Saturday Snapshot: Pink Dahlia

Life Lately

1) Twins game!
2) I made a pair of impromptu cut-offs to go to the game
3) My husband got me ice cream for dinner! I had a sore throat :)

1) Beautiful day lily at the arboretum
2) We finally started pulling up carpeting upstairs!  Stay tuned for projects galore!
3) I started back to school again! This is the front of my school binder :)
4) A trip to my local library - it recently reopened and is beautiful inside!

1) Climbing trees at the dog park
2) Tiny little sea shells!
3) Water fountain at the arboretum

So that's been my life this August - you can follow me on Instagram for more!  What have you all been up to?

Don't forget to email me the DIYs and recipes you've tried! holly[at]goeslightly[dot]com

Caprese Pasta

As summer starts to wind down, I thought this was a perfect dinner to enjoy these last hot days.

Per serving, you will need:

• 2 ounces pasta
• 1 ounce mozzarella
• Grape tomatoes
• Basil
• Olive oil
• Fresh cracked pepper or red pepper flakes, optional

Boil the pasta according to package directions.  While it is boiling, cut your mozzarella into cubes.  You can use fresh mozzarella pearls if you prefer.

Tear or roughly chop your basil.

Drain the pasta and drizzle it with olive oil.  Toss with the other ingredients and serve!

Yum!!

Peach Torte Pie

I've got another Granny recipe for you all today, but I have to tell you: I'm not entirely sure I have the name right.  I sometimes have a hard time reading her handwriting :)

You will need:

• 3 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup crushed saltines
• 2 or more cups peaches
• Whipped cream or ice cream (optional)

Also, I would highly highly highly recommend a stand mixer or electric beater.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.  Beat the egg whites until foamy.

Add vanilla, salt, and sugar.  Beat until stiff (this takes a while).

Fold in the nuts, baking powder, and saltines.

Spread the mixture into a greased pie pan, piling up on the sides. 

Bake for 40 minutes.

It ends up tasting like a nut-filled, baked meringue!

Let cool.  Top with at least two cups of sliced peaches. 

Add whipped cream or ice cream as you please.  We made Cointreau whipped cream - yum!

Enjoy!!

Saturday Snapshot: Purple Petals

Very Cherry Manhattan

My husband came up with this drink for me as a twist on a classic Manhattan.  I must say, it's pretty tasty!  I wouldn't mind if this became an evening ritual!

To make a Very Cherry Manhattan, you will need:

• Bourbon
• Sweet vermouth
• Cherry bark vanilla bitters
• Jar of cherries

Combine 2 parts bourbon and 1 part sweet vermouth over ice. 

Add a dash of cherry bark vanilla bitters, two cherries, and a tiny dribble of the cherry juice. 

Stir, and enjoy!  Best served with an episode of Mad Men.

Planning on making this over the weekend?  Snap a picture and send it to me: holly[at]goeslightly[dot]com and you could be featured on the blog!

Office Art: Magazine Words

This is another simple project you can use to make some one of a kind art for your home.  I'll be putting mine in my office, someday :)  It's as easy as tracing, cutting, and gluing.

You will need:

• Printed phrase
• Magazine pages
• Pen
• Scissors
• Elmer's glue

Use Microsoft word to print out a phrase of your choosing.  I went with "Choose happiness" because it's such a good reminder :)

Cut out the letters, skipping the duplicates and keeping your page as intact as possible- you'll use it as a guide later.

Then, simply trace the letters onto magazine pages, and cut them out.  Go for pages with color and texture for the best effect.

Lay your letters out.  If you like them, great!  If not, just replace the ones you don't.  I switched a few of mine up.

I wasn't nuts about the two red Ps in a row, and I thought one of my Os looked a little flat.

Finally, using your original sheet of printed paper as a guide, glue your letters onto a heavier stock paper.  I used a sheet of watercolor paper.

You can even make a few pencil marks to help you place the letters

 

Ta da!  I really love this.  And it couldn't be easier!

If you decide to give this a whirl, snap some photos and send them to me: holly[at]goeslightly[dot]com.  I'd love to feature your project on the blog!

Office Art: Watercolor

We are in the oh-so-slow process of fixing up the upstairs at our house.  When it's done, I'm going to move my office upstairs.  So that means I get to make all kinds of office art to fill up the walls! :)

First up is a simple watercolor project that has a pretty cool effect.

You will need:

• Liquid frisket (it's kind of like tinted rubber cement)
• Watercolors
• Paintbrush
• Watercolor paper
• Office paper

First, decide on an image or shape that you want to feature in your picture.  I chose to reuse my puppy profile and my ampersand.

Next, print out and cut out your shape.

Then, place the shape on your watercolor paper and apply liquid frisket around the edges with outward strokes.  This will allow you to color the inside of the shape.  If you want the background to be colored and the shape to be white, trace your shape in pencil and then trace inside the lines with the liquid frisket.

Lift up your shape and let the frisket dry.

Then, simply fill in the shape with watercolor!  A few tips on watercolor: if you want deeper colors, use less water and more pigment.  For a more subdued hue, apply water to the paper first, then layer on your color.

The frisket keeps the paint from going outside the lines

Let the paint dry, and then rub off the frisket.  You should be left with a beautifully outlined watercolor image!

 

I made the puppy profile in the afternoon, and I went over to make another with my friend, Catherine, in the evening.  She drew up a cursive C for hers, and I think it turned out so pretty!

I can't wait to hang mine up! ... I just need to get an office :)

And don't forget! If you try this out yourself, be sure to send pictures to holly[at]goeslightly[dot]com to be featured on the blog!

Saturday Snapshot: Flight of the Bumblebee

Beg, Borrow, Steal

So, earlier this week I asked for reader submissions of projects you've done inspired by this blog.  Today, I want to show you a few projects I've made that come from other blogs!

Smoky Roasted Red Pepper Soup, from Women's Health Magazine

Reese's Peanut Butter Bars, from Sally's Baking Addiction

Painted rock owls, inspired by Lori-Lee Thomas

To make the rocks above, follow these steps: Start with smooth river rocks.

Draw a heart shape for the face, and a tear drop for the wing.

Paint the body of the owl.

Then, paint the face and wing.

Use the end of the paint brush to add details to the owl:

Easy peasy!  I hope you try some of these for yourself!