storytelling jars

Image: zakkalife

There is a project outlined in the book by Emily K. Neuburger ,Show Me a Story: 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children's Storytelling, that is titled Storytelling Jar and it stood out among many great ideas as the one I first wanted to try. The author says to think of them as storytelling terrariums and I loved that description.
As shown in the photos and explained in the instructions- you take a glass jar and design an interior. Set a scene or the stage to inspire a story through adding elements created with felt, colored paper, stone, beads etc..Then you use the jar you have created to inspire a story or poem.
The project allows for so much imagination and creativity and it can also evolve as you switch out or add elements and details. I am looking forward to mason jars of potential tales filling my home!

katie daisy

Artist Katie Daisy mixes watercolor and acrylic paints to create bright and lively hand lettered art that would instantly warm any space. Her uninhibited use of vibrant color combinations results in some of the happiest art I have ever seen and it can be found in her fantastic etsy shop- thewheatfield.

All images: thewheatfield on etsy

snowberries

There is something uniquely beautiful about snowberries. They are pretty and thrive even in the cold temperatures. I have a soft spot for them because I was a January bride and they were in my bouquet (looking lovely I might add) and centerpieces, but I know I thought they were interesting in arrangements I saw long before then.
After admiring some photographs online, I am thinking a bunch could be perfect on my mantel as soon as tomorrow....

Images: etsy, pinterest , theknot, shefinds/stylemepretty, marthastewart

gnomes

When I was little, I remember every time we visited this one family friend that I would make a beeline for their bookcase and pull out Gnomes by Will Huygen, illustrated by Rien Poortvliet. It is a guidebook to the secret world of the gnome and I was fascinated. The hefty volume presents an impressively illustrated study of gnome culture that is full of observations regarding everything from their appearance to their home life.
Recently, a Gnomes Deluxe Collector's Edition was released and I would love to get a copy. I imagine my kids will be just as interested in getting a peek into the lives of gnomes as I was once upon a time.

Images: applebybooks, amritpaldesign, abilliontastesandtunes

Happy Valentine's Day!

from Luna (via miss wallflower)

angel food cake for valentine's day

courtesy of bluekaleroad

I love Angel Food Cake with pink butter cream icing, but a more fancy-schmancy version is an Angel Food Cake with fresh whipped cream frosting and raspberries....either one would great for Valentine's Day dessert!

Recipe courtesy of Honest Cooking

Angel Food Cake {The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook}

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups (163g) powdered sugar
• 1 cup (90g) cake flour
• 1 1/2 cups (355mL) egg whites (roughly 10-12 egg whites), at room temperature
• 1 1/2 tsp (4,7g) cream of tartar
• 1 1/2 tsp (7,4mL) vanilla
• 1/4 tsp (1g) salt
• 1/4 tsp (1mL) almond extract
• 1 cup (192g) sugar
• Whipped Cream Frosting
• 2 cups (473mL) heavy cream
• 1/4 cup (32,5g) powdered sugar
• 1/8 tsp (0,5g) salt
• 1 tsp (5mL) vanilla or almond extract

Instructions

Angel Food Cake {The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook}

1. Stir the powdered sugar and cake flour together in a bowl and set it aside.
2. Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, vanilla, salt and almond extract at high speed until well mixed.
3. Continue beating the mixture and add the sugar, 2 Tbsp (24g) at a time, just until the sugar dissolves and the egg whites form stiff peaks.
4. Do not scrape the bowl while you beat the batter.
5. Fold in the cake flour mixture, 1/4 a time, using a rubber spatula, just until the flour disappears.
6. Pour the batter into an ungreased 10-inch (25,4cm) tube pan.
7. Cut through the batter with the spatula to break any air bubbles.
8. Bake the cake for 30 minutes or until the top of the cake springs back to the touch. Any cracks on the surface should look dry.
9. Invert the cake pan onto a funnel and let it cool completely.
10. Loosen the cake from the pan with a spatula and place it on a plate.

Whipped Cream Frosting

1. Beat the cream, sugar and salt at medium speed until stiff peaks form.
2. Fold in the vanilla or almond extract.
3. If a creamy whipped cream filling is desired, slice the cake in half using a serrated knife.
4. Spread a thin layer of whipped cream frosting in between the layers.
5. Then frost the outside of the angel food cake and using the spatula pull the frosting into attractive peaks.
6. Keep the frosting and the frosted desserts in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve them.
7. Slice the cake with a serrated knife so that the cake doesn’t compress while being cut.

grandpa sweaters

 

A couple of things I learned during this weekend's blizzard: 1) Although it certainly is not considered chic, nor intelligent to state-I enjoy television. I missed it, along with my heat. 2) Grandpa sweaters are warm and awesome. I love them and if I could choose one article of clothing as my favorite, it would be the grandpa cardigan- wool and with the elbow patches, please. 

 Images: rockyouruglychristmassweater, labelandthread, juxtapost,forever21, vanityfair shopbop

Z is for Moose

Can there ever be too many alphabet books? I think not and Z is for Moose, a collaboration of Kelly Bingham and Paul O. Zelinsky, is a perfect example of why there should always be new ABC texts. It is a truly fantastic addition to the crowded, but always popular, genre.
It mixes a silly to sophisticated visual humor with a memorable cast of characters, the protagonist being a Moose ever so eager to shine in his representation of the letter "M". His eagerness brings him bursting onto the scene as early as "D" and chaos ensues.
It is the perfect tale for the preschool /kindergarten audience. Those newly acquainted with the alphabet will laugh mightily at the disorder and zaniness and, speaking from experience, those decades away from their first meeting with the ABCs will snicker too.

Image: penpalsandpicturebooks

fancy face

 

The Paperself  cut paper eyelashes are something to behold. The most intricate designs to fashion onto your lids and bat your way into the spotlight. I have no idea if they are comfortable or easy to adhere, but I do know you can find a few styles for sale at Sephora right now....

 

Images: Paperself