love day sale ...

just in time to get your loved ones a little something for valentine's day!

get 15% off your entire purchase in the armelle jewelry shop, now until feb 4th, just enter VALENTINE15 at checkout!

happy shopping!!

castelvetrano olives ...

castelvetrano olives have quickly become a favorite of mine!

their mild and buttery flavor is amazing, and since they are not cured but rather brined in salt water, they are so fresh and delicious!

i love to eat them plain, or toss them with extra virgin olive oil (just to coat), a sprinkle of coarse sea salt, red pepper flakes, and chopped dried or fresh oregano.  The combination is outta this world!

so, do you love castelvetrano olives?  have you tried them?

learn more about them over on my zupas post today.  click here.

{photo by me}

mediterranean couscous salad ...

so, how are your new years resolutions to eat better coming along?

i am always trying to improve the way i eat.  some days are better than others, but i do know that when i make an effort to eat well, my body is much happier!

here is a great recipe that you could make ahead, and have on hand for a healthy lunch!

i just love pearl couscous!  if you haven't tried it, you really should give it a try.  

click over to my zupas post today to learn more about pearl couscous!  click here.

{Mediterranean Pearl Couscous Salad}

Serves 6

salad

1 1/2 cup pearl couscous (uncooked)
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup chickpeas, drained
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 cup cucumber, diced
1/4 cup red onion, diced
1/4 cup parsley, minced
1/2 cup kalamata olives, sliced in half
1/2 cup roasted red peppers, diced
1 cup artichoke hearts from a can, drained, chopped

greek vinaigrette

1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 shallot, minced
1 tbs fresh basil, minced
1 tsp fresh oregano, minced
2 tbs fresh lemon juice
1 tbs agave nectar
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
3/4 cup olive oil

whisk together all ingredients except for olive oil.

slowly whisk in 3/4 cup olive oil a little at a time.

In a medium saucepan, bring chicken broth to a boil.  Add couscous, and stir.  Lower heat to a simmer, cover and cook for another 10-15 minutes until couscous is tender.  Remove from heat and spread couscous in a 9×13 inch pan to cool.

In a large bowl combine couscous and remaining ingredients with just enough vinaigrette to coat the couscous and vegetables.

Serve.

Enjoy!

looking back ...

i like to look back at the last year, and do a little review of some fun posts i shared on this blog.  i was surprised with a few things that i saw, because i feel like i hardly post anymore on this little old blog (having my third child last year made it hard to find free time!)

so here it is, a look back at 2011's best posts on the armelle blog!

i made a fun valentine's love banner!

i made a fun be mine box out of a cheerio box.

i attended alt summit 2011, and had a grand ol' time!  (can't wait for alt 2012 next week, eek!)

i listed some fun new acorn charm necklaces in the shop.

i made a fun felt heart "love" door hanger to get myself in the valentine's day spirit.

my little ezra and i made some fun bubble valentine's for his pre-school class. (there is a free download for this, here)

we made some tasty valentine s'more pops for our friends and cousins.

we packaged up some more treats for friends, and made a free made with love tag download.

i made some tasty homemade granola.

  i made plans for our dining room nook (still in the works!, but so close to being done!  it's been a busy year)

we painted ezra's big boy bed gray!  (see the before and after ikea malm bed, it's something!)

we painted two ikea rast small dressers, and added knobs for our nightstands.  (instructions/DIY here)

we also put up a gallery wall of photos in our home. (can you tell i was nesting big time?  my poor husband)

i recycled an old calendar, and made a new mini calendar for my desk.

i made a fun felt bunting gift bag.

and, probably the best thing to happen to us in 2011, was the arrival of kiddo number three, little thomas ralph!  

i figured out that to make microwave popcorn, all you really need is a brown paper sack and popcorn kernels.

i discovered my favorite banana bread recipe!

i finally finished up some fun blankets for my little tommy. (ah, look how little he was?!)

i made some fun airplane "boarding pass" invitations for ezra's fourth birthday.

i put together some fun airplane party favors, complete with candy airplanes.

and, of course the actual airplane party!  (it helped that my map obsessed self had so many maps to use for the party!)

we made all natural homemade popsicles.

i made a fun new wreath for the front door.

i made invitations for norah's red, white, and two birthday party!

i put together some red, white, and blue party favors.

and, of course we celebrated norah's second birthday, with a red, white and two party!

i made a blueberry peach crisp!

i put together a fun thanksgiving table for the lifestyle crafts be stuffed release.

i hosted my book club, and made a fun spread, complete with an italian soda bar.

we dressed up like pirates for halloween.

my addiction to green smoothies went on strong.

i made my favorite brussels sprout recipe.

i added some much needed new items to the shop, and had a huge black friday sale.

i organized my closets in my studio, and hung up some hooks for wrapping paper.

i was published in a cookbook for zupas!

and, we had sent out some christmas cards to help spread some holiday cheer!

all in all it was an amazing year!

i  was worried that i wouldn't have anything to share in this round up of 2011.  having three kids has really spread my time thin, and blogging has definitely been but on the back burner.  but, looking back, i am glad i was able to share a few things with you last year!

i hope i will always have something fun to share with you on this blog of mine!  i love to have a creative outlet, and mostly i love all the relationships i have made with all of you!

thanks for reading!!  here's to another great year!

green beans ...

i was lucky enough to grow up with a mother that cooked homemade meals everyday, and helped me to learn to eat healthy from a young age.

now, that i am a mom of three, i am trying to do the same with my children.  and, well some days are better than others, but we do try.  somewhere along the way, i have become my mother and i find myself being the one asking everyone to make sure they eat their vegetables at dinner time.

a current favorite vegetable at our house is green beans.

today, i am sharing a favorite recipe for green beans with toasted garlic, and pine nuts over on the zupas blog.

check it out here.

happy new year ...

happy new years eve!!

i usually like to do a round-up of the best posts from this blog over the past year, but i haven't had the chance.  hopefully, i'll get some time next week!

the holidays seemed to fly by this year,  i spent most of my time earlier in the month working to get orders filled for the shop, and later in the month my husbands sweet grandma had an unexpected fall.  we spend a lot of time at the hospital saying our goodbyes, and finally laid her to rest yesterday.

i anticipate our new year being filled with lots of family time, and greater appreciation for the great gift of life we all have been given!

happy new year to you all!

today, i am sharing a simple way to make sparking orange juice over on the zupas blog!  a great new years eve drink, and also a fun way to add a little sparkle to your new year's brunch!  click here to see how to make it!

{photo by me}