polka dot canary

Decorating on a Budget

2011-07-14T11:24:00.001-07:00

Simple painting the old discolored brick a modern color, changed the whole look of the fireplace. Now I just plan on installing a solid wood mantel with simple corbels underneath.

Learn how to make your own Modern Lantern Ball

2011-04-28T12:18:00.000-07:00

You can use these to decorate when entertaining,such as for baby showers and birthdays, and to bring some hand-made art to your kid's room! I have even heard of them being used for decorating your Christmas tree; in smaller form of course! Here's how to make one:

You will need to make 20 circles all the same size. The thicker the paper the more solid the ball will be. If you want a small ball you will need smaller circles, for a bigger ball, bigger circles, and so forth. For mine I used a 7 inch bowl for a stencil. Fold the circles in on three sides to form a triangle as shown above. You want to fold towards the print you want showing.

Using a glue gun, glue two circles together at the half oval fold, leaving the middle triangle and two other half-oval folds free of glue. you should have five circles coming together at one point. Continue gluing two folds together until you form the complete ball.

Free Giveaway

2010-09-04T11:36:00.000-07:00

Check out the Free Giveaway of a polka dot canary original item on the blog http://rannilatripletsreviews.blogspot.com/

polka dot canary dresses ship to boutique in Texas

2010-09-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

Texas is known for some good shopping, so I hope the shoppers in Texas will love polka dot canary dresses for their sweet little girls. They come in sizes 24m to 5T and have recently been sent to a boutique in the lone star state.

2010-06-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

My kids love to help make this play-dough. This play-dough doesn't necessarily taste good, but it won't hurt them if they try and eat it, either. I love this recipe because it tends to be a little softer than regular store play-dough. I love to put cookie cutters in the play-dough toys, and the softer dough makes it easier for little hands to punch the shapes out. They love to pretend to be little bakers.

Note: Look for a tasty play-dough recipe, in a future blog, that I got from my wonderful mother-in-law. Kids can actually eat this one as a snack as they play!

Quick Play-Dough

1 c. flour
1 c. water
1/2 c. salt
1 TBSP cream of tartar (makes the dough stick together really well)
1 TBSP cooking oil
food coloring

Mix dry ingredients in a medium sauce pan. Add oil, water, and food coloring. Cook over MEDIUM heat, stirring constantly, until it pulls away from the sides. Let cool. Store in a Ziploc baggie in a cool place.

Strawberries & Summer

2010-05-15T22:40:00.000-07:00

Strawberries and summer seem to always go together. I love to make freezer jam out of fresh strawberries at this time of year, when strawberries are so affordable. There is a particular store that carries canning supplies this time of year, but always seems to place the supplies in a different, random, hard to locate place each year. I am grateful they carry them, however. So, I walk into the store, I won't name which one, and ask someone to point me in the direction of the "fruit pectin & canning supplies" and about half of the time they look at me like I'm speaking a completely different language. They might say something like, "What is that!?"
Apparently canning is not as popular among the upcoming generations, and I fear that our children will have an even tougher time finding the elusive pectin, if they plan to can when they are grown!

Blueberry Orange Julius?

2010-05-15T22:38:00.001-07:00

Blueberry Orange Julius?

Sounds like it wouldn't work, but it is so delicious! We love to have Orange Julius's for dinner with our meal, and one day I decided to add some blueberries, and surprisingly it worked well! Here's how to make it:

Ingredients:
6 oz undiluted frozen orange juice
1 cup water
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup sugar
4 ice cubes
3/4 cup frozen blueberries

Place all in a blender or smoothie maker and blend until ice is crushed. Enjoy!

Wellness Tip

2010-05-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

I used to think that buying organic somehow made me an extremest.....as if making sure my food wasn't full of chemicals and pesticides makes anyone an extremist! Now, I'm not saying that there is no possible way to eat healthy without organic food, but I am saying that although I was skeptical that organic food was for me, I have notice a difference in how I feel. If you are as skeptical as I was, and you want to test out whether you actually feel better, you may want to order a box of fruit and veggies from a CSA local organic farm, and see how much better you feel. Keep in mind...some fruits and veggies carry higher pesticide residues, called the dirty dozen. You may want to spend your money on these when you buy organic.

Fruits & Veggies with high pesticide residue are:
*apples
*bell peppers
*celery
*potatoes
*spinich
*strawberries
*cherries
*raspberries
*nectarines
*peaches
*imported grapes
*pears

Polka Dot Canary at Boutique in San Diego

2010-04-29T17:10:00.000-07:00

Here I am selling chic aprons and dresses from polka dot canary at a boutique sale located in San Diego! Fun!!

Disneyland-The Greatest Place on Earth

2010-04-29T17:00:00.001-07:00

Spending time with family at the greatest place on earth resulted in a perfect day!

Birthday Girl!

2010-04-19T11:54:00.001-07:00

Here is Mikaya on her birthday. She loved being the center of attention for the big Day!

(She is wearing "Pink Mango" from polka dot canary)

Custom Orders to fit your perfect style!

2010-04-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

Do you have that special photo op, holiday, or other special event coming up? Polka dot canary can help make sure you have the perfect unique dress for your little one(s). Send a quick email to polkadotcanary@gmail.com and list the colors, type of print (floral, polka dot, etc), and price range you would like. Here is an example of the lastest dress that was specifically made for a customer!

Couture: Learn How to Make Stylish Hair Accessories Right Here!

2010-03-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

These beautiful hair accessories are easy & fun to create. Designed by polka dot canary. Send this blog address to anyone who would also love to learn how to make chic hair accessories for free!

(polkadotcanar.blogspot.com) Yes, the "y" is missing from polka dot canary!

First, cut out three pieces of material. (Be creative and use any material you love!) I like to make one of them fleece or felt, to give it depth and texture. The largest circle can be any size you'd like, but I usually make it 2 5/8 inches in diameter. The middle layer is 2 inches and the little circle about 1 1/2 inches wide. There is no need to make exact, perfect circles, because they actually look better "not so perfect". The frayed edges also look better and better after time.

Next, layer them one on top of another.

Use a sparkly large brad to secure the layers together. Trick: I like to puncture the material first with a thumb tack and then put the brad through the material.

Lastly, I like to sew the hair accessory on with thread and needle, through the hole in the metal hair clip, to secure it on. You can find metal hair clips at any beauty supply store. (You can also use a glue gun and ribbon to attach the clip to the hair accessory)

HERE'S ANOTHER HAIR ACCESSORY METHOD

First, for the bottom layer, cut out a circle from any material with a diameter of 5 1/2 inches. Fold the edge over about 1/4 of an inch and sew in and out, not overlapping any of the tread.

When you come to the end, don't make a knot; just pull the thread to gather it to the center of the circle, making a flower shape. After you have the flower shape, make a knot.

Lastly, layer a circle that is 2 inches and one that is 1 1/2 inches, leaving the frayed edges. Or...... as seen in the picture above, cut a cloth flower down to 3 inches in diameter and place it behind the one you just made. Make the smallest circle about 1 3/4 inches. Secure with a sparkly brad and attach the beautiful hair accessory to a metal hair clip by sewing it on with thread and a needle, or by attaching it with a glue gun and ribbon. Enjoy your fun & chic hair accessory. Remember to be creative and use any material you love!

To follow this blog, simply click on FOLLOW with Google Friend Connect, at the top of this blog! Thanks!

Curtains from "polka dot canary" home decor

2010-03-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

Don't these new curtains from polka dot canary look nice all ready to go out to a customer? I think they will add a modern, fresh airy feel to her space!

Winner of Free Item from polka dot canary

2010-03-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you SO much to all my loyal friends and family, and new fans of polka dot canary! You all took time out to sign up and, I for one, really appreciate it! The winner of the free modern apron or chic little girl's dress is HILARY SORENSON! Congratulations!!

Visit this blog (polkadotcanar.blogspot.com) soon for the inside scoop on how to make beautiful hair accessories for your little girl! Also, fill free to browse through polka dot canary at the link below for chic children's clothing & more!

polkadotcanary.etsy.com

Winner of Drawing to be Announced this Saturday, the 20th

2010-03-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

Check out this blog, polka dot canary, to find out the winner of the drawing for a new little girl's dress or modern apron, this Saturday, March 20th!

Also, go directly to polka dot canary to shop anytime, by clicking on the link at the top of this blog.

Coming back to the "Real World"

2010-03-14T21:59:00.000-07:00

Coming back to the "real world", after a cruise to Cabo, is a bit of a shock! As you can see the day we left was a bit windy, to say the least. I had a new "up do" about every second...... but, we were actually lucky enough to have the sun come out for most of our trip. A highlight of the trip was learning how to carve a watermelon into a piece of art. Another more obvious highlight, was being able to spend uninterrupted time with my husband. The crew was amazing at making sure we didn't have to lift a finger. So, there was plenty of time for watching shows, lounging on the deck, reading, exercising, and playing games. They were so efficient, in fact, that before I was able to bend down to pick up an olive, that I had dropped, someone came by and swept it up. I just laughed. So now, although I was ready to come home, you can see why being back in the "real world" is a bit of a shock!

My Favorite- Grilled Pizza-Yummy!

2010-02-27T15:19:00.000-08:00

(Roasted Tomato Sauce above) This recipe has become a sort-of-looked-forward-to-tradition in our home. In the summer, we grill the pizza right on the barbecue, but in the winter, we grill it on the middle rack, right in the oven. The "Roasted Tomato Sauce" is so fresh and is easy and fun to roast. I make this anytime I have extra tomatoes to use. (recipe below)

Roasted Tomato Sauce
3 lbs Roma tomatoes
3 red peppers (optional)
1 medium onion, sliced 1/4" thick
2 large carrots, sliced into 1/4" rounds
4 garlic cloves
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 T olive oil
1 small can tomato paste
course salt and ground pepper

Cut tomatoes in half. Transfer to large baking sheet. Add onions, peppers, carrots, garlic, and thyme. Toss tomato mixture with olive oil, season generously with coarse salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer (tomatoes side down). Roast at 425 degrees until tender (45-60 minutes). Cool for 20 minutes. Using tongs or fingers, peel off tomato skins; discard. Transfer mixture, including juices and tomato paste, to a blender. Pulse until desired consistency. Let cool completely; transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate up to 1 week, or freeze up to 3 months.

Pizza Dough
makes enough for 3 12 inch pizzas

1 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
1 T. sugar
1 pkg active dry yeast
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. cake flour
1/2 T. kosher salt (course salt)
2 T. olive oil
More olive oil for brushing cooked crust.

Combine water, sugar, and yeast. Proof until foamy, about 5 minutes. Mix flours and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add oil to yeast mixture once it has proofed, then pour into flour mixture. Knead on low or by hand for ten minutes.

Assembly
Roll out three 12 inch pizzas. Place on middle oven rack (475 degrees) or on rack in barbecue with lid closed, for 3-4 minutes. Will bubble. Take out and brush with olive oil. Add all toppings including sauce. Grill for another 4-5 minutes, until cheese melts. Enjoy!!

polka dot canary drawing (updated 27 Feb 2010! New for bloggers: no Twitter or Facebook account needed to participate)

2010-02-20T00:08:00.001-08:00

Rules for the drawing have been modified! Please read for more. Those who previously entered will still qualify and can re-enter for more points if they follow part C of step 1!

Follow the steps below to enter to win a designer children's dress (any size 18m -6) or designer apron (adult) with free shipping; your choice. Contest runs until (March 5th). Winner will be contacted through email.

Two Simple Steps To Enter To Win:

1. Do any of the three below. You may do more than one for extra drawing entries:

A. (worth 1 drawing entry) Become a fan of polka dot canary on Facebook

polka dot canary on Facebook

-OR-

B. (worth 1 drawing entry) Become a follower of polka dot canary on Twitter

-OR-

C. (worth 2 drawing entries) Post a link to this blog in an entry on your personal blog

2. After you have completed your choice of the items in step 1, submit your info in the form below to enter the drawing.

Loading...No purchase necessary, must be 18 and older to win. Void where prohibited by law. By providing your email address you will be placed on the polka dot canary general information email list. We do not sell, trade, or provide your email address to any third parties at all and we respect your privacy!

Aprons to go with all the Cooking & Cravings

2010-02-19T13:45:00.000-08:00

With all the carvings and cooking going on lately, I decided that I should design a beautiful modern apron; because everyone wants to look good while cooking, right? This one makes me happy because it is so bold, yet soothing with beautiful blue flowers.

No Such Thing as too Much Chocolate!

2010-02-19T13:35:00.000-08:00

Chocolate Zucchini Cake (with chocolate chips)

I must have a sweet tooth lately...and the girls are definitely feeling like they are benefiting from my cravings, I'm sure! This delicious cake is one of my grandma's recipes, and is truly one of my favorite. The apron is from polkadotcanary.etsy.com

Accenting with Red

2010-02-19T13:24:00.000-08:00

I love decorating with dark brown furniture, so accenting with something light balances the look. I was so excited that these red modern floral curtains turned out to be so beautiful in the space.

Love of Everything Red

2010-02-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

What could be more fun than making yummy Sweethearts for all to enjoy eating? These came out a smooth opaque red and tasted sweet and somewhat tart....yummy! (see recipe below)

2 packages (6 ounces) cherry geletin
2 cups boiling water
1 cup cold milk
1 package vanilla pudding mix

In a bowl, dissolve gelatin in the boiling water, then let stand until cooled. In another bowl, whisk the milk and pudding mix until smooth. Pour the mixture into the gelatin and whisk until well blended. Pour into a 13X9 inch pan lightly coated with nonstick cooking spray. Refrigerate until set. Use cookie cutters to make Sweethearts for family and friends.