Blog to Taste: Grape Salad with Mint

Dont miss my post over at Blog To Taste, Grape Salad with Mint.  More BtoT posts by me.

Sea You Next Tuesday: An Attempt at Stop Motion Animation

     i love animation.  I also love stop motion animation.  I have always wanted to make movies with little figures.  Now seems like a great time!  Here is my first attempt, not counting loopcam...  I just used a bunch of shark stuff I had on hand.  It was great fun to make.

Earworm: MS MR - Hurricane

source
I am loving this song so much.  It is haunting and so magical...  /sigh Happy Saturday!

For the Love of Fridays: Star Party

Magnum Reversible Vest/Wrap I need to start knitting again.  I like this pattern because it is huge yarn and big needles.  I bet it would be really easy.

This video kicked my ABS!  I am still sore...

I need a Vipukirves!  I am not good at chopping wood.  In most cases I will just find twigs vs chop kindling.  Once the fire is going you can toss on the big chunks of wood.  

I went to a cool lecture at OMSI this week.  I learned that there will be a total solar eclipse August 21st 2017! image source 

I will wear this dress to the star party!

How was your week?

Crafty Inspiration: Getting out of the Slump

     i have been feeling very uncrafty lately.  I made a super easy skirt last week (I tried to blog it but the pictures were not awesome) but it had been awhile since I have felt inspired.  How does one get inspired?  Well I just searched DIY in Pinterest and boom inspiration!  I found some amazing ideas.  It was quite the rabbit hole.  Here are some of my finds.

Pebble Hangers for Jewelry:  I have a lot of necklaces.  Right now I have them hanging on command hooks but that isnt very pretty.  I have looked on Pinterest before for stylish ways to display/organize jewelry.  Most of the diys are complicated but pretty or simple but not pretty.  This is both!  I will have to start searching for rocks.

Ombre Painted Wooden Spoons:  I love wooden utensils for the kitchen but they can be a little boring.  This seems like a great way to brighten things up.  I would even be happy if they were all the same color!

Dinosaur Serving Dish:  I am loving working on Blog To Taste.  I love how much I am learning about food photography and styling.  I like the rustic look but I am also a nerd and quirky.  I would love to make something like this and serve gluten free bacon and chocolate chip cake cookies (coming soon) on it!

Incredible Beach Waves in a Bottle:  My hair isnt straight or curly.  It is awkwardly in the middle.  I would love it to really go wavy.  I need to make some salt water mix to bring it out.  In the summer when it is hot and I have spent the day on the river my hair looks great.  Hope I can recreated it.

Chalkboard Wine Glass:  I am not a big fan of stemware.  I am a klutz and cant be trusted with glass.  I have always liked the idea of wine glass charms, but I would lose them...  This is cute, easy and a great gift.  Or maybe I just really like chalkboard now...

What are you making?

Food: Double Baked Potatoes

     i love potatoes.  Like really really really really love potatoes...  In all the paleo books I have read they say no to potatoes.  Sad face.  I tried giving up potatoes many times.  Many times.  I have quit smoking, gave up dairy, meat, gluten, rice and beans, but I can NOT give up potatoes.  Which is funny because when I tell people I am gluten or dairy free and they say they could never give it up, I laugh.  "You can give up anything if you really want to!"  I say.  Maybe this is why I cant give up potatoes.  I dont want to.  I gave up gluten and dairy because it doesnt agree with me.  I am happier without it in my life.  Potatoes make me feel better not worse.  So I have given up on giving up potatoes!  

I made these yummy double baked potatoes for Easter.  We had a very easy meal plan and I decided to make it a bit more exciting.  These were super easy and super delish!

Ingredients:

• 4 medium potatoes
• 1/4 cup of mayo
• salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

1. Scrub potatoes and bake for an hour at 350.  (I pierce my potatoes with a fork but I am not sure if you have to do this in the oven...)
2. Let cool for a few minutes, till you can handle potatoes without burning yourself.
3. Cut each potato in half longways.
4. Scoop the meat of the potato from the skin and place in a bowl.  Be sure to leave a little meat so the skins keep their shape.
5. Smash the potato with salt, pepper and mayo till it has the consistency of mashed potatoes.  I used the help of my hand blender.
6. Scoop potato mixture back into the skins.  If you want to get fancy use your cake decorating kit or a zippy with the end cut.  
7. Broil for 3 minutes and check.  If they are not golden enough for you, broil for another 3 minutes.  
8. Enjoy!

For the Love of Fridays: Fairy Penguins

I need to knit a sweater for a penguin!  Too bad Snopes says they dont need anymore...  Or you can adopt a penguin, even name it!

This kid is crazy smart.

This dog is ahMazing!

I need a shark platter!

I can never eyeball a drink.  I think this ReJigger would really help!

How is your Friday?

Blog to Taste: Deviled Eggs 3 Ways

Dont miss my post over at Blog To Taste, Deviled Eggs 3 Ways.  More BtoT posts by me.

Sea You Next Tuesday: My Gram gets Chased by Bees

      my Gram is pretty awesome.  She was here visiting for her 90th birthday and I recorded her telling some family stories.  Some are very well known in the family and some where new.  The bee and the lake is one of my faves, I hope you enjoy it too!  :)

Sea You Next Tuesday: I am Back!

     hiya pals!  I am back!  I said I was going to keep making videos and I meant it.  I did take two weeks off but it wasnt on purpose...  I had some computer issues and then some sickness.  It was also weird not having a topic and I miss my friends...  Shout out to Melissa, Rosie and Warren!  It was fun to get pretty for film but I burnt the crap out of my hand curling my hair.  

Dont miss the rest of my videos at Diva and the Diamonds!  Make sure you watch my friends videos too!