~50~Another Blog

I wanted to let all of you know that I have decided to start another blog.  Last month, Jake and I decided to do the Advocare 24 Day Challenge starting with the New Year in an effort to become healthier, lose some weight and inches, as well as jump start a nutrition plan-as mentioned in my New Years wishes a couple of posts ago.   

I want Bake Me A Craft to maintain it's focus of crafting and baking, which is the reason for having a separate blog for my Advocare journey.  If you'd like to learn more about Advocare and follow me as I document my progress throughout challenge, please head over to http://bmac-advocare24dc.blogspot.com

Hope to see you there!

~49~New Cricut Cartridges

I am SO excited!! I just got in 2 brand new Cricut cartridges that I bought on a whim just after Christmas.  I am itching to get to crafting using these, and already daydreaming of different uses for them.

The first is the Everyday pop-up cards.  These designs are super cute and will add a little extra pizzaz to my card inventory.  My favorite images right now are the Eiffel Tower (because I have a secret love affair with Paris all things French), the Ballon/banner, and the birthday cake.   The layering and pop-up combinations with this cartridge are endless!

The other is brand new Folk Art Festival cartridge.  Just looking at it, I think it is the best cartridge I own to date.  It offers so much! It basically is a shapes/images and alphabet cartridge rolled into one.  My favorite part of it are the 50 different border options.  The designs particularly remind me of a lot of the Norwegian art that my grandma owns.  Aside from making beautiful cards, I also have lots of hopes to use the designs as stencils for plaques, serving trays, and other home decor projects. 

Unfortunately, I don't have a ton of time in the immediate future to play around with these amazing cartridges, but when I do get to it, I will be sure to come back and show you what I made.

Until then, 

~48~ Year in Review

Well 2012 has officially come and gone…Hello 2013!!

Jake and I rang in the New Year last night with some great friends! It started out with cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones in their bowl game before partying the night away at the Hilton Garden Inn's annual NYE event.  While it wasn't exactly what we expected, we had a great time!

The start of a new year always makes me reflect a bit on the previous year.  To be honest, 2012, while not a bad year for us, it was not a really a great one.  Nothing huge happened for us this year so it felt like "just another year".   

Here are my top 5 moments of 2012:

5. Expanding my crafting repertoire-card boxes and signs

4. Traveling~to Baltimore in April and Chicago in November

3. My first Etsy sale!

2. Celebrating our 1 year anniversary-it will be a hard one to top!

1. Finally starting on my Master's and excelling at it 

Looking forward to 2013, there are several wishes that I have for the upcoming year. 

*Wish 1* To find and purchase our first home

*Wish 2* To become healthier and happier with myself/body

*Wish 3* To increase traffic and sales of Bake Me A Craft

*Wish 4* To begin preparing ourselves to start a family

I truly think that 2013 will be one of our best years yet.  I am very excited and hopeful for all of the things to come.  

What are your wishes for 2013?

~47~ C is for...

Cookie, Cards, and Christmas!!

In my world, it just wouldn't be Christmas without cookies or cards.  This past Sunday, I went a little bake happy and made a TON of cookies!  As mentioned in last years cookie post, making cookies each holiday season is a matter of tradition.  This year is no exception.  My "go-tos" are frosted sugar cookies, white chocolate cherry shortbread, and spritz cookies.  They are easy to make and oh so delicious! I generally make cookies to bring to Christmas, share at school, and give to friends.  This year, we had 2 snow days right before winter break started, so I didn't get to take any cookies to work, AND I forgot the plate of cookies I was supposed to bring to my family's Christmas celebration.  However, Jake's family enjoyed them!

Last year, Jake and I did not send out homemade Christmas cards as I have become accustomed to, since we decided to use our wedding photos instead.  With a little Pinspiration, I am back to my hand made cards.  I think they turned out pretty darn cute!

What other "C" things do you associate with Christmas?