Happy New Year!

Photo credit: SeetYing

Happy New Year to you beautiful! Yesterday was the Chinese New Year. Welcome to the year of the Ox! According to Chinese astrology, the year of the ox indicates a year of prosperity - yay! But it will not come easily this year, we must work hard, keep our nose to the grindstone, and continue dutifuly forward. It is a great year to sew the seeds for your future!

Take a moment to visualize your life as you truly want it. Think about what you really want to see yourself doing, where do you want to be, who is with you, what do you look like? According to Chinese astrology the new year is the most auspicious time of year, full of good luck. Harness that energy and send out a little dream for yourself and those you love. Then just let it go, knowing that the gears have been set in motion.

Put on something red (a lucky color), clean out your little house, open a window (if only for a brief January second!), air out old grudges, and start anew. Clear out the clutter of the past, to open up space in your life for what ever it is you truly want.

I'm working on cleaning out my old files, scrap papers, organizing old bills & tax information. I'm letting go of my massive collection of magazines that I was saving for collages. What are you doing? Where can you make space in your home? What kinds of clutter do you have? And why do you think you accumulate that type of clutter?

Pretty

I just saw this posted on Craft via Apartment Therapy. I like the really organic, relaxed, easy look. I think it would look great over a dining room table, or a coffee table. It can be a holiday decoration or something long term. Or maybe it would compliment a summery porch or yard setting.


What do you think? Is it pretty or am I just way to fascinated by twigs and x-mas lights!...? Where would you hang it?

Thanksgiving

Yes, this post is late, forgive me, I'm in the midst of finals.

I didn't take any pictures of my soup partly because I forgot until it was done, and partly because I didn't think it looked very pretty, although it taste great!

Here's the recipe, it's vegan, and good for South Beach Diet phase 1.

2 cups dry italian white beans
~8 cups water or veggie stock (I usually eyeball this)
3 bay leaves
1 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1 medium onion
6 or more garlic cloves
2 tbsp olive oil

In a large pot heat the olive oil. Cut up the onion and garlic and saute until golden. Add the bay leaves, the rosemary and a little salt and pepper, and saute for about 1-2 minutes more. Then add the water or stock, and the beans. Stir around and bring to a low boil. Let it continue to simmer for about an hour or an hour and a half, until the beans are soft. Remove from heat and you can either mash the beans with a potato masher or you can remove about half the beans, puree them in a food processor then return them to the soup. I like the food processor option best, but I don't have one right now.
To serve drizzle the top of the soup with a little olive oil. Serve with a piece of crusty italian or rustic artisan bread.

Holiday Plans...a taste of what's to come

This weekend, I am going to a potluck for Thanksgiving. I am going to make my Italian Bean soup, recipe to follow. It's cheap, easy, makes a lot, and most importantly tastes great. It's the perfect winter soup, hearty and soulful!
Other than eating, drinking, and being ridiculous, I am planning on doing some major cleaning and organizing in my little MouseHouse. One of the things on my list includes going paperless. I have a scanner that I have yet to use and a stack of magazines, random inspirations, old stories I've written..etc. That I would love to digitally archive and get rid of the clutter of the original.

Here's a mini to-do list:

• Scan pictures
• Organize bookmarks on computer
• Organize craft closet
• Put pictures up/decorate the walls, possibly using the flag design.
• Knitting: Work on SKB, & cast on hooded scarf
  

Mountains

Thumbtacks take over. Organic forms out of utilitarian objects...love. I tried to go to her website but it appears the bandwidth is overloaded! I can't wait to see the rest of her amazing work!

Via Craft

A Cute Sweater

Look at this beautiful sweater. I love how casual it looks, I love the flowing drapey sleeves. I may have to make this!

Plus the pattern is available as a free PDF.


via Lime & Violet