A Craft, A Recipe and A Drape.

Hello again! 

I wanted to show you a quick craft or fun idea for a gift.  I would like to take credit for thinking of this, but I can't.  I actually saw this on Etsy and thought it was a cute idea. 

Take a bottle of wine and make a home made "wrapper".

 

Totally simple, don't you think?  You were probably expecting something different from me....baby steps, people...baby steps.  Anyway, I can't tell you how many times we go to people's houses and bring wine for an occasion...birthday, anniv, etc.. In fact, Dale and I are going to a party Saturday, and the theme is "Drunko, Bunko". I may have to wrap my wine with some cute paper decorated with dice! 

Next up, a new recipe that I tried. 
 

French Dip Sandwiches (from Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

• 4 pounds rump roast
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
• 6 French rolls
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions

1. Trim excess fat from the rump roast, and place in a slow cooker. Add the beef broth, onion soup and beer. Cook on Low setting for 7 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. Split French rolls, and spread with butter. Bake 10 minutes, or until heated through.
4. Slice the meat on the diagonal, and place on the rolls. Serve the sauce for dipping.

Now...let me just say a couple things on this.  First off, I used a big london broil, and browned it first in the frying pan. I think browning meat prior to putting it in the crock pot makes a huge difference....Secondly, I would add a little seasoning salt to it.  It needed a little punch.  It also froze VERY well. 

Now on to Drapes, and the story behind it.

Recently the house next to us sold, and the new neighbors cut down TEN trees in between our two houses.  While we were thrilled because it meant less leaves falling in our pool, we were also bummed because we now had a TON of sun hitting the west side of our house.  Our lovely remodeled bathroom had become a sauna in the afternoon.  Even if I cranked the air conditioning full blast it did not help.  Here was the main problem:

 

A HUGE, awkwardly shaped window above our shower.  I decided that the best bet would be to put black out curtains there, to block the sun.  I went to Target, where they had blackout curtains in the EXACT color of my walls.  Clearly this was a sign to purchase them, correct?  So I did just that.  I bought four curtains totaling $135.  Not bad.  

Now, if you know me, you know that I am not a seamstress.  I do NOT sew anything other than some random scrap papers and costumes for the munchkins.  I have stewed for the past two months on whether to pay someone to do this, or to tackle it myself.  

Today I tackled it...full speed ahead.  While they are NOT perfect, I am very happy with how they turned out.  I mean, how many people are going to walk into my bathroom, look up, and critique my sewing abilities?  

Hmmm...when I post the pic on here it does look a little lopsided.  Ha ha! Oh well, it is staying like that until I can't take it anymore, and then I will fix it.  I do not enjoy getting on a ladder inside the glass encased shower! 

Hope you are enjoying your week! xoxo
 

Comments

[Lori Fenn]

Well, I LOVE them! :) I think they rock! Wayy better than I could do for sure and I would gladly hire you to sew for me! :) (since I don't actually own a sewing machine at the present).... I like the fabric you chose, and hey, it totally does the trick, so yay!
.... and yes, I am posting this at 5...something.. AM... becuz our little boogers woke me up to come downstairs to sleep in my room so I am now awake :).. but hey... they are asleep again so that is a good thing! :)

[christy]

those turned out great and so did the wine wrapper.