Flag Luminary

Another easy quick craft for the Fourth - aren't they cute? All you need is a big jar, a small flag, mod podge, rope for around the top, and glitter (glitter is optional I suppose, but it's glitter - why wouldn't you add it if you have it?!).

As you know, I'm an instant gratification kinda crafter and will find things in my house that will "do" when I see or think of a project that I want to make - I saw the idea for these luminaries online but changed it a bit to use the things I already have and put it together a little differently. So I'm using a large clean pickle jar (I have them left over from making the very very best yummiest pickles - click here for that post) with the label removed, a 6x4" cheap little flag that is wrapped around a dowel, matte finish mod podge, and white glitter.

Slide the flag off the dowel and cut off the part that was folded - you want the flag to lay flat. I liked the edges all jaggedy so I cut a thin bit off the other end and unraveled it a little to match. Brush a thin layer of mod podge onto the jar where the flag will go, apply the flag, then brush another thin layer of mod podge over the entire flag. Make sure there is mod podge under the entire flag since it's acting as glue to keep the flag in place. Smooth out all of the bubbles (I use my fingers, then wash my hands before the glue dries), and let it dry 15-20 minutes. Apply a second coat of mod podge and sprinkle with glitter. Let dry. The mod podge dries clear but you can still see it on the glass so I took a wet paper towel and something with a sharpish edge (uh, that'd be my fingernail) and cleaned up around the flag so the mod podge was a little neater looking.

To finish wrap rope around the top using a little dab of hot glue to hold it in place. Once everything is dry I put some sand in cuz I like how it looks, and a votive candle (use a tealight if you made this with a smaller jar).

Note: initially I was going to make this with a Mason jar but realize the flag isn't going to stick as good or be smooth because of the raised imprint on the Mason jars.

I re-use paper or styrofoam plates when I have small painting (or in this case mod podging) projects

the white piece in the middle is what was holding the flag to the dowel that I cut off.

mod podge goes under and on top of the flag

after applying a second coat of mod podge sprinkle with glitter

the glitter looks really pretty with the candle lit - it's all sparkly and having this outside at night is going to be so nice!

Having trouble linking the source for this idea - I found it at A Little Craft In Your Day.

Red, White, and Blue Windsock

Browsing the internet (aka: wasting time instead of doing something productive) and saw this idea for an easy quick craft - since I have the supplies on hand I just now went and made one (aka: got off my behind and did something)...took me maybe 15 minutes tops and it's really cute. Great kid craft!

Cut 1" strips of plastic tablecloths - I cut 10 each of red, white, and blue ones that I had on hand (from the dollar store that are 54x108") for a total of 30 strips. Make a wire ring using whatever wire you have on hand that you can bend into a circle, twisting it closed with some pliers (turn the ends under so they aren't sticking out and sharp). I have 16 gauge wire which is pretty heavy but still easily bend and shapeable.

For each strip: fold in half, put the center loop under the ring, bring the ends up over the ring and thru the loop, pull tight. Repeat until the ring is as full as you want it. Tie on some fishing line (or thread, or light wire...) to hang.

this is all you need (or use scissors to cut the strips), plus pliers to bend the wire.

29 strips to go...

tie on something to hang it - I used fishing line.

Found the idea here.

Healthy Berry Trifle

I'm reposting this recipe from last year because it's so, so, so good and I don't want you to miss it - perfect thing to make for the 4th. Everyone loves it. Everyone! (Ha, I typed that before reading the beginning of the original post - see, I'm serious that everyone loves it!)


from 5/28/16:
Here's a quick, easy, yummy, low calorie dessert that's perfect for any patriotic holidays or summer party - it's a weight watchers recipe that I found here and it's SO good. I make this quite often and everyone loves it. I'm taking this trifle to my sisters for her Memorial Day party along with mini cherry and blueberry pies (I haven't made them yet, will post when I do!). Here is the original recipe, followed by a couple of my notes.



RED, WHITE, AND BLUEBERRY TRIFLE
14 (1cup) servings, 169 calories per serving

ingredients:
- 10 oz angel food cake, cut into 1-inch cubes
-2 pints strawberries, sliced
- 2 pints blueberries

for the cream filling:
-6 tablespoons fat-free sweetened condensed milk
-1 1/2 cups cold water
1 package sugar-free white chocolate instant pudding mix
-12 oz fat free frozen whipped topping, thawed

directions:
Whisk the condensed milk and water in a bowl. Whisk in the pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft set; fold in the whipped topping.

Arrange half of the cake in the bottom of a 14 cup trifle dish. Sprinkle evenly with a layer of blueberries. Spread half of the cream mixture over the blueberries and gently spread. Top with a layer of strawberries. Layer the remaining cake cubes on top of the strawberries, then add more blueberries and top with the remaining cream mixture. Finish with the remaining strawberries and blueberries, arranging them in a pretty pattern. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour.

*notes: I sometimes use low-fat milk instead of the condensed milk/water mixture; and you can change the pudding flavor to whatever you like. Sometimes I get in too big of a hurry and don't cut the angel food cake into small enough bites, you do want them fairly small. I save out a little whipped topping and spread it on the top before adding the top layer of berries in a pattern. One more thing - I put down a little of the pudding first then layer with cake and berries (and sometimes I add raspberries).  Enjoy!

Pom Pom Earrings

Got the idea for these from Michaels, I didn't have all the supplies they called for so I made them using what I have on hand. They came together really quickly once I made the pom poms - for those I found a tutorial here to DIY a pom pom maker and it totally worked! I'm pretty stoked, I do love pom poms and now I know how to make them quickly and easily - I can feel my sister rolling her eyes at me as I write this, she's gonna love (wink) these earrings...

This is a two-part craft - I thought about making it 2 separate posts but if you want to make these in time to wear on July 4th I should give them both to you at once. This is a longer post than I normally do so bear with me!

First you need 2 pom poms, you can make them any size - mine are about 2". I made them in red so I'll have fun Fourth of July jewelry to wear with the blue and white cotton dress and red converse tennis shoes I'm planning to wear that day,  make yours any color! Watch the video to see step by step directions, it's quite easy. You'll need to cut a piece of yarn about a foot long before starting, set aside for now. Cut out 2 circles from cardboard, then cut a smaller circle inside and a notch on the side - they look like 2 "c"s once you're done. Hold the two pieces together and wrap yard as shown starting at one end of the c and wrap to the other end, then wrap back to where you started so there are 2 layers of yarn on the circles. With your non-cutting hand hold the yarn in place and don't let go while inserting scissors between the 2 circles with your cutting hand. Once again, don't let go! Cut thru the yarn as shown; still holding on to the yarn with one hand use your other hand to wind the long piece of yarn you cut in the beginning around the pompom between the 2 circles and tie in place. Remove the cardboard and trim the balls to make them even all around - that's the hardest part, getting the whole ball even!

2" circle, then trace a 1/2" circle in the middle and cut out, also cut a notch so there is a place for the yarn to wind thru. After making the first one trace it onto the 2nd circle and repeat so you have 2 identical "c"s - they look like "c"s to me.

holding the two circles together, wind yarn around from one end to the other and back again

You'll need to hold onto the yarn that is wrapped around the inner circle - I'm not showing that 'cuz I need my other hand to take the picture! Insert your scissors between the 2 circles and cut thru the other edge of yarn (the middle of the circle stays intact) - don't let go of the inside part of yarn or you'll have little pieces of yarn and no pom pom!

still holding the ball together with one hand, insert a length of yarn in between the 2 circles and pull tight.

knot the ends and remove the cardboard. Trim the pom pom so it's even all the way around.

Now to make them into earrings...

Supplies I used per earring:
15 small blue beads
1 jump ring
1 crimp bead
1 spacer bead
fishing line
needle
2 tweezers
needle nose pliers
glue (if you want to get all serious about your project)

Thread the needle with fishing line and put the needle thru the middle of the pom pom. Then bring the needle up thru the bottom of the pom pom and knot it at the top. Cut off one end of the fishing line so you just have 1 strand to work with (if I was serious about these and wanted to make sure they don't break I'd put a dab of glue on the knot before cutting one end off - but this is just a fun little project and I don't care if they last forever). Remove the needle. Thread 15 beads onto the fishing line, then the spacer bead, the crimp bead, and lastly the jump ring. Run the fishing line back on itself thru the crimp bead, the spacer bead, and a couple of the blue beads pulling till taught but not so tight the beads buckle. Using needle nose pliers crush the crimp bead to lock the fishing line in place, then cut off the tail sticking out thru the blue beads (once again you could but a bit of glue there to make sure it stays put). Using 2 pairs of tweezers open the jump ring by twisting the sides away from each other - don't pull the ring apart that will make it all wonky and difficult to close, if you twist the end (one tweezer goes away from you and the other twists towards you); attach the jump ring to the loop on an earring hook then close the ring back up.

after running fishing line thru and back up the middle of pom pom, tie it in a knot and remove one tail.
slide 15 small beads onto the other tail as shown. 

add a spacer bead, crimp bead, and jump ring - then thread the tail back thru the crimp bean, spacer bead
and a couple of the blue beads. pull tight so there's no space between the beads then crush the crimp bead using needle nose pliers. cut off any tail that is sticking out. 

Paper "Fireworks"

I'm working on making things for Ronda's seasonal display table (click here  for Halloween and here for Fall), we're doing a "beachy" summer theme and I'll show you all the fun things I've been making for her in the next few posts. While making some pretty paper flowers I thought how much they looked like fireworks if I used red, white, and blue paper - they'll be perfect for Fourth of July decorations.

Starting with a 3.5"x8.5" strip of cardstock, fringe one long edge with fringing scissors (or just make thin cuts the entire length with sharp scissors). Tightly roll up the strip, run some glue (I used a glue stick) along the last one inch of end so it'll stay coiled up. Pull the fringe down, slightly curving it with your fingers as you go so it pulls apart and looks like a paper pompom. Add a drop of glue to the underside of the coil then insert a wooden skewer. Done. I did the flowers a little differently and will share that later (click here to see the spider mum post). 

6/25 - week of dinner menus

Haven't had time to try any new main dish recipes so thought I'd share a roundup of what we had this week in case you need some ideas for meal planning (click on the highlighted words to go to the previously posted recipes):

1. grilled tuna with greek salad (chopped tomatoes, cukes, feta cheese, garbanzo beans tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper)
2. grilled pork chops with perfect sweet potatoes and sautéed zucchini with mushrooms (note this really does make perfect sweet potatoes!). 
3. perfect grilled chicken with cole slaw and roasted green beans
4. bison burger salad
5. grilled steak with sauteed mushrooms, and southwest salad (black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado tossed with olive oil and southwest seasoning)
6. meatloaf with mashed cauliflower and mixed veggies
7. one night we went out ;)

We eat pretty simple - typically grilled meat with veggie side. How 'bout you? Doing anything more interesting you want to share? 

Mojito Fruit Cocktail

I made this to go with the lemon donuts I took to Al and Cathy's the other day - I figured if she had some fruit for dessert she wouldn't mind that I made donuts. Click here for that post. Since I was taking this to their house I just put it in a big bowl - if you make it at home tho it's really cute to serve in individual glasses that you dip the rims in sugar and garnish like a cocktail. I don't follow the recipe exactly and just dice up whatever fruit I want - this time I didn't add pineapple, did add a big handful of blueberries and halved/pitted cherries.

 Ingredients:

3/4 cup each diced fresh strawberries and diced fresh pineapple
2 kiwis, peeled and diced (about 1 cup)
2 oranges, peel and white part removed, cut in segments and diced
2 Tbsp white rum (optional)
2 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp grated lime peel
Garnish: sugar, red liquid food color (for pink tinted sugar on the rims) and lime slices (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients except the optional garnish. Let stand, tossing occasionally, 10 minutes until juicy and sugar dissolves.
2. To garnish and serve (if you want): spread about 2 Tbsp sugar on a plate. Add 1 or 2 drops food coloring and blend until sugar is evenly tinted. Pour a little water into a shallow bowl. Dip rim of martini or other serving glass in water, then the sugar, to coat rim. Spoon in fruit and juice, garnish with a lime slice.

Serves 4. 106 cal, 1g pro, 26g carb, 4g fiber

I've had this recipe clipped from a Women's Day magazine since 6/04 - and I've made it a bunch!

didn't serve in glasses this time but even in a big bowl it's still really pretty!

Wear: Flare Jeans with Tank Top

I just got these cute flared jeans from Express (I absolutely don't need more jeans but saw these in petite and since I love bell bottoms and flares I couldn't resist!) and made them into an outfit I like by pairing them with a (really old) tank that I would normally wear with shorts to lay around in, cage sandals, and topped with an army green vest. 

I played with shoes and toppers, see the pics below - I wanted to wear it with the 3/4-sleeve jacket but it's too warm today for that so I switched to the vest.  I struggled with the shoes since the jeans aren't very long (I bought short and usually even that's too long but this time they are actually floor length) - I normally pair flares with higher chunky heeled shoes but these need lower heels...and I don't love the proportion of flats with flares on me.  I tried them with animal print ballet flats, nude moccasins, and nude thong sandals but they didn't do it - these cage sandals are a little "heavier" looking and help to balance out the overall look. At least that's what I hope is happening haha!!

basic tank and flare jeans before making them into an "outfit"

both of these make my feet look super little and the rest of me bigger - balance/proportion isn't right...

I think these add more "weight" anchoring the look better. 

I like the jacket best but it's warm today...this camo vest is ok but don't love it.

I settled on this green vest, added a big watch and shell necklace to complete.
the necklace is on a cord and it's pretty long - but I wanted it short so just tied a
loose knot in the back of the cord, voila - the length I wanted!

Top Braid

My hair is getting so much longer (for me that is) and I'm trying to figure out how to keep it cute (and out of my face!). With my hair in a middle part I did this braid on one side alongside of the part and like how it turned out - thought I'd share if you're looking for hair style ideas!

clip the hair you don't want braided out of the way

make a very loose braid towards the back and fasten it with a small ponytail holder

(obviously) remove the clips at this point...:)

PS: I'm wearing my cold knee jeans again this week, I'm lovin' them! It's my usual simple outfit of t-shirt and jeans, but with the bunch of multi-colored bead bracelets and patterned tennies (and my new braid) I think it looks a little more "done".

Baked Lemon Donuts

We were invited to friends' for dinner and I asked what I could bring. Cathy said "nothing" but I said I was going to bring something so she might as well tell me what...they are about to go on vacation and she didn't want to eat any heavy dessert so I searched Pinterest for something on the lighter side and came across this recipe for baked donuts - ok so maybe that's not "light" exactly, but it's lighter than fried donuts hahaha!

I've never made baked donuts before and kinda thought they might just end up tasting like cupcakes with a hole in the middle and was SHOCKED that they ACTUALLY taste like a donut! Woohoo! I wish I didn't know this - now I have the pans and they are really easy to make so I'm worried I'll make them all the time! Yikes. On the plus side, this recipe only makes a dozen so I can only go so far eating them...;)

I found the recipe here - it's almost identical to the recipe that comes with the pans other than she topped with sugar. I love the texture the crunchy sugar adds and I think brushing them with butter (don't tell Cathy that part please!) before rolling in sugar really helped make them moist and delish! I coated the bottom along with the top of the donut because in her picture thats what it looks like she did even though the directions don't say that. YUM.

Completely random thing before you read the recipe - I have no idea if my first sentence "we were invited to friends' " is correct! Is it "friend's"?. How to pluralize in this sentence? I cannot even find the answer on google. My editing skills are lacking on this one. Anyone know? I almost re-worded it to "we were invited to Al and Cathy's for dinner" but then I decided what the heck - friends' it is until I hear otherwise.

um, no they are not.

Ingredients 

• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• FOR THE COATING:
• ½ cup sugar
• 4 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted

Instructions

1. Adjust oven racks to center position and preheat oven to 425°F. Spray two 6-cavity donut pans with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour and cornstarch. Whisk in sugar, baking powder, and salt until well blended. Stir in buttermilk, eggs, butter, lemon juice, vanilla, and lemon zest until batter is smooth and combined, but do not over-mix. Evenly divide the batter between the prepared donut pans.
3. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes until the edges of the donuts begin to turn a light golden brown and the tops of the donuts spring back when lightly touched. Allow donuts to cool for 5 minutes in pans before turning them out onto a cooling rack.
4. In a mini food processor, combine the sugar and lemon zest and pulse until finely ground (you may simply stir together the sugar and zest if you don't have a food processor). Place the melted butter in a shallow bowl. Dip one side of each donut in the butter, and then press into the sugar/zest mixture. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

The cornstarch lightens up the texture of the donuts, akin to using cake flour. If you prefer, you may omit the cornstarch and increase the flour to 2 cups.

Changing a Lightbulb

Haha well that's a lame title for this post but I don't know what else to call it! I have a little hint to share with you that I recently learned when I couldn't figure out how to get to a burned out lightbulb and had to ask my friend Mark (aka: Mr. French). So the bulb is under a glass cover set into a round metal trim piece that is flush up and tight against the ceiling...yes I know these pieces probably have names and if I went to the hardware store and described what I just wrote they would make fun of me but whatever, just go with it...it's stuck up tight to the ceiling but the glass is set inside it so I knew there was a trick to removing it but I couldn't tell how and didn't want to break anything. 

So I texted Mark and asked - he said to just pull down on the trim piece, it's up there so tight because there is a clip/spring thing holding it up there. So sure enough I pulled (I had to pull it pretty hard and never would have done that without him telling me!) and it did come down. The springs will still be trying to pull it back to the ceiling though, so you need to unhook one side of it so it'll stay down and you can get to the bulb. Such a simple thing but I didn't know it, thought maybe you didn't either! Don't tell me if I'm the only person who couldn't figure this out...this makes me think of "how many people does it take to change a lightbulb" jokes - this one makes me laugh:

How Many Dogs Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb?

      Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our
      whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid
      burned-out light bulb?

      Border Collie: Just one. And I'll replace any wiring that's not up to
      code.

      Dachshund: I can't reach the stupid lamp!

      Toy Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border collie's ear and he'll do
      it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

      Rottweiler: Make me.

      Shi-tzu: Puh-leeze, dah-ling. Let the servants. . .

      Lab: Oh, me, me!!! Pleeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I?
      Can I? Huh? Huh? Can I?

      Malamute: Let the Border collie do it. You can feed me while he's
      busy.

      Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the
      dark.

      Doberman Pinscher: While it's dark, I'm going to sleep on the couch.

      Mastiff: Mastiffs are NOT afraid of the dark.

      Hound Dog: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

      Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb.

      Pointer: I see it, there it is, right there...

      Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?

      Australian Shepherd: First I'll get all the light bulbs in a little circle...

      Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? Light bulb? That thing I just ate
      was a light bulb?

DIY: Cold Knee Jeans

These jeans were in the Goodwill pile but only because when I got new jeans the other day I thought I should go thru my old jeans and get rid of some...this was the only pair I'm not crazy about so was willing to let go of them (unfortunately I still can't fit all of my jeans in the drawer and am going to have to downsize further!).  But then I've seen "cold knee" jeans everywhere lately and I wanted to see if I could make them... didn't want to cut up any of my jeans...remembered the Goodwill ones and...voila, cold knee jeans!

It isn't hard AT ALL to distress your own jeans and totally not necessary to pay top dollar for someone else to rip them up haha! If you're chicken to take a knife to your favorite jeans, experiment with a pair you don't love or are willing to cut into shorts (or buy some inexpensive ones) in case it doesn't work to your satisfaction!

For these I wanted the whole knee removed, you can also just do "regular" distressing using the same techniques (minus removing the knee part!). I put the jeans on and marked where my knee is with pins, then cut a big square out (I used the first square as a pattern for the second knee but they didn't end up being exact - which I like). Then take a razor (box cutter or craft knife also works) and make horizontal slits above and below the hole you just made. NOTE: if you don't want to have the knee out and just want them distressed, only do that last step of cutting slits along where you want them ripped - knee, thigh, pockets, hems, etc...). Once you've made the cuts, wash and dry the jeans two times - that creates the worn frayed edges where you made the cuts.

There is a good video on blog.freepeople.com that shows you how to distress your jeans if you want to watch.

I removed about a 3" square from each knee, making sure to not cut all the way thru to the back side!

insert a piece of cardboard or something thick (to protect going all the way thru) before you cut the slits 

end result after washing and drying.

I also released the hem by removing the seam with a seam-ripper - I've worn them both down as shown above, and rolled up into a cuff.