Simple October

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Easy Homemade Pickles

I love a good, cold, crispy pickle!
These homemade pickles do not disappoint.
Go try them.
They will easily become your new favorite! :)

Homemade pickle recipe


Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Simple October Craft Workshop

Saturday, I had the pleasure of crafting with some amazing ladies at the Simple October Craft Workshop! I love being able to share an afternoon making pretty things with new and old friends.




Popcorn, mini vanilla cupcakes, and cake batter sprinkle cookies....yum!


We had some amazing swag from a few of my favorite shops...Creative Carmella,
The Big Red Heart, and Hey Emily Thomas. Each item was so special and I am so thankful for our sponsors!




Door prizes are so fun. We had mini note cards and a cup cozy/coaster set from my shop, Simple October, as well as, a sweet coffee print from Hey Emily Thomas. This photo doesn't do Emily's print justice at all. It's so gorgeous, I had a hard time parting with it!


And...that's a wrap! The Simple October Craft Workshop 2015 was such a good one!

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Simple October Craft Workshop . May 23 . Registration


We are so excited to announce the next Simple October Craft Workshop!
 
Join us for an afternoon of crafting and fun!
Saturday, May 23, 2015
 
Where: Fellowship Hall at First Assembly of God, 3111 St. Johns Ave. Palatka, FL 32177
 
Time: 3 -5pm
Cost: $25 per ticket
Workshop space is limited, so call your friends and register for your ticket today.*
 
Each attendee will make 3 different projects to take home.
 
PROJECTS:
 
1.Mini Tassel Garland - We'll create a mini tassel garland using tissue paper with a variety of colors available. These garlands look great hanging from a fireplace mantel, in a nursery or kids room, or to add some fun to a party.
 
2. Embellished Gift Bag - It's always fun to give gifts and adding some extra special touches to the gift bag makes it that much sweeter. I'll show you how to craft a paper flower and add some extra charm to your next gift.
 
3. Painted Wood Bead Key Chain - Solid wood beads will become the cutest little key chain when you paint them with your favorite colors.
 
It wouldn't be a party without something sweet to eat! Treats and drinks are provided!
 
 
*To register for your ticket, please fill out our registration form. Thanks!
 
Sorry, due to the nature of this workshop we are unable to offer refunds.
 
 
I can't wait to see you there!
xoxo Emily


Friday, April 17, 2015

Pinwheels & Good Intentions

Hello, my gorgeous friends!


You know, I started the year thinking I would be able to keep up with blogging more. The momentum that comes with a new year was sweeping my best intentions up in a whirlwind of possibilities. I had grand plans to dedicate more time to this space, but the reality is most of the time it means I have to give up time somewhere else.
Right now, my youngest is still a baby.
I'm homeschooling the twins.
Trying to run a handmade shop & scrambling to keep up because time is literally whizzing by.
So, my friends, please forgive me for all my previous promises to blog more. I promise not to make those promises anymore. ;)


I will, however, post when I can gather my thoughts together enough to blog. And as luck would have it, I have some thoughts to share today. (I'm also typing one handed since I have a clingy, sick, 16 month old. Poor baby.)

This project started with the fabric pinwheels that I'm obsessed with making these days. I seriously can't get enough of them.
Then a few weeks ago, I bought some fantastic gold spray paint. Because I obviously need more spray paint in my life.
Spaghetti is on our menu regularly....which means I have a collection of spaghetti sauce jars.


Gold spray paint + spaghetti sauce jar lids = AWESOME


I had a vision now....jars with gold lids and fabric pinwheels tied to the outside...oh, my stars!

Of course, you already knew that I would have to fill these jars with some extra treats. I mean, how could I not.

I love how they turned out! I made these to give away as Easter gifts but they could be made up for any occasion. Versatility wins!


Thanks for visiting!
xoxo Emily

Friday, January 30, 2015

Fake Lasagna

Feeding people is part of my love language.

I get deep satisfaction from cooking food for the people I care about and it's one of my favorite ways to help a family with a newborn.
Each time I've come home from having a baby(ies) cooking a meal is not my main priority. But you still have to eat so, being able to lift that stress off of a new mom, even if it's just for one meal, equals a less stress gift.

This fake lasagna recipe was one that my mom got from her sister and it's a meal we make regularly in our home, new baby or not. It's quick, easy to put together, and it's just different enough from traditional lasagna to be a nice change.

Fake Lasagna

2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
16 oz. egg noodles, cooked (my favorite to use are the No Yoke dumpling noodles)
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
16 oz. sour cream
jar of spaghetti sauce
1/2 lb. ground beef

- Cook the noodles and drain.

- Cook the ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked.

- Add spaghetti sauce to meat and warm, remove from stove top.

- Stir together cream cheese, sour cream, and cooked noodles.

- Pour all of the noodle mixture into a 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the cheese.
Pour all of the spaghetti sauce on top of cheese. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 45 minutes.

Enjoy with a salad and garlic bread!

My Liam a couple weeks old. Now he's 13.5 months and I'm missing this infant phase.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Housewarming Gift

While getting ready to write this post I noticed that, like the Hostess Gift I shared last week, this gift was also for my sister and her husband. They had a big year in 2014. Lots to celebrate, including a move into a new home.

 
 
This was a very simple gift to pull together and can be adapted for any budget or style. For instance, I made the fabric bin and monogrammed the towel with come fabric however, you could just as easily purchase a basket and decorated dish towel. Hobby Lobby and Michaels sell some cute containers and baskets at great prices. Use one of their store coupons or purchase during their weekly sales and they are even more budget friendly.


 
My sister told me a month or so before this that she wanted some of these lids and straws to use on her new porch. I wanted to make sure she had the jars to use the lids with so, I included Mason jars with them. These will be nice for sipping iced tea on their porch this summer.
I also included some recipe cards and soy wax melts from the always wonderful, Grace from
Grace Note Candle Co. Her wax melts are amazing!
 
I tucked all the goodies inside the chevron container with a little tissue paper. Tied a ribbon around the front and clipped a couple tags I already had with a note. Easy and simple. Budget friendly and thoughtful.
 
Thoughtfulness goes a long way! So, if you are worried that you don't have it all together or feel like you have to give something big to mean something, just remember that it's what's from your heart that truly matters.
 

Monday, January 5, 2015

three good things

One of my goals for this space, during 2015, includes blogging more regularly. I'm sure this will be trial and error, but I'm going to aim for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This seems like a realistic place for me to start and I'm excited for this little space of mine.

This year I'm also going to give myself more writing prompts to get my thoughts down. Share more of my favorite things, people, blogs, websites, handmade shops, etc. And the crafts and projects I put together.
In sharing with you my favorites from the week, I give you "three good things".

Photo by me. Apple Coffee Cake from The Faux Martha. Link below.

1. I stumbled across The Faux Martha a month or so ago and I love seeing her photos pop up in my Instagram feed. She has some amazing recipes that are on my radar to make soon. Like these pumpkin scones and this apple coffee cake, my mom and I made yesterday. Oh, my! Soooo GOOD!


2. Momastery Blog. I've recently rediscovered Glennon Doyle Melton and her words resonate with me so much. I can't get enough. This post made me laugh. This one made me happy cry. Community means so much. Her book, Carry on Warrior, is on my must read list.


3. My mom gifted me this book, Dinner: A love story, for Christmas and I am so enjoying it. We already made the Black Bean Burritos recipe and they were incredible. I've been dreaming about having them again. Maybe next week. You can find their blog here. You'll thank me later.


Friday, January 2, 2015

Hostess Gift - Coffee

Oh, January! You are so good already. 2015 looks like it's going to be a great year for the Kinsauls.

Alright, so I meant to share this before Christmas but never did. I will probably be blogging a few other things that I didn't get to last year and the seasons might be a little off but I'm okay with that. I hope you stick around to see what's going on over here in my little corner of the world. I have some big plans for this year and I would love to have you join me on this journey.

Giving gifts are a passion of mine. I love to see how the thoughtfulness of a gift makes the recipient smile and know they are loved. So, with that thought, I hope to blog more about some of the different gifts I give throughout the year and a few that if put together last year. I always like reading what other's give for gifts and hope you are inspired to bless someone in your life.


My sister and brother-in-law hosted Liam's 1st birthday party in their home and I wanted to do something nice to say thank you. They are both coffee (and hot cocoa) drinkers so, I started simple with a Starbucks gift card. Then I tucked it in a red berry basket (I found mine at Michaels.) along with a bottle of Torani Salted Caramel Syrup, and a mini bottle brush Christmas tree.


Using a strip of red and white checkered fabric I already had, I tied it all up with a bow. Then I added a little personalized tag and a note of thanks and called it good. Until I remembered the sweet printable I purchased from the ever wonderful, Hannah of Wifey Singer Prints.


 It was the perfect addition to my gift. I clipped it to a clip board that I picked up from Walmart and included it with the berry basket of goods.
Simple. Thoughtful. Sweet. These are a few of my favorite things. :)

Do you have any tried and true gifts that you love to give? I'd love to know what your favorites are.