Crazy A$$ Sale!!

Maybe it's too many late nights spent watching my Tigers trying to clinch the ALDS, or I've completely lost my mind . . . I am having a HUGE sale in my shop right now.   Everything is 40% off, for a limited time only.   Hurry up,  and start your Holiday shopping now :) 

p.s.  You must use coupon code "TAKE40" to get the discount ;)

Here's the Dish: Delicious Kale Salad with Peanut Dressing

Last weekend I bought a bunch of fresh Kale for $1 (what a deal!) at the farmer's market, and I knew exactly what I wanted to make with it.  This recipe comes from Sophie Uliano, of Gorgeously Green.  You may have heard of her ~ she has written books and has been on tv offering great tips on how to live an eco-friendly lifestyle.   I like to receive her weekly emails because I find that her advice is practical and easy to follow.   The below recipe did not disappoint ~ it made a nice big bowl of salad that lasted for half the week.  It tasted fresh and a little spicy, with lots of Asian flavor.  Don't worry too much if you don't have everything it calls for ~ I didn't, and it still turned out great.

Kale Salad with Peanut Dressing

Ingredients:

1/2 c. chunky peanut butter (smooth works fine!)

1 1/2 T. rice vinegar

1 T. tamari or soy sauce

1 T. toasted sesame oil

1 T. peeled, finely grated fresh ginger (I used ground ginger)

2 cloves minced garlic

1 T. sesame seeds ( I didn't have any, so I used sunflower seeds)

2 bunches of kale, washed, trimmed and roughly chopped

4 scallions, thinly sliced ( I used white onions)

1/4 c. salted peanuts, roughly chopped, as garnish (optional)

Directions:

Combine the peanut butter, vinegar, tamari, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, sesame seeds, and 1/4 cup of water in a food processor or blender.  Puree until smooth, adding more water to thin the dressing if needed.

Steam the kale, drain well and chop (not too finely) and toss with some of the dressing.  Add the onions and the rest of the dressing, and transfer to a bowl.  Chill in the fridge and sprinkle peanuts on top just before serving.





Feature in Etsy Finds

Imagine my surprise to learn that my vintage Pyrex set in primary colors was featured in the 8/7/11 edition of Etsy Finds!!   The title of the email was "Down to Earth" and it featured eco-friendly products. That's my set in the upper left corner under "Reviving Vintage".



This was a first for me, and it was pretty awesome!!  The feature brought a nice boost in sales, many "favorites" and lots of great exposure.  Thanks, Etsy! :)

Are you enjoying that??

I snapped this photo of a black squirrel feasting on a tomato from our garden.   I guess he thought it was an all-you-can-eat buffet.   He looks rather content, doesn't he!?

The Biggest One Yet

In honor of the current state of affairs in the US Government, I am having a *RAISE THE DEBT CEILING* SALE!!! Here's how it works:

30% off Orders of $50.00 or more ( use coupon code 30OFF50)
40% off Orders of $100 or more ( use coupon code 40OFF100)

Start shopping now because this special could end at any time ~ LOAD UP!!! This is a first in the history of Dreamin' of Beadin' :)

Here's the Dish: Ain't Your Mama's Slaw

Nothing says "Summer" more than coleslaw.  I'll be honest ~ I hate the stuff.  Don't know why, but I am not a fan.  Since it makes a great sidekick to most bbq'd meats, this is not a good thing for me.  When I found this recipe, I decided to give it a try.  It doesn't have that creamy/sweet dressing like most coleslaws, which is typically my most unfavorite part.  I made this over Memorial Day weekend and it was well received by all.  Best of all, it's quick, easy and relatively good for you, too.  We love that!

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (12 oz.) broccoli slaw

1 cup red pepper strips

1 cup chopped fresh pineapple

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup chopped red onions

1/3 cup Zesty Italian Dressing

1 tsp.brown sugar

1/3 cup Sliced Almonds, toasted

Directions:

Combine first 5 ingredients in large bowl.
Mix dressing and sugar. Add to salad; toss to coat.
Refrigerate 1 hour. Add nuts; mix lightly.

A Purposeful Repurpose

I've been hearing the word "Repurpose" quite a bit lately.  It seems to be the trendy thing to take an item and give it new life, or "purpose".  Well, here's my own re-purposing story.  This was a fun little diy project that I completed in a weekend, and with a relatively small monetary investment.

I found this adoreable little chair at an estate sale.  Isn't it cute??  Looks like it might have been used as a naughty chair at one time :)  I knew I had to have it, but didn't quite know for what.  There's not much free space in my house, and we don't have any little people, either.  Then it hit me ~ I'll use it to display a pot of flowers on my front porch!

Step 1:  I sanded the laquered finish off the wood.  This would help the paint to adhere better.

Here is the chair after one coat of paint applied.  I used a quart of exterior paint with primer that I found on the "OOPS" rack at my local paint store.  Luckily I was open to the paint color.  I think the light shade of green is very nice, don't you?  It took 3 coats of paint to cover everything completely.  Since it was a warm day with low humidity, the coats took barely any time to dry.  Bonus!

 Here is the completed chair!   I think it holds my vintage bucket filled with wave petunias rather nicely :)    Total cost for the chair and half a quart of paint = $10.  Priceless!

What a Lovely Idea!

I really love the idea of re-using materials, especially in unique and non-traditional ways.   Here is a lovely idea from none other but Martha Stewart herself.   These are tea tins (both new and vintage) used as vases to hold beautiful flowers ~ I really thought this was a novel and inexpensive way to decorate a table for a party or wedding.   Like it?  Click here for more clever centerpiece ideas :)

One of My Favorite Things ~ Vintage Brooches!

I'm coming clean ~ I am a hoarder of vintage brooches!   They are so fun to accessorize with, in so many different ways.  You can add them to a hat, purse, scarf, or whatever outfit you happen to be wearing.   Brooches were once the "must have" accessory for women, but sadly they don't seem to be as popular these days.  I really love treasure hunting for them ~ in fact, it's rare that I ever see the same brooch twice in my travels.   

The above photo shows a few favorites from my private collection.  I get many compliments whenever I wear them.  Although it's not always easy, I don't keep all of the pieces that I find.  That is where my vintage shop comes into play ;)   I have many gorgeous brooches listed, and am adding more all the time.  Take a look at the Jewelry section of my shop to see these and many other interesting pieces. 

Here's the Dish: Grilled Avocados

Since it feels like summer here in Michigan, (nearly 90 degrees today!), I am guessing that it feels that way in most places.   So, I thought you all would appreciate this recipe ~ it is fast, simple and very delicious.  Enjoy with a glass of chilled white wine and you'll feel like you have escaped to an exotic island . . . well, maybe not quite that, but it might be the next best thing!

Grilled Avocados

Ingredients:

1 T. olive oil

1 T. Lime Juice

2 ripe avocados, halved, pit removed, and peeled

1/4 t. Kosher salt (or 1/8 t. regular salt)

1/4 c. picante sauce (Salsa works just as well!)

1 oz.  shredded Monterey Jack or farmer cheese

Optional:  Fresh cilantro, salad greens, Sour cream

Directions:

Stir together oil and lime juice; brush avocados all over with mixture.  Sprinkle cut sides of avocados with salt.

Grill* halves cut side down over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until browned.  Turn over, fill centers with the picante sauce and cheese.  Cover and grill about 5 minutes more or until cheese begins to melt. 

Remove avocados from grill.  Sprinkle tops of avocado halves with cilantro.  If desired, serve on a bed of salad greens with additional sauce and sour cream.  Or, serve with a side of fresh pico de gallo, as I did.  

Makes 4 servings.

*Grilling tip:  Cover grill rack with heavy duty foil, or grill avocados in a special rack made for veggies and small items to avoid any from slipping through the cracks ;)



Spring has Sprung!!

I'm happy to report that Spring is (finally) in full swing around these parts!  Although, I do believe we broke the record for the wettest on record.  I'm thinking I may need to build an ark soon . . . here is a pic I managed to take on one of the (rare) sunny days we had recently.  It is supposed to be in the high 80's by Memorial Day.  I'm thinking we are just going to fast forward into summer.  Crazy weather!!

Rain, rain . . . Go Away!

Yesterday we ventured to Eastern Market, where we bought all of the plants you see pictured above.  Today was designated as the day to put them all in the ground, but it seems that Mother Nature had other plans.  So, here I sit, looking out the window and patiently waiting for the rain to stop.  Tick tock, tick tock . . .

One of My Favorite Things

This favorite thing actually happens to be a place.  It is the colorful city of San Francisco, CA.  We visited there last Fall.  I've been meaning to share some of my photos since then, but this is the first chance I've had to do so.   SF is one of my favorite US cities that I've been to yet.  I hope to get back there soon.  After seeing these pictures, I'm sure you'll know why!

 Beautiful and enchanting Muir Woods

A foggy view of the Golden Gate bridge

 Scenic Chinatown

 Alcatraz ~ the Night tour is a must ~ spooky!!

 The wharf is a must-see, although not my favorite place, but still very cool.  I dislike tourists, even when I am one!  lol



The Ferry Building

 Famous "Painted Ladies" of Alamo Square

 Enjoyed many desserts at the Italian bakery :)

 The City by the Bay

 Coit Tower

 Everywhere we went, the food was incredible!

Amoeba Music ~ if you can't find it here, it doesn't exist!

20% Off Sale ~ No Joke!!

This is no joke, I promise . . .

For a limited time, take 20% off your order from my shop ~ just enter the code "NOFOOLIN" during checkout.   Please note that this offer is not applicable to previous or custom orders. 

What's Cool Where I Live

Frankly, I am getting pretty tired of the stories of doom and gloom when it comes to the topic of where I live.  Last week, one of the big news stories was about how the population of Detroit is dwindling fast.  Yeah, we know we suck . . . don't rub it in!

 For those of us who have no plans to leave, it is sometimes difficult to explain to outsiders our reasons for staying.  So, I have decided to show you what is cool about where I live.  Really, there are cool things here . . .

Welcome to Ann Arbor, MI.   It is less than an hour's drive from where I live.  It home to the University of Michigan, one of the nation's most prestigious institutions of higher learning.  Everytime I visit here, I feel like I gain a few extra IQ points, just for breathing the same air as the smart people.

 Ann Arbor has the feel of charming small town with the cultural diversity of a big city.   The downtown is loaded with places to dine and shop.   The historical brick buildings have been maintained and restored beautifully.

There is always something going on in A2, whether it is a Football Game, an organized protest, a theatrical performance, an art fair, or a "different" kind of festival, such as the infamous Hash Bash that is held annually.

 Did I mention there is great shopping??

There's a great bead shop, too!!