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Jan 4, 2012

Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday!

 

I am excited to jump back into this link-up after a few weeks off. This year I am trying to be a little bit more crafty and I have been really interested in making my own stationary, so I took to Pinterest this week and these are a few inspiring pins I made!




I am in total love with the idea of embroidering my own cards. It seems super easy and the look is classy and clean! I think this is on my to do list this month :)




I figured that if I was going to take the time to make my own cards, I should make my own envelopes too and I love the ide of using a map or something else similar that makes the stationary personal. 




Not that I am in the market for bridesmaids, but I love the way this person used a wax pencil to deflect the water color paint. I think it is a great idea for invitations or birthday cards!




Vegetable stamps bring me back to elementary school, but I think it is so perfect for a cheap a quick way to spruce up a letter to a friend. It looks like it could also be a great excuse to buy that cabbage that you have been eyeing at the supermarket but weren't sure how to cook it.




This is by far the easiest and most adorable way to make your own stationary. Lace doilies are back in action my friends :)




Last but not least is a simple line drawing with a a pop of color. It looks like a sharpie to outline the leaves and maybe a colored pencil to shade in the few leaves?

Overall, I was so impressed by the ideas I found on Pinterest, that I want to try them all. I love the creativity, the multiple methods, and most of all the simplicity of the styles.  I think that my friends should start expecting a letter from moi in the next few weeks :)

Jan 2, 2012

December/ January Bucket List

So I had a few things on my bucket list last month and for the third month in a row I checked off everything on the list! Here was December:

1. Visit and take pictures of 25 different holiday decorations!



That took the entire month to get finished, but it was really fun exploring new places and seeing the city all dressed up for the holidays!

2. Make Christmas Cookies - I am going to say I did this, but I really only made chocolate chip cookies and snickerdoodle cookies. It was the lamest attempt at Christmas cookies I have ever seen, but the cookies were delicious.

3. Go back to Central Park and take a picture of the trees without leaves
 

It's sad to see the piles of leaves on the ground, but the day I went to Central Park was beautiful and I love the sky shining through the bare branches. 

4. Send out Christmas cards- Check! I send out real Christmas cards with stamps and everything. I also sent a few video cards and e-cards.

5. Go back to Florida for the first time in 5 months - This happened. It was a vacation that ended with the loss of a loved one. Not the best emotions for a relaxing vacation or Christmas break. I am hoping to make it back to Florida within the next few months and I plan on re-doing all those fun things that were postponed this trip.

6. Do something for New Year's Eve. - After getting back to New York, I wasn't sure that I was really in the mood to go out and party away the end of 2011, but I did. I went out with some friends and it was exactly what I needed to help me get into the spirit of the new year. 





Now on to January! 


This month feels like it is going to be awesome! I m hoping to do a few fun things this month. 
 
1. Go and see Darren Criss in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying - He is taking on the lead role since yesterday was Daniel Radcliffe's last performance and he is only starring form January 3rd - 23rd. I am hoping to get tickets sometime this month!

2. Go on an interactive public art walk!

3. Go to Maison Laduree fora macaron. I just have to pick a flavor first and it is initial research for my 2012 Bucket List goal to cook my own macarons.

4. Edit my novel for at least 5 hours.  

5. Send out 2 snail mail letters to friends or family.

Jan 1, 2012

2012 Goal #1

Long  before I began writing my blog, I was an avid blog reader. I have followed some blogs for well over three years and sometime feel like I know the bloggers in real life. I follow blogs written by authors, blogs written by people like me, blogs written by comedians, and blogs written by foodies. I laugh, I cry, and I bookmark the things that I like. I recently looked through my bookmarks and I had well over 30 recipes that I had meant to make, but never got around to cooking. I figured that with the start of a new year and this whole idea of resolutions, I too should set a goal. My goal, is to try and cook 1 new recipe a week from the many recipes in my bookmark file. In order to make it more interesting, I am going to blog about the experience, even if the food is awful.



Here is my list and I left a few open spots because I am sure that there will be even more amazing recipes in the months to come.

Appetizers and Dip 

Corn and Bean Salsa 

Bacon and Blue Cheese Dip

Corn Cakes with Avocado Relish


Main Dishes


Caribbean Jerk Tacos

Cheddar & Onion Sliders

Mojito Tilapia Taco Bites

Chicken and Chorizo Paella

Chicken with Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers

Stuffed Pepper Soup

Tomato & Arugula Salad with Avocado

Asiago Mac & Cheese with Brussel Sprouts and Cranberries


Baked Parmesan Tilapia

Cashew Chicken with Broccoli

Creamy Chicken and Brie Soup


Warm Asparagus, Gorgonzola, and Steak Salad 

Oven Risotto with Sausage and Peppers


Cheddar Corn Chowder

Orecchiette with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

Polenta Pizza

Beer and Brown Sugar Kielbasa & Sauerkraut






Side Dishes

Scalloped Potatoes

Brussel Sprouts with Garlic and Pancetta

BLT Macaroni Salad

Grilled Green Tomatoes with Basil Sauce


Drinks
Homemade Vanilla Cream Soda

Mango Peach Smoothie


Pomegranate Vanilla Sangria

Chai Banana Smoothies


Breads 

Coconut Banana Bread


Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Honey Beer Bread


Garlic Butter Breadsticks


Desserts

Golden Graham Smores


Cookie Dough Truffles

Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

Lemon Sweet Rolls


Peach Filled Champagne Cupcakes


Feel free to click on any of the recipe names above and it will take you to the original owner's recipe. I will be using those recipes and making some slight adjustments for my own use. I figured this year I deserved to have a goal that is attainable, plus it will help me out with some new kitchen skills. I am pumped to begin this week, but I don't what recipe to choose first!