I've Moved to a New Home!

Greetings All!

I dunno if you've noticed or not, but I've kinda moved to a new site! I'm very excited about it and I hope you like it as much as I do. I'm still in the process of making it all pretty so judge me too hard. :) 
 
Click here to come on over and join in on the fun! 

As always, feel free to email me at ASparkle@ASparkleSays.com

Ciao!

#WorkInProgressTuesday

Greetings dear friend!

It's that time again to share what you're working on for #WorkInProgressTuesday! This month will bring many new projects for me and I'm excited to share them all with you here and on Instagram. I'm in a total growing period, full of research, change, and creative projects! I like this idea of sharing current projects for the simple reason that everyone generally likes showing off what they're working on. Plus, it's a great way to get feedback and some love on ideas that you are making come to life!

For the past couple of weeks, I've been working on this royal blue infinity scarf (pictures above & below) and I'm really super in love with it! I must say that I'm glad it's done though. A labor of love we'll call it. I seem to have two types of projects that I work on. Ones that I'm just trying to get through and others that I can take time on, detail, and really make special. Is it like that for you too? I was able to take my time on this blue scarf and I poured all my love into it.

Now I'm on to a new project and this one is for myself! It's not often that I get to make a scarf for myself, but I needed a prototype and so I figured what better way to test it out than to make it for yours truly. :)  I made this chunky white scarf a while back and I really wanted to play with that type of yarn again. The thing is, I don't have anymore chunky yarn in stock. What I do have however, is plenty of worsted weight (or normal size) yarn in lots of beautiful colors! So I decided to use two together and this is what I came up with...

If you follow me on Facebook then you will have seen this picture of the beginning of my new project. At first I was going to do a simple double crochet stitch, but I frogged the whole thing and started over mixing the double crochet & a criss-cross double crochet stitch! I love the texture that it brings to the whole look of the scarf.

I wasn't sure how I felt about pink & yellow together after I started working with them, but I started to warm up to it and now I think it looks quite nice actually. It will certainly garner looks and conversation if nothing else. Ha ha. Being at home sick for the last couple of days has allowed me to work on it while watching listening to the tv in-between naps. I'll probably be done with this scarf by the time next Tuesday rolls around and of course I'll show the end results!

So what do you think of the pink & yellow together? What colors would you pair up? What have you been working on lately? Show it off on Instagram with #WorkInProgressTuesday!!

Ciao!

March Monthly Goals

 Greetings Friends!

Its that time again for weekly wishes/monthly goals! Did you set any goals for last week/month? If so, how did they go? Are you just joining me? Let me explain what happens for Weekly Wishes..

The Happenings: You share your weekly, monthly, or yearly goals/wishes/achievements and you get to be a part of this big group of people that are doing the same thing. Yay! Wanna join in? Check out The Nectar Collective and add a link to your blog!

Hello loveies! I hope you had a great February and got many things accomplished. I'm currently at home nursing a mega head cold! Lots of meds, tea, and blanket cuddles are my current status. I'm sure I'll get over this soon enough, because I have big plans to attend to for this month! Spring is right around the corner and it always makes me feel renewed to get things done. Just this past weekend I rearranged my closet and got rid of a lot of clothes I just didn't need or want anymore. I'll be making a trip to Goodwill sometime soon! What have you been up to lately?

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Last Months Goals

Try New Foods ~ Ok, I kinda got this one done... There were epic cooking fails though in the progress though! I really really wanted to try spaghetti squash and I got this really huge one from the Farmers Market. I had bought meatballs and sauce to go with it and when I tried to cut the squash in half the knife said, "NOPE!!". I mean, I really tried with all of my might to cut that thing and it just refused to be cut! I even had The Boo try and slice it, but it was a no go. It was a good thing that I bought backup spaghetti... I also (successfully) cut some brussel sprouts in half, drizzled them with some olive oil and S & P and popped them puppies in the oven to roast. 35 mins later they were burnt to a very fine crisp!! I can laugh about it now, but at the time I was upset. Not so much at the fact that I burnt them, but that I didn't get to try them and I was very hungry. I ended up just buying dinner out that night. Ha Ha.



Designing New Site ~ Welp, I'm still in the process of getting this one done. I'm liking the direction I've got going, it's just getting around that damn learning curve when getting to know a new website and how it all works. You know where this goal is headed, right? ;o)


Hello Paleo ~ I can say wholeheartedly that I've enjoyed reading about and experimenting with the Paleo lifestyle. You can read about my experience thus far with it here! I totally plan to immerse myself more within this eating style. My body felt so much better when I wasn't eating so much bread and pasta.





March Goals


Roll Out the Site ~ I've been working hard on getting my new home on Squarespace just right and I really want to get it done this month. More like within the next couple of weeks really, because I wanted it done before now. Just some tweaking to do and then all will be well!


Change the Name ~ I've made the big decision to change the name of my business on Etsy. I'd been chewing on changing up the look, feel, & name of my business for a while now and I've finally made the choice to do it. Now that I've made that choice I need to order all new labels, stickers, post cards, etc with the new name and logo. The 1st thing on the to-do list is get business cards. By the by, did you know you could design and get 10 free sample cards from Moo.com?? You're welcome! :o)


Learn a New Stitch ~ You can't have a new business name and look without learning some new techniques on your craft now can you? I want to learn at least two new crochet stitches and practice them until I'm comfortable with them. I'm really looking forward to this task!


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So tell me dear friend, what are you excited about working on for this month. I'm ready to get started on mine and kick-butt on the new and wonderful projects I have planned!


P.S. Come back tomorrow for #WorkInProgressTuesday where you can share what projects you've been working on! Check out last weeks post here!


Ciao!

My Paleo Adventures

Greetings!! 

It's a rainy, cold day with the threat of a snow storm. It's the perfect kinda day for writing and sharing, no? Sometime back I mentioned that I was looking into changing my eating habits and giving Paleo a nudge. I like the fact that it's a lifestyle and not a diet... My bestie gave me a really good starting point by recommending Michelle's Nom Nom Paleo! Her website is fun to read, her recipes seem very easy and so far are radly delicious! I must admit tho, that I've only made one recipe so far which is her Garbage Stir Fry which included:

Chicken
Bell Peppers
Onion
Broccoli
Garlic
Carrots
Spinach

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Last week to get my feet wet, I decided that I was going to go a week without bread! I am the sammach queen, so this was a big deal for me. :) For our dinners I cooked nothing but meat and veggies and I was really pleased with the results! It forced me to be more creative with what I was cooking instead of relying on breads and pastas which is pretty standard around my house. I even ended up losing 2 lbs! Yip yippie!

I really enjoyed last weeks eats and so I figured why not try it again with the meat & veggies thang. So this week I'm going to try another recipe from Nom Nom Paleo & cook  Sauteed Shrimp & Veggies! I've got my fresh shrimp and broccoli ready to roll for tonights meal and for the rest of this weeks line up I'll prepare Grilled Chicken, Broccoli & Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Another Garbage Stir Fry, and Baked Chicken, Corn on the Cobb, & Roasted Brussel Sprouts with a Bacon Aioli sauce. Yum!

I know that I'm not full on practicing the Paleo lifestyle, but I need to bring in all the changes like a stealthy ninja. Quietly and slowly so that my brain doesn't freak out! Ha Ha. So let's consider this Phase 1 on implementing a new program. Have you tried any new recipes lately?

Ciao!

Photo Source ~ Primal GRITS 

#WorkInProgressTuesday

Greetings!

It's Work In Progress Tuesday, which means it's time to show off all of the projects you've been working on! I've been working diligently on the royal blue scarf that I showed you in last weeks post. I didn't really have long blocks of time to work on my project this week, but I've enjoyed stealing moments to get some hookin in. (crochet hookin that is) :)


It's gonna be an infinity scarf, long enough to wrap around the neck twice, and gloriously warm and comfy. There is nothing better than double wrapping a scarf when it's cray cray weather outside.

I predict that I will be finished with this project by the end of the week if not sooner. I'm really excited to complete it and move on to the next project.

Also, in the meantime, I'm still working on one of my monthly goals which was to find a new blogging platform and design a new page for my blog. I've had fun and frustrations trying to get it exactly as I want it to be. Hopefully I'll have a grand opening at the beginning of next month!


AND can I also say how exited I am to show you that The Boo & I made real.live.homemade.brownies. They were so good!! When it comes to baking, I'm a bit of a 'purest' if you will. I think things should be hand mixed and homemade, not from a box. They just taste much better. Plus they're made with love!

So what have you been working on this week? Use the hashtag #WorkInProgressTuesday  on Instagram so I can see your current projects!

Ciao!

#WorkInProgressTuesday

Greetings friend!

Although the super busy season is over for crochet, it’s still winter and scarves, hats, & the like are still in demand! Now, I don’t know how you are about your craft, but I still work even in the off season. What can I say? I have a yarn addiction! :) So in celebration of our craftiness or artisanisms (yeah.. I just made up a word). I thought it would be fun if we could show off what we are working on. The joys.. The struggles.. The Triumphs! And I shall deem this day W.I.P.T (“Whipped”) for Work In Progress Tuesday!!!

I don’t care what it is you’re working on whether it be a quilt, building a dog house, felting a hat, baking bread, or painting your living room! Let’s share our projects and encourage one another! I of course, will be posting about my adventures in crochet (for the most part), but feel free to hashtag #WIPT to whatever it is you’re working on or have just completed.

I’ll be participating with my #WIPT projects on my Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram. Follow me and share your photos of what you’re working on.

Last week I was working on a white chunky yarn scarf for a client. I can't say that I've been a big fan of chunky yarn, but I'm definitely warming up to it! This is only the 2nd chunky yarn scarf I've done and I totally dig it!

I really must make one of these for myself, but with big buttons. :) The sad part is that I've had 3 skeins of chunky yarn for years now to make a scarf for myself and I just haven't done it. Such is the life of a crocheter.. So, now I'm on to the next project which is a royal blue infinity scarf. It's gonna be nice & wide and long enough to wrap around the neck twice! I'm pretty geeked about it!!

So tell me peeps, what's your work in progress project?

P.S. Did you know I'm having a giveaway? Click here to enter the raffle!

Ciao!

Easy to Win Giveaway!!

Salutations!

How are you? What did you do for Valentine’s Day? Did you hang out with friends or spend time with your betrothed? The Boo & I made brownies together and we went to go see 50 Shades of Grey. Fun was had by all! I think it’s important to show the people that you care about, that well.. you care about them and to put out as much good energy as you can into the world. So, even though Valentine’s Day is over and done with, this is my post-holiday gift to you!

I’m raffling off my newest product, the Comfy Cozy Office Suite! 

You’re the first to see it and now you’ll have the chance to be the first one to own it! Inside the CCOS you’ll find:

Two Pencil Grips

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Two Drink Coasters

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One Cup Beanie

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One Tablet Tote

Can you really deny how cute this is? :) I like to keep things nice and neat on my desk and I don't like my cold drinks sweating all over my paperwork. Of course the coasters are perfect for this! And I don't know anyone who doesn't drink coffee or tea while at work. The Cup Beanie keeps my drink nice and warm, not to mention protects it from gross little gnats that fly around! The pencil grips to be honest are just so dang adorable and I love having something to keep my iPad in so I can tote it around and use it on my breaks.

This set is a $50.00 value & starting today I have it available for sell on Etsy! Through ordering it in my shop, you'll be able to choose the color you would like your set to be. I can also make the Tablet Tote for the iPad, iPad mini, or Microsoft Surface!

So on to the really big question! How do you enter to win?!?! Today through Monday February 23, 2015 I am raffling off this dove gray set you have seen pictured. All you have to do through my Rafflecopter below is either Visit & Like my Facebook page, Follow me on Twitter, or Tweet about this giveaway using #sparklegiveaway!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So what do you say? Are you ready to enter to win?!?!? Good luck!

Ciao!