Here's Mine...

I'm feeling very proud of myself right now. I actually completed my handmade "snail mail" valentine for ff's crafty benefit! I'm always into participating in events such as this one, but somehow I either space it entirely or freeze-up at the last minute. I started out with a couple of ideas. One even involved vintage Archie comics and hot pink boa trim...But once I saw these flocked babies from Friendly Forest, it all fell into place...Add one doilie and rick-rack and voila!

After this photo was taken in my dark kitchen, I added the slightest dusting of glitter. I must say, I am happy with this. The biggest challenge was deciding which color card I should use. It was a tough call between the chocolate brown or the carnation pink...But there are more stickers, doilies, and cards to be decorated for my loves. I didn't want to stamp or use my printer, so I let some ribbon do the talking.

I kept the envelope simple. I just trimmed the edge of the (flap of the) envelope with the red rick-rack. This was extra fun to make. It feels good to know that I am part of a greater good. The money from card sales is going to Elder Craftsmen, a NYC-based organization that brings craft workshops to senior citizens. How cool is that? I had no idea an organization like this even existed until recently. This just touches my heart to its depths. I am now considering volunteering at this organization one day a week during my summer vacation. I've been thinking about volunteer work for a while and how important it is to me. What a blessing to be able to share one's time, heart, and creativity with others!

Next, I thinking about entering this one, just for fun. There's no way I'd ever win any of those prizes. I know how many super talented seamsters there are out there, and I'm just getting back in my game and all...But it's all about playing, right?

Sweets

My girl finally got the chance to make those snow angels she has wanted to make since last winter! On Sunday morning, just as we were settling into breakfast, we heard our neighbors and good buddies F and A outside helping their papi shovel the driveway...We dropped everything, threw our jeans over our pj's and joined in the fun. It was a great way to start our day. Later, we joined some other pals for lunch and a movie. The theatre that was playing Tale of Despereaux didn't have any heat, so we saw Bolt in 3D, instead. It was cute, but pretty long (I got to take a nap, yay!), and to my surprise, I cried twice. Of course, I thought the female lead looked like my sweet girl, even though she was an animated character!

Last night, Cub announced that we were having Smores for dessert. We topped grahams with mini-marshies and chips and warmed them up in the toaster oven. The best part was mushing the two pieces together with all the melties inside!
The smores inspired me to finally make the Velvet Five Minute Fudge I've been thinking about making for the past few days. I happily ran into a case of this wonderful brand of evaporated milk in a dollar store of all places! It may sound strange, but I've always been "enthusiastic" about evaporated and condensed milk...I store a lot of my craft supplies in the cans that I save. They are (usually) sweet and pretty. They kinda remind me of another time and place...probably my childhood. Recipe soon to come. After all that chocolate, I was ready for some mindless craft...I grabbed two little perler bead kits that I bought over the holidays for $1.00 at Michael's...but to my surprise, Cub's daddy reeeeally got into them...and that was just fine with me. I dipped into a button stash box and made some button bookmarks. Fun. Easy. Useful. That's what I'm about these days.

And I finally cut out the pattern and fabric pieces for The Black Apple dollie. I'll share my progress shortly.

Zee French Znowman Zays Bonsoir!

Isn't he cute? When Cub brought home this snowman from school, he was sans la bouche, so I made him a little one...Then, I just had to give him la moustache. I couldn't help myself. I do love facial hair in a big way! That brought out a good belly laugh from Cub's daddy (who sports a beard and moustache)...And that's how "Vrostey" the french snowman came to life on our window!

Okay, enough silliness. Today was a whopper of a day. Started early and seemed to go on forever. I feel like all I did was cook and clean dishes all day long...Probably, 'cause that's what I did! Bleck.

But we did get out to Target when most sane people (or those without kids) are still cozy in their beds. We made the trip just to get some board games that came reccomended by this amazing lady. Hopefully, Cub will get more into actually playing a game one of these days and not just playing with the pieces!

Then we finally returned two library books that had gone MIA a few months ago!

But look at the goodies I found on the sale cart! Happiness, to me, is the library book sale cart!

I love Maus and read half of this today while Cub played "pizza delivery man" with Daddy. The American history book will go to Cub's "Bah-bah." The other one, you know is mine.

I don't think more than two weeks can go by without me breaking out my crockpot...Lately, I've been more adventurous. For example, today I made these artichokes with white wine and lemon.

I think artichokes are in the top three of my "Top five favorite things to devour" list. I've loved them since I was a babe, my mom loved 'em, and today, Cub kept stealing leaves from mine and chewing on them, before spitting them into the garbage...She couldn't quite get the whole scraping thing. But I know she'll catch on. She's my daughter!

For some reason, I love this photo...distorted color and all.

I think there is some symbolism in here, too.

And what would a weekend be without making at least one barrette! I promise I'm moving on to those fabric headbands shortly. As soon as I get over my sewing machine trauma, that was unfinished holiday fabric napkins for Nana and rick-rack coasters for Aunt Mary!

However, I think this I like this style best of all.

I used one of those double bar metallic barrettes you buy at Duane Read or CVS. This one was my favorite, but it needed something and I was bored so....
I used some brown crossgrain ribbon I had on hand and glued it to the barrette with hot glue.
After it dried a bit, I grabbed whatever buttons I had laying around on the kitchen table and stuck 'em on with hot glue, too! (These are pink and white.) They look like little candies.

Yes, I'm still very attached to my new arm warmers.
Tonight, after my lovely friend and I had to cancel our craft date over here because of
the weather, I ended-up baking anyway. The reason being, there are no goodies in this house!
The box of chocolates is long gone. I have to say, we are spoiled from my holiday baking, candy-making craze. Even Daddy asked the other day, "So, do you have any homemade treats anywhere?" I guess I can't be too mad at that. He gets to eat the benefits when he's here to see Cub, so I can't blame him.
When I'm tired and too lazy to go completely homemade I always go to the Cake Mix Doctor for an idea. Brilliant. Easy. Yummy.
Tonight, I went with this recipe. They are delicious!!! I'm just waiting for some chai tea to finish brewing, then I'm off to the couch for reading and maybe some crafting in front of a good movie.

Hope everyone is having a restful weekend. Tomorrow, we are off to see this film with some of our favorite friends. It looks so cute, don't you think?
I'm excited.

Sometimes I forget...

"Cheshire Cat" Colored pencil drawing by Skyestasia

I'm all over the place tonight. While driving to pick-up Cub this evening I noticed that the moon looked almost full. So, I'll blame it on the moon! I wanted to share something I made for dinner, a Morroccan spice blend. It was nirvana on my tongue...Just like the above drawing was nirvana to my eyes when I first spotted it this evening. I found it while searching for an image to accompany the spice blend recipe. Funny how things work sometimes. I was searching for an image of Cheshire cat from Alice and this is what I came up with. I tried to find out more about this artist, but there is not much on the website. I love the drawing. I love the colors, the mosaic-like quality, the whole feel of it. I love the fact that it was made with colored pencil, such a modest medium.

And I don't know why, but it reminds me of....Me.

The me I used to be before I was anyone, really.

Just plain old me.

And it makes me happy because in the middle of my hectic life...In the middle of being a mommy and a teacher and many things in between...I sometimes forget.

Morroccan Spice Blend - Inspiration from here.

2 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. garam masala

1/2 tsp. chile powder

1/2 tsp. sweet paprika

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground allspice

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

pinch of cloves

Just mix all together in a bowl or small jar. I sprinkled it on before roasting red peppers and chickpeas. Then I served the dish over couscous with a dallop of plain yogurt on the side.

This would be a nice addition to any vegetable dish, especially squash.

I'm going to try it on roasted chicken and lamb, too.

On Tattooed Soap, Tantrums, and Stuff.

Last year, I ordered an over-abundance of vintage-style waterslide decals. They are so much fun to use. I ended up putting many of them on the soap I was making at the time. I even sold a couple on my pretty-much-now-defunct-etsy site (RIP).

I came across the tattoo soap idea here, while I was flitting through the blogosphere, searching for inspiration...I fell in love with the idea a whole lot more this way. Maybe it's the pirate thing...or the tattoo thing...Either way, I had to compulsively try to recreate the cuteness.

Just so happens that last night, while browsing around in my favorite (undershopped) dollar store, I found packages of the coolest temporary tattoos!

Unfortunately, they don't stick to the soap so well. I don't know if this is the case for all temp tattoos, or if it was this batch...or if it's the soap...Couldn't be me, right??? But I lost patience after a while. I get really "cranky" when my crafty projects go awry! So, I unearthed some cherub stickers from last year and slapped 'em on two of the cakes of soap. Looks pretty.

I positioned the tattoo soaps towards the back, but you can see the potential, right? I got to throw some of my magic fairy soap glitter into one batch, too. I scented some of the soap with (one of my all-time favorite scents) Rose Bud fragrance oil from Brambleberry, a favorite supplier. If you stop over there, I want to make both of those soaps on their front page...especially the honey bee bars!!! Yes, I think I'm going back to soapmaking in 2009! For the other batch, I added tumeric for color, and pure jasmine essential oil. Both smell heavenly. I packaged them up in cello bags and rick-rack. Gifties for V-day, I suppose...along with the homemade marshmallows I plan to make and the flourless chocolate cupcakes I WILL bake...Now, if only I had a valentine, I'd be all set!

Speaking of dollar store finds...at the same store last night, I found a pair of arm warmers! Yay! I've had arm-warmer envy all winter. Lots of hip crafty girls who knit made beauties and I wanted them sooooo badly...But somehow couldn't justify the $40-ish price tags over on etsy...Sockdreams was very reasonable, but always sold out. So, now I have my own, Pippy Longstocking version. You can't tell by my awful photo, but they are pink, navy, and black striped with some sweet wooden buttons up top. I'm usually not that badly matched, but I threw them on when we came home tonight and the house was freezing!

And Kristin, this one's for you...Remember the idea about taking photos of our children mid-tantrum? Well, guess who knocked the camera out of my hand right after I snapped this one? Hee, hee!

She really didn't want to go to bed.
Can you tell?

And a great big....T. G. I. F!!!!

Going back this week was rough.

Making Something

Remember that box of Godiva I received over the holidays?

One of the two layers is history already. I love the foil box. In the past, I've saved them to store photos and such. They are actually pretty sturdy and well, just plain pretty.

This time around, I came up with another idea:

Jewelry storage! After the second layer is finished, I'll use the whole box to keep those random pieces from floating around the bottom of my dresser drawer. I like this.

I'm pretty much good for only three days of sleep deprivation. Tonight, I'm tired and cranky. I made quiche for dinner and it feels like I ate nothing. So I'm enjoying my old standby...instant apple-cinnamon oatmeal with (added) chopped walnuts. I'm a bit happier now. Cub didn't eat much, either. The house is ugly messy and I don't see that changing any time soon. I have nothing to make Cub for lunch, either. Did I mention I'm tired and cranky?


After work, I made some tattoo soaps. I guess they're in anticipation of Valentine's Day?
Nah. I just needed to make something.
Now, I'm heading off to the couch. Lights out. To finish watching a movie I forgot I loved so much.
Ghost World.

Make Something Monday

Does dinner count?

Well, it's going to have to today. The way I feel right now, I don't know if I'll ever make anything else until the end of the month (during Regents week)! Let's just say, it was a looooong day. I still have to put Cub to sleep, pay bills, write thank-you cards, lesson plan, and read the next four chapters of Genesis! And I wanted to be asleep by 11! Never gonna happen.

This winter, we have been all about soups and beef stew. As many times as I've tried to be vegetarian, and God knows, I have tried...over and over...I guess I'm just a plain 'old carnivore! Boo to me! I love simmering my stews in red wine. Tonight, I finally got to try a recipe I first saw in a Jamie Oliver cookbook Julie gave me years ago...His recipe was a baked Guinness beef pot pie. Mine is the simple stew version.

Mama's Guinness Beef Stew:

1 lb beef stew meat

1 bottle Guinness stout

1 large onion

1 clove garlic

carrots and potatoes, optional

salt and pepper

Flour

Cumin

Canola, Olive, Safflower, or whatever kind of oil you have on hand.

1. Put a couple of tablespoons of flour in a plastic bag with a dash of salt, pepper, and cumin.

2.Place all the meat inside the bag and shake, shake, shake....to coat all pieces.

3. Slice the onion into rings and saute along with the garlic (crushed or sliced) in a few tablespoons veg. oil until carmelized.

4. In a 2 quart dutch oven (or soup-style pot) brown the meat in some veg. oil.

5. When browned on both sides add the onions and garlic, giving a few turns to combine.

6. Now the fun part...Add your bottle of Guinness. Don't forget to take a few sips, "to make sure it's not poison," as Cub's Nana would say!

7. Make sure to scrape those brown bits from the bottom of the pot...They are vital for a rich flavor and texture.

8. Bring it up to a boil, then lower the flame to a simmer. Cover. Check periodically and stir, from the bottom, making sure the bottom of your pot (and its ingredients) don't burn.

9. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours, until tender.

10. At this point, I add quartered red-skin potatoes and uncut baby carrots.

11. When the veggies are tender...It's done!

This stew is hearty and delicious. The malt flavor of the Guinness is strong, too. Sounds strange, but I like to add a big lump of butter on top and mix it all up before eating. We tend to eat this with those biscuits that are packaged in what looks like a foil-covered toilet paper tube. You know the ones! So much fun to open after a long day at work! Ha, ha...

I'll close with what I think has been the biggest bargain I've found in a long time...

I bought this t-shirt at Target yesterday for $1.50! Yup. I had to do a double and triple take, because this doesn't really seem like the kind of t-shirt you'd find at the red bulls-eye (for various reasons that will go unexplained), but it it's true. It's not very "me," but I'll find a way to make it work.

Happy Monday, All!