The Moon and Me: January 2014

Thursday, January 30, 2014

You Make My Heart Soar - Hot Air Balloon Art

Have I told you lately...that I love you?

NO, really.

Sometimes you guys leave the sweetest

comments and I just grin from ear to ear.

I know, I know...I suck at responding...

but sometimes it's just not my fault.

But that's a whole other post...seriously.

But I wanted you to know...

You Make My Heart Soar

Cheesy, right?

Sorry, sometimes I'm just all about cheese.

Anyway...a long, long time ago...when I was in college...

I mean waaaaaay back when...

like, aaaaaallllll of my friends were elementary ed majors.

Seriously, what's up with that?

Not me, I was gonna be Indiana Joanie.

But that's a story for another time...or never.

So, I had this friend who needed an awesome idea for a bulletin board display.

She was kind of obsessed with hot air balloons...

I think her psychiatrist father had something weird to say about that...

but I digress.

I came up with this fabulous plan for a 3D hot air balloon

and I totally wish I had a picture of it now.

We made giant strips of paper and laminated them

at the library and she stapled them to the board.

I don't remember all the details, come on, that was twe....a bunch of years ago.

A bunch.

Let me tell you...it was really something and a big hit.

I have attempted to recreate that in a smaller version here for you.

I used a 9X12 canvas, construction paper, twine,

paint, washi tape and a little ingenuity.

I painted the canvas all cream...then mixed some other colors, shown above...

in swirly patterns to mimic whimsical clouds and

repeated with some pinks for a truly Valentine-y sky.

This picture shows you the basic shapes I used for the balloon.

I didn't take a picture of the basket, sorry.

I hot glued them to the canvas to make the balloon shape.

A gold paint pen was the easiest to write the swirly words...

I can't really write letters with a paint brush. Ugh.

Then I brushed some paint mixture over them

so they were more blended and wispy.

The glitter circles are just cut from scrapbook

paper and used to cover the twine ropes.

I used the washi tape around the edge of the canvas,

but didn't get a great picture of it.

I thought about spraying the whole thing with some glitter spray,

but was concerned it might make the paper splotchy.

So I didn't...

Up, up, and away!

So, if you ever find yourself in need of a

gravity-defying idea for a bulletin board,

or just a bit of whimsy...I hope I've tweaked your imagination.

You're welcome! :)

Well, I hope your heart is soaring...high above the clouds.

In a pretty pink hot air balloon.

Come back next week!

I'm hoping to have Sara's bedroom reveal ready.

{that was the secret project!}

If not, I promise it will still be something great!

Flying lessons here:

Put A Bird On It
From My Front Porch to Yours
Crafts a la Mode
AKA Design
Craft Dictator
Love of Family and Home
Whipperberry
Horrific Knits
Jennifer Rizzo
Cheerios and Lattes
Serenity You
It All Started With Paint
Will Cook For Smiles
I Heart Naptime
Reasons to Skip the Housework
Maison de Pax
Dwellings
The Dedicated House
I Should Be Mopping The Floor
A Stroll Thru Life
Love Grows Wild
Life With The Crust Cut Off
Ivy and Elephants
Ella Claire
Embracing Change

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Valentine's Pink Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Hello luv bugs!

Are you feelin' all warm and squishy?

If not, I've got just the thing...

PINK Peppermint Hot Chocolate!

Sweet peppermint...

creamy white chocolate...

piles of fluffy whipped cream!

Who needs a Valentine?
Grab a cup of this and curl up on the couch
and sing swoony ballads to your cocoa.

You'll need some dry milk,

and a little of this:

...A smidgen of this:

And some of this if you feel a little more

pinkness is needed in your life:

It was actually pink with just the crushed peppermint sticks...
but adding a little powdered food coloring
will give it a definite pinky color.
{you can find it wherever they sell cake and candy supplies}

Then you can divide it up into individual servings for giving:

Ta da!!!!!!

Red striped treat bags...

Fuzzy heart stickers...

Washi tape...

Twine and a tag...

Ready, Set, Valentine!

Pink Peppermint Hot Chocolate

2 2/3 cups dry milk
1 cup ground sweetened white chocolate
1/4 cup crushed peppermint sticks {I cheated and used the already crushed kind}
{optional} pink powder food coloring (about 1 tbsp)

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container in a cool place.

To make a cup...mix approx. 1/2 cup dry mix with 8 oz. HOT water {just below boiling}.

Stir until melted...add a little cream or half and half and top with whipped cream.

It's delightful, it's delicious, it's delovely!

But don't take my word for it...

indulge yourself with a Valentine treat today!

Sprinkling Sweetness Here:

My Craftily Ever After

Anyonita Nibbles

City Farmhouse

Savvy Southern Style

Life With the Crust Cut Off

The Blissful Bee

Lamberts Lately

From My Front Porch to Yours

Accidentally Wonderful

Love Bakes Good Cakes

Love of Family and Home

It All Started With Paint

Six Sisters Stuff

I Should Be Mopping The Floor

Will Cook For Smiles

Averie Lane

Dwellings

The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen

The Dedicated House

Stone Gable

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Love Grows Wild

A Stroll Thru Life

Reasons to Skip the Housework

Carole's Chatter

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

DIY Personalized Cutting Board

Today I'm showing you some personalized gifts we made for Christmas.

Yes, I know Christmas is over...

but hey, there are only 345 days left till NEXT Christmas!

The idea for the spoons came from Amy @ The Idea Room...

she shows you just how to do it. :)

I'm gonna share how we did the cutting board.

It's simple and super inexpensive.

The only reason I didn't post this before...

well, we didn't exchange gifts with these friends until New Year's Eve

and I was afraid she would see it before I got to give it to her!

I found the cutting board at TJ Maxx or HomeGoods.

I wanted bamboo so it would be durable...

this one is pretty big and cost about $12.

Can't beat that.

I used a Silhouette to cut out the monogram from vinyl.

It didn't want to stick to the bamboo.

Boo hoo bamboo.

I got it to stick just enough to use a pencil to trace the outline...

and that's really all I needed.

Once I had the outline, we used this ancient wood-burning

tool that belonged to my mother in law.

Not sayin' my MIL is old or anything...but...

the paper inserts that came with it told of how there was a metal shortage

due to WWII so if you needed the heating element replaced,

you first had to send back the one you had.

Crazy, right?

Anyway...I used a sharp point first to do the outline...then filled in.

Sometimes...I just did whatever. :)

We also used the wood-burning tool on the spoons

instead of the sharpie Amy used in her instructions.

To keep it consistent and not have to worry about it coming off.

I lightly oiled the board, but it probably wasn't necessary.

I think they turned out gorgeous!

My friend cried and said she didn't want to use them.

I told her to use the back side.

My sister said I needed to make her one.

I guess they were a hit!

I need to pick up some more spoons.

I think this would be an awesome wedding gift.

Or an anniversary gift.

Or a housewarming gift.

Or an "I think you're great and I wanted to play with wood-burning tools" gift...

Speaking of my mother in law...

we made a couple of spoons for her and her husband, too...

aren't they cute?

Anyway...back to my rambling...

You could even do this with something other than a monogram...

I'm thinking "Kelly's Kitchen"...

but I guess that would only work if your name is Kelly.

Otherwise it might just be weird.

Hope you're having a great week!
I have a couple Valentine goodies coming up...
and I'm finally going to tell you about that "secret project" I was working on!
I know...you just can't wait!

Sharing here:

Ella Claire Inspired

Ivy and Elephants

Just a Little Creativity

The Turquoise Home
Savvy Southern Style
Live Laugh Rowe
Lamberts Lately
From My Front Porch to Yours
Saving 4 Six
Put A Bird On It
Living Well Spending Less
Embracing Change
Jennifer Rizzo
Craft Dictator
Crafts a la Mode
Whipperberry
AKA Design
Reasons to Skip the Housework
Remodelaholic
Redoux Interiors
Common Ground
Lil' Luna
Horrific Knits
Cheerios and Lattes
Serenity You
Six Sisters Stuff
Will Cook for Smiles
It All Started With Paint
I Should Be Mopping The Floor
A Peek Into My Paradise
Life On Lakeshore Drive
Averie Lane
Dwellings
The Dedicated House
Plaid and Paisley Kitchen
A Stroll Thru Life
Love Grows Wild
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Home Stories A to Z
Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Upcycled Treasures
My Craftily Ever After
Accidentally Wonderful
Love Bakes Good Cakes
Love of Family and Home
Home Coming
What's Cooking Love?
Sincerely, Paula
Bloom Designs
Pneumatic Addict
Glitter Glue and Paint

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Spicy Pork & Kale Soup

Whew...old man winter has been in a foul mood lately!

Which means it's definitely time for SOUP!

This one oughta warm the cockles of his old heart.

Spicy pork and kale soup with rice noodles.

Oh.My.Goodness.

I loved this soup and can't wait to make it again.

Even if it did make my nose run and my face hot!

Spicy Pork and Kale Soup

1 lb. ground pork
1/3 cup diced onion
5 or so cloves minced garlic, more if you like!
2 tsp grated ginger (I use the paste you can get in the produce department)
1 - 2 tsp. crushed red pepper (depending on the heat you want ~ I used 2 ~ hence the runny nose)
1/2 tsp ground cumin
olive oil (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
8 cups chicken broth
8 cups torn kale (packed down)
3 - 4 oz flat wide rice noodles
1 cube knorr chicken bouillon as shown below (or 2 cubes other~but this is my fave!)

Cook pork, onions, garlic, ginger, red pepper, and cumin in a large pot with a bit of olive oil.
Break meat up with a spoon so it's crumbly, but not too crumbly.
Add some salt and pepper to taste.
Cook until meat is browned and onions are cooked...about 10 minutes.
Add broth and bring to a boil...reduce heat and simmer about 10 minutes.
This lets all the flavors get to know each other...good time to see if you need salt and pepper.
Add the torn up kale and the rice noodles.
Continue simmering while the noodles cook, about 8 minutes.
Serve immediately and keep the tissues handy!

printable version

I warmed up leftovers for lunch and was in love all over again.
If you like a little spice in your life...give it a try!

It'll help thaw you out after shoveling all that snow!
Maybe we should give some to old man winter!

Some good things coming in 2014 so stay tuned!

Have a spicy week!