Monday, March 17, 2014

GRANDMA BRENDA'S POT ROAST

Did your Mom or Grandma ever cook something and you always wanted the recipe? But you never got it, because it wasn't written down. She eye-balled the measurements. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. She just cooked it.Well, my Mom always made pot roast and never taught me how to make it. It took my daughter living with my Mom in North Carolina for this recipe to be finally passed along.

INGREDIENTS:


Beef Round Eye Round Roast
8 Medium potatoes
2 Green peppers
1 Big onion
Minced garlic *optional*
Seasoning salt
Olive oil
Pepper
Salt


And the same way, our Moms just cooked it, was the same way my daughter started. (read: I didn't photograph it). That being said, she took the meat from the package and poked holes in it with a fork and seasoned with salt, pepper and seasoning salt. Lightly dredged the meat in flour seasoned with salt, pepper and seasoning salt.

Add enough olive oil to a big stock pot to just cover the bottom, add meat and heat on medium to high.


Turn meat on all sides to get a nice sear.


In a separate pan, brown seasoned green peppers and onions. This is where the optional minced garlic comes in. My mom doesn't use it, but my daughter does.


After meat is seared, add water, but don't fully cover meat. Cover and bring to a boil on high heat.


Next, add green peppers and onions and reduce heat and let simmer for 2 hours.


Quarter and season potatoes with salt, pepper and seasoning salt.



Add potatoes one by one and let cook covered for 2-3 more hours.


When potatoes are fork tender, pull apart meat and allow it to absorb the juices.




I bought a prepared loaf of garlic bread to accompany this meal along with some sweet corn.


Mangia! Mangia!  


Left overs are always better on the next day. I buttered two hard rolls and put them in the oven for about 10 minutes, heated up the meat and potatoes and made a "steak sandwich".  To die for! The juices from the meat soaked into the rolls, OMG!!  Dang it, looking at the picture, I shoulda put my potatoes on the sandwich! Next time....


Monday, February 24, 2014

YOU BETTA WERK!

Tiffany of The WERK! Place is one of my new favorite fashion bloggers. She is a mix master of prints and textures. Check out her craftsmanship...








I was so inspired by this look, that I tried to replicate it. I even tried to pose like her.

#nailedit



Added the necklace to mirror her shirt.

Monday, February 17, 2014

HUNTER BOOTS

One of my favorite fashion bloggers is Bee of Atlantic-Pacific. I absolutely love her style. Here she is sporting her Hunter boots in red, black and pea green. They look real cute with a dress or skirt and can be worn in any weather.



Hunter boots retail at $150 and up; they are rather pricey. But, I love these boots so much that I made my own. How, you ask? Well, while in my favorite thrift shop, Unique, I picked up these rain boots for $12.99.

I took a sheet of labels and typed Hunter in all caps. Added a border, traced it with a red marker and cut out a pair.



  Hunter boots for a mere fraction of the price.


Not bad huh?

Friday, February 14, 2014

SHOE EDITION 2014

Shoes, shoes and more shoes. What women doesn't love shoes? Why do we love shoes so much?
Because no matter what the scale says, shoes always fit. Right before last year's end, my daughter's co-worker asked if we had shoes to donate to the less fortunate; what a perfect opportunity to purge some shoes. Thankfully we had a lot to give. We donated three big garbage bags full of shoes and boots. With that said, I purchased some new ones from the Unique thrift shop that were very under budget.

First up, these spotted beauties by Martinez Valero. They were only $12.99. With all the colors, I can wear these with the lightest pastels to the deepest hues. Perfect for Spring, Summer and Fall.



Now, these edgy lace booties didn't have the designer's name in the shoe, I don't care, cuz they were regularly $14.99, but it was 25% off Thursdays, so they were only $11.25. I tried on a similar pair at Kohl's, but the peep toe opening hurt my big toe. Can't wait to wear these babies!



I love these two toned grey high heeled loafers by Zoe & Zac. They are perfect for work with a dress/skirt when I want a little height, but don't want to be too "frou-frou", also great with pants. From the looks of the sole, they were never worn.




I absolutely love, love, love these subdued green pumps by Charles David. They were only $9.99. I never owned a pair of green shoes.




Next up are these black patent leather heels with a bow by Next, a company based out of England. Very "ladies who lunch" type of shoe. They were also $9.99. Cutie pie!


This style is called the d'Orsay style.

 (Meaning: the vamp or part of the shoe is cut away very close to the toe box to reveal the arch of the foot)



Check out these green suede pumps by Zara, only $9.99. What???? I know, I couldn't believe it too!
Now, I have two pair of green shoes.



Now, I saw these leather criss-cross wedges by Cooperative on a Wednesday for $5.99, but I said if they're still there on 25% off Thursdays, I'll get 'em. Sure nuff, they were in the same spot I left them. For $4.50, I had to get them. They'll look cute with a little skater skirt. (Twirl - gone with the wind fabulous)




THEY DONE MESSED UP NOW! (BIG TIME)

Monday, February 10, 2014

LEATHER IS TRENDING PART 4

Whether it's short sleeves, long sleeves or even hoodies, leather is still trending. These two are available from Urban Outfitters.

$54
$64

Revolve Clothing offers this girl's version for $138. Are they crazy?!



Since, I already made my son three shirts, why not try to make him a sweatshirt this time.

Materials:
Old dance routine outfit 
Sweatshirt from Unique



I cut the legs off of the jumpsuit and the sleeves off the sweatshirt.




Turned everything inside out and pinned each sleeve onto the sweatshirt.


After sewing one side and messing up and then getting it right on the other sleeve; here's the result. 

see the pucker on the sleeve

It looks a little plain though, so I decided to add the cuffs. I used a seam ripper and removed the cuffs.



I sewed on the cuffs and re-did the sleeve.


So, my son came home from college to watch the Superbowl, and guess what, he got bigger since Christmas. He tried on the sweatshirt and it was too tight in the torso. I asked him, "What have you been doing?" He said, "eating and lifting weights."

 @aldwon_