504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Green Tea and Orange Infused Vanilla Cake

I have been wanting to try my hand at cooking or baking with tea for awhile.

It just intrigues me...and I like to try new things.

And of course I like to eat!

(I like that part a little too much sometimes).

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Family Time: Tea and Games

My kids are just like me...they wake up around 8 pm at night. That barely works for me, but it works less for kiddos that have to go to school early in the morning. In an effort to calm them, promote serenity, and togetherness...and sanity. I have tried a new approach to our evenings. No electronics, no distractions...just a quiet game and a cup of soothing warm tea.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Tickled Pink #128

Welcome to Tickled Pink!

First, I hope you had a wonderful holiday!

Happy 2013!

Second, I did not fall off the face of the planet.

(obviously)

I took some time to hang out...

and try to figure things out about life and the blog

and the state of the world.

Guess what?

I have no answers...just a few hunches and ideas.

(This image was purchased from istockphoto)

I have thought a lot about this blog and why I love it and why I do not (sometimes). So I will be making changes. Not 100% sure what, but I do know that I am going to try and write some more and share stories like I did in my early days.

I also know that I will be focusing on working out

and eating better and spending more time with my family and doing things I love, maybe start looking for a job again...and most importantly working toward some of my professional and person goals that I set long ago and have taken a back seat to so many other things.

I am just exhausted mentally...

but I see the path emerging and I feel good about it!

I feel creative...I feel energized...I feel motivated.

I have a few posts about all of this craziness

(and hopefully it won't bore you),

but I feel like I need to say a few things to get back

on the right path here and in my daily life.

Anyone else out there re-examining things?

I apologize that there are no features.
I got a lot distracted and I have been trying to limit my computer time...as I am suffering from migraines (a new "treat"). I suspect it is a combination of stress, lack of sleep, too much computer time, and my body reacting from eating things I normally do not.

I appreciate you coming by to linkup today!

__________________________________________________________________

NOW FOR TICKLED PINK!

A craft...a recipe...a tip...a party...a short story...a poem...a fashion find...a favorite product...your favorite post...whatever makes your blog fabulous!
That is what Tickled Pink is all about!
{and it does NOT have to be PINK}

Grab a button HERE!
or here!

PRACTICE PINK KINDNESS

Will everyone do me a FAVOR????

Please visit the person linked before you...

Pretty Please!

1. Link up...whatever makes your blog fabulous. Family Friendly please. Guess what? Your post does not have to be PINK!! I reserve the right to remove posts that are offensive or do not adhere to the rules, without any discussion, at my discretion.
2. PLEASE LINK TO A POST URL, ****NOT YOUR MAIN URL****
3. Pretty please...add the Tickled Pink button or TEXT link back to the post* {people need to know what the heck they are doing!}.
4. Please visit a couple other links!

TICKLED PINK DOES NOT HAVE Categories anymore!

By linking up...you grant me permission to use a photo if you are featured. Proper credit will be given.

Link Up what ever made you or your blog FAB this week!

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Berry Cobbler Squares

My kids do not get cute little creative lunches or sandwiches cut into shapes.

Heck, I am a night owl, so quick thinking and lunch packing

in the early morning is really not my thing.

Thankfully, I am developing a go-to roster of "acceptable" menu items.

One of their favorite snacks are these Berry Cobbler Squares.

A few month sago I was watching the Pioneer Woman on Food Network

- only my second time watching -

but she made Strawberry Oatmeal Bars and I thought

"I must try this!"

Of course they were a hit.

Over the next few months I made some adjustments to the recipe

and my husband one day actually said

- remember this is the man who once said "baking may not be your thing" -

declared these were better than the original. WHAT!?

So...here is my one note...

I have been trying to reduce the amount of butter in this recipe.

I played around by incorporating applesauce and butter.

The taste was GREAT...but they were a teeny tiny bit crumbly.

At the bottom of the recipe, you can see my notes, just in case you want to try it.

BERRY COBBLER SQUARES
(adapted from The Pioneer Woman on Food Network)

INGREDIENTS

1 3/4 Sticks unsalted butter, cut into pieces...PLUS a bit more for buttering the pan
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (you can use All-Purpose flour, but the whole wheat adds a nutty rich taste)
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 Cups Frozen berries

MAKE IT!

Preheat oven to 350F
Place 3 cups of frozen berries (or fresh) in a sauce pan on low heat and cook for approximately 15 minutes, stirring occasionally - just until they are soft but still hold their shape. Of course you can cook them down further if you prefer. My family prefers the whole fruit texture.
Combine butter, brown sugar, and vanilla in a mixer. Mix until combined
In a separate bowl whisk together whole wheat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg.
Check you berries!
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients - mix to combine
Add the oats to the mixture.
Layer about one half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of the pan, spreading it out into an even layer.

If your berries have a lot of liquid, strain out the liquid or use a slotted spoon to reduce the amount of liquid.

Spoon the berries evenly over the bottom layer of oatmeal.

Use the remaining half of the oatmeal mixture and spread it as evenly as possible on top - mine is always a little more cobbler looking and uneven.

Bake for 35-40 minutes and then let cool completely before cutting into squares.

BUTTER AND APPLESAUCE MIXTURE
As mentioned I have been trying to reduce the amount of butter. This was still a little crumbly, but not too bad...so here is how I reduced the butter "a little bit."

Butter: Use one stick (1/2 cup)
Applesauce: 1/2 cup applesauce
Mix together
Increase the oatmeal to 2 1/2 cups
Follow the other directions as above with these changes.

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

504 Main Sweet Treats Gallery

Enjoy this Gallery of Sweeter Treats from 504 Main

Cakes, Pies, Ice Cream, Cookies, Muffins, Candy - you name it!

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Tooth Fairy Mailbox

My daughter is a little bit obsessed with the tooth fairy.

I have mentioned before how she leave notes,

draws pictures, and asks the tooth fairy a bunch of questions.

Well, the tooth fairy is having a really hard time finding those things under her pillow at night...in fact sometimes she cannot for fear of waking a sleeping child...

so I have come up with a solution...a

TOOTH FAIRY MAILBOX!

And since tooth fairies are teeny tiny and the tooth fairy's secret hiding place is becoming very full, anything Jules leaves for the tooth fairy has to fit in the mailbox!

I used the Mailbox Die from Lifestyle Crafts as the base for this cute little mailbox.

image: Lifestyle Crafts

I used the mailbox die in my Epic 6 but their dies can be

used is a wide range of manual die cutters.

The sweet mailbox is part of the new Love Notes Collection

- get ready for Valentines day NOW!

image: Lifestyle Crafts

To make the tooth fairy mailbox, just use what you have on hand - you know each tooth fairy has their own style...ours likes glitters and flowers and ruffles. I did make one aother version using some artwork we had...I think it is pretty cute too!

I pulled out my arsenal of girly things and got to work creating this magical sparkly mailbox (under the supervision of Jules of course!).

I kind of want to make a boy mailbox now!

USE YOUR IMAGINATION AND HAVE FUN!

BASIC SUPPLIES:

Lifestyle Crafts Mailbox die
Manual Die Cutter (Epic 6)
Chip board/cardboard/cereal box
1-2 sheets of (quality) decorative paper
small decorative brads
hole punch
paint brush/foam brush

ADHESIVES
I used a variety of glues and adhesives for my project, you can get away with using less or other products. I just felt certain glues worked better for certain situations.

Hot glue/hot glue gun
E-6000
Mod Podge, matte
Spray Adhesive

THE BASE:

Small glass jar
2 chip board circles (or thicker cardboard circle) - I used all three (see how to below)
(E-6000 and Mod Podge for glue)

DECORATIVE EMBELLISHMENT:

Glitter (specifically I used Martha Stewart Crafts Rich Essential Glitter)
Crepe paper streamers
Paper flowers (Recollection brand Floral Embellishments)
Ribbon
Lace/trim
hole punch
Velcro circles

NOTES: Be sure to protect your surfaces when using glue and spray adhesive!

HOW TO MAKE THE BASE:

Glitter the inside of your jar (see the floor polish/glitter method I learned from The Single Nester)
Cut circles out of chip board or cardboard. I cut 2 chip board circles but felt I needed more substance so I also added a cardboard backing for strength. Glue them together using Mod Podge.

Once dry, apply Mod Podge to the top of the circle and then sprinkle all over with glitter - I left a blank space in the center because that is where the mailbox was going to go and no point in wasting glitter! (be sure to tap glitter off onto a clean piece of paper or paper towel so you can save the excess.)

I used crepe paper streamers and ran a line of hot glue along the edge of the cardboard base. I did it a few inches at a time and simple ruffles the streamer as I went - not perfect but it worked and was easy! (see above photo)

I applied some lace trim because I wanted to and because it covered the hot glue line.
Apply E-6000 to the rim of the glass jar and center it on the back (un-glittered side) of the base.
Let dry.

HOW TO MAKE THE MAILBOX:
NOTE: THE INSIDE OF MY MAILBOX IS JUST WHITE, YOU CAN USE DOUBLE-SIDED PAPER IF YOU WANT A DESIGN INSIDE TOO.

Cut the mailbox out using your die cutter. I cut one chipboard set and one set out of decorative paper. I wanted my mailbox to be durable.

I also cut one mailbox door in a matching paper so that when the door was opened there was pretty paper.

I then used spray adhesive to apply the paper to the mailbox.

Assemble the main portion of the mailbox - fold along perforated lines and around the top over - with the chipboard I went slowly to round it so that it did not crease but rounded more smoothly.

Glue the lip to the bottom (using hot glue)
Fold back along perforated line and using a combination of hot glue and Mod Podge, insert into the back of the mailbox and let dry.
I then Mod Podged the entire outside of the mailbox and let it dry.

HOW TO EMBELLISH THE MAILBOX

I felt like my mailbox was not sparkly enough ---I used a paintbrush, Mod Podge, and glitter and painted some areas of the printed paper and applied glitter to those areas.
I still wanted more glitter so I sprayed the entire mailbox with spray adhesive and sprinkled white glitter all over...the print still shows through but now the entire mailbox sparkled.

I punched a hole in the front of the mailbox and ran a ribbon in through the front, tying a knot on the inside of the mailbox door to hold the ribbon in place. I ran the ribbon across the top of the mail box and on the back side applied a velcro circle (one side on the mailbox, one side on the ribbon) for easy opening and closing. I finished it off with the paper flower embellishments.

For the flag, I wrapped a piece of ribbon over the top for a flag, added some of the Recollections flowers and fastened it to the mailbox, using the holes cut with the die, with a decorative brad.

FINISH IT UP!

I used my hot glue (but you could use other glue) to glue the mailbox to the base - I centered the mailbox on the base.
Then, using hot glue again (but you could use other glue) added a small piece of lace trim to the base of the mailbox.
To finish it off, I glue a few of the paper flowers together and added some glitter in the center and placed them on the mailbox and base.