Fave Valentines things

Still need some inspiration for Valentines? Etsy has a million and one valentines things, these are my faves. Here are some snazzy and yummy ideas for inspiration. Bonus, you can still purchase all these in time for the 14th! Even the cake pops!

First we have a funky steampunk key heart ring from ParadiseFindings 
http://www.etsy.com/listing/90816602/sterling-silver-love-valentine-sale?ref=v1_other_1
 
Next are some cuuuute cake pops from mycakepopshop
http://www.etsy.com/listing/90855932/cake-pops-perfect-for-a-birthday

Okay so I know that this last one isn't everyone's style, but I know I could sure use a cupid hedgehog print to brighten my family room-   by HansMyHedgehog
http://www.etsy.com/listing/89962988/8x10-giclee-print-happy-valentines-day?ref=sr_gallery_8&sref=&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=valentines&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=21&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

Printable Valentines

It worked! Aren't they adorable!

I took a minute and printed off these cute Valentines cards from the freebie we posted a few weeks ago. I wanted to make sure they were as cute on paper as they were in my digital file.

Easy peasy. Just print and cut out along the grey lines (don't cut the middle line on the white ones unless you want just squares). I hope you enjoy sharing a bit of valentines love with your buddies this year!

Our Faves

We has such a crazy wonderful end of the year! We literally had photo pendants drying on every flat surface possible at one point. We wanted to share a few of our fun orders this past holiday season!

 

Thank you to all our wonderful customers!! We love transforming your photos into little pieces of love! Enjoy your new photo pendants!!

Our Best Bites: Creamy Corn Chowder

Do you remember my favorite Christmas present? Did you run out and purchase it yet? I'm telling ya, its the best cook book ever.

I made Our Best Bite's Creamy Corn Chowder. And let me tell you, as far as soups go, this is probably one of the best I've ever had. I really really enjoyed this easy soup, and it didn't take much time or extra special ingredients to make. I had everything I needed to make it on a whim one night! Here is the recipe:

Creamy Corn Chowder
Recipe by Our Best Bites

2 Tbsp. butter
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. water
2 1/2 c. milk (skim or 1% work just fine and lighten it up considerably)
2 regular-sized chicken bouillon cubes, 1 Knorr chicken bouillon cube, or 2 tsp. chicken base
1/2 lb. bacon (optional)
1 small onion, minced
2 red potatoes, diced into small cubes
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can corn, drained or about 1 1/2 C frozen fresh corn
Salt and pepper to taste
A few dashes of hot sauce (like Tabasco or Cholula)

Fry bacon until crisp. In the meantime, melt butter over low heat in a soup pot. When melted, add flour to make a roux and whisk until it comes together in a little ball. Add water and whisk until completely combined and there are no lumps. Add milk and chicken base or bouillon and bring to a simmer. Add potatoes, onions, and garlic, and simmer (but don’t boil!), stirring very frequently, for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add crumbled bacon and corn and heat through. Add a few drops of hot sauce and then salt to taste. The reason why I don’t have an exact measurement is that while the soup REALLY needs salt, bacon also really differs in its saltiness, so it can be super easy to make this soup waaaaay too salty. Start with about 1/4 tsp., give it a few minutes, and then add more if you need it.

Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with extra bacon and/or cheese if you want. Because, you know, if there’s anything a perfectly healthy bowl of soup (it’s only 3 Weight Watchers points!) needs, it’s some extra bacon and cheese!

Serves 6-8.

I highly reccomend you try this soup, especially with the weather that has been going around. Get some crusty bread and dip chunks into it- YUM. I am actually making this soup for my parents that are visiting this weekend! Happy cooking!

Printable Valentines

 Not only is Valentines Day the best excuse to send a love note to all your bosom pals and remind them how much you love having them in your life, but it is also my birthday! I grew up completely believing the world was celebrating my birthday by decorating their stores with pink hearts. Sadly the truth is out, Valentines was not set up to celebrate me, but I still love it as a holiday as well as my birthday!

It is the greatest excuse ever to wear pink, decorate in pink, and eat pink things!! (we'll get to this later!)

Aside from the pink, it is also way fun to share little love notes. So we wanted to share some adorable time saving valentines with you! They are so sweet and ready to print out!

These ones are set up to print on an 8.5x11 piece of paper. Just right click, save file, and print from any number of programs! (Files are Jpg format, so you can put them in your photo program and print from there! )

 

You can cut out the squares, the hearts. or cut along the grey lines and they fold into three 3.5in x 3.5in cards. How easy is that! I recommend using white cardstock paper for the best print and card feel.

I'll print them off later (my toddler just woke up from a 2 hour nap!) and take some pics so you can see the adorableness first hand. 

Happy printing!

More

Well new years always bring new ideas about how you are going to live your life.

I don't plan on changing much. I had a really good year last year. I figure if it aint broke don't fix it.

This little blog however needs some life. So I guess I do resolve to be better, more fun, more free, just more of anything really would be better than what we had going.

So there ya have it.

I'll just do more.

:)

Stephanie

My favorite Christmas Gift!

Happy New Year all you JubJub lovers! Did you have a fantastic holiday season? Are you ready for it to be over and to move on? (Me too!)

This year is going to be a great year, full of lots of new and exciting things. That also includes our shop, so keep your eye out for giveaways, free chains with purchase of pendant, coupon codes, all sorts of good stuff. We currently are in full swing of our Buy 3 Get 1 Free promotion. Its a great deal and never too early to think about Mother's Day, Birthdays, or heck, maybe even Christmas for next year! =)

Speaking of Christmas, I wanted to share what my favorite Christmas present was that I received this year. I love cook books. I am a sucker for a good recipe, and an even bigger sucker for good cook books full of good recipes! I follow a blog called Our Best Bites that posts amazing recipes that are SO good! They have all sorts of variety, and they only post things that they like, and think are easy to make. They don't work with too fancy or expensive ingredients because they are regular people/mom's just like me. 

Anyway, my mom (hi mom!) gave me their cook book this year for Christmas!

Doesn't the cover page look good enough to eat?! Imagine what's inside!

I have actually been looking at all the recipes for the last couple days, planning out what I want to cook.

This "Creamy Cilantro-Lime Ranch Dressing" is on the top of my list. I know you are thinking to yourself, "you want to make a Ranch Dressing? Woopie..." Seriously people! You have not loved life completely yet until you have made this dressing to go on top of a killer taco salad. Have you ever heard of Costa Vida or Cafe Rio, or even Bajio? They are all similar places that sport this dressing that make my life, and yours if you tried it, complete. Go HERE for the recipe to try it.

I guess the reason I am so excited about this recipe besides the fact that it is literally on my "favorite foods ever list", is because I have tried to duplicate this recipe without too much success. Mine was alright, but not the real deal.

So thanks mom for my sweet gift! And YOU out there reading this right now, go try this recipe, or find some other yummy recipes on this blog. I promise its worth it! Or pick up the cook book!

Happy cooking! (or eating!)