Stamping Ideas

 

Happy Monday!

When I was little, I had a big stamp collection.  Rubber and postage, actually... but today I'm talking about rubber stamps.  I eventually got rid of most of my stamps, but lately I've been acquiring just a few to do some cute projects.  In fact, I'm featuring stamping projects this whole week.  First up: customizing paper products with a monogram stamp.

I found a lovely K stamp at Michael's in one of their dollar bins and my mind starting racing with all the things I could use it for.

Make sure they know whose kitchen that recipe came from!

Use monogram stamp to personalize post-it notes

The pale color of this stamp lets you add personality without detracting from the message

Personalize your letters with a monogrammed stamp

What would you personalize with a monogrammed stamp?

DIY Ombre Bobby Pins

So, I was all set to do a little post on making faux enamel bobby pins, when Erica over at Sea of Blooming Dreams beat me to the punch!  So, I had to up the ante!  I decided to embrace the pastels of spring and make some ombre bobby pins.

You will need:

• Nail polish- same color but varying hues (I chose purple because I had three different purples)
• Bobby pins
• Nail tool or spare brush
• Top coat (optional- I skipped it)

Now, this really is as simple as painting your nail polish directly onto your bobby pins.

When there is too much of a difference between colors for a nice smooth ombre effect, simply combine a few drops of each nail polish color and blend them together.

Voila!  You'll want to gently wiggle the bobby pins while they are drying so they don't stick to cardboard.

You can pair two of the same color together

Or mix it up and wear the whole ombre range!  Please pardon my messy hair... it's usually much better behaved.

Cheesy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

 

Alright, first of all, I have to announce that I have reached my workout jar goal!!  I am going shopping today and I'm so excited!  I'm going to keep going with the motivation jar, but I'll have to come up with something else to save for... hmm...

Now, onto the food!  This sandwich is an invention of my husband's, because some days you just need a boat load of cheese.  And bread....and more cheese

You will need:

• Shredded cheese (I used mozzarella and cheddar, but use what you like!)
• 2 slices of bread

On a non-stick pan (it's super important to use non-stick!), lay down a layer of shredded cheese- enough to cover the back of a piece of bread.  Then, simply stack bread, more cheese, and another piece of bread on top.

Grill over medium heat until the cheese on the griddle is golden brown and completely adhered to the bread.  Flip the sandwich over, adding a new layer of shredded cheese to the pan.

Voila!  Cheese, bread, cheese, bread, cheese.  Could it be any better?  I don't think so :)

DIY Shamrock Wreath

 

I'm all about wreaths this year.  The front of our house is a bit plain and, especially in winter (which lasts around 6 months in Minnesota, haha), predominantly white.  So wreaths are a fun and simple way to add some color.

Last month I made a little heart wreath for Valentine's Day.  This month, it's a shamrock for St. Patrick's Day.  It's super simple, but will take a little bit of time.

You will need:

• Green felt in various shades (the amount will depend on the size of your wreath and how wide you cut your strips, but I used about three sheets of bright green, and two sheets each of the light and the dark green)
• Scissors
• Wire
• Wire cutters

Shape your wire into the three loops of your shamrock.  You'll use a loose piece of felt for the stem, so no need to include that in the wire length.  Snip the wire off with your wire cutters.

Then, cut strips and strips and strips of your felt, snipping little holes periodically down the center of each piece. 

Then simply thread the wire through the holes, two strips at a times.  This gives the wreath a little more dimension.

Fan the felt strips out, and shape the wreath as you go along.  Secure the ends by twisting the wire around itself.

Finally, take one last strip of felt and tie it to the center, letting the end hang down as the stem of the shamrock.

Ta da!

March Book Club!

For March, our book club chose to read Wolves of the Crescent Moon, by Yousef Al-Mohaimeed.  This is his debut novel, and his writing has been compared to Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  The story takes place over the course of one night in Saudi Arabia, when a man discovers a file with documents about an abandoned baby.  The story then expands to include three outsiders living in the city, all linked together in some way.

I am very excited to read this story.  It sounds like nothing I've read before, and promises to be very interesting. 

I'm still waiting for my library copy, but it's available for kindle! Wolves of the Crescent Moon

In addition to our book club choice this month, I'm also reading Bowl of Cherries by Millard Kaufman and some pieces for my Russian literature class, including Cancer Ward by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. 

What are you reading this month?

Turkey Noodle Soup Express

 

Monday, I showed you Granny's noodle recipe, and today I've got a turkey noodle soup that you can use those homemade noodles in!

You will need:

• 3 1/2 cups chicken broth
•  Dash of pepper
• 1 medium carrot, sliced
• 1 celery rib, sliced
• 1/2 cup uncooked medium egg noodles
• 1 cup cooked turkey

Now, full disclosure, I love the veggies and my carrots were looking a little scrawny, so I tripled my carrots and doubled the celery :)  .... and I probably added more turkey and noodles than called for, too. Haha!  At any rate, however much you add, this is a tasty soup :)

Add the chicken stock, pepper, carrots, and celery to a large pot and bring to a boil.

Add the turkey and the noodles, and continue to cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes until the noodles are tender.

Spoon it out and eat it up!  Yum!

Homemade Noodles

Happy Monday!  I had quite the weekend!  We made a trip to a really great off-leash dog park where you can hike around with your dog along the Mississippi River.  We also went to a musical put on by our alma mater, and I bought lots and lots of craft supplies.  I'm gearing up for some major DIYs!  I also tried my hand at making homemade noodles from my Granny's recipe:

For about 10 ounces of noodles, you will need:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 whole egg
• 1/4-1/2 cup water

Put the flour into a large bowl and make a well in the center.

Add the salt, baking powder, vegetable oil, yolks, and egg to the well.

Mix together, adding water bit by bit until the mixture forms a ball.

Turn the ball out onto a well floured surface and knead until it is smooth and elastic, about ten minutes.

Cover the dough and let it rest for another ten minutes.

Divide the dough into four equal parts and roll them out paper thin.

Place the sheets on a towel and allow to dry for 20 minutes.

Using a pizza or pastry cutter, cut your pasta as desired.

Separate the pasta and allow to dry for another 2 hours. Store in the freezer to prevent the noodles from sticking together.

On Wednesday, I'll be sharing another Granny recipe featuring these noodles :)  Hopefully I made them correctly and they cook up deliciously!