Roasted Butternut Squash Orzo

I'm seriously wishing I had taken more pics as I prepared this because it's killer. Instead I'll just spin you the tale and let you imagine the details. 

I cut the skin off of two butternut squash, cubed them, and then tossed in grapeseed oil, salt and pepper. They roasted in a 375 degree oven for about 30 min, until the chin is were brown. I left them in a bit too long and some burned but not a total disaster. 

I added butter to cooked orzo, along with chopped fresh sage and threw in the squash. That's it. T'was so good I had two bowls that I instantly regretted as the empanadas we ordered for the crew arrived. I gotta eat at least one of every flavor of those right?!

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Vegan Chimichurri Farro and Green Beans

Whoa. This is one tasty flipping dish! Fresh green beans and farro with a tangy dressing and walnuts. Chimichurri is a powerhouse of a sauce from Argentina made primarily as accompaniment for steak. The sauce is vinegary and the parsley and garlic are the key players. I saw the Badia brand jars at Target and nearly squealed aloud in the aisle. 

To make this one pan dish boil water with salt or vegetable bouillon, side note: I added mrs dash to the water also to replace my missing bouillon.) I admittedly don't measure the amount anymore but according to package it's 2-1 water and farro. Once the water is boiling add farro and reduce heat to medium.  After about 10 min of simmering I add the green beans, you don't need to stir them in since they basically steam on top. When the beans are bright green the farro should be tender. Drain the remaining water. 

In your pan add a handful of walnut pieces, and about a cup of the Chimichurri(depending on how much farro you are making.) I threw a bit of pepper on it to give it kick. 

Dang this was delicious and full pretty well balance dish with protein, fiber and greens!

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Crafty Cinema- Downton Abbey

There's something I truly love about crafting while catching up on my Netflix. This week I decided to try making a steampunk inspired cuff and for the "soundtrack," if you will, Downton Abbey. I've become terribly behind on all the doings and let me just say this season, Season 3, has been a real tear jerker. So today I settled in for a bit of leather, lace, lords and ladies. 

First I measured the leather out for a nice overlap and then sewed my lace edging on both sides and the top edge. With a few screw backed gold studs added for some edge and tiny teeth studs for the stitching border. As for closure, I employed screw backed posts. 

Tools: leather punch, needle nose pliers, sewing maching, and scissors

Materials: 12" long by 1.5" wide leather, 26.5" lace, two screw posts, 

5 screw studs, and 16 tiny square studs

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Wellie Hack: DIY lace up boots.

Restyle a pair of rubber wellies for large calves, or just to spruce up a pair to wear around town. 

Start with a pair of wellies/rain boots to restyle. 

Measure 4" or what ever length of lace up you'd like. Then cut with sharp scissors. Measure where you'd like the grommets, metal fixtures for laces, and mark the placement on a strip of scotch tape. You can purchase a grommet kit at a craft store or large grommets are at hardware stores. 

Punch the holes out with a craft punch, I punched through the lining on the top as well to keep it folded down. 

Using the grommet kit place the fixture through the hole and set on a hard table surface or cutting board, careful not to place on a nice dining table or tears may follow this project. Place the grommet setting post on back side of grommet and lightly hammer. The post will curl the grommet over the rubber and voila! 

After you have hammered all grommets measure your laces to about 36" and laces through.

You are now set with a cute pair of side laced boots!

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Shopping for Local Vintage- Online

When you want to find a great piece of home decor that's not new--we're talking 'vintage' here, probably you check out the list by Craig for Los Angeles. Next time take a look at another venue that offers alot more than good ol' Craig: Apartment Therapy Classified. With colored photos to cruise through, and way too many listings, this a great rabbit hole to fall through on a rainy weekend. The listings are grouped by cities, so it's possible to drool over a teak table in San Francisco too, which may be a good way to plan your next trip there, based around checking out mid-century mod tables rather than cafes.

Cleaning out the storage unit? Apartment Therapy's site could be a great option for listing the victorian table your mom gave you now that you have found a better solution to the dining problem in your kitchen. I haven't tried listing here yet, so let me know how it goes. This site does require that you sign-up and enter your location to get the right listings for your neighborhood/location.

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My Big Fat Gypsy Tv Marathon

Every once in a while I watch a ton of tv and after the rough week I had and a crazy Halloween, a girlfriend of mine and I watched about 6 episodes of My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding. 

For those who don't know it's now on Netflix Instant and centers on the big events in the American Gypsy community.  The gowns are incredible feats of tulle and crystal and the men's hair puts the bros of the Jersey Shore to shame. One thing I really like about the series is that it doesn't feel super judgmental nor sensational. But perhaps that is because it is based on the British series that was fairly straight forward. When your subject is as fascinating as the Romanichal community you don't need to fake it. 

There is no way I can watch a show featuring that much glitter and glam and not get a bit antsy for a bit of my own, not to mention I love crafting while watching. I guess I feel less like a lazy sod if I'm creating while I sit on my tuckus. I ran for the closet and grabbed a pair of chunky heels that were on their way out and got to gluing. Sure I only finished one but I guess the right foot will have to wait for the second season to be released. And wait I will for another round  of fueds, family and young love. 

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Pain in the Neck- Battling the Back

Two weeks ago I assisted my mother, newly retired, with installing ceiling fixtures for her craftsman bungalow. The following day it felt as though an ice pick had made its way into my shoulder blade. After heroic attempts at massage by the boyfriend, several hundred milligrams of ibuprofen and constant applications of Salonpas patches, I gave up and called a chiropractor. My first visit, 6 am due to my failure to get day off, was odd and a let down. X-rays were taken, weird machine hooked up to monitor breathing and a quick meeting with doc took two full hours. Two hours with no treatment. I wandered in the next day for the continuation and this time it also took 2 hours and no adjustment. This time I was instructed to use a lumbar stretching chair, then had my head strapped into a neck stretcher (seen above) and sat for 15 min in it. When is the last time you sat unrestricted by a phone, book or tv? Well I survived and they moved me on to an electrofeedback machine that feels like a light muscle spasm. 

Frustrated and still in pain I decided to go to Target and buy a new pillow, I am not getting great sleep due to my arms constantly falling asleep. I purchased a contour memory foam pillow that helps align my head comfortable to sleep on my back. Now I only wake up once a night with my arms falling asleep. 

My third appointment at the chiro started out the same with stretching and electronic stimulus. Then they moved me to a table that slides to stretch the spine. Finally I received an adjustment on my lower back. But in all honesty I just don't think I can handle a month of 6 am visits to the office three times a week. For one: that's prohibitively expensive and second: my time is way to valuable. Sure sure, I know that it's worth the effort to live pain free but I'm way too stubborn for this malarkey. 

Sitting on my lunch break yesterday, high on excedrin migraine for a blinding migraine, I made an appointment for my very first acupuncture. I'm looking forward to trying out a bit of eastern medicine. Who knows perhaps reiki is next! 

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