Giveaways Rock!

Smox and Maggies Rose Garden are having a giveaway at ­ Smox Workshop Blog for a tutu and hair accessories!

What a great way to get your shopping done for the holidays, how about winning something fantastic!

You can always go to ­ SMOX and
­ Maggies Rose Garden to fall in love with all the beautiful products!

I have been seriously slacking...

Just so everyone knows I still have a pulse and still care, here is an update. A few things that have been going on in the wonderful land of Turtle Girl Mama Land.

1. My brother in law got married. That was fun. I say that very lightly.

2. I have two craft shows coming up, that I am very unprepared for, so now I have officially lit the fire under my rump.

3. Madelyn has been sick, and everyone else has too, but she matters the most!

4. WE ARE LOOKING FOR A HOUSE! So when I am not crafting or taking care of a runny nosed baby, we are trekking around Northern Rhode Island looking for our dream house.

So now that you know I am not gone, tell me whats new with the wonderful lives of everyone out there!

I am still here....

I just have been really busy. I still love everyone out there in the blogging world and I have a few new things to show everyone, but you must wait! I promise it will be soon!

Much love. Amanda

Naner Bread

Ah, Betsy (Tuff as Snails ) has been talking about Banana Bread for weeks now, she even posted an entry on her ­blog not to long ago. Quite frankly I think she needs a twelve step program for her addiction to Banana Bread, but thats just me!


My husband walked through the door from a interview with a fire station and asked what I was making, when I told him Banana Bread, his eyes lite up like I said I just won the lottery! We love banana bread here, but for some reason bananas rot in her house in like two minutes. Not in the good for making banana bread rot either, more like moldy bug ridden rot. So I stole some bananas from my mom and began the journey to naner bread land!


Well anyways, I was going to try her recipe but didn't have many of the ingredients on there, so I made my own! Fancy I know!


Here is my version, Banana Oatmeal Bread:


1 1/2 cup of All purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oatmeal
3 tablespoons of light brown sugar
1 teaspoon apple pie seasoning (or cinnamon)
2 1/4 teaspoon of baking POWDER (not to be confused with its cousing baking SODA)
1/2 c milk
1/2 applesauce
1 egg
2 very ripe bananas


I used a 8x4 greased loaf pan, but you can really use any square or cupcake pan. Preheat oven to 350 F.


Combine all dry ingredients and mix together very well. In another bowl mix together bananas, egg, milk and applesauce; combine all wet together til semi smooth.


Combine wet into dry. Mix until all incorporated, don't overmix!


Bake for 1 hour, or until golden brown on top, and toothpick comes out clean when in inserted in the middle! Cool on cooling rack or keep in pan, your the boss!

Now ENJOY!

This is a very unsweet bread, so if you like sweetness, it may not be for you. It is a variation on a Weight Watchers recipe. It is worth 3 points if you cut the bread in 7 slices! Its pretty good, just not very sweet. Maybe I should work on making super potent sweet bananas..... stay tuned.

Its time to be Tuff

Tuff as Snails that is! Let's talk about ­Tuff as Snails. Betsy is the sole creator behind the beautiful, funky and vintage inspired goods in her shop. I had been eyeing many of the dresses in her shop for quite awhile! I was able to scoop one up, but it will not fit my little turtle for quite awhile, but one must plan ahead! Betsy combines such unique, vibrant and beautiful fabrics together to create funky pieces of vintage inspired goods!

Looking to keep busy while out for the day, then the crosswords puzzle dress if for you, just make sure to bring a washable marker for years of enjoyment!

We all know every little kid wants to be a super hero like their mom, with this fancy dress and cape, their prayers are answered!

Just take a look at her Japanese Pop Octopus Dress, even if I had never seen the beautiful masterpiece of a dress, I would be intrigued by the name alone!

Not into dresses? Well she has you covered with that as well! Your little one could sport a sweet t-shirt with a "tuff" pirate lady on it! Just waiting to get that for my little one as well!

How about spicing up your neck? You can sport a sweet necklace of Lil Miss Muffet or how about a Anatomically correct heart brooch? With Tuff as Snails, you have one stop shopping to keep you funky and unique!

Check her out, I know you won't be diappointed!

With a name like world's best....

You just have to try it! I have been craving french onion soup for weeks0 so I started my journey on the world wide web to find a recipe, and stumbled upon it! It proudly claimed it was the best recipe, so ofcourse I had to try it! The one down fall with French Onion Soup is its made with beef broth and I do not partake in beef or pork! But if you know me, I never actually follow a recipe, I use it as a guideline and adjust accordingly!

So I started my journey and the smells so far are amazing!


I used white onions and leeks! But you can use any type of onion you like, or a mixture of all the onions you like. Its your choice!

A little background for you, I LOVE ONIONS! I love all types, I like them raw, I like them cooked, I like them in everything, so ofcourse Fench Onion Soup would be on the top of my soup list!
So you cut your onions, in moon shapes. I used two medium sized onions, and the white part of a leek. This amount of onions would serve about four people.
I used Smart Balance butter to cook them in. Low and slow, for a long time. It should take about 30 minutes to carmelize properly. Don't rush it!
If you cover them, it does help. Also add some kosher salt, a few pinches, this helps bring the water out and moves it along. Just remember taste before you salt it later, you probably won't need any more!
Most recipes will call for a bouquet garni of fresh thyme, parsley and a bay leaf tied in a cheesecloth. I don't mess with cheesecloth. I just put it right in. A palm full of each, but I skip on the parsley and use Italian Seasonings which has parsley, basil and other yummo tasting things!I used two 14 ounce cans of chicken broth. But if you do eat beef, you would want to do beef stock or broth, or you could do half in half, its really up to you! Then just add one can of water! Cover and simmer. The longer it simmers the yummier it will be! My soup will not be as dark as "traditional" french onion, but it still tastes like it, in my opinion not as salty either!

I served it in coffee mugs with garlic toast and then mozzarella cheese. You can use any cheese you like, though I wouldn't recommend any cheedar. Swiss is the traditional cheese! We had the soup with a salad and pizza made on whole wheat naan bread! It was delicous, and if you on Weight Watchers like me, it was pretty low in points for a lot of food!

I don't really have a recipe, as I guess, but I tried to give you the best guess as to what I did!

Madelyn ofcourse in her new Johnny Jumper and her fancy knee socks! She was watching us eat! Wishing she could eat it!

CLEARANCE SALE!

I am having a clearance sale at Turtle Girl Crafts! Everything in the clearance section has been lowered atleast 45%! Lots of fun clips for you or your little one!

Check it out for some great deals, the more you buy the more new things I add!

New Shop for Mama!

SO I decided to seperate my shops, to have one for Mama, and (Turtle Girl Crafts, the original) for baby and children.

So far, I will just be moving things from my Turtle Girl Shop over to my new shop, but go take a look to see whats happening over in my newest shop!

Lil Turtle Mama Crafts

I am very excited to open this new shop on Etsy!

Birthday Surprise!

What a birthday surprise! I was looking over this website, and found my tye dye mary janes featured on the Cafemom Etsy Moms section! It was a wonderful thing to see! I just had to share!


The website I am featured on!

Happy Birthday to ME!

So another year older, and lots to show for it. I won't make this a complete trip down memory lane, but since last year, I have got married and gave birth to a beautiful bouncing baby girl. I couldn't be any happier.

Alright enough with that.

I finally finished the cheerleading bows! I never have seen spools of ribbon as big as the ones I bought. I bought way to much ribbon, so if you are in the search of ribbon, please let me know, I have it for sale!! The bows are simple, but to get the three colors together I had to glue it all together and that was alot of work. But all in all it was simple, and it will be great to see my bows in action! The team last year went all the way to Nationals and came in second place! Yay to the South Attleboro White Hawks! Interested in your own cheerleading bows? You can contact me and we can ofcourse work something out! I have many styles and colors to choose from!

And because everyone needs a good laugh once in awhile, this is what happens when the husband dresses the baby!

Fluffy Bum!

The day has finally arrived, I have a fluffy bum baby! I found this woman on cafemom.com that coincidently lives pretty much down the street from me, that makes gorgeous cloth diapers! If you are interested in getting cloth diapers from this talented mama, you can contact her through cafemom via this group, Beezi Bum Cloth Diapers


My next venture will be to try to make them, I don't think its going to work, and I will be left unsatsified, but I suppose, I can sew, I have a baby, and the internet. We shall see what happens.

Right now in my shop I have all my booties on sale! They are originally $14, now they are $10! Great deal! Its for this week only, in celebration of my birthday, so get them while they are hot!

Well I am off to make 30 bows for a cheerleading squad that is going to involve me getting off the computer and begin heating up the hot glue gun!!

Now to end this on a beautiful note, the cutest fluffy bummed baby in her new dipe! I can picture what she is saying, MOM WHY ARE YOU TAKING MY PICTURE AGAIN!!!!

There is no place like home...

I have had adventorous day and too bad clicking my heels did not get us home! Gloomy and icky all day, lugging around an infant to a hospital and trying to keep her from not crying while visiting was an adventure in it self. But she wore her new shoes (ofcourse available at manda5463.etsy.com) and turned heads everywhere we went!

Anyways I have had a huge desire to feature a fellow etsian and have not figured out who to feature. I know this is a little blog, and noone reads it, but if you do, any feedback would be stellar.

Now to end on a great note, here is the Turtle Girl modeling her new shoes!

Ahhh my neck hurts!

Yeah I did that.

I also made 10 pairs of baby booties, like the Robeez, but much fancier! They have killed my neck, but so worth it. Here are a few of my favorites!

I will soon have a fluffy bottomed baby! I am so excited to get her sweet little bum in some cloth dipes. I ordered a whole bunch of supplies to make my own as well. Amazing, what an addicition. It seems that all addictions I have lately are buying things or making things for her. I couldn't even leave Target without atleast five things in my cart for her, some needed, but the onesie was not. A mothers love is never ending, but her bank account will feel the love! haha, she is worth it, once you see her little face its amazing, you fall and love and melt, all at once. I may be biased, but its the truth. Look at that face, ignore the silly man on the left, pay all your attention to the lovely lady on the right. Yes she LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE HER FATHER! Argh, I had no part in that baby making!

On a final note, I made these kick ass plugs for a friend I met on Cafemom. We made a trade, I feel like I made out in the deal, but she seems to like these. I enjoy them, I think they are super fancy, love the color, and who wouldn't want octopi legs coming out their ears?!

Feeling Lucky?

Well meet Humphrey! He is my newest creation and a great little blanket/lovey for your little one! I can make this baby beluga in many different shades of minkee as well as add more ribbons along the edge! The possibilities are endless!

So I have been keeping myself busy with a few new projects and ofcourse the polymer clay! I may have not told you aout my dirty addiction to polymer clay, but its really bad. I stay up late making mini chickens and frying pans! I am getting pretty good at it, but I am losing many hours of much needed beauty sleep!

Looking to get lucky? Get your minds out of the gutter, I mean get lucky and win something! KaytieBugs is giving away a custom skirt, just go check out her blog here and follow the instructions! Skirt Giveaway Good Luck Everyone!

I am a little machine...

Ahh, I broke the evil spell of laziness. I had been putting off sewing for a good few weeks, as I would have had to lug my machine out, set it up, cut (which I hate) and then sew (which I love). If I didn't have to cut fabric, I would be a very happy camper. I can't stand doing it. Ick. But I did it, and I finished four projects. A pillowcase bandana dress, crayon roll, a lovey blanket and an applique. Yay! I am proud.

But it doesn't end there!

Yesterday I was also a machine. I accomplished many projects as well, a tutu and five bows. Go me! Now I wish I could put it all in my shop, but I must wait for light to take pictures tomorrow for completed projects tonight, and I really should span out my uploading on etsy to get the most exposure. I hate waiting.

But a post wouldn't be complete without pictures, so here is a lovely picture that someone at cafemom edited for me. Thats my chubby little turtle girl.

Sweet Satsification

Ahhh, I finally did it. I have been toying with making pacifier and toy clips for quite sometime, but didn't want to buy all the supplies to do so! Well I did, and I love making them! I love that fact that they are better than the one I bought for my daughter at the store, and I could make one to match every outfit! Best of all, they can be used to hold onto toys as well, when you outgrow the binky!

The product of my labor:



Here it is being used by little lady:






All currently for sale at www.manda5463.etsy.com

I made the plunge..

For some strange reason this morning, at 6a.m., when my darling little girl woke up for her morning feeding, I decided I was going to create a blog. After putting her back to bed, I did it right then and there, instead of going back to bed, like I normally do. Crazy.

Well here it is. In all its glory. Its plain, its simple, and its dirty. I don't know much about making it pretty so the aesthetics of this beast will have to do.

To get to know me better, I am a 23 year old (almost 24 years old) stay at home married momma. I love my family more than I ever knew I could. My husband is a paramedic, and currently trying to get onto a fire station.

I have a little shop on etsy, where I sell my late night addiction, crafts of all sorts. www.manda5463.etsy.com

This blog will be about that, the late night musings of my addictions, maybe a tutorial, some pictures, and just updates on my life. Who knows, there could be a surprise around the corner!

So welcome, sit back, relax, and enjoy your day.