"I dig you" Valentine gifts

Valentine's Day us just around the corner.  Here is a super cute idea.  Get your pink shovels at Ebay for less than a dollar a piece.  Get cello bags from a dollar store or from a party store and fill with converstation hearts, or any valentine candy.  Tie them up with ribbon.  Add a message if you like.  Now how cute is that?

http://inplaceofhercrown.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-dig-you-valentine-fun.html

Taking My Frustrations Out In The Kitchen...Chicken Enchilada Pasta

When I am frustrated I cook.  I recently sent my daughter and best friend to college roughly 1000 miles away and I am trying to cope with the change.  So I've been scouring my recipe books and cooking magazines and rolling up my sleeves.  It has been therapeutic for me. 

Last night I tried out a new dish.  I don't typically like spicy dishes but my family LOVED Chicken Enchilada Pasta.  So it is a keeper and going into my ever growing recipe binder. 

*Notes:

• I omitted the jalapenos, I don't care for a burning mouth.
• The little sweet peppers are expensive so I used bell peppers instead.
• DO NOT wait to cut up everything while the pasta is cooking.  Do it before and prep time will go lickety-split.

ENJOY!!!

Apothecary Jars - Simple to make

Did you know that 100+ years ago if you needed any kind of medical attention, you would go to an apothecary.  They had these little jars with glass lids where they would keep their ingredients for mixing up your medications.  These apothecaries were like a glorified pharmacist.  These days we have specialists for all of our specific medical needs.  But in days of yore, you had the apothecary.  Apothecary jars have been making a come back, but not for medical ingredients.  They are more or less for holding little decorative thises and thats.  And they are expensive.  I don't like to buy things if they are expensive {whispers, unless they are shoes}. 

I love the dollar store.  You can get all kinds of stuff and turn it into different stuff.  To make your own apothecary jar, get a glass candle stick and either a large drinking glass or vase.  Large candle jars work great as well.  A glass jar with a glass lid works best since a true apothecary jar has a lid.  I use this amazing industrial strength glue called E2000 (see below).  You can get it from a craft store.  I paid $4 for mine.  And it dries clear!  Just glue that $1 candle stick to the bottom of your jar and let it sit upside down over night.  And voila, you have an apothecary jar. 

Let me know how yours turns out.

Simply SophistiKate,

Me

Dangerously Delicious BRANana Nut Muffins

My darling husband gave me a gift subscription to some cooking magazines a couple of Christmases ago.  He knows that I really like to cook.  I also LOVE to bake, but don't love what my baking does to my hips {smirking face}.  The other day I was going through some old magazines looking for some new dinner recipes (Dinner Menu Organizing Tips coming in another post) and I found this great banana muffin recipe with some healthy ingredients.  I found it in the Taste of Home February/March 2010 issue on page 32.  I never can just leave a recipe alone so I tweaked it a little bit.  Here is what I came up with...

BRANana Nut Muffins

(Makes approximately 36 muffins)

Turn oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix together wet ingredients in a large bowl:

6-7 very ripe, I'm talking brown, bananas

1 and 1/2 cups plain yogurt

4 eggs

4 Tablespoons melted butter

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In another large bowl mix together dry ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cup white flour

1 and 1/2 cup wheat flour

1 cup wheat bran

1/3 cup white sugar

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup flax meal

2 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

combine wet and dry ingredients together.

Add:

1 cup walnuts, or pecans, or peanuts (optional)

2/3 cup chocolate chips (optional, but highly recommended)

Bake for 22-25 minutes.

Let sit for 5 minutes and enjoy!

Let me know how yours turn out.

Simply SophistiKate,

Me

Make Your Own Corbels

I love corbels.  They can add such elegance to any space, but OH MY they are expensive.  I really wanted a set of corbels for my newly designed living room.  How did I remedy my want (corbels)/need (more cash to afford them) dilemma?  I decided to make them myself {chuckles...with the help of my DH, Darling Husband}.  They really aren't that difficult.  Just have a little patience. 

Here is what you do:

1.  Go online and find a corbel

or design of one that you really love. 

Then trace it onto graph paper. 

Or print it if your corbel is small enough.

2.  Go to your big box store, Home Depot or Lowes,

 and find some culled wood in the width you need. 

This is where you may need patience.

3.  Trace out your design onto your wood. 

Use the same template to trace each one out

so they will all end up the same sizes. 

4.  Cut them out with a jig saw {this is where DH comes in handy}.

5.  Glue and nail separate pieces together,

for the thickness you want. 

Corbels are usually chunky.

6.  Use wood filler to fill up the holes.

7.  Paint or stain.  I chose to use Minwax

water based white washed pickling. 

The wood filler shows through, but I love

that is has an old world, rustic, weathered look to it. 

8.  Hang on your wall.  Make sure the shelf will  be level. 

You will need something like these babies for strength. 

TRUST ME...Do not skimp on these.



And be sure that you make your family eat on the floor while
your painted corbels are drying on the kitchen table {chuckles}. 
Yes, Kate always uses a table cloth. 



 This whole project cost under $20.  I just love how looks and adds that special charm that I was wanting.  And they nicely display all my junk!  Tell me how your corbel project goes.  I'd love to see.

Simply SophistiKate,

Me

Book Page Starburst

This is a project I have been wanting to try for a very long while.  It really only took me an hour and a half to do.  While my kids watched Disney's Mulan upstairs, I started and completed this project.  By the time the movie was finished, so was I.  It really is a pretty little thing.  Here are step by step instructions of how to do it. 

Here's what you'll need:

1.  An old book.  GASP!  I know.  But this one was in a lanuage I didn't even know.

2.  A round piece of cardboard.  One from a frozen pizza will work, but possibly messy.

3.  Something for the center.  This can be a small picture of anything.  Or you can use a little mirror like I did.  I got it from the dollar store.  It is actually a flat candle dish. 

4.  My favorite...a hot glue gun.

5.  Something to hang it from.  I used an old ribbon.



You will need a piece of cardboard and a compass to draw your cirlce. 
I would do at least 9" in diameter.



Then rip pages out of a book.  OUCH! 
I know, but it will be so pretty.
Roll the inside of the page over without creasing it. 
Then roll the other side over so the corner of the
page matches the corner where the two edges meet. 
Hold it and continue rolling the second side around
and glue the corner with a dab of hot glue.



Start placing the glued pages on in a North, South, East, West
fashion so you can keep the lines straight. 
Then keep adding a page to the middle of each set of two glued pages. 
Some may slightly overlap, but that's okay. 
It gives it more dimension that way. 
When you are finished with the first layer, add a
second layer the same way, just move it one inch inward.




When you have both layers, add your round picture or mirror. 
Hint:  If you get hot glue on you fingers, stick them in your mouth. 
Trust me, it will congeal the glue and stop the burning. 
I learned that the hard way.  Owee!



Add something to hang your creation by. 
I just used an old ribbon and glued it to the back. 

And that's it.  That was easy.  And not as painful as you thought it would be (Glue or book).  LOL!  I've hung mine up and love the charm it adds to my home.

It's not too late! More Valentine ideas for teacher and class

I's not too late.  Here are some fun last minute ideas.  I'm going to try some with my kiddies tonight!  Have fun!  Links to all these pics are at the bottom of this post.  Or you can go to my Pinterest, poke the Pinterest button on the left, and go to my likes page.  Happy Valentine's Day!!!

To find links to all these pictures go to my likes page on Pinterest.

This one came from my good friend Kathy Greenwood. 
She is AMAZING!