March Recipe

Artichoke Spinach Dip

(2) 8 oz. bricks of cream cheese room temperature
1 cup shredded Parmesan or Asiago or any other dry hard cheese you choose
1 can artichoke bottoms (not marinated)
1 cup mayonnaise
½ tsp. garlic
1 box frozen chopped spinach thawed, and pressed so all moisture is gone

Combine cream cheese, ¾ cup of cheese, mayonnaise, garlic, and spinach. Mix thoroughly. Roughly chop the artichoke bottoms and fold in. Spoon dip into a oven ready dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until bubbly. If you would like (which I do) you can broil it for a couple of minutes at the end to crisp the top a bit.

This dip is best served with either pita chips or crustini. You can also make great substitutions or additions to this recipe. Try omitting the artichokes (or leave them in..) and adding itty bitty bay shrimp, or lump crab. If you use seafood, add ½ tsp. Old Bay Seasoning!

Cleansing Rain

It was such a rainy day yesterday, and by mid afternoon the sun was sinking in the west and was peaking through the clouds, glistening on the rain drenched trees. The day’s rain made the birds, who had newly arrived, chirp anxiously. They busily set about hopping from branch to branch shaking drips of water everywhere they went.

I love Spring. I love how it feels, a renewal of spirit, mind, and soul. I love a good cleansing rain, and the way it feels on my nose and cheeks, not to mention my heart. There are times throughout the year when I long for a good Spring rain, not just for its cool cleansing feel, but in the metaphorical sense as well. Today was my Spring rain ~ in all senses…

Magdalena

"You can say any fool thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, `My God, you're RIGHT! I NEVER would've thought of that!'" - Dave Barry

Maggie, from the time she fit in the palm of my hand up to and including now, has captured my puppy lovin' heart.

She and Scooter, her friend, confidant, playmate and rival for my attention, accompanied my son and I up to my parents' house for a birthday weekend. She was exhausted by the time we got home from playing ball, being cute, and otherwise being mischevious. A five hour ride in the kennel WITH Scooter was more than any princess should have to endure...ahhhh to be a dog...

Muah!

Bead Sisters!

As many of you probably know, my dear friend Marika and I both have a shop on Etsy. Marika's shop is Lilikoidesign and mine is Lilikoidesigner. We both get emails often wondering if our shops are the same ~ and alas, we are not. I tell everyone who asks that we are "bead sisters" but that our shops are separate and distinct.

This weekend Marika and I were able to meet in Denver and go to a bead show! This is a picture of us at the show - - we closed the place down! I look like I closed the place down, and Marika looks fresh as a spring daisy!

We saw so many cool things and bought just about as many! Look for new items in both of our shops from the adventure!

Sneak Peek

So here is a little sneak peak at what will be coming soon to my Etsy shop. I have been dying to take a metalsmithing class ~ and I just may do that soon. But in the meantime, I contacted Gemmafactrix, another Etsy member whose work I really respect, to find out what books she might suggest for a beginner. She supplied me with the titles of a couple of books she highly recommended. I purchased them and have learned a few new techniques! I was reading in Gemma's website that she is beginning to teach individual classes - - one on one. Holy Cow! What I wouldn't do to have a lesson from Brooke! Alas... Ohio is a long way away from Utah....

I made these earrings with a bit of elbow grease and hammering. (Thanks Dad for the new steel!)

xo

Cindie

Crocus

Today my boyfriend came over and brought me this little crocus bloom.... ahh the first sign of Spring in my ice infested world. Those tiny little buds seemingly pop through the snow and bring us that precious hope that all this white stuff eventually will go away...

But for now, I am going to snuggle up with that great cup of coffee turn the heater up and stay in... It still is 30 degrees outside for goodness sake! But Spring is right around the corner!

xo
Cindie

Utah Dream Center

I have long since been one who fights and champions for the underdog. That hasn't always served me well, but this year's Superbowl it worked huh? But this year I decided that I would be donating 10% of all of the earnings from my Etsy shop to the Utah Dream Center. What an amazing organization. I have been aware of them for a couple of years now and have donated those things that I normally would have sent to the Salvation Army. Please take some time to read about them.

It feels good to give back. It feels good to strive toward living in a state of gratitude. It is important to me to understand all that I have been blessed with ~ a great family, a home to live in, a good job, and great friends. I believe it is encumbant upon me to take active steps in making my world a better place to be. The Utah Dream Center provides such a great opportunity for me to do this!

Thanks!