Hamster Box Redo :: Painting

I finally did it.  I've been saying for years that I was going to paint a picture to put above my fireplace.  You remember this post, and that sad sad fireplace.  Well, I FINALLY did something about it.  I have to say painting your own picture is extremely rewarding whether it comes out good or not.  As I was going I couldn't help but smile knowing that no matter what, I was hanging something that I did myself.  Here was my inspiration.  No it didn't come out quite like it but I'm still proud of myself.  So Sunday afternoon after my parents waved good-bye and drove back to Wichita I set up shop at my dining room table and 3 1/2 hours later the magic was done!

Oh that's not intimidating at all....

Getting my paints ready...

Here we go! That dark purple heart? That is my least favorite part. Don't worry... it turns into a dinosaur later.

Filling in the spaces.  There's that dinosaur.  Other things people found I sent this to {mostly my family... thanks family} cow utters, a pig back side with a pokey tail, scotty dog, and the most important and reason why I almost just through it away...

Can you see it? 

Turn it on the side.  Did the boobs and pregnant belly disappear?

Is it gone upside down? Well oh well...

Well there it is folks.  My poor fireplace is getting there!  I still think a mantel and some picture collages are in order.  I will ask my land lord if he hates the idea of me doing some physical labor.

Next up I am REALLY going to recover those dining room chairs.  Fabric has been bought so the procrastination can't last that much longer right?

xoxo,

Molly

Madeline Chadwick :: Obsession Continues...

I finally did it.  Yes it may be close to a year after my first post about her bags here but I finally pulled the trigger.  I have been searching for a new cross body and have come close several times until I woke one morning to an email saying that MADELINE CHADWICK commented on a post of mine.  Yes, THE MADELINE CHADWICK. I sat straight up in bed and of course a day that starts off like that is a great one.  I informed her that I was still in love but when I start mulling over what color of something to buy it literally can last 3 years until I finally do it. So I told her what colors I was thinking about and she informed me that she thought I should get Sand because it would be the most classic for everyday wear or a night out.

I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING!!! It's weird how in tune we are with each other.... So I did it. I purchased this beauty last night and I can't wait for it to be in my hands.

Buy your own here.

I mentally decided that when I love it as much as I know I will, I may go back for a pop of color.  And then of course there's this little beauty that would be an investment but TOTALLY WORTH IT.

xoxo,

Molly

Cooking 101 :: Indian

I have decided I want to learn how to cook better.  The problem, as I told my mom tonight, is that I don't really like following the recipe. She laughed and as she's said many times in the last few years "Well, that may be another genetic problem...".  Which I should have realized.  I've been asking her for years for her spaghetti sauce recipe which came from her mom, which is the best spaghetti sauce on the planet.  Everytime I ask she says "well you'll just have to watch and take notes next Christmas... I have no idea what the recipe is."  Alas, I am left with 5 Tupperware containers full in my freezer but still no idea how to make it.  Maybe next year...

So when I cook I decide what I want to do and that's it.  I make it up and if it's good, GREAT, if it's not... well better luck next time.  So last night I made chicken tikka masala.  Which is supposed to look like this....

via

No mine was not pretty like that but it did taste pretty good. So I am going to start a new series called Cooking 101.  This is not for a foodie {well maybe only to laugh at}, this is for other girls like me who are trying to learn how to cook but for whatever reason still aren't fantastic. It's not going to be pretty folks...

The Ingredients... or some at least. And that ginger was my snack.... so....

Don't be deceived... I am only cooking for myself. Clearly I need to learn how to do that in my prep work. Now I realize the chances of any of you using this recipe are slim. But I'm going to write the blog post like you are anyway... humor me.

I used 1 green and 1 red bell pepper, julienne cut carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, and green cabbage but you can pretty much use whatever you want.  I have a love affair with cooked veggies so I always use more than I should.  Most real chicken tikka masala's I found didn't even have veggies in them... snooze... so make it your own.

I use jasmine rice mostly because I like it more than normal rice but also because while you're cooking it it makes your house smell incredible {yes, like jasmine}.

Be warned this is no minute rice. It takes in total 30 minutes to cook so you might want to start it first no matter what you are adding to it. It's worth it!

I kind of forgot to take pictures in between steps here.  Just sauté all of the veggies until al dente, cook the chicken in a separate pan and then dump the veggies, chicken and tikka masala sauce in the sauté pan.  After you mix it up add some jasmine rice to your plate or bowl and then add the veggies and chicken on top of it.

Success! It was actually pretty good.  I'm not going to tell you what I did tonight to make it even better {add more sauce and a dash of almond milk} I feel like most foodies will judge me for it....

This was the fail of the night.  I was using a spatula as a flyswatter....

Luckily that was supposed to be tonights leftovers so no I didn't go hungry. Thanks for your sympathy.

xoxo,

Molly