Monday, November 14, 2011

Holiday Cheer... for CHEAP


So I shimmied down to my local Target this morning to create a craft project to spruce up my apartment for the Holiday season. With less than 700 sq. feet in my one bedroom apartment and a dog who likes to get into anything that I leave near the ground, I have to get creative about where I can put up my Holiday decor.
Anyways, this is my latest and greatest project that works. In my mind, the sticky candy canes that you shove on your windows are a bit... ehhh.... tacky. Whether you have one window (represent!) or one hundred, this is an affordable and classy way to dress them up!

Supplies:
1. Christmas Ornaments (I got mine at Target. The snowmen are glass. The rest are plastic. Since my apartment has a lot of blue in it, I went with different shades of blue and silver.)
2. Bulk Curling Ribbon. The white complimented mine best, but they have so many colors. Gold or silver would be really pretty too.
3. Scissors to cut off excess ribbon

Instructions:
1. Thread ribbon through the ornament eye which is meant normally for a hook.
2. Measure out how much ribbon you want and then double that amount. This will be the length of the ribbon your ornament will hang from.
3. Take the top ends and double (even triple if you want!) knot it up top to keep the ribbon from coming undone.
4. Continue hanging all ornaments at different lengths until rod is full and enjoy the prettiness!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

A Filling Autumn Meal is Already in Your Pantry!


ALL YOUR INGREDIENTS, LAID OUT RIGHT THERE!


So now that Halloween is over, can we please celebrate the Thanksgiving - Christmas food season? You know, the time where things get extra decadent. Now, I realize that Halloween just ended a few hours ago, se let's start slow.
It was about 2 am and I was craving some good soup. What I was not craving was doing a lot of work. Thankfully for me, I was able to invent a new soup using only ingredients that I had in my pantry. Think of it as a more bold chicken noodle soup with a richer, creamier broth than those you get over the counter. Yet, I bet everything you need to make this soup (or at least most of it) is in your kitchen right now!
The ingredient list goes as follows:
Lipton Soup Secrets Noodle Soup
Egg Noodles
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 Beef Bullion Cube
Soy Sauce and Worcestershire Sauce, added sparingly for taste*
1-2 stalks celery**
*your soy sauce will contribute as your salt factor so do not add any extra!
**you could also add fresh parsley, leeks, bok choy, or even cilantro for a little green and crunch
1/2 can Bite Sized French Fried Onions (for that autumn feeling!)

Instructions:
Cook the noodle soup according to package directions along with the egg noodles. Turn saucepan to low. Stir in Cream of Mushroom Soup and Bullion cube at this point. Begin to sparingly add sauces until you reach a flavor that meets your satisfaction. Chop up celery or other greens (carrots would also be nice!) and allow them to marry with the flavors of the soup. Keep soup warm on stove.
Once ready to serve, place noodles on place or in bowl and top with french fried onions.
Tastes great all alone but the rich sauce would also add amazing flavor to your typical grilled chicken or pork and the noodles become a delicious side dish!
Eat, Drink, love Miss Mary

I forgot to take a picture until I was halfway done devouring it. But you get the idea. Ooops!