Update. Upscale. Upcycle.

I love taking old things that aren't pretty and doing a little work on them and making them pretty.  It is even better if I can find something for really cheap and with a little sweat equity, turn it into a cute addition to my home!  Here is one of my favorite projects that would be super easy to repeat in your own house. 

I found this very cheap (read $10) headboard at a 2nd hand store.

But, I could see it's hidden potential, hiding under a hideous 70's shell!  I sanded the head board, then primed it with some Kilz. 

Next, I spray painted it in white with a smooth satin finish.

Lastly, I hung it on the wall with some L brackets.

After I made the bed, it looked fabulous!

Cheers!  Jaime

Rotini Rhapsody

Out of Magical Meatballs in your freezer?  Need a quick dinner for screaming children?  Try our new Rotini Rhapsody! 

Ingredients:
1/2 Box of Barilla Plus Rotini
1lb 93/7 Ground Beef
1/2 cup  Diced Yellow Onion
1 cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese**
2 cup  Mozzerella
2 tablespoon Parmasean
4 cup Red Sauce

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cook pasta to al dente and drain.

Add onion and ground beef to a saute pan and cook over medium heat until browned.

Reserve 1/2 cup mozzerella cheese and 1/2 red sauce.  Combine remaining ingredients with pasta and beef in a large bowl.

Spray a 9" x 13" pan with nonstick spray.  Place mixture in pan.  Add reserved sauce and cheese.

Cover and bake for 30 minutes.  Remove cover and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is bubbling. 

**If you don't care for the consistency of cottage cheese, either substitute ricotta or blend 1 cup of cottage cheese in a food processor. 

Cheers!  Jaime

it's not easy being green

In an effort be more environmentally friendly, I began to take stock of my life to see how I can take better care of our planet.  Recycling:  check!  Carpooling: check! (I make Jennifer drive me around as much as possible)  Reducing Water Consumption: check! (no sprinkler system for my grass, I only use the water God decides to give me).

So, I generally think of myself as pretty environmentally friendly. I donate used clothes to charity, I recycle pop cans, and I dispose of chemicals the right way.  But, as I was watching television one night with my crochet hooks and yarn close by, I had an epiphany-- reusable cotton balls!  I use the cotton pad variety to take off make-up, put on toner, and take the nail polish off my nails.  So, I took some white yarn that I had lying around and tried a few different patterns.  Here is what I came up with: [for those of you dear readers who don't know how to crochet or don't want to, we will soon have them available at our Etsy Shop]

Reusable Cotton Face Pads

Materials:
100% Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn (I used Lily's Sugar and Cream in White)
Size J Hook


Abbreviations
Ch: Chain
DC:  Double Crochet
St:  Stitch
Sl st: Slip Stitch


Instructions:
Row 1:  Ch 4, join with sl st to form ring.
Row 2:  Ch 3, 11 dc in circle, join with sl st  to top of ch 3.  12 dc.
Row 3:  Ch 3, 2 dc in next st and each st around, dc in joining st, join with sl st to top of ch 3.  24 dc.


Weave in ends.


I use these for all my make-up needs.  After I am done, I can throw them in the washing machine with some bleach and they are good as new.  The only task I don't use them for is taking off nail polish.  If you would like to use them for nail polish removal, I would suggest using a very dark color yarn when you make them. 

Cheers!  Jaime

..... aaannnnddd we're back!

Dear Readers,

We have all been super busy for the past week, darn those "real" jobs.  But, we are back in full swing this week!  Check back in the morning for a new crochet pattern!

Cheers!  Jaime

Secret Weapons [Shhhhh, don't tell NASA]

Dearest Reader,

I am about to share with you a tip I once got from a dermatologist that revolutionized my life.  I don't throw the word "revolutionized" willy-nilly either.  This advice has saved me HUNDREDS of dollars in my quest for a clean face.

About 6 years ago [right around the time I was studying for the bar exam], my dermatologist gave me the following recipe for washing my face:



1. Wet your face.
2. Put 2 pumps of original clear Softsoap in your hands and lather.
3.  Use the Softsoap to clean your face.
4.  Continue to use your hands to scrub while you sing "Happy Birthday" to yourself twice.
5.  Rinse.



[the music swells and angels sing]



I have to say that my dermatologist was GENIUS!  The Softsoap is super cheap and very mild on my skin.  Making sure to use it for the entire song of Happy Birthday TWICE really makes sure that my skin is clean.  So, no more expensive face washes for this girl!  It is very important that you use the colorless, clear version.  You can even get the generic version (that's what I use to save even more money).

Happy face washing!

Cheers!  Jaime

Magical Meatballs

I have been known by many in my life as a great baker.  I'm good at cakes, sweet breads, cookies, some pies, casseroles - you get my drift.  It has recently been pointed out to me that while I am a good baker...I'm not a very good cook.  So I have started a personal mission to claim my kitchen much like Columbus claimed the new world in the name of Spain! Of course hoping no one dies in the process. ;-)

 I decided that logically I should start with "easy" recipes.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are several cooking websites that will rank the recipes and let you pick from the appropriate level.

Of course if you know me at all you know I can never be TOO logical so of course I had to MacGyver my own first recipe.  Well, I actually took one of the recipes I thought was good and make it better!

 

I have been making meatballs and pasta for a long time.  I recently had them as an appetizer at a restaurant close to home and confirmed THAT is what they should actually taste like.  So...my journey began.  I could easily share with you all the "failed" attempts, but who really wants to re-live a failure?  Instead here is my Magical Meatball recipe.  Enjoy!!


Magic  Meatballs:

Ingredients

2lbs lean ground beef

1lb Italian sausage

1 cup crumbled cracker crumbs  (buttery crackers are best!)

2 large eggs

3 table spoons of Italian pasta sauce  (I like the thick part at the top of the jar when you first open it)

1 tabl minced onions

1 tabl Italian seasoning  (in all honesty I just put in several shakes of basil and oregano if I dont have Italian seasoning)

1/2 teas pepper

1/2 teas salt

Instructions:

1. Put it all in a bowl and mix the heck out of it!  Seriously I mix for a full1-2 min (which is a long time if actually counting)
2. Roll into balls.  I usually make mine between the size of a golf ball and a gumball.  Put them in a greased pan (class or metal) to bake.  They can be close enough to touch but not squished together.
3. Bake at 400-425 for approximately 8 mins.  Once they start to firm up, roll them over for even cooking and bake for another approx 8 mins.
4. You want them cooked through before putting them in the sauce - at least I do because by that time I'm starving and ready to eat!
5. Once cooked add to your sauce and have a magical moment!

I like to only put half of the balls in my sauce and then freeze the rest.  They are so quick and easy to get out for a quick snack OR a tasty meatball sub!

go dtí go gcasfar le chéile sinn arís

Elaine

RISK, anyone?

I've always wanted to have a risk tournament. What is Risk, you ask? I honestly have no idea. I've just heard of full out wrestling matches incited by some land takeover in a friendly game of risk. I think this is the perfect way to offset the love and ridiculous holidays February has to offer.

To give a bit of background, I have always been mildly obsessed with minor holidays. It was my dream and obsession for the greater part of my youth to travel to Punxatawney, PA to see the prognosticator or prognosticators predict the end of winter. It may be no surprise that my awesome husband made that dream come true. As proof:

You may also not be surprised to learn that every valentine's day I pass out valentines to everyone in my office. Last year was awesome robot valentines I bought off etsy. This year, in the spirit of Kansas' 151st birthday, I went with the Wizard of Oz.

I also bake cookies for Kansas day (January 29th for those following), and I even have a cookie cutter in the shape of our great state, conservatives and all.





I have a fantastic Ides of March party/dinner every--you guessed it--Ides of March (March 15), and I serve up a fantastic meal of corned beef and cabbage for whoever will have it in the spirit of celebrating st. patty's early.




My roommate and I used to have an annual Bikini Martini party, and at one point had the best Cocktail Party ever--tails, tales and you know what were entirely welcome. I believe this will mark the second year of our Fool Proof April Fool's Day Party. However, to date, I have not found a way to celebrate leap year. I'm a big fan of numbers and timing and it occurs to me that February 29th, in all of its limited glory, should be celebrated.




So here is my suggestion: Risk is an apparently appalling, terrorizing, and awful game to play. It can take all night. Weeks. And I hear it is entirely responsible for breaking up the former soviet union, and god knows how many marriages. For that reason, as well as others that I will share with you all sometime, my husband will not be playing with me. HOWEVER! I propose a full on, leap-tastic risk tournament to take place on leap day. If it only happens once every 4 years, what's the fear that we'll even remember the hatred we brewed for the occasion? We'll leap over it every year, and then duel it out every leap year. Perhaps all wars should be fought this way.

So there you have it. Please view this as an official invitation to my risk tournament. Once I find out what it is.

Exit, pursued by a bear, Christy.