What are your concerns about Christmas? What kind of gift can I give that won’t break the bank? How will I wrap it? How can I wrap the [...]]]>

Christmas always has a way of sneaking up on me! I looked at a counter graphic and found that Christmas is 52 days away. Much closer than I thought.

What are your concerns about Christmas? What kind of gift can I give that won’t break the bank? How will I wrap it? How can I wrap the gift, without having all the wrapping thrown out.

Today, I’d like to make some recommendations!

Let’s start with what kind of gift you can give that won’t be really expensive. With the trend turning back to handmade and handcrafted items, rather than store bought,  I’d like to recommend Etsy for your Christmas shopping. And you can shop from home – save gas!

Not familiar with Etsy? Your place to buy all things handmade. Etsy offers just about anything you are looking for in the way of a gift for that special someone.

My Etsy Shop is Handmade By Sandi where I offer a variety of crocheted items, sewn items and jewelry. And custom orders are welcomed!

Do you know someone who loves Starbucks? Use one of these crocheted coffee cozies – replace the cardboard sleeve. Helps to keep the coffee hot and keep your hands cool! A variety of colors are available – just the coffee cozy or some are embellished like this one with flowers.

Have a teenager to buy for? How about a unique choker that can be worn with casual as well dressy outfits? These chokers come in a variety of colors – very soft feeling and ties in the back!

Do you have someone that has everything? Want something truely unique? This bowl is great for potpourri, is crocheted and soft and won’t scratch furniture.

Have a friend who loves to take her own bags to the store? How about one of these?

Now how do you wrap these gifts and any others that you purchase? Save money and the earth. Don’t buy wrapping paper and tape. Try one of my fabric gift bags from Sandi’s T’s. Offered in a variety of sizes and different Christmas fabrics – these gift bags will keep on giving!

Now is the time to order your gifts and gift bags before the holiday rush! You will be greatly appreciated by whomever receives your gifts.

Enjoy your shopping from the comfort of your home!

Sandi

I chose to write about a favorite food – actually my favorite recipe.

Many years ago when I was a single mom, and had to come up with recipes that would be nutritious [...]]]>

I belong to a great group – EtsyBloggers and one of the neat things we do each month is to write about a specific topic.

I chose to write about a favorite food – actually my favorite recipe.

Many years ago when I was a single mom, and had to come up with recipes that would be nutritious and easy to make, as well as economical – I remembered that I had a recipe from my Mom – called Hawaiian Ham.

Recently, I asked her about this recipe to find out where she got it. Haha – she said, I made it up as a way to use left over ham. We both laughed about that. Isn’t necessity the mother of invention?

Ever cooked a whole or half ham, and you find that there’s always bits and pieces left over – not enough for a full meal of ham slices, etc – but enough that you could freeze several bags of it.

And that’s exactly what I learned to do. Make enough for not only 1 meal but several. I carried this through all the years my girls were growing up, and they have carried on the tradition.

This recipe is great with a number of items added – maybe additional leftovers?

Hawaiian Ham
2 cups of cubed cooked ham
1 onion cut into small pieces
3 stalks of celery cut up into small pieces
1/2 green pepper cut into small pieces (optional)
2 cups of pre-cooked rice
1 can of diced pineapple
1/2 can of diced pineapple juice
1 cup of frozen peas (optional)

Saute onion and celery (and optional green pepper)
Add cut up ham
Add pre-cooked rice
Season with salt and pepper (soy sauce optional)
Add diced pineapple and some of the juice
Add frozen peas (optional)
Heat through.
Enjoy!

Sandi

With school either just starting, or coming up soon – we are always looking for bargains in school supplies and items that are just nice to have for school.

I belong to a great group – Etsytwitter Team, and we are having a Back To School Sale from August 25 – September 7.

Many of the Etsy Shops [...]]]>

With school either just starting, or coming up soon – we are always looking for bargains in school supplies and items that are just nice to have for school.

I belong to a great group – Etsytwitter Team, and we are having a Back To School Sale from August 25 – September 7.

Many of the Etsy Shops that are participating, will be donating school supplies to their local Staples, or donating part of their proceeds so local kids can get the supplies they need.

My Shop Handmade By Sandi is offering 10% off any of the items listed in my Back to School section as well as donating part of the proceeds.

I also created a treasury that includes many of the Etsy Shops that will be having this sale.

The shop names are listed under the name of each item – for example lindab142 is http://lindab142.etsy.com to see all the items that these shops have for back to school.

Enjoy your shopping and saving.

Sandi