Wire Work Class

We had so much fun last night!  As you know, if you read my blog, I enjoy lots of creative outlets.  Jewelry making is one of them. So last night my friend Lynnea taught a basic wire wrapping class that included some benchwork ( the steel block that you see in this picture). The bench is for pounding your metal....which I truly did enjoy.....you can get out a lot of frustartion by doing that!

So here is my first spiral wrap.....it turned pretty good, but I have to say I liked hammering it the best! Now I wasn't the only one who liked to hammer and pound.  I would say all of us ladies enjoyed doing that.  It really was group therapy!

This is the group shot that I took. From left to right: Lynnea, Star, Dianne, Elaine. 

Elaine is the owner of La Vie Boheme Bistro....where we had our class.

We also learned how to make a triangle head pin....and I would just like to say that Lynnea was patient with all us, especially with me because I needed extra help!  Thanks Lynnea.

Here is my open spiral that I finished off with some hand made lamp work beads.  It is all ready to be hung from a chain.  This wire work is so much fun...just another addiction to add to my list.  At least it is a healthy addiction!

Another group shot with me in the picture.  I had a great time and I look forward to the next class ladies!  I think Lynnea and I will teach a joint class at some point..... with a project that includes some bead work and precious metal clay. Do something creative to feed your soul!

chocoholic

I don't know what it is lately, but I have been a complete chocoholic.  Now I seriously have an addictive personality and have kicked some more serious addictions like smoking, but I thought I had this chocolate thing under control.

Now the good news is I at least know that if I am going to indulge in chocolate it should be dark chocolate so that I can get the benefits from it.

MMMMM.......past the lips hello hips!

Dark chocolate has plant flavanoids....specifically a compound called epicatechin.  Now flavanoids help keep cholesterol from gathering in your blood vessels.  They can also slow down the immune response that leads to clogged arteries. 

Other benefits of chocolate include antioxidants. 

So when the urge strikes, you need to find a dark chocolate that has a high cocoa percentage because this has the most flavanoids and antioxidants.  Milk chocolate may taste good, but it has been processed more and does not contain enough of the epicatetechin or antioxidants to give you the benefits......just lots of fat and sugar and you know where that will end up...on the thighs, stomach, hips....need I say more!

Just looking at these pictures is making me want a nice thick chunk of chocolate!

So be a smart chocoholic....and eat dark.....your body will thank you later.

The Kids Art Project

The kids art work is in!   Oneida's Downtown Association has been filling 3 empty window spaces here in Downtown Oneida with local Elementary students art work. All 3 windows are located on Main St. ( 1 in the old Salerno Buliding next to K&K Dance Wear and 2 across the street in the old Libbeys Newstand Space.)

Today the last window will be filled and everyone is invited to come down and take a look at what our Kindergarteners through second graders have been working on this year.
 I don't want to show you anymore pictures because I want you to make that trip downtown to see for yourself.

We are trying to bring the community together by getting even the youngest members involved.

This exhibit will only be up until April 30th.  We will then rotate the displays to showcase all of our 3rd and 4th graders...... which will then be followed by our 5th and 6th graders. 

We want to thank all of the Elementary School Art Teachers from the Oneida School District for partnering with Oneida's Downtown Association for this project.

The Art of Healing and Wellness Fair

An event that you don't want to miss!   The Art of Healing and Wellness will be held at La Vie Boheme Bistro on April 24, 2010 from 10am-7pm and will feature many local practioners that specialize in Skin Care, Massage Therapy, Chakra Meditation, Flower Essences, Aromatherapy, Organice Herbal Gardening, Music Therapy, Yoga and Belly dancing as well a Tribal Dance Workshop.

Local artisans will also be selling their art work, handcrafted jewelry and bath and body products.  There will be a gift basket raffled off that will feature products and services from some of our practioners and artisans.

Demonstrations and lectures will be given throughout the day and  La Vie Boheme Bistro will be offering a breakfast and lunch buffet.  So come join us for a day of fun filled activities that will help you acheive your goal of total body wellness.

For more information about the event schedule, please go to http://www.laviebohemebistro.com/ .
La Vie Boheme Bistro 109-111 Madsion St. Oneida, NY .

Late Night Baking

I am  not always sure of what comes over us, but sometimes even after a long hard frustrating day we want to go into the kitchen and whip up some cookies.  I can even cajole Kenzie into helping most of the time...especially if she thinks she may be able to eat a few warm, freshly baked cookies before going to bed.....and then there is of course the extended bed time for helping me.

She is her mother's daughter....the second wind always comes right before the bedtime hour.  I send her up to go to bed ususally an hour before we come and she is always awake .....telling us she is not tired.   Morning comes pretty early though!  I don't take pictures of mornings in this house because sometimes it is not pretty.This is my clown and this is probably why we make cookies at night when we are tired...the silly comes out and we actually end up having some mother daughter therapy.   Try this sometime....it can be fun!

Easter Dinner

Easter dinner in the prep stages......wow you say where is the ham and all of the other traditional Easter Foods?   I know we are at times an unconventional family and that is not just with the foods we prepare. 

This is actually a Spinach Lasagna Roll Up and it is really very easy to make as well as very tasty!  My mother loves to make this when we have lots of guests coming for dinner.  This year we were lucky to have many family members come into town to celebrate Easter with us. 

The Filling: So you will need 2 cups of ricotta cheese or lowfat cottage cheese... 2- 10 oz. packages of chopped frozen spinach....thawed and drained..... 2 Cups of Shredded mozarella.......and approximately 28oz. of tomato sauce.

Mix spinach, ricotta and 1 cup of the mozarella for the filling.  Reserve 1 cup of mozarella for topping when cooking the roll ups.

1 whole box of lasagna noodles cooked and drained.

 Basically to make this simple lasagna variation you want to cook a whole box of your favorite lasagna noodles....don't over cook because they will fall apart when you go to roll them with their spinach and ricotta cheese filling.To cool the noodles, line your counterop with wax paper and lay each noodle in a single layer along the paper. Once they have cooled enough to be touched, use 1/4 cup of the spinach and ricotta mixture and plop it in the center of each noodle.  Flatten the filling out a little by spreading with the back of a spoon.....you don't have to spread it the entire length of the noodle, just enough to make it a little flatter for when you will roll it. 

Before rolling up your noodles pour a small amount of tomato sauce in the bottom of your skillet.

  To roll the noodle start at one end and roll towards the opposite end.  When you are done rolling, put it seam down in the skillet.  When you have all of the noodles rolled up and they are in your skillet, pour some tomato sauce over the top of them...bring them to a boil and then reduce to a simmer with a cover for 5 minutes.   Next sprinkle with the remaining mozarella and cook for another 5 minutes or until the mozarella on top has melted. 

Now the recipe is meatless, but if you have guests who like meat you can do what we did....make some meatballs to go along with the Spinach Lasagna Roll-ups.  This is my father rolling the final meatball. We popped these into the oven for about 35 minutes.

Add a salad and some hearty bread and you have yourself a pretty fantastic meal that is easy on the budget and the waitline!

Now of course we couldn't end it there....we had biscotti and slow churned ice cream for dessert.

Now we may be different with our menu, but I will ease your minds.....the jelly beans and chocolate bunnies were eaten before, during and after we hand dyed the Easter Eggs and of course we can't forget the Easter Egg Hunt! We hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday...I know we did.

Breakfast of champions

My daughter and I often have the debate over whether or not one should eat breakfast in the morning and what that breakfast should be.  Now of course since she is twelve she thinks she knows everything and that Mom is just dumb!

I have always been pro- breakfast  because I wake up hungry and thirtsty every morning. It amazes me that my daughter can actually get up and lay on the sofa for 2 hours before she wants to drink or eat anything. 

I have come to the conclusion that part of the reason she does not eat right away in the morning is that she has never really liked any type of breakfast food with the exception of bacon.  There have been many mornings that she has eaten leftover chinese or subway...which I don't care as long as she eats before going to school.....it is when she tries to pull out the ice cream... the soda and the cookies we have baked the night before I can assure you that I bulk and that none of those sugary items pass her lips.  Your body does not need to be treated in such a manner! 

My choice of breakfast varies on a daily basis, but always includes some type of tea, fruit, cereal or wholewheat bread.   If you don't fuel your body the right way in the beginning of the day you will surely suffer the consequences....your mind and body will not be able to function properly making simple tasks difficult.

Check it out my breakfast from this morning. Now if you are a Kashi Freak like I am you probably recognize their cereal here.  I have added fresh blueberries, raspberries and bananas.....topped off with skim milk.  I also enjoyed a cup of Good Earth's new pomegranate superfruit tea.  I am ready to workout!

This is part of taking care of yourself....so do your small part...... and by the way I made my daughter a whole wheat bagel this morning with creamcheese and a glass of V-8 juice ( not the tomato, but the fruit medley).