Creative stuff

I had such a blast making this dollhouse for Isabella, my niece. Original idea was on Pinterest... I just loved how this turned out! I think it took about 12 hours for the furniture and about 8 hrs for the two binders. That ended up being some time each day during naptime for about 2 weeks and time on the weekend that Eric managed the kids. I think Barbie plastic dollhouse furniture could be found used if the time was a show-stopper...

Best parts about this dollhouse vs others - it stores more compactly than other dollhouses and it's expandable with more "rooms." Verdict is still out on how durable it is in the hands of a 4-year old... Guess we'll see. :). And the obvious price factor, too.

Here's the steps!

Step 1-get decorative binders (Target, $4 each)
Step 2- raid the scrapbook box for ideas and decorations for the walls
Step 3- find free printables online for decorations (fire, boxes in kitchen, etc)
Step 4-use lots of hot glue and fabric to make furniture (I used styrofoam saved from old packaging material as a base)
Step 5-decoupage the binders for a little more durability

Link to original idea...
http://southerndisposition.blogspot.com/2011/12/diy-three-ring-binder-barbie-dollhouse.html?m=1

I'm really enjoying having time to do these kinds of things. Not every day... Some days we're just doing good to have food on the table and not be in our pjs. But naptimes are sweet when both kids sleep well and I get to be creative! :)

Recipes from mom - and a Quinoa Hummus Salad

Taking a page out of mom's "lessons learned" book. I'm writing down recipies I'm trying! I have never been very good at following recipes... That's not the way mom cooked. When asking mom for a recipe for some delicious dish from a few days ago, the response was usually "Well... I had this leftover chicken, part of a pepper, the last of a jar of some homemade plum sauce... Actually, I don't remember. Sorry." Not helpful, mom! :)

Several years ago she started writing down recipes. A little more helpful, but she still rarely follows her own. She's a very talented cook but I find my memory must not be as good as hers.

So here's my recipe for today, my attempt to keep track of what works and what doesn't in the kitchen.

Quinoa Hummus Salad with Chicken
Note - all measurements are approximations, made about 6-8 adult sized servings)

4 chicken breasts (boneless skinless)
1/4 c red wine
1/4 c lemon juice

Fresh Cut Greens - I used Kale & Swiss chard from the garden (much milder flavor than store-bought) and Spinach
1/2 can chick peas
1/4 c feta cheese
1/4 c sun dried tomatoes
1 c dry quinoa
2 c hummus
Fresh diced oregano
Balsamic vinegar
Olive oil
Sprigs of basil for garnish

Chicken- cook chicken with Wine & lemon juice in crockpot for 4 hrs on low. When finished, slice & brown in frying pan, set aside

Quinoa - cook quinoa with 1 c water and 1 c broth from chicken crock pot

Dressing - take remainder of broth from chicken, add diced oregano, garlic, balsamic vinegar, olive oil to taste

Assemble as below. Greens around outside topped with warm chicken, chick peas, tomatoes, feta. Quinoa in center (still warm, not hot) with hummus on top. Serve with warm dressing.

Review:
Eric gave this one a 10 for presentation and 6 for flavor & fillingness. Not sure if I would keep the hummus & quinoa combination next time. Maybe just more hummus & serve with bread.

Happy 60th Mom!!

I've been having fun with creative outlets I haven't had time for before. Coming up with a creative "chemistry" gift for mom's 60th was really fun!

Chemistry 60th Birthday Puzzle / Scavenger Hunt Gift

Background: Mom's 60th birthday, mom was chemist in her early days and loved playing with chemistry in the kitchen and as a school career day volunteer as we were growing up.

Plan: using chemical elements, make a puzzle with a message for her to unscramble.

Designers: Me, Eric, & Tim, with input from Elizabeth, Lynnea, Amanda, and Ben

Gifts, each wrapped in the color of the element and delivered with the periodic table symbol associated with it:
(He) Helium - helium balloons
(Au) Gold - gold wrapped chocolates
(P) Phosphorus - tracer rounds
(Pt) Platinum - Kenra Platinum hair styling cream
(I) Iodine - Iodine tincture
C60 buckyball - kids "buckyball" toy

Message : HAPPI 60th!

How it went down:
We started the game on Friday night. We gave her 2 sheets of paper-the rules and a periodic table as reference material. Rules were:
1. No other reference material
2. Yes or no questions only
3. Must think outside the box.
4. Must have fun!

She got 3 gifts on Friday as we had cheesecake to celebrate her birthday and was thoroughly confused. She had no idea how they might fit together or even if they did at all. :)

The other 3 came on Saturday while the daughters & daughters-in-law were out getting fun pictures taken and getting coffee. We all had a great time together as mom tried to figure out the message. Some of my favorite wrong guesses before she had all of the cards were...
1. Phi (her college sorority)
2. Chip
3. "Should I use 'Au' or 'Gold'?" (she's so smart! Wish I would have used that idea for 'Golding'!)
4. 'Help!'... But I'm missing an L! :)

The response: She loved it and figured it out pretty quickly after getting all the gifts! Happy 60th birthday to my brainy momma!