Christmas Carol Garlands

The baker's twine sure is coming in handy for all of my crafty endeavors. Last year I saw this photo and wanted to make some garlands of my own.

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I put together a little DIY for all of you who would like to make some festive Christmas carol garlands.

Supplies needed: red cardstock, scissors, tape, baker's twine (or any thin string), and a paper cutter.

Cut cardstock in half, each piece can make one letter.

Cut letters out of cardstock, I free handed all of mine; and it really is easier than you think.

Tape the letters to the string.

The finished product, I love how it turned out, it makes the apartment so festive! Tape garland to the ceiling, it is pretty light weight so the scotch tape is strong enough to keep the garland from falling.

In the bedroom, this is such a quick project and adds so much to the overall look of a room.

The Problem With Korean Instructions...

What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Trilingual. What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual. What do you call somone who speaks one language? An American.

Well, that about sums it up.

My parents spent several years living in South Korea and I always looked forward to the fun packages my mom would send me laden with Korean goodies. However some of these goodies turned out to be a bit problematic.

These felt craft kits come complete with everything needed to make a box of chocolates, a birthday cake, and little rabbits, unfortunately the direction are all in Korean. Even though I was in Korea for 3 months, the only Korean words I can muster up are "how much", "hello", "goodbye" and "mom". I feel like these words wont get me very far with these kits. I am endeavoring to make the birthday cake and just interpret the instructions the best I can.

I noticed on the directions that there was a website listed, but it was in Korean. I used Google translator to convert the page, but it only translated about 1/3 of the website. Blast.

Upon further inspection of the pattern, I noticed that there are numbers printed on the pattern, it shouildn't be that hard, right?

New Discoveries

I have been wanting to make Thai Coconut Lemongrass soup for some time now, but I was having the hardest time finding lemongrass stalks. Yesterday my manager at work told me about Allgreen Market, a grocery store that sells Asian and Latino groceries. Well, I certainly had fun in there yesterday! Not only did I find lemongrass stalks (for $0.39!) but I found an entire houseware section full of Asian goodies, the things they sold reminded me of my time in Korea. The soup recipe I made with the lemongrass turned out so delicious that I have decided to post it.

Tofu Coconut Soup with Lemongrass
4 cups chicken stock
4 slices peeled fresh ginger
1 large lemongrass stalk, cut into 2 inch pieces and crushed
Grated zest of 1 large lime
2 (14-ounce) cans unsweetened coconut milk
1/4 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon red chili paste
1 package of firm tofu, cut into bit sized pieces
1/2 pound fresh enoki mushrooms
5 small fresh green or red chilies, sliced crosswise, paper-thin
Fresh cilantro leaves
1 Package of rice noodles

In a large saucepan, combine the stock, ginger, lemongrasss and lime zest. Place over medium heat and slowly bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Reduce heat to low, add the coconut milk, stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Add the lime juice, brown sugar and chile paste. Mix well and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the tofu, mushrooms, and rice noodles and simmer until tender.
To serve ladle soup into warmed bowls. Float the chili slices and cilantro leaves on top.
Serves 4 to 6.

Yum!

I saw this cute little bunny bowl at Allgreens (it has a plastic cover for it too, for delicious leftovers) and dearest D. bought it for me. :) Isn't he nice?. I couldn't wait to put my soup in it, somehow that bowl made it just that much better.

These little Hello Kitty containers are also from Allgreens, they're the perfect size for my Healing Bar face soap from Union Street Soapworks

The Fruits of My Labor

Yes, the pun is intended. After two hours I managed to make this little strawberry cutie and she's sure to look darling adorning any cell phone. My mom bought it as a kit for me while I was in Korea, and after viewing this lovely blog, I was inspired to finally make my project a year later.
I wish my camera didn't take such blurry pictures.

Buttons, buttons

This bottle of buttons is on the shelf above my desk and I like to look at it whenever I sit at my desk chair. I just like the way it looks filled with all of those buttons. The glass bottle is from a little dessert shop I went to with my mom while visiting her in Seoul. It's called Passion 5 and the bottle was filled with the most wonderful custard. Too bad there isn't a Passion 5 here, then I could have more bottles scattered about my room filled with all kinds of little things.





This butterfly button is one of my favorites, I acquired many while at Dong Dae Mun with my mom. We took many jaunts into that wonderful crafter's paradise.



Another cute button acquired at Dong Dae Mun, too bad it came out so blurry. It's still really cute. :)