Yellow Lace Lantern

It's the most beautiful day- 67 degrees! It's like September in January, totally amazing! And I'm inside blogging :) But I couldn't wait, I just had to share a lace lantern I've just finished! I originally got the idea from here, but couldn't find doilies to SAVE MY LIFE! So when i found yellow lace (after 5,000 stores- almost) I thought it would be perfect for a trial run if nothing else. Now it's finished and I love it! Not sure if it will stay yellow though? Thoughts?

So here's what you'll need:

Lace/ doilies, newspaper or wax paper, fabric stiffener, shallow bowl, scissors, a balloon (24''+)

A couple things: I found the lace at a thrift store, the fabric stiffener at Michael's Crafts (use a coupon!), and balloon from Party City. Unfortunately you have to buy a pack of 10 balloons, about $9.99 so it's bit of a splurge. If you're making more than one, like I am, then it may be worth it. Otherwise, maybe you can use a smaller size balloon?

Also, the brush is pointless. It's SO much easier to use your hands, so just know- it's going to get messy!

So.. blow up your balloon and tie it up (to the chandelier if you're extra classy like me). Put newspaper underneath- it will drip like crazy! So here's your setup..

Pour some fabric stiffener into the bowl. Cut your lace into square like pieces. They don't need to match or be perfect or the same size. I think it actually looks better when they vary (because when it overlaps in different places on the lantern, it gives a really cool effect)

Dip one piece of lace in the glue at a time, totally soak it in the glue, and stretch it out onto the balloon. Start at the top where the balloon is tied up, and leave space (which will serve as the hole where the light bulb goes through).

Continue adding pieces of soaked lace, overlapping them slightly, ensuring they all connect.

This is when I thought the brush was a good idea.. nope.

What it looks like when part is dry and part is wet..

Once it's all on there, add some extra stiffener in places it seems needed. Then let it dry overnight. Once dry, pop the balloon, and carefully detach the shrinking balloon  from the lace sides. It's less fragile than it seems, but don't get crazy!

Once the balloon is removed, it will look similar to this:

And once it's lit up, there she is!

Stay tuned for the doily version! let me know if you have any questions about the process, and pin it to your pinterest board if you love it!

Stuffed Bell Peppers

 Here's what's delicious (if you ask me).. stuffed peppers!

 Want to know what's even better? Stuffed peppers that are semi-healthy for you. AND something really great about stuffed peppers is, you can't really do it wrong- anything you like can go in them, add cheese and bake that sucker. Seriously- it's awesome! (Or in the summer, grill them..so yummy!)

To make ones just like I did, you need this:

4 green bell peppers (or red or yellow if you like it sweeter)
extra Virgin olive oil
ground turkey (because it's healthier than ground beef)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can crushed tomatoes
instant brown rice (or white)
shredded colby jack cheese
cayenne pepper (optional)
salt/pepper

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Start by lining a baking pan with foil. Place each bell pepper on it's side, and cut the top off. Use a knife (carefully!) to clean out the pepper. They should look like this.

In a large skillet, heat a small amount (maybe a tablespoon) of olive oil on medium temperature. Add ground turkey and cook, stirring and turning occasionally (similar to browning hamburger, except turkey turns white). Add onion and cook for an additional minute or two-- super precise, I know. Add UNdrained can of tomatoes and bring to a boil.

Add instant rice and stir. Reduce heat and allow to simmer until rice is tender, stirring occasionally. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper if desired. While this is cooking, you can line the bottom of your peppers with shredded cheese. When it's ready, add a layer of the turkey/tomato/rice mixture. Then a layer of cheese, then the rice mixture, and so on until you've filled the pepper. Finish with cheese loaded onto the top (because you can never have too much cheese!)

Bake on 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the pepper appears to be softening justttt slightly. Turn your broiler on high and cook until the cheese on top is browning (5 minutes or less, keep an eye on it). As I've warned you before, using the broiler is tricky- DON'T BURN THEM! :)

YUMMY! Now imagine on the grill-- grill marks, smoked charcoal flavor, yeah baby!

Note: I really like my pepper to still be crunchy.. but if you don't, you can always start baking it while you're prepping the inside, and then put it back in the oven to finish it off. Like I was saying before, you really can't mess this up!



The Best of 2011

Happy New Year!

I'm super excited to see what 2012 has in store for me, but I have to say 2011 treated me pretty well! Here are some highlights, at least one from each month!

Our best friends, Ryne and Weslie had their little boy, Connor Scott Nichols, on January 3rd.

In February, Bryce and I celebrated a year of dating.

We also began repainting and doing some renovations on the condo. Newly painted counter tops, new paint throughout, addition of a "man cave", and trim work.

(More about that at a later date)

In March we went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a family vacation before Evan deployed to Afghanistan.

And our best friends, Ryan and Mallory, announced they were expecting a baby in the fall!

In April, my brother Taylor came to visit colleges and we saw Zac Brown Band!

LOVE ZAC BROWN BAND!

In May, Ryne and Weslie got married!

In June, Taylor graduated High School!

July came, and Bryce turned 24!

(Kat and I made our first ever attempt at a fondant cake.)

In August Taylor started college and football! Go Pride!

 September was busy!

 Baby Ried Elizabeth Symonds was born, we got a Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy,

 Boomer, and I turned 24!

October FINALLY came and we were thrilled for Evan to come home!

We spent a week at Topsail Beach. It was heavenly!

And Ally and Matt got married!

(Melissa Smith Photography)

In November, Mom and Dad brought their Chincoteague ponies home! Captain and Sunny D.

We wrapped up the year with some great progress in December- my parents began building on the property they bought in Burlington. We're that much closer to having the whole family in one place again!

And the dogs love the pond!

Cheers to 2012 and all its adventures!