MOVED!!!

I HAVE MOVED!!! I know SURPRISE! I want to have my jewelry posts and my everything else posts in one place and not have to post them in two different places. and i did it on a whim. and i think i like it. so far. I am now AT:


graceandstella.blogspot.com


See you there.

Western Wordless Wednesday

linking up with The Paper Mama

Wild Horses

My three year old had her birthday party on Sunday and it was a BLAST! seriously cowboy birthday parties are super fun. and all under $100 for EVERYTHING! food, favors, decorations and awesomeness. yup. the best favor in my opinion (the kids probably like the candy the best, lol) were these awesome paper horses that we made. well i mostly made them and they took forever but are so worth it. i got the pattern from Ann Wood's blog this lady is super talented and so nice of her to share her pattern. i used used cardboard and cereal boxes for my paper. we painted some, covered others in glitter, paper, or fabric. I followed the directions exactly except at the end I added the jumbo Popsicle sticks to mine. I figured this would make it easier for little hands to hold and less wear and tear on the horses themselves.

Happy Birthday Kamilah Simone

My darling little Kamilah Simone is 3 years old today. I can hardly believe how fast time has gone by. She is such an incredible little human so inquisitive and smart, and full of life and laughter. I cant imagine my life without her or her sister. They are my sunshine. There is nothing like the true pure love of a child to make one want to be a better person. Anyway enough mushy stuff. I got this idea from my friend Chelsey and I love it I wish I had started it sooner since my kids been talking (nonstop) for at least a year probably longer. I cant wait for her to look back on this one day....

1. What is your favorite color? Yellow

2. What is your favorite toy? a hippo (a pull along hippo that snaps its mouth as you pull)

3. What is your favorite fruit? apples

4. What is your favorite tv show? Sid the Science Kid

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Eggs

6. What is your favorite outfit? my Blazers hoodie

7. What is your favorite game? Patty Cake

8. What is your favorite snack? Apples and Uvas (grapes)

9. What is your favorite animal? a lion

10. What is your favorite song? Twinkle Twinkle

11. What is your favorite book? Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too (in a Shel Silverstein book)

12. Who is your best friend? Kayin (her cousin) and Xamara too!

13. What is your favorite cereal? Frosted Miny Wheats

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? color on the rocks and make pictures

15. What is your favorite drink? lemonade

16. What is your favorite holiday? thanksgiving

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? All my babies

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? eggs

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? tuna sandwiches with pickles

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a butterfly

new collection

so excited to be introducing a different side of grace & stella! i realize that a lot of the pieces i currently have would be considered "statement necklaces" or more for a special outing or event. not all but most. anyway i wanted something more simple but still using vintage components and still with that unique handmade touch. hence the new collection: it is made using vintage brass findings and charms, some of which i've hand painted. the necklaces can be worn by themselves or layered. i love these paired up with a plain t shirt and jeans. i made a little collage with the things i've already added to the shop and there is more to come in the next couple weeks. yaaaay!

Chiles Rellenos Recipe

First thing you'll want to do is pour yourself a glass of wine. As delicious as Chiles Rellenos are they are very laborious, simple ingredients, easy to do, but lots of steps.


Ingredients
For the Chiles:
10 Anaheim Peppers
1 lb Monterrey Jack cut into 1" thick rectangles (you'll have some left over)
5 eggs
flour

For the sauce:
Normally I use fresh tomatoes but I realized I was out once I had already started so I used canned and I actually liked the consistency better.
2 (14.5 oz) cans of the ROASTED tomatoes
1 medium white onion roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves
2 guajillo peppers roasted
2-3 (depending on how spicy you want it) chiles de arbol
1 tbs cumin powder
salt to taste



Step One: Roast the Anaheim chiles. I used a griddle because I like to keep an eye on the and turn them frequently. You can use a pan or the oven too probably. Roast them until the skin starts to bubble and the chiles are soft-ish. I also threw my guajillo and chiles de arbol on there to roast at the same time.



Meanwhile...
Step Two: in a small pot add about 1 TBSP oil and sautee the garlic and onion, when those are soft add the tomatoes and cumin and roasted guajillo and arbol chiles. simmer for 10 minutes. Put into blender and blend until very smooth. Pour sauce into what will be your final pot so make sure it can hold the sauce and all of your chiles. Leave this pot on the stove but don't turn the heat on yet. We will call this your Saucy Sauce Pot. ok? good.

Step Three:
Once all your Chiles are roasted peel the skins of. This doesnt have to be perfect just enough to where the flour and batter will stick. Mine were kinda patchy and it worked fine.



Step Four:
Once the chiles are peeled you are going to a 1-2 inch slit on them starting at the top where the stem is and cutting down.
Step Five:
Under running water take a teaspoon or your finger and gut the chiles. heheeee. i like saying that! this means take out the veins and seeds. Once this is done lay the chiles on some paper towels (I had ten chiles so this too a minute) and let them air dry. Once you're done if they're still wet pat dry with some paper towels.
Step Six:
Stuff chiles with cheese, I like mine cheese so I will stuff as much as I can without tearing the chile too much (no more then the slit you already made)
Step Seven:
Separate egg yolks from egg whites. Put egg whites in you mixer bowl and beat until it forms peaks and mounds or "mountains" as my daughter like to call them.
Step Eight:
Add yolks and mix for another minute or until well mixed in.

*******While this is mixing use a large frying pan, add about 1 inch vegetable oil and turn to med-high heat. you'll use this to fry the chiles once they are battered, This is your Frying Oil Pan. My stove takes forever to heat up but if yours is quick use your judgement for when turn the stove on and start heating up the oil. just make sure you don't burn it, thats yucky! ******

Step Nine:
Sprinkle some flour on the chiles or roll them around in it.

Step Ten:
Roll chiles around in egg batter.

turn the heat on your Saucy Sauce Pot on low-ish.
By now your Frying Pan Oil should be nice and hot...

Step Eleven:
Fry the chiles until batter is cooked. Turning at least once to make sure the batter on all sides is cooked.


Step Twelve:
Once the batter on the chile is cooked transfer to your Saucy Sauce Pot which should be nice and warm. Once half of your chiles are in it turn up the heat to a slow simmer.


Step Thirteen:
Once all the chiles are in simmer for about 10 minutes and you're done! Serve with beans and rice.

Favorite from 2011

I think I love this picture not so much because it's an "amazing" picture or anything but because of what was going on. this is one of the first times that the girls were aware of each other and enjoying each other, also it was one of the first times that kamilah was aware of xamara being younger and was helping her, the look they are exchanging is almost like they just discovered each other exists. *heart melting*





linking up with the paper mama