Weeding, Fresh Mulch, Here's The Winning Results Of Our Front Yard.

Weeding, Fresh Mulch, Here's The Winning Results Of Our Front Yard., a photo by LaurenProck on Flickr.

It's funny how the weather sometimes predicts how the day will turn out. I was originally gonna stay inside & crochet because the weather forcast said rain. As the morning started to move, it became sunny outside. So I figured, instead of crochet, I decided to go outside with my dog Ginger & pull some weeds. I pulled the weeds & bought some new plants for the front yard a week ago & didn't plant them. After I pulled the weeds, I cut the burlap on the bottom of the planted a new peony bush & some hens & chicks. After I got done planting everything, I needed to get some mulch to make the garden complete. So, I went out & bought some mulch. I spreaded the mulch where I wanted. Here's the winning results of our front yard at home.

Grilled Chicken & Spinach Tomato Pasta.

Grilled Chicken & Spinach Tomato Pasta. View Recipe On My Website Later Today., a photo by LaurenProck on Flickr.

2 Chicken Breasts.
Mrs. Dash.
Pepper.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
1 Box Of Ziti.
2 Cups Of Fresh Baby Spinach.
4 Roma Tomatoes.
1/2 Of A Vidalia Onion.
Feta Cheese.
Grill.
Sauce Pan.
Frying Pan.

For The Chicken:
Slice chicken into thin strips. Add some extra virgin olive oil & Mrs Dash. Prepare grill for grilling chicken. Chicken should be cooked for 3-5 minutes on each side.

For Pasta:
In a frying pan, add some extra virgin olive oil & your onions. Cook onions until they're translucent. While onions are cooking add your roma tomatoes. Spinach will go in last.

In a sauce pan, boil some water & add your ziti. Cook ziti until fork tender. Drain ziti in a colander & add ziti to frying pan with tomato mixture. Add spinach & feta cheese & mix together well.

Serve with grilled chicken.

Photo Of The Day: Spring Has Sprung

This photo was taken at our shop, Sow's Ear Studio.  These are the trees from our parking lot in the back of the shop.  I love the way the trees & the sky combine together to create a beautiful scenery.  Looks like a painting almost. 

Natural Sugar

Take the bitter out of lemons & bring out the natural sugars by slicing lemons & placing them face down on the grill.  Leave on the grill for 3-5 minutes.  When lemons are a light brown to dark brown, they're done.  I created lemon chicken for dinner last night (April 28, 2013).

This is the color you want for carmelized lemons.

Grilled Chicken With Olive Oil & Pepper.

 

Lemon-Pepper Marinade

 

2 Lemons (Equivilant To 1 Cup).

Mrs. Dash (Substitute To Salt).

1/4 Cup Of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

 

Mix these ingredients well & drizzle on chicken, pork, or fish.

Photo Of The Day: Rodidedroms In Full Bloom

Look at these beautiful flowers.  I've been waiting for them to burst for the last few days, & today here's the winning results. 

SOLD

Flower Patch Crochet Hook, SOLD.  Free Gift: Scribbled Heart Pendant From My Wild At Heart Pendant Series.

Photo Of The Day: Flowering Cherry Tree

We have a few flowering trees in our front & back yard.  These flowers just started to bloom & I had to grab a photo because they're beautiful, spring is on it's way, & warm weather is coming.  They're from a flowering cherry tree.

Photo Of The Day: Sunset

March 8, 2013, we had one of the most nastiest snow storms.  Mom & I decided to close the shop because of the weather & the roads.  After the snow storm, this we had this gorgous sunset.  This photo was taken @ 6:08p.m. after the storm.  By the next day, most of the snow was melted.

Photo Of The Day: Vintage Box

Inspired by one of mom's client's, this old fashioned fruit box caught my eye the second I saw it.  I saw the Grove Fresh Florida Fruit & had to take a photo.  I love this photograph so much now, I use it for most of my profile pictures.

Today's Menu: Pork Tenderloin With Grilled Vegetables

Grilling. I love It. Spring 2013., a photo by LaurenProck on Flickr.

Time for the famous way to prepare food in the spring & summer, it's time to start to grill again. I've got some great heart, healthy recipes that will satisfy you in every way. Here's today's dinner menu.

Honey Dijon Pork Tenderloin.
Grilled Vadalia Onion With Mrs. Dash.
Broccoli.
Grilled Sweet Potato.
Sliced Mango.

Cooking Process, What To Eat, Winning Results.

Slice potatoes in the center so they cook on the inside.  Wrap in tin foil & cook for 35-40 minutes.

Honey Dijon (pre marinade pork tenderloin).  Pre marinaded pork tenderloins are quick, easy, & full of flavor.  Know this though, they're loaded with sodium.  Grilling will reduce the sodium.  Cooking time is about 30-35 minutes.

Vadalia onions with cooking spray & Mrs. Dash.

Vadalia onions on the grill.  Cooking time, 2-3 minutes on each side.

Blanch broccoli for 5 minutes (room temperature water), drain, season with Mrs Dash & low-fat parmesan cheese. 

Bon apetit.

 

 

 

 

Small And Unique

What a beautiful bunch of hearts that I created today & are currently for sale on my etsy shop.  You're welcome to add your favorite silver chain to these heart pendants.  Prices, details, & much more are on my etsy shop. 

Frosted Mauve Heart Pendant.

Teal Pearl Heart Pendant.

Cherry Tree Heart Pendant.

 

Bestill My Heart

I love hearts.  They define the meaning of beauty inside & out.  I became inspired within the last two weeks to start making heart pendants of all kinds.  These four were just created yesterday & today & added to my etsy shop.  Prices, details, & shipping are on my etsy shop.  Custom hearts are always welcome. 

Garden Heart Pendant.

Firing Sun Heart Pendant.

Anchor Heart Pendant.

Green Pearl Heart Pendant.

 

 

 

Coming Soon

Pin Of The Day

One of the most awesome pins that I've seen on pinterest in the last few days. Spring is almost here & warm weather is on it's way. Can't wait.

New Crochet Hooks

I've had lots of things on my mind lately.  Most of the things on my mind involve nature, tools, handcrafted items, & much more.  I just created these lovely crochet hooks this weekend & completed them today.  For purchasing details, stop by my etsy pocket shop on the side of my website.

Sunrise Crochet Hook.

 

Green Swamp Crochet Hook.

Shamrock Crochet Hook.

Red-Pink Rose Crochet Hook.

 

 

Happy Easter

Lauren would like to wish everyone a safe & happy Easter. 

My First Day Outside. Spring 2013.

My First Day Outside. Spring 2013., a photo by LaurenProck on Flickr.

What a glorious day outside. I decided to come home a little early & go outside & rake. Well, my little friend Ginger goes where her mommy goes. She loves hanging outside with her theather. I decided to take a little brake & take this photograph. Fellow readers, meet my baby, Ginger.

Tile Making

I've been working on new stamp techniques, ideas, & designs for backsplash tiles in kitchens, bathrooms, & much more.  Stay tuned for more photos, patterns, & the way these tiles look.

Pin Of The Day

Source: oceanstyles.com viaPaula on Pinterest

I've been thinking about paradise a lot this winter with the cold, snow, ice, & everything else with it. This pin that I chose looks like a piece of art within itself.  I love pinterest because you can get lots of great ideas, share items, & promote yourself. I discovered this lovely pin from pinterest today.

New Rug

I just love these colors.  They remind me of the sky, the ocean, & anything else that comes to mind.  I'm currently experimenting with rugs of all sizes for people to place in their homes.  Rugs can be small for a little table, to medium for a coffee table, to large for a big room.  Stay tuned to see what happens with this gorgous area rug.

When's It Gonna Stop?

I'm not complaining because we've had a descent winter.  Let me tell you something, I love the sunshine because it makes me smile, snow, clouds, & cold makes me not to happy.  We had yet another snow storm last night & we've decided to close the shop today because of the weather.  I can't wait until spring, leaves, flowers, grilling outside, & much more. 

Pin Of The Day

Source: mellymoments.blogspot.com via Linda on Pinterest

My goal eventually is to own a winter home in Naples, Florida. I love warm places in the winter & want to have a nice warm place in the winter eventually. I chose this photo from Pinterest today because I love the beach. Eventually, I'll also be sharing my adventures in Naples, Florida.

Spring Cleaning

Mom & I were doing the usual at the shop yesterday.  Nice, early lunch, working on items for the shop & our etsy shops, & of course, taking down the decorations & getting ready for spring.  Yesterday for the first time, it was the most beautiful day outside.  We didn't even need to wear a jacket outside.  I took this photo with my phone yesterday.  It's a picture of the sun & the beams from the front porch at the shop. 

 

 

Pin Of The Day

Source: pinterest.com via Wholesale Apparel & Accessories (H.K.) on Pinterest

I love the beach, especially in the winter. Collecting sea-shells is one of my favorite things to do when I walk on the beach. I wish I was at the beach right now, instead of in a cold environment.

After The Snow Storm

You can never predict the weather forcast because one minute they say a few inches of snow, the next minute they say several inches of snow.  We had a snow storm today & enjoyed a day at home.  This photograph was taken @ 6:05p.m. in Niskayuna, New York.    Tomorrow is suppose to be sunny, beautiful & what I like to call, semi warm. 

Pin Of The Day

Source: style-files.com via Lauren on Pinterest

What a brilliant decorating idea for the outside of your home this spring or summer. Get ideas like these & many more from pinterest today.

New Crochet Piece

I finally finished the green rug that I was working on & gave it to my parents.  I winded up putting it in the downstairs bathroom.  This is the new piece that I'm working on.  It's going to be a large floor rug.  Stay tuned for more details on this new piece.

 

What Are You Reading

Lauren's bookshelf: read



More of Lauren's books »

What are you reading today? Are you reading a mystery novel? Fiction? Non-fiction? Or are you researching. I discovered this great website a few months ago called goodreads. This is by far one of the most greatest websites that I've discovered. Type in a book that you've read or you want to read & share it. I just shared that I've read, Handmade Nation. Follow me on GoodReads today & see what I've read.  Another thing that I love about this website is that you can type in a book & read what it's about before you buy it.  Share, read, connect.

My New Banner

I finally found something that I thought that was gone.  I discovered this website a while ago & fell in love with this banner.  I didn't use it for a while & when I got my new laptop, I lost the downloaded part.   Well I was happy when I stumbled upon it this morning & used it for my etsy banner & my cover photo for my fan page on facebook.  Take a look at my etsy shop today.  You'll be amazed.

 

Pin Of The Day

 

Source: Uploaded by user via Lauren on Pinterest   

 

I'd rather be here then being in the cold & snow. I will share a photo of the day on my blog from pinterest. Something that inspires me, something that I want to share, & something that looks beautiful.