Who Needs Italy when you can make your own Limoncello!

Seriously…who doesn’t like Limoncello?  I tried it for the first time in 2010 when I visited a variety of Cities in Italy and fell in love.  It’s sweet, lemony and delicious!  It’s so easy to make your own…why didn’t I do this years ago!

Here’s the finished product.  It lasts for a year or two, so no need to drink it fast.  And I can always give them as gifts!

DSC_3442

Here’s the recipe…take 7 large lemons…organic is better and a liter (about 4 1/4 cups) of vodka.  I used Sveda Vodka.  It’s good quality and reasonably priced.

DSC_3119

Take a vegetable peeler and peel the zest.  Be careful not to  peel too deeply because you don’t want the bitter white pith of the lemon skin.  Add the zest to the alcohol, cover with plastic wrap, and place somewhere cool for a week.

On Day 6, make a simple syrup with 5 cups of water and 3 cups of sugar.  Boil the water and add the sugar to the boiling water.  Stir the sugar until it is fully dissolved in the water and then let it cool over night.

On Day 7, strain the lemon peels from the alcohol,  pour the alcohol into the simple syrup and stir well.

Serve chilled, from the refrigerator or freezer.

DSC_3122

How easy is that!

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

DIY Large Photo Wall Art

If you’d like to use one of your own photos for a DIY Photo Wall Art project, Sugar Bee Crafts  has a great post to walk you through each step.  For less than $15 I was able to make a 3′ x 4′ piece of art with a photograph I took in California!  It’s hanging in my office, so I can look out the window at the woods and look on the wall at the woods!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I found the idea on Pinterest and followed the link!  It’s a great idea for photos of people also.  Next, I’d like to make some for friends!

“In a Pickle Bag”

I came across a website “In A Pickle” from Pinterest that sells small bags that contain most things you would need if you ever find yourself “in a pickle” and thought it was a great idea, so I made my own.

My bag contains some of the same items theirs do but I customized mine to suit me.  I often carry some of these items around in my purse anyway, but I like having them in this clear bag that I bought at a pharmacy for $8.  It opens into two separate compartments.  It will be great for travel!  Here’s a list to give you some ideas of what to put into yours, if you decide to make one:

Travel size mouth wash – toothpaste – dental floss – hand lotion – mineral powder & brush – rubber bands – hair bands – bobby pins – post it notes & pen – eye drops – spray pen hand sanitizer – pill-box – ear plugs – band aids – pocket knife with cork screw – facial cleansing towelettes – matches – q-tips – cotton balls – mini perfume – paper clips – safety-pin – mini sewing kit

Yesterday, I spent the day with my girlfriend Dee and we went out to lunch – shopping – and to happy hour.  The funny thing is that I never carry around a sewing kit and the skirt I had on ripped while we were shopping so my bag came in handy!  I spent more than I anticipated on some Lancome facial moisturizer, Armani perfume and a Yves Saint Laurent highlighter pencil.  We have to treat ourselves sometimes!

I’ve done really well with the Paleo Plan this past week – although at lunch with Dee I did have a sandwich that came on a pretzel bun.  It’s O.K. to treat yourself every now and then!  (Didn’t I just say that?)

Here’s a photo of Dee, another friend Shari and myself at Happy Hour.  My other girlfriend Cindy stopped by for a glass of wine, but I didn’t get a photo…

I thought my Olympus PEN camera’s flash was broken because the last few times I tried it – it didn’t work – so that’s why this photo’s lighting isn’t very good.  The odd thing is that I tried it today and it works!  I’m so glad because I called the camera store and it would be less expensive to buy the same camera on Amazon than to get the built-in flash fixed.

One last tip from Pinterest for today – mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water and mix into a paste for a great facial exfoliater!  My face really glowed afterwards!

 

 

Happy Easter

I’d like to wish everyone a Happy Easter!  I’ll be spending mine with ex-family–I know it’s complicated.  We’re going to my brother’s ex-wife’s sister’s house.  My brother won’t be there because he and his wife have other plans (we all usually get together).  Hopefully my son will make it there.

I made a centerpiece for his ex-wife and her sister.  Here’s a photo…

Image

I found the idea on Pinterest.  They’re quite simple (a little labor intensive) and inexpensive to make.  Hardboil four dozen eggs, color them, and add real or “fake” flowers.  I chose fake so that they can be used again next year.

Cost:

Walmart glass containers               $12

Eggs @ $1.00 per dozen                 $ 4

Dye                                                      $ 1

Flowers (from the dollar store)     $12

Total                 $29 divided by 2 = $14.50 each

Sending peace, love, joy, happiness, safety and clarity to you!

~~Sherry~~

Care Bag for the Homeless

Guess where I got the idea to make “care bags” for the homeless–you guessed—Pinterest!

I went to Sam’s and bought most of the individually wrapped food items and to Wal-Mart  for the personal care items.  I plan on giving a pack to friends and family to keep in their cars for when the opportunity presents itself.  In warmer months, people will be standing at certain intersections with signs…but I haven’t seen any lately.

Here’s a photo of the finished pack…

I’ve done a variety of volunteer work in the past…ranging from babysitting abused women’s babies who are living in shelters…tutoring children…pouring sodas at a Cincinnati Charity…serving Hors d’oeuvre at a fundraiser…chaperoning kids at a church sponsored church event, helping to sort food at the Free Store Food Bank, delivering Christmas (tree, food, presents) to a deserving family in Over-the-Rhine area in Cincinnati, etc. etc.

There are so many charities…it’s difficult to decide which ones to get involved with.  But I’ve been drawn to the homeless people lately.  Perhaps my recent visit to San Francisco where there are a lot of homeless has sparked this interest.

Now to find the homeless people.  I live in a suburb…but I know what areas I need to go to…to find them.  I don’t like to give them money in case they have a drug or alcohol issue.

I believe most of us can’t imagine what it would be like to live on the streets (especially in the cold) and have people pass by us without even acknowledging our existence.  Stray dogs get more attention.  It’s quite appalling.  I know that many of them have a drug or alcohol dependence, but they didn’t start off saying…I think I want to grow up to be a “drug addict”!

I’ll do what I can…when I can.  Peace to all!!