Silhouette Cameo Two Color Design

I finally made my first two-color design with my Cameo!  It's pretty simple and you might learn a trick or two if you keep reading.

The Great Fireplace Weekend-Makeover

This post is a long time comin'.  I'm so proud of this fireplace makeover!  If you read this post you'll remember I got the bug to fix up my home, and this fireplace project is a precursor to painting my kitchen cabinets white.  I'll sort of run through the details as the project unfolds...

Green smoothie WITHOUT a high-power blender

I think I have perfected my (purple) green smoothie. I don't have a Vitamix or BlendTec, just a Cuisenart blender.  At first I was throwing everything in and trying to puree or liquify everything at once, but it was so thick that I had to add way more liquid than I wanted, and ended up with a watery smoothie.  I finally realized that it's easier to add the chunkier things at the end.

{A Review} Getting To Know My New Verismo

This post contains affiliate links :) 

I always find the best gifts to be the ones you didn't know you wanted in the first place.  I mentioned to my mom recently that I had a really good cup of coffee from my friend's Keurig (Seattle's Best House Blend)... and to my surprise I got a Verismo for Christmas.  I didn't even know Starbucks had their own version, and that it even did a little more than a Keurig, but I've been having fun familiarizing myself with all the new coffee systems.  So if you're in the market for a single-serve coffee do-hickey then keep reading on...

Glass Etching with Silhouette Cameo

I love to etch glass, it is one of those completely rewarding projects with a big reveal at the end. It's pretty simple, you make a vinyl stencil for your surface and apply etching cream to the area. There's a couple things to remember, so keep reading...

The Yummiest Party Dip

I make this dip every Chistmas (my moms recipe), and every year my oldest says Are you making the dip?  It is pure deliciousness - the fresh dill, green onion and celery... I. Can't. Even.

The Perfect Poach

I learned how to poach chicken from this amazing just-like-Chinese-takeout soup recipe http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Ginger-Scallion-Egg-Drop-Soup-358121, and picked up some other tips to make the most tender, flavorful poached chicken. Goodbye dry, rubbery, bland chicken. Make large batches to have for snacking and salads (which is huge for me now that I'm back on the low carb bandwagon). It's very simple. Over-flavor the water, and do a 2-step simmer/stand for 20-minutes. I will elaborate...

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!