naturalista

You may know that I have eczema. It's not a sever case, and it doesn't affect my quality of life greatly, except that these last few years it has reserved squatter's rights on my face. Zits aren't my cross to bear - dry, flaky, red, itchy patches on my neck, chin and eyebrows are.

So, Leah sent me this link the other day to a blog of a mom/writer/naturalista who is going (what she calls) "poo free," which means she is making everything herself. Good for us, good for the environment. She's making her own toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, face moisturizer, lip balm (which lots of us do already) and more. Being a chemist naturally makes me skeptical of both sides of the coin here, but I'm really interested to try the shampoo-free approach (baking soda water and vinegar instead) and her face wash/moisturizer. I have, after more than 10 years of active searching behind and in front of the counter, still not found anything that helps my eczema. So, we'll see what happens, but for now, check out her recipes, they're pretty crazy!

Mouse pad: operation complete

Hey, thanks Jenny for the 3M idea! worked like a charm! fastest re-use project ever!

I had this great Day of the Dead fabric and I love how it turned out!


Before: with help from Frankie



















and 30 seconds later,
After: the finished product ...




















so basically, I washed the old mouse pad, let it dry and then prayed it with 3M adhesive and then layed on the fabric. took 30 seconds. what a way to spend a Sat night!

In case you didn't know, I'm totally the raddest one at the office now.

mouse pad challenge

Hey, my mouse pad at work is disgusting! In fact, I'm taking a break from work to note this... Rather than buying one for a dollar, I was thinking about how one could be made or reused!

This is my thought- take it home, wash it, cut a new shape and then affix fabric to the top?
So, what kind of glue? I may have to try this a few times...

Any ideas for materials (glue/adhesive)? Please help!

Urban Craft Uprising

I keep saying that I'm gonna get my act together for this... I think I'm gonna try this year. I'm not sure if my application will be accepted but I think that it would be worth a try! If anyone wants to share a table, that would be sweet!!! Applications are due mid-Sept so we need to get that together ASAP. any takers?

Pistachio love.

The other day my dear friend Drea came over and brought some of the most amazing peaches I've ever seen! I could have just stuffed my face with them, but I've been wanting to try these raw dessert recipes so instead I made the "peach cobbler" from Ani's raw dessert book. Pistachios and Peaches are so good together, needless to say this did not last in the refrigerator very long.

It is pretty scandalous how simple this is. Here are the ingredients:
Peach & Pistachio Cobbler

CRUST

• ½ cup shelled pistachios
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup Medjool dates

FILLING

• 4 cups sliced peaches
• 3 tablespoons agave nectar
• 1 vanilla bean
  

pistachios + peaches = food fireworks
















The rest is pretty self explanatory. Food process all the crust ingredients and chop and stir the filling. Blend together and eat! For storage it's better to leave the crust and filling separate until you want to eat it because the filing can make the "crust" less crunchy.



the final product. full of flavor minus the guilt!

I should have been a...

I could finish that phrase with so many things! Lately, I've been wishing, along with getting MUCH better at sewing, that I could be a photographer. I know it's so cliche, and everyone and their mom has a digital SLR now, but there's something about creating beautiful, artistically composed, unprocessed original photos that I am drawn to. I hope it's something that I can continue to get better at...unfortunately, that means shelling out some serious cash for some good equipment. Meanwhile, on my europe trip this fall, I promise to take good pictures and post a few good ones to this blog!

I've been randomly happening upon amazing wedding photos lately. Take a gander (at these collections and the rest of their stuff)!

http://lovemedophotography.com/blog/?p=540

http://www.ourblogoflove.com/index.cfm?postID=326

http://blog.emilyjohnstonanderson.com/2008/12/blog-post.html

Finally, some original handmade jewelry

If you're anything like me (slightly cocky, somewhat pessimistic, definitely high expectations), you go to markets or arts/crafts fairs and think "ok, that's lame" or "I've made that." Where is the original stuff that I could never make or (even better) the items that pique my curiosity and creativity? Show me something different than delicate glass beads on a head pin attached to an earwire, please!

So, thanks to google reader, I happened upon Penguina Designs tonight. Some typical stuff, but she has some insane brooch talent and pretty interesting earrings! Meg, can you do brooches like that? I'd love to learn...

Sugar Monster!!

Okay. My mom recently checked this new recipe book out of the library and just loaned it to me. It's called Ani's Raw Food Desserts and although I have not made any of the recipes yet I can tell they will be life changingly delicious! (I will post some photos as soon as I try them.) Her webite (linked above) is packed with great videos and recipes. Plus, double bonus for the the summer, none of them require using your oven! Check her stuff out if you get a chance! I always love a new raw food recipe and these are so simple and are made from things easily found around the kitchen or in any store...triple bonus!

Tis the season

for raspberries!

My good friend Katie (who I invited to the blog and who I write a food blog with) has been here all week visiting before heading off to Indiana for grad school, and we went on a little raspberry-picking adventure at Remlinger Farms yesterday in Carnation. Yay for farmer's markets and $2/lb fruit!

A sampling of our creations:
Katie^2 (I'm such a nerd) with our 6lb loot.

Raspberry Crisp (this got the dad seal of approval!)

Raspberry Almond Scones (taken from the Betty Crocker Cookbook, with slightly more flour to compensate for the juicy fresh berries)

I'm planning on trying a chocolate zucchini raspberry cake, raspberry crepes (for a French-themed bridal shower this weekend), and possibly a raspberry pie if I have enough left! We'll see...