Events: Pool Show - Las Vegas, NV

Charms City Company is taking flight and heading to Las Vegas for the February 13-15th Pool Tradeshow!  Rachel and I have been busy preparing our booth setup, props and new jewelry collections for this huge show!



This is the first trade show we have ever done and what a way to jump in - VEGAS!  We're flying out early to locate the finishing touches that we need, since we can't transport everything in checked bags and carry-ons.  Let's hope we can find the right kind of tree branches in the desert for our key tree:)


Picture taken by The Real Housewives of Bucks County

We've been busy beefing up our inventory so we can quickly fulfill orders when we get back.  Of course a trip to Vegas can't be all work and no fun, so we are staying a few extra days after the show to celebrate the completion of our first trade show!

-Katie

Favorite Recipes: Tortilla Chicken Chili

Since Rachel and I both full time jobs as well as running Charms City Company, sometime finding time to prepare a homemade dinner can be challenging.  My secret weapon on a cold winter night is Tortilla Chicken Chili from McCormick!  My good friend, Amy, made this recipe and shared it with me.  The first time I had this, I fell in love with chili all over again!  It's super easy and so delicious.  I've made it for get togethers in a large crock pot, too.  Stay warm with this easy chili recipe-

happy eats-

Katie

Tortilla Chicken Chili

Makes 6 (1-cup) servings.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 16 minutes

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 package McCormick® Chili Seasoning Mix, Original orMcCormick® Chili Seasoning Mix Mild
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 to 16 ounces) kidney, white or pinto beans, undrained
1 can (11 ounces) Mexican-style corn or whole kernel corn, drained
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups broken tortilla chips (bite-size pieces)
Shredded Cheddar cheese, sour cream and chopped cilantro (optional)

1. Heat lightly oiled large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 5 minutes or until lightly browned.

2. Stir in Seasoning Mix, tomatoes, beans, corn, water and tortilla chips. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream and chopped cilantro, if desired.

Crafting Music

Top 5 artists (and some sample songs) that I listen to while crafting, in no particular order:






Fleet Foxes - Blue Ridge Mountains
The Black Keys - Pretty much any song!
Arcade Fire - Ready to Start
Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes
Modest Mouse - Edit the Sad Parts

Happy Listening-
Katie

Favorite New Blog & Seller - Fresh Vintage

Certainly fresh, hilarious and great finds - just a few ways to describe Fresh Vintage.

Rachel and I first met Colleen of Fresh Vintage at a fall Clover Market show in Ardmore, PA.  What's not to love about her fantastic booth and camper below?!  

The entire show, Rachel and I took turns running back and forth to check out the fantastic collections of vintage finds from  Fresh Vintage .  We nabbed all kinds of wonderful goodies.  We have integrated many of our finds into our jewelry lines as well as our displays.  An old stamp holder propped up on an old spool now displays our typewriter keys.  We've taken some of the number tags that we acquired from Fresh Vintage and have turned them into jewelry.  

Rachel also is displaying an old gas station number sign in her house over her mantle.

We immediately fell in love with Colleen's blog.  Her wit, gift picks for the holidays and features kept us giggling and gave us and our friends and families some wonderful gifts.  We've also been following the Fresh Vintage etsy shop like hawks!  I am in love with this bell -

We're so eager to see what else she brings to the next Clover Market in 2012!  All images are from Colleen Allison of Fresh Vintage.

Baltimore Brunch Spot

As our show season came to end for 2011, Rachel and I stopped in the Morning Edition cafe (corner of Fayette & Patterson Park Ave) for brunch for a Charms City Company brainstorming session!  This was our first time dining at this spot, even though we pass it often on our trips around the city.  Not only is the food amazing and reasonably priced, but the interior is so homey and cozy!  We'll be stopping in Morning Edition soon again:)

Picture from BaltimoreSun.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  We'd like to thank all of our followers, fans, customers, fellow crafters, friends and family for your support!  This past year has been so eventful and exciting that we wanted to take a minute to say THANKS!  Have a great Thanksgiving and happy holiday shopping:)

REMINDER: Trunk Show Saturday, November 19

Just a reminder that we'll be in West Reading, PA at Hello Bluebird on Saturday, 11/19 from 12-4pm!  Hope to see you there:)