Sharing A Few Trip Photos

Don't ask how b/c I'm wondering myself, but recently, EVERY TIME that I go on a trip I have lost one button to my coat and don't notice until I'm home. Have been down to 2 buttons this winter. Yesterday afternoon when I arrived home I noticed I was down to ONE BUTTON! Where did I lose the button this time, who knows, SO, the next sewing project will be going to store, buying a set of new buttons, and sewing them on SECURELY!

For personal friends I've just posted ALL of my photos onto my password protected RoyalTrueColours site for y'all. Wasn't about to post 300 pics on my blog. :-)!

Got to do some real rock climbing this trip. LOVED IT! Since the healthy diet and daily exercise has been a big part of my life over the past few months, climbing up "the mountainside" off trail was doable. Was a bit out of breathe, but I made it halfway around the mountains before turning around, though some made it all away around. Didn't have on proper hiking boots! :-) Was more difficult coming down the mountain (sliding on loose rocks) than going up I thought, but worth it for the photos that I was blessed to take. Had a fantastic time.

This is me meeting Steve Austin Szabo for the first time at 7 weeks old. (The baby boy of a friend) Was awesome to get to hold and feed him. Holding newborn babies is always inspiring to me....just to think a few weeks ago this little one had not seen the light of day yet, and now here he is. What a miracle.

Not to forget Steve Austin's big sister Katrina. She's my little buddy and has great taste already in fashion. Check out her zebra pants. Of course she has to check them out in the mirror they are so cool. Great taste at such a young age of two. :-)

This is me happy as ever on a rock!

Beautiful Scenery. God blessed us with a beautiful day to go mountain hiking!

I have absolutely no idea how I was able to stay up on the rock at such a "zero gravity" angle. This is not a trick picture, Somehow was able to hold myself up. I remember it being uncomfortable and now that I see the picture I wonder why! :-)!!!

You have to click on this picture to see two friends, the Monsalve Sisters, on top of a little mountain peak. They must be in great shape....they were walking in front of me one moment, and the next moment they were gone and had climbed up high. Did I pass out for a few minutes? :-) Still have no idea how they climbed so fast! I guess I started chatting to others or something and time slipped away!

Passed this while hiking up mountain and thought it would make a cool pic and it did. At least I think so!

Fashion Designing Going On Vacation!

Unfortunately for me, I ran out of time to finish any new designs this week. It's been a busy week so far, but being busy is what life is all about. :-) Tomorrow Fashion Designing will officially go on vacation for a few days as I make my way to the airport after lunch leaving my second home...aka my desk in the Hall of Ad! :-) I'm not the brightest crayon in the box choosing tomorrow to make my way through what I'm sure will be VERY CROWDED airports tomorrow, but looking forward to seeing many old friends this weekend, perfect weekend for everyone to get together w/everything closed and everyone off work, so hopefully I'll at least still be a sweet cookie in the box by the time I reach my destination after fighting the masses at the airports! :-)

Going to try to just travel with 2 carry on bags. This is BIG for me, as I have a reputation for taking my whole house with me including my entire closet, shoe collection, and jewelry box! :-)! ....though I will probably try to take one design project w/me to work on.

Gluten Free Bread Recipe!

For those who keep up with my blog, I'm sure you've noticed I've been heavy into Brown Rice Flour since I've totally changed my diet and am doing my best to eat right. This past week I tried Quinoa Flour which is also healthy and Gluten free. It's got a different kind of taste to it, like it would go good with sesame seeds, but I rather liked it though I do prefer the taste of Brown Rice Flour. Baking with Gluten Free flours is a bit trickier than using an everyday Gluten Flour like white or wheat flour. Some people feel the need to mix gluten free flours with gluten flours to be successful in baking, but if you put the right ingredients together, you can be successful at baking totally with gluten free flours and your waistline and your good health will thank you! Here's a Gluten Free Bread recipe that I tried last weekend using Quinoa Flour that was a success. Again, I think I would have liked it better if I had thrown in sesame seeds but oh well, no use in looking at the past of what could have been! :-)
To start you need 3 1/2 CUPS of Quinoa Flour

5 Teaspoons Baking Powder
To maintain healthy make sure to use the ALUMINUM FREE baking powder

1/2 Teaspoon of 100% Sea Salt

Mix all dry ingredients together

Added 2 Cups Water
Mixed throughly until it was "kneadable." I had to add extra quinoa flour to the mix to make it kneadable as it kept annoyingly sticking to my fingers....a downfall of Gluten Free Flour! Well greased my baking dish with pure Olive Oil, and baked for about 40-45 minutes. HOWEVER, my bread came out a little over baked, so depending on your oven, you might check your bread at 35 minutes or so, but again, it depends on the oven itself; stick a knife in to make sure bread is done inside.

Yummy!...This is the final result of my first try at baking quinoa bread completely wheat free. (You can see how it's a little over baked around the crust.)

And to fulfill my sweet tooth, I added my ALL NATURAL and SUGAR FREE blueberry jam to top it off!

My SUGAR FREE, ALL NATURAL blueberry jam. It was given to me by a friend who happens to read this blog who is also eating healthy and all natural foods. (Thanks so much for the natural jam find. I love this jam and honestly can't tell it has no sugar in it and non of the other yucky preservatives in it...tastes the same as the rest!)

A Cooking Blooper!

When I made the avocado dip apparently I was exhausted that day b/c normally I am very obsessed in keeping my house neat...no dishes in the sink, every chair pushed in place. :-)! However, a few days after making the avocado dip I turned on my oven to make a little bite of something else to eat one evening and I started smelling something burning but silly me ignored the smell chalking it up to thinking that a little something had spilled in the bottom of the oven, but when I opened the oven minutes later, smoke was billowing out. I thought I was going to die from inhaling "second hand smoke!" :-)!!! Anyway, I noticed that the baking sheet and the now "cremated" remains of avocado and garlic were still in the oven. What, that's not like me to not wash a dish right after I use it. I had to have been tired to use the oven as a storage place. Anyway, here is a picture of beyond burnt garlic and avocado and the baking sheet too! Just when you thought you had seen it all! I usually get compliments from people on my cooking and sewing trying to set a decent example of a hard working Proverbs 31 woman (BUT I only put up my successes and usually not my flops), but this proves that I definitely have my mess ups and when I have them they are big, I just usually don't post them, but this one, well I had to post it's "so pretty." One time I was in the living room and I looked and a FIRE was actually going on in my oven...it was a big fire with the flames happening. I used a fire extinguisher for the first time in life. Whoever convinced me to have an extinguisher in the kitchen "classically rocks!" :-)

Healthy Dip!

I got this picture off of the internet b/c I didn't take a photo of my own recipe. Last weekend I tried my hands at making my own Fresh Avocado Dip from the top of my head. I loved it, 100% healthy, and it was tasty. All I did was cut and completely mash up 1 whole avocado in a small bowl and set it aside. I set my oven to 350 degrees F, then cut the top off of a whole fresh garlic bulb, poured a little bit of olive oil on top of the garlic bulb. Then, once oven was at 350 Degrees F I baked the garlic for about 40 minutes, then pulled it from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes, and then scooped out the garlic, now turned mushy, and mixed the scooped out garlic in w/the mashed avocado. I mixed it evenly and thoroughly, then added Sea Salt to taste and vahlah had an amazing, tasty yummy fresh hearty dip. I was raised in Texas, so I tend to like zesty and hearty foods, but some people might prefer this better if you added a teaspoon or so of plain yogurt to smooth it out a bit. To keep this snack healthy, I ate with 100% organic corn chips made of three ingredients.......organic corn, sunflower oil, sea salt! Another successful yummy and healthy mix it together recipe. Last week I had a flop of a recipe, so happy when they turn out! :-)

Sneak Peek!

Last week I went to the fabric store and caught a sale on this nice formal type fabric. It is fabric that can be worn double sided...there is the red side and the black side. I intend to design a formal Ladies Skirt from the red side and a matching formal Men's Necktie from the black side.

Baby To Toddler Fleece Blanket Set

Last night I made a Baby to Toddler Fleece Blanket. Yes, I'm still stuck on giraffe! Next time I go to the fabric store I'll have to make a point NOT to get anything giraffe. :-) Anyway, we all know fleece is a favorite fabric. It's soft, smooth, cuddly, perfect for blankets. This design is two soft, fluffy layers of fleece put together making it extra cushy. Like sleeping on a cloud! :-) I decided to go with the fringe ends to give the blanket some character. So the blanket is complete, next I will make a pillow to go with the design and also a tie off so that the entire design can be rolled up fancy also being practical for parents so that they can carry this out places easily. Once I have completed all of the pieces of this design, I'll put it for sale in my Etsy Shop.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CCoatsOfManyColours?ref=pr_shop_more

Aqua Work Skirt

Last year I designed this quirky skirt for myself as a fun work skirt, but I thought it needed more flare to it, and I had been thinking what to do, but two weeks ago I was able to finish it. Satin Ribbon was my answer. This photo shows the top of the design, and I added a big bow to the top of the skirt to set it off. I'm noticing a trend with myself, on a lot of my designs I design them with bows...guess I like bows! I'm really happy with the finished result of this skirt.

Full length view

skirt up close

Ladies Head Tie

Last weekend I designed this Ladies Head Tie. The print is giraffe. This week I have been sporting an all natural Afro hair do, so it was the perfect time to model this new design. Putting this up for sale in my Etsy Shop. This is the Side/Back View.

Front View

Front View From the Side Angle

For sale in my Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CCoatsOfManyColours?ref=pr_shop_more

Ladies Sash Belt

Last year I designed this A Lined skirt (seems I'm into Giraffe these days) Anyway, I made this sash to go with the outfit yesterday evening. Still haven't decided what I want to do with this design, keep it, give it away, sell it.

A photo of my sash design up closer. I really like it. Is it a crime to like your own design. :-)

Another Design From Holland Designs

Thank you again Holland Designs. The Cowl is a big hit! God has really blessed you with amazing talent. Thanks so much for sharing it. Fabulous. :-)

My Designs

So I finished a design last weekend and am just about finished with another one as of last night. I said I would model the design I finished last weekend, but the battery on my digi cam went dead last night before I finished the photo shoot, so a delay in the unveiling of the new designs.

Thank You Holland Designs

New Hair Accessory!

Completed a new design today. A new hair fashion accessory. Will model it hopefully tomorrow or the day after.

Holland Designs

Ever heard of Holland Designs? If not, now you have! :-) A old, long time friend of mine has a very successful business headquartered out of Auckland, New Zealand. She is a popular crochet designer, has won awards, been published in several magazines, has her designs being sold in popular stores like Hobby Lobby and the list goes on. I'm VERY proud of her. She is American and use to live in the USA, but met a New Zealander and found herself marrying and relocating to Auckland, New Zealand. There she continues her success in crochet design and just yesterday finished a custom made design for me. She had designed this beanie design last week in pink, and I requested that she design one in chocolate brown and she did. To my surprise, she got it finished really fast and is posting it in the mail to me! Can't believe in one week or so I'll be wearing it myself. Here it is with Lisa modeling it herself! To see more of her designs her own personal store site is: http://www.etsy.com/shop/hollanddesigns?ref=seller_info

Boys Necktie

I just put this boys handmade necktie for sale in my CCoatsOfManyColours Etsy Shop. http://www.etsy.com/listing/86615269/boys-polka-dot-necktie?ref=pr_shop

New FASHION SEWING designs coming soon!

Since I've been heavy into food designing I have NOT had any time to fashion design, BUT this week, even if I loose sleep, I will design some new designs. This week is definitely dedicated to sewing. My sewing machine has taken a long vacation and now it's back to work!

Refried Organic Chicken

Started off with the basics...

coated organic chicken with rice flour and herbs and spices

the coated and seasoned organic shicken

frying in the skillet

on the plate and ready to be served

This is one of my recipes that I will put for sale in my culinary shop soon, so I can't disclose the entire recipe w/herb and spice combo, but here are photos. Yummy!

Raspberry Frozen Treat

Last weekend was strawberries, this weekend is Raspberries. Yes, Raspberries were on sale this past week...just going with the grocery store flow. You don't need a food processor or blender for this frozen treat. I mashed the raspberries UNFROZEN until they were completely mashed, then added 1 teaspoon of LIME JUICE this time.....then added 1/4 cup of organic rice milk......and a pinch of stevia to taste, mixed it all together thoroughly and then put it the freezer and until frozen almost solid, but not all the way, just in a slushie form, and then bon a petit. Made two servings. Delicious and again, all natural and healthy.

Stevia Update

On the stevia, I'm using PURE stevia extract powder from the health food store...there are other stevia's that aren't really pure stevia, though they are still healthier than sugar, but I'm making sure to use the pure powder form in cooking. If you use another form of stevia in cooking, the measurements will be different than the pure form fyi.....Here's another conversion chart

Granulated Sugar	Whole Stevia leaf powder	White Stevia Extract (powder)
1 teaspoon	1/8 teaspoon	Dust on spoon
1 Tablespoon	3/8 teaspoon	1/2 pinch
1/4 cup	1 1/2 teaspoon	Pinch
1/2 cup	1 Tablespoon	1/8 teaspoon
1 cup	2 Tablespoon	1/4 teaspoon

Sugar Free Frozen Treat!

If you all can't tell I have an abundance of fresh strawberries this week (they were on sale at the grocery store) so I'm having fun using them. I made a yummy SUGAR FREE and ALL NATURAL frozen treat which tasted DELICIOUS! It really did......once again, I couldn't tell the difference that no sugar was in, but instead the natural sweetner, Stevia was used.....(I use to make this treat using sugar, so I know it tastes just the same using stevia instead. Yeah!) Here's the recipe for this totally yummy guilt free Strawberry Frozen Treat! :-)

1 1/2 lbs Fresh Strawberries (Before use I put them in freezer until they were frozen)
2 Tablespoons Organic Lemon Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Stevia (this is a natural healthy replacement for sugar as a sweetener)
1/2 Cup Organic Rice Milk (I don't drink cow's milk from stores anymore..it's way too pumped with hormones)

Cut the stems off the of the strawberries, and put them in blender or food processor, then add all others ingredients on top of the strawberries in blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings! Taste exactly the same as if sugar was in it, yet without the calories and most importantly, it's a all natural healthy treat! If you have guests over, I'd guess they won't know they are eating a healthy treat without sugar. Enjoy.

Healthy Dessert! Designing This Sunday

I started off cooking down the strawberries on my stovetop. I cut up three large strawberries, and added just a pinch of stevia as a natural sweetner instead of sugar, added a bit of water, mixed it all together, put the stove top on medium heat and covered it for about 2 or maybe 3 minutes.

Only after about 3 minutes or so, the strawberries had cooked down into what turned out to be a fabulous sauce. I was really surprised how yummy it tasted. I honestly thought it was going to be a disaster b/c of not measuring the stevia, but turns out I had put just the right amount of stevia in...wasn't too sweet or not sweet enough, but was just perfect. I think God just blessed me b/c he knew I was really trying hard to get it right. Afterall, one of the reasons I'm eating healthy is to honor God with my body, so I'm trying hard.


Then I tried my hands at making a sheet cake using brown rice flour and stevia among other ingredients. Here is the fnished result of the healthy sheet cake and the strawberry sauce...SUGAR FREE and made with all natural ingredients! If someone came and had a bite I don't think they would know it was sugar free and wheat flour free, it's tastes pretty much the same! I'm so excited to be successful at making an all healthy natural dessert! I mean it's bascially made of organic eggs, lemon juice, brown rice which is what the flour is made from, stevia, and strawberries....oh, and olive oil.......AMAZING!


The side view of the healthy dessert!!!

I tried my hands FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN MY LIFE to bake a dessert using Brown Rice Flour (replacing wheat flour) and Stevia (replacing sugar). I tried making a simple sheet cake as a starter and surprisingly, it turned out okay my first try. I think that was a miracle! I nice, healthy, that taste good glutten free dessert! Yeah!!! I'm so happy!