How To: Organic Ponytail

I am a big fan of the organic bun (twisting your hair into a knot bun on the top of your head). So I was really happy to find another organic hairstyle -- meaning no clips, bands or products, just your hair and a few twists. Check it out.

Hair: Cute Messy Bun

I found this great "How To" video for the perfect messy bun the other day. I tried it out for myself and and even got some compliments on the doooo.

Try it. You'll like it!

DIY: Sock Bun

I have been diggin this new hairstyle -- super easy, fun and comfy + it looks like it took you a long time! The secret is "THE SOCK!" Look here , I'm actually wearing one today!

Check-out this great sock bun tutorial by Sarah Johnson at 3 Pink Dots to make a bun of you own!

Mmm...Reese's Stuffed Chocolate Covered Oreos

Ooooh my. These are a must! Click here for this awesome "how to" recipe by Cookies and Cups.

Best Homemade Bread -- New York Times.

I made this bread over the weekend! That wonderful homemade bread smell filled the house - it was so yummy and fresh! Mark Bittman from the New Your Times shares tips from the Sullivan Street Bakery in New York, NY. It's the best and easiest recipe I've found yet! If you want to jazz it up, try poking in a few roasted garlic gloves and rosemary sprigs after the rising process. 

Have fun cooking! You'll love this recipe!

Ingredients:

3 cups (430g) flour
1½ cups (345g or 12oz) water
¼ teaspoon (1g) yeast
1¼ teaspoon (8g) salt
olive oil (for coating)
extra flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal (for dusting)

Equipment:

Two medium mixing bowls
6 to 8 quart pot with lid (Pyrex glass, Le Creuset cast iron, or ceramic)
Wooden Spoon or spatula (optional)
Plastic wrap
Two or three cotton dish towels (not terrycloth)

Process:

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add water and incorporate by hand or with a wooden spoon or spatula for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Lightly coat the inside of a second medium bowl with olive oil and place the dough in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest 12 hours at room temperature (approx. 65-72°F).
Remove the dough from the bowl and fold once or twice. Let the dough rest 15 minutes in the bowl or on the work surface. Next, shape the dough into ball. Generously coat a cotton towel with flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal; place the dough seam side down on the towel and dust with flour. Cover the dough with a cotton towel and let rise 1-2 hours at room temperature, until more than doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 450-500°F. Place the pot in the oven at least 30 minutes prior to baking to preheat. Once the dough has more than doubled in volume, remove the pot from the oven and place the dough in the pot seam side up. Cover with the lid and bake 30 minutes Then remove the lid and bake 15-30 minutes uncovered, until the loaf is nicely browned.

DIY: Flying Lantern

 

1) Pin four sheets of tissue paper to a clothesline and spray with fireproofing product, avoiding the corners where the pins are. Allow the paper to dry.

 

4) Using the craft pattern as a guide, cut the tissue paper, making four slightly curved pieces with one straight edge. Glue the lantern pieces together, leaving the straight edge open, creating the bottom of the lantern. You will want to make sure that your glue has dried before moving onto the next step.

5) Make a bamboo hoop. Split the bamboo into thin strips, carefully moving a knife slowly down the length of the pole. Once you find a pliable piece, sand it until it is smooth. Form a hoop with the bamboo strip and secure the ends with glue. * If you don't have bamboo strips handy, you can use any light weight, bio-degradable hoop you can find.

6) Install a wire "X" onto the frame; secure in place with staples. Cover the cardboard square with foil and secure it to the center of the "X" with tape, staples or glue.

7) Make a foil cup, large enough to hold your fuel (step 9). Tape this to the center of the pad.

8) Attach the tissue paper to the hoop at the open bottom with tape, staples or glue--remember, it works like a hot-air balloon, so the foil cup should face the inside.

9) Making Lantern Burner

Buy some blue industrial paper-towels (the thick kind), and saturate the towel in melted canning-wax.

Warning: Canning (paraffin) wax is very flammable, and should only be melted over low heat in a double boiler. It should never be exposed to open flames or high heat.

10) When your balloon is dry and ready to fly (fix all tears and cracks), place your treated paper towel into the foil cup and light it on fire. You may need a friend to help level the balloon while it fills up with hot air. When the sides are hot and you can feel the lantern pulling away, release it.

 Don't forget to make a wish!

Instructions on how to make a flying lantern were adapted from eHow and Skylighter.



DIY: How to Fix Broken Eyeshadow

For those of you ladies who have ever dropped your eyeshadow, you'll appreciate this DIY. I found this great step-by-step guide for repairing shattered shadow on petitelefant! Don't throw it away! You can save your shadow with this easy tip! Click HERE