pinned it. did it. {with meg}

Meg is back with another Pinned it. Did it. post! This one has me making a special trip to the grocery store today to get a couple of ingredients so that I can make this bread (I have two huge zucchinis just staring at me on my counter right now). 

In the comments below, let us know how Pinterest is inspiring you these days! (And if instead you feel overwhelmed by Pinterest let us know that too - I'd love to write a few posts about this very thing so ask any questions or share your thoughts. Thanks!)

Read on for Meg's post.

*****

It’s that time of year when the fridge and the countertops are loaded with fresh produce either from the grocery store, the farmers market, or the garden. I remember planting a garden in high school and one thing we were certain would yield a lot of produce: zucchini. So if you have zucchini sitting around or have more to do with it than ways to cook with it, here’s the perfect way to use it or share it.

I first made this Lemon Zucchini Loaf with Lemon Glaze for some friends and it was devoured within minutes of cutting it. I knew at that moment that I would have to save this for special occasions or only pull it out when I really wanted to make an impression. And believe me, it does! However, today looking at all the zucchini we had in the fridge, I decided that it was also a perfect “just because” loaf. And I was right. 

It’s really easy to stir together. I followed the directions exactly as written for this loaf, but I think in the future I will play around with the recipe to see if I can make substitutions like gluten-free flour or applesauce instead of oil, or cut back on the sugar. I make note of changes to each pin when I re-pin something to my “I pinned it and then I did it” board and I think one other slight adjustment I will make note of for the future is to use less lemon juice for the glaze and maybe split the liquid portion of the glaze: half lemon juice, half buttermilk. The glaze is a bit sharp in flavor and is very sweet. I could use a bit less and still enjoy it. And I am a frosting lover. But don’t skip it altogether, it’s wonderful. 

This bread has the perfect amount of lemon flavor. It’s not overpowering, just fresh and light. I also think the buttermilk takes it from being good to great with the hint of sour to help balance the sweet. And with a full cup of grated zucchini, it is moist and light as can be. 

Lemon is one of my favorite summer flavors. I like to pair lemon with iced tea for the perfect summer duo. What other flavors resonate with summer for you? 

Meg Brothers is an artist, photographer, mama, and dreamer. She loves cooking, tattoos, and sporadic dance parties in the kitchen. She prefers dark chocolate, black coffee, and flip flops when weather permits. She is a lover of Pinterest and truly believes in integrating ideas and inspiration - big or small - into normal life. Meg lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Dustin and son, Julian. Meg writes about photography, family, and creative inspiration at megbrothers.com. Find her on Pinterest here and on Twitter here. 

***

Note from Liz: Over here in my corner, I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.

pinned it. did it. {with meg}

Today, Meg is sharing another "recipe" inspired by Pinterest. I love these posts! And this way of creating iced coffee sounds fun and pretty easy and delicious. I'm going to try it with my favorite vanilla soy creamer and see what happens.

Meg and I hope you enjoying these posts! And let us know how you've been inspired by Pinterest lately. Share in the comments today.

*****

I am a coffee lover. Almost ten years ago as a college student, I got a job as a barista at Starbucks. I was one of those baristas that started out drinking the very sweet drinks that resemble dessert more than a drink. To this day, they still hold a small soft spot in my life. However, as a barista, I learned to love black coffee. Really high quality black coffee (read: I’m a coffee snob). Still to this day I prefer my hot coffee black and unsweetened. Although I don’t drink it quite as strong as I used to.

 

However, in the summer, a hot cup of black coffee doesn’t always sound good to me. I want a cold, refreshing beverage on hot summer days. I have always liked iced coffee - sweetened a little bit - but after pinning various iced coffee recipes on Pinterest, I have decided to fall in love with iced coffee this summer. 

Iced Coffee Pins That Inspired This Post

Maple Iced Coffee
Totally Decadent Iced Coffee
How To Make Cold Brewed Coffee
Perfect Iced Coffee
Mexican Iced Coffee 

There are various methods for cold brewing coffee. Some involve fancy equipment, and others require very little. Some get left out on the counter over night, while some steep in the fridge. Some just let hot coffee cool down to room temperature. Some even go as far as making coffee ice cubes to keep it from tasting watered down. The possibilities go on and on. And I believe after doing some serious coffee brewing and testing, I am falling in love with iced coffee.

I basically took everything I learned from the pins linked to above and squished them all together into one ultimate recipe for iced coffee. I liked the idea of coffee ice cubes. I also loved the idea of sweetening it with condensed milk (yum!).  And the thought of finishing it with maple syrup put a smile on my face. There are so many possibilities for future cold brew coffees. 

I chose to brew the coffee in a glass pitcher on the counter for the day and then put it in the refrigerator over night. I didn’t care for the route that allows hot brewed coffee to come to room temperature as that made it bitter. I put about a cup of coarsely ground coffee and water went into the jar. I am terrible about following precise measurements in the kitchen, so I just eyeballed it. I stirred it a time or two during the day and then placed it in the fridge for the next day. Then in the morning, I strained it through coffee filters (paper and fine mesh from my coffee pot) and filled an ice cube tray. (Side note: The straining process was a bit tedious so I can see the appeal of brewing a cup of coffee and allowing it to cool to room temperature. If you’re pressed for time, it’s the route to go). 

Then came the finale. Ice cubes, cold brewed coffee, and sweetened condensed milk. And as an added fancy treat, just a touch of maple syrup. What I ended up with was smooth, divine, bold iced coffee. I had to resist the urge to top it off with freshly whipped cream and a sprinkle of coffee grounds for garnish. The barista in me really wants to go the whole nine yards. But this time it was really just about the brew itself. So I kept my focus. Cold, refreshing, and smooth perfection. And the melting coffee ice cubes pushed this over the top from good to amazing. No watered down coffee? I think I need to put in a call to Starbucks and find the market to get that on their menus. Seriously. 

Do you make your own iced coffee? Which method do you prefer? I would love to hear about it and add it to my cold brewed coffee repertoire. 

Not A Coffee Drinker? Try These Iced Drinks Instead

Chai Tea Iced Cubes in Almond/Soy Milk
Maple Iced Tea
Lemonade Ice Cube in Tea “Arnold Palmer”

Meg Brothers is an artist, photographer, mama, and dreamer. She loves cooking, tattoos, and sporadic dance parties in the kitchen. She prefers dark chocolate, black coffee, and flip flops when weather permits. She is a lover of Pinterest and truly believes in integrating ideas and inspiration - big or small - into normal life. Meg lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Dustin and son, Julian. Meg writes about photography, family, and creative inspiration at megbrothers.com. Find her on Pinterest here and on Twitter here. 

***

Note from Liz: Over here in my corner, I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.

pinned it. did it. {with meg}

Meg is back with another awesome DIY inspired by Pinterest! 

*****

I have an ever-growing board on Pinterest for DIY projects. It is full of craft ideas, up-cycled furniture, homemade headboards, and various brilliant ideas that I’ve seen and tutorials I want to try. It’s one of my favorite boards to go to when I have an itch to do a project. And one pin in particular catches my eye over and over again: diy string art. 

I started with a small one for our mantle above the fireplace. I decided to use a shadow box rather than just an empty frame (honestly because it was on a great sale and I liked the idea of a shadow box on the mantle). I purchased a shadow box, some teeny tiny nails, and some embroidery thread. This project cost me about $9.00 total. 

I loved her original image in her post (which by the way is in German but is easily translated thanks to Google Translate) so I decided to do one as similar to it as possible. I like that it is one take on the ampersand/and symbol. I loved the curvy look so I kept it very similar. I did a freehand drawing of it on a piece of printer paper and then cut it to size. I nailed the paper to the board that came with the frame where it literally hangs from. It is like a heavy duty cardboard or a very light-weight tag board. I did struggle to keep a few of the nails in far enough, so I ended up driving them through the back and they poke through a touch. Since it doesn’t hang on the wall, it doesn’t seem to matter. I found it easiest to do my nailing on our concrete patio so I could really go for it.

Once my nails were in, I picked a random nail to start with. I tied on the string and started weaving my way in and out of the nails being careful to pull it snuggly and to create a border with the thread along the edges. When I got to the end of the thread, I tied it around a nail and cut the end closely to the nail so it doesn’t show. Put the back on the frame, and it was a completed project.

It did take a bit more time to do than I had anticipated but overall it was a very simple diy. I have a few other string art projects I am interested in doing but I think my next one will be something like this one for our bedroom. 

String Art DIY Ideas
Baby/Children’s room rain cloud
Wedding/Event table numbers
United States art
Astronomy art
String Art Trophy Animals

I’m adding this project to my “I pinned it and then I did it” board with a quiet satisfaction that I can now enjoy it on my mantle and can dream up the next string project for my house. Anything you’ve done or tried that you found via Pinterest? Tell us about it in the comments below. I love hearing about the projects you are working on.

Meg Brothers is an artist, photographer, mama, and dreamer. She loves cooking, tattoos, and sporadic dance parties in the kitchen. She prefers dark chocolate, black coffee, and flip flops when weather permits. She is a lover of Pinterest and truly believes in integrating ideas and inspiration - big or small - into normal life. Meg lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Dustin and son, Julian. Meg writes about photography, family, and creative inspiration at megbrothers.com. Find her on Pinterest here and on Twitter here. 

***

Note from Liz: Over here in my corner, I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.

***

Don't forget! Join Kelly and me TOMORROW, Tuesday, July 16 at 6:30 PM PST/9:30 PM EST for a live video chat all about creative practices (what are they and our current practices), self-care, and other good things. We will also share a bit more and answer questions about the Summer Chickadee Road :: Studio Sessions and the Fall Story Excavation Retreat. Join us at 6:30 PM PST by clicking right here.

pinned it. did it. {with meg}

Meg is back with another edition of "Pinned It. Did It." I think this just might be the post that gets me to start entertaining again. (Want to come over?)

Enjoy!

*****

Any time I plan a party or event, I get asked the same question: will there be Party Popcorn? It has become a bit of a signature item for me. And to be honest, it’s almost embarrassing because it is possibly the easiest snack dish I’ve ever made. But sometimes the easy things are the ones we go to over and over again. That is the case with Party Popcorn. 

The ingredient list is short: microwave popcorn (I like lightly salted best), candy melts or white chocolate chips, and sprinkles. It has been my experience that the candy melts do the best job melting smoothly and coating the popcorn so I use them exclusively. I find them at Michaels but I’m sure they are available anywhere that sells Wilton cake decorating supplies. 

Start by popping your microwave popcorn. I used three bags of popcorn for our gathering of about 15 people this past weekend (and by the time the party was over, the popcorn was gone). Pop it and lay it out flat to cool. Once cool, separate out all of the un-popped kernels. This is a very important step. You don’t want anyone biting into those kernels. When the popcorn is cool, melt the candy coating. Once it is smooth, pour it over the popcorn and stir it so that the popcorn is coated. Add the sprinkles before it begins to cool so that they will stick. Allow the candy coating to solidify again once it cools and then transfer the popcorn to bowls. 

It is delicious served on the day made or can be stored in an air tight container and served the next day. This snack is so versatile and can be adapted with colors, flavors, or decorative sprinkles to go along with any holiday or theme. I saw where someone used pink and purple candy melts for a Valentine treat. I also had a friend make this using butterscotch chips instead of the white chocolate. The possibilities are endless and I can’t wait to try more of them myself.

Snack Ideas that Go Well Alongside Party Popcorn:

Donut Hole Pops
Chocolate Dipped Tangerines
Birthday Party Pretzels
Chocolate Dipped Tea Cookies 
Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies

It’s so fun to have such an easy go-to item that is quick to whip up in a pinch or adds a festive touch in a hurry. And I am such a (recent) big fan of the sweet-salty combo - this hits the spot for that combo. 

Meg Brothers is an artist, photographer, mama, and dreamer. She loves cooking, tattoos, and sporadic dance parties in the kitchen. She prefers dark chocolate, black coffee, and flip flops when weather permits. She is a lover of Pinterest and truly believes in integrating ideas and inspiration - big or small - into normal life. Meg lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Dustin and son, Julian. Meg writes about photography, family, and creative inspiration at megbrothers.com. Find her on Pinterest here and on Twitter here. 

***

Note from Liz: Over here in my corner, I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.

pinned it. did it. {with meg}

Another Pinned It. Did It. guest post with Meg! These happy glasses make me smile. Would love to have some friends over for an evening of snacks + summer drinks (from the recipes Meg shares below) + some DIY fun! Read on for Meg's column.

***

I pinned this DIY quite some time ago. It’s been in the back of my mind for months as a project I’d really like to try. So this weekend I stopped by the local dollar store and picked up some glasses to use and decided to give it a try. I used acrylic paints and an old paintbrush I had on hand. However after the fact, I discovered this paint that is specially designed for painting on glass and can be cured in the oven for a more permanent creation. 

I’ve seen confetti glasses at places like Anthropologie and Crate & Barrel, and I am always drawn to the way they look like summer - the type of glass best for drinking iced tea or margaritas out of. Something that should be in-hand at a barbecue or on the back porch as the sun sets. June seemed like the perfect month to pull out the paints and give this project a whirl.

The DIY itself is quite simple. It really is as easy as dotting paint onto the side of a clean glass using a slightly heavier hand towards the bottom of the glass and lightening the touch as you work your way up.  I started with the darkest blue first and worked my way towards lighter colors. From what I’ve read, it’s important to seal the glasses after completing the painting in order to help prolong it’s life. However, even with a sealing, they are delicate and should always be gently washed with warm water and a soft sponge. 

As I was dotting paint on my glasses, I was thinking about what a fun gift this would make for a teacher at the end of the year or a new neighbor welcome gift or a wedding shower gift for a couple. It’s a great handmade gift, yet it is forgiving on a tight budget. 

Drink Recipe Suggestions for Your New Glasses:

• Toasted Coconut Vanilla Limeade 
• Summer Sangria
• Cherry Limeade
• Sparkling White Peach Sangria
• Blueberry Lemonade
• Maple Iced Tea 

I added this pin to my “I Pinned It and Then Did It” board on Pinterest over the weekend and enjoyed looking back over all of the fun I’ve had since discovering Pinterest. What have you made from Pinterest lately? Tell us about it in the comments section or link to it for us to explore. 

Meg Brothers is an artist, photographer, mama, and dreamer. She loves cooking, tattoos, and sporadic dance parties in the kitchen. She prefers dark chocolate, black coffee, and flip flops when weather permits. She is a lover of Pinterest and truly believes in integrating ideas and inspiration - big or small - into normal life. Meg lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Dustin and son, Julian. Meg writes about photography, family, and creative inspiration at megbrothers.com. Find her on Pinterest here and on Twitter here. 

***

Note from Liz: Over here in my corner, I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.