Image from My Baking Addiction

This is my mother-in-law’s Sweet Potato Casserole.  It’s simply the best!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Sweet Potato Casserole

3 c. cooked mashed sweet potatoes

1/2 c. sugar

2  eggs beaten

1/2 c. milk

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 stick butter melted

Combine and spoon into greased 1 to 1 1/2 qt. baking dish.

Topping

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 c.  chopped nuts pecans

1/3 c. flour

1/2 stick butter melted

Combine and spread over potato mixture.

Bake at 350 for 35 min.

I know it’s been forever since I last posted.  I have been so busy, caught up in the whirlwind of summer, that when I finally looked up – it’s starting to be fall outside!  Oh, how time flies!

This morning, the air outside was crisp and cool, and there were even a few trees in the backyard with a hint of fall on the edges of their leaves.  It inspired me to bake something warm and cozy, something to slow down with, enjoy and start getting in the mood for fall. Nothing is quite as cozy as the smell of banana bread baking in the oven.  It’s even better if it’s filled with chocolate chips, and a little on the healthier side.  Here’s how to fill your own home with the smell of yumminess, and the joy of eating it:

Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

2 Cups All-Purpose or White Whole Wheat Flour

2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

2 Teaspoons Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Cornstarch

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1/2 Cup Earth Balance Spread

1/2 Cup Honey

2/3 Cups Soy Milk (Or Almond, Oat, etc.)

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

3 Very Ripe Bananas

1/4 Cup to 1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

Preheat the oven to 315 degrees. Lightly grease a 7 by 4 by 3 pan with oil.

In your mixer or a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch, salt and cinnamon.  Add the 1/2 cup of Earth Balance spread, honey, soy milk and vanilla to the dry ingredients.  Mix until smooth.  Add bananas and mix.  Fold in the chocolate chips.

Fill the prepared pan with the batter.  Bake for 20 minutes, then rotate the pan 180 degrees. Repeat this process for a total of 1 hour baking time.  When the loaf is thoroughly baked, a toothpick will come out clean when inserted.

Let the bread stand for 20 minutes, then run a knife around the edges, and invert on a cutting board.  Remove pan, then re-invert the loaf.  Serve warm, or store for up to five days.

*  Recipe was adapted from Babycakes Cookbook

(Ok, so not quite a gazillion, but a ton!)  I was recently contacted by Fotolia to try out their photo service for a month, and of course I said “Yes!” right away.  I am always looking for images to use, and stock images can get really expensive.  Fotolia offers a membership plan, to help keep costs down for stock image users.  I’m going to try it this month, and  I will have to report back to everyone about my experience.  The cool thing about it all is that 10 lucky Frugal Style readers will get to try their service right along with me!!!  The first 10 to email me at melissavest@gmail.com will get a coupon code to try their service for 14 days, with 3 image downloads a day.

So, if you’re a graphic designer, blogger, creative guru or just would like to try out Fotolia’s stock image program…now’s your chance!

About Fotolia:

Fotolia is the first worldwide social marketplace for royalty free stock images, allowing individuals and professionals to legally buy and share stock images and illustrations.

Fotolia offers the largest image bank of free and affordable royalty free photos and illustrations perfect for any medium, web or print.

Photographers and designers constantly update Fotolia with thousands of new photos and illustrations each day, while photographers and designers receive commission from each photo sold and revenue from advertising on the free section.

You can learn more about Fotolia here.

Image from imgfave.com

It didn’t used to be this easy.

I know the changing game has made a lot of good people nervous. But, as a creative, I feel this new business world has been tailor-made with me in mind.

When Melissa asked me to guest post on The Frugal Style – I was elated! First because of the mad love I have for this blog – and second because this season in my life is teaching me great deal about the art of embracing both frugality and wealth.

These days, it’s easier than ever – not only to start your own business, but to do it with little or no start-up money. I’d like to share with you some of my favourite resources for savvy entrepreneurs.

I’ve had an ongoing love affair with the library since I was 15. I can get lost in a pile of books for hours. Nay, days. Since I began building brandyglows, the space where free books grow has taken on new meaning.

Scope out the business section and you can learn the equivalent of an MBA. Or, hone your craft. Whatever your business, the free Wi-Fi combined with all the free books. You’ve so got this.

I have a secret weapon. It’s the life-giving kind of lethal. When I start to feel stuck, I journal my way to breakthrough. Currently I have two running journals. One is a simple wide ruled notebook. I use it to make my to-do lists every morning, brainstorm new ideas and “get the yuck out”, meaning three pages of free-writing every morning (an exercise I picked up from The Artist’s Way – also, the reason I use wide ruled).

I started an explorative art journal recently, too. It helps me grow my business plans byactivating my right brain. We have become so accustomed to left-brain business management. There’s nothing wrong with that, but, if you’re in a creative field, you may be suspicious of the way “you’re supposed to do things”. The best part about journaling is that you get to discover onyour own terms what practices and techniques work for you.

If you’re looking to build a business on the cheap, you probably don’t have a marketing team.Strike that, you are the marketing team.

“Marketing in the future is like sex; only losers will have to pay for it.”

Welcome to the future. Tweet your heart out. Don’t think “sell”; think “engage”, “connect”and “relationship”. Reach out to your clients. Douse them in the sparkly stuff you know they’ll love – and not just your own brand of shine. Advertise yourself sparingly. Leave a trail of delicious links and they’ll find their way back to your site. Think of it as a grand experiment. No one is a social media expert, it’s far too new for that. All you have to do is get in the game and play.

Last of these gems, your loved ones have mad skills. Use them. For example, my husband is a graphic designer and a musician. Oh yeah. You can bet your keyboard I cash in on that. He’s amazing! But I digress.

Here’s my point: we all have specialties. Maybe your aunt’s a masterful painter. Maybe your man has connections in Washington. Brainstorm your peopled resources and then get yourself to their door (perhaps with a batch of chocolate chip cookies). You’ll be floored what you can manage if only you ask for it.

One tiny caveat: some businesses do require start up moolah. If that’s you, know what you need and research all your options for getting it. When it’s time to ask for the dough, you’ll be an expert in your craft. That’s just good business.

Whether or not you need money to turn your dreams into reality, here are a few juicy (free or low-cost) resources to help you out:
• Right-Brained Business Plan
• Kickstarter
• Seth Godin – oh, he’s a genius
• UnMarketing - there’s just something about Scott
• Enchantment
• A Whole New Mind
• The War of Art – sometimes the hardest part is just doing the work

Now, go forth and entrepreneu!

Brandy Walker is a digital pastor, writer and abolitionist. She’s interested in changing games and participating in the restoration of Shalom.  She invites you to think deeply about social and global problems, to love wildly and to use love as a catalyst to create the beauty we want to see in the world.

Hey there everyone, I am sorry I haven’t been posting very often this summer.  I have been working on my thesis, which is taking up quite a bit of my time.  I’ve been stressed out from it all, so this week I’ve decided to take more time for myself.  I thought about how nice going to a spa would be, to really unwind.  But that’s just not in the cards for someone in grad school, since one facial is almost $100.

So, I decided to take thirty minutes a few days this week and do some sort of spa treatment for myself at home.  Today it was this Honey Oatmeal Yogurt Facial Mask, made with ingredients I had in the kitchen.  It was really easy to make, and I sat around the house with the mask working its magic this morning.  It was nice and cool and really felt good.  The oats are great for sensitive skin, which I have, and the honey really made my skin soft.  I suggest using a hot towel over the mask at the end of the ten minutes, so that the steam can help it work.

This mask was amazing, and my skin looks less like the face of a grad student and more like the face of a totally relaxed and refreshed person.  You can follow the steps above to make it yourself.  All you need is oatmeal, honey and yogurt.  I used a blender to make the oatmeal into a fine mix, and then added the honey and yogurt to create the mask. So easy!  I’m starting to really like the idea of creating my own spa treatments at home and taking a little time to relax.  If they work this well, why pay $100?  I put the leftover mask in the fridge, but this made enough you could share it with a friend!

I was wondering, do you guys have any other DIY spa treatment to suggest for me this week?

Tonight I was online getting a few sets of thank you cards at Night Owl Paper Goods, and I ran across these sweet cake toppers.  I knew I just had to share them with you all.  Instead of just posting the toppers I thought it’d be better to pull together a whole natural look for a wedding.  Of course I had to make sure everything was budget friendly, and I absolutely love the idea of incorporating natural elements in to a wedding since many of them are inexpensive or even free.  Twigs, rocks and herbs from the garden (as seen in the bridal bouquet), can all cost very little while still delivering high style.  Here’s how to get the look for less:

1.  Owl Wedding Cake Toppers from Night Owl Paper Goods for $115

2.  Centerpiece Idea from Ruffled Blog

3.  Thank You Stamp from Olive Manna for $19

4.  Eco Friendly Invitations from Minted starting at $2.34 ea.

5.  Pacific Shimmer Earrings from Anthropologie for $28

6.  Bouquet Idea from Design Sponge

7.  Say You Will Dress from Mod Cloth for $179.99

From apnoea

It seems like everyone has been raving about Goody’s Spin Pins.  I finally broke down and bought a pair for my long-ish hair.  Love them!  What a brilliant concept and idea.  I have thick, slightly longer than shoulder length hair and Spins Pins work really well for creating a casual, slightly messy bun (see photos for a how-to).  They come in a dark brown color for dark hair and a light color for blonde hair.

Photo from The Paper Mama

I experienced a slight learning curve with them, but after a couple a tries, I’ve been very pleased with the results.  They retail for around $7 – $8, but I found them for $6.29 on Target’s website.  If you have long hair and you are feeling tired of the pony tail rut, check these out!

Image from dressdesigndecor

Post by Glennen Greer

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and about your business?

I am a people photographer. I love telling stories through images. I’ve been shooting professionally for about 6 years, and last year I started my own business, Tangerine Studio. Weddings are a large part of my business but I also do headshots for professionals and actors. Lately my focus has been leaning more toward editorial and commercial work. I’d love to be developing more in that direction in the future.

2. Could you tell us about how you became a small business owner?  What you did to get started?

Actually, it took me quite awhile to get going on this. For a long time I freelanced as a photographer with other studios, shooting weddings and events, and picking up occasional commercial and editorial gigs on the side. When I decided it was time to strike out on my own (or risk having to go back to a day job), I did a ton of research on small businesses in general and picked the brains of other photographers in my area to find out what worked for them. I’m still in my first year of business so I’m making decisions about what advertising resources will give me the best return on my investment, but I’m finding out that referrals from past clients are really where it’s at. Take care of your clients and they will take care of you!

3. Do you have any advice to others who would love to own their own business?

Get an accountant and a lawyer. It’s way easier than trying to figure it all out on your own.
Get friendly with others who are in your market. Because many of my bookings are based on specific dates (weddings, corporate headshots with publication deadlines, etc), and because I don’t do ALL types of photography  I get inquiries for a fair number of jobs I can’t do.   So, I give out the names of other photographers, and they do the same for me.  This is not applicable for all industries, but for me, referrals from my peers have become a more valuable source of work for me than I ever could have imagined.

4. What is your favorite part of your job?

The Challenge.  I love meeting people.  I love telling stories.  I love solving problems.  I love art.  All those things come together so well in photography. You get a call from a client who says “I need X.” Then you consult with them about what X means to them, the practical needs, the time/location/budget restrictions, how the image will be used.  Then you plan the shoot and create their image for them. And if it’s a wedding, you create 600-1000 of those images. 

5. As a photographer, do you have any tips for brides-to-be?

Prioritize. From the beginning of the wedding planning process, literally make a list of all the elements you can think of and list them from Most Important to Least Important. It will help you a lot as you set out to do your budget. Would $500 make the difference between getting the photographer you want rather have than the one you’d settle for?  Then maybe candelabras on the reception tables would work just as well as springing for individual flower arrangements. Do you LOVE food and want your guests to have the most gourmet meal possible, or do you want to kick back under a tent and have a relaxed barbecue and beer?  Could you find a dress you love that’s at a last-season price, and throw the extra cash toward a great videographer?  Everyone’s needs and desires are different, but it will help you a lot to go into the process of looking for vendors with an idea of what your “must haves” are and what you consider to be icing on the (wedding) cake.

Photography specific tips:
Book early to get the person you want. I cut off 2011 bookings at the end of March and I’ve got 3 bookings and 3 open inquiries for 2011 right now.
Choose someone whose work speaks to you. There are lots of people who can produce “good photos” but you want someone who is a good match for you and your fiance, stylistically, and personality wise.  You should be very excited about your photographer! Don’t sign on the line if you feel lukewarm.
Schedule time for all the photos you want. If you have 15 minutes at the church for family photos, you aren’t going to get everything you want, and it won’t be the photographer’s fault. Invite your family to come along with the wedding party for outdoor photos if your church has time limitations. If you have a short time between the ceremony and reception, you can opt to do a “First Look” with your fiance and take some of your photos before the ceremony. And make sure to COMMUNICATE with your family and wedding party to let them know where/when they are expected for photos. Don’t assume that those photos will magically happen!

6. Have you seen any really cool wedding ideas, that are equally stylish and affordable?

A Picnic! I saw a photo spread from a photographer where the couple organized a bike ride to a park for a picnic luncheon after their morning ceremony. The bride had thrifted dozens of vintage sheets and blankets for the guests to sit on and went all out with the theme with dozens of picnic baskets filled with their favorite local deli foods and lots of balloons all around the park. Then the whole crew went to an ice cream parlor where the bride and groom handed out adorable handmade coupons for ice cream cones. That was an incredibly cool thing to do.

7. What should every bride splurge on if they can?

The Photography, obviously.
The real answer is, the photographer. Even if you don’t have a ton of money to spend right off the bat, capturing the images is the most important thing. Going with a package that is “all inclusive” with album, etc is kind of a waste if you just don’t like the pictures. Confirm with the photographer that you will be able to order prints and albums a la carte in the future, and reserve the person you want for at least the coverage of the day. Those images are forever and can be used to create a beautiful album for your 1 year, or 5 year anniversary once you have saved up the cash. And if it’s an option, order a full resolution DVD of your images. You should still order professional prints for the best quality, but you’ll want a DVD to keep in your safe deposit box in case your images become unavailable in the future.

8. What are some of your favorite things to photograph? What inspires you?

Environmental portraits. I love images that tell a story, and photographing a person within their environment is one of my favorite things to do. A chaotic office space, backstage at a theatre, a sewing room filled with colorful fabrics and projects-in-progress. These places have so much to tell about the people who spend their time in them.

9. On a different note, I’ve noticed that you like to coupon. How did you get started, and do you have any tips for everyone?

I hopped on the bandwagon after I saw some of the deals a few of my friends were getting after watching Extreme Couponing. I still haven’t seen the show, but I read up on the strategies and I’ve started shopping that way on a pretty regular basis. I subscribe to couponmom.com and dealseekingmom.com, which both offer emails directly to your inbox on all the coupon deals at national stores. The other tip I would give is to plan your meals as often as is practical. It keeps you from being enticed to spend extra money on stuff you don’t really want just because you have a coupon.

10. If you had just $10 to spend, what would you spend it on?

Food. I’m a total foodie. Milwaukee has Downtown Dining Week twice a year and they have $10 fixed menu lunches at tons of fantastic downtown restaurants. It happens to be this weekend and next week, so that’s the next thing I’m going to spend my $10 hard earned dollars on: lunch at Tulip, my favorite Turkish restaurant.

Amanda Schlicher is the owner of Tangerine Studio in Milwaukee, WI. She specializes in various types of  photography including, weddings, events, headshots and commercial/editorial work.

Sunglasses – Forever 21 $5.80

Swimsuit – Walmart $32

Summer Dress – Old Navy $37.50

Beach Tote – Target $19.99

TOTAL – $95.29

Hat – Target $12.99

Shorts – J Crew $32.50

Floral Top – Ruche $37.99

Ruffled Sandals – Payless $14.99

TOTAL – $98.47

Dress – Ruche $48.99

Clutch Purse – Charlotte Russe $16.50

Heels – Forever 21  $26.80

TOTAL – $92.29

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and about being a new mom.

I am a Wisconsin native who has been married about five years to my husband Dave. We met at UW-Madison and stayed here in Madison after we graduated. Prior to becoming a mom, I worked at the UW in research administration for four years. My son Henry was born in August 2010. Now I’m a stay-at-home mom. I love that I get to spend lots of time with Henry. Staying home with him definitely takes a different skill set than my previous job. There are a lot more snuggles and kisses here at home than at the office, so it’s all worth it!

2. What’s the best piece of advice you have for new moms?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Dave and I tried to do everything on our own when we first brought Henry home from the hospital. Big mistake—I was still recovering from a 30-hour labor that ended in a c-section, we were both totally exhausted, and it took a long time for Henry and I to get the hang of breastfeeding. We wound up sending out an SOS email to our local friends, who came through for us big time. Asking our friends to help with food and watching Henry so we could get some sleep was the best thing we could do for ourselves! Now we make sure to do the same for our friends who have newborns. Our friends were absolute lifesavers.

3. What is your favorite part of your day?

When Henry first wakes up in the morning. He usually plays quietly in his crib for fifteen minutes or so, giving me a chance to grab some coffee, etc. When I go in to get him, he’s standing in his crib with a huge smile on his face. Then he starts babbling and reaching up for me. My heart melts every time!

4. What is something surprising you’ve learned as a mom?

I am not known as a patient person. I tend to move quickly, work quickly, multitask, etc. I usually expect the same out of others, which can drive my methodical, steady husband crazy. However, I find that I have an abundance of patience when it comes to Henry. I’m very surprised at how much better I am at enjoying the moment with him, and how I don’t get frustrated doing things at his pace.  I am also surprised at how sharp baby teeth are. Henry’s actually (accidentally) drawn blood!

5. Is there something that you love for babies, that’s surprisingly affordable?

Until Henry was about five months old, he HAD to be swaddled to sleep. We discovered the Kohl Safety Center at the Children’s Hospital here in Madison. They had at-cost swaddlers there! There are Kohl Safety Centers hospitals across the country. Basically, they sell safety gear (including strollers and car seats) at or near cost. I wish we’d known about it when we started buying gear. I’ve gotten a lot of our babyproofing stuff there. I also got Henry a little bike helmet for just $10!

6. Do you have any tips for buying all of the necessities on a budget?

Talk to mom friends who have recently had newborns to find out what is really necessary. Hold off on purchasing gear until after the baby shower unless you find a really good deal.
One thing I’ve found that helps me get a good deal is using my amazon.com cart as a holding place for higher priced items I want. Sometimes the prices can fluctuate significantly. If I don’t need an item right away, I’ll put it in my cart to save for later. Then, anytime I log on to amazon and check my cart, it will tell me if the price has gone up or down since I last checked. After awhile, I get a good idea of what a good price is for the item. I’ve managed to buy some items at just the right time when the price was extremely low…sometimes for up to 70% off.
I got a lot of Henry’s newborn and 0-3 month size clothes at Goodwill, St. Vinnie’s, etc. You can find a lot of brand new baby clothes there! People tend to get a lot of clothes in those sizes at showers, and babies usually outgrow them before they can wear them all. I’ve had good luck getting new/gently used clothes there.
My group of friends also passes gear around to whoever needs it at the time.. We have the oldest kid, but our good friends down the street had a baby a couple of months ago. As Henry outgrows clothes/gear, we just ship it down the road to Joey. It clears up space in our house, saves them money, and we know that if we need the gear/clothes again in the future, it’ll be passed back.

7. I’ve noticed that you’re quite the photographer. Your photos of Henry are fantastic! Do you have any tips for taking pictures as your baby grows?

Thanks! I recommend taking lots of pictures. Lots. For every great shot I have, I have three that aren’t so great. Henry moves pretty quickly, so I have lots of blurry pictures, or pictures with Henry’s eyes half-closed. I shoot with a Digital Rebel t1i. It was one of our splurges when we knew Henry was coming. I usually have it set to “continuous shooting” so I can take bursts of photos.
I take a monthly picture of Henry in front of a giant stuffed pig we have named Hammy. It’s nice to have a static background so we can really see how much Henry has grown from month to month. I also spell out Henry’s age with alphabet blocks in the pictures.

8. How do you stay active with baby in tow?

Honestly, now that he’s mobile, a good chunk of my activity is just keeping up with him! I do take him on lots of walks. He loves looking around at everything. If it’s a longer walk, he’ll fall asleep. We also just bought a bike trailer so we can take Henry with us when we go for rides. I also try to take a weekly yoga class. It’s nice to get away from the house on my own to do something good for my body and mind.

9. What do you splurge on for yourself?

Spa time. I love massages, pedicures, etc.!

10. Do you have any other tips or tricks for new moms?

Take time for yourself. This is something I still struggle with. I feel like I should be spending all my time being supermom/superwife, but the truth is, if I don’t do things for me sometimes, I’m grumpy and not too fun to be around. I’m a better mom/wife when I’m happy. About once a week, Dave kicks me out of the house to go read in a coffee shop, or run fun errands, or get a manicure/pedicure.
Take time for your partner! Dave and I have only had three dates since Henry’s been born: a brunch, a 10AM showing of a Harry Potter movie, and an evening dinner (reservations at 5PM). We really want to make an effort to spend more romantic time together. We had a blast the few times we have gotten away.
Naps are your friend. I used to sometimes nap with Henry in my bed, snuggled up with me. There really is nothing sweeter than napping next to a baby.
Nursing is good for both mom and baby. It’s also a fantastic weight loss tool!
I highly recommend The Happiest Baby on the Block book and/or DVD by Harvey Karp. The tricks in that book helped us keep our sanity during the newborn phase. It’s all about how to effectively soothe a fussy newborn.
Making your own baby food is surprisingly easy and affordable. There is a lot of good info out there. Maybe I’ll write about that more in the future!
Find a group of moms with newborns. A lot of cities have support groups. It’s great to chat with others going through the same thing, and to be able to ask “Baby is doing such-and-such. Is that normal?” I’ve made a lot of great friends through my mother’s group. Now that Henry’s a little older, he really enjoys playdates with his little baby friends too!