Sweet Bird Designs Spooky Coupon Code!

Happy Halloween!

Use coupon code BUTTERFLY for 10% off your entire purchase from my ETSY shop! (must be all caps).

Apple Bran Muffins

I have such a sweet tooth, especially when I'm at work!  I'm always looking for homemade, lowfat treats to pack in my bag.  These were really good -- not overly sweet.  Usually when I make lowfat baked goods I don't like them to much. I used 2 apples so they were really filled with apple chunks.  My dad also likes his sweets and he gave me the thumbs up too :)  So this recipe's a keeper!

Apple Bran Muffins
1 egg
3/4 c milk
1 1/2 c Kellogg's All Bran Cereal
1 c whole wheat flour
1 t baking soda
1 t ground cinnamon
1/2 t ground nutmeg
2 T melted butter
1 or 2 apples, peeled and chopped
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/2 c honey

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line muffin cups with paper liners.
2. Beat the egg with milk in a bowl and mix in the bran cereal.  Let stand until the cereal absorbs the liquid, about 5 minutes.  Gently mix in the flour, baking soda, spices, melted butter, apple, banana and honey.  Stir until well mixed.
3. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups and bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean

Awareness Ribbon Necklaces

Just listed in my ETSY shop are new awareness ribbon necklaces in a rainbow of colors.  I was happy to find enameled ribbons in colors other than pink and I'm hoping to find more colors!  All come with Swarovski crystal accent and dangle from an 18 inch sterling silver box chain.  There are great charts on the internet that show the various color representations.  Here are the ones I've found for the colors I have in my shop:

• Purple:  Alzheimer's Disease, Lupus, pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, fibromyalgia
• Lavendar:  All Cancers
• Teal:  Ovarian Cancer and Anxiety Disorders
• Pink:  Breast Cancer

Is it Fall or Winter?

Mother Nature likes to have fun with Northeast Ohio! 6 inches of wet, thick, heavy snow greeted us this morning, taking down power lines and tree limbs.  

The pup isn't too crazy about it.  But she looks so darn cute in her fleece jacket!

It was very pretty -- but just not fun to drive in!  Boy, I have a feeling it's going to be a long winter!

Breast Cancer Awareness Jewelry

I started making breast cancer awareness jewelry after my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago.  Usually when someone buys an awareness item from my shop, they share who it's for. It warms my heart reading their stories.  It also reminds me how precious life is.

Let's keep fighting for a cure!  And remember to take care of yourselves!