About Tricia

I am Tricia. Momma of nine, homeschooler, artist, foodie and maker of all kinds of things. It's a pleasure to share here our family homesteading adventures, the things we make, and what inspires our days. Read more about my family and work here. Thanks for visiting!

Author Archive | Tricia

On the hunt for a chewy granola bar

By on September 13, 2011 in crochet, Recipes

Granola bars are a mainstay here.  No time for breakfast? Granola bars. Mom, I need a snack? Granola bars.  You can pack them and take where ever you are going and they are filling. They are also easy to make.  I dislike hard, break your teeth granola bars so I was pretty psyched when Smitten Kitchen blogged about making some.

Sadly, something went awry and while they were pretty good, my kids have been snacking on it all day, it was not the soft chewy bar I was hoping for.  I think part of the problem is that I do not use high fructose corn syrup : ( and that may have been the “glue” that would have made these bars chewier. I added more honey to substitute for the corn syrup, I added raisins, shredded coconut and sunflower seeds and I should say that I do like it but it is crunchier than I hoped.

Here is the recipe in case you would like to try your hand at it.  I am sure it was just me and too many substitutions. Seriously, Smitten Kitchen can do no wrong in my book : )

I woke up thinking that winter is around the corner and my baby needs a new hat.  I have been planning on a pixie type hat and woke up thinking “pixie balaclava” so I have been working on it every minute that I get.  I have been hanging onto a few balls of wool cotton blend yarn that I can use on this project.  I am hoping to get it done the first time around and not rip it out 6 times before I am happy with it.

The pattern was in my head when I woke up (love it when that happens) so I want to get it done before I forget what I wanted to do. I have half the hat done and am writing down every stitch so if it works, I will add it to my list of crochet patterns to finalize someday : )

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway of a lovely hair clip from Lilla Rose. You have until Monday night to get your entries in. Click here to enter.

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Lilla Rose Product Review and… A GIVEAWAY!!!

By on September 13, 2011 in CCM Guests, giveaways

So, the hand is almost all better, just in time for my baking day today. One of the things I made today (lots of baking going on) was homemade chewy, oatey, granola bars goodness. Sooo much better than you can buy at the store. I will post the recipe tomorrow but today I have the pleasure of doing a product review!

I was contacted by Sarah of Lilla Rose who sells these very nice hair clips. There is only one problem, hair clips give me a headache. Actually anything I put in my hair gives me a headache. She told me she was pretty sure I would not get a headache while wearing the clip….um, OK, I’ll try it. Well, guess what? I wore it for an hour the first day and no headache. I actually forgot I was wearing it until one of my daughters mentioned that she liked it.

The next day I figured “well OK it did not hurt because I did not have all my hair in it”. I wore my hair all up in a pony tail with my flexi-clip and it did not give me a headache and kept my hair in place all day!!!! I should mention that I was given a clip to try for free but my honest opinion is that I love it and will be getting some for Christmas stockings this year (gasp, something that is not handmade…um yeah)

I have tried it on all my girls who pretty much represent most of the different types of hair, long, medium length, curly, straight, thin and thick and it worked well in everyone’s head. I forgot to mention that they come in sizes for all types and length of hair.

I tried in my oldest daughters hair who is super thick and straight. Check it out, it held her hair in place. These pictures were taken after a whole day at work (isn’t my girl such a good sport)

Here it is in my curly hair.  Ignore the gray hairs, I have been dreading the day that I might have to do something about it.  The thought of using all those chemicals in my hair, yuck!  This is also the first time I am seeing my hair in pictures since I stopped using shampoo, conditioner and hair product.  This was a bad hair week for me, I have not been able to do my hair because of the burn on my hand. The flexiclip is so simple to use that I can put it on with my left hand and the finger that is usable on my right hand, easy!

Want one? Sarah is generously offering one lucky reader  a certificate redeemable for a flexi-clip of the winner’s choice, valued up to $15.00. (so many to choose from).

Here is how you can get one of your own. You get one entry for doing each of the following:

Click here to watch the sizing/styling video, then leave a comment telling Sarah which hairstyle you like best.

Visit her here on Facebook and like her.

Blog about the giveaway or post it on your own facebook then let me know that you did.

Leave a comment saying which is your favorite flexiclip.

Thats four chances to win, good luck!

You must be a follower of this blog to win, so if you are not already following click on the follow button at the upper right hand of this page.

*Edit* I forgot to mention, the giveaway ends next Monday night when I will announce the winner.

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