My New Etsy Shop: Elle Dee Bows

Here's the story of how I started sewing bows and bowties for my kids and it bloomed into an Etsy Shop and YouTube channel.

I started buying bows for Lucy before she was even born. What is it about a bow on a little baby girl? And everyday, I still put a bow in her hair -- at her request! I stumbled upon an Etsy Shop called Posh Pelican. Heather, the owner, made the most adorable bows and I fell in love with the style of bows she made and she created a great community of like-minded mamas. After a few years she closed her shop and I think all of the moms in the Posh Pelican community hearts broke. But I still wanted to buy bows for my girls (I became obsessed with getting them matching bows). And I did always crave a chance to match my three kids -- and I felt as if my son was left out. 

So using the main design I loved from her, I played around with my dusty sewing machine and some fabric and started making bows for my kiddos, and my nieces and nephew. I would post the pictures of the bows and bowties I made on Facebook, and people started asking for them as well. I had a hard time keeping up with orders and inventory and someone suggested I open an Etsy Shop! 

I dabbled in an Etsy Shop a few years ago, selling some chalkboards and wreaths I would make, but it didn't take off and I felt discouraged -- granted I didn't stick with it very long. But bows -- I don't think I'll ever stop making them even if I never made another sale. It is SO relaxing, and I thought -- maybe this is something I can film and share? I find it relaxing and fun to see how a piece of fabric turns into something completely unique, maybe others will too? Maybe? Anyone? We'll see.

It's still a new YouTube channel. I have probably less than fifteen views collectively. But that's okay. I'm still learning how to edit a video and finding the right angle to demonstrate the process of creating a bow or bowtie.

Also, something exciting that I want to offer my customers are a FREE Bow of the Month -- every month! The minimum price for an item in Etsy is $0.20, so that will be the price. I want there to be enough for everyone, so please only ONE bow per transaction. 

Sneak peek for February's FBOTM!

Here's all the links to everything Elle Dee Bows:
>> Instagram: elledeebows, www.instagram.com/elledeebows/
>> Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/ElleDeeBows
>> Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Elle-Dee-Bows-512808119163897
>> YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCknbFxMon3am0IjA4b56Uug

Chocolate Trifle

I think the reason this dessert is such a hit is because it is a "healthy" option.

This recipe is super easy to put together, the ingredients include: 

• Cool Whip
• Chocolate Pudding
• Milk
• Chocolate Cake Mix (plus eggs and oil)
• Heath Bar Bits
• Mini Plastic Cups

I started by baking the chocolate cake in a 9x13 pan.

I placed the cake on a cooking rack...

... and put the cooling rack in the freezer for about an hour.

When the cake was ready, I placed it on a a cutting board.

I sliced the cake vertically...

... and then horizontally.

Here's a sweet picture of my buddy Gideon :) He loves hanging out with me in the kitchen!

I made the pudding while the cake was in the oven, and I made sure the Cool Whip was soft and defrosted in the fridge.

The first layer in the mini trifle is about 4 cake cubes, and then pudding.

Then there is a layer of Cool Whip.

Then I repeated the layers...

... and sprinkled Heath Bits on top.

I put the mini trifles in a cupcake tin, which kept them stable.

These are so mouth watering!

>> If you end up making this for dessert, tag me in an Instagram post -- @marriedtodavis or #marriedtodavis

Ukrainian Stuffed Cabbage (Holubtsi)

I have such fond memories of my Baba (Grandma) making stuffed cabbage. Everything she makes is filled with simplicity and love. And you can taste it -- the sweet cabbage with the delicious, meaty filling! It just warms the soul. 

Here is my take on stuffed cabbage -- the Ukrainian way.

Ingredients for the filling:

• 2 cups prepared rice
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 Tbsp thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 6 oz can tomato paste
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• olive oil

Preparation for the filling:

• Cook the rice (1 cup of rice, 2 cups of water or chicken broth)
• Add some olive oil to the bottom of a large pot
• Saute onion and garlic
• Add ground beef and brown
• Add seasonings
• Add tomato paste
• Mix well, then add cooked rice
• Mix together the meat mix and rice well

Preparation for the cabbage:

• In a large pot, boil water with some salt
• Core the head of cabbage
• Add the entire head of cabbage to boiling water for around 10 minutes
• Remove cabbage from water and gently pull off entire leaves. Once it becomes hard to remove leaves, put the head back in the boiling water to soften the remaining leaves.
• In order to fill the cabbage leaves and roll them up, you need to take a paring knife and cut off some of the spine of the leaf (see picture).

Filling, rolling, and cooking the cabbage:

• Pour some olive oil in the bottom of a 9x13 dish
• With one cabbage leaf in front of you (spine side down), add about 1/3 cup of filling (depending on size of leaf) and fold over one side of the leaf. Tuck in the sides and then roll the rest of the way (see picture).
• Place in dish and continue until all of the filling is gone (should make about 12)
• Drizzle the top with olive oil, cover with foil, and cook in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes, or until the cabbge is tender and slightly browned. *You could probably also cook this in a crock pot -- high for a few hours. I haven't tried it, but if you do -- please comment below with how you did it!*
• Enjoy!

>> If you end up making this for dinner, tag me in an Instagram post -- @marriedtodavis or #marriedtodavis