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Friday, March 16, 2012

New creations! Available in my Etsy shop.

Here's a beautiful vintage inspired Tutu and headband set
for a little girl from ages 2-6. 
The waistband is adjustable. 
The headband is a standard one size fits all.
I'm very proud of this set because I learned to make rosettes, And I tried new things!
Something I've been wanting to do for some time. 
Also I've been purchasing lace
in hopes to incorporate it into some of my work. 
And keep up with the ever growing
shabby chic, boho, vintage style trends                           everyone seems to love right now.
If you any questions please comment below.
Happy creating!



Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Personalized Jewelry!!!

I've always wanted to make my own jewelry. Having so many other hobbies and knowing how expensive jewelry making supplies can be, I just haven't started it in my adult years. However, I can't help myself! lol My cousin within the last year or so has become the manager of the beading section over at Craft Ware House. She gets to make the cutest display jewelry while she works. Which keeps inspiring me to create my own. Needless to say I feel as if I can step into her department and ask her any question and she will have the answer. Do you have this? Can you show me how to do that? How much are those? Whats this for? Hows it work? Hehe Hopefully I'm not bugging her too much. :) Anyhow, I hope to keep acquiring the right tools slowly but surely in order to create personalized pieces. I want to mix in my love of molding polymers clay, wire wrap, and personalized pendants to create jewelry that is completely unique. Stay tuned!!!


Below is a bangle bracelet with a blue glass bead and a son charm, 
silver bead, as well as a pink pearl bead with a daughter charm.

Below is a baby girl bracelet with light pink and burgundy pearl beads. 
I molded a personalized polymers clay charm with a "C" imprint. 

Below is one of my favorites, 
probably because its all kinds of shades of my favorite color. 
"PINK" I molded a pink ribbon out of polymers clay and 
added pink pearl and glass beads to form a cute little 
cluster of beads that dangle just below the ribbon on a chic long chain.

Hope you were inspired to maybe create your own little pieces of art. 
If you have any question about creating your own jewelry
please feel free to leave a comment below 
with your question and I will do my best to answer it. 
Thanks for reading and happy creating!!!


Thursday, December 15, 2011

What's for dinner tonight??? I have an idea! Easy, Yummy Tortilla Soup!!!

You will need:
1 Onion
6 Cloves of Garlic
2 Limes (Topping Not Optional)
Cilantro (Optional Topping)
Sour Cream (Optional Topping)
Cheese (Topping Not Optional)
1 7 3/4oz Can of El Pato Tomato Sauce (Mexican Hot Style)
1 4oz Can of Ortega Diced Green Chile's
1 15.25oz Can of Kidney Beans
1 15oz Can of Pinto Beans
1 15oz Can of White Beans
3 Cups of Water (or Broth)
3 Chicken Breasts
Bag of Tortilla Chips to crumble on top


Instructions:
Add water and chicken (or Broth) to a 8.5qt pot bring to a slow boil, after chicken is fully cooked pull chicken out and shred.  In another pan saute` your onion and garlic. Place chicken back into pot with water and add in your already sauteed onion and garlic. Add in all other ingredients. Do not drain beans. Let soup cook with all ingredients for about another 15-20 mins. Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!  
If you don't have a 8.5qt pot don't panic, if you add your water and chicken to a pot and you still have quite a bit a room left, it should be fine to add everything else. Enjoy!!!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Funny Findings!!!

While cleaning the kitchen, making the kids breakfast and doing some daily duties, I stumbled upon a couple of crazy, funny things that were a little out of place. As a mother, I'm sure you know with children in the house this is bound to happen. (I try not to let it make me bonkers.) I know someday I will wish I was still finding those hide-and-seek stuffed animals placed in random spots through out the house. Or better yet still finding the occasional noodle left over on the carpet from two dinners ago. Lets face it, that's a daily occurring thing. :) Okay maybe we won't miss that, but you get the picture. So I'm sharing my funny findings with you. I hope you giggle and catch yourself smiling because you: A-Have totally been there. B-Think its cute. C-Wish this still happened to you.

I opened the cabinet were my Tupperware rice container and potato keeper are kept. But wait that's not potato's!

Later in the day I opened my closet to get a pair of shoes out and low and behold. CURIOUS GEORGE its almost as if he's laughing. lol I was!

And last but not least, on my way out to go to the grocery store! 
That's right! I
Oh and I just realized I spelled drawer wrong on the photo. I'll blame it on a lack of sleep. :)
Hope you enjoyed this! :)
Tell me about your funny findings!!!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Earth Monkey Moms

A must read it's hilarious and so spot on, the post is titled:  Wanted: a mother (The weak need not apply) These are the coolest real, loving, non fake, say it how it is kind of mommies I've yet to meet. Had to share this post with you. I'm not sure who wrote it but I'm pretty sure it was either Lindsey or Gena of Earth Monkey Moms lol

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Icing

To give you a little bit of insight into why I will be posting some gluten-free recipes I will tell you that both of my grandmothers (paternal and maternal) were diagnosed with celiac disease, and diabetes.  Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy. My sweet grandma JoAnn passed away in 2008 of complications from celiac disease and diabetes. So needless to say it is very important for myself to eat a gluten free diet. My mother, sister and I have really tried to change our diets. Gluten free seems to be so much harder for me than for my sister and mother. Not because the food doesn't taste good. But simply because I've never thought much of myself as a good cook. But I know I need to try. This women who I got this cupcake recipe from seems to have it together. If you can't have coffee than I know a peanut butter icing would probably taste amazing. Please don't be afraid,  just try it out. I love her recipes and I know you will too, if gluten-free is for you. 


Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Icing- also a Dairy-Free Vegan Recipe
Gluten-free chocolate cupcake heaven. Yep. And if you don't care for the taste of coffee, use rice milk or coconut milk in the batter in place of the coffee and make a vanilla, coconut, or chocolate flavored icing.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup cupcake pan with parchment or paper liners.

Whisk together the dry ingredients:

3/4 rounded cup sorghum flour
3/4 rounded cup potato starch, cornstarch or tapioca starch
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup organic cane sugar
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon xanthan gum

Add in and beat till smooth:

1 cup warm coffee (not too hot or it will make the potato starch gluey)
1 tablespoon Ener-G Egg Replacer beaten with 1/4 cup warm water
3 tablespoons light olive oil
2 teaspoons bourbon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon light tasting rice vinegar

Beat the batter for a full two to three minutes until all the ingredients are incorporated and the batter is smooth.

Using an ice cream scoop, plop the batter into the cups and smooth the tops.

Bake in the center of a preheated oven till done- about 20 minutes or so.

Cool the cupcakes on a wire rack (don't let them sit in the baking pan too long or they'll get soggy).

Frost when completely cooled. See recipe for coffee flavored icing below.

Karina's Notes on gluten-free vegan batter:
Gluten-free vegan batters are a tad different than wheat and white flour batters. They are stiffer at first, then stretch and get sticky as the xanthan gum and egg replacer do their thing.

If the batter "climbs" the beaters, slow down the speed and slightly lift the beaters to encourage the batter to move back down into the bowl. Move your beater around the bowl in figure eights, at a slight angle. Practice your technique- soon you'll be winging around gluten-free vegan baking like a pro.
Vegan Coffee Icing Recipe

2 cups confectioner's (powdered) sugar
2-3 tablespoons Spectrum Organic Shortening or vegan margarine
2-4 ounces cold coffee, as needed
1 teaspoon bourbon vanilla

Starting with the least amount of liquid, beat the sugar to incorporate the shortening, coffee and vanilla. if you need more liquid, add a small amount at a time. beat for two minutes or so until smooth.

If you need to stiffen the frosting, add a little more confectioner's sugar.

Chill the frosting before using it. I chill it, covered, for roughly an hour.

Frost the cupcakes. Cover in an air-tight container until serving. best eaten the first day. If making ahead of time, chill frosted cakes briefly in the freezer before wrapping individually and freezing.

Cook time: 1 hour, total

Yield: Serves 12


Read more: http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2009/07/vegan-chocolate-cupcakes-with-coffee.html#ixzz1ZfieObpR


Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Icing