DIY - STAMPED CAT TOTE

Just in case you didn't already know... I love cats!  I have been wanting to add some cat inspired pieces to my wardrobe but have had some trouble finding what I wanted, so I made my own tote.  This one is pretty easy if you have a little bit of patience.

What you will need:

- Canvas Tote (Mine is from Miju, the shape is awesome and it has a zipper and inner pocket)

- Black acrylic paint

- Sponge 

- Scissors

- Sharpie  

- Paintbrush 

- Water

- Something to line your bag with while painting (I used craft paper)

How to make the tote:

Place craft paper, or something in the bag to block paint from seeping through the other side.  (I forgot to do this at first, so my bag has minor imperfections)

Draw a cat on the sponge and cut out.  Paint the sponge with watered down acrylic paint.

Stamp cats on the tote bag in a pattern of your choosing.  Let dry.  Repeat on other side.

Enjoy your stamped cat tote!

FOOD - STRAWBERRY RHUBARB JAM

One thing I absolutely love about summer is the influx of fresh fruits and veggies! In Hawaii, most things are in season year round, so I wasn't used to having unsweet fruit in the winter.  It has made me really appreciate good fruit come summer time!

Last summer was the first time I had a strawberry rhubarb pie, and I have been totally obsessed since.  Strawberries are my favorite fruit and the addition of rhubarb adds a nice tart flavor.  This week the farmers market at union square had so many fresh things to choose from!  I came home with a bunch of strawberries and rhubarb for jam.  This is the best jam I have ever had, and I do not like most jams.  Its nice and tangy, not too sweet!

What you will need:
- 1 lb fresh strawberries
- 1 lb rhubarb
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 lemon, juiced and zested
- 1 3 oz package of liquid pectin

How to make Strawberry Rhubarb Jam:

Clean the strawberries and rhubarb.  Quarter the strawberries and cut the rhubarb into 1/4 to 1/2 inch pieces.  Combine the strawberries and rhubarb in a large bowl and add the sugar.  Let sit for about an hour to get the juices flowing.

Prepare water bath and canning jars.

Add strawberries, rhubarb, sugar, pectin, lemon juice, and lemon zest to a pot or pan (I used my new Le Creuset dutch over!)  Cook until thick, about 220 degrees.  You can also test the jam, by putting a little bit onto a cold plate (leave one in the freezer while preparing everything else), if it gels on the plate, its ready.

Jar the jam and process for 10 minutes.  Let cool overnight on top of a folded kitchen towel.

Enjoy!

FOOD - PEANUT BUTTER SPECULOOS COOKIES

I just tried the Speculoos Cookie Butter from Trader Joe's that everyone is obsessed with.  It's really delicious, it get why it is always sold out.  Even though this cookie butter is made out of a lot of cookie, I turned it back into a cookie, with peanut butter!

What you will need:

- 1/2 cup Peanut Butter
- 1/2 cup Speculoos Cookie Butter
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 tbs brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt

How to make Peanut Butter Speculoos Cookies:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Mix the peanut butter, speculoos, white and brown sugar together.  Add it the egg and vanilla.  Mix in the dry ingredients.  Bake for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

DIY - FLOWER CROWNS

This past weekend, I threw a late birthday bbq in prospect park.  It was so much fun! Besides eating a ton of food (I made caramel cuts and rice crispie treats, and we grilled a ton of burgers and hotdogs) we made really cute flower crowns!  These flower crowns remind me of the haku leis we make Hawaii!

It was my party, so I didn't spend any time taking how to photos, but this DIY is really simple.  All you need is wire (I got some wrapped in green raffia), floral stem tape, scissors, and flowers.  Measure you head with wire, cut leaving a few extra inches, and twist the ends to connect the circle.  Snip the flowers with about an inch of stem.  Wrap the flower stem to the wire with the floral stem tape, lay the next flower over the wrapped stem part and wrap with floral stem tape, repeat!

Super simple and super cute!  I loved how everyone's crown was unique even though we were all using the same two types of flowers!