cooler temps = comfort food

Cooler temperatures bring oven-baked comfort food around our house so I perused a variety of chicken pot pie recipes & selected my favorite things about each one & put my own spin on this classic dinner.

Here’s what I came up with to fill six 10 ounce ramekins:

4 boneless chicken breasts

4  potatoes

1 bag of frozen veggies

1 can of cream of chicken & mushroom soup

1 cup milk

1/4 cup melted butter

2 packages of crescent rolls

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Boil chicken & potatoes until tender, then chop into small pieces.  Follow cooking directions on the frozen vegetables bag.

Mix the soup, milk, butter & spices in with the chicken, potatoes & veggies and place in ramekins.  Pinch crescent rolls together so they make a rectangle & cut into 3 strips.  You should have a total of 24 strips after you cut up the two packages of crescent rolls.   Lay them over the chicken mixture.  Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown & a bit bubbly.

You probably could serve this up casserole style if you didn’t have the ramekins but I love the presentation of the individual dishes.  They just seem to make a normal weeknight dinner a bit fancier.

These babies turned out far better than those frozen ones in cardboard boxes I grew up with as a kid.  This was Jule’s first time trying this classic American cuisine & she was a big fan!  We’ll definitely be putting this on the monthly dinner list.

making days brighter for dogs in detroit

We’re big animal lovers at catching fireflies so in celebration of Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, we’re partnering with Detroit Dog Rescue to raise money & collect supplies for the many dogs in our city that need forever homes.  Detroit Dog Rescue is focused on raising awareness for the plight of the forgotten, homeless and stray dogs of Detroit.

There are more than 50,000 homeless and stray dogs running loose on the streets of Detroit. With only twenty-three City of Detroit Animal Control Officers to perform rescue operations, nearly 90% of dogs picked up by the city are euthanized. With limited resources and funding allocations to humane animal rescue operations, Detroit Dog Rescue is a small group of highly committed individuals dedicated to help make a difference in the city, one dog at a time.

We’re invite you to help us make days brighter for our four legged friends a couple different ways.

First, you can help us spread the word that we’re donating a dollar for every new  facebook like we get in the month of October to Detroit Dog Rescue.   Our goal is to get 2,000 likes so we can write a check for $2,000 that will go to helping DDR build a state-of-the-art no kill animal shelter in Detroit.

Our rescued Basset Hound, Gus is already on the job spreading the word.  You can help him out by clicking some of those social share buttons at the bottom of this post too!

Second, we’re also collecting supplies at our Berkley & Rochester locations all month long.  DDR’s wish list includes: dog food, used towels, paper towels, used blankets, large dog bowls, durable dog toys, chewy dog treats, gas cards, large dog collars and leashes

And when you bring in 5 or more supplies, we’ll even throw in this great sign with any purchase.

Like to see how you can help us make days brighter for those in need? Stay in the loop by signing up to receive these inspiring updates in your email inbox!

fabulous family print giveaway

Texan artist, Mandy Guyon has helped welcome many beautiful babies to this world with her hip & modern birth announcement prints.  So we were fairly excited to see her latest design that features the whole family!

See your crew in full color with some of Mandy’s magic.  You can order them in sizes 8×10 or 11×14 ready to frame.  This week we are giving two 11×14 family prints away to a couple of lucky firefly fans. ($38.95 value)

Enter below & we’ll draw the names on Wednesday,  October 3, 2012 and the winner will be listed on this post.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Have fun, good luck and thanks for playing!

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googly eye bombing

I love this growing trend of yarn bombing.  There’s just something delightful about seeing trees, parking meters & telephone poles covered in colorful yarn.  So it’s no surprise that I couldn’t help but to smile when I spotted these fanciful trees when I was in Birmingham last weekend.

I do believe this is some of the fanciest yarn bombing I’ve seen.  I love how the artist used zip ties for the bug antennae.

I must admit I wish I had the knitting skills or the patience to create scenes like these… but I don’t.  However I do like the element of surprise & that’s why I couldn’t resist stocking our stores this season with tins of emergency googly eyes.

Why you might ask?  Well, the same reason I like to see trees covered in yarn… it’s unexpected.

Only sticking googly eyes around your office, home or town is a little easier to pull off than knitting around a parking meter on a public street… and I’m fairly certain your newly animated objects will gain some grins from friends, co-workers & strangers alike.  I mean it’s hard NOT to smile back at these eye bombed creations :-)

It’s truly amusing how two little plastic eyes can add personality to the simplest objects.

The fun part is looking at things differently & seeking out what to animate next.  Lucky for you there are 40 eyes in each tin so you can spread a little silliness wherever you go.  So what are you waiting for… go forth & googly eye bomb your neighborhood!  We gotta feeling it’s bound to make someone’s day brighter.

one last summer soiree

Steve & I have made it a tradition to host a neighborhood get-together each year.  We’ve found that early/mid September is a perfect time since it’s technically still summer, yet everyone is back in town from their summer rendezvous.   Each neighbor brings sweet & savory finger foods to the party and this is what I whipped up this year.

I’ve always noticed that cucumbers are a fairly popular choice on the traditional vegetable/dip platters so when these cuties appeared in my ‘easy appetizer search‘ it was a no-brainer.  Once again, they’ve got great presentation & are simple to make… 2 important things I look for in all my recipes.  I filled mine with hummus but here are some other great ideas you could try too.

We offered up a number of bottled drinks but I also wanted to make a fun fruity drink (and have an excuse to buy a dozen canning jars to be used as glasses)  This peach sangria was a big hit.

2 bottles of white wine of your choice (or 1 large one)

2  cups peach schnapps

1 cup frozen lemonade concentrate

2 nectarines, sliced

1 cup green or red grapes, whole or sliced

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Cover and chill at least 2 hours then serve over ice.

I also made the always popular caramel apple flower.

It turned out to be a lovely day catching up with everyone & hearing about their latest adventures.  It was also a great opportunity for Jule to meet all her American neighbors.  Gus, on the other hand was pretty much on plate patrol the entire afternoon ;-)

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pretty cute tunes from boy

I still skype with our first German daughter, Tessa regularly and she recently recommended I listen to this great girl band from Germany called Boy.

They’re a fun indie pop duo that make happy music… just my style.

A review reads, “No one deserves to sit by the phone on a Saturday night. Boy, a Swiss-German girl duo, fights for our right to phone calls in Little Numbers from their debut album Mutual Friends. We’re infatuated with their breezy indie pop, Death Cab for Cutie-like sound and the black key piano-flecked production. Who could ever turn that down?”

Like discovering happy music that takes you to a pretty place?  Simply subscribe to this blog and we’ll email you our latest and greatest music finds.

mudlove bracelets make a difference

Earlier this year Steve & I read a powerful book by Richard Stearns, president of World Vision titled Hole in our Gospel.  After soaking in his story & incredible experiences it’s hard not to be challenged by his call to action.  Of course it’s easy to get charged up and write a check to make a difference, but the hard part is continuing to live with intention.

One way I try to keep things in perspective is by wearing this handmade bracelet by a very cool company called Mudlove.  I chose this word to remind me that I’m anchored to part of a much larger story.  The cool thing about Mudlove is they have loads of words to choose from & can create custom bracelets too.  Plus they donate a percentage of their sales to help bring clean water to the Central African Republic.

This inspired me to bring these bracelets to catching fireflies and donate 100% of the profits from them to charity water.  This organization is amazing on so many levels (love their birthday pledge campaign) and the founder’s story is definitely worth a read.

So far we’ve sold 210 of these bracelets which means we’ve given charity water $840 so 42 more people can have access to clean water!

I must admit when I first came up with this plan, I felt it wasn’t that big of a deal… just another ‘buy this for charity‘ promotion…. another drop in the bucket.  But as I’m writing this today I’m reminded that drops add up and before you know it the pail is full and ready to be a blessing to someone who is thirsty.

You can purchase select Mudlove bracelets online and find even more styles at our Berkley & Rochester locations.

Thank you for partnering with us to make days brighter for people far beyond our store doors.

blt without the bread

The season is ending way too soon for tasty home grown tomatoes.  So I highly recommend putting a salad spin on a this classic sandwich combination before it’s too late.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1 head of Romaine lettuce

1 red onion

1 package of bacon

tomatoes

croutons

The Dressing: (what really makes it!)

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon maple syrup

4 teaspoons of whole grain mustard

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

So wash & chop the lettuce, onion & tomatoes.  Then fry the bacon, let cool & chop into small pieces (This step was Tuesday’s favorite part)

Put all the salad ingredients in a big bowl & add croutons.

Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing & serve separate or toss with salad.

Serve up & enjoy!

This salad was adapted from a Food Network recipe.

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our picks for the best baby gifts

As practical as is it to buy a gift for a baby shower off the expecting parent’s registry, we like to have a little more fun when it comes to shopping for new bambinos.  In fact, a lot of our goodies can be cute additions to the traditional gifts that every new parent needs.  Here are a few finds that we think will get lots of oohs, ahhs & ha-has at a baby shower.

I wish sticky bellies had been around when my daughter was a baby…what a great idea for pictures! When you’re a new mom, sometimes it’s not so easy to remember to document the age on a photo. These make a wonderful baby shower gift! $12.95  (also available in boys)

I just love these sweet and hip birth announcements. My sister-in-law is expecting a baby in the spring and I can’t wait to order one for her. They come in such great colors that will go in any nursery! $21.95

What a fun rattle to not only entertain your little one with but impress friends and family with a little arm pumping! $9.95

I love including this one-line-a-day journal in my baby shower gifts. I always hear moms say how fast time flies by when their little ones are small so this journal is a sweet & simple way to remember the wonderful days, delirious days & all the ones in between. $16.95

These socks are so adorable for that little princess. The socks are fashionable and functional all at the same time.  $24.95 (also available in boys)

This frame is a wonderful present for a mom to be! Not only a beautiful way to display pictures, but having it personalized with the baby’s name and birthday makes certain it will be treasured gift. $40.50 (also available in boys)

Eating can be a chore, or a bore, for many kids. Why not make it fun by letting them play with their food? A great gift to give any child so they can have fun, use their creativity, and maybe even fill their belly at the same time. $21.95  (also comes in garden theme)

This book has been hard to keep in stock at the store! It’s filled with great facts that the little ones can easily identify with in their home state. Many people have also purchased it for new parents that have or will be moving out of our great state. What a perfect sentimental keepsake! $9.95

I love mustaches. They add a fun spin on just about anything! This mustache pacifier is a perfect gift to add a little humor to all of those baby photos you’re sure to take and look back on.  $11.95

The Mommy’s Sippy Cup is a perfect gift to give at a baby shower. It is humorous and adorable. It also looks good on display inside a home to remember those special days. $18.95

Who couldn’t fall in love with these adorable baby leg warmers? They are a great addition to any little baby skirt and are a great alternative to tights. They are so soft and so cute and are a perfect gift to give! $15.95 (available in other colors)

Do you like seeing what team catching fireflies is loving? We’re happy to share some of our favorite finds.  Simply sign up to receive these blog posts in your email and you’ll be in the loop & get our latest scoop.

help us celebrate our 12th birthday

Can you believe our original Berkley location is twelve years old?  We’re pretty proud to have made it to the 6th grade of the retail world… thanks to fantastic firefly fans like YOU!

So to celebrate, we’re offering 20% off our entire store on Saturday, September 22 from 10-6 at BOTH our locations & online.

Plus, we’re donating 7% of the sales that day to The Pink Fund.  They’re making days brighter by helping women and men suffering from breast cancer focus on healing, raising their families and returning to the workplace by providing short-term financial aid during the brief period of active treatment and recovery.

And we’ll be serving up sweet cider & donuts all day long… the perfect fuel for a day of serious shopping.

Still craving for more?  Our sister store, Yellow Door Art Market in downtown Berkley will also be hosting a Day of Deals!  You will be able to score bargains galore from 10 artists as they fill 5 tents with gobs of goodies marked at deliriously low prices!

Looking forward to seeing your smiling faces at the party on Saturday, September 22.  Cheers to another year of making days brighter :-)