I happened to catch an episode of Martha Stewart's 'cooking lessons' show and it was featuring egg recipes. The first was for a simple fried egg on toast and I thought it looked very appetizing! Next was a potato and onion frittata and that looked even better! As I had a leftover boiled potato in the fridge it would be ideal for my lunch. I remembered how much I like Martha and back in the day, I learned so much from her. Even though she has had her issues and some people do not enjoy her as much as I, it is still with such appreciation and fondness that I always will stop and watch, listen, and yes, continue to learn from Ms. Martha!
So...here is my frittata! I have made them in the past but usually I baked the dish in the oven for 'x' minutes. Martha suggests cooking and setting the eggs (and flavourful fillings) on a low heat on the stovetop and then finishing under the broiler for only a minute or two. The frittata should then turn a light golden brown and actually puff up with the direct heat. Mine did just that!
The addition of cheese (I used feta) and a sprinkle of freshly grated parmesan before going into the pre-heated broiler was a wonderful touch and the frittata was perfect. I love how Martha will never shy from sharing very simple and basic recipes and methods with her viewers/readers. The love of amazing dishes starts with the appreciation of fresh, quality ingredients. They don't have to be prepared in a fancy way to be absolutely incredible.
Here is a link for the video from the Martha Stewart website on the formula for foolproof frittatas. Worth a watch if you want to brush up on your skills and make a delicious and quick breakfast, brunch, lunch or even dinner...
More than a few years ago Pandora offered a gorgeous set of jewelry boxes as a gift with purchase. This was a tiered bonus in that the more you spent, the more layers of the set you could earn. The lovely cases were embossed with the Pandora logo and/or name and had little rods to hold charms, as well as compartments and forms for bracelets and extra beads. A few lucky people were able to buy them in one configuration or another after the promotion period ended. I was not one of them....
Since I only recently renewed my interest in Pandora I never paid any attention to promotions or sales. Now that I AM paying attention, and taking advantage of new offers, I realize that it was a sad thing to miss out on the beautiful jewelry boxes. There are only a few floating around the auction sites but the prices are astronomical, the locations are typically Australia or England, and purchase from an unknown source could be highly risky. I needed a more easily obtainable solution to my storage problem!
I heard about Stackers from a Pandora expert but sadly, the company based in England doesn't ship to Canada. After searching US sites and being unable to find a way to access the product I ended up emailing Stackers directly for guidance. A wonderful customer service rep sent me a link for a UK stockist who does indeed accept international orders. While I don't think the choice for components is as broad as availability with the actual Stackers company proper, I was able to customize a jewelry box simply ideal for my needs.
I chose the size, colour & lining, lid, and then trays to stack underneath. It took me a few days to play around with the configuration but in the end I settled on a white Classic lid with 3 charm trays and one 3-section deeper box. Why those items? I chose the Classic size because there was more selection and it was adequate for my collection, and also easier to display and handle. While I love the blush pink exterior it was not available at the stockist with a neutral interior. I absolutely did not want a lining with a pattern (e.g. polka dots) because I wanted to keep the look clean and plain to showcase the silver jewelry. White was my choice and it came with a grey lining. I was worried it would be bright white but it is actually perfect and stunningly classy. I picked the charm trays so that I could have the long rods for charm storage and styling. I wanted a section for my bracelet and rationalized I could have a tray for each and keep the relevant charms together. The little square sections could be for holding charms while I plan and/or overflow.
The lid can be accessorized with shorter charm bars and will hold up to 4. I added them in because I wanted to make sure I had room to grow without having to reorder and pay all the costs that go with international delivery. They are perfect for specialty charms or items that can work with any of the bracelets (like clips, spacers, or Muranos). The lid also has room for rings and other items like earrings and necklaces.
The deeper 3 section tray is perfect for holding less often worn jewelry or differently shaped bracelets like leather and bangles which don't have a home in the trays. There is also a longer section in each level to hold an unclipped charm bracelet stretched out. I love that there are many storage options!
As the name suggests, each tray stacks upon the next with the lid at the top sealing up the set. I was giddy with anticipation waiting for the box to arrive and couldn't wait to see how it all would work with my jewelry. I was beyond delighted with the look and quality of the Stackers and what I picked works perfectly for what I have. I had a lot of fun organizing and figuring out exactly how I wanted to set things up.
So I can highly recommend Stackers as a jewelry storage and display option. It is wonderful for Pandora or charms/beads specifically but obviously you could select different components (earring tray, watch form, etc.) based on your own jewelry collection. The quality and construction seems excellent, with beautiful stitching (of course I would notice that!!), nice hardware clasp, padded lining and charm rods that fit securely in the notches. I am very, very pleased!
Each piece of Stackers is well priced (imho) and I found shipping to be really reasonable considering how far it had to come! The overall cost can add up if you purchase additional layers or accessories but I feel it's a worthwhile investment to protect the other worthwhile investment, one's lovely jewelry!
As much as I adore Pandora bracelets, it is always a struggle for me to do them up! Even though I wear mine on my right wrist and my dominant left hand is doing the latching, with a full snake chain of charms, it's difficult to get that clasp closed. I contort and try to hold the one side against my body while pulling the other side around but then it shifts and falls and I get super frustrated. If hubby or the kids are not around to help I can spend 5 or ten sweaty minutes fighting the bracelet...
Enter the Bracelet Fairy! This little tool is a life saver and makes fastening and unfastening any bracelet a cinch. One side of the Fairy clips onto the open end of the bracelet - and don't worry, it's padded to keep your jewelry safe and scratch free. The handle fits perfectly in your hand and holds the chain so you can use your free hand to fasten the clasp.
To make this item even more useful, there is a tapered part on the other end of the Bracelet Fairy that fits into the slotted groove of the traditional barrel clasp/snap closure mechanism of the Pandora jewelry. It pops it open flawlessly and it's so convenient to always have the tool available.
I bought the Fairy for all my girls and while they didn't think they needed it at a young age, now realize how awesome it is! Sure, I know you CAN get a Pandora bracelet and other jewelry done up by yourself BUT the Bracelet Fairy just makes it so much faster, easier, and less frustrating. I bought mine for about $24 and it's worth every penny. It is very helpful for older people too and those with arthritis or other dexterity issues. Here's a video showing how the Bracelet Fairy works...
I'm waiting for a delivery of a beautiful jewelry box to organize and store my Pandora charms and bracelets but in the meantime I thought I'd share this travel case with you. It is an authentic Pandora 'gift with purchase' item and I am thrilled to have it. It is the perfect size for taking one or two favourite pieces along for a holiday with room for extra charms, rings, and other items.
The silver finish is quite lovely and the Pandora name is in rose gold. Inside, the velvety black lining is a stunning backdrop for shiny silver bracelets. There is a snap-on strap in the lid with holes for earrings (LOVE that idea to keep them safe and together!), and a raised slotted area for dangles. Next to those are two snap loops to keep necklaces in place with a pouch at the bottom for the pendants to stay protected and tangle-free.
In the main section of the case there is a padded circle form to house a bracelet or two, with 2 snaps to keep it/them in place. To the left are a couple of little cinched pockets for extra charms or other jewelry. There is a zipper at the top but I'm not exactly sure what the intention of that space is - it could be a hidden area for a small item but it's very snug and difficult to get your fingers in. Any suggestions or guesses???
The cutest feature of this versatile travel jewelry box has to be the ring holder! It is a wee matching zippered case that holds several rings. It stays nestled in the vacant area above the bracelet form. I think it is a sweet addition and great for keeping rings secure. It's just the right size for me since I tend to only swap out one or two of my rings.
I really think this Pandora box is ideal for a getaway because it not only holds bracelets and charms, but also other pieces like rings, earrings, and necklaces. While I'm away I always take my earrings off at night and usually just stick them in my toiletry bag. It's not particularly suited for small studs and I often forget to put the earrings back on in the morning! I'm excited to pack up my new jewelry box for its first excursion and be able to take several options of bracelet styling components with me to play with.
I'd be very interested to hear how you travel with your jewelry and what you like to take on holiday... When my new jewelry box for at-home storage arrives I will be sure to review it for you! I can't wait to get it!!!
I don't like seafood and I've only been to Red Lobster once in my life but when I spied this box of cheddar biscuit mix, I had to buy it. I'd heard about the yummy biscuits offered at the restaurant and once I confirmed there were no actual fish ingredients, I was excited to try them. The box cost $1.99 and you only need to add water, grated sharp cheddar cheese and some melted butter (for the topping).
It was very easy and quick to mix up the soft dough with a spoon and I used an ice cream scoop (medium size) to portion the biscuits. They bake for 14-16 minutes and then melted butter mixed with the garlic herb blend included in the box is spooned or brushed on the warm biscuits. They smelled like garlic bread - very garlicky!
I must say the biscuits were incredibly tender and flaky. They were actually scrumptious and although not the healthiest choice, were delightful! I would definitely buy these again but as I've never seen them before, they seem like a specialty item that won't be around permanently. I might have to go back and pick up a few more boxes for the pantry. As it was, there weren't many left on the display so I could be out of luck already.
I'm looking forward to having one with my soup for lunch today. It's bad to admit but I did put a little butter on mine last night. They are so moist and flavourful already that extra buttering is just gilding the lily!
It's so much fun to be back at the sewing machine...but unfortunately, there isn't much stitching going on right now. Before I can start assembling the blocks for the Color Crystals quilt there is the task of trimming up the units I have made so far. 512 half-square triangles need to have their dog ears cut off. It isn't exactly exciting work but using the Bloc Loc ruler is making it go pretty quickly. It is a lot of standing and I'm so thankful to have my Wellness Mat - eases all my lower back ache.
***UPDATE!!!*** I found the video! lol! It took a lot of scrolling in my YouTube history but I found it! I have included it at the bottom of this post...
I recently got back from a short getaway where I picked up this adorable Blue Q bag. I had seen this exact one, with a vintage sewing machine on it, in an Instagram post or YouTube video and loved it. I couldn't find the video again but I never forgot about this bag design since I collect old machine models and in fact, have one that looks very similar to the one on the bag.
I was familiar with the company that makes it because I bought my girls and myself small, pencil case sized Blue Q pouches around Christmas time. They are incredibly durable and handy zip bags to have, and come in beautiful designs, but sadly I couldn't find the sewing machine one. The store where I purchased them only had the 3 I bought and it was a fluke to even find those as they aren't regular stock. I keep my mini bag in my English Paper Piecing kit to hold my hexie-sewing supplies. It's funky and useful and I never have to worry about it tearing!
While I was away I spotted a small display rack of Blue Qs through a shop window (husband is amazed and incredulous at this weird skill of 'shopping radar' I have), and while there was no sewing machine one showing, I went in to check anyway. And obviously, guess what I found!!!!???? I was soooo excited and snatched it up. This pouch is much larger and will be so perfect in my sewing room. I can't wait to load it up with tools and notions and will certainly have to display it somewhere prominently.
Our trip was short and sweet but also included a visit to Pandora so I was super, super excited. I found so many older charms that I've had on my wishlist so discovering those, AND this fantastic sewing machine bag, satisfied my ISO (in search of) mission. Of course, as soon as one shopping hunting excursion is over there are plenty of other items to keep an eye open for while away. The new Spring 2018 Pandora release is coming up in a couple of weeks so that is also definitely on my list for March.
In the meantime, I'm still working away on the Color Crystals quilt units and am almost ready to start assembling Block A...