An Idiot Abroad

Every single episode has me cracking up. 

The premise:

Carl Pilkington is an English bloke that just never had an interest to travel and was content with his life.  Well, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant make him travel all over the world, setting him up in dingy hotels, and partake in local customs, however unpleasant and uncomfortable they are.

The stuff Carl says and the awkardness about him is what makes the show.  I can watch every episode multiple times and still laugh my butt off. 

There's only 3 seasons of this series, so it's an easy marathon watch. 

Check it out. 

An Idiot Abroad.  It's on Netflix and possibly through your cable provider.

You'll be glad you were introduced to Carl Pilkington.


My favorite episode:  episode 3 of the first season.
He's floating around in the Dead Sea and reacts to something the camera guy mentions. 

I can't. 

You just have to watch. 

A Cat's Life

Old Man Winter

Like many parts of the country, winter is leaving his mark.

I've been lucky enough I didn't have to work in the worst of it, so I'm loving this snow!  

Stay warm my friends!

30 Before 30: Learn to Sew

I can cross something else on my list!

 

I actually did this back in September and never got around to mentioning it til now. 

 

We took the dog to the beach and for the roadtrip, I wanted a seat cover.  But I didn't want to use any of the ones I saw in stores.  Then I figured this would be an easy first time sewing project.  Off to the fabric stores I went.

 

I ended up finding clearance outdoor fabric for $6/yard.  Heck yes!  Outdoor fabric is meant to used as upholstery for outdoor furniture, so they're a little durable and easier to wipe off than other fabrics.  And the design was way cuter than those plain ole covers I was seeing commercially.  I mean, my dog has to have some class.

 

After purchasing 2 yards of fabric, thread, and bungee straps, I spent around $20.  Not too bad.

 

First, I hemmed up all the sides to get rid of the frayed edges.  Then I sewed the straps into loops on one side.  On the opposite side, I folded over the top and sewed additonal straps, so all I have to do is drape that side over the top of the back seat.

 

And that was it. 

 

 

Now Gypsy can sit in my backseat with her dirty little paws and not stain my upholstery.  This also prevents her from falling onto the floor everytime I turn or brake, which she did all the time. 

This was a good beginner project.  I winged it without measuring anything out and had a problem aligining the straps.  But the design on the fabric was forgiving and hid my uneven stitching and mess ups. 

And since then, I've had other uses with my sewing machine.  I've fixed hems and holes, so, yep, I can say I know how to sew!

Tasty Thursday: Peppermint and Pretzel White Chocolate Bark

Need a way to use up those leftover candy canes from Christmas?  Crush em up!  Along with crushed pretzels and white chocolate, you've got yourself a sweet and salty treat.

The last time I made chocolate bark, it didn't turn out so well.  They were as fragile as egg shells and started to melt as soon as they were touched.

Mindy at Creative Juice made the chocolate bark in a way that was sturdy enough to break into pieces but not melt at the sheer touch of fingers.

Here's what you do:

-Crush up some pretzels.  I crushed a handful at a time until I had about a cup.

-Crush up 2 candy canes...or more, whatevs.

-Melt some white chocolate.  I used 1 bag of Tollhouse chips and got about a square foot of chocolate to break up.  I melted half of the chocolates at a time.

-Pour the melted chocolate onto some parchment paper.  Spread it out to make it even along the surface.

-Sprinkle half of the crushed pretzels over the chocolate while it's still melty.  I pressed the bigger pieces into the chocolate to make sure they're nice and snug.

-Then go and do something to pass the time.  The chocolate has to cool completely and harden.

-Melt the rest of the chocolate and pour over the cool chocolate, spreading it evenly.

-Sprinkle the rest of the pretzels and crushed candy canes, pressing the bigger pieces into the chocolate.  

-Twiddle your thumbs while waiting for the chocolate to cool and harden.

-Break up the chocolate into pieces...or eat the thing whole.  Your choice.

Tasty Thursday

I have a slight obsession with Where's Waldo.  Every time I see a Where's Waldo book, my face lights up.  I've loved Waldo since childhood.  It's something about finding a man in a striped sweater and his friends that get me all excited...

For Christmas yesterday, the BF got me a compilation book of all the Where's Waldo puzzles.

Best. Christmas. Ever.

I've only had the chance to complete one puzzle and I've come to this conclusion.  There's no way a nine year old can do them.  Ain't no way.  After a couple of minutes, my brain was hurting and it felt like I was growing cataracts or something on my eyes, they were so sore.

Anyway, this Christmas I tried out two recipes that are definite keepers.  One's an appetizer type and the other's a boozy type.

I made Killer Artichoke Bread from The Girl Who Ate Everything.  Let me start off by saying that it really was killer.  You can't go wrong with bread, cheese and butter.  And artichokes are vegetables.  Right?  So it can't be THAT bad for you.

Killer Artichoke Bread
adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything

-1/4 c butter
-big spoonful of minced garlic
-14 oz jar of marinated artichoke hearts, well drained and chopped
-about a cup of shredded Mozzarella
-about half a cup of shredded pepper jack
-about half a cup of grated Parmesan
-1/2 c sour cream
-1 loaf of Italian bread, sliced lengthwise
-salt and pepper, to taste

Melt the butter over medium-high heat.  Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.  Add the chopped artichoke, cheeses and sour cream.  Stir until everything is combined and remove from heat.

Spoon the artichoke/cheese mixture onto the bread.  Broil for about 4-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starts to brown.

Slice into pieces and you got yourself some cheesy artichokey goodness.

And since you've wrecked your diet by eating this bread, you might as well make yourself a boozy milkshake later.

This peppermint milkshake requires three must have ingredients:  peppermint schnapps, vanilla ice cream and whole milk.  Whole milk!  What!?  I know.  But the thick milk helps it have that creamy thickness that alot of milkshakes have.  And it's still thin enough you can drink through a straw without having a brain aneurysm.  And besides, at this point you've already gone past the point of no return with your calorie intake, so what the heck.  Indulge.

Peppermint Cocktail Milkshake
-1 c whole milk
-2 c vanilla ice cream
-3 oz peppermint schnapps

Blend everything together.  If you have some candy canes laying around, crush 'em up and add those too!  I don't want to say this makes two servings because, honestly, I could drink the whole darn thing, so enough for two glasses it makes instead.  And if you're feeling really fancy, add whipped cream on the top.

Truth

The proper way to eat pumpkin pie.