How to: Bridal Emergency Kit

I recently found myself needing a fun gift for a friend who will soon
be getting married. When I got married, a friend gave me a Bridal
Emergency Kit--a drawstring bag filled with all manner of items that a
bride might need on her big day. Not only was it incredibly useful,
it was a hoot going through the bag at my shower and hearing
everyone's funny stories of wedding day emergencies. As an added
bonus, the bride can just toss the whole thing into her carry-on for
her honeymoon. It was simple to put together. For this gift, I sewed
the toiletry case myself for that extra handmade touch, but you could
also use an easier to make drawstring bag or purchase one if you are short on time.

A gang of recently-wed girlfriends helped compile this list of essentials:

lip balm
breath mints
ibuprofen
little folding hairbrush with built-in mirror
lint roller
snack-sized energy bar
safety pins
wet wipes
bobby pins
a sewing kit
clear nail polish
bandages
antacids
tissues
dental floss
deodorant
hair spray
hand lotion
nail polish remover
scissors
small disposable toothbrushes

You've doubtlessly got some shower gifts on your list or at least a
gal at work who is about to get hitched . . . why not throw together
one of these little kits for her?

written by Brita of Beeps' Peeps

How to dice an avocado (and not your fingers!)

There may not be a perpetual summer in Maryland (like, say, southern New Mexico), but that doesn't stop me from eating my weight in avocados year-round! They are creamy, flavourful and mix so well in everything - from salsa and guacamole to apocalypse salad to dressing on an old-fashioned bed of mixed greens.

Fresh avocados can be tricky, though. You can get away with frozen avocado slices for salsa and guacamole and some dressings, but some of the time only fresh will do.

This entry was inspired by a friend of mine - specifically the five stitches in his hand that came from cleaning/pitting/dicing/otherwise preparing an avocado.

So here's the tarabu rundown on safely dicing an avocado:

First, slice vertically all the way around, starting on the fat side of the stem - this will leave you with a 'fat' side and a 'thin' side based on where your knife cut;
Next, carefully cradle the avocado in your palm, 'thin' side up. Slip the knife into the groove you cut and carefully pry up the narrow side and pop it off the pit;
Still cradling the fat half, lay your knife against the flesh of the fruit and carefully press the edge of the blade into the pit. Gently rock the knife back and forth - slightly rotating your hand on the axis from thumb to pinkie - until you loosen the pit and it pops out.
Then you have two beautiful avocado 'halves' ready to slice. Carefully slice the avocado flesh into strips, without cutting through the skin. If you are looking for slices, stop there, if you want dicing, carefully cut in the opposite direction, still without cutting the skin.
Finally, use a large metal tablespoon and, starting at the wide end of the avocado, carefully scoop the flesh out of the skin.

Look at that! You have carefully peeled, pitted and diced an avocado without a slippery slimy mess or a trip to the ER!

Written by tarabu.

How to Make a Pinwheel!

It is a nice little trip down memory lane when every summer I walk into a store and see some of the same toys that have been summertime favorites since I was a kid. Plastic buckets and shovels, big colorful rubber balls, jacks, balsa wood planes, bubbles and pinwheels were the toys I begged my mother for every summer when we went to Woolsworth.

Well of my now crafty life and in memory of my childhood’s past I decided to make my own pinwheel. Although I do not play with them much, I like to put them in plants as a reminder that summertime is here and I should work less and play more. And if you have children making a pinwheel is a great rainy day craft.

What you will need:
1 – 8.5”x11” sheet of cardstock paper
1 – wooden dow
6” wire (I used 20 gauge)
2 – medium/large beads
needle nose pliers
ruler and exactor knife or scissors

1. Click here to download the PINWHEEL_template.pdf. Print out template at 100% on the cardstock paper.
2. Cut along green outer cut line. You will be working with a 7.5” square.
3. Cut along the cyan inner cut dotted lines making sure to stop at the end, leaving the center in tact.

4. Punch a small hole on the side of each corner and the center of the square where indicated.
5. Coil the wire around one end wooden dow. Sting one of the beads through the wire and then insert the wire through hole in the center of the paper square.

6. Take one of the hole punched corners and bend the paper over and insert the wire into the hole. Continue this with each of the corners. Use your hand to keep the pinwheel in place.

7. Add the other bead to the wire and use the pliers to bend the remaining wire over into a loop to secure the wire. Now all you need is some wind to see your pinwheel in action.

Note: If the pinwheel gets caught on the stick try bending the wire a bit until it is sitting correct and can turn freely.

written by: kolleen of Design by Night