Stitches

*to make a knot
*to hide a stitch

Go here : http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2009/04/hand-stitching.html

It seems like these days I am hand stitching stuff due to lack of know-how with my sewing machine.  Needed somewhere to put this helpful tip!

Rosettes

Found a fantasticly easy tutorial on making rosettes with out having to use any sewing!  Must see!

@ lillyella

Yeah, I can do that...

a marriage

Meet the orange (or mandarin, tangerine, tangelo, etc.)

Meet Iron

 

If there is something you learn today...let it be this....

  Vitamin C and Iron should always be paired together.  

If your anemic, like me, your taking iron pills.  But you might as well sew a dress without any string if your not adding vitamin C to your diet.  Iron needs Vitamin C.  The body loves and needs iron naturally...some more than others...and it order for your iron to be absorbed into your body you need the vitamin C to make it happen.

You see, Iron needs to hold hands with Vitamin C because if it doesn't its just gonna go in one way and out the other.

So next time you need some more iron in your diet, or just in general b/c Iron is what are bodies need, eat that spinach with a few slices of orange or carrots. 

See my other post about "power couples" here.

And for some pairing ideas next time you eat:

high in iron:

nuts

spinach 

 roast beef 

 oysters 

 liver 

 raisons 

high in Vit C:

 oranges 

 papaya 

 grapefruit 

 brocolli 

 carrots

Me Likey, me Must have-y

Its just .....wonderful.

I hope to one day own this. Jo Totes

Store Fresh Eggs for 2 years

From a RS Enrichment evening pamphlet:

"Until recent history, ships sailed the high seas for many months at a time without the advantages of electricity or refrigeration.  Sailors learned how to preserve and carry on board a large variety of foodstuffs to sustain themselves on these long journeys.  The easiest way to provide high-quality protein without bringing live animals on board was to store eggs.  How did the sailors keep the eggs fresh fro months on hot ships, you ask?  An egg will stay fresh as long as air does not penetrate the somewhat porous shell.  When an egg is laid, it has a coating on it that protects the contents from going bad, even in a hot nest, while being sat upon by a contented mother bird.  when eggs are processed for commercial sale, they are cleaned, thereby removing some of the natural coating that was protecting the egg from spoilage.  By purchasing fresh eggs and recreating the barrier between the outside air and egg within the shell, you can significantly increase the egg's shelf life, even when stored at room temperatures for great lengths of time."

"Here's how: First get a large container of Vaseline aka petroleum jelly and a bunch of eggs, preferably in Styrofoam containers.  If you can only find eggs in card board containers, don't fret.  Just use plastic wrap inside of them to protect the cardboard from the Vaseline."

-Next-
This gets messy.  "Take eggs out of container.  Get a small amount of Vaseline on your hands.  Pick up an egg and rub the Vaseline all over the egg until it is covered completely.  The Vaseline doesn't have to be thick, just don't miss ANY spots.  When it's covered, set it back into the egg carton, with the wide end of egg at the top. (That's where the little air space is located inside the shell.)  Repeat until all eggs are covered.  Close cartons, date, and put into your food storage room/space."

-To use an Egg-
Wash them with dish soap by rubbing the eggs and running them under warm water.  Wipe clean. "Only wash as many eggs as you intend to use right away."

Sinks GOOD, floats BAD

-If you want to be sure that your egg is still fresh before eating it-
..."simply drop it into a bowl of water.  If it sinks, its fresh.  If it floats, its bad.  This means some air has gotten inside the shell."   So toss that disgusting sucker out!

pictures:
here
here
here

Avocado Ranch Dressing

Mmmmm...i Have never tried this...but someday i will. 
Its one of those i-stashed-this-recipe-centuries-ago,-forgot- about-it-and-found-it.  See this is why i blog these things...because in most cases i probably would have never found this and therefore never known the greatness of this recipe had i just put it here in the first place.



Now that frustration is released...shall we?...

image

You need:

 2 good sized,ripe avocados
1 C favorite ranch dressing
 1/2 C Milk
1/2 sour cream (when i jotted this down i seemed to have slipped on the volume, your guess is just as good as mine.)
 1/4 C fresh lime juice
 2 tsp hotsauce
 1/2 tsp pepper
 1/4 tsp garlic powder
 

1.  Cut avocado in half, take out bulb and spoon out meat into blender. 
2. Add in remaining ingredients. 
3. Process until smooth, stopping to scrap down sides. Makes 2 2/3rd Cups

High ceilings? great curtain idea

I can't remember how or when I came across this picture...im sure it was at the time we were house hunting. Saw this take on high ceilings with basic windows and loved how this owner displayed it.

Anywho, if you've got it and want to change it...here is a fabulous way to go about it.

,

I particularly love the fabric of the curtains...great way to let in nature and the natrual light.  They dress up the window but don't take away from reason we have windows(to look out them). Its genuis. Its Grand.
ps. you'll notice the dried grapevines adorning the high parts. LOVE that.  In fact, its something i will incorporate in my home.

already dreaming

Its a bit too early to comprehend any reasoning for me to want this...but a girl can dream can't she?

Perhaps when Im done feeding a baby...then we'll talk.

"too old for acne but too young for wrinkles"

a product maybe worth trying..

 Biore Skin preservation dual fusion

Sweet & Spicy Chicken

total time: 55 minutes  serves 4

 1T olive oil
 1T chili powder
1 T brown sugar
 1 T dried oregano
 S& P
one 3 1/2 - 4 lb chicken, cut into 10pcs

Heat  oven to 400F.  In a small bowl, combine the oil, chili powder, sugar, oregano, 3/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.

 Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.  Place the chicken in a roasting pan and rub with the spice mixture.  Roast until cooked through, 45 - 50 min.  serve.

Source: Real Simple Mag,  June 2009, pg 30

Roast Beef & cheddar roll-ups

hands on time: 15 minutes  Serves 4

4 oz cream cheese, softened
2T prepared horseradish
4 Lg flour tortillas
1 head romaine lettuce, tough ribs removed
8oz thinly sliced deli roast beef
4oz cheddar, thinly sliced

>In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese and horseradish. Spread evenly over each tortilla
>Layer the tortillas with the lettuce, roast beef, and cheddar & roll it up!

 from: realsimplemag, June 2009, pg 28

Cast iron 101 tips

Im a virgin with cast iron cooking...no clue as to what Im doing.  But with some searching and reading i've come across good-to-know-info on Cast Irons.  Heres what I've found:

How to get a slick, NON-stick surface:  generously rub and smear vegetable shortening in the pan & follow with heating the pan in the oven.  It may take several attempts Im told.

How to know your cast iron pan is ready for food:  with butter in it add a drop of water.  The water must sizzle in the butter.

Dont use soap to clean it*.  INSTEAD: heat with hot water, scrub and rinse. Sprinkle salt, rub that around and rinse.  Then add oil to coat -put in oven preheat to 350-when its done preheating take out and let cool and dry. Helps prevent rust too. ---tip--- if you don't like the smell most oils leave behind...Use virgin coconut oil to clean/protect instead.
*however, many have said a tad of soap is fine just don't let it soak with soap. To each their own!

An option to heating your cast iron: place pan in oven-preheat oven to 350. When its done preheating, remove pan and turn on burner- proceed to cook.(always keep your oven mitt handy)

If you'd rather not deal with the risk of burns(lets face it, we get preoccupied and bunk/grab the pan like an idiot) invest in those costly but LIFE saving silicone handles such as Le Creuset Silicone Handle Sleeve

Theres a bunch of talk about "seasoning" your cast iron.  Well mostly what i hear is cook stuff like this in it:

-bacon

 - cornbread 

-hash browns 

- roast chicken by broiling it 

Cookin with my cast iron

I recently bought a cast iron skillet(when i say recent i mean today.  Its a lodge cast iron 12", its huge and i only paid $12 for it!  I've wanted one but just couldn't bare to pay the price for a new one-thank goodness for thrift stores.  Anywho, time to time i come across a recipe that looks awesome but cant make because it requires a cast iron skillet/etc.  Well, here are two that i've been saving till i could get my hands on one.

  Queenie's Peach cobbler

• 1 stick of butter
• 1 C sugar
• 1 C flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 C whole milk
• 1 can sliced peaches, don't drain     
• I personally like some cinnamon in my mixture...so im going to add 1 tsp cinnamon

Melt butter in skillet.  In separate bowl mix sugar, flour, salt, powder, and milk.  Pour mixture into prepared skillet and add peaches.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.
from: www.cookingincastiron.com 
image

Nectarine brown butter buckle
from here 

3/4 cup (6 ounces) unsalted butter, plus additional for greasing pan
1 1/2 cups (6 3/4 ounces) all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of allspice
1 cup (7 ounces) sugar
2 large eggs
2/3 cup whole milk or buttermilk
1 1/2 pounds nectarines, halved, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch thick wedges (about 4 cups)
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Streusel
Reserved butter from cake (above)
1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) sugar
1/2 cup (2 1/4 ounces) all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Brown your butter: Melt butter in a small/medium saucepan over medium-low heat. It will melt, then foam, then turn clear golden and finally start to turn brown and smell nutty. Stir frequently, scraping up any bits from the bottom as you do. Keep your eyes on it; it burns very quickly after it browns. Set aside and let cool (the fridge will hasten this along).
Prepare you pan: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 10-inch round cake pan, springform or cast iron skillet with parchment paper and butter the paper and rest of the pan generously; set aside.
Make the cake: Whisk flour, baking powder, salt and allspice in medium bowl to blend. In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup cooled browned butter (set aside remaining 1/4 cup for topping), sugar and then eggs, one at a time. Stir in milk or buttermilk. Stir dry ingredients into this wet mixture; mix until just combined and spread batter in prepared pan. Toss nectarine wedges with lemon juice and arrange them in a single layer on top of the batter.
Make the streusel and bake the cake: Stir remaining brown butter, sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt together until large crumbs form. Sprinkle the nectarine-topped batter with crumbs. Bake until top is golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs, about 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes before flipping out onto a cooling rack.

I wanna try the" 5 minute wow"

For your face you'll need:
-gold eye shadow
-yr mascara
-rose (color) lipstick

 like this>>>>

source

Hose Butler aka a place to get that hose out of the way

iLike this one...perhaps someday.
Panacea Forged Scroll Hose Hanger and Stand
$15 and $33

For the front yard...ya know...got to keep apperances up. Gotta have that Curb appeal. :o)

Tummy Turmoil

The best way to regain your hydration and sooth your stomach after you've expelled the contents(gitters) is to drink Coconut water.

"What they Do: When you lose fluids, you lose electrolytes and other nutrients.  Drinking Gatorade will rehydrate you, but Slayton prefers coconut water, a natural source of electrolytes and potassium."

Can be found in supermarkets.

Source: Real Simple Mag, pg 138, JUNE 2010
Image

Nominated "Best Deep Conditioner" for hair

By Real Simple Mag

Dry Hair???

Nexxus Humectress Hydrating Treatment
"A thick 5 minute mask, it uses keratin to nourish and strengthen hair."

Buy @ Target $15

Zgallerie Finds of Mine

At the lovely Zgallerie they have stuff there i adore!  and know exactly where to put them.

candlestick: 29.95 Sconce: 39.95  to go on my piano...that would be nice.

tea light 7" 12.95...to go in babys room.

tealight trio- $29.99- for the Master bedroom

Ruby Red shoes

Yeah, i really want these right now with the way my poor feet feel.  Someday.  Someday.

http://www.corsocomoshoes.com/

Something to think about...

Practice:  Create Associations

"Memory is formed by associations, so if you want help remembering things, create associations for yourself."

For example:  I was told that the best way to remember a person's name upon yr first aquaintance is to associate their name with some you know or who is well known(or any association for that matter!).
So in my recent case...I just met my neighbor the other day...her name is Peggy Wilson.  I associated her first name to the female character on King of the Hill and "Wilson" to the grumpy old man from Denise the menise. I don't watch nor like King of the Hill but thats the only association I could relate to...and Mr Wilson stuck out b/c I grew up watching that movie as a child.

Use this tatic in any situation...your brain thrives off of associations. Remember that!

source

"I wish someone would have told me..."

Do you ever feel shafted?
Left out of the Loop?
Ever think "common sense" would be more common if ppl shared?

You're not alone.  Well at least Im right there with ya.  It seems a common occurrence where in a situation I will be the odd one out, the one who didn't "know".  And perhaps its because, granted, I am young.  But Nevermind that!  Today I start a filtered collection, if you will, of things where I find myself saying, "I wish someone would have told me before.!" 

So, whats the first order of business?  Hair.

"i Wish someone would have told me...
In order to obtain better hair volume, all you have to do is push the 'cool' button on my dryer.

image here

I wouldn't naturally think that the cool button on my blow dryer would create better volume.  But it Does!  It works like a charm!

While drying your hair with a round brush and blow dryer in hand(s), first apply heat to DRY then (immediately) cool air to SET.  Meaning set the hair...keep the shape...that volume we talked about.

image here

Why is this?!?!

Well, we'd like the heat to dry our hair but we also would like to keep moisture in our hair.  Nobody enjoys those darn flyaways or frizz.  Upon drying your hair, the heat is opening the hair cuticles therefore subjecting them to dry the hair faster.But once the hair is dry those same cuticles should be closed therefore locking in the moisture our hair so desperately needs.  So thats where the cool button comes into play. You then close the cuticles by cooling them therefore locking in the moisture and importantly the volume we crave.

image here

Light. Airy. Manageable

love the hair! ain't Ivanka gorgeous. image

Oommf! image here

L-A-C-E

Lovely
Angelic
Classy
Everlasting

I LOVE LACE! I LOVE LACE! I LOVE LACE.!!!
I own but two lace shirts but I just LOVE them.  I wish i had an abudance of them.
They are Lovely.  Almost Angelic. Very Classy. And everlastingly fashionable.  of course in my opinion.

See what I mean?

Does cooking in the microwave decrease nutritional value?

NOT ENIRELY so...

"Microwaved food may retain vitamins BETTER than stovetop-cooked food.  That's because the microwave zaps it quickly and without much water.  One study found that spinach retained only 77 percent of the B-vitamin folate when cooked on a stove --- but retained ALL of its folate when cooked in a microwave."

To read more you need to sign up with Consumer Reports on Health magazine.

Interesting, ain't it?  Of course, the test was only done with spinach.  Who knows how other foods will handle in the microwave.  Its just nice to know that the microwave shouldn't be as hated as it is.





-Aezra

report taken from: CR on Health Mag, pg 6, July issue
image from http://www.polanoid.net/ , key word "microwave"

The truth about carbs

Today's Statement:  "If its White, don't bite!"

" Bad carbs are generally white in color. Think: Sugar, White flour, white bread, [etc.] If you avoid[/limit] bad carbs you may reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and [dreaded words] WEIGHT GAIN."

"Good carbs come from fruits, veggies, and WHOLE grains.  Eat good carbs to keep your cholesterol level healthy...your blood pressure and blood sugar stable...and excess pounds off."

Taken from CR on Health Magazine, pg 6, July issue

Image sources:

tomato

Bread

I've been dying to get this done

This yucky bread box needed a make over.

bought this baby for 25 cents @ a yardsale.
its what we call "wooden" lol...i hate how everything is plaster board nowadays

Spray painted it white..about 2 cans worth

I know its a bad shot but, this is my antiqued bread box. I thought the stuff would just dry but it didn't...it just kept smearing so...to remedy the issue i spray painted a clear paint to protect it. That did the job!

I then replaced the hideous knob for this silver glazed beauty from anthropologie.

And its ready for use. I love it! however im sure to add a some vinyl lettering stating

Bread .

How to grow an Apricot tree from seedling

my cheap solution to plant my own apricot tree.  

If I had an interior designer...this is what i'd need help with

I have a need to get out my ideas.


I like depth to my walls(not in particular to this one, the idea)

I like a Half-done approach. Half wallpaper-middle separator-plain wall color.(not particular to this picture)

The half-done approach Im loving here with the wainscoting.(not this style of wallpaper)

ah...this is more like it. not the paint color here..but perhaps a vintage blue???Or NON-busy wallpaper...no depth needed here...wainscoting took care of that.

this reminds me of when i walk into anthropologie. i like the detail upon the wall. My opinion, very little detail would do.

Possibilities: buy vynil, paint, and peel.
ugh, if only i could afford wainscoting..i don't get it...its standard anywhere beyond AZ and been around for hundreds of years. What happened?

-aezra

keep in mind: http://www.inteior-design-it-yourself.com/

How do I remove those darn Lipstick Stains?

What you need:

• liquid dish detergent


• Ear swabs(q-tips)


• warm water

Apply:

"Dilute a capful of dish detergent w/an equal amount of warm water. Pull the lining as far out of the bag as you can. Then, using a cotton swab, apply the mixture to the stain in a circular motion.-Switch swabs often so you don't rub the pigment back into the fabric. Allow the bag to air dry. Repeat until the stain is removed."

best on: polyester or cotton linings. All others take to dry cleaners.

Article and pic from:

www.realsimple.com

A Checklist for starting a home garden

Grabbed from: www.Realsimple.com/garden


Start-a-Garden Checklist

"Assess your exposure. If you are planting vegetables, keep in mind that most need at least eight hours of full sun every day. Flowers and other decorative plants have different sunlight needs, depending on their type. Study what sort of light your yard gets during the day, particularly noting the sunny and shady areas.





.Designate your planting areas. You need a plan before you plant. A four-by-four-foot plot of land is a good start for vegetables. For flowers, decide where you’d like to dig the beds.








.Consider a fence. Fences are especially important if you are planting vegetables (although some flowering plants may be enticing to critters, too). Build it before you plant the garden, so rabbits or raccoons never get a glimpse (or a taste) of that lettuce.








.Know your dirt. Most soil—even sand—can be enriched with compost and be fine for planting. But you need to determine how much organic material and mulch you’ll have to add to make it fertile. A local gardening center can help.





.Decide between tilling and creating a raised bed. If you don’t want to till and nourish the soil you’ve got—or if you have a bad back and would rather not be bending down so low to garden—you can build a raised planting bed with non-pressure-treated wood. Go to thegardenhelper.com to find out how.





.Contact your local cooperative extension service. You’ll need help determining what plants will grow in your part of the country (hint: Lemon trees don’t grow in Maine), when frosts are likely to hit, and the ideal time to plant and harvest. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a network of cooperative extension services dedicated to providing that information. Go to usda.gov to find the one closest to you.








.Write down your preferences. For a vegetable garden, think about what you like to eat and what you generally buy (or can’t buy) at a local farmers’ market. With flowers, make a list of the colors you love and what you’d like to see in a vase on your kitchen table.








.Make a seasonal plan. Once you determine what will grow, what you like, and what time of year certain plants will flourish, you need to create a schedule. If your flowering plants all bloom in July and then die off, have some evergreen plants to keep the area looking lush. If your tomato plants take months to get big, plant smaller vegetables nearby that can make quick use of the space. Again, a local gardening center can help you plan.





.Buy some basic tools. Have these essentials on hand before you begin: spade; garden fork; soaking hose; hoe; hand weeder; and a basket for moving around mulch or soil. "

Misc Home furnishings.

There is a wall that in the new house that I think could use some lighting(considering the low lit area). Now I probably couldn't get this anytime soon, but its nice to know where I can find it.






-Wouldn't it be fun to make photo sketches and then mount them over the glass top..so that the light shows thru the sketches and still have lighting?!?!?! I have NO IDEA where that came from..but seriously a cool idea.-






This is obviously not and inside light b/c of the solar energy it needs...so instead these would be perfect for those bbq nights outside hanging from the porch. ah, i lOVE it!




SOLIG-solar powered lights$ 10







SULTAN fidjetun memory foam mattress: twin
For just 179$ we can get a simple, flat, safe, spring-free, firm mattress for our growing girl. Firmest is best for backs, believe it or not. This will come in handy within the next month when she FINALLY converts to a "big girl" bed. Yay!

sometimes cheapest is best. And in this case, a simple bookcase to go into a childs playroom/bedroom is just the thing. No need to be elaborate...i just need the job done well.



I figured a bookshelf. Because not only can i place baskets inside for organization down below...but also I can put cute pieces up top: momentums-breakables-pictures-you name it.

Thats sounds good right? And once again, iKea is gonna come thru for me.
And then Im going to have fun with it and do something like this!

Probably just the backboards...but who know, i might feel up to it.