Chocolate Rears Its Ugly Head

I had a chocolate craving like nobody’s business but didn’t have it in me to run out and grab some. So, I went hunting through the kitchen to try to find something to satisfy. I found some Hershey’s cocoa with a chocolate cake recipe right on it. I had all ingredients in the house except vegetable oil. BUT, I did have applesauce which I’m told is a good substitute.

I even made my own frosting from the cocoa.

If we’re judging whether the cake was successful by sight, then I’m sure you can guess the answer to that. The first layer baked up okay, but the second took an extra 25 minutes because the center just wouldn’t cook through. When it was finally done, I had to cut off the bottom portion of the 2nd cake because it had become rubbery from all the cooking. My frosting was good but I should’ve waited for the cakes to cool a little more because it ended up getting all melty-lava like.

I don’t know if I’ve ever baked anything so ugly in my life. I wonder what my problem was. Was it the applesauce (I used natural, no sugar added applesauce)? Did I screw up my measurements somewhere? Did I leave something out?

Well, no matter, because as hideous as it was to look at, it was one of the tastiest and moist chocolate cakes I’ve ever had. I just made to sure to leave the lights off until I was done…

RME?

Well, it took slow me a while to figure it out but Revolutionary Money Exchange (RME) is like PayPal EXCEPT that they are currently not charging fees (but I can’t imagine that’ll last too long) and they don’t accept credit cards (but I can’t imagine that’ll last too long). Anyhoo, I’ve been seeing it pop up everywhere as another option for payment which is always nice because there’s nothing bad about competition, eh PayPal?

Right now RME is offering $25 for opening a new account. And if you use the button below to sign up I get a $10 referral fee. Now, I’d like to tell you how wonderful RME is and how you should sign up based on my testimonial alone, but I really don’t know enough about them just yet so I can’t in good conscience tell you to just go for it. But, hey, $25 is nice so if you’re feeling it clicky below.

Um, hello.

We’ve been super busy lately and feeling quite tired from this current pregnancy so, as you may have noticed, we’ve been absent. Therefore, I bring you this offering of Guinness cupcakes. Delicious. So tasty and not too sweet.

**As you can see, my “icing” was more of a glaze. If you want actual icing, add a lot less milk than what is called for or no milk at all in the frosting recipe.**

In other news, our soon-to-be Esther will be sharing a closet with her brother and that was a project that took us more time than I expected. We took the doors off to better utilize the space and painted the interior for a splash of color. We ended up using closet shelving from Home Depot/Lowes but it was really the most practical as it can be re-shuffled as they age. I didn’t care for the sliding drawers exposing little socks and more. It gave it too much of a cluttered feel so I made some liners for them using Amy Butler Acanthus fabric from the Belle collection. I made a matching liner for the basket above the changing station as well. The 2 canvas bins to the side hold all our cloth diapers. Finally, we added some Flor tiles making it appear more connected to the room and less like a separate entity. (If you’re interested in the Flor tiles, check your local Target. We got ours on clearance for $11/box.)

And for those late night changes, the Mr. had a supr idea to install rope lighting to the inside of the door jamb and plugged it into a Christmas light foot switch. Brilliant.

All right, hope I didn’t bore you but this is part of what’s been keeping us away. Will try to post with more consistency!

Pillow Fight!

Here, my friends, are the finished floor pillows in all their applique goodness. I don’t remember if I mentioned before, but for these guys I simply used some fusible web and then machine stitched around them using a close zig-zag stitch. I think they’re just lovely.

Looks like someone else thinks so too! Notice that milk beard that is soon to be on the pillow–good thing they’re washable.

I forgot to take pics of the back to showing the zipper. No biggity as it would make for a rather boring photo. Anyway, these pillows are loved by all. ALL. We’ve moved them into the living room to lay on while listening to the hi-fi, sit on them while reading bedtime stories, stack them on top of each other then do a mighty jump, and general snuggling. Who knew the whole family would enjoy?

Oh, and we also use them for little cat naps

More images on my flickr.

Everything Nice

Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m pleased to give you an early introduction to tiny Esther. That’s right, we’re having a girl! I still can’t believe it. Our house is very male-centric. There’s me, Walter, toddler boy, Jackson P. Kitty, and Milo P. Hound. And did I mention I grew up with 3 brothers and no sisters? I just won’t know what to do with a girl. Luckily the Mr. grew up with 3 sisters, no brothers.

Immediately after finding out we were having a girl, I trekked over to the fabric shop and bought “girly” fabrics with reckless abandon. The above is my first little girl creation. I love it. I used Burda 9752 but made some modifications. I changed it to an A-line, omitted elastic on the sleeves, and shortened the dress so that when paired with the bloomers they would show more. The dress is Heather Ross cotton from the Lightning Bugs collection. The sweet peter pan collar and bloomers are linen.

Speaking of Burda, this is my first time to use one of their patterns and I don’t have much good to say about it. I mean, I like their designs, but the instructions are pretty confusing. This was a simple dress to sew and it still had me scratching my head as I read each step. I would’ve had much better luck if they just gave me the pattern pieces and told me to figure it out on my own–which I inevitably did. Perhaps their other patterns are clearer?

Porcine Features

We took a spur-of-the-moment road trip to Pittsburgh this weekend to shop at Ikea. The Winter Blahs took hold of Walter and apparently perusing the Lacks, Expedits, Kojas, and Fialina is just the cure to what ails ya.

Sometimes, that place is just so overwhelming you need a couple of days to get it all in otherwise you leave with your head spinning and regretting you didn’t buy more yardage of all the lovely fabric.

One of the purchases I was excited about were 3 pillow forms marked down to $1.99/ea. They measure 26″ square and I thought they’d make perfect floor pillows for the toddler one.

So far, I’ve completed one. I machine appliqued for time and durability since they will be thrown around on the ground ensuring many, many washings. I wanted the base to be linen but thought better of it due to expense and grimey little boy hands. After scouring Joanns a bit, I found some Osnaburg to use instead (which I am now officially in love with and dream of marrying. Yes, I want to become Mrs. Osnaburg). It’s 100% cotton with some tooth/texture to it but not in a scratchy, uncomfortable way. It’s supposed to get better with each washing. It’s a beautiful stand-in to linen without using synthetics. Oh, and it’s LOADS cheaper ($3.99/yd or less if you have a coupon).

Two more pillows to go but this one has already been plopped on, scrunched up, and thrown about and all signs point to a thumbs up!

Yep, you guessed it, more applique.

Are you tired of this yet? It’s really become quite addictive. Let’s see if I can pull off the final product. Do you think I need to embroider a stinger on this here waspy fella?

What? No applique?! I decided to do a simple embroidered bunny to mix things up a bit. I’m telling you, this small handwork is great for quiet nights on the couch with your iPod shuffling through the tunes. Add a snuggly pup to your side and a cat at your feet and you’re set.

Thing-A-Day : 10 & 11

Doing some more applique. I embroidered the “5″ on linen then appliqued it onto the fabric on day 10. To get the circle, I used this simple tutorial. The uses for aluminum foil seem never ending.

On day 11, my plaid bird was hatched (insert groan here). If you are interested in using applique, I think this is the best and clearest tutorial so far. AND, it beats trying to iron down around the paper when you’re doing a small cut-out and using your big ole honkin’ iron–saves the burnt fingertips. I used this tutorial for the “W” I did on day 9 but opted out of outlining in embroidery.

Thing-A-Day : 9

Here’s my first real attempt at an applique. It’s a “W” in case you can’t tell. I cut it out of linen and used a paper stencil. I’m practicing for a more ambitious idea. Have you ever appliqued? It’s pretty methodical, but really quite relaxing. Well, that’s what I think now, ask me again when I attempt the more ambitious idea.

In other news, we had to throw away our produce and get a refund at our local grocery store due to this. That was a little strange.

Thing-A-Day : 7 & 8

Well, my internets have been down but I’m finally up and running again which is why 7 & 8 are together.

Yesterday I made Italian herb bread in my bread machine. Oh. So. Yummy.

Recipe (from The Bread Machine Book by Marjie Lambert no longer in print):
Ingredients for 1-lb loaf
2 T olive oil
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 t dried basil
1/2 t dried oregano
1/4 t dried rosemary
1/4 t dried thyme
1/2 c water
1/4 c milk
1 t sugar
1 t salt
2 c bread flour
1 1/2 t yeast

Heat oil in a small skillet. Add the garlic and herbs. Saute for 2 minutes, taking care not to let the garlic scorch or it will turn bitter. If necessary, remove the pan from the stove. The herbs will continue cooking in the oil’s heat.

Put the herb oil and remaining ingredients in bread pan in order suggested by your bread machine instructions. Set for white bread, medium crust. Press start.

I’m working on a project for my beloved little squishyface and his big boy bed. Today I cut various cotton fabrics and linen for some piecework on said project. Can’t wait to get started…