Brassy Apple Giveaway:

Today Brassy Apple has generously sponsored the giveaway of the new apron design - The Kitschy Corset Apron (Darla Version)

Its fleur-de-lis pattern and cool corset design is sassy and cool! This "Darla" Design is sure to bring some heat into the kitchen! Created from the Darla fabric line it features a "corset" top, frilly black chiffon neck strap and double tulle ruffled rounded hemline. It wears comfortably and can be taken on and off easily with the slip of a button. This apron will allow you to feel feminine, maybe turn a head or two, and will provide great coverage while you whisk about your day.

Owner Megan is the creative force behind Brassy Apple Designs and she says, "Designing allows me to do something I love while still being a Mom and striving to reach my own goals, dreams and further develop my talents."

Megan truly enjoys creating unique, eclectic items for women and children and extends her designs to offer patterns and DIY kits for the Do it yourself woman. From her Shaggy Mosaic style jeans, Aprons, skinny scarves and more, Megan hopes you find something unexpected in each piece. By designing with fresh colors and fabrics that are only reproduced a few times, Megan keeps things new and original! You can also visit the Brassy Apple Blog for additional brassy goodness!!

One more thing I wanted to mention about Brassy Apple is the Shaggy Mosaic Jean that Megan makes. These are some amazing creations that you can check out too while browsing her site. Unique and personalized you can get your favorite jeans spiced up in an unforgettable way.

As an added bonus Megan has offered Apron Goddesses an additional 10% off in her shop from now through Sept. 10th.

Use code GODDESS at checkout!

To enter the random drawing for this blue fleur-de-lis apron called The Kitschy Corset Apron made by Brassy Apple visit the selections choosing your favorite item from the boutique. Come back to The Apron Goddesses and make a comment below naming which apron you like best. That will give you one entry into the giveaway.

For five extra entries into the drawing create a blog post about this giveaway, leaving your permalink in your comment.

And for 10 extra, bonus chances at winning send in a picture of you or a family member wearing an apron. (Contact is above.) No headless apron wearers please!! I will write up your "apron-ography" in the weeks to come.

UPDATE: Megan wrote that the pattern for this apron will be coming out soon! Hopefully in the month of September, so hop on the Brassy Apple Blog mailing list to find out when it is available if you want to craft one up yourself!

It's Hot, I am Tired, and I am Getting Sick

Hi Apron Goddesses...Sorry to be a downer, but I can't take much more of the temps around here in CA. To top it off, I have a drippy right nostril. (OK too much detail) I feel an illness lurking.

You ladies have sent in some AWESOME photos with Gods and Goddesses apron adorned and I have to stir up some apron-ogrophys for next week. There are some GREAT ones coming.

But in the meanwhile, VISIT and SIGN UP for the GIVEAWAY for TIE FREE APRONS!!! You know your child, niece or nephew could use one of these great cover ups for crafting!

Hop over to the giveaway post HERE and look over the aprons at Tie Free Apron. Make a comment and keep your fingers crossed.

And That's All Folks! I am going to bed!

Salsa, Salsa, Salsa!!! Fire-Roasted Salsa

I can not claim the title of master chef or cook extraordinare, but I can make a mean variety of salsa. And last weekend at out Annual Tomato Harvest Party I made salsa, salsa, salsa.

I had promised a few Apron Goddesses that I would put up a recipe and here goes. I think that salsa is one of the most easy things to make, i.e. difficult to mess up, so give it a try with some fresh tomatoes from the farmers market.

The tomatoes are the most critical ingredient if you ask me... Super ripe, home grown are best! I really attribute the flavors of the salsa to the quality of the tomatoes at hand.

Fire-Roasted Salsa

The ingredients are very simple:

2-3 large tomatoes
1 large onion
2-3 Jalapeno peppers (cut in half and de-seeded)
3-4 Cloves garlic
Juice from two limes
White vinegar
Salt and Pepper
Cilantro

To "fire-roast" I use a cast iron skillet heated to sizzling then turned to low. You can also use a cookie sheet placed in the oven or cookie sheet on the BBQ to achieve the "roasting" effect. If in the oven heat to broiling and monitor the veggies until soft and blackening has begun. On the BBQ heat to about 350 and monitor closing lid during cooking.

To prep your vegetables, cut your tomatoes in half, slice bell peppers into fingers, cut onion into three or four large slices, bend the jalapenos in half so they can lie flat, and peel garlic. Place on heated cast iron surface or put on your cookie sheet into the heated oven/BBQ.


Let the vegetables roast for about 8-10 minutes or until browning occurs and veggies begin to soften as pictured below.


When tops of tomatoes are soft and liquid forms on the surfaces, i.e they are "sweating," flip them and let 2nd side cook. Turn all vegetables at this point.


Here's the browning on the onions and garlic.


After another 8-10 minutes of fire-roasting (all your veggies should be soft) place all your solids in the food processor or blender. You can chop by hand too if you don't have an "appliance of destruction" as pictured below. Squeeze in the juice from two limes and add cilantro to taste. (This is extremely subjective, I use about 15 stems ripped from the bundle). RESERVE TOMATOES!!! Do not add tomatoes in the first blending step.


Turn on food processor until small chunks are present.


Add tomatoes after heftier veggies are in small pieces. If you add tomatoes too early it all becomes a foamy mess. PULSE TOMATOES until they are broken up into small pieces. Too much blending will make froth. I am not fond of froth...


Add salt and pepper and about 2 teaspoons vinegar. Pulse a couple more times just to mix. I always taste and add more salt until it tastes right.

Get chips and hungry child...

Mmmmmmmm.........

My parting note is that all proportions are approximate and you can vary your ingredients based on what you have on hand and what you like. Add a couple more jalapenos if you like it really spicy!!!

Once you get comfortable with the process you can add in roasted corn (my favorite), chopped fresh fruit, and other ingredients. Give it a try Apron Goddesses. Bye for now.

Nicole the Apron Goddess

Wow, look at that cake! If I were a young girl, I would love to have a cake just like that. Well done Nicole.

My name is Nicole. I'm the proud momma of 4 wonderful children- 3 girls, 1 boy- ages 11 months to 6 years old. I've been a stay at home mom for over 4 years now. Lately as some of my friends are looking towards finding careers after the kids are in school I'm embracing my inner domestic goddess. I have decided to broaden my stay at home mom world by looking forward and enjoying the homemaking aspect of it. I'm no longer ashamed to tell people I'm a homemaker! My job is not easy but it's so rewarding.

Last week I stumble upon some homemaker blogs that inspired me to try new things out at home. I made an apron from a design I created. I tried something new for dinner. I organized things I've been tripping over for weeks. I even baked and decorated my daughter's birthday cake.

I feel like I'm an apron goddess because not only have I brought out my inner Martha with my apron but I look darn cute doing it!

Be sure to visit Nicole over at her place, Chasing my kids is my warm up!

Winner of The Apron from Momomadeit!!!

This is me.
This is me plugging my ears.
I know the screams of defeat from Apron Goddesses across the bloggsphere will draw blood from my very sensitive ears....


However, I must go on with the results of the random drawing.

But.

Momomadeit!!!! She did!! She did!!!! Thank you for sponsoring this apron giveaway!

And her aprons are awesomely popular.

Now to the results:

With number 149, Deirdre at JDaniel4's Mom won her choice of an apron from Momomadeit! Congratulations Deirdre!!!!

Anyone up for a Good Cup of Joe with your Apron?

I don't know about you, but there are some days when a good cup of joe makes my day. I know tea is the new coffee, but I am having a hard time with the transition. I'm still working on it.


My biggest problem is that I don't just drink coffee, I like the blended drinks. My fave? Mocha. I like how the chocolate masks over the coffee. I am not a "true" coffee drinker. If I were smart I would just fix myself a nice tall glass of chocolate milk because that does it for me too.

By the way, have you ever noticed how the baristas all wear aprons?

Kid-Friendly Apron Giveway from Tie-Free Aprons

Happy Monday Apron Goddesses!

This week Tie-Free Apron has sponsored a giveaway for two innovative kids aprons as pictured below. With a one-step pull feature, you'll never have to tie another apron for your kids again! This new Tie-Free™ patented no tie apron design allows full neck and waist adjustment that even a child can put on and adjust without your help. The Tie Free™ Toddler design is even simpler!

Owners Kiet and Winnie have their own philosophy:

“To improve everyday life through innovative enhancements to common products.”

I must admit that Ella has ripped off one set of ties on her baby aprons and this invention would have come in very handy when she was less patient about getting her apron off!! These aprons would be great for kids crafts and cooking and playing and anything that gets them dirty. I can not count how many shirts my kids have wrecked through the course of their busy body activities...

If you need to cover your toddler or growing child these aprons would do the trick and have cute themes on the bright color-coordinated pocket and tie patterns. This picture below is the apron "up for grabs" for the kids 6 to 10 year old size.



As parents, Kiet and Winnie often experienced the nuisance of not finding the “right” products to meet the ever-changing needs of their kids. They are proud to introduce their first product family, a line of “Tie-Free Aprons™” with various unique styles. To satisfy their passion to “create,” they hope to introduce a variety of designs with limited offerings and let their customers help us decide on the winning designs!

This is the toddler apron they have provided to sponsor the giveaway which is suitable for a child between 3 to 5 years of age.

Kiet and Winnie will be introducing adult versions very soon (September), chef and hostess styles. Check their site for updates!!

Two winners will be pulled for this giveaway!! So to enter the random drawing for one, hop over to Tie-Free Apronand visit the selections choosing your favorite. Come back to The Apron Goddesses and make a comment below naming which apron you like best. BE SURE to mention which you would prefer: Toddler or Child size. The first winner gets their choice and I cross my fingers that the second winner will be able to use the other size!!!

For five extra entries into the drawing create a blog post about this giveaway, leaving your permalink in your comment.

And for 10 extra, bonus chances at winning send in a picture of you or a family member wearing an apron. (Contact is above.) No headless apron wearers please!! I will write up your "apron-ography" in the weeks to come.

Good luck Apron Goddesses!

The Tomato Harvest Party Cometh!

This Apron Queen of the Hunt is poised and ready for the kill. Her steely gaze and determined expression are requisite tools for harvesting...

The are prey. The are innocent victims. The vine-ripened, home-grown, heirloom tomatoes, they have a date with destiny.


The big game huntress has her kill carefully gathered in her apron. The tools of the harvest are in hand, the fruit is gathered, the party is coming...


The Salsa Goddess spies her quarry. She surveys a large herd in the distance. It was apparently a good season and many of the young have survived. The huntress has only to pick her prey.

They can run but they can't hide.

Captured with no chance of escape, these tomatoes are fated for chopping, roasting and slicing. Tomorrow will dawn a day for feasting.

The Junior Huntress stalks her game. It is large, round, multi-colored, and very bouncy. There is a certain gleam in her eye in anticipation of the kill.

Well, maybe it ate her instead of the other way around...

But at least she gets the title of first kid in the Jumpy House!!!

This, dear Apron Goddesses, is my kitchen counter. Let the Tomato Harvest Party commence!


And the carnage... Four kinds of salsa!!! West position: Fire-roasted salsa. North position: Green zebra tomato salsa. East position: Salsa Fresca (all raw vegetables). South position: Mango-peach salsa.

WHERE ARE MY TORTILLA CHIPS???
Oh yeah, I have to wait for the party to start.

Salsa payback is hell. My fingers have been burning for hours with the jalapeno peppers that I handle to create these masterpieces of dipping delight. I know, use gloves....

A day of rest will be required on Sunday. The aftermath will come next week. So much partying to do. So little time...

Apron Goddess Tricia Cooks in Style

Happy Friday!!

Here is Tricia (a blogless Goddess!!) wearing a wonderful colored half apron. I am always happy to see just how many different fabrics are out there made into aprons.

Tricia wrote, "I have always liked aprons, especially cheery, kind-of old-fashioned ones, not to much frill though..."

"This apron in the photo is one which I won from the blog Gingerly Garnished. I use my aprons all day- washing dishes, cooking, cleaning! I am a SAHM, so that means a lot of dishes, cooking, and cleaning! My aprons get a workout, believe me!"

I asked Tricia how many aprons she has and she responded, "I have, let's see, two orange ones (on clearance), one really old one with an illustration of lilies and reeds on it- now that one is beat up!" So I am thinking a total of four including the one she is wearing today. Not bad Tricia!

Also this Apron Goddess shared, "My best apron memory is from when we lived in Honduras, Central America, and saw the frilly aprons that all the ladies wear, all the time! They are usually spotless too, and handmade always." (I could not copy or down load or show you this apron but go check it out!)

Thanks for your details Tricia and your interest in aprons too!! Thanks so much for sending in your picture for extra credit in this weeks giveaway. Good luck.

The Cleaning Wench Wears an Apron

Oh, the agony.
Oh, the injustice.
Oh, I have a carpet on my porch.
Oh, we are hillbillies.
Oh, I have to make 4 kinds of salsa on Friday.
Oh, will I ever get it all done?

All in the name of a party...

Winner of the Apron Made by I Be Cooking Aprons

Wednesday, Wednesday...

That means a winner is to be announced for the drawing on the rose floral apron made by I Be Cooking Apron!!

Random is as Random does!!

The magic number was 1.

This means that Sherri at Sherri's Jubilee is the winner this week. Congratulations!!

Let's send out a huge thanks to I Be Cooking Aprons for their wonderful apron.

Frantically Cleaning

This week we (Julia and I) are hosting our 4th Annual Tomato Harvest Party! This is what I am going to look like this week as I don my apron and scrub my house presentable.

Stay tuned, there will be pictures of the party, dishes, and guests. If we are lucky we will get all the women in aprons for a group picture. And if you're super sillious lucky you will get to see all the MEN in aprons too.

Heads Up Apron Goddesses, It's a Giveaway from Momomadeit!!

Momomadit is our wonderful apron sponsor for this week. And for the winner of the random drawing, owner Joan says, "Choose what you like from my Etsy store!!" So the winner of the random drawing can pick her favorite from the huge selection of full and half aprons.

Momomadeit is run by Joan, who retired from the work force to find out that retirement did not suit her. Therefore she opened up her apron business at the suggestion of her daughter-in-law and has been blazing since October 2006.

Joan says, "My aprons are made in the traditional fashion with an emphasis on style and function. I'm not big on frills, so I seldom do anything that is "over the top" with trims and embellishments. I believe that a good apron is like a second skin - you put it on and after a while forget you are wearing it."

Joan is also lucky to have her daughters do “Photo shoots” for her and they are always fast, furious, and mostly fun!

Joan's aprons have been featured in the book "A Is For Aprons,” they have been on "Good Morning America," and one is scheduled to appear on a Food Netwook show later this fall. And Joan's currently under contract with Simplicity Patterns - watch for Momomadeit patterns later this year!

When Joan was growing up she remembers watching her mom run yards of fabric through the sewing machine. Joan's mom would keep her busy by letting her cut up scraps of fabric (with her huge silver scissors), and sew them, first by hand, and then by machine. By junior high Joan was making and wearing her own clothes and in high school, she was the "seamstress for the band," making the guys matching polka dot shirts and corduroy jackets.

So moving into making aprons was as easy as breathing to become Momomadeit!! Her aprons are vast and beautiful, wonderfully constructed and fashionable!

Now to enter the random drawing for your choice at the Momomadeit Etsy store, go visit the selections choosing your favorite. Come back to The Apron Goddesses and make a comment below naming which apron you would like to win.

For five extra entries into the drawing create a blog post about this giveaway, leaving your permalink in your comment.

And for 10 extra, bonus chances at winning send in a picture of you or a family member wearing an apron. (Contact is above.) No headless apron wearers please!! I will write up your "apron-ography" in the weeks to come.

Good luck Apron Goddesses!

Sign Up For The IBeCooking Apron Giveaway

There's still time to make a comment and be entered for the current giveaway by I Be Cooking Aprons. Just click HERE to see the original giveaway post and visit the on line store.

With back to school coming up quickly I hope all moms have their school supplies and ducks in a row. Good luck. I know I am a little anxious with my son beginning Kindergarten! I can't believe how fast five years has gone by. School starts Thursday in our parts so this last week has been a little bitter sweet since the fading summer is leading to my sons daily removal from our routine. *Sniff* But I guess there are always week ends for him to make me crazy.

The Great Cake Assault - Part III

Well ladies and gents, he is at it again. This time the assaulter is wearing a mask and smoking a cig. I think he means business. This poor, poor cake is facing uncertain doom. The masked marauder is showing no mercy as he revs up his paper cutter (?) and is ready to make his hit. The vic? A two tier cake with fondant and charming little hearts.

It looks as if there is an accomplice to this assault who shows no shame in the torturing of said cake. You can see him looking on with a look of pure glee and anticipation of what is to come.

Remember, these men wear black and white aprons during the assault. If you see said men wearing this style apron, you can be they are armed and ready to take action on your baked goods.

Please call the Cake Assault Hotline:
1-866-EAT-CAKE

Aprons, Aprons Everywhere!!

To start off this edition of Aprons, Aprons Everywhere, Suzi and I wanted to show our Carolyn's Kitchen Zebra stripe aprons. Thank you Carolyn!! We love them!! They are cute and flattering and girly. We had approximately one ounce of entertainment taking pictures of each other for this post. Somehow the fun police did not show up to stop us.

We even got Suzi's problem middle child to take our picture together!! Funny how the two moms can almost never be seen together in photos. We are always the people with the camera and it's nice to get some proof of our existence sometimes.

With our prop, Lucky-cat, we had our "panther" joining the safari!!

Thinking that a zebra might be prancing in my riding arena we took the photo shoot out back to the horse area. My equine friends were looking at us like we were crazy. Well we are.

So I can't quite figure out what I am holding in my hand but apparently my finger require grasping something. Maybe a spoon or flower. I don't know.

I sure can't jump like I used to when I played college volley ball. Not that had great leaping abilities to begin with. But sadly I see I am rather earth bound here. I can say that I tried.

Now with this photo I am apparently flying or trying to get my arms to help me jump higher. Whatever. I can see that I only get about one inch off the ground.

Now that I have made a complete and total idiot of my self jumping around like I am a prancing equine, it is your turn!

Get your own apron on and do something inspiring or insane. You are totally aloud to as an Apron Goddess!

Winner of the Swizzlestix Apron and Aprons, Aprons Everwhere Reminder!!

This is the lovely apron that Swizzlestix donated this week. I'll get to the winner in a minute.

I've had a slow start today Apron Goddesses...

If you all are wondering exactly how I do the drawings it goes like this:

1. Scroll down all entries, verify the links for extra credit, then write down the names of the entries that earned extra credit.
2. Assign extra numbers for the ladies with bonus entries (Through blogging about the giveaway or sending in a picture, or both).
3. Scroll down to the number generator and enter the fields for minimum and maximum. Then press "Generate."

And voila the winner is produced. Today it is NO. 41.
That means the winner of the Swizzlestix Paisley Apron is: Bowlby at Katie's Corner!!!

Congrats. Thank you Marcia at Swizzlestix for your generous donation of this wonderful apron.

And for Aprons, Aprons Everywhere
That's Tomorrow!!!
Thursday August 13

Take a picture of yourself in an apron. Make up a sassy, cool or funny post about you and your apron. Grab an Apron Goddess button and slap it in the post. Get it ready to post on Thursday August 13th.

Come back and sign up with the Mr. Linky here on Thursday (leaving your permalink) and then visit the other Apron Goddesses who participate!

Come now, you know you want to.

Nedekcir is an Apron Goddess!

Apron Goddess for today is Nedekcir at In This Life of Ours and In My Kitchen. She says that she is a SAHM with kids and is happily married to the most wonderful man in the world. Nedekcir also claims the description of designer, Chef wanna be, and Photoshop addict.

She wrote to me, "Here is my very sad looking apron with me in it of course. It's like a butchers apron...lol. I love it because this is my only apron."

And an only apron is a valued apron no mater what it looks like!!

At her blog In My Kitchen, Nedekcir writes about her family's favorite homemade recipes and various odd and ends from her soap box.

Then at In This Life of Ours you can visit Nedekcir where I found out that it was her BIRTHDAY on Monday (Yesterday)!!!

Happy Belated Birthday Nedekcir!!!!

So let's go wish her a happy day even though it is one day belated.

Thanks for sharing your apron photo with us today Mrs. N!

I Be Cooking Aprons Cooks Up A Hot Giveaway

Morning! Hello Apron Goddesses. Open your eyes wide for this one Women...

Do you see this lovely red and white floral print on a green background with it's matching plaid ruffle and accents to the left? This classy apron giveaway is courtesy of I Be Cooking Aprons!! With a full coverage, wrap around style, you will be able to keep your best shirts spot free and look feminine and beautiful. That is if you win it...

I Be Cooking Aprons (IBC) is a Mother and Daughter team who designs aprons for men,women and children. These aprons are not like the ones your grandma use to wear. IBC Aprons makes stylish and trendy fabric combination's into unique and wonderful aprons. Their aprons make great gifts, and are perfect for a hostess or for someone holding a dinner party.

Everyone always told them, "You need to sell aprons!"

So here they are!! And with adorable ruffled aprons, like this one shown below, we can be glad they arrived.

IBC Aprons is a small company that believes in keeping customers happy. They make custom orders (including aprons for expecting moms) and hand sew each apron with care. No two Aprons are a like so if you buy on you know it is an original. IBC Aprons are made from 100%cotton and are machine washable. Additionally, most of their aprons are lined.

To enter in the giveaway for the red and white floral apron pictured above by I Be Cooking Aprons visit the online store and come back and leave a comment about your favorite apron. This will give you one entry into the random drawing.

For five extra entries, blog about this apron giveaway, leaving your permalink in the comments.

And ten bonus entries are yours if you send in a photo of yourself wearing an apron. (No headless horsewomen please) It's just that easy. When sending a picture please include the name of your blog and screen name in the e-mail message. I will write up your apron-ography in the weeks to come.

And may the goddesses of random drawing be shining on you this week!!

Early Morning Apron

If I didn't have a husband and kids at home, I would probably enjoy my morning in this type of get up.

There is nothing better than a good cup of coffee or tea while hovering over your favorite pie wearing minimal clothing. Love that she chose an apron over a shirt.

So do tell, what is your favorite kind of pie?

Mine? Pumpkin topped with whipped cream.

Thanks for askin'.