Wow! I didn’t realize it’s been an entire year since I last posted something or gave away a freebie for that matter. (gulp) The blogging world has taken on a new life and isn’t as casual as it first started out to be, which doesn’t suit me well. If I don’t have something unique to say, then I don’t want to have to force myself to come up with something just to keep readers and followers. Anywho, I didn’t come back here to reflect on blogging and what it’s become…I just want to give you a free download for back to school!! Woot! Woot! I created a new lunch note set and kept it neutral and also made them not as cutesie since my oldest is in her last year of elementary (another gulp). I like how they turned out, but when my girls saw them, they wanted color…and…well…something cuter LOL! Can’t please them all can ya’? But I hope you and your kiddos enjoy them! Happy back to school and enjoy that cup of coffee in peace!!! 😉 Click here for the PDF download
School Lunch Notes Freebie!
I’m so excited my girls are headed back to school! Don’t get me wrong, I look forward to the lazy days and fun activities summer brings, but after several months I am ready to get back into a routine, have some peace and quiet of my own and just get stuff accomplished!!
My girls have come to expect a new set of lunch notes every school year so I’m sort of on the hook to create some new ones every year it seems (check out the freebies section for more designs!). Personally, they are one of my favorite things I get to create. They are relatively simple, sweet and lend well to my personal casual design style. And if they put a smile on my kiddos faces, then it’s all worth it!
This year was fruit themed as you can see. My older is currently in love with pineapples and my younger (not to be outdone by her older sister) is watermelon obsessed. So it was only fitting to create a fruit themed set of lunch notes. Personally, they are one of my favorite sets…but I say that every year 😉
I hope everyone has a wonderful, adventurous and fun school year! And for all those mamas (and dads) who entertained, broke up fights and cuddled their little ones all summer long, a glass of wine and/or a nap is waiting in your honor 🙂 Click here to download
Mother’s Day Card Freebie
Mothers Day Card_Lucky Horseshoe
Yep, it really is me. I have all but abandoned my blog lately. Not because I haven’t wanted to share anything, but because everyday life has taken precedence. And if I’m being truly honest, I have wanted to share some things here and there, but I haven’t felt they are relevant or fresh. In this over saturated social media terrain, I haven’t felt I have anything unique to share that hasn’t already been shared a million times over. And I don’t want to share something to just to fill my blog because “social media experts” say you have to post new content ALL. THE. TIME….This could be a blog post subject unto itself so I won’t dive any further, but you get my drift 😉
The reason why I have finally surfaced after so many months is that I have a FREEBIE that I want to offer and I think it’s a good one! Mother’s day is just over a week away and I had an idea for a card. Does anyone else feel they got lucky in the Mom department? I certainly do. I got lucky with my Mom, I got lucky with my Stepmom AND I got lucky with my Mother-in-Law. How I got so lucky, I don’t know. But I am certifiably grateful for such blessings.
If you feel as I do, this free Mother’s Day card is PERFECT! Just click here, download, and print. Voila! Mother’s Day is in the bag!
Christmas Lunch Box Note Freebie!
We are in full on holiday mode over here! We have decorations up, gingerbread house is decorated, we’ve done santa photos, Steve the Elf has arrived, Advent calendar is stocked and this morning we are off to pick out our tree…I’m exhausted already and it’s only December 2nd!!! Actually, I’m still enjoying the joy of the season and love seeing how excited my girls get with every tradition. They are at the perfect ages right now (8 and 6) and I want to soak up every moment of this age because I know it won’t last forever.
I also knocked another lunch box freebie for you guys – holidays themed of course! These little notes are some of my favorite things to design. They are fun and simple designs, and my girls love getting them in their lunch every day. Sometimes I do wonder though if they appreciate them since it IS one more thing to remember to do in the morning, so I test them every once and a while and skip a day or two…I soon get grumpy faces after school telling me I “forgot” their note. As long as it brightens their day even just a tiny bit, I will keep putting them in their lunch and coming up with new designs every now and then 🙂 Click here to download
I hope your holiday season is magical!
Sour Cream Gingerbread Recipe
I love this time of year, when it’s socially acceptable to start baking all things holiday! One of my favorites is classic gingerbread. I’m not one to mess with tradition and add all sorts of new flavors. That said, I’m not opposed to salted caramel anything!
I’ve made this straight forward recipe for years and always go back to it even after veering off to try something new. It’s super easy, comes out moist (really need another word to describe food in that way. If you come up with one let me know!) every time and is a crowd pleaser. Feel free to play with the amount of ginger in this recipe and/or add some candied ginger to the mix if you like that extra kick. Enjoy and happy holidays!
Sour Cream Gingerbread
Ingredients:
- ½ cup melted butter
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
- ½ cup Molasses
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 ½ cups flour (can use a third or a half whole wheat)
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1½ tsp. ginger (or a blend of your favorite gingerbread spices)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Grease and flour an 8”x8” baking pan or line it with parchment paper. I used a loaf pan this time.
- Cream the butter and slowly add the sugar until light and fluffy.Add sour cream, molasses. Add eggs continuing to beat until well blended.
- Whisk flour with baking soda, baking powder, salt and ginger and stir into the butter mixture.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30-40 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. If using a loaf pan, increase baking time to 45-50 minutes.
Scorpio Birthday Card – Free Printable!
Hi There, It’s only month two of my commitment to create and offer a monthly zodiac birthday card and I am already struggling to keep my word {Insert flushed face here}. BUT! I made it with only missing a few days of the Scorpio month. In my “trying to keep up with life” world, I call that on time! Disclaimer here: I apologize for the “meh” photo. The sun is shining something crazy in my usual photo spot. Oddly, you would think that makes for a great photo, but it doesn’t. A nice overcast day is the best for those needing a “natural” photo booth 🙂
The school year started by storm with soccer, homework, school events and field trips, conferences, etc., etc. And every year I think I am going to have all of this time to sit at my computer to create and add more to my Frella Etsy store, (There’s a new super cute fall recipe card available!) but it never happens. I do add a few things here and there, but what I really want to do is grow and expand my little shop in to something bigger. Faster. That said, my husband and I are do-it yourselfers and would rather do everything ourselves before paying someone to take care of something for us. More or less because we have the mindset that if it’s easy enough to do yourself and our parents did it, then we should too. No house cleaners, nanny, gardeners or repair man for this household! How do all you boss women do it? I am truly in awe of how some of you have your St*…uff together and get so much accomplished. There has to be a sacrifice somewhere, right?
I digress now! Back to the purpose of this post. If you have a Scorpio in your life that requires some birthday wishes, you can download and print this little number for free! Just click here for the download!! Happy Fall Y’all!
Libra Constellation Card: Free Download
It’s my goal this year to create one horoscope card each month and end up with a collection at the end of the 12 months. At the end of the month is my husbands birthday and I thought I might as well start now! I’m one down 11 to go! Each month I’ll post the free download here on the blog and then after each month, they will be available on my Etsy shop for purchase..still only $2.50 for the digital file, so either way it’s a good deal!
Click here to download this card for your Libra friends!
Free School Lunch/Love Note Printables
Hi There! I hope summer has been a fun one – I’ve been quiet for a while because I have been busy with the family doing all things summer. It’s been fun, but I will admit that I am starting to feel that need for some routine again. I’m not ready just yet though.
But I have been gearing up for the school year to start and created another fun set of lunch notes to pack in your kiddos lunches. This year I really tried to make it gender neutral – I have two girls so I tend to go on the girlie side 😉 At the beginning of the year I try to print out and trim a load of the notes to have a stash on hand so I can quickly write something personal on the back each morning. At the end of last year, I thought my girls weren’t reading them and didn’t care if I put them in their lunches anymore, but I quickly got an earful 😉 Check out the other lunch note sets in the freebies section! Click here to download this years.
Free Father’s Day Card
I can’t believe it’s Father’s Day in just a few days! It’s been a whirlwind of activities around here with all of the end of the year hoopla, 40th birthday celebrations, friends moving away and then there is this darn cold I have…no fun! As usual, I am putting together a last minute card and then hopefully I can save someone else a last minute trip to the store by offering a free printable! Click here for the download 🙂 Or visit my Frella Etsy Shop for a few other instant downloads!
If your husband is anything like mine, he can fix anything. I mean anything!!! I kid you not, he will 3D print an obscure part if he can’t find it in the store, just so he can fix, retrofit, or improve something. Sometimes I wish we could just hire someone, but then it’s also what I admire most about him. He never throws his hands up and says he can’t do it. He gets in there and figures out a way. And even our two girls have long learned that Baba (greek for Dad) can and will fix everything. He has fixed many a faulty toy wiring, had just the right glue for a broken ear, tail or leg and 3D printed a lost doll pacifier. He truly is amazing, but the most admirable is the way he can wipe those little tears right off their faces when he tells them he can fix their favorite toy.
Here’s to the amazing dads out there who fix life’s little (and big) problems! We love appreciate all that you do!
Mother’s Day Card Freebie!
Just in the nick of time I pulled this Mother’s Day card together and to offer you a free printable (Click Here to download). Just in case you are doing this last minute like me! 😉 I’m going to hold out my honesty card here for a sec. I don’t know if you are like me, but every Mother’s Day I struggle with wanting to just take the day off and coast the whole day…because let’s face it…as mother’s that’s near impossible even if your husband “takes over” for the day. My husband can be in the kitchen, and I am some where else in the house, and my girls will yell out in the house if I can get them a snack. Really?!
Back to my original point of wanting to take the day off…I also have Moms that have put in their time and more than deserve to be celebrated beyond measure. They have been at this waaaay longer than I have! Buuuut….I. AM. TIRED. What do I do? Throw on my big girl pants and put something together for the amazing Moms in my life or coast and hope that they understand this time around? In the mean time, I am popping this card in the mail. And my sentiments are true. Where ever your Mama is, it feels like home. All is right in the world. Thank you to all of the inspiring Moms that have come before me and set the bar high. We can only scratch the surface to express our gratitude for the countless sacrifices made and always having that soft spot to land when times are tough. Thank you Mom!
Happy Mother’s Day – XoXo