Pinterest Projects

Pinterest is great. I find a lot of stuff on there: gift ideas (for myself), outfit ideas, and some DIY inspiration. This year, I completed a few of my bookmarked projects. Here are three highlights:

(I apologize. Most of these photos are from my phone in poor lighting.)

Bookshelf to "Bar"

Pinterest link via Apartment Therapy

We have SO MUCH glassware. This is just the stuff that can't fit in the cupboards, on top of the cupboards, or in the hutch. It's ridiculous. Anyway, we also have about 2 bottles of liquor and a few fancy bottles of wine. (The other bottles never make it into the dining room because we drink them immediately.) I had an old Sauder bookshelf from my high school bedroom that was in decent shape. I thought this would be a nice corner filler in the dining room. I like the idea of installing bottle and glass holders, but I'm not sure this bookcase is sturdy enough. 

Bird Costume

Pinterest Link via A Beautiful Mess

Bird Mask

Video Tutorial

Ok, this one's kind of a lie. I actually subscribe to A Beautiful Mess, saw this there, THEN pinned it. But, whatever. 

This year, I had the itch to make a costume. I am really trying to use up my craft supplies. I have way too many. I made it the day of a friend's Halloween party, so it didn't take long. Instead of using a pillowcase, I cut out fabric a few inches wider than a favorite dress. It still fit wide/large like a pillowcase, but there was a little more shape to it. I forgot that my mom and I had swapped sewing machines and that my new Bernina is AMAZING. (I was using an in-table Singer from the 60s.) 

After the costume was complete, I had time to make a mask. I googled "make bird mask" and that video was one of the first results. If you watch it, you can tell I didn't stray much... Our friend had a black light in one room and the mask looked awesome. 

Alex went as a bird watcher. The day before the party I printed out several pages from Sibly's bird guide to make him a little booklet. I find it amusing that we took my nice camera as a prop for his costume, but didn't take a single photo... 

Chocolate dipped candy canes / pretzels 

Pinterest Link 

Tonight is my office Christmas party (way more fun than parties for other offices). This was super easy. A few of the candy canes broke while unwrapping, so I mashed them up to sprinkle on the white chocolate pretzel sticks. I have no idea what these taste like yet, but I imagine they'll be good. Made these to go along with some crockpot hot chocolate (which I will be making in about 3 hours...) 

Follow my Pinterest.

diy: easy desserts

Chocolate Coated Fig

Snickerdoodle Scones

Mini Nutella Cake

Inside Out Carrot Cake Cookie

Raspberry Chocolate French Macaroons

mmm food

I made more food. I only share it because: 1. it was really good and 2. I basically make the same things over and over, but by changing a few things around they can turn out very different.

For instance, both meals here have peppers, mushrooms, and tomato. But, the one on the top uses dirty rice, apples, and mahi mahi, while the one on the bottom uses pasta, ground turkey, and has a side of garlic toast. Nothing terribly wild and still very easy to make, but they taste very different.

Boring post, but useful if you're short on time.

mmm food

I don't make dinner often. So when it happens it's special. Also, we haven't really used our dining room since moving into the house. Mainly due to the fact that the previous owner took the chandelier and I'm still looking for something cool (hence that IKEA light on the hutch... and the candles). It was pretty sunny today (and 20 degrees!), which made it a lot easier to see and eat.

Ah, lovely paper towels.

If you're wondering, the wine is a new item at World Market. We had the Cabernet. (haha I sound fancy! The wine was 4.99!)

The meal? Couscous with tomatoes, zucchini, garlic and basil with grilled mahi mahi. Mmmm. Really good and very easy.

thing-a-day 15/16: food and web work

Tonight I had a few website ideas I had to jot down. The first two images are for a company website.


Basically this site would contain some fun games, an interactive flickr feed, and a papervision object that would pull in portfolio samples. The current site isn't very effective, so this would just push things up a notch.

Then I drew up some ideas for a new portfolio site. My current one was just created, but it was just something for the interim. By no means is it meant to stick around. I think I've settled on an idea. Perhaps it will be thing 17? Or 28....?


Last night I had to call Roto Rooter for a small problem (expensive, but not earth-shattering), so my thing was limited to the dinner Alex and I made for his parents and sister. We had lean cut pork chops marinated in red pepper sauce with bits of cranberry cheese on top and pasta with peppers, zucchini, and mozzarella. Oh, and Merlot. Don't mind the plates. I gave the good ones to the guests!

Halloween goodies

I made cookies last week for my work pumpkin carving party. Both were pumpkin based, and both were super yummy! I even won a prize.

Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Find the recipe here.

In progress...

Pumpkin cookies with white chocolate icing. I can't find the recipe! I'll keep looking.

Alex's pumpkin and my pumpkin out on the porch last night.

[Recipes via TasteSpotting]