March 24, 2012

Etsy Find - Wood Jewelry

I had some birthday money left to spend so I logged onto my Etsy account and took a look at my favorites.  I decided to buy a couple pieces of wood jewelry from Northern Grain Carpentry. 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/NorthernGrain?ref=seller_info

Come to find out this guy's a local guy so I got in touch with him and went to his house (I made my husband come with me cuz I wasn't going to a stranger's house by myself) to look at his whole collection, including the pieces that initially caught my eye.  In the end, I stuck with them and I'm in love.



And, as a side note, if I was ten years younger and single, this guy would have been the guy for me!  Very cute, makes killer jewelry, works at the Harley shop, AND was drinking a Widowmaker.  Mmm-mmm-mmmmmm! 

Girl Balls That Daughter of Mine Has

This week my 14-year-old daughter's class had a discussion on bullying.  The teacher asked the class to stand if they ever bullied someone or even made fun of someone. 

My daughter was the only one that had the girl balls to stand. 

When asked to explain she said, "I've never bullied anyone but I've made fun of people before."  The teacher thanked her for being honest and then asked the same question to the rest of the class again. 

Everyone stood....but it was my daughter who led the truth train.

Damn I'm proud of her.

March 19, 2012

My Birthday Treasure Finds

My daughter and I have birthdays within four days of each other.  We both had some spending money and decided to hit some antique stores and thrift shops.   She had never been to any antique stores before and it was fun to watch out of the corner of my eye as she slowly started to wander off on her own and explore.  She found some things but didn't buy anything.  I, on the other hand, came home with many things.






I'm attracted to carnival glass whenever I hit one of these stores; yellow in particular because it reminds me of my Grama Marg.  She gave me a platter made out of it so it makes me think of her.  Green often times reminds me of my Grama Gentz because I have a bowl  made out of it that belonged to her and her mother before that (my great-grandmother). 

I'm also attracted to these carnival glass chicken bowls.  I've passed one up every time before so it was time that I brought one home.  Just something to put out at Thanksgiving.

I finally found an old stainless steel strainer and this one had cute little stars so.....SHAZAM!  It's mine.  And I'm a shoe girl and couldn't pass up the heels for a whopping $2.44. 

Finally, the Mason jars.  I'm not a jar expert and don't know if you can get these green ones anymore but whatever, I liked them.  I'm doing this with them:





I'll be using them out on my picnic table this summer.  I should also gather up some larger ones because I also want to do this:




Mine will probably be outside on the side of the garage as an herb garden.  This gal hung house plants inside with them.  Not a bad idea either.

March 13, 2012

Best Birthday Present 2012

So, I had one of these chairs when I lived in Florida and loved it.  I used it so much it finally deteriorated.  This one has a cup holder and back pack straps AND it's turquoise. 

Garret and Erin...Cousin Besties!

Happy 14th Birthday (Ugh...Teenagers)

March 7, 2012

Italian Sub Soup

We tried this one out last night.  How do you say, "Holy shit! That's unbelievable!," in Italian?  It was so good, I couldn't wait to get home tonight and have leftovers.

















Italian Sub Soup
1 pkg pepperoni, cut in half (I bought a 2-inch hunk at the deli)
1 pkg salami, cut in fourths (I didn't have this so I cut up some bologna)
1 pkg Canadian bacon
1 medium onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 green pepper, chopped
1 28-oz. can of diced tomatoes
1 tbsp. Italian seasoning
2 tsp. red pepper flakes (I did not use)
1 box chicken stock
1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp. honey
1/2 - 1 bag of spinach
Salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese

Saute all the meat in olive oil and carmelize.  Add onion, green pepper, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.  When onions are translucent, add stock, tomatoes, and spinach.  Reseason with salt and pepper.  Add honey and balsamic vinegar.

Garnish with parmesan cheese and serve with garlic bread or whatever crusty bread you have.

March 6, 2012

Swedish Meat Dumpling Stoup

I made this recipe on Sunday.  It's from, "365: No Repeats", by Rachael Ray.  I have had this cookbook for many years but have never made this one.  It's a keeper, fo sho.


















Swedish Meat Dumpling Stoup
Serves 4-6

1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp unsalted buter, cut into pieces
1/2 lb. white mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
1 c shredded carrots or l large carrot sut into matchsticks
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
2 Tbsp flour
2 c beef stock or broth
1 qt chicken stock or broth
1 lb. ground veal or meatloaf mix (you could use any ground meat you like)
2 rounded tsps dijon mustard
1 egg, beaten
1/2 to 2/3 c bread crumbs
1 tsp  nutmeg
1/2 lb. medium or wide egg noodles
1 c sour cream
2-3 Tbsp chives or dill, your choice
2-3 Tbsp parsley (optional)

Heat a medium soup pot over medium to medium-high heat.  Add olive oil and butter and when the butter melts into the olive oil, add mushrooms, celery, carrots, onions, and bay leaf.  Cook until the mushrooms are tender and the celery, carrots, and onions begin to soften, about 7-8 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper and add the flour.  Cood for another minute.  Whisk in the beef and chicken stock to combine.  Cover the pot and bring to a boil.

While the soup comes to a boil (or do before you make the soup), mix the meat with mustard, egg, bread crumbs,  nutmeg, salt, and pepper.  Roll meat mixture into 1-inch balls.  Remove the lid from the soup and add the meatballs.  They will cook in the soup.  After 2-3 minutes, stire in the egg noodles and cook for 6 minutes more.  Turn off the heat and stir in the sour cream.  Adjust the salt and pepper if needed and fish out bay leaf.  Serve with generous sprinkle of chives or dill and parsley.

March 3, 2012

What to make...Eternity scarves? Check!

We are getting pummeled with snow here today so I felt it was a great day to make some eternity/infinity scarves.  Got the instructions from this blog that my crafty friend gave me:

http://www.cafblog.com/2011/10/no-sew-recycled-t-shirt-infinity-scarf.html

They didn't take long at all.  I didn't have a tapestry needle and wasn't about to drive in the snow storm for a dinky needle so I improvised (like fricking MacGyver!) and used my tweezers and some pliers.  After the first one, I didn't have to use the pliers because I didn't wind the string as tight.