Honest Review of the Starbucks Verismo Milk Frother (with video and recipe)

This post does contain affiliate links, but I'm always honest in my opinions and recommendations!

I got the Starbucks Verismo single-serve coffee/espresso machine & milk frother for Christmas (score!! Thanks mom!).  I'm using the frother to make kids drinks as well as lattes and au laits.  I have discovered a cool shortcut for the milk frother that I wanted to share, too.  Down at the bottom I have a little video showing it in action.

CHEATER'S TIP! How to do a print-and-cut WITHOUT a registration markson your Silhouette Cameo

I am making some cards for my daughters class. Cards to give their friend who just had surgery to remove a brain tumor. He's 10. It's Christmas time, his birthday is Dec. 31st, and he's about to start 5 or 6 rounds of very aggressive chemo and radiation. It's heart-wrenchingly sad.

Click to support Team Ben via Go Fund Me  ~ thank you!

So I'm using my Cameo for something that might bring a smile to his face!  My friend Denise wanted to make cards for the class to give Ben and I offered to help. 

Last Minute Pork Stew

I pulled this meal together from basic ingredients, and I only planned ahead enough to put it in the slow cooker at 10AM. Plus, it's minimal prep (I didn't brown the pork beforehand - whaaaat??).  The day before I'd sworn off slaving away in the kitchen at mealtimes, so I was really excited that this panned out. I made it on my kids first day back to school - it was overcast and drizzling and we were all in some stage of a summer cold, and soup sounded perfect.  Here's how it played out in my head: Oh shoot, I still have that pork in the fridge that I got at Costco the other day but was too lazy to divide up for the freezer. What can I make with that that's not BBQ...    And this is what I came up with!

New Obsession: Jamberry Nail Wraps!

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Recently I was invited to a Jamberry party on Facebook.  I'd never heard of Jamberry, and didn't pay much attention at first.  Those cutesy patterns aren't for me, and don't you have to buy that heater thingy?? (the answer is no).  But oh. my. gosh.  A quick google image search and I was hooked.   I'm a total WANNABE graphic designer and I had fun coordinating different wraps (and as it turns out my actual graphic designer friends love them too!). 

Gray Crisscross with Jamberry Lacquer in Blush

Another Captain America USO Girl Costume

I got a request for another USO Girl costume, but this one is very different from the first. I used satin instead of cotton and since it was to be worn in a race on the 4th of July, I lined the bodice so the satin wouldn't stick to skin when things got sweaty- ew!  

I used a New Look pattern (halter only). I added the lapels and modified it so that it was open in the back and had to add a clip to keep the neck strap from coming undone during the run. 

I pieced together the trapezoid-shaped skirt pieces and attached to the bodice.  I made the bottom of each stripe 4x wider than the top. 

 I left the back open for ventilation and since she was wearing it over shorts and a sports bra it didn't matter of some skin shows. 

Not The Cheapest DIY Curtains Ever Made...

I'm very pleased with how these curtains turned out, and it's a good thing because the costs sure started to add up. I used painters' canvas drop cloths from Home Depot ($25), a cheap curtain rod from WalMart ($15), and some fabric ($10) and fusible spray adhesive ($15) to appliqué stars on the panels. Here's how I did it...

Zebra Letters For A Tween Bedroom Makeover

In this post I will show how I revamped my daughter's name letters from baby nursery pink to sassy black and purple zebra stripes.

2-day Tween Room Makeover

For my daughter's 10th birthday I surprised her with a mini-makeover on her bedroom. I was able to make the curtains, paint the letters, buy the rug and mirror, and hang everything in a 2-day period.  We had already painted the walls peach a year ago, and I had gotten the horse decal from a Groupon.

It all started with the bedspread. My mom got her this awesome "17 Magazine" purple zebra comforter from JC Penny online -- really nice quality I might add.  That cinched the rest of the color palette for me, and this is what I came up with...

Messy Girl's Guide To Organization

I feel like a fraud writing anything on organization because I am a messy girl at heart.  Only recently have I really embraced organization.  For the last month or two I have been reconfiguring drawers, cupboards and closets, purging toys and other unused "junk", and learning how to keep it tidy.  I'm a strike-while-the-iron-is-hot kinda girl, so when I got the urge to organize the house I just went for it and tried to do a little, and sometimes a lot, each day.  Wouldn't you know, it got a little easier, and a little fun even!  Here is what I learned, and some tips on tidying up your space if you're a messy girl too...

Fostering Kitties Through The SPCA

These adorable faces are one of the reasons my blog has been quiet lately.  That, and the fact that my oldest's birthday, mother-in-law's birthday, and Mother's Day all falls on the same weekend so I've been baking and wrapping up a storm.  So here's the scoop on the foster kittens...