2011 Summer “Bucket” List

Every year I feel like summer is over before it even begins, but this year, I vow to take the time to enjoy all things summer. Here is my 2011 Summer “Bucket” List:

Eat outdoors as often as possible – enjoy the warm evenings!

Make oodles of s’mores {LOVE these ideas} 

Make homemade Butter Pecan ice cream {YUM – found the recipe in one of those old church cookbooks, hoping it works out so I can share!} 

Create a small garden & successful grow something OTHER than weeds

Take long evening walks with the family {Mr. Beaux suggested this one}

I know he looks rather lazy, but TRUST me, he'd rather be on a walk. 

Can something…preferably something I grow myself

Make lots of trips to the mountains – for a day trip or a camping trip {I only live an hour away, what is my excuse?!}

Buy produce from the local farmer’s market

Go fishing!

Take lots and lots and LOTS of pictures of Sweet Pea enjoying her 

first summer!

Sweet Pea's first time at the park!

Pop Art Candleholders

I LOVE candles!  To me, everything is improved by candlelight. In fact, I would love to light my house with just candlelight to hide the fact I have NO TIME to actually clean these days. Sigh.  Although, I must have some free time since I am creating crafts and blogging…but of course, that is different, right??????

But, like I said, I love candles. Therefore, when my friend’s birthday planning rolled around and we established a Fiesta theme, I JUMPED on the opportunity to create a simple craft that was decorative, inexpensive, embraced the Fiesta theme and contained a candle element.

I call them “Pop Art Candleholders” and I created two main styles.

 "Holes" and "Curly"

Curly Style

Step 1:  

Obviously wash and spray paint your pop can. If you need a picture explaining this step-by-step, please stop reading by blog… I cannot help you.

Step 2: 

Ok, first of all, I apologize for the statement in Step 1, my 6 month old is teething and keeping me up at all hours of the night.  Now, moving on to step 2, cut off the top of your pop can. I used an Exacto knife, but any sharp tool will work.

Step 3: 

Cut pieces down the side of the pop can. Make sure you cut them within an inch or two from the bottom of your can. This will give you more curl.  Also, be sure to trim off your sharp edges after your cut the sections {much easier than trying to even everything out in step 2}.

Step 4: 

Using a pencil, curl the sections. Don’t do all the curls in uniform, random or alternating looks better.

Holes Style

Step 1: 

See step 1 above.

Step 2: 

Poke holes in your pop can. I used this handy tool the Hubs had in the garage, but a nail or a good old hole punch would work. In fact, I would have LOVED to use a star hole punch for this project, but I don't own one. Funny enough, I don’t own a single solitary hole punch. Can you tell I am NOT a scrap-booker?? Although I hope to become one...someday...

Step 3: 

Cut off the top of your pop can. See Step 2 in the above tutorial.

Step 4: 

Cut sections down the side of the pop can. These sections should be short and fat and the same length all around. Clean up any super sharp edges. 

Also, don't worry about your pop can getting a little bent... it just adds more character!

Step 5: 
Make a small fold down each section. We want to make certain those sharp edges are folded away.

Step 6: 
Make another fold.

Step 7: 
Fan out the sections as desired.

Watermelon Mango Salsa

When my step-mom told me about this recipe, I had two instant thoughts “ew, gross” and “I absolutely have to try that!”…I realize these two thoughts generally do not go together, but what can I say, I’m just weird that way!

I didn’t have the official recipe, so I searched online and found TONS and TONS of recipes very close to what I wanted to create.  In the end, I just played around with the core ingredients and kept it basic {my favorite kind of recipe}. The result was TOTALLY YUM!  I LOVE the flavor that the jalapeño and cilantro give the watermelon and mango. You seriously have to try this!!!!!

Watermelon Mango Salsa (4 servings)

1 cup watermelon, diced

2 mangos, diced

1 jalapeño, minced

1 fresh lime

1 tsp sea salt

2 Tbs fresh cilantro, minced

Combine the diced watermelon, mangos, jalapeño, sea salt and cilantro into a large bowl. Gently toss to mix ingredients. Squeeze the fresh lime juice over the mixture and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve over grilled chicken (or fish), with a side of yellow rice and black beans.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes

My mom's birthday was Saturday and to celebrate, I baked her Grandma Bessie's strawberry cake... with a slight, dark chocolate, twist. USUALLY {okay, most of the time}, my experiments turn out very, very badly. Lets just say I've had to clean burnt cake out of my oven many times.... However, this experiment turned out deeeelicious! And, in my opinion, the chocolate was EXACTLY what this recipe was missing.  

Great-Grandma Bessie's Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes

Note: I made cupcakes because the ganache scared me... I didn't want to ruin yet another cake!

Step One: Make the cupcakes

Great-Grandma Bessie's Strawberry Cake Recipe {The Original}

1 Box White Cake Mix - I use Duncan Hines

1 Package of Strawberry Jello

1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil

1/2 Cup Water

4 Eggs

1/2 Box/Bag Frozen Strawberries

Combine cake mix and jello. Add cooking oil and water. Beat together. Add eggs. Beat. Fold in strawberries. Makes two 8 rounds or 24 cupcakes. Bake as directed on the cake mix box. 

Step Two: Add ganache (i.e. chocolate!)

Ganache

For the chocolate, I wanted to use a dark chocolate ganache. I researched lots of recipes and they were pretty much all the same, however, here is the one I used. Worked perfectly! Fool proof. Seriously.

Once my ganache had been mixed and slightly cooled, I dipped my cooled cupcake in the mixture.  It looked something like this:

Dipping

Dripping

Step Three: Let ganache cool to set and then add frosting

Strawberry Frosting

My great-grandma Bessie had a recipe for frosting too, however, since I am a novice baker {at the best}, I could NOT decipher what she meant by "2/3 stick butter". Does she mean 2/3 cup?  Well, I tried that... and it didn't work.  

Moving on to plan B...the Hubs rushed off to the store to purchase a can of strawberry frosting for me to "doctor".....I did so blending 1/2 cup of frozen pureed strawberries and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar to the canned frosting. Add more powdered sugar if frosting is too runny.

Step Four: Top with a chocolate covered strawberry, chill prior to serving!

Placemat Folder

The slogan for this posting is simple - I am not a seamstress. Not even remotely close. I point this out to you for one reason and one reason only -- my lack of sewing skills should prove just how darn easy this project was to complete.

Placemat Folder Tutorial

Tools/Supplies

Placemat, Ruler, Sewing Machine (thread, etc) and iron

Step One:

Find a placemat. Any fabric, rectangle placemat will work. I got mine for $1.75 at Kohl's. I think it is rather pretty, don't you?

Step Two:

Create the bottom fold (i.e. pocket) of the folder. From the bottom of the placemat, measure up 3 inches and mark.

Step Three:

Fold the bottom of the placemat up (using markings previous made) and iron to create a nice crease.  

Step Four:

Time for the sewing machine {ew}! To create the bottom pocket of the folder, sew each end shut.

Step Five:

Create the "cover" of the folder. Start with the "front" (i.e. left side) of the placemat and measure in 6 inches and fold. Remember to iron!

Step Six: 

Create the "back cover" of the folder. Using the "back" (i.e. right side), measure 6 inches and fold. Again, iron, iron, IRON!

Step Seven:  


Technically, step seven should show you a picture of the sewing machine again. But, since I am not a seamstress, I got so flustered with sewing that I forgot to take a picture {oops}.


The goal here is to divide the folder into three pockets. Using the folds you created in step 5 and 6 as a guide, sew the section of the placemat I am showing between my fingers. Repeat for the left side of the folder.

Finally, the end result!!!! Cute, huh? I left mine plain, but you could fancy yours up with a button, ribbon or embroidery.

I think I'm going to use my folder to hold my grocery list {cause I'm the type of girl who likes to cross things off her list} and my coupons. As I buy an item, the coupon will move from the left side of the notebook, to the right. This will prevent me from crumpling the coupons as I use them and shoving them into my pocket. Which then, I either forget about by time I check-out {t-r-a-g-i-c} or I spend a good 5 minutes smoothing them out for the cashier, who never seems too thrilled with me since crumpling them makes them harder to scan. Sigh...

How else could I use my folder? I could use it to sort my notecards.

Or, I could use it to organize my bills {puke}.

This project took me approximately 15 minutes to complete.  And......wait for it......I AM NOT A SEAMSTRESS!!! 

P is for Pelican

Have you heard of the state alphabet books by Sleeping Bear Press?  They’re kind-of awesome… and Sweetpea would agree.

They are colorful, fun and informative. Every state has a book, but Louisiana is my favorite {hmmm…wonder why?}.

Sample Pages

Cover of book

G is for the Gulf of Mexico.

 M is for Mardi Gras {well, duh}.