Project Pinterest :: February & March!

I promise I did not forget about this!  But the last two or so months have included a teething baby, family visiting, being wedding coordinator for dear friends' special day, making jewelry for and selling at several clothing pop shops - and I still managed to get a couple of things into this project!

So for February, I had this wild idea to make something scrumptious for my hubby instead of trying to find a good gift.  Food is a love language for both of us so I gave it a shot.  And for my ridiculously over ambitious project, I took on the illustrious pain aux raisins.  It is a croissant with rum soaked raisins and an amazing pastry cream to keep it all together.  I will be sharing pictures but not the specific recipe, sorry, I won't do that to them.

Bouchon Bakery cookbook - worth every penny

But like I said, it was a bit ambitious.  I ended up baking for almost 12 hours because it has a lot of steps and you have to chill the dough between every step!  Thankfully, the hubby loved my efforts as did my dear friend who has tasted both the real deal and my feeble attempt.  =)

Kind of an old picture but we do love our Bouchon!

So that was my February project.  March was pretty crazy because I was doing a bunch of different stuff getting ready for a wedding and making jewelry (btw, several of the new pieces are listed at https://www.etsy.com/shop/AimeJewelry!)  But back to what I am really trying to talk about.  So March I did some more baking out of the Bouchon Bakery cookbook - this time as a birthday treat for the hubby.  And this project was much more within my skill level and came out beautifully...unfortunately, all the cookies got eaten before I could get a picture of any of them.  Hopefully, that means that project turned out well.  =)
I did do one other project for March that is amazingly easy!  If you are looking for a nice refresh to your jewelry box this spring, try this project out!  My favorite vendor is Rio Grande and they have this ridiculously easy wire wrapped ring tutorial that you can do yourself!

Wire-Wrapped Bead Ring

One of the easiest tutorials I have come across in a while.  If you aren't quite able to get the hang of it yourself, I have a few of my own version of this ring available at Aime Jewelry now!  But really, you should give it a try!

So if you have been able to work on any creative, Pinterest-inspired projects, share them!  I would love to get some ideas for some new things too!


Have a beautiful day!

Project Pinterest :: January 2014

Alright folks!  Here it is - our first link up party!

This month, I have been on a crocheting kick.  So thanks to Pinterest and Ravelry, I have a few really easy projects for you!

fun, soft, crocheted eggs!

sweet little chicks!

These two little projects got put together for a birthday present for one of Hito's little friends this month.  She is really into chicks and ducks and this was the perfect set of things for her.  I just packed them up in a little basket (from the 50% off rack at my craft store!) and it was pretty awesome.

What have you made this month?  Looking forward to seeing what you have to share!






Have a beautiful day!

Project Pinterest :: Redux 2014

Last year I started a journey that I called "Project Pinterest" in which I wanted to do one Pinterest project a month.  I felt it was important to approach this media as a friend and inspiration versus a measuring stick and a critic.  And I wanted to share this perspective with others - hence my attempt at a year of Pinterest projects that have been tested and tried.

Well...that did not go quite as well as expected.  While I did end up doing several projects, the arrival of a new baby, siblings graduating from high school, getting married, and returning from war put some of those things on hold.  But it is a new year and I am getting the creative itch again.

But this time, I wanted to invite you to join me!  If you have done a Pinterest project that you really enjoyed, blog it and you will have an opportunity to link up with me at the end of each month this year.  If you want to see some of the things that I did last year, here is the link to my Pinterest board where I am storing all of my finished projects.

I hope you will join me!  Now to decide what to do next...one of these maybe?  Any suggestions?

Classy necklace?

super cute skirt now that I have a sewing machine?

Hmm...well, you will know one way or another by the end of the month.  =)  Have a beautiful day!

Project Pinterest 2013 :: Greek food!

I know it is getting close but I have not forgotten about my resolution to actually do some of the things that I keep drooling over on Pinterest.  And I actually did these two weeks ago but have been doing rather poorly at keeping up on my blogging.  So today, you get a double dose of Pinterest yumminess!

I had two of my best friends visit me at the beginning of the month and decided to make Mediterranean/Greek food for dinner one night mostly because I had seen these two delicious looking pins.

Pinterest via Sweet Paul

Pinterest via Annie's Eats

So I thought it can't be that hard to do this, right?  Well, I was partially right.  =) The first recipe, a feta cheese dip, was so easy and yummy!  Because we were doing Greek food, I had cut up cucumber and bell peppers to dip with as well as the pita bread that we had made (I can also see pita chips going amazingly well with this dish).  Verdict on the dip: excellent (read: make it yourself now).  =)

yeah....so we already started digging in but I had to snap a quick pick of the feta dip especially since it was amazing with this wine: Waipara Springs Riesling

Now for the pita bread.  I am going to be honest here.  We misread the recipe.  =P  So some of our struggles were our own fault.

I love pita bread, ok fine, so  I love bread generally, but can you really beat the deliciousness of warm, soft, barely poof-ed, pita bread?  So I saw this recipe and thought, let's try it!  Turns out the recipe isn't that difficult if you get the timing right.  Which is what we didn't get right.  =P  But I will make two notes on my experimentation with it.  First, I think the recipe could make more than just 8 pieces of pita.  And second, it is possible to make it in less time but you will have a denser pita because you will have fewer rise times.

Other than that, I have to say this recipe does make some pretty stinking amazing pita bread and I would highly recommend it - and read the recipe all the way through before you start.  =P

Have a beautiful day!

P.S. And if you want to see some other Pinterest projects that I have not had time to post about yet, check out my Pinterest board that has them all!

Project Pinterest 2013 :: Roasted Tomato Soup

Well folks, here it is.  My first Pinterest project of 2013 and if they continue as good as this one, you may be seeing several projects a month rather than the one that I definitely committed myself to.  =)

So it has been rather freezing in Southern California recently.  (I admit that I may be exaggerating slightly but given my Hawaiian roots, you can't blame me.)  =P  And that has put me in the mood for soup.  Pinterest to the rescue!  And I just happened to stumble across this pin (by the way, the blog where I found this recipe has lots of other great recipes!):

Roasted Tomato Soup

The recipe is so incredibly simple for a creamy soup recipe with ingredients you are likely to always have in the house.  So I decided to make it.  I did make a few tweaks that I will make note of as I share my pics with you all.

Sauteing veggies to soften.

Almost finished product.

Mom and kiddo's helping with a little parmesan cheese on the top and I have to have Tabasco in my soup.  =)

I ended up doubling the recipe (I like to have left overs for lunches).  And I made my own chicken stock.  But part of the reason that I loved this recipe is that they had the genius idea to roast canned tomatoes in the oven for an additional dimension of flavor to the recipe.  It turned out to be super easy.  NOTE: If you like a tomato-y soup, add more tomatoes.  I ended up adding an extra can of tomatoes and blending them like the rest of the soup is.  The extra can really helped make the tomatoes and not just the rest of the vegetables taste-able...yes, I know that is not really a word.  =P

Anyway, point is, the soup was good!  The hubby ate it, the kid ate it, and I enjoyed it too.  Try it - I approve of this recipe.  =)  Now I'm off to find my next Pinterest project!

Have a beautiful day!

another new year...

This post is a little late but I am just saying I was thinking about things a little more.  =P

A lot of bloggers pick a word for their year.  I like the idea but I know for myself, I need something a little more concrete.  So what I am going to do is pick a word and put an action with it.  Ironically, my word is action.

Action:

the fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim

I know that a problem I have is that I talk about doing things but then I only get a fraction of them done.  I have justified this in the past as being "the way I am".  But I have been convicted recently that this is not a very God-honoring way to live.  He does every single thing that He has ever said or promised He would do. As His child, I should be striving to live like He is.  So this year, I am resolving to act.

Besides endeavoring to be more deliberate about the things I accomplish this year, I am setting myself a personal goal.  I love Pinterest (I mean, who doesn't?) and get sucked in for hours at all the great recipes and crafty ideas that can be found there.  So for 2013, I am going to do at least ONE Pinterest project per month!  It might be a recipe, it might be a craft.  Either way, I will share my endeavors with you here on the blog.

action via Etsy

2013 already promises me another baby, a trip back to Hawaii, and lots of time for God to work in my life.  And I am praying that I will be ready for it all.  =)

Have a beautiful day!

make it better Monday!

So I did not completely forget you, my dear readers, this past week by not publishing a "make it better Monday" post.  Life just seems to keep getting busier and busier!!!  As hard as I am trying to get things off my plate and just do stuff at home, I can't seem to do it!

How do you clear out your schedule and be productive with housework and getting ready for a baby?!  (Maybe you don't have the last part of that but I'd still love to hear how you are productive at home!)

But back to our regularly scheduled program!  Here is your make it better Monday post for August 22nd! I hope you are as excited by these little goodies as I am!  =)

1) Adorable little kid accessories

So you all read about my dear friend Kristin from Petal and Thorn in my post about my beautiful baby shower but I have to share this with you.  Not only is she beautifully talented with parties but she is also the creative mastermind behind the Etsy store Petal and Thorn.  She has just brought out a kiddie accessory line - you have to check it out!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78295231/lilypad-headband-baby-girl-headband

2) Fun with family

The hubby and I had a pretty packed week with family from Arizona in town and got to do a bunch of fun stuff with them - like going to the beach and making smores with JUMBO marshmallows!

these got taken on my phone so they aren't the greatest quality but it was definitely the biggest, greatest smore I've had in a long time!  =)

3)PINTEREST!!!

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this site?!  (or how much time gets sucked by it now?) But I do love to look at all the beautiful things that people are finding around the interwebs - like this!

pinterest via here (my sister and cousin are very seriously hoping that baby is going to be a girl - i thought this was adorable.)

That's it for this week.  I hope you all have a beautiful week!