Small Lying Cat Bag

(Photo by nuno-runo blogspot.com)

I love this little cat purse over at  Nuno Life and there is a pattern and instructions on how to make it.  I think I might make it as a makeup bag without the straps for my friend Beth.
http://nuno-runo.blogspot.com/2010/01/cat-bag.html

Appetizer Wishlist

No, this isn't one I want to try - my son loves them but I hate the smell of them.  

There are appetizers that I want to try before my son graduates high school in 2012 as I want to come up with some good but unique things to serve for his graduation party to be served alongside the Funyuns, Cheese Curls and Doritos that I know he will want to have.   Man cannot live by Funyuns alone.





Walnut Pesto over at Smitten Kitchen - the combination of walnuts, parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic with a dash of sherry vinegar sounds like it would be a unique and tasty appetizer on small french bread rounds or baguette.

Parmesan Cream Crackers also over at Smitten Kitchen - I had never thought about making crackers before - how cool it would be to serve them and say "I made them myself!".  It sounds doable enough - flour, cream, parmesan, salt and butter blended in a food processor to make a dough then roll out, cut, poke and bake - at least that is my fantasy.

Vegetable Dishes

Roasted Beets, Carrots and Potato Soup
http://recipesfrom4everykitchen.blogspot.com/2009/09/puree-of-roasted-vegetable-soup.html

Calabacitas (Mexican-flavored vegetable side dish)

This recipe came in a newsletter that I subscribe to World's Healthiest Foods that I would like to try sometime as I like all the ingredients raw - will have to see if I like them as well cooked, or maybe try making it raw with the olive oil, garlic and chicken broth cooked as a dressing.


"Calabacitas

Prep and Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion, cut in half and sliced thin
• 4 medium cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 cups zucchini , diced into ½ -inch cubes
• 2 cups yellow squash, diced in ½-inch cubes
• 15 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
• 4 oz can of diced green chili
• 1 TBS + 3 TBS chicken or vegetable broth
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro
• 3 TBS fresh chopped fresh oregano (or 1 TBS dried oregano)
• salt and black pepper to taste
• *Optional: drizzle with olive oil before serving

Directions:

1. Slice onion and chop garlic and let sit for at least 5 minutes to bring out their health-promoting benefits.
2. Prepare all the vegetables.
3. Heat 1 TBS broth in 11-12 inch stainless steel skillet. Healthy Sauté onions in broth over medium heat for about 5 minutes stirring frequently, until translucent. Add garlic and sauté for another minute.
4. Add zucchini, yellow squash, remaining broth, green chili, and cook for another 3 minutes or so until vegetables are tender, stirring often. Add tomatoes and continue to cook for another couple of minutes.
5. Stir in herbs, salt, and pepper. Serves 4"

Christmas 2010

I have ran out of time to do anything else this year, so going to start a list of all the wonderful craft inspirations that I want to try to make next year.

Crafts
Holiday Silhouette over at Posh Pieces.
Front Door Bling Welcome sign over at Sweet Pickles and Chocolate!

Food
Super Easy Toffee over at The Sweet Life
Gumdrop Fudge over at Our Creative Life
Christmas Broken Glass Jello over at Just Jenn Recipes

Gifts
No Sew Ruffled Fleece Scarf over at Creative Jewish Mom

Sugar Scrub in 10 Minutes

When my son was little he loved to have the gals at Bath and Body Works demonstrate theirs on his hands every time we went in there and I appreciate that they always pleasantly obliged because it gave me a few minutes to look around.

I found a sugar scrub recipe over at Todays Creative Blog that that I want to try and will be much more budget friendly than mall store prices.

http://todayscreativeblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/sugar-scrubs-in-10-minutes.html
Free Clipart of Sugar

Pin Tuck Vest From Old Oversized Plaid Shirt

(Photo by Sloan Howard at Craft Stylish)

http://www.craftstylish.com/item/53897/how-to-make-a-vest-from-a-plaid-shirt

Above is a link to a tutorial to make a super cute pin tuck vest from an old plaid shirt that is posted over at Craft Stylish.

Marc Jacobs looked to plaids in vibrant shades for his Fall 2009 Marc by Marc Jacobs collection. Photo from "Style"

http://www.craftstylish.com/item/53897/how-to-make-a-vest-from-a-plaid-shirt