A.V. Does What?!

Love, Eat, Pray: The 5 best moments I had 5 weeks abroad.

Ok I lied initially it was the 5 best moments but going through my pictures I couldn’t choose 5 and A lot of best moments… doesn’t sound right. This time last year I was just beginning my adventures in Ghana, West Africa. It was around the 1st week and I’ve done a lot including but not limited to: waking up by the sound of roosters at dawn, got my hair braided in more colors than the northern lights, watch someone catch what we believe was malaria, and relaxed at the beach. This was a big trip for me for a lot of reasons. It was my 1st time REALLY being a way from home longer than ten days. Even in college I was always three hours away from home but, now I’m in another time zone on another continent for a month! You may be wondering "Why were you there for a month?" Good question you astute reader you. The reason is I was there as a volunteer, teaching art to children in an orphanage and acquiring as much Shea butter as possible.

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On this trip I learned a lot about myself and the world around me.  I often refer to this trip as “Eat, Pray, Love" with a twist. My trip was more like Love, Eat, Pray. I think my trip has similarities to the book but clear differences for example I didn’t fall in love with some strapping tall dark and handsome man but I did fall in love with a 12 year old girl (certainly not your modern day romantic comedy)  I was able to visit 3 countries and here are some of my best moments!

I had to learn how to slow dooooowwwwn in Ghana. Being a fast paced “Nu Yawker” this can be difficult because I like to hit the ground running. Here is a quick clip of my 1st couple days. 

I decided to save camera space and take more pictures instead of video.

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Waking up to this for a couple days, Cape Coast. 

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Right on the beach is Cape Coast Castle, one of the oldest slave castles used during the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

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Kakum National Park. The Canopy Walk is a big tourist attraction it a canopy walk that is tied to seven treetops in the middle of the forest. Only God knows how high it is.

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We are smiling because we are close to the end.

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A real life Treehouse that you can sleep in but decided to stay at the beach instead.

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Wli Waterfall. The tallest waterfall in West Africa, and I hiked it!

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Getting my pin up girl on.

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If you knew how far I had to travel to feed this monkey.

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Big Ben.

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Henley’s Toy store in London.

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Tower Bridge. You would think London Bridge would be all fancy but it isn’t. This is the bridge. 

The Food

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Banku and Peanut Soup.

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Chicken and Jollof rice.

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The best KFC is in Accra, Ghana don’t debate me on this.

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Croque Monsieur is a French grilled cheese sandwich. If you had 24 hours to see Paris what would you do? See what I did.

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Crepes!

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Fish and Chips in London.

The Children

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Learning how to say “sit down” in Twi is essential to teaching children.

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I don’t know this child she wasn’t one of my students we just started hanging out at the beach after she went out to far in the water. Her name is Abrah.

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Augustine.

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Grace.

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I had a birthday party for them.

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I don’t have enough words or space in this blog post to describe how my life changed during this trip plus if I tell you now you won’t read my memoir! Stay Tuned. 

~A.V.

Let Me Count The Ways… To Use A Waffle Iron

I have a confession to make… My name is A.V. and I am a 3rd generation "As seen on TV" customer *Sigh* Welcome A.V.

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Been making QVC rich since 1902.

Now before you judge my entire linage understand it is all good intentions, I think.  My grandmother and mother both love gadgets particularly for the kitchen so technically any addictions I have isn’t my fault. I woke up like this.  Growing up we had the most random gadgets in our home. The one that stuck out the most to me was the sandwich maker I feel like this was the original panini maker. After my siblings and I destroyed my Easy Bake Oven we transitioned to this culinary contraption.

imageFast forward about 20 years and several “3 easy payments of” items later…  

I was reminiscing about the greatness that is the sandwich maker, turning cold bread into hot gourmet works of art! Maybe I am slightly exaggerating but the sandwiches were good! Yes you can achieve similar results in a skillet but it isn’t the same:

1) it doesn’t give you the cute presentation with the sealed sides.

AND

2) You can’t set it and forget it.

I wanted that old thing back but I was not going to buy a sandwich maker, I would have no where to put it.  Can this fit in between the juicer and the popcorn popper? Will it match my blender? Were all questionsI wasn’t prepared to answer.

Here is when the waffle iron comes in! I made a grilled cheese sandwich with mozzarella, tomato, and fresh basil it was so good and it looked faux fancy like I was in some artsy restaurant. This is awesome now I can save space and my single appliance is a multi-tool!

Yummy! (please use non stick spray)

I scoured the internet and apparently great minds think alike I found so many other food that you can “prepare” on the the waffle iron. Experiment, have fun and add your best work to your recipe box!

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Soft Pretzels 

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Ice Cream Sandwiches

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Corn beef hash, Philly Cheese, Pizza, and Oreo ice cream cake

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Carrot Cake Waffles

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Crab Cakes

Have you thought of non traditional ways to use other appliances?

~A.V.

Easy Egg Foo Young… Money

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Nothing says Chinese cuisine like Drake, Nicki Minaj and the rest of Young Money Entertainment, right? We can agree to disagree. Well Egg Foo Young is just as Chinese as Lil’ Wayne is.  I was heart broken when I learned (many moons ago) that most of the Chinese food that I love isn’t traditional at all. so much learning about other cultures, scoff. You mean to tell me I cannot find “authentic” General Tso Chicken, Crab Rangoon, Fortune cookies or my beloved Egg Foo Young in China!?  How am I supposed to be a “Citizen of the world?” *Burns passport*  Maybe I am being a little dramatic but you get the point.  Well since Egg Foo Young is technically made up that means I can make my own and it will be good right??? Of course!

What you need (Makes 2 Pieces)

Sauce 

  • 3/4 cup of chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 1/2 cup of water 
  • 1 tablespoon of low sodium soy sauce

Egg Foo Young

  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup of green peas
  • 1/2 cup of thinly sliced mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup of chopped onion
  • 2 stalks of green onion (thinly sliced)
  • 1/2 tablespoon of  low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon of fish sauce
  • Black pepper (to taste) 
  • Pinch of garlic

To make the sauce bring your stock to a boil add soy sauce and thicken with cornstarch/water mixture. Keep warm until ready to serve.  

To make the Egg Foo Young beat your eggs, add all of your ingredients then mix well.  Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan or wok. Ladle a 1/2 of the egg mixture into the heated pan. Let cook for 2 minutes on each side, do not press down on the egg while cooking it just let it cook. When finished remove from heat and serve immediately with sauce poured on top. *Note* you can add more veggies and meat if you would like.  

Now that I have my Egg Foo Young recipe I can travel to China and won’t be devastated! Roger That.

~A.V.

DIY Nautical Chandelier

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I want start off saying I love the show Home Made Simple (on OWN). I wake up early on Saturday mornings just to watch it. The gist of the show if you aren’t already familiar is: A deserving person who gives back to the community is nominated by their peers and a design team comes in and revamps an area of their home.  Very heartfelt.  I saw two particular projects that I loved. It was the designer’s own version of a “Capiz Shell Chandelier” from West Elm and a “Jute Rope Chandelier” from Anthropologie.

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Here is the West Elm Chandelier. 

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And the jute rope chandelier.

I liked both so the only solution for me was to combine both. I figured the rope would give the soft capiz shells a nautical look, like a pirate princess. 

What you need

  • A hula hoop or embroidery hoop (depending on what size you like) *note* I used a couple loops of galvanized steel wire because that is what I had in the house at the time. 
  • Wax paper (dedicate a box to this project you may use less)
  • Twine
  • Iron & ironing board
  • Elmer’s glue or E9000
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Hot Glue
  • Screw Hooks
  • Parchment paper

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Begin by tying a small knot of twine on your hoop and slowly get your wrap on. Once complete hot glue the start/end point so it doesn’t unravel. 

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To do this particular design I cut twine in various lengths

  • 4 pairs of 4” strips.
  • 4 pairs of 8” strips.
  • 4 pairs of 16” strips
  • 4 pairs of 32” strips

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Coat each strip in Elmer’s Glue so it will hold what ever shape you want it to have. After you finish coating your strips hot glue your strips to the hoop.  *note* There are “four sides” to the chandelier. Each side gets 1 pair of each size strip drape them in a “U shape”  from smallest to largest. Let dry. 

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Take your wax paper and measure then cut 9- 12” sheets. Feel free to add more depending on the size of your hoop.

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Layer a sheet of parchment paper on your ironing board (to protect it) then sandwich three sheets of wax paper at a time and “fuse” them together by running a warm iron over them. Repeat.

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Cut your fused sheets into 1” strips. Set aside.

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Your twine should be half dry and this is the time to mold it how you want. I gathered the middle sections and used a additional twine to secure it’s bow like shape. Let completely dry. 

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Hot glue the wax paper strips to the inside of the hoop. 

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Install your chandelier by using screw hooks. 

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Ta Dah! Now I do have to look at my original light fixture.

What do you think? If you try it let me know I would love to see it!

~ A.V.

Don’t Forget The Heavy C.R.E.A.M: DIY Recipe Box

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With so many apps, blogs, Pinterest boards do you really need a recipe box? To answer your question. Yes! For several reasons but right now I only have two.

  1. You can decorate it
  2. Some things are better to physically have (i.e. Social Security Card).  Feel free to back up your grandparents’ coveted double chocolate brownie recipe on your iPad.

Initially I saw this craft on country living’s website but I thought it needed a little more to suite my taste. The concept is the same for both projects you can decorate how you choose. You can even add glitter!

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The picture I had that included the spoon I didn’t like. Sorry about that.

What you need
a wooden box from the crafts store
a hot glue gun
an old spoon

Optional
Wood stain (link to all natural wood stain)
Stencils
Wood burning tool
Gold spray paint (for spoon)

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Country Living’s Version

These are the basic instructions.

  1. With a foam brush, stain the box, inside and out, with Minwax wood finish in Classic Gray. Let dry.
  2.  Using your hands, bend a teaspoon at a 90-degree angle. 
  3. Apply hot glue to the box, center the spoon atop the box, press and hold for one minute.
I love hip hop, “The 99 & the 2000’s” is my favorite era and it influences many of my decor design choices. I used my wood burning tool to carve this “grocery list.”
  • Gin 
  • Juice
  • bread
  • dough
  • cheddar
  • T-bone steak
  • Welch’s grape
  • Heavy C.R.E.A.M
Here are some recipes you can add to your collection. 
Cauliflower Pizza Crust 
Coquito and Sorrel (beverages) 
Chorizo Black Bean Quesadilla  
Salted Caramel Apple Cookies
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I opted out of using wood stain because I wanted the natural wood to shine through. It is better to bend the spoon before you spray painted it. I picked gold *Bling Bling.*

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The buildings before the spoon was attached.

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Traced the cassette tape with a stencil then used the wood burner.

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I added watercolor to my wood burned images (the buildings on the front and the cassette tape on the back). Once that was all done I used shellac to seal it all.

Decoded:

Bread, Cheddar, Dough = Money 

Gin N’ Juice Snoop Dogg’s hit song from 1993

"T-Bone Steak, Cheese Eggs and Welch’s Grape" Although I didn’t add the cheese eggs the line is from The Notorious B.I.G. Big Poppa

Heavy C.R.E.A.M: C.R.E.A.M is a song from the Wu Tang Clan and it stands for “Cash. Rules. Everything. Around. Me” 

Are recipe boxes too old fashioned? Do we still pass them on?

~A.V.

DIY Rock Star Record Bowl

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Did you know that March is National Craft Month? I am all for fun, interesting, quick, useful, most importantly economical crafts. This bowl will look cool on your coffee table, it is very easy and inexpensive!

What you need

  • A heat safe bowl
  • Cookie sheet 
  • An Oven
  • Vinyl record (that you no longer want please don’t melt down an autographed, collector’s edition of Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall then blame me. 
  • *Bonus* Heat Gun and Spray paint

Preheat oven at 200 degrees.

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Put your heat safe bowl upside down on a cookie sheet and put your vinyl record on top of it.

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Put it in the oven for 8-10 minutes the record will get soft and you can shape it how you want. I prefer to shape it on top of the heat safe bowl instead of inside because I still use it for food. Other tutorials do it differently it is your choice.

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The vinyl cools quickly if you want a special shape you can use a heat gun or put it back in the oven for a couple of minutes.

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You are basically done but I wanted to paint mine to match my living room.

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This a cool “catch all” bowl you can put candy your keys, fruit, etc into it.

"Hey now, you’re a Rock Star go play!" If you try this out I would love to see!

~A.V.

Oscar Award Winning Decor

What an award show! Ellen did a great job as host with the greatest selfie of all time and we got to see Meryl Streep shimmy with Pharrell sure made me happy.  Many emotional moments including the 1st time nominees Lupita Nyong’o and Matthew Mcconaughey give their acceptance speeches. Many awards but the real winner is the red carpet! These designs were amazing and inspired this oscar award winning decor roundup!  

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Lupita Nyong’o reigned in Prada.

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1) Decorative lush ruffle pillow Linens and Things 

2) Button Tufted Velvet Chaise Settee Target

3) Versailles Small Six Light Iron/Aqua Glass Chandelier bliss home and design

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via pandashouse.com

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Sandra is dashing in Alexander McQueen.

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1) Ridgecrest loveseat by Barclay Butera Home;  barclaybuterahome.com.

2) Coverlet and sham by Scandia Home; scandiahome.com.

3) Queen chair upholstered in Siena leather by Natuzzi Italia; www.natuzzi.com.

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Decorpad.com

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Kate is a hit with Versace.

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1) Owl silver centerpiece. From Homesii 

2) Metallic Geometric leather small notebook and medium and large journals by Barbara Wiggins Designs for Sweet Bella.

3) Silver plated vases via Design Wagen

4) HGTV Home silver leaf and antique credenza. Belfort Furniture 

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lush-fab-glam.com

You can even mix and match starlets to create a whole new look. 

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Charlize Theron meets J.Law with a little art deco.

Who’s outfit inspires you most?

From Baker to Biggie: DIY Coffee Table

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Welcome to the FINAL installment of Black Excellence! If you have been following along I hope you learned something.

We have covered a lot:

- Hacked an Ikea shelf by turning it into a bar. "The Glamourous Life" is dedicated to the beautiful actresses, models, entertainers of color from yesteryear. 

- "A Star Is Born" Went to Goodwill scored a picture frame for six bucks gave it a picture perfect makeover now it is a lighted vanity mirror. 

- "Lady Sings The Blues" Completely revamped a chair from a music video by reupholstering it. and painted another. 

Now we have two “before and after” projects. First up is our “It Was All A Dream” Ikea table.

"It Was All A Dream…I used to read Word Up Magazine.” is an iconic lyric by The Notorious B.I.G. from his debut single Juicy. He goes on to rap about how life would be once he made it, the good life. Something we all can identify with. 

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I went to Ikea and got the LACK coffee table for $19.99. Primed it and began using the same paint I used to paint my accent wall (Zinc by Martha Stewart/Glidden) 

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I mixed a small portion of the paint with black and white acrylic paint to make different shades of the same color.  I wanted it to look concrete-like, I used a mini roller brush and a bristle brush for streaks.  

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Added different shades to the letters to add dimension. 

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Once I was finished with my design I applied some shellac on it and voilà! 

This second project is a little bit different. I found this wobbly table in my basement I figured with some TLC and waterfalls elbow grease i could make something out of it.

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I posted this picture on Instagram and my Fan page and was given pretty cool suggestions. I decided to only use items I already had at home. If I didn’t have it I couldn’t buy it, a challenge if you will.

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After tightening the legs, I cut out a circle from a roll of patterned vinyl that would be the new table top. This can achieved with contact paper as well.

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I had some beads that I wanted to attach to the table and  I “aged” them with copper/gold spray paint.  The now  vintage beads reminded me of the extravagant outfits the late great Josephine Baker would wear.

imageHere is a picture of Beyonce paying tribute to the famous “Banana Dance” costume.

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I cut the beads to be various lengths and individually tied them with fishing line. Although, I have never gone fishing I figure you could never be too prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse. 

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I used spray adhesive to attach the vinyl to the top.

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This was the outcome but I felt something was missing….

SPRAY PAINT!

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I used silver spray paint to accent some part of the legs and the rim of the table. I am satisfied with the results.

That’s it! I hope you enjoyed this decorating series. 

Now feel free to enjoy your lavish meal of T-Bone steak, cheese eggs and Welch’s grape. 

Do It Yourself Tequila Decanter

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If you celebrated #NationalMargaritaDay last weekend or just have old bottles laying around, reuse them! They can be repurposed as decanters! Once you peel the labeling off you can leave it plain or decorate as you wish. Etching cream can give it a frosted look and glass paint will help it look like stained glass.