Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Pinterest Challenge #4

I used a new application called Waterlogue. It  allows you to turn pictures you take with your smartphone or tablet and turn them in to watercolor creations. I think the application works better with pictures that have lots of varying color, but overall it is fun and a puts a new twist on photos.

The Pinterest Inspiration- just beautiful
My attempt:

Original-taken June 2004


playing with Waterlogue

canola field taken Summer 2013


Playing with Waterlogue

I have seen some pictures where the color is just amazing and it is frame worthy. I haven't figured out all the tricks or anything yet, but it is a fun application to play with. It is available for both Android and Apple.

Pinterest Challenge #3

So behind on posting my challenges. Getting right to the point

Challenge 3 was a food dish, that I did alter but the inspiration came from Pinterest.

Gnocchi with White Beans

Picture from Pinterest Pin-Looks delicious!


My version- I added sausage, chicken and apple sausage to be exact. I thought it could use some more seasoning or something, as it seemed a little bland. I will make it again and play with different herbs and spices and even make it with a different type of sausage or leave that out all together. Overall it was good. I don't know how it tasted as a leftover as we are not leftover eaters and the leftovers got tossed after sitting in the fridge for a week.

The Ingredients minus the spinach which was on another counter
Cooking away
Served up with some strawberries




Thursday, April 24, 2014

Painting the Kitchen

My parents came over last weekend and to attend India Nite (post to come). My dad being the sweetheart that he is offered to paint our kitchen for us while we were at work. We painted the entire upstairs when we moved in, except for the kitchen. This was due to the fact that we had been eating fast food or anything I could cook in a microwave for about 3 months. I couldn't take it anymore and on top of that we were tired of painting. I need to give props to my husband though, he did all the painting 4 years ago, I did the hanging up of the plastic. So anyway, we have been in the house 4 years and the kitchen finally got painted. It is amazing how the color makes the cabinets pop instead of blending in. Sorry no before picture, didn't think about that until after the fact, but the walls used to be a yellow color. Thank you Dad for painting 4 layers of paint in less than 2 days! You are the best!


The ceiling cut-out next to the light is a skylight


The color is called Borscht and this little color doesn't do it justice. It is beautiful! So now our living room, dining room and kitchen are all this color. The picture below are older, but you get the idea.




Pinterest Challenge #2

I am behind on my posting my weekly Pinterest Challenges, but I have been doing them. The second Pinterest challenge I did was a little piece of artwork. Wedding Song Lyric Art. I did four different versions, but only ended up framing one. Below are the two ideas I came across that I liked.

Pinterest Inspiration 1 

Pinterest Inspiration 2

Ok, so how did mine turn out?  Here you go. What do you think? Our wedding song is Love is on the Way by Saigon Kick. The font is hard to read in the pictures so I have included the lyrics and a video of the song.

In the fame

A close up



 Lonely sidewalks, silent night
Bring the evening, deep inside
Hold me darling, touch me now
Let the feelings free tonight

Love is on the way
I can see it in your eyes
Let's give it one more try tonight baby

Love is on the way
I can see it in your eyes
Let's give it one more try tonight

Time of season, wipes your tears
No rhyme or reason, no more fears
All the dreamin', is far behind
You are here now, and everythin's alright

Love is on the way
I can see it in your eyes
Let's give it one more try tonight baby

Love is on the way
I can see it in your eyes
Let's give it one more try tonight

And in the morning I'll be gone away
All the things I left behind
If you need me I'll come night and day
Let's stop the hands of time

Love is on the way
I can see it in your eyes
Let's give it one more try tonight baby

Love is on the way
I can see it in your eyes
Let's give it one more try tonight baby

Love is on the way
I can see it in your eyes
Let's give it one more try tonight baby

Love is on the way
I can see it in your eyes
Let's give it one more try tonight




Monday, April 14, 2014

Pinterest Challenge #1

The first Pinterest pin challenge I picked was a dinner,  Chickpea and Butternut Squash Curry  to be exact. We eat a lot of vegetarian dishes in our household  and we like Indian food, so this was right up our alley.
I followed the recipe slightly. I used pre-cut butternut squash, frozen peas, and frozen chickpeas that I had cooked earlier. I used a Patak Mild Curry Paste, which is different from the recipe, but it was what I had and I think I could have added more. The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons, and I added that plus a little bit but flavor was still a little bland for me. Though if I was honest, my nose was a little stuffy, so maybe it was spicier than I thought and I just couldn't taste it. I served it with rice and naan bread. I liked the recipe and will make again, but will use a different Curry Paste, as there are numerous options, maybe I will get brave and try making my own.


Some of the ingredients. Not pictured are the chickpeas, green peas, onions and garlic.


Chickpeas, green peas onion and garlic being sauteed in coconut oil.



Dinner is served

Now to decide on this weeks challenge!

Monday, April 7, 2014

My Pinterest Challenge

So there is this website some of you may have heard of called Pinterest. It is addicting! I could sit on Pinterest for hours looking at all types of different things and, well I have done just that, sad to say. I have a pretty good collection of different boards and pins. Well instead of just pinning ideas, I am seriously going to try and tackle a pin a week. This pin could be anything from food to craft to beauty. Maybe I will find a hidden talent or a new dish I just love, but mostly I am looking for a way to break out of this mundane ride called life.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Taste of Nepal 2014

The University of Idaho has a large Nepali student population and we are lucky enough that they share just a glimpse of their culture every year at Taste of Nepal. The event is held in February, so I am very behind on posting about it. This was our 3rd year going and it is just so much fun! I look forward to it every year.

Unfortunately, I waited so long in posting that I seemed to have misplaced or recycled the program which included what dances were performed and what food we ate. I will continue to look for it and will hopefully be able to come back and fill in the information.

At any rate, the dances were beautiful and the food delicious! I have provided a link to a blog 'SherpaniChef' Nepal Night 2014. She has posted some really good videos of the different dances. She also posts some delicious recipes, some of which have been served at the different Nepal Nights I have attended.


This is dessert! OMG is it delicious!!!!

Dinner-everything is so good!

Instrumental Piece




It is very fun to be able to experience a small sampling of a different culture. I would love to visit Nepal in person one of these days, but until then I will continue to enjoy Nepal Night on the University of Idaho Campus.