recommendation: container garden, part 3 of 4 - how to pretty up the pots

Part 3: How to pretty up the pots?
(Find Part 1, What to plant, here)
(Find Part 2, How to plant, here)

I've been on the hunt for cheap containers! This was a project I was excited about but I wanted to keep it inexpensive. I had a lot of leftover pots from last year but needed even more this year. I found two GIANT faux wooden pots (they are metal) at Salvation Army for $8 each. A steal considering pots of that size at Home Depot were $25+. I bought three lime green plastic pots at Home Depot. Other places I saw pots at great prices were: Meijer and The Dollar Store (not sure how good they actually are, but price may be worth it). I originally bought some at Kmart but later returned as I realized their prices actually weren't great and Meijer was less expensive.

My plan was originally to get tons of pots and spray paint them lime green but honestly, sometimes its just not worth the effort.

The price to buy them already green at Home Depot was worth it (they are plastic) vs the price of buying terra cotta pots and spray painting them - the terra cotta color plastic is the same price as the green. And also I was a little nervous about committing to lime green for ALL of my pots. The brown pots are fine, why paint over them? I did however buy some glossy white spray paint just in case I change my mind as white is a little easier to stick with.

Boring or classic? I used it on two terra cotta pots from my grandma's collection and some old izzy bottles (vases for outdoor space). No picture of this (yes, I am too lazy to walk outside right now) but the pics in the linked tutorial are close, mine just didn't come out as milky because I used gloss paint vs satin. As always, spray paint rules: don't spray paint in a windy spot, always put down a tarp or newspaper, wear a mask or bandana, gloves and spray paint comfort grip are helpful!

Spray painting done, plants planted, what's next? Plant markers!

I found colored popsicle sticks at a garage sale, 100 for 50 cents. Spray painted with some chalkboard paint, used Galaxy Markers (markers that write on dark paper or surfaces, they are like paint markers) to write the plant and poof, instant (and adorable) markers! I had so much fun making them I have a ton extra now (I might have been a little spray paint crazy that day), so I'm thinking about posting some on Etsy next week!! Why not?

Here are some other pictures from the spray paint and garden marker project, enjoy!

I know the question you are all dying to ask... what are those wood planks under the pots? Well... Next up - where to put the pots...stay tuned!

recommendation: container garden, part 2 of 4 - how to plant

Part 2: How to plant?
(Find Part 1, What to Plant, here)

Well - this part was new for me. LAST YEAR when I got tomatoes, green peppers, eggplant, hot peppers and radishes in seed form, I put everything straight into potting soil in the pots and it grew from there. Well that project last year was in June and I wanted to start sooner this year!

Like I said in the last post, here is what I planned on planting:

- In Seed form: hot peppers, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, radishes, tomatoes, green onions, onions, lavender
- Starter Plant: mint, basil, cilantro, chives, thyme, sage

A lot of the seeds I bought said if you are starting in May, to start inside because frost could still come. When I was at Home Depot I saw this pellet pack by Jiffy. Super easy to use - I got the 36 pack for $4.29, instructions are on the back. Basically you carefully rip open the pellet's netting, move around a little soil, put the seed in and recover it, add water, pop the top back on and wait for sprouts. Seeds ranged from $1.00 - $1.50 per packet. I'm still waiting to plant all of my pellets, some of the sprouts seem to frail to put out into the real world, so I'm babying them by slowly taking them outside in the afternoons and back in at night. Once they get a little thicker/taller I will plant them in their proper pots.

The starter herbs I did not purchase until about a week ago and those I stuck straight into the potting soil in individual pots. Water right away! Some plants like basil and mint are never ending, so give them their own pot so they can have their space.

The herbs I got were $3 for 10 at Whole Foods, and all from a local vendor here in Michigan. How great is that? Look around, you don't have to get everything from the same place. I liked their selection much better than the ones at Home Depot & Meijer.

So what you need for any veggies & herbs that are starter pots, are full size pots (make sure to get appropriate sizes for what you are planting so you don't crowd the roots), potting soil, and water. That easy. Don't these projects always seem bigger than they actually are?

Next up - how to pretty up my pots (the fun part)...stay tuned!

recommendation: container garden, part 1 of 4 - what to plant

This weekend, I completed the project of all projects, my container garden. I've been working on putting it together for a little over two months now. I did one last year and was happy with my peppers and herbs but wanted to try out a few new things this year. I'm splitting this project up into 4 posts for the week - 1. How I figured out what to plant. 2. How I actually planted it. 3. How I made it pretty. 4. And where I put the plants!

Part 1: What to plant?

I was sick of winter weather in February and wanted to be proactive about spring projects so I started planning my garden. I had already found out that it was too late to grow some things I wanted to because I should have planted them in the fall (garlic!). Oops. I had been reading different articles and found this awesome resource called Sprout Robot that my friend Jenny pinned.

This site is super helpful. I'm not even doing the paid version so I can only imagine. Basically you pick if you want to grow your garden in containers or a bed. And then you pick what you want to grow - and you can change this list at any time. Then they put together a master wonderful amazing list, of what you need to plant each week and how to do it and everything you need to know about it. how awesome is that?

Unfortunately I got caught up in other projects so after signing up and figuring out what I wanted to do, it pretty much ended there for a while. Last month, late in the game for starting seeds (you are supposed to start them indoors 6-8 weeks prior to the last frost), I decided to pull this project back out. To figure out what else I wanted to plant, I spent some time at Home Depot looking through the seed packets. It does take some time so don't go on a weekend when the place is packed! Any garden shop - big or small, local or chain, will have seed packets. I went through and read the backs to figure out which ones can be planted in the next few months. I decided to get the basics and then take a few risks to try something new. Here is what I got:

In Seed form: hot peppers, carrots, mini cucumbers, radishes, tomatoes, green onions, lavender and just for fun: cauliflower, cabbage, onions. giving it a try, why not!

Starter Plant: mint, basil, cilantro, chives, thyme, sage (by accident! someone stuck the wrong marker in it! thought it was lavender but it doesn't look or smell like it! hmph!)

I think there are a few important parts to figuring out "What to Plant"...

• Be reasonable. Don't waste money, soil, effort planting 15 pots if you can't remember to ever water your one indoor plant.
• Plant veggies & herbs that you will actually use, or gift. Otherwise what's the point? I'm thinking about returning the sage. I grew sage one year before and oregano last year and learned my lesson - they are two fresh herbs that I don't care for as much and its kind of a waste. Oregano is great dried but at $3 an herb plus a whole summer of watering plus the effort to dry it out, grind it and preserve it - just spend $3.99 and get a whole jar of it at the grocery store. Cilantro on the other hand, I don't like and feel like I'm wasting money every time I get a bundle for garnish for my hubby. Now I can just go pluck some from my garden.
• Have realistic expectations. By this, I mean read the stats on what you are planting. Some things take a long time to come to life. I waited all summer last year for my eggplants and got two that didn't turn out great, they were split and one was kind of rotten, I should have picked it sooner. Trial and error. But don't expect things to grow right away and provide bountiful amounts. These things take time!

Its not too late to start a container garden - not all plants have to be started in advance. With some veggies you can take the seeds and put them straight into the pots and after May 21st, its OK to plant outside so get to the store try planting something this Memorial Day weekend!

Next up - how I planted everything...stay tuned!

recommendation: best guac and salsa recipes

i love Mexican food. on a different level. i could eat a taco a day. enchilada's, quesadillas, tostadas and burritos, I love it all. and I don't know how I got this lucky but my sister makes the worlds best guacamole and my sister-in-law makes the best salsa, both of which go perfect with all of my favorite Mexican entrees! how great is that? Jennifer made this guac for a Mexican family feast and Hannah made the salsa for our super bowl party, so I can attest to the yumminess of both! here are their recipes!

Jenn's Guac from Vegonomics:
3 avocados, smashed
1/2 red onion, diced
1 tomato, diced
1 tsp garlic, minced
salt, pepper for seasoning
1/2-1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 lime, squeezed for juice

directions: combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix together.

Hannah's Salsa:
Chili's Copycat Salsa Recipe: (Recipe from Deals to Meals)
2 cans (14.5 oz each) whole tomatoes, drained
1 small (4 oz) can diced or whole jalapenos (not pickled)--about 4-5 jalapenos (or less if you don't like a lot of spice)
1/4 c. yellow onion, cut into quarters (you can also use dried minced onion)
1 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 to 1 tsp. salt (depending on how much you prefer)
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. lime juice

Place all of the ingredients together into a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Serve with tortilla chips.

enjoy and TGIF! Have a great weekend, weather is supposed to be LOVELY! I'm finishing my 'container' garden on my deck this weekend so be on the lookout for a post on that next week!

recommendation: actually DO the things you pin, apple coffee cake

I love writing about recipes and projects from pinterest because isn't that the whole point? To pin thinks you want and actually DO them instead of just looking at them?

reason: I wanted to bake for mother's day but wasn't sure what to make. Sometimes when you go on google and just randomly search ideas, the options are endless and kind of overwhelming. So I decided to go on pinterest and instead of randomly searching, I went to my mother-in-law's board to find a recipe she wanted to try. Genius! I decided to go with: Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze. It was super easy, amazing and made a lot of coffee cake! I decided to do loaf pans and it made 2 regular size and 3 mini disposable pans, so I was able to gift a few of the mothers in my life!

steps:

Fresh Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze from A Whisk and a Spoon (recipe adapted from Southern Cakes by Nancie McDermott)

Makes one 13x9inch sheet cake or two 8-9inch round cakes. Note: 1/3 of a recipe makes one 8.5”x 4.5” loaf pan

Fresh Apple Cake
3 cups all purpose flour (can substitute 3/4 cup with whole wheat flour)
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 eggs
1½ cups vegetable oil (or 1 cup oil plus 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce)
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups finely chopped apples
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts

Brown Sugar Glaze
1 cup tightly packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp evaporated milk, half-and-half or cream

Method – Fresh Apple Cake
-Heat the oven to 350F. Grease a 13 by 9 inch pan or two 8-9 inch cake pans.
-In a medium bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir with a fork to mix everything together well.
-In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a wooden spoon or a mixer at low speed until pale yellow and foamy. Add the oil and vanilla and beat well. Stir in the flour mixture with a wooden spoon and continue stirring the batter just until the flour disappears. Add the apples and nuts, stir to mix them into the batter until fairly uniform. Scrape the batter into the prepared pans.
-Bake for 45-50 minutes (start checking at 25 minutes if making a 1/3 recipe loaf) or until the cake is golden brown, springs back when touched lightly near the center and is beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan. Place the cake (still in the pans) on a wire rack and spoon over the glaze while still hot.

Method - Brown Sugar Glaze
-Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Then cook for 3-5 minutes.

To Finish
-Spoon the hot glaze all over the hot-from-the-oven cake. Let the glazed cake cool completely before serving straight from the pan.
Here is the printable recipe.

final product: I was really happy with the finished product. I was a little nervous giving away the cake before tasting it but I tasted the Brown Sugar Glaze which tasted like caramel and had put so much on the tops that I knew even if the cake was eh, the glaze made up for it. Luckily the cake was YUM! I did the adjustments and substituted 3/4 cup of AP flour with whole wheat flower, and 1/2 cup oil with unsweetened applesauce. I didn't notice either and was happy to make the change! Will definitely make again and I think this would be great in the fall too!!!

recommendation: oatmeal mix-ins

Ok, when I say mix-ins, I'm not talking walnuts and dried fruit. I've been making oatmeal for my hubby for breakfast because its easier to eat than cereal in the car and more filling than a piece of toast. I knew I needed to kick it up a notch - here's what I came up with. I've been using Quaker Oats (regular, not quick cook) but I also have quick cook steel cut oats from Trader Joes. Both the oatmeal and steel cut cook in 5-8 minutes!!.

Note: when i say TSP here, I'm talking about a teaspoon as in the utensil, not the measuring teaspoon. I normally eyeball it anyway, so put in whatever feels right. You can't really mess this up.

Pina Colada Oatmeal

What you need: oatmeal, water, salt, brown sugar, flax seed, coconut extract, frozen pineapple, shredded coconut, bananas. Most of these things are optional!
*these instructions are for oatmeal, not steel cut oats. follow instructions on back of container
*with fixings, this normally makes enough for both my husband and I for breakfast

Boil 1.5 c water with dash of salt, when boiling, add 3/4 cups of oatmeal

After 5-7 minutes when water is mostly absorbed, add 2 tsp of brown sugar (or more or less depending on how sweet you like it). Add 1/2 tsp coconut extract. I also take this as an opportunity to mix in 2 tsp of ground flax seed. I don't eat fish so any chance to get in some omega 3's, and they are disguised by all of the great toppings so you don't even notice. Stir sugar and flax into oatmeal until well blended.

Add 1/3 cup frozen pineapple bits (Trader Joes sells these) - I'm sure you could use fresh or canned too if you have it in the house. Stir in shredded coconut, I normally add about 2-3 spoons.

Last but not least, take 1 banana (this is a GREAT use for brown bananas that are almost ready for trash but you feel horrible wasting them and want to do something with them!). Cut it into chunks and with a fork, mash it into the oatmeal. This really thickens up the oatmeal and makes it heartier. I leave the banana out all the time if I don't have it in the house, so this is totally optional!

Stir all together and enjoy! Can add almond slices or walnuts too. This also heats up really well the next day so if you only want half a portion, don't be afraid to put it in Tupperware and reheat in the microwave the next day.

Another mix-in option I've been making is with strawberries. I buy them frozen and the night before, put a few in a container and sprinkle a little sugar on them. In the morning, they are defrosted and have a great syrup - like the kind you eat with angel food or pound cake for strawberry shortcake. You can do this with fresh strawberries too.

Similar steps - make the oatmeal, when water is absorbed, stir in brown sugar and flax seed, but use vanilla extract instead of coconut. Spoon oatmeal into bowl/travel cup and add strawberry mixture to top. This strawberry mixture works great with yogurt and granola too to make a parfait!

Easy and yummy breakfast!

recommendation: easy mango smoothie

I've decided that I'm going to try to make 'real' Indian (read: not frozen boxes) once every few weeks, so I can practice and get good. I'm going to try 1 new recipe each time and while doing this, I'm also working on mastering a few staples. Raita, the yogurt that cools your mouth down when you ordered too spicy, I've got. Matar Pulao (Rice with Peas) I've almost got. Not perfect but always fine. My last cooking session I wanted to tackle the Mango Lassi - a smoothie like drink that is super easy and is another great way to cool your mouth down! A great treat for the summer too.

I learned from my cousin visiting from India this past weekend that a Mango Lassi in India does not exist! Lassi's are made with yogurt. Shakes are made with milk. Because Mango Puree is heavier, she said its used primarily in shakes, and Lassi's are normally plain flavored. Huh! I guess we Americanize a lot of things here to make it fit our tastes better.

Well here is what you need:
1/2 cup Mango Puree
1 cup Non-Fat Plain Yogurt
6 Ice Cubes
Sugar to Taste

Yup, its that simple. The mango puree is so sweet that you don't need the yogurt to be vanilla but if you want to add some sugar, go for it. Non-fat makes it healthier, you don't miss the fat. Blend everything together and enjoy. Serves 1.

Here are a few other notes:

• Some say LAH-SEE, some say LUSS-Y. I say LAH-SEE. Either way, its NOT LASS-Y.
• This is a great base to start with and then make your own. Add spices (ginger? cardamom?), change puree flavor, booze it up, fatten it up, or keep it simple!
• Where do you get Mango Puree? :) Indian grocery stores are the easiest and cheapest, but if you are too scared to go in one, use fresh fruit! Rumor has it Trader Joes carries mango puree (might be frozen) but I have yet to see it. If you are in Chicago - Patel Brothers on Devon is my fav, Ann Arborites go to Foods of India on Broadway or Bombay Grocers on Packard.
• If you are using fresh fruit - here's how to pick a ripe mango: It will smell great, be soft to touch (but not mushy), no brown marks, and they are sometimes colored - red, yellow are good. Green is not yet ripe but color isn't always an indicator, always test the softness and scent.

recommendation: smart shopping tip

When grocery shopping, I always struggle between what's the better deal - spending less or getting better price per oz. After watching that TLC Extreme Couponing show, it makes me want to ALWAYS buy the better deal, even if it means stockpiling or buying more than necessary. If I know I will eventually use the rest of the product or can plan multiple meals around it, I'll spend more money to get a better deal. Things like a big box of goldfish crackers, buying a multipack of peppers vs single green peppers, a block of cheddar I shred myself vs a bag of shredded cheddar. But sometimes when its a fresh product - produce, meat, dairy - its not worth it to get the deal.

Growing sick of having stuff go bad in my refrigerator, I decided to follow the advice of my sister in law this past week. I often purchase things off the salad bar, especially when I'm making omelets and don't want to do a lot of chopping, or want to get a few things for my hubby that I won't eat (ie/ mushrooms). You just grab a few small scoops of toppings and its an inexpensive option.

My sister-in-law recently told me she got spinach from the bar instead of buying a whole bag. I've bought a small scoop for omelets but never a bunch of it as replacement for a whole bag. I tried it on Tuesday as I needed 2 cups to mix into a pasta dish. A bag was $2.89, the box version $3.99. Apx two cups (a tiny bit more) from the salad bar.... .72 cents! It is so lightweight that it won't cost much, this is a great option when you don't want to waste food! Sometimes paying less is saving more!

recommendation: cookie butter

I have a confession. But you have to listen to the whole story. See, it started like this. I had a day of errands all planned out, and only because I was going to be on the other side of town at Home Depot did I add Home Goods to my list. I went in, circled around. Pondered a few things. And walked out. Did you get that people? I went to Home Goods and DID NOT BUY ANYTHING!!!!

But that is not my confession. I was holding in a smile as I walked out, filled with pride at my self-control. In fact I was so proud of myself when I got back to the car that I lost all of that self-control and rewarded myself with a bite of a treat. Which I purchased only because I don't go to TJ's as often anymore so when you go you have to stock up. This is all making complete sense, right?

Ok so here's my confession. I bought cookie butter.

And I had more than a bite. I can't explain it, just buy it. If you don't like it, you only wasted $4. And if you love it, don't hate me for leading you there. It's not my fault. Trader Joes makes and sells it, blame them. It is not healthy, it is habit forming, and everything including but not limited to pretzels, toast and your finger tastes good dipped in it.

Its not butter, its same texture as peanut butter but tastes like crushed spiced biscuits (biscoff). You know, the kind you eat in Europe? Or on your Delta flight to Vegas? The label at the store describes it as similar to gingerbread, but don't let that deter you. Gingerbread seems wintery but its just the idea that its a spiced cookie spread. I tried dipping plain pretzel slims to make it a little less guilty - they snap easily but the salty taste is great. You can find this product right next to the peanut butter - its labeled as Speculoos Cookie Butter.

Try it! Seriously.

recommendation: giesen sauvignon blanc

We found this gem at our fav grocery store Busch's in the $10 wine aisle. Its normally $19.99 but every week they have wine on sale and hubby and I love to get these as a way to sample nicer wines. We liked this one so much that we think its worth the full $20. Here are the stats:

Winery: Giesen
Type: Sauvignon Blanc
From: Marlborough, NZ

Tasting Notes from their website:

Pale yellow colour with green hues. The aroma is fresh and vibrant with a base of rich tropical fruit but dominated especially when young, by fresh lime and lemongrass aromas as well as a fresh herb note.

The palate shows a lovely fruit weight on the mid palate with flavours reminiscent of gooseberry and citrus and this is surrounded by a juicy, pure acidity giving the wine it’s zesty exuberance with a fresh, dry finish.

p.s. that's roasted asparagus and sweet potato gnocchi with rosemary and brown butter (Trader Joes find!) you see in the background.

This is a great wine for the spring season. ENJOY!

recommendation: crockpot cooking tips

Last week I stuck a pork tenderloin in the freezer because I ended up needing one less meal. I pulled it out yesterday to defrost. This morning... still partially frozen. This is a big debate - can you use frozen meat in the crockpot? Well - I've done it before. Many of the recipes I find on pinterest and mommy blogs call for frozen or defrosted chicken with varying cook times. Here's the debate:

YES to frozen: its quicker than defrosting or browning the meat; economical (because you can buy meat in bulk and keep some of it frozen); it doesn't effect the taste; it cooks for long enough to kill any bacteria. A lot of people say if you use frozen meat to add an hour to the cooking time. Crockpot says its OK as long as you follow their rules.

NO to frozen: you all know I'm a rule follower so I went to the top source for this one - USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service says, "Always thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker." Most articles say that the crockpot cooking meat at a low temperature provides the perfect conditions for bacteria growth so they frown upon it.

Then there's an in between group, those who acknowledge the bacteria issues of using frozen meat but want to use it so to combat any fears, put the meat on HIGH setting for an hour to kill any bacteria as the meat is defrosting, then turn it to low for the rest of the time. If you do this, you could probably decrease the cook time by an hour.

I'll tell you what I did. I researched this all morning. I went downstairs not knowing which side I was on yet and prepped the whole meal. I pulled the pork out and it was sooo close to being defrosted so I was going to run it under cold water. And then I noticed it was a funny color so I threw it away. REALLY. Really? It could be because I let it sit on the counter for a half hour yesterday (another no-no in some minds, but everyone does it and survives). It could be because I had it for 1.5 days before putting in freezer. I ran to the store and got a new one, so $12 down the drain but only a 10 min delay. And then as I was unwrapping it, I realized it was the same color. Yeah. It was 8am and there was a funny light in my kitchen. UGH. Stupid Stephanie. I will let you know how this meal turns out - its an Apricot Pork with Carrots and is a recommendation from my cousin and I'm super excited to finally be trying it! Here are a few spring recipes I found online that I'm curious to try!

- Sweet & Spicy Kielbasa
- Balsamic Chicken with Spring Vegetables
- Corned Beef and Cabbage with Herb Butter Potatoes
- Slow Berry Cobbler
- Parm Risotto - I already posted this but think it would be great with some honey baked ham and sauteed fresh asparagus. SO spring.

Like this post isn't long enough (can you tell how many cups of coffee I've had!?), here are some additional tips from Cooking Light:

• If your slow cooker has a removable insert, you're doubly blessed. For some recipes, you can assemble the ingredients in the insert the night before, refrigerate the whole thing, and go to bed. Next morning, set the insert in the slow cooker, turn on the heat, and head to work knowing that a delicious meal will greet you at day's end.
• The slow cooker is one of the most forgiving of cooking options. No basting, eye-balling, or baby-sitting. Although cooking time is more flexible than with traditional methods, overcooking and even burning are possible in a slow cooker, so test for doneness close to the time given in the recipe.
• To ensure that our recipes provide the most accurate cook times, we tested with old and new models and different sizes of cookers. We discovered that newer models cook hotter; so double-check the cook times depending on the age of your cooker.
• Size also matters. If the recipe calls for a 3-quart cooker and you own a 6-quart, reduce the cook time by a third and check for doneness as specified in the recipe. (Otherwise, the dish may burn).
• Some meat recipes call for the dish to be cooked on high heat for one hour and then reduced to low heat. This allows the slow cooker to heat up faster and the heat to penetrate the cut of meat and eradicate any bacteria.
• For the same reason, cut any piece of meat larger than a couple of pounds in half so the center will reach recommended temperatures in less time. Once you sample these recipes, we're sure you'll give your slow cooker a permanent spot on your counter top.

SO what is your stance on this? YES or NO to using Frozen Meat?

recommendation: websites for a slow day

Its Monday - hopefully you had a good weekend and can get away without doing too much work today. If you have any slow moments at work and need something to amuse you, here are a few ideas. Warning - these websites that will suck your day away. You've been forewarned, so that means you cannot blame me for sharing you. It is your choice to click on these links!!!

1. suri's burn book - highly amusing, someone writing from the perspective of Suri Cruise, she rips on other celebrities kids and her mom

2. This is amazing. Apparently its an older link but still think it is just so cool - both in how it was made and what it shows you! The Scale of the Earth

3. Awkward Family Photos. Nuff said.

4. Ok this site is neat and super artsy. Its called PostSecret - people send in a secret on an anonymous post card that gets posted on the site. Some are funny, some are sad.

5. Found Magazine: "We collect found stuff: love letters, birthday cards, kids’ homework, to-do lists, ticket stubs, poetry on napkins, doodles– anything that gives a glimpse into someone else’s life. Anything goes."

6. FML. I feel like this site used to be funnier but if you are reallly bored, here you go.

My sister-in-law Hannah showed me these two and the pony one literally amused us for a solid half hour if not more:

7. hipster creator - create a hipster cartoon of yourself

8. pony creator - there are so many options here. don't get overwhelmed and have fun. This one was mine. Isn't she cute?

Have fun!

recommendation: respond to earth day

I can hardly believe it has been OVER a full year since I've been doing this blog. Earth Day is this weekend on April 22nd and remembered I did a post on it LAST YEAR. Time flies.

Earth day is one of those days that seem silly because it should be celebrated every day. Like mother's day - you should love your momma every day. That's a big DUH. So here's what you need to remember: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. First off though, reuse vs. recycle. I had a hard time on which category to put a few recommendations under and found this article quite helpful! For those too lazy to click the link - reuse is to keep the item in its near original form to be used again. If you donate something to a shelter or church you are allowing items to be reused so that people don't have to purchase a new one. If you recycle, the item is being stripped and broken down so that its parts can be used in new ways.

So here's my plan on how to carry out the 3 R's:

REDUCE: Last year I posted to buy local in order to reduce your carbon footprint. My local is now Ann Arbor, Michigan as we relocated in the fall from Chicago. I love this slogan: "BUY local or goodBYE local!". I saw that sign for the first time when a Hallmark in Dexter was going out of business and it made me so sad. Its nice to support businesses around you that get involved with the community that they are in. I've found a few favorite local treats that also encourage business with the local community:

- Grange: 118 W. Liberty / Ann Arbor, MI 48104 / 734.995.2107. How great is this?
"At Grange, our commitment to local and sustainable sources reflects both our commitment to the community and our commitment to bringing the best of the farm’s bounty to the table when it’s fresh and at the peak of its flavor." Brunch there is great (Sundays only) but make reservations in advance!

- Downtown Home & Garden - Great local resource, here is what the site says, "We love to showcase our rich history as a hundred-year-old downtown retailer, but we survive by our willingness to adapt to change. We strive to make ourselves ever-more useful to our customers and the extended community by providing trustworthy information and full service." This place as a great Ann Arbor-y vibe and they are so helpful. This is the place to go if you need specific seeds for your garden or need some fun kitchen utensils.

- Mark's Carts was started by Mark of the above Downtown Home & Garden. Its a collection of food carts individually by the vendors, and each presents a different style of ethnic or regional food. I haven't been there yet but its created quite the buzz in A2.

- Think Local First: their mission is to support and cultivate locally-owned, independent businesses in Washtenaw County that are committed to making our community a healthier and more vibrant place to live. Great list of local businesses that have a lot to offer.

- Ok this one doesn't really fit the whole carbon footprint reduce thing, but they support local businesses and I just L.O.V.E. their billboards! Only Ann Arborites will get these but my favorites lately are: * Non-local banks think Briarwood is where Peter Rabbit lives; * Non-local banks think Kosmo is a character on Sesame Street; * Non-local banks think Ypsi is something you say after making a mistake; and * Non-local banks think Big George is a mob boss.

REUSE: My reuse this year is promotion for the

place I volunteer - The Brides Project! It is a non-profit organization of voluneers dedicated to raising funds for the programs of the Cancer Support Community (CSC) of Greater Ann Arbor. We collect donated 'pre-loved' or unworn wedding dresses that are available for purchase to brides-to-be at a considerable savings. All profits from the sale of the gowns go to the CSC to support programs and services for people touched by cancer. How great is that? Awesome way to reuse a wedding item no longer needed and help the community!

RECYCLE: After posting my Spring Clean your Closet post yesterday (REUSE!!), I found a WasteWatcher catalog that the City of Ann Arbor mails out. This book has so much information about recycling but boy is it confusing! I feel so guilty, so many things I'm throwing in my recycle bin should NOT be going there! A few examples:
* Remove all bottle caps from pop bottles before recycling
* No plastic lids (such as yogurt lids), flatware, fast-food drink tops/straws
* No light bulbs in recycling carts
* No paper cups, napkins, paper plates.
The list goes on. Who knew? Recommendation: find your City website and check out the guidelines for recycling. You are not helping the earth by not following them!

Try to find ways that work for you with your lifestyle to help the earth. Make a personal commitment to do one of the three R's this year: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

recommendation: spring clean your closet

My husband left this on my pillow one night. I didn't even get offended because I know, I've got a LOT of stuff. Everywhere. I am a complete pack rat and have borderline hoarding tendencies - every glass jar, and most recyclable items have unknown and future potential uses. Don't worry, when put under pressure, I am willing to part with these items so don't feel the need to submit me as a subject for any TLC shows. I've also admitted to myself that even though we are in a house now, we really don't have that much extra storage space. Or at least not enough for me to keep everything.

My main 'stuff' problem is clothing. I keep everything - because I once loved it, I have a great memory when wearing it, it will fit me one day, it was expensive and I didn't wear it often enough... the list goes on. A high school friend is a stylist now and when I saw her recently she gave me a great piece of advice - buy what fits you NOW. I always think, I don't want to waste money on clothing for a size that I am now when I'm actively trying to work out and loose weight. So I'll wait. But wearing clothes that don't fit right in the mean time doesn't feel nice. So I picked up a few inexpensive things (think Old Navy & TJMaxx/Marshalls) that fit great and make me feel great. And that in turn motivated me to do some MAJOR spring cleaning! I cleaned my closet, my drawers, and some storage bins.

Here's some recommendations on what to DO with all that stuff!

In Ann Arbor there are PLENTY of places to donate:
- Salvation Army - the one on State next to Produce Station has an EASY drop off!
- Re-USE center on South Industrial
- Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop on South Industrial
- A few more from Arbor Web
- Trash to Treasures - a full list of Washtenaw County places to take pretty much everything under your roof

Try to get money at:
- Plato's Closet by Briarwood - they are seriously picky here and you have to stay while they sort, so go here first and then donate what they don't take
- Children's Orchard - across the street from Plato's Closet

Donate in Chicago:
- Salvation Army in the West Loop - this was closest to our house in Chicago. Not the friendliest or easiest but its there, they take the donations and give you a form.

Try to get money at:
- Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange are both located on Milwaukee in Buck Town. Drag someone with you because parking there sucks. But these places are close by so you can hit up both.
- Platos Closet on Clybourn
- Luxury Garage Sale - they sell your clothes on ebay and take a small cut. worth it if you have designer duds that are valuable

UN-recommendation: DIY stenciling & holiday rice krispies

This UN-recommendation thing was kind of fun - I got to vent about my failed projects! So you get two here. Third and final failed project was a tie between stenciling and rice krispie eggs. These are my last un-recommendations (for now). Don't try these projects, they are disappointing!

3a. DIY Stenciled Bench

inspiration:
My grandma, who cannot pass a good deal, insisted that I buy a stepping bench when we were at Value World. 1. because one day I would need it and 2. it was only $2. Two bucks does no harm to my wallet so why not. Two days later at HomeGoods, I saw some similar benches with adorable hand painted designs. Ah ha, inspiration! I decided to turn this bench into a grown up decoration. And so the failed project started...

steps:
I used leftover primer and wall paint to cover the bench after I sanded it and wiped it down. We bought a stencil from Michaels and I started using leftover blue wall paint to stencil it on.

Mistake #1. Paint brushes do not work for stenciling. #2. neither does wall paint really, its too goopy. I proceeded to hide my mistakes by painting the steps blue. Purchased ivory acrylic paint and sponge applicators. Sponged on paint. #3 give the paint a few minutes to dry before lifting up the stencil or it will smudge #4 don't use too much paint or it will smudge #5 don't paint while drinking wine, it will cause smudges. I had to use q-tips to touch it up.

final product:
smudged mess. you may think I just like saying the word smudge. but it was just too much work. i thought this would be an easy peasy project and i would finish it in a day and i'm just 'eh' about the end result.

3b. Easter Rice Krispie Eggs

inspiration:

Found this on pinterest from Food Family Finds.

steps:
Looked easy enough. I thought she hand molded them so saved a plastic egg carton to help - that didn't really work but I see now in the tutorial that she used a plastic egg, which I didn't have. When I hand rolled them into eggs, it compacted them together too much so the treats were hard to bite into. Also I melted bakers white chocolate and it was just a drippy mess to get it on the eggs. i had easter sprinkles which made the messy eggs a little cuter.

final product:

looked cute but not worth the effort in my opinion. next time i'll just make the treats, maybe cut them into an oval with a cookie cutter and decorate them that way?