This Isn't Your Grandmother's Jello...

First of all, you guys are going to have to help me come up with a better name for these. 

because

Drunken Coffee Gelatin Jigglers

 just doesn't do it.

Secondly, if & when you do make them, promise me you'll taste two. Because, I'm going to be honest, the first one's a little weird. No one is used to coffee in a solid(ish) state. Once you get past the consistency though... you might find yourself in trouble. Don't forget. This has both caffeine and alcohol in it... so go easy. 

And, of course, keep them out of the reach of children. 

The Recipe (not in a fancy pictoral recipe, sorry!)

3 packets Knox unflavored Gelatin

1/2 cp cold water

1 3/4 cp strongly brewed coffee, hot

1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk (NOT the evaporated milk)

3 tbsps. Alcohol of your choice

                     (the original recipe calls for Kahlua-- I opted for the $6 bottle of Amaretto over

                       the $18 bottle of Kahlua, but I think the Kahlua would be even better)

1. Make Gelatin. (Add cold water to powder, whisk to blend.) Let sit for 10 minutes. It needs to "bloom."

2. Meanwhile, make coffee. I used 8 tbsp coffee and 2 cps water and was a little short, so I guess it depends on your coffee maker. 

Properly 'bloomed' gelatin

3. After the ten minutes are up, add the coffee to the Gelatin, and whisk to mix but GENTLY. The goal is to not create bubbles or froth.

4. Add the can of sweetened condensed milk, whisking gently to mix. Again, no bubbles.

5. Add the alcohol. I was tempted to go with more than 3 tbsps, later I was glad that I didn't... probably don't on the first try... but I'll leave it to your discretion. Mix gently.

6. Pour into an 8x8 glass casserole dish (or plastic containers, or a cake pan... whatever)

      (if you end up with bubbles, you can try to pop them now, or just skim 

                      them from the surface with a spoon. The bubbles set into the gelatin, and look funny later)

7.Cover and fridge until set.

8. Cut up & serve! You can put them just on a platter, as I did, stick them into Cupcake Foils, whatever you please :)

delicious.

So, I hope that you all enjoy your Thanksgiving and, if you are brave enough to try these... enjoy them ;)

Because Some Days I Crave Organization... and Chocolate.

The same Origami Calendar that once inspired Halloweenigami has inspired a massive clean-up of the messiest place in my bedroom. Worse than under the bed. Worse than the closet floor.

my desk drawer.

Now, when I began this project, I was too embarrassed to take a "before" image... so just imagine... a plethora of pencils, pens, & markers. More office supplies than I can shake a stick at. Papers, papers, papers. Some were important (bills, addresses, a birthday card from Grandma O) some were not (work schedule from Spring '09, grocery receipts, etc.)

In fact, one day, my roommate, I call her Fancy, came into my room before I was awake.

"I need a stapler!" she cries. "I'm already late for class!" 

"it's either on the desk or in the desk" I mumble from under my covers, no intention of getting up to help.

Rummage, rummage, rummage....

....rummage, rummage, rummage...

She gave up. "Is this thingy a paper clip?"

"Is it a spiral?" (because of course I can't even have 'normal' paperclips)

"yes."

"yes."

So that gives you a good idea on just how crazy messy it was... 

but thanks to this:

 

& 

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/origami_magazine_box.htm

I ended up with:

The Stapler is now front & center!

I used Scrapbooking paper for my origami... it's thick enough to hold up to more wear & tear, plus, it's sooo pretty. Here are close ups of one box and a lazy susan:

                    


























After sorting & tossing the useless papers that were in my drawer, I recycled a couple of drawings I did for an art class some semesters ago but never wanted to throw away. I folded them into folders and tied them with a bit of embroidery floss.

I like to call it "Origaminization"

So now that I've shared my Organization craze.... here's the chocolate part... in the delicious form of 

CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE 

here is my pictoral recipe: 

It's pretty self-explanatory, so I'm going to skip all of the photos of the doing... except for this one:

It just makes me giggle.

When it's all mixed and cooked... 

Slide it out onto a plate (serves two... or one selfish one!)

Add ice cream or a tall glass of cold milk...

It's dangerous when you realize you're only about 6 minutes away from a good piece of chocolate cake.

And for next time... the one thing that will help get you through your family Thanksgiving...

...hint... it's an appetizer that has coffee and booze. 

Mad for Plaid

One thing that seems to be back in style this season is plaid. It's everywhere! I even saw a website that said "This season's two greatest hits, Tweed & Plaid!" I thought, If only I could find something that was plaid tweed, it'd be two birds, one stone.  Ultra-trendy. if you will.

Instead, Goodwill sold me this lovely plaid poly-cotton blend, but the colors are fantastic, and it's got darling mother-of-pearl snaps. And it's only about 6 sizes too big.

 I can't give a proper thumbs-up as the length of the sleeves inhibits the movement.

Anyone up for a picnic? 

First of all, I had to get rid of a lot of extra material, lest I have bustle like an early 1900's dress.  Then, I used a strip of elastic to keep the new ruffle in place as well as provide some room for movement. We all know there's nothing worse than a button-up that is too tight and has no movement... it's a popped button, waiting to happen. Especially if your cup runneth over as mine does. 

Helpful hint? I pinned the stretched elastic to a block of wood to make it easier to sew.

Then I stitched up where I had removed the fabric, and was met with a very unsightly bulge-y mess. So, I took that extra material and fashioned a bow... awwww.

It's practically camouflaged, but adorable nonetheless!

THEN... disaster strikes.

I sewed the bottom of the shirt to the back of the bow! It's the equivalent of tucking your skirt into your pantyhose!

Ugh. Rookie Mistake

So after I redid the bow, the shirt looked good, but still kinda mannish. It needed a feminine touch. So I grabbed the lace. ♥

And Voíla... 

my new shirt is born.

The shirt cost $2.96 at Goodwill. 

It took less than 4 hours.

This Project: $2.96

Total Project: $9.67

.