Early Blooming Daffodils and a Floral Arrangement Trick

{Early blooming daffodils arranged in an elephant shaped watering can.}

Heavy thunderstorm {in February}.

Early blooming daffodils {in February, these guys are super early bloomers}.

Delicate flowers now laying on the ground.  Stems that are typically quite "bend-y" now truly bent at odd angles.  Even if these flowers weren't beaten by the rain they wouldn't stand straight in a vase, unless ...

{A simple way to keep flowers standing upright in floral arrangements.}

Hope you're having a great day and that you'll be able to use this little tip when your flowers start to bloom :)  So, are there any flowers blooming in your garden yet?   We're about 6 weeks ahead of the season here in Richmond; how about where you are?  Here's to a cheery spring for us all!

Pin, Follow or bookmark us {please} so we'll get to visit again! 

Toodles for now,

Stop Starting and Start Finishing

A couple of weeks ago hubby and I attended a workshop titled "Agile Software Development Methodology and Project Management" {or something real close to that}.  Good date night activity, right?

Hubby is a Corporate Project Manager and in my previous {corporate} life I lead a software / technology project or two, so I tag along to professional development workshops. Besides, I can be really geeky and I love a good lecture even if I don't previously know anything about the topic.

I'm not certain if David regrets or rejoices my attendance at this particular workshop because since that night my mantra has been ...

"Stop starting, and start finishing, to get more done."

{Beaver says he's going to finish his nap while I'm ranting on my soapbox}

One more time, slowly and with feeling: "Stop starting, and start finishing, to get more done."

I've internalized this principle as:

If you're working on a lot of different things, and finishing nothing, what are you getting done?  

Where's your sense of accomplishment?  

Where's the renewal of energy that comes with completing something that you need to get a real good start on the next project?

So they must have secret cameras in our house because they have my number dead on.  I've always been a real good starter and an eventual finisher on home projects.

Mine isn't a lack of motivation or "stick to it-ness" but rather a problem solving technique: I hit a snag / road block / impossible situation and I walk away to think of a new approach rather than just working harder and hoping to "break through".  In the meantime I'll start another new project ... or two ... or ten ... it all depends on how long it takes my muse to speak and tell me how to solve the issue on the previous {previous} {previous} project.

And then I realize I have compounded this problem by how I've defined my project: put the house back together.  Thinking this way, I don't recognize that I'm starting something new because I think everything I do is a way to finish / complete my goal.  So painting a room while rearranging furniture in another room while shopping for curtains for yet another room while redo'ing the laundry room while trying to decorating the dining area, well heck, I'm not starting multiple projects I'm just trying to finish one!  OK, those pillows I want to sew, I'm willing to admit that's a new and separate project.

So yesterday I finished arranging the bookshelves.  Gosh, that felt great to say.

And the day before I finished painting the walls in that same room.  I'm feeling empowered.

I have two more tasks {one rather large} in that room and it will be finished :) ! yay

I hope you'll play along with me on this finishing game.  I'd really love when you finish a project you've been struggling with if you'd leave me a note with a link to your project ... I think finishing begets finishing, and if I see that you can do it, then it will reinforce that I can too.

But for now, how about sharing any projects you have underway and soooo wish were finished already!  If you've hit a snag or just need a little "you go girl / guy" encouragement, maybe we can help!

And here's a peak at the beachy vibe I'm working on ....

We can get it done :)

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Drop Cookies: No Bake and Waistline Friendly :)

"You got chocolate on my peanut butter!  You got peanut butter on my chocolate!"

This is for all PB&C {peanut butter and chocolate} lovers.  Me included.  And to make this treat even more special, it is kind to your waistline.  You're welcome.

{Foodie Friday @ happilyhomeafter.blogspot.com: Peanut Butter & Chocolate Drop Cookies, No-Bake and Waistline Friendly}

I've made these drop cookies for several years but what first got my attention was the use of the dry pudding mix as a replacement for chocolate, sugar, and a thickening agent such as flour.  It seemed like such a novel approach I had to try it!  We were pleasantly surprised when we tasted that first batch ... their taste reminds me of ... fudge without the overbearing sugary sweetness, a Reese's Cup candy, and Buckeye's {the homemade version of Reese's}.  Their texture is closer to a Little Debbie's Soft Oatmeal Cookie Sandwich.  Now keep in mind I've followed a "South Beach" {low glycemic, good carbs, very low sugar} diet for the last 8 years, so its been a long time since I've actually had any of those items I mention, but I think my memory serves me rather well on this.  Go ahead, try it, you probably will like it!

{Ingredients for Peanut Butter and Chocolate Drop Cookies: (a) Quick Oats, (b) Chocolate Pudding Mix Sugar-free, (c) Vanilla Extract, (d) Non-fat Powder Milk, (e) Peanut Butter, and (f) Water}

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Chocolate Drop {Cookies / Treats / Snacks}

from The Healthy Exchanges Diabetic Desserts Cookbook by JoAnna Lund, pg 185

directions expanded by me
For this recipe or anything we post you'll always find an icon for printing immediately above the Comment Section below.

1 (4-serving) package JELL-O sugar-free* chocolate Cook & Serve pudding mix (not instant pudding)
   * if you want to use "regular" pudding mix I don't see why that wouldn't work
      you just won't have the kind to the waistline aspect of this treat

2/3 cup Nonfat Dry Milk Powder

1 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter**
    ** Please see Peanut Butter in the Notes at the end of the directions

2 cups Quick Oats

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Directions:
You prepare these cookies on your stovetop!

Before preparing the mix, lay a large sheet of parchment paper or a silpat on the counter; you will use this for the cookies.

In a medium-large saucepan, combine dry pudding mix, dry milk powder, and water.  Whisk or stir out any clumps before heating.

Cook the above mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and just starts to bubble.

Careful: when thickening it can bubble and "pop" {sounds a little like Dr. Suess, doesn't it?} and splatters could burn sensitive skin, so I'd keep little helpers at a watching distance and not assign them the task of stirring.

At the first sign of a bubble, remove from heat.  Quickly, stir in vanilla extract, peanut butter, and oats.  {This can be sticky so I either coat my spoon with a cooking spray before stirring or I use a silicone spoon-ula that ingredients won't stick to.}  Make sure all ingredients are thoroughly mixed ... you may need to vigorously work the batter for a minute or two until it resembles the below pic.

Guess what?  Your No-Bake batter is "cooked"!  Time to form the cookies ...

{Tip: A small ice cream scoop makes "drop" cookies easy, keeping the shape and size more uniform.}

You are now going to make approx. 48 drop cookies.  I use a small ice cream scoop with a squeeze release handle but you can use a teaspoon to scoop the mixture and another teaspoon to release it onto the parchment paper or silpat.  A small ice cream scoop is great because it makes a uniform "drop" size and shape; I "think" my scoop is a #2 size.  Cool in the refrigerator until firm.

The recipe doesn't indicate how to store but I wrap them tightly and keep them in the refrigerator; they easily keep for 4 - 5 days if you still have any left.  I've never frozen them but don't see why that wouldn't work; I'm going to try it but if you do it before me, please let us know!

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Note:
The original recipe calls for Peter Pan Reduced Fat Smooth Peanut Butter.  I have never used that peanut butter in this recipe because for my diet it is a higher sugar product.  I have used both Smart Balance Smooth Peanut Butter and the Kirkland Signature Natural Peanut Butter with great results.  If you use a Natural Peanut Butter that separates, make sure you have it thoroughly stirred and emulsified before you measure the PB for this recipe.  If you are looking for a low sugar PB, the Kirkland Signature brand only has two ingredients: peanuts and salt, so it is about as low sugar for a PB as you can get.  And finally, if you use a natural peanut butter that requires refrigeration after opening, then I'd say you must keep these cookies in the fridge because you never actually cooked the peanut butter to preserve it in this recipe.


Nutritional Information:
(This information is from the cookbook and is based on sugar-free pudding mix and Peter Pan smooth, reduced-fat peanut butter ... if you opt for different ingredients these numbers will of course change.)

Serving size = 6 each {I typically can only eat 3 or 4 of these at a time, they are filling}
Calories = 202
Protein = 10 gm
Carbohydrate = 27 gm
Fiber = 3 gm
Calcium - 80 mg
Sodium = 162 mg

I certainly hope you enjoy these cookies!  And really, if you don't tell folks they are waistline friendly I really don't think they'll know.

I'd love to hear about your favorite Peanut Butter and Chocolate recipes ... if you have any posted on your blog please leave a link in the comments section.  And if Peanut Butter and Chocolate isn't your fav, do tell what is!   Maybe you're a savory or sweet & salty snacker ... I'd love to hear about those treats too and visit the links you leave in the comment section :)

My other recent posts include a ceiling fan light hack upgrade ... wanna see? ... click here, and I crafted a magazine page into a Gift Bow, click here.

Pin, Follow, or bookmark so you'll remember to visit again!  Till next time,

Sharing With:
Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday; 2/28/2012 | Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free

DIY: A Bow for a present made from a Magazine Page

I'm can't make a bow.

Well, I can make a very simple bow as in tying my shoelaces, but I can't make a pretty bow for a gift package.

Until a few minutes ago I thought the "instant wrap" gift bag was my signature wrapping style.

But then I made this bow from strips of paper cut from a magazine page ...

{DIY Bow for Gift Box made out of strips of paper cut from a magazine page.}

... so the world of gift wrapping is unfolding in front of me!   This is all very new to me and I hope it gives you some ideas too! 

It all started with this pin ...

Source: wholeliving.com via Robin on Pinterest

After reading the instructions I thought I could add a bit of detail, so here's my step-by-step with photos of my first bow crafting session.

The instructions call for cutting 3/4" wide strips of a magazine page:
3 @ 11"
3 @ 10"
2 @  9"
and 1 @ 3.5"

I ended up cutting mine 1" wide so I think the dimension is your call as long as you keep it the same for all the strips.

So we're going to start by folding; this is the only way I could get my components symmetrical.

You are going to do this for all of the strips EXCEPT the 3.5" strip.

Fold the strip in half. The fold is going to mark the center of the strip for the other folds to follow.

Following the original instructions I was challenged to get this right; that's where I figured out either I was dyslexic or the instructions could use a bit more detail ... so here's my version.  You will repeat the following step for both ends of each strip {one strip at a time}.

Take an end and fold it to the center "mark".
I've use a paper clip to hold the paper so I could take the photo; notice my big arrow sticker is currently on top of the paper.

{Without the paper clip on the paper} turn the end of the paper a half-turn under ... that's why you don't see the "point" on the arrow in this photo, it is now underneath.  This is my big addition to the instructions ... having only consumed a half pot of coffee before trying this, I kept getting confused so the sticky arrow really helped me see what to do.

Repeat on the other end so that the strip of paper now looks like a figure-8.  Staple the middle of the figure - 8.  {The original instructions call for double sided tape to secure the figure and I didn't have any but staples worked great!}  Repeat until all but the 3.5" strip are figures.  {I'd recommend keeping your figures in groups of their original size: the 11's, 10's and 9's.

Now for each size group, layer the figure-8's on top of each other and spread so the points are nicely distributed and staple {or other} the group together.

Stack the three sections together, largest, middle, and smallest size on top, staple.  Squish and fluff until you are pleased.

The 3.5" section is turned into the center "button" by attaching one end to the other.  Place and secure in the center.

As an alternative {my addition} you could use real buttons or something else for the center.  Here I've attached my hubby's "I am 3 years old" button that his mom saved from his 3rd birthday party ... I couldn't find it last year when we moved back home after our house fire as the unpacking had us very upside-down, but I've since found it and hopefully that will be a nice surprise for him :)

Hubby's b-day is in a couple of weeks, so I now have a bow but I have to figure out what to put it on!  Suggestions anyone?

My guy never wants anything, and so sometimes that's precisely what he gets, but this year I think I should put some effort into a celebration, so any suggestion for "my guy who doesn't necessarily have everything but wants nothing" would be greatly appreciated!

And I'd love to hear any special touches you add to this bow craft / design!

Sharing With:

Finding Fabulous, Finding Fabulous: Frugalicious Friday & a Giveaway...Toby & Max Jewelry!

A $0 Cost {Re}Purposed Cabinet for Shoes

My $0 cost shoe cabinet ...

wall cabinet from the laundry room

+

old cheap-o already owned shoe organizer

=

my new shoe tower

Me likey :)  Great storage for shoes that previously lived on my closet floor ... I could never find see them and often forgot I owned them!  Now they're visible and more likely to be worn ... here's my spin on a famous decorating philosophy ... have what you need and use what you have {applies to both my shoes and the cabinets}.

Both cabinets previously lived in our laundry room but were removed for our laundry organization re-do.  So glad I figured out a way to (re)purpose the cabinets that are in good condition rather than kicking them to the curb.  These cabinets just weren't getting the job done in their previous location.

See, the wall cabinet couldn't hold enough to make a difference in the laundry ...

... but it works just fine as a shoe organizer.  Oh yeah, we took the doors off so it does look a bit different.

Shoe Storage Tips:
{1} Notice my boots on the top of the organizer?  They are able to stand upright because I rolled up a hand towel and placed it in the boot shaft; helps preserve their shape and keeps them in good condition.  Had some old hand towels that were a bit shabby looking and this was a great (re)purpose ... way cheaper than purchasing boot forms!

{2) And since we're talking shoes, boots, and storage, how about a DIY "odor eater" ... fill an old pair of socks or hose with Baking Soda, secure the sock closed with a rubber band or other, and place in the footbed of the shoe or boot.  Non-toxic and costs pennies. Good for the environment, your wallet, and your closet and shoes.

So how about your weekend?  As I write this post we are on "Nor'east-er Storm Watch" and the first snow flakes we've seen the entire season have begun to fall ... of course my daffodils started blooming yesterday about 6 weeks early due to the incredibly mild winter we've had and what appeared to be a very early spring for the past 10 days or so, until now!  Here's a photo taken from inside our home at about 8 pm ...

But back to shoes ... have any nifty storage solutions you'd like to share?

Mixed Green Salad with Grilled Asparagus, Toasted Pecans, Tomatoes, Fruit and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Welcome to the first edition of our new feature: Foodie Friday ... "thanks for the food".

Growing up I recall my grandfather always saying "thanks for the food" at the end of the meal.  When David and I married I had the honor of spending time with his grandmother who moved to Richmond to be close to family for support until she passed at 96 years old.  At the end of every meal we shared with David's gran she would say "taak for maten" which is Norwegian for "thanks for the food".    

Need I say any more about the name of our new feature?

So let's get this feature started!  Today we're going simple, fresh, and healthy while upgrading the dinner salad!

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Mixed Green Salad with Grilled Asparagus, Toasted Pecans, Tomatoes, Fruit and Balsamic Vinaigrette

{Foodie Friday: Mixed Greens, Grilled Asparagus, Toasted Pecans, Tomato, Feta, Fruit & Balsamic Vinaigrette.}

Greens:
I love using a variety of lettuces to keep the flavors interesting.  Since I buy my lettuce in advance to last 5 - 7 days I always incorporate a sturdy Romaine leaf and will also toss in baby lettuces and spinach when on hand.  And fresh chopped herbs if I have them ... I always have fresh basil in the summer because I grow that in an Earth Box (you can read about that here.)

Grilled Asparagus:
I grill outdoors year 'round.  If you prefer to cook indoors, asparagus can be roasted in the oven, single layer on a sheet pan lined with foil, at a high temp (450 F.) for approx. 15 - 20 mins or until a char crust develops.

However you prepare the asparagus you'll first want to snap about 2" off the bottom of the spear, and wash, drain / dry the asparagus; having a dry spear is important because if the asparagus is wet when cooked you'll basically steam it rather than searing.  For either grilling or oven searing I look for thick asparagus spears ... they are sturdy and hold up to the heat.

Once dry, toss the asparagus lightly in olive oil.  You can pick up with the oven instructions now if you like, but I'm heading to the grill.

You'll definitely want a flame but not a preheated grill; if you have a temperature gauge I grill asparagus between 150 - 200 F.  If you preheat the grill to a higher temp you might bake the asparagus and all I'm trying to do is sear the outside with a tasty crust and slightly soften the interior.  How long the asparagus grills outside often depends on weather conditions so stay close and monitor, but this goes quickly.

When the first side starts to brown, flip to grill the other side.  I know there are special baskets for grilling veggies but a long handle pair of kitchen tongs is my tool of choice.  You can scoop quite a few spears up with the tongs and turn them over. (Sorry about the blurry pic).

When the asparagus is finished, I lay it out on a sheet of foil on my countertop to cool.  I have granite counters and the stone helps to draw the heat off the asparagus, but air cooling on any surface is a good idea before refrigerating the spears.  It's never a good idea to put hot or warm food directly into the fridge.

I use a 9x12 pyrex (glass) pan with snap on lid to store the asparagus in the fridge.  Amazingly, I've found the asparagus to store and taste great for up to 5 days so you definitely can cook ahead and have a special salad nightly.

Toasted Pecans:
A nice crisp pecan adds crunch and sweetness to this salad.  You can skillet toast the pecans but I use a toaster oven.  Line a baking pan with foil and spread the pecans single layer.  Preheat the toaster oven to 325 F. convection (or traditional bake cycle) and bake the pecans for 8 minutes or until you can smell them.  Don't go too far away while cooking because pecans (and nuts in general) move from cooking, to cooked, to burned, very quickly.  They will crisp up as they cool.

Fruit:
We've enjoyed fresh strawberries, apples and chopped peaches in this salad.  In the winter we most often have dried cranberries or dried apples.  Each of these options are a wonderful addition and an easy way to incorporate a serving of fruit in your diet.

Balsamic Vinaigrette:
This is our house salad dressing.  You really must try it; it makes this already great salad sing.  It is an emulsified vinaigrette with a smooth, creamy mouth feel.

-------- Our "Happily Home After" House Dressing Recipe --------

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (my preferred brand pictured above)

2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard

8 teaspoons sweetener (options below)

sugar, maple syrup, or your preferred sweetener would work

I use Splenda and the 8 teas. measure is based on this use of this product

Adjust the amount of sweetener based on the product you choose

1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper, or to taste

Whisk the above ingredients until you have a throughly smooth and blended liquid balsamic base.

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To the balsamic base, slowly add the following while constantly whisking until all the olive oil is incorporated (continue whisking until the dressing no longer has a layer of oil on top of the base):

1 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (my preferred brand pictured above)

------- Tips -------

We've always heard that oil and vinegar don't mix, right?  

Tip: As long as you mix a binding agent - in this case the dijon mustard (or any mustard), with the vinegar first, the oil will blend into the base and yield a beautifully emulsified dressing just by using a whisk.  Just never try to do this in a single step because the oil will not incorporate well.

Another Tip: Once you have this base recipe you can experiment with different vinegar and mustard combinations.

For example, an apple infused balsamic and a spicy brown mustard with horseradish produces a tangy dressing that goes well with roast turkey and other fall favorites.

And Another Tip: This dressing does not require refrigeration; oil, vinegar and mustard will not spoil sitting on the countertop, even up to a week.  That makes this dressing an excellent choice for tailgating, picnics, potlucks and buffet style meals where the food can sit out for hours.

Final Tip: This dressing uses a 2:1 oil to vinegar ratio instead of the classic vinaigrette ratio of 3:1 ... that means there's proportionately less oil in this dressing and that means this is a lower calorie dressing.  Just thought you'd like know :)

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So, a great salad with added veggies and fruit to start your dinner ... cuts down on the need to prepare lots of other side dishes if you don't have the time for that.  I hope you give this salad a taste and I'd love to hear from you when you do.

And, this being our first Foodie Friday feature, I'd appreciate any feedback you have about the format, etc.  Feel free to leave your thoughts in the Comment Section below.  For this or anything we post you'll always find an icon for printing immediately above the Comment Section as well.

So next Friday will be our second edition of Foodie Friday ... I hope you visit again or we'd love to have you Follow this blog and automatically know what we've posted.  And as a "bonus" for this first feature, if you're looking for a suggestion to serve with this salad, how about a Butternut Squash Beef Stew with Balsamic Vinegar and Rosemary ... your welcome ... that recipe is here.  Thanks again!

Sharing With:
Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday; 02/21/12 | Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free
The Healthy Home Economist, Monday Mania 2/20/2012 — The Healthy Home Economist

Our Valentine Cupid

Hope you don't mind my obsession with the puppy ... Just wanted to share a picture of our cupid Beaver, freshly washed and fluffed and trimmed (all by mom), and dressed for Valentine's dinner in his formal shirt collar and sequin bow tie (again, by mom - who else would could do that to him?).

Mom, that bath exhausted me!

Beaver snuggled on his ottoman in the dining room while we had dinner.  Valentine's with both my men, hubby and Beaver.  This is how a girl, a guy, and a dog celebrate all things "home".  I'm a happy girl :) 

Ceiling Fan: "Hack in Progress"

I rarely see a ceiling fan presented on a design mood board (if ev'a).

But there sure are a lot of them spinning 'round and 'round in lighting showrooms.

You may have one in your house; we have a few.  Just counted ... yep, seven (gulp) inside + 1 on the screen porch.  In defense of my verging obsession with a highly undesirable decor element, it gets hot in Richmond (Va.).  And really humid.  And those fans are eco-savvy helping to reduce energy expenditures for cooling and heating.  That's the position I need to take ... ceiling fans are earth-friendly :)  Moving on ...

When we relocated our Dining Room to our former Florida room / loggia we ended up with a ceiling fan over our dining table.  David asked if the fan would be odd in a dining room.  It was a humid October at that time and all I could do was stand under the fan and extoll it's virtues.  I'm not yet ready to let the function of the fan go, but the look of the fan, that's an entirely different issue.

So I did some hacking this weekend and came up with this ...

The current version of my hack is a "proof of concept" of sorts; if we keep this hack I need to make a more polished diffuser for the light ... what I have works perfectly fine except we don't really like seeing the grid in the diffuser when the light is on.  That round grid by the way is actually the top of a garden cage that supports my huge peony bushes! When I'm hacking and proving a concept, I'll use anything to get the job done!


BTW, here's how the fan looked pre-hack (this is a matching fan ... yes, lucky me, I have 2 of them ... on the other end of the room that will receive the same makeover if I continue this project)

We haven't used the light portion of the fan since this became a dining room because even with the fan's frosted glass the light was too direct and harsh over the table, even when it was dimmed waaaay low.  Surprisingly, now the light has a golden hue, is warm and soft for dining, and actually casts an interesting pattern on the ceiling.  I didn't anticipate those results, but I'm thrilled with them!

From my perspective, the fixture is a bit modern with a funky vibe and is definitely unique; using a black lampshade really helps to lower the cathedral ceiling making the space a tad more intimate and does a nice job carrying black from the curtains on one side to the black accents on the opposite wall. I recently posted about the accent wall here, but here it is so you have some context for the rest of the space ...

So what do you think about the ceiling fan hack: Yay! or Nay (Boo).

Should I keep working on refining my hack, and if so, would anyone be interested in details or a tutorial of what I did?

Or should I just revert the fixture to its original style and accept that it is, what it is?

Would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on my issue with a ceiling fan over a dining table.  Don't worry about sounding negative if you say "Nay" ... I'm sincerely asking for your opinion.  Thanks for dropping by,

Linking with:
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Our Delightful Home, Our Delightful Home
Savvy Southern Style,Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays #53
Somewhat Simple, Blog Link Party with What I Wore Wednesday & ShoeDazzle
At The Picket Fence, At The Picket Fence: Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 52!
Lolly Jane Boutique, http://lollyjaneboutique.blogspot.com/2012/02/wgw-51.html