Getting Crafty

I really thought hell would freeze over before I'd do a craft-related post.  No joke.  But here I am, bringing you a little craft project. 

Last week, I got together with a couple of girlfriends for a little crafting.  We get together every couple of months for crafting projects, and I am notorious for saying, "I am just here for the conversation," because my crafts never turn out (I am so not right brained!)  But this project?  Totally turned out!  And if I could make it, that means you could make it, too.  As could a 5 year old because that's where I'd peg my artistic ability...  Well, a 5 year old that you'd trust with a hot glue gun.

So here's the process in pictures!

First, cut a strip of fabric.  Yes, it looks like I closed my eyes and cut this blindly.  I swear I went to kindergarten, you just can not tell.  The good thing is that you don't even have to cut it straight, it will still turn out. 

Next, cut a circle of felt...  Or, if you are like me, ask your capable friends to cut a circle for you because otherwise it might look like this...

Yes, I know what a circle looks like.  Apparently I just can not cut one.

Tie a knot at the end of the fabric and glue to the felt.

I don't have a picture of the process of making the fabric flowers because it was hard enough for me to handle a glue gun without burning myself too much (there was a lot of yelps of pain from my corner of the table), so action shots were not happening!  But you basically twist the fabric and start winding it around the knot, gluing it with a hot glue gun as you go!

And voila!

I made the flower on the left, my friend made the other flower.  You take another piece of felt and then glue the headband between the two layers of felt. 

I also made a little hair clip.

Pretty easy.  And very, very cheap.  And again, let me emphasize - if I can do this, ANYONE can.  :) 

Do you consider yourself crafty?  The only crafty-type thing I am good at is knitting - and that requires me to follow a pattern, so while it counts as craft, it's a very methodical one.  Go figure. 

Ten on Tuesday

Good morning!  Here's another batch of questions from Chelsea!

1. How many blogs do you read every day and what are they? (I’m talking the ones you NEVER miss)
I read maybe 3-5 every day consistently.  It is getting increasingly hard for me to keep up with reading/commenting/posting so I don't get to people's blogs are regularly as I used to...

2. How many “best friends” do you have? Do you have different “besties” for different areas of your life?
I don't like the word "best friend" - it works for some people, but I could never say that one person is my BEST friend.  Instead of have a tight knit group of people that I consider close friends.  I have different groups of close friends, though - college, blogging-friends-turned-real-life-friends, family members, and work friends.

3. What’s your daily make up routine?
I put my make up on the exact same order every day.  I use bare minerals.  I always wear foundation, concealer, eye liner, and mascara.  Some days I wear blush.  I rarely wear lipstick as I feel like it looks ridiculous on me...

4. What is your ideal girl’s night?
A girl's night in.  We'd cook dinner, read magazines, watch Sex and the City, and then someone would paint my nails because Lord knows I can NOT paint my own!

5. Do you keep up with your nails/toenails or are they au natural?
I do not keep up with my nails/toenails - see above comment about my inability to paint my own.  Sometimes I will put on a clear coat. 

6. What’s your best roommate story (assuming you had a roommate at some point in your life)?
When I was a freshman in college, one night my roommate came home and saw that the door was locked.  I wasn't super good about locking the door when I was home so she thought this meant I was not home.  She started to celebrate and shout about how happy she was that I was gone.  Boy was that awkward when she opened the door and saw that I was in my bed.  Awake.  Lovely.  We were like oil and water, but looking back, it was a good experience for me because it taught me to be more tolerant of others. 

7. What’s your “go to” outfit that you wear more than anything else?
In the summer, it's a summer sundress of some sort.  In the winter, it's jeans, black heels, and a black top of some sort.

8. Do you have a beauty secret?
Not that I can think of!  Honestly, I am a pretty low maintenance girl so I am not one to really have lots of beauty trips up my sleeve!

9. Did you read Seventeen magazine growing up?
Yes, I did.  And Teen!  Loved those magazines!

10. How did you learn to put on makeup?
I definitely taught myself.  Which is probably why I am really not that great at it!!

Happy Easter!

Greetings and Happy Friday!  And especially Happy Friday to those of you who get this day off!!  Even though the markets are closed, I still have to work?  Oh well, it will be a good day to catch up on some projects with minimal interruptions!

My whole family, with the exception of my younger sister and her husband, will be coming to Minneapolis.  I can't wait!  It will be so nice to not have to travel for this holiday.  Everyone is staying in a hotel close to my brother's house, so I am crashing in my parents room which means Easter = a staycation for me this year!  Here's what I am looking forward to:

• Celebrating my youngest nephew's 3rd birthday! 
• Seeing all 4 of my nephews.  Hopefully I can get a picture with all 4 of them!
• Seeing my sister & sister-in-law who are both expecting!  My sister is due in late May, my sister-in-law is due in September.  Neither are finding out the sex.  I predict a boy for my sister & a girl for my sister-in-law.  When I asked my oldest nephew what he thought my sister was having he said, and I quote, "I don't know...  I am just going to love the baby no matter what."  Isn't that the sweetest thing?
• The Saturday Easter Vigil Mass.  It's my favorite mass of the year (even though it's also the LONGEST)  My sister-in-law is converting to Catholicism and I am her sponsor.  It's been a special experience to go through RCIA classes with her so I am looking forward to the mass where she will formally join the Catholic church.   
• Enjoy a little holiday from being dairy free.  I'm responsible for bringing the veggie tray + spinach dip.  I like toffutti sour cream but if I used that in the spinach dip I am pretty sure no one would eat it.  And I do NOT need to eat an entire bowl of spinach dip. 
• Hiding Easter eggs.  Holidays are so much more fun with kids around!  I hope the weather cooperates so we can hide them outdoors.

Have a fabulous Easter weekend, everyone!  How will you be celebrating?

Always... Sometimes... Never

It's been awhile since I've done one of these type of posts. It's a good way to expound upon the random thoughts floating around in my head these days...

I always...
- smile when I think of my time in Paris. That city is just plain magical - I can't wait to return some day!
- sleep better in my parents home. Is it the fact that the room is darker since I usually sleep in a basement room?  Is it because it's one of the few times I feel taken care of?  Whatever the reason, I sleep deeply and peacefully when I am home.

I sometimes....
- wonder if I will ever have someone besides my parents to put down as an emergency contact.
- miss marathon training.  I never thought I would say that.  And that doesn't mean I will run another marathon (I am pretty sure I won't).  It just means I miss being in a frame of mind where I was so focused on running - and in such great shape.  I miss the days of long runs when the miles just effortlessly ticked by.  I'll get back to that state again.  Just not until after the CFA exam.

I never...
- thought it would be so easy to give up dairy. As a cheese lover, I honestly thought my heart would ache for cheese. I actually don't really miss it... yet!
- would choose to relive my junior high/high school years.  Seriously. Those were dreadful, dreadful years.

Ok, your turn - what's your Always... Sometimes... Never?

Ten on Tuesday

First things first, a big congratulations goes out to Nora - she got engaged on Saturday night!  You can read all about it (and check out her gorgeous ring) here!  Last year was totally the year of the baby as multiple friends found out there were expecting.  2011 is totally the year of the engagement!  First Amber, then Charbelle, now Nora!  And, ahem, I have or will have run races with these 3 ladies.  Granted Nora and I haven't started training yet, but we've registered.  So I am 3 for 3 on racing partners getting engaged.  I might register for a race and start to refer to myself in the 3rd person and see any of my luck rubs off on myself... 

Anywho, back to the regularly schedule post...  Chelsea's Ten on Tuesday is a book themed one.  Woo hoo!

1. When someone asks you for a book recommendation, what is your go-to book?
One of my favorite books is the travel memoir, Without Reservations by Alice Steinbach.  She takes a sabbatical from her job and travels to Paris, Italy, and Oxford.  Some (or maybe all, can't remember) of the chapters begin with a postcard that she sends to herself at home.  Brilliant idea, right?  I kind of wish I had done that on my Paris trip...

2. Do you buy your books, or are you a library patron?
I mostly buy books...  The books I want to read never seem to be available at the library - especially books for book club.  Sometimes I am not patient enough to wait months to read a book so I just buy it.
3. E-readers, yay or nay?
Love them.  I have been meaning to do a post about my nook for awhile...  I resisted e-readers for the longest time and finally caved and bought one last fall.  Best.  Decision.  Ever.

4. What was your favorite book as a child?
It was a Mickey Mouse version of the Sorcerer's Apprentice. 

5. If you could be any character in a book, who would you be?
Maybe Madeline so I could live in France.  Except, I'd want to be an adult version of her.  I have no desire to be a child again. 

6. What book would you love to see turned into a movie?
That's a tough one...  Maybe City of Thieves?  I really enjoyed that book and I think the plot lends itself well to a screen play.

7. What is your all-time favorite book?
Tuesdays with Morrie.  I usually read it about once a year when I need an attitude adjustment!

8. How many books do you read at once?
Usually just 1.  I get confused or lose focus otherwise!

9. What is your favorite book genre?
Travel memoirs!  Especially if they are set in France.  :)

10. Which Harry Potter book is the best? Or haven’t you read them at all?
I don't think I can pick a favorite, I love them all!

MIA: My motivation & love for running

Missing:  Lisa's motivation & love for the sport of running.  If found, please return to Minneapolis, MN.  Thanks.

Oh my goodness, I have lost my motivation lately - basically since I got back from DC.  Granted, those 10 days after I got back were intense as I took the review course for the 7 and studied every night in preparation for that exam.  My mind was engaged from 6:30 am until 9-9:30 pm when I would hit the sheets, so running just did not fit into my schedule unfortunately.

That test is behind me and unfortunately the motivation for running has not returned.  I basically have to talk myself into going on each run.  Of course the winter-weather we've been having lately is NOT helping.  I mean, I woke up to a layer of snow on Saturday and when I ran yesterday, it was 34 degrees w/ a STRONG wind.  This weather officially sucks.  I guess it could be worse - some parts of North Dakota got 12-14" of snow on Saturday!!! 

I am hoping this is just a little phase I am going through.  Pretty soon I'll start training for the 10k that I am running with Nora.  I think being back 'on the grid' for a race will help.  And warmer temps/sunshine will help, too (if the weather ever warms up.  There is snow in the forecast for this week.  Le sigh.)

I know I can't give up on running.  So for now, I'll continue to drag myself out onto the running paths.  I'll keep moving my feet in the hopes that my heart catches up with us and the love of running returns. 

Does your motivation for exercising ebb & flow?  This is pretty typical for me - I always seem to struggle to get back into running around this time of year, especially when the weather is so uncooperative!

Dairy Free Friday

Happy Friday, everyone!. I've got another great recipe from Oh She Glows to share with you: Spicy Rainbow Rice and Bean Salad. This is a great mid-week meal as it requires VERY LITTLE slicing/dicing, and the ingredients are all standard things that you might already have on hand! I only had to buy a onion to make this recipe - I love it when I have the majority of the ingredients!

This recipe also scores points with me because it has a nice kick to it! If you aren't a spice monster like me, maybe leave out the crush red pepper... I probably increased the spices by about 1/2 because I love spicy food. :)

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked rice

1 tbsp oil of your choice (I used EVOO)

1/2 cup chopped sweet onion (I used a red onion)

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp coriander

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp mustard seeds (optional - I included)

1 garlic clove, minced

1 green onion, chopped (optional - I did not include)

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

3 tbsp Tamari (gluten free soy sauce)

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup frozen corn

2 medium carrots, peeled and grated

1 tsp Earth Balance, to stir in

And here is the recipe, in pictures!

Saute onion over medium-low heat until softened/golden. Add spices, garlic, and optional green onion and saute on low for a few minutes until the spices start to bubble (careful, don't burn them!) 

Add the black beans and Tamari sauce (you could use regular soy sauce). Heat for 5 minutes over medium heat.

Now comes the rainbow part. Add in the frozen pea & corn and the shredded carrot. Heat for another 5 minutes on medium heat.

Add in your grain & 1 T. of Earth Balance (or butter for dairy eaters) - I went with basmati rice (which I made in my rice cooker) because that's what I had on hand. I think next time I will use quinoa!

Serve up. Maybe garnish with some fresh cilantro. I don't really do garnishes because when you are cooking for one, I don't feel like a garnish is worth the effort. ;)

See? Easy peasy. And further proof that you can cook delicious, flavorful, healthy food without gluten or dairy!

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone! I'll spend mine studying, but am rewarding myself by going to my brother's to grill a little surf & turf! I haven't had a steak off a grill since I visited my sister in January! Can't wait!

What are you up to this weekend?