Its Gotta Be Chunky

I love making jewelry, I started when I was living in Texas and got addicted to chunky jewelry. From its bling to the crosses and the colors, I was hooked. So ever since then I make necklaces and earrings for my family, friends, or just myself. Hoping that one day it would become more than a hobby.

This last piece I made was for my friend's birthday and once I finished it I knew I wanted to make necklaces in this color scheme again in the future.  Hope you like the necklace!! 

Gone For Too Long

Sorry I have been gone for too long, I recently had just started working a new job. Of course in between I took some wonderful photos of my best friend and her husband before she had her beautiful baby Cheyanne, and once Cheyanne was born too. I am proud to show you pictures of my beautiful god daughter.

Ramen Cabbage Coleslaw

I pretty much love salad or any type of slaws probably could eat it for almost every meal! The only things with slaws are that they tend to be high in sugar and fat. So when I tried a close family friend’s cabbage slaw I fell in love. For one it used OIL no MAYO!! (I hate MAYO bad experience as a kid.) Second it had my favorite Ramen noodles in it!! This is a great side dish for BBQ or family gatherings plus it's not a problem to sit out since no mayo is use. :O)

Here is the famous recipe…

INGREDIENTS:

Dressing:

½ cup olive oil

2 tbsp of sugar

3 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Flavor packet in the Ramen noodles

Slaw:

½ cup slivered almonds

½ of a large head of cabbage (green), you can add red cabbage as well, I added  2 cups.

4 green onions

Top Ramen noodles, crushed and uncooked

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut up green and red cabbage up into smaller pieces, as well as, green onions. Breakup Ramen noodles into broken small pieces. Combine all the ingredients together in a large bowl, don't forget the almonds, I buy them already to go.

2. Measure out all dressing ingredients in a separate bowl, once combined together add to the larger bowl with slaw and mix.

EAT THEN OR COOL IN FRIDGE UNTIL SERVING.

***You can always make the slaw ahead of time and put the dressing on right before taking to a party or serving.

ENJOY!

Grilled Cheese with a Kick and Twist

Tonight was one of those nights I wanted to be lazy especially after going to the gym, and wanted something yummy, somewhat low points (Weight Watchers) and calories. So I looked at some of the recipes that I have found on Pinterest, and a couple looked really yummy. I decided on going really easy, and stuck with a grilled cheese, but not just any grilled cheese, I chose a Jalapeño Popper grilled cheese. Oh yea I am in heaven! The original recipe called for some interesting ingredients, that I wasn't all too keen on wanting, so I substituted. You can see the original recipe by clicking the link on the bottom.

Serving size: 2

Ingredients:

4 slices of whole wheat bread (sourdough is amazing as well)

2 pieces of cooked reduced fat bacon (can sub turkey bacon as well)

1 jalapeño pepper

 2 tablespoons  Cream Cheese

1 tablespoon of butter

Directions:

1. First you want to turn your oven to broil and cook the jalapeños until the skins are black and blister. You then remove them from the oven and transfer immediately to plastic bag or sealed container to let them cool down so you can handle them. Once cooled down, about 10-20 minutes. Remove the blackened skins and cut into small pieces. While this is going on you can cook your bacon.
2. Spread cream cheese on each piece of bread, top one side of bread with the jalapeños and cut up bacon put that piece on top of other piece.
3. Butter each side of sandwich, and toast in pan over medium heat until bread is toasted, about 4-5 minutes each side.

 Enjoy!

Original recipe from: Cooking and Eating from Away. Find recipe here

How to Make a Diaper Cake

So instead of talking about food how about cake....diaper cake that is. I recently got ask by my best friend to be the god parent of her daughter that will be due in April. I was over joyed and honored by my best friend. I recently started going baby nuts with clothing and anything else baby. This is where the diaper cake comes in. I figured I show you how easy it is to make, so if you have to give diapers for a shower you can do in a unique way instead of just handing over a box.

Supplies:

• Diapers (approx. 72-75) I used Pampers, Size 1, swaddlers.
• Rubber Bands- Skinny ones I used
• Flat base- 12" Wilton cake base
• 15 oz bottle of baby powder.
• 4 oz cheap baby bottle
• Pop up glue dots or double sided mounting stickers

1. First I started rolling the diapers from the top where the design starts to the bottom. I did about 10 of them, make sure to roll them tight so the whole cake looks uniform. Once rolled put a rubber band around the middle of the diaper, don't make the rubber too tight so the diaper wont pucker.

2. I then put the powder in the middle of the Wilson base and took the rolled diapers and placed them around the powder and put another rubber band around those 10 diapers to make them stay in place. After that continue to wrap more diapers and then start on the second layer of the bottom half, that layer took about 14-15 diapers. 

IMPORTANT NOTES: Rolled diapers should have the ends facing in so they do not show, as well as, white ends up, color will possibly show on one end of diaper once rolled,  you want that facing downward.

3. The Final layer took 20-21 diapers, use a rubber band to secure, as you can see there is a pattern. :O)

4. After you finish the bottom cake layer start working on the last two: middle and top layers. First take one of the mounting stickers and attach it to the bottom of the 4 oz bottle once on  secure it to the top of the baby powder. Part of the baby powder will still be showing, acting as a center for the cake.

5. Once your center of your cake is secure start rolling some more diapers if you have not done so already. Then start on the middle layer of the cake, you will need about 8-9 diapers and don't forget to secure with a rubber band.

6. Use about 14-15 diapers for the last ring on the middle layer and secure with a rubber band.

7. Roll about 7 more diapers for the final layer on top. It should cover most of the bottle only the top inside will show but once you decorate it, it will be hidden. Secure that last layer with a rubber band and you are officially done with creating you diaper cake.

The process only took me about an hour.

Now the fun part starts, DECORATING!! This is all up to you, based on theme, sex of baby, and so on. 

GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY DECORATING!