House Of J got PEGGED!

My little munchkins double birthday is around the corner. I AM SO EXCITED!

To commemorate Earth Day, being green, sustainable and all around carbon foot print reduction, we've been doing our best to accumulate party supplies that are better for Mother Earth.

We'll be doing wooden utensils and paper straws and the adorable toppers for our cake will not be made of plastic.

They will be these amazing little wooden dolls that my little ones will get to play with for many years to come.

My new friend Marie over at Pegged By Grace created this sweet little trio for our cake! Woody, Jesse and Buzz.. My Daughter has NO IDEA!

I've been keeping them hidden for awhile now and luckily it's been easier because I was also sent a little Batman peg(yes my daughter loves batman) to keep her little paws off the ones for her cake!

She's been walking around with her little Batman for a few weeks and just loves to hold him and make him talk to her little brother. The detail is just amazing. I cannot rave enough about how special the hand painting is on every doll. Her little Batman has been bitten on,dropped, stepped on, and just all around beat up... She is going to be 3 after all. and Toddlers are hard on their toys. There is not a chip on a scratch on him! Super hero of SUPER high quality.

Wooden toys are so popular right now. From instruments to pull along toys. They are everywhere. What I love so much about these little peg dolls is that they will be on their birthday cake to honor their first ever combination party and then be reused over and over again as play things.

They are hand painted so detailed that even Jesse's braid is spot on!

PEGGED by Grace also does completely custom orders. When I asked what she loved most about her work she said that she loves when a family orders a custom peg family to look like your favorite family photo! How special would that be, a peg doll collection of your loved ones.

Please show another fellow momma owned and operated small business some love and support by liking her face book page, checking out her shop and spreading the word!

Check her out here :)
Peggedbygrace.blogspot.com

Etsy.com/shop/peggedbygrace

Facebook.com/peggedbygrace

And the secret word for the  Birthday surprise giveaway is PEG!

Keep checking the blog and our facebook page to see when the giveaway begins.

xoxo-J

Organic Country Gravy

I used to LOVE using bouillon to season gravies, soups and anything else I could think of...until I realized that there was a plethora of disturbing chemicals inside. I've actually discontinued using it until I stumbled upon Gobio Organics.

I was so excited when Gobio Organics sent me a generous little sample of some of their cubes. Everything about them is different, the color is more natural there is no artificial ingredients or color.

The flavor was way more intense as well. Check out their ingredient list!

Ingredients: Sea Salt, Corn Starch*, Yeast Extract, Non-Hydrogenated Palm Oil*, Chicken Fat*, Dehydrated Chicken Powder*, Celery*, Onions*, Lovage*, Parsley*, Garlic*, Turmeric*, Pepper*, Natural Rosemary Flavourig.
*certified organic

Gluten-Free

 √ Organic Free-Range Chicken

The flavor was so intense that I barely had to season my gravy. Just a bit of lemon pepper seasoning was a perfect addition.

I always use a mix of beef both and chicken in my gravies for a well rounded flavor.
For my country gravy you need:

1 Chicken Bouillon Cube (GoBIOfood.com)
1/2 cup water
1 Cup Beef Broth
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 Tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
2 Tablespoons GMO free flour

In a small sauce pan, melt your butter and add in flour. mix until it forms a paste and turns light yellow in color. Add in your beef broth and simmer until it starts to boil.

Break up a bullion cube in 1/2 cup warm water and slowly incorporate it to your gravy.
Season with lemon pepper!

SEE! it's so simple and easy, no chemicals from those gravy packets!

Enjoy with grilled pork chops, chicken, chicken fried steak, and especially my lightened up wheat biscuits..found here