My First Vlog!

Hi, guys! This is my first vlog...I'm kind of testing the waters, seeing if I like making them. And surprisingly, I think do! I had fun making it and I hope that you don't mind watching me. ;) Happy Saturday! :) I don't have big plans for the weekend...just more of the same: unpacking and crafting! What about you? Do you have anything exciting going on this weekend?

Bright & Fun Scrapbook Page

I snapped this picture of me and my mom when I was in the hospital last fall. It wasn't such a bright and fun time in my life, but I always felt so much better when my mom was by my side & I wanted this page to reflect that. :)

Hey, hey, hey!

How's it going? I'm in Rochester, MN right now. Here's (some) of what I've been up to:

Traveling:

Rode the train to MN

Visiting Mayo:

Eating food: 

Giant Strawberries! So yum!

From one of Mayo's 4 (I think?) coffee bars

THIS (Caribou Coffee) is at Mayo too!)

My mom bein silly! ;)

Oh, Chipotle, how I love thee! I can't get enough!

Embroidering

(One of the many activities I brought to entertain myself while waiting!) :)

 Taking selfies with my new phone...LOVE:

Visiting Mall of America:

Legoland

 Just loved the name of this store 

 Quick day trip:

Lake City, WI

Me and my momma at Red Wing Shoe Co. Store :)

Norwegian nissen (I like to call them gnomies tho) at the Uffda shop 

A replica of the cabin that Laura Ingalls Wilder was born in in Pepin, WI where she WAS born!

Lifelong dream come true! I LOVE her books.....and that's an understatement! :D

Enough about me....what have YOU been up to? :)

Winter Comfort Food

Oh, man, it doesn't get any better than this! It's been pretty nice here, but the weather is starting to take a turn for the worse. Chilly winter nights call for warm, filling dinners: enter this yummy dinner in a bowl. I got the recipe from Angela's blog Oh She Glows- this lady is a wiz in the kitchen! Her original recipe was called the Cozy Millet Bowl with Mushroom Gravy and Kale. She's working on a cookbook right now, and let me tell you: I'm first in line to buy it! I'm a huge fan! Anyways, in typical me fashion, I changed it around a bit, but the basic premise is the same. You can see the original recipe HERE.

Angela's Cozy Millet Bowl with Mushroom Gravy and Kale

Photo courtesy of Angela at Oh She Glows

Quinoa with Mushroom Gravy
(Adapted from a recipe from Angela at Oh She Glows)

Makes about 2 servings

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa (wild rice would be yummy too)
Oil to cook with (I use grapeseed.)
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cups sliced crimini mushrooms (next time I would use more)
3 Tbs vegetable broth powder
2 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch (can use more or less depending on desired consistency)
1 Tbsp Bragg's Liquid Aminos (can substitute soy sauce or tamari)
Rosemary, thyme, freshly ground black pepper, and sea salt, to taste

Directions:
1. Heat oil in frying pan. Add chopped onions and saute for about 5 minutes, stirring as necessary.
2. Add mushrooms and saute for about 10 more minutes, stirring as necessary.
3. While mushrooms are sauteing (is that a word?), whisk together the vegetable broth, water, cornstarch, liquid aminos, and spices/herbs.
4. Pour vegetable broth mixture into mushroom & onion mixture. Cook until it thickens to a gravy-like consistency, about 5 more minutes.
5. Portion quinoa out into 2 bowls, add as much gravy as you'd like, and enjoy!

What's your favorite winter comfort food?

Crafty Like a Fox

So, I've been realizing that although crafts and DIY projects are a big part of my life, I don't talk about them much here on my blog. I love reading about other people's crafty projects, so why not share my own? Confession time: I feel guilty. Yes, guilty about my crafts. I feel like there are so many other things I "should" be doing that I can't do what I want to do. Silly, right? It gets worse. Feeling guilty makes me feel depressed and then I don't do what I should be doing either. I need my craft time. I am a creative person and I need that outlet! Crafts= happy Sierra! I just need to work on my time management skills so that I can get what I should be doing done as well. ;)

I have several projects in the works right now. (I like to say I have craft ADD.) They're kind of my therapy right now, since I have been so sick. Working on projects has actually helped me become stronger physically, as well as helping me keep healthy mentally & emotionally. I'm going to start an embroidery project and I'm currently working on an altered book. No pictures yet, but expect more craft posts from me in the future! :)

Question for my readers: what kind of craft projects are you or would you be interested in? Do you do crafts?