Bensonstreet

A Kick in the Talking Glove

2011-08-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

Shameful at it is to make this admission, I feel that I must tell on myself before we go any further. I fed my family Boxed Pasta Meal Just Add Beef last week. And the week before that we had pizza. Not homemade. The call-and-order-and-pick-up-after-work kind of pizza. It seems that we have been on an endless roller coaster of crappy food and over processed mixes. Shameful, because I know better.

About the BPMJAB - there was a time in my culinary life that I was ecstatic to find boxes of cheese flavored sodium with pasta on sale for $1. How great was that? Cheap mix, cheap burger, some milk and in less than 20 minutes you have a feast fit for a king. Or at least fit for a little white talking glove. For the record, I have never ever liked BPMJAB or Goulash. The rest of the family will eat it and not complain. Bleech.

I am a huge fan of the gawkerverse - foodgawker.com, dwellinggawker.com and craftgawker.com are my favorites. (There is also a weddinggawker.com but I don’t spend too much time there.) In an attempt to stop turning us into gastrointestinal garbage pits, I started to search for recipes the met the following qualifications:

1. Must be quick - I don’t have a lot of time after work, and even less if we are traveling to games or meetings. By quick I mean it should be ready to eat within an hour (if we are home for the night) or ready to be heated and eaten NOW (if we are on the road).
2. Must be able to get the damn ingredients - we have all found scrumptious-looking recipes that call for seasoning made from berries grown in the depths of a rainforest seen only by explorers who mysteriously disappeared…you get the picture.
3. Must use REAL ingredients. This is a new standard for me. I am cooking with more vegetables, better meats and making healthier substitutions for ingredients such as oil and margarine.
4. Must have flavor. Nothing is worse than spending time and money preparing something that you think is going to be revolutionary and being disappointed when the first bite tastes like you rubbed it with the dust in the vacuum canister.

It is always quicker to prepare as much as you can the night before. Since I planned out most of my week, I knew ahead of time what vegetables I needed cut for the next day and which meat needed trimmed, prepped or marinated. My menu looked like this:

Monday - Sweet & Sour Chicken with Brown Rice
Tuesday - Stuffed Shells with Garlic Bread
Wednesday - Onion & Pepper Smothered Round Steak with Noodles
Thursday - Chicken Cordon Bleu with Mashed Cauliflower
Friday - Leftovers or Stromboli

It’s getting that time of year when everyone has an abundant garden and is willing to share {zucchini} produce. Farmers Markets are in full swing and many grocery stores are featuring local produce. If I have said it a million times, I will say it a million more - BUY LOCAL!

Monday went off without a hitch. I had prepared the veggies and chunked the chicken the evening before. I used a recipe from LiveLovePasta.com a snappy blog that posts a new recipe Monday through Friday. The recipes are simple but not bland and are written step-by-step but are by no means labor intensive or confusing. The Sweet & Sour Chicken Recipe was by far the tastiest Chinese dish I have ever made.

I only posted a pic of my finished product - you can check out more pictures of the recipe by following the link above. All of the recipes on LiveLovePasta are categorized so you can easily find a number of quick and delicious ideas.

Stay tuned - I'll be back with more. I'm a little behind on time with my posting but I can assure you that the Wednesday meal was a winner!

I'm Sick of this Shit.

2011-07-26T17:31:00.000-07:00

Yes. I went ahead and said it.
I am Sick. of. Shit.
Don't get me wrong. I have a shit-ton of stuff to be thankful for, and I can appreciate what I have.

But I am out of time. I want to do a ka-billion things and my time is limited. It annoys me. While I can appreciate the fact that I have a comfy office job within a pleasant environment, it drives me bat-shit crazy to think about all of the things I could be accomplishing if I didn't spend my day getting paid by someone else. Top off these 8 wasted day-light hours with family obligations, cooking/cleaning, and just general exhaustion..and well, you get just about nothing.

For shits and giggles, I will make a list of some things I would do that would not cost me any cash. Because if I had all day, I probably would be a bit short on money.

Clean the basement. It smells like mold, must, and dirt. It's gross.

Vacuum the dead lady bugs that have been in the corner of my bedroom for um..about 7 years now.

Use the paint that I have bought for miscellaneous projects that never got started because I haven't had time.

Laundry. And then I would hang it out to dry.

Sew something. Knit something. Paint something. Yes, I have all of the materials for said projects. I just don't have the time.

Plan meals. I love cooking and baking. But since I have no time to plan, I end up throwing shit together at the last minute and we eat in front of the television. It sucks, although I am reaaallly good at Cash Cab.

Wash my windows. Which would look awesome after I painted the outside trim (See #3), washed the curtains (See #4) and repaired or made new accessories (See #5).

Blog the shit out of my Blog. Get followers. Get famous by blogging about all of the great shit I do now that I have time (See all of the above).

Research and write some articles for submission. Practice up to write a book and pick a couple main ideas to play around with.

Clean and organize my closet. I have a lot of nice clothes, shoes and accessories that are piled everywhere. Sometimes I can't wear something because it is so wrinkled from laying in a pile on the floor.

Rest. In my bed that would get made every day, on my pillows that would be fluffed every day.

Ah. Dreams. How do some people do it? Have I spread myself too thin or do I just totally suck at time management? Sometimes I think that I wouldn't be so annoyed with my job if I could just catch up a little bit at home. I would love some input on this subject - what works for you?

It's a Shirt! It's a Dress!

2011-06-14T19:12:00.000-07:00

I love Shirt-Dresses. Perhaps it is just the idea of using two clothing pieces together, intertwined and stitched into a marriage of one perfect piece. Okay, maybe I am getting a bit goofy sentimental here about clothing.

I have been a Manic Clothes Collector for as long as I can remember. And I'm cheap. That may be the wrong word - I am thrifty. I scour clearance racks, second-hand stores and garage sales looking for the most bang for my buck. I almost always find what I want, and I always find something I need.

I just lost 18 pounds. (Within the last 5 months, not since the beginning of this post.) Oddly enough, I am still about the same number size but for some reason things just fit me better. I'm okay with the fact that I will most likely be a size 14 for the remainder of my fashionable life as long as I am not packed into my Capris like a hooker in hot pink spandex. Laugh. You've all seen it. And it ain't pretty.

Ya know, Marilyn Monroe was a 14. I assume that I have been put on this earth as her Bombshell Double. I just wish I could pull off the platinum hair.

Back to the Shirt Dress - the Star of today's post. I have tried on Shirt Dresses before and I just couldn't find one that I was comfortable in. FYI - by comfortable I mean sassy. I'm not picky about my clothing. I prefer for the buttons not to blow off in the middle of the day or for the zipper to leave a permanent skin lesion..although I can suffer through quite a bit of discomfort to get to sassy. So I want to look similar to this:

"Why yes major catalog model who was discovered shoveling fish eggs at the hatchery - I do think the Shirt-Dress makes you look at little hip-py. Hmmm." Blahahahahaha! Whew. Anyway, I found this super cute shirt dress at the Goodwill. I tried it on and Halll-e-looo-ya! the buttons weren't straining and it laid smoothly over my ass (which, incidentally can be mistaken for a shelf..)

My accessories included an oober-cool vintage belt that I picked up at an estate sale, new shoes brought home from the same Goodwill shopping trip as that produced the Shirt Dress, clearance earrings (I think $2?) and a pair of my glasses. I have several pairs of glasses. That will have to be another story, another day. So let's see:

Dress: $4.99
Shoes: $4.99
Purse: $3.99
Actually $2.50 each for the dress/shoes, and $1.50 for the purse (not shown) because I had filled my punch card and got 50% off my total purchase..Yesssss....
Earrings: $2
Belt: $1
Grand Total: $9.50

Fab-u-lous.

BBB - Bad, Bad Blogger

2011-06-12T18:34:00.000-07:00

I have not blogged for exactly one month. Shameful and unacceptable. I'm going to start this week off with a fresh 5 favorites, with the hope that I can get on a bat-shit crazy blogging streak.

1. Shoppin' at the Goodwill. I love a good bargain. Yesterday, I went shopping with a friend and got a HUGE shopping basket full of name-brand clothes for..wait for it..$140! Oh!Oh! It gets better than that even. I had filled my Goodwill punch card (one punch for every $10!) so I only paid $69. I am thinking that I will post up some of my super sweet, super cheap outfits here in the future.

2. Music in the Park. As I have said before, I am fortunate to live in an area that appreciates our local artists and the beauty of the City. This is a regular Friday night happening in our City, and as you can by the schedule, there is a wide variety of music. Mardi Gras and the Wellness Cafe and Coffee Shop had tables set outside for dinners. The stores were open and people were about. It was amazing!

3. Wildtree. All natural products. Do you cringe when you hear that? Cringe no more my friends, these products are tasteeeeeee. My sister and I were strolling at the Allegheny Burger Festival and we happened upon the booth of our local representative and helped ourselves to a little samplin'. Yummm-o! Which brings me to my next favorite:

4. Grilling! Tonight I made hot sausage from Palumbos Meat Market, Fiesta Lime Shrimp Skewers from Schwans, chicken breast with Wildtree California Style Garlic Pepper Blend, and peppers and portabella mushrooms tossed in Wildtree Roasted Tomatillo Sauce. I sprinkled the pepper blend with a smidge of Parmesan cheese on the chicken breast and even my 14 year-old daughter told me it was delicious!

5. It was hard to choose my last favorite, but I have got to give it up to the SUN. We had months and months of rain here in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Prior to that, we had months and months of snow. We've gotten lucky, and it appears that we will actually have some summer here. That being said, my heart and prayers go out to communities that have been devastated by severe weather. Please, please, please if you have the means - try to help the people in the United States who have been affected. Charity starts at home.

Whew! It always takes longer than I expect to tell you about my faves. But I have to tell you how much enjoyment I have gotten out of our pathetic troupe of newsy politicians lately.. Wieners' Wiener has kept me going allll week. Here are just a few of my Facebook comments:

* If your last name is Wiener, I suggest that you not send pics of Mr. Wiener's Wiener. As if the abuse you undoubtedly took in elementary school wasn't enough, you decide that politics is your calling. Let me ask, if you run for President, will your Wiener be your running mate? I mean, you obviously belong to the same party..

* Dear Sara Palin - Shut up. Congrats on your unsuccessful run for the White House. Whatever. You're not doing women any favors by pimping out your teen daughter/mother, fishing on reality TV, or showing us how truly stupid you are by trying ...to blackball Paul Revere - who coincidentally isn't even here to defend himself. (Unlike the aforementioned Mr. Wiener) Go back to Alaska, get under your taxpayer purchased bear skin rug, and stay there. Quietly.

* If the rumor is true and Florida really is making Welfare recipients take drug tests let me get an A-MEN! Guess what? I had to piss in a cup to get a job that is allowing me to support your lazy ass, so I should be able to demand that you ...piss in a cup to collect my money. There is a whole list of things I should be able to demand (birth control sounds like another great idea), but for now I will just be happy knowing that there is just one more step in the process of making your life a little harder.

And then I continued on. Just because I can..

* Because I was so enthralled by Wiener's Wiener, I foolishly left out our favorite celebrity Governor yesterday. Yes - the Terminator, who apparently forgot that in order not to impregnate the Housekeeper you must terminate the flow of sperm... to the egg. This can be done by terminating the life of said sperm within a condom, terminating the act before the sperm can exit the building, or - here's a great idea - terminate banging the help unless you are married to them. Makes you wonder if John Edwards, Arnold, and Bill Clinton have a clubhouse where there sneak cigars and practice saying "I'll be back" in their best washed-up-movie-star-disgraced-public-figure voice.

* Ah Delta Airlines. Maybe you were the only airline that got caught charging returning service-people stupid amounts, but the fact stands that you have been called out - and shame, shame, shame on you. Next time you need to send a plane up, please make sure you deposit your $3000 fee for safe air space. Because I am pretty sure that safe space wasn't free.

And yes. There is more were that came from. But I have to go to bed now.

Hummus is so Yummus

2011-05-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

Yummus really is a word. I am not kidding. I was slightly concerned that you would not be able to sleep at night without knowing for sure, so I went ahead and Googled it for you. Turns out that yummus is in the Urban Dictionary, and means "To describe a lovely taste or enjoyable food." Obviously. That is why it is the most perfect word to describe hummus.

I love hummus. I love it on chips. I love it on celery and carrots. I love it on sandwiches and wraps.

I was buying a lovely organic hummus from the specialty-cheese-island at my local grocery, but once it was gone it appeared that the specialty-cheese-island-reorder-guy either forgot about it or had been promoted to the pyramid-of-soup-display-guy. Anywho, I found hummus in the produce section with the overpriced, over processed salad dressings. It was eh, okay. The time had come to make my own hummus.

There are a ka-billion hummus recipes and variations. I did a little Googling and came up with this Spinach Hummus Recipe on about.com.

I doubled the recipe and added some cayenne pepper. I found that I added too much garlic (which is surprising, since I love garlic) and not enough cayenne. The lesson here is: Add the extra ingredients sparingly..you can add more later, but you can't take it away once it is blended. I also disregarded the direction to put this in, blend. Put that in. Blend. I just threw it all in the processor and let 'er rip.

You will need to add water as you go, and stir the pot a bit since the hummus is quite thick. I made a double batch, which turned out to be quite a bit of hummus. Next time I will probably make a single batch and experiment with different ingredients such as sun-dried tomatoes and chives.

So here's my finished product - it has the green tint because of the spinach, and any ingredient with natural pigment will usually color the hummus, as chick peas are pretty bland aesthetically. Make sure you stir it up a bit before transferring the hummus to another container. You want to continue mixing until you no longer have any whole or half-peas left.

Keep the hummus in the fridge - and close at hand for emergency dipping. You can also check out some of my other FranticFoodieTutorials - Expresso Martinis, Sushi, Guacamole, and Tiramisu.

The Hawaii and Siberia Dilemna

2011-05-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

Since I am spending the day in the hospital waiting room, I thought perhaps it would be a good time to categorize my great ideas into Good, Better, and Best (known hereafter as GBB.). Or maybe I will make a list of everything I need to get done. Nope. I think I will stick with GBB. Then I will make the to-do list to accompany the GBB.

My ideas of GBB may never materialize. I may spend the rest of my life arguing with my husband about the depth of my talents, my screaming need to just sit among my valuable goods, and how amazing our quality of life would be if he would just let me do what I want all day. And he will argue that I may never make any money (woop-de-doo), that I may hate having my shop full-time (doubtful), and that I already have a good full-time gig that is anything but miserable (whatev). Not to mention that he sincerely believes when I am not working, I sit around all day and think of things to talk him about. This, my friends, is simply not true.

Here are my visions of GBB:

1. Good - Keep the day gig forever, organize and focus my shit. Open the Occassional Shop in the storefront I already own. Start kicking ass on Etsy and other online options. Enter contests as time allows. Throw in a few festivals here and there. Reevaluate in 1 year.
2. Better - Keep the day gig for a specified number of years. Open the Occassional Shop in the storefront I already own. Start kicking ass on Etsy and other online options. Start envisioning and planning for bigger, better storefront downtown. Enter contests as time allows. Throw in a few festivals here and there. Reevaluate yearly. Plan to leave day gig in specified number of years.
3. Best - Plan 3 simutaneous business openings: Eclectic Boutique, sushi restaurant, and natural grocery. As mentioned in previous post, I have already chosen locations, configured storefronts and interior design, developed menus and inventory. Do this ASAP.

As you can see, my Best is a bit lofty if not manic.. but wouldn't it be great!

Here are my husbands visions of GBB:

1. Good - Option #1 above, with a strong emphasis on keeping the day gig forever.
2. Best - Stop whining, go to work like everyone else. Bring home paycheck.

And as you can see here, out visions of GBB really are not really the same. As a matter of fact, they are pretty far apart. Like Hawaii and Siberia apart.

I prefer to see myself as Hawaii - fun, warm, inviting. People want to come to me, experience my aura, fall in love with my landscape. By landscape I mean inventory. I know what you were thinking. Perverts.
My husband is Siberia - cold, artistically distant, with far too many Soviet-style rules for a Hawaii to follow. Keep in mind I am talking about my business ideas, not our life in general. No need to call any husband control agancies.

So while I am struggling to make my way creatively while living life (insert Mary Tyler Moore theme song here) I also have to figure out a way to end the Cold War of Creativity with Siberia. The thought has crossed my mind to make something and then just say I sold it for a ridiculous sum of money. Alas, I don't want to start out KGB style and there are already looming doubts about my abiliities.

I am going to need to continue to over-think this. Please feel free to share your thoughts, comments, and suggestions below.

2011-05-10T09:29:00.001-07:00

Have you ever had one of those months that suddenly isn't there anymore? That's how April was for me. I was appalled when I realized that it had been weeks since my last post - even though I have so many awesome things to share. Not to mention I totally let myself down on my pledge to post 3 times per week. It seems as though time eludes me in a sneaky, selfish way.

April showers were ridiculously understated in Northwestern Pennsylvania. We endured days of rain. Light rain, hard rain, sleet, rising rivers and creeks, above normal output from the Kinzua Dam..you get the picture. We are fortunate that there was no catastrophic flooding or damage, and we pray for those who lost loved ones and livelihoods in the Midwest.

Alas, the sun has appeared and it looks as though Spring may be on the horizon. I have been blessed with many great experiences this season. I have reconnected with several old friends, and made new friends in the process. I have participated in some fund-raising that was extremely successful for local organizations. I have started to narrow down my life, started to take stock and inventory not only of my stuff, but of who I am and what I want. This last step is much easier said than done.

For example, how do you know what you want to do for the remainder of your life? Obviously I didn't know before, so how can I possibly have a clue now? I juggle grand ideas back and forth in my fickle mind - what I perceive as a fabulous idea usually is not what my husband (affectionately called 'The Voice of Reason' by several of my friends) has in mind as a blockbuster plan.

So I struggle and become frustrated. I cry. I think of every opportunity under the sun that I believe I could morph into a successful business. I frequently scope out storefronts, inventory options, and run through floor settings in my head. I plan window displays. I Google the shit out of anything that crosses my mind.

Other days I am glad I have my day gig, because it enables me to travel and spend money on stupid things that I don't really need; it allows me to usually give into our teenage daughter when she "NEEDS" just one more thing. I don't work at night. I don't work weekends. I have paid vacation.

But I feel creatively stifled and envious of others who have just gone balls out and went for it. I am annoyed that I sit at my desk during the good daylight hours, when I could be creating something fabulous that the world most certainly needs.

My sister once said to me - "I know you can do awesome things, but I have never actually seen a finished project." She's right. I'm a freaking mess with piles of great ideas eating away at my creative soul. I can't finish anything - simply because I start, get called away for something 'important' (Mom! The cat puked..Ang! There are no socks in my drawer..) and the distractions will snowball from that point. And then there are the everydays - dinner, laundry, ball practice; the list is endless and there is no one, and I mean no one (insert sarcasm there) that can do the skilled family labor that I do.

The flower beds I dug up a few weeks ago have now re-seeded themselves and started to grow again. The studio room I waited years for has sat empty for a month. I look at a living room curtain that has a water stain from a leaky roof during a thaw this winter. I just can't seem to get the gumption to take the damn thing down and wash it.

Where is my new Spring beginning? You know, the one where the sky opens up and everything seems so clear and obvious?

Perhaps it got washed away in the Pennsylvania rain.

Super Sweet Week = Super Sweet Five Favorites

2011-04-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

I truly had had an awesome week. I ran my first 5k in beautiful Cooks Forest Pennsylvania, I was able to participate in a benefit for some great friends, and I was humbly reminded of all the wonderful things that surround me. So without further ado, here are my 5 favorite things this weekend:

1. Fifth Avenue Cake Works. Want an artistically, original sweet work of art? Call Fifth Avenue. Locally owned (YAY!) by Jennifer Shepard Werth, Fifth Avenue can create pretty much anything you want out. Some of my favorites? The Rubber Duckies and the Fresh Berries with White Chocolate Icing Cake.

2. Hog Wild BBQ Company. If you think tasty barbecue is a Southern thing, think again. Locally owned (YAY!) by Dean Wells, Hog Wild can cook it up and serve it on a platta baby! Last night we feasted on Mojo Pork sandwiches with sides of sweet slaw and beans. Not only was the pork a-maz-ing, I like to say the word Mojo. Mojo. Mojo. Hog Wild caters for any size party and there are frequently specialty items available.

3. Touch of Tranquility Salon and Day Spa. Love love love this spa! Another great locally owned (YAY!) business, Tranquility is a gorgeous oasis tucked along the Conewango Creek in North Warren. As soon as you walk in the door you know you are in a fabulous place. The staff is extremely professional and helpful. The decor is to die for. Calm. Beautiful. Tranquil. In addition to spa and beauty services, Tranquility also carries Sorme' make-up, OPI nail polishes, Eufora Hair Products, and Miche' handbags and accessories.

4. Running rEVOLUTION. I ran my first 5K yesterday. It's a pretty big accomplishment for me since a couple of months ago I was 20 pounds heavier and a complete couch spud. Did I like it? Not while I was running it. As a matter of fact, I hated the whole 3.2 miles. But once I finished I had a whole new sense of accomplishment. I would have never even considered trying the 5K had it not been for the confidence that I have gained as part of the Running rEVOLUTION.

5. Progress. Sometimes we get a little impatient. As I have said before we often catch some flak for living in Warren, Pennsylvania. There are a lot of us who are in it for the long haul, myself and my family being among that group. Within the last few months, I have gained a new appreciation for our little city. We have some great new stores and so many talented entrepreneurs who are working diligently to make us a better place. Warren is building a super support system within our Main Street Program, Shop Warren County First, Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry, and GRO-Warren. Buy local - you will never be disappointed and every transaction helps move our little city toward bigger and better!

The Sisterhood of the Pink Running Buff

2011-04-02T06:04:00.001-07:00

Last month I joined the Running rEVOLUTION. Today I am running my very first 5K.

We're a pretty elite group, those of us in the Running rEVOLUTION. We're all different - different fitness levels, different goals, different personal situations. But we're all the same. As I sit here telling you about us, I get a little teary-eyed. I think about heaving myself around the block, thinking that I can't possibly make it another stride. I think about the shin-splints and the Northwestern Pennsylvania wind ripping at my face and ears. Then I remember that sound. You can hear it all over town when we run together. It is the sound of encouragement, love, and friendship. It's the sound of our elite group cheering each other on, the whoops! the hollas! the GO! YOU CAN DO IT! the clapping and the high fives. It's like the Heavens have opened up and the running angels are giving us a shove to the finish.

During our first meeting, we were all given hot pink buffs to wear. I suppose it was mainly for identification purposes, but this little piece of fabric symbolizes so much more for me now.

I tried 'running' before, a few minutes here and there on the treadmill. I was not athletic in high school - remember the scene from Sixteen Candles where Andie and her friend were in gym class smoking a cigarette? Yep. That was me. (Perhaps not so movie-like, but you understand)

When I am wearing my pink buff, I am pretty sure I could run from coast to coast. I can hear my 300 rEVOLUTION cheerleaders. Who would have thought that a stretchy little piece of fabric could mean so much and be so inspirational? I guess Linus was on to something after all..

I am leaving in a few minutes for the Cooks Forest 5K. Thanks to my girls in the Sisterhood of the Pink Running Buff for the encouragement and inspiration. And for choosing such a hot color.

BleckBlahPooPoo

2011-03-30T18:08:00.001-07:00

Please stand by while my brain and time management skills experience technical difficulties.

I have not Blogged in 10 days. Shameful. Especially since I committed myself to at least three times per week.

I want to promise you that I will be back next week with 5 new favorites - really, really good ones - and a few sweet posts that I have up my sleeve. AND! Next weekend is a RoadTrip weekend and you can always expect good things from those.

So my friends, keep following me. Tell your friends snd neighbors. Sign your dog in. Whatever. Just stay tuned.

The Moment You Wait for..

2011-03-20T19:20:00.001-07:00

5 of my favorite things this weekend.

1. Chapman State Park.In case you haven't noticed, I am a HUGE fan of our area and have started to utilize it to the fullest. I have been hiking at Chapman State Park for two years and I love it more every time. (It also helps that the Park is 5 miles from our home.) There are over 12 miles of trails within the Park, and Chapman also serves as a trail head for several other trails in the Allegheny National Forest. Over the past couple of years, the campground has been refurbished and now has hot showers and dressing areas. There are two yurts and three rustic cabins available for rental or you can bring your own set-up. For those looking for more privacy, there are also primitive camping sites that you have to hike to.

2. Mango Fruit. Tonight I made black bean burgers from scratch. They were pretty good, but next time I will put some of my own flair in - they seemed a bit dry/slightly bland. Anyway, the recipe included a mango salsa (probably because the burgers are dry..) The salsa was delicious and while I was Google-ing I found another recipe for grilled salmon with mango salsa.

3. Almond Milk. Another change that I have made on my nutrition plan is to switch from skim milk to almond milk. It is so smooth and rich. Almond milk is non-dairy, so if you are lactose intolerant you should try this option.

4. The first day of Spring. It's kind of an oxymoron here in Northwestern Pennsylvania to have the first day of Spring in the calendar month of March. As I am typing this, I am listening to freezing rain pelt my windows. Alas, there is something about the word 'Spring' printed on the calendar - sort of like a contract with Mother Nature in black and white.

5. Burt's Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion. "Make your toes tingle" so says the description. Burt's Bees products are 100% natural, packaged in environmentally friendly packaging, and they darn well work! The Peppermint Foot Lotion does just what it says - tingles your toes. Sort of like a Peppermint Patty for your feet.

Spring Hike - Finally!

2011-03-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

After what seemed like the longest winter in history, I was able to get out and hike Chapman State Park for the first time this season. The park is about 5 miles from our home, so it is a convenient place to go for a work-out and to enjoy the scenery. You can find a map of the area and the trails online by following the above link. The are approximately 12 miles of trails within the park, and Chapman State Park serves as the trailhead to miles of additional paths.

I usually park at the first parking lot and begin at Penny Run. Penny Run is a fairly steep trail going up and right now it is still pretty mushy and there is a lot
of debris on the main path. If you are planning on hiking soon, you will want waterproof footwear and make sure that you are agile enough to go off the trail to dryer areas. Please use logical precautions - Don't go so far off the trail that you become lost, wear brightly colored clothes so that you can be easily spotted, and be sure to let someone know where you are going and what route you intend to hike. My daughter has accompanied me on this hike numerous times, so when I tell her I am hiking Penny Run, she can retrace my entire route.

Going down the other side of Penny run was a bit more challenging, as there are still large patches of snow and ice. The photo to the left is my favorite part of the Penny Run Trail - it is a natural water feature running alongside the path. The water running over the little dams and waterfalls is such peaceful sound. As you can see, the area still has quite a bit of snow and ice so it is imperative that you watch your steps to avoid falling.

Another great feature of the area is the old Railroad Bed that has been converted into a hiking trail. I don't have a link to the full map of the Railroad path, but it leads to several destinations including Hearts' Content Recreation Area. You can find Allegheny National Forest maps online, or stop at Allegheny Outfitters in downtown Warren for assistance in planning your route.

The Railroad trail leads to a swinging bridge that will take you acoss a nice inlet area of Chapman Dam. This is a popular fishing area, so if you decide to wade here make sure you wear water shoes to prevent a hook in the foot. Please be considerate of those who were utilizing the area before you - it is extremely rude to start a ruckus in the water where someone is fishing..

The trail surrounding the Railroad trail and the swinging bridge is called the Lowlands Trail. On the campground side of the Lake, this trail snakes through the wooded area close to the water and when in full bloom, this path is bursting with the most beautiful flora and fauna. Across the Swinging Bridge, the path comes out to a Forestry Road and leads to the Boat Launch, Organized Tent Camping Area, and Fishing Deck with Handicap access.

There are several trails on the western side of the Lake as well. The Warming Hut trail runs from the Boat Launch/Warming Hut area. It is an easy trail that is a distance away from the water and is a great hike for little ones. There is also Hunters' Ridge Trail, which I found to be the most challenging in the past but well worth the it - the forest is magical!

I took several pictures on my hike today - most are things that caught my eye. The natural beauty of the Allegheny National Forest is amazing. You can view the pictures from today here.

Best. Day. EVER.

2011-03-12T17:15:00.001-08:00

We get a lot of negative slack for living in Warren, Pennsylvania. I will admit, the small-city-tucked in the middle of the Allegheny National Forest living is not for everyone. That being said, I am a firm believer in "Life is what you make it". No matter where you are.

Today we spent the day downtown. If you are familiar with Warren you might say - "The whole day?! Again I will tell you that Life is what you make it. Warren is coming along in leaps and bounds. A majority of the store fronts are occupied and most with retail spaces. We have a beautiful streetscape project that compliments our historical buildings and the Allegheny River. Have we made it back to awesome yet? Not quite, but we are definitely on a roll.

So here's to Warren and our endless potential - my 5 favorite things this weekend.

1. Allegheny Outfitters. Grand Opening TODAY! The new shop at 430 Pennsylvania Avenue is not only beautiful, it is a warm and friendly place. You truly have to check out the website - the Allegheny Outfitters are the premier canoe and kayak rental/sales choice in the Allegheny National Forest and Allegheny River. The store has a large selection of camping, canoe, kayak, and outdoor equipment. As an added bonus there is also a huge map room where you can get assistance in planning a hike, camping trip or river adventure!

2. Allegheny Cyclery Right next door to Allegheny Outfitters is Allegheny Cyclery. This bike shop sports the coolest display rack I have ever seen -

Something about the rack of gleaming bicycles gave me a bit of Spring fever. The back of the shop housed an efficient repair area. (I use the word efficient because it looked well organized - like someone was ready to kick some repair butt.) We were greeted quickly and there were several other customers who were getting some pretty in-depth information. If you are in the market for a new bike or equipment, this is definitely the place to go.

3. The Crary Art Gallery. Have I mentioned how lucky we are? This art gallery is truly a gem. The Crary was opened in 1977 by Gene Crary with an exhibit honoring her late husband, Clare. Since its debut, the gallery has featured numerous artists and workshops. There is also a permanent collection that is exhibited. The current exhibit is watercolors by Catherine Hillis. Urban Country is described as "watercolors of the city and country." This was one of our favorite paintings that was on exhibit. It is titled 'West 50th Street Gershwins Way.'

In addition to the physical exhibit, there was also a slide show of other work by Catherine Hillis. This is my favorite painting from the slide show. It is titled 'Vino Bianco de la Casa.'

4. The Warren Public Library. Our public library has a beautiful balcony gallery that they often have art exhibits. Since we were on a cultural roll (and we needed to drop off our used toners for recycling) we decided to check out the current exhibit.

All of this artwork was created by students in the Warren County School District. Amazing talent! The work was from all age groups, and many of the pieces featured an "Artists' Statement." I have to admit, we enjoyed some of the statements by the younger artists as much as we enjoyed the artwork!

Please don't forget to recycle your used toner and printer cartridges. Not only can you save landfill space, the library benefits.

5. Author's Bookstore. It makes me giddy when I walk into a bookstore and the first section I see is labeled "Beat." This shop buys and sells books, music, and other cool trinkets. I have bought something every time I stop in.

And the added bonus here - One of the owners has made awesome paper sculptures of Poe, Hunter S. Thompson, and Twain. And sometimes they come alive..

6. Phase Two. Being a bit of a clothes-horse, I can never pass by a wonderfully set window! Phase Two is a great consignment shop that has everything - and I do mean everything! The shop is packed with fashionable shoes, clothes and accessories. My favorite thing? Julia, the owner, remembered me by the boots I was wearing. I bought them from her..

This picture was taken from the upper balcony of the store - the selection is phenomenal! And thanks Julia - for your business suggestions and encouragement about my future endeavors!

Can you hear that?

2011-03-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

It is the sound of my revving my engine. No, not the trusty Kia engine - my own personal physical wellness engine. March 8, 2011 I ran 1.5 miles. I have never, ever, ever ran that far. Not even in high school gym class.

My inspiration?

There are several. Let me start a few months back. At my yearly visit to the doc in August 2010, I weighed 180 pounds. I am 5'5. It didn't seem like I weighed that much (although I knew I did but refused to deal with it). Just so you know, that stupid chart in the exam rooms listed me as obese for my age, height, and weight. I did my normal whining that I just couldn't lose any weight no matter how hard I tried and damn my hypo-thyroid and I was so busy and blah. blah. blah. But then I had to answer the tough questions.

What are you eating? Whatever I can get my hands on.
How often are you eating? Constantly, whether I am hungry or not.
You're not a smoker, right? Not for 18 or so years. (At least I had that going for me..)
How many drinks do you have per week? Ugh. Well, how many can you get out of a bottle of wine? Times that by 7 days.
Are you doing any physical activity? Does getting out of bed in the morning count? Other than that, I go to the YMCA sporadically and expect to wake up looking like Gabby Reese.

You can see the pattern here. When you cannot pack your ass into any article of clothing that you own and feel comfortable and beautiful something tends to trip your trigger. Not to mention that I was not interested in enduring the barrage of medical testing that was looming in the event that I didn't lose something. I left the doctors' office with an appointment for February to check my progress.

I ate and drank my way through the holidays. I popped over to the Y occasionally, and went on mini-binges of eating oh-so-healthy for a couple of hours at a time. New Years came and went. The weight did not.

Finally, with the February appointment just a few weeks away, I decided that I needed help. I was not going to do this on my own and the constant reminders from my husband were just pissing me off. (He is very supportive but was tired of listening to me whine about my weight while I stood in front of him with a bottomless glass of wine and a chocolate chip cookie.) A friend of mine had been working with the Wellness Cafe for several months, and had given me a brochure to look at. I called and made an appointment.

I started the meal plan on January 31. To date, I have lost 16 pounds. My goal is 30 so I am half-way there. Perhaps the best part about the Wellness Cafe is that they expect you to learn about what you are putting into your body. I am not going to lie - the first week I cried at night because I was so hungry. I had to give up wine, soda, cupcakes, potato chips...pretty much everything I survived on. The Wellness Cafe provides my lunch, snack and dinner Monday through Friday. On the weekends I am on my own. The interesting thing about this whole process is that I have become an avid label reader and recipe researcher. We have weekly nutrition meetings and the amount of information I have learned is amazing.

At my initial consultation, I learned about the Running rEVOLUTION. Julie, one of the clean eating gurus at the Wellness Cafe, suggested that I give it a try because one of my goals was to be able to run a 5K. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had heard about this inspirational group of women but due to my fitness level and lack of motivation I had never checked it out. Thank God that I just sucked it up and sent in my registration.

Talk about auras and energy! The first rEVOLUTION meeting I was nearly frightened back to my car from the music jamming out the door and the gleam of smiling faces. I saw people I knew - people I never thought would be runners - but they were and they LOVE IT! We meet once a week for a presentation, information and then we break into groups to run. We have a training plan to work on independently throughout the week.

At the rEVOLUTION, we are not pushed. We are encouraged. Encouraged to be better, do better, to make new friends and be supportive of each other. The energy that comes from this gathering is phenomenal, and that may have been my incentive to keep running. I love that we are such a diverse group but we are all the same.

So on Tuesday, I figured I would run a couple blocks and then simmer down to a brisk walk. Once I got going, I just couldn't stop. I loved it! It wasn't nearly as painful as I remembered or anticipated. It was amazing.

What's my future? I don't know. I am proud that I have finally taken the time and initiative to find the support I need and taken control of my physical being. I feel like I am starting to heal the frustration, pain, and insecurity that has been plaguing me for the past several years. When I ran the 1.5 miles the other night, it felt like I was starting on a journey and there was nothing that could get in my way. What's that sound? It's my engine revving.

A Day Late and a Ka-Billion Dollars Short

2011-03-06T17:16:00.000-08:00

Keeping it simple this week -

5 of my favorite things this weekend.
1. AuctionZip.com. I love stuff. I love things I get for free, I love to scavange and dig through other people's junk. I love to garage sale, auction, and second hand store.. This site gives you listings of auction by distance from your point of orgin, state, or date. Most of the auctions have photos of the merchandise, and there are many that you can bid online.

2. My Kia Sedona. I wasn't sure how I felt about a mini-van when I started to drive it, but this van has been through it all. And I can haul just about anything with and/or in it. It comes in handy when I am trotting off to auctions.

3. Radio. Granted, being in the vortex of the Allegheny National Forest does limit our radio station options. (I think we have 3..or 4?) Regardless, I love it when you hear a song that takes you back and brings on some memories. On my Saturday Road Trip (to an auction in my Kia mini-van) I was reminded of a friend who has passed, a Hall and Oats concert that I went to with another friend, of rocking out to Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" album when I was 15, and my favorite AC/DC cassette, High Voltage, that I used to blare in my first car - 1980 banana yellow Chevrolet Monte Carlo. It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n' roll.

4. Craisens. Not only do I love to say "Craisens", these little treats are like candy. These little cranberries are sweet and not nearly as bland or dry as raisens.

5. Lipton Tea. I have learned a lot since going on my new meal plan - and tea is better than coffee. I love coffee. I have been able to limit my intake, and plan on giving up coffee as my Lenten sacrifice. I started switching to tea and so far Cranberry Pomegranate is my favorite. The Lipton site is very easy to navigate and informational - Lipton has a Commitment to Sustainability link that has a ton of good stuff to read about.

Tiramisu Tira-Tutorial

2011-03-02T09:19:00.001-08:00

One of my besties celebrated a birthday this week - for her birthday treat she requested Tiramisu. She loves it. She would live on this fabulous Italian creation, and I am quite certain if she were Queen, Tiramisu would be one of the Food Groups.

I have experimented with various Tiramisu recipes and found a cupcake recipe that was so-so and only makes 6 cupcakes per recipe. I needed more, since I was taking this delicacy to the office for the celebration. Thus, out comes my trusting laptop and..Google! Did you know there is an entire site dedicated to the mighty Tiramisu? And the recipes are in categories, depending on how much work you want to do and/or what ingredients you want to use. Appropriately enough, the site is Heavenly Tiramisu.

I went ahead with Christine and Mom's (Better Safe than Sorry)Tiramisu recipe.

It was a fairly easy recipe, although it took me awhile because I had to make my Ladyfingers from scratch. I know - big surprise that I couldn't find Ladyfingers here in the rural city. Anyway, I scanned around for a few recipes and used a recipe from Sweet Desires. I actually doubled the recipe and baked it on a cookie sheet like a big cake. I had some left over and it made great cake for Strawberry Shortcake.

The Ladyfinger cake was a bit thick and since you need at least two layers of Ladyfingers, I decided to slice each piece in half.

This recipe called for Hazelnut Coffee and Amaretto. Quickly dip the Ladyfingers in the mixture. And I do mean quickly. The Ladyfinger will fall apart if you let it soak. Line the bottom of your dish with a layer of dipped Ladyfingers, spread a layer of the cream mixture on top, and sprinkle with grated chocolate. Repeat this process until you have filled your dish, or you run out of ingredients.

It turned out very well - very rich, creamy and flavorful. Here is a side-view of the layers put together.

Squeezn' in Number 3

2011-02-27T18:15:00.000-08:00

I tried to do a little better this week with the posts, but it seems as though my time was limited even without the television. I swore I would post 3 times this week, so here is the third post of the week. I am going to stick with the pledge of 3 posts for next week - work along slowly and not set myself up for saddening failure.

I have started to whittle down my schedule so things are not so crazy for me during the week. I am stoked to start a new running program this week and you will surely hear about it in later posts. I also whipped up a bitchin' tiramisu for a friends' birthday celebration and I will post a full tutorial about this adventure later in the week. But for now, I want to tell you about my 5 favorite things this weekend. Who knows - this may become as popular as Letterman's Top Ten List!

5 of my favorite things this weekend.
1.Wegmans. Really, you have to love a grocery store that you get the effect of a Farmers' Market the minute you walk in. Our nearest Wegmans is in Jamestown, New York and I cannot say enough wonderful things about the place! Everyone is etremely friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The produce department is always well-stocked and super fresh, and the attached floral department is gorgeous. (I especially love the array of sunflowers and daisies that are always available.) You can get fresh sushi, salad, pizza - there is an olive bar, bruschetta bar, cheese palace (my own terminology), and a large organic selection.

2.Wednesday Night TV. Yes, I swore off television for the week but I did say upfront that I Wednesday was my TV night.. Three shows - The Middle, Better With You and Modern Family are worth saving my weekly allotment. ABC has done an awesome job of finding us three totally different families living the life. Truly if there was ever a definition for the "fun in dysfunctional" it is Wednesday night on ABC. The best part of these shows is the reality; we know these people and sometimes we are these people.

3.My KitchenAid Mixer.I really cannot remember what I did before my awesome family bought me my Kitchenaid. I love it - today I used it for homemade pizza dough and tiramisu. I want to get some of the other attachements - namely the ice cream maker..

4.My magazines. I am a magazine junkie. I do not have any subscriptions, but I am a frequent buyer at the store. I should get a subscription to some of my favorites, but there are too many that I want and I feel guilty about using so much paper. Although I do recycle and take old magazines to the public library. Some of my favorite publications are Mother Earth News, Organic Gardening, Country Living and Lucky.

5. Birthday Shout-Outs. A big happy 5-0 to Ken Carson. Ken's birthday is on March 11, and undoubtedly he will be spending it with his main squeeze, Barbara Millicent Roberts.

Off with your...

2011-02-21T17:09:00.000-08:00

TV! Yes, when I got home from work today I decided that I was not going to watch television. I waste entirely too much time analyzing crime scenes, guessing the million-dollar word, and counting the number of bleeps within one hour of an MTV show. (By the way - doesn't anyone make videos anymore? The best years of my life were spent anticipating Friday Night Videos at my friends' house..)

I had the house to myself tonight so I spent some time cooking ahead - makes my week easier - and of course hanging out with my beloved Facebook. It's 8:30 and I haven't turned on the tube. I plan to spend the remainder of my evening with my sister practicing our Spanish and finishing up a pair of mittens that I have been working on.

Before I sign off, you will notice that I changed up the lists on the right side of the BensonStreet Blog. I added a 2011 Book Bonanza List. These are the books that I have read this year. I plan to continue this list throughout 2011. My book tastes vary greatly as you will see as my list expands.

Insert Sad but Optimistic Face Here

2011-02-20T18:59:00.000-08:00

I have been a horrible Blog Host. I swore I would post regularly and obviously I have failed. But it is the second month of the New Year, and I am going to get it together n.o.w. I am going to attempt a post 3 out of 7 days this week. If I post more - whooopie for me. If I don't post 3 - well, the wrath of conscious will envelope me into a dark and lonely abyss that... you get the point without my dramatic tra-la-la.

So let's start easy. Although it has been a rather lazy, uneventful weekend I have thought of a few things that I feel like sharing.

5 of my favorite things this weekend.
1. Folgers Singles. I lovelovelove coffee, which has been a bonus for me as I started a nutritional plan that prohibits wine and soda but allows coffee. The Folgers Singles are just like an over-size tea bag - just put it in your cup and fill with boiling water. WAA-LAA! Fresh, hot coffee and none left wasted in the bottom of the pot. What could make these better? If there were Hazelnut Coffee Singles. And as an exciting bonus the Folgers website offers Ringtone Downloads of the famous jingle!

2. Spinach. Again with the nutritional plan - I have been adding spinach to many of my meals. It adds quite a bit of flavor. I usually buy the bagged spinach in the produce section and then transfer it to a container when I get home. Spinach is great in salads and can be incorporated into almost any recipe. There are a gazillion recipes using spinach - just do a Google search.

3. Snow. Don't get me wrong, living in Northwestern Pennsylvania can mean a long, long, long winter. I am ready for Spring. ( We usually estimate Spring to begin in June here..) That being said, there is something magical and beautiful about big, white fluffy flakes falling from the sky. No two are alike. It's a scientific fact.

4. Gardening Dreams. As I previously mentioned, I am ready for Spring. This year I am going to garden. Growing up, my Grandpa always had a big garden. I still love the smell of tomatoes off the vine. I have gardened before, but it seems as though something always gets in my way and I don't devote enough time. This year I am starting small and building slowly. More to come on this...

5. Facebook. Although I was skeptical about Facebook in the beginning, I admit I am a true addict now. As with any social network,(and I by 'social network' I mean anything that connects people, not just via the web)there are pros and cons. With Facebook I can keep in touch with my friends who live across town but I never get to see, post pics to share with not only my friends that live close, but those who we only see once or twice a year, and chat without being charged long distance or minutes. My only problem with Facebook is that I spend a little too much time online...

6. Home. I know - this is Number 6 but I just have to shout out about the awesome people we have in our area. A friend of mine went to a performance of the Warren Civic Orchestra this afternoon. (I learned this in Facebook..) This is significant for two reasons - Number One: We have a Warren Civic Orchestra. It is made up of musicians from the Warren and surrounding areas. Number Two: One of the musicians who plays in the orchestra also shoes horses, and it was this fact that my friend pointed out on an earlier post. Ah, diversity. It takes real people to make things good and I think sometimes we forget that.

Starting over.. and over..

2010-12-20T17:49:00.001-08:00

Spent an hour on my treadmill tonight. I really feel great about actually doing something and while I realize that this is the absolute worst time of year to begin this endeavor, I am going to "tread" on anyway. When I go to the YMCA and use the treadmill there, I have a general work-out that I have written on a 3x5 card. The treadmills at the Y are obviously more high-tech and heavy duty than mine, so I modified it a bit to work with my home treadmill. Consequently, I should mention that unless you are seriously desperate for exercise equipment, you should never ever buy it retail. I found my treadmill on a local online classified site. Anyway - here is my modified work-out. My treadmill does not have an incline option, so I relied on adjusting the speed.

MPH -- Time
2.5 -- 1 minute
3 -- 9 minutes
3.5 -- 10 minutes
3 -- 5 minutes
3.5 -- 10 minutes
3 -- 5 minutes
3.5 -- 10 minutes
3 -- 5 minutes
2.5 -- 5 minutes

True Inspiration

2010-11-03T18:25:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for serious artistic inspiration check out this blog by Marisa Lynch. After Marisa got laid off from her job, she pledged to spend only $1 per day for an entire year on her wardrobe. Thus, her blog "New Dress A Day" was born.

Marisa buys hideous fashion flops at garage sales, thrift shops, flea markets..you get the picture. Then she morphs her finds into amazing clothing and gives a tutorial outlining how she created the new piece. I don't love all of the results, but her vision and creativity are always top notch. One of the best parts of the process is the before and after pics. Not only does Marisa document her work, she photographs the results in her real life - so it almost seems like you are hanging out with her. (I have to admit, I am a bit jealous of her coolness..)

Here's to you Marisa! I can't wait to see your next endeavor!

This is Halloween!

2010-10-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

I love it when October 1st rolls around and it is time to bring out the bins of Halloween and fall decorations! One of my favorite decoration is this basket of black cats I made a few years ago. I made them out of muslin and painted them black.

I also whipped up this little display of dried Zebra Grass from my gardens, the basket of kitties, and some witches brooms I bought at the grocery store a few years ago for $1 after the season. I stuffed them in a wooden bucket that I picked from our shed a few months ago -

I redecorated the table on the porch. I put the skull and hat in a garage sale vase and the painting (by ME!) is on a thrift shop easel with a little bling..

I love vintage paper and decorations so when I found this bucket at the fabric store I had to have it. I stuffed it with fall floral and it is on the front door.

This is my newest addition to my collection. I got it at the Wild Wind Festival in Pittsfield, PA. We have been going to this festival for years - our Mom and Grandma used to take us when we were young and it was in a field, on a hill...you get the picture. It is now a juried festival with many talented and amazing artisans.

I filled the box up with leaves, gourds, and some lights I had. Love it! Now we have to get started on planning our costumes for the holiday!

2010-08-16T17:26:00.000-07:00

So I want a studio. I know, I know... It sounds so cliche'. But I think if I had a place where I could leave my things and not worry about someone (or somecat..) touching them, I might be more inclined to create. I think if I just had a few minutes every day to make something I would be. Yes, I would be.

My supplies are scattered. Many years ago I had my Dad build me a "sewing room" in our basement. It was a great idea at the time, ecpet the basement is musty and ruined all of my fabrics and any other supplies that could absorb odor. So I moved the most of the fabrics to the dining room closet. Within the closet are my yarns, some fabrics, scrapbooking supplies, Sizzix machine and dies, Party Lite villages, kitchen storage containers.. you get the picture.

Let's Try This!

2010-05-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think that we, as humans, spend too much time looking for a complicated solution to problems.

My heart is breaking over the oil spill in the Gulf Coast. Siesta Key is my favorite beach, and I am crushed thinking that it may never be the same. I am not interested in pointing fingers, accusations, or demands. I just want the mess cleaned up as quickly as possible. I don't know how to do this, and the magnitude of the spill is nothing that I can imagine.

The other day, a friend showed me this video of two American Farmers who have developed a way to absorb oil from water using hayseed. The oil soaks into the hay quickly, and the hay can be easily scooped from the water. The hay can then be reused as a fuel in some capacity. Please take a look at this, and write the Department of Energy, your Congress, the DEP, the ASPCA... whoever you think need contacted in order to get a serious look at this!

Mitchell Langbert's Blog: Farmers Find Hayseed (Really) Solution to Oil Spill

After watching this video, I say that we give this method a try! Too often we overlook the simple solutions - but thankfully we have the Great American Farmer to look out for us. Here is a solution that does not require additional chemical clean-up, utilizes materials that are readily available to us, and does not create additional waste.

In closing, I want to point out that I am not against oil drilling. I know there are many who believe that we should leave it alone and not disturb the balance of nature. I thought for quite awhile on how to justify myself to this, and here is what I came up with:

Man searched out and found oil as a natural resource. It has created many opportunities and caused many tragedies. It has made life easier and harder at the same time. Man also searched and found fire. Fire has created many opportunities and caused many tragedies. Fire has made life easier and harder at the same time. Oil and fire as resources are necessities in daily life. So, here is my question: Why would one demand the cease of oil drilling without also asking for the banishment of fire?

Pickin'

2010-05-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

We love the show American Pickers. We watch it every week, and every week I find myself wishing I were on the open road scouting for sweet stuff. But alas, I am not. In addition to an awesome episode this week, there were several postings on JunkMarketStyle that made me green with junk-envy. I sooo want to be junking and creating all the time! To make myself feel better, I decided that I should "pick" an old shed that is on our property. Now mind you, I have lived here 17 years and not set foot in most parts of it. The shed was used as a barn when my husbands' great-grandparents lived here, and it is probably going to breathe its' last breath soon.

We proceeded in and here is our haul for the evening. Not a bad bunch of stuff for one evening.

The first thing I dragged out was this old plow handle. It looks neat propped up against my irises.

This is everything we hauled out today. I have a hard time deciding what my favorite item is.

You will notice

2010-03-16T17:44:00.001-07:00

that I have not been posting as regularly as I promised. I have undertaken yet another educational endeavor, this one being online classes. I had a hard time with this decision since it is very easy to get involved with learning institutions that end up sending you a "pseudo" degree while taking your tuition money. I eventually settled on Penn State World Wide, which offered a degree that I was interested in and would benefit me in the future. That being said, let me say that these classes are harder than hell. Do not take the idea of going to class in your pajamas from your living room lightly. It's hard.

So while I am listening and watching my Art History lecture on one computer, I just happened to be jumping around Ravely on another computer. One click led to another, and suddenly I was perusing Etsy. For those of you not familiar with Etsy, it is a marketplace for handmade wares, and is truly an artistic dream. Etsy's mission statement is: "Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers." How much can you possibly love that?!

I came across this post, and I think it is awesome. With everyone trying too replace light bulbs with more energy efficient choices, I thought this was a great idea for the old ones. It is from the Hipster Home and is called "A tiny terrarium in a light bulb."

Love it! And can't wait to try it. Right after I finish this Art History video...

Random Ventings

2010-02-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

So, I had grand ideas of every wonderful thing I was going to do this year. And I have yet to do any of them. (Picture a sad face here..) In my defense, not that you asked for a defense but I will provide one for my own needs, I started Penn State Worldwide classes, began work on the final apartment that needs rented, and signed my daughter up for snowboarding at a resort an hour away. I am obviously begging to over-schedule myself, which causes me to stress about all of the things that I LOVE to do (bake, sew, knit..) that I do not have time to do.

Here is the real dilemma. I drive my poor husband up the wall, because I will swear until the cows come home that the reason I have no time and am stressed is that I have a full-time job. Mind you, women have been employed full-time for many years and have managed to get things done just fine. In my mind, I am certain that I am the only exception in the history of womens' employment. I have a great job in a pleasant environment and work with nice people. My field is Human Resources, and I am working on a degree that may further my career. What in the hell is my issue here? I don't know. I do know that I want the issue (whatever it may be) to go away.
I just want to go to work, come home, and enjoy my talents at my own pace.

So for now I will try to prioritize and plan. Work is a necessary evil that must be dealt with accordingly...

Please stand by while we adjust your New Years' Resolution

2010-01-05T17:07:00.000-08:00

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!

Expresso Martinis and Me

2009-12-17T19:32:00.001-08:00

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.

It's the Most Wonderful Time!

2009-12-10T19:14:00.000-08:00

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!

Dear Crap I've Made. I love you.

2009-12-04T19:31:00.000-08:00

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.

LOVE IT!

2009-11-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks-giving

2009-11-29T16:31:00.000-08:00

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!

Sushi Roll

2009-11-06T16:12:00.000-08:00

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.

Why am I exhausted. Or at least one reason...

2009-10-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

I have been working like crazy on a new home that we purchased for my Grandma to live in. The house itself was only a whopping $6750, but we had to invest another $10K in repairs and upgrades. Which is fine, because the place is looking super cute and feels like home.

The best part is that my Grandma will be living only a few doors from me.

One of the areas that was a bit, shall we say..lacking; was the kitchen. There was only a sink cabinet and a cupboard above the stove area. I was poised to purchase unfinished cupboards from a local big box, when I realized that there was a much better alternative.
My good friends' Dad cleans out homes that are abandoned, foreclosed, or just have a bunch of crap that needs moved. He keeps most everything..which works great for us! We spent a day combing through the "junkyard" and these were some of the goods I came away with. I had plans for most everything I took home. Mainly I was excited about the kitchen cupboards and the shelving that is sitting on top. (Yes, I realize it is a hideous yellow.) I painted the cupboards and the shelving with a shiny white paint, and put a piece of plain lumber on the top as the counter. All of the beautiful items you see on the shelves are from my Grandma's collection.

It's been a long, long time..

2009-10-21T17:47:00.001-07:00

and oh! How I have missed my blog. Let's see, what have I done these last few weeks? Bought a house, had to redecorate the whole house and do a considerable amount of remodeling and updates, ran to numerous junior high basketball and football games, canned tomatoes.. Whew! This weekend I am considering canning some apples, but we will see how the week goes.

I was planning on posting a short tutorial about canning tomatoes, but they are out of season now. Canning the tomatoes is quite simple and the flavor is unbeatable! My favorite dish to prepare from the tomatoes is Tortellini Soup. My total count was 19 quarts from 1 bushel of tomatoes. Four of the jars did not seal, so I made soup and lasagna from two, and put the other two in the freezer (in plastic containers).

Remember the cherries we picked in July? I canned two quarts and one pint from the tarts.This weekend I made my sister a long-overdue cherry pie that she had been asking for, and I made my very first cheesecake. It had a graham cracker/pecan crust and was topped with the cherries.

Last but most certainly not least, it was guacamole and margarita night on Benson Street last Friday! I love guacamole and I always make my own. Again, it is quite simple and the flavor is out of this world.. The ingredients in this batch are:

3 Avacados
1 Medium Tomato
1 Clove Crushed Garlic
All of the following ingredients are to your personal taste or may be omitted:
Red Onion
Fresh Cilantro
Ground Pepper
Fresh Lime JuiceThen just hit the "GO" button and mix it up! When you store guacamole in the fridge, make sure that you put plastic wrap directly on the mixture, as it will turn a darker green. It is still okay to eat, but you will need to mix it up before you serve with your favorite chips! And I know there are so many good margarita recipes available, but we love the Jose Cuervo Golden Margarita. It is ready to serve and so yummy!

I'm baaacckkk!

2009-10-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

My computer has been on the fritz for a whole month, and needless to say I have A LOT to share! Keep checking - hopefully I will start tonight by posting some pics and projects.

What I did this weekend...

2009-09-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

I am damn tired. We have once again purchased another house (#4), and the others houses are not finished. Almost, but no cigar. This house is special though, since my Grandma will be moving into it at the end of the month. As I was painting this weekend, I even felt like it was home.

Other than that, I picked up these great buys at garage sales this weekend:

There is a pile of curtains that I will be altering for Grandma's new house, a frame with a dragonfly hook, and a cute little wooden bird. There is also a huge glass hurricane, which I am planning on using for within my Fall and Halloween decorations. I have been collecting this kind of glass since I saw it in the summer Pottery Barn catalogs. They have such great merchandising and creative ideas, but I am thrifty. Even if I could afford to buy regular price, I most likely would not....so I incorporate their ideas into the great stuff I can re-purpose. My favorite item of the weekend is the vintage Christmas tea towel. So cute!

JUNKMARKET Style

2009-09-02T18:33:00.001-07:00

I happened upon this site, JUNKMARKET Style, when I was scanning about one evening. I love it! Basically, it is a site about the fabulous things that can be created using items that are recycled and re-purposed.

I recently made my first post on the site, touting the fabulous finds that I gathered from my Grandma's house. She is moving to a smaller home and is offering up all kinds of treasures for us to choose from. Here is a link to my post on the site:

Junkin' Family Style - JUNKMARKET Style

Posted using ShareThis

Time is a-wastin'

2009-08-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

So, my house is driving me over the edge. Not only am I collector of sorts, but I am overly organized or tidy. I am constantly tripping over boxes of miscellaneous treasures and looking at piles of supplies but still I scour garage sales, second hands, and auctions for more goods. What is wrong with me??

I guess it usually doesn't bother me this much, but last week we spent time in Dallas, Texas with our dear friends. Their home is beautiful, uncluttered, and so comfortable. I know they've got crap somewhere but I didn't see it. Nor did I see a single stray hair from any of the three resident dogs or an aloof seed from the birds. I loved it. And then I came home.

As I sit here at the computers, I can see three bags of clothes that need to go to Goodwill, two empty boxes that need recycled, a tote of fabric that I dragged out (for a good reason, I am sure, but it was so long ago I can't remember why..), piles of mail on the game table that need sorted.. You get the picture.

Not to mention that it is now almost Fall. I love Fall and the holidays that come with it. I made a gallant effort to spiff up my porch for summer this year, only to come short and not post photos because it wasn't JUST the way I envisioned it. Perhaps my expectations are out of whack. But now the mums are at the garden center and I want a beautiful Fall porch and holiday decor. Problem is, time is a-wastin'.

Crazy Busy

2009-08-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

The past weekend has got to be one of the craziest weekends that I have had all summer. I made four relish trays, four fruit trays, 3 cheese and pepperoni trays, and 3 cracker platters for a wedding and a bridal shower. Both of these were on Saturday, so I spent the bulk of my Friday night working on these. I gave the wedding platters to a family member as my gift. They were a great as hors d'oeurves for the time space between the ceremony and the bridal party arrival. The bridal shower platters were made for another friend who was hosting a shower.

Such items are often good gifts for the guests of honor. Many couples have already established homes before they are married, and the need for another small appliance is just not there. I suggest that you ask in advance if there is something that you can do to help as your gift. Make sure that you are able to do what you volunteer for, and remember to bring a personal card to extend good wishes. Plan ahead of time if you want to pay for the materials or ask for reimbursement. This may sound cheap, but you will find that the time you devote to the special event is one of the best gifts you will ever give!

On Sunday, I hosted a baby shower to celebrate the pending arrival of my new niece, Ava Claire. I prepared a light luncheon and then enjoyed this cake that I made:

We also had our photo shoot for the Knitty.com Calendar contest! I sent the pics off this week, so now we will just have to wait. And let me tell you, the wait is agonizing!

Now I am off and running. It is Warren County Fair Week, a company picnic at Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, and we are catching a plane to Dallas, Texas next week to visit friends!

Oh Baby!

2009-08-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

We are preparing to welcome a new baby girl to our family! Ava is expected to arrive in early October, but we have hints that she may make her appearance before then. I will be hosting a celebration this weekend to welcome Ava and prepare her parents for her arrival. Here are the invitations that I made for the party:

I punched the tag by using my Creative Memories Tag Punch, then used a rubber stamp that I had to stamp "Oh Baby!" Ava's name along the side was cut using my Sizzix machine. The inside of the invites were printed on my computer. And of course, the ribbon and button are held on with the everlasting Aleene's Tacky Glue.

A few helpful hints will help with card making -

* Be sure you have enough invitations and envelopes for mistakes. If you are going to print them on a computer, you will need to run a couple through to ensure that the wording looks the way you want it to.
* Let all ink and glue dry thoroughly before touching or assembling.
* If you are adding embellishments, ask the post office to weigh the invitation before mailing. You may need a couple of extra cent stamps.
* Save an invitation for the Guest of Honor. They will definetely want to have a keepsake for their scrapbook.
* Always sign your work. I used this stamp on the back of the cards:

Summertime Blues

2009-07-23T17:17:00.000-07:00

It has been raining since Tuesday. My office has been a crazy mess since Monday morning. My husband is working like a madman on one of our rentals all week, trying to prepare it for my Grandma to move in. I'm tired.

Please accept my apologies for the whining. All I really want to do is blog, knit, and watch the game show network.

I will end now. With a big, virtual sssiggghhh...

Weekend Warrior

2009-07-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

This weekend I made my first multi-tiered cake for a bridal shower. I was a bit nervous, but the end result turned out beautiful.
I centered the base cake on my Party Lite cake pedestal. I LOVE this pedestal, and was lucky enough to get it at a discount for hosting a party at some point. The cakes are french vanilla, chocolate fudge, and red velvet. I had originally planned on purchasing flowers that matched the bouquets, but the flowers that you see on the cake were blooming perfectly in my garden and I couldn't resist using them. The wedding is in August, and these flowers somewhat matched the ones that the bride had chosen.
After the cake was delivered, it was home to host a brunch for my sister and five of her friends.
We set the picnic table outside, but at the last minute a thunder storm rolled in and we had to relocate to the dining room.
No worries. The brunch was delicious and the company was great! Incidentally, my linens and dishes are from garage sales and and the Salvation Army Store. I love getting such beautiful things at bargain prices - and I love that my items are being reused rather than landfilled. I think that people often underestimate the selection of amazing things are out there just begging to be re-purposed. If I see something that catches my eye, I will usually buy it if it is reasonably priced. Even if I don't have a specific use for something at that moment, I almost always find a use for my goods.
We topped off our Saturday by attending beautiful wedding at the Fredonia Opera House in Fredonia, New York. The architecture and preservation was amazing! Please support local preservation efforts when you can. There are so many fabulous buildings and historical hot spots that can be saved with a little help. Often, just a few hours of your time is worth more that a monetary gift.

Life is like a Bucket of Cherries

2009-07-05T18:22:00.000-07:00

Whew! What a busy holiday weekend! I am just now sitting down to go through all the pictures and trying to re-think everything we did. Thursday night we stayed in Erie, Pennsylvania and got up Friday and headed to Presque Isle State Park to hunt for beach glass. The glass was few, as Lake Erie was in quite an uproar. We were able to find some interesting pottery pieces and smooth rocks. We also picked up several pieces of wood, so be sure to look back for our creations that we will be posting once the wood dries a bit.

After our ceremonious lunch at Sarahs Restaurant, we hit the road to Walkers Fruit Farm in Forestville, New York. We spent a couple of hours picking the beautiful red berries and ended up with two buckets of Sweet and one bucket of Tart. I froze several bags of the Sweet, gave some away, and enjoyed more than my share! I have already whipped up a cherry pie and I canned 2 quarts of Tart pie filling for later use. This was my first cherry pie, so the crust is a bit raggedy. Luckily, I have more ingredients to practice with; I hope that the two quarts that I tried to preserve will hold. If not, I think I will put them in the freezer tomorrow.

There is so much more to share, but I need to bid you good evening because it is time to start project production for the 2009 Knitty.com Calender Contest! Our project and photo shoot is always TOP SECRET, but I will post status reports as we go along.

Good Morning!

2009-06-30T05:10:00.000-07:00

I had a few minutes before work, so I thought I would wish everyone a great day. I am anticipating the holiday weekend - Thursday we are meeting some friends from Cleveland and Philadelphia in Erie, Pennsylvania. We're planning on dining at Sarah's Restauarant, which is a neat diner at the entrance to Presque State Park. Preque Isle is on the shores of Lake Erie. We plan on hitting the beach Friday morning to search for beach glass. Check out this link for some of the beautiful jewelry that Erie artists make from their findings!

Friday afternoon we will be heading to Fredonia, New York to pick cherries! This will be our first year picking straight from the trees, so it should be a fun day. I have already promised my sister a cherry pie next week.

We will then head home for the annual Fourth of July Celebration in our hometown of Warren, Pennsylvania. We start off the day with a parade and end it at Betts Park with a huge fireworks display!

I'll be posting pics and updates next week. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Yohoho and a bottle of rum!

2009-06-28T18:04:00.000-07:00

Well, actually there was no rum involved at my nephews' 6th birthday. He wanted a pirate theme this year, so I whipped up this cake for him:

I loved the way his eyes lit up when he saw it. The beauty of an excited child makes all of the hard work worth it! The cake is 1/2 yellow and 1/2 chocolate. It is covered with standard Buttercream icing. The sand is made from a mixture of crushed graham crackers and brown sugar.I shaped the ship out of a 10" round, cut in half and then into wedges. I think this was the most time-consuming cake yet, but the end result was worth it!

A month?

2009-06-15T18:53:00.000-07:00

Wow! I cannot believe it has been an entire month since I last posted. Summertime just flies by, and I guess the time goes faster than I know. This past weekend, we enjoyed a trip to the Allentown Arts Festival in Buffalo, New York. It was our first visit to the festival, but rest assured that we will not miss this again! We must have walked for miles, gazing at fabulous works of art. Anything was available; prints, original pieces, jewelry, clothing, pottery...the list could continue forever.

We enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Wasabi Restaurant in the Elmwood Village area of Buffalo. We dined on sushi and beef teriyaki, both of which were prepared to perfection. It is exhilerating to sit at an outside table for lunch. There are so many things to see and experience while enjoying good food and great company!

Perhaps the most rewarding part of the entire trip was our "Worlds Biggest Ball of Twine Moment". People often heckle me about my driving, as I am a VERY slow driver. I have figured out that I am not exceptionally skilled at paying attention while driving. I like to look around, and you never know when you will happen upon a random garage sale that it is necessary to stop at...

Anyway, I will always stop when I see something that I think needs seen. I call these my "Worlds Biggest Ball of Twine Moments." I will stop at every sign advertising something obscure and random. And who wouldn't? So traveling home on Route 219 South, we happened upon a sign that read "Griffis Sculpture Park." We drove by. (Keep in mind that we are in Northwestern Pennsylvania, Southwestern New York. BFE most of the time..)

We turned around about 1/4 mile from the sign and went back. We drove into the farm country, passed an Amish man plowing with horses and another farm with unusually large swines. We were just about to go back when we found the sign for the park, pointing us up a rocky driveway into a field. And from that point on we were mesmerized.

Griffis Sculpture Park is amazing. It is a wonderful maze of trails, all leading to a new and unique treasure. We didn't have much time, as the sun was setting and the park winds through the wilderness, so we set about following the main trail. My personal favorite (thus far, as we did not see the entire park) was the moment we hiked into a clearing and heard water

We can't wait to go back. There are picnic tables and pavillions stationed throughout the park, so we will make a day of it. The website has directions and information about the park. You can visit anytime, as admission is by the honor system.

Happy summer everyone! Get creative - go to garage sales and morph some "junk" in to something amazing!

Word to yo Mutha..

2009-05-14T09:25:00.000-07:00

Mothers' Day weekend was a crazy time on Benson Street. I had a Princess Birthday cake to construct, cupcakes to assemble for a preschool treat on Monday, and a houseful of family for a picnic on Sunday. The Princess cake was fit for Royalty -

and the angelic 3-year-old loved it.

Sunday we enjoyed chicken BBQ from the Clarendon VFD. It was fabulous! I bought the chicken from the VFD and made sides to go along, including these apple pies:

Please take the time to support local organizations, especially volunteer fire departments. These men and women go through extensive training and give a lot of time for the safety of our neighborhoods and families.

We also hit some garage sales, where I scored and awesome coffee table for a BUCK!!! I cannot wait to work on it. Check back next week for some before and after pics of our front porch - we will be painting furniture and sewing this weekend!

Happy Birthday to You!!

2009-05-04T05:12:00.000-07:00

It was a birthday weekend on Benson Street so I whipped up some goodies for the special occasions.

This was a birthday cake for my nephew. It is a double layer, devil's food and yellow, with Buttercream icing.

I also made some cupcakes for a sleep-over that my daughter was going to. The cupcakes are devil's food with vanilla creme filling and Buttercream icing. The "T"'s are made out of Colorflow.

My Americana Nightmare

2009-04-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

I recently decided to redecorate my dining room. Actually, I had decided to do this some time ago, but we spent 2 months at the beginning of the year on a severely needed bathroom remodel. Which I will tell you about later, however, I must warn you in advance that the before pics of my pre-remodeled bathroom (or indoor outhouse as it appeared..) are frightening and explicit.

Anyway, back to the dining room. I had wallpapered and decorated in an Americana style approximately 10 years ago. I loved it at the time, but my tastes have changed dramatically since then. So, with the sparkling new bathroom, I decided that the dining room was also deserving a new do.

I took 3 days off work, and set about peeling wallpaper. I hate peeling wallpaper. I use the diluted fabric softener method, which works great and makes my house smell Spring fresh. I would suggest that if you are removing wallpaper, get a steamer. It is much quicker and the wallpaper usually comes off in bigger pieces.

I am still working away at the finishing touches on the dining room, and tonight I hung up an awesome "piece of artwork" that I love love love! I think what makes me love this even more is the fact that the whole breathtaking arrangement cost me a whopping $4.99! Two bucks for each bundle of the hot pink and soft pink roses (not every one's style, I understand, but I rummaged them out of the Valentines Day decoration bin..) and 99 cents for the shelf that the vase is sitting on. The frame was snagged from a FREE pile that a local bank had assembled at the curb last summer, and the vase was a birthday gift some time ago from my stylist. It all came together perfectly and really pops off the wall color, which is called Castaway and is available at True Value.

As you can see, the room is small and I have to be careful about what I put in here or the area starts to feel cluttered and stuffy. The table and chairs were bought at a Chase's Auction house in Lander, Pennsylvania. They were not a set, but I lucked out that night. I am still working on the tablecloth and some of the other accents, but I have finished the curtains, which are made out of a simple muslin. I love working on our home and although it can be frustrating at times, I have learned that keeping the project in perspective is the best way to complete it. It doesn't take a lot of money to make something you are not-so-fond of anymore into something you love!

Yes! You can have your cake and eat it too!

2009-04-19T17:56:00.000-07:00

I have just finished up the second of a three-part cake decorating course. Let me be the first to say that no matter how easy the cake artists make it look on TV, it is no where near as quick and effortless as one is lead to believe!

I have always been a fan of the beautiful cookies that are iced with the smooth, colorful icing. (I know now that this is Royal Icing. Left to its own devices, it will harden up to cement.) My instructor painstakingly taught us several flowers and other foliage that we kept for our final cake of the session, which was the basket weave oval.

I learned several useful techniques and methods:

1. There is no butter in buttercream icing. It is shortening.
2. You cannot use the came tips for Royal Icing and Color Flow as you do for buttercream. The buttercream had too much grease in it and the Royal Icing and Color Flow do not work properly when in contact with any grease.
3. To color or tint icing, you should use concentrated icing color paste, not food coloring. The food coloring will make the icing too runny.
4. You put buttercream or other icing under fondant. Most people peel off the fondant when eating cake. Although it looks beautiful, it is not very tasty.
5. Royal Icing and Color Flow objects will keep for an extended period of time, so you can make as many as you want at one time and store them.

You can find courses in your area by going to the Wilton website. There are tons of great ideas and supplies available.

Lastly, don't get discouraged if your goodies aren't looking the same as the gorgeous creations you see in magazines and on TV! It takes many hours of practice to perfect such amazing works of art.

Rock on Ravelry!

2009-04-14T19:04:00.001-07:00

So this evening I am scanning around one of my favorite sites, ravelry.com and I happen upon a bunch of super cool people who seem exceptionally unique. And I added them to my friend list. Now, they have no idea who I am and I have no idea who they are. But we have been united by a common interest - yarn.

Fortunately, Ravelry is a site designed for fiber-lovers (hehe) so I can find all kinds of people there who share the same interests as me. I love to see what other artists can create, and believe me, some of the work these people can do is utterly breathtaking. I can remember my aunt teaching me the knit stitch when I was about 11 or 12. I still remember the yellow yarn she gave me, and the sound of the metal needles sliding across one another. Ah, the nostalgia.

I just joined the Knit Girls group! My excitement is so intense, it may border on giddy!

"When the Moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie"

2009-04-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

My family would eat pizza every day. So, last week when I asked the husband what he would like for dinner options this week, he said - "Homemade pizza." And I decided that Wednesday would be pizza day.

This forced me to sing "When the moon hits your eye.." all day. Which is not really that big of an issue, since my office-mates are quite used to me singing any obscure song that may pop into my warped mind. I am not a good singer, but they smile accordingly for my sake....

This week we feasted on a Traditional(red sauce, pepperoni, mushrooms, red onion, mozzarella) and a Greek(pesto sauce, artichoke, mushroom, red onion, marinated olives, feta). I make the dough for the crust from scratch.

Above is the Traditional. To the right is the Greek. I love my Stoneware from Pampered Chef. I have used it for many years, thus seasoning it.

Wine - O Roadtrip

2009-03-25T19:02:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, my dearest friend Edwyna took me to Wine on the Lake in Erie, Pennsylvania. For those of you who are not familiar with our area, we are in the Northwest corner of Pennsylvania, and very close to the New York state border. We are very fortunate, because there are so many great wineries near us! Most of these wineries are operated by hard-working individuals who simply love their craft.

I like sweet wine, so you definitely will want to visit the winery if you prefer dry.

My personal wine favorite is Clarion River Red, produced by the Winery at Wilcox. I have been drinking the Clarion River Red for several months, and it is truly amazing. Our first stop at Wine on the Lake was with Wilcox and we spent a considerable amount of time with Jen, who was exceptionally helpful and patient with us. I purchased Wedding White and the enchante' Riesling. (The enchante' is in a limited edition blue bottle and will look super-cool with candle wax melted on it when I am finished.) The ice wine and the peach are next on my list. Lucky for me, Wilcox offers a case club!

We also visited Lakeview Wine Cellars, where I grabbed a bottle of Niagara. While I was checking out, a "wine cocktail" was mixed up for Edwyna. It was damn tasty, but we have no idea what was in it. However, we were told that it would be available in August. As a side note - Lakeview was one of the last places we visited and we most likely had not intended on buying more wine. The staff was so knowledgeable and friendly, and we were so impressed by the burst of fresh sweetness of the Niagara!

We also purchased at these wineries:

Flickerwood
South Shore Wine Compan y
Penn Shore

Volant Mills Winery was also at Wine on the Lake. I have purchased the Cherry and the Apple Table Wine. The Apple can be served warm and comes with a spice packet.

And please! If you are in our area, visit Allegheny Cellars Winery to purchase a bottle of Depot Red. Allegheny Cellars generously donates $1 to the preservation of the Sheffield, Pennsylvania Railroad Depot for each bottle purchased. Visit the depot and see the amazing work done by volunteers in an effort to save this landmark.

Gotta get a move on....

2009-03-24T18:52:00.000-07:00

I am always on the look out for cool blogs by people who spark my interest, and today I stumbled upon a new one that I am loving! Check it out here:

www.thehomebound.com

The best part about The Homebound blog was that it was REAL stuff by a REAL person - a normal person just like you and me. You know what I am talking about. The kind of person who does not have $1500. spare dollars to spend on bedding and is not filling up blogspace with things we can't afford. (And may not buy even if we could...)

As a big fan of the before and after pics, this was a jackpot for me. Check out the peacock stool. And the bedroom, which is complied of many things that were already The Homebounds possession. Which brings me to my next point -

Use what you got people! Stop wasting and get creative! There are so many interesting pieces of STUFF out there, just screaming to be morphed into something spectacular. Do a trade with someone, visit the seconds shop, and check out the newspaper and online ads for freebies and garage sales. Paint is cheap and fabric is abundant if you just look around.

Thank you, Jessica at The Homebound. You have inspired me to step away from the bad reality tv (do you think those people really exist, or do they grow them somewhere?) and into the creative realm I have been longing for.

Ugh

2009-02-25T18:01:00.000-08:00

I just want to say that the blogging is not going as smoothly as I had envisioned. I wanted to blog daily, I had lofty dreams of sharing billions of recreated projects, of building a huge following that would exceed my wildest imagination....

But alas, my blogs thus far have been few and far between. They have been sans the fabulous photographs that I have burned into my mind. Worst of all, I have no finished projects to share with the world. Just a pile of miscellaneous stuff that will someday materialize into amazing creations and a growing mound of patterns and ideas.

Will I get there? We shall see.

Goodwill A-GA-GA

2009-02-16T17:35:00.000-08:00

Well, I must say that it was a banner day at the Goodwill 1/2 price sale this weekend! I came out with a huge bag of awesome baskets - one for a magazine holder, one for a sushi platter, one to put a vine in this summer.....

Perhaps my proudest purchase was a mid-century lamp that I plan on re-wiring and whipping up a new shade for. Look for the before/after pic to some soon.

Of course, no trip to the Goodwill would be complete without a bag of new clothes. To have a successful shopping trip, you have to be patient and willing to look through each and every rack. After choosing pieces that you like, examine it carefully for stains, tears and/or other condition problems. It is amazing the items that you can find hidden in there!

Go to http://www.goodwill.org/ to find stores!

Domino Down

2009-02-10T18:52:00.000-08:00

Domino magazine was one of my favorites - it featured really cool, trendy ideas and items that were inspiring. Last month I read on another site that the mag was folding due to unsecured advertising and general economic reasons. I thought that perhaps I was only hearing a vicious, economy-panicked rumor when I first heard about Domino. But alas, I received my farewell email the other day and knew I had to face the music. What will we fawn over during Sunday coffee? Goodbye Domino - if I could write a fitting eulogy for your brilliance I most certainly would...

Welcome to BensonStreet

2009-02-09T18:58:00.000-08:00

Well, the time has come when I am taking the great leap of faith and hopping into the realm of blogging. I love to read blogs and often thought that perhaps I should try it. Many of my favorite websites have lists of these talented people who inspire and motivate me. I can only hope that someday you will enjoy my rambling as much as I have enjoyed the insights of others.

A few things you may want to know about BensonStreet:

1. I am a Gold Digger. No, not that kind of Gold Digger - I love to salvage, reuse, and create things out of things. So I guess you could call me a Diamond-in-the-Rough Digger...

2. I love the "Before" and "After" pictures. Since this is an opportunity to share my creative rantings, be prepared to see a lot of these.

3. I don't care if you don't like it. Not everyone is the same, so please be honest and forthcoming with suggestions. Just don't be mean. It's not necessary.

4. If you would like my opinions or ideas on something, please feel free to ask.

Since I am just beginning this process, please be patient with the glitches and technical issues I will undoubtedly experience. I will make every effort to be consistent with my postings.