Why Every Kid Should Take Wood Shop

Yes I'm a girl. Although not a Girly girl but I'm a girl non the less. I know how to cook and sew and crochet and other girl stuff but did you know I took Wood shop in 7th and 8th grade? I see that surprised look on your face. Its true I know how to use a Ban Saw, Table Saw, Router, Nail Gun, Hammer, Screwdriver, Automatic Screwdriver, Sand Paper, Paint, Stain, Biscuit Cutter, and much much more! Wood Shop to me was the best invention ever for a school kid. I learned how to do things most girls don't know how to do and I use my knowledge every day. The best part about wood shop is the projects. I made a nifty coat hanger that is still in my closet back home and a night stand. While I was at home the old night stand got taken down from its hiding place so I could haul it back up north to be repainted.


I have to say it turned out pretty well and any wood shop teacher would be proud that

1. I still have my project
2. I have re-purposed my project to make it more modern
3. I appreciate everything I learned in that class.

This class was a great help to me in moving out on my own because I was the one who could put up pictures straight, put up shelving so items did not roll off, and paint things without drips. I wish they offered wood shop in college because I would have been the first to sign up. Oh well.

So now your wondering what I'm using this mustard yellow night stand for I guess? Well you know that Tree I got here it is!











I know so pretty my mother got me the trimmings and hopefully I will be able to make some more for Valentines day and other holidays as this tree will be out year round for me.

Resolutions

This year I'm not going for the typical lose weight resolution (although it would be nice). Ive decided to come up with a list of things I have been telling myself to do for months and now is the time to set it in stone or at least put it out where everyone can see it so they can remind me about it.



1. To use up all the crafting stuff in my Crafting Closet (see below). It's time to stop buying fabric and projects that I say I'm going to start and then not start them! I'm going to try my best to use what fabric and crafting supplies I have to make stuff and sell it on Etsy and make myself some stuff as well (ie that quilt Ive been yammering about).

(that doesn't include the drawers below full of fabric and some other stuff I have stashed)

2. Spend less time in the gym and more time outside exercising. That gym is going to be the death of me. I have a wonderful park next door and there are biking trails and all kinds of out doorsie stuff to do around here its time to get out of jail and enjoy the fresh air.

3. Take the GMAT. Yes its time to go back to school and show the world what I'm made of by getting my Masters in Business something or other!

4. Start using Adobe products more. I did start this past year so I'm continuing my education in the design world.


5. Eat out at least once a week and try a new restaurant at least once a month. This shouldn't be to hard with Poodles moving up here next week. Its time to start living!


6. Smile more often and stop sweating the small stuff.


7. No more complaining at work. It time to put up and shut up.


8. Take more pictures. I feel as though the camera has not been used enough lately so it time to pull it out and get picture crazy.


9. Try to learn why Boy Toy is such a Sports Fanatic and give into it a little more instead of just rolling my eyes.



Who knows how far I will get down the list But I'm going to try!

Xmas come and gone

Christmas blew by like a run away train with lots of toys on it! I'm 24 years old and Santa still comes to my house! He hasn't missed a year yet so I still believe and will continue to if he keeps sliding down my chimney. With the economy slowing "down" I wasn't expecting to much and I kept my list to Santa pretty short and full of items I knew I would use. This year was no disappointment either with cookie sheets, glass mixing bowls, 3cup cusinart, mandoline slicer, zester, cup cake tower, baking mats, a Smith Hawkens tree, clothes, gym bag, gloves, and some DY aka David Yurman and more odds and ends. What does this all add up to??? More fun and creativity!!!
1. More cooking cool stuff
2. Decorating my tree every month for a new Holiday
3. more gyming it
4. Crafting like crazy!!!

This year is going to be GREAT! But besides Xmas and getting stuff I also gave out my T-Shirts and Nalgene cozy's and got RAVE reviews! My mom was extremely impressed and so was the rest of the family they want me to make more for them. I was also busy while at home crocheting up a storm Ill be making another post about that and putting up some of my stuff on etsy soon!

Not only did I Craft I also hit up the SALES!!! And boy did I make out! Bloomies was having a great sale along with Smith & Hawkens, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Target, and the other places I like to visit when home. I got lots of good deals on Xmas stuff for next year and Clothes for now. Soon enough I'm going to outgrow this apartment with all the stuff I have.

All in All Christmas was a success lots of giving and receiving and Shopping

Do you Crochet cause I Crochet everybody do the Crochet

Yes I Crochet...and I'm not 60 year old! I have to say its one of those things I turn to when well I'm sick of the sewing machine or I'm stuck somewhere without one! Here was my latest projects and YES its a Xmas Gift for someone who well I cant tell you but keep guessing. Its made of Double Crochet and is out of an Apply Green and Grey Yarn. Very easy and hopefully loved dearly by the person who gets it!

Speaking of Guessing things let me tell you about my innate ability to guess my gifts weeks in advance to receiving them. This has frustrated Boy Toy so much that he now just lets me pick out my gift and he goes and buys them. The past few years he as attempted to keep my gifts a secret but then i get to guessing and in about 10-20 minutes I've got it pinned down to about 3 things. Well Boy Toy tries to keep a striaght face but that is the give away! I know I'm horrible!!! But sometimes a girls got to know what she is getting! Surprises are fun but so is guessing the surprise! Sorry Boy Toy one day you will get me I'm sure but until then Happy Hunting!

Well in a few hours (yes by few I mean less than 12) I will be home in Sunny Southern California. I'm a little disappointed that its not going to be warm. I was planning on laying out in the bikini at the pool and taking in the sun while reading a book! Darn Weather. Until then hope everyone has a happy holiday and I'm going to leave you with a a few photos of some xmas gifts kind of a tease can you guess who is getting what?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Ahh the goblins and ghouls are out tonight (more like mini mouses and furry forest creatures if you ask me). Halloween over the years has seemed to loose its scary roots and become a crafting craze of who can be the most CREATIVE. I LOVE IT even if I don't get to go out and get some trick-or-treating in (stupid diet). I have to say my creativity this year is at an all time low and I have resorted to becoming an accounting tool. Sure all of us accountants get it and think its funny, but for most of the rest of the world I get pegged as the biggest dork ever (see bellow)






Its a 10-key Calculator or the calculator that has a printer. I know I'm a dork get over it (PS what did you expect I'm an accountant and had little time to actually make a costume this year). Don't worry people I only wore it to work I doubt it will hit the streets tonight as here in SAC we are experiencing a little bit of a fall storm which includes but is not limited to wind, rain and possible thunder and lightening. Who knows the night is still young!



At work today we had a little party to get us in the Halloween spirit! And of course I BAKED!!! And here it is the magnificent masterpiece a Cinaminomy Pumpkin Bunt Cake.


Ive Combined two different recipes (one from here and the other from here) for this so here are your ingredients and instructions...super easy

CINAMINOMY PUMPKIN BUNT CAKE

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened, plus additional for greasing bunt pan
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour plus additional for dusting pan
2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda1
1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
1 CAN of Pumpkin Pure (this is the 15oz can or as I refer to it the small can of pumpkin)
3/4 cup well-shaken buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs

For Cinnamon Swirl
1/4 cup sugar
2 table spoons cinnamon

For Glaze:
2 T butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1-3 T milk

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Butter and flour bunt pan. For the butter use the wrappers of the 2 sticks that you will use in the cake. I have also had bad experiences with bunt cakes so I usually bring out the cooking spray and spray the pan before flouring the pan.

Dry Ingredients
In a Bowl combine together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice.

Wet Ingredients
In another Bowl whisk together pumpkin, buttermilk and vanilla.

Use a mixer at high to medium speed for 3-5 mins to beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until pale and fluffy. Add eggs to sugar and butter mixture and beat for 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and add dry and wet mixtures alternately in batches.

Now make your Cinnamon swirl in a bowl or glass mix together the sugar and cinnamon and put to the side

Spoon half the batter into bunt cake pan. Take your Cinnamon Swirl mixture and sprinkle on top of the batter to completely cover (if you would like a bigger swirl make more of the cinnamon swirl ingredients in a bowl and sprinkle on top of first half of the batter)


Spoon the other half of the batter on top of the cinnamon swirl.

Place in over for about 45-50 minutes (mine actually took more like an hour to be done) check the cake by using a skewer or sharp knife like me and insert into center of cake it should come out clean.

Let the cake cool in the pan for about 15 minutes this is really important so wait don't be impatient!

Now invert onto a cooling rack or if you don't have one your serving platter you are planning to use let the cake cool for another 10 minutes before making the glaze

Glaze

Melt butter, add powdered sugar and mix together add little bits of milk until you reach the right consistency (it should easily slip off the spoon you are using to make the icing but should not be runny I would say the consistency of a runny yogurt)

Now Decorate drizzle the glaze over the cake and you should come out with this...