I'm a hoarder, a pack-rat, a keeper, a collector.. you get the picture. I am also over making any resolutions to bring in the New Year. I know it seems a bit sacrilegious, but I believe that every time I make a resolution, it sets me up for failure.
This year, I think I will make decisions. I have already decided that I am going forward with my own Occasional Shop. I am planning and collecting, but not stressing out over it. I am eating healthier and thinking about my choices. I'm going to try to exercise, even if it is only once a week. And last, but not least, I am going to use what I have. I have collected so many beautiful things and this year, I am going to create new with the old. I am determined to showcase my fantastic finds.
Stay tuned for my before and afters. Nothing will cost much, and will be created mostly from items that you probably have in your house. I will do some tutorials, but most of the projects will probably be self-explanatory.
Welcome 2010! It's gonna be our year!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Expresso Martinis and Me
I love Expresso Martinis. As a matter of fact, I have sipped three of them this evening. Here is the recipe:
2 ounces coffee liquor
1 ounce cream de cacao
1 ounce vanilla or expresso vodka
Pour it into a shaker with some crushed ice. Shake. Pour. Sip.
Or, if you prefer, shake without the crushed ice. Pour. Add funky ice cubes. Sip.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
It's the Most Wonderful Time!
We completed our peace sign ornament project, and I have to say that it turned out fabulous! 
Our tree is exactly as I dreamed it would be.I try to purchase most of my ornaments at garage sales, thrift shops and dollar stores.
We also have special ornaments that are given to us every year, and some Santa decor that my daughter loves. I usually put out some smaller trees in galvanized buckets. This year I acquired a large library table from my Grandma, so I decided to work up an entire display in our dining room. I think my favorite part is the layered buttons in the jar. All of the jars and vases were purchased at garage sales and thrift shops. I got the idea from one of my favorite catalogs. (The one I am too thrifty to order from..)
I try to some up with a different color scheme or theme every year. I found a beautiful idea for next years' tree, and I can't wait until the after Christmas Sales to start collecting ornaments! This tree was blogged at Funky Junk Interiors - I love the natural-ness of it!
Our tree is exactly as I dreamed it would be.I try to purchase most of my ornaments at garage sales, thrift shops and dollar stores.
We also have special ornaments that are given to us every year, and some Santa decor that my daughter loves. I usually put out some smaller trees in galvanized buckets. This year I acquired a large library table from my Grandma, so I decided to work up an entire display in our dining room. I think my favorite part is the layered buttons in the jar. All of the jars and vases were purchased at garage sales and thrift shops. I got the idea from one of my favorite catalogs. (The one I am too thrifty to order from..)
I try to some up with a different color scheme or theme every year. I found a beautiful idea for next years' tree, and I can't wait until the after Christmas Sales to start collecting ornaments! This tree was blogged at Funky Junk Interiors - I love the natural-ness of it!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Dear Crap I've Made. I love you.
So I spend a lot of time scanning around other peoples' blogs to see their designs and ideas. Many times I will look at everyone's favorite things and this is how I came to Crap I've Made. The first thing that got me was the sweet name. Let's face it, we all make a ton of crap. Myself included. But then... I spotted it... the crap that I have been frothing over in the Pottery Barn catalog.. the Peace Sign Christmas Tree. Ah, yes I wanted it bad. Alas, I am thrifty, frugal, cheap.(Whatever you want to call it.) Needless to say, I signed on as a follower of the blog and set right to work on the prep work to prepare the goods.
Crap I've Made has an awesome tutorial, so I will not re-invent the wheel. We dumped glitter in a container and put the glued-up ornament in and shook it around, rather than sprinkle. We are going to attach ours to some funky garland that was purchased at the dollar store. We also used the Sizzix machine to cut out the word "peace" from the scraps. We had to use the small templates, so we will see how they turn out.
Crap I've Made has an awesome tutorial, so I will not re-invent the wheel. We dumped glitter in a container and put the glued-up ornament in and shook it around, rather than sprinkle. We are going to attach ours to some funky garland that was purchased at the dollar store. We also used the Sizzix machine to cut out the word "peace" from the scraps. We had to use the small templates, so we will see how they turn out.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thanks-giving
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is coming to close and I am preparing to return to work tomorrow (blah). We had a great weekend and I am looking forward to the Christmas season. I started to get out some of the decorations today, and I am starting to feel the spirit of the season.
I am not a Black Friday shopper, and I think it stems from working in retail for so many years. I spent many holiday seasons heading to the mall at 5 AM to open up shop at 6 AM. I also find that people are mean and unpleasant. I hate that. Yes, it sure is nice to get the super deal, but is it really worth being nasty? Not to me. That is no way to start the holiday of comfort and joy. I did stop by a couple of local stores to pick up items for gift bags, but there were no lines and no one pushing me out of their way. Again, another reason to shop local places whenever you can!
I am not a Black Friday shopper, and I think it stems from working in retail for so many years. I spent many holiday seasons heading to the mall at 5 AM to open up shop at 6 AM. I also find that people are mean and unpleasant. I hate that. Yes, it sure is nice to get the super deal, but is it really worth being nasty? Not to me. That is no way to start the holiday of comfort and joy. I did stop by a couple of local stores to pick up items for gift bags, but there were no lines and no one pushing me out of their way. Again, another reason to shop local places whenever you can!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Sushi Roll
MMMM! I love sushi, but here in the heart of the Allegheny National Forest we don't have too many local places that serve it up. And it was for that reason that I taught myself how to make a roll or two.
It is a bit hard to get started, and takes some trial and error to get it right. The most important thing to master is the rice. There are many ways cook the sushi rice, although most sushi-masters frown upon using a steamer and recommend the pan method. After the rice is cooked, you will stir in a mixture of rice vinegar and sugar. Recipes and instructions for the rice and vinegar/sugar can be found online or on the packaging of the rice. Be prepared to throw away a few batches of rice.
My favorite sushi is salmon. I also love smoked trout and shrimp tempura, which has crunchy tempura flakes rolled in. DO NOT compromise on the quality of your ingredients. Nothing ruins a food you love like a trip to the ER with salmonella poisoning.
Before getting started, gather all of the ingredients and supplies.
Here I have the rice, tuna and salmon, sliced green onion tops, avacado, and nori seaweed wraps. I also have a bamboo rolling mat and paddle. The nori wraps are available in dried sheets in the ethnic section of supermarkets. You will see that my avacado has some brown spots on it. I love avacado, but you have to use it fairly quickly or it gets soft and mushy. I had to cut around to get a few good slices.
Put a nori sheet on the bamboo mat. The mat is sometimes hard to get used to and slides around. Spread an even layer of rice on the nori. I try to use the bamboo paddle as much as possible because the rice should be very sticky and it is hard to work with rice on your fingers.
Lay out your center ingredients on the nori. For this roll I used salmon, green onion tops, and avacado. Again, my avacado could look better...
There are endless combinations for sushi. If you are not a fan of seafood, you can make a vegetable roll which is commonly referred to as a California Roll. One of my favorite local restaurants, Forte, offers a Sweet Potato Roll that is out of this world.
Start to roll the nori. Take your time.
After you get to the end of the roll, you can wrap the bamboo mat around the roll. Then roll the whole combination to tighten the roll up and make it round. This is an extra step I do, and can be omitted if you prefer. After you are satisfied with the roll, slice it with a sharp knife.
And there you have it! Add some soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger. I like to refer to this as "The Most Perfect Friday Night Date Ever.."
P.S. The wine is one of my favorites, Clarion River Red. It is available at a local winery, The Winery at Wilcox.
It is a bit hard to get started, and takes some trial and error to get it right. The most important thing to master is the rice. There are many ways cook the sushi rice, although most sushi-masters frown upon using a steamer and recommend the pan method. After the rice is cooked, you will stir in a mixture of rice vinegar and sugar. Recipes and instructions for the rice and vinegar/sugar can be found online or on the packaging of the rice. Be prepared to throw away a few batches of rice.
My favorite sushi is salmon. I also love smoked trout and shrimp tempura, which has crunchy tempura flakes rolled in. DO NOT compromise on the quality of your ingredients. Nothing ruins a food you love like a trip to the ER with salmonella poisoning.
Before getting started, gather all of the ingredients and supplies.
Here I have the rice, tuna and salmon, sliced green onion tops, avacado, and nori seaweed wraps. I also have a bamboo rolling mat and paddle. The nori wraps are available in dried sheets in the ethnic section of supermarkets. You will see that my avacado has some brown spots on it. I love avacado, but you have to use it fairly quickly or it gets soft and mushy. I had to cut around to get a few good slices. Put a nori sheet on the bamboo mat. The mat is sometimes hard to get used to and slides around. Spread an even layer of rice on the nori. I try to use the bamboo paddle as much as possible because the rice should be very sticky and it is hard to work with rice on your fingers.
Lay out your center ingredients on the nori. For this roll I used salmon, green onion tops, and avacado. Again, my avacado could look better...
There are endless combinations for sushi. If you are not a fan of seafood, you can make a vegetable roll which is commonly referred to as a California Roll. One of my favorite local restaurants, Forte, offers a Sweet Potato Roll that is out of this world. Start to roll the nori. Take your time.
After you get to the end of the roll, you can wrap the bamboo mat around the roll. Then roll the whole combination to tighten the roll up and make it round. This is an extra step I do, and can be omitted if you prefer. After you are satisfied with the roll, slice it with a sharp knife.
And there you have it! Add some soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger. I like to refer to this as "The Most Perfect Friday Night Date Ever.."
P.S. The wine is one of my favorites, Clarion River Red. It is available at a local winery, The Winery at Wilcox.
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