Powered by Pinfatuation: Creme Egg Brownies

You guys, I'm sorry I've been MIA for so long. I fell hard down the Pinterest rabbit hole. Seriously, you might need to plan a Pintervention.

I even wrote not 1, but 3 marketing blog posts to help other marketers convince their bosses that Pinterest is a legitimate way to spend your work day. I'm such an enabler.

I've convinced myself that Pinterest is an acceptable form of digital crack, as long as I'm actually making some of the projects I pin. Which step is rationalization on the road to recovery?

Well, that self-talk + a new crush on Instagram now that its available for Android= Powered by Pinfatuation.

I solemnly vow that every time I make something I've pinned, I will take a photo of it with my phone and post it here with the title Powered by Pinfatuation. First up-

Creme Egg Brownies

Holy moly. I managed to make these vegan and gluten-free for Easter, and they are dangerously delicious.

So here is the gorgeous, original photo from Pinterest and recipe by love & olive oil.

And here's my version.

This actually turned out much better than I expected. Definitely not completely CraftFail worthy.

To veganize and de-gluten these suckers, I used a gluten-free brownie mix instead of making the brownies from scratch (thanks Ms. Crocker), I substituted Earth Balance for unsalted butter (and didn't add the 1/8th tsp of salt), and I used dark chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate.

I'd definitely make these again.

Garden Bounty

Im finally getting tomatoes and the lemon cucumbers are taking over the garden! Check out my lonely little mutant carrot!

strawberry success

first strawberries of the year from my garden

My garden

This year I got serious about starting seeds indoors. I found an old florescent light the previous owners of my house left here and jerry rigged my own set up for seeds in the kitchen. I used a heating pad to help with germination. It seems to have worked. I have lots of little seedlings almost ready to transplant outside next weekend!

My alter, alter ego...

So you already know that I played roller derby for about 3 years under the alias Cherry Lipsmacker. But, did you know Cherry Lipsmacker as a side gig as a blogger? It's true. A few months back I started a second blog, Roller Derby Deals where I re-post sales, contests, and special deals that would interest other derby girls or soon-to-be derby girls. The idea behind the blog was that I know first hand how expensive derby can get, and I wanted to make it easier for skaters to get the quality gear they need to stay safe and lower the barrier to entry for anyone who is thinking about getting involved or trying out for Fresh Meat.

I've finally got the blog to the point where I'm feeling really good about it, and I'm ready to share my derby little secret with my friends and family (that's you!).

To kick things off, I've teamed up with Ms. Doom De Doom, a Duke City Derby skater who also skated briefly for Rose City Rollers & the founder of Caustic Threads. She generously donated a bearing necklace, a hand made, screen printed item of the winner's choosing, and her time to do a giveaway and interview on the Roller Derby Deals blog. So take a look at the blog, send me your suggestions and ideas, and while you're there, enter to win some lovely items from Caustic Threads.

e-t-s-y

My etsy store, glitzed, is back with a vengeance. Oh, and I design knitting patterns now. Say what?

Yep it's true. It all started when I decided to dress up as The Bus for Halloween (he is sitting on my lap as I type this). I made up my own pattern for a kitty ear hat and paw-like fingerless mitts. One of my co-workers who runs Knit Picks IDP program loved my costume and asked if I wanted to publish it. I was beyond flattered.

You can download that pattern here for $1.99.

My next foray into pattern designing was inspired by November Pain. When I heard there was a little Pain on the way, I knew she desperately needed her own little jammer and pivot caps to keep her toasty.

I published these on Knit Picks too (after I knit a custom set in Heather's colors for Tequilya to give Ruby Bruiseday), and I decided while I was at it, I'd use it as an opportunity to resurrect my etsy shop too. It's been so much fun getting reacquainted with etsy. It seems so much more interactive now, and I've gotten an amazing response to my stuff. Of course, I haven't actually sold any yet, but Derby Little Secrets loved my patterns and contacted me to see if I'd sell them whole sale. Heck yeah, I will! They're up there now.

I was also contacted by Derby Girls Blog about an interview and a blog giveaway, that should be going up soon.

And my Madonna painting was included in the "Feeling the 80's Blues" treasury by TheMuppettoy.

Thanks for all the etsy love everybody! And stay tuned to glitzed for more items soon, I'm having so much fun with it that I keep coming up for new ideas for projects and patterns I want to offer!

New Year's Resolutions

Do you make New Year's resolutions? I only try to make resolutions I think I can keep.

So far, I have 3 for 2011:
1. Learn colorwork knitting
2. Finally finish my t-shirt quilt (I started it when I still lived in Virginia!)
3. Try one new thing or visit one new place every single day in 2011.

The last one is the one I'm the most excited about, and the first two will probably be a couple of the new things I'm trying since I've never tried to bind a quilt before or knit a Fair Isle or intarsia pattern. I'm giving myself a lot of leeway, trying a new pattern, recipe, or restaurant would count. I've been giving it a try for the last week as a warm up. So far I made a hash brown casserole, learned how to give a Persian eye medication, and went to Slappycakes, and started watching Dexter. Nothing earth shattering, but I like trying and learning new things.

Happy 2011!!