Easy Peasy Starflake Garland Tutorial and Pomegranate Snowball Holiday Drink

Since I am currently unemployed this holiday season, In the moments where I can't sit still, I start wanting to create things. I created a holiday drink, I like to call the Pomegranate Snowball Cutie (I'll give you the recipe later..) I can have it virgin or non virgin..I plan to enjoy it non-virgin this Thanksgiving Thursday. I started making stockings, and I've been working on my cooking skills. I've also gotten in the mood to make this apartment real festive for the holidays. We don't have much art on our walls at the time, so i'm trying to be creative to make it feel homey and festive.

In order to save some money, I made myself make an easy garland today with things I have in the house. I looked around on Pinterest to get ideas, tried making a few snowflakes..but it was just too much for the moment, and I had no glue..or popsicle sticks. I didn't want to spend hours making yarn pom poms, only making 1 foot after 8 hours. 

So I started looking around. I save pretty tissue paper from presents and shopping bags, so I pulled that out and found a very pretty pale pink color that was calling me to use it. I also had some paper lunch bags. Something was sticking out in my mind I had seen on Pinterest occasionally. A simple garland with paper gold stars. I decided to make my own version of this. I folded up the paper bag and cut out stars, I folded up the tissue paper and cut out circles. If you think you may enjoy sewing and have not used a sewing machine to sew paper, I suggest trying it one day..theres something about it that feels very nice. The only thing I had to do was sew my star, then sew my circles, and keep repeating. When I sewed the circles, I realized I could make them three dimensional, it made the garland even more interesting. And there you go..Starflake Garland. You can use whatever your heart desires for this garland. You can make it blue and white for Hanukkah, you could make the circles out of craft paper or patterned tissue paper, and the stars out of fabric, you can change the shapes and color to make it all you. Your star shape doesn't have to be perfect, and your circles don't have to be perfect, love the imperfectness. What I love most about this garland is how delicate but solid it is.

M a t e r i a l s ..

-Craft Paper, Paper Grocery Bags, or Paper Lunch Bags

-Any color/patterned tissue paper or paper

-Paper Cutting Scissors

-Sewing Machine

-Thread

-Pen

1. Cut out your stars. I folded up my paper lunch bags, free hand drew a star on top, and was able to cut out a number of stars at once.

2. Cut out your circles. I also folded up my tissue paper, free hand drew a circle on the top of the folded paper, and was able to cut out numerous circles at once. 

3. Grab yourself 1 star. or 2 stars. or 3 stars. However many you would like. Sew a straight line right through the star (stars) and when the feed dogs release the star, let the machine keep sewing and doing its thing for just a second to create about 1/2-1 inch of twisted thread, have your circles ready to go (I used 3, you can use as many as you would like) and sew a straight line right through them too. Note: When I was preparing the three circles to be sewn, I did not line them up perfectly, you can if you want to, I like that it looks imperfect. 

4. Keep sewing, for as long as you want..end when you want to end. When you decide you are finished, leave some extra thread at the end, In order to tie it onto something if you desire. 

5. Go back over your circles and fluff them out to make the circles three dimensional. You can leave some flat if you would like, you could leave them all flat if you would like to.

6. Decorate! Drape it on a lamp, drape it on a bathroom mirror, drape it around your Christmas Tree, drape it on your dogs cage, drape it on your chandelier, drape it on your greenery...find a spot where you'd like to create a holiday "moment".

If you make the garland, post some photos, I would love to see! 

NOW...for the Pomegranate Mandarin Snowball!...

This drink may be out there already..but I like to think I created a version of it a few years ago and it has now turned into the Pomegranate Snowball. It is very simple to make. All you need is...

I n g r e d i e n t s

-Diet or regular Ginger Ale (If you can find Green Tea Ginger Ale, then you are very lucky, and it will be very delicious.)

-Pomegranate Italian Soda

-Cutie Mandarins

-Gin (this drink is just as delicious virgin.)

-Ice

Pour a splash of your gin, fill most of your glass with Ginger Ale, just a splash of Pomegranate Italian Soda, and squeeze half of a cutie mandarin in, drop it in and stir it all up. When I say it's Christmas Eve every time..it's really Christmas Eve every time. 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! May you have a very happy, peaceful holiday, wherever you are, and whatever you are doing. If you are having a hard holiday, or just need some inspiration, I hope you find hope in these words from Lady Gaga.

-Lexi

Dreams do come true you know

 

A few months ago Emily and I heard news that a beautiful soul would be blessing us with a performance at Radio City Music Hall. After feeling the drop of our hearts, there was no question in our mind that we would be sitting in that crowd hearing the voice of an angel that has given us much hope. When times get tough Florence reminds us, "Oh my dear, dear child, I hear you. And you'll be just fine, because I've been there too." It is people like Florence that I know we will be seeing more of in the future.

 

 

 

Emily captures a Florence connection

If you haven't, I only wish that you will feel the feeling of experiencing this woman's presence. I was not on earth when I was in that theater, but in a safe and soft beautiful heaven protected by the strength of Joan of Arc.

We love you Flo.

Protect us St. Joseph

This morning grandma and I buried a St. Joseph figurine upside down in the front yard. Her intentions are for him to help us sell the house, but when she read the prayer that comes along with him, it felt like he'd be watching out for us too. After the prayer, Grandma held him in her hand staring at him and asked "St. Joseph...are you listening to us?". Then we both gave him a little kiss, and put him in the ground.


Sharon is always giving little gifts, and she just gave me a tiny needle holder she made with a tiny little bow. I love hand stitching and it inspired me to hand quilt a quilt I've been making for a very handsome little baby boy that was just born. It was just the thing I needed to make the process even more special.


-Lexi Lou

An adventure for Jane and Carl

Yesterday morning was a little surreal. I felt like I was watching life happen from somebody else's body. Grandma and grandpa had an old family friend who is a real estate agent come over to take a look at the house. After 46 years of living in this house, their going to be moving to one of my favorite places, North Carolina. Yes, it's really happening, and I'm here to tell you I'm witnessing this transition. It was never a thought in my mind, or anybody else's that this day would come, so it is very strange to be experiencing, but I am thrilled and excited for this new beginning for them.

Understandably, Grandpa did not take the idea lightly at first. He has lived his whole life on Long Island. He is a Cancer, and Cancers are homebodies, as Grandma has reminded me numerous times. His home is his sanctuary.

To my extreme surprise one morning, he was wide open. Maps were spread all over their bed, and he was asking me to help him research homes on the internet, "Lexi, tell me about google..". Instead of sweeping it under the rug and avoiding this small fear of his, he was embracing it. I was floored. This was very inspiring for me to see, and I was finding a new kind of respect and love for him. It is a beautiful courageous thing to see somebody walk into fear. If grandpa could embrace and do this, then there is much hope for a lot of things.

When I woke up yesterday, although it was a dreary rainy day, all the lights were on in the house, and It felt warm and cozy. Grandpa was putting her on display and you could feel the care that had been given to every nook and cranny of this lady. This is a strong house that stands beautiful today because of all the love it's been given through the years. When something broke, it was tended to and fixed, when updating needed to be done, it was done, when room was tight, they made more space. It shows me what caring and loving something can mean, the effect it can have, and how important it is to take care of what matters to you.

Their real estate agent is an old friend of my dads, aunt, and uncles. Its a comfort to them and I'm sure to the rest of the family, that he's selling the house, because he understands the care that has been given to this house over the years..he knows how precious it is to grandpa, that it holds many of his fondest memories. It's hard to believe this is all really happening, but seeing how excited and ready they are makes me very excited, and happy for them, and their new journey.



Much love..and happy birthday Aunt Robin!
-Lexi Lou

Dont let the weeds get ahead of you

Something that really mellows me out is country music, so I like to listen to it while I work. I listened to it while working hard weeding out the garden beds last Thursday. It just makes me think of big open spaces, summertime, square dance halls outside, string lights, crescent moons, lots of smiling nice people in jeans and cowboy boots laughing, just letting it all fly with not a care in the world.

When I came into the house really quick I found grandma ironing her heart away in her bedroom. I was saying I forgot how intense weeding can be but it felt nice like I was "returning to nature" as grandpa had said, and she commented "this really is all exhausting work, but could you imagine if we had to be in the hunger games?" We both have curious minds that are often on the exact same page, and I've imagined it a number of times.

When grandpa and I sat on the porch admiring the work we'd done and the unbelievably beautiful weather, he told me "the best thing you can do when it comes to weeds, is to never let them get ahead of you, because if you do, you'll just find yourself in a big mess kiddo."

Spring Adventures

As Tuesday was the first day of Spring, there is a lot to clean out and prepare for. I'll be weeding the garden and sweeping the garage today. Once a job that was taken by my brother, now passed on to me. My very good friend Sharon is going to be moving to NYC and will be staying with us for a few days, she arrives next Tuesday! I feel like a little bunny prancing around I'm so excited. It's going to be fun to have a partner in crime out here.

We realized the other night that we have the same initials as Laverne and Shirley, so I suggested we start initialing all of our cardigans next week. She has a wonderful blog and lots of beautiful quilts and things to look at over at thefieldbarn.blogspot.com ..I'm sure you'll start catching some references of her experiences on Long Island starting next week. The daffodils are blooming, and like that one little dandelion in the field, this is our sign that spring is a springing.

Babysitting Grandpa- Jane Returns

There was a lot going on in the city this past weekend, so I left grandpa to his own devices again. I rushed home tuesday morning because I knew grandma was going to be home by 2:30 and I didn't want to get into trouble for leaving grandpa alone..or other things. I woke up bright and early to catch an early train but when I called grandpa to ask If he'd be home to pick me up, he said "sorry babe, I'm playing cards". I couldn't stay in the city a minute longer, I needed to get back. I was also starting to feel hungry because food is scarce around 20 something's in NYC..In my heart I knew the cornucopia awaited me not so far away. I decided to just take the earlier train and compromise the 7 dollars I would have spent on breakfast and coffee, for a Lindys Taxi ride home from the station..It's a good thing I was told to always follow my gut.

When I walked into the kitchen I could see crumbs on the counters, the floor, the table, the stove..big ones. The meals I prepared for each day, he ate none of them. Instead, he made peanut butter and jellies and tomato soup. His laundry was the size of a small hill. Grandpa, grandpa, grandpa.

I tidied up and cleaned out the refrigerator. The door opened at 12:30, and it was grandpa getting his hat before he headed to the airport, I knew our special time was coming to an end when he ran past me and said "see ya later turkey, I'm going to pick up my chick!"

It was beautiful outside so I drove to the beach before they came home. I was getting excited to see grandma. When I got back, there was my lady reading her newspaper on the couch. I felt a nice comfort like our tripod had gotten its third leg back. Mama bird was back at the nest. I was glad I sacrificed the 7 dollars to take the early train home and clean because she took notice of my efforts. I'm making a point of observing that woman with even more careful attention, because now I really know the hard work and time it takes to be a successful Jane Paladino. I am reminded when grandpa tells me that there is one word I need to remember for the rest of my life, "anticipate", that my training is not over.