enJOY it

So, Paul's parents have a fabulous crab cake recipe. Recently, Paul emailed them for it because we wanted to eat crab cakes. Turns out crab is really expensive. So we decided to go with something less intense. Like shrimp stir fry.

Until Paul had the great idea to just substitute shrimp for crab. Because like he said: "Freedom in the kitchen baby, yeah!"

So we did. And tonight, we had shrimp cakes. Or "shrimp stacks" as I have decided to call them.

Super good. Super not too expensive. (Although, Steph, we are still BIG fans of your cakes.)

Here is Paul's recipe:

1 lb shrimp (defrosted and cut into pea-marble sized chunks)
1/4 cup bell pepper (pick your fave color and finely chop it)
1/4 cup onion
3 TB mayo
2 TB cilantro
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 egg (egg beaters if you are in to that sort of thing…and we are.)
salt, pepper, season salt
and a couple TBs Parmesan cheese

Mix everything except the shrimp. And then add the shrimp. Smash into patties as if hamburgers. Cook on the stove in about a TB of olive oil at medium/high heat for 5-8 minutes per side OR until done.

Serves two. Unless you are in to small meals – then serves 4.

Paul is a genius in the kitchen. I like to stick to the craft room.

I bought an custom embosser from (surprise, surprise) Paper Source at the beginning of the summer. Most people get address plates and use them on envelopes. I got (surprise, surprise) "joy". I originally used it on business cards, then started to put it on etsy order envelopes. Just today I decided it makes a great addition to a layout.

(stamps by Apple Blossom Studio. I am really enjoying these.)

FIRST.

DID YOU SEE THE MEN'S VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT?!?!

I just remembered volleyball is my favorite sport. Or at least tied with gymnastics and men's 400 freestyle relay (and USC college football.)

SECOND.

The winners! Dudes, thank you for playing. Thank you, thank you. I am going to post images from the winners. If you see yours, please email me (elise.blaha@gmail.com) with your address. I will be sending you a letterpress piece, some sort of medal and the GOLD MEDALIST will get something extra that I have to figure out.

Oh how magical, I know.

Event one: Best use of Pattern

GOLD:


SILVER:


BRONZE:



Event two: Best use of Text

GOLD:

SILVER:

BRONZE:

Event three: Best use of Paint

GOLD:

SILVER:

BRONZE:

I see you guys are big fans of the "just under the wire" plan. Which I fully support in a crafter.

The Craft Olympics are now closed. Please imagine the torch going out.

I am going to grab some food & more importantly wine and then come back for the judging. Winners will be posted later this evening.

Thank you for joining in…pretty fun, no?

You still have today to enter a project in the Craft Olympics. Winners will be picked and announced at 8pm EST, OR whenever I get home from work if it is after 8pm.

Thanks for playing + Happy Sunday

Today is my half birthday. I am twenty three and a half. Paul doesn't think half birthday's are real. To that I say, "HA!" because they are. And also, I have only six months to get my to-do list accomplished. To be serious, I am doing pretty well. Except for the whole yoga part. I am still sitting somewhere around THREE. Or maybe TWO. It is odd, though, I very much want to be a yoga girl. I just need some time to make that part of my life again. I have six months.

And anyways, I feel like what I am lacking in yoga, I am making up in letterpressing. Fo sho.

Today was also a full day. I woke up and made a spreadsheet to determine my "in's and out's" or profits and expenses for my letterpress shop. Can you believe I have not tracked it in the least? I know. At least twelve of my USC business professors (who obviously read this blog) just fainted. Turns out, thankfully, I am in the green. But please, find relief in the fact that if you have purchased something you are not supporting "Big Business" in the least.

After spreadsheeting, I letterpressed.

New little baby letterpress, and a couple other custom and wholesale (eek!) projects. Plus the "SHE" prints above from a new art journal kit which will be released tomorrow along with FIVE fairy tale kits.

After letterpress land, Paul and I cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen. Good cleaned. Like scrubbing on your knees kind. Vern, we are ready for you to visit now. Get excited.

The night is winding down with wine and spaghetti and Dexter Season 2 on DVD.

My half birthday + my full day = very good.

Yesterday was good.

Today is busy.

Tomorrow, if I get everything on my list done, will go down as the most productive day in history.

I carry this around with me everywhere. It keeps my daily, weekly, and monthly craft to do lists. Who needs craft to do lists? Me. Because they keep me happy. Also inside are my ideas for letterpress, my random thoughts, my journal of sorts for the stuff that is too awkward to slap up on the blog. (I know…I should have kept the hair to myself.)

Right now the back of the book is filling up with "sketches" for my book. The real one that I am planning to release in December. The thing about self-publishing, is that you do not have to get approval from someone who knows about book releases. So instead I am relying on the biased excellent opinions of Paul and my mom. This will be interesting.

Above

: a sunflower complete WITH HONEYBEES that Paul and I found on our search for a new wine shop in Bethesda that turned out to be a real lame deal.

: my first layout made from the excellent Apple Blossom Studio stamps. I love shape stamps. I use 'em again and again and again. (Vern, you remember that night? We dressed up as crayons.)

Also of note

: If you ordered a kit or a print this weekend, it will be shipping out today. Thank you, thank you for the super quick response on this last update. I am planning to make more, (for sure more fairy tales ones) I just need a break in my schedule.

: Hooray for the Craft Olympics…still waiting for a project to be uploaded…

: I just ate the best pear on the planet.

: My voice is finally coming back after all the cheering at the television that occurred over the weekend.

: I have decided to write a book. I know…loftly goal…yada, yada, yada. But fact is, you can self publish so I am going to jump on that bandwagon. Expected release date is December. Expected amount of times I will give up and start over is 15.

: Today is Monday, August 18 – Let's roll.

Three events:

1. Best use of pattern.
2. Best use of text.
3. Best use of paint.

Each event will have a separate post. If you complete a project, link it up in the comments section of the corresponding post.

All entries must be in by the real Olympic closing ceremonies: August 24 @ 8pm EST.

I will pick three winners in each category. Every winner will get a limited edition letterpress print and some sort of medal that I have yet to figure out how to make.

Right on.

Let the games begin!