C-Y-O: Make a Purse

It has been a while since I wrote a Create-Your-Own entry. I have been creating, I just haven't blogged about any of my creations. Here is one of the latest.

Have you noticed the cute purses that you can buy these days? I am not talking about Dooney and Burke, but the modern handmade purses that you can purchase. (Just a quick search on Etsy turns up so, so many to drool over.) Of course, if you can buy them handmade, you can make them yourself. I decided to purchase the Marlo Bloom pattern from the Heather Bailey Store, make it, and give it to my sister for her birthday. It is a fun purse with fun lines. I would think you could make it out of just about any print fabric and it would turn out fabulously. (And did I mention that it is reversible?!)

The purse turned out wonderfully, I think. The only problem I had was getting it done on time. I did finally get it out to her; now I can blog about it. I can't wait to make up some more. (That may have to wait until after Christmas, however. The creative que is getting long.)

The Other Side

When M and I watch a movie, it is ussually rented. If we do go to a theater, it is the cheap theater which is convienently located a few blocks from our home. The cheap theater is . . . cheap. The chairs are all a bit broken. The floor is always sticky. The heat is always turned down. It is however . . . cheap. I can't see spending more than two times the amount of money to see the same thing. It just doesn't make sense to me.
Just this month, however, we went to a "real" theater two times. (It was even an UltraScreen!!) We had coupons to get $4 tickets the first time and then free ticket vouchers the second time. You should have seen us as we walked in. It was like being in New York City for the first time. The carpet was vacuumed. There were digital signs naming the movie playing outside of each theater and how long until show time. Once we entered our theater, we walked to our seats without having to peel our shoes from the floor. Oh and our seats, they were so comfy!! Even better, I didn't need the extra coat I always carry to movies as they seemed to have the heat turned up to a comfortable temperature.
Now this doesn't mean that we won't be going right back to our cheap theater ways now that the coupons have been redeemed, but it was nice to see how the other side lives--even for a few hours.

Foodie Friday: Cheese Rolls

Here is another recipe from the recipe binder. (This one is from Better Homes and Gardens, but I am not sure what date.) I made these the other night to go with a homemade soup. I was pretty proud of myself for making everything for supper completely from scratch. (Not that this never happens, it is just fun to make food unassisted.) The dough makes a really good roll. I might even try it for cinnamon rolls someday.

Here is what you will need:

1 pkg. active dry yeast

1/4 c. sugar

1 egg

1/4 c. shortening

3 1/4 to 3 1/2 c. flour

1 t. salt

2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 c. chopped onion

1 T. dried chives

1 t. garlic salt

Here is what to do:

1. In large bowl (I used my Kitchen Aid with the dough beater) combine 1 c. warm water and yeast; stir until yest is dissolved. Stir in sugar. Add egg, shortening, 1 c. of the flour, and salt. Beat on low speed until combined. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately soft dough that is smooth and elastic (3 to 5 minuted total.) Shape dough into a ball. Place in a greased bowl; turn once. Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled (about 1 hour).

2. Punch dough down; turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Cover; let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, lightly grease a 9x9x2 pan. In a medium bowl combine cheese, onion, chives and garlic salt. Roll dough to a 15x12 rectangle. Sprinkle cheese mixture over dough. Roll up starting from a long side. Seal seam. Slice roll into 9 pieces. Place in prepared pan. Cover; let rise 40 minutes or until almost doubled. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until golden. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool 20 minutes.

Aw, How Cute

Do you ever see an older couple and wonder if that is how you will be when you get to that point in your life. Sometimes you can just see the love that they have for each other in the simplest of glances or the merest of touches. When I was out running errands today I caught a glimpse of the couple M and I will most likely become. As this elderly couple was making their way across the parking lot to the store the woman gestures with her hand to her husband. The meaning of the gesture was apparent to all. "Get over here and hold my arm so I don't slip and fall, you big gallute." Yep, that will be us someday.

Pizza! Pizza!

So, ever since I found out I was pregnant, I can't get enough pizza. Pizza is the one thing that has always sounded good to me. It is too bad that it doesn't count for all of my nutritional needs or I would give in to my craving a little more often. (Um, like, everyday.)

We have had Little Cesar's, Papa John's, regular old frozen pizza, homemade pizza, Papa Murphy's, and right now I am cooking up a Digiorno Pizza. I am wondering if I will ever get sick of pizza. (Maybe M is wondering that too.)