Crockpot Cooking Mama

I'll let you in on a little secret of mine - I'm a closet crockpot lover. Perhaps it's the fact that I love cooking and also love DIY projects, but in the days when the term 'DIY' is gaining a cool-girl connotation, I can't help but feel that crockpots are still being left in the dark. Still associated with bored housewives who have lost the will to slave over the stove for the ones they love - when really, as Americans are working even longer and harder, crockpots are a salvation. An appliance that allows you to eat a healthy, homecooked meal, even when you're strapped for time. So if you don't own a crockpot....buy yourself one and thank me later! :) And to give you plenty of ideas regarding what your new, treasured crockpot is capable of producing, check out the blog, http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/. The author behind this blog made a New Years resolution to cook an entire years worth of meals (yep, every single day!) in her crockpot. What I love most about this blog is that the author dives into each and every crockpot cooking trial with hope and optimism.....and then tells the readers very candidly whether or not the recipe was a success.



http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/



The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want

good enough

Bottom's Up!

Tomorrow is New Years Eve! Whether you're planning a big night out or curling up on the couch to watch the ball drop, surely your night would be incomplete without a tasty adult beverage! After scouring the internet and reading hundreds of recipes I think I've narrowed it down to these two...one sweet recipe that incorporates some bubbly, and one that is fresh and tart - a perfect balance!

Cucumber Cooler

Ingredients

1 cucumber

1 1/4 ounces gin

Splash of fresh lime juice

Splash of simple syrup

Chilled seltzer

Directions

Slice a piece of cucumber and reserve for garnish. Peel, halve and seed the remaining cucumber. Puree in a blender until smooth, then strain through a fine mesh sieve.

Fill a highball glass three-quarters of the way with ice. Add 2 ounces cucumber puree, the gin, lime juice and simple syrup and stir. (To make a batch of simple syrup, simmer equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves, then cool.) Fill the glass with seltzer and stir again. Garnish with the reserved cucumber slice.

Grand Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients
4 shots orange-flavored liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier)
4 teaspoons honey
4 fresh strawberries, tops trimme
1 bottle Champagne, well chilled
Special equipment: 4 chilled Champagne flutes

Directions

Add the orange-flavored liqueur, honey and strawberries to a food processor and process until smooth. Fill the chilled glasses half way with the strawberry mixture and then fill the rest of  the glass with Champagne.


If neither of these two recipes spark your interest check out more amazing recipe ideas at;

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipe-collections/cocktail/index.html

Healthy Grub

If your New Years resolution is to lose weight, get into shape, or just be as healthy as you can you should check out the link below. I've followed this blog for a couple of years, and find it super helpful. The blog 'eat like me' details the (food) life of a nutritionist....helpful for those who are skipping the latest diet fads in exchange for a realistic, healthy diet. Any diet that prohibits me from having the occasional nachos or margarita is no diet for me! But I can handle eating sensibly....most of the time.

http://www.self.com/fooddiet/blogs/eatlikeme/

let's meet here...

DIY mini garden

How adorable is this DIY mini garden? I think it would be perfect for an office, or anyplace where you don't have a lot of room and/or natural light. To read the full tutorial (from design sponge), please click on the photo caption. Like any good DIY craft, there is always lots of room to make this idea into your own. Different container? Different flowers? The possibilities are endless! 

full tutorial here

new years resolution - be thankful

This article on NPR's website caught my eye....one man's New Years resolution was to write one thank you note, every single day, for an entire year. Wow. Do I even know 365 people? 

Apparently this gentleman also had some difficulty in coming up with 365 people to thank, but he succeeded, and I think it's an excellent, humbling story. Check out the article or listen to NPR's interview HERE.

lessons in love

http://sayingimages.com/page/2/

morning shenanigans

Dirty Hippie

I'm betting that even if you had the best Christmas ever yesterday and Santa brought you everything you wanted there was bound to still be some stress this holiday season. Lord knows I am stressed. (Retail will do that to you, though.) I googled 'relaxation' and found a good page from Mayo Clinic that gives good pointers about stress relieving techniques. Read it and say "ahhhhhhh."


Here's some relaxing music to help you get started.

christmas eve.....

Baked ham, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, and.......margaritas! Why not. Looking forward to skyping with the family soon! And I know this is a bit late, but look how cute these melting snowman cookies are! 

tutorial here......

all i want for christmas...

Beirut - "Nantes"

DIY studded clothing

 Ok, the purpose of this picture and link below isn't so much for the tutorial itself, but more for the idea in general. As in 'duh, why didn't I think of that before?'. And yes, there is a fine line between this concept and the tacky connotation of a bedazzler, but I happen to think these pyramid studs are super cool. And as long as you're not adding studs to your favorite item of clothing, what's the harm? I say go for it. I'm going for it.

http://psimadethis.com/post/308063797/im-mad-for-plaid-this-long-time-tartan

sleeping in

mantra

Weekend project?

Check out this fun (and simple) weekend project! Pick up some cheap toys/knick knacks at your local thrift store, choose a color that matches/accents your current decor, and start spray painting! The best part of this project is that it's incredibly easy on the wallet, so you won't feel too guilty should you decide to redecorate.



ps I made this (tutorial)





cliffhanger...

DIY ruffle top

I found this great tutorial on http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/05/how-to_one-shoulder_ruffle_shi.html for a one-shouldered, ruffle blouse. The tutorial seems simple enough to follow, and there is the possibility for endless variations.



http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/05/how-to_one-shoulder_ruffle_shi.html

Materials

 cotton T-shirt
Fabric scissors
Straight pins
Sewing needle
Thread in a color to match the T-shirt

Directions

Step 1: Lay your T-shirt on a flat surface and cut off approximately 3"-4" (depends on how long your shirt is, and how large you want your ruffle to be).

Step 2: Cut a curved asymmetrical line from one shoulder down to the opposite armpit. (Use an erasable marking tool if you need to draw a line to help with the cut.)

Step 3: Cut the bottom piece to create one long strip.

Step 4: Scrunch and pin the fabric strip along the asymmetrical neckline.

Step 5: Sew the ruffle strip using a sewing needle and thread, using small stitches all along the neckline.

Step 6: For a more dramatic ruffle, use a fabric piece from another T-shirt. If you buy a 3-pack, you can make several!

P.S. If your T-shirt is too loose under the arm, sew a few extra stitches to create a fitted bustline.



preparing for hibernation

The sun didn't peak out for even a moment this past weekend, so I took advantage of the forced hibernation and made beer cheese soup AND cornflake xmas wreaths. Despite my Wisconsin roots, beer cheese soup is completely unfamiliar territory to me....wasn't sure what to look for in a recipe or what to expect in the finished product. I agonized over what kind of beer to use (seemed like an awfully important factor and my internet research sent me in every possible direction), so I ended up going with a good quality amber ale....not to be confused with the beer in the photo, which was a porter that I was drinking along with my beer cheese soup!

I sorta, kinda followed this recipe

And the Christmas wreaths! Notice the St. Bernard in the photo, observing her prey....

recipe for christmas wreaths

Christmas shopping (still)......

This has got to be hands down, one of the coolest gifts ever. It comes with everything you need, including the plant! All for $33! Go ahead, buy one for someone on your Christmas list. While you're at it, grab one for me too, ok? Thanks. 

buy at http://www.dwell.com

excuse me, but

Just hear those sleigh bells jing-a-ling...

I finally have part of a Sunday all to myself. Ahhhhhh. The hubs is out of town and I have the day off. Planets aligned, or something. I plan on spending the day with Martha, my christmas cookies, and this little lady:

Needless to say, retail is making me a little cranky and this is my attempt at remedying that.

Whilst I am baking and shit, enjoy these lovely photos from Martha and her lovely team. I wanna be her when I grow up. Just sayin'.

(I wanna buy everyone I know diamonds just so I can do this.) Baby sock advent calendar!




Happy Christmas!

Order vs. Chaos

via le love

What a week!

I apologize for the lack of posts this week - it has been a long week indeed, but I'm back home today! And watching movies in my cozy bed while it rains outside. Couldn't ask for anything more. xx

Merry Christmas Baby!

Yes, I'm here, but my mind is elsewhere....

counting clouds

Today will be interesting......

After a lonely stay in a hotel room last night in Palmdale, California, today I will be out in the field, working in the mountains, trying to get a better idea of what the heck my job entails. I miss my family tremendously. I'm sure my anxiety will settle after today....just have to get through the day!!! Here I go!!

 why??? He doesn't want me to go either

With all the snow the Midwest has gotten and our close proximity to Christmas, I thought I'd share my sugar cookie recipie. To be fair, it's Betty Crocker's, but she told me it was okay to borrow.

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 c. butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1 egg

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cream of tartar

Beat powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, almond extract, and egg in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Cover and refridgerate at least 2 hours.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets. Divide dough in half. Roll each half 1/4 in. thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes with 2 1/2 in. cookie cutters. Place about 2 in. apart on a cookie sheet. Bake 7-8 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack, cool completely.

I normally just frost them. (One year I actually handpainted them with a glaze and some food colored water. Beautiful but never again.) Martha Stewart, infinate domestic goddess that she is has a fun and slightly less time consuming method. Hold a stencil over the cookie, lightly glaze it with some watered down frosting, then sprinkle it with powdered sugar or cocoa powder.

I use this recepie. It's super easy and you can make the frosting into whatever consistancy you want.

1 c. powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 tbsp. water or 1-2 tbsp. milk

Few drops of food color, if desired.

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl with a spoon until smooth and spreadable.

Happy decorating!

remember,

Affordable Art!

This is such a great website to purchase unique, affordable art. For only $20 you can add some truly amazing art to your abode! Photography, painting, graphic design - they've got it all.

http://www.20x200.com/

it

Fashionable Fridays.....

Featured on the always fashionable site, http://lookbook.nu/