Tuesday, December 29, 2015

One Ingredient Mochi Waffles!!! #Moffles

Gluten free and gooey, these one ingredient moffles (mochi waffles) are everything.

Seriously all you really need for this recipe. 
Ingredient:

- Hard Mochi Squares

Machinery:

- Waffle maker
- Heatproof gloves

The only ingredient needed.
Preparation:

Place Mochi square on heated waffle iron. Press down firmly but slowly. Mochi will start to melt and soften. When the iron closes completely the waffle is done. 

Please be careful, it's hot!
Nom! If you like plain mochi, these will be your friend.
Topping Ideas:

  • Chocolate Syrup
  • Maple Syrup
  • Furikake
  • Other Syrups
  • Fruit

Hints:

  • This requires quite a bit of pressure but don't hulk out on your waffle iron.
    • It could break. 
  • Cook a bit longer for a firmer waffle.
    • Slightly less if you like more goo.
  • Be careful! 
    • You could easily burn yourself but it's worth it IMO.
  • Eat the squares quickly, refrigerate any extra. 
    • They mold quickly once opened.
  • PDX peeps: I buy my mochi squares from Uwajimaya

Happy New Years! 

<3 KM

Friday, December 25, 2015

Star Wars Snowflake Review



These snowflakes are hard. I'm saying this as someone who is mildly proficient with an exacto blade from making models for set designs.  I am grateful that the patterns are available for free, even if they were a more time consuming project than I originally thought. 



I think my main problem was that I used paper that was too heavy. If you are going to make these, use a lightweight paper. I wanted to use a heavier paper so they wouldn't rip in storage, but that was not the right idea. I ended up breaking the tips off a few blades by trying to cut more than one layer at a time.


I skipped a few parts that just seemed insanely intricate, like the rebel insignia on the Y-Wing. I cut the T-47 Airspeeder off of the imperial walker snowflake because it just had to many little, tiny cuts. I did this to a few other snowflakes, too, and I think they turned out fine. 

I was really sad that I accidentally cut the top off of my Star Destroyer, but I wasn't about to start over. That was the only big mistake I ended up making.



I think the patterns were well done overall, but could use a bit of simplification. I'd say this is a project for nerdy adults with long attention spans and a propensity for detail. 



Monday, December 21, 2015

DIY Dump Truck "UGGs"

How can you convince a toddler to wear boots? Put dump trucks on them!

My youngest is notoriously picky when it comes to footwear. He would wear his crocs all year if I let him! He has really wide feet which doesn't help the selection process.

After some searching I found some gender neutral "UGGs" at Walmart. They are marketed for girls but they run large and have no sparkles or frills on them. He really didn't want to try them on. Then I took him to the craft section and let him choose some patches for them. Instant win!


Materials Needed:
  • Boots
  • 2 patches
  • Synthetic Fabric Glue (E6000)
    • Or needle and thread
  • Glue Applicator 
    • Toothpicks work well
  • Scotchguard (optional but recommended)
Process:
  1. Ensure that the boots are clean and dry. 
  2. Decide where you want to place the patches. Lightly mark with pencil.
  3. Apply glue to the back of the patch.
  4. Add pressure to the patch and hold until the glue is set.
  5. Repeat with the other shoe. 
  6. Spray shoe with stain repellant. Be sure to cover the patch. 
A Few Things I've Learned:
  • Do not iron the patches on. The synthetic materials will shrivel. It's ugly.
  • Liquid Stitches glue does not fuse synthetics to patches. Stick to E6000 or Quick Grip.
  • It may take a few touch ups to get all of the edges secured. 
    • Next time I may just sew them on. 
These EMU shark boots are adorable if you'd prefer to stray away from Walmart shoes.

Happy Holidays!

<3 KM

Friday, December 18, 2015

Dried Fruit Decorations


A year ago I stuck some cloves in an orange and forgot to eat a pomegranate. These pretty decorations were the results. I think it would be awesome to make a bunch of these and use them instead of those styrofoam balls on a tree.


Making the clove orange is easy, but a little time consuming. Make holes in a nifty design with a metal skewer and stick the cloves in those hole. I took the cute, little, powder-filled balls off the top of my cloves so it would be less messy. 

I don't know how this would work in a damper climate, but my two fruits dried beautifully.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Last Man On Earth - Officially My Favorite

Hulu Screen Shot
Does anyone else want to talk about the fall finale of Last Man On Earth?

Background Rant 

Last Man on Earth has quickly become my favorite current show.  Dark comedies are one of my main genres and this show fits right in. I seriously worry about the apocalypse, with all of the global warming going on, so realistic post-apocalyptic scenarios grab my attention quickly. I think zombies are ludicrous so I really appreciate the fact that this show has no zombies. They are just gross and hopeless.

Everyone on the show is legitimately insane because they have seen all of their loved ones die, and have lived in isolation for years. The fact that they are able to find each other and rebuild some semblance of community restores all hope in humanity. Now that the characters are done partying off their pain they need to figure out if they are going to develop the life skills needed to survive, or if they are just going to continue to party 'till humanity is dead.

Spoilers

I have no news for you but if you haven't watched the show yet you might want to stop right now.

Who dies? 

The Season 2 Fall finale ends with an intense dramatic sequence. The lives of two characters hang in the balance. Will Phil 2 survive his appendectomy? Will Tandy's brother survive the fall to Earth?

Phil 2?

I think that Phil 2 will die. His blood pressure dropped drastically during surgery, and Gail didn't really know what she was doing. This situation could easily happen during the apocalypse. I've heard of preppers collecting surgical supplies, but it is a whole different thing to actually perform surgery. Sadly I do think that Phil 2 will bleed to death.

In real life Boris Kodjoe, Phil 2, may be getting ready to launch a talk show with his wife which is called Borris & Nicole. I watched the Summer 2015 pilot on Youtube and it is adorable. I don't watch talk shows often but I hope that it is successful because they are too cute. This may be one of the reasons for his exit from the show.

Tandy's Brother?

I really hope that Jason Sudeikis, Tandy's brother, gets introduced to the show full time. I think he will survive the crash to earth. My biggest concern is whether or not he is actually immune to the virus. It would stink if he fell to earth and survived the crash but died later on. Since his brother is immune I guess there is a chance that he is immune too, though immunity seems to be random since everyone else lost all of their loved ones. Sudeikis was great in the premier that I got to attend a few months ago. So real.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

<3 KM

Friday, December 11, 2015

Magical Rainbow Yarn

Yarn
I have kept this yarn open in a tab in my browser for weeks. I look at it and it makes me feel all glow-y and smiley. I don't know why, but I have fallen for pastel rainbows - well, this one anyway. It did start with me looking up unicorn hoodies, so there might actually be a girly-girl hiding in my brain somewhere. 

Pelt
I have no idea what I would make with this unicorn-esque yarn.  The only thing I can come up with is fuzzy convertible mittens lined with rabbit fur. I am afraid to buy it because what if the colors aren't as magical in person as they are on the screen? 



Candied

Here are a couple more pretty rainbow yarns to brighten the winter. This one is similar to the gorgeous yarn above, but does not have any wool content.  


Boardwalk
I am also enjoying this one. It reminds me of a sunset somehow.  

Anyone have any other ideas on what magical item could be constructed from the enchanted fleece? 

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Spread Some Holiday Cheer! Simple Things We All Can Do

This year I have been feeling kind of blah about the holidays. I lost my Dad in January and it's just hard knowing that I'll never be able to celebrate with him again. This made me realize that there are many people out there who really need cheering up this time of year. Here are a bunch of ways that you can spread some cheer. Let the good karma flow!


Send some joy to people in the Hospital 
  • Donate gifts to your local Ronald McDonald house (Portland RMHC)

Support Our Kupuna
  • Spend some time with the seniors at your local retirement center
  • Run errands for someone who has trouble moving about
  • Cook a meal for a senior and eat it together

Help feed Hungry People
  • Volunteer to help cook or serve food at a soup kitchen

Help the Homeless
  • Collect socks and blankets and donate them or pass them out to people you see (Oregonlive)

Send Things to Troops Overseas
There are many organizations that send things to troops overseas. Operation Gratitude has a lot of different ways that you can help which is great for those who like variety. Here are some things that you can do to help them:

Contribute to Salvation Army
  • Volunteer to ring the bell or coordinate care packages
  • Donate items to one of their thrift store locations
  • Donate to a local toy or food drive

Help the Animals
  • Volunteer to help animals at the humane society or at a zoo
  • Find a forever friend and adopt an orphaned animal

Support A Good Cause

  • Because it's easier to buy a gun than to get an abortion (Huffpost)
  • Animal Rights - PETA
  • Environmental Conservation - NRDC

Wishing you all a wonderful week!
I can finally relax a bit now that I am finished with finals. Whew!

<3 KM

Friday, December 4, 2015

The Black T-Shirt Dress

Forever 21
$15
I am in the mood for some really soft and comfortable clothes that don't look too sloppy.  This one seems a little to short to be truly comfortable, but it is really inexpensive. 

Asos
40$
It's like a sleep shirt you can wear outside without the side effect of embarrassment. I am liking that this has a little bit longer sleeves.

Dolllskill
 34$
 While I do prefer the classic simplicity of the other two, this one makes me smile. I am drawn to it like a poor bovine to a an alien tractor beam. There are a couple other prints that are pretty cool, too.

I have an old, black bed-sheet that I am going to use to make some of these. It is a nice modal jersey. So soft. I will have to work around a couple holes, though.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Rave: Nespresso Inissia Esspresso Maker

This Black Friday I decided to search for an espresso maker over all else. Our counters are pretty full so I wanted something compact. I decided to go with the Nespresso Insissia and so far it is just about perfect. Totally beats Starbucks.

Fits perfectly into the little space that I have for it.

The Inissia is very easy to use. You just raise the bar, place a Nespresso pod into the top, press the bar down and brew. I actually taught my sons how to use it because they were interested!

Inside of the Aeroccino Frother
As your espresso is brewing you can whip up some foam using the Aerrocino frother which is often sold in a package deal. If you already have a frother you can buy the machine alone. There is a little magnetic whisk at the bottom which produces a lovely foam. The whisk detaches easily since it is magnetized. 

Heaven in a cup! You can see the Aeroccino in the upper left corner.
This machine makes it easy to create a nice cappuccino or latte. I actually enjoy Nespresso lattes far more than Starbucks because I can use my favorite organic milk and they are ready in a matter of minutes. When I feel like having something fancy I just add a little flavor to the milk before adding espresso. Stumptown still wins though. 

Wishing you all warm and cozy moments in this freezing weather!

<3 KM

Friday, November 27, 2015

Forensic Turkey Files

This post is a bit of a downer. So if you are having a lovely day, you might want to skip this one. 


I try to buy nice, small, free range turkeys most years. This year I was a bit late on my planning and my grocery delivery service brought me a butterball because they were all out of nice turkeys. I was ahead of the game last night and made my turkey stock while I did dishes. I dug through the bones and veggies trying to find the wishbone. I found it, but it was broken. I didn't remember mashing the carcass badly enough to break it in the pot.


I looked closer and could see that I did not inflict the abuse. This turkey had had a bad life. The turkey's collar bone had been broken and badly healed, judging by the reddened and lumpy bone that over-lapped oddly. 

I inspected a few more bones and found a vertebrae with one of the vertebral arches pulverized. I don't know if this happened during the turkeys final days, processing, or if it is the mark of some sort of disease. I looked at some other vertebrae and the broken one did look a little darker, so I'm guessing that points to a antemortem trauma.  

These findings made me very sad. I hate factory farms. Take care of your animals, even if you are going to slaughter them later. I think I might want to bring back my short-lived vegetarianism. 

Monday, November 23, 2015

De-Stress with Fancy Coloring Books: A Great Gift for All

Fancy coloring books are all the rage right now and I am totally on this bandwagon.

Fancy Coloring Books




When I went to Barnes & Noble this weekend there were four different sections and an entire middle display table devoted to these beauties! I was the kid in a candy store.

The Harry Potter Coloring Book is tough to beat but the bottom row choices by Johana Basford are nearly perfect. 

These stunning coloring books are a wonderful way to clear your mind of any lingering thoughts. I quickly become preoccupied with color choice, strokes and patterns whenever I color. It has the added bonus of feeling rather productive. If you take care to color nicely these could easily become wall art worthy. 



I colored this one tonight with my middle son. Listening to him choose his favorite colors was so adorable. At first I was hesitant to share a page with him and I thought about giving him his own page because the perfectionist in me was creeping up lol. It ended up working out well because we were able to fill the whole sheet in less than 30 minutes.

Happy Coloring!

<3 KM

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Post Apocalyptic Thanksgiving

Otherwise known as Thanksgiving in a can.
Are you locked in your bomb shelter after the big one? Are you stocking such a shelter for the big one? Are you just feeling really lazy and unenthusiastic about Thanksgiving? Well, have I got the products for you. 


This can has a 10+ years of shelf-life.  It is big enough to share with your bunker-mates or new-found zombie friends. And it comes with broth - perfect for constructing gravy with a little flour.  There is also the option of packet gravy. Oh, the choices in the end of days.



These are actually not bad as far as dried mashed potatoes go. Smothered in gravy you might not even be able to tell the difference.
Add some boxed stuffing and don't forget cranberry sauce.
 Chose any veggies in your arsenal to complete the meal, but may I suggest the fava - I mean lima beans to add a little green to your plate.



You need a desert, and while pie crusts may be in short supply, you can always just attack the can with a spoon. Pretend it is pumpkin pudding.




Feeling depressed about the destruction of humanity? This is an option for the seriously down and out. Of course, you could always just give Dog Meat as a special treat instead.

Or if you are feeling to overwhelmed with RADs you can buy the simple option, but be aware that it doesn't include the pie-in-a-can.


And for bonus points, the perfect Thanksgiving condiment. Put a glob on everything!

Monday, November 16, 2015

Mealworms Eat Styrofoam!!! Random News

As you may have heard, there are tons and tons of plastics floating in our oceans. Much of this debris is plastic which will never degrade. Animals often eat the floating debris or get caught in it and die. It is just awful.



That's where these lovely little worms come in! I still think they look absolutely disgusting but the fact that they eat styrofoam earns them tiny super hero status.

Mealworms contain enzymes in their gut which can actually digest styrofoam. Scientists are studying these enzymes in order to synthesize a similar substance which may be able to disintegrate trash island and/or create other products that are easier to biodegrade. During the initial study Scientists found, "larvae that ate a diet subsisting strictly of Styrofoam were as healthy as mealworms eating a normal diet of bran (CNN)."

Trash island is apparently more like a highly concentrated plastic confetti solution rather than actual trash but it is still highly problematic for most ocean animals. Barnacles seem to love it though (iO9).

I feel like telling the whole world about these awesome creatures. Thanks for tuning in. Now if you have some extra mealworms lying around after feeding your strange pets you can help the environment by biodegrading some styrofoam - for the good of us all!

Although this is awesome it isn't a free pass to use plastic and styrofoam carelessly. Plastic pollution is still a huge problem and plastic manufacturing yields toxic byproducts. You can read more about the awful properties of styrofoam at EarthResource.org.

<3 KM

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Pizza Rat Shirt


My man got me a ton a t-shirts for my birthday, including this pizza one. I decided to add some rats, mostly because I love them, but also because of Pizza Rat.


In case you missed it, pizza rat went viral a few months ago. So cute!


I drew some rats.


Then I traced them onto my shirt.


I got some fabric medium so mix with my acrylic paints. I filled in the pink and brown, and then added black outlines. Then I ironed it, like the bottle of fabric medium said to.

I kind of also want to add some yellow, drippy cheese, but that will have to wait for later.



Monday, November 9, 2015

Awesome Advent Calendars for All

Advent calendars are the perfect present peeking deterrent. Getting a little surprise every day until Christmas makes my boys and I just a little bit more patient. Chocolate is always a favorite but there are so many more options out there. Here are some of my favorites!


Primp and Relax Advent Calendars



The Lush calendar in this set is my favorite of all but unfortunately it is $99. I could get a nice leather handbag on Black Friday for that price! Might be worth it though. Looks so relaxing!

Edible Advent Calendars



Noms! The Moostruck truffle tree is amazing but also the most expensive in this set at $65 for 24 truffles. Dope truffles. The tea advent calendar is a great idea for people who don't do chocolate. I can't imagine life without either.

Toys Advent Calendar




Star Wars + Legos + Calendar = a great gift for any Jedi.


Toy Advent Calendar



Some days I seriously consider convincing my boys that its cool to play with Barbies, just because the shoes and outfits are so adorable :P. It's okay though, I think I've graduated to re-ment sets.

<3 KM