Clover Pencils

This almost made our 'what didn't make the cut' list until I found out that Benjamin's school was having a green party to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and then it was back on my 'to do' list.  Martha had intended the project for straws, but since there are some quite young babies who likely don't know how to use a straw, I opted for pencils.  Makes sense, right?  If you can't use a straw you're likely going to be able to write with a pencil.  Hmmm... I'm sensing a repeat of starburstgate.  Anyway, these little buggers aren't quite as easy as I thought.  Here are some of my first results:

Butterfly? Siamese snowmen?  No, just a couple of clovers gone awry.

Ah, here we go!   Now we're shaping!

Lets be honest, it's a silly little project and once I figured it out, it took no more than 10 minutes.  Benjamin loves bringing things to school to share with his friends, so I say it's 10 minutes well spent. 

Ali

The Mascara Hunt and the Skin Cream Find

Martha notes that every woman wants longer lashes whether hers are amazing or anemic. Is there something less than anemic?  Pathetic?  That’s what my lashes are, pathetic.  There have been a lot of attempts at different mascara’s over the years to try to find something to compensate for what nature did not provide.  



Just a few of the latest I've tried



But none really fit the bill.  So I was excited to see Martha’s article on mascara with descriptions of 20 different kinds. Surely I could find something among 20 different options.  I had some criteria though.  I’ve been burned many times before so I was not about to spend a lot of money on trial and error.  At $49 for Guerlian Noir G and a whopping $70 for Cantecaille Faux Cils Longest Lash those were definitely out.  Come on, it’s mascara. I can find shoes for less than that.  Others I had tried before and didn’t pan out.  Like, Great Lash – I don’t get the cult following.

I settled on L’Oreal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lashes in Waterproof ($9) based on the description that it would make “modest lashes look positively false.”  Sounded perfect.  And it was!  My first pick was a great one.  This mascara rocks!  I love it.  My lashes look great, long and thick.  I showed my newly lengthened lashes to Ali and she agreed – went out and bought the same mascara.  My only complaint, and it’s a minor one, is that when they say waterproof they mean waterproof.  While it’s nice that my lashes stay lovely during a workout (and I’m going to try it at the beach and pool when I go on vacation next month) it’s a PAIN to take off at the end of the day.  With my old mascara I was able to just wash my face with my regular cleanser-done.  Now I have to remember to use make-up remover and really work it in there and then wash.  It’s a small price to pay though for a great find and who knows, maybe there’s a non-waterproof version.    Until then, I will be making use of these.

Found these in the closet - makeup remover doesn't go bad, does it?

Jacqui

++++++++++++++++++++++

I have been a dedicated user of Trish McEvoy's Lash Curling Mascara for years.  (A big shoutout to the friend who introduced me.)  Anyway, this sleek black matte tube rocked my world.    It forms tubes of mascara around your lashes, dries instantly, and will not smudge or smear.  What's even more amazing is with just a little warm water it slides off without leaving a trace.  All for $30.  Not bad, right?  And then I saw Martha's article and Jacqui's LASHES!!! 

What had I been doing all this time spending so much money?  So, as Jacqui said, I too tried L’Oreal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lashes in Waterproof.  It certainly couldn't hurt the household budget by spending a 1/3 of what I normally spend on mascara (Ben is thinking what would really help our budget is my getting my Starbucks habit under control... keep dreaming, Ben. ;P)  Anyway,  Jacq was not kidding.  While I like the mascara itself, when it goes on, it's on for good.  I haven't owned eye make-up remover in years. (I see those six trial-sized bottles up there, Jacq.)  The money I ended up saving on the mascara, went down the drain when I bought a good eye make-up remover from Sephora.  

Martha also discusses face creams.  Like perfumes, I've been through them all.  I'm a marketers dream.  Oh, you're selling youth in a bottle?  Yeah, I'll try it.  I have spent shameful amounts of money of bottles full of promise.  I can't even disclose the amounts, my husband reads this, remember?  Though he'd deny it if you ask.  I have tried them all and I am finally dedicated to one. 
  

Roc.  Formally known as LeRoc.

It's constantly featured in beauty magazines for its supposed effectiveness and its retinol content.  It is awesome.  Martha seems to agree as it was one featured in her article.  What skin creams do you like?

Ali

Iron Skillet Pizza

Making a pizza on a pizza-stone used to be a weekend staple.  I had never thought of Martha's concept - cooking pizza in an iron skillet.  Hmm.. it seems like such an obvious good idea. 

Martha proposed using store bought dough, which I did.  I got ours at Wholefoods and I'm not sure how long it had been on display, but it was quite gummy and tacky (fresh dough usually isn't).  Next time I'll get it directly from the pizza-bar to ensure that it's really fresh.

I made three individually tailored pizzas in a 12inch iron skillet. 

This is Benjamin's: 

I cooked it over medium heat until the bottom was slightly brown.

Then I popped it into the oven (500 degrees) for five or ten minutes, et voila!  Looks good, right?

I bet you're wondering whether he ate it, aren't you?  He did.  You can't tell the scale of the pizza from the photograph, but it's not small and he literally ate almost all of it.

This is Ben's. It has spicy pizza sauce with cheese and prosciutto.  It's actually kind of gross looking, but Ben's a self-proclaimed pizza connoisseur and not shy - he said that he definitely wants to have it again.

Ben's as it came out of the oven.

This is mine: White pizza with fresh buffalo mozzarella, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, sage, garlic, and salt and pepper.  It's a recipe a good friend and I used to make years ago.

Num, Num...

I think the pizza stone might be finding a new home at goodwill - because this method is definitely a keeper.

Ali

Been There, Done That

Thank you Martha!  This month the magazine contained two projects that I had already done enabling me to write without any additional work.  Woo, hoo! 

Plant Dividing, p.22

Anyone know what this guy is?

The big aloe

I used to divide plants all the time.  I actually collected and divided so many plants that when we moved one year during a brutally cold winter, I had to rent a U-haul so I could move all the plants and not risk the movers letting them freeze.  I think that craziness was the beginning of the end for me with indoor plants.  They became more trouble and less attractive and when we moved a few years later to a house without much direct sunlight and a radiator in front of almost every window, I decided it was time for the plants to go.  I kept just two, a small spiky plant (I have no idea what it is) and an aloe plant Ali gave me when she moved away temporarily years ago.  Both met my limited criteria, easy to care for and able to grow on a radiator—the only place they would get light.  The aloe needs periodic replanting, but I’ll be honest, it’s not because it’s outgrowing its planter, it’s because I neglect it so completely that it needs a good refreshing every so often.  I pull off all the dead stuff and repot the little aloe babies in new pots.  I may have to give these away though so I don’t end up with another van full of plants in a few years.  

Aloe babies

Accent Paint, p. 52 

One of Martha’s “good things” this month is accent painting—painting the back of a medicine cabinet, inside of a desk drawer, or edge of shelves with a complementary color.  I did this years ago when we converted our attic into a master suite.  I used leftover paint from our kitchen, a pretty bluish green, to paint the back of our open shelves.  It makes a big impact with little effort.  

I love it. 

I’m not crazy about Martha’s ideas for the edge of open shelves or the curtain rod and painting the inside of a drawer seems like a lot of work for little enjoyment.  I don’t know about Martha’s drawers, but mine are so full you wouldn’t really see the paint anyway.  I do like the idea of painting the inside of a medicine cabinet.  Seems like a little pop of color in the morning might make the day start easier.  Might have to try that one of these days.
Jacqui  

A: I'd like a baby aloe plant, please.  And B: I admit your shelves look super cute, but the inside of a medicine cabinet?  You're a nut-job! :D
Ali

Sponge Worthy

On pages 27-28, Martha talks about cleaning.  I loathe cleaning, but I like a nice clean house.  Yes, it's a conundrum.  Anyway, she's promoting a whole bunch of different products - including some of her own.  No, I'm not surprised either.   One product she talks about are these little pop-up sponges from Trader Joes.  I've seen them a million times, but for some reason I've been too cheap to spend the $7 (for 12) to try them.  Well, I've been missing out.  They are amazing.  Period.  You must try them.  Like me, you'll never use another.

The sponges: pre-popped and post-popped.  Amazing. 

They're made from natural vegetable cellulose.  (Yes, that means they're green too. Bonus!) But the most amazing thing is that these sponges somehow manage to repel scum.   You know how your sponge traps food in its nooks and crannies?  Yeah, this one doesn't.  Mine is still as fresh and new as the first time I used it.  They're also much softer and more pliable than your normal supermarket brand.  As I said, I hate cleaning, but this little sponge is making it less of a chore. 

Ali

Irish Whiskey Coffee Bar

While I thought 3 tablespoons of coffee seemed a bit much for one recipe, I really had no point of reference, so I happily complied.  The result?  Nothing good.  Actually, the bars were inedible.  Unless you have an affinity for chewing on coffee grounds.  I should note, I love coffee.  I start every morning with an americano - three shots of espresso and hot water.  My philosophy these days is if it doesn't give me goose-bumps it's not strong enough.

So what did I do?  Did I move on with my day like a normal person?  No, I obsessed.  Was there a typo?  Should it have been 3 teaspoons?  Does Martha love coffee even more than I do?  Was that even possible??

And... so I made a second batch, with half the amount of coffee.  Ben thought I was off my rocker.  Which in retrospect, may have some merit.   I could see the recipe's potential and I wanted to give it a fair shot.  This is what I came up with:

Blondies pre-frosting

and... post-frosting

And then came the taste test.  The male component of the office couldn't get enough - was it the whiskey that made the concept of these blondies more manly?  Or was it the combination of coffee and whiskey that made a Monday morning seem more bearable?  Mondays with a buzz do seem as though they'd be much easier to get through.   Some came back for thirds!  Will they eat anything?  Am I single-handedly feeding my office?   The women were more subtle and several asked for the recipe.  Okay... they were moist and the frosting was delicious....  Whether it was a typo or Martha's love for a hair-raising coffee taste, I'm still bitter about the experience and I can hold a mean grudge, so chances are that I won't make them again.

I tried to attach the recipe, but when I clicked on "get the recipe" it said that I was not "authorized to access this page."  I think maybe deep down Martha knows this recipe sucked too.

Ali

What didn't make the cut for Feb 2012

We thought we‘d take a slightly different approach for what didn’t make the cut - more like conversation between Jacqui and me.  Please chime in with your thoughts too!

• Ali: Jess Brown’s dolls featured on p. 32 were in a word, lovely.  Check them out at: http://jessbrowndesign.com  Right?  Love.  Their sweet little faces made me instantly want one and no, it’s not weird for a 37 year-old woman to want a doll - ok, it is.  I don’t even have a daughter to use as an excuse to get one in the house.  Brown apparently sells them to Bergdorf Goodman and Land of Nod and they too can be yours for a cool $180.  You know I’m always up for a challenge and I thought really how hard can they be to make. Martha kindly provides a link to instructions on how to make your own doll at: http://www.marthastewart.com/873632/dolls-you-can-make?mag=/rag-doll#/165086.  None of Martha’s were nearly as cute (and the fact that I don’t own a sewing machine wasn’t helpful either) so I gave this whole project a pass.  Jacq, are you willing to shell out a buck eighty for one of these little beauties??  I think Ellie really deserves one.
• Jacqui: No doubt, but $180?  Do you think they'll end up selling them at Marshalls? No?  Then I'm afraid Ellie is out of luck.  

• Ali: So Laduree: The Sweet Recipes is on Martha’s radar (p. 4).  If you’ve ever been to Paris or if you even remotely have a sweet tooth you’ve no doubt heard of this place. It’s the macaron mecca.  Check out their website: http://www.laduree.fr/.   So, when we went to Paris, visiting Laduree was on my list until I saw the line and then it was off my list.  I'm ashamed to say I’ve never tasted one.  I have a friend who is Laduree-mad  and I thought I’d buy her this cookbook for her upcoming birthday.  Nice, no?  So as suggested, like a sheep, I go to bn.com where it’s supposed to be $40.  No.  This book is $130.  It can’t be - so I go to amazon (I heart amazon) and there are 3 new copies available from $225.00 and 1 used for $415.75.  Huh?  Perhaps Martha was referring to Laduree’s Savory Recipes that was recently released.  Would you want that instead? Martha, you shouldn’t mess with a girl's sweet tooth.
• Jacqui: Sooooo disappointed about the book!  We were just talking about Laduree macarons at work, as the macarons seem to have become the new cupcake of D.C., and I actually did wait on the line to pay my ridiculous 40 Euro for a few pastries last fall when I was in Paris for a work trip.  But, since I really only wanted to get the book to make the macarons, I decided to try the trusty internet for the recipe.  Jackpot!  I found several Laduree macaron recipes.  I didn't get to them in February, too busy burning oranges, but March appears to be a slightly slower month project wise, so maybe then.....  

• Ali: On p. 52 Martha suggests if you’re a heavy garlic user mince a few cloves ahead of time and store them in a jar.  I’m confused.   Is this joke?  Because it did make me laugh.  Freshly minced garlic I get.  Mincing a whole bunch of it to store in jar, I don’t.  Does she think we have nothing better to do?  Alternatively, you can do what any sensible person does (read: what I do) and for a couple of bucks you can get a jar of pre-minced garlic from your local grocery store.
• Jacqui: Or the frozen garlic (they have herbs too) from Trader Joes.  It's great and so nice to have in the freezer when I'm in the middle of a recipe and realize I ran out of fresh.

• Ali: A dresser does double duty (p. 54 and here’s a link to the project on her website: http://www.marthastewart.com/875213/maximize-kids-dresser-storage).  I have one word for this project: no.  Actually, I have two words: hell. no.  I’m constantly trying to put clutter away in drawers, closets and toy buckets.  I don’t want to build something to display more stuff AND ruin a perfectly respectable dresser.  Maybe, I’m a minimalist at heart (quiet, Ben).
• Jacqui:  We're unanimous on this one. I just don't get it.  It looks almost like it has side drawers that someone forgot to close.  My husband already leaves his dresser drawers open so I don't think I need any more to look at.  These CD cases might look cute attached inside a closet door (might make a good shoe rack for kids actually) but I just don't like the dresser idea.

• Ali: Candy boxes (p. 95 and 143, http://www.marthastewart.com/271713/embellished-heart-candy-box).  If you look at her instructions, she wants you to make these heart boxes.  Wha... wha... what???  There’s a place called Michael’s, kids.  That’s where we buy tchotchke like this.  AND likely with a 40% off coupon - because you probably don’t even want to pay $2.99 - never mind spending countless hours making these dust collectors.   Learn from my mistake - I now have a tissue paper heart and I'll be gutted when I chuck it away, because with it go about 5 hours of my life.  Go to Michael’s.

• Jacqui: Spicy cauliflower, bok choy, and shrimp stir-fry with coconut, page 68.  http://www.wholeliving.com/155079/spicy-cauliflower-bok-choy-and-shrimp-stir-fry-coconut.  I actually made this and it was delicious.  Neither me nor by husband are crazy about bok choy or, really cauliflower, but I would definitely make this again (really I have to because I have a HUGE bottle of fish sauce now).  I used some thin noodles instead of rice and it nicely sopped up the sauce.  So, why didn't it make the cut.  Honestly, I just ran out of time.  Cut me some slack though, I'll get better as we get used to this blog thing.
  Ali: Slacker. 

These are the recipes that didn’t make the cut:

1. Rack of lamb with mustard sauce (p. 64.5) - We don’t eat lamb.  Poor little lambs.
2. Roasted fennel and artichoke hearts (p. 64.5) - Not huge on fennel - vegetables shouldn't taste like licorice.  That's just wrong.
3. Plateau de fruits de mer with two sauces (p. 64.5) Sounds perfect for a night of seduction.  We have toddlers.   
4. Tofu (p. 76) - Love tofu... but it needs to come in a Chinese take-out carton - be deep fried and be dripping in some ridiculous sauce.