Roasted Chickpeas

Monday lunches tend to be leftovers. We had pasta and salad last night, so I decided to eat the salad. I added chickpeas for a quick protein.

The salad was delicious, but I had a lot of uneaten chickpeas—perfect for experimenting with roasted chickpeas!


Roasted Chickpeas (makes 2 cups)
Recipe based on this Roasted Chickpea recipe from Jessica of how sweet it is.

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chickpeas
1-2 teaspoons olive oil spray
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Place rinsed chickpeas on a paper towel. Pat dry and remove any loose skins.
3. Cover baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place chickpeas on baking sheet.
4. Lightly mist chickpeas with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika. Roll chickpeas to coat.
5. With chickpeas in a single layer, bake for 15 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and roll chickpeas. Bake for another 15 minute.
7. Let cool and eat!

The chickpeas smelled delicious as they cooked. Some of the chickpeas were still chewy when I removed them from the oven, so I cooked them for an additional 7 minutes. This will probably vary from oven to oven. 

Roasted chickpeas high in protein and a great alternative to chips. They have a similar taste and texture as corn nuts and taste best after they have cooled.

It was my first time using one of Jessica's recipes, and I found her conversational directions easy to follow.

I recommend trying this recipe. Next time I will use honey to make a sweet and salty version.
 

A Beautiful Mess App Review

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you know that I recently bought the iPhone 5.

Tweet

My HTC Evo was over three years old, and it was time for a new phone. I like the iPhone's size and the balanced specs (and I will blog about my choice of Apple over Android soon).

I have been on an app downloading spree. Most of the apps I've downloaded are free, but I noticed that one of my favorite blogs, A Beautiful Mess by Elsie and Emma, released an image manipulation app by the same name.

At $.99, A Beautiful Mess allows users to add fun borders, doodles, filters, and text to images. Afterwards the image can be shared via social networks Instagram, Twitter, Facebook (using hashtag #ABeautifulMess), or emailed.
 

Image created using A Beautiful Mess

I found resizing the type and doodles to be tricky, but the end result is worth it. One thing to note is that while the app only costs $.99, users could easily spend over $10 buying expansion packs. Overall I really liked the app, and I recommend supporting these lovely ladies.


The app is designed for both iPhone and iPad. An Android app is being developed and should be available soon.

A Beautiful Mess, $.99

My New Favorite Pen

When you are a writer you must choose your materials carefully. Your notebook has to be the right dimensions, and your pen has to all for the quick transfer of your ideas to the page.

As a left-handed writer, I need a pen that writes smoothly yet dries quickly. Gel pens tend to smear, and do not let me write small enough. Most ball point pens tend to have cheap construction, the ink fades in and out, and they do not seem to last as long as they should.

I have finally found my perfect pen: the Zebra F-301.

image via Zebra

Meijer carries the 2-pack of Zebra F-301 pens for around $3.50. The Zebra F-301 fine point (.07) is perfect for my small handwriting, and the ink does not smear. The pen is made out of steel, so it is practically indestructible. And best of all it is refillable!

Now I need to find the perfect notebook.

Baby Booties

You may remember this mystery knitting project from several weeks ago. My friends Rachel and Ben just welcomed their first child, a son, into the world. Rachel and I became friends when I moved to Eaton Rapids, and I am very excited for her. I surprised her with a pair of knit baby booties.

Rachel has done volunteer work in the past, so I thought it appropriate to use a Bundles of Love pattern. I knit a pair for her son and another for the charity.

Pattern: Easy Knitted Booties via Bundles of Love
Yarn: Naturally Caron Spa
Needles: US Size 8
Changes: Crochet bind off rather than ribbed bind off. Crochet seams.

The yarn is an acrylic bamboo blend; it is light and silky. It is machine washable and dryable which makes it versatile and perfect for baby booties.

I knit the booties at the same time so that they would be the same size.

My bind off is usually tight, so I learned how to use the crochet bind off for this project. I love how it turned out!

I did not want to do seams, but my dpns are buried in my craft room. Instead of sewing the seams I used the crochet method. 

I recommend this pattern if you need to knit a quick gift. I knit the booties in an evening. The pattern has clear instructions and is easy to memorize. 

Congratulations to Rachel and Ben!

Banana Nut Bread

I had every intention to take a nap yesterday. Misty and I were laying on the couch when I was hit by the mood to make banana nut bread.

I chose this banana bread recipe from Simply Recipes because I had most of the ingredients. The recipe called for three or four ripe bananas. I only had two bananas, so I decided to improvise.

I knew that without the extra bananas the bread would be on the dry side. I would have used applesauce to add moisture but I did not have any so I used the reduced sugar option and added approximately 1/4 cup of honey. The result was lightly sweet that paired well with the bananas.

The recipe did not call for walnuts, but you cannot have banana nut bread without them. I was afraid they would dry out the bread, so I put the chopped walnuts on the top. This gave the nuts a slightly toasted taste.

Ever the dutiful husband, Matt loved the bread so much he ate three pieces! Overall I found this to be a good base recipe because it gives you room for alterations.

Banana Nut Bread + Coffee = A Lovely Breakfast!

Easy, Quick Everyday Hair

I dream of chic, understated hair. I do not like to have my hair in my face when I am at work, so my hair is usually in a ponytail.

Sash of AskSash88 has uploaded 10, Easy Quick Everyday Hairstyles for long & medium hair for people who struggle with boring hairstyles.



Each style is effortless and low maintenance. Best of all, the hairstyles do not require much more than an elastic hair tie and bobby pins.
Yesterday I wore my hair like number 5. It was nice to wear it down, and it did not take much more time than putting my hair in a ponytail.
I cannot wait to try another style!

I found Sash's video via Oh The Lovely Things post 10 Easy, Quick Everyday Hairstyles For Long and Medium Hair.

Biggby's Peppermint Tea Latte

Matt and I visited Biggby Coffee last week. It was getting late and I did not want caffeine. I ordered a plain hot peppermint tea (you may remember my post about my love for peppermint tea).

via

The barista asked if I wanted to try a Peppermint Tea Latte. She explained the peppermint tea was brewed in steamed milk. I was skeptical, but I decided to try it. I am glad I did! My drink was delicious; it was minty heaven in warm, creamy milk.

I might have to buy one before work.

Bumble and bumble. Seaweed Shampoo

I have a have a secret to share: I am nearly 30 years old and I find it difficult to wash my own hair. It is embarrassing.

My hair is naturally wavy and dry. Even though I have lost a lot of hair over the past few years, it is still very thick. It takes a long time to rinse the shampoo out of my hair.

I have wanted to try Bumble and bumble. for several years, but I could not justify spending $18 to try their product. A couple of weeks ago I found a sample of their Seaweed Shampoo on clearance for $2.

Bumble and bumble. Seaweed Shampoo

According to Bumble and bumble., their Seaweed Shampoo is a "mild, moisturizing, daily shampoo with marine extracts that feed roots, add shine and keep scalps happy." 

My scalp is very happy. I can understand why the shampoo is so expensive. Washing my hair is no longer a chore; I can wash it once and it is squeaky clean.

When the samples run out I will buy an 8 oz. bottle. Experts suggest alternating shampoos to prevent buildup, so I will use Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo as well. 

Bath & Body Works® Soap Sleeve

I have not been to Bath & Body Works® in a long time; the myriad scents are overwhelming, and I prefer to use natural products. Yesterday, I went to the store to buy hand sanitizer for work incentives.

PocketBac® Sanitizing Hand Gel and PocketBac® Holder 

The hand sanitizer can be hung from our work uniforms, and it mean we do not have to run to the bathroom to wash our hands as often. 

While I was looking for the hand sanitizers (and trying to decide which of the twenty scents to choose), I came across decorative soap sleeves. Each sleeve fits their Antibacterial Hand Soap and disguises the plastic bottle.

Moroccan Soap Sleeve            Willow Soap Sleeve

They also carry silicone sleeves for those who prefer to be a little funky.

Silicone Soap Sleeve

These cozies are a clever alternative to putting soap in a ceramic holder.

Cut Copy Concert

In March Matt and I saw Crystal Castles at the Royal Oak Music Theatre in Royal Oak, MI. Last Saturday we returned to Royal Oak to see Cut Copy.

I would like to note that opening band Delicate Steve was a pleasant surprise. Before the concert Matt and I had discussed how opening bands are often disappointing. Delicate Steve's rich guitars and drums somehow combined dance, celtic and tribal music. The crowd could not keep their eyes off of the band's standing drummer.

Cut Copy is for those of use born in the eighties: we were too young to go to concerts but we have an affinity for the music. Cut Copy's synthpop sound draws upon the beats of bands such as Daft Punk as well as New Order and Kraftwerk.

The band played songs such as Lights and Music, Hearts and Fire, So Haunted and Far Away as well as songs off of their newest album, Zonoscope.

Although I wish they would have played more of album Bright Like Neon Love (my favorite song is "Time Stands Still"), the lead singer Dan Whitford's "Drama Geek" flair made up for the oversight.





via
As you can tell from the video, the crowd favorite was Lights and Music.
After the concert Matt and I walked the streets of Royal Oak. All in all it was a wonderful night.

Bellisima Bridal Boutique

My wedding day is quickly approaching. Last Saturday my mom, Matt's mom and I went to Bellisima Bridal Boutique in Albion, MI to find a wedding gown.

via Bellisima Bridal

I originally intended to get my dress at David's Bridal or Fantastic Finds because the shops are located near my job. Anyone who knows me knows this was a compromise; I prefer to be different. But with my September 24th wedding date looming, I needed a dress soon.

A couple of weeks ago I found a dress at David's Bridal, but it was twice as much I had vowed to spend. In order to cut costs I browsed dresses on secondhand bridal sites Recycled Brides and Once Wed. I did not like the idea of buying a dress without trying it on first, but I did not want to go over my budget. So when a search for bridal gowns brought up husband and wife-owned Bellisima, I decided to check it out before I made a decision.

Bellisima Bridal has been in business since 2005. The boutique is located in Albion's old Masonic Temple; the building's original woodwork is breathtaking. The shop is centrally located for the Mid-Michigan bride; it is only 35 miles from Jackson, 20 miles from Marshall, and 50 miles from Lansing. They even offer a $20 gas credit for brides who travel over 40 miles.

Bellisima boasts of over 1200 gowns, including a private couture line, priced from $69-$1900. Besides bridal gowns, they also carries dresses for mother-of-the-bride; bridesmaid; flower girl as well as prom dresses; tuxedos; shoes; accessories; and reception essentials.

We first explored the upstairs; the entire floor is devoted to one-of-a-kind clearance dresses priced $69-$500. The staff took my picks to the dressing rooms, but they did not hover or pressure.

After we perused the clearance dresses I tried on between 10 and 15 dresses. The owner of the shop took her time to help me in and out of dresses; she made suggestions based on my personality and body type. She also recommended local seamstresses and tailors for the possible alterations.

My appointment lasted longer than I expected, but I did not hear any complaints. In fact, the owner left the dressing room twice to look for dresses she thought I would look good in. I had a hard time deciding between two dresses (mostly because one of the dresses was a bargain at $99), but in the end I choose a bridesmaid dress (in ivory) that I am going to have altered to fit my vision of an elegant gown.

I highly recommend Bellisima; I am happy I supported a local shop. Not only is my wedding gown under $300 (my original goal), it is going to be unique and elegant.

Now I need to choose dresses for my bridesmaids.

Plato's Closet Review

As I mentioned before I am moving in the fall so I have decided to reduce my load. On Tuesday afternoon I stopped at Plato's Closet in East Lansing to sell my unworn clothing.

via

I first learned of Plato's Closet five years ago. My college roommate had heard about the Utica store from a co-worker. Although we talked about visiting the store, we never made it. Ironically, in researching for this blog post I have found there is now a Rochester Hills Plato's Closet close to where we lived. When my fiance transfered to Michigan State University he moved into an apartment complex within walking distance of the East Lansing store, so I became familiar with that location.

via

According to their website, Plato's Closet "buys and sells the latest looks in brand name gently used clothing and accessories for teen and twenty something guys and girls." They buy gently worn clothing from the past 18 months and resell it. For a girl who is about to embark on her 30s, some of the clothing is meant for someone half my age. But I have an eclectic style, and I am willing to search through unappealing trends to find quality clothes. I prefer to shop for style over name brands; fashion is fleeting but style can be shaped and nurtured.






The East Lansing Location has expanded since my last visit. Although the expansion doubled the size of the store, they still have a limited men's section. According to my fiance, this is the case at many clothing stores, and I believe him.

When I went to the counter the clerk asked me to fill out my information and drop off my bag. She requested I stay in the store while she looked at the clothing. This is a sales tactic; they obviously want you to browse and buy something. Last week I had stopped on my lunch last hoping to sell clothing and they told me the wait was forty-five minutes. This time I stopped after work.

Plato's Closet, like many thrift shops, is hit and miss. You have to search through the clothing. I keep a mental list of the items, colors and brands I want to add to my wardrobe. I needed summer dresses so I did not mind waiting.


Perhaps the one complaint I have about this visit to Plato's Closet is the service. The staff is young; the minimum age to work at the store is 16. Some of the clerks are gossipy; they are preoccupied with their lives and what they do outside of work. As a retail worker I find this completely unprofessional. To be fair, I have had better service in the past, and I was not treated rudely.

When the clerk finished she forgot to tell me. I waited about thirty minutes before I approached the counter. Out of the seven items I brought, Plato's Closet bought three dresses, two from Target and one from Meijer, a pair of leggings (from Walmart, they passed on the pair from Deb) and a pair of lace-up boots from Kohls. I received $14.98, or an average of about $3 for each item. In my circumstance this is fine; I will never wear the clothing. I will donate the rest of the clothing to Goodwill or Salvation Army.

Although I did not find a dress I did buy two large tank tops (American Eagle and Banana Republic) that I plan to reconstruct. I also bought over 30 bangles which I plan to use to make jewelry.

Even with the poor service on this visit, I recommend shopping at Plato's Closet. It is thrifting for those who do not like to thrift. You can find lightly-worn, name brand clothing at great prices. If you want to sell your clothing, do not expect to get a lot of money back unless you sell them fashionable clothing. 

I love thrift shopping. You never know what you will find.

Website Review: Pinterest

If you have not heard of social bookmarking website Pinterest you need to drop everything. Pinterest is similar to Wists but without the commercial aspect. 

Pinterest describes itself as "a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste." 

Pinterest is addictive--while I wrote this post I was distracted by adding new pins to my boards. 

Although Pinterest is still in Beta you can request an invitation.

If you want to keep abreast of Pinterest news the team tweets as Pinterest on Twitter.

Crystal Castles Concert

Last Sunday Matt and I saw Crystal Castles at the Royal Oak Music Theatre in Royal Oak, MI. Downtown Royal Oak has a relaxed feel; it is a hipster's dream with artsy boutiques, thrift shops, restaurants and lofts. 

Royal Oak Music Theatre Marquee

Built in the late 1920s, the venue is completely renovated. The original seating has been removed. 

We stood next to the rail of the first tier. It was nice to have a great view of the stage for a change; I am short-statured so the tallest person in the crowd usually stands in front of me. I wish I had stood farther from the stairs because I was jostled by people dancing while others pushed their way up and down the stairs. 

Theater security was strict. They sent people back to the car with cameras and confiscated glow sticks through the opening band's (Teenage Fantasy) performance. I was too distracted by security to listen to the band.

Crystal Castles was intense. The lights flashed with an energy matched by the electronic music. 

Alice Glass, Crystal Castles

Singer Alice Glass gave an amazing performance despite her broken ankle. She used her crutch as a dance prop as she sang and drank Jim Beam. A bodyguard held her aloft as the crowd surged to dance around her.

It was a good crowd. We danced with greater fervor as we recognized each song. It was like a wild video game dance party.

The video below was uploaded by someone who went to the same concert. It is an accurate portrayal of the evening.

I love the single "Not in Love" featuring Robert Smith of The Cure. It is off of Crystal Castles second self-titled album. The video below is another example of the band's sound.









Overall, it was a great concert. I would love to go back to the venue to see more bands.

Pattern Review: Goldie Neckerchief

Photo via Cornflower Blue

When I saw the goldie neckerchief tutorial by Rachel of Cornflower Blue, I knew I had to knit it. 

I used a fingering weight yarn I bought years ago at a local yarn store, Old Mill Yarn. The yarn has a deep burgundy base with flecks of yellow and blue. Although I like the mustard of the original neckerchief, I tend to be reserved about my color choices.

I used size 3 needles because my yarn was finer than what she suggested. I would use size 3.5 or 4 needles if I were to do it again. The pattern was simple; it increased every other row with a yarn over.

Here is the neckerchief taking a bath. I used Dr. Bronner's Hemp Lavender Castile soap to soak the fibres. 

I blocked the neckerchief on a piece of styrofoam. The styrofoam was a little short. I carefully wrapped it around the other side. It blocked okay, but I will probably need a different piece of styrofoam for blocking larger projects.

Here I am sporting my brand new neckerchief. Now that I have gotten increases down, my next project will be a shawlette using the teal Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine yarn I bought earlier this month.

Breakfast: Eggs in the Basket

I've been meaning to try this one for a while. When I was a child, my aunt made eggs in the basket. I don't remember if I liked it or not (I was a picky eater), but after seeing V for Vendetta (several years ago, in the theater), I've wanted to try it again.

I like to eat vegetables with my eggs, so I sautéed red peppers with garlic salt and dried onions. I buttered both sides of a piece of bread then tore a hole out of the center. This process was a bit messy. I placed the bread in the pan. I broke an egg over the hole then seasoned it with salt and pepper. After the bottom was done, I flipped the bread over to cook the top. When the egg in the basket was done I sprinkled red peppers on it.

Verdict: The eggs and toast were good, although the yolk did not cook all of the way through. I am not sure if that is because I didn't account for the bread and flipped it too soon or because my boyfriend's stove has issues. Adding the red peppers was genius. Next time, I will try using 12 grain bread because I think it'll make a better "basket".

Pattern Review: angry t-rex roars' Knitted Kitty

angry t-rex roars' Knitted Kitty pattern is easy, quick and whimsical. The kitty was a St. Valentine's day gift for my boyfriend, who lives in a dorm and can't have pets. I finished it in under three hours. The pattern isn't difficult, and a beginner would only need to know how to knit, decrease and increase. I recommend the pattern as a stash buster; I used scraps of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Yarn I bought at Michael's for $1.00. I used US 6 needles. The kitty is stuffed with cotton balls.

*Cross-posted to the Knitted Kitty discussion on Crafster.org.

Website Review: Craftster

With the anthem "No Tea Cozies Without Irony," Craftster is a forum for hip, rebellious crafters. The forum has approximately 88,300 members to date that "Loves to Make Stuff, Hates Potpourri". The number doesn't reflect crafty, unregistered "lurkers."

Craftster is literally an encyclopedia of diverse crafting ideas. Members share finished crafts, ask advice and get inspiration for their next project. Some finished projects are selected to become featured projects. Members also participate in craft swaps. Although using the forum for selling is forbidden, a section of the forum is designated for promoting crafty shops.

Craftster was started in 2003 by Leah Kramer, a computer programmer who describes herself as a "self-proclaimed craft junkie". Leah lives in Boston, MA; she owns Magpie, a store which features local artists and vintage collectibles. She also helps organize Bazaar Bizarre, a "not-your-granny's" craft fair.

In April 2006, Leah published The Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts: Fifty Fabulous Projects from the Fifties and Sixties, a full-color collection of fifty craft projects dated from the 1950s and 1960s.

Craftster has been featured by the press, including Time, Jane, Budget Living, San Francisco Chronicle, London Guardian, and Houston Chronicle, and on National Public Radio.

Website Review: Questionable Content

Questionable Content is a webcomic created and drawn by Jeph Jacques. QC, as the comic is known by fans, follows the lives of twenty-somethings Marten, Faye, Dora, Raven and others, such as Marten's anthropc, Pintsize. QC is set in the primarily fictitious Northampton, Massachusetts. Like Seinfeld, the comic focuses on interactions between the characters rather than plot. Although the exact time period of the comic is unknown, Questionable Content comments on today's society, with many allusions to indie music and lifestyle. Irony and sexual innuendo are also a frequent feature.

With over 800 comics to date, QC is updated Monday through Friday; Questionable Content started in 2003. In 2004, Jeph quit his day job to dedicate his time to the comic. The art has
progressed over the years as Jeph has improved his skills.

Questionable Content has won several awards, including a place in BuzzComix's 'Hall of Fame' and the 2006 Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards for Outstanding Romantic Comic. The comic is part of Dayfree Press.

Jeph's livejournal, qcjeph, includes art, sound clips, and updates about Questionable Content.

Reference: Wikipedia

Website Review: Digg.com

Social bookmarking website Digg.com launched in December 2004. Since then, technology enthusiasts have "dugg" science, world and entertainment news.

Digg gives registered users editorial control. "Diggers" submit stories, pictures, and videos to be reviewed by other diggers. Users "digg" a story if they like it (resulting in the icon changing to "dugg").

Stories with enough diggs are promoted to the front page. Stories reported as inaccurate, repeat, or spam enough times are "undugg". Users also comment on and discuss the stories.

The launch of the website has seen the rise of "digg effect", webpage bandwidth overload caused by Digg traffic. While sites are redirected through DuggMirror, a third-party website, to counter the effects, some Digg users are looking for alternatives.

Digg also includes features Digg Labs and Digg Spy, which allow the user to see stories in real time in Stack or Swarm view.

Diggnation, Digg's video podcast, reviews the top diggs of the week. Hosts Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht share stories with viewers. They also share a new beer, recommended by podcast viewers.

Diggnation episodes are filmed on Thursday. The podcast is available for Revision3 members on Saturdays. The video is released to the everyone else on the next Tuesday. In August 2006, Diggnation won the 2006 Podcast Award for best technology podcast.

The podcast can be downloaded through iTunes or at Revision3.

Reference: Wikipedia