DIY Chunky Necklace

I think I'm now starting to suffer from what I've heard people refer to as the 'post-wedding blues.' I feel like I was crafting various wedding-related items for so long, that now there seems to be a void in my life. I guess this is a good thing for all you blog readers out there, because since the wedding, I have returned to my regular blogging schedule.

Anyway, I decided that it was time I shared a few of the crafty things I did for my wedding with you. I knew Jake and I's wedding colors were going to be gold and some shade of pink. I ultimately went with a mauve color for my bridesmaid dresses - the pink wasn't 'in your face pink,' nor was it a pastel Easter egg color. I liked that it was subtle and thought it would be easy to match jewelry with. Man, was I wrong. You know when you have a vision of the way something should look, but you cannot find the perfect accessory to complete your vision? This was my case in finding perfect jewelry for my beautiful maids. 

So, I decided to make their jewelry. Their simplistic dresses warranted a statement necklace, so I searched for a necklace idea that would really pop against and complement their dresses. Below are my instructions for making your own Chunky Necklaces!

Materials:

• 8 mm glass pearls (75)
• 4 mm glass pearls (38)
• headpins (95)
• 5 mm closed jump rings (19)
• 70 cm of ribbon (2)
• 25 cm 22 gauge silver wire

How to:

• Using the headpins, make wrapped loops of 8 mm pearls (57) and all of the 4 mm pearls (38).
• Begin assembling your clusters; place an 8 mm pearl on a jump ring, followed by a 4 mm pearl, another 8 mm pearl, a 4 mm pearl, and another 8 mm pearl. Do this 18 more times so you have a total of 19 clusters.

• Make a wire wrapped loop on one end of the silver wire, and thread a single pearl onto the end of it. Then, add a cluster. 
• Alternate stringing a pearl and a cluster, until you've added all but two clusters to the wire. End with a pearl.

• Push all of the clusters together on the wire so they bunch up and appear full, then secure the other end of the wire with another wrapped loop.
• Thread the ribbon through the loops on either end until it is halfway through, and fold it on itself.
• Thread one of the remaining clusters through the ribbon, and slide it down until it is close to the other pearls. Repeat on the other side.
• Trim off any frayed ribbon, and secure the necklace around your neck by tying a bow!

Here's a picture of my gorgeous matron of honor wearing her necklace at my wedding. While this tutorial recommends tying the necklace to secure it, I actually attached a clasp to the ribbon on the bridesmaid necklaces. I was concerned that the girls would constantly be worried about their necklaces coming untied throughout the day, so I figured a clasp was an easy fix. I was so pleased with the outcome of this project, that I'm considering selling them!

Please let me know what you think! I will say, this project certainly takes time - it took me about 4 hours to complete each necklace (including adding a clasp). If you are interested in purchasing a custom-made necklace, please email me!

I worked from the tutorial found here.

Dragon Noodles

Holy mother, it is HOT outside. As in 'too hot to cook' hot. As dinner approached today, I was in search of a quick and delicious meal that would allow me to quickly return to my spot on the couch, where I could eat in the air conditioning and watch bad TV. I found this recipe, and it was exactly the type of dish I was looking for! Although I will warn you - as the name implies, this dish is super spicy. Maybe not the best thing for a hot day like today, but we all know how I feel about spicy food.

This dish is ready in less than 10 minutes. I kid you not. And it's SO delicious. It's also SERIOUSLY spicy. I feel like I should stress that so you don't hate me for not warning you.

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. lo mein noodles
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1 large egg
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp Sriracha (rooster sauce)
• fresh cilantro
• 1 green onion, sliced

How to:

• Boil water in a medium size sauce pan, and cook noodles according to package.
• While noodles are cooking, prepare the sauce: combine brown sugar, soy sauce, and Sriracha in a small bowl.
• In a large skillet, heat butter over low-medium heat. Add red pepper flakes as butter is melting.
• Whisk the egg in a small bowl, and add to butter in skillet. Stir gently until egg is cooked through. Then, turn off heat.
• When the noodles are tender, drain and add cooked noodles to the skillet. Add sauce and turn noodles until they are evenly coated with the sauce.
• Heat the skillet over low heat to reduce some of the sauce. 
• Sprinkle with cilantro and onion, and serve.

If the spice is too much for you to handle, try adding less crushed red pepper, or omit it altogether. You can also try this dish with any type of noodle - linguine or udon noodles work well too. 

The original recipe can be found here.