My Mom and my 20 year old niece made these pancakes when at my parents lake house.
Camels – Chocolate chip pancakes cut with a cookie cutters
Droppings – Chocolate chips
Ground – Whipped cream
Others in this series:
This year I celebrated my birthday a little early (last weekend) at my family Lake House with my parents and 20 year old niece. When I woke, a “birthday fairy” was there overnight. The table and fireplace were decorated and some gifts were already waiting. I received one present with breakfast, another with lunch and the rest with dessert after dinner as is my family tradition. The breakfast gift was a new idea thought of by my niece.
I had a wonderful birthday celebration with my family. My Dad made his blueberry blintzes for breakfast. I made cute hand pie bento lunches for everyone. My Mom and I went out on the jet ski. Mom, Dad, niece and I took the pontoon boat to the cove. My Mom, niece and I went swimming in the cove. Niece and Dad made a wonderful dinner.
Peach Sodas: Combine 3 peeled, sliced peaches in a saucepan with 1 TBS lemon juice and 1 cup of water. Cook until soft. Puree in blender. Strain peach mixture. Add honey to taste. Chill until ready to use. Use to flavor plain seltzer.
Sheep Shaped Risotto Balls: Start with a basic risotto recipe. My niece used 5 cups vegetable stock, 2 cups Arborio rice, vermouth, 3/4 parmesan cheese, salt. Chill. Once cold, make balls with small pieces of mozzarella inside. Carefully fry so cheese melts and balls are browned on each side. Decorate with tomato sauce, carrots (ears and noses), small pieces of olive (eyes). Serve with additional tomato sauce and parmesan cheese.
Grilled Vegetables: My Dad grilled asparagus (in a grilling basket), sliced eggplant and zucchini – he brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt
Sheep Cake: Box Funfetti cake mix with non-sweetened fresh whipped cream piped with a pastry bag and decorative tip, candy eyes
I made this snack meal for my friend’s 14 year old daughter Elizabeth. It was on a day that she helped me with some Cricut crafting. I appreciate having a crafting buddy.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Kangaroos – tortilla chips cut with a cookie cutter, brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with garlic – bake in 375 over for about 10 minutes, cherry tomatoes, sharp cheddar cheese
Top Right: Peanuts
Bottom Right: Strawberries
This was my brother’s theme request when we spent time at the family Lake House. He likes mushrooms so I used some leftover mushroom gravy my niece made for a different meal.
Left Side: Fox – Niishiki rice shaped with plastic wrap in a cookie cutter, brushed with soy sauce, Eyes – dried blueberry, mushroom gravy
Top Right: Trader Joe’s trail mix
Bottom Right: Fox – Cantaloupe cut with a cookie cutter, blackberries
I made this for my Dad. When I don’t know what theme to make for him, I use weather. This is part of my on-going Vegetable Potato Salad series.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Clouds: white potato roasted, white Cheddar, radish, Lightning Bolts – Orange Cheddar, black bean sauce – black beans, salsa, balsamic vinegar blended in a food processor
Top Right: Red Grapes
Bottom Right: Granola bar cup
Here is my Pink and Green bedroom with gold accents. When planning this room before I moved into the house, I knew I wanted pink walls as I had in my childhood bedroom. This pink is deliberately softer than the shade I had as a kid. This is my first time to live in a house by myself vs an apartment with limited decorating possibilities. Sometimes decorating is more difficult when I only have myself to answer to. I am happy that my parents and I removed the carpet that was previously in the house.
Here are “before” photos.
Paint: Charming Pink SW6309 from Sherwin Williams
Switch Plates and Outlet Covers: These are beautiful but a little thick. I think it makes them more distinctive and special.
Bed: I wanted an upholstered bed with wings. I was leaning towards cream. My designer suggested green velvet. I was not sure about it but took a chance. I complained and second guessed about this bed for the longest time because I thought I was going for a softer look. Months later, I am fine with it now. My Dad assembled the bed for me.
Bedding: Duvet Cover and Shams
Right Night Stand: From my childhood bedroom. It didn’t used to have a back. My Dad made a back this time. Painted it a soft green. Decoupaged the drawers. Added flower knobs, Lined the drawer with same paper I used to decoupage the outside.
Charging Station: I bought and like this.
Tissue Box Holder: I bought this to match the rose gold in the room.
Left Night Stand: My parents found this at a store with unfinished furniture. Painted it a soft green. Decoupaged the drawers. Added flower knobs, Lined the drawer with same paper I used to decoupage the outside.
Lamps on Night Stands: The lamps were my paternal Grandma’s. My parents cleaned them and my Dad added new electrical cords. I bought these lampshades.
Round White Table: (Ceramic Garden Stool). I didn’t like that my coffee cup clanked and you could see the hole in the middle of the table. My friend’s daughter Elizabeth designed the felt cover and I cut it with my Cricut machine.
Pink Chair: I can no longer find this exact chair but there are similar ones on Wayfair.
Hope Chest: This is a family historical Hope Chest that is now in my possession.
Rug: Fluffy soft rug. It was inexpensive but everyone who walks in my bedroom comments on how soft it is! I am happy that it perfectly matches the table.
Console Table: This in mint green. My Dad assembled it and added these bird knobs.
Full Length Mirror: I had this mirror in my apartment. It was silver. I spray painted it gold and hot glued gold flowers I bought.
Lamp on Green Console Table: My Mom had the lamp. I bought this shade.
Pink Planter Pot: I use this sometimes when I have potted flowers.
Line Drawing Art: This, this, and this.
Sashiko Art: I stitched these from patterns I bought in Japan. The center one has a Bamboo picture frame.
Ceramic Flower: I purchased from At Home.
Closet Labels: I like that my room has 3 distinct closets. I have one for Spring / Summer, one for Fall / Winter and one for miscellaneous. I sent the Japanese characters to my friend’s daughter Elizabeth and she formatted them for me. We printed them together on my Cricut machine. Elizabeth installed these on my closet doors. My Dad did extensive work getting these closets ready for me.
When I was a child, I loved looking inside my Grandmother’s hope chest. It held family historical items such as a baptism gown, rolling pin from her bridal shower, the sweater and one of the socks she wore when she arrived on the boat from Ireland at 12 years old. My Grandmother repeatedly told me that someday the hope chest would be mine. Over the years at times I thought she would give it to me, she didn’t. She didn’t give it to me when I got married or when my husband and I bought a house. My ex-husband told me that he once tried to find a hope chest for me but he didn’t find one. I am fine that he didn’t find one. It was the historical family hope chest that I cared about. My Grandpa bought it for my Grandmother and there was an inscription inside, “Joan from John”.
This lunch is a simple representative of this hope chest that is now in my bedroom.
Glass Container with Lid
Hope Chest: Cheese with food coloring marker details
Broccoli, cheese mashed potatoes
Round Glass Bowl with Lid
Joan from John: Food coloring marker on tortilla
Blackberries
This year when I started to plan my bedroom decorating, my Mom offered the hope chest to me. She had it from when my Grandmother died. I had mixed feelings about it since my Grandmother never gave it to me. Ultimately I decided to take it. It does not matter if my Grandmother for some reason did not want to give it to me. I have it now and I am happy to have a historical family item in my room. Also it is useful to have furniture at the end of the bed to put things on.
I made this meal for my Mom. The dragonfly is her cookie cutter. I made a blueberry vinaigrette but it was not popular so I need something different to represent sky and water for this type of salad.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Dragonflies – white potato roasted, orange Cheddar, yellow bell pepper, cut with a cookie cutter, blueberry vinaigrette
Top Right: Green grapes
Bottom Right: Granola bar cup
I made this for my 20 year old niece. My niece, my brother, and I hiked up a nearby mountain. In the photo below I asked her to hold out the snack box so I could get her back, the snack, and the gorgeous view. I love her hat! I wish that I had one like that. When I asked her for a snack theme request, she said bugs. My friend Renae made the cookie cutter with her 3D printer.
Container: LunchBots Trio
Top Left: Bugs – tortilla chips cut with a cookie cutter, brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar – bake in 375 over for about 10 minutes
Top Right: Lime tortilla chips
Bottom: Blueberries
I made this crab themed fruit and cottage cheese lunch for my Mom.
Container: U Konserve
Contents: Crabs – cantaloupe cut with a cookie cutter Eyes – mini chocolate chips, cottage cheese, cinnamon, blueberries, brazil nuts
Container: U Konserve
Contents: Cheddar goldfish crackers
I made this for my friend Yuko’s husband when he and Yuko visited my family Lake House. Because he was a guest, I gave him a choice of sauces: blueberry vinaigrette that I had planned for this fish theme, or the black bean sauce I had planned for 2 other lunches that day. I didn’t give my Mom a choice and she got the blueberry. She wished she had the black bean. I guess I need to find a better sauce idea when I want it to look like water or sky.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Fish: white potato roasted, orange Cheddar, yellow bell pepper, orange bell pepper, black bean sauce – black beans, salsa, balsamic vinegar blended in a food processor
Top Right: Cashews
Bottom Right: Cheddar goldfish crackers
I made this meal for my Dad on a day that I made rice themed lunches for many people. I did not take enough time making this one. The other people felt that this was my best looking lunch of the day. It surprised me. I made this village and these cats the same day. Nobody knew what theme this lunch was supposed to be. My Mom guessed fisherman and fisherwoman. I tried to copy from a Japanese bento book but used spinach instead of seaweed (see photo below). This would be a craft fail. These are supposed to be pirates. I put soy sauce on top for flavor. I found it difficult to cut out the eye patch from spinach so I used the stem.
Container: LunchBots Trio
Top Left: Pirate – cooked Nishiki rice shaped by hand with plastic wrap, soy sauce, Hair – spinach (softened for a few seconds in the microwave), Eyes – spinach cut with a straw, Nose – carrot cut by hand, mustache – spinach cut by hand, lettuce, raspberries
Top Right: Pirate – cooked Nishiki rice shaped by hand with plastic wrap, soy sauce, Hair – spinach (softened for a few seconds in the microwave), Eye – spinach cut with a straw, Eye Patch – spinach cut with a straw, spinach stem Nose (but looks like a mouth) – carrot cut by hand, lettuce, raspberries
Bottom: Fish – radish cut with a cookie cutter, Eyes – paprika, blueberries
My friend Dennis came over for dinner and helped me with a few items around my house. When I asked for theme and food suggestions, he said rice and beans skunk. I was happy to make it!
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Skunk – mashed black beans and garlic powder pushed into a cookie cutter, Tail – ricotta cheese piped with a plastic ziplock bag, spinach, Rice and Beans (I added cumin and served with cheese and salsa)
Top Right: Pistachios
Bottom Right: Flowers – watermelon cut with a cookie cutter, blueberries attached with spaghetti
My 20 year old niece and I made this themed pizza for her.
Boat: Pizza dough cut with a cookie cutter, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese
Hull: Black olives
Water: Blueberries
I made this lunch for my friend Yuko’s husband. When I asked Yuko for a theme idea, she said French horn. I was happy to revisit a theme I have only done once before.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: French Horn – Cheddar cheese freehand cut with knife, Focaccia bread
Top Right: Music Note – cut hard boiled egg with a cookie cutter
Bottom Right: Blue Cheese Walnut Grapes – I didn’t use the parsley
Today is my 11 year blogiversary! This is my 1,304th post! The traditional gift for an 11 year anniversary is steel. I decided to serve this simple meal in a metal box.
Container: LunchBots Trio
Left Side: 11 – Raspberries, cottage cheese
Right Side: Years – Carrot cut with a cookie cutter, rice
Bottom: Trader Joes Trail Mix
I continue to enjoy creating content and sharing it here. A few years ago, I started compilation posts to keep together a collection of all my creations in a particular theme. This year I created a Theme Archive page so it is easy to find all of those collected themes. It also encourages me to create more theme collections. I have 11 years of content!
I am happy to have this place that encourages me to continue to create. Thank you for joining me on this long journey.
I made this for my friend Yuko at the family Lake House.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Music Notes: white potato roasted, orange Cheddar, yellow bell pepper, light colored carrot cut with a cookie cutter, black bean sauce – black beans, salsa, balsamic vinegar blended in a food processor
Top Right: Cashews
Bottom Right: Grapes
This is my travel themed home office. I spend a lot of time in this room since I currently work from home. The last photo shows my favorite neighbor. I completed my home office decorating (minus the padded part of the Camel saddle) months ago. I am finally getting around to sharing the photos here. Painting this room was memorable since I had bad paint for the first coat. The store said it froze and they were not responsible. I know I did not damage the paint. Anyway, after I bought good paint, it went easy.
Paint: I started out with Sassafras Tea from Valspar but after I had a batch of bad paint and the store would not refund, I had it color matched at Sherwin Williams. This paint issue is also memorable for me since the same day that I painted the first bad coat, I had a first date with a man who happened to be a contractor. He insisted that 95% of the time it is not the paint, it is the painter. I did not bother telling him the next day when the store admitted the paint was the problem. The date and I were not compatible and there would not be a second date.
Carpet: Existing, it was too much doing everything else so I kept this carpet. Purple is not my favorite color but it seems to keep finding me. I once had a purple house. The carpet was in good shape except for a small issue, My Dad took some carpet from the closet and made a patch.
Earth Border Ribbon: I wanted something to hide the paint transition between wall and ceiling. I came up with this idea. I rough estimated when ordering the ribbon and I was right! I hot glued the ribbon to the wall. My hand was sore and I got a hot glue injury. But I am pleased with the result in the room.
Compass Decal: My friend’s 14 year old daughter designed, cut with my Cricut machine, and installed it for me. When people tour this room, they often ask if the directions are correct. Yes they are!
World Landmarks Decal: This is a beautiful but very detailed decal. I like the idea of the whole world together in one skyline. My friend’s 14 year old daughter helped me install it. For some of the taller buildings we also used help from the 16 year old daughter.
Ceiling Light: You can see in the before photos that the old fan had only 1 light. My Dad installed a new fan.
Outlet Plates: I decoupaged paper maps on the outlet plates. Most of them have special meaning to me: town my Grandmother was born in Ireland, places I have traveled, etc..
Switch Plates: I decoupaged paper maps on the switch plates. Iceland, and Kyoto, Japan (in Japanese).
Desks: My Dad assembled the desks. This one, and this one.
Desk Chair: I had it in my apartment before buying this house.
Printer Stand and Files: My Dad assembled it.
Travel Chair: This was my paternal Grandma’s chair. My parents renovated it with this fabric I bought from Walmart online.
Bookcases: I actually bought them in person at Target. My Dad assembled them.
Japanese Snow Monkey Art: I bought the frame from Walmart online.
Thailand Elephant Art: I bought the frame from Walmart online.
Vintage Shelves: These were my maternal Grandparents but I ended up with them when I was in my 20’s. I often renovate them for different living situations. This time we spray painted the metal gold and covered the shelves with map wrapping paper and clear contact paper.
Ancestor Countries Art: I found these free pintables online but can’t find them anymore. I printed out the countries my ancestors were born. I reused frames I had for an Herb gallery wall in my apartment.
Camel Saddle: My maternal Grandpa was a Flight Engineer for TWA. He brought this camel saddle back from Egypt when my Mom was a kid. It was in her childhood bedroom. I remember it in my Grandparents home when I was a kid. I thought the saddle would be perfect for my travel themed office. I need to replace the padded part. I intend to sew it myself at some point.
Foreign Coins Tissue Box: I repurposed an old wooden tissue box. Painted it black, used E6000 glue to attach foreign coins to make this travel themed tissue box.
7 Lucky Gods Stamps – In 2017, I did a pilgrimage tour to the temples of the 7 Lucky Gods in Kyoto. I was frugal and did not buy the souvenir stamps from each location. In 2019, when a friend visited from Japan, she brought this for me.
Round North America Map: I purchased it in person from At Home.
Small Knob for Little Door: The door had a gold knob, my Mom found this online. I was able to find it in the store at Hobby Lobby.
Baskets with Lids: This, this, this, this.
Kokeshi: This traditional wooden doll was a gift from a college roommates parents. My roommate, Tomoko complained that it was heavy to bring to me.
Map Basket: My friend Deborah’s Mom made this out of maps a long time ago. It fits perfect in my travel themed office!
Little Camel: It was always on my maternal Grandmother’s dresser. She put rings in the little saddlebag. I need to sew it but didn’t yet.
Ceramic Bowls: I made these myself in Japan in 2017.
This is the “before” photo looking into the room.
This is the “before” photo standing by the window looking towards the hallway.
I made this meal for my friend Dennis at his request. My friend Renae used her 3D printer to make the alien and UFO cookie cutters.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Little Green Man – Cheddar mashed potatoes cooled then cut with a cookie cutter, frosted with homemade pesto, Eyes – paprika, star carrots cut with a cookie cutter, green peas
Top Right: Cashews
Bottom Right: UFO – Cinnamon Tortilla Chip – tortilla chips cut with a cookie cutter, brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar – bake in 375 over for about 10 minutes, grapes
This is my collection of cute shaped ravioli. As with my other collections, I will update when I create something new.
FLOWERS
ANIMALS
HOLIDAYS
NATURE
BUILDING
EXTINCT
I made this lunch for my friend Yuko. When I asked for her desired theme, she said piano. I was happy to revisit a theme I have only done once before.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Top Left: Carrot Apple Slaw with Pistachios
Bottom Left: Music Notes – carrot cut with a mini cutter, celery with Lemon Garlic hummus
Right Side: Piano – Focaccia bread, Kit Kat
One of my Japanese language partners actually lives in Philadelphia. Over 4th of July weekend, she and her husband visited me and my parents at our family Lake House. We all had a wonderful time!
USA Theme Individual Appetizer Plate
Caprese Pizza with Balsamic Drizzle
USA Red White Blue Dessert
My critique of the meal: I really enjoyed designing and creating the individual vegetarian charcuterie boards. We all enjoyed eating the appetizers. The pizza and dessert were easy and delicious. I made and froze the cookies a week before the party.
I made this cottage cheese and fruit lunch for myself. It was refreshing and fun.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Fireworks – watermelon cut and stamped with a cookie cutter, cottage cheese, blueberries, cinnamon
Top Right: Hummus with smoked paprika
Bottom Right: USA – carrot cut with cookie cutter, cauliflower
I made this Eagle mashed potato lunch for my Dad. They sometimes see Bald Eagles at their Lake House.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Bald Eagle – cheese mashed potato, smoked paprika, Eye – dried blueberry, Beak – Cashew, peas
Top Right: Cashews
Bottom Right: Fish – apple cut with a cookie cutter, sliced strawberries
These are supposed to be cactus in pots pizza. My Mom ate them on a day I made 6 different themed pizzas for family at my parent’s Lake House.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Cactus – pizza cut with cookie cutter, mozzarella, pesto
Top Right: Virginia Peanut Squares
Bottom Right: Cactus – rainbow carrot cut with cookie cutter, sugar snap peas
I pressed my sister-in-law for an unusual theme and she said New England Village. I enjoy trying out new themes.
Glass Container with Lid
Houses: carrot and radish cut with cookie cutter
Church: cheese cut with cookie cutter
Tree: Zucchini cut with a cookie cutter
Green behind village: spinach
Road: pistachio nuts
Buttered rice with salt
Round Glass Bowl with Lid
Sliced strawberries
I enjoy revisiting the same theme to do something different. Over the years, I have made many melon cakes. This is my first time making an individual one. It was easy to make and a delight to eat.
I used a round ring for stacking food. Then, I topped it with cottage cheese, sliced almonds and a blueberry. I was inspired by this but I used cottage cheese instead of whipped cream.
My Past Fresh Melon Cakes
I made this giraffe themed pizza lunch for my sister-in-law while we were at my family Lake House.
Left Side: Giraffes – pizza dough cut with a cookie cutter, orange cheddar cheese, pesto
Top Right: Pistachios
Bottom Right: Giraffes – white carrot cut with cookie cutter, food coloring marker, sugar snap pea
My 20 year old niece and I made this fun cat lunch.
Container: Wooden box purchased in Kyoto at Bento&co.
Mouse: Watermelon cut with cookie cutter, mini chocolate chip
Cats: Cooked Nishiki rice shaped with a rice mold, eyes & mouth – spinach cut with rice mold set, nose – carrot
Background: Scrambled eggs
Small Metal Container with Lid:
Flavor Blasted Cheddar Goldfish crackers
I made this lunch for my brother when we were at the family Lake House. I served additional bear pizza on a plate.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Top Left: Pistachios
Top Middle: Cooked broccoli
Top Right: Blueberries
Bottom: Bear Pizza Top – mozzarella, black olives, Bear Pizza Underneath – mozzarella, black olives, tomato sauce, Bear Chocolate Cookie
For Flag Day, I made this rice American flag for my Dad.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Cooked Niishiki rice shaped with plastic wrap, Butterfly pea powder, cheddar cut with mini star cutter, roasted pepper, romaine
Top Right: Pistachios
Bottom Right: Strawberries and blueberries
My Mom and my now 20 year old niece made these pancakes when at my parents lake house. She was 19 when she made them.
Peach Tree – Chocolate chip pancakes cut with a cookie cutter, peach Jell-O
Squirrels – Chocolate chip pancakes cut with a cookie cutter
Peaches – Peach Jell-O
Droppings – Mini chocolate chips
Ground – Whipped cream lightly dyed green
Others in this series:
My parents and I celebrated my niece’s 20th birthday a little early with her this year. I am posting this today since it is her actual birthday. It was special to be able to celebrate her birthday with her.
Decorations: My mom bought various decorations and we had fun assembling them.
Favor: Flower shaped chocolates placed on paper doilies
Napkin Rings: clear with flower holders and small flowers. I already had these. I used them for my birthday party. The price has increased a lot since last year!
Tablecloth and napkins: floral
Watermelon Flower Centerpiece: My Dad and I made the watermelon centerpiece. We cut watermelon with a flower cookie cutter, attached with toothpicks and added dried cherry centers.
Menu:
Here are some photos from memorial day at my family lake house. 6 family members were together this year. I think this is actually my first time to create a Memorial Day themed post. My Dad did the grilling, my 19 year old niece made the cupcakes. I baked the bread.
Favors – Ghirardelli chocolate squares (milk chocolate caramel, dark chocolate raspberry) in little bags made from flag paper
Grilled peppers, asparagus, eggplant with olive oil and garlic powder
Grilled homemade crusty sourdough bread with olive oil
Grilled Corn with Basil butter
Funfetti Cupcakes (Pillsbury) – piped unsweetened whipped cream, red, white and blue sprinkles
I enjoyed this meal with my friend Renae. When I was a kid, I drew sheep. Renae drew dinosaurs. I thought it was fun to make dinosaur ravioli. I made and froze the ravioli several weeks before the meal. It became a somewhat quick workday lunch. I was happy that she was able to come over and join me for lunch.
Dinosaur Ravioli – I used my favorite pasta dough, and added some spinach powder to the dough, filling – Ricotta, Asiago, salt and pepper
Roasted Asparagus – toss with a little olive oil and salt. Bake at 410 degrees for about 12 minutes.
Cherry Tomatoes
Dino Dessert – Apple cut with a cookie cutter, plain Greek yogurt, maple syrup
Critique of the meal – The garlic cream sauce was delicious and I plan to make it again. I always like my ravioli. Yogurt based desserts are simple, healthy and delicious. I love my new dining room. It is fun to entertain in it.
I made this fun meal for my Mom. It may not look like much but I am told it was delicious.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Dragonflies – pesto, pizza crust cut with cookie cutter than baked
Top Right: Macadamia nuts
Bottom Right: Strawberries and mango
I made this llama meal for my Mom. The carrots were a hit from Easter. In my haste of making this meal I added twice the amount of pepper by accident. They were spicy!
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Llama – garlic mashed potatoes cooled then cut with a cookie cutter, Eye – dried blueberry, Garlic and Herb Roasted Carrots
Top Right: Macadamia nuts
Bottom Right: Flowers – apple cut with a cookie cutter and dipped in water with lemon, strawberries
My 19 year old niece and I prepared this meal for her when she was at my house. The only thing I did was make and freeze the flower shaped pizza crusts. She did everything else.
Flower Pizza – I used Martha Stewart Pizza Dough recipe, rolled out dough with plenty of flour, cut with a cookie cutter and followed these directions to pre-bake the crusts to make it easy on day of the dinner. My niece added tomato sauce, mozzarella, black olives, mushrooms and baked until brown and crispy.
Trees – Broccoli
Awhile ago, I completed decorating my new craft room. The theme is fairy tale forest during the day. I am finally getting around to sharing the room here. Of all the various craft rooms I have had, this is my favorite. The wallpaper mural is perfect for the space. My parents installed it and made a frame for it. I love that I have a lot of closet space and a hidden room which has even more storage. In the main room I set up various crafting stations (wrapping / mailing, Cricut, Sewing, general crafting). Most of the storage I used in my other craft rooms.
Mural: I bought it from this Etsy shop.
Tree Chairs: In my last two craft rooms these chairs were white with pink floral cushions. I painted them brown and bought tree cushions.
Dropleaf Table: I had this in my last two craft rooms. It was my grandparents and they loaned it to a friend for 60 years. That friend gave it back to my parents. In my last two craft rooms, it was green. This time, I painted it white.
Wrapping / Mailing Station: I am not sure where I bought this. I used it in the kitchen of the apartment I lived in before buying this house.
Fairy light pull: I bought this on Etsy but link and shop is no longer active.
Walls: I painted them a pale green.
This is the “before” photo of my craft room.
My parents came to my house for Mother’s Day weekend. I finally made a meal my Mom loves but had not made it in a long time.
Vegetable Gyoza – I made my own with store bought dumpling wrappers. I shredded cabbage, carrots, snow peas, scallions, and fresh ginger separately in my food processor. I added sesame oil and soy sauce.
Gyoza Dipping Sauce: Trader Joes
Flower Shaped Rice – I used a flower Japanese rice mold with cooked Nishiki rice.
Vegetables – Sauteed onion, red bell pepper, broccoli, asparagus with sesame oil, soy sauce, cashews
Flower Cut-out cookie with cream cheese frosting
My critique of the meal: We all enjoyed! I have shared vegetable gyoza on this blog many times but it had been awhile. The cookies were adorable! I made the gyoza and sugar cookies a week ago and put in my freezer. I decorated the cookies a few hours before serving.
I made this simple but fun grilled cheese lunch for my Dad.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Star – push cookie cutter into cooked grilled cheese, sourdough bread, sharp cheddar
Top Right: Black beans, corn, salsa
Bottom Right: Blackberries
My Mom and 19 year old niece made these pancakes when at my house.
Cows – Pancakes cut with cookie cutter, Nutella and fresh whipped cream
Calves – Pancakes cut with cookie cutter, fresh whipped cream
Droppings – Chocolate chips
House – Pancake cut with cookie cutter, Nutella
Others in this series:
I made this simple but fun grilled cheese lunch for my Mom.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Heart – push cookie cutter into cooked grilled cheese, sourdough bread, sharp cheddar
Top Right: Cherry tomatoes, feta cheese
Bottom Right: Blueberries, mango
I have a laundry room on the main floor (the same floor as my bedroom). This makes doing laundry easier than any other place I have ever lived. When I started to plan my redesign, two things were important: cabinets instead of open shelves, wave wallpaper instead of plain white walls. I am amused by having waves of water on the walls in my laundry room. My parents installed the wallpaper. They said that the design made them seasick but they enjoy the end result.
Cabinets: Home Depot
Ceiling Light: Home Depot. We had to install a new ceiling light since the old one was too big for the cabinet doors to open.
Outlet Plate: My parents covered it with wallpaper.
Switch Plate: this is part of my continued quest to change all of the boring cream outlet plates in my house.
Mop Hooks
Door Hooks: Command hooks
This is the “Before” photo of my laundry room.
My parents are amazing. I was impressed at how fast they hung the cabinets and wallpaper while I worked at my job.
I like the fun, function, and convenience of this laundry room. It is a little bold compared to the rest of the design in my house but I can keep the doors closed when desired. I enjoy my laundry room with waves.
I am guessing that I will reveal most of the rooms as they are mostly “completed”. This is my second reveal. The first was my cookie cutter closet.
I assembled this meal for my 19 year old niece. My Mom made the Mac and Cheese.
Container: Wooden box purchased in Kyoto at Bento&co.
Contents: Mac & Cheese, rainbow carrots, broccoli
I made this simple lunch for my Mom on a day in March when my parents helped me get settled into my new house. I moved in January, it is taking longer than I want to make this my home but it is coming along. I am thankful for my parents help.
Container: Book Bento Box
Contents: Tulip – Nishiki rice formed with a rice mold sprinkled with cinnamon, snow peas, strawberries, tomato, feta, pepper
We had a wonderful Easter. It was my first major holiday in my new home. My parents and 19 year old niece came to my house for the weekend. My friend Carol joined us for the Easter main meal. My niece and I planned and prepared the meal. She made the soup and desserts! Carol brought the beautiful flowers. The tulips were lovely. I did not know about peony tulips before. The daffodils at each place were from Carol’s garden. My niece made the favor baskets. At breakfast we enjoyed Easter baskets. In my family adults enjoy Christmas stockings and Easter baskets. We are not too old for the magic of a holiday.
Breakfast Menu
Main Meal Table
Main Meal Menu
Bunny Cream Puffs
Ingredients
Sift the flour. In a saucepan, bring the milk, water, sugar, salt and butter to a boil. Remove from heat, incorporate the sifted flour into the hot liquid, mixing energetically with a spatula until homogenous.
Return the saucepan to low heat and stir vigorously for 1 minute to pull out the moisture from the batter, so that it forms a mass and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
Transfer batter to a large bowl and allow to cool. Add the eggs one at a time, carefully incorporating each into the batter with a spatula.
When homogenous, on a parchment lined baking sheet. pipe into cream puff shape.
Bake at 375 degrees for at least 30 minutes without opening the oven.
Before serving prepare cocoa cream to fill the cream puffs.
Whip whipping cream with some cocoa powder and powdered sugar to taste.
Use metal pastry tip and piping bag to fill cream puffs from the bottom.
Microwave starbursts for about 5 seconds until pliable. Stretch into bunny ears. Use knife to make slits into cream puff for the ears. Add starburst ears to cream puff. Pipe small dots of cocoa cream for the eyes.
Nutella or Strawberry Jam Macarons
Ingredients
Combine the almond flour and confectioners’ sugar in a food processor and pulse to obtain a fine powder. Sift or strain through a sieve to remove any lumps.
In a clean, dry bowl, whisk the egg whites to a foam. Once they are frothy, add a third of the granulated sugar and whip until sugar is dissolved. Add another third of the granulated sugar, whip for another minute, finally add the remaining granulated sugar and whip for 1 more minute. Using a clean rubber spatula, delicately fold the sifted mixture of ground almonds and confectioners’ sugar into the whipped egg whites. Add a few drops of food coloring to obtain desired color (split the batter if you want more than 1 color). In a separate bowl, beat the remaining 1/2 egg white until just frothy. Then add to the final mixture, folding gently to slightly loosen the batter.
Transfer mixture to a piping bag fitted with a plain tip. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, pipe small macaron rounds. Dip finger in bowl of water to gently smooth out pipped round. Lightly tap the sheet so the macarons spread fully.
Preheat oven to 300 F. Allow macarons to sit uncovered for 10 minutes, then place in the oven.
Bake for approximately 15 minutes until they form a slight crust.
Remove baking sheet from the oven, and with a small glass, carefully pour a tiny amount of water in between the sheet and the parchment paper (lift the paper ever so slightly corner by corner). The moisture and steam that result from the water on the hot baking sheet will allow the macarons to peel off more easily once they are cool. Do not pour too much water as this could cause the macarons to become soggy. Allow to cool completly.
Spread Nutella or strawberry jam between 2 macaron rounds. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
My critique of the meal: We all enjoyed the food, the roasted carrots were a surprise hit. I expect to make them again. It was my first time making cocoa cream. It was delicious in the cream puffs. I definitely want to make it again. We were fortunate to have spent this holiday together. A memorable first holiday in my new home!
I made this cute Easter themed meal for my Mom. She was delighted to see it.
Container: U Konserve
Contents: Easter Egg – cheese mashed potato with pesto and dried cherries, lettuce, Rosemary Macedonia Almonds, Bunnies – melon cut with an imprint cookie cutter
I made this snack meal for my friend’s 14 year old daughter Elizabeth. It was on a day that she helped me with some Cricut crafting and installing of wall decals. I appreciate her skillful help.
Container: EasyLunchBoxes
Left Side: Alligators – tortilla chips cut with a cookie cutter, brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with garlic – bake in 375 over for about 10 minutes, cherry tomatoes, sharp cheddar cheese
Top Right: Sunflower seeds
Bottom Right: Strawberries
I made tulip shaped ravioli for my parents and myself. My dining room is not yet complete. At the time of this meal, I still didn’t have a table. But it is enjoyable to eat in this room.
Tulip Ravioli – I used my favorite pasta dough, and added some tomato paste to the dough, filling – Ricotta, Asiago, salt and pepper
Black Bean Sauce – Black bean sauce I just threw together in the food processer. Can of black beans, some garlic power, pinch of salt, splash of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, some salsa.
Salad – Romaine, carrots cut with a cookie cutter, Trader Joes Unexpected Cheddar
Eclectic Lamb 