things we carry • palimpsestic

Jenn from Palimpsestic here. I've loved seeing the bags of other Dream Team members, so I thought I'd give you a look inside mine. I'm the mom of a ten-year-old boy and our whole family is outdoorsy and active, especially in the summer, so my "gear" reflects that.

My Mountainsmith bag. My husband did some work for Mountainsmith many years ago and they provided us with piles of gear. It was a brilliant marketing move on their part, because I’ve bought more since. I feel good about supporting a company local to me in Colorado. Plus, this particular bag was part of the initial haul. It’s at least six years old and still looks practically new. Everything else you see fits inside here.

2. My iPad and my GorillaMobile Yogi (those bendy legs, which are just about the best invention ever.) I used to always carry a book on me, but now my iPad serves that purpose. I also keep a photo gallery portfolio on the iPad so I always have a beautiful, high-resolution slideshow of my work.

3. Cinch sack containing geocaching necessities. I use my phone as a GPS, but this bag contains a pencil and some small toys to exchange for goodies when we find a cache. My whole family loves geocaching and we do it often.

4. Zipper bag with various cosmetic necessities—lip gloss, a stain stick (anyone who’s met me knows why I need this…I’m hopeless), miscellaneous pills, Burt’s Bee’s “green stuff” (my secret Mom remedy for everything), and some bobby pins, just in case I stumble on a lock that needs picking. (Kidding. I have long hair and those things come in handy.)

5. Moo cards!

6. Bluetooth earpiece, my iPhone, my Moleskine notebook, my favorite Bic pens, and a wire-formed hippo. What? You don’t carry a hippo?

7. Prescription sunglasses, which I rarely needed in Seattle, but always need since I moved to Colorado.

8. Reusable shopping bag.

9. Wallet

10. Headphones and a microfiber cloth for the iDevices.

11. Splenda. Pretty sure these are remnants from my recent cross-country Splenda-stealing crime wave. Also, I drink a lot of coffee.

Not shown is my water bottle-- a big, stainless steel, liter-sized behemoth. It's a necessity in this dry climate and I'm drinking from it right now.

So there you have it...the things I carry. I hope you had as much fun peeking into my bag as I've had peering into others.

giveaway • deloop

Dream Team Member Giveaway:

 $25.00 Gift Certificate to Deloop’s Fabulous Wedding and Fashion Accessory Shop! You will find: Halloween Accessories, Feather Hair Extensions, Gloves, Beautiful Hair Flowers and much more!

Come shop with the best!

Here is your chance to win this wonderful gift certificate!  This giveaway is for one Gift Certificate good for $25 towards Deloop’s shop.

TO WIN:

Mandatory Entry:

Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry.
Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win!

1 Entry Visit Deloop’s store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/deLoop?ref=pr_shop_more and browse around and leave a comment here with your favorite item!

1 Entry Follow this blog, the Dream Team Blog, leave a comment here that you completed this.

1 Entry Like Deloop on her Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/pages/DeLoop/215077378508678?v=app_169505045786, leave a comment here that you completed this.

Extra Entries:

Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1 Entry – Follow Deloop on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/deloop

1 Entry – Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment here that you did! You can tweet once per day and each tweet will count as another entry, just make sure you leave a separate comment for each tweet. Feel free to use this tweet or something similar:

Win #gc #halloween #wedding #bridal #blog #giveaway Ends 10/7! RT @dreamteametsy @deloop http://ow.ly/6Dtbq

1 Entry – Heart Deloop’s Etsy shop and leave a comment here with your Etsy username.

1 Entry Grab the Dream Team blog button and put it on your blog! Leave a comment here that you completed that with a link to your blog.

1 Entry – Blog about this giveaway and leave a link here.

1 Entry- Enter another of our giveaway’s HERE and leave a comment about which one you entered.

GUIDELINES/RULES:

Please make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry.

This giveaway will end at midnight EST on Friday, October 7.

The winner will be chosen by Random.org. I will have the winner announced by October 10, and he/she will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address. If a winner cannot be contacted, another winner will be randomly chosen.

This giveaway is open worldwide.

cook eat drink • savory short rib recipe

Hi! Jamie here from ShopOnALark with my famous Savory Short Rib recipe!
When I think Fall, I think of rich, wonderful foods that fill the house with a most appetizing aroma. Slow cooked, comforting and unctuous!!! (Many college kids, family and friends can attest to these claims!)

Gather you ingredients:
2 14oz cans chopped tomatoes
3/4 cup homemade or canned chicken broth
3/4 cup dry red wine (Cabernet is great for this!)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
4 tablespoons chopped parsley
3 or so sprigs of thyme
1 sprig of rosemary
olive oil
5-6 pounds short ribs
Salt and Pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Heat oil in a pan (about 2 tablespoons) Sprinkle ribs with salt & pepper and brown on all sides. Do not rush this step, it is where great flavor is developed! You may have to do this in two batches if your pan is not large enough. Once you are done browning, remove ribs to a shallow roasting pan.

3. Turn heat to medium low and add onions to the skillet. Use a wooden spoon to scrape all the browned bits from the pan as the onions begin to release heir juices. Continue to saute onions for about 3 minutes. Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes, broth and wine.
4. Bring mixture to a simmer, add 1 teaspoon pepper and 2 teaspoons salt.
5. At this point you can pour the mixture over the ribs, or if you have used an enamel cast iron dutch oven, you can return the ribs to the mixture.
6. Lay the thyme and rosemary sprigs on top, cover and bake for 2 1/5 hours, basting a couple of times and making sure that there is enough liquid in the pan. If too much of the liquid has cooked out, add some more wine. The mixture should cook down, but you will need a little liquid to keep it from burning.

7. Remove lid or foil and bake uncovered for 15 minutes.
8. Remove pan from oven and skim off any fat. Serve the ribs with the delicious onion tomato sauce sprinkled with parsley.

I love to serve these ribs over creamy polenta and roasted vegetables.

Bon Appetit!

(Please feel free to contact me with any questions or for my polenta recipe!)

Shared At:
This Chick Cooks 
 It's A Blog Party 
Creations By Kara

7 questions • SometimesISwirl

7 Questions with Sarah Hennessey of SometimesISwirl

1. Where do you live? I live in St. Louis, Missouri, with my husband and two kitties in a cute little brick house in the city. I am such a Midwestern girl, through-and-through. 2. What are you obsessed with lately? Oh dear - when the fall season comes around, I pick up some serious new obsessions. For instance, almost anything pumpkin-flavored (lattes, ice cream, ESPECIALLY pumpkin beer, pumpkin gooey butter cake, etc.). I also love scarves, jackets, boots. Some other recent obsessions would include my new laptop which has helped make my at-home etsying so much more efficient... Spotify.... twitter.... having open windows in the house.... and books about serial killers (I'm fascinated with criminal psychology!).And there are things that I'm *always* obsessed with: dinosaurs (pterodactyls in particular), cats, silver jewelry, spooning, drawing, sewing, going to thrift stores, used books, red wine, coffee. 3. Coffee, tea or both? Coffee over tea any day of the week - I am literally addicted to it. If I go a day without, I get the worst withdrawal headaches, so I'm in it for the long haul. Tea does not appeal to me very often. 4. What is your favorite thing about being on Etsy? The sense of community that all of these amazing artists and collections have created - not to mention the talent, wow. It can be straight-up intimidating some days, but most of the time, I feel so welcomed and embraced, which is incredible. Care to share a photo of you when you were little?

(I think I was around 4 years old in this pic?)

5. And what is your least favorite thing about being on Etsy? I hate that, in order to keep the business side of things organized and legit, there is so much book-keeping. Lots of putting information into an excel sheet for every sale, tracking expenses/deductions come tax season. I also am not the biggest fan of the constant editing of listings, taking photos and editing those, etc. So time-consuming! 6. What are you afraid of? I am scared of any insect or animal that uses jumping/sudden movement as a defensive or escape tactic - crickets? Hell no. Cannot deal with them. I'm afraid of driving when the roads are icy. I'm also scared of those closest to me dying. And honestly? I am afraid that our society is becoming so dependent on rapid technological advances - I'm afraid that I won't be able to keep up with it all, but more important, I'm afraid that things will get out of control. Like, I would prefer to sit down in my comfy living room chair and read an actual, physical book - and no thank you, I do not want to download a Margaret Atwood text to the chip in my brain. See what I mean? That's scary stuff. ;)

(The cats! Conn, my handsome brown tabby, on the left; and Lily, my chubby calico girl, on the right)

7. Who are you in love with? My husband takes the top... but I have so many other loves in my life! My mom and dad are incredible, my brother and sister-in-law and their new baby-to-be (my first niece or nephew, I love him or her already!), my very best friends, and yes, I am not ashamed to say it: I love love love my kittens.

giveaway • beadinbythesea

Dream Team Member Giveaway: 

Gorgeous Acorn Necklace – Swarovski Crystal Pearl Brass Chain Necklace! 

designed by beadinbythesea

Here is your chance to win this gorgeous delicate autumn necklace!  
This giveaway is for one antique brass gold pearl acorn necklace as shown below:

TO PURCHASE:

This item is available for immediate purchase HERE!

TO WIN:

Mandatory Entry:

Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry!! You must leave a comment saying what you have completed for it to count.
 
Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win! 

1 Entry Visit beadinbythesea's Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/beadinbythesea?ref=pr_shop and browse around and leave a comment here with your favorite item!

1 Entry Follow this blog, the Dream Team blog, (click on Join this Site above our followers), and please leave a comment here that you completed this.

1 Entry Like beadinbythesea on her Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/pages/Beadin-By-The-Sea/80052226627, leave a comment here that you completed this.

Extra Entries:

Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1 Entry - Follow beadinbythesea on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BeadinByTheSea

1 Entry – Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment here that you did! You can tweet once per day and each tweet will count as another entry, just make sure you leave a separate comment for each tweet. Feel free to use this tweet or something similar: 

 

Win #jewelry Autumn Acorn Necklace  #blog #giveaway Ends 9/30! RT @dreamteametsy @ BeadinByTheSea http://ow.ly/6wwW1

1 Entry – Heart beadinbythesea’s Etsy shop and leave a comment here with your Etsy username.

1 Entry Grab the Dream Team blog button and put it on your blog! Leave a comment here that you completed that with a link to your blog.

1 Entry – Blog about this giveaway and leave a link here.

1 Entry- Enter another of our giveaway’s HERE and leave a comment about which one you entered.

GUIDELINES/RULES:

•  Please make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry.
• This giveaway will end at midnight EST on Friday, September 30.
•  The winner will be chosen by Random.org. I will have the winner announced by October 3rd and he/she will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address. If a winner cannot be contacted, another winner will be randomly chosen.
•  This giveaway is open worldwide.

cook eat drink • Homemade Cake with Almond and Apple

Hello there! It's Meltem of meltemsem here with a delicious cake recipe - perfect for autumn!

Homemade Cake with Almond and Apple

Ingredients
*2 tbsp melted butter, room temp.
*1/2 cup crushed almonds
*3 eggs
*1/2 cup of milk (125 ml)
*1 cup sugar
*1 + 1/2 cup flour
*2 tsp of baking powder
*1 apple or peach or banana
*1 pack of vanilla

Method
Preheat your oven to 300 F (150 C)
1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar using mixer

2. Add milk while mixing

3. Add the flour, baking powder and vanilla while mixing and stir just until incorporated.

4. Oil the cake pan with olive oil and sprinkle some of the crushed almonds

5. Pour the mixture into the pan

6. Peal of the apple (or another fruit) and slice it into thin pieces

7. Sink the apple slices into the cake mixture

8. Sprinkle the rest of the almond on top of the cake

9. Put butter pieces on the cake, place it in the pre-heated owen at 300 F ( 150 C) and cook it for 30-45 minutes

Tip: You'll understand the cake is cooked if there aren't any sticky pieces on the knife when you stab it.

Enjoy!

things we carry • corrnucopia

Bare necessities are what it's about for me Ilena from Corrnucopia. I really don't care for carrying around a purse at all but out of necessity with my little ones, ages 3 and 5, I must. So here are my few must haves.

Wipes in a plastic baggie. These get me out of many messes. Apparently they are also very entertaining as they will keep my kids occupied when they are in the car and have had enough.

Measuring tape always comes in handy.

Hand lotion from Long Winter Farm. Love this stuff!

Money purse filed with the plastic, business cards, and the coupons that I forget I have when I'm at the store. Sometimes actual money.

Altoids. fresh breath is a wonderful thing.

Yellow goopy thing from the dentist's office prize box. It's absolutely disgusting but the kids love it. Used only for extreme meltdowns.

The phone. I've just joined the smartphone age and love being able to stay connected to my shop and Etsy. Totally addicted (to phone & Etsy).

Hearing aid batteries. A must have ~ my 3 year old son doesn't hear without them. I keep these in a little vintage leather case. Also a little tool that I devised to open the aids with (oh those child proof locks).

& these are the things I carry!

giveaway • littleshopofphotos

Dream Team Member Giveaway:

Autumn Halloween 5x7 Pumpkin Print from littleshopofphotos!

Here is your chance to win this fabulous home decor autumn photograph. This giveaway is for one 5x7 pumpkin print as shown below.

TO PURCHASE:

This item is available for immediate purchase HERE!

TO WIN:

Mandatory Entry:

Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry.
Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win! 

1 Entry Visit littleshopofphotos store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/littleshopofphotos and browse around and leave a comment here with your favorite item!

1 Entry Follow this blog, the Dream Team Blog, leave a comment here that you completed this.

1 Entry Like littleshopofphotos on her Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Shop-of-Photos/150729294948010, leave a comment here that you completed this.

Extra Entries:

Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win!
Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1 Entry - Follow littleshopofphotos on her blog at: http://micheleiljazi.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment here that are following her.

1 Entry - Follow littleshopofphotos on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MicheleIljazi

1 Entry – Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment here that you did! You can tweet once per day and each tweet will count as another entry, just make sure you leave a separate comment for each tweet. Feel free to use this tweet or something similar: 

Win #photography Autumn Pumpkin 5x7 Print  #blog #giveaway Ends 10/28! RT @dreamteametsy @ MicheleIljazi http://ow.ly/6kKpF

1 Entry – Heart littleshopofphoto’s Etsy shop and leave a comment here with your Etsy username.

1 Entry Grab the Dream Team blog button and put it on your blog! Leave a comment here that you completed that with a link to your blog.

1 Entry – Blog about this giveaway and leave a link here.

1 Entry- Enter another of our giveaway’s HERE and leave a comment about which one you entered.

GUIDELINES/RULES:

•  Please make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry.
• This giveaway has been extended and will end at midnight EST on Friday, October 28th.
•  The winner will be chosen by Random.org. I will have the winner announced by November 1st and he/she will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address. If a winner cannot be contacted, another winner will be randomly chosen.
•  This giveaway is open worldwide.