Hooker

Unless you live under a rock I am sure you have seen these floating all over Facebook, Pinterest, etc...  I love them!  I knew I had to have a hooker one to share.  Hope you enjoy!

These photos are not mine! For photo credit click below. These link back to where I found them (via google images) and may or may not be owned by the site linked to. I did track back as far as I could to give credit where credit is due.

what my friends think of me--free pattern

what my kids think of me

what my husband fears from me

what my fellow yarnies hear from me

what society thinks of me

actually me

Summercrafts Yarn Bowl Winner!

First of all,  thank you to Summerscrafts for sponsoring this giveaway!

I almost feel bad announcing the winner! I know all of you are so excited to win!  If I am being honest I am a little jealous I can't win!  

That's right this lovely little number will be en route to one of you very soon!!

The lucky new owner is.....

Tina said...

Oh my gosh, I love this bowl and I've never seen them. My favorite is the pistachio green with the robin's egg blue inside :)

Tina please email me your mailing info to innerhooker@hotmail.com

Thank you to everyone for participating in this giveaway!  There are a few other great bowls still available and more are added all the time!  

Here are 2 great bowls available now!

Click to see in Summerscrafts shop!  Only $25.99!

Click to see in Summerscrafts shop!  Only $21.99!

If you are in the market for a bowl head over and support our sponsor Summerscrafts!

Freezer Cooking Round 4

After a little hiatus I am back in the saddle again.  Did you miss me??  I missed my freezer meals that's for sure!  I have shared my love of freezer cooking along with some recipes and my feedback on them; you can find all previous freezer cooking posts here if you are interested.  

Freezer Cooking Posts

I haven't been doing big days, it's just not my thing.  I prefer to make dinner and just triple it and freeze the 2 extras.  Some meal groups I don't mind making a few meals at once (soups, items with shredded chicken, etc...)  but I don't usually go that route...plus it's a little more expensive (up front) than my budget allows these days.

ok, onto what you came here for

First up....

Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef
{recipe and picture from The Kitchn}

I used a different cut of meat than the recipe called for but it still worked well.  I loved that she recommends cooking it for a few hours and then switching it to warm overnight.  It shreds super easily this way. The flavor was still not quite what I wanted.  I like a spicier, more mexican vibe.  The cloves in this just didn't do it for me.  Being fair, cloves aren't really my favorite.  I debated not putting it in but decided in order to properly share my opinion I should do the recipe as stated.  My husband thought it was good and my in-laws ate it so I guess it must have tasted ok, or they were just being polite!  This meat like all shredded meat I've ever made freezes and reheats well.  We usually eat it for dinner and another meal or 2 then freeze the rest.  When we are ready to eat it again I just pull it out of the fridge that morning and warm it up for dinner.  

Next....

Crockpot Italian Turkey Meatballs
{recipe and picture from skinnytaste.com}

These went over well!  The 13 and 2 year old didn't eat them but they don't eat anything.  Husband, myself and 1 year old thought they were delish!  I did switch them up a little.  I did half turkey and half pork sausage.  {I may try straight turkey next time but I do think the pork keeps them from being dry plus it has a little kick to it that I dig}  I also subbed almond flour for the breadcrumbs.  I froze the meatballs on a plate not touching until they were pretty solid.  Then I transferred them to a ziploc and poured in the sauce and other ingredients.  Pull the bag out the night before or the morning you want them to thaw a little and toss them in the crock pot!

and last for today

Craaazy Good Crock Pot Carnitas
{recipe and pic from Kait's Primal Kitchen}

This was delish!  My family has a favorite crock pot pork recipe and this may just replace that.
{The other one has brown sugar and a can of soda so really how can it not taste good.  We are cutting out as many processed foods and sugar as possible so that one is no longer welcome in my crock pot :)  It is on Freezer cooking Round 1 post if you are interested}

It's savory, not too sweet, not spicy...just...well, good!  I made paleo tortillas to go with it and they were not so good so I just ate the meat and some guacamole.  Yum!  Like all of our shredded meats we eat it for a few meals and then I put the rest in bags to freeze.  Pull out and thaw in the fridge and then rewarm when you are ready.  I tossed this one in the oven again (as recipe states) to reheat and it was perfect.

Love all these recipes but want to come back later?  Pin it so you don't forget :)

Pin It

Summerscrafts Yarn Bowl Giveaway

Are you ready for another awesome giveaway?? I have wanted one of these for quite some time and am super excited to have the chance to give one away to a lucky reader!! If you are a hooker or knitter I am sure you have seen these awesome ceramic yarn bowls! 

 Swoon right?!?!

A little Summerscrafts history in their own words:

"We are a husband/wife team who are retired and whose hobby is making stoneware pottery. Las Cruces New Mexico, where we live, has a very active pottery guild that promotes ceramics and sponsors the Empty Bowls program to feed the needy. Last year the guild raised over $20,000 for the local soup kitchen, for more information on go to:

Pretty awesome business owners right?  We all know that I love do gooders!!  I love, love, love when people give back!  One of you will win this gorgeous yarn bowl from Summerscrafts.  Yarn bowls are such a beautiful and practical way to keep your yarn and string neat and untangled while you knit or crochet.

Summercrafts is giving you the chance to win one of their most popular glaze color combinations!

 One side of the bowl has a "J" shaped cut for the yarn, the other side has a pierced design to thread the material through. The bottom has cork pads to protect furniture surfaces. It measures approximately 6 1/2" x 2 1/4" high. Yarn and needle are not included.

Here's how to enter!!  Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.  Giveaway closes Thursday February 9th at 11:59pm.  Winner will be posted Friday February 10th.


Mandatory to enter:
Check out Summerscrafts on Etsy and leave me a comment telling me your favorite color.

Additional entries:
Pin your favorite item from Summercrafts Etsy to Pinterest!  Be sure to leave a link to your pin!
Post about this giveaway on your facebook, twitter, or blog (each an additional entry)


YEP, that's up to 5 entries!

Don't want to wait to win??
Head over to Summercrafts website or Etsy and shop now!  Bowls are only $21.99!  Amazing deal!

Winding the Skein Winners!

First..,

 thank you so much to Winding the Skein for sponsoring this giveaway!  

onto the WINNERS

Is it you???

(bahahaha love this button head, curly lock hair sketch...cracks me up)

Could this be yours?

Does this make you want to squeeze it and give it a little sniffy?

{This color is 'Arizona' I truly cannot express how perfect these colors are.  Just like an Arizona sunset!  Sometimes I really miss my home state!}

I am so excited to have such a great response to this giveaway!  I always worry a little when doing them.  I want it to be successful for the sponsor and exciting for you all and I think we may have been successful on both fronts (looking at the # of entries anyways!)

Onto the good stuff......drum roll please.....

1st place.....winning the $20 shop credit

Megan Kosecki said...

And now I just started following Winding the Skein's blog...what an awesome family!

2nd place.....winning the set of buttons 

Jenny W said...

I would get either homespun yarn or the wooden buttons. I'm absolutely in LOVE with both!!
Absolutely Amazing!!!
amazinghats@hotmail.com

3rd place.....winning the supersized pompom

corina cole-deflumeri said...

I pinned on pinterest http://pinterest.com/pin/211387776229479131/

Winners please contact me at innerhooker@hotmail.com and I'll pass along your into to Debra!  

Thank you everyone for playing!  If you didn't win you can still shop!  

Support handmade!  

We are real people with real families, real bills and real appreciation for all of you!

Winding The Skein 

website

facebook

blog

etsy

Now, I must order some needles so I can make a few of her patterns!

for a few new babes in the family

or maybe something for myself!

February Photo A Day Challenge

I saw this a week or so ago (the January one) and probably should have jumped in then but being the spaz that I am I decided I should start on the first of the month.  Not sure why but here we are.  Then of course I forgot it was the 1st so I had to snap my picture pretty late but never the less I did it.  I am really looking forward to this challenge!  I want to be better at taking pictures daily.  I asked for some Project Life stuff for the next gift giving holiday.  Hoping they are in my grubby hands soon and these daily pics will be a great help and addition!  I probably won't blog the pictures daily but promise to weekly or more often.   

Day 1:  my view today

{sidenote: had a great play date...should have taken a picture there}

nothing quite like brother kisses

If you want to check out more head over to fat mum slim for the full scoop.

Winding the Skein Handspun Yarn Giveaway!

I am so happy to share one of my favorite yarnies with you all. If you follow Inner Hooker on facebook you have heard me sing my love for Debra from Winding the Skein.  She is UH-MAZING!

Check out this thick and thin!  This yarn seems to be so popular these days and can you see why?!?!  Beautiful!

these locks and corespun are to die for!!  Oh what I would do for some of those gorgeous locks!

Not only is Debra extremely talented her family is also involved!  

Her 14 year old son Jonathan sells the wooden buttons on her sites.  

The wood is from her parent's farm that was homesteaded by her great grandfather!  Her mother was born in the old farmhouse and still lives there!  Isn't that pretty neat.  I love the history.  Jonathan's grandpa helps him cut the buttons and then he sands and drills the holes.  I have a few of these buttons and they are truly a work of art.  So when you buy wood buttons you are helping Jonathan save for his dream camera to continue pursuing his photography and videography.

Debra's other son Gabriel is 12 and makes and sells PVC Niddy Noddys.  

I don't have much first hand use with them since I still haven't pulled out my wheel to learn to spin but they are a great tool for spinners or even if you recycle yarn.  Head over to Winding the Skein to read more about how Gabriel makes these and what makes his so great!

Such little entrepreneurs!  Seriously look at that kid!  What a handsome little man!

 I love supporting handmade and this family is the picture of it!  Everyone working together to do the best they can for their family.  I wish I could put into words just how amazing Debra is.  We are not extremely close but we have chatted online for the last year or so and as silly as it is to say I totally look up to her.  She is the kind of woman and mom I hope to continue to grow to be.  

NOW FOR WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!!

Winding the Skein is giving away 3 prizes!!!

**1st prize will win a $20 shop credit**

2nd prize will win 5 Myrtle wood buttons

3rd prize will win an oversized (we are talking BIG like 7" big) handspun pompom
(adorable to add to a hat or for a little decor in your craft room!)  

here's how to enter:

Mandatory Entry:
Check out Winding the Skein on Etsy and her website and tell me what you will spend your winnings on!

want a few extra chances to win??

Follow Winding the Skein on Facebook

Follow Winding the Skein's blog

if you are on Pinterest pin your favorite item!  (be sure to leave me a link to your pin!)

Facebook, tweet, or blog about this giveaway!  (also leave me a link please!)

REMEMBER!

leave a separate comment for each entry!

SEVEN chances for you to win!  You can do 1 or all 7 but you must leave a separate comment for each entry.

Contest will close February 2 at 11:59pm.  The winner will be announced Friday February 3.

Winding the Skein has an upload day that just happens to be Mondays!
Be sure to check her out this evening, you won't be disappointed!

While you are there you can also snatch up a knitting pattern or  even some recycled yarn (for an amazing deal).  Debra got me to overcome my fear and taught me to knit with dpn's with her video!  Dude...don't be scared.  Try them...they are easy!

Can't stop drooling???  Yeah, I know...me either.  Check out Winding the Skein on Flikr to see her portfolio of work!

 'Arizona' and 'Dex' obviously are 2 of my faves :)

yeah, just click the pic, you know you want to