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February 18, 2013

Tortellini Meatball Soup

Over the holidays my Uncle John passed away after a valiant fight against several medical issues. And as sad as that was and remains, it was also amazing to see my family come together and grow even closer. We all spent several days together reminiscing about great times and pouring through photos of younger days. My cousin, Kathy, brought over a big pot of this soup that she had literally just made up. Everyone thought it was delicious and kept asking for the recipe, though there really wasn’t one because there’s not much to it. Most of the ingredients are precooked, though you can feel free to make homemade versions should the urge strike. Easiest soup ever!

Tortellini Meatball Soup
• 48 oz. chicken stock
• 1 package cheese tortellini (in the refrigerated section)
• 16 frozen (or fresh + precooked) lean turkey meatballs
• 1 bag fresh spinach (I used broccoli this time around, anything green will do)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

In a soup pot slowly bring chicken stock and Italian seasoning to a boil. Add tortellini to stock and cook according to package. While the tortellini is boiling, cook the meatballs accordingly and quarter. Add meatballs and spinach to stock once tortellini is finished cooking. And that’s it.

Posted In recipes

February 18, 2013

February DIYs

Click on each image to go to the project.
All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.

Posted In accessories, accessories, create, entertaining, house and home, kitchen, make it, textiles, walls, wear it

February 15, 2013

Happy Weekend

01/ Record + send a digital copy of your heartbeat with Re:Beat.
02/ Typographic lovely little lies – Daily Dishonesty.
03/ Beautiful frozen trees on the shore of Lake Ontario.
04/ Check out the Tea Cup SlingsHOT!
05/ Swooshy, swoopy toilet paper art.
06/ Illustrated Wes Anderson valentines.
07/ Mother + Daughter – a posing/dressing alike series.
08/ Classic food pairings literally bound together.
09/ An adopted 13 year old sits for newborn photos.
10/ The prettiest Prize Ribbon Kit.

Posted In collaboration/project, create, gifts, grand design, graphics, happy weekend, holidays, house and home, illustration, kitchen, mixed media, photography, technology, valentine's day

February 15, 2013

Make It: Hardware Store Jewelry

Last week I took a trip to the hardware store to pick up some spray paint to give new life to my filing cabinet and happened to walk down the fasteners aisle. Where inspiration smacked me in the forehead. So many shapes, weights, and options just waiting to be gussied up and turned into something beautiful. When I came home and sat down to start creating the other piece of the puzzle seemed to be waiting in my bathroom (stay with me here) – in the form of nail polish. I have bottle upon bottle of every color in the rainbow, have never finished one in my life, and love the lacquered finish. Here’s what I ended up with.

These Hex Nut Rings were the first piece I came up with. They’re chunky for sure, but quite the statement. I love the metal finish sans any sort of color, but decided to play around with some different combinations – just painting the edges a dark navy blue, painting half fuchsia half purple, etc. These would also be fantastic strung on a chain and worn around your neck!

These Washer Brooches may be my favorite piece, I plan on clustering several different sizes together to wear at one time. Some monotone and probably one patterned. Pro Tip: While painting such a broad flat surface is to dab the nail polish rather than brush it on. Don’t be afraid to load it up with paint either, it ends up leaving a great enameled finish.

I love these Washer Hoop Earrings! I painted them with a gold flecked black polish and can’t wait to wear them out. Pro Tip: Be sure to paint the edges and backs of these guys as well as the surface. I think with the next pair I’ll do a contrasting color on the backside. Don’t be intimidated, they’re surprisingly light to wear!

I couldn’t resist doing a small pair of Washer Stud Earrings as well.

Lastly I created a large Washer Pendant, though I’m not thrilled with the black cord. I’d rather have used something like a beaded silver chain and hope to find some to replace this with. But I really like the pendant itself, especially with the swoosh of purple on navy. You could also use a smaller washer here for something more delicate of course.

MATERIALS
• 3/4″ hex nuts (or whatever size best fits your finger)
• large washers
• small washers
• earring backings
• pins
• cord or chain
• Gorilla Glue (hot glue didn’t hold all that well)
• varied colors of nail polish

Posted In jewelry, make it, wear it

February 14, 2013

Lydali

I love a shop with a good backstory, and Lydali has just that, a pair of kindred spirits – Lydia Harter and Ali Price – met in college and years later joined together to form a company. Lydali purveys beautiful one-of-a-kind quality goods from the world over. Proud Mary from Guatemala, Mikuti from Tanzania, and Nkuku from Delhi are only a few of the varied and talented producers from 21 countries that they’ve partnered with to create their collection. The Hard Angle Bangles, Black Fulani Tote, Willow Striped Alpaca Throw, and Mango Wood Bowl are my favorites but you’re sure to find your own treasures!

Posted In accessories, house and home

February 13, 2013

Wooden Blocks

When are building blocks not just for kids? When they’re these cleverly made wooden Lego lookalikes, that’s when. I can just see all of you creative types ogling your screens right now!

Posted In create, kids, wood

February 13, 2013

Miir Tumbler

Check out the Miir Tumbler, a simple 12 oz. double-walled coffee/tea cup. But it’s so much more than that, each one provides a person in need with clean drinking water for an entire year and comes with a tracking bracelet that’s engraved with an identification number. Your personal ID number can be entered into the MiiR tracking system allowing you to see what project you helped fund, complete with interactive maps, photos, and testimonials from the water project site. The Miir Tumbler is being crowdfunded on Indiegogo right now if you’d like to become a supporter!

Posted In do good, house and home, kitchen

February 12, 2013

Last Minute Printable Valentines

Valentine DIY Tattoos // Valentine’s Day Cards + Coupons

Valentine’s Day Card // Geometric Heart Boxes // Valentine’s Matchbox

Modern Valentine’s Day Greetings // Grade School Valentines // Hand Drawn Valentine Postcards

Valentine’s Day Coupons // Valentine Puppets // Valentine Note Cards

Valentine’s Tags // Be Mine Printable Tags // Monster Puppet Valentines

Valentine Postcard // Mini Valentines // You Are Outta This World Valentine

Posted In downloads, holidays, valentine's day

February 12, 2013

Harvest Textiles

There’s a lot of good going on behind the scenes of Harvest Textiles, beyond the bright punchy patterns that I’m crazy about. The company is run by four women out of Melbourne, Australia and was founded on quality handmade textiles, the joy of learning, community, and sustainability. Organic, recycled or locally produced fabrics are used when possible and nothing is mass produced. Besides the online shop Harvest Textiles also conducts workshops and has a brick and mortar shop, Harvest Workroom. Oh, and they were only founded in 2010. WOW. (via Fellow Fellow)

Posted In accessories, create, house and home, textiles

February 11, 2013

Download: A Valentine

A few years ago I made this same valentine as a paper craft card for friends and family, and it showed up in some mailboxes sans eyeballs (they’d fallen off!). The other day I decided to recreate it as an eyeball-safe card to share with you and your valentines! The PDF download below includes two folding cards to print on 8.5 x 11″ paper (letter size). It’s for personal use only, but you smart cookies already knew that!

Posted In cards, downloads, holidays, my design, paper goods, valentine's day