Chalk it up to Caprice: A Storage Container Upgrade

I have been known to frequent the Whole Foods bulk section, which touts a variety of fun self-serve ingredients that one ceremoniously puts into some beautiful plastic bags (to recycle later).  Normally, I would get some of my faves and then have these plastic bags languishing all over the counter (a space I can't afford to give up to anything superfluous).  I was perusing Michael's the other day (looking fruitlessly for a silicon loaf pan, where have they all gone?) and saw some cute containers with chalkboard fronts (too small and not airtight enough to be too useful).  I thought I could perform the same treatment on containers of my choice to house my dry goods!  

Smorgasbord of Containment

 I got three OXO modular POP containers at TJMaxx and then supplemented with some more containers from Bed Bath & Beyond (with coupons in hand, dontcha know?).  All were hand-washed and they were ready to go.  I got a  little sponge brush and a container of blackboard paint from ye olde Michael's and free handed some rectangles on the fronts.

Gettin' the cure

 I did three thin even coats with an hour in between and left them to cure for a full 24 hours before attacking them with chalk.

Labeled and in charge

 Always prime your chalkboard with chalk before trying to write on it.  Now my containers are filled, my counters are empty, and my whim is free to run wild!  Three cheers for impermanent labeling!  Hip hip Hooray!  Hip hip (fill in cheer here)! Hip hip (you know what to do)!

Airtight and all smiles

Evolution of a Blog

A new year is upon us, and in line with the regenerative spirit that provides, I have been considering this blog.   So far this blog has had two iterations of sorts: a DIY-house-into-a-home type and a refashioning-old-into-sorta-new type.   I have recently (since last summer) abandoned the DIYing in lieu of a new hobby, and I find myself yet again pulled in another direction.  I'm a little worried my blog is having an identity crisis, but I think that in itself may be the point of it.  Not to facilitate crises of existence, but rather to reflect a constantly evolving individual.

2007

I'm a phase-y person.  This is why I have a craft room stuffed to the gills (that is also leaking into other portions of the house) with various implements of my myriad interests.  I've made soap, remade furniture, made some pieces from scratch, made lawn games, cross-stitched, sewn handbags and zippered bags, refashioned clothes, painted in watercolors, fabric painted, made jewelry, created artwork, photoshopped artwork, gardened, dabbled in writing a novel (for about a hot second), baked and cooked, made artisanal marshmallows, made candles, updated cabinets, painted a countertop, done some plumbing, redone almost all the lighting in my house, stenciled a wall (2 actually), tiled, trimmed, painted, stained, and probably many other endeavors I've forgotten (just remembered a stamping and embossing phase).  And no, I do not have ADD.  With all these interests, how can I expect myself to pick one avenue through which this blog can meander?

2010

In light of that, I've decided that this blog will be a space that reflects my ever-changing interests, and I'm happy with that.  I might lose readers (not many to lose overall), but I'm not making any money from this blog or depending on it for my income or brand so no big deal.  These are just ideas that I like to share so someone else might be inspired to do something that makes them happier and/or healthier or accomplish a tiny step towards improving the environment or world.  So, in the future there may be more cooking posts or DIY posts mixed in, and later there may be something else that tickles the fancy of this somewhat capricious author.  But despite all that, I hope you'll check in on me from time to time anyway to see what's up.

2013

Cheers,
Allison

Midweek Munchies: Protein-Packed Granola

I am always looking for more ways to incorporate oats into my life.  I think I might actually have a pillow with that on it somewhere, but anyway, besides the standard oatmeal (which is never really standard when there are so many ways to juge it up) and smoothie (usually Martha's with strawberries and no honey), I like granola as an option.  I'm always trying to incorporate protein into breakfast more (in lieu of just sugar-laden things), so I morphed some different ingredients and methods into a pretty decent protein-esque granola.  

Eat me, Seymour

Protein Granola
makes about 6-8 cups

Active preparation time: 20 minutes
Waiting time: 1 hour 15 min

Ingredients:
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup almonds (whole, chopped, or slivered)
1 cup pecans (whole)
1 cup coconut (unsweetened is a must, in bigger curls instead of shreds from a good source is a plus)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup (the real stuff)
1/4 cup coconut oil (or canola)
2/3 cup protein powder (I use an organic whey protein powder from Whole Foods)
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste (or extract)
dried or freeze-dried fruit of choice (I used freeze-dried strawberries and bananas here)

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Place the protein powder, brown sugar, maple syrup, coconut oil, and salt in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until well combined and just coming to a bubble.
2. Add the vanilla and take off the heat to cool a minute.
3. Place the oats, nuts, and coconut in a large bowl and toss to combine.
4.  Pour the wet mixture onto the dry and mix thoroughly, getting some of the mix on every oat if possible, and spread the mixture evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even golden brown color (and avoid burning).
6.  Remove and let cool completely. Add whatever dried fruit, if any, and store in an airtight container for about 2 weeks (if it lasts that long).

I particularly enjoy this granola over Greek yogurt for a satisfying breakfast.  This is still on the sugary side of breakfast, but it gets some healthy protein and fats in there, too.  Hope you give it a try!

Reuse, Recycle, and Repurpose: Refashion Scrap Upgrade

So I've gone to acupuncture a couple times (love it!) and the lady uses an eye pillow to block out light and help me relax.  I decided I was in love and had to make my own.  I found a couple remnants from prior refashions and tested the material out.  

Remnants! 

 The Asian-style fabric from this post had the best weight and feel so I went with that one first.  I used an old bill envelope to act as my pattern for my eye pillow.

Repurpose and Recycle!

 I cut out the pieces, pinned the right sides together, and sewed all the way around, leaving a hole to turn the rectangle inside out.

Surprisingly straight stitching, the sewing muse must have been on my side

 The one the acupuncturist uses has flax seed and lavender, but I have arborio rice and lavender for mine.  Some of you may cringe at the idea of using a slightly more expensive type of rice in this, but I am past my risotto-making days (health stuff, right?) and it is what I had on hand, so it doesn't bother me.  For any future ones, I will just get some cheap long-grain rice.

Couple tablespoons lavender in a small bowl of rice.

 I filled the pillow about halfway full and sewed up the end with a cute little zigzag stitch.

I love love love this thing! I saw some posts online about putting it in the microwave to warm the bed, and it works like a charm!  I put it in for about one and a half minutes, and slip it in the bed where my feet go.  It is heavenly in these cold months, especially with hard floors.  When it cools down a bit (it's quite hot, so I wouldn't put it directly on skin or you'll burn yourself), it is also lovely around the neck or on the stomach.  It's also useful as an eye pillow!  I've used it a couple times for the meditation portion of a yoga session.  My husband is already clamoring for one, and I will definitely make some smaller matching ones to use as hand warmers during the next soccer season.  One fun way to reuse refashioning scraps!