A Tale of Two Bloggers

Random Acts of Kindness

2011-03-26T03:22:00.000-07:00

How often do you do something and expect nothing in return? I know that I rarely think of doing things that are completely selfless. This weekend we (two bloggers) will be going around town doing random acts of kindness for as many people as we can.

In the next couple weeks we'll post about all the fun things we did and hopefully that will inspire you to do something nice for someone you've never met. We filled a small booklet of 3 X 5 cards with notes for people, which we will leave at each thing we do.

Each note has the following verse and a short, anonymous note...

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." I Peter 4:10

What's Cooking: Kale Chips

2011-02-13T02:40:00.000-08:00

Until a week ago I'd never heard of Kale. It's a lettuce type vegetable that's apparently really good for you. The recent issue of Real Simple suggests making Kale Chips with it and I tried it out.

After washing the kale, rip off the main stalk and rip it into little bunches. Then toss it in a bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper. Put the pieces on a baking sheet and cook at 300 degrees for about 25 minutes.

(the finished chips)

The final product are crispy little ugly leaves, but they taste almost exactly like potato chips! I don't know if I would have believed it if I hadn't made them myself, but they really do. The after taste is a bit odd, but not bad and much healthier.

Photos by moi.

Make Your Own Bunting Stationary

2011-02-06T02:47:00.000-08:00

It seems like we get loads of junk mail. No matter how many paperless bills I sign up for, it still comes streaming in. So here's a great way to put those security envelopes to good use.

When you receive one with a pattern on the inside, save it. Once you have a few different patterns, cut small triangles out of the pattern. Then take some blank stationary (I cut my own out of card stock) and make a diagonal line with a sharpie in any color you choose.

Use a glue stick and glue the various patterned flags across the card, along the line. The finished cards look like bunting is strung across them and they're perfect little blank cards.

Photos by moi.

How To Poach An Egg

2011-01-29T20:47:00.000-08:00

I finally learned how to poach an egg. I followed a step-by-step tutorial from Smitten Kitchen. I dropped the egg into a whirling pot of water and (after a few tries) I had a poached egg! The instructions are brilliant and include pictures. If you've ever been afraid to try it, I was, this is the time.

Photo by moi.

TV Wall Decoration

2011-01-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure how to decorate the open space about a TV. In theory, you'll be looking at the TV when you look at that wall, so you don't want a busy piece of art or something above it. There was a small white shelf on the wall when you moved in (as seen above) and we decided to put a few open cubes up to add a little something. I would love to get a flat panel TV stand and a flat screen TV to open up some space, but that's not currently in the budget.

Instead we added these cubes, which hold some fun items. The jar of sand is from our sand ceremony in our wedding and the wooden heart was a souvenir from a trip I took to Austria.

In the above picture you can see how it looks now. I'm curious what other people put above their TVs.

Photos by moi.

Bathroom Cabinet Organization

2010-12-15T03:39:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the simple things in life can be the most frustrating things. Like opening your bathroom cabinet every morning and having stuff fall out or never being about to find what you're looking for.

When the problem is simple, the solution usually is to. I found an OXO Good Grips organizer set on amazon and I knew it would be perfect.

The best part is that both pieces (the holder cup and dividing shelf) have a rubber-like substance on their bases. This means when I clumsily reach for something it won't easily knocked over. Just one more thing to make my life a little easier.

Photos by moi.

What's Cooking: Tomato and Meatball Soup

2010-12-06T03:07:00.000-08:00

I finally got a chance to make something in my dutch oven! I found a recipe for Tomato and Meatball soup and tried it out. It was delicious! This one will definitely become a winter staple at our house.

I made the meatball mixture from scratch and was skeptical about how it would turn out. I's never cooked raw meatballs in a soup, but it worked!

Here's the complete recipe and directions from the wonderful Hip Hostess...

Tomato and Meatball Soup

Serves 6 to 8

Meatballs

2 slices of white sandwich bread, torn into large pieces**

1/2 cup skim milk

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

4 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tsp fresh thyme, minced

1 large egg, slightly beaten

3/4 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 lb extra lean ground beef

Soup

8 oz whole wheat rotini pasta

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 carrots, small diced

1 onion, minced

2 Tbsp tomato paste

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp fresh thyme, minced

1/2 tsp dried oregano

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 (28 oz) cans diced tomatoes in puree

4 cups low sodium chicken stock

grated Parmesan

julienned basil

Meatballs

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. In a large bowl, place the milk and bread and allow to soak for a minute or two. Using a fork whisk the two ingredients to combine. Stir in the parm, garlic, thyme, egg, salt, and pepper. Add the meat and mix together with a fork to keep the mixture light and not dense. Wet your hands and roll 1-inch meatballs, placing them on the baking sheet. You should have 30 - 35meatballs.

Soup

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Rinse with cool water and set aside.

In the meantime, heat the oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add the carrots and cook for 2 minutes. Add the onion and cook an additional 5 - 7 minutes until translucent but not brown. Stir in the tomato paste, garlic, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper. Cook for 30 seconds until garlic becomes very fragrant. Stir in the tomatoes and stock. Add the meatballs without stirring, and bring the temperature up to a simmer. Cook until meatballs are tender but cooked through, about 15 minutes. Add the pasta to the soup and season with salt & pepper to taste.

Serve each bowl with a sprinkle of Parmesan and julienned basil on top.

After Flannel Man and I each had a big bowl we still had plenty left to freeze for another night. It was the perfect hearty meal for a cold night.

Photos by moi.

What's Cooking: A Whole Chicken

2010-11-29T04:55:00.000-08:00

I made a whole chicken in a crock pot. Woo hoo! It's like the simplest thing ever, but it was still pretty intimidating... it's a whole chicken.

All I had to do was rinse off the chicken and sprinkle paprika and minced garlic on top. Then I cooked it 7 hours on low. When I got home form work it was hot and ready. The meat was literally falling off the bone.

Here's a great how-to that I followed at The Happy Housewife.

We ended up with a ton of meat that made for a wonderful dinner and lots of leftovers. It also taught me not to be scared of cooking things that seem "big."

Photos by moi.

What's Cooking: Parchment-Baked Halibut

2010-11-22T07:38:00.000-08:00

So here's a post just for the halibut... sorry. Anyway, I made halibut for the first time and I wasn't impressed. It was expensive and not fantastic compared to salmon or other basic fish. It was simple to cook though.

You place the halibut steak (yeah, I didn't know it was called that either) inside a piece of parchment paper. You fold it over and create a little pocket for each one. Put slices of orange into each pocket and cook for 12 minutes at 400 degrees.

Photos by moi.

One Year Anniversary

2010-11-15T05:22:00.000-08:00

In October Flannel Man and I celebrated our one year anniversary. We enjoyed a bottle of wine we bought in Napa Valley and we broke out the frozen top tier of our wedding cake. It's been a great first year and I'm blessed to have him in my life.

The cake was actually surprisingly good. We kept it in a plastic ice cream container in the fridge and it some how kept really well.

Photos by moi.

What's Cooking: Pasta With Bacon and Cauliflower

2010-11-11T19:08:00.000-08:00

This recipe was really delicious, but it's super rich. I've never used pecorino in a recipe before. Actually I didn't know what it was before this (it's a type of cheese). It has a really distinct taste that was wonderful with the cauliflower.

The recipe is from Real Simple ...

Ingredients

• 12 ounces spaghetti (3/4 box)

• 6 slices bacon

• 1/3 cup fresh sage leaves

• 1 small head cauliflower (about 1 1/2 pounds), cut into small florets

• salt and black pepper

• 3/4 cup grated pecorino (3 ounces)

Directions

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, reserving ¾ cup of the cooking water, and return the pasta to the pot.

2. Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and crumble.

3. Add the sage to the drippings in the skillet and cook over medium heat, turning once, until crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to the plate with the bacon.

4. Add the cauliflower, ¼ cup water, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper to the drippings in the skillet and cook, covered, for 2 minutes.

5. Uncover and cook, tossing frequently, until golden and tender, 3 to 4 minutes more.

6. Add the reserved pasta water and ½ cup pecorino to the pasta; toss until creamy. Add the cauliflower, sage, and bacon and toss. Sprinkle with remaining pecorino.

Photos by moi

Make Do or Do Without

2010-11-09T15:02:00.000-08:00

At what age are you officially suppose to grow up and get real furniture? I’ve been wondering about that lately when I look at our mismatched dining chairs and hand-me-down green table. Don’t get me wrong, I love these pieces, but I’m wondering how long it’s acceptable to scavenge for chairs when we have guests over. Last time we had a dinner party we used a bench as supplemental seating.

We have bookcases from rummage sales, dressers from friends who moved cross-country, etc. The only furniture we have bought at a store is our bed and a couch. Both of those items were from massive sales at Value City furniture and we saved up for awhile before getting them.

Flannel Man and I tend to go off the assumption that if we can’t get it at a yard sale or buy it used from friends and family, then we probably don’t need it. Once we have a bigger family we’ll probably invest in a table with matching chairs (and by invest I mean find it on Craig’s List), but until then I’ll stick with the old saying “use it up, wear it out, make do or do without.”

Photo by moi.

Book Binding

2010-10-20T05:39:00.000-07:00

For my one year wedding anniversary gift for my husband I wanted to do something in the vein of the traditional first gift: paper. So, I called in the big guns. One of my good friends got her masters in book binding and she was kind enough to teach me how to make a book.

We started by cutting thick pieces of cardboard for

the front and back covers and the spine.

Next, I cut a pieces of paper to wrap around all three pieces.

I cut off the corners so that the whole thing would have fewer creases.

Using her glue, mixed with water, and a brush,

I glued the paper around each of the cardboard pieces.

Then I picked out a large sheet of marbled

paper to add a second layer to the book.

I cut a strip of thick white paper to give the spine some strength,

then added a brown sheet of paper over the top of that.

This is how the covers and spine look before the paper is added to the inside.

I ripped four sets of signatures of paper for the inside.

Each signature is made up of four pieces of paper

cut to the same size and folded over.

I tore the paper, using a ruler, to give the edges a rougher look.

Using an awl I puntured the spine with four holes in a row in three different spots.

Then I stitched each of the signatures into the book,

looping through the spine twice for each one.

The finished spine had a crisp look. The finished book (shown at the top) turned out beautifully. This is a very simple outline of a complicated process and there's no way mine would have turned out well without my friend's help.

When it was complete I filled the first few pages with some of my favorite memories from our first year of marriage. I'm planning to add to it each year.

Photos by moi.

What's Cooking: Red Potato Casserole

2010-09-30T11:05:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS:

-1/2 cup Light Ranch Dressing

-1/2 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

-1/4 cup Real Bacon Bits

-2 lb. small red potatoes, quartered

-1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS:

HEAT oven to 350°F.

1) Mix first 3 ingredients in large bowl. Add potatoes; toss to coat.

2) Spoon into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover.

3) Bake 55 min. or until potatoes are tender, uncovering after 40 min. Sprinkle with parsley.

***I cooked them for closer to 2 hours.

This recipe was delicious, but it took twice the time listed to cook. I also screwed up, because I forgot to quarter the potatoes before I coated them in the cheese and dressing. So cutting them up was much more difficult than it needed to be. They were great warmed up even 5 days later. So if you made the casserole at the beginning of the week you could use it as a side a couple times.

Photos by moi.

What's Cooking: Orange Julius

2010-09-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

For Monday night football games, Flannel Man's family used to make a pitcher of Orange Julius and a big bowl of popcorn. I, on the other hand, had never had an orange julius. So we got out our blender and whipped up the delicious drink using this recipe...

INGREDIENTS:

6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1/4 cup regular sugar

1/4 powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract
8-9 ice cubes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine all ingredients except ice cubes in blender.

2. Blend for about 1-2 minutes, adding ice cubes one at a time.

We poured the drinks into fancy martini glasses and sipped away. On a side note, adding a splash of rum is wonderful too!

Photos by moi.

What's Cooking: Baked Acorn Squash

2010-09-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

My sister gave me some yellow acorn squash the other day and I had no idea how to cook it. So yay for google and millions of recipes at your fingertips. Here's the one I used...

BAKED ACORN SQUASH

Yield: 4 servings.

2 med. acorn squash

2 to 4 tbsp. butter

Salt

2 to 4 tbsp. brown sugar

1. Wash the acorn squash well and cut in half, lengthwise.

2. Remove seeds.

3. Place the half squash cut side down in pan. Pour boiling water to 1/4 inch depth. Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes. Turn cut-side up; sprinkle with butter, salt and brown sugar. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until tender.

I laid the halved squash in the pan and after 30 minutes in the oven I turned it and added the rest of the ingredients.

The butter and brown sugar melted beautifully. After a total of 1 hour in the oven, the squash was very tender. The hardest part was scrapping it out of the shell without burning myself or ripping the shell apart.

It created a mashed potato-like mush that tasted pretty good. In the end I'd say I'm glad I tried it, but it was way too much work for something we didn't absolutely love.

Photos by moi.

What's Cooking: King Crab Legs

2010-09-20T06:02:00.000-07:00

We decided to try cooking Alaskan king crab legs for the first time this week. It was so much simpler than I expected. When you buy the legs they are already fully cooked. All you have to do is thaw them and then follow these directions...

To bake crab legs

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).

2. Crack the whole crab legs and place them on a baking tray.

3. Brush the crab legs with butter or oil, seasoning and lemon juice and bake in the oven for 8 - 9 minutes.

We also made a dipping sauce for them using this recipe...

Butter Sauce: 1/2 cup unsalted melted butter, 1-tablespoon lemon juice, 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt and 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed.

We each had two legs and along with some broccoli and french bread, it was a very full meal. It turned out perfectly and was less expensive than I expected. The 4 legs cost $18, which is too much for a weekly meal, but just right for a special treat.

During the same weekend I attended an art fair and found a gorgeous pottery piece that I knew would be a great addition to our kitchen. We used it for the first time to serve the bread. The piece includes a small bowl, ideal for dipping sauces, which held some garlic butter for our bread.

Photos by moi.

Dutch Ovens

2010-09-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

I have a confession. When Flannel Man and I got married I registered for one of Martha Stewart's dutch ovens at Macy's. I thought it was gorgeous, a deep blue color, coated with a heavy enamel, just perfect.

Perfect for what though? I haven't actually cooked a single thing in it! I'm at a complete loss of what to use it for, so I haven't actually cooked anything in it yet. Flannel Man is currently using it to store his secret stash of jolly ranchers, but I'm pretty sure that's not its intended purpose.

I found this site, which is full of dutch over recipes and I'm hoping to try one this week. Let me know if you guys have any great tips for dutch oven recipes.

DIY : Citronella Candle

2010-09-16T05:23:00.000-07:00

Flannel Man and I love to sit out on our back porch when the weather's nice and we've been taking a Citronella Candle out to keep the bugs away. Recently our little candle's wick burned all the way down and we couldn't use it anymore.

Flannel Man came up with the brilliant idea to take a strip of an old T-shirt (about 1 inch wide and 3 inches long) and tie a big knot in it. Then he set it in the crater created by the old wick. Then he used a lighter with a long neck to melt the wax around the base of the wick and voila!

So far our new wick has worked perfectly! We've been using it for a few weeks and it burns brighter and longer than a regular wick. It's going to at least double the life of the candle.

Photos by moi.

DIY: Mirror

2010-09-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

Flannel Man and I returned from vacation to find our half bath mirror cracked and broken. Money is a bit tight right now and I was looking for a way to solve the problem without depleting our funds. I found this gold mirror at Goodwill for $6 and saw nothing but potential. I bought a small can of silver spray paint at Michaels. It was on sale for $2.

I covered the mirror with saran wrap and shoved pieces of paper underneath the outer frame to protect the mirror. I took it outside, laid paper towels beneath it and then sprayed every inch of it.

The completed mirror, hanging in the bathroom, is exactly what we needed. It's not perfect, but for $8 it works great for us!

Photos by moi.

DIY Lamp

2010-09-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a great DIY project created by a friend of A Tale of Two Bloggers. This lamp, which originally had a wood and gold metal base, cost only 50 cents at a garage sale.

Learning how to turn it into a beautiful new piece took only a bit of internet research. She used spray paint to cover the unattractive parts. The first layer was a primer, then a black coat, a clear top coat and finally a bit of silver chrome spray paint for the metal.

The shade was 50% off at Target, which was the final touch needed for the project. The final product looks like something I would buy new for $40. It just shows you that you have to sometimes look a bit deeper to see an item's potential.

CardStar

2010-09-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

Flannel Man told me about a new iPhone app that's fantastic. I don't know about you guys, but my wallet is full of membership cards. Some are for restaurants I rarely go to, others are for grocery stores or pharmacies. They add up fast and my wallet has been needing to go on a diet because of them.

CardStar is the perfect solution! It's a free app (woo hoo!) and it allows you to put in all of the membership numbers listed on your cards. Then it creates individual barcodes that can be scanned, directly from your phone, for each card. Above is an example of how my CVS card looks on the iPhone screen.

Above is a picture of the screen that lists the cards I've put in. Yesterday I tried my CVS barcode and it worked perfectly, but the one for my library card didn't work. If you decide to use this I'd keep all of your membership cards with you until you have a chance to try out the phone barcode version. Still, pretty helpful even if it only allows you to get rid of a few of the cards!

Photos by moi.

What's Cooking: Mexican Night

2010-08-15T06:49:00.000-07:00

(The basics: margaritas, lettuce, cheese, salsa, beef, guac, tomatoes and chips)

I can't explain to you how much I love Mexican food. It's got to be my favorite ethnic cuisine. Despite this love for all things Mexican related (in the food world), it wasn't until last month that I made tacos at home for the first time. Pathetic, I know, but I had no idea how simple it all was.

I chopped up tomatoes, lettuce and fresh cilantro. I browned 1 lb. of ground beef and added 3/4 cup of water and taco seasoning. I got out chips, salsa and shredded cheese. I squashed up an avocado, a splash of lime juice and a bit of cilantro to make guacamole. Then (the most important part) I mixed a batch of margaritas (I usually get a pre-made mix with no alcohol and follow the instructions adjusting to our tastes). After that, just add sombreros and hot sauce and you're ready to go!

Photos by moi.

What's Cooking: Stuffed Tomatoes

2010-08-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

(Ingredients)

Summer is in full swing, which means we have a surplus of tomatoes and cucumbers. As much as Flannel Man and I love to eat them sliced and sprinkled with salt, I thought I'd try to mix it up. I found a recipe for stuffed tomatoes and it was incredibly easy to make.

(Finished tomatoes)

Cut the tops off of a few tomatoes and scoop out the insides. Be careful not to get too close to the outside skin. Cut up a cucumber and mix the bits with feta and a tiny bit of olive oil. Once it's mixed together, fill your tomato bowls with the feta and cucumbers and you're good to go!

Photos by moi.

Homegrown Veggies

2010-08-09T07:17:00.000-07:00

Fresh produce just tastes different. Veggies from the store taste dull and watery. These tomatoes are the very first from our garden and they smell amazing and taste even better!

Photos by moi.

What's Cooking: Lamb Chops

2010-08-06T05:57:00.000-07:00

(The finished product, served with cucumber slices)

Lamb Chops with Lemon Mint Gremolata

8 Lamb rib chops (I made only 4, ribs are expensive!)

2 lemons zested

2 garlic cloves finely chopped (I used minced garlic)

1 large shallot chopped

1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh mint

1 tsp virgin olive oil

(Mint, lemon zest and shallots, chopped and ready to go)

1) Brush lamb chops with olive oil, add salt and pepper, then set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes

2) Then make gremolata by mixing the lemon zest, shallot, garlic and mint in a small bowl

(Lamb Chops before I cooked them)

3) Preheat the broiler with the oven rack 6 inches from the heat source. Place the lamb chops on a rimmed baking sheet and when the broiler is hot, broil the chops for 4 minutes on each side.

4) Turn off the broiler and leave the chops in the oven for 15 minutes

5) Coat the finished chops with the gremolata.

The finished product was good, but I wish I'd left the shallot out completely. I'm not a fan of onion and that taste seemed to overwhelm everything else.

Photos by moi.

Guest Post: Photography Tips

2010-08-04T08:31:00.000-07:00

Shoot like a Pro!

Quick and easy tips for beginning a happy life with your SLR camera

Today's post comes from the talented photographer Laurel Hasner of Laurel Hasner Lifestyle Photography. Laurel has been shooting family portraits, weddings, baby pictures and more for the past decade. Today she shares a few tips to help you improve your photography skills.

I love taking pictures. So... I chose to become a photographer, and now I get to do what I love every day! What I've realized though, is that nearly everyone likes taking pictures! And it is easier than you might think. I am always encountering people with questions, who could be taking jaw-dropping images, but are holding back because they don't know where to begin. Many people already have a great camera, and simply want to take stellar shots of their kids, they simply lack the know-how. So here are a few pointers from a newborn shoot I had yesterday evening.

I wanted to get away from my trusty friend The Flash (Speedlight SB-600), and enjoy this summer's natural dusk light as much as possible. I always scout out the location before the shoot, or if it is at the client's home, I search the house and yard for good lighting and possible "sets". Always pay attention to the background! Keep it simple and look for texture. In this case, the competing textures of blanket, wood and grass happen to play together nicely to create a natural, touchable feel. (The baby makes it even better!)

(Image with hot spots)

The sun was setting and we were set up in direct, yellow light, so for the picture with the wooden bowl, I set up the metal tub on the ground between the baby and the sunlight. It gave us the shade I needed to get a smooth, overcast lighting effect with no hot spots. You can see the "hot spots" of sunlight in the picture with the little guy in the metal tub.

One of the first things I do is a white balance test to make sure it's dead on. Without that, you may be disappointed in the overall color cast of your final image. There are white balance settings on any SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera, but they aren't always accurate enough. I use a little contraption called an Expo Disc. It is a flat circular disc on a lanyard that you can hold up to the lens, point at your light source (sky, window, soft box) press the shutter, and it will calculate your white balance for you. It's very handy. No more white or gray cards!

Without the Expo Disc however, my advice is to break out your camera's manual for this one! I know. Nobody wants to read the manual. But the test is quick and easy and accurate for every lighting situation, and you paid money for a good camera, so start with this! :) Another option, especially helpful if you've just recently welcomed this intimidating camera into your home, is to purchase a Magic Lantern DVD Guide of your specific camera. It's like camera manual Cliff's Notes in movie form. Super!

(Image without hot spots)

Another great way to take better photos instantly, is to switch your shooting from automatic to manual mode. For starters, play with the settings and see what happens when you adjust your aperture, a.k.a. that "f-stop" you've heard so much about. Aperture is just a scary word (trust me, it IS a scary word for some people!) for the diameter of the lens opening: Think: the smaller the f-value, the larger the lens opening (more light). F-stop also controls depth-of-field. So if you want the background intentionally blurry, use a wide aperture (or low f-stop).

Want to take a picture worthy of a 16 X 20" space on your wall? Turn the ISO (film speed) down to 250 or under. A lower ISO means less "noise" in your picture.

The third main, defining variable is shutter speed, which controls the amount of time the sensor is exposed to light. Crank it up to capture the split second mid-air athelete at a sporting event, and bring it back down for low light or a waterfall. Simple, right?

I use a Nikon D80 with a 50mm prime (or "fixed") lens. Prime just means that it is not a zoom lens. Fixed lenses are better quality. If I want to "zoom" I have to move my feet in closer! :) The 50mm. is a wonderful portrait lens, capable of capturing your subject's eyes or face, and blurring everything else. Yet, you can also use it to take a distant landscape in, and get a good range of clarity. The 50mm is very versatile, and not that expensive. I have used it on every shoot without fail!

Post Production: Where the real fun comes in...

I use Photoshop CS4, but you can do basic touch-ups with any photo-editing software. The main functions I use are exposure, black and white levels (or "curves"), contrast, vibrance, clarity, temperature and lens vignetting. It's mostly just fun to see what a digital darkroom is capable of, but save yourself time in this area and just take a good picture to begin with!

Grab your camera, head outdoors, experiment, and remember, photography is supposed to be FUN for both the photographer and the subject! Don't get too caught up in the mechanics of it all! Thanks for reading today! Happy picture taking!

Photos and tips courtesy of Laurel Hasner Lifestyle Photography

Luggage

2010-08-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

(My favorite travel companion)

This weekend Flannel Man and I are off on a new adventure. We have a blast traveling over the past decade and always try to make it to some new place each year. Whether we're road tripping or flying about, one of the most important aspects of the trip is the luggage we take. It has the power to be an unobtrusive element or a stress-inducing hazard.

I've backpacked through Europe a few times and I've made some huge luggage mistakes. The first time I ever went I had a romantic notion that taking my Grandma's old leather suitcase that I had recently inherited would be sweet. I could not have been more wrong. Though the suitcase was small, it had no wheels and when you're sprinting through JFK airport to catch a connecting flight, there's nothing more awkward than trying to carry a leather suitcase.

(My bag with the front backpack removed)

Since then I've tried a dozen wheeled bags or backpacks, but it wasn't until Flannel Man let me pick my dream bag for Christmas one year that I found the perfect one. I got the Victorinox E-Motion 360 Degree 26" Trek Pack Plus™ Wheeled Backpack with Docking Daypack and it has been the perfect bag. It's been through a dozen countries and various states with me and has stood up to just about anything. It easily converts into a backpack, but also has an extendable handle and wheels.

No matter what kind of bag you get make sure you do your research and pick something that fulfills your travel needs. It should have good zippers and be made of a durable material. Read reviews of the products and pay attention to the sizes listed.

Happy travels!

Photos by moi.

What's Cooking: Prosciutto and Gorgonzola Crustini

2010-07-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

Recently I made this in an effort to try something a bit different. The recipe calls for a bit of olive oil and a baguette. Cut the baguette into thin slices, brush them with the oil and bake them at 375 degree on a baking sheet for about 10 minutes.

Once they're cooked, cover each baguette with a slice of prosciutto. You'll need about 8 thin slices cut in half to make 16 pieces.

Then cut super thin slices of green apple for each baguette. You'll only need half of an apple.

The final bit is topping each baguette with some gorgonzola cheese crumbles. They make a great appetizer for a party and each one is very rich. A sweet, white Gewurztraminer wine went really well with it.

Photos by moi.

Heirlooms

2010-07-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

I've never been a big fan of flowery dish patterns, but this one is special to me. Growing up, these dishes were displayed on the hutch in our dining room. Later in life I learned the story of where they came from.

Both my Dad's grandma and my Mom's grandma had a complete set of the exact same dishes. My Mom grew up in Indiana, while my Dad was born in California and raised mainly in Massachusetts. Though they were states apart, somehow they bought the same brand and same pattern. Both of my great-grandmothers passed their dishes down to our family so that my only sister and I could each have a set.

Recently my sister and I unwrapped the dishes from their weathered boxes. Seeing each delicate teacup and serving platter brought back so many memories. Even though neither of us are "fancy china" kind of girls, the dishes mean the world to us because they hold so much family history.

Photo by moi.

What's Cooking: Cottage Pie

2010-07-26T06:24:00.000-07:00

(Cooking the ground beef and peas)

I've found a new favorite of Flannel Man's, Cottage Pie, made from a recipe in Real Simple (found here).

It was incredibly easy and the only thing I changed was baking it in one big dish, instead of individual ones. I also left out the carrots, but would probably add them in next time.

Directions

1) Brown 1 pound ground beef

2) Stir in 1⁄3 cup ketchup and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; season with salt and pepper. Add 1½ cups frozen peas and carrots.

(Cooked beef and peas in dish, half covered with potatoes)

3) Transfer to 4 individual baking dishes.

4) Top with 3 cups mashed potatoes

5) Bake at 400° F until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.

(Finished dish)

Photos by moi.

Fresh Green Beans

2010-07-22T06:29:00.000-07:00

I'm really new to the world of cooking and so the simplest things can seem overwhelming. A friend gave me a big bag full of fresh green beans from her garden and I was at a complete loss as to what to do with them.

Another friend came to the rescue with the simplest instructions: snap off the ends and boil them until they are tender in a pot with some minced garlic. So easy and delicious!

Photo by moi.

What's Cooking: White Chicken Chili

2010-07-21T12:14:00.000-07:00

This is my new favorite crock pot dish. We had almost every ingredient on hand, so it was super easy. Also, I learned that the cutting an onion and crying thing is legit, those things are vicious! I added extra garlic and hot sauce, because that's how we roll, and it was perfect. We froze half and will hopefully enjoy that later.

4 chicken breasts
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried leaf oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
2 cans (about 15 ounces each) great northern beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (12 to 15 oz.) corn, drained
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro, optional

Cover and cook on LOW for 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours, or until chicken is tender.

Awful photo by moi.

What's Cooking: Chicken with Broccoli

2010-07-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

This Real Simple recipe was a great way to spice up a regular chicken dish. I used minced garlic instead of cloves and used broccolini instead of broccoli rabe because I couldn't find ANY at the grocery store.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
4 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts
kosher salt and black pepper
6 dried apricots, sliced
2 tablespoons pine nuts
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 bunch broccoli rabe (about 1 pound), trimmed

I ended up making it without pine nuts (because I forgot to buy them), but it was still delicious. The broccoli was particularly good because the garlic flavor was perfection. Mmm.

Photos by moi.

What's Cooking: Pork Tenderloin

2010-07-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

A friend gave me this recipe and after searching for the envelope dry onion soup mix for weeks, I finally found it by the Worcestershire sauce and made the dish. Despite this awful photo, this meal turned out great.

Here's the details...

Amazing Pork Tenderloin in the Slow Cooker

-1 (2 pound) pork tenderloin

-1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix

-1 cup water

-3/4 cup red wine

-3 tablespoons minced garlic

-3 tablespoons soy sauce

-freshly ground black pepper to taste

It was simple and I had almost all of the ingredients in my kitchen. I used some of the left over pork to make a wrap a few days later. I used a tortilla, goat cheese, cut up pork and dijon mustard and it was delicious!

Photo by moi.

The Mystery of Morning People

2010-07-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

I have never been able to understand how people can wake up and immediately be perky and cheerful. I have a hard time interacting with people until I've had at least one cup of coffee, and even then I wouldn't call myself perky. That's why radio alarm clocks have always baffled me. I understand the alarm clocks that start a CD, because then you have control over the music that wakes you up. But the ones that wake you up to a radio station leaves way too much to chance. Think of that horrible repeating scene from the movie Groundhog Day and you'll know what I mean.

Hyperbole and a Half sums it up perfectly in her post ...

"Why I Don't Use a Radio Alarm Clock: Because waking up to "Mambo Number Five" by Lou Bega feels like being stabbed in the face with music."

Flannel Man has quickly learned that on a Saturday morning he can avoid my grumpy snappiness by waiting until he smells coffee to get out of bed. So if you know someone like me, take pity on us and don't force us to make small talk before we've had a caffeine fix.

Photo by moi.

The Perfect Guacamole

2010-07-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

This summer I've been trying to find the perfect recipe for guacamole (or green goo as Flannel Man calls it, he hates the word "guac"). After a bit of experimenting I found one that I love and bonus, it's incredibly simple to make.

Take one avocado and peel it, removing the pit and any bad spots.

Smash the avocado with a fork, leaving some lumps.

Sprinkle with lime juice.

Take 3 or 4 sprigs of cilantro. Pull off the leaves and cut them up.

Use the fork to mix the avocado, cilantro and lime juice together.

Voila!

Finding joy in the little things

2010-07-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

I'm still frequently surprised by things we discover about our home. We've lived here for less than a year and we're still finding all sorts of things. We had no idea that the big tree in our back yard was a pear tree until we saw all the pears.

This weekend we worked in our yard for hours. I usually use a hose at the front of our house to water the plants and fill my watering can. Yesterday Flannel Man pointed out a hose in the very back part of the garden, which meant hauling the watering can a much shorter distance.

I went to use the hose and found this beautiful hummingbird faucet attached to the hose. Even while covered with sweat and bug bites I was simply delighted. It was such a simple thing, but I love it and the best part was the fact that it was so unexpected.

I hope all of you find something unexpected that gives you joy this week.

Photo by moi.

What's Cooking: Baked Potato

2010-06-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

(Potatoes, sea salt and oil)

I've made baked potatoes before. They are pretty simple. But recently I found a few great tips on how to improve them. After washes them off really well, stab them with a fork a dozen times. Then lightly coat the outside with olive oil and sea salt.

Then, and here's the part that surprised me, cook them in the oven WITHOUT foil. Apparently wrapping them in foil makes the skin a bit soggy. If you just set them on the rack or a baking sheet it crisps the skin... mmm. With a few fixings the potatoes are a whole meal.

(Baked potato with cheese, bacon and sour cream)

Photos by moi.

...

2010-06-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do.

But to hold it together when everyone else would understand

if you fell apart, that's true strength.”

Photo by moi.

What's Cooking: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

2010-06-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

(Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and portobello mushrooms)

I made these for the first time last night and they were great!

They would make a perfect appetizer to take to a get together

or to serve at a Superbowl party.

Here's the recipe...

(Bread Crumbs and chicken with ingredients)

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

1) Combine the following in a large bowl:

-1 lb ground chicken

-1 cup of fresh bread crumbs*

-1 teaspoon of paprika

-1 teaspoon of minced garlic

-1/2 teaspoon of salt

(Toasted bread from the oven and torn up pieces in the food processor)

*To make fresh bread crumbs, take 3 pieces of bread and put them

in the oven for a few minutes to dry them out. Then tear

them into piece and chop them up in a food processor.

(All ingredients, including bread crumbs, combined)

I used my hands to blend all of the ingredients

together into one large lump.

2) Roll into 32 balls (When I made it I came up with 20 balls)

3) Line a baking sheet with foil and place balls on baking sheet

4) Bake at 475 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes

(The cooked meatballs, half of which are coated with hot sauce)

5) After you cook them coat all of the balls in hot sauce

(Franks Red Hot works well)

6) Can serve with celery sticks and bleu cheese dressing

Photos by moi.

DIY: Decorative Branches

2010-06-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

Today's creative DIY comes from a friend of A Tale of Two Bloggers. After completely redoing her family's bathroom, our friend decided to spice it up with something she made. Using only branches from their backyard and some hemp string she had on hand, she made this hanging piece.

She added a decorative piece that she found on sale at JoAnn Fabrics for $2.25 and voila! The branches tie the bathroom together perfectly and she didn't have to spend $50 on some generic artwork from Target.

This piece is a wonderful example of looking at what you already own and seeing what can be made from it, before you buy something new. You'll be surprised at what you might come up with.

Photos courtesy of Laurel Hasner Lifestyle Photography.

Home Improvement: Bathroom Updates

2010-06-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

One of the joys of owning a home is the constant stream of updates it always needs. Flannel Man and I were lucky enough to find a home that had already been updated in many ways. There was a new vanity in the bathroom, new cabinets in the kitchen, new tiled floors and more.

We still have quite a bit to do, but the updated vanity has been particularly helpful. I recently reorganized the area beneath the sink and was thrilled with the amount of space we have. I love having double sinks and all of our cleaning supplies and hair products tucked out of sight. Using bins and containers to give things a specific place works well for me.

If you're looking to update your homes' bathroom soon there are hundreds of possibilities to consider. Make sure you think about what you value most in a bathroom before getting carried away with a style at a home improvement store. Do you want more storage or a sleek look? Do you want wood two sinks or one? There are endless options.

Photos by moi.

Gardening on a Budget

2010-06-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

(Flowers my friend offered me from her garden)

Gardening can quickly become an expensive habit. You need the seeds, the plants, the pots, the tools, the mulch, etc. Before you know it, you're little vegetable garden, which was suppose to help you cut your grocery bills down, has become a pricey hobby.

One great way to avoid this trap is to keep your eye out for gardening tools at yard sales. Another great tip is to ask friends and family if they would let you take cuts from any of their plants. Hostas, lilies, daisies and dozens of other perennial flowers grow quickly. You can take pieces and move them to your own garden without hurting your friends.

Soon your flowerbeds will be full of beautiful plants and your wallet won't be empty. It's especially sweet because when you sit outside and enjoy your flowers, they'll remind you of the wonderful people who made it possible. You'll also be able to pass on the favor and offer your own perennials to friends in the future.

Photos by Ann Lee.

Mapping Your Memories

2010-06-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

Flannel Man and I recently decided to get a big map of the U.S.A. to decorate the Man Room. It was $5 on Amazon and I once again used my swagbucks to get it. We got it laminated, hung it up with pushpins and then the fun began.

The big map takes up half of one wall in the room. We purchased colorful push pins and began popping them into the cities that we've traveled to. We put in different colored pins for places we've been together and separately. It was a great way to look back on all the great trips we've taken throughout the states. It's a fun way to use personal experience to decorate and it's much more interesting than a generic print from a super store.

Photos by moi.

Cooking Class

2010-05-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

(Flannel Man grilling our steaks)

With the help of a half-priced Groupon deal, Flannel Man and I signed up for a 2-hour cooking class. We went on a Saturday to learn about grilling, but learned so much more than that!

(Grated potatos for the rosti)

We ended up creating a Zinfandel mushroom sauce for steak. We sauteed portobello mushrooms and scallions. We made a potato rosti, which I'd never even heard of before that day. We cooked spinich. We grilled steak medallions and we had a lot of fun.

(Ingredients at our work station)

The class had about 25 people in it and we all had different recipes. Everybody was chatting and comparing ingredients as we worked. Some people made pork, others spoon bread and still others made BBQ chicken and baked beans. At the very end of the class everyone got to try all of the dishes.

(Our Zinfandel sauce and potato rosti cooking on the stove)

I would encourage you guys to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new. It doesn't matter if who you do it with. Take your boyfriend/husband/best friend/sibling or do it on your own. I never thought I would enjoy a class like that, but I had a blast. And I learned a lot about cooking at the same time.

Photos by moi.

A Toast to the Birthday Blogger!

2010-05-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

Inspiring.Strong.Talented.Deliberate.

Gracious.Wise.

Happy Birthday, 2nd Blogger 'O Mine!

~xoxo~

image by twobloggers

Packing your lunch

2010-05-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

(Two lunches I recently packed. One has cucumber slices, grapes, carrot sticks

and a turkey sandwich. They other has hummus, carrot sticks, Babybel cheese,

pickle spears, a banana and roast beef lunch meat.)

As new homeowners Flannel Man and I have quickly realized that there are many unexpected costs that come with owning a home. A big one of those is outdoor upkeep. We have a big yard, which means we need a big mower. This was a purchase that we wanted to be able to make without sticking another big toe into the pool of debt that student loans created.

Hence, packing your lunch. We both work full-time outside of our home and so spending money on eating out becomes a common occurrence. There are many reasons for this. Packing your lunch takes time. Also, I hate sitting in the office all day with no break. Going out to lunch makes the day feel a bit shorter.

So being frugal about lunch becomes a bit trickier. I watch my co-workers occasionally dump the lunches their wives packed them because they don't want to sit in the office, but they know they have to take the empty containers home. I know, ridiculous, now they are paying for 2 lunches!

(My lunchbox)

The trick is to make sure taking your lunch isn't a chore. For me it's important to have a wide variety of foods for lunches. I don't want to eat the same thing every day. I also allow myself 2 days during the week when I can eat lunch out with co-workers. This is a big improvement from 4 to 5 lunches out and it gives you something to look forward to. It's also a lot healthier.

I use my lunch break to run errands to the post office, bank, library, etc. and eat my lunch on the go. This gives me a chance to still get out of the office and to make me feel like I'm accomplishing something that I would have had to do after work. It's a win-win for everyone.

So, if you want to start packing your lunch more frequently, know the reasons why it has been hard in the past and find ways to accommodate those hindrances. Also, it doesn't hurt to pack a special treat in your lunch so that you have something to look forward to, like a special kind of cheese or almonds, etc.

Containers from here and here.

Photos by moi.

Mission: Cleaning Without Chemicals

2010-05-16T12:32:00.000-07:00

"My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance."

- Author Unknown

Cleaning has become a booming business, but its roots are connected with just a few ingredients. Pulling the plug on all the bottles and gimmicks that swarm the supermarket aisles we can see just how easy it is to make our own versions at home. The best part about this is that our friends and family will soon learn to associate "clean" with certain essential oils, herbs, or three of those ever versatile 'basics' that are always used when cleaning. Not just the generic smell of certain products (although if you do like this smell there are herbs created naturally that they based the smell on) will fool them anymore.

" The Whys?"

Safer for the environment. Doing your part to help keep harmful chemicals from leaking into the environment.

Keeps you breathing easier. Products can expose children and adults to unnatural toxins that can lead to respiratory issues and other illnesses inside the home.

Saves money. Most of these ingredients are already found in your home.

Less packaging. Can buy the basics in bulk & reuse your spray bottle over again.

Peace of mind to know what's in your clean "recipes" with a few, simple ingredients. Kids can help clean or just be in the same room as you clean.
Can change your product to suit your tastes by choosing your own essential oils or products. There are many sooooo many variations on the different ways to clean a certain area. I based most of mine on the book Better Basics For the Home.

The "Whats"

Toilet Cleaner- Spray toilet bowls with straight white distilled vinegar, sprinkle with baking soda, & scrub OR 2 teaspoons tea tree oil & two cups water (leave for thirty minutes then scrub OR just use your disinfectant spray & scrub. Man, I wish there was a way to leave out the scrubbing!

Sink & Tub- Baking soda/water mix & sponge to scour OR use disinfectant spray.

Disinfectant- This is tricky, because there are so many different recipes out there. I use 2 cups water, 1/4 cup vinegar, & 3 drops tea tree oil & 3 lavender. I've heard mixed reports about borax, so I have stayed clear. Yet, I will try it one day. Also, soap & water do wonders for a little dirt!

Furniture Polish- 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap, few drops olive oil, 3 to 5 drops of essential oils

Window Cleaner- 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon soap, 2 cups water, few drops of essential oils for scent.

Air Fresheners- I love trying different ways to make a house smell inviting. Here are some different things to experiment with, besides grabbing a smell out of a can.

In the winter heat cloves, Cinnamon, or oranges to get a cozy Christmas smell.

In the summer try cutting lemons, adding them to cold water and maybe adding mint or another herb from the garden.

Plants are the ultimate air purifiers. Ones like English Ivy, Peace Lily, or Boston Fern are thought to be some of the best.

Vacuum Deodorizer- Moisten 3 cotton balls with essential oils & put them in your vacuum cleaner bag. This will freshen up the room as you clean.

Refrigerator- If your fridge smells try putting 2-3 pieces of white bread to absorb your unwanted nose guests, baking soda works as well.

If you happen to have some of the Oil Plug Ins in your home I have heard that removing the top & filling it with vegetable oil and about 30 essential oil drops will give you a natural scent to enjoy.

But if guests are arriving soon & you want the room to smell fresh & sassy, then put a little bit of your fav essential oil on a rag, then wipe it under the bottom of the furniture like a table, mantle, or tv stand (test first to make sure it is not making your furniture too sassy aka ruining it!)

Even if don't do all of these you should at least try one, because just one will clear the air for a healthier more simple space.

images twobloggers

Life Through Poetry

2010-05-16T03:44:00.000-07:00

Do the Next Thing

At an old English parsonage down by the sea,

There came in the twilight a message to me.

Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven

That, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.

And all through the hours the quiet words ring,

Like a low inspiration, do the next thing.

Many a questioning, many a fear,

Many a doubt hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment, let down from heaven,

Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.

Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,

Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;

Do it reliantly, casting all care.

Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,

Who placed it before thee with earnest command.

Stayed on Omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,

Leave all results, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,

Working or suffering be thy demeanor;

In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,

The light of His countenance, be thy psalm,

Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.

Then, as He beckons, do the next thing.

Author Unknown, but poem made famous by Elisabeth Elliot

Image by twobloggers

Wedding DIY: Embroidery

2010-05-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

(An embroidery starter kit and the handkerchiefs)

This is the first in a series of posts on Wedding DIY. These do-it-yourself projects are all things I decided to create for my own wedding in October 2009.

This particular project was to embroider two handkerchiefs with a special message. One was a note to my husband-to-be (Flannel Man) and the other was for my Dad. Having never embroidered anything before I wasn't completely sure where to start. I decided to get a starter embroidery kit and chose this one, which I found on sale somewhere.

(The supplies and the blue yarn I picked)

I purchased the yarn and handkerchiefs I wanted and decided what I wanted to embroider. I wrote out a message to Flannel Man and used a quote about family for my Dad's. After reading the kit's manual I wrote the quotes on the handkerchiefs lightly with a pencil to make sure they would fit. I kept the letters in a block form to make it easier. Then I popped in a movie and started to stitch.

I gave both handkerchiefs to the guys during the rehearsal dinner and they carried them in their pockets on my wedding day. The end product was nothing perfect, but they were definitely readable and the guys seemed to appreciate them. I loved knowing that Flannel Man had that special note from me in his pocket that no one else knew about.

(My groom's handkerchief)

If you have a friend or family member who is getting married, you could always offer to do or at least help them with a DIY project of their choosing. The same is true for bridal showers, baby showers, bachelorette parties, birthday parties, etc. I love seeing the tiny details that others have taken time to create that make events unique.

I'd like to add that for your own wedding, you shouldn't take on any more DIY projects than you can handle. These projects should be fun, not stressful. I loved doing them because it was an excuse to learn something new and challenge myself. When you're planning a wedding you don't need to add more things to your to do list. So only take on things that are important to you. In the end the crucial thing is to be able to relax and enjoy the day.

Photos by moi.

Mission: Simplifying Toys

2010-05-10T17:11:00.000-07:00

If you had asked me what I thought about toys before my quest to learn more about the "whys" behind them, I would have said that the more the better. But that is natural right?
Kids = Piles 'o Toys.

But now after really thinking about the toys that I own and the toys that benefit my kids. I understand that Kids - Piles 'o Toys= Freedom. Sounds so cliche, I know. But it's true. I found that my toy piles had been skipped over in simplifying my home, but why? The book Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne answers the questions that I think everyone needs to hear. Here are a few points paraphrased that he makes in the chapter on a child's 'environment'.

Toys are marketed now adays so that if the child doesn't have them, their imagination is gone. The toy is responsible for play, not the child.

Kids feel entitled with more. They are not able to take care of what they have, because they know there will always be something else.

Having lots of toys mean that none of them will truly have the child's full attention. The full potential of that toy won't be reached, because they're already on to the next thing.

Boredom is a gift. Children don't need piles or a certain educational toy to develop who they are. They need unstructured time for play.

Most children have 150 toys. If your child can't pick them up in 5 minutes they probably have too many.

Books also are included in the simplifying. Too many books do not equal a well educated child. When not regulated they can become a form of clutter & excess. With too many to choose from they become disposable, commercialized, and overexposed just like toys.

He also says that many parents feel surprised by this assessment of their children's things. "It's as though parents realize they're on a runaway train, but they can't believe they never noticed it speeding up. Even in the span of one or two generation, there has been a sea change, a flood of items marketed to parents for their children."

My hopes for my kids future things are this....

Play Wooden food.

A miniature tea set.

A how-to book about simple wood projects for kids.

Different size play silks.

Nature. Rocks. Big. Little. Huge.

Piano.

Hula hoops.

Set of small real tools hammer, saw, etc.

Small rolling pin.

Little wheelbarrow.

Experiences.

I don't want to take away the joy of them experiencing life. I want to take away the outside pressure of more, and give them the joy of living with less & finding contentment with the things they do have.

"When you act to limit what you don't want for your family, you clarify what you really do need, what is important to you. Your values clarify. Simplification is a path of self-definition for the family."- Dr. Kim Payne

What's Cooking: Parmesan Zucchini

2010-05-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

I recently tried a recipe for Parmesan Zucchini. It was simple to make and a great addition to a light dinner. I thinly sliced a zucchini and tossed it into a skillet with a little olive oil and salt and pepper. After cooking the slices for about 10 minutes (until soft) I drizzled freshly grated parmesan on top.

I let the cheese melt and the whole thing brown just a tiny bit and then served it with salmon. I wouldn't have guessed that parmesan and zucchini would be such a great combination, but it was delicious!

(Salmon, parmesan zucchini and orange slices)

Photos by moi.

Practicing Independence

2010-05-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

"We must support as much as possible the child's desire for activity; not wait on him, but educate him to be independent." - Maria Montessori

Having the plates and food already prepped, ready for my helpers.

It was the two year olds task to take crackers and transfer them to red plates. Next came the meat that was already pulled into pieces & she put it on top of the crackers. Some for her, & some for her brother's plate.

Meanwhile it was my four year olds job to slice the cheese. Take the pieces and place them on the crackers. Make drinks. Carry plates outside where the picnic awaits.

"A child is an eager observer and is particularly attracted by the actions of adults and wants to imitate them. In this regard an adult can have a kind of mission. He can be an inspiration for the child's actions, a kind of open book wherein a child can learn to direct his own movements."
- Maria Montessori

Kitchen Cabinet Organization

2010-05-06T06:44:00.000-07:00

(The horrible before shot)

For some reason I could never organize my rubbermaid containers in any sort of way that made sense. So finally I saved up my swagbucks and bought two metal shelves to give me some semblance of order in my kitchen cabinets.

(After I reorganized with my new shelves)

Having all of the containers organized means I'll actually use them more. When I don't have to search for the lids I'm more likely to grab a container instead of a ziplock bag. It also gave me more room for a little lazy susan which holds my coffee grinder and French press. I love having the things I use the most within reach. It saves me time and headaches.

Photos by moi.

How Do Moms Get Their Super Powers?

2010-05-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

By eating a nutritious breakfast of course! Want to score major baking points with a woman in your life this weekend? Be sure to try these.....

Super Power Muffins:

-1 Cup Brown Sugar

- 1/4 to 1/2 cup Peanut Butter

- 1 Banana

- 1/2 cup Apple Sauce or Carrot Puree

- 1 Egg

- 1 Cup of Whole Wheat Flour

-1 Tsp Baking Soda

-1 Tsp Baking Powder

-1/2 Tsp of Salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients, set aside. Blend everything else, sift in dry ingredients. Spray muffin tray or add liners. Bake for 15-18 minutes. (Makes 12, double for 24).

Here's an old Seinfeld episode to enjoy while you chow down your super muffins...........Top of the Muffin to You!

Garden Markers

2010-05-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

I first saw these vintage spoon garden markers about a year ago, but at the time I lived in a little apartment with no garden. Now that I finally have a garden I purchased four custom spoons with the names of the herbs I've planted.

I got them from etsy seller Monkeysalwayslook last night and I love them! Each spoon is different. She flattens them and then puts the name of the herb on them. They are already at home in my little herb garden.

Photos by moi.

Picture Your Memories

2010-05-03T08:19:00.000-07:00

Most everyone has a memory box/closet/garage. Special memento's from days gone by, ticket stubs, or misc. school papers. These can be the hardest items to pare down, because of the emotional attachment. But keeping everything that has meaning to you wouldn't be the best use of your space. Try an easier way to have a visual reminder of your things without taking up any space.... with a camera. 1.) Ask yourself if your children would think this was special when they are older? If not, take a picture.

2.) Is it something that would lose pieces or fall apart if you kept it for a long period of time? If so, take a picture.

3.) If something happened to me, would someone even know why it was important to me? If not, take a picture, then with a photo program write the date & memory that goes along with the item.

4.) Is there documentation of this item? Have you done a complete home inventory of your house lately? If there was a fire or flood would you have the necessary proof/memory to recall all of your special items? If not, take a picture.

5.) Want to remember your child's reaction to their favorite artwork? How they were proud & glowing when it was finished? If so, take a picture with them and the finished masterpiece. Also, if they are in the stage where they produce a craft everyday at school, try taking your camera to school. Line them up against the wall and snap their photo with all of their goodies. A wonderful before/after memorabilia as to how they've grown through the school year.

6.) Did you go on vacation and bring back every brochure from your destination? Take a picture of the important pages, maps, and ticket stubs. That way they will be tucked in right beside your photos on your computer album, not lying around collecting dust. Same goes for sporting events & theater performances.

7.) No doubt it would be difficult to put every memory item in a scrapbook, but with digital photos it can be easy to create a photo book online through sites like Snapfish or Scrapblog. What a fun gift idea for Christmas, or any other holiday to create a book of your vacation/preschool year/or special events you attended. This way you can customize, organize, and actually enjoy your memories instead of them sitting stagnant taking up space.

Now, once you have some of your memorabilia on the computer it is important that you always remember to back up your files, or have an online service like Carbonite do this for you. That way you can rest assure that your photos will be kept safe throughout the years to come!

Gardening Binder

2010-04-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

I have a hard time keeping the various rules of different plants straight. When do they grow? How much sun do they need? So I decided to cut the seed packages apart and create a binder with all of the different plants' information.

I have separate sections for vegetables and flowers. It's already been helpful in reminding me how frequently I should water each plant. It also helps me keep track of what is an annual and what's a perennial, so I'll know what to expect next year.

Kids Springtime Lanterns

2010-04-29T06:15:00.000-07:00

We decided our house needed a little extra punch of color for Spring, and hunted for a fun craft to incorporate into our cheerful mood. These paper lanterns fit perfectly into our decorative disposition!

:::Supplies:::

Scissors
Tape
One plain piece of construction paper & then different colorful pieces

1.) Fold the paper in half, longways.

2.) Cut the paper into strips, being careful not to cut the paper all the way through. Look at those mad cutting skills!!

3.) Open folded paper. Cut long colorful strips of paper-enough to weave all the way across.

4.) Admire work. Have adult tell you how you are so stinkin' good at weaving! If you are four years old, ask adult what "weaving" means.

5.) Fold paper together, into lantern shape.
6.) Tape
7.) Add last long colorful piece to top to make a handle.

8.) Hang lanterns from kitchen table with friend bird--hatched from recycled CD's & lots of glue.

9.) Proudly gaze at your new additions, and then swiftly run outside to swing in the warm Spring breeze!

Upside Down Tomato Plants

2010-04-28T08:41:00.001-07:00

I've been seeing a lot of tomato planters that hang the vines upside down recently. They make the whole process so simple because you don't have to worry about slugs and other such creatures destroying the fruit of your labor before you can get to it. Flannel Man and I got the version seen above, which allows you to plant and herb garden on the top portion of the planter.

After putting it together I added 4 tomato plants and top soil. The bottom section is filled with sand to give it a solid base. It's made of a similar material as a garbage can, which isn't pretty, but it is durable.

We put the planter just outside of our back door, by our porch. In the herb garden I planted cilantro, green onions, dill and thyme. Those are a few of the spices we use the most while cooking. I also planted an aloe plant in the center. I'm constantly burning myself on hot pans and oven racks and keeping an aloe plant nearby has become a necessity.

Photos by moi.

Garbage Disposal + Plunger

2010-04-27T06:17:00.000-07:00

Last night sometime before getting dinner started, and after lunch my kitchen's plumbing had a major meltdown. I'm pretty sure it was the carrot peelings that looked something like party streamers going down the drain that morning. The garbage disposal was spinning, but nothing was going down, including the water. After finding the reset button & fiddling with the special tool, I was sure that I was going to have make a call. But I had one last hope before shelling out $75 plus..........the Google search.

Which led me to this website. Seriously, there are a hundred testimonials of using a plunger to unclog the sink. These people don't lie. So, there's me going to town on my sink, plunging like a mad woman. And guess what. It worked like a charm! Therefore, today I am thankful for plungers and very heavy duty soap to clean up after said plunger! :)

image

The "Real" World

2010-04-26T10:41:00.001-07:00

This topic has been stirring in my head for days. It has to do with the "whys" of parenting. I don't know how to properly write about this topic, because I have so many ideas and I'm not quite settled on my approach to tackling them all.

I want to give you some insight into what has been streaming on the channels of my mind....Beginning with their amount of choices.

They have quite a bit of stuff. More than I do. More than my husband. How do a four and two year old have so many belongings? Some I have bought, some were presents. Why? I bought them toys, because I wanted to be a good mom. Says who? People around me and the tv image, says that if I love my kids I will buy them things to illustrate that physically. Do they play with them all? No, they certainly do not play with them all. Not even half. Do they take care of them? No, I do. I tell them to pick them up and I have to constantly monitor their clean up. Do I like having extra work? Ummm, not a chance.

In summary I now know that I have things in my house that I don't love, things that aren't being taken care of, and that are causing me extra work. Now that I have come to the conclusion that I do not need/want/love these things in my house what to do?

Get rid of them. This thought absolutely blew me away. I argued with myself. You spent money on these toys, what will the kids say, and what will they do all day?

I laugh now at these statements, because they are born out of ignorance. Just because I once spent money on something doesn't mean it will always align with my views in the future. The kids don't really care (older kids might have), because anything he/she truly loves will be kept. Plus, they have the best toy with them always, their imagination. What will they do all day? Well, since they didn't really "play" with their toys to begin with this is a non-issue. But for the sake of argument (with myself) I have a completely different strategy to help them through their days. Things that will help them grow, not only as a person, but create character.... or maybe just let them be bored and see what happens.

I have been reading the blog, The Lazy Organizer, and she has pointed to some fantastic resources and ideas that she is implementing with her own children. One of the resources is a speech given on the topic of raising children for their heavenly home. I LOVE this speech. It is wonderful and gives me such motivation. No matter what is said around me I know that this is the right path for our family. Why? Because I feel at peace with simplicity, education, religion, and true culture. I want to learn how to be different. The world has forgotten about classical music, art, nature, and reading. The few things that have had an impact on countless men and women over the ages (and are mostly free). I want to rediscover the magic of those things in our home.

As I take my son to preschool, all I see in every hallway are licenced characters smiling or glaring (if you are a super hero) from backpacks. I would say that 90% of the children there are endorsing some kind of character from their book bags, which do not even hold books yet!! Children, as a consumer, are a huge market now. This website shines the light on the subject. They report that children are easy to target because they are a captive audience most of the time, by watching an average of 25,000 to 40,000 commercials a year. Which then in turn equals about $130- 670 billion dollars in parental purchases which the children (12 and under) influence directly!

I, of which have been one of those parents influenced. Let me say that I don't think all Disney movies are bad, they just have their place and time. Just like all junk food isn't evil. It just needn't be around everyday. I want our home to be one of limited choices/moderation, with a focus on the "real". Real entertainment, cooking, chores/work, and relationships. I have a lot more research to do on this subject, and hope to learn as much as possible through books, blogs, but mostly by just experiencing it with them. :)

Clean out your closets

2010-04-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

(Clothes on my bed, pre-elimination)

Inspired by Gretchen Rubin's "The Happiness Project" (and the fact that I couldn't even remember all of the clothes I own) this past weekend I decided I needed to clean out my closets. With the help of my fellow blogger I dove in and put almost everything I owned on my bed. From there we split things into categories and started eliminating.

Now I'd like to say, for the record, that I'm not a big shopper and 99% of what I own comes from the sale racks at Old Navy, Goodwill or Target. I tend to wear the same sort of clothing for years, jeans, cardigans, etc. But apparently, if you don't clean out your closets frequently, you end up with a LOT of stuff.

I would suggest that if you tackle your own closets you do it when you have enough time and when you have a friend you trust who can honestly tell you, "You never wear that and you won't miss it." We worked on mine for about 3 hours and then I finished up the next day.

(Not even half of the hangers)

Before putting anything back in the closet we compared each item to the other items in the category. Yes, I like that white button-up shirt, but I already have 2 others in the keep pile. This process continued with shirts, pants, PJs, dresses, shoes, etc. I also got rid of a ton of hangers.

The hardest items for me to part with were ones that I had purchased on trips. I had a hoodie from Scotland, a couple of shirts from Ireland and my favorite pair of jeans from London. All of these items ended up in the "get-rid-of" pile because they didn't fit, were stained or had holes.

(One side of my closet, post-elimination)

My cleaned out closet actually had enough room for me to see what I was looking for without having to move everything around. It's amazing how much stuff you accumulate over the years. It makes me feel both blessed and wasteful.

In the end I had SIX huge black garbage bags and two smaller garbage bags filled with clothes, shoes, purses and a few other odds and ends. I took one box of items (books, CDs and DVDs) to Half Priced Books and received $38.50 and I took a small bag to Plato's Closet and received $3.90. The rest went to Goodwill and hopefully someone else will enjoy the items.

Photos by moi.

The Wants

2010-04-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

I can't help but sometimes get the case of the "I Wants". What do you do when you have the urge to splurge?

Write it down. Get it out of your head and onto a paper. Let the stuff sit there in ink before it comes into your home.

Then you can.....

Wait for Birthdays/Holidays

Find Alternatives

Let Wants go to Needs

See a Sale?

Seek out thrift shops/Goodwill

Ask Friends to Borrow Theirs

Decide you don't really need it after all

Some of these things will be sitting there for a very long time and I'm ok with that. As long as the decision to have these things have been thought out one way or the other it will ultimately help simplify life.

Do you have a grown up wish lists?

Top 10 Organizing Products for your Closet

2010-04-19T12:56:00.000-07:00

In the Midwest right now not only are the seasons changing, but so are the clothes in peoples closets. I have tried to compile the best organizing products to make this years 'season swap' go easier.

The garment bag is a must have if you have a wedding dress or any kind of formal attire that would like to keep protected. Off season jackets and coats might be a good option for storage too. Moths, fabric yellowing, and wear and tear are some of the dangers that clothes face if not in some kind of covering.
Adjustable wooden drawer dividers are a wonderful way to make you feel like you have built-ins for your drawers. These have unlimited uses for t-shirts, pj's or shorts. The best thing about this product is that you don't have to fold things, and they are still contained & look organized!

Over the door hanging hooks are good for just about anything accessory wise such as hats, scarves, or extra clothes you just don't want to hang up at that moment.

These expandable drawer dividers are the best for your underwear/sock drawer. They take the searching out of putting away clothes and getting dressed in the mornings. Every item has a specific home and lets you get the most of every undergarment you own.

As far as shoe organizers I would recommend an over the door organizer. It keeps shoes off the floor, keeps pairs together, and makes it easy to see what you have.

Canvas bins with lids are my favorite. Most don't come with lids which I don't understand. But these will keep out the dust, let the items inside breathe, and don't contain plastic. It's a win win for everyone!

A stool close by, or in the closet is a must because it allows you to think "up" in your closet. Most people don't utilize the space between their shelves and ceiling, because the space is hard to reach. Having a stool makes the space easy to reach and easy to access.

At-A-Glance Closet Organizers are not essential at all, but for the person that has trouble setting boundaries for their clothing it is a nice tool.

I looked for these Closet Shelf Dividers at the local store and could not find them. So, I don't know about how well they work on your shelves, but I could imagine the possibilities for their uses. Not only for towels, sweaters, or other clothing, but maybe in your pantry to separate your can goods and such.

For kids closets this is amazing! Double Closet Rods allow them to not only to hang up their clothing, but get dressed without pulling a stool up to reach their clothing! This maximizes the ultimate amount of space up and down while keep the floor free!

Hope this gives you some ideas for making the best use of your space this season!

(All pictures are from OrganizeIt.com)

On the mend

2010-04-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

Mending always sounded like such a menial task to me. It’s one that I associated with elderly ladies with nothing else to do. I also thought it would be hard. Instead, I’ve found that I’m perfectly capable of mending simple holes and replacing runaway buttons.

I’ve found that the most important thing is to have all of your tools in one location. I found this little sewing kit marked 75% off at a fabric store and snatched it up. For a couple bucks I now have a central location for all things sewing related. I can take a favorite pair of PJ pants, one of Flannel Man’s flannel shirts and one of my button-up work shirts (sans a button) and fix all of them while watching Cary Grant speed talk Rosalind Russell back into love in His Girl Friday.

In the matter of an hour or so I've given each of these items at least one more year of life. In doing so I've put off the need to buy more stuff.

P.S. Most of my thread came from a little box I bought at Goodwill. I found the wooden cigar box for a buck and then got it home and realized it was filled with a rainbow of thread spools!

Photos by moi.

Lawndry

2010-04-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

"After enlightenment, the laundry."

- Zen Proverb

During the winter months I hung the laundry to dry in our tiny space upstairs above the washing machine. But now springtime has come and my shirts whispered to me, "Wiiiind" and my capris said, "Breezeee Pllleazzze". I wasn't going to listen to their fanciful wishes till I awoke to find crafty crowlike birds building their nests in the dryer vent outlet. Since the dryer is now completely out of the question I obliged my 100% cotton friends, promising to let them go outside. But where? I don't have any kind of drying contraption in my backyard. Not even a wooden portable type to carry out. Surveying my options I have a garden, a grill, and a swing set.

This is about the time when the crow flew over me and dropped a large twig on my head, causing me to suddenly have a laundry epiphany........Of course, I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner! The swing sets monkey bars are a perfect area to put hangers on to dry!

Now, what are the benefits of hanging clothes out to dry, instead of having a machine do the work for you?

Your clothes will smell fresh.
Saves your clothes. The dryer lint isn't hiding in your pockets... that is fabric coming off your clothes little by little. Sometimes I wonder how I have any clothing at all when I open up the dryer and see the layers of lint!
Dryer sheets will be a thing of the past. Clothes create static cling when tumbling around together in the machine. One less item to need from the store.
Hanging your clothes inside out on the line will prevent colored items from fading, but whites will actually become whiter from the sunshine.
You are saving money. You will skip using all that electricty from the dryer, and get some exercise in the process.
If you are wary of your clothes feeling like a paper dolls, just put them in the dryer for a quick fluff afterwards. Also, be sure to shake out your clothes before you hang them outside to get the wrinkles away. That will also make them dry faster.

So, I now have a useful space to let my clothes fulfill their drying dreams while giving my kids space to monkey around. The best of both worlds. Being green and saving money more times than not means thinking "outside" of what you don't have, and being creative about what you do.

I would love to know, do you ever take your clothes outside for a breath of fresh air? (And also how do you get rid of unwelcome birds in your home??)

What's Cooking: Ham and Asparagus Risotto

2010-04-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

I've never attempted anything related to a risotto before, but when I saw this recipe, I knew I had to try it.

The preparation was easy, but the cooking took forever! You slowly add the broth to the pan a little at a time. Once I finally had all of the ingredient in the skillet, we still had to cook it for another half and hour or so.

In the end we ended up covering the pan and letting it sit for awhile. Flannel Man and I took turns stirring it to make sure it didn't burn, but rice takes so long to fully cook.

Final verdict: The recipe tasted great when it was done. We added a little hot sauce to kick up the heat level, but even without it the flavor was great. But it's definitely not a quick meal.

Photos by moi.

Mission: Organize Your Beauty Routine

2010-04-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

What does your beauty routine look like in the mornings? Is it a struggle to find just what you need that day? Or is your process streamlined? Here is a peek into my morning ritual.....

The first thing was truly parring down my makeup collection to the things that I use everyday. The rest was put into a box in the closet with the "night-time" makeup like fake eyelashes, eyeliner, and fancier eyeshadow. I was then able to choose a container to hold all my other products.

This bin is made out of the material of a tent. It easily wipes down if there is a mess and I don't have to worry about water spilling on it from the sink. Adding a white container that comes from a plain set at the store and an old makeup bag everything is contained. Lotion and makeup remover go into the black bag. Add a mirror to the bin and you have a portable beauty "shelf".

Everyday I take out the bin from underneath the sink and use it on the counter. I usually blow dry my hair right after I do my makeup. So for me it makes sense to just leave the hairdryer on top of the makeup container, thrown right in. Easy clean up and no extra storage needed!

For hair accessories I needed to find something that had lots of little storage areas. This one is perfect for under a sink or in a shelf. On top of this sits a simple wire raised shelf. This storage container hold my hair products and headbands.

Adding the ever useful 3M hooks to the side of the sink door makes use of wasted space by hanging hairbrushes!

And there it is. A way to keep your bathroom and self put together, and ready for the day ahead!

(Hot pink organizer optional :) )

Expiration Dates for Beauty Products

2010-04-09T06:49:00.000-07:00

Real Simple recently gave a complete list of the expiration dates for beauty products here. I'm always suspicious of these lists. I wonder if that's really how long they last or if it's just a ploy to get consumers to buy more make-up. The fact that it was in Real Simple makes me trust it a bit more.

I think I have mascara tubes that date back to high school. In fact I'm pretty sure I have items that are past their alleged expiration date in almost all of these categories. How frequently do you all replace your make-up?

REAL SIMPLE's suggested expiration dates:

• Anti-aging and acne treatments: Three months to a year. Antioxidants are easily oxidized, so be on the lookout for any changes in color.

• Body lotion: Two to three years, particularly if it’s in a pump container.

• Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel: About three years.

• Bath oil: One year.

• Sunscreen: Check the package for an expiration date.

• Mascara and liquid eyeliner: Three to four months. Make sure you’re diligent about replacing these items to prevent contamination and infections.

• Eye and lip pencils: Three to five years. Sharpen them before each use as a way to preserve them and keep them clean.

• Lipstick and lip gloss: Two to three years.

• Foundation: About two years. Most bottles are designed to last that long. And if you don’t use it, chances are you didn’t love it to begin with.

• Perfume: About two years. To get more mileage out of a perfume, resist the temptation to display a pretty bottle on your vanity. Instead, stash it away in a cool, dark place.

• Nail polish: One year.

• Hairstyling products: Three to five years. Most are alcohol-based, which helps preserve the formula.

• Bar soap: Up to three years.

• Shaving cream: About two years.

• Deodorant: Up to two years.

Photo by moi.

Tacos Made Easy

2010-04-08T08:14:00.000-07:00

My most turned to dinner when there is nothing on the menu is tacos. I almost always have the fixings on hand and it is quick. Here are two different pictures of taco night at our house.
Repurposing a dinner party plate, the clean up is a breeze. Everything from the lettuce to salsa is easily served in a single chips and dip tray! Another plate for the soft tacos and your dinner is complete.