Apron for a teacher

So yesterday I had big plans to go and get a gift certificate for the twins teacher. Today was the last day of school and needless to say I waited until the very last minute. Well I had people putting in a tile backsplash in my kitchen all day and couldn't leave the house. I figured since I was "trapped" in the house for the day I would do something productive. So I made an apron for their teacher for a gift. I luckily had fabric left over from one that I made for a girl at church.. I knew there was a good reason that I always "hoard" fabric- for instances just like this.. need fabric, can't get to the store.
This is what I made- I gave it to their teacher today along with a smaller gift certificate to Starbucks (managed to swing over there late yesterday)- the colors are off- I had to use my flash since I finished it after midnight.. it's black with hot pink..

Beach Art

Here is a better picture of my last painting. It's my favorite of any that I have painted.

Messenger Bag

I wanted a messenger bag to take to Chicago. I went a few weeks ago with my daughter's class. This one turned out pretty well considering that I didn't have a pattern. The handle did start coming unstiched about 1/2 way through the trip and I had to borrow a sewing kit from the hotel, but other than that it was a great bag, easy to carry around.

The Movie Room..

We are in the process of finishing our basement. Much to my husband's delight we have room now for a dedicated movie theater. Since we took most of the equipment from our old house (projector, screen, receiver) we should be able to set it up right away.

I was looking for durable carpet in a dark color for in there but was coming up blank, then I saw this..

The lighting is a bit off but the carpet has a dark brown background. The walls will be the lighter of the 2 shades of red with the brown being used for ceilings and trim.

I'm pretty sure I'm going with these sconces for lighting (still debating about doing chrome instead)..

we also picked out this (great deal at Sams Club):

and these (but in red leather):

Grilled Pizza 'a la Costco...

Last night I made pizza on the grill. It turned out so great (good crispy thin crust) I thought I would share the recipe here. I hesitate to call it a recipe, since most of the ingredients were pre-made from costco, but I had fun making it up:

Grilled Shrimp Pesto Pizza
1 recipe pizza dough (to follow)
1 jar pre-made pesto sauce
10-20 medium shrimp, peeled raw
Fresh Mozzarella Cheese sliced very thin.
Olive Oil
1 Jar Roasted Red Peppers, diced

Preheat Grill on high- Get the temperate of the grill to about 500 degrees.
Marinate shrimp in olive oil and 1 T of pre made pesto sauce (about 1/2 hr- do this while you make the dough). Grill until just done. Cut off tails and set aside.
Roll out pizza dough until it is very thin! (like you can almost see through it thin)
Using a silicone brush, brush grill with olive oil. Place pizza dough on hot grill. Let grill until the crust bubbles, then using tongs turn over.
Brush crust with olive oil, then spread on pesto sauce, cut up shrimp, diced red peppers and mozzarella cheese. Close lid to grill and cook just until cheese is melted.
Remove.
It would be fun to do for a party. I let each of my kids "shape" their own dough- I learned from the kids the thinner the better, but the kids each enjoyed making shapes with the dough (I cooked it for them, the grill was too hot).

Pizza Dough

Combine:
3 C. all purpose flour
1 envelope quick rise yeast (2 1/4 t)
1 T Sugar
1 T kosher salt.

Place in mixer with dough attachment, mix dry ingredients then add:
1 C warm water
2 T. olive oil
Mix until dough forms a ball, add more water if necessary 1T at a time.

Grease dough with olive oil and place in a bowl covered with plastic wrap until doubled in size, about 1 hr.