose intolerant. I myself, have a legume allergy. I doubt we will have the chance to get together over a nice warm cup of cider anywhere other than Etsy chat, but I got started thinking about what sort of delicious holiday treat we would all be able to share without compromizing flavor. If it's a holiday sweet, it's got to be indlugent, rich, and of course, delicious! So here it is.. a recipe that is amazingly delicious, but we can all still share!

Fabulous Flourless Chocolate Cake

14 squares (14 oz) semisweet chocolate, chopped

2 squares (2 oz) unsweetened cholcoate, chopped

1 cup butter (2 sticks; do not use margarine- for dairy free use Crisco)

9 large eggs, seperated

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Preheat oven to 300F. Remove bottom of 9" by 3" springform pan; cover with foil, wrapping foil around back. Replace pan bottom. Grease and flour foil bottom and side of pan. In heavy 2 quart saucepan, melt chocolates and butter over low heat, stirring frequently, until smooth. Pour chocolate mixture into large bowl. In small bowl, with mixer at high speed, beat eg yolks an dgranulated sugar until very thick and lemon-colored, about 10 minutes. With rubber spatula, stir egg-yolk mixture into chocolate mixture until blended. Wash and dry beaters. In seperate large bowl, with clean beaters and with mixer at high speed, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted. With rubber spatula, gently fold beaten egg whites, one-third at a time, into chocolate mixture just until blended. Scrape batter into prepared pan; spread evenly. Bake 35 minutes. (Do not overbake; cake will firm upon standng and chilling.) Cool completely in pan on wire rack; refrigerate overnight in pan. Run thin knife, rinsed under very hot water and dried, around cake to loosen from side of pan; remove side of pan. Invert onto cake plate; unwrap foil from pan bottom and lift off pan. Carefully peel foil away from cake. To serve, let cake stand at room temperature 1 hour. Dust with confectionsers' sugar if desired before serving.

Tastes even better with a nice raspberry sauce drizzled over your slice!

Yield: 20 servings

My picture does not do this cake justice! It is sinfully good! Over baking, short of buring your cake won't change the flavor but will affect the velvety smooth texture. Oh, one last warning.. make sure you don't cut your servings too big. It's 20 servings for a reason! (And you can always go back for seconds!)

Sister Sets for the Holidays!

Get ready for the holidays with our new sister sets!!!!

Sister sets include two coordinating items or sets for older and younger sisters to wear together, or can also provide two different looks for one girl. Perfect fo holiday photos, and parties!!

We will be offering many different sister set options. For now we have;
Headband and barrette, or alligator clip, you pick

And, barrette and alligator clip sets.

Winter Items Are Coming Into Stock

Winter and holiday items are coming into stock in the Smox store! There are new bows already listed, and more will be arriving daily! There are holiday ones like the ones above that belong to my daughter, cookie baking ones, and everyday winter ones like those below. Make sure to stop by and check out our new stock often! Most things I do are one of a kind, so you don't want to miss out!

Halloween SALE

Halloween will be here in just a few short weeks. To celebrate, all of my Halloween hair accessories are on sale for 10% off! Scare up some fun by getting the perfect bows to celebrate the holiday, or to match your little girl's costume! Enter code BOO10 in comments at checkout and either wait for a Paypal money request from me, or pay right away and I will refund the difference.

10% taken before shipping costs. Can not be combined with any other offer.

Been sort of MIA- Update!

I've been so busy with family things recently that I haven't done as much crafting as I might have liked, and definitely haven't gotten the new things I have gotten done listed. I will hopefully soon be listing the completed items; more necktie glasses cases, NEW repurposed necktie change purses, and a NEW Halloween pillowcase shirt. Also I will hopefully be completeing and able to list some Christmas bows! Not much else to report right now, and I desperately need to go work on the Christmas bows. =)