The Right Wreath

For reasons unexplainable, I was obsessed with wreaths this holiday season. It's a weird fascination to have, considering there are only so many places to put them before becoming the Clark Griswold of circle-shaped "greenery."

I ended up making two wreaths for Christmas. (Lie ... I made three including the Card Wreath.) One for the boyfriend's house and one for my sad little Scrooge apartment. (Almost all of my decor is displayed at his house. It just looks better there. But my place needed a little love, too!) The wreath at J's house took more internet scouring than it did crafting. I just purchased a grape-vine/twig wreath and found some battery-powered C9 light bulbs online since his 80+ year old house was not built with outdoor outlets to equip Christmas lights. (Those lazy Roaring 20-ites.) The result is kind of funky and random but I like the melding of country crafter with retro lighting. I might be using this wreath to re-adorn it with seasonal flair to make it a year-round door greeter.

The wreath for my apartment was a tad more involving, but still super simple. I purchased a small wire wreath base, a box of white lights with white wiring and two white feather boas. Wrapped the lights around the wreath base and then did the same with the boas. And here we have a sassy, glowing wreath!

The picture really does it no justice. But I absolutely love this final product. It's one of those things that makes me smile whenever I walk past it.

And yes, I have a window hanging on my dining room wall. Guess what: right next to it is a door, complete with gaudy garland leftover from trimming the tree. I'm sure you think it's silly that I didn't hang the wreath on the door, but there are pictures hanging on it. Duh!

And just for good measure ... since this will be the last holiday project post 'til next Christmas rolls around ... here's another little fun little tidbit.

I did these on either side of the front porch stairs at J's house. Just cut off some sprigs of his giant blue spruce, got some coordinating balls (ha), red velvet ribbon and voila! Festive flower pots.

What's your favorite piece of holiday decor?

Centerfold

I'm so very behind on my blogging, I know. I thought I'd catch up by doing a few a week 'til my "new things" were current. I thought wrong. Then I thought I'd just ignore it and blog like it was normal to talk about my holiday endeavors 'til February, but I realize I've finally reached the threshold. So I apologize that the next several blogs will not be timely or relevant. But maybe your holiday hangover has subsided, and you'll be inspired to try something new when the next yuletide season approaches.

Last year, my holiday centerpiece on the dining room table was just a glass bowl filled with glass ball ornaments. Festive but kinda plain. I still keep it around but J actually asked if I was going to do something new... when he even comes close to forming an opinion about these kind of things, I oblige faster than a fat kid who hears "would you like to see the dessert menu?"

So once again, Martha Stewart came to the rescue with these Christmas trees made out of magazines. I love that they're homemade AND sustainable. It's not that I go around hugging trees every day. But I try to do the little things that can maybe make a difference. So I tried my hand, and 45 minutes later, this is what we had.

(If you must know, this is an old issue of Golf Digest. I wish I had a dirty magazine of some kind just so I could giggle to myself when people marveled at my craftiness.)

Unfortunately, that's as far as I got. I prefer odd numbers when it comes to decorating but because there aren't a ton of size variations when it comes to magazines (especially ones I have in my house), I knew I'd only make two of these suckers. And I didn't even make it that far, let alone getting around to spray painting them gold and dusting them with glitter. So this will be on the docket for next Christmas. Guess you'll have to wait 11 months to see the final product!

If you want to try this out, I definitely recommend checking out the video that's on the how-to article. Very helpful! When I finish my trees off, I'll be using one of those tiny cookie recipe books — the folding might prove difficult, but at least I'll have my size variation darnit!

Did you take on any holiday projects this year?

Occupational Therapy

I by no means earned a hiatus from blogging over my holiday break. (Oh "holiday break" heaven forbid if I ever enter an industry that doesn't have one or that my own ever strays away from the pattern.) But I took blogabbatical (see what I did there? blog ... sabbatical ... no?) so deal with it. It mostly happened because I inadvertently kept a "hands off computer" mantra for the week's duration, save the two days leading up to my imminent return to the work life. Of course, I still caught up on ever-important tweets, Facebook-age and sports updates on my handy dandy iPhone, but should I ever post a new blog from that smarty pants mobile device, it'll consist of a picture or two and maybe a sentence. (Guessing you'd prefer that?)

So picking up where I left off ... here's something I did that's new. I started a new job at the end of November. Probably not news to Blogging Molly clientele, but it deserves a spot in this little e-diary I'll one day peruse with wonderment. (Of my idiocy.)

Sure I've gotten a new gig before. Once I switched from Tad's Tropical Sno to Juice Stop. From a price point, Juice Stop is a step up. But I gotta say, making Hawaiian Ice sno cones requires quite a bit of skill. And you must possess certain skills ... like cold-tolerant hands. (Ok that's about the only skill required.)

But this job switch was my first since I ventured into adulthood. It was time for a change ... a little occupational therapy, if you will. Making change always has the potential to be a bit scary, albeit exciting, but bidding adieu to your first job out of college has got to be exponentially more stressful. I'm proud of myself for taking a leap when things were comfortable. It wasn't an easy decision, but I'm stoked for a new scene and opportunities.

So here's Molly's New Job 101: totally basic and mostly boring.

On my first day, this little guy was my buddy while I filled out stacks of paperwork:



Among many new experiences, this is the first time I've worked in a building that requires elevators to get around. I kind of (always) forget where I am. Related, my desk is on the 9th floor. Here's the view:



On my first day, my spacious-to-me office was sad and bare.



I still haven't really had time to decorate, but it quickly got a small dose of personality with a little mess added in.




(Notice the blinds ... sadly, these end up pulled down most days because the sun gets way bright. It makes me a bit sad and I'm too lazy to put them up once those people leave.)

All in all, I'm really loving the new job. I think I'll really come to appreciate the location (right off the Plaza) even more than I already do when the weather is more pleasant - walking to grab lunch or shop over lunch could be the death of my paychecks, but by golly, I'll have fun doing it. I am anxious to escape the "new kid" stage but until then, I'm plenty busy writing about beauty products, textbooks and clothing. Oh, and there's an espresso machine at our disposal. So I get one of these bad boys (skinny hazelnut latte) to hang out with every morning:



What are your favorite (or not-so-favorite) things about starting a new job?

Wreath of kin

The year's last two months are when my mailbox is its fattest. And this extra padding is equal parts "YOU CAN'T MISS THIS SALE!!!!!!!!!!!!" announcements/catalogues and holiday greetings from friends and family. For the former, I take no issue with scanning for any sizable coupons and pitching them in the garbage. For the latter, I feel guilty when the cards and letters just sit in a towering stack on my coffee table. I feel like the best I can do in that situation is shuffle which smiles get to land on top for the next few days. And heaven forbid if any of my loved ones are claustrophobic. What if those holiday cards have voodoo doll-like tendencies?!

So this year, I used my newness mission to remedy the guilty pile situation. I now have a "wreath" to display all my favorite pretty faces!



This project was easy-peazy-Brett-Favre's-sleazy. Just get an embroidery ring, some clothespins, wood glue and ribbon. I picked up the biggest embroidery ring, because I'm clearly the most popular woman in the universe. Ridiculous lies aside, you just glue the clothespins around the perimeter, alternating which way the clasp faces. Let it dry for a while, cover the obnoxious metal with a ribbon and you're set to show off your loved ones in crafty fashion.

In the past, the only circle of cards I witnessed involved chugging cheap beer (in college, obvi.) This circle of cards is not only better for my liver, but a tad on the classier side, too. So if I'm not your mailing list, you should probably think about sending me a picture of your family. Don't you want a coveted spot on a clothespin in my boyfriend's kitchen? Sure you do.

How do you display your cards?

Credit to Martha Stewart for the idea!

Funky Acrophobia

J and I vacationed in Chicago a few weeks ago. I experienced several new things while there, despite having visited the Windy City multiple times before. But the most notable newness was my trip 103 stories into the sky at Willis Tower. (Formerly known as Sears Tower. Barf on that name change.)

Whether you stick your nose up at touristy activities, or embrace them as rites of passage, you must put Willis Tower on your "to do" list. Because not only are the traditional views spectacular, but there's also a new feature on the west side of the building in the form of plexiglass boxes that jut out from the side of the building. When you venture into one of these boxes, you're standing 103 stories up, looking down at your Chicago playroom ... the cars and buildings teensy weensy. And my oh my, was it terrifyingly awesome.

My fear of heights is bizarre. I love roller coasters. But put me in a multi-level mall, make me walk on the inside near those barriers that look down into the middle and you'll send my heart racing. Flying? It's fine. (Save for takeoff and landing. Gou to the let.) Standing on the edge of the rafters behind stage of my high school's auditorium ... forgetaboutit. (Clearly a traumatizing experience, almost 9 years later.) I can't really explain my phobia's inconsistencies.

Anywho ... when we finally made our way to plexiglass peril, J tugged on my arm for the imminent photo shoot, forgetting I'd need to ease into it. Our first pictures feature a nervous smile on my face, fists clenched in utter terror. (What you can't see is the massive amounts of sweat those palms were home to.) Gradually, I got more adventurous and took my heels off the carpet, allowing my soles to bear witness to all of Wacker Drive's tinyness.

I even let J leave my side and visit the box across from me.

But when he requested that I crouch down, the butterflies returned. Powered through...

Ultimately, I'm so glad I experienced this tourist attraction and would recommend it to anyone - visitors and Chicagoans alike. We went at sunset which made for some lovely views and photos.

Got any favorite tourist traps?

Pseudo Successful

Even as someone who loves food, there aren't countless foods I could eat every single day. But one of the few I could scarf daily? Soup. Cream of, gumbo'd, bisque'd or just plain homestyle, I love it like it's my own baby. (Or my stuffed dog, Ubu.)

So when I found The Pioneer Woman's recipe for cauliflower soup, I was eager to try.

Ingredients

1 stick butter, divided

1/2 of an onion, finely diced (I used white. I always use white.)

1 whole carrot, finely diced

1 stalk celery, finely diced

1 whole (or up to 2) cauliflower heads, roughly chopped (You thought I was gonna say finely diced, huh? Do yourself a favor and don't think! Oh, and I used just one.)

2 tablespoons fresh or dried parsley, chopped

2 quarts low-sodium chicken broth or stock

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups whole milk

1 cup half and half

2-4 teaspoons salt, to taste

1 cup sour cream, room temperature

Directions

1. In large pot or dutch oven (do I even need to tell you that I chuckled at this?) melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Add the onion and cook for a few minutes, or until it starts to turn brown.

2. Add carrots and celery, cook a couple more minutes. Add cauliflower and parsley, stir to combine. Or you could try picking up the pot and shimmying really fast. Please set up your video camera before step one if you choose to go this route. kthx.

3. Cover and cook over very low heat for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, pour in chicken stock or broth, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer (down nah!)

4. In a medium saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Mix the flour with the milk and whisk to combine. (Make sure you whisk reeeeeeeal good. And who needs proper grammar?) Add flour/milk mixture slowly to the butter, whisking constantly. Remove from heat, stir in 1 cup half and half.

5. Add the flour/milk/half and half mixture to simmering soup. Allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes. Check seasoning and add more salt or pepper if you need.

6. Just before serving, place the sour cream in a serving bowl or soup tureen. Add 2-3 ladles of hot soup into the tureen and stir to combine with the sour cream. Pour in remaining soup and stir.

This had all the potential of being delicious. Because The Pioneer Woman only makes delicious things. But mine left something to be desired. I don't think my roux/white sauce got thick enough. I tried adding more flour, but the butter just wasn't havin' it. Jerk. Additionally, I had to add a ton of salt to each bowl I had (which was many, because this recipe made enough soup to feed the state of Missouri. Ok ... maybe more like Delaware.) And finally, I'd definitely serve it with bread or something filling of some sort. I'm a girl who loves her meat (do with that what you must), so I was always hungry shortly after eating this.

Regardless, I'd try this recipe again! But I'd also love to find a recipe that's more creamy/pureed cauliflower.

Ahwell. First week of November? Consider yourself new'd.

So what's your favorite soup?

The Fest of October

Another cooking adventure to fulfill my weekly newness. But this time I strayed from the diabetic-inducing treats and opted to try a new dinner meal.

A coworker told me he and his wife make a lot of recipes from the Whole Foods website. While I don't do a ton of shopping there (because honestly, who can afford it?) I do enjoy the experience and philosophy quite a bit. I directed my browser to the site and found a recipe for One-Pot Oktoberfest. As it was the last week of the October, I most obviously had to try it out.

The results were tasty, even if the presentation does look about as appetizing as a bowl of your cat's hacked up hairballs. (You're welcome for that visual.)

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter

1, 12 oz package cooked bratwurst, cut into 2-inch chunks (The original recipe calls for a Whole Foods brand, The Original Brat Hans Original Bratwurst. That's a lot of original. Point is, I didn't use it.)

1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided

2 teaspoons dried dill, divided

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (You know, because it's really easy to measure out pepper as you're grinding it. Eyeball it, dummy.)

1 yellow onion, chopped (Make sure it's fairly small, otherwise don't use the whole thing. Use your judgment and don't blame me if your breath stinks for years after eating it.)

1 pound fresh button mushrooms, quartered

3 tablespoons light sour cream

3 tablespoons German mustard (I just used spicy.)

1, 32 oz. jar sauerkraut, rinsed and drained (I drained it really well but didn't rinse. Gasp!)

Directions

1. Melt butter in large pot over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook 'til browned, about 5 minuten. (German for "minutes." Thought it was only apprope.)

2. Add 1/4 cup broth, 1 teaspoon dill, pepper and onion ... cook until onions are softened and golden, 6-8 minuten. (Deal with it.)

3. Reduce heat to medium, add mushrooms and cook until they've released their juices, about 5 minuten more. (Ok, so when you're quartering the pound of mushrooms, it's going to seem like a whole lotta fungi. It is. But they reduce significantly in size during the cooking process. I didn't quite use the whole pound and it was ok, but would have been fine with all of them! I was just worried it was going to be fungaliciouis and that would have not made J a fun-guy. Bahahaha.)

4. In a small bowl, whisk together remaining 1 cup broth, sour cream and mustard. Add this mixture to the pot, along with the sauerkraut ... bring it all to a boil, baby. (But don't boil a baby. Yikes!)

5. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until "fragrant and thickened" about 10 minuten - yep, I'm still at it - more. (I'm pretty sure sauerkraut is fragrant even before you open the can. Peeeeee Yeeeeew. I love it, though.)

6. Sprinkle with remaining dill and serve.

Warning: this recipe makes a lot.

The first time we ate it, I served it with mashed potatoes. For the leftovers later in the week, I boiled up some egg noods. While both were good, the mashers were much tastier. And since the recipe isn't all that bad nutritionally-speaking, I think it's ok to add some carbs/starch in there. Just my humble, chunky opinion.

(Whole Foods cites the following nutritional info for this six-serving recipe. "Per serving (about 13oz/367g-wt.): 240 calories (150 from fat), 17g total fat, 7g saturated fat, 45mg cholesterol, sodium difficult to determine due to rinsing of sauerkraut, 11g total carbohydrates (6g fiber, 8g sugar), 10g protein")