How to Make Beautiful Poppy Flowers

I found this amazing tutorial on Grosgrain Fabulous Blog. Click HERE to go to the link to see more pictures and the tutorial and also check out below.

Materials:
1 yard of either Linen, Cotton or lightweight solid colored material
1-2 pin finding bars (I found mine at JoAnn fabric)
Fray Stop Spray (I found mine at Hancock fabric)
3"x3" felt
2"x2" piece of contrasting fabric for center
Thin tipped marker
iron
scissors
hot glue gun and glue
newspaper

Feeling Inadequate

Grad School is hard.

I have a professor who I think is not my biggest fan, and that is putting it lightly. Every time I speak up in class and try to give my not so eloquent answer to her confusing questions, she makes this face and says something like " That isn't what I was looking for. What does someone else think?" or "Hmmm...well kind of. Did you mean to say this..." and then she says something totally different and way more philosophical than anything I could ever muster up.

I also have to write papers for her class. I have to turn in one a week. Every week that I get mine back it is covered in red pen as if my paper was so horrible that she stabbed herself out of shear terror of my stupidity and bled all over my work. I look around at my classmates work and see comments like "nice work" or "good job" but my paper never has anything encouraging. I have always thought of myself as a pretty decent writer. I usually get great grades on my essays and papers and even scored 5.5 out of 6 on my GMAT writing section. (yeah me)

So why, I ask, do I suck so bad at this class? I have had this teacher before and got the same remarks. I have her for two classes this semester. I just wish she could maybe boost me up a bit after she bludgeons me into the depths of inadequate despair.

Is anyone out there an amazing English major/philosopher? Could someone please help me to maybe get a paper back with a smiley face or a gold star?

I think I am going to have my teacher read this article. Maybe at least then my paper will look like blueberry swirl.

A Free Giveaway

I got this coupon in my email today and I thought I would pass it along to you.

Just click HERE for the full coupon and then print it out. Expires 10/12/10

If you order online use the code LOVEFALL otherwise print coupon out and take it into your nearest store.


Have a beautiful fall day. My day is very very rainy-kind of like a monsoon. What is the weather like where you live?

Birdcage Chandelier

I want to make a cool art piece for my bedroom or dining room, and I found this cool bird chandelier idea online and thought "hey I want to make that."

The chandelier was part of an "eco makeover" of Kerry Washington's apartment for the June issue of O: The Oprah Magazine by the green living expert Danny Seo and his inspiring makeovers at his blog dailydanny.com.

This is how Danny says it is done...

I took a $9.99 paper light fixture from Ikea and ripped off the paper to expose the wire ribs. Then I wrapped the frame in chicken wire from Lowe's and added branches and craft store birds from Michael's.

"It was inspired by a $2,000 version I saw in an antique store and thought . . . 'I could make that.'"

Isn't this cool?

Don't Squish the Baby

Click HERE to see more funny dog and baby photos.

Happy Sunday. What are your plans today?

photos from Dirty Blonde Blog

Beauty and the Beast a la Vogue

Okay okay. I will stop with the Vogue photoshoots but just for right now. Once I find another magical piece, which I am sure wont take long, I will post it.

Here is Drew Barrymore in a beautiful piece done by Annie Leibovitz.

Editorial: Beauty & the beast

Magazine: VOGUE
Model: Drew Barrymore
Photographer: Annie Leibovitz

Wizard of Oz a la Vogue

Here is another amazing photo shoot from the extremely talented Annie Leibovitz. This Wizard of Oz shoot stars the adorable Keira Knightly.

So Magical. Such talent. Apparently I need to get a subscription to Vogue.

Have a fabulous weekend.

Alice in Wonderland a la Vogue

I googled "Alice and Wonderland Images" and found this awesome photo shoot done by Vogue. This fashion editorial shot was obviously done by photographer superstar Annie Leibovitz with model Natalia Vodianova for Vogue US December 2003.

Tom Ford

Nicolas Ghesquiere

John Galliano

Olivier Theyskens (Rochas)

Marc Jacob

Karl Lagerfeld

Jean Paul Gaultier

Viktor & Rolf

Christian Lacroix

Donatella Versace

post found on Trend Land

Happy Official First Day of Fall

FIRST day of FALL

Today I want everyone to do one of my favorite things to do in the crisp fall air.

1. Go on a walk and hopefully feel a leaf crunch under your feet

2. Go on a bike ride and feel the breeze on your face. For a real treat watch this video on bike rush hour in Amsterdam. If only Americans were so green.



3. Wear a really big scarf



Then make sure to eat pumpkin pancakes and watch "You've Got Mail." It is official take the day off of work day cause it is the first day of Fall, which really should be a holiday in my book.

I will most definitely go for a walk and maybe a bike ride and maybe watch "You've Got Mail" while I write my paper.

Funny Dog Clothes

I stumbled upon the amazingly fashionable doggie attire of Rover Dog, Aren't these cute coats, shirts, and ties funny? They are appropriately dressy without involving even a scrap of tulle or cheesy doggie tuxedo pants. For those of you who consider yourself opposed to dogs in clothes, I dare you to resist this kind of cute. Maybe Charlie should get one for church.

Click the photo to see all the photos....they are too funny and cute to miss.

{Photos from Rover Dog.}

Crock Pot Sweet Chili Chicken

Annaliese this is for you. This one uses like 5 ingredients and is way easy and really tasty. It has a real kick of sweet and a bit of spicy. I didn't come up with this recipe and hold no rights to it. Recipe from FreeQuickRecipes.com

Sweet Chili Sauce Chicken

Ingredients:

* 2 lbs chicken breast (i usually make this with like 3 frozen chicken breasts and just throw the frozen breasts in the crock pot)

* 3/4 cup sweet chili sauce


* 3/4 cup brown sugar


* 1 envelope dry onion soup mix


* 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
 (this adds a kick so if you don't like spicy maybe just ad a pinch)

* 1/4 cup water

* hot cooked rice

Directions

1. Put chicken in crock pot. Combine remaining ingredients, except rice, and pour over chicken. 2. Cook, covered, on low for 7 hours. Serve with hot rice.

Actual recipe found here

Mulled Apple Cider

I found this cute post from a blog I like called Ampersand Design Studios and they got it from
Link: Mulled Cider with Calvados from Gourmet, image by Romulo Yanes

More Photos Robbie and Sarah Stone Wedding

I found some other photos that Sarah's sister Karin took of the wedding and wanted to show you all the other cute things of the day.

And Aimee, I am not obsessed with weddings, I just like to post cute things and creative event planning.

Enjoy!

Clay statues of Robbie and Sarah. So cute. And these DIY bride and groom statues are a very creative way to top a wedding cake.

Simple and beautiful wedding cake. And tasty too.

This was the awesome brunch that I helped Shari put together. Yummy French pastries.

Soy Ginger Chicken in a Crock Pot

I made this recipe last night and it turned out great. If I can make it taste good then it must be a foolproof recipe. Try it out. I love using my crock pot. Now that the weather is cooling down I plan on making lots of meals in the crock pot. I am excited for soups. Yummy fall soups. Mmmm.

Recipe is from:

Soy-Ginger Chicken Prep: 30 minutes Total: 6 hours 30 minutes
Ingredients Serves 4. 1/3 cup soy sauce 2 tablespoons dark-brown sugar 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 2/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, plus sprigs for garnish 1 piece fresh ginger (about 2 inches long), peeled and cut into thin strips 5 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal (1 cup packed) 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper 4 chicken drumsticks and 4 thighs (about 2 1/2 pounds total), skin removed 2 medium carrots, thinly sliced crosswise 1 tablespoon cornstarch FOR SERVING cooked white rice	Directions In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, stir together soy sauce, sugar, garlic, cilantro, ginger, 1/2 cup scallions, vinegar, coriander, and pepper. Add chicken and carrots; toss to coat. Cover, and cook on low until chicken is tender, about 6 hours. Using a large spoon, skim off and discard any fat from surface of cooking liquid. In a 2-cup glass measuring cup, whisk cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water. Ladle 1 cup cooking liquid into measuring cup; whisk to combine. Pour into a small saucepan, and bring to a boil; cook until thickened, about 1 minute. With slow cooker turned off, stir in cornstarch mixture. Serve chicken with white rice, and garnish with cilantro sprigs and remaining 1/2 cup scallions.

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