EMMANEM HANDMADE

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T00:20:00.000-05:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

I hope all of you are having a love-ly day filled with fun!

Here are some cute cards I made to celebrate the day. Snakey is my favorite - he's gone to my nephew Dorian, but man do I love cutting out hearts! It really is such a fun grade school throwback. Construction paper, glue, scissors...ahhhhh. Sometimes that is all you need.

Celebrate!

2012-02-12T16:20:00.001-05:00

One more week until Mardi Gras, and here is another fun craft for you to try out for your next party or holiday!

Here is a fun little wreath I put together using Mardi Gras beads once again. I tried out a rectangular shape to try something a little different, but next time I think I would go with a regular round wreath to make wrapping easier.

I can't wait until Christmas, because I plan on making a red or green (or both?) one! I think that will give a little modern edge to a classic holiday decoration. You could also make a red or even a heart shaped one for Valentines day, green for St. Patricks, red white and blue for memorial day or 4th of July, black and brange for Halloween - or any color to match your party plan!

You can find complete directions at Celebrations.com right here so check it out!

Fat Tuesday is Coming Up...

2012-02-07T09:45:00.001-05:00

I mentioned recently that I'd been creating some fun Mardi Gras crafts, and with just two weeks to go today, I wanted to share them with you!

Here is the first of three I put together. This is a great, inexpensive craft that you can put together with excess beads you may have acquired, or you can purchase them very inexpensively too. (I snagged mine at Oriental Trading online.)

For the complete tutorial, check out Celebrations.com here. This makes a fun gift, and you can alter the color scheme for any occasion. I made this one for my niece Rakia, because what (soon to be) 3 year old doesn't love something sparkly?

I hope she likes it! What do you think?

New York! New York!

2012-02-06T15:42:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to the New York Giants and all of their fans! What a great game (from what I could tell, anyway.)

Here is my cousin Liam preparing to celebrate after the victory last night.

And here he goes! I know he may have developed an ulcer worrying about the G-men this season but I hope he can rest easy now. Until next season, anyway. Or, realistically, until opening day for the Mets. Poor guy.

And, check out these adorable cupcakes his lady friend Erica made! Very cute.

It's a great day to be a New Yorker!

S'mores Brownies

2012-01-29T23:02:00.001-05:00

The end of January is upon us, but BBQ season is still quite a while away. What's a girl to do for her S'mores fix in the middle of winter?

Ta da! S'mores Brownies! I came across this recipe in Better Homes and Gardens (I know, I'm the oldest 30 year old girl you know...) and figured I would give it a shot. Plus, I happened to have an extra bag of marshmallows taking up space in my drawer leftover from the summer. They came out a little weird - but not too bad! I might use less graham crackers next time, and up the batter but overall I don't think I will get any complaints from my taste testers tomorrow. Enjoy!

INSIDE OUT S'MORES BROWNIES
from Better Homes & Gardens, February 2012
author: Angela Johnson

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup all purpose flour
9 honey graham cracker squares (I crumbled mine up, but I don't think you're supposed to...you might need less, too, depending on the pan you use. If you use too many, your brownies will separate when you cut them.)
1 cup tiny marshmallows (I used regular sized and cut them up)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 11x7x1 1/2 inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease the pan. Set aside. (This size pan is insane. Who has this? I used a square pan and it worked OK.)
2. In a medium saucepan melt butter and chocolate over low heat. Remove from heat. Stir in sugar, eggs and vanilla until combined. Stir in flour.
3. Spread half the batter in the prepared pan. Top with graham crackers (divide as needed to evenly top the batter). Sprinkle the marshmallows on the graham crackers, but do not let them touch the sides of the pan. Carefully spread the remaining batter on the marshmallows and graham crackers, covering them completely. (Mine weren't completely covered but still came out well, once it was all baked. Next time I might even double the batter though.)
4. Bake for 25 minutes or until set. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes 15 brownies.

Get Ready to Party....

2012-01-21T05:11:00.000-05:00

Guess what? Only one month until Mardi Gras! I've been working on some fun crafts for the holiday...can't wait to share them with you very soon!

This year, Mardi Gras is on February 21, 2012. Do you have any plans or traditions you're planning this year? Can't wait to hear!

Corny Cornbread

2012-01-16T16:58:00.002-05:00

Once again...not much going on this 3 day weekend - which gave me plenty of time for cooking and crafting! It's kind of nice to have some time to do whatever you want!

I felt like baking a bread-like product but was desperately low on flour, and not about to venture out into the frigid air to Pathmark. (Damn it is cold this weekend!) I happened to have a plethora of cornmeal so cornbread it was! I used Mark Bittman's recipe from How to Cook Everything Vegetarian - an awesome book that I've referred to more than once on this blog. It came together quickly and easily, although a little bland. Next time I might add some more spices, or some canned corn or veggies, or cheese or something to kick it up a bit. As is though, a great staple to throw together and serve with chili or what have you.

Try it out! Let me know what add ons you enjoy in your cornbread.

Corn Bread

Makes: About 6 servings Time: About 45 minutes

Ingredients

11/4 cups buttermilk, milk, or yogurt (or 11/4 cups milk plus 1 tablespoon white vinegar; see Step 2), plus more as needed (I used milk - might try buttermilk or yogurt next time for flavoring)
2 tablespoons butter or extra virgin olive oil (I used oil - butter might leave a richer flavor)
11/2 cups medium-grind cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
11/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar, plus more if you like sweet corn bread (I used 2 - might go for more next time
1 egg

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

2. If you’re using buttermilk, milk, or yogurt, ignore this step. If not, make the soured milk: Warm the milk gently—1 minute in the microwave is sufficient, just enough to take the chill off—and add the vinegar. Let it rest while you prepare the other ingredients.

3. Put the butter in a medium ovenproof skillet or an 8-inch square baking pan over medium heat; heat until good and hot, about 2 minutes, then turn off the heat. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix the egg into the buttermilk. Stir the liquid into the dry ingredients (just enough to combine); if it seems too dry, add another tablespoon or two of buttermilk. Pour the batter into the prepared skillet or pan, smooth out the top if necessary, and put in the oven.

4. Bake about 30 minutes, until the top is lightly browned and the sides have pulled away from the pan; a toothpick inserted into the center will come out clean. Serve hot or warm.

From How to Cook Everything Vegetarian By Mark Bittman

Feathered Fun

2012-01-15T16:58:00.000-05:00

Things happen when you leave me unattended with a hot glue gun.

Case in point: a three day weekend, minimal plans, and some feathers I had lying around came together to create this little barrette in about five minutes. I hot glued the feathers to a barrette I had on hand and ta da! Kind of fun, no? I think I will give it to my niece Rakia next time I see her to adorn her pretty curls. I think it will go over well with the Pre-K set!

A Lime of a Time!

2012-01-11T18:49:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite things to make, and that has proven quite popular, is lemon bars.

But I happened to have a plethora of limes on hand, so I swapped out my citrus in my tried and truly tested recipe. I realized - when I googled the recipe and saw the date on the article (since the little recipe card I typed out after desecrating the original newspaper clipping is at my parent's house) that I've been baking this for 21 years. Yikes. (I was granted oven access at an early age.)

So here it is my friends! Enjoy. Also, check out my new rug! It's from Ikea and I think its cool!

Lemon Squares

TOTAL TIME1 hour 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS

2 cups flour, plus 1/4 cup

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, plus 1 tablespoon

1 cup butter, melted

4 eggs

2 cups granulated sugar

1/3 cup lemon juice (This was about 2 limes for me. Also, don't forget to throw in the zest from whatever citrus you use - do that before juicing, of course)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Preparation

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.Mix two cups flour, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar and melted butter. Spread into a 9- by-13-inch pan and bake for 25 minutes.

3.Mix eggs, granulated sugar, lemon juice (and zest), baking powder and remaining flour and pour onto the baked shell. Bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until set. Dust with remaining confectioners' sugar when cool. Cut into equal bars.

YIELD15 squares

Originally published with The Spirit of Christmas Past Lives On in Traditional Cookies

By DENA KLEIMAN, December 19, 1990

http://events.nytimes.com/recipes/1725/1990/12/19/Lemon-Squares/recipe.html

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

2011-12-25T05:22:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas to you! I hope everyone out there is having a lovely holiday.

Here is some Michael Buble to spread the cheer. I went to the dress rehearsal of Saturday Night Live last week, where he was the musical guest. I didn't get it before but now I do. I love Mr. Michael Buble. Liquid Gold, that voice. Anyway, have fun!!

Secret Santa Fail (but a yummy recipe!)

2011-12-21T11:36:00.000-05:00

We had Secret Santas at work last week, and I nearly killed mine.

For a little surprise, I decided to make him some sweet treats, and tried out this recipe from Real Simple, for a Chocolate Pecan Tart. Little did I know that he was allergic to nuts. Yikes. Luckily it was pretty clear from looking at them that they had nuts so he didn't eat any. But I felt TERRIBLE and couldn't even apologize until a few days later because that would reveal my identity! (I did make him some chocolate chip cookies to make up for it.)

Anyway, I sampled the recipe and it was really good! If you like/aren't allergic to nuts. I used walnuts instead of pecans because that is what I had, and added some extra chocolate chips and cream to fill out the larger pan I had used. But overall, it was delish! Try it yourself...makes a nice gift too, if you know your audience's dietary restrictions. (So sorry, Frank!!!!)

Chocolate Pecan Tart

from Real Simple

serves 8 Hands-On Time: 15m Total Time: 2hr 30m

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups pecan halves (I used walnuts)
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus a pinch for the filling
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
2 large egg yolks
1/2 pound semisweet chocolate, chopped (I ended up using an entire bag of chocolate chips, which is 4 oz more than 1/2 lb)
3/4 cup heavy cream (added some extra cream too, to melt the additional chips)

Directions
1.Heat oven to 350° F. Spread the pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and toast, tossing once, until fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Let cool, then roughly chop. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.

2.Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high until creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the egg yolks. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture; mix until combined but still crumbly.

3.Press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of a 4-by-14-inch rectangular (or 9-inch round) tart pan. (I used a square 8x8 inch baking pan.) Line with a large piece of parchment paper, leaving an overhang on all sides, and fill with dried beans or pie weights. (I didn't have parchment and couldn't find my pie weights, so I skipped that. The crust was a little puffy but it worked out fine.) Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until the edges of the crust are dry, 20 to 22 minutes. Remove the parchment and beans and bake until dry and set, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely.

4.Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the chocolate and pinch of salt. In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a bare simmer; pour over the chocolate and let stand 1 minute. Stir gently until the mixture is smooth. Stir in 1½ cups of the pecans. Pour the mixture into the cooled tart shell and sprinkle with the remaining pecans. Refrigerate until set, at least 1 hour.

...And because I don't want to start WWIII...

2011-12-20T11:37:00.001-05:00

I put this one together last night for a special young man who is learning his letters this year.

Ok. I need to stop. These kids are going to be SO spoiled! But that is what being an aunt is about, right?

Pillow Talk

2011-12-19T11:39:00.002-05:00

Here is a fun little quilty pillow I whipped up for my niece Rakia. I think she'll like it! It has lots of fun patterns with ladybugs and cats and critters and what not. It was so simple to put together too! I used a bunch of scraps, cutting them into 3x3 inch squares, using 25 total.

I sewed them in 5 rows of 5, then stitched each row to the next to make the front. For the back I just used some larger pieces of scrap fabric, following the idea of this awesome super easy pillow cover tutorial from Sparkle Power.

So, even if you haven't finished your Christmas shopping ...you still have time to put together one (or ten) of these for a great handmade gift! For the inside you can use pillow forms or, I buy cheap pillows at Ocean State Job Lot (or whatever discount store you might have) for $5 (or less) each, then just cover them in a fun fabric myself.

Yay! Pillow fight!

Berry Bread

2011-12-18T23:38:00.000-05:00

I was in a bread bakey kind of mood today, but couldn't find yeast at Pathmark. I know it's there somewhere, but it was so crowded and crazy I couldn't deal with the search.

But I did recall that I had wanted to try this recipe from Real Simple and had the ingredients on hand...kind of. (Another instance of couldn't find something at Pathmark...this time I subbed a frozen berry blend for cranberries.)

It came our pretty well! Tasty. Although next time I might use walnuts instead of hazelnuts. They seemed a little unwieldy and I think walnuts would work a little better. But give it a shot! This would make a nice gift loaf for the holidays...or anytime!

Emma's Attempt at Cranberry Hazelnut Bread

From Real Simple

Serves 8
Hands-On Time: 10m
Total Time: 2hr 30m

Ingredients
1 cup hazelnuts (again - I might try walnuts next. Pecans or other nuts would probably work well too)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the pan
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup whole milk (the mixture seemed a little dry - I added a few tablespoons additional milk)
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (I used frozen berry blend)

Directions

1.Heat oven to 350° F. Spread the hazelnuts on a large rimmed baking sheet and toast in oven, tossing occasionally, until fragrant, 10 to 12 minutes. Rub the warm nuts in a clean dish towel to remove the skins (discard the skins); coarsely chop. (I let the nuts cool before removing the skins - try it when they are still warm. It will make life easier.)

2.Butter an 8½-by-4½-inch loaf pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the butter, milk, eggs, orange zest, and vanilla; add to the flour mixture and mix until just combined (do not over mix). Fold in the hazelnuts and cranberries.

3.Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 55 to 65 minutes (tent with foil if the top browns too quickly). Cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Baby Bedding

2011-12-16T12:40:00.001-05:00

My little niece Rakia is pretty cute.

Even when she is a goofball. (Or, especially then.) So for Christmas I wanted to make her something super adorable. She loves her baby dolls, so I thought I'd whip up a little bed for them to take a rest - here is my experiment!

Sweet, huh? I wrapped an empty clementine cake in fabric, then made a little mattress and pillow out of scraps (and filled with smaller scraps. The project was basically free - since I already had all the materials on hand!

To top it off and keep the little baby toasty warm, I made a reversible quilt. I really hope Rakia likes it! I think she will.

Christmas Countdown Calendar!

2011-12-14T12:40:00.000-05:00

Happy Holiday Season Everyone!

I wanted to share a fun craft I put together for celebrations.com, and that my lucky niece and nephew, pictured here:

are enjoying this month.

I had a fun time making it - and as always, it was really inexpensive and relatively simple to put together. Selecting tiny treats to fill it was SO fun too!

Check out this post to see how I did it!

Happy December!

Happy Halloween!!

2011-10-31T06:25:00.001-04:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!

I hope you all had a delightful time this weekend at your parties, and that all of you little trick or treaters have a great time tonight! I wanted to share the finished product of my She-ra costume - ta da!!

And even better - my friend Matt decided to be He-man! So of course we had to celebrate the festivities together on Saturday night.

We came up with these costume ideas separately - but what a lovely coincidence! I gave Matt a hand in putting together his costume too. I think we both look pretty cool! Cool enough to brave the crazy rain and snow this weekend in costume, anyway. We had to share the power of Grey Skull with the world, you know.

Matt's roommate Vanessa put together a lovely spread and get together!

Check out the sweet sour cream spiderweb on her seven layer dip - amazing!

Have fun tonight kids! Be safe out there - and if you have any extra candy, let me know!

Burrito Boy!

2011-10-27T06:19:00.001-04:00

OK, so you still don't have a Halloween Costume. And you've got a party to go to TONIGHT. What do you do?????

Don't worry. I've got you covered. Literally! In tin foil! Check out this ridiculously easy costume and go as your favorite food - the burrito! You know its on celebrations.com by now, right?

(PS: The hat you can find here.)

(PPS: How great a model is Matt?)

Boo!

2011-10-24T10:07:00.000-04:00

Keeping up the Halloween spirit!

Here are some cute cards I made for my niece and nephew. Hope they aren't too spooooooky!

(Who am I kidding. Those kids are way tougher than me!)

Henna Designs

2011-10-23T14:16:00.001-04:00

I went to a fun party last week (or, OK I went to several fun parties), but one in particular featured a henna artist! I gave her my hand and she came up with this beautiful design in just a few minutes. It was really cool, and I feel super exotic, even when I'm sitting in my cubicle typing away at work.

It felt cool - literally, cold - while it went on, and then you have to let the paint dry for 30 minutes or so as the design sets. The paint then flaked off over the course of the night/the next morning and a lovely brownish red design lay beneath the black paint. Of course I happened to sleep on my hand and woke up with a transferred design on my cheek. Freaked out for a minute, thinking I would be the new Mike Tyson of my office until it faded away, but luckily with some rigorous scrubbing it disappeared. Phew.

I hear that it lasts a week or two, so I will enjoy it until then. Another woman suggested I put olive oil on it while I am in the shower. So if you come over and there is EVOO on my sink, that is why.

Candy Corn Punch

2011-10-21T11:36:00.000-04:00

So, I know I piqued your interest two months ago with this post, but if you are looking for a fun Halloween Punch recipe - especially if you live in a warmer climate, check out this one for Candy Corn Punch over at Celebrations.com! I gave it a try and it was tasty. Kids will love it - its pretty sweet.

It does get a little messy - I might try it in a loaf pan rather than a bundt pan, and even serve the sherbet confection as a dessert without the punch. It looks pretty cool when you slice it!

Even when its a melted pile of sugar. Yum!

Fabulous Flapper Fun

2011-10-20T14:14:00.000-04:00

Yet another fantastic fun with foil costume idea!

OK, so this one is a little fragile - you're probably not going to get more than one wear out of it. Heavy Duty foil it highly recommended, as is bringing a roll of tape in your purse. There is a fabric lining so you won't scandalize the world, though, don't fret.

Cute though, right? Go here to celebrations.com for full instructions.

Shimmy Shimmy Shimmy!

Does anyone need a viking helmet

2011-10-19T12:04:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite Deep Thoughts by Jacky Handey of SNL fame was this:

There was probably an old Viking saying that said, "Ax in the head, early to bed; ax in the helmet, a friend of Helmut."

With that in mind, I give you this fantastic Viking Costume tutorial, via celebrations.com.

Or, I do happen to have an extra viking hat lying around. If you're interested, let me know :)

Another She-ra share!

2011-10-18T10:04:00.000-04:00

You guys, I have to say, my Halloween costume is so freaking fun I wear it around my apartment at night by myself just so I can enjoy it more. It really is so awesome I can't stand it.

So here is the skirt and belt I put together. Again, got my fabric from mood - some sheer cotton that I put together into a ruffle skirt. A little fluffier that Ms. Ra's, but it does give a bit more bum coverage that I appreciate. (It can get cold out there!). I used this tutorial from Grosgrain Fabulous for the base/underskirt, then added two long gathered strips of the same fabric before sewing it up the side. It's kind of petticoat-y but also super fun!

The belt I made from some Gold Lame fabric I was given as a birthday present last year (Thanks Sasha!!) - I just cut a wide long strip, folded the right sides together, sewed it along the edge and turned it inside out. Sewed up the raw end, tied it on and done! I'm considering adding a large jewel or amulet to the middle..we'll see.

Nothing is adorning my leotard (a capezio from amazon) because its tough to sew on the stretchy fabric and have it look right. Am thinking I might make a trip to H&M to snag some cheap flashy gold accessories to complete the look. Damn, I have some perfect dangley earrings...I wonder where they are?

In case you missed the first post on my cape...check it out!

Still more to come, don't worry!

Candy Corny

2011-10-17T18:03:00.000-04:00

In case you were wondering how I pulled off this sweet costume, the wait it over!

Check out my tutorial at celebrations.com for complete instructions. It's super simple! If you just want to do the tutu, go here!

Super Girl!

2011-10-16T15:00:00.001-04:00

I finally got started on my Halloween costume yesterday. And it went surprisingly well, considering I kind of made up a pattern in my head. The big reveal - this year I am going to be:

For those of you who are counting; yes, I have done this costume before. But I was 3, so I think the statute of limitations has expired.

Anyway, I ordered a bunch of fabric from mood - a bit fancy schmancy, I suppose, but I had a gift certificate that expires in a couple months, so why not.

And here is the lovely cape I put together! So easy too. If you'd like to make your own, or one for the aspiring super hero(ine) in your life, here's how.

You'll need:

1 yard fabric

2 feet ribbon

decorative elements (optional)

measuring tape

scissors

sewing machine or needle & thread

straight pins

Grab some fabric - I used yard of red jersey which is cheap and has a nice drape, but solid cotton will be fine too. You won't need to hem jersey - cotton may fray, but you can cut with pinking shears to prevent this or add a hem. You could go fancy and try velour, or something sparkly - use your imagination. For the length, it depends on your preference/the size of the wearer - I used a little over a yard and the finished project 1 yard and it falls past my bum in the back. You can adjust it as needed.

Select some ribbon that you'll use for the neck tie - I used about two feet. You'll need less for a child's cape, or you could use more if you wanted it to dangle. Fold over a corner of your fabric so that the resulting flat edge is about the same length around your neck. Sew a line across this straight edge, at a width just larger than your ribbon. Slide the ribbon through and trim the extra fabric from the inside of the cape.

Next trim your cape into cape shape. I measured the distance from the top corner (where the neck is) the bottom edge on one side, and marked that point on the opposite. I cut a curved line along the bottom to connect these two points, then folded the cape down the middle to make sure it was even. Cut it on the long side; you can always shorten it.

I added some gold fringe along the bottom by tacking it on with straight pins and sewing along the edge. You could add any sort of trim you like here, by sewing or with fabric glue too. (I know She-ra doesn't have gold fringe on her cape. But I do.)

Pretty simple! I've got it hanging on the back of my door so I'm ready to take care of America at a moments notice.

More to come on the costume front! I'm worried my skirt is a little fluffy but we'll see...

Birthday!

2011-10-15T15:04:00.000-04:00

My latest card effort...

Happy Birthday Becca! Can't wait to celebrate with you tonight!

Pie Overload

2011-10-03T16:56:00.000-04:00

How did you spend your Saturday?

Mine was awesome! I got up at 6am and spent the next 8 hours or so baking pecan pies for The Danner Drive. It was great! There was a TON of great food - even a little (a lot) of leftover pie to share with friends, family, and very appreciative coworkers after the fact. Plus, we raised some cash for a good cause!

Pecan pie is pretty simple. For the pie crust, I used Mark Bittman's recipe from How to Cook Everything - I always have success with this and its quite easy (as pie! ha!). You can also use a pre-made crust if you're in a hurry.

The recipe for the pie itself is the one my Dad has used for Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving - a classic and fail proof, I think. Try it this Thanksgiving! Or even sooner!

Pecan Pie

From James Beard's American Cookery

Ingredients

Pastry for One 9 inch pie

1 cup pecan meats - halved or broken pieces

(pecans are pricey! You can cut them with some walnuts if you want to save some cash.)

2 eggs

1 cup dark corn syrup

1/2 cup to 1 cup brown sugar

(I used 1/2 cup - its pretty sweet, so no need to use the higher amount of sugar)

1 tsp vanilla or 2 tbsp rum (I used Jack Daniels - you can taste the booze but in a good, flavorful way)

1/4 tsp salt

2-4 tbsp butter (I used just 2 tbsp)

(My dad adds in 1 tbsp of molasses to cut the sweetness - I didn't have any so I skipped this. But if you have a jar in your pantry go for it!)

Directions

Line pie pan with pastry and crimp edges. Sprinkle nuts over pastry. Beat eggs in mixing bowl, stir in syrup, sugar, flavoring, salt. Pour over nutmeats and dot with butter. Bake at 450 degrees 10 minutes, reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake until filling is almost firm in center, 25-30 minutes. Cool on rack.

Serve at room temperature with whipped cream.

The Danner Drive

2011-09-29T18:03:00.004-04:00

In case you're wondering what I will be doing this weekend:

Making a buttload of pecan pie! But its for a good cause though. Not because I have an odd fascination with pie. Not because my mom says that I will have to have a tiered series of pies on my wedding day in lieu of a cake. For charity, guys, come on. Let's be serious.

My lovely pal Jill is holding a fundraiser Saturday on behalf of her friend Sam:

Sam was biking home from work in Charleston earlier this year and hit by a drunk driver. Sam was badly injured and had to have almost immediate surgery on his knee. The driver didn’t have insurance, and neither did Sam. He now faces over $30,000 in medical bills, and his recovery has been slowed because he simply hasn’t been able to afford the cost of rehab.

I’ve known Sam for over 5 years, having worked together first at Press Here Publicity and then at 7-10 Music, but will always think of him first and foremost as one of the most compassionate, kind, cheerful, and clever people to grace this earth. He’s the kind of friend who calls to check in on you if he hasn’t heard from you in a couple weeks, and tells the dirty jokes you always wish you could have thought of.

In honor of this special Southerner, I’m putting together a Southern-themed cook-off/fundraiser the first weekend of October.

Come sample some of Brooklyn’s best cooks’ offerings, drink some beer, and then cast your vote for your favorite to win! Ticket price includes entry and food, and you’re welcome to bring your own drinks.

Southern Twang Cook-Off & Fundraiser

Saturday, October 1st

4-7PM (Judging at 5:30PM)

684 Leonard Street (Greenpoint, Brooklyn)

Tickets: $25 At Door (It’s BYOB!)

** 100% of proceeds go to Sam **

All are welcome, so please spread the word! Thanks for your love and support!

Cheers, Jill

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So, if you're in the NYC area this Saturday, October 1 and want to chow down for a good cause, let me know! You can also check out Jill's site for the event .

If you can't make it, you can still donate here.

Busting out my pie plates as we speak....

**Update - the donate link above is now fixed - so sorry about that!!**

Zombie Punch

2011-09-27T15:33:00.001-04:00

Just in case you wanted to add something special to your punch bowl at your your next festive event....

How awesome is this! Perfect for weddings, bar mitzvahs, birthdays, etc....provided they are all Zombie themed.

OK, fine then, use it just for Halloween if you want to limit yourself. But really, this is an all purpose idea. Check out my tutorial here on Celebrations.com!

Care Bear How To

2011-09-26T15:27:00.000-04:00

I spent Friday in Danvers, Massachusetts - formerly known as Salem Village (of Witch Hunt Infamy). While the reason I was there was way more fun - a wedding! - seeing the signs for Salem got me thinking about Halloween.

Who am I kidding, really? I start thinking about what I'm going to be for Halloween on November 1. This year's costume is still in progress but I'm happy to share a tutorial on how I put together something fun for a Halloween of yore! You may remember my Care Bear Costume:

But now you can make your own! Check out the tutorial I've put together here on celebrations.com - it's super easy! You don't even need a sewing machine, kids.

Start this weekend, and you won't be stressing over what to wear in a month's time - and you'll have a unique homemade costume to boot!

Party Hats for Grown Ups

2011-09-25T15:10:00.000-04:00

Another fun activity we did for Sasha's birthday - DIY birthday hats!

None of the participants were under the age of 29, but we all got creative and made some damn fine hats! We used craft supplies I had on hand - cardstock, ribbons, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and more, which was super fun, and free! A great excuse to get a little silly.

Try it out for your next birthday bash!

Yay for Beth and Geoff!

2011-09-23T18:02:00.000-04:00

An amazing celebration is happening today - Beth and Geoff's wedding is upon us!

Congratulations you two crazy kids!

Animal Farm

2011-09-22T13:08:00.001-04:00

Another stop on our Block Island Adventure - The Abrams Animal Farm near the Manisses hotel.

Lots of animals to pet and feed and coo over.

Not that I did that. I may be one of the only vegetarians that doesn't get all mushy around cute animals.

Melissa loves them though. So they weren't neglected, don't fret.

Personally, I really loved this turtle statue. And in case you were wondering, yes, I am indeed wearing both leggings (the first of the season for me!) and a bathing suit under my dress. I'm prepared for anything, kids. (I did go swimming after all.)

Watch out friends! He is coming for you!

Congratulations Sasha & Billy!

2011-09-21T09:44:00.001-04:00

I spent the weekend with one of my oldest and dearest pals - and some other excellent individuals, too. It was Sasha's 30th birthday bash, but Billy had a surprise...

Yay! So happy.

What an adorable couple!

We had a great time exploring the island...or, re exploring in my case, having spent every summer from age 0-14 out there, and then some. It was fun!

It really is a beautiful place.

I'm so happy for my friends! Congratulations you crazy kids! Good work.

What time is it?

2011-09-20T12:09:00.000-04:00

Man I love winning stuff!

I entered a twitter contest via ideeli earlier this summer, and won! I finally got my prize today - so cool! A hot pink La Mer wraparound watch. Way cooler than me.

I like that site - some major deals to be had. Plus now I like them better since I won this! They do a new prize every Friday - check out their twitter: @ideeli, #flashfriday. While you're at it, check out mine: @emmanemhandmade

Fun!

Happy Birthday Sasha!

2011-09-19T12:45:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday Friend! You are the very best.

Also, you are way cooler than me too, so thanks for still being my friend even after 25 years of crazy.

Love!

This Weekend....

2011-09-15T14:33:00.001-04:00

Block Island here I come! Can't wait!

Celebrations Chat with Shawn Rabineau!

2011-09-14T12:35:00.000-04:00

Hello there! Just wanted to share something fun with you - especially those of you out there who might be planning a wedding! This Thursday, September 15th (as in, tomorrow!) Celebrations.com will be hosting a live chat on facebook with Shawn Rabideau at 130pm est. You may know his work from Bethenny's Getting Married on Bravo, and even if not, you've probably seen it in the magazines for fabulous celebrity events. Log on and you can chat with him and ask questions about your upcoming events, holiday prep, Halloween ideas or what its like to deal with a diva!

I'll be taking part and asking a question or two myself - so join in the fun during your lunch hour if you can!

You can read up on Shawn here via his bio on celebrations.com, or check out his blog here.

Celebrations has hit the 10,000 friend mark on Facebook too - so feel free to check it out here for the chat, or anytime for party ideas and so much more!

Nothing to do with crafting whatsoever but....

2011-09-13T10:01:00.000-04:00

AWESOME!!!!

Me and Stefanie, hanging with Shaq.

That is all. Besides this, of course....

Sunflowers in my Cubicle

2011-09-07T11:22:00.001-04:00

Summer may be over, kind of, but look at these beautiful sunflowers from my mom's garden! She packed them up for me to take back to New York this weekend. So pretty, and they really spruce up my (obscenely messy) desk. Thanks mom!

Witch's Brew, Oooo!

2011-09-06T11:04:00.001-04:00

Happy Fall! OK, so I know it's not officially autumn for another few weeks, but you can't wear white shoes until May, so post-labor day seems like fall to me. (Not that I have any white shoes, anyway.)

We've still got some more summery weather to enjoy, so this recipe might be premature, but I tested it for celebrations.com recently and man, did it smell autumnal. It made me want to wrap my hands around a hot mug of it after apple picking on a crisp fall day. Not there yet, OK. But you should check it out, anyway!

As is it might be a little sweet - test it, and feel free to add some plain brewed tea, unsweetened, if you wish. Kids will probably like it as is. If you do choose to add alcohol, that will cut the sweetness too, of course.

Anyway, its delish, and made my apartment smell divine. Try it out!

Punch it Up!

2011-09-03T10:53:00.000-04:00

How I spent my summer vacation: making mass quantities of delicious Halloween Punch! Not to worry though, today's recipe is fun year round, and kids will LOVE it. I mean seriously, look at how happy Dorian is to try it:

He actually said that the thing he was most excited about for vacation was drinking punch. So it's got his seal of approval. That should be enough, right?

So, swing on over to celebrations.com for the full recipe - its fun and easy, and a real crowd pleaser for the small set.

Ta da! Toad-ally Tasty Punch.

Fancy Schmancy

2011-09-02T12:28:00.001-04:00

It was a quiet week here at work, with many of our regular number on vacation, or just mentally checked out. Two of my lady colleagues (ie friends, but I'm trying to sound classy, OK?), decided we deserved a very special lunch to celebrate the end of summer and our beautiful friendship. (I kind of made that part up but its sounds so nice, right? I'm SUCH a good friend, you guys.)

We don't mess around, now. We went to Jean Georges, in Columbus Circle (conveniently located across the street from our office). If you're not into food porn you can skip this post, but for those of you who like drooling, I present: our meal.

First, an amuse bouche trio, cocompliments of the chef: at the top is a cube of chilled watermelon topped with Roquefort mousse; at the bottom is pickled cucumber with dill gelee; and to the left is miso soup with popcorn. I liked the miso best - it smelled amazing! And the popcorn added a nice texture.

Stefanie had the gazpacho with goat cheese, pistachios, and berries to start.

Julie M went with the sweet pea soup with Parmesan...such a vibrant green! I was kind of jealous. I have a thing for green, you know.

Bet you can't guess what I had! Answer: tuna ribbons with avocado, spicy radish, and ginger marinade. I've kind of decided to start eating fish, a little. (I've been a vegetarian, no fish, for about 4 years now.) I thought I might as well splurge here, as they would probably know how to make it. And, they did. Don't worry, I'm not going to start throwing back the chicken wings and corn dogs, now. I still have standards. On occasion.

Stefanie then had steamed cod, baby bok choi, black bean vinaigrette and chervil next. I love at upscale places where they bring out the dish and then have a little pitcher of stuff to pour on top, as they did here. So cool!

I went with the corn ravioli with grape tomatoes and a basil fondue. Look how pretty! And tasty, too.

Julie chose a slowly cooked salmon with basil, crushed tomatoes, and olive oil. Here we ran into an issue - it was deliscious, but she couldn't finish it and didn't know if it would be de rigeur to ask for a doggy bag. We ended up leaving it. Alas.

Now for the sweet stuff: we ordered the chocolate selection to share - layered banana with chocolate ganache and a chocolate peanut butter mousse, vanilla bean ice cream, and molten chocolate cake. I will dream of this.

A few petit fours....

Lavender macarons - I've actually never had macarons before! These would be hard to top. Such a delicate flavor, and pretty color!

And finally, house made vanilla marshmallows, cut table side. This was pretty cool - the server came over with a huge glass jar on a cart and pulled out a strip of marshmallows. He then sliced them into bite sized pieces with scissors. So fun!

Thank you to Julie for the pictures and detailed descriptions, and for organizing such a lovely excursion! And thanks to Stef and Julie both for being such great dining company. Can we do this again?

Rat-tat-too-eee

2011-09-01T10:45:00.003-04:00

I haven't done too much cooking lately (but have done a lot of eating!) so I thought I'd make something relatively healthy that I could keep on hand, and freeze too, so I'd have veggies in easy and edible reach.

And what better to make from the abundance of late summer vegetables than Ratatouille? (Pronounced rat-tat-oo-eee, in case you're wondering). This is a great dish that is tasty on its own as a vegetable stew with some good bread, or try it over pasta, rice or cous cous, inside an omelet - there are a ton of ways to enjoy it! Try it. Its good, really! And good for you too.

This is the classic ratatouille recipe, in my opinion - I definitely remember having The Silver Palate cookbook come out quite often throughout my childhood for various party foods. I have my own copy now, score! Anyway, I sort of adjusted it - you don't really need two whole cups of olive oil, sheesh, but feel free to adjust the seasoning to your liking! Its a pretty forgiving recipe. Enjoy.

RATATOUILLE

adapted from The Silver Palate Cookbook

Ingredients

2 c best quality olive oil (I did not use this much by far)
4 small eggplants, bout 4 lbs each in total, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes (I used about 3 lbs)
2 tsp salt
1 1/2 lbs white onions; peeled & coarsely chopped (I used 2 very large onions)
7 medium sized zucchini; washed, trimmed, quartered lengthwise and cut into 2 inch strips (I used 6 small, plus 2 medium yellow squash instead)
2 medium sized sweet red peppers; stemmed, seeded, cut into 1/2 inch strips (I don't like peppers - skipped this)
2 medium sized green bell peppers; stemmed, seeded, cut into 1/2 inch strips (I don't like peppers, skipped this too)
2 tbsp minced garlic
3 cans (16 oz each) Italian peeled plum tomatoes, drained (save the juice, just in case)
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste (I used the drained juice instead)
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley (I didn't have this so I skipped it)
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill (also didn't have this, so I skipped it)
2 tbsp dried basil (I had fresh so I used about 1/2 cup chopped)
2 tbsp dried oregano
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
And you know I tossed in some hot sauce, right?

You're going to need a BIG pot for all of this, in addition to a roasting pan (or a few smaller baking dishes), skillets, tin foil, plus various knives, measuring cups, cutting board, etc. Just warning you. I had to use two pans because the first was overflowing before the eggplant went in.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Line a large roasting pan with foil and pour in 1 cup oil. (OK, I don't have a roasting pan, so I used one 13x9 baking pan, plus a couple of smaller ones to accommodate all the eggplant. Also, you don't need 1 cup of oil. Put a few tablespoons on the bottom, then toss in your eggplant and drizzle some more on top.) Add eggplant, sprinkle with salt and toss well. Cover pan tightly w/foil and bake for 35 min until eggplant is done but not mushy (Mine went longer - test it and see after 35 minutes). Uncover and set aside.

3. While eggplant cooks, in a (very!) large skillet or 2 smaller skillets, heat remaining oil (again, you don't need a full cup. Use a few tablespoons to coat the pan, and add a little more if it starts to stick.) Saute onions, zucchini, peppers and garlic over medium heat until wilted and lightly colored, about 20 minutes. Add tomatoes, paste (I used the drained tomato juice), and spices. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Add eggplant and simmer another 10 minutes. Taste and correct seasoning. Serve hot or at room temperature.

12 portions.

This makes a TON! I seriously used almost all of my Tupperware to pack it up. Its great for a party or a large group, or you can freeze it and eat some later. Yum!

Celebrate Good Times Come on!

2011-08-31T14:10:00.000-04:00

Hey There! Happy Last Day of August! Guess who is the featured user on Celebrations.com today? Answer: ME! Check it out!

I know I've said it before but it really is an awesome site and I'm proud to write for it. If you've got labor day parties this weekend, you can definitely find some fun summer recipes and ideas there. And if you're in for back to school mode, its the place to be!

So thank you Celebrations for picking little old me! I'm so proud. Keep an eye out for some fun Halloween ideas over there too!

Kindergarden

2011-08-30T16:20:00.000-04:00

Guess who starts kindergarten tomorrow? I can't even believe it. But this guy:

Oh man I remember when he was a tiny little peanut I could coerce into photo shoots:

Easier to do when you're captive in a car seat.

And you even let us torture you with funky hair styles.

Always so well dressed too!

And a great big brother!

Seriously.

Such a big guy you are now!

And so handsome, always.

Good luck to my favorite boy! You are going to be so awesome I can't even wait!

Love, Your Auntie Em

Candy Corn Craziness

2011-08-22T12:31:00.000-04:00

I know it's August. But never too early to start planning for Halloween! Here is a glimpse at a project I worked on this weekend - it was fun but I spent way too many hours up to my elbows in sherbet.

Tune in soon to see the final product!

Baby Pops!

2011-08-18T17:21:00.000-04:00

No, these are not pops made from actual babies.

They are cute though! Here is a fun way to wrap up some cute onesies for a baby shower - you can even customize your own, with this tutorial, or use fun store bought ones. Try it out!

(click for more!)

Onesie Pop Tutorial!

Supplies:

Baby Onesie

Popsicle stick

Pipe Cleaner or Wire

Clear tape

Cellophane, Tulle, or Fabric Scraps

Ribbon

Directions

Step 1) Place your onesie on a flat surface.

Step 2) Fold the sides in towards the middle by about 2 inches, and fold the bottom up as well.

Step 3) Fold onesie in half.

Step 4) Starting at the top, roll the onesie up, so it looks like a lollipop. Use clear tape to secure the end.

Step 5) Thread your pipe cleaner or wire through the middle of the roll, enough so that the end can extend through the other side and down to meet the stem. Wrap the shorter end around the stem a few times to secure it. You can also add a bit of tape to secure it.

Step 6) Place the Popsicle stick against the back of the onesie roll, where the long end of the pipe cleaner is located. Wrap the exposed pipe cleaner around the stick a few times and add some tape to secure the stick to the onesie roll.

Step 7) Cut a square of fabric, cellophane, etc large enough to cover your pop, with a bit extra. Cut a length of ribbon about 6 inches long, or to your preference. Wrap the onesie with the fabric, arranging it so that it has a nice bunching effect at the base. Secure it with the ribbon. Tie in a know and a bow, curling the ribbon with scissors if desired.

Ta da! You're done! Feel free to make a whole bouquet of them if you'd like!

Muffin Mania!

2011-08-17T11:51:00.000-04:00

So, I meant to make these for a breakfast treat for the car ride to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware last week, where I went on vacation with my family. But, I ran out of time and got bagels instead.

I tossed the blueberries in the freezer and threw these Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins together when I got home, since I had all the ingredients.

But woah! As I stirred the frozen blueberries in the mix, their skins started peeling off! It was like taking the mask of of Darth Vader - inside they are all greenish and pale and sickly looking. I did go a little overboard on the berries to compensate- recipe only called for a cup but I threw the whole pint in, so they were a little less muffin like, a little more massive blueberry craters interspersed with dough bridges throughout. Definitely edible, though!

BLUEBERRY CORNMEAL MUFFINS

from Cookin' Up Country Breakfasts Cookbook, via A Taste of Home

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup cornmeal

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1 cup milk (I used yogurt that was nearing its expiration date)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 egg whites

Directions

In a large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add blueberries. Stir in milk and oil just until mixed. In a bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form (I used my kitchen aid mixer); fold into batter. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done. Yield: about 1 dozen (mine made 16).

National Cheesecake Day!

2011-07-28T13:52:00.000-04:00

Did you know that July 30 is National Cheesecake Day?

Seems a little odd...more of a hearty cool weather dessert to me, but it is delicious all year round.

In case you do want to celebrate, here are some fun recipes from Kraft, including a few no bake options that are a little more summery, and might work a little better for you if you think the idea of turning on your oven now is grounds for institutional commitment.

Food Network is always a good source - they have plenty of ideas here. My sister (above, with a Christmas masterpiece) swears by Alton Brown's recipe - and she is the cheesecake queen, in my book. The recipe is a little fussy but the results are phenomenal.

What is your favorite kind of cheesecake? Do you have a favorite recipe? Or go-to place?

Baby Baby Baby

2011-07-27T11:41:00.000-04:00

Hello Friends!

Here is another post I've done for Celebrations.com - check it out! Its a super easy way to make a handmade gift for a new bundle of joy, no sewing machine required!

DIY Bachelorette Veil

2011-07-21T15:42:00.001-04:00

I have had a lot of bachelorette parties to attend in the past year - with more to come!

Which is why I put together a little tutorial on how you can make your own for the next bride-to-be in your life - or even for kids' dress up! Check out my very first post over at celebrations.com to see how you can do it!

Thanks to Julie M for modeling!

Celebrations!

2011-07-20T15:41:00.000-04:00

Hi there! Big news - I am now a real, live (part time) blogger! Not that I wasn't serious about this blog, of course, but I am now a contributor at a really cool professional website and I'm so excited!

Where, you may ask? Well I will tell you - Celebrations.com is an amazing website for all things party, and beyond! They have great recipes, drinks, crafts, decoration ideas, and more, that you can do yourself! Definitely check it out before your next shindig - or, how about right now? If you don't have anything planned, you'll want to after seeing this site.

I'll be continuing my regular posting here but will also be linking up when I have a featured post on Celebrations.com so you can get even more of me! Stay tuned for my first craft post...

Pizza Party for One!

2011-07-19T10:34:00.000-04:00

This weekend I had an impromptu get together in my backyard, with some wine and snacks. Of course, I made/bought way too much food for 3 people. The leftover brownies came in to work with me yesterday, so I didn't eat them all myself, and I still have gobs of hummus and dip to consume.

I decided against making the appetizer pizza for my guests, since it was super hot, and we didn't need it. I did make it last night though - delish! Here's a pic - homemade pizza dough (from my freezer), arugula pesto (since I had a bunch of wilting arugula lying around, along with walnuts and other pertinent ingredients), Parmesan and mozzarella, and some yellow squash I sauteed for a few minutes before tossing on top. (Those were extra dippers for the hummus we never got to).

Overall, a success! And I now have plenty of leftover pizza, too. Pretty good for a Monday night!

Rainbow Delight!

2011-07-14T15:41:00.000-04:00

Oh man do I love rainbows!

Where I Spent My Weekend...

2011-07-10T22:52:00.000-04:00

Amazing.

(Thank you Matt!)

Brooklyn is Where It's At

2011-06-28T16:23:00.000-04:00

Looking for something to do this summer? Or, ever? Check out this amazing list from Gothamist of why Brooklyn is so amazing! I know, I'm not the first to say it, but having lived here for nearly 6 years I've got maybe a little bit of BK cred? Maybe? Ok, fine. But perhaps when I finish this list I will. We'll talk then.

So, if you live in the city, or come for a visit, or are one of my own personal friends that lives in the city and may generate a yearly summer to do list (AHEM), maybe we could add some of these to it? Just saying.

In the meantime, I will be busy checking some off on my own.

Decked Out

2011-06-24T05:35:00.000-04:00

Here is a little sundress project I've been meaning to do for quite some time...I may have purchased this fabric two years ago. Anyway, now that it is officially Summer (JOY!) I thought I should finally whip up this little number. Cute, and easy too!

For the top, I used an old tank top - after a few washes it was becoming a bit of a belly shirt, which I am so not cool with, and as such haven't worn in quite a while. For this project I only needed the top, and just cut it off a couple inches below the chest.

For the bottom I used a simple store bought elastic waist skirt as a template and just traced it on my fabric, cutting out two (one front, one back) and sewing them together, and hemming the bottom. I tapered it a little at the waist, and made a fabric tube threaded through with elastic for the top, and attached the tank to the skirt bottom to it on either side.

It fits over the head, easy peasy! Well, maybe a bit of a tug needed but once on it fits like a dream! I added a dart in the back middle, from the top of the waist and down a few inches, to pull it in at that area and give it a better fit too. Overall, a success for my first pattern free-make it up as I go along dress!

And, the pattern for the skirt part is super cute - check it out close up!

And, said ensemble just happens to perfectly match the cute new heels I picked up on clearance at DSW. Score!

Fashion Show

2011-06-23T11:18:00.000-04:00

I (finally) got a new camera, and had the opportunity to test it out last weekend on a trip home to Connecticut.

I asked my nephew Dorian to model for me, and he willingly obliged.

We decided to put on a fashion show - here is one of the little vignettes he created for the occasion. Angelina Ballerina and Wolfy, going for a ride down the runway.

Rakia was a little tired but she did help out too, by sporting a lovely veil scarf.

But Dorian was really the piece de resistance. Thanks Buddy!

Rainy Day Orchard Fest

2011-06-22T11:35:00.002-04:00

Looking to entertain some little ones recently, my mom came across the 140th Anniversary Celebration for Bishop's Orchards in Guilford, Connecticut.

It was a rainy, gloomy day, but there were donkey rides, so that balances things out, don't you think?

One young gentleman I know was very excited for this. After spending the rest of the weekend watching vintage horse and cowboy movies, he was ready ride. (Although a little timid at first.)

They also offered tractor rides which was a lot of fun - even as it started to pour.

Overall, a fun and family friendly excursion!

I hope we can go back to pick apples in the fall! If you're in the area, strawberries are ripe now so check it out!

Healthy Mac & Cheese!

2011-06-21T04:20:00.000-04:00

...and cauliflower. But seriously, before you stop right there - its seriously delish! Give it a shot, please?

Looks yummy and cheesy and good, right? Right. Homemade Mac & Cheese is one of my absolute favorite dishes, and while this doesn't quite measure up to my Dad's recipe, topped with Ritz crackers, its a pretty damn good second place.

I saw a recipe in People Magazine while reading over a lady's shoulder on the train the other day, and thought it would be a good idea to try out mac & cheese with cauliflower. But when I googled the recipe (you can find it here, here, and on various blogs around the web) - by Masterchef winner Whitney Miller, I saw that it used heavy cream, and a lot of cheese, so I wanted to try to lighten it up myself. I found this recipe from Shape Magazine which I used for a template, but it seemed a little fussy...so anyway, here is my take on it.

CAULIFLOWER MAC & CHEESE

Serves 4 - Prep time 20 minutes - Cooking time 35 minutes

INGREDIENTS

*1 bag frozen cauliflower (16 oz/1 lb)

*1/2 cup whole wheat macaroni

*1 small onion, diced

*2 cloves garlic, minced

*2 cups nonfat milk

*2 tbsp butter

*2 tbsp flour

*3/4 cup reduced fat cheese (I used mozzerella)

*2 tbsp pepper sauce, like Frank's

*2 tbsp Dijon mustard

*salt & pepper to taste

*2 tbsp grated Romano or Parmesan cheese

*cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Fill a large pot with water. Cover and bring to a boil. Cook cauliflower for 2 minutes. Scoop out with a slotted spoon, rinse with cold water in a colander. Set aside.

Add macaroni to boiling water and cook until al dente. Drain, and add to cauliflower. Set aside.

While macaroni cooks, heat small saute pan over low heat, and coat with cooking spray. Add minced garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often. Add onion, and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

In medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour until smooth and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in milk; cook for 10 minutes, stirring often, until mixture begins to simmer. Add mustard, pepper sauce, salt and pepper and stir until smooth.

While milk mixture is cooking, coat 12x10 inch ovenproof dish with cooking spray. Place cauliflower/macaroni mix in dish, stirring to make sure macaroni and cauliflower are evenly distributed. Sprinkle with half of shredded cheese and set aside.

After milk mixture begins to simmer lightly, add half of shredded cheese and whisk until smooth. Pour this over cauliflower and macaroni evenly. Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake for 30 minutes, until bubbling and just beginning to brown.

Let cool for a few minutes and serve. Hope you like it! You can adjust the spices to your liking, or even add more veggies to fill it out - a great dinner! Well, maybe not for 80+ degree days, but still a solid meal :)

Let me know what you think, or if you have any questions about my recipe!

Backyardigans

2011-06-20T10:55:00.002-04:00

I'm itching to have a garden party in my lovely backyard!

The plantings are not my handiwork, but my neighbor's. I still enjoy them though!

It's a really great outdoor space and I can't wait to have some friends over to enjoy it with me, now that the weather is nice.

For now, its a great place to enjoy a solo dinner al fresco or read a book on a Sunday afternoon.

Too Cool For School

2011-06-19T02:54:00.000-04:00

Here is a little birthday card I made for a friend! Tee hee!

Smooooth

2011-05-13T15:56:00.000-04:00

I need to go grocery shopping. As such, I'm lacking breakfast foods in my kitchen. I did some digging in the back of my cupboard and found...a can of pumpkin. Not promising - and yet, I recalled this Real Simple smoothie recipe from a few months ago, and low and behold, I had all the ingredients!

Ta Da! One Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie. I liked it! And I'm not really a smoothie person - they're usually too thick and heavy for me. This was light and tasty. I made a few modifications, but it was good enough to have two days in a row! Probably more, since I have to finish off the pumpkin.

I hadn't used my magic bullet blender in a while - man do I love that thing! It pulverized the ice in no time, and made a perfect one serving smoothie for me with minimal dishes to do. I might have to try one of these other smoothie recipes!

SPICED PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE
adapted from Real Simple, February 2011 - original recipe is here, with a bunch more here.

Serves 1
Hands-On Time: 5m
Total Time: 5m

Ingredients:
1 cup ice
1/2 cup almond milk (recipe calls for whole milk)
1/3 cup pure pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon honey
pinch of cinnamon (recipe calls for nutmeg)

Directions

1.Place the milk, pumpkin, honey, and spice in a blender.
2. Blend until combined.
3. Add the ice, and blend until smooth and frothy.

I found that when I added everything at once, the honey got cold and didn't incorporate. Mixing all the ingredients without the ice first made it more uniform. I added a splenda to make it a little sweeter too.

Faking It

2011-05-09T12:40:00.000-04:00

Fake Flowers that is! I celebrated Mothers Day yesterday with a whole gang of ladies and had so much fun at Spa Castle! Seriously, if you are anywhere near Queens NY, you must go there. Amazing!

Since we would be out all day, I thought that fresh flowers would be a waste, as we'd have no where to stash them with water. So, I made some fake ones myself out of fabric scraps, and leftover plastic stems from this craft. Waste not, want not!

I made these last year too, based on a tutorial from made. Seriously, watch out for that glue gun, its deadly! I worked with the glue gun in droplets and small sections, rather than going the length of the fabric all at once - that was too unwieldy, not to mention painful! Also, the glue dries up at the end by the time I got there, which was a waste. I wrapped the bases with ribbon to finish it off.

The ladies liked them, I think! They can take them home looking fresh as a daisy - and they will stay that way!

This is a fun, cheap craft you can make for free, basically, using scraps and leftover materials.

A good way to get your mind off of whatever is on it too!

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T05:24:00.000-04:00

Happy Mothers Day to all the lovely ladies out there - moms, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and the rest!

And a very special happy mothers day to MY mom!

Here is a little card I made for the occasion. We're off to Spa Castle today - welcome to paradise indeed! Hope you all have a lovely day too.

Happy Royal Wedding Day!

2011-04-29T14:55:00.000-04:00

So, whether you've been up since 4am today to get a glimpse of THE DRESS, slept in and saw the pics online, or have been so thoroughly annoyed by the rampant media coverage that you've tossed your TV out the window, I have something for you. Because who doesn't love a smashing headpiece!

I came across this tutorial on Daily Candy and knew I just had to make one of my own! It was surprisingly simple.

I found all of the materials at Michael's Arts and Crafts - except I had the tulle at home. I re purposed an old barrette too, since they only had small ones at Michael's.

The feathers were pre-assembled which made things easy - just a few squirts with a hot glue gun and I was done! You could totally make one for a wedding or a party, toned up or down, depending on your style.

I made a smaller one that's a little more subtle for a friend. Both are AWESOME though! I may be holding a high tea in the near future just for an excuse to wear it again.

Happy Crafting!

Blood = Love

2011-04-25T14:08:00.000-04:00

Here is a nice way to help the world that doesn't cost any money, plus you get free cookies:

GIVE BLOOD!

This is me doing it today. And in case you are wondering, they made me wear that paper sheet because I was wearing a skirt. The Red Cross people are just thoughtful like that.

This is my friend Julie M doing the same. She is showing her sweet donor card - you can get one too if you donate! Also, they gave us both T shirts today, and did not skimp on the snacks, either.

Today's donation was in a mobile blood bus- a cool experience, if a little cramped. We could watch people walking by in Columbus circle right outside as we did our duty.

So, if you can - give blood! I'm next eligible June 20 - who's in?

A Veil of a Tale

2011-04-13T14:07:00.000-04:00

My friend Julie got married last month (congratulations!) and I STILL haven't posted about it. Sorry kids!

Look how pretty she looks! Also, check out her sweet veil!

I made it! And it was sooooo simple.

I found this easy tutorial online from Chica & Jo. So, if you've got a wedding in your future, or know someone who does, try it out! Get some tulle and ribbon from the fabric store, and a little comb or clip. You can add sparkles or other embellishments if you'd like, or keep it simple like Julie.

Stunning!

source: bridal & co via ideeli

And seriously, you can make a veil identical to this one for the fraction of the price! A great way to add some handmade pizazz to your special day, and keep your budget in check to boot. Try it!

Nice Day for a Stroll

2011-04-11T17:44:00.000-04:00

Wow its 75 degrees in NYC today! Woo hoo! Saturday wasn't that warm, but still a splendid day for a stroll with my pal Sasha. We walked pretty much all day, from about 1230pm to 9, minus a stop or 2 for sustenance. We even walked home to my apartment - over the Brooklyn Bridge of course!

See? Told you so.

We also got to check out a cool Beer Garden in my neighborhood - Der Scwartz Koelner, just a few blocks from my house. So, there is no garden, but it was a lovely beer hall, and did have a few outdoor tables. I think they probably open the long windows in warmer weather too.

I'm not a beer fan, but did try a shandy (half beer, half sprite) - and I'm still not a beer fan. But, they have lots of beer, if you like that! Plus pretzels and pickles and potato cakes (which we tried - pretty good!). They also have wine, so I hope to go back! (And I kind of want to try the Mezzomix - 1/2 fanta, 1/2 coke!). It was a fun and friendly atmosphere, with a mix of families, friends, and strangers all sharing long tables.

I love trying new stuff in my 'hood!

Happy Birthday Bessie!

2011-04-08T11:36:00.000-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BESSIE!

Happy 27th Birthday to my lovely sister! I hope you have an awesome day!!

Chowing Through Fort Greene

2011-04-06T12:03:00.003-04:00

I spent some time this weekend exploring my new neighborhood, Fort Greene, Brooklyn. My mom was in town so we took a stroll to Fort Greene park.

Here is the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument - it was the tallest Doric column in the world when it was built in 1908. There is also a crypt below where the remains of the soldiers are buried. You can learn more about it here and here. Oh man I cannot tell you how cool it is to live so close to a stop on the New York Freedom Trail and the Revolutionary War Trail.

Note to self/mom: Here is another cool NYC walking tour too! I think its for Scouts but it could be fun for regular people too.

Speaking of mom - she totally got shortchanged on the breakfast front! We tried Olea, a cute little Mediteranian place a few blocks from my place. We got there right when they opened at 10am, and were the first people there. It filled up totally within just 15 minutes! A popular joint. Mom got the goat cheese croquettes - they looked tasty, but were so tiny! And non listed under the appetizers but should have been. She got lamb sausage too, but the whole meal looked fit for an elf. My mom is tiny but not that tiny!

I went with the granola, yogurt and honey combo which was good and human sized.

We also shared some nice baguettes and jam. I liked the food at this place, but was a little annoyed that they didn't tell Mom she was ordering an ap, as opposed to a meal.

Can't wait to check out more cool new places in my 'hood!

Fondue Festival of Fun

2011-04-05T11:43:00.000-04:00

This weekend I had my very first dinner party in my new aapartment - yay! Lifelong dream come true! I wanted to do something fun and fancy - so I made fondue!

Daniel, Julie and Matt liked it, apparently. And Matt is not trying to stab Julie with his fondue fork (man do I love those things - I want to eat all my food with it!). He is just ready for his next bite.

For dipping, I had bread cubes, carrots, clementines, veggie sausage, apples, mushrooms (which I forgot in the fridge), grape tomatoes and cauliflower. Way too much food for 4 people, but we didn't leave hungry and I had a lot of leftovers! It was my first try at fondue, and I used this article and accompanying recipes for inspiration. The one I selected was made with cheddar and beer - a little stringy, but still very tasty (if messy!)

And nothing goes with fondue like cupcakes from Butter Lane, right? RIGHT? Matt brought an assortment that we sampled - chocolate with strawberry frosting, chocolate with caramel frosting topped with kettle corn, vanilla with cinnamon honey frosting, and classic vanilla with chocolate.

But that's not all - both of these are banana cake, one with cream cheese frosting and the other with peanut butter chocolate! Yum! I love how you can mix and match cakes and frostings at Butter Lane. Plus they seem to have Groupons a lot so you might be able to get a deal!

Overall, a success! Can't wait to do it again - and have some more fondue experiments.

Spaghetti Squash!

2011-03-29T10:36:00.000-04:00

Spaghetti Squash is one of those things I've always been curious about - never tried to make it on my own, even after tasting it once and liking it quite a bit. Also, I eat noodles a lot (like a WHOLE LOT) and thought this might be a good way to lessen my carb intake but still get that warm pasta with sauce feeling.

A kind young gentleman offered me a trip to Fairway, in a car no less, so I picked one up - not having to lug the heavy veggie home left me with little excuse not to.

I have a lot of cookbooks, and several veggie-centric ones - but oddly enough none of them had a recipe or directions on how to cook a spaghetti squash! Luckily, the Internet came to the rescue - I found this post with several different cooking options. I went with the quartering and baking option - 45 minutes later (and some weird smell from my brand new oven) I was starved and ready to eat. Could have used a few more minutes, perhaps but it was good! (Also, I ignored the "rind side up" direction until about 30 min in so that might have warped the cooking time a bit.)

Going at it with a fork to shred it up was fun too. I topped it with some chopped tomatoes and vodka sauce and it made for a tasty dinner - with plenty left over for later.

So, this will never replace my first true love - pasta - but it was a fun new thing to try! I toasted the seeds and chowed down on those too - pumpkin seed style. Yum!

Spicy Soup!

2011-03-28T14:31:00.000-04:00

More home cooking in my new kitchen! This weekend I whipped up a fun and fast soup, thanks to a recipe in the latest Real Simple magazine.

Behold - Thai Curry Vegetable & Tofu Soup!

This was so quick to make! Like, too quick even - I was still chopping veggies when the broth had boiled enough and it was time to pop them in the pot already! (I'm not quite an organized cook.) It came out great, even with a few adjustments on my part. Overall highly recommended! A great vegetarian dish, that's quite filling, and can definitely carry on out of "soup season" into the spring with its light fresh tastes! Check it out.

THAI CURRY VEGETABLE & TOFU SOUP

from Real Simple, April 2011

Serves 4*Hands-On Time: 30m*Total Time: 30m

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste (My supermarket was lacking in options, and I wasn't up for a trip to Chinatown, so I used the red rooster garlic/chili sauce. Worked well! Although I doubled the dose - I like it spicy!)
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 14-ounce can coconut milk (I used light coconut milk - worked fine! And saved a few calories, too.)
kosher salt
1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps thinly sliced (Used regular white mushroom here - way cheaper than shiitake! And still tasty.)
4 ounces green beans, halved
2 carrots, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise
14 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained and cut into cubes
4 ounces snow peas (I couldn't find these in my store. So I skipped them, and added a few more green beans. Still good!)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup torn fresh basil leaves
Asian chili garlic sauce, for serving

DIRECTIONS
1.Place the curry paste and ginger in a medium saucepan. Whisk in the broth, coconut milk, and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil.
2.Add the mushrooms, green beans, and carrots to the saucepan and simmer until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the tofu and snow peas and simmer until the snow peas are bright green, about 1 minute more.
3.Stir in the lime juice. Sprinkle with the basil and serve with the chili garlic sauce.

Made a great lunch for work today too! And check out my cute new bowls from Ikea. I'm like a real grown up with dishes and everything! Woo hoo!

Silly Little Can

2011-03-19T13:08:00.004-04:00

Here is a fun craft that will only take you a few short minutes! Its pretty self explanatory but I will share.

I needed some little containers to store various accouterments in my bathroom. I wanted them to be cute since I'd look at them every day, but neutral so as not to look clutters. Also, I am cheap and didn't want to buy them.

Then, my epiphany - I could make some myself! One empty can of Spaghettios later, and I was ready to roll. I cut some burlap I had on hand a littler larger than the height of the can (after washing, of course), and made the fabric a little bit longer than I'd need to wrap around, for overlap. I peeled off the label and glued the fabric to the can. (I used plain Elmer's glue, since I couldn't quite lay my hands on my glue gun at that moment, but that would work too.) I wrapped two rubber bands around it while it dried to keep it in place.

Once it dried, I trimmed the burlap a little, then picked out a nice brown ribbon and cut two sections of it, each long enough to wrap around the can, plus about a half an inch. I glued those to the top and bottom rims of the can and after a little drying it was done! After I get a few more cans I might make more - stay tuned!

You don't have to use burlap of course - any scrap fabric would work. You could use wrapping paper or ribbon or whatever you'd like! Fun and free storage - yay!

Happy Birthday Luke!

2011-03-18T10:20:00.000-04:00

Happy 23rd Birthday to my wonderful cousin Luke. Hope you have fun today!

Welcome Home!

2011-03-17T09:43:00.000-04:00

Hi Friends! I know, its been a while. My latest news is that I've moved to a new apartment! I have a cute little place all my own to call home now. I've been there a couple of weeks, but just made my first real dinner last night - lack of cooking utensils was thwarting my chef skills: ie, I had no knives, and no time to purchase them yet.

But that has since been rectified thanks to some sweet hand-me-downs from Grandma and Grandpa! Check out my mushroom stroganoff! It was pretty good. The recipe is from Cooking Light: Fresh Food Fast, but I came across it on this blog. (Thanks Teresa!) Now all I need are some plates, and i'm good to go for a dinner party!

Mushroom Stroganoff

By Fresh Food Fast by Cooking Light

Ingredients
3 1/2 cups uncooked medium egg noodles (I used whole wheat just for kicks)
cooking spray
5 (4 oz) packages fresh gourmet-blend mushrooms (This is what the recipe calls for - I just used a 10 oz package and sliced them up myself - perfectly good!)
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups reduced fat milk
3 tablespoons dry sherry (I omitted this - would give it more flavor. Could use wine or stock too)
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped chives (optional)

Directions

1. Cook noodles according to directions
2. While noodles cook, heat a large Dutch oven over high heat; generously coat pan with cooking spray. Add mushroom and onion; cook 10 minutes, or until browned, stirring frequently.
3. While mushroom mixture cooks, melt butter in a saucepan. Incorporate flour with a whisk. Once combined, gradually add milk with a whisk. Cook, whisking constantly, 3 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add salt and pepper, and sherry. (A little hot sauce here would be good, too).
4. Stir sauce and cooked noodles into mushroom mixture. Stir in sour cream; sprinkle with chives, if desired. Serve immediately.

Serves 4: Serving is 1 3/4 cups
Per Serving: 393 cal, 12.6g fat, 15g prot, 55.2g carb, 3.5g fiber

Decadence, Sandwich Style

2011-02-16T13:53:00.008-05:00

Kitchenette

Macaroni & Cheese BLT, with cheese, minus the Bacon. Over the top? Perhaps. But kind of amazing.

V-Day Play By Play!

2011-02-15T13:32:00.000-05:00

Check out the sweet heart shape pizza I made last night! (OK, with a little/a lot of help.)

Pictures don't do it justice, but it was delicious! This one was a white pizza with parmesan, mushrooms, onions, mozzarella, ricotta and basil.

Since the dough was a little tricky to work into a heart shape/I may have manhandled it a little, making it a little bit harder to maneuver, we made the second pizza rectangular shaped, on a cookie sheet. This one had red sauce, plus mozzarella, fresh motz, parm, basil, mushroom, sauteed onions, and chicken sausage (not on my half, but it did look tasty). Both were so good! (And good for lunch today too!)

If you want to make your own pizza, did you know that you can get dough from your local pizza shop? Its cheap, better than what you can find at the grocery store, and saves you time/having to wait for your homemade dough to rise.

Also there was candy.

A lot of it.

And something to brighten up my desk too!

What a sweet day! I hope everyone out there had happy valentine's days too!

New Boots!

2011-02-02T12:55:00.000-05:00

We've gotten so much snow here in New York City lately (as so much of the country has too), and my old rain boots have gotten a lot of use. With an impending blizzard/ice storm scheduled to take place this week, by boots decided to split on Monday. Grrrr! Bad timing.

And yet! I was able to eek out a couple of extra days (with the help of some duct tape) from my old pair, and ordered up these cute ones from Endless.com! Just got them today and I like them a lot. On sale - only $35, plus free 2 day shipping and I'm wearing my new ones home tonight. Lucky for me (kind of) that the ice storm continues, and puddles of slush abound...

The lime color is a little less bright in person than in the picture - I guess that's why they call it "dirty lime." They definitely feel sturdier than my previous pair from target, and a little higher too, so I'll have to make some new boot liners for myself! If it ever warms up they will compliment my pink raincoat nicely too. I love having bright and cheery rain gear to perk up a gray day!

Cutting and Pasting

2011-01-26T10:13:00.002-05:00

I got home early(ish) last night and wanted to do something productive, but wasn't up for hauling out my sewing machine, so I got into some cutting and pasting and came up with this:

a cute little bday card for a friend - a nice way to warm up a January Birthday, I'll say! Celebrating on Friday, so I hope she likes it.

Also got a jump on Valentine's day - a little subdued, and no pink at all, I know. Was going for a more subtle, masculine vibe. Plus I used up a ton of scraps!

Anyway, a successful way to spend an hour. Plus, since my hot glue gun is MIA (grrr) I had to use regular Elmer's and didn't want to go too crazy 3-dimensional for fear of falling pieces. This guys should stay put!

She Don't Eat Meat...

2011-01-25T11:46:00.000-05:00

But I sure like animal shaped food!

Check out this sweet cow cookie I got from a lovely gentlemen! It was actually quite tasty too - not just fun to look at!

AH! It is decapitated! Oh noooooo! If you want one of your own, check out Kitchenette - a seriously darling restaurant, with an adorable assortment of baked goods too. Plus mini pies! My dream come true.

Soup's On!

2011-01-24T07:03:00.001-05:00

One thing that's great about chilly weather is sitting down to a nice hot bowl of soup - I made some lentil this weekend and it came out great! Very simple and good for you too. Try it!

CLASSIC LENTIL SOUP

from How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman

Makes 4 servings. Time: About 1 hour

Ingredients:

1 cup dried lentils, washed and picked over

1 bay leaf

Several sprigs fresh thyme, or a few pinches dried

1carrot, cut into 1/2 inch dice

1 celery stalk, cut into 1/2 inch dice

6 cups vegetable stock or water (more as needed)

salt & pepper

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 teaspoon minced garlic

Directions

1. Put lentils, bay leaf, thyme, carrot, celery and stock into a deep skillet or medium saucepan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, put olive oil in small skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and stir, then cook for 1 minute more. Turn off heat.

3. When lentils are tender, fish out bay leaf and thyme sprigs and stir onion mixture into the soup. Add more stock if soup it too thick, taste and season if needed. Serve.

This was really tasty and you can reheat it for a later meal too! I didn't have celery so I omitted that, and added more carrots for fun. Happy cooking!

Snow and Slush, You're no match for plush!

2011-01-22T19:02:00.000-05:00

Oh man I've been up to my ears in boot liners lately! I've made a ton for custom orders on my etsy shop which is very exciting.

I guess the frigid cold and snow across the country is good for business, for me! I've been wearing mine alot too.

Here are a few samples of what I've been up to lately! I even had a request for a men's set - so awesome!

Best Wishes Rebecca!

2011-01-08T12:41:00.001-05:00

Celebrating today at my friend Becca's Wedding!

Best wishes to you, married lady! And Congratulations to Greg, he is a lucky bloke!

I know you crazy kids will have many happy and healthy years ahead! Yay for love!

Circle in the Snow

2011-01-07T12:17:00.000-05:00

While I would love to be curled up in bed on a snowy day such as this one, the view from my office of Columbus Circle is quite nice. Central Park looks so peaceful in the snow!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T00:02:00.000-05:00

image via The Graphics Fairy

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Best Wishes for a delightful 2011!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T05:36:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas!

image via The Graphics Fairy

I hope those of you celebrating today are having a delightful time with friends and family. Have fun!

Love, Emma

Christmas Silhouettes

2010-12-22T10:42:00.042-05:00

My dad has a silhouette he made when he was a small boy that was hanging in my grandmother's house - its fun to look at - you can tell its him from the head shape and expression even after many years.

I also came across a similar project here. I morphed the two together and came up with a fun Christmas Crafts that I finally managed to get done this year - framed fabric silhouettes.

I got started this summer (kind of) by snapping a profile shot of two of my cousins. You can tell from their hair and some wayward drips that they had just hopped out of the pool .

Little Nicky

Fast forward to last week, when I printed out the pictures on regular 8.5 x11 paper, and cut out carefully around their heads. All the little wayward strands make for a fun final product!

I affixed wonder under to the back of some gray flannel I had. Tracing the head cut out onto the fabric was much easier that way, especially when working in tiny cuts.

Jack

I cut some yellow fabric to fit the 8x10 frame I had and added some interfacing to the back for extra stability. After cutting out the head, I attached it to the backing fabric, framed it and was done! I pretty simple, but thoughtful handmade gift. You could do something similar with black paper and a fun card stock or scrap booking paper behind it instead.

Hope you enjoyed this! I did, and I do hope my gift recipients do too!

Passport to Craftiness!

2010-12-21T06:23:00.000-05:00

Here is a fun little gift I whipped up this weekend - a passport cover!

I used this tutorial from Chubby Hobby.

Its a great way to use up scraps too!

It holds two passports for all of you international men and women of mystery out there with multiple identities - or, those who carry their significant other's/children's/bff's along with their own. Plus, some extra pockets for miscellaneous papers and what not.

I only had heavy interfacing which made it tricky to turn out and a little bulkier. I would use a lighter weight one next time. Also, work with cottons if you can, the home decor brown exterior was a little heavy to work with too. Otherwise, a fun and easy project for the traveler in your life!

Christmas Tag Tip!

2010-12-20T11:20:00.000-05:00

Hello! I did some Christmas wrapping this weekend.

One thing I like to do is make gift tags out of old greeting cards. Its free, festive, and fun! Just pick a card, any card (or, one you can part with, and that has no writing on the back of the cover), and snip it up into squares, rectangles, whatever you like! I use decorative scissors but regular work fine too. Punch a hole in the corner of each little tag, tie it to your gift and you're ready to go!

I also made this little bag from scrap fabric - just use a long rectangular piece, fold it in half wrong sides out and sew up the sides. I snip the top with pinking shears to stop fraying too. Turn it right side out and ta da!

Happy Wrapping!

Pee Wee on Broadway!

2010-12-16T14:57:00.001-05:00

Raise your hand if you loved Pee Wee's Playhouse! I totally did! My sister and I loved that show - we had the talking doll, the colorform set, and lots of other fun trinkets that I wish I still had to play with RIGHT THIS MINUTE. Oh how I wished I could hang out in that awesome playhouse in person!

Well lucky me - last night I did!!!! (Kind of.) I snagged half price orchestra tickets via TKTS to

The Pee Wee Herman Show on Broadway.

Oh man it was 90 minutes of 100% AWESOME! So fun. All of the characters were there - plus some new ones. Pee Wee (aka Paul Reubens) looks EXACTLY the same, as if he just came out of a time capsule or something. Weird, but cool.

It was funny and fun and nostalgic and sweet and poignant and overall delightful, just like the show. If you are in NYC in the next few days - its only running until January 2 - GO! If not, don't fret - last night they were taping for an HBO special so you should be able to catch it there in the not too distant future - so FUN!

Happy December!

2010-12-06T10:16:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends! Happy December! Here is a little holiday cheer I added to my front door.

Digging through my bag of holiday decorations, I found this ivy branch and plastic berries - threw it together with some ribbon and tada! 5 minute wreath alternative to add a little festive decor to my day, and I used what I had - the (free) price tag was a total bonus too!

Have you done any decorating? Any fun tips for alternative decor, or budget ideas to use what you've got around? Would love to hear!

Sewing for Fun!

2010-12-05T17:30:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with what to sew. Don't get me wrong - I love it and it relaxes me and is a great creative outlet - but my to do list seems so long I don't know where to start! Especially around the holidays, when I have so many things I feel like I have to do, it seems like I never have a chance to sew what I want to do, at that moment.

SO the other day I did! I made some cute little potholders with some of my scraps - a simple little sewing project but it was great to put together something, and finish it quickly - a nice feeling of accomplishment! Plus, look how adorable this watermelon themed one is, right?

Reminds me of little Rakia's swimsuit this summer!

I based it on this tutorial I saw a while back, but kind of freestyled it. Try it if you want some extra potholders around for your holiday baking - they make great little gifts too! So I did make a little dent in my to do list, after all!

Rain Rain, Come on Down!

2010-12-01T10:50:00.000-05:00

OK, it is pretty gloomy outside here in NYC. Rainy, windy, and overall quite blah - but almost 60 degrees on December 1st so that's a plus!

Another - I spent last night sewing up some cute rain boot liners for a special order - perfect timing for me!

Happy December everyone!

Thanksgiving Go Round

2010-11-30T12:58:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends! I hope you all had a delightful Thanksgiving with your friends and family.

We did something a little different this year - my parents, sister, and niece and nephew came in to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC with me!

My office is along the parade route so we got a pretty sweet view, as you can see.

Was waiting for the kool aid man to bust through the wall, but no such luck.

Spidey seemed quite plump! Good for you, Peter Parker!

After the parade we strolled around central park.

We went for a ride on the merry-go-round! So fun!

Even if Rakia looks serious she was having a blast too.

And this picture has nothing to do with Thanksgiving but I love it too much not to share. Hee hee!

Coffee Talk

2010-11-18T11:42:00.002-05:00

Coffee tables! Where fore art thou? You have been on my brain, of late, as I am in need of a new one of you. Have for a while, actually.

Since this occured:

Attractive, right? Not quite sure what happened to crack the glass- its my roommate's table too - but it has sat as a hazard for months. Since I can't decide what to do!

I could get some replacement glass, but I'm not a huge fan of the table (nor is roommie) so I'm thinking it needs to be replaced.

I'm not so much into Swedish modern - cheap, for sure, and I am a pro at putting together Ikea furniture, but the tables they have don't thrill me.

I've looked around the web - this one seemed kind of cute! More storage might be a good idea, and perhaps glass top is not for me, but I like how unique it is.

The deformed table has matching end tables as well, so we'd need something to match, or to get a complete set, which would be pricier. I wonder if I could just kind of slipcover them, to blend the sets? Since I don't have a cat to crawl out of this combo litter box/end table, that is. (LOVE IT!)

Anyway, just some home front musings....let me know if you've seen anything cool out there!

A Walk in the Park

2010-11-16T16:38:00.001-05:00

Took a stroll through central park today at lunchtime - ogling the leaves on an overcast November day was quite delightful.

This is all right outside my office. I'm quite lucky.

Wearing heels probably wasn't the best idea, but I'll live.

Its just so beautiful! With all of the fall leaves, its just breathtaking.