Together in the Kitchen #2 {Oatmeal Cookies}

Last week we kicked off Together in the Kitchen (a fun new recipe party with a twist)!
Please share your recipes your loving right now.
Doesn't matter if it's your original, or just a fave from someone else.
We just hope you'll be inspired to share the process with someone you love :)

I'm sharing my gluten free/vegan oatmeal craisin cookies... that I technically made FOR someone, not WITH ;)
I still think it counts because my dad doesn't live here & I swear these cookies are his love language.
Next time I see him I'm sure we'll make them again!

Aimee & her kids shared an awesome recipe for 7 Layer Bars.
Yum!!!

Amy shared her family's favorite Christmas cookies recipe. 

These are so darling! 

Now I'm inspired to decorate shortbread cookies...

And watch Lily play with frosting! 

I'll take lots of pictures for the next link up :) 

I can't wait to see all of your fabulous recipes again! 

<a href="http://www.bowandarrowart.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://smallanchors.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/150Together.png "></a>

1: link up a recipe. any recipe. as many recipes as you want to share.. then add our button to your post!!

2: visit at least the two links before you and either comment and/or pin their recipe to Pinterest

3: visit a few others, since this is all about sharing recipes!!

4. if you want to share our little get together, please tweet: “share a recipe with @evystree @bowandarrowart @byAimeeSki today at http://wp.me/p2PzO1-4H”

5. leave a comment below sharing your favorite kitchen gadget

*we encourage you to subscribe by email to one {or all 3!} of our blog posts so you never miss a link up!

Birthday Cookies

My dad had a big birthday last month... I guess I'll be nice & not say just how big ;) 
But I felt it was an occasion worth celebrating. 
So I made his favorite cookies & sent a package! 
These are my favorite cookies to make because everyone loves them. Everyone!
They're a crispy-yet-still-chewy oatmeal cookie packed with craisins & walnuts and topped with white chocolate. 
What's not to love? 
They're also really fun for holidays because they're pretty :) 
And since the holidays seem to be upon us I thought I'd share the recipe. 
Send some to someone you love. 
Or maybe to someone you whose love you're trying to win... 

Sugar Mama Cookie

1/2 c Spectrum organic shortening1/2 c Earth Balance vegan butter

1 c dark brown sugar

2 TB agave nectar (not neccessarily required but it makes them super chewy!)

1 TB flax meal mixed + 3 TB hot water

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp xanthan gum

2 c gluten free flour mix

2 c gluten free oats

1/2 c craisins

1/2 c chopped walnuts

white chocolate

Cream shortening, butter, sugar & agave. 

Add flax+water mixture. 

Mix in dry ingredients. 

Stir in oats, craisins & walnuts. 

Drop by tablespoon or ice cream scoop onto cookie sheet. 

Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees F. 

Cool on a cooling rack. 

Melt white chocolate (or dark chocolate is also delish) and drizzle on top of cookies. 

Enjoy!

True Lovey

Today's story is a real life love story.
Love at first sight even.
I don't know if you believe in that kind of thing, but I'm here to tell you it's real.

(Lily+Lovey= Love Forever)

Last June we threw a big fun circus birthday bash to celebrate Lily's 1st birthday.
When it came time to open presents she tentatively tore at the paper, gladly handed shiny new toys over to her older & wiser buddy (he's 3 & definitely knows how to fully appreciate a plastic drum set) and squealed with delight at cardboard boxes.
But there was one particular present that stole miss Lily's heart that day.
We gently coaxed her to the bottom of a pretty gift bag where she found her soul mate.



Lovey is his name. Snuggling's his game.
I promise this is honestly the very first thing she did when she saw him.
In fact, this is still how she falls asleep every night (5 months later).
We recently forgot Lovey at MorMor & PaPa's for a day and life did not go on.
The girl honestly refused to sleep all day & wailed for nearly an hour before collapsing with exhaustion at bedtime!

These are the stories I want to remember forever & the pictures I want to come back to someday.
These past 17 months have flown and I'm so thankful for every little snuggle, smoochie & sweet sweet smile.
Happy 17 month birthday Lil & happy 5 month anniversary to you & your true lovey ;)

(Linking up with From Awkward to Art for Mommy Brain Mixer.)

Happy Official Christmas Shopping Day!

Just a quick reminder that you can get a free card with every $10 you spend at the Bow+Arrow Art shop this whole weekend (through Monday)!














And the Christmas card packs are 4 for $12. Yay!
That means you can get 4 Christmas card PLUS any card you want for only 12 bucks.
Nice.
Shop til you drop friends.

Oh so thankful.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"

((Psalm 107:1)) 

I'm thankful for...

This girl still looking to her mama for help every once in awhile :)
Sometimes it feels like she's getting more independent by the day which is amazing & so fun to watch!
But when she's a little afraid to go check out the big inflated pumpkin patch snowman without holding mama's hand it's ok to be a little happy right?

 

Warm, fabulous, sunny weather this fall.
I hate to admit it but I sometimes complain about fall in these parts because it can skip right into winter some years.
Well, not this year. Thanksgiving is in 2 days and they're still saying we've got 70 degrees and sunshine to look forward too :)



Exactly where we're at... even though it's not my favorite place.
I've spent a lot of time lately being stressed about where we are in life & just praying for May to get here soon so Hunter can graduate & we can move on with our lives.
Even though I do still long for that change, and hope for a chance to be a stay at home mama again soon, I'm thankful for right now.
We're figuring it out & learning how to trust in Jesus in a way that we probably wouldn't be without a little struggle & sacrifice.



(I'm adding this colored version of this print to the shop today & both will still give 50% to Hurricane Sandy relief.)

(Also linked with Erin at Art Social.) 

Black Friday yo.

Hey, there. I'm going to let ya in on a big ol' secret.
I hate Black Friday.
No wait, it's not a secret at all.
I just hate it. It is so stressful!
I mean people seriously die. About electronics, ya know? So so sad.
Anyway, I like it alright if I can do it from the safety of my home & the warmth of my covers... at a normal human time.
None of this 3 am.
What is wrong with you people?
Ok, all I'm trying to say is this Friday (11/23) and all weekend through Cyber Monday (11/26) I'm giving you a free card for every $10 you spend.

Go ahead, spend $100. I'll send you TEN free cards with you order.

You're welcome.

Also thank you. $100 is a lot of cards, friend.

All you need to do is leave me a note with your order & tell me the card your heart desires!

Holla.

Also I finally have Christmas cards.
I mean, Christmas card. Just one.
It's all I could manage. But at least it's cute right? :)
And it's a bundle deal! 4 cards for $12 which, technically speaking is a 25% discount.

Well, alright.
There's my exciting news for your Monday morning.
I'm thankful for all ya'll & I'm thankful for internet shopping.
Happy Shopping!

Together in the Kitchen {A new recipe link party!}

Hooray! It's finally here :)
I'm so excited about this link up you guys!
A of all I love working with talented ladies like miss Aimee, who seems to be awesome at everything I'm not awesome at (ie she designed all of the beautiful graphics & has been promoting like a champ!)
2 I love love making new friends, like lovely Amy, who is so fun and has a beautiful blog & shop!
And lastly I just really love baking & sharing recipes & hanging out with my rad fam.
Dude, I'm getting so worked up over here. That's a lot of love.

Anyway, on to the point of this shin-dig.
Getting your family & friends in the kitchen with you!
I tried this out and it looks a littlie different than you might have expected.
What? Were you thinking matching aprons not glitter boots & a diaper?
Yeah, me too but the girls likes what she likes.
And she likes licking the spoon... and not wearing clothes.

Hunter prefers to contribute in the kitchen by occupying Lily so I can get my bake on :)
Still counts in my opinion.
Also, my heart melts into a puddle every single time I look at this picture.

So, how do you share the kitchen with your loved ones?
Don't think it has to look a certain way! I think whatever works for you & yours is beautiful.
Now link up those tasty creations.

meet the co-hosts & check out their recipes...

<a href="http://www.bowandarrowart.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://smallanchors.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/150Together.png "></a>

1: link up a recipe. any recipe. as many recipes as you want to share.. then add our button to the bottom of your post!!
2: visit at least the two links before you and either comment and/or pin their recipe to Pinterest
3: visit a few others, since this is all about sharing recipes!!
4. if you want to share our little get together, please tweet: “share a recipe with @evystree @bowandarrowart @byAimeeSki today at http://wp.me/p2PzO1-3u"
5. leave a comment below sharing a memory of spending time "together in the kitchen"

*we encourage you to subscribe by email to one {or all 3!} of our blog posts so you never miss a link up!

Christmas Shopping

I'm still not quite ready to join the rest of the world on the "it's the most wonderful time of the year" train.
I mean it just got cold.
And I'm still really excited about pumpkin baking & Thanksgiving dinner next week.
Buuuuut... that doesn't mean I haven't done any thinking about Christmas gifts.

For Milo: Fancy bow-tie from Little Blue Feathers of course!

I mean, I can't think of a single reason not to have that.
Oh except for Milo hates when we dress him up...
Well, Milo the pug has a good life: Free rent, free food, naps all day & infinity hugs from Lily Belle.
He can wear a bow-tie for our enjoyment.

For Lily: A custom flapper baby doll a la Aubrey Plays.

I've been loving these sweet dolls for a long time & I think Christmas is the perfect time to splurge.
You send in a favorite outfit your babe has outgrown & she makes you a custom doll.
Precious! And don't worry if you have a boy there are "little dudes" too ;)

And for moi: Cutie turban ear warmer by Salt City Designs.

Now that my hair is super short, I can't really wear a warm hat without looking like a boy (aka exactly like all 3 of my brothers).
In related news, now that my hair is super short my ears get really really cold without a hat!
Enter this knit (crochet?) beauty.
Warm, stylin' & girly :)

Where are you shopping this year?
Don't forget to check out Handmade with a Purpose for wonderful gifts that give back.

(Once again I'm partying in Erika & Beth for Friday Faves & Finds.)

Handmade with Purpose: Hurricane Relief

I'm so excited to share a new project I'm a part of!
I've been wanting to start giving back with the money I make from my shop, but I was never quite sure how or where I wanted to give.
When Lindsay over at Pen & Paint put out the word that she was organizing Handmade with Purpose to come together & raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief, I was sure I wanted to join her.
I can't even imagine what the victims of this storm are going through & it breaks my heart that as I'm making Christmas lists & planning Thanksgiving treats, there are so many left homeless or cleaning up from the destruction.



That's why from now until December 17 (1 week before Christmas & Bow+Arrow's last shipping day) I'll be donating 50% of sales from my 8x10 Psalm 51:15 print to American Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts.
I felt like I didn't have much to offer alone, but there are lots of other amazing shops donating too & I was inspired to join with my tiny little shop when Lindsay reminded us of this beautiful Mother Teresa quote:

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”

-Mother Teresa

So as you shop for your loved ones this holiday season, would you consider choosing a shop that will help you give to the relief efforts with your purchases?
Click on the image below and I just know you'll find plenty of beautiful gift ideas!

Together in the Kitchen

So I never do Saturday posts BUT this one's really exciting & I couldn't wait :)
I know I've attempted to host link ups before... & let's be honest. I've failed pretty hard.
I guess I didn't really know how to do them?
First you have to be committed to sharing them, which means you have to really be excited about them & believe in what they're all about.
Wellll, I think I've got a jackpot this time!
When I tried doing a recipe link up before it was kind of a flop because I did it with another awesome blogger but most of the recipe linked up ended up being non-vegan & gluten-full.
Which is fine except I had really branded myself as a gluten free/vegan baker.
But I also know that lots of my lovely readers don't have special diet restriction.
Soooooo, I'm happy to introduce you to the best of both worlds :)
I'll be co-hosting a new link up every other week with Amy & Aimee and it's focus is on cooking or baking WITH the ones you love.
I'll still be contributing gluten free & vegan recipes but the other girls will have regular versions (sometimes of the same recipe even).
So everybody wins!
Plus it's a great excuse to get your husband, kids, friends, boyfriend, family, whoever, in the kitchen with you.
I'm excited! So spread the word & get your recipe posts ready because next Friday is the first link up!

Denver Blogger Meetup Recap

Last Friday Kim organized a total kick-butt Denver blogger get-together.
I, for one, had never been to such a thing... never met up with other bloggers at all in fact.
Oh, except for that one time I saw Kim at a local market and totally ran up to her like,

"Hey girl! I love your blog! And oh your shop. It's soooo cute!!" & she was all "um... thanks!?"

Yes, ma'am it was a little on the awkward side.

But I never let a little awkwardness stand in the way of a good time... or meeting a new fun friend. 

And it's a good thing too.
If I hadn't, I may have never known about this sweet meetup!
Check out all that ballin' swag up there.
I can't wait to get my craft on with all of those paper goodies from Katie at Lemon Jitters!



A big giant thank you hug (I wish) to Leonora of Yellow Heart Art.
If you're not in love with her yet, just head on over to her blog & I just know you will be.
She's the absolute sweetest & her art is CUTE.



I was reminded that the world is smaaaaall folks.
The lovely Anne of Anne Franklin Designs turns out to be friends with lots of my friends.
She also happens to have been at tons of the same markets & shows.
AND she just so happened to be at a good friends house the night Hunter & I accidentally showed up and crashed their book club... because we were headed to a chili cook off & went to the wrong house.
Again with the awkward. I'm serious guys.



Love this cool Colorado print from CAPow!
I'm always up for finding new fun shops & I'm ALWAYS up for free amazing stuff from new shops ;)
You're awesome Crystal!



Last but not least... (actually I saved my fave for last.)
How darling is this cup cozy & coaster hand-knitted by Kirtley of Snowdrift Designs.
Or crocheted? I really wish I knew.
It's hand-made & it's mustard and it makes me really happy & cozy when I'm sipping my coffee.
Good enough for me!

PS these girls are really rad & I'm so glad I got to meet them all!

{Allie, Lizzie, Meghan, Liz, Rebecca,Anne, Keely,Katie, Erin, Elaine, Anne}

(I'm linking up with Erika & Beth again to share my favorite local ladies.)

His grace is enough.

You know what?
Sometimes I get stressed out, worked up, anxious, worried.
I fret about the unknown & I bury myself in busyness as a distraction. (Yes, busy-ness not business... Is that a thing?)
Sometimes I fail majorly.
Then I peek around the corner and I see a precious, tiny girl in a candy corn costume "cleaning" a suitcase with her washcloth and spray bottle. 
And I get it.
Once again I'm reminded in the sweetest & yet most obvious way possible.
His grace is enough.
I could never deserve to be her mom.
I've never earned such a beautiful blessing.
But she is my blessing anyway, & I've been entrusted with the terrifying task of guiding her as she becomes her own woman.
It's a hard, scary, unpredictable job.
A job I'm nowhere near qualified for in my opinion.
Every single day I will fall short.
Every single day He won't. 
And that is the best news, friends.

(ps I know the quality of that picture leaves something to be desired... I think my cell phone might be from 1998ish and I forgot to take any pictures with the real camera. Such is life.)

Linking up with my buds Carina & Amanda because I'm so thankful for & inspired by His grace!

Peppermint Patties Recipe

November 3rd was my dad's 50th birthday!!

I love him so much & was pumped to celebrate such an awesome milestone with him!

I think I may have been a little more excited about it than him actually... but he's a good sport ;)

I sent him a package of sweet treats since I couldn't be there to bake him a cake.

Included in this party pack were mini peppermint patties complete with Halloween wrappers & tied up with pretty string.

You see, I inherited my love of all things dark chocolate/peppermint from my daddy.

Road trips aren't road trips without York Peppermint Patties & who goes to the movies without Jr. Mints?

Recently  I've become passionate about supporting Fair Trade Chocolate so I made a batch of homemade peppermint patties.

YUM! They were a huge success & you can use butter in place of the cream cheese if your heart desires.

Peppermint Patties

2 cups powdered sugar

3 TBSP cream cheese (or Tofutti vegan cream cheese)

1 TBSP shortening

1/2 tsp peppermint extract

1/4 tsp vanilla

1 1/2-2 cups dark chocolate chips

1-2 tsp shortening

In an electric mixer, beat everything but chocolate until smooth. Scoop into a bowl and place in the refrigerator to set. 
Once firm, roll into one inch balls.  
Set in freeze for another 60 minutes.Or throw it in the freezer for as long as you can stand to wait ;) 

Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler.
Pour chocolate into mini cupcake wrappers until about half full.
Place mint in the middle & cover with more melted chocolate.  
Freeze again until ready to eat.
Yuuuuummmm!!!!

Bow+Arrow Inspiration (1 Timothy1:7)

Remember awhile back when I shared about how I was learning to fight fear & anxiety?

Well, throughout the process I've been completely in love with 2 Timothy 1:7.

It's so comforting to me because it doesn't just say to sit around and wait to see what God will do.

Although I know that sometimes that is the appropriate response, there are plenty of other times that I believe the right thing to do is to use the tools we've been equipped with & get after it! 

That's why this verse is so empowering for me.

It doesn't say, "stop being afraid, you big baby," or "think logically, you know God's in control." 

It says that we were given a spirit of POWER! 

Not only that but love & self-control.

I'm finding that if I focus my time & energy on loving better and exercise some discipline with where I let my thoughts wander, I don't have much left to fuel my fears. 

And that is why this print is near & dear to my heart. 

That's why it's in my favorite colors & hanging in my kitchen. 

So that I can see it every single day & be reminded of it's truth & power. 

It's why you can have it for 40% off through Friday :) 

Because I want you to hang it in your kitchen & see it everyday, or give it to a friend who's having a tough time, or frame it up & give it to your mom for Christmas. 

Or do all 3 because it's only 9 bucks!

All you need is the code: nofear

Fancy Clothes

I think by now it's pretty obvious this is not a fashion blog.
I admire people who look great all the time, but it wears me out trying to keep up with the ever-changing trends.
We try to buy a majority of our clothes second hand because:

• 1.) We can't seem to stomach the price tag on designer clothes.
• 2.) It's fun to be creative with what you can find at a thrift shop.
• 3.) It seems like a more responsible use of funds. (You know what? Just read Erika's post about this topic. She pretty much nailed it.)

Source: camilynbeth.com via Ashley on Pinterest

All that being said, I'm in love with these get-ups I found on pinterest this week.
My work Christmas party is a fairly formal affair and I would love to rock a dress like this pretty white and gold one.
Also I would love for my legs to look like that in said dress, but that's neither here nor there.

Source: mensfashionworld.tumblr.com via Ashley on Pinterest

As for this one... mm, mm, mmmmm is all I can say.
Hunter would make a fine arm candy in this ;)
Seriously though, he would look good. I might even pay full price.

Source: craftinessisnotoptional.com via Ashley on Pinterest

And this is just the most darling thing I've seen in a long time.
The pin is actually for a pattern to make it...
But I can't really see that happening. Unless Gigi's reading this ;)
Isn't it just perfect?
So wait for out Christmas card.
We might just surprise you all with our hottness this year!
Or just purple tights and thrifted blazers... that sounds a bit more realistic.

(I'm linked up with Erika and Beth for Friday Finds and Favorites.)