ZUCCHINI {Bread}

This zucchini bread is delicious and simple - and healthy because it has zucchini it it, right? I love it warmed with a thin layer of melted butter on the top.

* Recipe yields two medium size loaves

Ingredients:
2 cups peeled and grated zucchini
3 eggs
1 cup salad oil
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1. Combine eggs and sugar. Mix well. Add oil and dry ingredients. Mix. Stir in zucchini and vanilla. Add nuts.
2. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour in a greased loaf pans.
3. Enjoy!

Apparently making bread is my new thing. I hope you enjoyed my mini-series.
Joanna

I LOVE PATTERNED LEGGINGS

We will just use models for the time being - these legs are made for child baring, not modeling at the moment. 

I really do love patterned leggings. Pair them with a longer shirt or dress (please do not mistake them for jeans) and some cute summer shoes and you will have yourself looking all styled while remaining comfortable in the summer heat. Here are a few of my favorites this season.

1 >> 2 >> 3 

Joanna

DIY TRIANGLE SHELVES

I'm so excited to share with you our DIY triangle shelves inspired by A Beautiful Mess! 

The triangles are hanging above our little one's crib and make the perfect statement as you walk in the room. The husband and I went back and forth as to what colors to paint or stain them - here are the final results and we couldn't be happier how they tie the room together! We chose white and a metallic gold and copper.

With these shelves done Project Shared Room is pretty much complete - except for a few finishing touches that probably won't happen until after our little guys arrival. Keep an eye out for a post on the whole room. I can't wait to share it all with you!

Supplies Needed:
Wood (see instructions for amount)
Miter Saw
Tool to measure angles
Hammer/Nails
Paint

Instructions:
1. Purchase wood - This varies depending on the size, amount and depth you want your triangles. We wanted three triangles measuring about 20inches per side - so we purchased 180 inches of 1x2inch boards.
2. Figure out angles to cut corners - Ours are 60 degree triangles so we had to make 30 degree cuts in the wood.
3. Using a miter saw cut the wood - for each piece of wood the angles on each end should be opposite. We used the wider of the two ends to measure the length of 19.5inches - when we put all the pieces together each side would measure 20 inches. Hold wood slats up to each other to make sure they are the same length.
4. Once all pieces are cut,  begin nailing pieces together.
5. Paint your triangles - ours needed 2-3 coats each
6. Hang on the wall and enjoy!

And to top things off, The Husband and I couldn't believe how cheap this project was. We only spent $5 on wood and $10 on paint - making our project cost a total of $15!

HONEY WHOLE WHEAT {Bread}

This past week I made honey whole wheat bread with a couple of friends. It is a bit dense to use as sandwich bread, but it tastes delicious with some warmed butter and peanut butter. Its becoming my new favorite breakfast.

*Recipe yields two loaves

Ingredients:
3 teaspoons  dough enhancer
3 cups  whole wheat flour
2 cups + 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon  hot water
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup  honey
2 teaspoons salt
3 teaspoons yeast
3 cups whole wheat flour

Directions:
1. Stack ingredients through yeast - blend together
2. Knead while adding additional flour - knead until dough cleans inside of bowl
3. Turn speed up for three minuets
4. Pour some olive oil on counter and hands - throw dough down seven times
5. Cut dough in half
6. Smooth and tuck dough/giving it an occasional chop with your hands to remove bubbles. Once lines are removed and dough is shaped like a loaf place in greased bread pan.
7. Let dough rise till it reaches about an inch from the top of pan - or till it doubles in size.
8. Bake at 350 for 30 minuets or until golden brown.

DIY FLORAL CROWN

Anyone else in love with the whimsy a floral crown adds? I've been hoping to create one for a session and when little Brooklyn was born I knew she would wear a crown perfectly. Thus began my adventure in creating a floral crown. 

I read a lot of tutorials on how to make a one and as always, I have intentions of following the directions but at some point in the process I go rouge and do my own thing. So, my tutorial is pretty simple, as are most of my DIY's. . .

Supplies Needed:
Fake flowers - make sure they have wire stems
Jewelry wire
Scissors
Wire Cutters

*If you want to wear this for more than a photo-shoot purchase these items

Elastic
Hot glue/gun
Needle & thread

Instructions:
1. Purchasing the right mix of flowers is essential - it is very easy to make a fake looking/lets be honest "off looking - almost cute, but something isn't quite right" floral crown. Take your time moseying the store and dreaming up what would look good together. Because mine is for a newborn I knew I wanted it to be simple and organic looking and a few touches of color. I also knew it was only going to be about 13inches around so I had very little space to work with. 
2. Make sure the elastic and jewelry wire match your color scheme as well.
3. Start the floral arranging process. I cut a few pieces of flowers and moss and off, leaving about two inches of stem on each so I could wrap it together. 
4. I began wrapping the wire of the moss together leaving space in-between so I could add flowers to it later.
5. Once the moss was wrapped/wire twisted together and the correct length, I used jewelry wire to add in the flowers and little white fillers. Once it was all secure I twisted the wire in the back together to close it. 

*To make this into a longer-term wearable headband...

6. Once your crown is the proper size, take wire crown and hot glue it to elastic. You may choose to add a few flowers/fillers to cover the elastic. Make sure to leave a space of elastic blank in the back so it can stretch to fit your head. I would leave at lease two inches of bare elastic. 
7. Sew ends of elastic together and there you have it! A pretty floral crown.