Columbus Photo Shoot

A couple of weeks ago, I talked about some of my goals for the New Year (here), one of those being to overcome my fear of photography.  My good friend Mandie volunteered to be dragged around in the cold so I could use her as my subject and take my semi-new Sony-Nex C3 out for a spin.

Here are some shots from the day.  I hope you like them!

We had tons of fun walking around Columbus taking pictures and pit stopping for coffee and chocolate treats.  Thanks Mandie for spending the day with me being beautiful!  

*** I apologize for the gray overlay that seems to be appearing on PC computers over these photos.  It does not show up on my or my husbands Mac that way, and according to everything I googled, I'm following all the right steps to export the photo.  If anyone has any ideas on how to make the colors appear correctly for everyone, I would LOVE to hear! ***

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

I'm going to share a secret with you. 

Come in a little closer.

Are you ready?

Cauliflower Pizza Crust is da bidness. 

Ok.  I know.  Pizza with a cauliflower crust.  It sounds gross, but I'm telling you, this is a Pizza Revolution.

Delicious.  Low-Carb.  Gluten-free.

Do you need more convincing?  Check out how delicious (and normal) it looks!

I hope that helped.  They do say that a picture is worth a thousand words ya know.

Whenever I come across a gluten-free recipe that doesn't have a bajillion different kinds of intimidating gluten-free flour that takes over my pantry space and my budget, I get really excited.  I also feel the immediate need to inform my gf bestie of any such discoveries.  Megan, are you reading this?!

Don't be deceived by the main ingredient.  Ben doesn't even like cauliflower and had a minor panic attack when he saw what I was doing with it.  I'm pretty sure he was about .2 seconds away from putting on his shoes and heading to Wendy's for sustenance.  Much to his surprise, he couldn't get enough of this pizza.

Now, I'm not going to lie to you and tell you Cauliflower Crust Pizza is exactly like its Pizza Dough Sister.  It's not really a pick up and eat kind of deal.  You could certainly eat it that way, but I would not advise it lest you end your meal with a tomato sauce bib.  However, it is incredibly delicious. 

My words of advice to you?  Just try it.  I hope you enjoy this new discovery as much as I do!

Recipe from Eat. Drink. Smile.

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp crushed garlic
1/2 tsp garlic salt
olive oil (optional)
pizza sauce, shredded cheese and your choice of toppings*

To "Rice" the Cauliflower:

Take 1 large head of fresh cauliflower, remove stems and leaves, and chop the florets into chunks. Add to food processor and pulse until it looks like grain. Do not over-do pulse or you will puree it. (If you don't have a food processor, you can grate the whole head with a cheese grater). Place the riced cauliflower into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 8 minutes. There is no need to add water, as the natural moisture in the cauliflower is enough to cook itself.

One large head should produce approximately 3 cups of riced cauliflower. The remainder can be used to make additional pizza crusts immediately, or can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

To Make the Pizza Crust:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Add oregano, crushed garlic and garlic salt, stir. Transfer to the cookie sheet, and using your hands, pat out into a 9" round. Optional: Brush olive oil over top of mixture to help with browning.

Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.  If your pizza pan has holes in it like mine, make sure you put a pan on the rack underneath to catch the drips.

Remove from oven.  Add sauce, toppings and cheese to the crust. Place under a broiler at high heat just until cheese is melted (approximately 3-4 minutes).

Enjoy!
*Note that toppings need to be precooked since you are only broiling for a few minutes.

*Note that I doubled the recipe to make one big pizza.

Foundation Complete

It is amazing to me how fast a plot of ground can turn into something other than just a stretch of dirt.  It seems as though we just found out that the dig had been scheduled, yet progress is being made abundantly fast.  Since my last update, the foundation has been completed which means a house is going to start standing in its place.

Unbelievable.

{The Bricks were set when we went 2 weeks ago}

{Backfill was completed upon our last visit}

While I am beginning to get incredibly anxious for this whole deal to be complete so I can move out of my apartment and really settle down, I know time is going to fly by.  Before I know it, we will be frantically packing up boxes, repainting, and trying desperately to clean every nook and cranny of the apartment to get our deposit back.  Then goodbye apartment living!

Let the framing begin!

Feature Friday

Happy Friday, World! 

(By World, I mean select few that read this whom I love for doing so)

It's time for Feature Friday!  Are you ready for this?  It's going to be rad.



These are some things I've been thinking about this week and can't get out of my head.

Remember how I said one of my resolutions is to become a famous photographer?  Are you paying attention?  I totally didn't say that, but I DO want to take more pictures as a hobby... and look good while doing it with this camera strap.

{DIY silk scarf camera strap by Photojojo to take pictures in style}

{J. Crew knockoff heart sweater by Ali Henrie that's too sweet for words}

{These glass wall planters for succulents and air plants will bring the perfect punch of fresh and green to a room}

{Plans to spice up the bedroom in our new house with my own version of this shelf and headboard}

{Super "punny" insta-grahams by Bakerella}

That's it for Feature Friday.  Have a great weekend!  If you're near Columbus, be sure to make Saturday night plans to stop by the Gallery Hop in the Short North!  Perhaps I will see you there.

DIY Cake Stand

I have always had a fascination with cake stands.  It is such an easy and beautiful way to display decadent deserts, savory appetizers and even accessories or bath products.  I use one in my bathroom for my frequently used products and it adds a nice dimension to the countertop, giving it a less cluttered feel. 

Hello classy and interesting, goodbye boring and disorderly.

Of course, unless you find one thrifting (which is entirely possible b-t-dubs), cake stands tend to be pretty pricey.  You know me.  I don't do pricey well.

I have made them before using vintage plates with candle sticks and wine glasses in a pinch, and have liked them, but some of them looked like they were, well, made at home. 

My goal in DIY projects is to always to make something look like I didn't make it myself.  This project is great for all you anti-homemade home-makers!  What some of my previously made cake stands lacked in cohesiveness making them appear a little more do-it-yourselfy, this one has.

{See!  If you didn't already know that this was hand made, you wouldn't.  Right?....... Right?!}

Want to make one of your own?  Here's what you need:

-  1 Clear Glass Plate

-  1 Candlestick

-  Glossy Spray Paint in a color of your choice (I used this in celery)

-  Glass Glue

Follow these super easy steps:

1.  Clean your glassware.  I got mine at a thrift store, so there was a nice layer of dust and the marked prices to scrub off.  You don't want any of that to shine through your beautifully painted finished project.  Gross!

2.  Flip your glass plate so the backside is facing up.  Spray paint this side of the plate and the candlestick.

3.  Allow to dry and paint additional coats if needed.

4.  Once your dishes are dry, paint a layer of your glass glue on the rim of the candlestick and attach to the center of the plate.  Let it dry completely before using.

Sidenote:  When cleaning your cakestand, I would recommend wiping just the top with a rag.  You can use soap and water, but I would not advise submerging the stand as it may chip the paint.  Definitely do NOT put this in the dishwasher.

5.  Use your pretty new cakestand.  Bake a cake.  Put a fake flower on it and display its beauty for all to see.  Use it for your bracelets that you don't know where to put.  Be creative and love it!

That's it.  Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.  Enjoy it and show it off!



A Resolution Reminder

Let's talk New Years Resolutions.  Ok, ok, I know it's practically February, but it's getting to be that time to remind myself of my committment to new goals.  I think it's safe to say that most of us are at least beginning to bend our resolutions a little bit.  Ok, just me?  I dare not place blame!

Here are my goals for 2012

1.  Blog consistently.  I have a tendency to get distracted.  My new goal, one post a week.  If there are more, awesome, if there are less, well, then you all know I've broken my resolution and I feel really really guilty about it.

{Picture found here}

2.  Be Healthy.  One word.  Exercise.  I really want to teach myself to enjoy it even though this is a mostly accurate depiction of how I feel.

{Picture via Pinterest}

3.  Share my creations.  With real people.  I love them and I want to give others the opportunity to love them too.  There are so many boutique-esque shops that sell products made by local artists. My plan is to get brave, put my foot in the door and hope that they like what I have to offer. 

{In college, I stocked some of my creations here.  If you're ever near Yellow Springs, Ohio, pop in.  It's a wonderful place.}

4.  Organize - and keep it that way.  Since we're moving soon, I've been working on getting my life organized.  I've only been in this apartment for a little over a year and it is amazing how many things don't have a place.



{I got my fridge under control and looking spectacular via Goodbye House, Hello Home's helpful tips}

5.  Ignore fear.  That voice in my head that tells me I shouldn't want to try something, enjoy doing it or will be really bad at it and inadvertently cause the world to end.   I'm taking baby steps.

Photography is one of those things that fits under all three categories.

I'm starting to dabble in it.  It's something I've always wanted to do, but it's always been someone elses "thing" that I didn't want to "copy."  Sometimes I'm silly like that.  Mandie was lovely enough to volunteer for my first "photoshoot."  We had loads of fun!  I'll share more pictures from our winter day out in an upcoming post.

{This is Mandie and she's not just pretty.}

There you have it.  Now I'm accountable (Eeek!) to these goals I've placed for myself.  All in all, it's not just about the resolutions, it's about trying to better and push myself.  The last thing I want to do is sit back and watch life pass by while I think about the things that bring me joy or how I could have challenged myself. What are some of your resolutions and how are you doing with them? 

Here we go!  Time to press on through 2012!

Feature Friday

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.  Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.  Brown paper packages, tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things!

I may or may not have been in a Children's choir growing up that frequently performed a Sound of Music Medley.  I also may or may not have the overwhelming urge to turn everyday topics into song.  Really, if you say a word that makes me think of a song, it's hard for me to hold back said song.  I also do this with movie quotes.  I apologize in advance for any uncomfortable moments this may cause in the future as sometimes this phenomenon occurs at innappropriate times.

Memories and awkward quirks aside, it's time for Friday Features!  I started this concept way back when I started this blog, it just never came to fruition.  Now, with pinterest as an everyday source of  inspiration, I am adding to the original plan by featuring some of my favorite things on Friday.  You know.  All consistent like. 

Why Friday you ask?  Well, I'll tell you.  I like alliteration, and Friday, feature and favorite all start with the letter "F."

Simple pleasures.

In preparation for the big move, I have been doing some cleaning and organizing.  My latest project, getting all my craft supplies in order.  During this process, I realized how many feathers I have.  I have been wanting some feather earrings for a while, but have been hesitant to buy them thinking that I can just make some for myself.  Feeling inspired, I googled "how to make feather earrings" and came up with this awesome tutorial by the domestic diva.  She has written instructions as well as a video.  Check it out!

{So cute!  If time permits, this is definitely on my list of weekend projects.}

With Valentines Day on the horizon, I've had my eyes on sweets that are sweet.  These definitely fit the bill:

{Conversation Heart Cookies to spur a special exchange}

{Valentine's Petits Fours as an intricate way to show someone you care}

{Pink Ombre Cake: to add an extra touch of special}

Finally, you know I've been daydreaming about decorating my new home.  I decided a while back that my living room is going to be pre-dominantly a culmination of gold and white based on a wallpaper I fell in love with and can't have.  Don't worry, I have other plans to re-create said wallpaper, but I want to make these beautiful candles to tie in my living room motif to the surrounding rooms since the living room is such a large space.

{DIY Gold-leaf Candles that don't really look "DIY"}

There you have it.  Five Featured Favorites on Friday, the Fifth day.  Gosh, that makes my heart smile.