Granny is Ready for Valentine's 's Day

Valentine's Day is soon!

THIS week I spent some time with the grand kids in the central valley. A granddaughter was celebrating a 12th birthday. As usual with 5 kids in the house there was more than just a birthday happening. Needless to say the day of 

"The Birthday" there was an older grand child's basketball game.

 Everyone took it all in stride, the birthday was strung out over the week. 

Ya do what Ya gotta do! No biggie, No brain er! 

Six of one, half dozen of another!

So, we carried on. Basketball game was awesome. The varsity girls won their game. It was very exciting. The birthday girl didn't seem to mind, just another day. Besides, she had celebrations as they fit in, before & after the game on Monday, Wednesday night dinner with MOST of the family (yes, more activities) and a slumber party with friends on the (coming) weekend.

Several of our grand kids play basketball among other activities. 

THEY are "ALL" use to the stop, go & hurry-up action packed lifestyle.

 It really is "the way of the world" when you are a parent or a grandparent!

Anyway, I was ALSO busy; cooking and doing valentine projects. Here are a few of the projects we did while I was in the central valley.

 By-the-by, the recipe posting this Friday was part of the birthday dinner....

IT was YUMMY! 

So check back Friday for the recipes. 

(Found this idea on Pinterest linked to this site...Hellogiggles.)

 I made t-shirt scarves for the 7 granddaughters for Valentine's Day. We added some cute watches I found on clearance at TARGET!  Can't tell by the photo but, the scarves are PINK & PURPLE!!! 

I found several choices of flowers (@Michael's) to clip on the scarves. Oh and butterflies too. Cute, Cute, Cute! 

So inexpensive that I still have "folding money in my pocketbook"; as Granny use to say! For the boys...they got T-Shirts to wear and a watch!

 While Raelyn and I were at Michael's, we saw a cute idea!

 ONLY I think we made it CUTER! And less expensive! 

 So we bought some supplies. The project took minutes to put together.

The results were so cute! 

You will need:

Drinking glasses (we used wine and champagne glasses),

 glass beads (we used pink & red), valentines, drinking straws, valentine notes, white paper roses, faux strawberries, scissors and a hole punch.

 They look like little parfait's

 We made them to use as name/place cards at the table. We made a set for each couple in our family. 

 The backside of the Valentine cards.

 My daughter will love them!

 Next we wanted to make Teachers gifts (and others) for Valentine's Day.

These turned out adorable! I had seen 2 of the 4 on Pinterest!

 How CUTE is this?

You will need:

Construction Paper, rolo candy, candy kisses, hot glue gun, scotch tape and a real pencil for marking

 Just took moments to make! All the kids LOVED these!!

 For my Hubby; I used 3 rolo packages, red construction paper, scissors, pencil, pipe cleaners, scotch tape and valentine tags.

 Cover all three with red paper...

 Here are two versions of what to write to your Valentine. CUTE!

 A cigar & a flare...

 These were fun to make, simple and easy.

Having fun with Style...

Wedge Salad

This salad is beautiful and delicious. You may serve it as the main meal for lunch or dinner. Or, make it smaller as an entree' to your main course. Either way, it will be a win-win! It will definitely impress anyone and everyone...

You will need:

• 1 head of iceberg lettuce
• (*Cut, and flush with water, drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Cover with more paper towels and place in the refrigerator to chill while draining. This makes the lettuce crisp and cold. Remove just before assembling your salad.)
• 1/2 pound of bacon, cooked, & crumpled
• (*Prepare a broiler pan with cooking spray, place bacon on pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes till done, check bacon often. This is an easy way to prepare bacon without a mess or splatters. When done, remove bacon and let rest on a paper towel. You will crumble it for the salad. I use kitchen shears to cut the bacon for my crumbles.)
• A few small Red and Yellow tomatoes,          
•  sliced in half
• 3 or 4 stalks of green onions, sliced
• 1 package of grated parmesan cheese, fried, (see recipe below)
• 1 bottle or jar of Bleu Cheese Salad Dressing

Fried Parmesan Cheese:

Heat a small frying pan after using cooking spray and some olive oil to prepare the pan.

Sprinkle 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese in the pan.

Sprinkle with garlic pepper.

The cheese will cook fast, do not leave unattended.

Spray your spatula with cooking spray. Then lift the fried cheese around the edges. Next, flip over the fried cheese, cooking the other side. The second side will cook faster. Remove the fried cheese and place on a paper towel to cool. Repeat as many times as you need for the number of salads being served.

They can be added whole or crumbled on the salad. These may be made ahead of time, even the day before. Store between paper towels on a small plate in a zip top bag.

Assembly of the Gourmet Style Wedge Salad 

Remove the lettuce from the refrigerator and cut into wedges

(Size will depend on how you choose to serve your salad, entree' or main meal)

On a plate, place the fried cheese

Next, place a wedge of lettuce

Add the tomatoes, green onions and crumbled bacon

Drizzle on the Blue Cheese dressing

Salt & Pepper to taste...

 The Gourmet Style Wedge Salad

Designer Shoes or Art?

Too much fun not to share........

Kobi Levi, Israeli Shoe Designer 

Visit his blog for all of his designs....

kobilevidesign.blogspot.com

Kobi graduated from Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem in 2001.

He specialized in footwear design and development. He is a freelance designer.He has designed commercial footwear in Italy, China and Brazil.

~~~

Kobi Levi: "When I design a shoe I think about it as a sculpture to wear, an art piece you live with." 

*quote (first sentence) taken from The Virtue Shoe Museum website, at vitualshoemuseum.com

~~~

Personal note:

A very good friend of mine had sent me an email regarding Kobi Levi's Designer Shoes....these amazing shoes got me wondering about the designer. So...I googled him and "wa-lah" found his blog site. HENCE, MY ARTICLE TODAY!

Thanks Debbie T. for the idea! The shoe below is "for you" dear friend...

Coffee anyone?

All photos were taken from his blog site (listed above) or Google images

Amazing design & concept....Enjoy

 Who hasn't stepped in GUM?

 Target practice anyone? the guys will love these! 

And the ones below!!!

Ooh La La....

From the Bird collection; Toucan

 Madonna Inspired; Blond Ambition

 The famous Miss Olive Oyl

 From the Bird Collection; Duck

 The Mother/Daughter Shoe

The Chinese Design

~~~

Amazing Shoe Designs

Check out his blog site today!

 Shoes & Art with Amazing Style....

Basic Kitchen Essentials

 Basic Kitchen Essentials:

(This is a basic suggestion list)

Who could use this List??? Well....just about everyone!
Newly Engaged couples could use this list to compile their gift/wedding registry. It's also great idea for college students & singles. Or.... just use to  replace missing items from your kitchen gallery. I take inventory about every 6 months to replace broken or needed items.

Basic Set of dishes, service for 6-8 minimum, (up to 12)

set should include: Dinner plate, bowl &/or salad plate,

Coffee cup with or without saucers

Serving Bowls/Dishes in several sizes

Casserole Dishes with Lids, several sizes

(*Colors should blend nicely with your dishes)

Pitchers for Drinks 
Gravy Boats, 1 or 2

Sugar and Creamer containers

Salt and Pepper shakers or mills

Silverware, service for 6, 8 or 12

Serving utensils, to match

such as spoons, forks, serving spatulas

Drinking Glasses 6-12, in two sizes

Wine Glasses, 12-24 

(*You may choose to use different sizes, white & red wine glasses) 

Various cocktail & beer glasses to suit your needs

Baking and Roasting pans:

12-15" open roasting pan 

9x13 baking pan, 1 or more; metal, glass, stoneware

5x9 bread pan, 2 in metal, glass or stoneware

2 - 8 or 9" round layer cake pans

2 - 8 or 9" square layer cake pans

1- 8 or 9" round cake pan

1 - 8 or 9" square cake pan

1 - 9 or 10" tube pan

Bundt Style pan, 1 02 more

Cookie sheets, 2 or more

8-10" Pie Plates, 2 or more

Muffin/Cupcake Pan, 1 or 2

Springform pan, 1 or 2

2 - Pizza Pans

Pots & Pans:

1, 2 and 3 quart pans with lids

2 or 3 quart with steamer basket and lid

(*Boiler insert would be great too!)

1 or more, 7-9" fry pan, lid 

1 or more, 10-12" fry pan, lid

6 quart dutch oven

Stock pots, heavy gauge with lids, 2 sizes

Appliances:

Coffee Maker

Mixer, Stand and/or Hand

Toaster

Toaster Oven

Crock Pot

Tea Kettle

Electric Skillet/griddle

Waffle Machine

Blender

Food processor/chopper

 Grill Press

Cooking and Kitchen Essentials

Heat resistant Spoons and Rubber Spatulas in various sizes

(*at least 2 of each)

Large Slotted spoon

Large Solid spoon

Cooking Spatulas, solid and slotted

Pizza Cutter

Pie Server

Desert Server 

Can and Bottle openers

Ice Pick

Wine openers

Corks for bottles

Cooking Bands

Gravy & Soup Ladles, various sizes

Vegetable peeler

Set of Knives, various sizes 

Steak Knife set

Funnels, various sizes

(narrow and wide mouth)

Measuring Spoons & Cups

Liquid & Dry measuring pitchers

Thermometers; cooking, meat, candy 

Graters of several sizes; 4 sided & flat

Tongs; for cooking and serving
Baking Timer

Shelf Liner: for cupboards, drawers...

Drink containers: 2 or more, various sizes

Long Handled Cooking Forks

Large and Small Strainers

Long Handle Strainer (spoon/dipper style)

Rolling pin

Pastry Blender

Pastry Brush

Cake/Cookie Racks (for cooling)

Potato Masher

Kitchen Shears

Knife Sharpener, Steel or Stone

Cutting Boards, various sizes

Whisks/Whips, various sizes & styles

Various sizes of containers/lids or jars/lids

Trivets for Hot Dishes, several

Pot Holders & Oven Mitts

1 dozen dish clothes

1 dozen dish towels

Dish Strainer: for hand washed items, traditional or cloth pad

Stylish and Prepared...