Temecula, CA Wine Country

I moved to Murrieta, CA about 7 weeks ago.  And we're right next to Temecula (Murrieta and Temecula are pretty much "twin cities").  Today, my grandma, Nan as I call her, suggested we take a drive to the Wine Country in Temecula, on the Southeast side of town.  After some maneuvering through town for about a half an hour- there was a ton of construction and we still get turned around- and a trip to Starbucks we made it to our first winery.  No, we didn't actually sample anything; we just wanted to look around.

It kind of sucked that all the trees are dead right now, but it was still a gorgeous day.

This winery is actually owned by a friend of ours.  Well, co-owned and he doesn't do much with the business.  It's a beautiful place.  All the photos to follow are from there.

This is the view from the wedding site.

Inside the tasting room.

The last time my mom was here with my step-dad she said there was no one here, but the place was busting with people when we were there.

These trees always remind me of "Under the Tuscan Sun" when her friend is standing under them and she calls them "creepy Italian trees."  So, true they are weird.

Even though the vines are all dry it's still a gorgeous view.

After we left Leoness, we took a long drive to the end of the wine trail then circled back around to head back into Temecula.  We thought about stopping for lunch, so we stopped here at Ponte Winery.

However, the restaurant was not cheap, and so we just meandered into the tasting room to check it out (and we used the bathroom :)

Nan, shopping in the Ponte tasting room.

Lots and lots of wine.

After we left here we headed back to Temecula, and went to Panera Bread for lunch.  All around it was a fun day out in Wine Country.  Can't wait for friends to come and visit so we can share it with them.

Antique Stores

Here in the Temecula/Murrieta area of California there are a lot of antique stores.  I was surprised.  I'm originally from Ohio, a state that is crammed with antique stores, and I wouldn't have thought there would be so many in California.  But I've found a few that I love.



The first, is Granny's Attic.  This place is 30,000 sq feet of antiques.  Yes, 30,000 sq feet.  I felt like I could spend all day there.  I bought some measuring spoons, measuring cups, an old flour sack cut-out, and an 8mm camera.  With the first 3 things I made this:

And here's the 8mm:

I got this little baby for $8.  It pays off when the dealer was having 75% off!



This is the next antiques store I love.  It's right in Old Town Temecula.  It's a busy one and not as big as the other, but it has a great atmosphere.  I got a camera from the 1940's and a old copy of "Pride and Prejudice" there.

It was made in 1948- the year my dad was born.  It's so cool.  I might get some film and see what kind of photos it takes.

Well, that's it for now.  I'm sure there will be more antique shopping trips to come, and I will be sure to share.

A Terrible Blogger

I have to say that I am the worst blogger.  I will post a few at a time then I get busy, or just distracted and I forget about my blog.  Well, I have been busy.  Working A LOT!  And just getting acclimated to California.  I have been crafting, though.  Not really creating tutorials, though.  I apologize for that.  Here's what I've been up to:

Shadow box I made from a vintage flour bag, measuring cups, and measuring spoons I bought at Granny's Attic in Temecula.  That place is huge and I think I spent 2 hours there but I could have spent all day there.

I bought this crate at the Habitat for Humanity Restore in Temecula.  It was made there I think from random pieces of wood.  Then I spary painted it black, and then I brushed on some blue paint and it kind of gave it an antique look.  Great place for shoes.  I'm not a fan of shoes around the house.

Our condo was built in the 70's so not everything is very energy-efficient including the fireplace.  There's a breeze that comes through the fireplace (notice how the cover is bulged out).  And so it's freezing in our living room.  So I made this cover to help block the cold.  I put fleece on the inside and some velcro on the edges to secure it.  I plan to put some beans in the top skinny part to make it even more secure.

This is Angel.  And this is the doggy cape I made her.  She doesn't like it much.  But she's warm.  And it's better than the sweater Nan would put on her where she had to put her legs through it.  I'd like it if I had one lol

I bought this tea towel at the dollar store for... $1 lol.  Then I ruffled the fabric and sewed it on.  Cheap cheap.  There's another one I have to do but it takes a lot of time and patience to sew ruffles that small, so I'll get to it some time.

My favorite project so far.  A new wreath for the front door.  I wanted something winter-y.  I bought a wreath form, wrapped it in white fabric I got from the remnant bin, then made a flower from a grey cordoroy fabric I got from the remnany bin and used that for the strips around the wreath, and then I bought some little sparkly sticks, like filler for bouquets (I don't know what you call them).  I love it.

So, that's what I've been up to when it comes to my crafts and sewing.  I really haven't been baking although I think I might make some cupcakes or something today.  I'll try to keep you posted.

Boring Ikea Clock Transformed

Last week my mom, my grandma, and I went to Ikea in San Diego.  It's huge (as most Ikea's are); we were there all day.  We bought dressers, bookcases, and other odds and ends.  I got an idea from this post from Make It-Love it.  I thought it was such a great idea on how to customize a clock.  However, the clock she bought from Ikea was a little expensive and it's not really my style so I bought a different one.

Boring!

Until...

I took apart this message board and cut out a hole in the cardboard cake round then I covered it in brown burlap and attached the little fabric flowers then glued the round frame onto the clock.

The ticking is kind of getting on my nerves but at least it looks good!

Yet Another Haitus

I'm not sure how many people actually read my blog, but I apologize for the hiatus.  Although, I guess 2 months isn't that bad of a break.  I've been so busy since the last time I posted anything.  I've made a couple of trips to California because, well, WE'RE MOVING!  I'm so excited if you can't tell.

But here's what I've been up to.

From Torrey Pines beach in California.  About 5 mins south of Del Mar.

Strawberry Cupcakes with Whipped Strawberry Frosting made for my friends', Andrea and Amanda (their twin sisters), house-warming party.

Yellow Cupcakes with Peanut Butter filling and Chocolate Frosting

Wreath I made for Andrea and Amanda's front door.  My first wreath I love it!

My mom, Me, and our friend, Joanie with the San Diego skyline.

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes with Buttercream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Almond Shortbread Cookies, Sour Cream Scones, and Raspberry Oatmeal Scones made for a Red Hat Ladies tea party.

Homemade applesauce made from the apples I bought at Apple Annie's.

Then our Going Away party. :(  We are sad to leave, but excited at the same time.

Well, I think that's all for now.  I have some great projects coming up soon.  Some fun projects for our new condo in California.  So, stay tuned.

Also, I've decided to start up my blog again because I've discovered Picnik.  It's pretty awesome.  And I've also discovered Pinterest.  Oh my gosh you have to check it out.  You'll be pinning like crazy.

I Can't Wait.

Last October my sister and I discovered Apple Annie's.  It's an orchard in Wilcox, AZ.  But they also have a few fields of produce and pumpkins.  When we went last year, we got there too late in the season to get many good apples, so we only came home with a few, but we did get a pumpkin and some other vegetables.  I forgot to mention, you can pick your own apples and vegetables!

This year I plan to go a few times.  Right now the peaches, pears, gala, and gold and red delicious apples are ready.  And there are a ton of vegetables.  They have this super cool "harvest calendar" on their site that makes it easy to know what to expect when you get there.

Last year I made a pumpkin puree with the pumpkin I picked there.  I posted that here (in going back to retrieve the link for this post I discovered the pumpkin used was purchased at Wal-Mart, so part of the above is a lie hehe), and I made Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts with the fresh puree.

So, stay tuned for some delicious fall recipes made with my Apple Annie's purchases.

Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Jam Filling

I went to a jewelry party this past Friday night and my friend agreed to let me sell some of my stuff, but also asked if I could bring some food for the guests.  I agreed, of course, and decided to make some yummy cupcakes.

I posted some Chai Cupcakes a while ago and told you guys about my friend who moved and gave me a bunch of boxed cakes.  She gave me a lemon one, and so this cupcake idea was formed.

And it's pink...may favorite color :)

The ingredients, including what is needed for the cake.

First, mix up the cake batter.

I bought this ice cream scoop because when I was watching "Cupcake Wars" the other night this is what they used.  And it works pretty well.  It's easy to get the batter out without having to scrape it.  And they're all pretty even.

Give the jam a good stir.  Be sure to get seedless raspberry jam (unless you like seeds). 

Using a teaspoon, plop a glob of jam into the batter of each cupcake (after I made this batch I realized that the jam sank to the bottom, so the second batch a cut a hole through the center and squeezed the jam inside, but you can do whichever you like)

While your cupcakes are baking you can whipe up the frosting.  Tip: let your whip cream thaw before using- it will be easier to mix.  The above is the whip cream.

Then add in your raspberry jello mix.

Give it a good stir.  Then wrap the bowl and let it chill in the refrigerator while your cupcakes cool after baking.  If you put the frosting on warm cupcakes it will run everywhere.

Cool the cupcakes on a wire rack.

Then you can frost them by putting the frosting in a freezer bag and cutting off a corner then piping it onto the top.  And I sprinkled mine with a little red sugar sprinkles.

Nice, simple summer-y cupcake.

Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Jam Filling

Ingredients:
1 box of lemon cake mix
water, oil, eggs (the ingredients from the cake mix box)
1 tub whipped cream
1 package of raspberry jello mix
raspberry jam (you'll use about a 1/2 cup or so)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 then line muffin pan with cupcake papers and set aside.  Mix lemon cake batter according to the instructions on the box.  Spoon batter into the cupcake papers, filling 2/3 full.  Then spoon 1 teaspoon of jam into each cup of batter.  Bake according to box instructions. 

While cupcakes are baking, mix whipped cream and jello mix in a medium bowl.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Let cupcakes cool completely.  Spoon frosting into a freezer bag and cut the corner.  Squeeze frosting onto each cupcake, even though the cupcakes are cooled the frosting is soft enough that if too much is used it will run over the edges, so be careful.  Then top with sprinkles, if desired.  Unwrap and enjoy!