March | 2013 | Sunshine in my pocket

Archive | March, 2013

A Little Bit o’ Luck FIVE ways

By KariV on March 9, 2013 in Freebies, Holidays, Paper Crafting, St. Patrick's Day

I had fun designing this printable for St. Patrick’s Day! It is such a versatile little gem that I’ve featured it in FIVE ways. With just a few different cutting techniques or punches, you can make it look completely different. I am sure there are plenty more ways to use this printable…so use your imagination and have fun!

Let’s take a closer look at these ideas. I first put together these colorful cards. I can just imagine my nephews helping me to paint a water-color rainbow for this card…they would love it! I simply folded a card out of white cardstock, painted the rainbow, added a “snowflake” stamp to the upper left corner, and cut out a pot-o-gold with black sparkly paper. It was super easy to put together and I love that it turned out so bright. I used the word bubble “Luck Logo” and just cut it out with scissors.

The other card was made with a green cardstock base, a green square cut to fit, and a “plank” of tan paper embossed with a wood embossing folder. I cut the Luck Logo with an EK Success punch and used a green stamp pad to color the edges a bit. I cut out a shamrock that I drew free-hand and glued on some green glitter. Who wouldn’t love to get one of these colorful cards offering a “Little Bit o’ Luck?”

SECOND, is the adorable cupcake flag! I cut these with an EK Success punch and attached them to a lollipop stick.

Can you imagine a row of these all lined up on your dessert table? I added a little glitter glue to the shamrock cupcake topper on the right…I think it adds just a little more pizzazz. So cute!

THIRD, a simple napkin ring made from paper. Having a St. Patrick’s Day breakfast, brunch or dinner? Add some extra luck to the table settings. I cut the “Luck logo” into a rectangle and added a little excitement to the edges with a scallop cut. It’s actually the same punch as the cupcake topper on the left, but just a part of it. (can you tell by looking at the picture above?)

FOURTH, this adorable glassine bag, embellished with some green! My creative and crafty Aunt Marilyn donated these little bags to my crafting stash and, boy, have I been having a ball decorating them up! (Thanks, Marilyn, I love them!)

I added a bit of green glitter tape (love this stuff!) and green washi tape. {A quick shout-out to my dear friend Shellie, who graciously gave me the green washi tape when I saw it in her bag! She had “extra” and kindly gave me 2 rolls!! Shellie, you are awesome!} To the top I added the bubble Luck logo. You could use this at your table setting as a gift bag…I filled mine with butterscotch candies. I think it would be just as cute with rolos or skittles!

FIFTH, a small gift, represented here by green glitter nail polish.

This green glitter nail polish would be welcome by any gal wanting to avoid any pinching on that 17th day of March! I am going to give this to my amazing Mother (shhh…don’t tell) whose birthday is on St. Patrick’s Day! I secretly hope she will share it with me!

To add a little dimension and shine to the shamrock, try using Diamond Glaze…be sure to let it completely dry before you try to attach it to your gift. (ahem, not that this happened to me….!)

I hope you enjoy spreading a little bit o’luck with these printables this year! Enjoy!

To download the printables, please like my page here:

Then download the printable here: Little Luck Logo

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Food to Make you happy — Easy Yakisoba

By KariV on March 6, 2013 in Cooking Light, Dinner in Minutes, Recipes

We are celebrating around here for making our goal of 100 likes to our new Facebook page! Thank you, friends and dear readers! And what could be a better way to celebrate than with VEGETABLES!?! I’m serious! If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE my vegetables and I drink (yes, drink) them every morning. I will be sharing my delicious breakfast drink soon!

But I have been getting SO many requests for my Yakisoba recipe that I decided to post it today. I have to keep my favorite people happy!

Truth is, this recipe makes me so happy…and I think you will agree when you try it out. It’s easy…it’s delicious…it’s filled with color. That is celebration right on a plate, friends! (Can we please officially change the title of this recipe to “Celebration on a Plate”?)

Let’s get started with the Yakisoba.

First, assemble your favorite veggies. I like to use all the colors of the rainbow (except maybe blue, I can’t even think of a blue vegetable!) My favorites for this dish are:

Onion, Carrots, Zucchini, Summer Squash, Red pepper, Broccoli, Red Cabbage, Garlic

Slice your onion (I use yellow onion). In a large pan (or stir fry pan), warm 2 T. of olive oil on medium high. Once oil is hot, add onion. Let this cook for 5-7 minutes or until the onion is soft and browned.

While the onion is cooking, cut your other veggies. Cut them in similar sizes for even cooking. When onions are browned, add carrots and zucchini. Cook for 4-5 minutes. I like to let the zucchini and squash cook without stirring for a few minutes. This allows them to get browned on one side. Oh! My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Turn them over to brown on the other side.

Once zucchini is browned, add peppers and broccoli. Allow those to cook for a bit, then add the cabbage.

While that is cooking together, get your meat ready. I used chicken for this recipe, but you can also use beef or pork, or keep it vegetarian! I cut my chicken (3 chicken tenders) into bite-sized pieces. Then warmed a small amount of olive oil in a separate skillet. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally. Add a couple cloves of garlic (minced) with the cooking chicken, if you like. (I like!)

When chicken is done…it only takes a few minutes! Add to the vegetables. Then, add your noodles, water, and seasoning mix from the package. I usually include 2 packages of noodles, both seasoning packets, and 1 cup of water. Here are the noodles I like to use:

[Note: If I don’t have these on hand when I crave Yakisoba, I have also used angel hair pasta or spaghetti…and I make sauce using a bit of soy sauce, cornstarch, and water!] You have to coax these particular noodles to separate, but please be careful and don’t break them. It just doesn’t taste the same with broken noodles!

Now, dish up and enjoy! (here’s another secret: I sometimes add a bit of low-sodium soy sauce to mine)

How’s that for a celebration!?

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Taste Test Tuesday: Salted Caramel Chocolate

By KariV on March 5, 2013 in Favorite Things, Taste Test Tuesday

I have to admit, I was very excited about this particular taste test. I mean, who wouldn’t be when Salted Caramel Chocolate bars are on the agenda?!? (Actually, I shouldn’t even ask…my husband hates salted caramel, my 2 sons do not like chocolate, I also have a friend who does not particularly like it either, and my grandma is allergic to it!) But for perhaps everyone else in the world, this is an exciting taste test!

The results were also a little shocking, but practically UNANIMOUS. But first, I must introduce you to the contenders:

THE CONTENDERS:

1) Good & Delish – generic bar new to the scene that I picked up from Walgreens. Retails at $1.99

2) Lindt Caramel with a Touch of Sea Salt – a seasoned performer as far as brands go, but this is a new flavor for them. Retails at $2.99

3) See’s Candies – Butter Caramel Milk Chocolate. This served as a control, but backfired just a little. I went in to find a salted caramel to add to our list of greats, but See’s is very traditional and does not carry a salted caramel. This was the next best option, and at just under $4.00 for 5 pieces, was also the most expensive of the bunch.

4) Godiva Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel – another well-known and well-loved brand, this one also boasted salted toffee pieces. Retails at $2.99, but I got on sale for $2.50.

5) Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Bar, Caramel with Black Sea Salt – this bar was supposed to be the heavyweight contender, with much talk and support of fans, but it did not stack up well in this competition! Retails at $1.99

6) Ghirardelli Dark & Sea Salt Caramel – another well-loved competitor! I purchased this one on sale at $2.50, the small bags sell for around $4.69.

THE SET-UP:

This was, of course, a blind taste test. We cut the chocolate bars into small pieces and distributed them onto their corresponding numbered plate.

All panel contestants took 2 pieces of each contender and put them onto their “placemat” with the matching number. We also provided water so the judges could analyze the flavors without them fighting each other. (Some chocolate flavors were stronger than others, but that didn’t necessarily mean they took first place).

THE JUDGING:

We had multiple categories for judging: Texture, Caramel taste, Chocolate Taste, Saltiness, and Overall Taste. We also added Smell as a category at the last minute, as requested by the judges.

Here is the form we used:

(If you’d like to conduct this taste test in your test kitchen and you’d like this form, please let me know!)

THE RESULTS:

Are you sitting down? Because 9 out of 10 judges chose the ONLY contestant that didn’t officially have “salted caramel” in their description!! The See’s Candies milk caramel took this whole contest by surprise! It does say something about tradition, though, doesn’t it? Sometimes the oldies REALLY are the best!

Unfortunately, the See’s Milk caramel had to be disqualified because it snuck into the fight without all the qualifications. However, I wanted to note this crazy turn of events, for you, dear reader! Because it’s worth taking a second look at an oldie. (And I was afraid that if I didn’t acknowledge this little gem, the judges might come after me!)

THE REAL WINNER:

Godiva Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel !! (Crowd goes wild!)

Truth be told, the real winner actually came in SECOND place, but the first contender was disqualified for not actually having the “salted caramel” in the title. This Godiva bar was introduced to me by a good friend and neighbor (thank you, Sherri) and the results showed an all-around love and admiration by all!!

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Good & Delish (yes, the generic one!) AND Ghirardelli (still a favorite, although it came in third place with a wide margin between 2nd and 3rd).

STRONGLY DISLIKED:

Lindt. Yes Lindt. Many judges were VERY vocal about their dislike of this particular contender. To me, the chocolate had a strange coconut taste, but other judges said: 1) it had a strange after-taste and 2) they wouldn’t want to eat an entire bar of this.

Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate with Black Sea Salt. Some judges said it was too salty. Some said the chocolate was just too bitter. Another said it had a chalky taste. One judge even choked a little after eating this one! [editor’s note: I am very saddened by this report. I heard many great things about this bar, and eaten alone it may be good, but it just didn’t have what it took to stand up against the other contenders!]

Congratulations, Godiva!

A special thanks to all the judges and assistants: Jenn, Jay, Shellie, Kerri, Lindsay, Linda, Kait, Kari, Sherri, and Lann. You are truly professionals at what you do!

So, what do you think? Did I miss any strong contenders? Do you think you would have chosen the same winner if you conducted this taste test?

So if you do like Salted Caramel Chocolate, go out and try our winner and let me know what YOU think!

{Stay tuned for our next Taste Test Tuesday!}

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Dose of Sunshine Monday : Miracles Happen Every Day

By KariV on March 4, 2013 in Freebies, Inspiration

The printable I’m sharing with you today is very near and dear to my heart. A saying I made up (and even sang it to a little song) when I was having many serious health and relationship challenges.

But even so, I always believed that you should never give up on a person because Miracles happen every day! And they do. What miracles have you seen in your life lately?