Love this engagement photo...Ashley and Shaun!

Wedding Card Box

Had fun making this wedding card box for my friend Linda's daughter(Emily).


                                                                        Before

Found this box at JoAnn Fabrics



I used spray adhesive to apply fabric to box.  Using a glue gun, I trimmed the seams with ribbon.



My friend Judy told me about monograms at JoAnn Fabrics that are embroidered and are peel and stick.



Used an x-acto knife to add slot before applying fabric.  Also attached a light(found in the floral section at craft stores) under lid so slot would illuminate, and box would not be mistaken for gift on the gift table.



                                                                                                               

Pumpkin Party

I grabbed this recipe from AllRecipes.com and made a few changes according to the comments. 

 Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil (sub 1/2 cup butter, 1/4 cup applesauce, 1/4 vegetable oil)
• 2/3 cup water
• 3 cups white sugar (sub 1 cup dark brown sugar, 2 cups white sugar)
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I kept adding cinnamon through the process, probably more like 1 1/2 teaspoons, at least)
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• (add 1 teaspoon vanilla)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans (I used two 7x3 inch loaf pans and made six muffins with the addition of chocolate chips for fun).
2. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.
3. Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (I usually cook it for at least an hour, the middle always takes longer and tests my patience)

For an extra super good time, try making your own puree...I want to try this, have not found the time yet (that's no excuse, seems pretty easy): 

 

They were yummy moist. I did, however, overcook my muffins. Make sure you check on those after about 20 minutes-half hour as they tend to cook faster. Enjoy! 

Just for fun...check out this pumpkin farm/apple orchard we ventured to just outside of Milwaukee. There's a sweet corn maze, apple blaster, llamas, goats, popcorn, caramel apples, cider, hayride--it was the perfect fall day affair. They're open through October 31 if you're in the area. We'll be carving up our pumpkins on Sunday. Yippee!

 

 

Grilled Guacamole



Slice tomatoes, red onion, jalapeno, lime, and avocado.  Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper.



Grill (also add  garlic wrapped in foil)



Dice tomato, onion, avocado, jalapeno, and garlic. Mash and add lime juice and chopped cilantro.  Serve warm with tortilla chips and enjoy.



Something's in the Air

So, the first time I walked into my now favorite local winery, I noticed these delightful fixtures hanging above me.  Since then, I've been slightly obsessed, and even dragged my mother in to check them out one recent afternoon.  She, too, fell in love.

These wine glass clusters (Glasklasen) serve as both chandelier and functional art.  You can personalize your chandelier with glasses alike or of various colors, shapes and sizes, and with a clear bulb, it provides a most excellent ambiance wherever it hangs.

Quick history lesson:  Glasklasen is a product of Swedish art industry, designed by a team of two architects, Gunnar Cedervall and Bjorn Stillefors, and an industrial designer, Jorgen Pudeck.  The manufacturing takes place in Sweden, at a smithy dating from 1840.  The glasses are meant to be used and then replaced in the chandelier after being cleaned.  It comes in two sizes (16 and 40) and three different surface treatments; black lacquered, clear lacquered and chromium-plated.  16-glass version - $350; 40-glass version - $400.

Special shout out to the kind folk at Lush on Chicago Ave.  Y'all are swell human beings.

(And they will import these for you!)
http://www.lushwineandspirits.com/