pasta does not grow on trees

Do you remember that video where spaghetti was picked off of trees by "pasta harvesters?" Yes, it was a hoax, but I remember this being very confusing as a child. I mean, if it didn't grow on trees, where did it grow?
 
Ever since, I have this weird desire to make my own pasta.  I'm facinated by pasta...how it goes from stretchy dough, to brittle stick, to slimy noodle.  So call it an impulse buy if you must, but as I was passing the clearance aisle at Ross (shhh...don't tell) the other day, I saw this pasta roller and decided I must have it.

 So this week, I did it.  I made pasta.  Call me Queen Linguini if you must, but I think it turned out pretty darn awesome.

My sister helped hold down the machine because the darn thing wouldn't attach to my counter.

It was much easier than I thought.  Here's the recipe I used:

Lemon Herb Pasta

2C Flour
1/2 TSP Salt
2 Eggs
1/4C Water
1/4C Fresh Lemon Juice
1TSP Basil
1TSP Olive Oil

Mix flour, basil, salt.  In another bowl, mix egges, water, lemon juice and olive oil.  Add to flour mixture.  Kneed for 10 minutes or until you get what feels like carpal tunnel.  Let sit for 10 minutes under a damp cloth.  Roll through machine on flat roller setting, then again through linguini setting.  Let site for 30 minutes, then boil for 5 minutes to cook.


I combined it with my favorite pasta sauce:

Pasta Ala' Amber

3TBL Olive Oil
3TBL Butter
3TBL Pasta Water
6 Cloves of Garlic (yes, six!)
1LB Shrimp
Juice from 1/4 Lemon
Fresh Parsley (to taste)
Fresh Basil (to taste)
Fresh Ground Sea Salt (to taste)
Fresh Ground Paper (to taste)
1/3C White Wine (plus a glass for the cook!)
Peas (Optional)
Mushrooms (Optional)

Tah Dah!  It was fabulous!

What PB Has Taught Me While Creating a Home Office

What I learned from my home office makeover...PB style!

 There should be a box for everything, and everything in a box.

Pretty notebooks make me want to write in them.

Colored rubber bands and paper clips cost little more, but add a lot of extra zing.

Ikea makes good organizational items on the cheap. 

Men do not organize like women.  They do not care about the PB lifestyle.  This was apparent after searching for the level for 25 minutes.

I learned to use a level.  And, gasp, my husband may be correct in insisting I use one.  They do make everything look much nicer.  And straighter.

 

It's a good thing I have a Mac, because apparently they are design-friendly, as PB never showcases any other type of computer in their magazine.

It's also a good thing I have all the Mac accessories (iPhone, iPod, iMouse, iPrinter) to go with my Mac so they all match.

Home Sweet Home Office

There’s a part in one of my favorite movies, “Under the Tuscan Sun” in which Diane Lane’s character says:

“Just because you have a sudden urge to weep, that doesn't mean you've made a mistake…the trick to overcoming buyer's remorse is to have a plan. Pick one room and make it yours.”

Though I do not claim to have buyer’s remorse, I am beginning to feel overwhelmed by this new chapter in my life. So I took Lane’s advice: I went to my home office, cleaned it out, bought some inspiring new notebooks, and… "made it my own.”

This is how Pottery Barn makes a home office

Though the "Pottery Barn" look I was going for was not fully executed, I'd like to think of it as "Pottery Barnesc". 

This is my budget-friendly, practical, version of that...

 I call the look, "Chic But Practical--on a budget!"

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...complete with a closet to hide all the uglies

Though I in no way maintain that my little home office can complete with those fabulous designers at Pottery Barn, I was encouraged to find ways to organize my mess.

Whoo...I feel better now!  Any life coach would be proud.