Mexican Limeade

   Mexico is one of my favourite places on earth. The glorious weather, the kind people, & don't forget the amazing food! After having the real deal in Mexico, I've wanted to learn how to make all the authentic Mexican dishes. One of my absolute favourite parts about Mexican cooking is the use of limes. I've come to believe that limes can make just about anything taste better.

  On our first visit to Mexico, I asked for lemonade at our first meal. Woah, baby! Amazingness! Our waiter said that they made it with limes instead of lemons. As soon as we got home, I started to search for a recipe that tasted like the limeade we discovered in Mexico. This one is close. Next time we go, I may just ask for the recipe at our favourite restaurant. :) But for now, when we get an urge for a taste of sunshine, this is the recipe I make.

Mexican Limeade

makes 1/2 a gallon

1 cup of freshly squeezed lime juice 

add enough water to equal 1/2 a gallon (8 cups)

2 cups white sugar

1 cup water

Combine sugar & water in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat until it barely begins to boil. Cool. 

Combine lime mixture & syrup. Stir well, refrigerate until cold. It really is better after "marinating" for several hours, so just leave it alone until it's cold. 

~~~

Me enjoying a massive glass of limeade on our first trip to Mexico in 2007.

And because it's a very cold February day here in Saskatchewan, Canada, 

I will leave you with a warm beach scene from a beautiful Mexican beach.

Stay warm & enjoy your weekend!

Blog Award!

I received a very kind blog award a few days ago. It's called the Liebster Blog Award. Liebster is German for dearest, beloved, or favorite. The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers , who have less than 200 followers.  

Here are the rules:

• Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.
• Link back to the blogger who awarded you.
• Give your top 5 picks for the award.
• Inform your top 5 by leaving a comment on their blog.
• Post the award on your blog.

First of all, a HUGE thank you to Jaimee at Craft, Interrupted for awarding me! 

My choices for the award, in no particular order, are...

1) This Girl's Life 

Mandy's blog has a fun mix of decorating, fashion, crafts (including scrapbooking, which I love), & DIY projects.
Don't miss: DIY Earring Stand

2) Two Yellow Birds Decor

Jill has a great link party on Thursdays & she makes great crafty projects & recipes to share with her readers!

Don't miss: Rolo Cookies

3) Simply Chic Treasures

Cynthia does fabulous furniture makeovers & blogs about them with a splash of craft projects thrown in.

Don't miss: Retro Nightstand Makeover

4) My Sew Called Life

I'm not a wonderful seamstress, but Kiki's blog has me planning some sewing projects... her projects are so inspiring!

Don't Miss: Sewing Nook Makeover

5) The Dabbling Crafter

Krista has some cute projects... sewing, DIY, & thrifty finds.

Don't Miss: Chevron Bookcase

So, let's spread some love. Go check out these up & coming blogs & see what good stuff they have to offer. 

Enjoy your day!

Flea Market Wish List

  Here in Saskatoon, we have a semi annual flea market. Last fall was my first visit & I loved it! The next date is this Saturday & I'm definitely planing to go! In fact, I've compiled a little wish list of things to look for! Here are my ideas...

Some wire baskets to turn into cute storage

Via

Vintage rulers or yardsticks

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An old chandelier to paint up

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An old frame to make into a cute chalk board

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Some beautiful needlework

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And last, but not least...

Small tins for more cute storage

Via

  

That's what I have on my list right now, but I'll likely come up with a few more items before the happy day arrives. :)

Do you hunt at flea markets? What are the things you look for or collect?

Enjoy your day!

Summer Days Layouts / 100 followers!

  Are you dreaming of spring & summer as much as I? Even though it's still winter I'm enjoying planning for the warm weather ahead. Getting ideas for the garden, planning our spring cleaning & summer vacation, and doing some projects & crafts that remind me of summer. Part of that includes working on scrapbooking this past summer's photos. I'm almost done!

  I've found that since I've started this blog, I'm taking many more pictures of stuff than of the people in my life... bad mommy!! :) I've resolved to change that & return to taking more pictures of the everyday moments in our lives. I got a nice opportunity this weekend when we went ice skating as a family. The outdoor rink is in a lovely little spot right downtown beside the river. It was just beautiful & it was our daughter's first time on skates. Fun!

  Back to the point... scrapbook layouts.

  Here are two that I created using Echo Park's Summer Days line. I originally bought this line thinking I'd save it for  this year's summer vacation but those bright colours & fun patterns won me over sooner than I planned.

This line is so colourful & just plain happy! I can't wait to use it for all the fun photos we capture this summer!

~~~

This weekend, Silver Boxes reached 100 followers!! It's been a very exciting weekend for me. When I started SB & after perusing many other blogs, I thought it would take at least a year to reach 100 followers.
Here I am, 6 months into blogging & I'm astounded that I've already reached that milestone.
I want to thank you for you continued support & kind words. I appreciate you all!

AND...welcome to my new friends!
I look forward to getting to know you in the coming months. 

Enjoy your Monday!

Mocha Torte

Hello, friends! It's February & love is in the air! 

Are you planning a special meal with your sweetheart on Valentine's Day? 

Or are you making a delicious dessert for your family?

Yes...but you don't know what?

Then say hello to my little friend, The Mocha Torte...

Seriously, what says Valentine's Day dessert more than chocolate & red berries? Um... nothing comes to mind. :)

This cake is a chocolately, creamy, coffee concoction of yumminess.

Mocha Torte

cake:

1 - 6 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup margarine or butter

2/3 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 cup buttermilk or sour milk

1) Preheat oven to 350º F.

2) Combine chocolate chips & water in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 45 seconds. Remove from microwave & stir until smooth. 

3) Cream margarine & sugar until light & fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in vanilla & melted chocolate. 

4) Sift flour, baking soda, & salt. Add to the chocolate mixture alternately with milk. 

5) Turn batter into 2 - 8 inch round cake pans greased & lined with a circle of waxed paper. Bake at 350º F for 25-30 minutes. Cool 5 minutes & turn out on wire racks. Cool completely. With serrated knife, split each layer in half to make 4 layers. 

mocha cream:

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 Tbsp. hot water

2 tsp. instant coffee powder

1/4 cup sugar

250 ml. whipping cream

Combine first 4 ingredients in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds. Remove from microwave & stir until smooth; cool. 

Whip cream until it starts to thicken; add chocolate mixture & whip until stiff. Spread between layers & on top of torte. Chill at least one hour. Sprinkle shaved chocolate over top.

tip: I threw a handful of chocolate chips into my mini food processor & pulsed several times to make the shaved chocolate.

another tip: Before placing the cake on your serving dish, place some strips of waxed paper around the edges. They will catch the crumbs or cream while you're assembling your cake. When you're done, simply pull out the strips gently. 

Make sure to share some with your Valentine! ;)

Thank you for reading & a HUGE WELCOME to all my new readers & friends!!!

Enjoy your day!

Valentine's Vignette

I have to tell you that I don't usually do any decorating for Valentine's Day. 

But this year I was feeling pretty inspired by all the pretty mantels I've been seeing. 

Small problem. I don't have a mantel. 

Bah! That can't stop me!

So I started looking around our house. When I got to the piano, I stopped. It's deeper than a mantel top, but our antique piano has plenty of space to do a vignette. 

Off I went.

Another problem. After looking around, I found almost nothing to use for my desired Valentine vignette. I had red books, a pink candle, & the felt "Love" sign I had purchased at a dollar store a couple of years ago.

I didn't want to spend a lot of money on this display since it's not up for very long, so I started to create. 

I went & bought some bulk Valentine candy & displayed them in clear jars.

The button stash came out & I made a little button heart, mounted it on some pink fabric, & displayed it in an embroidery hoop.

This old frame was hiding out under our guest bed. 

I painted it white with some craft paint to go with the Valentine theme.

This paper heart garland was so easy to make! Paper, a paper cutter, & a stapler is all you need! 

The idea came from The Wedding Chick's blog. Check out the link for the measurements & photo instructions.

My daughter is thrilled with this garland & is begging to have it in her room after Valentine's Day. :)

 So... do you decorate for Valentine's Day? Do you decorate differently each year or the same each year?

Love day is getting ever closer! But hey, don't wait... share some love today!

Enjoy your day!

This project was featured on:

Boy's Bedroom Inspiration

  If you've had a look through my Grand Tour Page, you'll have seen most of the rooms in our house. There are a few I haven't blogged about though. Mostly because I'm not 100% satisfied with the results of a couple of the rooms. One of those rooms is my son's bedroom. Last summer, we gave his room a fresh coat of paint & he was blessed with a cool loft bed. It's a start.

  But I've at last come up with a plan. Here it is!

 I'm wanting to repaint his old dresser into something like this, using the numbers of his birthdate:

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Create some wall art like this... using his name & maybe some of his interests:

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He needs some cushions for his reading chair as well. I'm looking at creating some like this. Maybe one with a letter & one with a number? 

Via

  Now that I have some kind of a plan, I feel like I can tackle this room. Here we go!

Enjoy your day!

Crab Salad in Endive Leaves

Have you ever invited friends over & needed something quick to whip together for a snack or an appetizer?

 Something other than a bag of chips?

Pretty much everyone has, right?  

This recipe is so fast, easy, & delicious that I think it has officially become my favourite appetizer. 

Crab Salad in Endive Leaves

serves 8

dressing:

1/4 cup white vinegar 

2 Tbsp. Dijon-style mustard

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 lb. (450g) fresh lump crabmeat

1/3 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

3 heads Belgian endive, trimmed & leaves separated 

Fresh chives

1) Whisk together dressing ingredients. Add crabmeat & bell peppers, tossing gently to combine. 

2) Stuff endive leaves with crab leaves. Arrange on a platter. Garnish with fresh chives.

Could it get any easier?? :)

What are your weekend plans? Are you having friends over? I hope you enjoy this if you try it!

Enjoy your weekend!

"Guess Hoo Loves You" Valentine Bag & Card

  

Guess hoo loves you? Me!! :) 

  It's been a while since I've made any papercrafts. I'm so happy to bring them back! 

If you know me, you know I have a crush on owls. So any excuse to make something owl-icious... I'm in!

I started with my Cricut & the Hoot 'n' Holler cartridge.

All these pieces were cut of with this cartridge 

(except the bag - those were purchased from the craft aisle at Wal-Mart).

The card was very simple. Just a sweet owl & a sentiment. 

Together they make a cute little owl duet. Happiness!

Enjoy your day! Thanks for reading, my friends!

This project was featured on: