Stepping Stones

Backyard improvement for this years redneck summer adventures. 

I'm going to break this one in half so it will stand up like the one in the Lorax book:

I also created this one because my husband is a die-hard seminole fan:

 

I'll post more pics as they dry, and I'll also share pics of the finished walkway.

Baby Toilet Seat Covers

Using a clean seat cover I took from a bathroom, I traced a template onto a piece of leftover gift tissue paper. I traced about a half inch inside the line of the original seat cover beacause I want it to cover more, and I'm leaving the tissue paper its original size so that it covers the sides of the toilet when she goes (this way she doesn't touch the nasty potty at all when she grips the sides for stability). Keep in mind, I would not flush these because of the size and material. Just wad them up and toss them when you are finished.

Materials:

1 Toilet seat cover for template

Tissue paper

Crayon

Scissors

Step by step:

Lay out original seat cover on a large flat surface.

Lay the tissue paper on top, centered with longest sides on sides of template and shorter sides as front and back. Keep the front longer than the back for better coverage.

Trace inside hole with a crayon or soft pencil (pen may rip the paper).

Cut along line and tear completely off from main piece (this way nothing touches the toilet water so you can easily wad and dispose of after use).

Fold. Carry in diaper bag or purse.

Taste-Adjustable Garlic Deep Fried Mushrooms:

 

Ingredients:

Sliced Mushrooms

Oil for Frying

1 Cup Flour

¾ Tsp Baking Powder

½ Tbsp Garlic Powder

1 Tsp Italian Seasoning

Salt to Taste

¾ Cup to 1 cup Milk

Extra Flour (optional if you like extra crispy Mushrooms)

 

Directions:

Warm Deep Fryer. Mine does not tell me the temperature of the oil, but for those of you doing stove-top or outdoor deep-frying, just get the oil to the temperature you usually fry at- just whatever you are comfortable with.

In a medium size bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour, baking powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and salt. Add ¾ cup of the milk to the flour mixture and blend well. You should have a smooth, thick batter that sticks to your fingers. If it isn’t as smooth as you like, add a little bit more of the milk, but I wouldn’t add the whole cup or it will be too soupy.

Now for the optional part: I like mine a little crispier, so I put some flour (up to another cup) in a Ziploc bag and toss the battered mushrooms, individually so they don’t stick to each other, in the flour. Seal the bag after each mushroom, leaving plenty of air in the bag and shake it gently to coat the mushrooms. Once each mushroom becomes covered in flour, you can add the next one.

Now that you have a prepared the mushrooms to your liking, you can drop them in the oil. There was little splash-back when I dropped them in the hot oil of my tabletop fryer, but you can lower them with a perforated spoon if you are afraid of burns.

They should float immediately, so keep an eye out for browning on the underside. I cooked each side about 3 minutes and they turned out a perfect deep gold color with the batter and mushrooms cooked through. Serve with Ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!

 

Upcycle an Old Coffee Canister!

I needed something to store my shake mix in for my most recent radical diet phase, so I found some ideas on Pinterest and decided to try them myself.

What you will need:
An empty, clean coffee canister
Painter's tape
Sand Paper or Sanding Block
An old sheet or drop cloth
Krylon Plastic-Compatible Spray Paint in desired color
An empty paper towel roll
Mod Podge (glossy finish is best)
Decorative paper, stickers, and other decorative items

 

Step 1: Wash and sand down the empty coffee can.

Step 2: Apply Tape around inside of canister. Do not fold the tape over the top, let it sit up so you cover as much of the red (or other original color) as possible. Put a few old grocery bags inside the canister to cover the rest. Tape the bags down if necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Always use spray paint in a well ventilated area- outside is best. Lay something across the grass to cover a large area, like some old towels, a sheet you don’t care about, a disposable plastic tablecloth, or newspaper. (I am all about getting a second use out of old stuff!) Then, begin to spray the canister with paint, waiting until the coat is dry before flipping it over to do the bottom. (about 10-12 minutes)

 

 

 

Step 4: Wait another 10 minutes or longer before bringing the canister inside. I set it up on an old paper towel roll to finish drying overnight.

 

Step 5: Now comes the fun part! Be patient and wait overnight before adding any decorations or labeling to the canister. Mod Podge is great for projects like this. You just put add your decorations one layer at a time, coating each side of the items thoroughly with the mod podge and stick it where you want it on the canister. I went over the whole thing with more mod podge when I was finished placing it all on the canister. I wanted to be able to wash the thing when the time came! I don’t suggest using any stickers that stick up off the page unless they are already some kind of plastic material and not paper. I am testing this with a plastic anchor sticker, so we will see how well it holds up. I always try to use stuff I already have around the house instead of going out and buying more junk!

 

 

 

 

Ridiculously Good Spinach and Artichoke Dip

I know this isn't the  most beautiful food you've ever seen, but I can honestly tell you it's delicious! I made this last night, and I will have to make it again for a party or large group. It makes quite a bit.

 

 

Spinach and Artichoke Dip:

 

16 oz. softened cream cheese

8 oz. shredded mozzarella

1 cup mayonnaise

9 oz. chopped spinach (I use green giant from the frozen dept. Thaw before using)

14 oz can artichoke hearts

2 cups grated parmesan cheese

3 chopped garlic cloves

Salt and pepper to taste

Garlic Powder (optional)

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together cream cheese, half of the mozzarella, the mayonnaise, 1 cup of parmesan, and salt and pepper. Drain the excess liquid from the artichoke hearts, and strain the water from the spinach. Add the artichoke, garlic, garlic powder to taste, and spinach to the mix stirring until well blended. Transfer to an oven-safe baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until light brown and bubbly on top. I serve it with a King’s Hawaiian Bread Loaf to tear apart and dip, but it also goes well with tortilla or pita chips. Enjoy!

Starfish Coasters

The original pattern for the starfish applique can be found at Yarnington.

One down, three more to go before I have a set!

This is how to make a starfish coaster:

Body:

Chain two

5 sc in farthest chain from hook

Inc all the way around (10)

1 sc, then inc. repeat around (15)

2sc, inc. repeat around (20)

3sc, inc. repeat around (25)

4sc, inc. repeat around (30)

Arms: Slip stitch, ch 14. Sc in 3^rd chain from hook. Skip one and hdc. Skip one and dc. Skip one and htc(htc is like a tc, just pull the yarn through the first three loops only, then pull through the remaining two loops). Skip one and tc. Now this next one is new, it’s a half quadrupal crochet. It’s the same idea as the half triple crochet, but you wrap the yarn 3 times around the hook before you loop into the second chain from the hook. Pull the yarn through the first stitch, then the next three, and then the next three. Then quadrupal crochet into the next chain without skipping. You should have reached the end of the chain. Now count 5 stitches from the main round and insert your hook. Sc. (repeat 4 more times- 5 arms total)

After the last sc, slip stitch into the last vacant stitch, then finish off. Cut and weave the yarn into the finished starfish.

 

What the finished coaster looks like with a giant cup on top of it.

 

 

Thanks again to the crocheting blogger at Yarnington for the original pattern! I had no clue how to make a starfish of any size until I read that post. :)

Hotel Room Upgrade- Lady MacGyver style

I'm currently staying at the Hampton Inn at the convention center in New Orleans. The hotel is located in the beautiful Warehouse district, and is one of the only ones with a pool in the area. It's a great place to stay at a reasonable price. That being said, there are always some extras that can make my stay feel a little bit...well, classier.

You've got your fancy disposable cutlery(silver), plastic wine glasses, and plastic blue china...

(from Dollar Tree, always a classy choice.)

 

 

 Fancy snacks for the mini-fridge, including Prosciutto, Brie, Fresh baked bread, Wine with a screw off cap, and fresh cherries. I also got popcorn and soda for movie watching in bed. (all purchased at the fancy new Winn Dixie down the road)

 

And something extra for me, a cooling eye mask for relaxing in the room. (also purchased from Dollar Tree.)

 

Stay classy while traveling, y'all!