Vintage Finds & Link Love

Yep, more paint by numbers. I never get tired of them. I spotted this one at Savers thrift store last week. How could I resist an American history themed pbn?  I absolutely love the shiny gold background even if it has seen better days. I think it looks swell on my turquoise wall!

The bearded unicorn (tray? wall hanging? no idea) was thrifted in Nashville and the pelican diorama brooch was a recent estate sale find. That estate sale was really fun. The homeowner ran an antique store and had all sorts of lovely things. From comic books to primitives to German weather houses it was quite the eclectic collection. I was really taken with this little brooch, and I believe it might be bakelite. So kitschy and charming!

Link Love:

Other fun finds include the art and comics of Dylan Meconis who wrote the adorable fairytale comic Outfoxed. Read it here. (thx to my buddy cara for introducing me!)

Smart Phone app Scoutmob -"Deals for the local curious." It isn't in every city yet but, it's a great way to save money and find local stuff to do. It also has a mustache function photobook and fun facts about your city. Hooray!

Hope you're having a lovely Monday!

Ah, Popsicles!

In the middle of a scorching Arkansas summer ask me what I want to eat (for breakfast, lunch, or dinner) and I will probably answer one of two things 1) popsicles or 2) snowcones. The concerned and caring husband will of course reply, "that's not a [breakfast, lunch, or dinner]!" What can I say? I've loved the icy treats since I was a kid. I have many fond memories of tongues stained bright colors, the refreshing fruit taste, and getting a real shaved ice in Puerto Rico on our honeymoon. 

There's a Mexican grocery store next to the restaurant where I work so of course I grab a paleta if I happen to get a break. I even read that some ice pop makers are using veggies in their popsicles. Including my Nashville favorite Las Paletas.

Anyway, I've been making lots of  homemade popsicles lately and I thought I'd share them! They're made with fresh local fruit from the farmer's market so they beat anything in the frozen food aisle. (Haven't tried any with veggies yet, but I am curious)

fresh peach pops and peaches & cream pops

 I used two recipes from Ice Pops. This book has basic but, also some interesting combinations for homemade popsicles.

For the fresh peach popsicles, I used 3 peaches (unpeeled), 1/4 cup of superfine sugar, 1 T of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Combined the ingredients in the blender, poured the mix in the molds, and waited impatiently for them to freeze.

We liked these ice pops the best. The other recipe called for half & half and though they were good the peaches didn't need any thing else. Save for the bit of lemon juice that was a perfect addition. The Peaches & Cream recipe also called for blanching the fruits before pureeing. I had never tried this technique before. It made peeling the peaches a cinch and is SOP for freezing fresh fruits and veggies because it preserves the nutrients and all that good stuff.

What summer treats are you enjoying lately?

What We Wore: Chicago Style

I think this may be my first "What I Wore" -type post. I don't particularly consider myself to be very fashionable. I couldn't care less about designer purses and I don't own a pair of gigantic sunglasess. I do love boho and vintage styles though. So, when I purchased my ticket to see the musical Chicago live on stage I knew I'd have to dress for it! My pal and make-up lady extrordinare, Sara (on the left), volunteered her talents and extensive makeup collection! I did our faux fingerwaves. As you can see we were jazzed to go. Heehee.

On me: Dress/Merona & Pearl Earrings from Target :::Pearly Necklace & Porcelain Rose pin/borrowed   Peacock Feather/Pangaea :::Spectator Pumps/Kimchee Blue

Did I mention that J. Peterman played Billy Flynn? He may have the greatest voice known to man. Chicago is one of my favorite musicals and I absolutely adore the movie. Being the movie nerd that I am, I geek out over costumes, the sets, all that stuff. The play did not disappoint as far as choreography and musical talent goes. I had to restrain myself from singing along with "Mr. Cellophane." The set & props were almost non-existant but I was definitely impressed with what they did with the lighting. Yowza!

The only disappointment for me were the costumes. It looked as if the dancers were costumed by International Male or wore leftovers from 80s Madonna videos. Okay. I was hoping for some of that 1920's razzle dazzle.

Makeup by SaraJean. Wearing Sephora, Too Faced, Urban Decay

Sorry for the crummy phone photo -this is the only one with my shoes in it!

I've been humming those songs all week-long. Are you a "musical" person? Do you dress up for events? (I'm wondering what SJ has planned for Harry Potter)

Hope you've had a lovely week, dears!

main squeeze inspiration

Did you ever have a meal at a restaurant that you loved so much you tried to recreate it at home? This meal was inspired by my favorite restaurant in Columbia, Mo. - a fantastic vegetarian place called Main Squeeze.

This dish isn't going to win any beauty contests but, it's easy on the budget and quick to put together. If you make your rice ahead of time that'll speed up the process even more.

You'll need:

Cup of cooked brown rice

Your favorite salsa

Extra firm tofu or seitan

2 Tablespoons of Green Goddess dressing

Optional: Sprouts, Mozzarella Cheese

Fill your bowl with brown rice. Warm up your salsa a bit. Cook your tofu or seitan as desired. I like to cut medium thick strips and cook it on our foreman grill. This way I don't have to take extra time to drain it. It also gives it a nice chewy, crispy texture.

Top your rice with the salsa, dressing, tofu, and anything else you might like. Hope you enjoy it!

Happy Friday!

 

Hello friends, sorry for the lack of blog lately. I truly have some happy news this Friday. I found some work which is really wonderful after almost 8 months of unemployment. I've also been preparing for the Indie Style Market in May and my bestie is coming in from Missouri for a visit.

While visiting the Farmer's Market last week to get some delicious Arkansas strawberries I met a local beekeeper. He said he'd supply the beeswax for some solid perfumes I've been experimenting with! I'm so thrilled. Next week I'll be sharing some of the projects I've been working on.

I hope life is treating you good this week, lovelies!

Woo! Record Store Day is here.

April 16th is Record Store Day.

This was our first RSD, so I have to admit we had no idea what to expect. I actually just found out about it by word of blogger. I'm so glad I did! Many thanks to the blogger (who I don't remember) who mentioned it!

Thanks to RSD, I even discovered a new record store in my town. This place is heaven for the music and memorabilia aficionado. Not so much for the claustrophobic, however. The festivities brought in quite a crowd and the place that was already packed with music was a little cramped. No worries, just another way to make friends as you say 'excuse me' while stepping on your neighbor to get that special blue vinyl limited release.  Next year I'll be more prepared and check out the special RSD releases ahead of time.

 

We had a great time admiring the random memorabilia lying about (Darth Vader shampoo bottle or KISS mask anyone?). There was live music, cupcakes, and all sorts of RSD freebies. Mr. K and I entered a drawing for more free stuff and wouldn't you know it he won. He is so lucky. So, we also brought home a stack of free records.

My mom is really going to be excited about that Doobie Bros. album

 I have fond memories of visiting the Tower records store as a kid. I'd put on those giant headphones and discover my new favorite band. There's really something special about the small local stores though. RSD has collected some great quotes here of musicians reminiscing about indie record stores. 

Did you visit your local music store today? Or are you thinking, "Huh? They still make vinyl records?"

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Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

My favorite Seussian character, The Lorax.

  Today is Dr. Seuss' birthday! We had a lovely day at the Clinton Presidential Museum. Out of the group, I'm probably the most enthusiastic Seuss fan. I was very excited for the opening of this exhibit, The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss.  The exhibit spans 7 decades of Theodor Seuss Geisel's work.

Local Flavor -the Green Cuisine Food Truck

I had the opportunity to sample Little Rock's only vegetarian food truck this past week. I can't tell you how excited I was to find out about this place. In the South, veggie options can be a little limited when dining out so any place that has more green on the menu makes me ecstatic. The food cart itself exudes charm, it resembles a little trolley car. The staff was welcoming and helpful.

Located at the corner of 6th and Chester.

The menu was short and sweet. And there was nary a boring salad in sight*. There was a grilled veggie sandwich, philly cheese protabella sub, and lots of tasty sides. Prices were very reasonable in the 3-6 dollar range.

I was starving so I let my stomach make all the decisions. I got a starch with a side o' carbs but, I am not complaining. First I tried the bleu cheese macaroni, just the right amount of flavor with a spicy kick. I also tried the sweet potato slaw. It was very tasty and the walnuts provided the perfect bit of crunch. I can't wait to go back and try more. For daily info follow them on Twitter or check out their FB page.

 

sweet potato slaw

mac 'n' bleu cheese

*disclaimer: i have no hate for salad but am saddened when the only veg option on the menu is a cut of wilted iceberg lettuce, some croutons, and a flavorless tomato.