Autumn Outfits

There's just something about fall that makes me really excited about fashion. Sweaters and boots just sound so cozy and appealing. So I played around on Polyvore a little while back and had fun putting together some outfit inspiration for one of my favorite seasons.

Pumpkin Patch by collectednest

September by collectednest 

Polaroid Crafts

I love Polaroid pictures and I am sad that Polaroid couldn't survive.  Film is now being produced by The Impossible Project at the former Polaroid factory in the Netherlands, it is more expensive than it used to be, but they keeping working to improve the product and have made it so my Polaroid camera doesn't have to a bookend.

Even with the current state of Polaroid, we can still use Polaroids as inspiration for other crafts. I would love to make a Polaroid quilt block like this one from Little Miss Shabby to make into a pillow.

And how cute are these tiny Polaroid magnets from Jenn at Ambrosia Creative?

Or you can make your own digital photos look like Polaroids by using PicMonkey.

Planting Seeds

I'm embarking on another one of my 26 Before 27 goals.  I'm attempting to grow some plants from seed. I'm growing some zinnias, sunflowers, and a wildflower mixture. I always attempt to grow wildflower seeds by spreading them in the yard but I'm not good enough at watering them. So, hopefully the little greenhouse will put them off to a good start before they have to face the real world. And I will get a surprise of what might come up.

Growing, growing peat pellets.

Go little seeds, go!

Cinco de Mayo Dinner

Last night Graham and I made ourselves a delicious Mexican feast, that would make a great Cinco de Mayo dinner. One of my 26 before 27 goals is to try making a new recipe each week, so this week we made steak taquitos. We kind of just made up the recipe, so I think that definitely qualifies for "try a new recipe". We use left over steak from a previous dinner, which made it even easier.

Steak Taquitos:

Filling:

Steak, cooked and seasoned with salt, pepper, & garlic salt

Shredded Mexican cheese

Onion

Diced green chiles

Corn tortillas

Oil for frying

Mix the above ingredients together, amounts based on how much of each flavor you want present, and roll them up in a warm tortilla. Secure each taquito with a toothpick.  Then fry in batches until they reach a nice golden brown color.

They are really pretty easy, definitely something that you can play around with to adjust for taste and ingredients.  And they turned out totally delicious when served with sour cream, salsa, and homemade guacamole. It also doesn't hurt to serve them with fresh chips and a margarita.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

26 Before 27

So today is my 26th birthday and I have decided to make a list of 26 goals that I wish to accomplish before my next birthday.  I'm really excited about working on these goals and I hope that sharing this list and my progress will help me to finish them by this time next year.  So without further ado, here's the list:

1. Open my Etsy store

2. Make my first sale on Etsy

3. Buy myself an iPhone (once completing goal #2)

4. Brand my business

5. Build a chicken coop

6. Grow plants from seed

7. Build raised beds

8. Try a new recipe each week

9. Lose 50 lbs

10. Run a 10k

11. Go kayaking

12. Complete an embroidery project

13. Complete a polymer clay project

14. Sew myself an item of clothing

15. Sew myself a purse

16. Sew a quilt

17. Design a fabric collection

18. Take a photo everyday (365project.org)

19. Upgrade to a better camera

20. Work on blog networking/making blog friends

21. Update my blog at least once per week

22. Go to a concert

23. Read one book per month

24. Travel to some place new (other than Hawaii)

25. Go to Hawaii

26. Make an effort towards finishing my art degree

Photo of the Day (3.1.11)

Today's photo: Coots and ducks at Laguna Lake.  The rest of the day I kept singing, "Coots and ducks and geese better scurry, when I take you out in my surrey."  It was driving Graham and myself insane, but at least I like musicals, unlike poor Graham.

Photo of the Day (1.26.12)

Today's photo: Snails at the beach from a beach-combing walk a little while back.

I've been busy this week working on projects in my craft room.  I'll have to take some pictures this weekend to share what I've been up to.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  Is it too late to still say, "happy new year"?  The last few months have just flown by.  I don't even know what happened to them.  But I'm back here and I'm making some goals for the new year.  I will blog about them soon so that I will feel like someone might hold me accountable.