What a wild week it's been. Where to begin. . . I drove down to Colorado Springs to fill in at an office I would KILL to work at. Met more really awesome people and had a pretty disastrous camping trip that actually turned out to be not-so-bad. Found a stray dog. Adopted said dog. Very crazy ten days. I hope you had an awesome end to your May. Here's a list to catch you up on your holidays you've been so desperately awaiting!
May 21 - National Memo Day, National Waiters and Waitresses Day, Rapture Party Day
May 22 - Be a Musical Instrument Day, National Taffy Day
May 23 - Lucky Penny Day, World Turtle Day
May 24 - National Escargot Day, Brothers' Day, International Tiara Day, Morse Code Day | International Morse Code Alphabet!
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Morse-coded necklaces, blankets and scarves - People would have NO idea they say something!!
| | So many Morse code crafts, I don't even know where to begin! I LOVE the idea of crafting hidden messages all over my wardrobe. Maybe some Morse Art coming up next??Also, am I wrong in saying memo = Post-it? Check out this stop motion video of Post-its! Super cute! Happy Memo Day! May 25 - National Missing Children's Day, Tap Dance Day, Cookie Monster's Birthday, Geek Pride Day, Towel Day, National Wig Out Day, Player Piano Day
May 26 - International Jazz Day, Sally Ride Day
May 27 - Sunscreen Day
May 28 - Amnesty International Day, Memorial Day
May 29 - Learn About Composting Day
May 30 - Water a Flower Day
Colorado is suffering from major wildfires right now so it's not exactly the most fun thing trying to breathe outside. I am lacking a need for sunscreen since I'm holed up in my dark apartment to keep the heat (and smoke) out. Let's travel to three places you might actually want to enjoy the sun and NEED sunscreen.
I want to sit on this dock with my feet dipped in the water and lather on the sunscreen until the sun goes does. Would you join me in Hungary for some dock-time? Come on!
| Or maybe Canada is more your style? Watching the sunset over Lake Superior sounds like another one of those times that you would need ample lotion to protect you from the sun. Oh, Lake Superior, how I miss you.
| Last, but certainly not least - a natural swimming pool in Samoa. I'm sure I would have a pretty hard time wanting to leave these crystal waters to reapply sunblock. Alas, I'm a fair-skinned strawberry blonde and would sizzle into oblivion if I didn't!
| May 31 - National Macaroon Day, Save Your Hearing Day, World No Tobacco Day, What You Think Upon Grows Day
Have you read "The Art of Racing in the Rain"?? A quote that pops up a couple of times in this amazing book is "Your car goes where your eyes go" and I think that goes hand in hand with "What you think upon grows" - What an awesome way to live At-Cause in your life! Celebrate the things you have brought into your life and the things you have continued to grow by thinking on them! Congrats!
P. S. To save your hearing - I'm addicted to my Jack Johnson station on Pandora. Perfect for summertime, if I say so myself!
Happy sizzling!
XO
Happy Friday!! This weekend is FULL of really awesome reasons to celebrate! Eat what you want day? Count me in! National babysitters' day? I babysat my way through middle and high school! And then, of course, there's mothers' day! I hope you have a fabulously relaxing weekend full of good food, fun crafts and thanking Mom for everything she's done!
Friday, May 11th - Eat What You Want Day, Military Spouses' Day,
Twilight Zone Day, National Windmill Day
Saturday, May 12th - Birth Mother's Day, Fatigue Syndrome Day, International Nurses' Day, Limerick Day, Hug Your Cat Day, National Babysitter's Day, National Mini Golf Day, Odometer Day, Stay Up All Night, World Belly Dance Day I like to think I was the greatest babysitter in my day. Looking back, I was probably a little on the boring side - letting kiddos do pretty much whatever they felt like without much structure. I wish I would have had access to the awesome crafting ideas for fun things to do back then, but I bet they still appreciated their freedom at least a little! Above you'll find Tie-Dying Basics (for the older ones) and DIY Kid Plates (to ENCOURAGE playing with their food! I bet Mom and Dad would have really appreciated THAT!) Sunday, May 13th - Frog Jumping Day, Leprechaun Day, Mother's Day I'll make this quick because I know your google reader is getting blown up by mother's day stories and tributes. If you feel like hearing a little more about the mothers/women in my life, check it out HERE. I sent my mom this really beautiful silver infinity bracelet and she had to wait WEEKS to open it for mother's day. I LOVE surprises!!Monday, May 14th - Dance Like a Chicken Day Last, but not least, for dance like a chicken day, I'd like to share my new favorite dance song. I am not one to dance in the car, but I find myself bee-bopping around to this tune. I love love LOVE The Sound of Sunshine by Michael Franti & Spearhead. It makes my heart sing!! Happy weekend and work week!
XO
March 17: Corn Dog Day, National Quilting Day, St. Patrick's Day
Awww. . . Look at me with my red hair! Happy St. Patrick's Day all you Irish out there, as well as everyone else (ahem, me!) that will be pretending their Irish. My hair confuses people, but alas, I am Irish-less. Except for my boyfriend, Mr. McHenry. *sigh* If we get married, people will REALLY be thrown off!
Anyway, I wanted to share some sweet quilts that I'll probably never have the patience to make myself. Maybe I'll print pictures of them, tape them together, then sleep under them. Probably not!
My mom is making Justin and I this kick-ass quilt by V & Co. in teal and grey. I can't wait! | Sherri Lynn Wood inspires us to express ourselves with this Mod-Mood Quilt. On her site, you'll find a DIY tutorial complete with a listing of the colors and the moods they represent! |
In honor of St. Patrick:
GOLD: nervous, mixed emotions, unsettled, warm, rich
LIME GREEN: excited, anticipation, new growth, perceptive, motivated
GREEN: average reading, active, not under great stress, growth, abundance, prosperity, gratitude, hope, satisfaction, contentment, fertile, envy, greed, jealous, heart chakra
BLUE-GREEN: charged but relaxed, calm, dynamic, refreshed, tranquil, patience, cool, motivated, fussy, egocentric Binding a quilt is my absolute least favorite thing to do in the whole wide world of quilting and Red Pepper Quilts teaches us how to make a binding-free quilt! Yes!! | I would love to get this quilt with a love letter or words of wisdom quilted on it! What a cool idea from Cornflower Blue Studio! They make them in minis on their etsy site, but I want mine bed-sized! |
| | This quilt in shades of green would be an awesome piece to throw on your couch during the St. Patty's Day festivities! Thanks, Purl Soho! |
Happy quilting and top of the morning to ya!
XO
March 8: International Working Women's Day, Nametag Day, World Kidney Day
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Check out these classy alternatives to nametags for your next party!!
Deb over at Just Short of Crazy is SO creative and fun (AND she's from "a small northern Michigan town" which makes me love her even more!)
Also, I think this ties in with International Working Women's Day -- Are YOU a working woman? Wait, aren't we all? Feel free to have a glass (or two) of your favorite beverage in these fancy glasses!
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March 9: Barbie Day, Get Over It Day, Middle Name Pride Day, Panic DayThanks to the Fashion Doll Guide for the Barbie history! It's so cool to see how Barbie has evolved with our culture! P.S. Check out Anya Adores for some Barbie Art! | Vintage Barbie 1959-1966
Superstar Barbie 1977-1990s
Silkstone Barbie 2000
Teresa Barbie 2009
| Mod Barbie 1967-1973
Black Barbie 1980
Steffie Barbie 2009
Lea Barbie 2009
| Malibu Barbie 1971-1977
Mackie Barbie 1992-2009
Mbili Barbie 2009
Lara Barbie 2009
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March 10: Genealogy Day, International Day of Awesomeness,
International Fanny Pack Day, Mario Day, Salvation Army Day
Here is a smattering of things that I think are awesome.
Awesome quote thanks to One Ordinary Day!Oh yeah, and a recipe for Parmesan Garlic Pull-Apart Bread = you can't go wrong! | Oh, Instructables, you've done it again. DIY Piranha Plant Cupcake! | Mario Mushroom Cake Pops - check out Bakerella for the how-tos (Kerstin's comment explains the details!) Cute! |
Eric Cahan's Sky Series is pretty incredible! Makes me want to have these all over my walls so I can see the sky no matter what time of day! | I may be super slow on this, but this is totally worth the 30 minutes to watch. Click the picture below to see the video and "Change the world, people. We can." to go to the Kony 2012 store. I bought myself, Justin and my parents bracelets and I cannot wait to show my support! |
March 11: Check Your Batteries Day
March 12: Girl Scouts' Birthday, Napping Day
Something Swanky has blown my mind with the smorgasbord of Girl Scout inspired recipes from Thin Mints to Samoas to Tagalongs. . . Oh, holy, yumminess! March 13: Earmuffs Day, Ken Day, Jewel Day
March 14: Pi Day, Potato Chip Day, Learn About Butterflies Day Happy celebrating!
XO
Another week has come and gone without a single post from me. Hopefully, you enjoy the collection of fabulous crafts, recipes, pictures and quotes and it will help you forget your sadness. Happy Friday!
February 12: Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, Man Day, Oglethorpe Day, Safety Pup Day
"Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm." Abraham Lincoln
February 13: Plum Pudding Day, Get a Different Name Day, Clean out Your Computer Day, Madly in Love with Me DayMy team at Little Britches got their valentines early! I got this idea from Tatertots & Jello and everyone loved them! Super easy, super fun, super sweet, super awesome! For Madly in Love with Me Day, I actually did it! Remember last week's post with a link to Katy at Sweet Verbana?? I did it! The one on the left is Katy's and the one on the right is mine!! Couldn't find a comfy white t-shirt, so I went with a lime green from Michaels. I used teal dye and while it didn't turn out perfectly, I really think there is potential here. And now I see the world in "what can I put on a shirt?" February 14: National Organ Donor Day, Valentine's Day, Ferris Wheel Day, Singles Awareness DayHere's an excellent way to honor National Organ Donor Day. Go to this site and register as an organ donor in your state. You're helping people (in the unfortunate event that you end up not needing your own organs) AND you get a nice heart on your driver's license! I made chocolate covered strawberries for my dear boyfriend this Valentine's Day. RealSimple had an incredibly easy recipe and it took me almost no time at all. But don't tell Justin. They turned out perfectly and he thinks they were very hard to make. The ease of this recipe is indirectly proportionate to my love of Justin. AKA VERY easy because I love him TONS! Did I explain that alright? February 15: National Gum Drop DayFebruary 16: Do a Grouch a Favor Day, Innovation DayFebruary 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day, My Way DayOdie is now officially healthier than he ever was! He's a toothbrusher! Yippee! As a dental hygienist, I was a bit mortified when the vet said he had gingivitis. No more! He super-adorably munches on dental treats, lets me scale tartar off his teeth and LOVES his new puppy toothpaste!! Ahh!! Oh my gosh, have you heard of Wunderlist yet?! It's an awesome organizing ap for us OCD folks. Slap it on your phone or computer and you've got to-do lists, grocery lists, or whatever kind of lists you can think of at your fingertips. It's awesome! Happy celebrating!
XO
Let me begin by apologizing (profusely) for the lack of anything the last week or so. I have been SO overwhelmed trying to fix this (godforsaken) blog that I haven't been able to have much fun with it. I had yet another catastrophe on my side of the blogging universe and it all goes back to the fact that I've never done this before and just DO NOT UNDERSTAND these things. Anyway, I'm trying my best to fire up again but in order to do this, I have to bunch a few days together. Otherwise, my tiny blog will die and that would be so sad.
Please forgive me!
Here's the breakdown since we talked last:
February 1: Freedom Day, G.I. Joe Day, Hula in the Coola Day
February 2: Crepe Day, Groundhog Day, Marmot Day, Sled Dog Day
February 3: The Day the Music Died, Give Kids a Smile Day, Wear Red Day
February 4: World Cancer Day, Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, Thank a Mailman Day
February 5: World Nutella Day
February 6: National Weatherman's Day
February 7: Lame Duck Day, Ballet Day, Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbors Day
February 8: Send a Card to a Friend Day, Opera Day
February 9: Kite Flying Day, National Stop Bullying Day, Read in the Bathtub Day
February 10: Toothache Day
February 11: Umbrella Day, Be Electrific Day, White T-Shirt Day
The University of Detroit Mercy (my alma mater) hosts a Give Kids a Smile day (February 3) every year in which hundreds of children are given dental treatment at no cost. (Although, I don't think they do it anymore, Boo.) Here my classmates and I are posing with Detroit's interim Mayor (at the time), Ken Cockrel, Jr. in 2009 where over 200 children had their teeth cleaned or fixed. What an amazing day, I miss these volunteer events and as my 2012 new year's resolution, I aim to participate in at least one by 2013. There are so many opportunities out there and I cannot wait to use my skills to help again!
| | Since I have a slight red-tinge to my hair, I don't ever have to worry about forgetting to wear red on February 3. Here is a gorgeously wearable red for those who are gingerly-challenged. I want this exact skirt that Aarean from Color issue sported in her Christmas cards! Also, here's a HOW-TO for Maxi skirts!! Yes!! |
For World Cancer Day, February 4, I would like to honor my mom's best friend, Irene Rel, who passed away three years ago this year. Above: My mom is on the left, Irene on the right. She was the sassy best friend everyone wants, but never really gets. She was an open book and would never think to hide her feelings. She was full of love and life and passion for her family until the very end. She is missed every day, but I am so proud to have had her in my life. She left me with a new appreciation for family and friends and she also taught me how to make breakfast burritos. :) Thank you, Irene! Love and miss you always!
February 9th was Read in the Bathtub Day. These book text posters from Spineless Classics would make reading in the bathtub a little easier, and a lot less soggy. Finally, for White T-Shirt Day (today!) let's make this watermark t-shirt. All you need is some dye, Elmer's Gel Glue a cute quote or design and a white shirt.
Thanks to Katy from Sweet Verbena for this excellent DIY
that I might actually get a chance to DIM (Do-It-Myself)!
Happy electrifying!
XO
Inspire Your Heart With Art Day, Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day My aim today is to inspire your heart with art. I know, I know, we all love bubble wrap, but that sh*t can get old after a while. Art, on the other hand, is timeless. Enjoy!
Three DIYS to start the day off right. First from Bri Emery over at Design Love Fest and second from Connie at Salvage Savvy. Connie's reminds me of Vincent van Gogh, my long lost love. They sure make it look easy, but I wonder what mine would turn out looking like. . . Probably not nearly as elegant and appealing. Last on the DIY train, I'm going shopping today to find materials to make this next project, only in the shape of Michigan! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. Now on to the professional art! Samantha French has over 70 amazing underwater prints on her Etsy site ranging from $30 to almost $1,000! They are incredible! This one makes me wish it was summer and not snowing outside! Last, but certainly not least, the epitome of art: the NYTimes Archives. So many elegant pictures to inspire any art project. Happy crafting and check out my Pinterest board for Crafty Gifts & DIYs! XO
_National Nothing Day, Appreciate a Dragon Day, MLK Jr. Day _Even thought it's National Nothing Day, I couldn't very well
leave you with nothing today! Enjoy!
Did you have today off for MLK Jr. Day? _Thanks, Threadless, for helping us celebrate Appreciate a Dragon Day! Just click on the image and it will take you to that shirt's site! | | _Here's some scaly artwork to Dragon-Up your digs! Paint Chip Art by {twenty}something and Fish Scale Wall Art by Two Thirty-Five Designs make me want to blow some creative fire through my nose! Awesome projects!! |
_Here's to a wonderful day of nothing!
XO
_First Friday the 13th of 2012, Make Your Dreams Come True Day _People always get a little freaked out when they hear that it's Friday the 13th. My own mom emailed me saying "How did Friday the 13th go for you? My first patient told me.. . . I was clueless, but for the rest of the day it was on my mind. Thanks dude." This Friday the Thirteenth is actually a lot nicer than it sounds. The first Friday the 13th of the year is Make Your Dreams Come True Day! (Apologies for the picture. It's actually a lot scarier than I intended. Hopefully, no bad dreams!!)
Speaking of dreams, do you dream in color? I mean, really. . . Most people don't think about it, but try to focus the next time you're in the middle of a dream. Some people dream in color and some people don't. I do. Literally and figuratively!
In honor of making your dreams come true, I have a smattering of colorful tasty treats, dreamy crafts and lofty goals. _DIY Dreamcatchers by Rachael Rice! She has awesome stuff on Etsy, too! |
_Make a Dream Diary (or 2012 Journal) with Tatertots & Jello! Keep track of goals, craft ideas, recipes, crazy dreams -- whatever you want! |
_What little girl hasn't dreamed of Unicorns? One thing you probably didn't dream about was unicorn poop. KristyLynn84 has thought of everything for these adorable cookies! |
_Speaking of dreaming in color, check out these rainbow swirls! oh! cupcakes has an awesome technique to spruce up your next batch of cupcakes! |
_Happy Friday the Thirteenth and sweet dreams!
XO
Festival of Sleep Day, Drinking Straw Day, J.R.R. Tolkein Day, Memento Mori (Remember Your Mortality) Day, National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day
Unfortunately, today I had to work. Very early. So early, in fact, that the image above is the sunrise on my way to work. Yep, up before the sun. Long story short, no Festival of Sleep for me today. Boo.
Instead, I have compiled a few things to help you celebrate the other wonderful holidays of January 3rd.. Enjoy!
_  _Happy Drinking Straw Day! A-freaking-dorable striped straws from ThePaperedNest. These ladies have "Party Drink Kits" in every color imaginable and cost only $6.95 for 12 straws, 12 yards purple twine and 12 "cheers" tags!
Shop Sweet Lulu also has a plethora of stripey straws ranging from $3.50-$12 depending on the quantity.
Last, but not least, check out DimeStoreBuddy at Etsy for 30 straws for $4.75, 50 straws for $8 or 100 straws for $16! What a deal!
Seriously. . . Drinking out of a fun straw can make anything worth drinking. I'm pretty sure if my mom had given me my cough syrup with a fun straw as a kid I wouldn't be deathly afraid of liquid medicine. Well, that might be a stretch because that stuff is GROSS.
_Next on the list: National Chocolate-Covered Cherry Day! _A recipe! Fair warning, this is a doozy of a project! You could, of course, just buy a box of them at any grocery store. But where's your sense of adventure??
Chocolate Cherry Cordials | Serious Eats
Yield: makes 24 Active Time: 1 hour 30 minutes Total Time: 2 days, 14 hours _Ingredients
To soak the cherries:
24 maraschino cherries with stems
3 Tbs bourbon or liquor of choice
For the Fondant:
1 c. granulated sugar
1/3 c. water
4 Tbs. liquid from maraschino cherry jar
1 Tbs. light corn syrup
To Dip the Cherries:
8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
Special equipment: instant read thermometer, pastry brush, rimmed sheet pan or marble slab, bench scraper, offset spatula
The cherries are soaked overnight in a few tablespoons of liquor. I used Jack Daniels because it's what I had on hand, but any liquor will work—try brandy or even Grand Marnier. | _- Using good quality chocolate will give superior results.
- Fondant can be made ahead of time and stored in airtight container at room temperature before remelting.
- A marble slab is very convenient to work and cool the fondant, but a rimmed sheet pan can be substituted.
- If you get tired of working the fondant, you can take a rest for a few minutes and then resume.
- If after melting fondant it's too thick to dip cherries, mix in extra cherry juice, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is achieved.
- Make sure to completely coat cherry with chocolate to prevent syrup from leaking out.
- Chill the cherries a minimum of 48 hours to allow the fondant time to fully dissolve.
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_Procedures - Place cherries in small bowl with liquor. Cover and rest overnight, stirring occasionally.
- Place cherries on paper towel lined pan to dry, standing each cherry upright. In small saucepan, combine sugar, water, cherry juice, and light corn syrup. Cook over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. When mixture comes to boil, stop stirring and continue to cook until mixture registers 240°F on instant read thermometer, occasionally brushing edge of pan with water to dissolve crystals.
- Pour sugar syrup onto large marble slab or rimmed baking sheet set over a towel, and let cool until just barely warm, about 25 minutes. Using bench scraper, scrape syrup up and over itself. Continue this motion while moving mass of thickened syrup back and forth across pan. Syrup will begin to thicken as it cools. Use offset spatula to scrape syrup from bench scraper. Continue working fondant until mixture begins to turn from translucent to opaque, about 15 minutes.
- Continue to work mixture back and forth across marble until it begins to thicken considerably, to the point of becoming a thick paste, about 15 minutes more. Transfer fondant to small saucepan and set over low heat, stirring until just melted. Remove from heat.
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Holding cherry by the stem, dip in fondant to coat, and set on prepared sheepan. Remelt fondant if it thickens before cherries are finished being dipped. Let fondant dry onto cherries, about 10 minutes.
- Place chocolate in heatproof bowl set over pan of barely simmering water. Stirring gently, heat until about half of chocolate is melted. Remove bowl from heat and continue to stir chocolate until completely melted.
- One by one, dip fondant covered cherries in chocolate, covering completely and then allowing excess chocolate to drip from cherry. Set each cherry back on parchment lined sheet pan. Chill at least 48 hours before serving.
_In case you haven't noticed yet, I am a serious quote lover. To end today's post, I would like to share a few quotes by J.R.R. Tolkein. I had planned on doing a LOTR Marathon, but I'm a busy girl! Instead, I will leave you with his words.
“Adventures are not all pony-rides in May-sunshine.”
“True education is a kind of never ending story—a matter of continual beginnings, of
habitual fresh starts, of persistent newness.”
“There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark.”
And the trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey -- COMING SOON TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU! _Happy snoozing!
XO
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