suggestions on what to read please ... I like engaging non-fiction, contemporary fiction, and ... harry potter
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Massive Stack of French Toast
Growing up we had a tradition of eating pancakes and sausage for dinner the first time we got a significant snowfall. So with all the polar vortex driven cold weather lately, I've really wanted to hole up and eat some great breakfast food for dinner. Last weekend I had to work on producing video clips to demo our software at the OETC, so Lauren offered to make French toast. We got a loaf of Italian bread from Donatelli's and she went to work. By the time she finished she had a mound of thick, golden brown slices of French toast piled high. We ate some and froze the remainder. I stacked the leftover slices between sheets of parchment paper in a Tupperware container and put it in the freezer. I just ate a few pieces now for a snack.
First 30 Day Challenge in the Books!
That just about does it. I've reached day 30 of my first 30 day challenge -- no alcohol. I had no problem reaching this goal, although I do plan on having a few beers tomorrow to celebrate. I feel like I missed out on the social scene more than anything. But I even went out to the bar a few times and didn't drink. I also went to a party (ThanksPatrick's Day IV at Dan and Erin's) alcohol free. I didn't really miss anything by drinking ginger ale, although I did get bored quicker. Tonight I'll enjoy a nice hot chocolate, but tomorrow I plan on getting slightly wasted. ;-)Friday, January 24, 2014
No Alcohol 30-Day Challenge Update
I've taken it upon myself to enjoy many different beverages recently, during my 30 day no alcohol challenge. I've had a lot of coffee and ginger ale. Take a look at just a few of the drinks I've enjoyed...
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| 6-pack! |
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| a glimpse of my spreadsheet |
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Decoupage Lack Table with National Geographic Collage
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| Attractive, practical finished product |
I wanted to inject some color into my brown living room, so I took one of these cheap, classic Ikea Lack tables and decoupaged an orange color themed National Geographic collage.
I coated it with a polyurethane finish to make it shiny and waterproof and use as a coffee table. I might still need to paint or do something with the legs to finish it off.
First I cut out images and pages from my Nat Geo magazines. I cut out all sorts of different pictures before deciding on this theme. I laid out the final design and then cut out enough yellow strips to use as a border and fill in any uncovered areas.
In a bit of minor prep work, I used my multitool to sand the table. Then I used Modpodge decoupage glue and foam brushes to apply the collage. First I did strips of yellow along the top and bottom edges, so they would show through as a "Nat Geo yellow" color base beneath the images I applied over top. I also applied the yellow strips underneath where there would be frayed edges or gaps between the main collage images.
Next I did the bulk of the decoupage work, applying the main images on the top and sides of the table. I ended up getting a lot of air bubbles underneath my paper, which kind of sucks. Nevertheless I think it turned out well. I coated it first with a polycrylic (water soluble) finish, but that wouldn't work well with drinking glasses and other every day usage. I wanted a shiny, sort of thick, protective coat. So I lightly sanded it and used a polyurethane finish, which worked perfectly.
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| As you can see, this room needs a pop of color! |
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| Started with a standard, cheap Ikea table |
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| The tabletop did not start in great condition. |
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| Orange themed collage -- segmented using National Geographic yellow border style |
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| Patterns or repetitions themed the sides of the table. |
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| Butterflies match the middle tabletop segment |
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| The antlers silhouette echoes the same graphical theme as the branches on the tabletop above. |
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| The flash dulls the color a bit in this picture. |
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| A view from what I consider the "other side" |
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| the alternate "bottom side" |
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| I consider this view the "right side up" perspective -- with the antlers/trees side as the bottom. |
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
Apple Cinnamon Crumb Cake
I like to make this simple cake a few times a year, especially because you can substitute fruit for some of the sugar. I just took a basic cinnamon crumb cake recipe, reduce the sugar, and added chopped up apples. The sweet, brown sugary, buttery, crunchy-crumbly topping really makes this cake. The apple chunks give the cake part a nice crunch and texture also. I recently found these pictures from the Summer. I can never get the top to crumble as much as I'd like, though...
Combine the dry ingredients and a diced apple or two.
Mix the wet ingredients.
Prepare the butter and brown sugar topping.
Combine the wet and dry.
Add to the pan.
Crumble/Spread the topping over the cake mixture.
Like they do in cartoons, I cooled it on the window sill after baking.
Look at the apple cinnamony goodness!
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