by Amy | Sep 7, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Projects
Well…next week I dive into major house project number 2. I’ve been crazy busy this week and it seems like all of it will come to a screeching halt after this weekend. So, I decided that this is the perfect opportunity to do a little painting.
My living room. My dining room. My built in hutches. My front room. The ceilings. Some wood paneling.
The goal is to get all most of it done by the end of the week. Mind you…I’ll still some other obligations as well. Like feeding my husband and Panda Kitty, editing a super cute photo session, teaching fitness classes, maybe contacting a few nonprofits about doing some work…you know…the usual. Nothing super busy.
But here is the dilemma. I’m a color-commitment-a-phobe. I know it’s just paint, but paint is expensive. And I am very cheap. And I make very little money. And I have this complex about making little money and spending buckets of the dollars Derek earns by having a real job. So, while I know if I hate it I can always redo it…I’d rather get it right the first time.
So, I’ve started a Pinterest board of pretty paint colors. You should totally go over there and check it out. Seriously, they are pretty.
Then I started thinking about creating my own pallets from things that naturally appeal to me. Like my favorite photographs. Here’s what I came up with.
There are two bonus pallets over on the Facebook page. You should check those out too. And while you’re there…go ahead and like the page. *Insert corny smiley face here____*
After I had made my own pallets…I thought maybe you would like to make some of your own. So here’s the skinny on how I made it happen. (more…)
by Amy | Sep 5, 2012 | Blog, The Art of the Kitchen
I’m not one to brag about things I do. When I do, it’s mostly just making a cocky joke. Really, deep down, I think I’m pretty plain. But I am good a few things. Making bread sticks is one of those things.
And because I believe everyone should be entitled to a good bread stick and bowl of soup, I’m relaying my recipe to you.
It’s easy. You don’t have to be a whiz bread maker like Peeta Mellark. All you need is a little time and an electric mixer.
Here’s the full list of ingredients.
Flour | Yeast | Salt | Oregano | Garlic Powder | Olive Oil | Pepper | Water | Butter!!
1. Mix up your dough. | 2. If you wear rings…take them off before you knead!! | 3. Coat your ball of dough with oil and let it rest. | 4. To speed up rising time, set your covered bowl over a baking rack on a skillet of simmering water | 5. Roll your sticks and let them rise again. {cover them with a towel}. | Read on for details!
Here’s what you do.
In a medium mixing bowl mix these ingredients together:
- 1 1/4 C flour
- 1 packet of yeast
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 Tbsp oregano
- 1/2 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp olive oil
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1 C warm water
Use your electric mixer to combine all these things for about 30 seconds. Then crank the speed up to high and let it mix for 3 minute. The consistency will be sticky and gluey.
Take your beaters out, grab a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon and gradually mix in 1 1/2 C more flour. {I do 1/2 C at a time.}
Now it’s time to knead. I leave the dough in the bowl, but you can turn it out onto a clean floured surface if that’s what you prefer. Knead the dough, folding it over itself and adding a bit more flour as you go for about 7 minutes. By the end of that amount of time your dough should be soft {but not sticky} and stretchy.
Sprinkle a little olive oil on your hands then pat your dough into a ball. Cover it in the bowl with a clean towel and “let it rest.” I just learned a cool tip for expediting the rising time….Simmer a pan of water on the stove, place a baking rack over the pan then place your covered bowl on top of that.
If you are doing the water technique let it rise for 15 minutes. If you are just letting it rise on the counter let it sit for 25 minutes.
Once you dough has had a nice rest divide it into pieces just a bit bigger than a golf ball. Roll the small dough balls into skinny ropes. I just roll them between my hands. Place those on a greased baking sheet. Once they are all rolled, let the sticks rise again {covered with a clean towel.}
You can place the pan over steaming water for 15 minutes…or let them rest on the counter for 25 minutes.
While your bread is resting for a second time melt 1/2 stick of butter. And preheat your oven to 400 degrees. When time is up, gently brush the raw dough with butter. Sprinkle lightly with garlic powder. Put directly into the oven.
Bake for 6 minutes.
Remove them from the oven. Brush more butter over them and return to the oven for 5 more minutes.
When they are done baking…coat them again with butter and sprinkle some Parmesan cheese over them if you like. {I like…} And you’re done.
Megan…I know this is your favorite. I miss our days at Olive Garden together, so just know that this post is dedicated to you!
Amy
by Amy | Sep 5, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Adventure, The Art of Faith, The Art of the Moment
Today reality hit me in the face. Back from vacation and a “do-list” a mile long. {I’m a big list maker in case you didn’t know.}
Reality.
Lists. Work. Editing. Emails. Phone calls.
Then I sat for a minute and saw this photo. I snapped this at Sylvan Lake at Custer State Park over the weekend. And suddenly, unexpectedly, I remembered that this is reality too. Both are real and wonderful in their own way.
I need to embrace both of them and appreciate the fact that both of these realities have been hand-crafted by God. My loving heavenly Father.
What reality has He crafted for you?
Amy
by Amy | Sep 4, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Adventure, The Art of the Moment
You know when you are on vacation and you ask a stranger to take your photo?
I think we’ve all been there. Over the weekend {possibly the best Labor Day Weekend I’ve ever had} we were at the Crazy Horse monument in South Dakota. I’ll tell you all about the trip in the coming days….but for tonight I just wanted to fill you in on this little awkward moment.
So. Back to the original statement. We are at Crazy Horse. I was setting up my camera on self-timer when a kind gentleman asked if I wanted him to snap the photo for us.
“What a sweet offer. Of course. ..Yes we were trying to get both the scale model and the monument in the photo. Thanks so much….It’s the big button in front there.”
As we crowd together. He starts waving his hand as if asking us to scoot to the right a bit. So we shuffle. While scooting over he clicks the photo. Then he says to his wife, “Not them. You honey. Move over a bit.”
A large woman in a highlighter yellow t-shirt gives a light laugh and says, “Oh, haha, was I in the picture?”
Her husband replies, “No, I think it was okay.”
We review the photo. The subject of the photo is supposed to be Derek, our dear friend Megan and me. But, as you can see…someone else stole the show. Yeah…I think she made it out of the photo in time. No, not really. You are definitely in the photo. In hindsight, you are the subject of the photo. Classically awkward. Love it.
So let’s raise a glass to all awkward vacation photos. Right here, right now. I bet you have a few of your own.
Amy
