Happy 2015!! Stay warm with Greek bread and Cute Fox Scarves!

New Year's is pretty low key in our house.  Mostly we watch movies or marathons on TV (Breaking Bad this year - pretty good show!).  But we also baked traditional Greek New Year's bread - Vasilopita.

Basically it is just a bread with a coin wrapped in foil baked inside.  Whoever cuts the piece that has the coin has good luck that year.  You can use a variety of dough recipes or even make it a cake.  We took another stab at making Tsoureki.  It's a kind of sweet, slightly heavy bread.  It came out rather thick.  Smelled fantastic as it baked.

Here's a pic:

 

It's supposed to say 2015.  This one showed up the best, the other one looked scrambled.

 

 
So far 2015 has been pretty peaceful, but it is, of course, COLD!  Tomorrow is supposed to be 9 F at the warmest here.  Brrrr!!  We ended up making some scarves.  I put one in the shop as it is too cute not to share!

 

Who doesn't love a cute Fox face?? 

They are so cute and cheerful - put a smile on my face every time! 

 

You can get one HERE.

Stay warm!!!

French Christmas Ideas for the Tree

I love looking up new ideas to make my tree look tres Francais!  This year I'm dreaming of some macaroon ornaments...

 

These super shiny ones in multiple colors and that oh so cute packaging...

 

Is sadly no longer available.  Found it here. 

But these are available:

 

Santa, please send me these!!  Found here.

 

 

 Sur La Table has some super cute ornaments this year! 

 

 

A perfect dainty pink macaron.  I can't get a bigger picture, but the website does.

 



Both found HERE. 

 

And while we are at Sur la Table...have you seen their Gingerbread House??

 

 

Now that's a Gingerbread House!!  I'd love one if someone would put it all together for me, too.  I can only imagine the disasters I'd have if I tried that ambitious of a project...

 

Fa la la la la....

 

 



Orion the Beautiful - Black and White Cat Love

*Blows dust off blog*  Whew!  *Cough cough*  Where HAVE I been?  I've nearly updated a hundred times and utterly failed.  I'm thinking of switching over to a Facebook page instead since they are so much easier to update and more connected. 

So, enough with lame excuses.  I'm going to post a few updates since I have a backlog of ideas, pictures and items to show off.  I just wanted to crack the ice and maybe show a few pictures of my cat.  I know, a terrible stereotype to show cat pictures, but I wanted to show just a few very pretty pictures of Orion to show how he's grown - he's a year and a half old now.

 

I named him Orion because he was such a good little hunter and played fetch with a sock as a little kitten and most of all as he had dark gray hair that made a little belt at his middle before turning to black.  Now it is all black and white fur - no belt at all.  And all that fuzzy kitten hair turned sleek and super soft fine fur.

 

 

Orion and the Giant Lobster:

 

 

 

I bought this big stuffed lobster from the Boston Aquarium ages ago and I put it on my bed in the summers sometimes - Orion took an instant liking to it - he cuddles with it all the time.  Guess it isn't going anywhere.

This is Orion's kitten - a little black and white stuffed animal my Aunt sent last Christmas - he luvs it.
  He kicks it and bites it and then licks it all over like a real kitten  It's hilarious and sweet to watch.  But sometimes he just cuddles with it.  Aww.



And because Halloween will be soon - apparently he's going as a Vampire this year...

 

I love this pic, just happened to catch him mid yawn and it's amazing.

 

Next post will be un-cat related.  Promise. 

 

 

German Food Night

After struggling with a Blogger upload problem for months I finally managed to figure out a way to post a few pics of a dinner I made months ago.  I got this crazy idea at a late night grocery store run that I just HAD to have a German Food Night. 

It started with a mix packet for Sauerbraten - I love Sauerbraten.  Or rather, I should say I loved the Sauerbraten that I used to get at a now closed cafeteria here in St. Louis.  Grone's Cafeteria made the most delicious roast beef (French dip sandwiches to DIE for) and twice a week they had thin sliced delicious Sauerbraten with potato pancakes and applesauce on the side.  Grone's closed suddenly one day without a clue to their customers (and rumor has it - even the employees) and I was shocked and saddened.  I tried to find another restaurant that made sauerbraten and the few that did just weren't anywhere near as good so I thought I'd never have it again.

Then, low and behold - one day I found an article online that had the family that owned the cafeteria saying that old customers wanted their recipes and they were willing to share!  Oh joy!  My only problem - I didn't have a Dutch Oven, apparently a neccessity to making delicious Sauerbraten.  So that night, standing in the grocery store looking at a mix for sauerbraten I decided - we NEED a German food night!  Bring on the roast beef, the applesauce, and hey, how about some pickeled red cabbage?  And while we are at it - I think we need German Chocolate cake, too!

My family thought I was crazy, but I was determined!  I bought a dutch oven from Target (not cheap) and then made up my menu and ta da!! 

My Lovely Sauerbraten:

Note:  I had always planned to share this meal on my blog, but wouldn't you know it, in my enthusiasm and hunger for the meal I nearly forgot to take a picture of the food!!  I jumped up mid meal and ran for my camera - took a picture of the only plate on the table that wasn't nearly finished (not mine - mmm...).  Pictured is a lovely sauerbraten, potato pancake, applesauce and red cabbage.

And this is my new dutch oven:
 

You can get one at Target.  A lovely addition to my kitchen.  I plan to make other meals out of it, but for now I'm already dreaming of a new sauerbraten...

Here's what it looked like as I was serving out of the dutch oven - the recipe was a 'reduced for family' recipe that was originally made in mind for cafeteria cooks.  I found half way throught it that it needed one major change, which meant I ended up with far more sauce than I needed.  But still!  Delicious!!

Here's a quick snap as we eat - the potato pancakes are not perfect, but they were crispy and still delicious...

So - if anyone is interested in the Sauerbraten recipe I will gladly share it or you can google Grone's Cafeteria recipe Sauerbraten, too.  I recommend cutting down on the flour in the recipe.  I used applesauce and red cabbage from jars - after all the fuss with the meat and potatoes I am glad I didn't make the rest of the sides.  Once you have the recipe down for the meat it is actually an easy meal to make and did I mention delicious?  :)  Just as good as the ones I remember.  Mmmm...  And the German Chocolate cake was good, too.  Out of a box, but if it tastes good, who cares? 

More posts to come now that I figured out a way to post pics again.

Happy Monday!

O Christmas Tree - My Little White Christmas Tree...

 Every year I love to decorate a little white tree for my bedroom.  I put it on my dresser and enjoy it every evening as I read and get ready for bed - the soft light soothes me and I am able to put my own personal style on it so it truly reflects my aesthetic.  I love mercury glass, musical instruments, antique keys, fleur de lis and light shabby chic colors.

Each year is better than the year before as I find more ornaments for the tree...

 

 

Shop note - I sold the Paris sign seen here - we were sad to see it go, but we do need money so I'm glad to have made the sale along with the Paris typewriter key necklace/bracelet listing - guess someone loves Paris for Christmas as much as I do! 

 

The topper for my tree varies from year to year as I try to find just the right one - I used a new glittery sign that says 'Believe' this year.  I strung antique keys on ribbons, used tiny mercury glass ornaments I've collected and a few pastel round ornaments for color.  There are two different style violin ornaments on the tree, too.

 

 

This year I found some incredibly cute cupcake ornaments for just a dash of sweetness.  I got one green and one red.  They are SO cute!

 

 

I also added a large white fleur de lis ornament (subtle against the white tree) it had a tacky crystal on the bottom of it, but I cut it off.  I also added a glittery snowflake ornament - I love the antique pink glitter!!

 

And on my bedroom door is my antique white bottle brush wreathe I found last year at Joanne's!! Exactly the type of wreathe I was looking for and also my tiny metal sign that says 'Snow' - because that is what I always wish for on Christmas!!

 

More decorating posts to come as I make progress.  I'm going to get a tree this weekend and work on my new gingerbread house! 

 

Happy Holidays!!

 



Etsy Update - Christmas Shopping

The shop has been busy the past week or so - I just wanted let you guys know that there are a few new items in the shop for the last few shopping days before Christmas!

I put up another large silhouette I just realized I'd forgotten to post. I used a different silhouette than I usually use for these larger frames. I usually use the other girl as she is bigger, but this is a favorite of mine and since I have one on my own wall I thought it was only fair to offer one in the shop. :)

I left the back tab on it so you can put it on a desk/bookshelf, etc. Looks cute with one of my little bottlebrush trees as a Holiday setting.


But also looks great on a wall display.

Also, it seems the musical note pendants are a popular gift choice - great for music lovers or people who like unique eclectic jewelry...

SOLD

I always use genuine antique sheet music. No copies - each one is absolutely unique and there is more music on the back of course. Check out the listing for more pics.

SOLD

I thought it'd be cute to take a picture of it hanging on my little bedroom Christmas tree. I love my violin ornament and it goes so well with the pendant. It'd be a great way to display your gift instead of wrapping it - have them find it on the tree! LOL

And these typewriter pendants are popular, too - I've had several compliments on the one I wear. This R is just too cute, isn't it? I don't know why, but I'm drawn to letters and numbers even when they don't necessarily mean anything to me (not in my name or birth date, etc.) I love M and R and E - also love the number 5 for some reason. I have that number in several sizes of newspaper blocks on my bookshelves and when people ask me why I'm like - why not??

I used a delicate silver chain to match the delicate filigree setting. So pretty!

And there is another Shabby Sheep original up, this time not on a stretch canvas, but on a flat one - easier for framing/mounting or whatever you like.

Just a note that typewriter letters and other items are of limited supply and items are moving fast right now. Be sure to grab any item you've been eyeing before it is gone!

Merry Christmas and happy decorating and baking for the season!!

Gratuitous Tomato Pics

Finally it's a post that is not an Etsy update! But instead I'm spamming you with pictures of tomatoes! Isn't that fun? It's looking like rain outside so I decided to grab a basket and check if there were a few tomatoes needing to be picked... Boy, were there! This basket is so full of tomatoes it feels like I have a brick in there.

The basket looks small, but it is very deceptive!

I thought I'd lay them out so you can see what kind of variety there is...

Lots of small, medium, large and even jumbo ones along with little bitty cherry tomatoes. More like mini grape tomaoes or something - they are very cute! My green peppers are stunted this time - not sure why. Last time I got two that were almost as big as the ones at the grocery store. Oh well.

My tomato plants are just falling all over. No one helps me keep them trimmed and they are inadequately staked so it is like a forest in my tomato cage. Oh well, as long as I get a bounty like this - who really cares, right? LOL

And I do have a few new items to add to the shop, but I still need a few finishing touches and to seal a few so they will be up tomorrow or so. Bye for now!

Happy Monday - Etsy Update with lots of Fun Items!

I finally got around to putting some items up in Etsy I've been meaning to do for ages. First up, a very pretty pale green balloon animal necklace...

I think the proper name for the color is a pale celery.

It's hard to see the delicate green coloring in these pictures, the group picture shows it a little bit better, but the best part of this necklace is that instead of using round pearls, we changed it up with some oblong pearls, giving it a more authentic balloon animal look...
Here's a group photo that shows how different it looks compared to the others, it's much longer. All the pendants can stand, which adds to their charm.

Here they are all standing. Kind of looks like a dog show displaying the different sizes poodles can come in - standard, toy, etc. LOL

But if you like the traditional round pearl look, there is this really cute blue poodle here...

Such a pretty cobalt blue. It's much smaller than the green one.

But my favorite (outside of the very pretty turqoise one in the shop already) is this really special blue-gray one here:

SOLD

I have to tell you, this one is kinda freaky how much it looks like a miniaturized balloon animal. The shading and the slightly oblong shape just look so cool. I love how it isn't one color all over, but shades of blue, gray, purple, etc.

SOLD

And, also important - I know that some people like wearing interesting earrings even more than necklaces, so I'm excited to announce the first pair of balloon animal earrings are finally here!!

These are small and perfect. I love wearing earrings that catch people's eyes and these are sure to do it. They are sky blue and perfect. I think I'm in love with these...they are so whimsical!

As with all my items it is best to view them at my shop for more pictures and details. If you would like one of these in a particular color, convo me at etsy or comment here and I'll be happy to try and find and make it for you. I've got more pendants and earrings to put up over the next few days, too, so keep your eye out for more!!

Also, I reshot a pair of ornaments that needed better pictures - the pretty music paper and better lighting shows these off a bit better, I think...

Also available at my shop.

I've been busy, busy, busy. It's quite a Monday so far. Hope you all had a good weekend!