It's been a year to the date...

...since I've updated this blog, so I figured, why not start blogging again? My only problem is- what to blog about? Should I talk about my new obsession with curried tofu? Or the amazing fire performance I watched my friends put on all weekend back in May? Or the fun I've had helping my friend make hula hoops and of course, using them? What about the shows and festivals that that same friend has helped me get into? Or the backyard jam sessions by the fire at my best friend's house? The list could go on, and still I sit here in a frazzled state, wondering just what I should blog about that would be that interesting. So, for now, I'll leave you with pictures documenting the last year or so (really, it's more like the last 6 months):

Faith and I work so well together combining our booths!


I traded a purse for the painting to the left at one of the first ArtWalks we did this summer. I definitely got the better end of the deal!


Princess, the dog, was our mascot for the weekend while we vended at the C-Town Art Party.


This was their first weekend performing together. They looked like they have been performing together for years!


One of my first attempts at hula hooping with my favorite hoop, the hooter hoop! May it rest in pieces, literally!


Late night yoga hooping in Licoln Park.


And one last hula hooping pic.


The Village Bicycle playing in my best friend's garage 4th of July Weekend.


Curried tofu sauteed with red pepper, mushroom and spinach atop a bed of kale, mint, red onion and cucumber. Topped off with a cucumber dill and mint yogert. So delish!

Spicy Black Bean, Egg and Vegan Chorizo Bake

Yesterday, I was rummaging through the fridge trying to figure out what I could make for dinner with a somewhat limited amount of ingredients. I happened to glance at the back of one of our shredded cheese packets and found a recipe for a sausage and egg bake. I didn't follow the recipe at all, but it gave me a great idea for my own egg, black bean and spicy vegan chorizo bake!

what you need:
4 eggs
1 can of rotel
1 can of black beans
1 bag of shredded cheddar cheese and any other kind of shredded cheese you want (i used a mix of asiago, parmesan, mozzarella, and romano)
sour cream
milk
onion
green onion to sprinkle on top
spicy vegan chorizo "sausage" or regular chorizo sausage, if you prefer =)

With 4 eggs, this recipe can feed 2- 3 people, 2 if you have big eaters in your family (or maybe my boyfriend was just particularly hungry last night!).

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
Beat eggs with milk until evenly mixed. Pour into greased baking dish and bake for 10- 15 minutes. Eggs should be fluffy and softly set. Meanwhile, cook the chorizo and onion on a skillet for 8 minutes or until lightly browned and onions are slightly see though (caramelized).
After the eggs have cooked, layer black beans (drained), cheddar cheese, rotel (lightly drained), chorizo and onion, green onion, and more cheese to top it off. Bake for 35- 40 minutes on 350 degrees. Top off with sour cream and enjoy!

This recipe is great for any meal. I'm eating the left overs for breakfast right now =)

The recipe on the back of the shredded cheese packet called for mixing the eggs with sour cream rather then milk, but I thought that the sour cream mixed in with the eggs gives it and unpleasant texture.

My Estyversary came and went

Yes, an Etsyversary is a real thing, and I flaked on mine! As of July 5th, my etsy shop has been open for a year! I wanted to do something special for it, and I completely forgot about it, until now! So as I hang my virtual streamers and throw my virtual confetti, you can check out my Etsy sale! Until August 5th, all of my tote bags will be on sale for just $16, smaller totes are only $13!! If you get a chance, stop by my shop and check it out! KtOriginals tote bags.

Polka Dots and Turtles

Every month, the area that I live in has an art walk where local bars and gallery's stay open late to showcase and sell local artisan's work. At one of these art walks, a very sweet, tatted up girl asked if I could make one of my zipper handle bags in a specific color to match her roller derby colors. I love custom orders, so of course I said yes! Well, I finally had the opportunity to finish it today:

It's been awhile...

I know I should update my poor, neglected blog more often, but as soon as the thought enters my mind to do so, it quickly disappears again. So I have decided that there is no reason for me NOT to sit in front of my sewing machine everyday and get some work done. I'm coming up on my etsyversary (there really is such a thing, I didn't just make it up!), and I thought that after a year of having my shop open, I would have more items listed in my shop. So I've decided to do something about it, starting with these two bags:

I love this bag so much! So many pockets to it (3 on the outside, 2 on the inside), you'll be sure to never loose your cell phone in your purse ever again! I do wish that the buckle closer that was suppose to go on it would have worked out, though. I felt like it completed the purse, but I screwed up the measurements on it and couldn't use it for this bag.

This is the second bag I've finished this week, in the same style as the first one, just with less pockets! I've been waiting for the perfect bag to come along to use that huge button with, and this is the one!
In the next week and a half, I'll be working on a clutch to match a bridesmaids dress and a custom zipper handle bag. I wish I could work on more items for etsy, but that will just have to wait til next week!

Little pink bugs

Ok, so I know I said I would post new pictures of the garden, but I haven't even taken the time to take new pictures! Except of this jalapeno plant. I noticed a day or two ago that there are these little pink bugs on it, and then this morning, I noticed them on the eggplant that I have, too. Does anyone know what they are, if they are harmful and if so, how do I get rid of them? Thanks for any help! (you can click on the pictures to get a larger view of the bugs)

A little from the garden

So far, the experience of gardening out of pots alone has been pretty rewarding. In the last two weeks or so, I've acquired a few new plants, 4 or 5 of them being peppers (sweet, hot and mild), a zucchini plant, eggplant and a roma tomato plant to put in the topsy turvy! And to top it off, each plant was a dollar! I also picked up a few more basil plants, since i go through it waaaaay to quickly. I also figured I'd try growing some peppermint. You know, for mojitos!! This is pretty much how it looks now.

I wish I could remember exactly what day these next two pictures were taken, because both plants have grown so much since then. I think it's only been two weeks or less since they were taken.


My basil plant that I bought at the Tremont Farmers Market and the only thing that I started from seed, tomatoes.

Snap dragons. The only flower I have =)

My little lady, Lexie, keeps me company while I play in the dirt.

I think tomorrow I'll post updated pictures of the tomatoes. They've grown like crazy in just the last couple of days!!