March 31, 2012
Felt peacock feather tutorial.
I made a bunch of these peacock feathers for a project I've been working on, as well as for this. It's a fun, simple project that you can use to make pins, headbands, barrettes, etc. Enjoy!
Birthday evening out
My birthday is happening on Monday. 27. I went out with a few good friends last night to celebrate. Our first stop was Suzi's in NE Mpls for some massive tiki-style drinks (seriously, our choice was a volcano full of dry ice and approximately 52 ounces of rum & pineapple yumminess... four of us split it), followed up by a karaoke bar down the street. I was hoping the weather would be nice enough for an evening on the patio next to the river, and while it wasn't too chilly, we opted to stay inside most of the night.
My friends are adorable.
Matty is one of my oldest friends. I think he's one of the most brave, kind, talented people I know. Seriously, rockstar hairdresser.
Others were out as well, but my camera wasn't, so I didn't quite get the whole night. I really appreciate having such wonderful people in my life and it was a great evening.
My friends are adorable.
Matty is one of my oldest friends. I think he's one of the most brave, kind, talented people I know. Seriously, rockstar hairdresser.
Others were out as well, but my camera wasn't, so I didn't quite get the whole night. I really appreciate having such wonderful people in my life and it was a great evening.
March 26, 2012
Feathers and flowers
Lately, my mom has generously been trading me groceries and dinners for my crafts that she gives as gifts. (I like to think that she's doing it for my impeccable craftsmanship and creativity, rather than because of her fear that I can't afford groceries on my meager AmeriCorps living stipend.) I made her a few pins last month, but forgot to take pictures, and quite honestly can't even remember what fabric I used to make them. Here are several I made yesterday:
The flower was done with this tutorial I wrote several months back. I really love the versatility of the pattern!
The peacock feather was inspired by a project I was working on a few weeks ago, I just need someone (ahem, boyfriend, ahem) to take some pictures of me wearing said project... or perhaps I should just buy a tripod.
Ok, goodnight! Glad I was able to share a completed project for the first time in a while.
The flower was done with this tutorial I wrote several months back. I really love the versatility of the pattern!
The peacock feather was inspired by a project I was working on a few weeks ago, I just need someone (ahem, boyfriend, ahem) to take some pictures of me wearing said project... or perhaps I should just buy a tripod.
Ok, goodnight! Glad I was able to share a completed project for the first time in a while.
March 25, 2012
Everything's gone green!
Up first, a major accomplishment:
We built our raised veggie garden bed! I really intended on getting pictures of the whole process, but I was working pretty hard, so that didn't happen.
Our bed is made from 2x6 boards cut into 4- and 6-foot pieces. The corners are mounted on 4x4s cut to 2 feet apiece. We secured the corners into the ground about 4 inches deep and left the tops in case we need to put up a small fence to protect our veggies from the bunnies. Digging up the old grass was pretty time consuming. Also, we underestimated how much dirt we'd need by like, 10 bags, but we still have plenty of time before we can plant our seedlings.
Perennials coming up:
Mushrooms on a disc golf outing this morning:
Rooftop view from dinner the other night:
The patio wasn't open yet, but the upstairs dining had a large door that was open so we had a view of the Basilica and a pleasant breeze.
My pansies! First flowers of the season. Resistant to frost and oh-so-lovely. I need to find out if the blossoms from this particular variety are edible.
We built our raised veggie garden bed! I really intended on getting pictures of the whole process, but I was working pretty hard, so that didn't happen.
Our bed is made from 2x6 boards cut into 4- and 6-foot pieces. The corners are mounted on 4x4s cut to 2 feet apiece. We secured the corners into the ground about 4 inches deep and left the tops in case we need to put up a small fence to protect our veggies from the bunnies. Digging up the old grass was pretty time consuming. Also, we underestimated how much dirt we'd need by like, 10 bags, but we still have plenty of time before we can plant our seedlings.
Perennials coming up:
Mushrooms on a disc golf outing this morning:
Rooftop view from dinner the other night:
The patio wasn't open yet, but the upstairs dining had a large door that was open so we had a view of the Basilica and a pleasant breeze.
My pansies! First flowers of the season. Resistant to frost and oh-so-lovely. I need to find out if the blossoms from this particular variety are edible.
Home meals of the week #4
Nothing too fancy this week, but the weather has been gorgeous, so cooking wasn't my first priority. So here are some simple spring meals that I enjoyed in addition to the weather:
#1: Veggie egg white omelet.
Filled with avocado, feta, onions, carrots, and arugula. Toast with honey on the side. Mmmm!
#2: Spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce and a fruit smoothie.
Rice paper wraps with spinach, avocado, ginger, mint, lime juice, garlic, and habanero. I definitely recommend spring rolls as a great way to eat fresh, raw veggies and herbs. The avocado is a great "paste" to hold everything together. All you need to do is mix everything in a bowl and roll in the rice papers after they've been soaked in water. Yum!
The fruit smoothie was made with banana, pineapple, mango, and a dash of granola. I do not like banana (and that's an understatement) but it's an inexpensive nutritious filler in smoothies, and I almost don't taste it with the other ingredients.
Another bonus: eating outside on the stoop!
#3: Veggie sandwich.
Carrots, sprouts, arugula, cucumber, avocado, and onion on toast. I think it's fun to experiment with veggies you enjoy and toast the bread for a nice tasty sandwich.
#4: Rice and beans.
We sauteed onions and added them to vegetarian baked beans with corn. Served it over rice with steamed spinach and bread on the side.
What do you like to eat as spring begins?
#1: Veggie egg white omelet.
Filled with avocado, feta, onions, carrots, and arugula. Toast with honey on the side. Mmmm!
#2: Spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce and a fruit smoothie.
Rice paper wraps with spinach, avocado, ginger, mint, lime juice, garlic, and habanero. I definitely recommend spring rolls as a great way to eat fresh, raw veggies and herbs. The avocado is a great "paste" to hold everything together. All you need to do is mix everything in a bowl and roll in the rice papers after they've been soaked in water. Yum!
The fruit smoothie was made with banana, pineapple, mango, and a dash of granola. I do not like banana (and that's an understatement) but it's an inexpensive nutritious filler in smoothies, and I almost don't taste it with the other ingredients.
Another bonus: eating outside on the stoop!
#3: Veggie sandwich.
Carrots, sprouts, arugula, cucumber, avocado, and onion on toast. I think it's fun to experiment with veggies you enjoy and toast the bread for a nice tasty sandwich.
#4: Rice and beans.
We sauteed onions and added them to vegetarian baked beans with corn. Served it over rice with steamed spinach and bread on the side.
What do you like to eat as spring begins?
March 20, 2012
Spring is officially here.
Hooray hooray!
This picture is actually from last week, but it felt just as spring-like then!
Miles on the patio this past weekend.
He "helped" me plant seeds.
These were all the seeds that could be planted for now. Tomatoes, jalapenos, morning glories, and chives. There will be more to plant later in the season, so I've done all I can for now! One thing (sort of) off my to do list!
This picture is actually from last week, but it felt just as spring-like then!
Miles on the patio this past weekend.
He "helped" me plant seeds.
These were all the seeds that could be planted for now. Tomatoes, jalapenos, morning glories, and chives. There will be more to plant later in the season, so I've done all I can for now! One thing (sort of) off my to do list!
March 18, 2012
A little bit o' green.
I live down the road from one of the biggest Irish bars of the city, but when it came down to it, I decided to keep St. Patty's low-key and simple. It was a lovely (80 degree!) day, so we went to a local restaurant with tables outside and got a great vegan dinner.
No, your eyes are not deceiving you: it's a green burger. A green falafel burger with cucumber dipping sauce, garlic hummus, and sweet potato fries. Yum!!
I followed up dinner with a few beers in the backyard with the other tenants in my building. Simple & green: the way I like it.
No, your eyes are not deceiving you: it's a green burger. A green falafel burger with cucumber dipping sauce, garlic hummus, and sweet potato fries. Yum!!
I followed up dinner with a few beers in the backyard with the other tenants in my building. Simple & green: the way I like it.
Weekend thrifting
Well, my favorite little thrift/antique store down the street (The Mall of St. Paul) had a sale this weekend. I had a few items I was keeping an eye open for: a jewelry box, a flour sifter, patio furniture, unique jars (for the boyfriend), and a larger floor-sitting cantilever sewing box like the awesome one in Elycia's post. Even if I didn't find any of those items, it's still always worth a visit to see what's new.
I saw loads of cute stuff.
I love vintage cooking canisters, but I have a full kitchen, so no more for me.
Jars, jars, jars.
Embroidered artwork is my favorite, but when I saw this one I had to smile- it was $30, but we got the exact same one at Goodwill for $3! What a bargain! Yeah, I'm not sure what the picture is (a monk and a church?) but the colors are great!
Kitties!
Old coffee grinder with a little drawer where the coffee comes out. Cute, but I must admit, modern technology is a very necessary before my morning caffeine.
What I came home with:
One big fancy jar for Mark and a glass mushroom. The cap of the mushroom comes off and one suggested use on the old piece of packaging was a terrarium. I've been looking for the perfect terrarium container for a while and this is it! Now to find a tiny plant and some moss for it!
Jar: $7.50 at 15% off = $6.38
Terrarium: $7 at 15% off = $5.95
I saw loads of cute stuff.
I love vintage cooking canisters, but I have a full kitchen, so no more for me.
Jars, jars, jars.
Embroidered artwork is my favorite, but when I saw this one I had to smile- it was $30, but we got the exact same one at Goodwill for $3! What a bargain! Yeah, I'm not sure what the picture is (a monk and a church?) but the colors are great!
Kitties!
Old coffee grinder with a little drawer where the coffee comes out. Cute, but I must admit, modern technology is a very necessary before my morning caffeine.
What I came home with:
One big fancy jar for Mark and a glass mushroom. The cap of the mushroom comes off and one suggested use on the old piece of packaging was a terrarium. I've been looking for the perfect terrarium container for a while and this is it! Now to find a tiny plant and some moss for it!
Jar: $7.50 at 15% off = $6.38
Terrarium: $7 at 15% off = $5.95
March 17, 2012
See me on :dianapantz:!
Oh hey, I forgot to post this the other day, but I'm sponsoring my friend Diana's blog this month and you can read my mini-interview there!
That's us! Five years ago today on St. Patty's Day! Apparently denim skirts were ALL the rage back in 2007.
That's us! Five years ago today on St. Patty's Day! Apparently denim skirts were ALL the rage back in 2007.
Home meals of the week #3
Veggie chickpea curry:
I think we're very close to getting the recipe right. We've tried store-bought sauce mixes, made our own, changed our spices, etc. This last time we did everything from scratch, and it was so close! Here's what we think are the key factors:
1. Coconut milk. You don't need too much, but if you go without it, you loose the slight sweetness of the curry.
2. Tomato base. Whether you use fresh, canned, or crushed, tomatoes are another key flavor to your curry.
3. Spices. Garlic, turmeric, coriander, ginger, cilantro, a little cinnamon, and some sort of hot pepper to your taste. This was where our dish went wrong. We added a full habanero PLUS chili powder and after the first few bites my tongue was numb. And I like spicy food!
From there, you can pretty much add what you want! Veggie-wise, we did broccoli, mushrooms, and carrots. We also sauteed some tofu and added the chickpeas (loads of protein!). You can do rice, like us, or try noodles, like rice noodles. And there you go: a delicious, vegan meal!
Caramel apple cheesecake bars:
Recipe from Pinterest or here. I wanted to try it out for a while, but since it makes so much, I waited till I helped my mom cook for her bunco party. That way I could try it, but then leave it for her friends to eat.
Result: it was super good! Decadent and totally not healthy, so I'm glad I just had one.
Kombucha at the Birchwood Cafe. Best breakfast ever, but I was so hungry I forgot to take pics and only got my tea, which was also very good. But check that alcohol content- I got carded for it! Later we saw the same stuff at a liquor store, so it must be a type that's fermented longer and meant for "comsumption."
Veggie fixings for spring rolls:
Creamy asparagus soup:
Try it- it's great and the creaminess comes from a tiny amount of roux plus plain yogurt! Top it with a bit of parmesan and asparagus tips and voila! We ate it all in one sitting.
I think we're very close to getting the recipe right. We've tried store-bought sauce mixes, made our own, changed our spices, etc. This last time we did everything from scratch, and it was so close! Here's what we think are the key factors:
1. Coconut milk. You don't need too much, but if you go without it, you loose the slight sweetness of the curry.
2. Tomato base. Whether you use fresh, canned, or crushed, tomatoes are another key flavor to your curry.
3. Spices. Garlic, turmeric, coriander, ginger, cilantro, a little cinnamon, and some sort of hot pepper to your taste. This was where our dish went wrong. We added a full habanero PLUS chili powder and after the first few bites my tongue was numb. And I like spicy food!
From there, you can pretty much add what you want! Veggie-wise, we did broccoli, mushrooms, and carrots. We also sauteed some tofu and added the chickpeas (loads of protein!). You can do rice, like us, or try noodles, like rice noodles. And there you go: a delicious, vegan meal!
Caramel apple cheesecake bars:
Recipe from Pinterest or here. I wanted to try it out for a while, but since it makes so much, I waited till I helped my mom cook for her bunco party. That way I could try it, but then leave it for her friends to eat.
Result: it was super good! Decadent and totally not healthy, so I'm glad I just had one.
Kombucha at the Birchwood Cafe. Best breakfast ever, but I was so hungry I forgot to take pics and only got my tea, which was also very good. But check that alcohol content- I got carded for it! Later we saw the same stuff at a liquor store, so it must be a type that's fermented longer and meant for "comsumption."
Veggie fixings for spring rolls:
Creamy asparagus soup:
Try it- it's great and the creaminess comes from a tiny amount of roux plus plain yogurt! Top it with a bit of parmesan and asparagus tips and voila! We ate it all in one sitting.
March 11, 2012
March & April project goals
I already have quite a few projects going, I need to do my taxes (eek!) and I have my last midterm tonight, but no harm in adding a few more ideas to my queue.
Here are some things I want to start (maybe even finish!) within the next month:
1. God's eyes. I haven't made them since I was young, but I think these beaded eyes are a step up. I think they'd look great on a mobile to hang in a window or porch area.
2. Start seeds! My boyfriend started the basil, but now it's time to get the veggies going!
3. Granny square bag. I've abandoned my prayer flag idea for something more useful. I've already made a 20+ squares in different sizes. The biggest challenge is going to be fitting them together. It will be like a puzzle. I want to use the bag for a shopping bag, so it will need to have a rectangular bottom and strong enough stitching between squares to support some heavier groceries. I think this one looks great:
Different sized squares:
4. Homemade vanilla extract. I've been meaning to do this for sometime, I just haven't gotten around to it and have gone vanilla free in cooking because I don't want to buy the stuff at the store.
5. More felt projects. I've been doing quite a few to decorate crocheted headbands, but I love these tiny flower pendants:
Well, that's enough to keep be busy for a while I think! Now that it's published, I'll be held accountable if I don't follow through.
Here are some things I want to start (maybe even finish!) within the next month:
1. God's eyes. I haven't made them since I was young, but I think these beaded eyes are a step up. I think they'd look great on a mobile to hang in a window or porch area.
2. Start seeds! My boyfriend started the basil, but now it's time to get the veggies going!
3. Granny square bag. I've abandoned my prayer flag idea for something more useful. I've already made a 20+ squares in different sizes. The biggest challenge is going to be fitting them together. It will be like a puzzle. I want to use the bag for a shopping bag, so it will need to have a rectangular bottom and strong enough stitching between squares to support some heavier groceries. I think this one looks great:
Different sized squares:
4. Homemade vanilla extract. I've been meaning to do this for sometime, I just haven't gotten around to it and have gone vanilla free in cooking because I don't want to buy the stuff at the store.
5. More felt projects. I've been doing quite a few to decorate crocheted headbands, but I love these tiny flower pendants:
Well, that's enough to keep be busy for a while I think! Now that it's published, I'll be held accountable if I don't follow through.
March 10, 2012
Nature walk & celebrity status
We went to the Maplewood Nature Center today. It was a beautiful 65 degree day and the tiny bit of snow from this winter was turning to a slushy muddy mess (in a good, spring-is-coming way).
Cattails.
Fungus.
After our walk we stopped in the visitor center. I used to take a lot of kids' classes there so I thought it would be a nice walk down memory lane. Well, turns out, more than I expected: my mom and I were photographed for their brochure 20+ years ago and they're still still using our pictures. So, if you ever go to the Maplewood Nature Center, pick up a brochure and see my mom and me.
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