DIY: Twig Terrariums

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone! As part of our "V-day" activity, Mr. Fox and I thought it would be a fun activity to make a terrarium this weekend. I saw a bunch of terrariums at this awesome store called Cog & Pearl in Park Slope Brooklyn and I gained interest quick- seems that it's made by a company called Twig Terrariums. Their terrariums are super neat and come with cute little figurines inside which adds some pizzazz! Each terrarium is one of a kind and you can buy them pre-made or buy one of their "do-it-yourself" kits. We picked two DIY sets this weekend and had a blast making them. It was as easy as 1-2-3! I can't wait to make more and buy a more advanced set. 



Each set comes with a vessel for your moss, rocks, dried moss, potting soil, live moss and a figurine. 



All you have to do is set rocks on the bottom of the vase, add the dried moss (which has to be soaked for a minute in water and squeezed dry) then layer the potting soil on top (makes a filtration system for the terrarium), moisten the soil a little bit then add the live moss (which is recommended to be soaked for 3 hours to overnight) and finally add the figurine inside! It took less than an hour to do. Don't worry, it comes with instructions! Real easy! :)



Check out my first terrarium! This set was called Le Petit Singularite ($25). I actually did this one by myself to for practice. It actually came out better than I expected. I found a piece of wood in my soil packet so I saved it for decoration because it looked like a bridge. I'm really happy how it came out. It looks like she walked over a bridge and discovered a forest. 



The complete kit! Awesome huh?



This set was the one that I made with Mr. Fox. This DIY terrarium is called Romantik ($65). It came with an old couple kissing while sitting on a bench. Super cute!



This is the Romantik set in its entirety. I love that it comes in a tall 10" vase which actually converts to a candle holder (see below for a better picture). It came out really cute and we actually are looking into finding a mini plant to add inside for a later date so it will look like the old couple is sitting under a tree to add better landscaping.



Le Petit Singularite and Romantik set side by side.



The finished products.. TA-DA! You can find Twig Terrariums at the Brooklyn Flea most of the time or go to one of the stores like Cog & Pearl to find their unique creations. They don't ship ready made terrariums yet, so DIY kits are available for purchase online.



At the end, we actually came out with three terrariums. I had extras materials to make another little terrarium. The Romantik and Singularite ones are mine and the small terrarium was the one I made for Mr. Fox. I added a small frog figurine for him. 


Twig Terrariums are reasonably priced and very unique. They add character to any room. I am so obsessed. I plan to make more in the future. Who knows, it might become my new hobby! Super easy and fun to make and the live plants inside are really low maintenance. The instructions state that they only need to be spritzed with water once every two weeks or so. The moss requires very little light but make sure not to keep your terrarium near heat or give it too much sunlight because you can end up cooking your moss. It's such a great home decor also. Can't wait to make another one!


LINK: twigterrariums.com

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EATS: Doughnut Plant (Lower East Side)

After @JustineDori's Birthday Dim Sum today, we decided to head on over to Doughnut Plant in LES for the after party. Located on 379 Grand Street, this little doughnut haven was worth the walk for my sweet indulgence for the week. I've been craving a doughnut since I started my diet and this was a great place to "cheat".

They offer such a great variety of treats from the yeast-type, jam-filled to cake doughnuts at a very reasonable price.

@JustineDori had the Black Out Doughnut. I took a bite of course and it was chocolatey, moist and gooey. It melted in my mouth. Worth every bite!

I felt a little guilty going to this place but a little treat doesn't hurt sometimes. Since I tried to "control" myself, I got the smallest doughnut on the menu which was the Creme Brûlée.

Can you see the goodness?!? Every layer is heavenly. It had a crusty and crunchy caramelized top. The yeast dough itself was a nice soft texture. The party in the middle was a very creamy vanilla bean custard which oozes out in every bite! Then the bottom layer was sugar glazed! The ten seconds that it took to annihilate this donut was amazing! Perfect size packed with deliciousness for $2.50! You cannot go wrong!

Check out the display by the counter! *Homer Voice* "Mmm.. DOOOONUTS..* By the way, I'm not sure if the original word is spelled "Doughnut" or "Donut"? Does anyone know? Ah- po-tato... po-ta-to.. :P It's all the same right?

Doughnut Plant is AWESOME! I will definitely go back. Maybe I'll even have a huge doughnut next time. There's so many treats on the menu that I want to try. *Sigh* Oh, if LES seems out of the way, they're opening another location at the Chelsea Hotel on Valentine's Day! ;)

Doughnut Plant  (Lower East Side)

379 Grand Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 505-3700

www.doughnutplant.com

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EATS: Hunter Dave's Venison Chili

First off, I hope everyone had a great Superbowl Sunday and Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers! My buddy Hunter Dave aka Fisherman Dave cooked Venison Chili yesterday as part of his Superbowl Feast. He used his crock pot to slow cook the amazing Chili and it simmered for hours so you know it had to be flavorful and it was indeed! I never tried "deer" before but I heard it's a very lean meat. So what does it taste like? It tasted like sausage and beef combined with a very crumbly texture. It was a little gamey tasting but not gross. It's definitely for people with acquired taste. As far as the Chili itself, it was delicious! It was mild and the tomato was chunky which is how I like it. I'm not a fan of saucy and watery Chili. The texture has to be chunky and hearty! Hunter Dave used cannellini beans and also added corn which I loved (good touch)! The Chili was delicious and eating venison meat was definitely an adventure! I enjoyed it very much. The Filipino girl in me would've liked rice with the dish, but I'm trying to cut down on carbs... LOL!


P.S. It's kind of funny and a little ironic that the same day Dave cooked his Chili, Mr. Fox and I watched Bambi earlier that day! Like the movie, sometimes "Man" gets in the way- but it's a cycle of life and I guess "deer" would be considered as part of the food chain. Sorry to all the animal lovers out there, but as I took a bite of the venison, I did keep Bambi in mind... :-X


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EATS: Sushi Night With Fisherman Dave & Mr. Fox

It's cold and rainy outside so what better day to stay in and make some home made sushi? It's been awhile since I made sushi hand rolls. I was real rusty at first but after a few tries, I finally got it down perfect and started to make rolls like a mad woman! The best part is that we used the Tuna that my buddy Fisherman Dave caught at the end of the summer (it was freeze dried since then FYI.. haha). We ate Avocado Tuna Rolls, California Rolls and Avocado Maki for Mr. Fox (he doesn't eat fish). Sushi night was a great success! Thanks to Fisherman Dave for hanging out and sharing his Tuna. It was really fun and easy. Oh, and I'll promise to work on better presentation and better ingredients the next time around...

The Tuna that Fisherman Dave caught during the Summer... We ate the Toro (middle) or the belly for Sushi night!

My Sushi rolling area!

Our left-overs! I made the assorted giant rolls and Fisherman Dave made the Tuna Sushi Ngiri.

That's a pretty and colorful California Roll! Isn't it? ;) 

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SNACK: Trader Joe's Mocha European Style Low-fat Yogurt

Because I've been such a glutton during the holidays, I decided to start off the new year by going on a diet in hopes of shedding some of the added weight. Diets are never easy and it's a real commitment. I don't like depriving myself so I'm always in search of great, delicious and healthy foods. One problem that i encounter each time is not being able to indulge in sugar! I can't deny it- I love sweets and desserts... it's my weakness! Anyway, yesterday while shopping at Trader Joe's, I found this amazing Mocha European Style Low-fat Yogurt... I think I found my new obsession!! It's so creamy and sweet with a hint of mocha flavor. It has that particular "tangy" yogurt-y taste which I don't usually like but works well with the mocha flavor and I find myself trying to chase the taste! I also tried the chocolate flavor which is pretty damn good too! It tastes like a really light mousse. Best of all- this sweet treat is only 130 calories and has 2 grams of fat! I would take the extra 30 calories over those 100 calorie Dannon brand fruit yogurts just to get my sweet fix! Oh, and it's only $0.99 a cup and totally worth it! This new snack is amazing and definitely guilt-free! For the people following the Weight Watchers point system such as myself, it's only 3 points! So glad I found this yummy yogurt. I think I have to plan my next trip to Trader Joes asap!!




LINK: Trader Joe's


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FILM: The Fighter by David O. Russell

I saw The Fighter by David O. Russell this past weekend after the fear that it won't be in theaters very long and boy I sure am glad I watched it! I knew that this movie was a must see for 2011, not just because Mark Wahlberg has the star role (I still remember the first time I saw him in person with @AnnaWHY at Bar Pitti *drool*) but because lately I learned to appreciate the sport of Boxing (because of Manny Pacquiao of course). 

So what is it about? It's about an Irish fighter named Micky Ward's (played by Wahlberg) struggle to achieve the light welterweight championship. He's torn between trying to pursue his dreams versus family loyalty. Worst of it all, Ward is overshadowed by the drama of his older brother / former boxer / slacker trainer turned crack addict, Dicky Ecklund. I was expecting this movie to be "average" but was swayed after Christian Bale's epic performance as Dicky Ecklund. Check out the picture above and see how much weight he lost for this role! Bale was very effective and his role was also emotionally moving. This movie is excellent for a "based on a true story" flick! The characters were all convincing and I give an honorable mention to Amy Adams who plays as Micky's girlfriend and Melissa Leo who plays as his mother. If it's still out the next few weeks, I highly suggest you see it! I'm kind of surprised it didn't do as well in box office sales because it definitely has all the elements that make an amazing film.

Check out the trailer below:

'Fighter' Theatrical Trailer @ Yahoo! Video

LINK: The Fighter Movie

EATS: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Binghamton, NY

My last gluttonous hurrah before the New Year was at Cracker Barrel in Binghamton. I first heard of this establishment through Tribble & Mancenido while they were working on their project, Hurry Up & Wait in which they were on the road photographing America's trucking culture for over a year. The couple said that a pit stop at any Cracker Barrel location during a cross country drive is a must. Cracker Barrel is renowned for serving old-fashioned home cooked meals. Who would want to eat at your average fast food joint after a long drive anyway? I know I don't. Stopping by was definitely a treat as it was an adventure in its own- beginning with shopping at the amazing General Store and then ending it with a delicious meal and a happy full belly!

The Store Front which is pretty much a standard look for all its branches throughout the U.S.

Upon entering its doors, you begin to experience that "country" feel and nostalgia.

You can purchase an old-school rocking chair for only $129!

Vintage Hershey's Chocolate Bar!

Do you remember thin sticks?

They offer an variety of vintage treats from gumballs, sodas and even Moon pies!

Baking Supplies and goodies. Do you see the huge country ham?

More Vintage candies!

Valomilk.. YUM! Anything with chocolate and marshmallows is good by me!

Sky Bar! Four different flavors in one yummy candy bar :)

Don't you just love Peanut Brittle?

Vintage toys for the kiddies! Love the wind up ones.. 

@KnownAsAdi about to experience her first Cracker Barrel experience just like me and Mr. Fox!

We didn't realize Macaroni 'n' Cheese was considered a "Vegetable" amongst many other choices from the list! Haha!

Complimentary corn muffins and biscuits :D

Frosty Beverages: Raspberry Lemonade and Apple Cider

Mr. Fox decided to get meatloaf with mashed potatoes and a double side of Macaroni 'n' Cheese which he enjoyed and was later on a food comatose shortly after.. haha

I ordered the Haddock Dinner with Macaroni 'n' Cheese and Sweet Potato Casserole w/ Pecans. The Haddock was pretty good- lightly fried and not that greasy. I had to sprinkle some lemon juice to enhance the flavor. The Mac 'n' Cheese was pretty good.. very cheesy! The macaroni was a little overcooked though. The best part was the Sweet Potato Casserole- sweet and velvety with little crunchy pecans in every bite! AMAZING!

My third side was Fried Okra which was ok. The Okra was too soft- I'm used to a firmer texture. The breading was too thick. 

We didn't eat dessert because after we devoured our food we were ready to take a nap! BUT how bizarre is this dessert option- a Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake??? I think I'll definitely pass on this one!

The decor was nostalgic- straight out of a old country home!

The old school paraphernalia especially the shot gun and taxidermy was pretty interesting...

The Huge billboard facing the highway.

I had a great time at the Cracker Barrel! They definitely know how to preserve that nostalgic feel. The food was definitely filling and a little bit overwhelming but I guess if you're hungry and have been sitting in a car all day long, going to a Cracker Barrel is something to look forward to.


Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
876 Front Street
Binghamton, NY 13905
607.722.5006
www.crackerbarrel.com