Crafty

So this might be my new favorite project.

We've all see the the super cute products brought to us by The MacBeth Collection, right? Well I have had enough of the pricey options out there and decided to do something about it. After my mother inspired me with another project (which I will post about soon) I decided to make a beverage bucket for myself.

It all started when I spotted a tub at Lowe's for $9. I bought it along with with clear Rust-Oleum spray paint, clear bathroom caulking and a bottle of ModPodge from Hobby Lobby.

I had the fabric left over from some chairs I recovered in my living room .

Here is the finished project (to inspire you).

And here are the instructions in case you want to make one for yourself:

1. Buy the bucket and clean thoroughly.
2. Spray bucket, inside and out, with Spray paint and fill all seams and cracks with caulking to prevent leaking when the ice melts.
   
3. Cut a piece of fabric a bit larger than what is needed to wrap around the bucket (at the bottom leave at least one inch extra). It's best to line one edge up the the top of the bucket so at least one edge is neat.
   
4. Begin covering the bucket by painting the ModPodge on one section and and covering with fabric. Go SLOWLY around until the whole bucket is covered. You will probably need to do some stretching with the fabric to prevent bubbles and wrinkles.
   
5. When you get to the sides with the handles, I found the best thing to do is cut a slit in the fabric with an Exacto knife and simply slide the fabric over the handles.
   
6. When the fabric meets, make sure you fold over the edge for a pretty and neat finish.
   
7. After the bucket is covered trim the excess fabric with the knife for a smooth edge.
   
8. Cover the fabric in ModPodge and, when dry, spray entire bucket with the spray paint again. Let dry overnight and use as much as you can!

Note: It's best to use a fairly thin fabric so you can stretch it to fit the bucket!

Step 1

Step 4

Step 6

VIVA!

Concert Recommendation of the Year: COLDPLAY.

It was incredible.

It they are playing near you, you are crazy not to go.


Check out some clips of the show I went to: Playing out in the audience and Part 2. Yellow with the balloons, Viva La Vida and the Finale. (They're fuzzy, but you get the picture)

Make sure to download the FREE ALBUM (Left Right Left Right Left) on their website. It's really good

Hats!

If you're going to the Derby you must have a hat! As we've found over the past few years, hats can be pricey and who wants to drop the cash on something that will only be worn for a few hours once a year at most?

This year I was fortunate enough to find plain hats for an affordable price. I chose a hot pink one and snagged a spoon of wired ribbon at a consignment shop for $0.75!

Here are instructions for a dirt-cheap-Derby hat:

1. If the brim of the hat is pointed up then turn it down

2. Tie ribbon around crown of hat.


3. Of the two tails of ribbon, gather one up into several loops and secure with safety pin.


4. Repeat with the other tail of ribbon.


5. "Fluff" the loops up and position as you wish.


5. You can add more ribbons, flowers or feathers if you want - just make it loud and big!

How to...

Throw a Kentucky Derby Party!!!

The "Run for the Roses" has become a yearly tradition among me and my friends. I highly suggest it as it's a great excuse to dress up and have a party with good food!

We require hats for the ladies and proper "southern attire" for the gentlemen, i.e. seersucker, suspenders and linen.

This Year's Table

The menu is always the most fun to plan. This year ours included:

• a grits souffle (thank you Emeril)
• Jack Daniels Chocolate Ice Cream (from Frank Stitt's Southern Table)
• Kentucky Bourbon Pecan Pie
• Bourbon Balls - warning: these are potent!
  
• and THE BEST Mint Juleps ever (I can't post the recipe because it's a secret the and maker won't give it to me)
• Ham & Swiss Poppyseed Sandwiches (you can substitute Pork Tenderloin for the Ham)
  

In the past we have had Kentucky Hot Browns and Southern Caviar as well.


Last Year's Spread

My favorite food idea yet has been this Rosemary Popcorn! Although, instead of making rosemary infused oil, I finely chopped the rosemary and sprinkled it on the popcorn while drizzling olive oil. After we made it, we put it in paper cones for the historical factor...and it's so much easier to hold.

For the"Run for Roses" decorations we use roses (of course), although this year I added in other flowers to defray the cost and add more color.

We usually use whatever silver we can find and get really crafty by making the mini-jockey jersey's for a garland.

We have croquet set up in the yard for some extra fun as well.

Quick, "Springy" Dessert

If you need a small, sweet something for an hors d'oeuvres or dessert then you need this recipe! My mother made a ton of these over Easter and we couldn't get enough of them!


There is a pretty easy way and a super easy way; I'll start with the super easy:

Super Easy Recipe

Ingredients:
1 package frozen, mini pastry shells.
1 jar lemon curd.
1/2 pint fresh blueberries

1. Bake pastry shells in oven according to directions.
2. Fill each shell with a tablespoon of lemon curd.
3. Top with two or three blueberries.
4. Serve on a pretty dish and pretend you worked harder than you did.

Pretty Easy Recipe

Ingredients:

1 package frozen phyllo dough
1 batch lemon curd (recipe follows)
1/2 pint fresh blueberries

1. Cut the phyllo dough in squares with a sharp knife.
   
2. Place in mini-muffin tins and bake until golden brown.
3. Fill with 1 Tablespoon Lemon Curd.
4. Top with 2-3 blueberries.

Lemon Curd:

In saucepan blend:
1 1/2 c. sugar
6 T. cornstarch
1/4 t. salt
Add:
1/2 c. cold water
1/2 c. fresh lemon juice
When smooth add:
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 t. butter, softened

Gradually add 1 1/2 c. boiling water. Over medium heat, let bubble for one minute. Reduce heat and simmer one minute. Remove from heat and stir for one minute to release steam. Add zest of two lemons and stir; let cool with plastic wrap on pudding.
Makes enough for about 36 mini cups.

Home for the Holiday - Part 2

Saturday morning started off with a lot of flowers at the church where I did actually do something! Under the direction of people much more talented than myself, I made a matching flower arrangement with another girl for the entry-way of the sanctuary.

Here is the beginning...

...and here is the finished product! I liked it :)

Afterwards, Mom and I rushed home for our annual pre-Easter brunch. Here is what is left of the mound of French toast that Dad made.

We always top it with fresh blueberry syrup, the remains of which can be seen on my very empty plate.

After everything was ironed for the next morning I should have gone to bed, but instead I stayed up and watched Slumdog Millionaire withe the boys. I had been wanting to see it and am so glad I did!!! It is wonderful and if you haven't watched it you should.

Easter morning came early. We started with our Easter baskets that were left on the kitchen table. The Easter Bunny must have had a great time at Fresh Market because our baskets were full of fresh goodies. Mine included a pot of basil, spring fling coffee, my favorite dark chocolate and a few more surprises.

(Yes, mom has Easter-egg place mats)

After church, which was wonderful, we came back to the house to turn the backyard into a suitable place for lunch (this is not very difficult in my parent's yard).

For place cards, Mom and I wove little nests out of the Confederate Jasmine that is climbing up the sides of my old playhouse.

We lunched on pork tenderloin, French green beans, corn souffle, strawberry salad and an Italian cream cake. And Mom made sure to have plenty of eggs hidden for the youngest guest to hunt.

Here is baby brother hiding them...doesn't he look dapper in his matching bow-tie and slacks?

And here is other brother in his preppy Easter attire with our 14 year-old sheltie, Ginny.

Home for the Holiday

Easter is easily one of my favorite holidays. While I was in college my family somehow turned Easter into a spring version of Christmas as we all came in town. We would start the weekend with an annual pre-Easter brunch on Saturday morning. At some point I would head to the church with mom and "help"/watch in awe as the sanctuary was decorated for the following morning. My cousin (who spent the holiday with us in college because her parents we across an ocean), my grandmother and I would usually get our nails done and then come back to the house to start cooking for Easter lunch. It was always a fun family weekend complete with a photo blitz in our Sunday best.

This year I surprised my mother and came home a night early! Dad was out of town and she was home alone...until she caught me sneaking into the garage. An even bigger surprise occurred at 2:00am when "baby brother" walked in the door after hitching a ride home with his roommate.

While she was thrilled to see us, I know Mom had intended to have the house spotless and half the food cooked before we arrived. So, to help ease her mad rush I offered to take care of dinner tonight. I had no idea what to make, but she mentioned a new box of whole wheat pasta and the rest followed...

This is what I brewed up in my head and it actually turned out pretty good!

Pasta with Tomato Garlic Cream Sauce

3 T butter
1/2 T minced garlic
3/4 c half and half (I used fat free)
s & p to taste
one tomato, diced
1/2 c sliced mushrooms (more if you like)
4 grilled chicken breast, sliced

Saute garlic in 1T butter. Add mushrooms and tomato and cook until soft. remove from pan. Add remaining butter, salt and pepper and half and half and cook until thickened (can add cornstarch if needed). Add chicken, tomatoes and mushrooms and cook until thoroughly heated. Serve over whole wheat penne pasta. Top with Parmesan cheese.
Serves 4.

You can also add Parmesan or goat cheese to the sauce instead of cornstarch. And I prefer "Barilla Plus" pasta!

I served it with steamed broccoli and a strawberry salad that Mom made - she also put the chicken on the grill...an appliance I have yet to master.

A Little Spring Pick-Me-Up

The weather is warm, the flowers are blooming and the spring cleaning has commenced. AS far as the decor in our living room goes, we are pretty much set with our year round furnishings, but there is always room for a few (or a lot) seasonal touches.

Here is a gorgeous bunch of roses my roommate picked up at the grocery store last week. I think they accent the lamp nicely and wish we could get them in this shade all the time!

I have affection for lambs and I placed a pair given to me by my mother on the mantle along with…

An old medicine bottle covered with a vintage Easter postcard and a favorite compote filled with green eggs I bought over spring break.