Fresh Flowers Are Never Overrated

    

Until spring arrives, and flowers start blooming in the yard around the house, I will gladly purchase cheap flowers to scatter around the house in random vases. The skies are finally blue, and I'm going to fake spring indoors as long as I have to!

Chicken Fried Rice

This was my first attempt at making Chicken Fried Rice, and one of the few times I have tried to cook an Asian style meal. I have shied away from Asian recipes because I don't have a wok (I subbed in this versatile Le Creuset pot), and honestly am intimidated.  Well, that's not going to stop me any more! Monday I had a craving for Chicken Fried Rice, and thanks to the internet, I was able to figure out how to make it. Did you know that the cooked rice needs to be at least 1 day old?? So instead of having this Monday, I had to wait until Tuesday. It was well worth the wait, and knowing the quality of ingredients in my meal. I read a lot of recipes, but ended up going with a modified version of this one from Food Network. The directions were the clearest, most detailed, and easiest of any I could find. Here's a pic of the finished product, and my recipe:

Ingredients

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 cups cooked and thinly sliced chicken pieces

Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 teaspoon powdered ginger

5 whole scallions, thinly sliced on the bias, white and green separated

1 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup diced carrots, raw
8 ounce can bean sprouts, drained

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons soy sauce

4 cups cold cooked brown rice, at least 1 day old

Directions

Heat a large heavy bottomed non stick pot or wok over high heat. When hot add 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally until lightly browned. Add the garlic, ginger and scallion whites and stir fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the peas, carrots, and bean sprouts. Cook until just the peas are just defrosted but still crisp. Transfer contents of skillet to a large bowl.

Return the pan to the heat, lower to med-high and add 2 more tablespoons of oil. Add the eggs. Stir the eggs constantly and cook until almost set but still moist, then transfer egg to the bowl. Break the eggs up with a spoon or a spatula. 

Return the pan to the heat and add remaining oil. Add the rice to the pan and use a spoon to break up any clumps. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and stir fry the rice to coat evenly with oil and soy sauce. Stop stirring, and let the rice cook undisturbed until it gets slightly crispy, about 2 minutes. Stir the rice again, breaking up any new clumps. Remove from heat. Stir in the scallion greens. Add the chicken and vegetable mix to the pan, as well as the eggs. Stir all of the ingredients together, taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper or soy sauce, if necessary. Serve.

This was so delish, I am going to go have some of the leftovers right now!! Yummmy!

Featured In An Etsy Treasury

Carol, from Kohn Designs, put together this bright and well thought out treasury on Etsy yesterday. She was so kind to include my recently listed Autumn Pumpkin note cards. To view the treasury and the items, click the image below.

I checked out the Kohn Designs Etsy shop and I love this Urban Angle Bag. It'd be perfect for the beach, and it's super stylish as well. 

                                       

New Design, Autumn Pumpkins

When I see pumpkins, it reminds me of the coziness of Fall, of Halloween and Thanksgiving, the brilliant changing of leaves, and family. Send these notes to loved ones, or use them as an invite to your Fall get together. They also make a thoughtful gift. Each one is carefully printed with a hand carved stamp of my design.
♥ Purchase them here in my Etsy store ♥

Back To School Buzz

These awesome back to school wares from Kate's Paperie make me wish I was headed back to school:

L to R: (top) pencil cup, leather bound dictionary, ruler notebook

(bottom) usb hubman, 6 filex folders, paper clips

Isn't that pencil sharpener cup holder just the coolest, and the Hubman has been on my wish list for awhile! Kate's Paperie is located in NYC, but has a wonderful online store to peruse and purchase goodies if you are not going to be in Manhattan anytime soon. I have been swooning over their products for awhile now.

What A Nice Surprise!

I was notified today that I had won a $25 gift certificate to the Cupcake Social online store, and that just made my day. There were so many neat cupcake liners, sprinkles, toppers, and so much more to chose from. If you are a lover of cupcakes, you have GOT to check out this store, www.thecupcakesocial.com. Here is what I finally decided on:

L to R: silver fir tree toppers, assorted red liners, cold one toppers, red foil liners, free-wheeling toppers

I'll be sure to make a post when the baking is done. I loooove decorating sweets, and this is going to be fun! I can't wait to put those retro silver fir trees in a mint icing on a cupcake baked in the red foil liners. I've also had my eyes on those beer can toppers, they'll be perfect for a tailgate. So many ideas...

Featured On Amee Couture

Amee Couture is a lovely blog, created by Amy, and is dedicated to "wedding themes, color, and inspiration." It's darn cute and I have enjoyed perusing over her treasuries. She put together a delightful citrus themed collection, and was so kind to include my Garden Party Notecards. Go check out her blog and see for yourself. Thanks Amy!!

Featured In An Etsy Treasury

Colleen from Forever Tuesday featured my Garden Party Notecards in this precious treasury. I looked at all of the items and found some new favorites. 

Inspired on Etsy - Frida Kahlo Treasury

Nickolas Muray
‘Frida on White Bench, New York’
1939

My Aunt Beth first introduced me to the artwork and life of Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo. I was totally intrigued by this woman who rocked the unfashionable facial hair, and became aware that quite a few others were into her as well. While on a road trip to visit my family early this summer, Jake and I spent a night in Nashville, TN. We checked out the highly recommended neighborhood of Hillsboro Village and the super funky shop, Pangaea, located right in the heart of it. They had quite a selection of Frida Kahlo inspired goods, and I picked up a neat tote with her picture on it to give as a hostess gift to my Aunt Beth. That is when I first became aware that she is a bit of a folk hero, and yes the crafty Etsians have caught the bug. Here is a little treasury of Frida Kahlo and Mexican folk art inspired goodies. Click the image below to check out the treasury on Etsy and for more info about the items.

Even Google has the bug! I was lucky enough to see this on Google front page that day, and of course I forwarded it to my Aunt ;)

Busy as a Bee

I can't believe I haven't blogged in a week and a half. Time just flies by doesn't it? I have been very busy though, with work and Jake and I went on a camping trip. We spent two nights at the Delaware Seashore State Park, the trip was fun but we will not be camping there again any time soon. Unfortunately I forgot the battery to my camera, so I have no pictures to share, sorry! I have also been thinking of new designs, and started to create and test print a stamp today. It's a cute design with 3 pumpkins, perfect for fall. I've been looking around on Etsy today, and found some lovely things. I hope you have had a great weekend! ~Kate

ps... there were two baby deer in my backyard just a minute ago, soooo cute!

Fresh and Delicious

- Lamb chops
- Lettuce, corn and tomatoes from the Stepped In What? stand

Dinner tonight was so delish! Everything was prepared in the easiest way, and we devoured every bite. Luckily it wasn't too hot and we were able to grill the chops, which were basted with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. The corn was boiled with a little sugar added to the water. Lettuce and tomatoes were tossed with a simple salad dressing and grated parm we keep on hand.

Eat this!

I am in love with this Monrian inspired cake made by Cakes To Remember in Boston, MA. This was found on a post on one of my favorite blogs, Cake Wrecks. Love, love love....

A Rainbow Of Cards

It has been suggested by my best customer (Mom!) that I should offer the Garden Party cards in a pack of multi colors, not just a single or a few like I have been. Well I took her advice and photographed them today, taking full advantage of a sunny afternoon. I think they look terrific and I just might have to include this for the other prints. As usual, Mom knows best ;) You can see more information and buy them here in my Etsy store.

Featured In An Etsy Treasury

My yellow Birds on a Wire note cards were included in this Etsy treasury. Yay!

Packaging the Cupcake Toppers

Whew! I finally executed my first packaging project, and at first was completely perplexed on how to present these so that they could be sold in a store. I'm happy with how it came out. What do you think?