The (Map Covered) Notebook

  There's something about a blank notebook that just inspires me to write. Especially a really great looking notebook.

  I was due for such a notebook. My current one was getting pretty full & I had a plain, black one waiting in my craft bin. It was very uninspiring & I had plans to pretty it up somehow. I recently was blessed with a bag of great maps from my parents' numerous travels to Europe. (Thanks Mom & Dad!) After unearthing some great small maps of the city of Paris, I knew exactly what to do with the bland notebook!

If you would like to make one like this, here's what I did:

Gather your supplies:

~Plain notebook (available at any stationary store)

~Map or other pretty paper

~Mod Podge

~Sponge brushes

~Scissors 

1) Determine how you want your map or paper placed on your notebook. Trim it down with a wide margin around the edges. We'll trim it down completely later. Using a sponge brush, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the cover of the notebook. Carefully place your map or paper over the Mod Podge, making sure to smooth out the bubbles with your fingers.

2) Let dry.

3) Once dry, trim the extra paper off of the edges.

4) Apply an even layer of Mod Pogde over the paper. Be careful to get right to the corners. Let dry completely. 

  This is quite a fast craft project. Maybe half an hour plus drying time. I think this would be a great gift too - maybe for a friend who's about to embark on a European adventure? It would be a great travel journal!

I'm ready to fill it's pages with goodies...

Enjoy your Monday!

Check out these great parties I link up to!

This project was featured on:

Greek Pasta Salad

Let's see a show of hands... Who likes Greek salad? 

Me!

Another show of hands... Who likes pasta salad?

Me! (Again.)

Last one... Who likes them mixed together?

Definitely me!

A little history...

When I was a teenager (many moons ago), my parents tried a salad like this at a deli & it was delicious! My mom, being the great cook that she is, decided to see if she could replicate it. She did, to our delight, with great success! So, thank you to my mom, for passing this recipe on to me when I got married & learned to cook. :) 

And now, I pass it on to you to enjoy.

Greek Pasta Salad
serves 6-8

1 small package tri-coloured pasta spirals (about 3 cups dry)

1 small container (about a cup) solid feta cheese (or crumbles, if you prefer)
1 small container (about a cup) whole Kalamata olives (or sliced & pitted if you prefer)
1 package grape tomatoes
1 cucumber, sliced
1 green or red bell pepper, chopped

Dressing:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/8 cup red wine vinegar
1/8 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or 2 Tbsp. dried
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. oregano
1/8 tsp. garlic powder

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain & rinse in cool water. Set aside to cool completely.

In a large salad bowl, combine the cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumber, & bell pepper.

Mix together all dressing ingredients.

Add the cooled pasta & dressing to the veggies, cheese, & olives. Toss to mix. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

  This Greek Pasta Salad a perfect, easy supper dish - especially because it's served cold. You can also (as I do, sometimes) add a skewer of Greek souvlaki to "beef it up" a bit. Summer or winter - I make this all year round!

Enjoy your day!

Check out the great parties I link up to!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Happy Heart Day!

These love-inspired layouts are ones that I created last spring.
The sweet photos are from a Valentine's shoot my friend, Allison, did with my daughter, Audrey.

Paper from the Echo Park "Little Girl" Collection

Paper from the Echo Park "For The Record" Collection

Paper from the Echo Park "Be Mine" Collection

They still make me smile. :)

Enjoy your love-filled day!

Flea Market Finds

  What an enjoyable weekend I had! I hope you did too. :) 

  A couple of friends joined me in a trek to the long awaited, bi-annual flea market on Saturday. We were able to find a few treasures among the throngs of people & tables of curiosities. Sadly, I wasn't able to find anything from my wish list, but here's what I came home with...

A vintage step stool - in yellow & chrome, no less! Score.

I've been wanting one of these for a long time. 

An old post card from my favourite place (even though I've never been there) - Paris! 

It's postmarked 1925 & has a beautiful patina.

The elephant statue intrigued me since I have never seen it in any photos of the Eiffel Tower before. From the little research I did, the statue is no longer there, but has been moved to the Musee d'Orsay. 

I'll be looking for a frame to put this little gem on display.

And last, but not least, I found two vintage turquoise Pyrex bowls. 

There was a lot of Pyrex at the flea market, but these were the only turquoise pieces I saw. 

I'm so glad I snapped them up.

Was there any thrifting, antiquing, or flea market shopping in your weekend? Yes? 

I would love to hear about it! Please leave me a comment & tell me about your treasures.

~~~

  On another note, you may have heard that Google Friend Connect (the way a lot of you follow this blog - on the right side bar) is going bu-bye for non-Blogger blogs as of the end of this month. Rumour has it that eventually it will stop for Blogger too. I'm just trying to be proactive & adding this new way to follow sooner, rather than later.

  So, if you follow Silver Boxes or would like to, you can now sign up to follow it under LinkyTools. Signing up is SUPER fast & easy. I promise - under 5 minutes. It's actually a really neat way to follow your favourite blogs - I've gotta say that it organizes them really well. You should check it out if you read multiple blogs. 

Have a wonderful Monday!

Check out these great link parties I link up to!

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!