Tales of The Traveling Tote #35

Welcome to the 35th edition of The Tales of the Traveling Tote and our 8th year of sharing our travels!

The Tales of the Traveling Tote is a series of adventures that share where our Mackenzie Childs tote bags have taken us.  Four times a year a group of bloggers each write a connected post about the places we have been. We have built incredible friendships through our blogs and we hope you enjoy our tales as much as we do!

10 on the 10th - Easter Napkins...and a GIVEAWAY!

Here is an easy craft for your spring dinner table:

I bought 2 white napkins at our local dollar store for 2/$1.00.....

....and I painted each one with a bunny....

....using acrylic paints....

....once acrylic paints dry on cotton fabric...

...the paint will adhere well to the fibers and will not wash out - think "painter's pants"!  

The bunny painted on the napkins was inspired by Jenna @ The Painted Apron....

....who is a very talented artist!  This bunny is quickly painted with 3 strokes and a few dabs for a tail, with a few polka dots!

The napkins can be tucked into napkin rings (these are both from the 1920's, both engraved with the date), 

....and one has initials engraved on the backside!

OR

you can tuck the napkins into a water glass....

...or lay them flat:

They are machine washable and only cost 50 cents and a few dabs of paint to create - easy peasy!

If you would like a chance to win these napkins...leave me a comment below and I will randomly choose a winner on the 15th!

Hop over to see what my blogging friends created for under $10.00:

+Cindy - Cloches & Lavender

+Tammy - Patina & Paint

+Terrie - Decorating & More With Tip

+Corrine - Junk to Gems

+Patti - Pandora’s Box You are HERE!

Don't forget to leave a comment to have a chance to win this giveaway:

UPDATE:

Congrats to Jennifer:

Raw Rutes Juniper Cocktail Picks GIVEAWAY....

DON'T FORGET - This ends on January 15th

I am offering a giveaway of a package of two Juniper Cocktail Picks by Raw Rutes!

All you have to do is leave me a comment below letting me know what your favorite beverage is!

I can imagine using these in a variety of ways:

1. As pictured above with berries in a cocktail

2.Marshmallows in a cup of hot cocoa 

3.Lay on a charcuterie board with grapes 

4. Add cheese as an individual appetizer 

5.Fill with gumdrops and stick into a cupcake

 As you can see, they can be used by all ages in a variety of way, not just for cocktails!

Would you like a chance to win a package of two?  Just leave your comment below!

You can also comment on my January 10th Instagram Post for a second chance (@ppultorak).

Winter Blues ~ 10 on the 10th ~ and a Raw Rutes GIVEAWAY!

Our challenge for this month was to create something that cost under $10 using the theme "Winter Blues"!

When I have the "winter blues" I try to think of some of the summer activities that make me feel good, so 'picking blueberries' came to mind!

My husband LOVES blueberries and looks forward to picking them.  We flash freeze them and use them in pancakes and baked goods.  John also loves fresh blueberries on his cereal daily!

So here are a few delicious recipes to try, each one costing less than $10 to prepare:

Lemon Blueberry Bread

Cream together:
3/4 c sugar
1/4 c butter
Add:
2 eggs
peel of 1 lemon
Mix in:
2 c flour
1t salt
3/4 cup milk
1t baking powder
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
Bake in greased loaf pan @350' for 1 hour
Glaze:
2T lemon juice and 2 T sugar - pour over immediately after baking, then cool.

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Nana's Blueberry Muffins

• 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups sugar, plus 2 teaspoons, divided
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
• 
  
• Preheat oven to 350 °F. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and 1 1/4 cups sugar until fluffy and pale in color. Add in eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• In a separate mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternating with the milk until well incorporated and being careful not to over mix. Gently fold in the fresh blueberries.
• Scoop batter into the paper lined muffin tin and sprinkle the tops with the remaining 2 teaspoons sugar. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until puffy and golden brown. (Paula Dean)

This is Susan Branch's delicious Blueberry Cake recipe:

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Or you could make some Lemon-Blueberry Cookies:

A berry in every bite!

These delicious sweets will certainly wash away the 'winter blues'!  Packed with antioxidents and phytoflavinoids, blueberries are also high in potassium and Vitamin C, making them the top choice of doctors and nutritionists. Not only can they lower your risk of heart disease and cancer, they are also an anti-inflammatory.

And speaking of blueberries....  

I am offering a giveaway of a package of two Juniper Cocktail Picks by Raw Rutes!

Raw Rutes website describes the picks this way: 

Infuse your Gin & Tonic, Sparkling Water or a variety of other beverages with these lovely cocktail picks! They're inspired by the branches of the juniper tree, that gives us the fragrant berries that provide the unique flavors in spirits like gin, as well as other botanical and herbal drinks. They're simple and fun to use; Just spear your favorite fruits, berries, wave some herbs like rosemary and mint around them and give your drink a stir! 

All you have to do is leave me a comment below letting me know what your favorite beverage is!

***************

Stop by to see what these bloggers are creating to shake off the Winter Blues:

*Ann - The Apple Street Cottage

*Patti - Pandora’s Box YOU are HERE!

*Tammy - Patina & Paint

*Barb - French Ethereal

*Allyson - Southern Sunflowers

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Just leave a comment below telling me what your favorite beverage is to be entered!  

You can also comment on my Instagram Post for a second chance (@ppultorak)

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN ON JANUARY 15th

Joining Marty at Inspire me Tuesday

10 on the 10th ~ 6 napkin rings for under $3.50 ~ and a giveaway!

The goal of 10 on the 10th is for a group of us to create something that cost under $10.  Visit the bloggers at the end of this post to see what they created!

This month's theme was "The Holidays"

I bought a package of pine stems and 2 picks for 1/2 price at Hobby Lobby, spending a total of $3.49

I used two pine stems for each napkin ring.....

I cut the picks apart and used a piece of greenery, a gold fern, a leaf and 2 berries for each ring:

I used the hot glue gun to assemble each little bouquet:

...and then I glued each on onto the rings, adding a little polka dot bow!

This was a simple, quick project - even children could create these for the holiday table!

Here are a few ways to use the napkin rings:

And I still have these supplies leftover to create something else!!

Would you like to WIN a set of 4 napkin rings?  

Just leave a comment and I will pick a name!  

Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you, especially if you leave an anonymous comment!

Don't forget to visit these other clever bloggers to see how they spent under $10:

*Allyson - Southern Sunflowers

*Ann - The Apple Street Cottage

*Barb - French Ethereal

*Cindy - Cloches & Lavender

*Jemma(Joyce) - At Home With Jemma

*Jodi - The House house

*Terrie - Decorating & More With Tip

*Patti - Pandora’s Box (YOU ARE HERE)

Have a great day and enjoy the 10 on the 10th hop!