This makes me laugh every time that I watch it. Enjoy! Wooooooo!
Monthly Archives: January 2010
Heart Wreath
Every since I saw this wreath on ItzFitz’s Etsy Shop I have wanted to make it. It is adorable and perfect for our apartment. I am the type that loves to find something new to make and try to figure out just how it was done. If I think I can make it I have to try.
Unfortunately, I had no way of knowing how to make the adorable little hearts that went along with the wreath. I looked and looked in stores but couldn’t find anything that was good enough.
Finally after much looking I found the perfect accompaniment.
The Purl Bee. The Purl Bee is the online journal devoted to beautiful materials and tools for knitting, sewing, quilting, and other crafts. They have a entry where they teach you to make Valentine Pins that will be perfect for my wreath! I can’t wait to get started!
Oooo! Coffee high!
Coffee. It is usually the first thing that people grab in the morning. Who cares about breakfast? Coffee stat! When I drink coffee I need a lot of sugar and milk. The buzz I get off a half of a cup makes my co-workers laugh because I talk a mile a minute and giggle at everything. An hour later I am spent. I am a bad coffee drinker.
Lucky for me I feel that I have found a happy medium. Starbucks has a new ready brew instant coffee. Just add water and go. Instead of water I add a hot chocolate packet (make as directed), half of the coffee packet and a bit of milk. It is surprisingly good! It doesn’t give me as much of a buzz as a regular coffee and it tastes delish! I love Starbucks coffee, but usually only stop in and treat myself every once and a while. I can indulge in a cup of their coffee by brewing it at home – without all of the calories and it is way more affordable. Do try it! Let me know what you think!
Winter Minestrone
Who doesn’t like soup? K and I are lovers of soup. If we could have it every day of the week we would. One of K’s favorite soups is Minestrone. I have never attempted it before and he has been craving it so into the kitchen I went. The soup came out great. Hearty and soul warming. Try it and let me know what you think!
Winter Minestrone
Adapted from Gourmet, January 2009
4 slices bacon (chopped) **
1/2 medium onion (chopped onion)
4 carrots (chopped)
4 celery stalks (chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1/2 bunch of spinach
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
2 cups (or 14 oz can) diced tomatoes with their juice
4 cups chicken stock (or water)
1 cup cannellini beans (or 1 14 oz can)
2 cups cooked ditalini pasta
** I used 1/3 cup of bacon bits. I have been trying to get those darn things out of the house and finally it has worked! Also, I hate making bacon. Hate it.
Drizzle a small amount of olive oil on the bottom of a dutch oven pot. Cook bacon, onions, carrots, and celery over medium heat until bacon is cooked through, but not crispy. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes or so. Push vegetables to one side of the pot and add tomato paste to the cleared area and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes with their juice and cook another 5 to 10 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add chicken stock. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes. Add beans to soup and spinach, taste, and season with salt and pepper. Simmer about 5 minutes longer. Stir cooked ditalini pasta into each bowl and serve with a loaf of bread or homemade biscuits.
Happy 101 award!
Candice over at Bookish Penguin bestowed upon me this Happy 101 award!
Thanks Candice!
(Wishing I could give this back to Candice. I heart her blog! It keeps me up on her life even though we only live towns away but can’t see each other as often as we would like to.)
The rules of the Happy 101 award:
1. Copy the award image and display it on your blog (done!)
2. List 10 things that make you happy (try to do at least one of those things today)
3. Then pass the award along to 10 bloggers who brighten your day.
So here it goes, in no particular order:
1. Mondays. Monday’s are the first day of the work week. For years now I have always scheduled things on Monday’s that I love. It used to be Poker Night with the guys. Now it is Movie Night with my sister. It always makes Monday’s better and I look forward to them when everyone else is dreading them.
2. My family. There is no one who makes me happier. They are the most loving, fun, hilarious people I have ever met. I know when I am out with them I am going to have an amazing time.
3. When K drops in at my work unannounced. I never expect it and when he does it I love it. He might only stay for a couple of minutes but it feels good to know that he loves me enough to stop by just so he can say hi, give me a hug and kiss and then go on his way.
4. Re-decorating. There is nothing like moving things around, finding new ways to display old objects, getting new decorations. It always makes the place feel fresh and new.
5. Reading. I love having a cup of tea, a soft blanket and a good book. There is nothing better then getting absorbed into a story.
6. Time spent in the kitchen. One of life’s great pleasures is cooking in the kitchen with a great recipe and having the ability create something delicious. I even love trying to put together a recipe on my own. It makes me giddy just knowing that I can put something together and know it actually taste good.
7. My DVR. I know this sounds silly but I really do love it. K and I have such busy schedules that we never get to watch a show when it actually is on. The DVR lets us record it and then watch it whenever we want.
8. My cameras. I love taking pictures of everything. Cataloging life as I go. From food to people to objects. There is so much beauty in the world that I want to capture.
9. My friends. Always there for me. Enjoying the good with the bad. They are my link to sanity and serenity.
10. My blog. I actually really enjoy writing. I like finding things to cook, read, watch, and talk about.
Now to hand over the award to people who brighten my day each and every day!
2. Tabi
4. Flour Child
7. Domestic Me
10. Yes and Yes
Etsy Love – Plum
One of my favorite colors of all time is plum. I can’t get enough of it. I really wanted it to be the color of my wedding, but it is one of K’s least favorite colors. If I could I would have plum everywhere in our apartment.
1. Friendship Locket
2. Fuzzy felted wool bowl
3. Woodland violets clip
4. Necklace
5. Peacock Feather Hair Clip
6. Cable Hand Warmers
7. Flower Clip
8. Chunky Knit Hat with Button
9. Earrings
The winner is: Black Bean, Corn, and Chicken Chili
In November I submitted a recipe to a contest in Everyday Food’s by Martha Stewart. They invited readers to send in guy-friendly recipes for a chance to win a copy of Lucinda Scala Quinn’s awesome new cookbook, Mad Hungry.
{Lucinda’s cookbook}
I decided to submit my Black Bean, Corn, and Chicken Chili because it is a very guy friendly meal and K loves it. After submitting the recipe the holidays came and I completely forgot that I had entered. About a week ago I got an e-mail from Everyday Food’s telling me that I was one of the winners! I was completely ecstatic.
{Black Bean, Corn, and Chicken Chili}
So yesterday when I came home I found a package from Martha Stewart. Inside was a signed copy of Lucinda Scala Quinn’s cookbook and a letter telling me that they would like to publish the recipe in the “From Your Kitchen” section in a future issue! I literally squealed. Then screamed. Then squealed again. I don’t know what issue it will be featured in, but I am looking forward to seeing it.
Hair do? Hair don’t?
Today I was looking around the internet for something for the apartment and a cute little gift to get a friend. Out of the blue I came across a couple of hair styles that I think I might want to try. I have had my hair grow out the last couple of months and I am not sure what kind of cut I want. Why is it so hard for a girl to find a good haircut? And how do I really know that it is going to look good on me?
There are two completely different styles that I came across. Either the layered look as per Jennifer Gardner or the bob look as per Ashley Greene.
Oh the choices! Le Sigh.
{Jennifer}
{Ashley}
