list nineteen: the home improvement list

{country home}

Happy Memorial Day! This is a special day and, first and foremost, I want to thank and remember our servicemen and women, to those who gave their lives for our country + those who serve us all proudly today. Thank you for preserving the nation that I love, in all its imperfections. Thank you for protecting us and preserving our freedoms, allowing me to live the life I choose, actively and fully.  
God bless all of you -- here and gone. Thank you.

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 So it's the unofficial start of summer and we all  know what that means...home improvement! Yippee!

There's been lots of talk around our house about getting back on the home improvement wagon. We accomplished so much last summer; I'd like to keep that momentum going. Here's the ongoing list...most of which we'll tackle slowly, but surely, and certainly, within the next few years.

1. Finish painting exterior front door (last year, we did 2 coats of black, but it wasn't enough!)
2. Powerwash the house, front porch, and back deck
3. Replace the windows
4. Improve roof/attic insulation
5. Build a garage
6. Until that happens, find or build a suitable shed for mower, bikes, and gardening tools
7. Upgrade kitchen countertops
8. Stain or seal deck after powerwash
9. Paint stairwell walls
10. Sew kitchen banquette cushion covers
11. Build a new dining room table
12. Finish kitchen nook table
13. Replace kitchen pendant
14. Full bathroom remodel
15. Paint front porch
16. Repaint exterior trim
17. Look into partial-house solar panel systems
18. Consider addition of whole-house gray water system
19. Update wood blinds to new blinds or plantation shutters
20. Cut down dead tree in back yard & plant a new one

Though this is a daunting list, rather than let it get me down, I'm keeping positive and forward-moving. Baby steps. That's all it takes! I especially am eager to power wash something. I think it looks like fun! And building anything sounds impressive and incredibly overwhelming, but the visions of grandchildren rolling out cookie dough on a table that my husbie and I made, with our  own two hands the first year of our marriage? That brings out the little Bob Villa in me.

What fun, thoughtful, and wonderful plans to do you have going on today?

DIY: Martha Stewart Crepe Paper Black-Eyed Susans

I am a masochist for Martha Stewart paper flower kits, apparently. Or perhaps enough time has lapsed that I forgot how challenging they are? Anywho. I did another. It was a doozy, but I love crepe paper enough to take on round 2 of the paper flower challenge.

Before...
A cover shot of the kit package and a professional pic of what the final should could maybe look like if we were all as gifted as the creators in Marthaville...

After...
Voila! My stems. What do you think? I tied a pretty white grosgrain ribbon onto the mason jar and gave this pretty bunch of crepe paper black-eyed susans to my momma for Mother's Day. She was happy :)

Words of caution...
It takes. For. Ever. It looks like this when you open the package:

Copious amounts of cutting is involved. Sharp scissors are your frienemy on this project. I did it in stages. First, all the cutting out of the pieces. Then, making the brown centers and floral taping them to the stems. After that, it was assembly line of petals, small leaves, and large leaves. Stretch. Fan. Roll. Fold. Fuss. Repeat eighteen times. They turned out surprisingly lovely and the crepe paper is very high quality. If anyone knows of a resource for buying thick European crepe paper, I'd be your BFF if you share a link or two. Thanks!

Freebie Friday: Moroccan Mint Tea

{hostess with the mostess + marie claire uk}

So who's going to see Sex & the City 2? I definitely want to see it...I mean, Aiden's in it. C'mon! Love him!

Did you know that SatC 2 wasn't filmed in Abu Dabi at all, but rather was filmed in Morocco? Morocco is my mother-in-law's favorite place on earth. I've always wanted to go. Close friends of mine who went on a mission to Morocco have told me their amazing experiences. Because a trip to Morocco isn't happening in my near future, I wanted to celebrate the SatC 2 opening in some fashion...hence, Moroccan Mint tea!

Mint green tea is a sign of hospitality and is steeped (har!) in tradition in Morocco. It is highly respected and valued as an art form, having special tea ceremonies and a rich cultural heritage. Moroccans prepare their tea from green tea and serve with mint.

For you, my friends, a bit of Moroccan hospitality, from me to you:

Moroccan Mint Tea (from Recipezaar & Hostess with the Mostess):

Ingredients

• 10 sprigs fresh mint, plus extra for garnish
• 3 teaspoons green tea
• 3 tablespoons sugar (or more to taste)
• 4 cups water

Directions

1. Boil the water and pour a small amount in the teapot, swishing it around to warm the pot.
2. Combine the mint and green tea and sugar in the teapot, then fill it with the rest of the hot water.
3. Let the tea brew for three minutes.
4. Set out glasses for the tea.
5. A shot-glass is close to the slender glasses used in Morocco.
6. Fill just one glass with the tea, then pour it back in the pot.
7. Repeat.
8. This helps to dissolve and distribute the sugar.
9. Pour the tea.
10. You want a nice foam on the tea so always pour with the teapot a high distance above the glasses.
11. If you do not have at least a little foam on the top of the first glass, then pour it back into the teapot and try again until the tea starts to foam up nicely.
12. Garnish with the remaining sprigs of mint.

Good Morning Ohio: A HUGE Giveaway!

What better way to kick off a holiday weekend than to play host to a giveaway of nearly epic proportions?!

{WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT}

When I began the Good Morning Ohio posts here on Oh My Word!, it got me thinking about all the serious Ohio talent, right here in the heart of it all, and how much I wanted to share with the world just how proud I am of our Ohio artists, artisans, business owners, crafters, creatives, and all folks local.

{WHAT'S UP FOR GRABS}

Over $250 in goods from well over a dozen vendors -- all Ohio-made! There's lots of variety here, folks. A little something for everyone. Plenty to share the Ohio love with friends + family, if you're the lucky winner!

{THE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTORS}

Please pop over and visit the websites, shops + blogs of these dear Ohioans who so kindly offered up their wares for the Good Morning Ohio giveaway. I bet you'll find more than one new favorite among these amazing people. Let's show support to those who work hard to bring you alternative shopping options!

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{FOR THE WEE ONES}

· Little Bean Embroidery elephant bib + $10 gift certificate to the LBE shop
[facebook] [blog] [twitter]

· Rügrat Dēsign Mobile Monet crayon roll (with a whole set of crayons)
[facebook] [blog]

· Bree Bee's pacifier clip in cheery primary colors (never lose a binky again!)
[facebook] [blog] [twitter]

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{FOR THE FOODIES}

· A bag of yummy peanut Buckeye Brittle (I can eat a whole bag in one sitting, seriously)
[facebook] [twitter]

· A bag of crunchy Keric Korn & Candies Karamelcorn

· A bag of all-natural My Dadz Nutz Caramelized Jumbo Redskins peanuts
[facebook]

· A bag Lucy's Blend Breakfast Roast whole coffee beans by Chief Cooker Coffee Roasters

· Executive Sweets Chocolatier's speciality Milk Chocolate Potato Chip Clusters
[web]  

· Ludwig's Buckeye Magic spice rubs for beef, chicken, and fish

· Schlabach Amish Bakery Low Fat Grand-ola (perfect with blackberries)

· Stadium Salsa's Sweet & Spicy salsa
[facebook] [twitter]

{And a special thanks to Pam at Walker Food Group for providing nearly all these treats!)

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{FOR THE LADIES}

· Set of 5 handmade cards, featuring 5 special occasions by Twin2Kim
[facebook] [email]


· Squid12r's one-of-a-kind embroidered patch flower earrings
[blog] [twitter]

· Silver flower + glass pearl bracelet, handcrafted by BrittanyChavers
[facebook] [twitter]

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{FOR THE HOME}

· Polka dot rag basket + set of 3 crocheted cotton washcloths - Handmade by Annabelle
[facebook] [blog]

· Red, white + blue 'Americana' hand-poured soy blend candle by Emma's Enchantments
[facebook]

· Hand-crocheted cotton 'Wakefield Market' tote & 1 cotton + jute "Harmony" dish scrubbie by Hello Magpie (p.s. that's me!)
[facebook] [twitter]

· An original artwork print from O'Reilly Ink Illustration -- you choose your favorite!
[web] [blog] *this item will be mailed separately by O'Reilly Ink.

· 6" x 9" 'Pink Leaves' original photography print by Christa Kimble Photography (who also happens to be our wedding photographer!)

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{HOW TO ENTER: UP TO 5 ENTRIES PER PERSON}
  (PLEASE leave me your email address/link so I have a way of contacting you if you're the winner!)

· 1 entry: Leave a comment + share your favorite local product

· 1 additional entry: Follow or subscribe to Oh My Word!
(Leave another comment, please!)

· 1 additional entry: Tweet about the giveaway + include the links: bit.ly/OhioRules + @evereeve
(Leave another comment with a link to your tweet.)

· 1 additional entry: Blog about the giveaway
(Leave another comment with a link to your post.)

· 1 additional entry: "Like" Oh My Word! on Facebook
(Leave another comment, please!)

{This contest is open to folks with continental U.S. addresses only, please!}
*CONTEST ENDS 11:59pm EDT - SUNDAY JUNE 6th!*
Winner will be selected at random and posted on Tuesday June 8th
so check back then to see if you've won! 

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Big thanks to all of my super Ohio contributors + good luck!

**Contest + comments are now closed. Thank you to all who entered to win! **

What's Cookin? Chicken + Spinach Greek-style pie

For my next trial in cuisine, I thought I'd give this tasty Greek-style spinach + feta pie a try. I added a bit of chicken and rolled it into something like a taquito in the phyllo dough, but you could just as easily stick to the basic recipe, keep it vegetarian, and form it into a big circle pie thing. Enjoy!

{recipe gleaned from bbcgoodfood.co.uk}

- 7 oz. spinach
- 6 oz. jar of sundried tomatoes in oil
- 3.5 oz. crumbled feta
- 1/2 package phyllo pastry dough

(I "Americanized" the recipe, but if you click on the original link above, you'll get the metric conversion)

1. 1 Put the spinach into a large pan. Pour over a couple tbsp water, then cook until just wilted. Tip into a sieve, leave to cool a little, then squeeze out any excess water and roughly chop. Roughly chop the tomatoes and put into a bowl along with the spinach, feta and eggs. Mix well.
2. Carefully unroll the filo pastry. Cover with some damp sheets of kitchen paper to stop it drying out. Take a sheet of pastry and brush liberally with some of the sundried tomato oil. Drape oil-side down in a 8-9" springform cake pan so that some of the pastry hangs over the side. Brush oil on another piece of pastry and place in the tin, just a little further round. Keep placing the pastry pieces in the tin until you have roughly three layers, then spoon over the filling. Pull the sides into the middle, scrunch up and make sure the filling is covered. Brush with a little more oil.
3. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook the pie for 30 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden brown. Remove from the cake tin, slice into wedges and serve with salad.

Make it meaty
Chicken pies: Add 1 cooked, shredded chicken breast to the spinach mixture, then oil 3 sheets of filo per portion and lay them out on top of each other. spoon a few tbsp of the mixture onto one end of each pastry stack. fold over the edges and roll up to make cigar-shaped packages. Brush with oil and cook for 15 mins or until golden and crisp.

My Garden Grows...with Impatiens

Who doesn't love a little pun now and again? On Sunday, I went bonkers and planted my garden. I had so many plants in my cart at the local garden center that one man told his wife, "Whatever she gets, we should get." I guess I looked the part because, in all honesty, I don't have a clue what I'm doing. When I said that to Bubs? His response: "If you get in in the ground, you're doing it right." What a novel idea :)

Here's everything I planted:

· red + orange impatiens in the front box planters
· hot pink, pale 2-color pink, and pale violet impatiens in the back box planters
· pineapple mint, parsley, cilantro, sweet basil, + lavender in a big old metal planter
· green beans, leeks, Mr. Stripey heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, Scotch Bonnet peppers, red chili peppers, green bell peppers, spinach, lettuce, and a partridge in a pear tree. Ok. That last bit was a joke :)

Oh, and we found two toads (frogs? I don't know the difference.) in our yard -- 1 near the deck stairs + 1 hopping near the fence. When it jumped, I jumped. Bubs wouldn't let me try to touch it, the fraidy cat.

 I wonder why they've taken up our yard as their home? Let's hope they eat mosquitoes :)

What fun things have you planted in your garden this year?

list eighteen: what my weekend looked like.

Let's just say that Bubs and I hit the ground running this past weekend...

1. Had lunch with my best friend.
2. Bought & installed a PUR water filter on my kitchen tap.
3. Finished crocheting a mesh tote bag.
4. Slept in Saturday morning.
5. Went to Plain City Heritage Days uptown, took some photos & played a "Guess this vintage object" game...I think I did pretty well, actually.
6.  Drove over to Der Dutchman for continued Heritage Days fun.
7. Pet a pony.
8. Ate a doughnut.
9. Met great folks at the Etsy Columbus Craftacular.
10. Bought some Ohio-made preserves at North Market.
11. Worked on a second crochet tote.
12. More friendly faces at the Agora art show.
13. Bought a screen printed art poster from Will Ruocco.
14. Read three chapters of No Impact Man (which I love & wish everyone would read.)
15. Listened to the birds chirp in my back yard.
16. Did some urban gardening...Planted our veggie garden, herb garden, and flowers in 4 containers.
17. Ate a delish dinner of grilled teriyaki pork chops, hericots verts, asparagus, an organic potato, and spinach salad. Yum.
18. Then ate a coconut popsicle (thanks Tony for the idea!)
19. And then ate a bowl of Amish granola and bananas. I don't like bananas.
20. Got an email from an old friend I haven't heard from in ages.

One of the best weekends in memory. How was yours? What did you do?

Freebie Friday: Great Owl Crochet-Along!

I love Delightful Blogs (and have even considered submitting OMW! to their directory), but I don't spend nearly the time I should checking out new blogs to follow. There are too many! It's overwhelming! Today, however, I decided to peep some new folks' blogs and I'm so happy I did because it lead me to Strumpets Crumpets (isn't that the best name?) and Itsy Bitsy Spider -- and they just so happen to be sponsoring an amigurumi crochet owl making extravaganza with an optional swap. Holy cow, how quickly could I sign up for that?! Becky (of Strumpets Crumpets) admits that she is an amigurumi newbie herself, so never fear if this is the first ami critter you've ever made...so long as you know basic crochet stitches (single, half double, & decrease specifically), you're good to go. Sign ups end on May 30th, so hurry over and sign up if you're interested! Also, the swap is optional -- you just need to get your finished owl over to Becky by August 1. There's even a Flickr group set up to share your owlie with the world!

What's even better? Karla of Itsy Bitsy Spider is providing the owl pattern for free to everyone who signs up before the May 30 deadline. (And who doesn't love a free crochet pattern?! Thanks Karla!)

So pop on over to Strumpets Crumpets or Itsy Bitsy Spider to sign up :)

Have a happy weekend!

xo
eve

Good Morning Ohio: Weekend Warriors, May 22-23

This is a fun Good Morning Ohio post for me, as I'm happy to report several fantastically awesome events hitting central Ohio this weekend. Here's what's on my agenda. Hope you see you out + about!

What's Cookin? Wednesday: Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs

I did it! I cooked! Sort of...Technically, Bubs did the grilling, but still...I was in the kitchen! The recipe originates from one of my vintage cookbooks, with some tiny changes and general lack of measuring (which is completely out of character for me.) All in all, we were happy with the result = cheap, super easy, and tasty!

What's cookin?:


Spinach salad
Homemade honey wheat bread
Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs

How to make it?
skinless, boneless chicken breast, chunky cubes
red pepper, cut into chunky pieces
green pepper, cut into chunky pieces
pineapple, cut into chunky pieces
1 c. tomato juice (but you could use any juice. I think orange juice would be better.)
1 crushed garlic clove
1/2 tsp (or a good shake) of the following:
ground ginger
curry powder (I left it out, but it could've used it)
healthy sprinkle of onion salt (or 1 sm onion, grated)
* I  almost put some red pepper flakes in...next time I think I will.

Skewer your chicken, pineapple, and peppers. Set aside in shallow pan. Mix together marinade ingredients. Pour over skewers. Marinate for at least 2 hours. (*I marinated ours for 1 hour and it was good, but the longer, the stronger the flavor, which it needed.) Grill or broil the skewers & serve.

I think Hawaiian sweet bread, a fresh spinach & citrus salad, and coconut rice would be great additions.

Cookies for Babies!

Very recently, I had the pleasure of receiving an email from Elizabeth Gaubeka, founder of Cookies For Babies, and I'm tickled pink to be able to introduce you all to her and her great home-grown company.

Like so many of my favorite businesses, Eli's journey with Cookies For Babies started right at home, with an idea born of real-life. Wanting to bake healthy, organic cookies for her own 9-month old daughter, Eli got to work recreating a modern version of a truly classic recipe found in her family's treasured 1933 edition of one of two culinary encyclopedias authored by the'Marquesa de Parabere'. Click here for the whole story (it's really inspiring!)

Cookies For Babies 9 Months & Up specializes in baking up yummy cookies perfect for tots and grownups alike, using fine organic flour, organic sugar, and award-winning homemade butter. This is my kind of real talk, folks. No scary stuff, just the good stuff.. The kind of stuff your wee ones deserve! You even get to pick your own label for your box of cookies. How cool is that?! My favorites are the sunshine yellow and natural kraft paper, but it's really impossible to go wrong. Which color is your favorite?

Cookies For Babies is based in Atlanta, GA and celebrated its grand opening on May 1, 2010. Don't forget to shop their website & pop over to their blog for a quick hello!

list seventeen: my soundtrack

 {wow. yep. that's me.}

I'm one of those folks who likes to live life as though I have an accompanying soundtrack. Here's a few sitches and songs to go along with them. Diversity is the name of the game, people.

1. Cruising in my car on a sunny summer day, when I'm feeling a bit feisty: Heart - Magic Man

2. Riding shotgun in the Mini: Daft Punk - Robot Rock
(p.s. This video? That's the '07 Keyspan Park NYC show, where I celebrated my 29th b-day. You can be jealous now.)

3. Working, working, working: Ambulance LTD - Anecdote

4.  When needing motivation for leaning, painting, or general tidying up: The Go! Team - Huddle Formation

5. Stoking the fire tentside, camping: Grateful Dead - Eyes of the World

6. The getting-ready-to-go-out-with-my-troublemaker-sister song: Bloc Party - Banquet (phones disco rmx)

7. Beach party, USA: Bob Marley - Rastaman Vibration

8. Always my #1 jukebox pick: Stevie Wonder - Superstition

9. When dancing with my love in the kitchen: Glenn Miller - Moonlight Serenade

10. Singing at the top of my lungs: Bruce Springsteen  - Thunder Road

11. When I gon' feeshin: Kenny Chesney - I Go Back

12. Nothing is better for sewing Elizabethan garb: Steeleye Span - Cam Ye O'er Frae France

13. Road trips require hip hop: Common - The People
(Nearly impossible for me to pick just one, so I went with a favie of mine. "While white folk focus on dogs and yoga..." Gets me every time lol)

14. Nostalgia circa 1997, Classic Drum & Bass edition: AK1200 - Drowning

15. Back porch sitting with a cold one: Santana - Samba Pa Ti

16. New song I have to listen to at least once a day: The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio



There's 84 bajillion more songs I could've chosen, but here's the first list. Soundtrack #1 coming at you with some brand new flavor for your ears.

Good Morning Ohio: Pink Moon Cupcake Bakery

{cupcakes via Pink Moon}

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Good morning to Powell's

Pink Moon Cupcake Bakery --

Columbus's first cupcake shop!

I was lucky enough to be living in Powell when Pink Moon first opened the doors to their quaint, pink-house-turned-cupcakery. Love-at-first-smell, I was a fan from minute one, but what's not to love? It feels like you're visiting the coolest grandma's house ever. From the displays of handmade cupcake creations under a hodge-podge mix of vintage cake domes, the well-worn wood floors, and the huge chalkboard wall donned with the feature flavors in brightly-colored chalk, it's everything I want in a cupcake bakery. Just enough kitsch to keep me coming back for more.

My favorite flavor is strawberry, but buckeye is a close second. Honestly, you can't lose. Pink Moon knows how to handle the classic vanilla cupcake, too. The prices are about $2-2.50 per cupcake, depending on how many you purchase, and is  worth every penny to support this small, local business. The ingredients are fresh and the cupcakes made with love. Cinnamon Nuhfer, owner of Pink Moon, loves what she does and it shows.

I would be remiss to not mention the lovely folks of Pink Moon. You get more than you bargained for here; they offer up more than cupcakes at Pink Moon. They dish up healthy servings of good, old-fashioned customer service with a smile. No gimmicks, just gracious thanks. 

So the next time you're craving something sweet, head on over to Pink Moon for a cupcake! Don't forget that Powell is full of really special little boutiques, all deserving of a visit. It's a great way to spend a sunny, summer afternoon. Did you know that Powell's Farmer's Market runs every Thursday from June to September, from 3-6pm? Pick up some fresh veggies for dinner and Pink Moon cupcakes for dessert :)

*note: Pink Moon had an oven fire! Oh no! They'll be closed today, but never fear. They're back in biz tomorrow!*

What's Cookin? Wednesday: Cafe Ephesus

{cafe ephesus}

I've been fighting a head cold all week. (boo!) On Mother's Day, when I called my mom, she said the best gift I could give her would be to stay home, rest, and not get her sick. So, I did. Nyquil was my friend. My health is holding steady at about 80% today, but much improved since the weekend.

Which brings me to this. I didn't cook dinner last night. Instead, we met up with mom & Mr. M for dinner at local Turkish restaurant Cafe Ephesus, as a belated Mother's Day dinner. Delish! I forgot the camera (batting zero, seriously) but I can describe what our menu looked like.

Appetizers:
Humus & never-ending fresh pita triangles
- Both were really amazing. I'm picky about my humus, but theirs is very tasty. One big plate is $5, but the 4 of us couldn't finish it.
Calamari
- So tasty, not rubbery at all. Fried with a flaky, tempura-like coating, seasoned with something a little spicy. Worth every penny. Again, you get a huge plate.

Entrees:
- Everyone tried something different and every one of us cleaned our plates. I had the shish kebab - big chunks of seasoned, marinated filet with rice, a chunk of tomato and green pepper, with cucumber sauce (if you wanted it, which I did.) Perfectly cooked, super flavorful. Mom had a vegetable & shrimp stew dish, which, was fresh, seasoned perfectly, and deceptively-filling. Mr. M had a chicken doner and Bubs had a doner kebab -- basically the same thing, but one's chicken and the other's a beef/lamb combo. Both were great, served with rice, too.

Dessert:
- No room! I turned away baklava, which is history-making, but they were charging $5, which I thought is too steep anyway.

Recommend? YES! Lovely, small, clean, great food, friendly service. I'd definitely return!

Cafe Ephesus
6720 Perimeter Loop Road
(4 stores from Giant Eagle)
Dublin, Ohio, 43017
http://www.cafeephesusdublin.com/

What I'm Reading: No Impact Man

 {macmillan press}

Check out what Bubs gave me yesterday! I can't wait to delve into this one -- No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Live in the Process by Colin Beavan. Let's just talk about the book itself...letterpressed hardback? Check. Vibrant red linen spine? Check. Recycled chipboard cover and pages? Double check. I almost want to frame it, it's so pretty. Of course, I'll follow up with a review when I'm done...I have an inkling this is going to be a conversation starter.

Mr. Beavan is scheduled to speak at OSU this year and I'm going to find a way to get myself invited. That's a BINGO! We're so lucky to have OSU hosting truly relevant folks. I'm a fan. The football team's not bad, either.

P.S. Check out the No Impact Project to learn more about we live + the impact it can have.

list sixteen: favie snacks

 

{sara hayashi knows what I'm talkin' about.}

I get food cravings like nobody's biz. Here are the ones my snack monster loves the most!

1. Kosher dill pickles, specifically Klaussen's. No other dill will do.

2. Ruby Red grapefruit. I am a candidate for a grapefruit knife and spoon set.

3. Green grapes -- especially the crazy-big ones.

4. Fruit Roll-ups. I actually resist the urge to lick + stick the temporary tattoo printed on some varieties.

5. Snyder's of Hanover sourdough hard pretzels. They never last long at our house.

6. Colby cheese. Huge fan. I blame my grandma, who loved it more than I.

7. Doughnuts. Oh, joy, for a fluffy, sugar-coated, pudding-filled, fried-doughy treat. Doughnuts are the devil.

8. Kool-aid. Do drinks count? Sure they do. Blue Lemonade + grape flavors reign here.

9. Strawberry Toaster Strudel. I never eat this. I must be hungry to even have thought it up.

10. Dim Sum. Perfectly steamed, hot, oily, meaty little bites of wonderful. More of a mini meal than a snack.

11. My mom's Italian Crisps. Cooked with love, I could eat a whole tray of these crispy little tasties. She would tell me, "Well you know how to make them!" But I would reply, "Everything tastes better when mom makes it!"

12. Arnold Palmer Half + Half Ice Tea/Lemonade. Another drink to the table. I've tried to make my own, but it's just not the same (but close if you use sweet tea). Holy moly. This stuff hits the spot.

13. Pineapple. Both me and my sister have been known to eat so much pineapple that we burn our taste buds on the citric acid it contains...Weird, but true.

14. Blondies. Don't get me wrong, I love a brownie, but I love the butterscotchiness of blondies.

15. Fro yo. Hello, Pinkberry. Throw some fresh raspberries in the mix and I am in snack food heaven.

Freebie Friday: Handmade for Mama

{all projects found here}

Mother's Day is just days away, folks. Still looking for the perfect gift? Why not make her day even more special with a handmade card or artwork made of cut paper? If you need some inspiration and direction, definitely check out the Japanese Canon Creative Park. You'll find beautiful printables, cut paper projects, envelopes, mini cards, photo card templates...it would be nearly impossible not to find something for every mother near and dear to you! These were just a few of my favorites (isn't that canary adorable?) Head on over to the Creative Park website for lots of projects to hand-make for mama this Mother's Day!

Good Morning Ohio: Walker Foods - A Taste of Ohio

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Good morning to Walker Food Group's

A Taste of Ohio!

I had the pleasure of meeting Pam Pribanick of Walker Food Group a few weeks ago, while attending the A Taste of Ohio food event at the Lewis Center Kroger. If you've never had a chance to make it out to one of their events, you're seriously missing out. More than 50 Ohio vendors, farmers, and producers of yumminess were there sharing their products. What a treat!

Pam and I are kindred spirits when it comes to being passionate about keeping things local, healthy, natural, and "slow". She's the kind of lady I feel my life is enriched by knowing. Trust me, all Ohioans are better with her out there, spreading the word about Ohio-made foods! This darling lady also was kind enough to send me a huge ol' box of Ohio goodies for me to try -- Schlabach Amish "Grand-ola" and granola bars (which taste so fresh and natural you almost can't believe it), Buckeye Mustard, Vino de Milo Artichoke Garlic Bruschetta, Ludwig's Buckeye Magic seasoning rubs, and a bag of whole bean coffee from Chief Cooker Coffee Roasters. Hello! I'm in Ohio foodie heaven, here! Thanks Pam for your kindness & generosity!

The "A Taste Of Ohio" local foods prgram from the Walker Food Group makes a complete menu of artisan food items produced in the Buckeye State available to Ohio retailers. With over 400 high quality products from all corners of the state and more being added every day we are proud to be "Helping Ohioans Buy Local."

There are spots all over Ohio who feature many of the A Taste of Ohio/Walker Food Group-represented companies, but many products are available for purchase online through the A Taste of Ohio website. Natural, Ohio-grown teas, sweet & spicy mustard, finger-licking BBQ rubs and sauces, creamy, perfect cheeses (oh, the CHEESES! You have no idea!), brownies, jellies, jams, and even peanut butter, are just a click away. You are really missing out if you don't seek out these amazing Ohio vendors (Aisle 10, Lewis Center Kroger is a good start.) Happy eating, Ohio!

Welcome to What's Cookin?

 So sick + wrong + cute + hilariously absurd I had to share it.

{The Vegetarian Society}

Dearest readers + filler-outers of my survey,

Thank you for your amazing feedback! Results are still trickling in, so if you haven't yet filled out the survey, never fear! Do me a solid and click on the link at the top of the ol' blog here. Things are changing + evolving slowly around here, as I want to give you more of what you want and less of what you don't. Nearly all of you said, "Don't change a thing!" Do you know how much I love you? If you don't, consider yourself hugged!

So, one of the small changes begins today with the start of What's Cookin?. The Wanted on Wednesday posts were fun, but honestly, I was running out of stuff I wanted! Isn't that funny? The one post idea that I thought would be easy...funny how that works out sometimes. This is not to say that  I'm not going to be sharing all the hotness that I come across on the interwebs with you. It will just be more...sporadic. Hope that works for ya! These new What's Cookin? posts are going to do a few things...1. force motivate me to get into the kitchen and start cooking and 2. complain about share it with all of you. Doesn't that sound like fun?! (insert overeager-bordering-on-crazy-face here.)

Today's menu is yesterday's leftovers, but next week, I'll do something grand. It might be sandwiches, but they'll be grand sandwiches. (Everyone starts somewhere, right?)

Anyone have any simple, fresh vegetarian or vegan recipes they'd like to share? We'd like to even better than we do and one can never have enough veggies. I know that there are 80 bajillion awesome recipes out there, but we don't know where to start. P.S. I hate tofu and beans that aren't green.

xo
Evelyn

Committed.

Somewhere along the line, many of us started to get things wrong. We were wrong when we thought we needed to buy cheap + often. When we started shopping trendy instead of classic. When we'd throw out anything and everything, just to pop over to our local big box store to buy new. When we stopped looking at where our goods came from. When we stopped caring about how we spent our money. When we bought multiples of things because we forgot what we already owned.

Though I'm ashamed to admit it, I'm guilty of all of those things, but I'm proud to admit that those days are long gone. Committing myself to getting it together, setting priorities and following through is what my life is about. This year, I'm making a commitment to changing my life, my perspective, and am determined to redefine my "norm", starting with three big steps in the right direction.

1. Buy less. I am an ex-shopaholic. I loved to buy stuff. Any stuff. I thrived in the fluorescent din of the mall, loved the smell of new. It is a sickness, seriously. I've been guilty of loving some brand new article of clothing, washing it, wearing it, and not liking the way it looked without that freshness of new...and never wearing it again. After nearly two years of choosing to buy less (and I mean next to nothing), I find that I don't have the same relationship with 'stuff' as I used to. I simply don't need it like I used to. I don't need much of anything, actually. Forcing myself to get creative with what I already own, repurposing, getting crafty with the sewing machine...all of these things have helped me rid me of the insatiable need for new.

2. Buy consciously. Part of the growing process of becoming a conscious consumer is to take ownership of the purchasing process. When I do buy things, I try to do so with eyes wide open. Look at where the items you make are coming from. More often than not, they come from Asia. Any idea how it's produced? By whom? Of what is it made? What kind of carbon footprint did it make just to be imported? I'm not saying that buying items produced overseas is a horrible thing (though is sure as hell isn't doing much for our own economy.) All I am saying is that we all need to take ownership of every purchasing choice and commit to learning the true cost of the products we buy. That level of awareness is vital to our future. Ignorance is not bliss.

3. Buy wisely. With resources like Etsy at our fingertips, there's no excuse to not buy and support independent designers, crafters, and handmade artisans. Whether you're looking for natural baby rattles, earth-friendly clothing, reusable dish scrubbies, or organic handmade soaps, take the time to look for a handmade, small -scale, and preferably local source. It's a win-win for us all.

I hope you'll consider the impact your purchasing decisions have in both the short- and long-term. If you aren't doing these three things, why not? What barriers or obstacles do you feel are preventing you from making these changes?

list 15: most embarassing moments

Everyone has those moments you never, ever wish anyone would ever relive, but they're so funny you can't help but retell. These are a few of mine...because nothing is more humbling than a little humiliation amongst friends.

1. When I was about 13, I went to the mall with a group of girls to hang out and go to the movies. It was one of those things you did, hoping to catch the eye of a cute boy and awkwardly muddle your way through novice-level flirting. Of course, we didn't want our parents to drop us off anywhere near the entrance...that's entirely too embarrassing. Instead, we were dropped off waaaaaaay out at the far end of the parking lot. As my friends and I were walking toward the entrance of the mall, I spied a small group of completely cute boys about 100 yards away. Rather than watch where I was going, I watched the boys, and tried to keep up with my friends peripherally, which was disastrous. All I remember next was a loud GOOONNNNNNGGGG sound, opening my eyes to my friends looking down at me, as I lay flat on my back. I had walked, full-force, into a huge metal support beam and knocked myself out cold! All because I was looking at boys, God help me. Rather than feel badly at all, with no quiet escape home, I got to spend the rest of the evening being teased about the huge, purple goose-egg lump on my forehead. Not one of my finest moments.


2. Again, in 8th grade (apparently, a banner year for me), I was a football cheerleader and our coach was a tough cookie. For some odd reason, she had it in her head that hoop earrings were the devil. It was a home game and my mom and sister had come to watch me cheer. I was so excited! But then, as luck would have it, Coach Browning caught the glimmer of my hoop earrings. Yes, I knew the rules...but in all the excitement of the pre-game, I forgot to take them out. That woman yanked me out of that football game so fast it would make your head spin -- loudly -- and in front of our entire grandstand of fans. She didn't stop there. She chided me in front of everyone, mom included. Now, in 8th grade, I was a bit of a pistol. Did I keep my mouth shut? No. When I realized that reasoning and apologizing wasn't going to get me back to cheering, I freaked out and yelled right back. Again. Not very smart. I got to spend the rest of the half in the stands with my mom, freezing to death in a cheerleading skirt. Needless to say, that was the last year I tried out for cheerleading.
3. A number of years ago, I was driving along a busy multi-lane highway. The sun was shining and windows were down. Then, out of nowhere...I had to barf. Right. Now. Ohmygosh. Gonna barf. Holy crap, what do I do? It happened so fast, I couldn't pull over or anything! So, what do I do? I grab a Wendy's Biggie-sized cup and throw up in it. Oh, sure, seemed like a great plan...until it reached the top and I was still getting sick! (Did I mention I'm still driving, albeit radically, on the highway? Oh yes. I was praying to every saint I could think of to keep me safe because death by car accident because of random ralphing is just too humiliating for anyone.) At that point, I managed to grab a little garbage bag (which I now keep nearby at all times) and finished being sick into it, barfing, and driving with one hand. Honestly, I haven't a clue where I was going, but wherever it was, I got there safely and without throwing up on myself. What a day.

Aside from your run of the mill, laugh-til-you-pee-yourself, food-stuck-in-your-teeth kind of moments, those three are my top three most embarrassing moments. At least, those are the ones I can recall right now (denial does wonders for repression, let me tell you what.) If you know me, am I forgetting any other glorious, shiny moments of total humiliation? What are your most humiliating moments. Do tell :)