Friday, July 5, 2013

DIY Necklace Holder




No more tangled necklaces!!! I first got inspiration for this from this pin on Pinterest (the original blog post can be found here).  At the time, I was looking for earring holder ideas, but once I found a result that worked for me I needed a necklace holder!  I thought I had another blog pinned but I must've heard the idea elsewhere.  Anywhere, here's how to do it:

1. Get some wood or a small shelf

I was craving some DIY fun, so I didn't want to have a standard coat rack from Ikea installed.  I found this little shelf at the thrift store for 50 cents, so I went for it. The 2 pieces of wood were originally attached with hot glue (terrible for wood!) & were falling apart so I removed the glue & attached them using Elmer's wood glue.  After it set, I did a little sanding because the little flower details were a bit raised & I wanted a more even surface.

2. Drill Holes

 So...I made the mistake of marking & drilling my little shelf AFTER I painted.  As a result, some of the paint rubbed off.  It was easy to just re-spray it, but I would definitely recommend doing this FIRST!!

3. Clean, Prime, & Paint

My dad emphasized the importance of cleaning a surface before painting.  He said you'll achieve best results if you use something meant to clean prior to painting instead of just soap & water.  I used TSP cleaner that I found in the paint section of Walmart.  It was inexpensive & didn't have strong fumes.  I just wiped it down with an old white shirt dipped in the cleaner & it was all set. If your piece isn't cleaned properly, all your painting could go to waste :(

I used Zinsser Cover Stain Primer b/c I bought it to prime some furniture due to it's rave reviews. I worked at Home Depot a few years back for almost a year & learned that Primer can make a huge difference.  It helps your paint stay on better and gives your color a more even appearance.  For something this simple, you could probably get a 2-in-1 paint/primer though.
All Primed & Ready to Go!

 Finally, I used 2 coats of black Rustoleum gloss enamel.  This is basically a 2-in-1 paint & topcoat.  I've been experimenting with spray paints a lot lately and I really think Rustoleum is the best!  They have a big variety of colors & types of paint, and I've been pleased with everything I've used.

4. Attach Hooks and/or Drawer Pulls

I thought I saw a necklace holder online that used a variety of hooks and drawer pulls found at the thrift store. I loved this idea & was able to find a really cool antique silver drawer pull with a sunflower on it...but that was it.  So I got some hooks & drawer pulls at Walmart & painted a couple with some spray paint I had for some other projects.  I added some clear enamel on top so the color wouldn't wear off.



5. Attach to wall & enjoy!!

I'm renting & didn't really want to attach my necklace holder to the wall with screws. I found an excellent solution from Target.  I purchased some Command plastic robe hooks their a while ago that had removable foam tape.  I went back to see if they sold the tape separately (Dad's idea--he helps me so much with this DIY stuff!) and I found these "Picture Hanging Strips" that can hold up to 12 lbs!  You attach 1 set of foam strips to your frame (or shelf in this case...and I used 3 strips for mine) then use a 2nd set to attach to the wall. They stick together in a velcro-like fashion, so it's relatively easy to remove the shelf from the wall, then remove the strips when the time comes.  I waited about an hour after attachment before adding the necklaces and jewelry boxes & everything felt quite sturdy.



Finally, I put it near my homemade earring holder (see my previous post here) so not only is it functional, but adds a design element.  I LOVE how it turned out & how much easier it is to get to my necklaces now!


Sunday, February 3, 2013

Mochi Cake!

Mochi is a kind of rice cake that originated in Japan using finely ground rice flour.  It has kind of a sticky texture and is used in lots of different ways!  Mochi cake with coconut is a more Hawaiian version of cooking with rice flour, but keeping that Japanese influence.  If you've never had mochi products before, TRY THEM!  The sticky texture is kind of weird at first if you've never had it before, but it quickly becomes addicting!

When I lived in Hawaii, a beautiful woman named Maria taught me how to make Mochi cake (aka Butter Mochi).  I LOVED it!  I never got the recipe and hadn't made it since Maria taught me, but my friend Teresa (awesome friend also from Hawaii) got a recipe and shared it with me.

I made it for the first time since living in the Aloha state today and it brought back some great memories! And it was SO YUMMY!!  Also, it's gluten free for those who are looking for yummy desserts in this category :)

Here's an example of what Mochi Cake looks like. Due to my lack of photography skills & equipment, I borrowed this photo from this blog.  This photo shows mochi cake WITHOUT coconut.  I personally think the coconut is a must as it adds a great flavor and texture!


Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
1 pound mochiko (rice flour-can be found in 1 lb boxes at Asian markets)
2 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 cups whole milk
5 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sweetened, flaked coconut



Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla and milk. In a separate larger bowl, stir together the rice flour, sugar, and baking powder. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and stir to blend. Mix in melted butter and coconut. Pour into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven. Top will brown & sides will separate from pan. Cool completely, then cut into squares to serve.


I was a little worried that it wouldn't turn out right since Utah is much drier & at a higher elevation than Hawaii, but it tasted & looked just like I remember!