The Lovely Cupboard

Mango Relish

2013-05-13T06:05:00.001-05:00

Mangoes are the fruit that most remind me of my childhood. My dad used to buy half a dozen at a time and cut several for one sitting. My brother and I would fight over the "fat pieces", leaving the skinny pieces to the whoever was slowest on the draw. Dad would look away or get something from the kitchen, and we'd usually finish the plate. He would feign irritation and surprise and then go cut another mango, this one for himself. (Maybe this was just a ploy to get us to eat fruit. If so, it worked.)

In Texas you can get mangoes cheaply most of the year. Picking them is easy. You can smell a ripe one without ever holding it up to your nose. And they are delicious. Juice running down your chin and you don't even care kind of delicious. Sometimes the flesh can have a stringy quality, but the good ones-oh the good ones-just melt in your mouth. Every summer when I'm home, I grab a bag full of mangoes for my yearly feast.

When Stu and I were dating, he told me that he had never eaten a mango. "Excuse me? What was that? I think I heard you incorrectly...It sounded like you said you have NEVER eaten a mango?" I later realized that a lot of people in the Midwest did not eat mangoes. This was shocking to me, but after trying most of the ones sold here-even in season- I understood why. I haven't had great luck buying mangoes this far north. They lack all the color, sweetness, and smell of the fruit I remember as a kid. I came up with this relish as a way to disguise some of the Midwest mangoes' shortcomings and still enjoy their milder flavor.

Ingredients:

-1 large or 2 small mangoes

-1 cucumber, diced

-1/2 red onion, minced

-1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

-1 red bell pepper, diced

-Juice from half a lime

-1 tablespoon honey

-pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Slice down the sides of the mango avoiding the pit. Score squares with a knife into the flesh of the fruit. Then flip the skin, so the flesh of the fruit separates. Use a small knife to cut the fruit squares from the skin.

2. Peel and dice cucumber. Finely mince ½ of red onion. Dice red bell pepper. Finely chop cilantro.

3. Add lime juice, honey, and a pinch of salt to the veggies and fruit. Stir well, cover, and chill for at least an hour.

This is great...

-As a dip with tortilla chips

-On top of tilapia

-In fish tacos

-As a side to grilled chicken and rice

This relish is summer in a bowl. Really, it should be served with chips and a cocktail on the beach in some tropical place. Since an exotic vacation is nowhere in my near future, I might have to make this little relish frequently and let my taste buds do the traveling for me.

I'm curious...What's your relationship with the mango? Never knew him, long lost fruit love, or just a tropical fruit fling you indulge in every once in a while?

DIY: Gemma's Birdhouse Mobile

2013-05-06T21:46:00.003-05:00

The fact that I am even posting this week is practically a miracle. Working full time with a newborn at home (who still wakes up for night feedings) is wearing me pretty thin. Obviously blog life comes a distant third to keeping Gemma alive and staying employed. Let me be honest for a minute and tell you that cleaning my house and personal hygiene come in lagging behind at 4th and 5th place. Too much? I know. It's pretty bad...

Relief is coming; summer is so close I can taste it!! Sleeping in, snuggling with baby G, and wearing yoga pants all day are just some things awaiting me in the blessed month of June. Also waiting in the wings is a notebook full of projects and recipes that I'm dying to try out and share with you guys. I'm excited to get back in to the swing of all things blog related, but I still don't know exactly how I will balance being a mom, working, and blogging long term. If anyone has any tips, I'd love to hear them.

This is the tale of the little mobile that almost wasn't...

Crafty mom-to-be wants to save money and make a unique mobile that matches her nursery.

She gets a "brilliant" plan, makes a list, and confidently marches off to the craft stores. Fast forward several hours...

Yarn and glue are strewn all over her dining room table, and a piece of junk that looks like it's been rescued from a dumpster emerges. Curse words are uttered and a very pregnant, hormonal woman cries as her husband tries in vain to console her.

Take two. New idea, sans yarn.

"This time my plan WILL work," pregnant woman tells herself on the third trip to Hobby Lobby.

Two days later with fishing wire floating all over the house, she throws an embroidery hoop across the house narrowly missing her frightened dachshund.

Fast forward three months...baby is here. Baby is adorable and turns six weeks old. There is still no mobile hanging over the crib. To be continued...
Finally on my last week of maternity leave, I decided that it was now or never. Either I would make a mobile or forever be mocked by the blank space above the crib. I had NO plan, little money that I was willing to spend, and a whole lot of frustration to keep me company in aisles of Michael's.

Somehow, by sheer luck, I happened upon the golden ticket: a floral wreath form. The reason the birdhouse mobile didn't fail like the others is that the wreath form is perfectly built for a mobile frame with pre-drilled holes for strings to hang. So simple, right??? Yet it took me over 15 hours and $40 of wasted material to discover this...

Supplies (purchased at Michael's):
-floral wreath form ($8.99)
-colored cording (found in jewelry section $2.99-4.99)
-wooden tree house ($2.99) and cardboard birds (clearance bin-$1.99 for 12)
-paints and paint brushes
-felted wool balls for embellishments ($5.99)

DIY Steps:
1. I used colored floral wire to string chords across the wreath form. I twisted the wire tightly enough to support the tree house. (NOTE: You actually need to PAINT anything you will be using first. But given my failed attempts, I wanted to make sure this would work before investing even a minute more than I had to.)
2. I cut holes in the little cardboard birds.
3. Toothpicks helped to hold the birds as I painted both sides. They were also helpful when drying. When propped up on the toothpicks, both sides of the birds could dry at the same time.
3. Once all the hanging items were painted, I strung the cording through the holes at varying lengths and tied knots to secure in place.
4. Lastly, I glued the felted wool balls to the top of the frame to embellish.

I ended up spray painting the gold floral place mats that I used for Christmas decor and hanging behind the mobile. They add a nice bit of color to the white wall and fill the space better that just the mobile alone would.

OK. I need a little comment love...Even if you think this is the ugliest mobile to grace the ceiling of a nursery, I need some reassurance that all the work was indeed finally worth it. Tell me lies if you have to. Please.

Fight for Them Campaign

2013-05-01T21:47:00.000-05:00

This post is the first of its kind on The Lovely Cupboard. I am sharing a cause that is very close to my heart. Like so many, when I first heard about the epidemic of human trafficking and the horrible atrocities happening to women and girls across the globe, I was stunned. I felt heart broken but also paralyzed by the weight of such a global crisis. What could I do in the face of something so terrible and so far reaching? Mindy Greaves, founder of the Fight for Them Campaign, saw the effects of human trafficking first hand while living overseas and was moved to act. She says, "I can't do everything, but I must do something."

Mindy founded Fight for Them which makes beautiful handcrafted jewelry. Every piece of jewelry has one “pearl of hope” as well as the initials of a victim that has been rescued out of trafficking. When jewelry is purchased, 100% of the profits go directly to three organizations working in Southeast Asia to rescue, counsel, and rehabilitate girls from the sex trade: IHH International, She Rescue Home, and Zoe.

Fight for Them even has bracelets and necklaces sized for little girls. These would make great gifts and daily reminders of those who are living lives of hope and freedom after such bondage.

This is a story that I want to share with Gemma when she's old enough...To teach her that she is precious and priceless and worthy of love. To teach her that some are not given the love they deserve, and we fight for "the least of these" who cannot fight for themselves. Here's a little more from the heart of Mindy Greaves...

WHY WE FIGHT

My name is Mindy Greaves and I am the founder of the “Fight for Them” campaign. I am a mommy to 3 small children and my husband and I know that sometime in our future we will adopt another daughter. While my husband was stationed in Guam, we were able to see the devastation of human trafficking in Southeast Asia firsthand.

There are 27 million victims of human trafficking. 32 billion dollars a year are made off their bodies and over half of them are children. Every 30 seconds another victim is captured.

The idea that our future daughter could face these tragedies placed an extreme heaviness on me. While researching I read this quote, “Evil prevails when good men do nothing.” I knew that to cower from this giant would be to fail the one who had no voice. This resonated in me and I knew there had to be something that even I, a stay at home mom with a heavy heart, could do.

I felt compelled to fight for every victim of human trafficking the way I would fight for my own children. I had this burden for a reason, not to be pushed away but to draw me to a place of urgency, a place that would compel me to fight. From that moment on I have had a fight in me that cannot be hindered. I may not be able to do everything but I MUST do something.

I am inviting you to join the fight.

PLEASE watch the above video...You'll be moved. Perhaps to help out. Perhaps to pray. Perhaps to do both.

*All photos by Lark Photography, Kansas City

*Jewelry design/logo by Lindsay Letters

Boring Breadbox Gets Cheeky

2013-04-28T21:57:00.000-05:00

I don't think I need to say much in this post; my bread box says it all. I figured that my bread, bagels, and croissants deserved a home of their own, but the plain white number I ordered looked a bit boring. My sassy little mint green coffee canister sat next to it and gave me some inspiration.

I planned on painting "BREAD", but the "mmm..." just came to me. It reminds me how I truly feel about the contents inside...not that I ever needed an invitation to eat bread.

This DIY was pretty easy and took about 45 minutes (not including dry time.) I used acrylic paint and then applied a semi gloss coating (find in the model car paint section) to seal the paint.

1. Clean and dry the bread bin.
2. Tape stencils in place.
3. Use a stencil foam brush to apply paint.
4. Use a small paint brush to correct any smudges and correct letters as needed. (Allow to dry for a couple hours.)
5. Apply clear coating and allow to dry completely.

Such a small change, but it makes me happy every morning when I see it. Feels like my bread box is talking to me. Sometimes I talk back...

Vietnamese Cabbage Salad & Whine

2013-04-21T20:04:00.000-05:00

My life of eating dairy free continues...I will try not to waste your time whining about how I had to purge my fridge of artisan cheeses or pass by delicious flavors of ice cream at the market this week. (Brown butter almond brittle with sweet cream, anyone? Uh-huh. Try passing that up with out crying just a little.) Honestly I am really having to be creative in my cooking and eating these days. It's showing me just how much I depend on dairy in the kitchen and how prevalent it is in my diet. Because Asian cuisine is mostly dairy free, we've been eating a lot of it lately. We love it all: Chinese, Thai, Korean, Japanese. We also enjoy a good bowl of Pho at our favorite Vietnamese joint in town.

When we were there recently, I ordered their cabbage salad (along with Pho and a banh mi. I'm eating for two, remember?) It was nothing short of amazing. I scarfed it down at an embarrassing rate and annoyed Stu the whole time with comments like, "This is too good to be a salad!! How can I make this? Ok, I know I taste fish sauce...Yep there's lime and cilantro. What are these... crispy onion strings?? Praise the lord!" It was culinary discovery that quickly turned to copy cat obsession.

I veered away from the dressing they used toward a more Thai influenced sauce with peanuts and curry. Maybe it's not traditional Vietnamese, but it worked. This dressing would be so good as a dipping sauce for grilled shrimp or even spread on a sandwich.

Salad Ingredients:

-3 cups shredded cabbage (Napa cabbage would work best, but I used white cabbage.)

-1 cup shredded red cabbage

-3 carrots, grated

-Handful of snow peas

-1/2 cup diced green onion

-1/2 cup sliced almonds

-1 cup crunchy onions/onion strings

-2/3 cup of chopped cilantro

**Optional** 1-2 cups cooked and shredded chicken

Dressing Ingredients:

-Juice of 1 lime

-2 tablespoons red curry paste

-1 cup natural or organic crunchy peanut butter (It needs to be natural, so that it has the oil on top.)

-1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

(Not pictured:)

-1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

-1 tablespoon fish sauce OR 2 teaspoons soy sauce

-2/3 cup water

-1 tablespoon sugar

Assembling the dressing:

1. Whisk all ingredients together until emulsified. You could shake in a large Mason jar if you have one handy.

Assembling the Salad:

1. Wash and dry all vegetables. Grate carrots and chop green onions (white and green parts) and cilantro.

2. Mix two cabbages and spread out in a serving dish. I laid each of the remaining ingredients in little piles before dressing. I think it looks best to serve that way. Also, I left the chicken on the side, so people could add if they wanted or leave it off for a truly vegan dish.

3. Pour dressing on top right before serving and mix together with tongs.

In life news, my maternity leave ended this week. I would say I have mixed feelings, but I don't. I am pouty and sad about it. My cousins and friends living in Canada told me that most new moms there are given between 6-12 months maternity leave. MONTHS!!! They can't believe we only get 6-8 weeks in the States. It does seem too soon, especially after a c-section. I'm still very sore and have a ways to go before I will feel normal doing everyday activities. Oh well, back to the daily grind I guess. I only have one month of teaching until summer break, but one month away from Gemma feels like a lifetime. Thankfully Stu will be watching her most days, and family or friends will watch the days he is working...and I will rush home the very minute that contract time is up, so that I don't miss another second with her.

I'm intentionally keeping any pictures of her out of site during work, or I might just burst into tears and call home 17 times a day. Maybe after being gone all day, 3:00 am feedings won't be such a chore since they let me snuggle her just a few minutes more.

Weeknight Dinner: Pasta Primavera

2013-04-15T14:24:00.001-05:00

I have very sad news to share about something I've been dealing with lately... I have had to say goodbye to a dear friend of mine. I have spent almost every day of the last three decades enjoying the company of my friend. She goes by the name of dairy. Gemma doesn't seem to be tolerating it at all, and since I'm a human milk machine these days I have to cut all dairy out of my diet. I know it's best for my baby, no question. I'm doing it. Fine. But I'm not happy about it. Not so bad, you say? Well, let me tell you I have literally had dreams about cheese and butter. Sadly, I think I could sooner give up carbs than dairy. Plus we have just entered into ICE CREAM SEASON!!!! I had grand plans of making my own ice cream this summer and doing a whole series here on the blog about it. Scrap that plan! (By the way, the use of caps and exclamation points are supposed to be showing frustration verging on anger-not excitement. Just wanted to point that out in case it's not already glaringly obvious.)

I had to resist every natural urge in my body not to douse this dish in cream and pour on the Parmesan. (Ahhh, that blessed marriage of cream and cheese! May they live in wedded bliss for ever and ever, amen.) However, this vegan primavera allows all the flavors of fresh organic vegetables to shine through with hints of lemon and basil plus a little kick from crushed red pepper. It's a really simple, stripped-down-to-the-basics kind of dish. Vegan? What?! Yes, it's vegan. If I had put that in the title, would you have continued reading? Probably not, I'm guessing.

Hear me out...If ever there was a time for a medley of fresh seasonal vegetables to anchor a meal, springtime is it. Head to the farmer's market and grab a basket full of organic produce. Your insides will thank you and so will the farmers.

Ingredients:

-Pasta (I used spaghetti, but linguine or fettuccine would work.)

-1/2 onion, diced

-2 cloves garlic, crushed

-Bell pepper

-Small yellow squash

-Zucchini

-Crimini mushrooms (or any mushrooms)

-1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes

-1 cup fresh basil leaves

-Juice from one lemon

-1/3 cup plus three tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

-Crushed red pepper

-Sea salt

Instructions:

1. Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add 1 tablespoon of sea salt to boiling water and prep pasta as package directs.

2. While pasta water is heating, saute diced onion and crushed garlic in one tablespoon of oil over low medium heat. Cook until onions turn translucent.

3. Finley chop fresh basil and set aside. Chop vegetables and add with additional 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan. Increase heat to medium. *Be sure to use a large pan so that vegetables aren't crowded and end up steaming instead of sauteing. A wok is ideal.) Add in crushed red pepper to taste. I used about a teaspoon and then added more to each plate later.

4. Once pasta has cooked, quickly drain and add 1/3 cup olive oil, lemon juice, chopped basil, and 2 teaspoons of salt. Gently toss in sauteed vegetables to the pasta. Plate with a few springs of basil on top.

*You may need to add salt and crushed pepper to taste.

This is the second week in a row that I used lemon and basil in a recipe. Can you tell how much I love them? Last week's Meyer lemon and basil mini icebox cakes were a sweet take on the combo. (I can't even look back at that post now...oh, the cream. I wish I could bathe in it. Gahhh!) This week lemon and basil go savory. I'm thinking of trying them in sun tea since I have so much around the house. I'll let you know how that goes.

With all the colors in this dish, you really get to eat with your eyes as well as your mouth. You could use any vegetable you like. Asparagus and carrots could be substituted for the squash and zucchini. If you wanted to make it a meal fit for a carnivore, add some grilled chicken. This would be a great pasta dish to enjoy outside if you're grilling out on the patio. Al fresco dining is a big perk of spring time. This year I'm planning to do a lot more of it than I did last year.

PS: Coconut milk is disgusting, and it's a sad, sad substitute for my beloved 2%.

PPS: Chocolate almond milk is just barely tasty enough to pass as a treat.

PPSS: I miss ice cream.

DIY: Spring Centerpiece

2013-04-10T09:07:00.003-05:00

Why hello there! I'm Shan, the redheaded counterpart of the duo that is Eat. Sleep. Make. My sis-in-law, Jen, and I spend a ridiculous amount of time making things, talking about making things and thinking about making things. We go shopping and say to each other, "Hmm, we could make that." I'm sure most of you can relate to that, too!

When Heather asked us if we wanted to be the newest members of her team, I think our response to each other was , "HECK YES!" Needless to say, we are super excited for the chance to hang out with this girl on a regular basis. We think she's awesome. How could we not?

So, now, let's get to business! I absolutely love throwing small parties in the spring and summer... using my patio in the back and my front porch. Sometimes I just can't seem to get fresh flowers to do what I want, so I made this modern, yet oh-so romantic centerpiece using silk flowers. I love that I will be able to dress up a table more than once with this!

You'll need:

-A wooden box or bowl

-Wood burner

-Styrofoam sphere slightly larger than your box

-Glue gun

-Moss mat

-Silk flowers
Keep in mind that you get what you pay for when it comes to silk flowers! It's good to splurge on the more expensive ones, but try to use a coupon or wait for a sale. (I got mine 50% off at Michael's.)

I chose to go with a classic chevron design on my wood box. I sketched the design with a pencil first and then burned over it. I used the wood burner like a marker to fill in the triangle. This took some time and patience, but I love the way it turned out!

My box was about 5 inches wide in the center, and my sphere was 6 inches in diameter, so obviously, I needed to shave 1/2 inch from each side of the sphere. I actually just used my giant bread knife to do it. (I kinda made a royal mess, but it worked!) After that, I covered the top of the sphere with a cut of the moss mat using a glue gun.

I used a pair of needle nose pliers to poke holes through the moss and the foam so I could start sticking my flowers in it. If you mess up a hole or put one where you don't want it, no big deal... the moss covers back up nicely.

Now, just place all your flowers where you want them! I chose fluffy peonies so I wouldn't have to use as many flowers to get a full looking bouquet.

Two-thirds of the way through this project I decided I hated it and that it was going to be the ugliest disaster of all crafting disasters. BUT... I decided to push on and see what happened. And wouldn't you know.. I LOVE IT! I can't wait for all my flowers to start blooming now so I can throw my first spring party on the patio!

The sun was setting, but I just couldn't get over how romantic the table looked, so I decided to throw these photos in, too.

Thank you so much for joining us here at The Lovely Cupboard! We look forward to hanging out with you all again soon! xoxo

- Shannon

Meyer Lemon and Basil Icebox Cakes

2013-04-08T12:08:00.000-05:00

Cakes that don't require baking are a dangerous thing...Ever since I saw the cover of Sweet Paul magazine, I've been wanting to make an icebox cake. We finally had a weekend with gorgeous sunny weather in the midwest, and I felt the need to use Meyer lemons. And basil. Oh, basil. My favorite herb on the planet! This is the time of year when you can get a huge bunch at the farmer's market for just a couple dollars. (Yes, I know many of you never pay for basil because you grow gads of it in your own back yard. Don't talk to me, please.) These little no-bake mini cakes use flavors that scream springtime.

Icebox "cakes" are assembled from cookies and cream, store in the fridge overnight, and come out tasting like you spent hours slaving over the perfect dessert. Hello new favorite recipe!! I made mini cakes, but you could use this same recipe to make one larger cake.

I can't believe how easy it was. The hardest part was waiting 8 hours to eat. (Confession: I did not wait 8 hours before I tried one. However, the ones I ate the next day were so much better.) When they come out of the fridge, the cookies have magically and wonderfully "transformed" into the consistency of cake. Seriously. I felt like I had witnessed a miracle...

Ingredients:

-3 Meyer lemons (Regular lemons would be fine too.)

-Fresh basil

-1 jar of lemon curd (find in grocery aisle with jams and jellies)

-1 and ½ cup heavy whipping cream

-8 ounces mascarpone cheese

-1 and ½ cup powdered sugar

-1/2 cup cane sugar

-2 packages thin wafer cookies (I used Anna’s ginger thins.)

Instructions:

1. Make basil simple syrup by adding 2/3 cup water, ½ cup cane sugar and roughly ½ cup basil leaves to a pot. Bring to a slow boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Be sure to cool completely before adding to cream later.

2. While simple syrup is heating, zest and juice the lemons. Set both aside.

3. Add mascarpone cheese and powdered sugar to stand mixer (or use hand mixer) and blend until powder is absorbed. Add four tablespoons of lemon juice and two teaspoons of lemon zest. Beat on low just until liquid is absorbed.

4. Next add 4 tablespoons of the cooled basil simple syrup and cream to the mixer. Beat on high until stiff peaks form. Do not over beat.

5. Assemble cakes in this order: Cookie, cream, cookie, lemon curd, cream, cookie, cream, cookie, lemon curd, cream, cookie, cream.

6. Cover in airtight containers and place in fridge for 8 hours. RIght before serving, sprinkle tops with finely chopped basil and lemon zest.

Yields: 12 mini cakes or 1 large cake.

This was a weekend of cake and yard work. Stu spent hours on the beds, remulching and pulling weeds. I even ventured off to the local nursery, a place I truly should never be allowed. Anyone remember Heathcliff Huxtable's love of the hardware store? He'd come home with tools that lured him in. He would dress the part of a handyman and then end up messing things up worse than they were before. All the while Claire just shook her head, knowing that money was being flushed down the drain and a call to a real handyman would be necessary to fix Cliff's mistakes.

That is EXACTLY how I feel at the nursery. I am enamored by the wonder of plants, bulbs, flowers-heck, even organic potting soil. I get home and have no clue what I am doing. Well, today a friend just happened to be working at the nursery, and I soaked up every word she said. The whole time I tried to act confident, hiding my nerves and the nagging thought that this is just another plant massacre in the making. I spent the whole drive home just praying that these "no fuss" perennials can stay alive in my care...I have my doubts, but the plants are in the ground.

Am I the only one obsessed with doing something at which they are clearly a failure?

Texas Caviar

2013-04-03T15:22:00.004-05:00

This post sponsored by Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing.

I realize that to most people, Texans seem like a pompous breed who never shut up about the glories of their state. As a native Texan living in the Midwest for the last decade, I'm sure I have deserved the eye rolls and slightly annoyed shrugs when I rave about kolaches, REAL Tex Mex, Longhorn football, and the magical utopia of a city named Austin. However, we Texans take our chips and dip extremely seriously...and so should you. (See the cockiness coming out? Man, it just pops up out of no where and feels like a comfortable old sweater.)

Texas bean dip, or Texas caviar, can help anchor an entire meal. You can serve it with fish, on top of tacos, or even wrap it in lettuce for a vegetarian lettuce wrap. We make it for almost every party we host, and usually the bowl is ~~scraped~~ licked clean by the end of the night. A certain BFF of mine, who shall not remain nameless calls me nearly every month to get the recipe again since she loves it so much, but for some reason has never taken the time to write it down. (Tanya, this post is for you.)
Ingredients:

-1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
-1 can black eyed peas (drained and rinsed)
-1 can sweet yellow corn
-1 can white corn
-1/2 red onion
-1 red bell pepper
-fresh cilantro
-1/2 cup Kraft Zesty Italian dressing
-1/2 cup sour cream
-2 tablespoons ranch powder mix (I use Hidden Valley.)
-2 teaspoons hot sauce (I use Frank's Red Hot)
(Sometimes I'm feeling super fancy and add a diced mango in the mix. Great in the summer time.)

Instructions:

1. Open beans, peas, and corn. Drain, rinse, and drain excess water. Add to a large bowl.

2. Finely chop onion, bell pepper, and a handful of cilantro. Add to the bowl.

3. In a small bowl stir dressing, sour cream, hot sauce, and ranch powder until combined.

4. Add to veggies. Cover and chill for an hour before serving.

Anytime I make this dip Stu hangs out in the kitchen so as not to leave any lag time from when it's finished to when he can eat. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the whole bowl will be consumed during one episode of Sports Center. (Oh, do you see that lil' cutie just chillin' the background? Bonus!)

As soon as I was approached with the Kraft campaign, I was excited and knew exactly what I was going to make. I buy the Zesty Italian dressing every time I make Texas caviar. Using dressings like this in dips is great because it's a quick way to add oil, vinegar, and seasonings without measuring each out individually.

Have you seen the ad below with the oh-so-hunky man? Hah! Am I offended by their overt use of the male figure to lure females to the joys of salad dressing? No. Men have Hardee's, Victoria Secret and a million other commercials. It's time we had one too, ladies. Zesty!

Top Weeknight Dinners

2013-04-01T08:04:00.002-05:00

I thought it would be fun to do a round up of the most viewed weeknight dinners posted here on The Lovely Cupboard. If you're like me, the question,"What's for dinner?" can make you a little panicky. Thank goodness for blogs and Pinterest; now I have lots of recipes on my to-cook list. If you need a few for your own dinner idea stash, check out the ones below. They've been some of our family's favorites and apparently more than a few of you liked them too! (Click on the titles to head to the recipes.)

Asian Pulled Pork Sliders Spicy Crab CakesPasta with Clams and White Wine SaucePesto PizzaGnocchi with White Cheddar and KaleFried Polenta with Mushroom Cream SauceLentil Tostadas and Mexicali CornCurried Shrimp with Quinoa

For those of you who have followed the blog for a while, I would LOVE to hear if you've made any of these and your thoughts. Maybe you came up with way to tweak it and make better. Maybe you made one and absolutely hated it. In turn you thought, "Thanks a lot, lady. Your recipes taste like dirt." Either way, feedback is always a good thing, right?

Welcome Jen & Shannon!

2013-03-27T08:47:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite parts of blogging is connecting with like minded crafty people. I've "met" some truly talented ladies through blogging and received such encouragement and inspiration from them that now we call each other friends. Collaborating with those people you connect with is a bonus. Two of those fabulous ladies are now part of the Lovely Cupboard Team, Tan and Lindsay.

I'm SUPER excited to introduce you to the newest team members, Jen and Shannon of Eat. Sleep. MAKE. Have you seen their blog? These two are sisters-in-law and partners in all things creative.

"Hi there, we're sisters-in-law Jen and Shannon, and we blog at Eat. Sleep. MAKE. We both have a chronic crafting problem, and it manifests itself in many forms (ask Shannon about how she created a terrarium out of a jar of dirt at work.) We love to share the things that inspire us, and are constantly trying new things to grow ourselves creatively. On Eat. Sleep. Make., we share simple tutorials and DIY's that range from sewing, parties, home decoration, recipes, and everything in between."

A preview of some of the great things on their blog...

1. A gorgeous "Little Deer" baby shower

2. Magnetic Advent calendar-I WISH I had seen this before making mine.

3. A DIY even husbands will love-Wool and Leather Flask

Would you do me the favor of making my friends feel welcome? Head over to Eat.Sleep.MAKE. and check out some of their tutorials and tips. Maybe leave a little comment love too. Oh, Gemma said you should...Who can resist a baby's request? (Yes, I had to find a way to work her into this post. Forgive me. I'm sure the novelty will wear off at some point.)

Curried Shrimp Sandwiches

2013-03-25T09:59:00.000-05:00

Cooking with a newborn is challenging at best and nearly impossible most days. I am learning that anything I make these days has to come together quickly, cannot have too many ingredients, and needs to yield left overs. These cold, creamy sandwiches have the slight heat of curry with the crunch of cucumbers all layered between little buttery croissants. The five glorious minutes it took me to down the three shown above were quickly leading to a food coma... And then the baby cried and woke me from my shrimp oasis.

I had never made these sandwiches before, but they were a constant in my childhood. Curried shrimp sandwiches were one of my mom's signature "party dishes". She used good ole' Mrs. Baird's white bread, trimmed off the crusts, and cut them into little triangles. One reason these little sandwiches seemed so fancy to me was because we NEVER had white bread in the house any other time...I always envied my friends' lunch boxes filled with Cheetos and PBJ on WHITE bread. Our standard whole grain bread with little "seeds" in it pretty much tasted like dirt to a 10 year old. I'm lamenting my poor "underprivileged" lunch upbringing, but I truly made up for it pretty quickly in high school downing Junior Mints, Oreos, Hot Pockets and many other forbidden foods of my childhood. Ok, enough of that...
Ingredients:

-1 pound of cooked, peeled shrimp

-1/2 cup mayonnaise

-1 sliced cucumber

-1/4 cup chopped green onions

-1 tablespoon lemon juice

-1 and ½ teaspoons yellow curry powder

-1/2 teaspoon cumin

-1/4 teaspoon sea salt

-8 mini croissants (or 5 full sized)

Instructions:

1 1. Pull tails off of shrimp and cut in half. Add lemon juice to shrimp. Chop onions and add to shrimp.

2 2. In separate bowl, mix mayo, curry, cumin, and salt. Once combined, add to shrimp and mix.

3. Place thinly sliced cucumbers on half of a croissant. Add a generous portion of shrimp and enjoy!

PS: My baby is a month old...I can't believe it. Already she has changed so much. I'm trying not to let myself think, "I can't wait until she laughs or recognizes us or does (XYZ)". I'm trying to realize she'll only be this age once and I need to soak it all up and enjoy right where she is today. (But still...I can't wait to hear her first laugh.)

Also, I'm finishing this book, and it is shaking me up! I'm really beginning to question how much stuff we consume and how much of it we actually need...A couple friends and I are getting together soon to brainstorm how 2013 will be different. A year of less. Less waste. Less spending. Less consuming without consideration. Oh boy, I'm not sure if I'm ready to go public with it, but I know it keep from flaking out. More on this later...

Gemma "Bean"

2013-03-19T14:49:00.000-05:00

This post was supposed to be a recipe for spinach and crab hash with polenta...Since the baby, I'm realizing that now my to do lists just laugh back at me. I didn't even make it to the store to buy ingredients, much less prep, cook, and shoot pictures. Readers, I had every intention of being back on blog schedule by now, but obviously that has not happened. Miss Gemma "Bean", as we like to call her, is taking up just about every waking moment. This is completely acceptable and probably won't change for a little while. Please bear with me through this baby phase and keep visiting and commenting. I promise that as soon as I'm able I'll be back to posting recipes with way too much cream and DIY projects that might be cool or might just seem like a waste of a Saturday.

One major reason things are taking longer than expected is this; we had a little scare that occupied the better part of the last two weeks. You might remember that I mentioned Gemma caught our cold a while back. Well, turns out it was a bit more than that. She had RSV, and it took its toll on her little lungs. We had to have breathing treatments, deep suctioning, and oxygen for several days to get her back on track. She's doing much better now, and as you can see from the pictures above, she is just lovely in every little way.

I'd been counting down the days until she was up to having some pictures taken. I wish I could show you a video of the chaos that took place in order for us to get these shots. Here's just a little glimpse...

Me: Ok, I think we need to get the space heater and aim it towards her so she's warm. I heard that helps...

Stu: We have a space heater?

Me: If you'll stand behind her to make sure she doesn't fall, I'll snap some pics. Oh, and wave this thing in front of her to get her attention...Straighten her headband. You're blocking my light!!!! Aghhh! Get the dogs off the couch.

Stu: Really? I'm only one man. If you say one more thing I'm quitting...

Me: Relax. How hard can it be to get just a couple shots?

The answer, readers, is very hard. I had no clue. Hats off to my photographer friends. (In case you're wondering about that adorable headband, my friend Stacie got it for us from this Etsy shop.)

DIY Woven Coasters

2013-03-07T07:36:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone! It's Tan here from Squirrelly Minds, and I'm so happy to be back here on The Lovely Cupboard while Heather snuggles with her little one Gemma. (Isn't she the cutest thing ever?).

Today I'm sharing a project with you that seems complicated, but a 10 year old can do it. No really, I did it with 10 year olds. Let's weave some coasters!

The materials are super simple. I used two different colours of yarn, so I could have a different coloured tassel, but you can stick to just one if you want it all the same.

Step 1: Make your loom
Cut your cardboard into a square, 5.5x5.5 inches. Use your exacto knife to cut 10 slits, 1cm deep spaced 1cm apart.

Step 2: Cut and wrap your warp
I chose white yarn for the warp. When it's finished, the only part of this yarn that will show are the tassels. Cut a piece of yarn 110 inches long. Fit the yarn in the first slit of your loom, leaving about 3 inches extra which you can tape to the back. From the top slit, pull the yarn through the first bottom slit, then wrap around the back. Pull the yarn through the top second slit, down through to the bottom second slit, and continue to wrap it around, snuggly fitting it through each slit, until you reach the end. Tape the excess yarn on the back of the board (doesn't matter where).

Step 3: Weave your weft
Your next piece of yarn will be the weft, the coaster, the main piece. Cut a piece 310 inches long, or leave it on the yarn ball but give yourself that much length. Thread your large needle, then pull the thread through under-over-under-over until you reach the end of the row. When you've weaved it all the way through pull the yarn until you have about 3 inches left. Tape this to the back of the loom with the other taped ends. Push the yarn down the loom, making sure it's even across the bottom.

Step 4: Continue Weaving
When weaving you'll be constantly zig-zagging back and forth on the warp. Remember, when starting a new line, you must do the opposite of the last step. If you went under the last line of the warp, you must go over it when zig zagging back. Always maintain the under-over-under-over. After each line, push your yarn down.
Remember: It's really easy to pull tightly at the end of the line. Don't or your warp will, well, warp. Being pulled in from the sides you'll end up with wide ends and a skinny center. After each line, tug the yarn away from the warp a little to retain a straight line on your sides.

Step 5: Tie it off
Once you've woven to the top of your loom you're ready to tie off. Remove the tape on the back of the loom. Cut the first two pieces of yarn in the centre. Tie the piece you just finished weaving with the first piece of yarn you just cut, then take all three and loop knot them together, securing the knot close to your coaster. Do the same knot with the bottom two strands. Continue to cut the warp in the back two pieces at a time and knotting them together. When you reach the end you should have three pieces of yarn again on one side. Do the same action of tying the first two together, then knotting the three.

Step 6: Trim
Trim the edges to the length you'd like. If you want to keep all your tassels white you'll have to cut the two black strands from the weft short.

Voila! You have your first woven coaster! Aren't they fun? Once you get the hang of it one of these take about 20 minutes. You can have a set of 4 made while watching an episode or two of your favourite show. You can even include different colours of yarn to have stripes. You'll just have to tie the ends together then trim then when you finish one colour and start another. And just in case you feel like you want a little more of a visual, here's a little video I shot with my husband Sunday morning. I hope it inspires you to start weaving!
DIY Woven Coasters from Tan Rutley on Vimeo.

If you're really ambitious, you can take this kind of weaving to the next level. Change the size of your loom to weave a scarf, of even a blanket! Or maybe a baby blanket for Gemma...that's a much more manageable size ;)

Thanks Heather for having me here!
If any of you start weaving I'd love to see your projects so be sure to let me know!
xo

Tan

Organization Guest Post & a Baby Update

2013-03-05T09:34:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I was over at Living Savvy as part of Tiffany's organization series. I shared some uses for my favorite household accessory...the almighty wire basket. (CLICK HERE to head to the post.)

Oh, wire baskets. Even when I have no need for them I always look, pick up, lovingly inspect, and usually buy them. They call to me like those weird little creatures on the Pier 1 commercials.

***BABY UPDATE***
I promise to have pics of the nursery up soon, but I still have some projects to do before I'm ready to show you guys. Like perhaps a mobile that doesn't look like a 4 year old made it in Sunday School. (See epic my failures HERE.) Still have a DIY art project that requires a working color printer, which we don't have at the moment.

Also, our lives with a 12 day old are feed, feed, feed, maybe sleep some, wake up, feed, feed, feed. I have been scheduling showers for myself -and no, it's not even everyday. Stu has been just incredible. Watching him change her diapers (which he does far better than me) or carefully pull her arms through a onesie or wipe the tiniest bit of milk from her chin during a feeding just melts me.

While having her home has been wonderful, we had quite the scare this weekend...Gemma caught Stu's cold. I tell you there is NOTHING worse than the sound of a newborn baby coughing up crud and gasping for breath. We saw the doctor on Saturday with instructions to get a humidifier and saline and told she's too young for meds. Things got much worse, and we were told by the nurse on call to go to ER at 2:00am on Sunday. Her chest X ray was fine, and they don't believe it's RSV. But we still have to watch her carefully.

Around the hours of 11:00pm to 3:00am she cries inconsolably and coughs these huge nasty coughs that seem too big for her tiny body to handle. They scare her and she chokes, sometime throwing up the little milk she managed to get down at the last feed. We rock her and shhh her. We wrap her in blankets and crank the heat up to 76. We kiss her little head. And I cry. I feel so helpless and scared in those moments. We can see confusion on her little face and can't do anything to help her. This is far worse than the 12 hours of labor with two failed epidurals, back labor, 2 hours of pushing, and eventual c section. Nothing can compare to the kind of pain when your kid is hurting and you simply can't make it better. I didn't think I'd learn this kind of parenting lesson only 12 day in.

She will get better. I know this in my head. I tell myself this repeatedly and pray for it to happen sooner rather than later. We will get sleep, eventually. We'll move on and look back on these weeks and probably forget how hard it felt in the moment. The pictures will show us smiling and baby girl sleeping peacefully. That's what we'll choose to remember, and that's probably what will convince us to do it all over again an a few years.

A Glam Dining Room and DIY Paint Tips

2013-02-28T09:24:00.000-06:00

All photos by Heather Cherie Photography.

This gorgeous dining room belongs to my friend Stacie. Her friend Crystal, a local interior designer, helped her get this glam look on a budget. The star of this room is clearly the AMAZING kelly green credenza serving as the buffet. Would you believe it was from Goodwill?? I'll admit, I've painted a few pieces in my home but haven't attempted anything this ambitious. Crystal is here today to share her tips for a stellar DIY paint job. Reading Crystal's tips inspired me to start thinking about BIG paint projects for furniture.

Head to Crystal's blog, Every Bit Lovely, for more pics of the project. (While you're there, check out this adorable baby shower.)

From the perspective of the designer...

Finding a Diamond in the Rough
One of the biggest challenges with making this whole room work was finding the right credenza. It wasn’t easy-let me tell you! I went to every flea market and thrift store I could think of. It was worth every second of searching when I laid eyes on this beauty. Well, it was actually far from beautiful when I saw it, but I knew it had potential. Finding the credenza was a feat in itself. Step two, lug it home. Easier said than done. There are nine drawers on the thing!! Once it's home, the fun part comes in and the process goes like this...

DIY Steps

Strip off all the old hardware.
Give it a good cleaning. Pay special attention to the cracks and crevices.
Do an all over light sanding.
Patch up any broken places and fill in any holes.
Prime it. (This will help hide imperfections and help the paint stick better).
Paint!!
Finish with clear coating (like polyurethane)

Helpful Hints for Paint Projects

**Before you spend lots of time and energy on a piece, make sure it's quality material. Otherwise it won’t last long enough to be worth the time you put into it

**Add a clear coat to the finished product. It just helps the paint be more durable and last much longer.

**Use a high quality brush. It handles the paint better

** When painting furniture, go with the flow of the wood. Your brush stokes must match the natural grain of the wood. If in doubt, make your strokes long and length wise from one end of the board to the other. (Avoid short side to side strokes.)

**Lastly be patient! This will take a while and is a process. Plan for that and go with the flow.

Coming Up with A Plan for the Room

First I focused on how Stacie wanted the room to feel. We came up with the feeling of traditional sleek and just a little bit funky to match her and her husband's personalities. We decided to keep most things classic with a simple grey, white, and black color pallet. We chose a classic black dining set and the white curtains with black trim. I felt the room needed an anchor piece on that big wall, and immediately I wanted to do a bold credenza.

I had bright green in mind, but I wasn’t sure if they would go for that. Long story short they took the leap, and it paid of big time! The color is so bright and fun, but the rest of the room balances it out. I think it makes a great statement piece with out being too funky to be taken seriously.

Product Sourcing

frames: Target

chevron urns: Target

lamps: Gordmans

gold and white stars: Gordmans

white candlesticks: IKEA

buffet: Goodwill

wall paint color: lazy grey sherwin williams

table and chairs: Martha Stewart Collection (at a close out store)

glass candle sticks: dollar store/already had some

mirrors: Hanks Furniture (had on hand)

drapes: custom

gold tins, coral and white dome: (from my own stash for staging)

Ok, it's Heather again. I'm inspired by this room- how about you? Thanks so much for sharing with us, Cyrstal!! If you enjoyed this post, stop by her blog and leave her some comment lovin'!

***BABY UPDATE***
Baby Gemma is changing a little everyday. Each time I feed her I still have to remind myself that I am her MOM. She is MY kid! People keep asking me if I'm exhausted, but so far I'm actually getting better sleep now than during my last months of the pregnancy. (Not the same story for my husband.) I will say that 80% of my time awake is spent breastfeeding, preparing to feed, reading about feeding, or pumping. I swear there should be a degree in this stuff. I've already met with a lactation specialist several times and go again Friday. How the heck have women done this for thousands of years without help?! Baby girl and I are making progress, but if I was left alone to my own devices I probably would've given up by now. Thank goodness for ladies who specialize in boobs.

Baby Love

2013-02-25T21:10:00.002-06:00

Our lives got so much sweeter this week. After a long wait, baby Gemma finally joined our family Thursday evening. Despite a pretty terrible delivery experience with several unexpected turns, she was born completely healthy and as perfect as could be. Stu and I are so surprised how this little human who we just met has become our obsession in a matter of days. People told me I would love her more than anything, but I couldn't really imagine it until I brought her home. Once everything has sunk in, I'm sure I'll have a lot to share about our first days together.

It may be a bit quiet around the blog for a while...There is cuddling and cheek kissing to do, and I want to soak up every minute.

Master Bedroom in Progress

2013-02-20T09:56:00.000-06:00

I've treated our master bedroom like the ugly step child of our house for a few years. It has been my last priority since we moved in. Design wise, I still don't know exactly where I'm going with this room. I've ignored it, called it nasty names, and thrown it some hand-me-down items from other rooms when I absolutely had to. Lately, I've been trying to give it some much needed TLC. Since our guest room has now become a nursery (more pics of it soon!), I needed a dressing table. The only logical place for this was our bedroom. That kick started things just a bit, and the room is beginning to evolve. Slowly. Very slowly. I'm only going to show you a few glimpses and hopefully by this time next year there will be full room shots. (But don't count on it.)

After months of searching for a vanity that would fit in the small space and serve double duty as a night stand, I ended up with a computer table from Target. (Yep, high class.) I tried to make my nook feel more feminine with a scalloped mirror from Lowe's and the little white stool I got from Overstock. It's a bit more cramped that my last vanity, but it's serving its purpose for now.
Also, we refinished the original hard wood floors that had been buried under very worn out carpet. We loved the look of our 1940's floors after they had been rejuvenated, but needed a throw rug to warm things up just a bit. I am SO STINKIN' PICKY ON RUGS that I dread even having to look for one. I decided I wasn't going to search extensively for specific colors, since I don't even have a color scheme for the room yet. I was just going to find one the right size that was around $100. This was a liberating experience. Seriously. LIBERATING. Not being confined to a specific color scheme let me just find a rug with a vibe I liked. Sound a bit bohemian and free-spirited? That's what it felt like.

I found this indigo rug with lime tassels from Urban Outfitters for $79, a great buy. So, apparently these are the colors I'm going to work with. Luckily the hand-me-down lamp shades from the guest room just happened to have similar colors in them, so they get to stay. (I swear I didn't plan that.) I still have no clue what I'm going to do for bedding, drapes, or a headboard.
Ok, now let's chat about this gorgeous piece of art. Remember that darling girl and newest contributor, Lindsay? Well, her shop is launching a new set of canvases. This is just one of the many beautiful new pieces of work in her shop, Lindsay Letters. Obviously it's striking to look at, but it also has so many nuggets of inspiration. These are great phrases to wake up to each morning. I'm going to be honest...Our bedroom is not the only neglected room in our house. The upstairs guest bedroom is a catch-all space for anything and everything (including items going to the garage sale this summer). Our laundry room is so disorganized that it's barely functional. We still have Stu's college couch with a Wal-Mart slipcover in our formal living room. After three years in this house, I assumed that I'd have all the rooms finished by now. HA! The joke's on me. It can be frustrating, but I have to remind myself that designing your home is a process...a long, drawn out, and sometimes painful process. At some point during this process you may even realize that you already want to change up some rooms you redecorated a couple years ago. (Oops. Is my husband reading this?)

I know we all have spaces like this. Usually there are obstacles that keep us from doing what we want to them. For me it's usually lack of money or lack of inspiration. I know for others it's simply a time factor.

Q: If you had an unlimited budget, a week off of work, and a whole Pinterest board full of inspiration, which room in your house would you tackle?

**BABY UPDATE*** No baby yet...I did end up in Labor & Delivery last night becasue the left side of my face went numb and tingly. Apparently I'm in the beginning stages of Bell's Palsy that causes partial facial paralysis. This can happen in pregnancy sometimes. Most of the time you regain feeling and muscle control in weeks or months after delivery. So just when I'm feeling UBER attractive with my 70 pound weight gain, newly formed stretch marks, and swollen everything-HALF OF MY FACE IS DROOPY. I swear...I don't even recognize myself in the mirror. One day I'm going to write a detailed post on all the weird ails of pregnancy I've had just so someone like me, who had friends with "perfect pregnancies" and was completely unassuming, might at least be aware of all the crap that could happen. Ugg...this kid better be really cute.

Baked Macaroni with Salmon and Chard

2013-02-18T10:21:00.001-06:00

Really, there are few things that make me happy like mac-n-cheese. From the good ol' blue box of Kraft to a gourmet mac with lobster and truffle oil, the effect is basically the same. From the very first bite, your mouth thanks you and your brain sends a message to the rest of your body that something in the world is right and good. Even though you know you will regret it the next day, for a few minutes with that little plate of of pure goodness everything else fades away and you are momentarily transported to another dimension. What... I'm alone in this?

This dish is comfort food with a couple healthy ingredients that ward off a bit of the guilt that come with eating cream and cheese. Creamy pasta, smoked salmon, and chard play nicely together in a one dish dinner. Low fat it is not. But if you're going to have pasta, some omega 3 from fish and all the goodness of a dark leafy green help balance things out. Swiss chard is not the most popular item in the produce section, but I've come to really love it over the last few years. Like all the other dark leafy greens, it is one of the healthiest vegetables grown on the planet. You could use rainbow chard if your market sells it. (It has red or yellow stalks instead of white ones.) I've sauteed it with garlic and olive oil as a side dish or thrown it into soups. Its leaves have the texture of spinach but taste a bit more like collard greens without the bitterness. As cool as kale has become lately, sometimes you want a more delicate texture in a green. I do love kale, but I feel like Swiss chard gets overlooked because of his fellow dark leafy friend.

SHOPPING LIST:
-8 ounces medium shells pasta
-4 tablespoons butter, divided
-1/4 cup flour
-1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
-1/4 teaspoon paprika
-1 1/2 cups of milk, room temp & divided
-1 cup heavy cream
-1 tablespoon stone ground mustard
-1 cup each smoked white cheddar and gruyere or another melting cheese (2 cups total)
-smoked salmon, flaked
-2 cups chopped chard
-1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
-1/2 teaspoon sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Boil the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and return to pot with a splash of cream and a tab of butter to keep from sticking.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

3. Over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the flour and salt. Stir constantly over medium heat for about four minutes until flour is cooked and slightly brown.

4. Slowly add and stir in 1 cup of milk. Whisk until any lumps dissolve. (Using room temp milk will help this to be less clumpy. Like that technical term?) Stir/whisk for 7-8 minutes until the sauce thickens. Add paprika, nutmeg, and mustard.

5. Remove from heat and add in the cheese, stirring until melted.

6. Add pasta, chard, and flaked smoked salmon to a buttered casserole dish.

7. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and stir gently.

8. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and combine with breadcrumbs. Sprinkle on top.

9. Bake for 30 minutes until cheese sauce is bubbly and the breadcrumbs are golden brown.

Well, my due date came and went, and I am on week three of bed rest. Not fun by any means...Standing in the shower makes my back hurt so badly that I have to take extra strength Tylenol to cope. Walking is minimal, and my knees (which were in bad shape pre-pregnancy) feel like they might give at any moment...And if one more person says to "enjoy sleep while I can", I might smack them in the face. Sleep?? I haven't slept in a month. Between back pain, Braxton Hicks contractions, and peeing every hour, I haven't had a good night's sleep since 2012. At least when the baby comes, I'll have a cute cuddly reason to be awake instead of a whole bunch of bodily issues.
Oh, and I've spent about 10 hours collectively on two failed attempts at a DIY mobile. That was enough for a a crying spell in this house...If only I still had some of that mac and cheese (which was made a few weeks ago) to comfort me in my misery.

Charming Farmhouse Wedding

2013-02-13T08:49:00.002-06:00

Photos: Lark Photography What a better way to celebrate this week than a post about a gorgeous farmhouse wedding? This fall I had the privilege of helping my very talented friend Laura by "second shooting" a beautiful wedding in rural Missouri. I used quotations because really I should have been called the "lens changer" or the "light holder". I am still honing my photography skills, and shooting moving people (or people in general) in such a setting is far beyond my scope of ability or comfort.

Still, it was a gorgeous day for the bride and groom, and I loved being behind the scenes from start to finish. I'll try not to say too much because I think the pictures do a great job of telling the day's story.

This was one of my favorite times of the day... The bride and groom exchanged letters before all the festivities began. It was such a sweet moment that immediately brought me back to my own wedding. All the emotion and anticipation about the details of your wedding day can be overwhelming. Then at some point things slow down just long enough for you to remember that it was always about the two of you. Perhaps it started with a letter, or in our case an email.

Watching Seth and Mercedes reminded me of that nervous excitement you feel in the beginning. Obviously after years of marriage your love grows stronger in ways you can't imagine as you face the realities of life together, but there is something so innocent and hopeful about the start of that journey. Shooting the two of them, I almost felt like I was intruding on their privacy. It's amazing that a camera lens automatically lets you into these very intimate moments into people's lives. (Ok, there was a ramble right after I promised not to do that...)This was actually a shot I took. Yay, one of mine made the cut!Maybe one day I'll do a post about my own wedding day, but honestly it was such a blur. If I didn't have the photos to remind me, most of the day would be forgotten. Since it is the week of "love" and all, here's a wedding related question. What was your favorite moment of your wedding day?

Simple Chocolate Truffles

2013-02-10T11:16:00.000-06:00

Knowing how easy it is to assemble these truffles is a dangerous thing. While they look fancy rolled in their toppings, don't let the "outfits" fool you. Five ingredients are all you need for the basic chocolate truffle.

Sure, you could spend about $2 a piece for some fancy truffles that come in a little gold box, but once you make these you'll probably hesitate to do that in the future. You could get really ambitious by dipping them in candy coating and drizzling them with all sorts of wonderful sugary things. This time I chose to roll them in sprinkles, coconut flakes, and crushed pistachios.
If you're looking for a last minute Valentine's gift, a few of these little truffles in a cute package would be perfect for a friend. (Speaking of packages, the pink scalloped boxes are Martha Stewart's line from Michaels.)

Ok, let's just be real for a minute; I kind of hate Valentine's Day. {GASP!} Maybe hate is too strong of a word. I think I've mentioned this before, but I've never really like February 14th and its pressure to produce a mush fest for couples. I especially hated it when I was single. However, being an elementary teacher for the better part of a decade, I always came home from work with loads of candy that was consumed much too quickly while watching a romantic comedy on TV for the 100th time. The fact that I even bought cute little hearts and boxes this year is proof that I've caved into the pressure in the blogosphere. I'm not proud of it. However, my friends will reap the benefits of me compromising personal principles.
Basic Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients:

-1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese
-2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips
-2 cups confectioner’s sugar

-3 ounces of Baker’s chocolate squares

-2 teaspoons of vanilla OR almond extract (I typed vanilla on the shopping list but used almond.)

-2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream

-1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Beat softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth.

2. Melt chocolate in a double broiler. Add almond extract, cinnamon, and cream. Stir and then remove from heat.

3. Add melted chocolate to cream cheese and stir until there are no streaks. Refrigerate about 45 minutes.

4. Use a melon baller or teaspoon to spoon out mixture. Roll in your hands until a ball forms. Roll immediately in any topping you chose.

5. Refrigerate truffles for an additional 30 minutes to set. Store at room temp in an air tight container.

Honestly, the pistachio truffles were my favorite. Plus I trick my mind into thinking they are so much healthier because of the nut factor. Here are some other ideas for rolling your truffles: toffee bits, cocoa powder with cinnamon, peanuts, crushed peppermints, chopped Andes mints. After all that sugar, here's something a little savory...*Sponsored Content by Miracle Whip* I was glad to get an opportunity to do a campaign with Miracle Whip. It came at the perfect time since I was craving chicken salad. This was a quick lunch that came together in under 10 minutes. I’ve got the ingredients for my chicken salad listed above. Creamy and tangy, Miracle Whip is perfect for cold salads like this one. Sometimes I add grapes to my chicken salad, but today I had a Granny Smith apple laying around. Check out the video below for a pretty funny song staring Lance Bass, Winona Judd and others singing about Miracle Whip. Ha!

Mini Lemon Berry Cakes and a Gift for You!

2013-02-03T18:42:00.000-06:00

I wish I had confetti and streamers that would erupt when you clicked on this post. I am beyond excited to share today's recipe with you. It comes with a gorgeous gift...an illustrated recipe card by the very talented Lindsay of Lindsay Letters! (More about Ms. Lindsay below.)

The dessert is a lemon cake with fresh raspberries that's married to a rich white chocolate icing and raspberry jam thrown in the mix. Best part? They're personal sized. A perfect little dessert for a special meal with your Valentine. (I hesitated to even say that. Frankly, I've never needed anyone else to enjoy making and indulging in desserts of any shape or size.)

Click HERE to download the recipe card.

This was the first time I've tried using cookie cutters to make cake rounds. It's a method I plan on using in the future. Next time I might ice the whole thing, sides and all. But it looks so fancy to see the layers, doesn't it?

If you're wondering what happened to the extra cake (that was not eaten during the process), I crumbled it up and saved it with the intention of making cake pops. About a week later, Stu found the cake crumbs on top of the fridge thinking they were cornbread. Oops.

OK, now for an exciting announcement... Lindsay is the creative force behind some of the most gorgeous lettering you've ever seen. Her work has been all over the web. We share a mutual friend and have admired each other from afar for a while.

We decided to join forces to bring you recipes and lovely lettering like this on a regular basis. Ms. Lindsay is the newest seasonal contributor to The Lovely Cupboard, and I couldn't be more excited!! (Yes, two exclamation points.) If you head to her shop, you'll most likely be there a while, so plan accordingly.

Source: Lindsay Letters Photos by: Lark Photography

CHEESE ALERT...It's so rare to find someone that you would gladly and blindly trust anything they put their hand to creatively; that is Lindsay for me. Everything she does is just beautiful, feminine, and whimsical. I'm tickled pink she's on board and can't wait to see what the future has for our little collaborations. Hand on chin, sigh.

Q: Do you have a friend whose taste you completely trust?

Linked up with...

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/

http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

http://www.thegirlcreative.com/

http://www.sumossweetstuff.com/

http://sewchatty.blogspot.com/

Handcrafted Jewelry from The Silver Acorn

2013-01-31T06:47:00.000-06:00

I am honored to introduce you to my latest sponsor, The Silver Acorn. Owner and artisan Linda creates symbolic wax seal jewelry that is handcrafted in her Houston area home-studio. She carefully selects vintage, antique, and modern symbols and then transforms them into wax seals. She creates each piece by hand using reclaimed silver or bronze. How gorgeous are these initial charms? Each is crafted uniquely, so there are different looks for each letter.

I fell in love with Linda's work because of the meaning attached and the delicate look of each piece. I browse a lot of shops on the web, but the look of her charms are unlike anything I've seen. They would make a perfect gift for Valentine's day, anniversary, or birthday. (You better believe I'm hinting to Stu that I need one with the baby's initial.)

1. Eternal Love Swan Silver Charm
2. Ever Lasting Love Bronze Bracelet
3. St. Michael the Archangel Silver Wax Seal Cuff Links
4. Man's Best Friend-Foot and Paw Print Bronze Charm
5. Weeping Willow Fine Silver Wax Charm
This time of year you see so many cheesy ads on TV for mall jewelry stores. I often wonder,"Who would spend $100 for a gaudy heart necklace?" Sadly lots of people...ahem, husbands do! If you need to slip a hint to your honey for an alternative, send them a link to this post. Lovely Cupboard readers receive 20% on their purchase from The Silver Acorn.

Savory Ham and Cheddar Scones

2013-01-27T20:29:00.000-06:00

I have developed a problem as of late...I am frequenting drive-through windows far too often. One of the items that lures me to such windows is a savory scone at a local coffee shop. The week that I stopped in before work four times, I realized I had a scone problem. As delicious and convenient as this sausage cheese scone is, $3.50 a pop adds up. I decided to make some savory scones of my own and save a small fortune.

The scones I made have ham, two kinds of cheddar, green onions, and sour cream that make them feel like a loaded treat for breakfast. I knew they were a hit when Stu (who says scones taste like "dog biscuits") ate two in a row. I have never made a savory scone before, but these turned out so well that I already have plans for my next batch.

Savory Ham and Cheddar Scones
Ingredients:
-2 cups all-purpose flour
-1 egg
-8 tablespoons butter (frozen)
-1/2 cup sour cream
-1 teaspoon baking powder
-1/4 teaspoon baking soda
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1 cup cubed ham or Canadian bacon
-3/4 cup each- aged white cheddar and sharp cheddar (One variety would be fine.)
-1/2 cup sliced green onion
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400. In a small bowl beat egg and sour cream. Set aside.
2. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Grate frozen butter into the bowl. Use your hands to combine, but do not over work. It should look like a course meal.
3. Add egg and sour cream mixture. Use a fork to combine. Add in ham, cheese and onions. Work into a ball with your hands. (If it will not hold together, add in two tablespoons of milk and continue until the dough forms.) Note: It will be crumbly because of the cheese and ham, but it should not be falling apart completely.
4. On a floured surface, flatten dough into a long rectangle and begin cutting wedge shapes with a knife. (I formed mine a bit with my hands to get a triangular shape after they had been cut.) I got 10 small scones, but you could make 8 larger ones from this recipe.
5. Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet (or floured sheet) and bake for 14-16 minutes. They should be slightly golden when finished.

This guy. This guy breaks my heart. We have been dealing with the very serious notion of trying to find a new home for our dog babies due to the soon arrival of a human baby. Before you say, "You terrible person! Look at that face-those eyes. How could you?" Let me explain...
We have had Marty McFly since he was five weeks old. He is the most loving, stubborn, and adorable canine creature. In true dachshund fashion, he burrows under the covers and chases any squirrel with a ferocity of a dog three times his stature. He will crawl on your neck like a scarf and take a nap if you let him.

However, if you cross him he will bite your face off. Literally. He's bitten both of us, drawing blood each time. We know his triggers, food and new toys that he's protecting. We've gone to trainings, read books, and even had a dog whisperer come to our house to try and help us break him. He has bitten more than one of our friends' kids in the face. (Our poor goddaughter, who is now 6, won't even go near him from fear of earlier encounters. She was one of the "bite in the face" victims.)

Both dogs barks incessantly at anyone who merely walks by our house. Heck, they even bark at the ice machine. Napping babies and 5 minute barking sprees don't seem to be a good match. Usually when we have parties they have to be locked up or go to doggy day care because they get too anxious with people being in the house. I say these things loving them and knowing they will not change. They are creatures of habit, and we are their world. But our world is about to change...

I have cried dozens of times thinking of not having them here. Friends have told us, "Oh you won't even think about them when the baby comes." I appreciate that they are trying to help, but I'm not a person who simply owns dogs. I've grown up with dogs my whole life and consider them family members, not just pets. I realize my priorities will be changing very soon, but it doesn't mean I can easily cut ties with these two precious creatures who have been a part of our lives for the last several years.

I honestly don't know what we will do. We are going to see how the first few weeks go. As of now, they sniff the new items in the nursery with suspicion. All four of us are about to have our worlds turned upside down by a tiny little baby..they just don't know it yet.

Linked up with...
http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/
http://www.sumossweetstuff.com/

DIY: My Sanity Saving Clipboard & a New Mantra

2013-01-23T21:31:00.001-06:00

I am not a creature of habit, as much as I'd like to be sometimes. The one exception to this is a daily to-do list. I know some people find them a bit too bossy. They feel like they can manage all the ideas running through their head just fine without a piece of paper taunting them and telling them what to do. I cannot. I need that paper. I need that taunting.

I like writing down everything I need to take care of, even if I know it won't get done that day. Just the action of writing it down makes me feel like I'm at least addressing whatever the task is. I get strange pleasure from crossing things off of my to-do list (even if I add things I've already done just to see them crossed off on my list. C'mon...I know some of you must do that too.)
I came up with s this idea several years back during my first year of teaching as a means of survival. I had never been a list-maker prior to this. I found myself getting so overwhelmed and dropping the ball at work. When I started making a list, it was so long that each day I felt like a failure for not even making a dent in it. I really struggled with prioritizing tasks. Hence, the daily, weekly, monthly lists were born.

I realize this is not a novel idea. However, the daily sticky note comes off of the clipboard each night while the weekly and monthly "stick around" a bit longer". This system has literally SAVED me at work. I use one at home as well. (I've also made a few as gifts for friends who are planning a wedding. It's perfect for brides who need to prioritize things running through their heads.)

1. Trace clip board onto scrap paper. Cut a slightly smaller version of what you traced and then cut into the top accounting for the metal clip.
2. I used a permanent adhesive tape roller to attach the paper to the clip board, but you could use Mod Podge or even a heavy duty glue stick.
3. Use assorted sizes of stick notes (about 15 per stack) to create your sections.
4. Use stickers, stamps, or a good ole' Sharpie to add labels above the stick note sections that work for you.

The "Remember" stick note is a big one for me. I try to put a quote, verse, or saying that I know I need to be focusing on at the time. This one will probably be there for a while...

"Comparison is the thief of joy".

Man, I need to hear this hourly. Thoughts that regularly run through my head go something like this...

Why am I having such a difficult pregnancy when so-and-so isn't?

I wish I had started a business when she did. Why can't I be doing what I really love?

Why can't I have a family support system like theirs?

I wish I could just be a stay-at-home mom.

I wish my house was furnished like that one.

Why did I gain 60 pounds being pregnant instead of 35 like everyone else?!

It's a treadmill of comparison and self-pity. I need to be thinking things like...

I am so blessed to be growing a life inside me, regardless of how crappy I feel or look.

I am so thankful I have a great coworkers and a job that pays the bills...even if it isn't my dream job.

I have the best friends anyone could even dream of. They are priceless.

I am so glad we have a home to bring our baby back to.

My husband is the love of my life and is aging like a fine wine...in every way. (And when he reads this, he will grin and chuckle and beam with pride in the most adorable way a grown man can.)

Anyone else struggle with their inner dialogue? This is something I'd like to change...If only it was as simple as adding it to a to-do list. "Change thought patterns. Now." I know this is something I will wrestle with for a long time. Hopefully I'll look back in a few years and see that my little spurts of motivation over the course of time actually made at least a slight impact.

Q:What's your mantra of the moment?