Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Cauliflower "Breadsticks"


Cauliflower Breadsticks Recipe by Isn't that Sew
Cauliflower Breadsticks, who knew.  What a healthy snack! It took me a few tries to get these perfect...but, they are the best thing to happen to my 80/20 Paleo diet since Spaghetti Squash. This is how you make them....

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Monday, January 28, 2013

DIY recycled denim clutch

how to make a clutch

Recycled Denim
How to make a denim clutch

Ever had a pair of old blue jeans, maybe with a hole in them, or they just didn't fit anymore? Me too. Need a project to use up all that bountiful denim? How about a denim clutch! You can use it to store make-up or your point and shoot...and maybe a million other things! Here is what you will need;

Recycled Denim Clutch
9" X 12" piece of denim
8" X 10" cotton lining
8" X 10" Fusible Interfacing
1" piece of velcro
Various stripes of both denim and cotton for embellishment

Using your decorative strips of cotton, turn and press the edges under so that it is smaller than the decorative strip of denim. Pin in place and then top stitch the two strips together. Make as many of these as you want in any size to decorate the outside of your clutch. Make sure the cotton is smaller than the denim, so it can later be frayed. You could also do his in reverse like I have for one of my strips. Next, pin them in place on your 9" X 12" denim fabric to create your design. Cut to correct length Carefully top stitch them in place. Fray your denim to your liking. You can simply just pull out the denim threads one by one until you have achieved the amount of fray that you like. Fuse your cotton lining with your interfacing. Then, place fused side of lining to wrong side of denim and edge stitch all the way around lining. Now, create your bindings for the opening of clutch. I just cut them to the desired length, turned the edges under and pressed. Then, I sewed on the 1" piece of Velcro to the inside of the binding and pinned bindings over the raw edge opening of the clutch and top stitched in place. Lastly, I stitched the sides together and once again frayed the edges! This project took me less than an hour to complete and works great store all of my small pattern drafting supplies, like my awl, seam ripper, tracing wheel, etc. Hope you enjoy being crafty!!! -Ruth-

Upcycled Denim


Isn't that Sew DIY Archieve

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Saturday, January 26, 2013

1970's inspired wall art

free printable wall art

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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Clarified butter ; Homemade

Isn't that Sew

Clarified butter is so awesome to saute veggies because unlike regular butter, it doesn't burn! You can use much higher heat when cooking with clarified butter than you can with plain old butter.  How cool is that!
Ingredients: 2-4 sticks of Unsalted butter (depending on how much you need for the week, the process is the same no matter how big a batch you want to make)
Heat unsalted butter in a heavy-duty sauce pan over low heat until melted. Let simmer for a bit while and wait for the "foam" to rise to the top. Once the foam stops rising, remove from heat and skim off the milk solids or foam. You can save the foam if you want, it might be good on popcorn or added to soups and stews. Next, line a mesh strainer with a few layers of cheesecloth and strain into a mason jar. Be very careful while pouring! Clarified butter or "ghee" will store well for up to 6 months in the refrigerator. Once refrigerated, butter will harden making it easy to work with when sauteing veggies! -Ruth-

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Berry Smoothie

Isn't that Sew
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
 smoothie

So, I must confess. A four berry banana smoothie is my breakfast several times a week. It's quick, it's easy, and it's yummy. There is nothing fancy about this smoothie, but I can tell you it is healthier and tastier than any smoothie you can purchase. I prefer to use the juice of an actual orange, but orange juice will do. I like to use really ripe banana's for this smoothie that is not frozen since the berries are frozen.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup Townsend Farms Triple Berry Blend, 1 cup Anacapa Frozen Strawberries, 1 medium banana, 1/2 cup orange juice. Place banana in the bottom of blender or magic bullet, followed by strawberries, and tripple berry blend. Next, add your orange juice and blend! Yeah, it's that easy. Takes a minute and tastes great! Perfect for on the go. -Ruth-

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Monday, January 21, 2013

Miranda Skirt


Isn't that SEw
Isn't that Sew
Miranda Skirt and Belt (Thrifted) // Boots (Steve Madden) // Top (Target)
Earrings (Sam Moon) // Sweater (Marshalls) // Bracelet (Mexico)


It was really warm here this weekend, and you know what that means... Skirts and tank tops! I am really hoping the weather "broke" so to speak and we continue this warming trend. 70°, really? It was awesome.
I really didn't do much of anything this weekend besides laundry, crafts, and the highlight was I taught myself how to make a video in Photoshop CS6. So cool. While my video was terrible, I at least got the basics down pat and now it is only a matter of practice and more video tutorials! How was your weekend? -Ruth-

P.S. it's called the Miranda skirt because a past dear friend of mine gifted me this lovely thrifted skirt. 

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Saturday, January 19, 2013

Insta-week

Instagram
Paleo Friendly Burgers // Sleepy Sophee // Ice 
Beef Stew // Gift from Chinese friend // Peppers and onions
Food Gawker Submission // Me // Italian Sausage

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Friday, January 18, 2013

1970's inspired wall art

free printable wall art

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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Almond Butter and Banana Smoothie





Almond Butter and a Banana is one of my favorite snacks! So, combining them into a smoothie is such a treat! In fact, it tastes more like a milkshake than a smoothie. This is such an easy recipe. Honestly, the hardest part is to remember to freeze the banana. Simply combine your ingredients and blend! Simple as that. Enjoy it! -Ruth-

Almond Butter and Banana Smoothie
1 Frozen Banana
2-3 Tbsp. Almond Butter
1  to 1 1/2 cups Coconut milk
*you can use the can or the box
For an extra bit of flare, try adding 1 Tbsp. Nutella



Isn't that Sew Recipes Archive

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Saturday, January 12, 2013

Sweaters and Leggings

Minnetonka
Minnetonka
Minnetonka

Dress (Tape Measure clothing line-no longer available) // Leggings (Old Navy)
Sweater (RXB) purchased at ((Marshalls) // Boots (Minnetonka)
Belt (thrifted) 

So, it is raining...again. We had heavy rain here in North Texas on Tuesday and Wednesday. It doesn't really bother me though because we hardly ever get any inclement weather...so it's nice for a change. Perfect for a day of relaxation, a good book, and some hot tea! I don't have anything super exciting planned for the weekend and that's all right with me. I am still recuperating from the Holidays and our trip to Chicago. I plan to spend the rest of the weekend cooking yummy food and catching up on some projects. Happy weekend y'all! -Ruth-

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Friday, January 11, 2013

Vintage

Vintage
Hey, y'all...Have a happy weekend! I'm off to the Antique mall and thrift shops! Wish me luck!-Ruth-
 
Blouse and Cardigan (Marshalls) Jeans (Old Navy) 
Earrings (Sam Moon) Hat (Thrifted)

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Thursday, January 10, 2013

Rosemary Garlic Fries

 

Aren't french fries the best? You know what, they are even better when you make them yourself. If you bake them, you don't even have to feel all that guilty about eating them. Well, except for the carbs. I've been eating a mostly Paleo diet, but I allow myself to eat regular potatoes every now and again. Life just wouldn't be the same without them.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Soak potatoes in warm water for fifteen minutes. Drain and dry well. Slice potatoes thin. Place potatoes into a bowl or plastic bag and drizzle with 1-2 tbsp. of olive oil and a generous amount of rosemary garlic seasoning. Shake well. Coat baking sheet with olive oil and transfer fries to baking sheet making sure the potatoes are lined up and not touching! Cover with foil and bake for 5 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes. Next, removing baking sheet and gently nudge fries to prevent any sticking. If needed, bake for another five to ten minutes. Remove. Salt. Enjoy. -Ruth-

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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Inspire. Create. Change. Free Printable Wall Art

free printable wall art

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Monday, January 7, 2013

Simple and Meaningful | Intentional Living

Isn't that Sew
Isn't that SEw

Intentional Living. So what does it really mean? To me, it means to think, speak, act, and live with complete purpose.  Intentional living is something I strive for everyday and it is very hard to accomplish. I have literally been focusing on this for over a decade. To be honest, I do well at times and completely fall off the wagon at other times. And I have to remind myself that is oaky. The strange thing is that I am such a habitual and routine oriented type of person, that it leaves me dumbfounded as to why this particular habit is so hard to cultivate. Maybe it is because it hard, really hard. In times of stress, doubt, frustration, and even excitement I tend to not think, but rather react. And, I know from my past that only a fool reacts.

I have added this goal, once again, to my personal goals list for 2013. I would like to share with you some of my personal thoughts on how to achieve and intentional life full of purpose and direction!

Cultivating Habits  Creating a purpose, setting goals (but not to many), and living in the present are a few ways that I like to help myself cultivate good habits. Life is made up of choices, a lot of them! Every single day is a another opportunity to choose the path you want to follow.
Simplify your life A good place to start is with in our homes. Becoming a minimalist and de-cluttering our surroundings is a great start. You will have less "stuff" to maintain and clean, and ultimately less to worry about! Possessions do not add to our quality of life, they only subtract from the things that are truly important to us. Stop comparing yourself to others and decide what is important to you!. Another way to simplify your life is to access your commitments and learn to say "NO!". It's never a good idea to stretch yourself to thin, because then you will never really be giving all of yourself. Lastly, examine popular culture and decide for yourself what to take from it and what to leave behind.
Spirituality Whether you believe in the holy trinity, nature, or gnomes, finding spirituality, believing in something more than ourselves and our surroundings is crucial to leading a simple and meaningful life. Without spirituality, there is not meaning. If you do not have a strong sense of faith, maybe try doing some research and diving deep within yourself to find your purpose.
Physical Activity Let's get physical! Get up and move, it will help you connect your mind and body. I enjoy hiking, biking, and yoga to achieve the ultimate mind/body connection, but do what works for you! And don't forget to have fun! Being active will also help you to fight depression, weak immunity, and boredom. 
Mental Stability Take a little time out, grab a notebook and take some time to do a little inner reflection. Figure out where your talents, passions, strengths, and weaknesses lie. 
Affirmations I like to start my day off by literally creating my day, verbally. I tend to do a prayer/affirmation/day planner type of thing, literally, out loud. I usually do this on my drive to work so that it's semi-private. Well, except for all the other folks in their vehicles wondering why I am talking to myself. I'm not crazy guys! I promise. This activity just helps me to stay focused on the things I intend to accomplish throughout the day. Try it! 

This is a topic very near and dear to my heart, so thank you for reading! -Ruth-


“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” – Wayne W. Dyer

Isn't that Sew

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Saturday, January 5, 2013

Weekend


Isn't that Sew

Blouse (Marshalls) Jeans (Old Navy) Feather Necklace, earring, and tie dye vest (me made)

Do I even have to say it? I LOVE the weekend. I know I just had a nine day vacation, but it doesn't matter...the weekend is priceless. The hubs and are probably going to lay low the rest of the weekend since we have been so busy lately. What are your plans? -Ruth-

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Friday, January 4, 2013

2013 Goals - Blog and Business

Isn't that Sew


1. Blog. I will continue to grow Isn't that Sew by documenting my life to share with others. Despite my busy full-time design job, I will make the blog a priority!
2. Shop. I will be working very hard to design and develop some neat things for the Isn't that Sew shop, which I plan to launch this year, 2013. This is something I have always wanted to do, and what better time than now!
3. Seriously, you love it!





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Thursday, January 3, 2013

2013 Goals - Relationship

Isn't that Sew


1. Building a strong foundation. Through Jesus, better communication, and intimacy my husband and I will continue to build a strong foundation to build our lives upon.
2. Quality time. Spending quality time is important. Listening is even more important. Sometimes, I'm not the best at either of these things. Sometimes, I get too wrapped up in my head to be in the here and now and to really listen. Through my personal goal of living, thinking, speaking, and acting with intention, I will be spending more quality time with my spouse.
3. Start and end with a kiss. One word, important.


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Wednesday, January 2, 2013

2013 Goals - Personal

Isn't that Sew

1. Stay active both physically and spiritually. I listed this as number one because I think that this is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves, on a personal level. To connect spiritually with a higher power and our bodies helps us to stay close to the our source of our strength both mentally and physically. I believe that having faith is so crucial to our mental strength, that without if we literally have nothing to live for! I also believe that we need to stay physically active to feel good and combat depression.  
2. Continue to follow the paleo diet. Okay, so maybe this one is sort of weird. But, I have been following this lifestyle for the last two months of the 2012 and it has helped me to not only loose 15lbs, but to feel great, sleep through the night, avoid head and body aches, reduce inflammation and bloating, and to have an all around better mood on a daily basis.  I cannot turn my back on such wonderful things....just for a cookie or a bowl of pasta....Nah!
3. Live, think, speak, and act with intention. This one is very important to me. I do not do this often enough. Once the hustle and bustle of daily life set in, I get easily distracted. I have been trying to make this one of my personal priorities for a long time...and I continue to keep on this path. 


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Tuesday, January 1, 2013

2013 Goals

Isn't that Sew


This year I have decided to create three distinct categories for my goals; Personal // Relationship // and Business. It just seemed to make more sense to me to categorize them. The next three days, I will share with you my three goals from each of the three categories listed above. I kept it to three, because, well,  I love the number three and because it's nice to keep things simple. 
What are your goals for this new year? -Ruth-

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