Sidewalk Chalk Paint (Kids Craft for Modern Mami)

 Well Hello there!

I've been such a stranger, haven't I?

This summer my goal was to try to keep up with the posting of this lovely space of mine and the move at the same time.  As you can see, ahem, it hasn't been possible.  We're moving you ask?  Well, yes.  As of August we will no longer be Virginians, but instead Texans.  Exiting and sad all at the same time yes.  We'll be closer to my family which is why we decided to go for this move in the first place, but sad (so very sad) to leave such wonderful friends, and part of hubby's family, behind.  Truth be told we love it here, I love it here!  But nothing beats being closer to family, don't you agree?  Anyway, I will try to stop by here every so often to keep you updated or if you want a more sudden gratification (*wink*) you can follow me on Instagram (@lisarenata).  

Now for that kids craft.

I'm over at Modern Mami sharing a super duper easy (not exaggerating really) recipe to make sidewalk chalk paint.  Oh, I can't believe we hadn't done this before.  The kids love it and the best part it's all non toxic. 

So what are you waiting for?  Go on over and make your own.  The kids will LOVE ya for it.

Happy sunny days!

Weekend Baking: Applesauce Raisin Delicious & Healthy (Nut Free) Bread ♥ Pan Rico y Saludable de Puree de Manzana y Pasas

(♥Para Español ver abajo♥)

Friday we got more snow.

It is so peaceful to watch it fall.  Soft, white, pure, snow.  Calming. 

photo on instagram (follow @lisarenata)

And although we only got about an inch, this time it stuck around. 

Which means it has also been very cold.  Brrr.  And when it's cold outside, I like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen keeping our bellies warm.  

Does that happen to you? For some reason it does to me.  

Since I've been feeling much better of late, and my energy has seemed to come back (at least for now) I am taking advantage.  My little chiquita had been asking for applesauce raising bread for who-knows-how-long now.  I just didn't have the energy, nor the enthusiasm to cook let alone bake, but this weekend was different.

On Sunday when my little guy noticed the bananas on the counter were nice and ripe he asked if we could make banana bread and I said yes.  Then when his sister asked if we could make her applesauce raisin bread too, I thought, what the heck- YES to the apple sauce bread too!

We baked, we savored, we had happy bellies and beautiful satisfied smiles.  What more can this mama ask for?  The simple things that make me happy.

Want to savor some too?

Applesauce Raisin Healthy (and nut free) Bread

Ingredients:
- 1 organic egg
- 1 1/4 cup applesauce (we make ours)
- 4 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar (firmly packed)
- 1/4 cup raw sugar
- 1 1/2 cups regular flour
- 1/2 cup wheat flour
- 1/2 tsp ground flax seeds
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 a teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg (not a nut)
- 1/2 cup mixed gold and dark raisins

Makes 1 9x5 inch loaf or two mini loaves.

To make:

Preheat oven at 350 degrees F.

Begin by greasing your pan(s).  You will need two bowls.  One for the dry ingredients the other for the wet ingredients.  In the first bowl break the egg and beat lightly, then add the applesauce, butter and both sugars.  Mix ingredients and set aside.  On the second bowl, sift together both flours, flax seeds, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Slowly fold dry ingredients into the applesauce mixture.  Mix, then add all the raisins.  Finally, pour into loaf pan(s) and bake for about 45-55 minutes (depending on your oven.)  You'll know it is ready when you insert a toothpick and it come out clean.  Let stand for a few minutes to cool off a bit, cut and enjoy! 

Happy Baking!

♥♥♥

El viernes nevó mas.

Es tan bonito ver caer la nieve.  Suave, blanca y pura. Relajante.

Y aunque solo cayo como una pulgada, esta vez si pego. Cual significa que ha estado super frio por acá. Y cuando hace frio afuera, ni ganas de salir.  Pero si me dan mucha ganas de pasármela en la cocina donde esta calientito y donde también puedo mantener nuestras pansitas calientitas.   ¿A ti te sucede lo mismo? No se, por alguna razón a mi si. 

Con eso de que últimamente me he sentido mejor y también parase que mi energía a regresado, por el momento estoy tomando ventaja.  Mi chiquita ya tenia quien sabe cuanto tiempo pidiéndome que por favor le hiciera un pan de puree de manzana con pasas.  Pero sin energía y ni el entusiasmo de cocinar no se lo había echo.  Este fin de semana fue distinto.  

El domingo cuando mi chiquito sugerio que hiciéramos pan de plátano porque noto que ya estaban muy maduros, le dije que si.  Y cuando su hermana me pidió que también hiciéramos su pan de puree de manzana con pasas, también le dije que si. 

Cocinamos, saboreamos, y terminamos con unas pansitas llenas y unas caritas llenas de sonrisas satisfechas.  ¿Que mas podría desear yo, si no ver a mis pequeños felices?  Las cosas sencillas son las que me llenan el corazón.

¿Quieres saborearlo tu también?

  

Pan de puree de manzana con pasas, rico y saludable (y sin nueces ni cacahuate)

Ingredientes:

- 1 huevo organico

- 1 1/4 de taza de puree de manzana (nosotros lo hacemos en casa)

- 4 cucharadas de mantequilla (derretida)

- 1/2 taza de azúcar morena (compactada)

- 1/4 taza de azúcar (raw)

- 1 1/2 taza de harina blanca

- 1/2 taza de harina de trigo

- 1/2 cucharadita de semillas de linaza molidas

- 2 cucharadita de levadura en polvo

- 1/2 cucharadita de bicarbonato de sodio

- 1/4 cucharadita de sal

- 1 cucharadita de canela molida

- 1/2 cucharadita de nuez moscada en polvo (cual no es una nuez)

- 1/2 taza de pasas negras y amarillas

Hace un pan de 9x5 pulgadas o dos panes pequeños.

Para hacer:

Prende el horno a 350 grados F.  

Primero empieza por engrasar tu molde(s).  Vas a necesitar dos recipientes.  Uno para los ingredientes líquidos y el otro para los ingredientes secos. En el primer recipiente pon el huevo y bátelo ligeramente, después añade el puree de manzana y los dos tipos de azúcar. Revuelve los ingredientes y pon lo a un lado.  En el segundo recipiente, cierne junto los dos tipos de harina, la linaza molida, la levadura en polvo, el bicarbonato, la sal, la canela y la nuez moscada en polvo.  Poco a poco ve revolviendo los ingredientes en polvo con los líquidos.  Al final añade las pasas, revuelve un poco.  Y por ultimo ponlo en su molde(s) y hornea lo de unos 45 a 55 minutos (dependiendo en tu horno.) Sabes que esta listo cuando metas un palillo y salga limpio.  Saca del horno y deja que se enfrié un poco.  ¡Corta y disfruta!

¡Que te diviertas cocinando!

Monday Randomness

Isn't funny when you are looking forward to something and can't wait to do it, but then when it is there in front of you, for what ever reason you don't?  That's the story of my life (for the most part.)  Lots of wants, lots of plans and not much time to do them.  So this morning, a beautiful cloudy morning, I decided to step out to the front porch with coffee on hand and sit on my not so new bistro set.  Something I had been planning for years!  You see, since the first day I saw our house I fell in love with its lovely front porch.  I totally pictured myself sitting there enjoying my coffee.  Forward 9 years later and a constant search for the perfect bistro set, I finally found one.  Mid summer.  The perfect one, just like I had envisioned it.  Only problem?  I've only sat on the lovely cushioned chair- once! 

So this morning while the kids were watching some t.v. I escaped for a few minutes and walked out to my front porch with coffee and sat there...just watching...and listening...to the birds chirping, the squirrels running up and down the trees, and the light drip drop of the scattered rain.  Still for a moment. A simple little moment of enjoyment. A moment for me.  

Then I came in and the doing began once more...

Sprucing up my son's art shirt/smock for school.  I used the same technique as the wearable art shirts (tutorial here).  On this shirt though, I also added some puffy paint.  When done I'll write his name below the scary (not!) alien to help my son find his art shirt in class with ease. 

Other randomness:

I'm in love with the sweet lemony flavor of this herbal honey with a hint of thyme.  Perfect in our tea.

Cutting more herbs to dry and freeze.  Yea, that is the fist time I'll be freezing basil.  A couple of days ago while at Trader Joe's I came across basil in the frozen isle.  Well, I can totally do that!  Can't believe I never thought of it before.  All you need to do is puree the basil and put it in tiny ice cube trays.  Pop them out after frozen and place them in a container to use later.  

While cutting around my herb garden I also came across these lovely little flowers.  Can you guess what plant they are from?

 

Chives!  I know, pretty right?  I had never let my chives bloom.  This year I decided to let them and I love them.  I made sure to cut them all before they drop their seed though, I don't need more chives growing than what we already get (and that is a lot!)

I got the kids a game of Gobblet Gobblers, it is so much fun to play! We've spent hours playing the other day.  Imagine tic-tack-toe but with a twist:  You get to gobble up pieces! 

She's good!

The other night my chiquita came in to the kitchen and announced she had made lots of headbands.  One for me and her friends.

How do I look?

Wishing you a great start to your week!

DIY: Super Cute & Simple Felt Flower Magnets

In case you haven't noticed I have a love for flowers...and felt.  So it should come to no surprise that if I was to makes some cute magnets they would be made out of, yes, felt.

Any other felt lovers out there?  Mixed wool felt is my fave.  Nice and soft with such lovely colors.  Unlike the choices you get when you buy the cheap regular felt at your local craft supply store.

You can very well make these lovely magnets using fabric or paper even, what ever your little hear desires.  But if you like felt as much as I do, well go ahead pick out your favorite colors and follow along. The steps are super simple.

What you need:
- Assorted colors of wool mix felt.
- Crafting Jewels
- Fabric glue or a glue gun
- self adhesive magnetic strips

 How to make them:

Begin by cutting out a large flower and a smaller flower.  You can hand cut them or use a die cut machine which is what I did.  (I have this one.  And love it.)

Glue the smaller flower in the center of the larger flower.  Let dry for a bit.

Pick out your favorite jewels. There's nothing fancier than a bit of bling bling. 

Glue them on the center of the smaller flower.

Now time to add that magnet.

 I used the ones above.  I picked them up at Walmart.  They also had round ones you can glue onto the back of your flower, but I liked the versatility of the strip.  Plus, nothing is easier than self adhesive ones.

Take one of the strips and cut it into three.

Stick them on!  Ah, simple.  I love it!

They are done, finished, finito!

Ready to hold all those important notes.

On a different note have I told you that one of my recent obsessions is Washi Tape?

It sure is.  Those little rolls full of color and stickiness are just pure fun.  Have you heard of it?  Imagine painters tape but in a much smaller cooler scale.  You can use it just about anywhere and if you get bored peel it right off.  I've been using them to stick art work on the walls, to spruce up some vintage suitcases and more. 

Look!  I used some to make this Family Color Coded Calendar. (Tutorial on how to at ModernMami.)

I love those polka dots!  I also have them in hot pink, and black and white, and stripes, and...you get the picture.  I bought mine from Pick Your Plum, but you can find them all over the web now.  Many Etsy sellers carry them too.  Try them and you'll be hooked.

*If your wondering about that adorable post card in the first photo.  It's by Marisa from Creative Thursday.  I love her work!*

Happy Crafting!

DIY: Lovely Little Gift Tags

I love it when I get a beautifully gift wrapped gift.  Some times so much that I don't want to open it, all I want to do is admire the wrapping.  Yes, I can be sentimental like that.  But who am I kidding at the end what's inside wins!  Ha!

But I have to say that I love giving beautifully wrapped gifts as much as I love receiving them.  And with every gift I think it is a nice touch to add a personalized gift tag.   They are so easy to make.  Most, I admit, I make out of scraps of paper I have laying around, maybe I'll add a cute sticker or stamp, what ever creative mood I am in (like the ones I made using tissue paper boxes.)  In this case, I had some left over book page flower cut outs from the Mother's Day Card I made for my mami and ended up with these:

Super easy to make.  Want to learn?

Here's how:

You will need:
♥ A cardboard box, cut into various size circles.
♥ Book pages, cut flowers.  You can draw one and use as a stencil, or if you have a dye cut machine you can use that to make multiple flowers quicker.
♥ Glue
♥ Hole punch
♥ Twine

To make all you need to do is glue your flower onto the cardboard circle.  Play around with it until you find the right spot.  Then hole punch a hole near the top edge of your circle.  Finally add the twine.  Tada!  You are done!  Easy peasy, just like I promised.

Now you have a lovely little tag to spruce up any gift.

Happy Crafting!