It feels so good to be productive

Yesterday I had to take my car in to the shop. I sat in this lobby/waiting area that feels more like a refrigerator than the living room they've modeled it after. "For some reason it's just colder than the rest of the building" some genius said. After all the waiting the car guy told me the wrong part came in and I'd have to call again Thursday. I'm okay with human error, and I'm pretty laid back about life's little mishaps, but I was told the work on my car would take an hour and 1/2. What were they doing all that time before they realized it was the wrong part? Removing the old whatever, then having to put it back in? Why wasn't anyone paying attention?

Other than that, I cut my hair, ran some errands, had a class and wandered through Lowe's for an hour. That pretty much made up for the car issue, although spending money isn't very fun.



I am so excited about my current projects. I love my bracelet holder! I used the same stain (since I’m making this a set) on a railing of some sort. Again, the cabinetry aisle is my best friend these days. Re-purposing those ideas really makes them stand out in new settings. I feel like I have so many bracelets I might need another, but I’m waiting to see how functional this one is first.



My stud earring storage is a little less unique – it’s really just a premade, soft wood miniature dresser that I’ve stained. I found it at Michael’s, but it took the color well and I suppose I really did just need tiny little places to keep them organized. I think having it next to the bracelet holder allows them both to look more natural on the bedroom dresser, like a set instead of one random thing I’ve created.



New storage item on the way, it might take a little longer to finish though, since I need a day to set aside to use a band saw. I’ll keep you posted.

Planning to enjoy the weekend <3

I feel like I need to reassess how wonderful my life is tonight. Sometimes during my busy week I forget how nice things are day-to-day despite the little stresses.

I love clean and organized closets.


I love the piggies - check out how messy Betsy got enjoying her hay. :)


Other Lauren. She's my best friend. She takes care of me.


AND I like baking. Here's a recipe I love! Goes great with vanilla ice cream.

Clementine Torte

1 pound Clementines (4-6 depending on size)
6 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups almond meal or ground almond (I am allergic to nuts so I crushed graham crackers and it was incredible!)

Bring clementines and water to a boil in saucepan. Simmer for two hours (the scent will fill the house for days, so cracking a window can be a good idea). Drain and allow them to cool.

Preheat oven to 375.

Butter and line a 9 inch springform pan with parchment paper. I used a shallow casserole dish and it worked just fine with cooking spray.

Once cooled, slice them in half, remove any seeds and toss them in your food processor or blender (skins and all). Add eggs and vanilla then blend until smooth. In a separate bowl mix sugar, baking powder, salt and almond meal (or graham crackers). Fold the liquid mix into the dry mix and once thoroughly combined pour into butter pan and bake for 45 minutes to an hour (You can use a toothpick to decide whether or not it's done). Cool on wire rack and if using a springform pan remove the sides. It's a pretty orange-brown color and is a delicious compliment for any meal. Enjoy!

I'll add a photo next time I make it!

And, another

I promised to post more about my crafting so I thought that today I would include more tidbits.



I have had a large jewelry box for eight or nine years now, and it has always see-sawed in its ability to assist me. When I moved 6 1/2 years ago, and again a year & 1/2 ago I reorganized it - went through all the drawers and made it useful again; but because of its size and simplistic storage it has been so difficult to always know exactly what I have. I tend to fall into a rut and only wear the same few necklaces or bracelets, then ignore other pieces I love. This is where the earring holder came from, and my other project to store my necklaces more effectively. I always covet jewelry containers that include hooks for hanging necklaces, but I get realistic quickly since I know I have far too many for them to work for me. But, while shopping at Lowe's for screws and wood (for a future project I will share in the weeks/months to come) I stumbled across the molding and cabinetry aisle. Oh, it was fun, and I left with a decorative cabinet border piece that would run across the top of kitchen cabinets that do not extend to the ceiling.



I stained it the same color as the earring frame and leaned it against the wall like a ladder. Viola, with 16 rungs and 2 necklaces on each I could now easily store 32 necklaces comfortably. The top rug contains more than two, and I left off any thin or delicate chain necklaces, because they tangle more easily than costume jewelry and the larger beads. I adore the tacky and unique. Here are a few photos to better describe my finished project to you. Let me know what you think, or if you have any idea for bracelets - since that's my final task in this "series" of crafts. My mother will be receiving the jewelry box (and she's delighted) and I've already got too much furniture in this tiny apartment so I'm delighted, too.

She's Crafty...

I have so many papers to grade, and so many poems to critique, but my more hands-on creative side is in high swing and I couldn't step away from all these projects I've been dreaming up. The first is an earring holder.



I stained a plain wooden frame (size depends on your "dangley" earring collection. You can use a pencil and ruler to easily mark the distance between wires and I used the smallest sized eyelet screws at Lowe's that I could find.



Some of my earrings are very heavy so I used picture hanging wire but I wanted it too be thin so I suggest no wire thicker than a 12 pound weight limit. To create holes for the screws use a thin tipped nail and hammer to press a place keeping hole over your pencil marks. I suggest waiting until you've stained your frame to darkest coat, but if you're using a soft wood, making a hole first to make sure it's not so thin it splits is a good idea.



After screwing in your eyelets, secure the wire by putting tight and twisting it back over itself. I didn't mind if my wire showed since I chose a rustic color stain and a metallic wire, but if you're concerned about visibility simply cut the wire longer than you intend to use, and wrap it tight near the eyelet, when secured cut off the extra write.



This is so you can manipulate it easier when wrapping. If you cut it too short it's harder to secure a tight wrap. Make sure the stain is set, then hang! It acts as a sort of functional art. Jewelry is beautiful and I often feel I can't see what I own when it's all thrown in a drawer or jewelry box. My next project is a necklace holder so stay tuned ;)

What do our dreams really say about us?

I gave the children bathes last night - these are photos from another time, but they're always adorable wet and grumpy.

The <3 of the Matter.

“I was thinking that I might fly today
just to disprove all the things that you say.
It doesn't take a talent to be mean,
words can crush things that are unseen,
so please be careful with me, I'm sensitive
and I'd like to stay that way.
You always tell me that it’s impossible
to be respected and be a girl.
Why's it gotta be so complicated?
Why you gotta tell me if I'm hated?
Oh, please be careful with me, I'm sensitive
and I'd like to stay that way.
And I was thinking that it might do some good
if we robbed the cynics and took all their food -
that way what they believe will have taken place
and we’ll give it to everybody who has some faith.
Oh, please be careful with me, I'm sensitive
and I'd like to stay that way.
I have this theory that if we're told we're bad
then that's the only idea we'll ever have,
but maybe if we are surrounded in beauty
someday we will become what we see
'cause anyone can start a conflict
it's harder yet to disregard it.
I'd rather see the world from another angle.
We are everyday angels.
Be careful with me 'cause I'd like to stay that way.”

-Jewel

The perfect lunch? Begin with tomato:

Then toast yourself some bread. I stick with regular old loaf white, but feel free to experiment. This is MY perfect lunch after all.

Use Vegenaise to spread, or mayo if you're so inclined (but grape seed oil can lower your cholesterol!).

I like salt and pepper too, since they can really amplify the ripe tomato.

And, of course, leave it open face.

This leaves more room for tomato and gives you the perfect vegetable/bread ratio.

(Weird legs and goblet of green tea optional.)

Hope you do things to make you happy today - I've been listening to R. L. Burnside - more photos forthcoming.

Going Back to School?

I love the Fall a little more than I knew, and even though it's still Summer, the idea of going back to school is compelling and exciting, so full of possibility. "If I knew your name and address, I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils." Ah, Tom Hanks.

It has taken a while to get another post out - but the new school year just started and I've been finishing the task of designing the new class I'm teaching this semester. Argument and Research, with a special focus on civil rights. Can you remember what you felt strongly about as a college undergrad? If not, maybe that's because you didn't have many passions; this is what I'm discovering pretty quickly about my students. I don't mind that they are hyper-social beings that go out at night and on the weekends, and I don't even mind that this is their top priority most of the time. I just wish they read more news on-line, or cared about the right to vote they are ignoring. I hope 16 weeks is enough time to get the gears turning and have them realize how many rights they have that they've been wasting. Ah, so young, so carefree.

I thought this would be a great blog to list the things that make me happy, those little every day moments that make me smile and carefree after getting in from work:
-warm weather with a breeze, or low humidity. I love feeling warm but think sweating on my way to work is a bit TOO warm

-My porch garden. Ah, life in little pots, the smell of fresh basil when I turn my key in the door. I have a sweet pepper plant that looks more like a tree :-D Plus, the Piggies like it too, here's Lacey snacking away on my cilantro and parsley. -~->

-Clean House - Best show ever, if I do say so myself. Who doesn't love seeing other people's junk, or getting motivated to become a minimalist? Plus, Niecy Nash is worth tuning in for ;) I always wonder if they keep their homes looking so beautiful after the "team" leaves - they go back occasionally and I've never been too let down. If you check out the website you'll learn Matt and Trish are merely comedians there for a little relief. Interesting...
http://www.mystyle.com/mystyle/shows/cleanhouse/index.jsp

-Alphabetized bookshelves

-Fresh laundry, dusted counter tops, and a recently vacuumed living room...

-I relocated the piggies to the linoleum in front of the front door (I use the side door to enter and leave, my apartment is a weird shape). This makes my bedroom look HUGE! They were at the end of my bed, but I think this will work much better since it was an unused space, and now I can't hear them at night, drinking their water and rumble-strutting. They need plenty of room to move around, but so do I, haha. (Couldn't post about the pigs without showing you a shot of Betsy, she's the friendliest of the bunch. This one's from the garden day as well.)



Now I'm off to get some reading done for my classes, I'd hate to get behind this early. Hope you're having a great Fall!